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What Cardinals Fans Are Saying Before And After The Game
- By Prime Time
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 176 Replies
http://forums.azcardinals.com/showthread.php?72935-The-next-three-games-Rams-49ers-Seahawks!
The next three games...Rams, 49ers, Seahawks!
We are still a team that is 3-3 despite a relatively easy early schedule. We have 3 wins by a total of 11 points, against teams with a combined 4 wins, 2 of the 3 in overtime vs very bad teams. 3 losses by a combined 50 points. At -39, only 3 teams in the NFL have a worse win-loss point spread. Only the Bears, Colts and Browns have been worse by that measure...some bad teams.
But a win vs the Rams and what should be a very winnable game against the 49ers could have us at 5-3, on top of the Rams and equal or within a game of the Seahawks. We get them at home, and TJ Logan should be back. The game would be huge.
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10-6 wins the West this year. Seattle is average and the Rams are still a year away.
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It could turn out that yesterday's offense with AP's big game was entirely a fluke driven partly by high emotions. But the Rams have no idea.
Where a mere 6 days ago, their defensive game plan would have been dictated by a weak pass protecting o-line and non-existent running game, now and until the dust settles through at least another week, they will have to assume that the Cardinals run game is as good if not better than it has been in recent years.
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The Rams are 27 in Run D. Their D hadnt been lights out and they are average in the secondary. This is a winnable game, yet the toughest of the 3.
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3-0 versus the Rams-49ers-Seahawks is a tall order but can be done ... need to win in London to even think about 3-0 though.
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There is nothing in 2017 to indicate we can win 2 out of our next 3 games. We don't have a win over a team with a 500 record let alone a winning record. Teams that put runs together are usually pretty good.
What I saw yesterday showed that we could block when healthy get our running game going against a pretty mediocre team at home. That's all I saw.
Nothing indicates we can beat the Rams or the Seahawks. We outright destroyed TB at home last year and had a much better overall D and still we never won 3 in row. We always soiled our diapers in most games after a big win.
It's early but so far in 2017 the Rams have a much better overall team on both sides of the ball. I think one game doesn't mean a thing in projecting forward. We will either stack wins or we won't. So far there is nothing to indicate that we will or that we won't.
Anyone projecting we might go 2 and 1 is as right as projecting 1 and 2 or 0 and 3. If I bet on football without my heart, I would project a loss to the Rams, a toss up game against SF in their house and I have no clue about Seattle at this point. They were very lucky to win the Ram game. The Rams had 5 turnovers and were still in that game until the end.
The problem with our team wasn't just the injuries on the OL, it was a bad Defense. Bad defensive teams usually don't stack wins. I personally think Wade Phillips is miles better than Betcher. That's if every thing else was equal. I think they have better personal on D.
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http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/forum/threads/cardinals-at-rams-london-preview.255430/
Cardinals at Rams (London) Preview
Team Stats:
PTS FOR: AZ (19.6--20th); LA (29.8--1st)
PASS: AZ (286.2--3rd); LA (243.8--10th)
RUSH: AZ (69.8--32nd); LA (116.0-13th)
PTS AGAINST: AZ (26.3-30th); LA (23.0--20th)
PFF Player Grades Comparisons:
QB: AZ Palmer (76.5); LA Goff (75.7)
RB: AZ Peterson (84.2); LA Gurley (74.8)
WR: AZ Fitzgerald (81.8); LA Watkins (74.5)
WR:AZ Jaron Brown (75.2); LA Woods (72.6)
WR: AZ John Brown (75.0); LA Kupp (79.3)
TE: AZ Gresham (43.6); LA Higbee (70.1)
TE: AZ Niklas (42.9); LA Everett (67.6)
LT: AZ Humphries (77.3); LA Whitworth(82.4)
LG: AZ Boone (39.7); LA Saffold(77.9)
C: AZ Shipley (50.6); LA Sullivan (75.5)
RG: AZ Watford (32.9): LA Brown (42.9)
RT: AZ Veldheer (40.4); LA Havenstein (70.9)
NT: AZ Peters (82.0); LA Smart (43.5)
DT: AZ Rucker (48.2); LA Donald (95.6)
DT: AZ Mauro (45.6); LA Brockers (85.9)
DE: AZ Jones (85.5); LA Quinn (62.4)
LB:AZ Dansby (46.2); LA Ogletree (33.0)
LB: AZ Bucannon (35.6); LA Barron (80.9)
LB: AZ Reddick (47.0); LA Barwin (45.0)
CB: AZ Peterson (82.0);LA T. Johnson (43.7)
CB: AZ Bethel (46.0); LA Webster(80.5)
S: AZ: Mathieu (42.5); LA Johnson (82.7)
S: AZ: Branch (88.1); LA Davis (77.5)
Special Teams:
K AZ Dawson (10/14 FG, 11/11 XPT); LA Zeurlein (17/18 FG, 18/18 XPT)
P AZ Lee (47.3 ave., 38.2 net); LA Hekker (46.9 ave., 44.7 net)
KR AZ Williams (20.3 ave.); LA Cooper (31.7 ave.)
PR AZ Williams (3.4 ave.); LA Cooper (5.7 ave.)
Cardinals' Advantage: QB, WR, OLB, CB, S
Rams' Advantage: T, G, C, TE, DT, ILB, K, P, KR, PR
What the Cardinals Need To Do:
On Offense:
1---Run Off-Tackle: Deuce Blocks on Brockers and Donald, Angle and Kick Out Blocks on Quinn and Barwin
2---Wall the Middle on Pass Plays, keep a RB in to take first penetration, A gap blitzes
3---Help on DE Quinn---chips, double teams
4---Win WR/CB matchups
5---Isolate RB in passing game on Ogletree
On Defense:
1---Swarm tackle on Gurley
2---Pressure Goff, collapse pocket, get him to throw off back foot---make blitzes count
3---DL get hands up in passing lanes to stifle short passing game---get 3rd down stops
4---Do a quicker job reading and blowing up screens---get a big game from Buc and Dansby
5---Abandon the zones---play tight man exclusively---Peterson (Watkins), Bethel/T.Williams (Woods); Mathieu (Kupp); Branch (Higbee); Dansby (Everett), Bethea deep help opposite Peterson and at times sneak up to jump Kupp or Higbee.
On STs:
1---Limit Pharoh Cooper's touches on returns with touchbacks and hang-time on punts
2---Pressure Hekker and Zeurlein, disturb their timing and rhythm
3---Put Bethel back as one of the gunners, pair him with Baker
4---Don't let STC John Fassel and the Rams' very good STs be the difference maker in this game
5---Get Scooby Wright going---play these teams with passion
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Not comfortable with TM on Kupp. He's Goffs go to guy. Get a CB covering Kupp.
They should even consider Peterson on 3rd down.
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I can understand your thought, in light of his recent struggles, but I think Honey Badger will do a superb job on Kupp. It's time for him to step up and he is pretty fired up for this London trip.
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Lol @ the entire rams o- line being ranked better... guess that shouldn't be a surprise.
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Just did a quick snap shot of the stats. What they suggest is:
Rams have huge advantages in Sacks and Interceptions.
Gurley performs for them similar to the way AP performed for us.
Their ST's do better than our ST's.
They spread the ball around to several receivers in the passing game.
But they tend to play things close to the vest passing-wise and then beat you with Gurley.
Net-Net: Their game is more mistake-free than BA's. We will ned to win the turnover war, neutralize their pass rush advantage, make fewer mistake, rattle Goff and out gut them in the 4Q if we're to have any shot at winning.
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Sounds like we will need a miracle. Might I suggest we start the game off with an onside kick.
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http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/forum/threads/cant-wait-for-next-weeks-matchup-with-rams.255419/
Can't wait for next week's matchup with Rams
Should be an exciting game. It should really be a magnifying glass for how good or bad we are as a team right now. A win gets everyone back on board in our fight to win our division. A loss could show us how good the Rams actually are this year, and/or what we need in order to stay competitive in coming years.
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I do like the fact we are leaving for London early while the Rams are going to leave for the game at the last moment. I think on the normal road game the team is going to start leaving a day before to avoid distraction but for an oversea trip, allowing the team time to assimilate is right
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Really afraid at the thought of Tyrann covering Cooper Kupp.
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Kupp is good, but really nothing special. Every team nowadays has their sneaky slot WR who moves the chains. It's not like Kupp is dominating or something like that. Rams should be afraid of covering Fitz, Brown and Nelson while AP runs down their throats. I love the matchup!
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I will temper my enthusiasm for this week. So far games in London have been blowouts and I don't see this one being any different. The Cardinals have not traveled well historically so that is a factor that works against them.
Jaguars kicker loses his job after Rams game
- By Prime Time
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 25 Replies
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/10/17/jason-myers-out-as-jaguars-kicker-josh-lambo-in/
Jason Myers out as Jaguars kicker, Josh Lambo in
Posted by Josh Alper on October 17, 2017
Getty Images
The Jaguars had a miserable special teams day against the Rams in Week Six and one member of the group lost his job on Tuesday.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the team is cutting kicker Jason Myers. Myers missed two field goals against the Rams, including a 54-yarder late in the game that would have cut the Jags’ deficit to one score with time for an onside kick.
Myers was 11-of-15 on field goals on the season and missed one against the Jets in a game that Jacksonville would ultimately lose on a field goal in overtime. Myers was 53-of-64 on field goals in his first two seasons with Jacksonville and missed 12 extra points over his entire tenure.
Josh Lambo will be the new Jaguars kicker. He was 52-of-64 on field goals for the Chargers the last two seasons, but got beaten out by Younghoe Koo this summer. The Chargers have since cut Koo and signed Nick Novak.
Jason Myers out as Jaguars kicker, Josh Lambo in
Posted by Josh Alper on October 17, 2017
Getty Images
The Jaguars had a miserable special teams day against the Rams in Week Six and one member of the group lost his job on Tuesday.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the team is cutting kicker Jason Myers. Myers missed two field goals against the Rams, including a 54-yarder late in the game that would have cut the Jags’ deficit to one score with time for an onside kick.
