I'm not sure why so many have gravitated towards numbers to explain away sports. Bill James and all the other mathematicians have turned baseball into a game of percentages. More like rolling a dice than anything involving a ball. This trend is creeping into football. Some teams even have an analytic department. There are websites devoted to the crunching of play on the football field into numbers, charts and graphs. Two of the most prominent are Aaron Schatz's Football Outsiders and Neil Hornsby's Pro Football Focus. There's a lot to like about these numbers. Quantifying the play of an offensive lineman has never been done before. Every other position in football generates some statistics that allows one to evaluate performance on the football field. Tackles, receptions, yards rushing, touchdowns, sacks, etc. Each paints a picture that we've used to judge a football player for decades. These numbers have never been an absolute judge but they can be pretty accurate. Now the offensive linemen are getting their own numbers. It's fine day, or sad, for the fat guys.
These number crunchers have also brought to us numbers that we've never seen before. You can find the production of backs and receivers on various downs and distances. Team defense in the third quarter. An offense's two minute efficiency. Pretty much anything that strikes your fancy has probably been broken down into an easily manageable number.
The problem that I have with numbers explaining away football is the use of them in making decisions going forward. I don't think that numbers generated from past performances can accurately predict football players making plays. Percentages probably say that a kick returner shouldn't bring a kick back from nine yards deep in the end zone. I'd let Percy Harvin return a kick if he caught the kick in the stands. I've seen football players do things that no number would say that they could or should. I think that all of these numbers are great in revealing how teams and players have performed. I think that it's a mistake to rely on these numbers to tell teams or players how they should perform.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Throwback Thursday: Fandom
"My love of the Steelers might be the purest thing in my life, just because it's always been there and it's so unquestioned. I love the Steelers like a golden retriever loves a tennis ball."-Kirven Blount
I noticed this quote in last week's issue of Sports Illustrated. It describes very well my love of the Minnesota Vikings. Kirven Blount is the son of Sports Illustrated writer, contributor and author Roy Blount Jr. The younger Blount fell for the Steelers as a child around the time that the elder Blount spent the entire 1973 season with the team for his excellent book, About Three Bricks Shy of a Load. Kirven was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers at a time when they were getting ready to win a bunch of Super Bowls. I was taken by the Minnesota Vikings at about the same time when they were losing a bunch of Super Bowls. One of which was to those Steelers. Despite four Super Bowl losses and no return to the big game since 1977, I've never regretted for one moment being a Minnesota Vikings fan. Not even when most around me were celebrating three Oakland/L.A. Raiders and five San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl wins. My time with the Vikings has been well spent and it's been a blast. Sure, it could have been better.
Like Kirven with the Steelers, it seems that the Vikings have always been a part of me. I can't remember a day that I was aware of football and I wasn't part of the Vikings faithful. There had to have been a few days but I can't remember a single one. Falling in with a team that easily may not be a shock when that team is nearby. The 49ers and the Raiders were my local teams and everyone around me seemed to be a fan of one or both. The Vikings were a half a continent away and they might as well have been much more. I discovered and learned of Minnesota as a result of being a fan of the their NFL team. A little Minnesota Vikings fan in the middle of California. It's just the way it was.
The fun part about being a Vikings fan in the early '70s was that they were either in the Super Bowl or seriously contending for it. They made it to three in a four stretch. The Buffalo Bills of their day. It wasn't so fun that they always ended their playoff runs with a loss. If you told me then that the Vikings wouldn't make it back to a Super Bowl for over 35 years I would have thought that you were nuts. Kirven certainly had the better run. Four championships in the '70s. Two more in the last decade. The Vikings will get some of their own. I have no doubt. The fun part is the ride and I'm settled in for a long ride.
I noticed this quote in last week's issue of Sports Illustrated. It describes very well my love of the Minnesota Vikings. Kirven Blount is the son of Sports Illustrated writer, contributor and author Roy Blount Jr. The younger Blount fell for the Steelers as a child around the time that the elder Blount spent the entire 1973 season with the team for his excellent book, About Three Bricks Shy of a Load. Kirven was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers at a time when they were getting ready to win a bunch of Super Bowls. I was taken by the Minnesota Vikings at about the same time when they were losing a bunch of Super Bowls. One of which was to those Steelers. Despite four Super Bowl losses and no return to the big game since 1977, I've never regretted for one moment being a Minnesota Vikings fan. Not even when most around me were celebrating three Oakland/L.A. Raiders and five San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl wins. My time with the Vikings has been well spent and it's been a blast. Sure, it could have been better.
Like Kirven with the Steelers, it seems that the Vikings have always been a part of me. I can't remember a day that I was aware of football and I wasn't part of the Vikings faithful. There had to have been a few days but I can't remember a single one. Falling in with a team that easily may not be a shock when that team is nearby. The 49ers and the Raiders were my local teams and everyone around me seemed to be a fan of one or both. The Vikings were a half a continent away and they might as well have been much more. I discovered and learned of Minnesota as a result of being a fan of the their NFL team. A little Minnesota Vikings fan in the middle of California. It's just the way it was.
