Lavachebeadsman
Footballguy
Click if you'd like, my link.
-The Denver Bronco's offense is an unstoppable machine. The Raven's defense is certainly abysmal at best, but that underscores a larger trend. The Peyton Manning led offense can hurt you in anyway. Demaryius Thomas is a top 10 skilled wide receiver in the NFL who demands a safety cover at all levels and as a result, opens up the field for all the other receivers. Knowshon Moreno, previous first round bust, has totally reinvigorated his career. He has kept his legs churning at first contact and ran exactly what has been blocked. Eric Decker, a receiver whose inability to create separation has hindered his productive over the last month and a half is a technician route-runner and as surehanded as they come. Joel Dressen and Jacob Tamme are effective tight end duo and the offensive line keeps Manning protected. As long as Manning is calling the plays and putting his guys in positions to succeed, there will not be a defense that can stop them.
-Not that this something we really learned today, but Adrian Peterson is not human. Less than a year removed from entirely shredding his knee, AP is going to threaten Eric Dickerson's rushing record. He is doing this dragging around a draft pick bust quarterback in Christian Ponder who simply has lost all dynamism. He is doing this with a wide receiver core whose superstar is...no one. Without Percy Harvin, this offense has one playmaker. Kyle Rudolph is a decent red zone weapon, but Antonio Gates or Rob Gronkowski, he is not. The mantle of best running back in the NFL is clearly Peterson's to lose.
-Matt Stafford had the cheapest 5,000 yard season in the NFL. The weapons around him are awful, but the same was true last year. It isn't like Brandon Pettigrew or Nate Burleson were world-beaters last year. His terrible footwork and even worse throwing mechanics caught up to him. Against a team that lost 58-0 to a rookie quarterback last year, Stafford looked overmatched and confused. This isn't to say that Stafford isn't talented, but he is not right now a quarterback who can make castoffs like Kris Durham legit NFL players in the way that Tom Brady or Drew Brees, the other 5,000 yard passers, can.
-The New York Giants are the most inconsistent team in the NFL. There is not another team in the league that is so maddeningly inconsistent. Every year, we see the exact same pattern of hot and cold. Weather this is an extension of Coughlin or Eli isn't clear, but it has to be embarrassing for the defending Superbowl champions to lose like this to a team they stomped in the playoffs last year. The problems of the Giants secondary are going to plague them in playoffs, weather they have to face Matt Ryan again or the updated aerial attack of Colin Kaepernick and the 49er's. Furthermore, Tom Coughlin deserves everything he gets for giving Kraig Lumpkin touches in a game that isn't put away. What do coaches like Coughlin stand to gain from not giving rookies an opportunity to succeed? That logic will always be beyond me.
-The Saints REALLY hate Roger Goodell and that defense has transformed itself into a least respectable. In a game that everyone assumed would be a shootout, Josh Freeman turned the ball over 5 times and looked the exact opposite of ready for primetime. It's also safe to say that the last two weeks for Drew Brees were just 2 down games. When quarterbacks start to get older, we always have to look for those almost imperceptible changes that change them from absolutely elite to merely great. After his 5 interception performance against the Falcons, many started wondering if that was happening to Brees but he answered his critics today with 307 yards and 4 touchdowns. On a positive note for next year, if the Saints decide to let Chris Ivory go as a restricted free agent, Mark Ingram had a very nice day against the number 1 rushing defense in the NFL to a tune of 14 carries for 90 yards and touchdown.
-Cam Cameron's firing didn't do anything for Joe Flacco. The Ravens need to come to terms with the fact that he just isn't good enough. Is Flacco merely 'good'? Yes. He absolutely is. Would I rather have Russel Wilson over him? Yes. Yes I would. They are in a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' situation with Flacco at the end of the year. They clearly aren't going to win the Superbowl this year, and then Flacco comes off the books this offseason. They will have to determine if they want to move forward with him as their franchise. Organizations who commit franchise money to non-franchise quarterbacks have no chance of competing. Look at Kansas City. They are in a situation where a significant portion of their cap is stuck with a player who no longer takes snaps. With the steady deterioration and aging of their formerly elite defense, the Ravens aren't a cross roads organization wide. If they decide to extend Flacco, that means they think they can contend for a championship within the next 3 years. If they don't resign him, it would most likely signal a quick rebuilding phase.
-Speaking of Kansas City, that team should just forfeit it's last two games. To get shut out against the Raiders is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to this team this year. They were unable to get a first down against a team that has been the softest defense in the league should be enough to get Romeo Crennel fired. The team is bereft of talent at almost every single position. The fact that Jon Baldwin, a first round pick, couldn't even get off the line should be personally embarrassing to Scott Pioli. If those two men have jobs next year, the league needs to do the humane thing and force the Chiefs to fold.