Myers was 11-of-15 on field goals on the season and missed one against the Jets in a game that Jacksonville would ultimately lose on a field goal in overtime. Myers was 53-of-64 on field goals in his first two seasons with Jacksonville and missed 12 extra points over his entire tenure.
Josh Lambo will be the new Jaguars kicker. He was 52-of-64 on field goals for the Chargers the last two seasons, but got beaten out by Younghoe Koo this summer. The Chargers have since cut Koo and signed Nick Novak.
On the road again, and the Rams don't mind
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 2 Replies
On the road again, and the Rams don't mind
"I don't even think we should play at home," joked Rams running back Todd Gurley, whose team is 3-0 on the road this season. Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports
The Rams play out of Los Angeles, but they have performed their best away from it. The sample size is still quite small, but the Rams have won only two games in L.A. since they moved there at the start of the 2016 season, both of which represented their home openers. This year, they're 3-0 on the road for the first time since 2001 -- the year they went to the Super Bowl -- and 1-2 at home.
"I don't even think we should play at home," Rams running back Todd Gurley said, jokingly (one would think). "We've gotten all the wins on the road. That's been a good thing for us."
It's good timing, too.
The Rams beat the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field 27-17on Sunday and are staying in the city through Thursday. From there, they will go to London to serve as the home team against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. Then they'll have their bye week, and then they'll travel to face the New York Giants. That's three games covering something in the neighborhood of 17,000 airline miles. Their next true home game, Week 10 against the Houston Texans, will come 35 days after their last one.
Because they now play out of the West Coast, and because they've drawn the London game, the Rams are set to travel more miles than any other team from the start of the 2016 season to the end of the 2017 season.
This week, their home is a sprawling, luxurious golf-course resort along Jacksonville's coastline. Rams coach Sean McVay is looking forward to the whole experience. He recently spoke to Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn, whose team played in Denver and in Seattle for back-to-back games and wound up spending an entire week on the West Coast.
"It offers a unique opportunity to continue to connect as a team," McVay said. "Being away, but still you’re almost creating another camp in-season, if you will, and it feels comfortable."
The Rams are trying to mimic their typical weekly schedule and adjust it to E.T. They had meetings on Monday, will be off on Tuesday, then practice on the campus of the University of North Florida on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. They'll then hold a late, light practice at 4 p.m. local time from London on Friday.
The Rams are 4-2 for the first time 2006, already matching their win total from all of last season.
There have been times, as recently as their Week 5 game against the Seattle Seahawks, when their offense has had to use a silent count at home because so many of the fans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum were rooting for the opposing team.
Maybe they acquired that road mentality early.
Maybe they have already come together.
“We’re playing as a team and finishing games," Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. "We've had a lot of adversity in our games, but we're still finding a way to play for four quarters and finishing.”
[www.espn.com]
"I don't even think we should play at home," joked Rams running back Todd Gurley, whose team is 3-0 on the road this season. Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports
- Alden GonzalezESPN Staff Writer
The Rams play out of Los Angeles, but they have performed their best away from it. The sample size is still quite small, but the Rams have won only two games in L.A. since they moved there at the start of the 2016 season, both of which represented their home openers. This year, they're 3-0 on the road for the first time since 2001 -- the year they went to the Super Bowl -- and 1-2 at home.
"I don't even think we should play at home," Rams running back Todd Gurley said, jokingly (one would think). "We've gotten all the wins on the road. That's been a good thing for us."
It's good timing, too.
The Rams beat the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field 27-17on Sunday and are staying in the city through Thursday. From there, they will go to London to serve as the home team against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. Then they'll have their bye week, and then they'll travel to face the New York Giants. That's three games covering something in the neighborhood of 17,000 airline miles. Their next true home game, Week 10 against the Houston Texans, will come 35 days after their last one.
Because they now play out of the West Coast, and because they've drawn the London game, the Rams are set to travel more miles than any other team from the start of the 2016 season to the end of the 2017 season.
This week, their home is a sprawling, luxurious golf-course resort along Jacksonville's coastline. Rams coach Sean McVay is looking forward to the whole experience. He recently spoke to Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn, whose team played in Denver and in Seattle for back-to-back games and wound up spending an entire week on the West Coast.
"It offers a unique opportunity to continue to connect as a team," McVay said. "Being away, but still you’re almost creating another camp in-season, if you will, and it feels comfortable."
The Rams are trying to mimic their typical weekly schedule and adjust it to E.T. They had meetings on Monday, will be off on Tuesday, then practice on the campus of the University of North Florida on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. They'll then hold a late, light practice at 4 p.m. local time from London on Friday.
The Rams are 4-2 for the first time 2006, already matching their win total from all of last season.
There have been times, as recently as their Week 5 game against the Seattle Seahawks, when their offense has had to use a silent count at home because so many of the fans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum were rooting for the opposing team.
Maybe they acquired that road mentality early.
Maybe they have already come together.
“We’re playing as a team and finishing games," Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. "We've had a lot of adversity in our games, but we're still finding a way to play for four quarters and finishing.”
[www.espn.com]
Gotta Share some PICS and STORIES from the Game in Jax
- By Selassie I
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 78 Replies
We had a fantastic time yesterday in Jax. The win just capped off the day because everything was better than I ever expected as far as the experience. I'm bad at taking pics... but I got a few worth sharing I think. Got a few cool things to share about the day too.
The first thing I want to say is just how nice everyone in Jax was... and I'm not talking about the crew from ROD. I'm talking about the Jag fans and everyone who worked in that stadium. I have been to a shit load of road games in my time, but I have never experienced the fan friendliness (I don't know if that's even a thing lol) that I experienced yesterday as a fan of a visiting team in any stadium EVER. It was almost like the Twilight Zone. @Ramrasta and I are still kinda in shock about it really.
A bunch of us freaks met up to tailgate at Hooters on The Landing around noon. It's always a blast to meet and talk in person with ROD members at these things. Here's a pic of some of our crew in Hooters... we had the table next to this too but I didn't take enough pics. I'll try and remember everyone's "stage name" here and point them out.
Going clockwise from the bottom left... Blue lensed sunglasses is me. Tongue out with the Shaka Brah sign is @Ramrasta , 99 Donald jersey just showing the back of his head is @RamsJunkie, his little girl with the bow and a full Ram cheerleader outfit is in front of him and his wife has the throwback Gurley jersey next to her, Behind and to the left of Ramsjunkie is @RAMNATION 's wife, RAMNATION is back there with the 28 Faulk jersey, @Dog is next to him in the blue Gurley, coming around to the guy in the white T-shirt is @Soul Surfer , next to him is @Dog 's girl (can't remember if they are married), and at the bottom right with his HORNS UP is @Ramhusker ... Oh, and if you look close you'll see Dog's wooden carved Ram in the middle of the table.
@Dog and @Ramhusker ... you can see the St Johns river behind them. It's still higher than hell from the hurricane.
DOG... and if you look behind him you'll see his girl obviously taking a pic of his ass.
RAMNATION and his wife. Ramrasta in the Youngblood.
Ramrasta got constant compliments for his Youngblood jersey throughout the entire day. Jag fans were telling him how much respect they had for it even after the game was over. So Cool... and Jack Youngblood so deserves it. He's from Florida... he's a more than a Legend here.
OK... things got crazy when we went into the stadium. I didn't realize that the seats I bought were in this special Club seating section for the visitors. It was totally badass. You go into a special entrance and enter an air conditioned palace with private bar and all kinds of different food venders and tables and GIANT TV and tables and bathrooms. Did I mention air conditioning? They even had kick ass Ram memorabilia for auction.
I'm not one to try and take pics of celebs or players,,, and I don't want to be disrespectful. But when it come to the ladies ... and our players have some SUPER HOT wives... I had a moment of weakness. I went over and asked these ladies if I COULD PLEASE take their picture.
Left to Right.... Mrs Ogletree, Mrs Jamon Brown and his daughter, Mrs Quinn. Just so you guys know... these beautiful ladies were so nice, and so tiny.
Here's a shot from our seats. right before the Anthem. They did a KICK ASS Anthem with a Navy Fly Over. Jax is a big time military town. They honored Vets and current Service members throughout the entire game. The fans cheered for the military there like the Jags scored a TD... it was really something else.
So I took this right after Greg Z kicked his last field goal. I never take selfies, but I just HAD to take this one because you guys wouldn't believe it if I didn't have proof.
Early in the game... the little ones sitting behind me just couldn't resist me for some reason. The little girl and boy both really liked me,,, or just wanted to mess with me LOL. She kept kicking or smacking me to get my attention I think,,, and the little guy was very sweet and was rubbing his hands across the Dickerson letters on my shoulders. Their mother kept apologizing,,, and I kept telling her it was just fine. They were the sweetest little children I have been around in a very long time.
Anyway,,, whenever we were on defense I could hear the little girl asking her Mom "where's Daddy" and stuff like "did Daddy get him?" Finally in around the 3rd quarter,,, I couldn't stand it anymore and I just had to ask Mom ... OK Who's Daddy?, I have to know!
She said Aaron... Aaron Donald.
Here's my oldest boy standing next to Aaron's daughter after the game. She got Quinn to come over and talk to them.
We got to talk to so many of the player's family it was almost unbelievable. They were all so very nice and appreciative. We kept getting to talk to so many of the Ram player's family members that it was almost like being out at the high school game talking to other parents of the team. So cool. I'm so glad that Ramrasta and I got to share that.
The first thing I want to say is just how nice everyone in Jax was... and I'm not talking about the crew from ROD. I'm talking about the Jag fans and everyone who worked in that stadium. I have been to a shit load of road games in my time, but I have never experienced the fan friendliness (I don't know if that's even a thing lol) that I experienced yesterday as a fan of a visiting team in any stadium EVER. It was almost like the Twilight Zone. @Ramrasta and I are still kinda in shock about it really.
A bunch of us freaks met up to tailgate at Hooters on The Landing around noon. It's always a blast to meet and talk in person with ROD members at these things. Here's a pic of some of our crew in Hooters... we had the table next to this too but I didn't take enough pics. I'll try and remember everyone's "stage name" here and point them out.