The fun part about being a Vikings fan in the early '70s was that they were either in the Super Bowl or seriously contending for it. They made it to three in a four stretch. The Buffalo Bills of their day. It wasn't so fun that they always ended their playoff runs with a loss. If you told me then that the Vikings wouldn't make it back to a Super Bowl for over 35 years I would have thought that you were nuts. Kirven certainly had the better run. Four championships in the '70s. Two more in the last decade. The Vikings will get some of their own. I have no doubt. The fun part is the ride and I'm settled in for a long ride.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Harvin Bashing
For the past week I've been shocked by the number of negative comments made by the media and especially the fans about Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin. He was placed on the injured reserve list last week due to a sprained ankle. He injured the ankle against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 4. The Vikings didn't make the move to injured reserve until last week because they held out hope that his ankle would come around with rest and rehab. When it was discovered that the ligament in the joint was torn that hope died. Injuries are unfortunate but they are part of football. It's certainly not Harvin's fault that he injured his ankle. He even returned to the field against the Seahawks which, as it turned out, was probably not the best idea. The injury was especially devastating as Harvin was having such a fantastic season. His versatility impacts so much of the Vikings offense and special teams. He had been the only real threat from the receiver position and in his absence quarterback Christian Ponder has struggled often.
Percy Harvin leaves everything out on the field and he plays a pretty brutal brand of football. He never shies from contact. The manner in which he plays the game has made him a fan favorite. That's why the negativity towards him is so shocking. Most of it stems from his words and actions during the offseason. He stayed away from a mini-camp due to uncertainty with his role in the Vikings offense. Some assumed that he was grumbling about his contract. Some just saw him as another prima dona receiver. He just wants to win and just wanted to know how the team was going to use his varied skills. It was a valid concern seeing as he was standing on the sideline far too often last season. Fans started to jump off Harvin's bandwagon. Most jumped back on when he got off to such an outstanding start. He really carried the team through the first few weeks. Now that he's injured and not playing, fans and media think that he has issues. Sure, he has issues. He's injured and he wants to be playing football. He's not happy right now. He's a competitor and he wants to help his team get into the playoffs. People think that he has an attitude problem because he hasn't been on the sideline like other injured players. Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher have been mentioned. Different person, different situation. People have to accept that not all players see everything exactly as we want them to. Many fans and some idiot media say that Harvin's throwing a fit because of money. I still say that he's unhappy because he's not playing. Radio announcer and former Vikings linebacker Pete Bercich thinks that Harvin has played his last game for the Vikings. I think that Bercich is an idiot. None other than the owner of the team has stated that signing Harvin to a long term contract is on the "to do" list for this offseason. I tend to believe the owner rather than a radio hack.
Percy Harvin has been an incredible football player for the Minnesota Vikings. I think that continues and that the fickle fans will forget all about their bitching about him when something new comes around to bitch about.
Percy Harvin leaves everything out on the field and he plays a pretty brutal brand of football. He never shies from contact. The manner in which he plays the game has made him a fan favorite. That's why the negativity towards him is so shocking. Most of it stems from his words and actions during the offseason. He stayed away from a mini-camp due to uncertainty with his role in the Vikings offense. Some assumed that he was grumbling about his contract. Some just saw him as another prima dona receiver. He just wants to win and just wanted to know how the team was going to use his varied skills. It was a valid concern seeing as he was standing on the sideline far too often last season. Fans started to jump off Harvin's bandwagon. Most jumped back on when he got off to such an outstanding start. He really carried the team through the first few weeks. Now that he's injured and not playing, fans and media think that he has issues. Sure, he has issues. He's injured and he wants to be playing football. He's not happy right now. He's a competitor and he wants to help his team get into the playoffs. People think that he has an attitude problem because he hasn't been on the sideline like other injured players. Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher have been mentioned. Different person, different situation. People have to accept that not all players see everything exactly as we want them to. Many fans and some idiot media say that Harvin's throwing a fit because of money. I still say that he's unhappy because he's not playing. Radio announcer and former Vikings linebacker Pete Bercich thinks that Harvin has played his last game for the Vikings. I think that Bercich is an idiot. None other than the owner of the team has stated that signing Harvin to a long term contract is on the "to do" list for this offseason. I tend to believe the owner rather than a radio hack.
Percy Harvin has been an incredible football player for the Minnesota Vikings. I think that continues and that the fickle fans will forget all about their bitching about him when something new comes around to bitch about.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Intentional Grounding
I find intentional grounding one of the most questionably enforced rules in the books. Unnecessary roughness, especially when it comes to hits on the quarterback, is pretty bad too but the officials are strongly encouraged to err on the side of safety. Still, it's a judgement call on either side of safety. All penalties are a judgement call. Intentional grounding has become something that only seems to bother me. The problem that I have is that quarterbacks have started to dance around the rules of intentional grounding and it's forced officials to make calls that they really shouldn't be making.