What did you guys learn from week 15?
-The Denver Bronco's offense is an unstoppable machine. The Raven's defense is certainly abysmal at best, but that underscores a larger trend. The Peyton Manning led offense can hurt you in anyway. Demaryius Thomas is a top 10 skilled wide receiver in the NFL who demands a safety cover at all levels and as a result, opens up the field for all the other receivers. Knowshon Moreno, previous first round bust, has totally reinvigorated his career. He has kept his legs churning at first contact and ran exactly what has been blocked. Eric Decker, a receiver whose inability to create separation has hindered his productive over the last month and a half is a technician route-runner and as surehanded as they come. Joel Dressen and Jacob Tamme are effective tight end duo and the offensive line keeps Manning protected. As long as Manning is calling the plays and putting his guys in positions to succeed, there will not be a defense that can stop them.
-Not that this something we really learned today, but Adrian Peterson is not human. Less than a year removed from entirely shredding his knee, AP is going to threaten Eric Dickerson's rushing record. He is doing this dragging around a draft pick bust quarterback in Christian Ponder who simply has lost all dynamism. He is doing this with a wide receiver core whose superstar is...no one. Without Percy Harvin, this offense has one playmaker. Kyle Rudolph is a decent red zone weapon, but Antonio Gates or Rob Gronkowski, he is not. The mantle of best running back in the NFL is clearly Peterson's to lose.
-Matt Stafford had the cheapest 5,000 yard season in the NFL. The weapons around him are awful, but the same was true last year. It isn't like Brandon Pettigrew or Nate Burleson were world-beaters last year. His terrible footwork and even worse throwing mechanics caught up to him. Against a team that lost 58-0 to a rookie quarterback last year, Stafford looked overmatched and confused. This isn't to say that Stafford isn't talented, but he is not right now a quarterback who can make castoffs like Kris Durham legit NFL players in the way that Tom Brady or Drew Brees, the other 5,000 yard passers, can.
-The New York Giants are the most inconsistent team in the NFL. There is not another team in the league that is so maddeningly inconsistent. Every year, we see the exact same pattern of hot and cold. Weather this is an extension of Coughlin or Eli isn't clear, but it has to be embarrassing for the defending Superbowl champions to lose like this to a team they stomped in the playoffs last year. The problems of the Giants secondary are going to plague them in playoffs, weather they have to face Matt Ryan again or the updated aerial attack of Colin Kaepernick and the 49er's. Furthermore, Tom Coughlin deserves everything he gets for giving Kraig Lumpkin touches in a game that isn't put away. What do coaches like Coughlin stand to gain from not giving rookies an opportunity to succeed? That logic will always be beyond me.
-The Saints REALLY hate Roger Goodell and that defense has transformed itself into a least respectable. In a game that everyone assumed would be a shootout, Josh Freeman turned the ball over 5 times and looked the exact opposite of ready for primetime. It's also safe to say that the last two weeks for Drew Brees were just 2 down games. When quarterbacks start to get older, we always have to look for those almost imperceptible changes that change them from absolutely elite to merely great. After his 5 interception performance against the Falcons, many started wondering if that was happening to Brees but he answered his critics today with 307 yards and 4 touchdowns. On a positive note for next year, if the Saints decide to let Chris Ivory go as a restricted free agent, Mark Ingram had a very nice day against the number 1 rushing defense in the NFL to a tune of 14 carries for 90 yards and touchdown.
-Cam Cameron's firing didn't do anything for Joe Flacco. The Ravens need to come to terms with the fact that he just isn't good enough. Is Flacco merely 'good'? Yes. He absolutely is. Would I rather have Russel Wilson over him? Yes. Yes I would. They are in a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' situation with Flacco at the end of the year. They clearly aren't going to win the Superbowl this year, and then Flacco comes off the books this offseason. They will have to determine if they want to move forward with him as their franchise. Organizations who commit franchise money to non-franchise quarterbacks have no chance of competing. Look at Kansas City. They are in a situation where a significant portion of their cap is stuck with a player who no longer takes snaps. With the steady deterioration and aging of their formerly elite defense, the Ravens aren't a cross roads organization wide. If they decide to extend Flacco, that means they think they can contend for a championship within the next 3 years. If they don't resign him, it would most likely signal a quick rebuilding phase.
-Speaking of Kansas City, that team should just forfeit it's last two games. To get shut out against the Raiders is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to this team this year. They were unable to get a first down against a team that has been the softest defense in the league should be enough to get Romeo Crennel fired. The team is bereft of talent at almost every single position. The fact that Jon Baldwin, a first round pick, couldn't even get off the line should be personally embarrassing to Scott Pioli. If those two men have jobs next year, the league needs to do the humane thing and force the Chiefs to fold.
What did you guys learn from week 15?
I bet you're awesome at poker too.