Going clockwise from the bottom left... Blue lensed sunglasses is me. Tongue out with the Shaka Brah sign is @Ramrasta , 99 Donald jersey just showing the back of his head is @RamsJunkie, his little girl with the bow and a full Ram cheerleader outfit is in front of him and his wife has the throwback Gurley jersey next to her, Behind and to the left of Ramsjunkie is @RAMNATION 's wife, RAMNATION is back there with the 28 Faulk jersey, @Dog is next to him in the blue Gurley, coming around to the guy in the white T-shirt is @Soul Surfer , next to him is @Dog 's girl (can't remember if they are married), and at the bottom right with his HORNS UP is @Ramhusker ... Oh, and if you look close you'll see Dog's wooden carved Ram in the middle of the table.
@Dog and @Ramhusker ... you can see the St Johns river behind them. It's still higher than hell from the hurricane.
DOG... and if you look behind him you'll see his girl obviously taking a pic of his ass.
RAMNATION and his wife. Ramrasta in the Youngblood.
Ramrasta got constant compliments for his Youngblood jersey throughout the entire day. Jag fans were telling him how much respect they had for it even after the game was over. So Cool... and Jack Youngblood so deserves it. He's from Florida... he's a more than a Legend here.
OK... things got crazy when we went into the stadium. I didn't realize that the seats I bought were in this special Club seating section for the visitors. It was totally badass. You go into a special entrance and enter an air conditioned palace with private bar and all kinds of different food venders and tables and GIANT TV and tables and bathrooms. Did I mention air conditioning? They even had kick ass Ram memorabilia for auction.
I'm not one to try and take pics of celebs or players,,, and I don't want to be disrespectful. But when it come to the ladies ... and our players have some SUPER HOT wives... I had a moment of weakness. I went over and asked these ladies if I COULD PLEASE take their picture.
Left to Right.... Mrs Ogletree, Mrs Jamon Brown and his daughter, Mrs Quinn. Just so you guys know... these beautiful ladies were so nice, and so tiny.
Here's a shot from our seats. right before the Anthem. They did a KICK ASS Anthem with a Navy Fly Over. Jax is a big time military town. They honored Vets and current Service members throughout the entire game. The fans cheered for the military there like the Jags scored a TD... it was really something else.
So I took this right after Greg Z kicked his last field goal. I never take selfies, but I just HAD to take this one because you guys wouldn't believe it if I didn't have proof.
Early in the game... the little ones sitting behind me just couldn't resist me for some reason. The little girl and boy both really liked me,,, or just wanted to mess with me LOL. She kept kicking or smacking me to get my attention I think,,, and the little guy was very sweet and was rubbing his hands across the Dickerson letters on my shoulders. Their mother kept apologizing,,, and I kept telling her it was just fine. They were the sweetest little children I have been around in a very long time.
Anyway,,, whenever we were on defense I could hear the little girl asking her Mom "where's Daddy" and stuff like "did Daddy get him?" Finally in around the 3rd quarter,,, I couldn't stand it anymore and I just had to ask Mom ... OK Who's Daddy?, I have to know!
She said Aaron... Aaron Donald.
Here's my oldest boy standing next to Aaron's daughter after the game. She got Quinn to come over and talk to them.
We got to talk to so many of the player's family it was almost unbelievable. They were all so very nice and appreciative. We kept getting to talk to so many of the Ram player's family members that it was almost like being out at the high school game talking to other parents of the team. So cool. I'm so glad that Ramrasta and I got to share that.
GET jumboJACKED!
- By bubbaramfan
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 41 Replies
Buy a large drink and get a free JumboJack
(I've already had 4)
uke:
(I've already had 4)
uke:Special Birthday!!
- By DaveFan'51
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 3 Replies
Yesterday Game was SPECIAL for Connor Barwin!! It was his Birthday, so he Celebrated by being a BIG part in our Win over the Jags's!!
He had 7 Solo Tackles / 1 Sack / 3 Tackles foe Loss and a QB Hit!! Happy Belated Birthday Connor, and THANK YOU for your effort!!!
He had 7 Solo Tackles / 1 Sack / 3 Tackles foe Loss and a QB Hit!! Happy Belated Birthday Connor, and THANK YOU for your effort!!!
Props for Brown and Big Rob
- By OldSchool
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 19 Replies
Granted this doesn't tell us how many times we helped with a pull to their side or extra TE blocking. But these numbers are impressive, they had some pass blocking issues but they mauled the Jags line in the 4th quarter.
"impressions" from another board
- By SteveBrown
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 1 Replies
Some impressions
All these are opinions, subject to change upon recognition of greater intelligence
Overall:
1. The Rams O line looks like the know what they are doing every play--Jamon even seems to know!!; despite their size, they don't look like maulers. Howver, in the 4th the Jags defensive line was just wasted and we stomped on them late....like the old days with Pankey, Hill, Smith, Harrah and Slater, oh my...hohhoho, playoffs (50% chance).
2. Doug Marrone didn't adjust the defense one stupid bit; Rams ran the same plays, and the LBers never came up and filled; Actually, they didn't bite on play action, which means they are ready to fill passing lanes, not stop the run--thus a top 5 team against the pass (31??). ANd, Marrone never adjusted, maybe because Bortles can't, when we dominated at the point of attack. NO change up...they were losing at half, and din't come out and do anything different or good. Bad, bad coaching.
3. The Jags offense gave the Rams D 'one look' in the running game. YOu can't do that to Brockers and Donald...they clearly out-thought the Jags O line and made them look stupid. Impressive, but I don't think other teams will make it so easy. By the way, it reminded me of the 1970s 'bad' teams that tried to run on the Rams. Dryer and Youngblood were 220 and 235, but no one every ran on them consistently....they had better technique and intelligence....same with DOnald and Brockers---who both are brutally tough, too!
4. It looks like we are more focusing on not turning the ball over in the passing game; no risks, really--even when we went long, it was max protect, so no big sacks given up; and, this is a John Robinson philosophy when playing inferior teams that always leads to 10-6 seasons....which we might attain, if we beat theCards and Giants coming up.
5. I do like how I have no idea what play will be next; they don't go to Gurley in the flat every game, nor to Higbee every game, nor to Kupp in the slot every game; you can't predict, and that is important. Also, McVay will become a better game day coach...he is 31....I expect even more.
6. Not impressed with the lack of sustaining drives by the offense; against the Seahawks, we didn't score, but we sustained drives, controlled the ball, and got in to the red zone 6 times....that was impressive---this game was pretty awful, and near Fish level.
7. Special teams: best in the NFL yesterday, right? ANd, I wanted to cut Cooper, I am really, really wrong about him.
D Line:
Love Smart- dspite him being onlyt 300lbs or so, he does great. He can't handle double teams so, so well, but man he doesn't give up: he twists, turns, maneuvers to get to that ball carrier. Love this guy; think next year he could be like DOnald in playing style...or not
Brockers: the man. He can not be pushed off the ball more than 1 step, no matter the O lineman.
Donald:messing with those o lineman--as always.
Walker looked tough, and had one great move on the center to pressure Bortles on an important play
LBs:
Quinn: Mr 1/2 a trick pony made about 4-5 nice moves; the rest is ridonkulous.
Barron: the stud of the back 8. He is THE man; he is tough and instinctual, made a great play against two O lineman on a screen.
D backs:
John Johnson: not impressed with his tackling, physicality or 'choices' on some plays....and yet, when the ball is in the air he is very good, it seems. Reminds me of Sharper---another mediocre tackling safety (yes, I remember the Dallas tackle to end the game; one tackle not maketh the man).
Webster: when he came back, the defense went to the next level. Big difference.
Tru Jo: good enough. HE ain't coming back next year....no,no,no way.
Offense:
Gurley: he looked a bit different--better. More moves and cuts....but, he looks tired...maybe I am wrong.
Watkins: I am not so down on him; teams still have to watch him; without him, everything gets tight, because no one is afraid of Woods and Kupp. Mike Thomas could change that.
Tavon Austin: he is what he is....and it seems like a nice distraction for the defense....sadly that is it.
Goff is the same Goff from games 1-4, but the circumstances that surrounded him were much, much different. So, Goff had to become a game manager yesterday---and, that was predeteremined before the game, I believe.. Made some important throws when he had to to Woods and Kupp. He did good enough. THe errant deep throws are a bummer, and a bit of a suprise, but when Sammy starts getting in step, then we will have an offense.
The TEs: blocking seems to be adequate....bummer on the Everett hold...but, no surprise.
Some Rams look 'tired'....
I am going to watch the Cards tonight.....hmm AP is back...well, well...is the AZ O line still bad, or did they pummel Tampa, or what? I gotta find out...
All these are opinions, subject to change upon recognition of greater intelligence
Overall:
1. The Rams O line looks like the know what they are doing every play--Jamon even seems to know!!; despite their size, they don't look like maulers. Howver, in the 4th the Jags defensive line was just wasted and we stomped on them late....like the old days with Pankey, Hill, Smith, Harrah and Slater, oh my...hohhoho, playoffs (50% chance).
2. Doug Marrone didn't adjust the defense one stupid bit; Rams ran the same plays, and the LBers never came up and filled; Actually, they didn't bite on play action, which means they are ready to fill passing lanes, not stop the run--thus a top 5 team against the pass (31??). ANd, Marrone never adjusted, maybe because Bortles can't, when we dominated at the point of attack. NO change up...they were losing at half, and din't come out and do anything different or good. Bad, bad coaching.
3. The Jags offense gave the Rams D 'one look' in the running game. YOu can't do that to Brockers and Donald...they clearly out-thought the Jags O line and made them look stupid. Impressive, but I don't think other teams will make it so easy. By the way, it reminded me of the 1970s 'bad' teams that tried to run on the Rams. Dryer and Youngblood were 220 and 235, but no one every ran on them consistently....they had better technique and intelligence....same with DOnald and Brockers---who both are brutally tough, too!
4. It looks like we are more focusing on not turning the ball over in the passing game; no risks, really--even when we went long, it was max protect, so no big sacks given up; and, this is a John Robinson philosophy when playing inferior teams that always leads to 10-6 seasons....which we might attain, if we beat theCards and Giants coming up.
5. I do like how I have no idea what play will be next; they don't go to Gurley in the flat every game, nor to Higbee every game, nor to Kupp in the slot every game; you can't predict, and that is important. Also, McVay will become a better game day coach...he is 31....I expect even more.
6. Not impressed with the lack of sustaining drives by the offense; against the Seahawks, we didn't score, but we sustained drives, controlled the ball, and got in to the red zone 6 times....that was impressive---this game was pretty awful, and near Fish level.
7. Special teams: best in the NFL yesterday, right? ANd, I wanted to cut Cooper, I am really, really wrong about him.
D Line:
Love Smart- dspite him being onlyt 300lbs or so, he does great. He can't handle double teams so, so well, but man he doesn't give up: he twists, turns, maneuvers to get to that ball carrier. Love this guy; think next year he could be like DOnald in playing style...or not
Brockers: the man. He can not be pushed off the ball more than 1 step, no matter the O lineman.
Donald:messing with those o lineman--as always.
Walker looked tough, and had one great move on the center to pressure Bortles on an important play
LBs:
Quinn: Mr 1/2 a trick pony made about 4-5 nice moves; the rest is ridonkulous.
Barron: the stud of the back 8. He is THE man; he is tough and instinctual, made a great play against two O lineman on a screen.
D backs:
John Johnson: not impressed with his tackling, physicality or 'choices' on some plays....and yet, when the ball is in the air he is very good, it seems. Reminds me of Sharper---another mediocre tackling safety (yes, I remember the Dallas tackle to end the game; one tackle not maketh the man).
Webster: when he came back, the defense went to the next level. Big difference.
Tru Jo: good enough. HE ain't coming back next year....no,no,no way.
Offense:
Gurley: he looked a bit different--better. More moves and cuts....but, he looks tired...maybe I am wrong.
Watkins: I am not so down on him; teams still have to watch him; without him, everything gets tight, because no one is afraid of Woods and Kupp. Mike Thomas could change that.
Tavon Austin: he is what he is....and it seems like a nice distraction for the defense....sadly that is it.
Goff is the same Goff from games 1-4, but the circumstances that surrounded him were much, much different. So, Goff had to become a game manager yesterday---and, that was predeteremined before the game, I believe.. Made some important throws when he had to to Woods and Kupp. He did good enough. THe errant deep throws are a bummer, and a bit of a suprise, but when Sammy starts getting in step, then we will have an offense.
The TEs: blocking seems to be adequate....bummer on the Everett hold...but, no surprise.
Some Rams look 'tired'....
I am going to watch the Cards tonight.....hmm AP is back...well, well...is the AZ O line still bad, or did they pummel Tampa, or what? I gotta find out...
Goff's Duck balls?
- By Da-Rock
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 36 Replies
What is up with his arm and spiral? I keep seeing him throw ducks out there. In the last 3 games his long ball has been terrible.
So far I am happy with his progression from last year, but please, someone work on his spiral.
So far I am happy with his progression from last year, but please, someone work on his spiral.
Peter King - MMQB - 10/16/17
- By Prime Time
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 7 Replies
These are excerpts. To read the whole article click the link below.
As usual, plenty of butt-kissing of the Patriots along with his usual Social Justice Warrior crap, with little mention of the Rams. Not to mention that Peter King seems to think a paragraph isn't a paragraph unless it consists of 50 or more sentences crammed together, which is why I have to edit everything to make it readable.
Honestly it's getting harder and harder to read PK's column every Monday.
*********************************************************************
https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/16/nfl-week-6-chiefs-steelers-rankings-peter-king-mmqb
NFL 2017: A Mishmash of Mediocrity, Where No Team is Great, Some Are Good (and One is Perfectly Bad)
By Peter King
The Steelers sacked Alex Smith three times Sunday and limited the previously unbeaten Chiefs to just 251 total yards.
JOHN SLEEZER/KANSAS CITY STAR/TNS VIA GETTY IMAGES
Usually, six weeks into the season, we’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s what in the NFL. After six weeks: New England was the best team in the AFC last year and went on to win the Super Bowl; Denver and Carolina were unbeaten in 2015 and went on to meet in the Super Bowl; Seattle and Denver were a combined 11-1 in 2013, and they met in the big one.
This year? If Week 6 records mean the most, it looks like Alex Smith and Carson Wentz meeting in the Super Bowl in Minnesota in 16 weeks.
This season is just plain weird. Three of the top 10 stars in the game are lost for the season (most likely) in a span of eight days; Aaron Rodgers, the third, got taken down Sunday with the same run-of-the-mill ferocity he’d been hit with a thousand times in his life, only this time it broke his right collarbone.
The defending rushing champ is likely to start a six-game suspension on Sunday, and it barely registers on the psyche of Football America. Nothing weirder than this: The Saints defense and special teams outscored every player in fantasy football Sunday. The Saints. The winless, lambs-led-to-the-slaughter Giants, their head coach in a bubbling cauldron, dominated in Denver on Sunday night.
Of the 32 NFL teams:
• None is unbeaten.
• Two have one loss.
• 27 have two, three or four wins.
• Few are legit hopeless. Three have zero or one win.
NFL 2017: A gigantic mishmash of mediocrity!
Thank God for the Browns. They’re the only dependable team. They’re 0-6 for the second straight year, and they’re stuck down the same rabbit hole they simply cannot escape. Even the other 0-6 team, San Francisco, is ridiculously competitive. Margin of the 49ers’ last five losses: 3, 2, 3, 3 and 2 points, respectively.
I don’t love any team. But before getting to the newsreel of the weekend (and the coming week), here’s how I see the top five:
1. Kansas City (5-1). The last vision you have of a team is usually the one you remember best, so you might find this strange. But the Chiefs are 15-2 versus teams not named Pittsburgh since Oct. 1, 2016, and they’ve got a 12-game winning streak in a tough division. They’ve just got to protect Alex Smith better and keep Tyreek Hill upright.
2. Philadelphia (5-1). The big story is Carson Wentz, who is growing into a big star before our eyes. But LaGarrette Blount went from the doghouse to being a vital cog in the Eagles’ current four-game winning streak. Now Philly doesn’t go on the road until the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Looks like the Eagles’ most famous season-ticket holder, Mike Trout, will have some frozen January football to cheer.
3. New England (4-2). I’ve got the same questions as everyone else about the defense holding up, and Tom Brady taking a jillion hits, and the end of the dynasty being around the corner. But if it’s close late, and it usually is with the Patriots, you’re going to have to knock them out. Most times, teams can’t.
4. Pittsburgh (4-2). The Steelers are only slightly psycho. Ben Roethlisberger had his nightmare five-pick game eight days ago in a 21-point loss to Jacksonville, but Pittsburgh sandwiched that with strong games on the road against rivals Baltimore and Kansas City. Notice something about those road wins? Mike Tomlin let Le’Veon Bell own them. Combined in Baltimore and K.C., Bell rushed 67 times for 323 yards. That’s the Steelers’ best chance to make the Super Bowl: feature Bell and get ready to pay him handsomely.
5. Houston (3-3). Scott Hanson on NFL RedZone said just what I was thinking as the Texans wiped out Cleveland 33-17 on Sunday. “The Texans’ offense looks as impressive as any in football now,” he said. Last four games: 33, 57, 34 and 33 points, and Deshaun Watson is making everyone in southeast Texas forget the pain of losing J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus.
* * *
Deshaun Watson’s Unique Rookie Season Continues; Jets-Patriots Goal-Line Call Will Live in Infamy
Deshaun Watson has a 101.1 quarterback rating through the first six games of his NFL career.
JOHN RIVERA/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES
Three fat grafs about Sunday’s semi-important things...
• Deshaun Watson is as unique a rookie as I remember in the NFL. Think of Watson since he’s been drafted. He worker-beed his way through training camp, giving deference to nominal starter Tom Savage. He donated his first game check to three lunch ladies with the Texans who suffered losses in the big Houston flood. He struggled to beat the Bengals in his first start, dueled Tom Brady to a close loss in his second start, then threw 12 touchdown passes in his past three games.
As you read this, Watson, who might have spent the year on the bench if Savage had torn up foes in September, leads the NFL in TD throws, with 15. And on Sunday, before the game against Cleveland, he wore a Warren Moon jersey in honor of the best quarterback in franchise history. “So much he did for this organization—I just wanted to show my appreciation for everything he’s done, and for paving the way for future quarterbacks,”
Watson told me after the game. That’s what I mean: He says the right things, does the right things, and plays the right way. He said he isn’t surprised at his early success, and he doesn’t know why his adjustment has been so seamless. I’ll give you one clue: There’s one person on this planet who’s twice thrown for 400 yards against a Nick Saban-coached defense—Watson, at Clemson.
Football’s football. “The reason I’m not surprised is because of the preparation and the mindset I have,” Watson said. Watching him now, he still might lock onto his first read too regularly, but he’s so confident and plays so fast that you figure his progressions will come in time. In his last three games, he’s playing to a 118.3 rating, ridiculous for a rookie.
But postgame Sunday, what he was thinking about was the pick-six he threw to Cleveland cornerback Jason McCourty, even after his fourth straight strong performance. “I’m really upset about that pick-six,” he said. “I was pissed off. I hate turning the ball over. That’s going to stick with me.” Music to his coaches’ ears.
• A call that will live in infamy for Jets fans. New England led the Jets 24-14 with 8:31 left in the game when Josh McCown threw to Austin Seferian-Jenkins near the left pylon at the goal line. Seferian-Jenkins caught the pass, and as he was going to the ground near the pylon he juggled the ball in his hands. But Seferian-Jenkins hit the pylon, and then the ground, with the ball looking to be his grasp. The official ruled it was a touchdown.
On the review, ref Tony Corrente, in consultation with the officiating command center, ruled there was enough evidence to show Seferian-Jenkins had not re-established possession of the ball through the time he fell to the ground. So Corrente ruled a fumble, a touchback, and no touchdown. The Jets lost by seven. Huge call, obviously, one that separated the Jets and Patriots from the tie in the division entering the weekend to a one-game lead for New England at the end of the day.
I reached NFL officiating vice president Al Riveron, who insisted they’d seen enough evidence. “As the runner is going to the ground,” Riveron said, “he loses control of the football. In order for him to re-establish control, he has to have the ball when he touches the ground, and he has to survive the ground—when he hits the ground he must retain control of the ball …
He must complete the process of control of the football as he’s going down, and he never regains full control of the ball while he is inbounds.” When I finished with Riveron, I went back and watched the play with all the replay reviews about 10 times. I saw what appeared to be a loose ball Seferian-Jenkins was trying to control, and then seemingly controlling it as he fell. I never saw the clear loss of the football, as both Corrente and Riveron said they saw.
On Fox, the last VP of Officiating, Dean Blandino, said: “It has to be clear and obvious. It just didn’t seem to me that this was.” My bone to pick is the same as always: I think to reverse a call, you’ve got to be absolutely certain that the visual evidence is there. It seemed Seferian-Jenkins bobbled it going to the ground, but could I swear to it?
No. It could be that Riveron saw a different view than I did, though usually in time the replays will be available in full. Riveron never had to deal with the angst and the anger from fans and coaches and teams as the deputy under Blandino. Now he will.
• Yup, that’s the same Adrian Peterson we used to know. Pretty basic question I had for Adrian Peterson: What’s the difference for you between New Orleans and Arizona? “Remember that first game with the Saints, opening night in Minnesota?” he said. “First snap of the game, I gain nine, and then a play later, I’m out of the game. Here, I got nine on my first carry [eight, actually], and I stayed in, and the opportunities came.”
Peterson ran left for eight yards on the third play, around the left end for 11 more on the fourth play, and through a left guard-tackle crease on the sixth play for 27 yards and a fairly easy touchdown. Peterson was as motivated for this game as he’d been for any in a while—even the opener as a Saint back in Minnesota. The results: 26 carries, 134 yards, two touchdowns. “Pretty much fun,” he said. “I go from playing maybe eight snaps a game to most of the game. I knew, I KNEW I would show up and show out.”
It’s a pretty instant fit too: Peterson’s good friends with Larry Fitzgerald, and he’ll be staying in the guest house behind Fitzgerald’s house for as long as he wants. How long? Well, Peterson made it clear to me this won’t be his last season, and he made it clear this won’t be his last dominant game of the season. The Cards, and a quarterback who’d been getting hit a lot, Carson Palmer, need him to salvage their season.
“What the moral of your story?” I asked. “Control your own destiny,” he said. “Don’t let anyone else control it. It was a little bit mind-boggling to me to listen to guys who played the game, Hall of Famers, who basically thought it was over for me. That stung a little. Disheartening. But that was just more motivation for me.”
* * *
The Award Section
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Le’Veon Bell, running back, Pittsburgh. By halftime of the game of the day, Bell was totally confounding Kansas City defensive coordinator Bob Sutton and his troops. Bell had 17 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown at the break, and the Steelers were well on the way to handing the last undefeated team in the NFL its first loss. The Steelers survived to win, thanks to Bell and a great defensive effort.
Jordan Howard, running back, Chicago. Talk about a John Fox kind of game—the Bears ran it 54 times for 231 yards Sunday in Baltimore. Howard was the brute-force key to this win, with 36 rushes for 167 yards.
Tom Brady, quarterback, New England. He’s had better games in his 18-year NFL career (20 for 28, 257 yards, two touchdowns, one picks), (but I can't help myself from kissing his butt each week) but the 24-17 win over the pesky Jets was his 187th career regular-season victory, which is a record for quarterbacks. Add his 25 playoff wins, and Brady’s win total is 212. And counting. The 212 wins are 12 more than any other quarterback ever.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Vince Williams, inside linebacker, Pittsburgh. In 74 career games over five seasons before Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, Williams had 4.5 sacks. In the dominating defensive effort over the Chiefs, Williams had two first-half sacks, silencing the crowd and setting the stage for the Steelers’ second defensive conquest of the Chiefs in nine months.
Janoris Jenkins, cornerback, New York Giants. Jenkins had a 43-yard pick-six near the end of the first half to put the Broncos in a 17-3 halftime hole. Then, at the start of the fourth quarter, with the Broncos driving to try to cut into a 17-point deficit, Jenkins stripped Demaryius Thomas as he converted a fourth down. The disheartening strip finished off Denver and was a key to the Giants’ major upset.
Adrian Amos, safety, Chicago. One of the most gorgeous interception returns for touchdown I’ve ever seen—and, interestingly, Amos is quite inexperienced at this business. In his 37th NFL game, Amos plucked a tipped Joe Flacco pass out of the air at his 10-yard line, and weaved and bobbed and sprinted down the left side of the field for a vital 90-yard score.
Nigel Bradham, linebacker; Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle; Brandon Graham, defensive end, Philadelphia. Bradham twice made key stops on third-down conversion tries by the Panthers and knocked down two passes. Cox and Graham terrorized Cam Newton all night, combining for 13 hurries, one hit and one sack of Newton, per Pro Football Focus. The three combined for 15 tackles and Bradham, in particular, played one of the best sideline-to-sideline game of an undistinguished career.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Pharoh Cooper, kick-returner/wide receiver, Los Angeles Rams. The first touchdown return of an opening kickoff this year was a doozy. Cooper ran 103 yards up the right side to start the game in Jacksonville, and stunningly pirouetted 360 degrees out of a tackle early in the runback. A superb return.
Justin Tucker, kicker, Baltimore. You’ve got to see the 50-yard field goal Tucker kicked in the fourth quarter against the Bears. I swear it would have been good from 68 yards. It hit two-thirds of the way up the net—on a line! With 3:01 left in the game. Which led this game to …
Michael Campanaro, punt-returner/wide receiver, Baltimore. His weaving 73-yard punt return after the Bears’ ensuing series, plus a two-point conversion pass by Joe Flacco, tied the game against the Bears and sent it to overtime.
COACH OF THE WEEK
Doug Pederson, coach, Philadelphia. I’m a longtime go-for-two kind of guy anyway, but Pederson’s move on Thursday night was one of his many solid decisions in the game against Carolina that got the Eagles to 5-1. A minute into the third quarter, Carson Wentz threw a touchdown pass for Philadelphia, and Jake Elliott kicked the PAT to put the Eagles up 17-10.
But on the PAT, the Panthers were whistled for an illegal formation for lining up directly over the center, which is illegal. Ref Peter Morelli announced the penalty in the stadium, saying the Eagles would take the five-yard walkoff on the ensuing kickoff. The game went to commercial. When the break was over, here was Morelli saying, “Philadelphia has elected to go for two points. The ball will be placed on the one-yard line.”
Now for a here’s-how-the-sausage-is-made moment: Refs and head coaches have an agreement that if there’s any doubt whether the team wants to accept or decline a penalty, the ref will look at the sideline and the coach will make some sort of signal about his intentions. And so CBS had a camera replaying Pederson yelling at Morelli (if my lip-reading is correct): “Look at me! I wanna go for two!” And so the Eagles did, and LaGarrette Blount barreled in from the one, and it was 18-10 instead of 17-10.
Good call by Pederson, obviously; the coach in that circumstance can either take the one point and assess the five yards on the kickoff, or he can go half the distance from the 2-yard line to try for the two-point conversion. I think more coaches should go for two from the 2, but moving it to the 1 makes the call a must-do, even if it means risking taking one point off the board. Smart by Pederson.
* * *
POD PEOPLE
New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown, a veteran of 10 pro football teams.
• McCown on his season with the Oakland Raiders and owner Al Davis: “We were hanging out after a game, loading the car up, and this black Lincoln Town Car comes up, the window goes down, boom. He goes [in a distinctly Al Davis Brooklyn accent], ‘Hey McCown, come here.’ It's like a scene out of Goodfellas. My heart is beating fast, and he says, "The second quarter, you threw the ball in the flat. You had [wide receiver John] Madsen on the corner. Why didn't you throw the corner?’
I'm stumbling through the answer, I'm following my reads and doing what I'm supposed to do, I didn't want to sell out the coaches. I kind of fumbled through the answer, and I get done talking, and he nods his head and goes, ‘It's the Raidahs, throw the ball dahnfield.’ And brrrrrrp the window goes up and he pulls off. It was a great experience.
“He was so sharp, even at that age. We walk in and we're hanging out waiting for a team meeting to start, and here he comes in with his walker, and he sees one of our rookie D-ends, and he says, ‘Hey, last year, you played with your right hand down. Now you're playing with your left hand down. Why? Put your right hand down, you had your best games …’ He rattled off the three games in college that he did that—his sack numbers and everything … Commitment to Excellence wasn't just something he had copy written. It was, legit, his life.”
• McCown, with a wife and four children, on the strain of often being an absentee father while he played in one city and his family lived elsewhere, often in Charlotte: “When your employment begins and ends at training camp, it is hard when you've got family to go, ‘Okay, let's move before the school year,’ so we stayed ... We've just learned to manage it. It's not been ideal by any stretch. Thank god for FaceTime.
But I also understand that I am not the only guy that works, and works away from his family. We have people serving and protecting this country that spend six to eight months, or years, at a time without being able to see their family. The time away is hard. There were so many nights I hung up FaceTime and hung up times with my kids that I would just sit there and cry and go, ‘Man I don't want to, I can't do it! I can't do it anymore.
And then the home game would come and they would come see me, and the joy that they had, and then at the end of the season we would sit down and my kids, especially my two boys, they'd say, ‘Dad, you have to keep playing, we love it.’ They are so supportive and so it's like, I'm sitting there going, ‘Do you really want me to play, or are you just glad Dad is not home to cut off the Xbox?’”
In the podcast, you’ll also hear about this: Opening day, 2004. Arizona at St. Louis. First game of Larry Fitzgerald’s pro life. First snap of Larry Fitzgerald’s pro life. McCown takes the first snap of the season. He hands to running back Emmitt Smith. Smith runs toward the line, stops, pivots, and tosses back to McCown. McCown throws as far as he can downfield. Fitzgerald, covered by Aeneas Williams, jumps over Williams to make the 37-yard catch.
* * *
Things I Think I Think
1. I think these are my quick notes of Week 6:
a. Stunning penalty-yardage disparity Thursday night: Eagles 126, Panthers 1. I would love to be in the officials’ room on Park Avenue to hear the discussion over the fact that the Panthers were not whistled for one hold in a game that has become a clutch-and-grab-fest.
b. I have never heard what CBS analyst Nate Burleson said about rookie running back Kareem Hunt of the Chiefs: “He’s the carpet that brings the room together.” How did I miss that?
c. WHOOOOOOOSH! Marvin Hall just showed up Saturday on the active Atlanta roster for the first time, then got five yards behind the Miami secondary and caught a too-easy long TD.
d. Case Keenum is playing the best football of his life—and looks so confident doing it. His inside shovel pass to Kyle Rudolph for seven yards near the Green Bay goal line was a thing of beauty.
e. The Lions are in the NFC North race because of the Aaron Rodgers injury, not because of good football.
f. The book on C.J. Beathard is he’s one tough guy. Which he showed in the 26-24 loss at Washington. But he showed much more, enough that he’s got at least one more start next Sunday against Dallas.
g. Can someone please teach Jordan Howard that when your team is trying to bleed the clock, you don’t intentionally run out of bounds? Sheesh.
h. Oakland punter Marquette King had a day: four punts, 56.5-yard average, 55.0 net, all four inside the 20.
i. What a pass by Tarik Cohen, the bowling ball of a back for Chicago. He rolled right with a handoff and let one fly, 37 yards in the air, and it nestled perfectly into the arms of Zach Miller in the right corner of the end zone. First Bears rookie running back to throw a TD pass since Gale Sayers did it in 1965.
j. Good for the Chargers winning in Oakland. Anthony Lynn is keeping that team together against so many odds.
k. Jack Del Rio has a big problem, and it’s not only that the Raiders are 2-4. They’re an uninspired, toothless 2-4. They’ve got a must-win game Thursday night against the Chiefs—and they’ve only lost five in a row to Kansas City.
l. Where to start with that New Orleans-Detroit game. Well, I’ll leave you with one note on it: The Cam Jordan tipped-to-himself interception for a touchdown was the biggest play in a game with 90 points scored, and one of the most athletic plays of the season. Jordan’s a heck of a player. The Saints need about five more of him on defense.
m. When he’s healthy, Janoris Jenkins is a top-five NFL cornerback. Showed it again Sunday night with the pick-six in Denver.
n. Could be that I jinxed him, but if you want to see my "Football Night in America" ride-along with Trevor Siemian, here it is.
o. Cam Newton will not put the Thursday-nighter in his time capsule.
p. There is no good reason—nor a crappy reason—to fine a celebrating football player for throwing a football into the stands after a great play. I mean, the player is happy, the player is celebrating, the player gives the souvenir touchdown football to a fan. I do understand the NFL’s reasoning. The league doesn’t want anyone to get hurt in a scrum for a prize football.
And if there is an instance of a fan getting hurt beyond a couple of scratches on a ball thrown into the stands, maybe I’d change my tune. But Davante Adams got fined $6,076 for throwing his winning touchdown catch into the stands in Texas last week, and there’s the cutest picture of the recipient, a little girl, cradling it this week. It’s wrong.
q. Thomas Davis still has it, even after three ACL surgeries.
2. I think, Luke Kuechly, it’s time for that deep conversation with yourself and with your family and maybe with your good friends on the Panthers. You’re 26, and when you’re on the field you’re as dominant and instinctive as you were in 2013, when you were named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. But with a likely third concussion in three years Thursday night, the danger with playing such a physical position and risking further head trauma is something Kuechly and those closest to him are going to have to consider when trying to decide about his future in football.
Kuechly came steaming around right end to get an Eagles’ ball-carrier, and he was met directly by guard Brandon Brooks. Brooks didn’t Kuechly him helmet-to-helmet; rather, he simply stopped Kuechly and leveled him with a strong block into his shoulder/neck area. Players get up from that almost every time … but when players have a history of concussions, even seemingly ordinary contact can be dangerous. Whatever Kuechly does—and he told me last year he planned to play as long he physically is able—the emotion has to be taken out of it. He’s got to make the best call for 50-year-old Luke Kuechly.
3. I think I get the release of NaVorro Bowman—a veteran on an 0-5 team who wouldn’t be there after this season. He’s been one of the best professionals and competitors I’ve covered. I also get the Niners releasing him instead of taking a low-round pick for him. I’ll tell you where I’d go if I were him: Carolina. Great insurance for Kuechly, and a great one-year landing place. Backup plan: Oakland.
4. I think when I saw the Panthers in training camp, coach Ron Rivera was adamant that Carolina was going to be a power-running team. If that was the case, Carolina would be at least one win better than its 4-2 record right now. But in the last two games, Carolina’s running backs have 35 carries for 37 yards. The Panthers should be using the speed and horizontal misdirection of Curtis Samuel and Christian McCaffrey to create uncertainty on the defensive side of the ball.
5. I think it’s only mid-October, and it’s starting to be hard to fathom how a guy who seemed bulletproof on Labor Day, Giants coach Ben McAdoo, will still be in that job in 2018.
6. I think it’s only mid-October, and it’s starting to be hard to fathom how the Eagles won’t win the NFC East, with this schedule over the next four weeks: Washington, San Francisco and Denver, all at home, followed by the bye. The Eagles don’t play a road game until the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
7. I think I enjoyed the NFL Films Presents “Touchdown in Israel” show I screened over the weekend. The show debuts Friday at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Patriots owner Robert Kraft took 18 Pro Football Hall of Famers to Israel, to promote football (the players actually coached a game between two teams of young players from Israel) and so Kraft could show off Israel, which he loves. Most touching parts: At the end of the show, Joe Montana, Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson and others—most emotionally Marshall Faulk—discuss their experiences on the last night in Israel.
Faulk, not an emotional sort, struggles to get through his thoughts speaking to the group, because the trip was so powerful to him. “Coming from the Ninth Ward in Louisiana, to be in Israel … UN-believable … And not just to be here, but [struggling to speak] … to be here with some guys who I look up to. I grew up poor. I sold POPCORN in the Superdome just to watch y’all play! [fighting off tears] …
Cuz that’s the only way I could get in! … So to be here, and to be friends with y’all, and to hear your stories, and to have y’all listening to my stories, um, is unbelievable. I came here as just a member of the Hall. Man, I’m leaving with some special relationships.”
As usual, plenty of butt-kissing of the Patriots along with his usual Social Justice Warrior crap, with little mention of the Rams. Not to mention that Peter King seems to think a paragraph isn't a paragraph unless it consists of 50 or more sentences crammed together, which is why I have to edit everything to make it readable.
Honestly it's getting harder and harder to read PK's column every Monday.
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https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/16/nfl-week-6-chiefs-steelers-rankings-peter-king-mmqb
NFL 2017: A Mishmash of Mediocrity, Where No Team is Great, Some Are Good (and One is Perfectly Bad)
By Peter King
The Steelers sacked Alex Smith three times Sunday and limited the previously unbeaten Chiefs to just 251 total yards.
JOHN SLEEZER/KANSAS CITY STAR/TNS VIA GETTY IMAGES
Usually, six weeks into the season, we’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s what in the NFL. After six weeks: New England was the best team in the AFC last year and went on to win the Super Bowl; Denver and Carolina were unbeaten in 2015 and went on to meet in the Super Bowl; Seattle and Denver were a combined 11-1 in 2013, and they met in the big one.
This year? If Week 6 records mean the most, it looks like Alex Smith and Carson Wentz meeting in the Super Bowl in Minnesota in 16 weeks.
This season is just plain weird. Three of the top 10 stars in the game are lost for the season (most likely) in a span of eight days; Aaron Rodgers, the third, got taken down Sunday with the same run-of-the-mill ferocity he’d been hit with a thousand times in his life, only this time it broke his right collarbone.
The defending rushing champ is likely to start a six-game suspension on Sunday, and it barely registers on the psyche of Football America. Nothing weirder than this: The Saints defense and special teams outscored every player in fantasy football Sunday. The Saints. The winless, lambs-led-to-the-slaughter Giants, their head coach in a bubbling cauldron, dominated in Denver on Sunday night.
Of the 32 NFL teams:
• None is unbeaten.
• Two have one loss.
• 27 have two, three or four wins.
• Few are legit hopeless. Three have zero or one win.
NFL 2017: A gigantic mishmash of mediocrity!
Thank God for the Browns. They’re the only dependable team. They’re 0-6 for the second straight year, and they’re stuck down the same rabbit hole they simply cannot escape. Even the other 0-6 team, San Francisco, is ridiculously competitive. Margin of the 49ers’ last five losses: 3, 2, 3, 3 and 2 points, respectively.
I don’t love any team. But before getting to the newsreel of the weekend (and the coming week), here’s how I see the top five:
1. Kansas City (5-1). The last vision you have of a team is usually the one you remember best, so you might find this strange. But the Chiefs are 15-2 versus teams not named Pittsburgh since Oct. 1, 2016, and they’ve got a 12-game winning streak in a tough division. They’ve just got to protect Alex Smith better and keep Tyreek Hill upright.
2. Philadelphia (5-1). The big story is Carson Wentz, who is growing into a big star before our eyes. But LaGarrette Blount went from the doghouse to being a vital cog in the Eagles’ current four-game winning streak. Now Philly doesn’t go on the road until the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Looks like the Eagles’ most famous season-ticket holder, Mike Trout, will have some frozen January football to cheer.
3. New England (4-2). I’ve got the same questions as everyone else about the defense holding up, and Tom Brady taking a jillion hits, and the end of the dynasty being around the corner. But if it’s close late, and it usually is with the Patriots, you’re going to have to knock them out. Most times, teams can’t.
4. Pittsburgh (4-2). The Steelers are only slightly psycho. Ben Roethlisberger had his nightmare five-pick game eight days ago in a 21-point loss to Jacksonville, but Pittsburgh sandwiched that with strong games on the road against rivals Baltimore and Kansas City. Notice something about those road wins? Mike Tomlin let Le’Veon Bell own them. Combined in Baltimore and K.C., Bell rushed 67 times for 323 yards. That’s the Steelers’ best chance to make the Super Bowl: feature Bell and get ready to pay him handsomely.
5. Houston (3-3). Scott Hanson on NFL RedZone said just what I was thinking as the Texans wiped out Cleveland 33-17 on Sunday. “The Texans’ offense looks as impressive as any in football now,” he said. Last four games: 33, 57, 34 and 33 points, and Deshaun Watson is making everyone in southeast Texas forget the pain of losing J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus.
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Deshaun Watson’s Unique Rookie Season Continues; Jets-Patriots Goal-Line Call Will Live in Infamy
Deshaun Watson has a 101.1 quarterback rating through the first six games of his NFL career.
JOHN RIVERA/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES
Three fat grafs about Sunday’s semi-important things...
• Deshaun Watson is as unique a rookie as I remember in the NFL. Think of Watson since he’s been drafted. He worker-beed his way through training camp, giving deference to nominal starter Tom Savage. He donated his first game check to three lunch ladies with the Texans who suffered losses in the big Houston flood. He struggled to beat the Bengals in his first start, dueled Tom Brady to a close loss in his second start, then threw 12 touchdown passes in his past three games.
As you read this, Watson, who might have spent the year on the bench if Savage had torn up foes in September, leads the NFL in TD throws, with 15. And on Sunday, before the game against Cleveland, he wore a Warren Moon jersey in honor of the best quarterback in franchise history. “So much he did for this organization—I just wanted to show my appreciation for everything he’s done, and for paving the way for future quarterbacks,”
Watson told me after the game. That’s what I mean: He says the right things, does the right things, and plays the right way. He said he isn’t surprised at his early success, and he doesn’t know why his adjustment has been so seamless. I’ll give you one clue: There’s one person on this planet who’s twice thrown for 400 yards against a Nick Saban-coached defense—Watson, at Clemson.
Football’s football. “The reason I’m not surprised is because of the preparation and the mindset I have,” Watson said. Watching him now, he still might lock onto his first read too regularly, but he’s so confident and plays so fast that you figure his progressions will come in time. In his last three games, he’s playing to a 118.3 rating, ridiculous for a rookie.
But postgame Sunday, what he was thinking about was the pick-six he threw to Cleveland cornerback Jason McCourty, even after his fourth straight strong performance. “I’m really upset about that pick-six,” he said. “I was pissed off. I hate turning the ball over. That’s going to stick with me.” Music to his coaches’ ears.
• A call that will live in infamy for Jets fans. New England led the Jets 24-14 with 8:31 left in the game when Josh McCown threw to Austin Seferian-Jenkins near the left pylon at the goal line. Seferian-Jenkins caught the pass, and as he was going to the ground near the pylon he juggled the ball in his hands. But Seferian-Jenkins hit the pylon, and then the ground, with the ball looking to be his grasp. The official ruled it was a touchdown.
On the review, ref Tony Corrente, in consultation with the officiating command center, ruled there was enough evidence to show Seferian-Jenkins had not re-established possession of the ball through the time he fell to the ground. So Corrente ruled a fumble, a touchback, and no touchdown. The Jets lost by seven. Huge call, obviously, one that separated the Jets and Patriots from the tie in the division entering the weekend to a one-game lead for New England at the end of the day.
I reached NFL officiating vice president Al Riveron, who insisted they’d seen enough evidence. “As the runner is going to the ground,” Riveron said, “he loses control of the football. In order for him to re-establish control, he has to have the ball when he touches the ground, and he has to survive the ground—when he hits the ground he must retain control of the ball …
He must complete the process of control of the football as he’s going down, and he never regains full control of the ball while he is inbounds.” When I finished with Riveron, I went back and watched the play with all the replay reviews about 10 times. I saw what appeared to be a loose ball Seferian-Jenkins was trying to control, and then seemingly controlling it as he fell. I never saw the clear loss of the football, as both Corrente and Riveron said they saw.
On Fox, the last VP of Officiating, Dean Blandino, said: “It has to be clear and obvious. It just didn’t seem to me that this was.” My bone to pick is the same as always: I think to reverse a call, you’ve got to be absolutely certain that the visual evidence is there. It seemed Seferian-Jenkins bobbled it going to the ground, but could I swear to it?
No. It could be that Riveron saw a different view than I did, though usually in time the replays will be available in full. Riveron never had to deal with the angst and the anger from fans and coaches and teams as the deputy under Blandino. Now he will.
• Yup, that’s the same Adrian Peterson we used to know. Pretty basic question I had for Adrian Peterson: What’s the difference for you between New Orleans and Arizona? “Remember that first game with the Saints, opening night in Minnesota?” he said. “First snap of the game, I gain nine, and then a play later, I’m out of the game. Here, I got nine on my first carry [eight, actually], and I stayed in, and the opportunities came.”
Peterson ran left for eight yards on the third play, around the left end for 11 more on the fourth play, and through a left guard-tackle crease on the sixth play for 27 yards and a fairly easy touchdown. Peterson was as motivated for this game as he’d been for any in a while—even the opener as a Saint back in Minnesota. The results: 26 carries, 134 yards, two touchdowns. “Pretty much fun,” he said. “I go from playing maybe eight snaps a game to most of the game. I knew, I KNEW I would show up and show out.”
It’s a pretty instant fit too: Peterson’s good friends with Larry Fitzgerald, and he’ll be staying in the guest house behind Fitzgerald’s house for as long as he wants. How long? Well, Peterson made it clear to me this won’t be his last season, and he made it clear this won’t be his last dominant game of the season. The Cards, and a quarterback who’d been getting hit a lot, Carson Palmer, need him to salvage their season.
“What the moral of your story?” I asked. “Control your own destiny,” he said. “Don’t let anyone else control it. It was a little bit mind-boggling to me to listen to guys who played the game, Hall of Famers, who basically thought it was over for me. That stung a little. Disheartening. But that was just more motivation for me.”
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The Award Section
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Le’Veon Bell, running back, Pittsburgh. By halftime of the game of the day, Bell was totally confounding Kansas City defensive coordinator Bob Sutton and his troops. Bell had 17 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown at the break, and the Steelers were well on the way to handing the last undefeated team in the NFL its first loss. The Steelers survived to win, thanks to Bell and a great defensive effort.
Jordan Howard, running back, Chicago. Talk about a John Fox kind of game—the Bears ran it 54 times for 231 yards Sunday in Baltimore. Howard was the brute-force key to this win, with 36 rushes for 167 yards.
Tom Brady, quarterback, New England. He’s had better games in his 18-year NFL career (20 for 28, 257 yards, two touchdowns, one picks), (but I can't help myself from kissing his butt each week) but the 24-17 win over the pesky Jets was his 187th career regular-season victory, which is a record for quarterbacks. Add his 25 playoff wins, and Brady’s win total is 212. And counting. The 212 wins are 12 more than any other quarterback ever.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Vince Williams, inside linebacker, Pittsburgh. In 74 career games over five seasons before Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, Williams had 4.5 sacks. In the dominating defensive effort over the Chiefs, Williams had two first-half sacks, silencing the crowd and setting the stage for the Steelers’ second defensive conquest of the Chiefs in nine months.
Janoris Jenkins, cornerback, New York Giants. Jenkins had a 43-yard pick-six near the end of the first half to put the Broncos in a 17-3 halftime hole. Then, at the start of the fourth quarter, with the Broncos driving to try to cut into a 17-point deficit, Jenkins stripped Demaryius Thomas as he converted a fourth down. The disheartening strip finished off Denver and was a key to the Giants’ major upset.
Adrian Amos, safety, Chicago. One of the most gorgeous interception returns for touchdown I’ve ever seen—and, interestingly, Amos is quite inexperienced at this business. In his 37th NFL game, Amos plucked a tipped Joe Flacco pass out of the air at his 10-yard line, and weaved and bobbed and sprinted down the left side of the field for a vital 90-yard score.
Nigel Bradham, linebacker; Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle; Brandon Graham, defensive end, Philadelphia. Bradham twice made key stops on third-down conversion tries by the Panthers and knocked down two passes. Cox and Graham terrorized Cam Newton all night, combining for 13 hurries, one hit and one sack of Newton, per Pro Football Focus. The three combined for 15 tackles and Bradham, in particular, played one of the best sideline-to-sideline game of an undistinguished career.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Pharoh Cooper, kick-returner/wide receiver, Los Angeles Rams. The first touchdown return of an opening kickoff this year was a doozy. Cooper ran 103 yards up the right side to start the game in Jacksonville, and stunningly pirouetted 360 degrees out of a tackle early in the runback. A superb return.
Justin Tucker, kicker, Baltimore. You’ve got to see the 50-yard field goal Tucker kicked in the fourth quarter against the Bears. I swear it would have been good from 68 yards. It hit two-thirds of the way up the net—on a line! With 3:01 left in the game. Which led this game to …
Michael Campanaro, punt-returner/wide receiver, Baltimore. His weaving 73-yard punt return after the Bears’ ensuing series, plus a two-point conversion pass by Joe Flacco, tied the game against the Bears and sent it to overtime.
COACH OF THE WEEK
Doug Pederson, coach, Philadelphia. I’m a longtime go-for-two kind of guy anyway, but Pederson’s move on Thursday night was one of his many solid decisions in the game against Carolina that got the Eagles to 5-1. A minute into the third quarter, Carson Wentz threw a touchdown pass for Philadelphia, and Jake Elliott kicked the PAT to put the Eagles up 17-10.
But on the PAT, the Panthers were whistled for an illegal formation for lining up directly over the center, which is illegal. Ref Peter Morelli announced the penalty in the stadium, saying the Eagles would take the five-yard walkoff on the ensuing kickoff. The game went to commercial. When the break was over, here was Morelli saying, “Philadelphia has elected to go for two points. The ball will be placed on the one-yard line.”
Now for a here’s-how-the-sausage-is-made moment: Refs and head coaches have an agreement that if there’s any doubt whether the team wants to accept or decline a penalty, the ref will look at the sideline and the coach will make some sort of signal about his intentions. And so CBS had a camera replaying Pederson yelling at Morelli (if my lip-reading is correct): “Look at me! I wanna go for two!” And so the Eagles did, and LaGarrette Blount barreled in from the one, and it was 18-10 instead of 17-10.
Good call by Pederson, obviously; the coach in that circumstance can either take the one point and assess the five yards on the kickoff, or he can go half the distance from the 2-yard line to try for the two-point conversion. I think more coaches should go for two from the 2, but moving it to the 1 makes the call a must-do, even if it means risking taking one point off the board. Smart by Pederson.
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POD PEOPLE
New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown, a veteran of 10 pro football teams.
• McCown on his season with the Oakland Raiders and owner Al Davis: “We were hanging out after a game, loading the car up, and this black Lincoln Town Car comes up, the window goes down, boom. He goes [in a distinctly Al Davis Brooklyn accent], ‘Hey McCown, come here.’ It's like a scene out of Goodfellas. My heart is beating fast, and he says, "The second quarter, you threw the ball in the flat. You had [wide receiver John] Madsen on the corner. Why didn't you throw the corner?’
I'm stumbling through the answer, I'm following my reads and doing what I'm supposed to do, I didn't want to sell out the coaches. I kind of fumbled through the answer, and I get done talking, and he nods his head and goes, ‘It's the Raidahs, throw the ball dahnfield.’ And brrrrrrp the window goes up and he pulls off. It was a great experience.
“He was so sharp, even at that age. We walk in and we're hanging out waiting for a team meeting to start, and here he comes in with his walker, and he sees one of our rookie D-ends, and he says, ‘Hey, last year, you played with your right hand down. Now you're playing with your left hand down. Why? Put your right hand down, you had your best games …’ He rattled off the three games in college that he did that—his sack numbers and everything … Commitment to Excellence wasn't just something he had copy written. It was, legit, his life.”
• McCown, with a wife and four children, on the strain of often being an absentee father while he played in one city and his family lived elsewhere, often in Charlotte: “When your employment begins and ends at training camp, it is hard when you've got family to go, ‘Okay, let's move before the school year,’ so we stayed ... We've just learned to manage it. It's not been ideal by any stretch. Thank god for FaceTime.
But I also understand that I am not the only guy that works, and works away from his family. We have people serving and protecting this country that spend six to eight months, or years, at a time without being able to see their family. The time away is hard. There were so many nights I hung up FaceTime and hung up times with my kids that I would just sit there and cry and go, ‘Man I don't want to, I can't do it! I can't do it anymore.
And then the home game would come and they would come see me, and the joy that they had, and then at the end of the season we would sit down and my kids, especially my two boys, they'd say, ‘Dad, you have to keep playing, we love it.’ They are so supportive and so it's like, I'm sitting there going, ‘Do you really want me to play, or are you just glad Dad is not home to cut off the Xbox?’”
In the podcast, you’ll also hear about this: Opening day, 2004. Arizona at St. Louis. First game of Larry Fitzgerald’s pro life. First snap of Larry Fitzgerald’s pro life. McCown takes the first snap of the season. He hands to running back Emmitt Smith. Smith runs toward the line, stops, pivots, and tosses back to McCown. McCown throws as far as he can downfield. Fitzgerald, covered by Aeneas Williams, jumps over Williams to make the 37-yard catch.
* * *
Things I Think I Think
1. I think these are my quick notes of Week 6:
a. Stunning penalty-yardage disparity Thursday night: Eagles 126, Panthers 1. I would love to be in the officials’ room on Park Avenue to hear the discussion over the fact that the Panthers were not whistled for one hold in a game that has become a clutch-and-grab-fest.
b. I have never heard what CBS analyst Nate Burleson said about rookie running back Kareem Hunt of the Chiefs: “He’s the carpet that brings the room together.” How did I miss that?
c. WHOOOOOOOSH! Marvin Hall just showed up Saturday on the active Atlanta roster for the first time, then got five yards behind the Miami secondary and caught a too-easy long TD.
d. Case Keenum is playing the best football of his life—and looks so confident doing it. His inside shovel pass to Kyle Rudolph for seven yards near the Green Bay goal line was a thing of beauty.
e. The Lions are in the NFC North race because of the Aaron Rodgers injury, not because of good football.
f. The book on C.J. Beathard is he’s one tough guy. Which he showed in the 26-24 loss at Washington. But he showed much more, enough that he’s got at least one more start next Sunday against Dallas.
g. Can someone please teach Jordan Howard that when your team is trying to bleed the clock, you don’t intentionally run out of bounds? Sheesh.
h. Oakland punter Marquette King had a day: four punts, 56.5-yard average, 55.0 net, all four inside the 20.
i. What a pass by Tarik Cohen, the bowling ball of a back for Chicago. He rolled right with a handoff and let one fly, 37 yards in the air, and it nestled perfectly into the arms of Zach Miller in the right corner of the end zone. First Bears rookie running back to throw a TD pass since Gale Sayers did it in 1965.
j. Good for the Chargers winning in Oakland. Anthony Lynn is keeping that team together against so many odds.
k. Jack Del Rio has a big problem, and it’s not only that the Raiders are 2-4. They’re an uninspired, toothless 2-4. They’ve got a must-win game Thursday night against the Chiefs—and they’ve only lost five in a row to Kansas City.
l. Where to start with that New Orleans-Detroit game. Well, I’ll leave you with one note on it: The Cam Jordan tipped-to-himself interception for a touchdown was the biggest play in a game with 90 points scored, and one of the most athletic plays of the season. Jordan’s a heck of a player. The Saints need about five more of him on defense.
m. When he’s healthy, Janoris Jenkins is a top-five NFL cornerback. Showed it again Sunday night with the pick-six in Denver.
n. Could be that I jinxed him, but if you want to see my "Football Night in America" ride-along with Trevor Siemian, here it is.
o. Cam Newton will not put the Thursday-nighter in his time capsule.
p. There is no good reason—nor a crappy reason—to fine a celebrating football player for throwing a football into the stands after a great play. I mean, the player is happy, the player is celebrating, the player gives the souvenir touchdown football to a fan. I do understand the NFL’s reasoning. The league doesn’t want anyone to get hurt in a scrum for a prize football.
And if there is an instance of a fan getting hurt beyond a couple of scratches on a ball thrown into the stands, maybe I’d change my tune. But Davante Adams got fined $6,076 for throwing his winning touchdown catch into the stands in Texas last week, and there’s the cutest picture of the recipient, a little girl, cradling it this week. It’s wrong.
q. Thomas Davis still has it, even after three ACL surgeries.
2. I think, Luke Kuechly, it’s time for that deep conversation with yourself and with your family and maybe with your good friends on the Panthers. You’re 26, and when you’re on the field you’re as dominant and instinctive as you were in 2013, when you were named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. But with a likely third concussion in three years Thursday night, the danger with playing such a physical position and risking further head trauma is something Kuechly and those closest to him are going to have to consider when trying to decide about his future in football.
Kuechly came steaming around right end to get an Eagles’ ball-carrier, and he was met directly by guard Brandon Brooks. Brooks didn’t Kuechly him helmet-to-helmet; rather, he simply stopped Kuechly and leveled him with a strong block into his shoulder/neck area. Players get up from that almost every time … but when players have a history of concussions, even seemingly ordinary contact can be dangerous. Whatever Kuechly does—and he told me last year he planned to play as long he physically is able—the emotion has to be taken out of it. He’s got to make the best call for 50-year-old Luke Kuechly.
3. I think I get the release of NaVorro Bowman—a veteran on an 0-5 team who wouldn’t be there after this season. He’s been one of the best professionals and competitors I’ve covered. I also get the Niners releasing him instead of taking a low-round pick for him. I’ll tell you where I’d go if I were him: Carolina. Great insurance for Kuechly, and a great one-year landing place. Backup plan: Oakland.
4. I think when I saw the Panthers in training camp, coach Ron Rivera was adamant that Carolina was going to be a power-running team. If that was the case, Carolina would be at least one win better than its 4-2 record right now. But in the last two games, Carolina’s running backs have 35 carries for 37 yards. The Panthers should be using the speed and horizontal misdirection of Curtis Samuel and Christian McCaffrey to create uncertainty on the defensive side of the ball.
5. I think it’s only mid-October, and it’s starting to be hard to fathom how a guy who seemed bulletproof on Labor Day, Giants coach Ben McAdoo, will still be in that job in 2018.
6. I think it’s only mid-October, and it’s starting to be hard to fathom how the Eagles won’t win the NFC East, with this schedule over the next four weeks: Washington, San Francisco and Denver, all at home, followed by the bye. The Eagles don’t play a road game until the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
7. I think I enjoyed the NFL Films Presents “Touchdown in Israel” show I screened over the weekend. The show debuts Friday at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Patriots owner Robert Kraft took 18 Pro Football Hall of Famers to Israel, to promote football (the players actually coached a game between two teams of young players from Israel) and so Kraft could show off Israel, which he loves. Most touching parts: At the end of the show, Joe Montana, Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson and others—most emotionally Marshall Faulk—discuss their experiences on the last night in Israel.
Faulk, not an emotional sort, struggles to get through his thoughts speaking to the group, because the trip was so powerful to him. “Coming from the Ninth Ward in Louisiana, to be in Israel … UN-believable … And not just to be here, but [struggling to speak] … to be here with some guys who I look up to. I grew up poor. I sold POPCORN in the Superdome just to watch y’all play! [fighting off tears] …
Cuz that’s the only way I could get in! … So to be here, and to be friends with y’all, and to hear your stories, and to have y’all listening to my stories, um, is unbelievable. I came here as just a member of the Hall. Man, I’m leaving with some special relationships.”