Intentional grounding seems straight forward enough. If the quarterback is in the tackle box, the area between the two offensive tackles, he can't dump the ball to avoid a sack. If he does throw the ball away while still in that box, the pass has to reach the line of scrimmage and there has to be an eligible receiver in the area. These are nicely defined rules. They were so well defined that quarterbacks started to take advantage of them. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was clearly grounding the ball intentionally to avoid a snarling Jared Allen sack but he'd be a step outside the tackle box. He'd get away, get outside the box and just dump the ball out of bounds or in the ground. It looks bogus but he saves the yardage and gets another shot. He also avoids potentially painful hits. He was staying nice and clean and inside the rules. The problem that I have with the enforcement of the rule started when intentional grounding opened the scoring in last year's Super Bowl. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was facing intense Giants pressure while back to pass in his own end zone. Finding no one open he fired the ball deep down the middle of the field. He was in the tackle box. The ball sailed over the line of scrimmage but there was no Patriots receiver in the area. It was ruled intentional grounding in the end zone and a safety for the Giants. I saw a similar call against Brady in the field of play this year. The problem that I have with this ruling is that the official is making a judgement on intent. The name of the rule implies a judgement of intention but the officials are making a judgement of the intention of an offensive scheme. So much of today's passing offenses are dependent on timing and adjustments during the play by the quarterback and the receiver. Based on what they see the receiver has options for his route. The quarterback sees the same thing and reacts accordingly. The Patriots likely have route adjustments when Brady is in trouble. Basically Brady could be throwing the ball down the middle of the field simply because he expects a receiver to be there and not because he is avoiding a sack. The officials are making that distinction. We see passes thrown to vacant areas fairly often due to a missed communication and it's accepted as such. The official is judging the intention of Brady. I think that's a mistake. I'm pretty sure that I'm alone on this as I never hear anybody else think anything of it.
Intentional grounding seems straight forward enough. If the quarterback is in the tackle box, the area between the two offensive tackles, he can't dump the ball to avoid a sack. If he does throw the ball away while still in that box, the pass has to reach the line of scrimmage and there has to be an eligible receiver in the area. These are nicely defined rules. They were so well defined that quarterbacks started to take advantage of them. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was clearly grounding the ball intentionally to avoid a snarling Jared Allen sack but he'd be a step outside the tackle box. He'd get away, get outside the box and just dump the ball out of bounds or in the ground. It looks bogus but he saves the yardage and gets another shot. He also avoids potentially painful hits. He was staying nice and clean and inside the rules. The problem that I have with the enforcement of the rule started when intentional grounding opened the scoring in last year's Super Bowl. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was facing intense Giants pressure while back to pass in his own end zone. Finding no one open he fired the ball deep down the middle of the field. He was in the tackle box. The ball sailed over the line of scrimmage but there was no Patriots receiver in the area. It was ruled intentional grounding in the end zone and a safety for the Giants. I saw a similar call against Brady in the field of play this year. The problem that I have with this ruling is that the official is making a judgement on intent. The name of the rule implies a judgement of intention but the officials are making a judgement of the intention of an offensive scheme. So much of today's passing offenses are dependent on timing and adjustments during the play by the quarterback and the receiver. Based on what they see the receiver has options for his route. The quarterback sees the same thing and reacts accordingly. The Patriots likely have route adjustments when Brady is in trouble. Basically Brady could be throwing the ball down the middle of the field simply because he expects a receiver to be there and not because he is avoiding a sack. The officials are making that distinction. We see passes thrown to vacant areas fairly often due to a missed communication and it's accepted as such. The official is judging the intention of Brady. I think that's a mistake. I'm pretty sure that I'm alone on this as I never hear anybody else think anything of it.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Week 14 Thoughts
Minnesota Vikings 21
chicago bears 14
Now at 7-6, the Vikings likely need to win all three remaining games for the playoffs. Even then they'll need some help. All that they can worry about is their side of things. Those three games are at St. Louis, at Houston and closing with Green Bay at home. Pretty tough task but that's what it's going to take to get to the playoffs.
Adrian Peterson and the defense won this game. Until quarterback Christian Ponder can start making teams pay for all the attention paid to stopping Peterson that's how it's going to be. Peterson was awesome. So was the defense. They finally made stops on third down. They also got some big plays from rookies.
Peterson had 104 yards rushing and two touchdowns by the end of the first quarter. He finished with 154. Ponder didn't hit 100 yards passing in four quarters. Losing receiver Percy Harvin to injury has to be overcome in the remaining games.
Ponder made some clutch throws. He converted some third downs. It's a stretch to say that he played poorly despite the meager yardage. His one interception was on a deep throw at the end of the first half. It didn't amount to much since there were only seconds left. It was still a throw that he shouldn't have made as he wasn't able to set his feet to get the distance that he needed. Rookie Jarius Wright was open on the play but the pass was way short. Making off balance throws is perhaps Ponder's biggest problem. He keeps doing it and he keeps paying for it. He's got to stop doing it.
4 of Ponder's 11 completions went to Michael Jenkins. Each converted a third down. Each was big.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph should never end a game without a reception. He's too big of a target and too much of a weapon. He did catch the Bears onside kick attempt so he did make an impact.
The Vikings liked corner A.J. Jefferson's size (6'1") when they acquired him from the Arizona Cardinals just prior to the start of the season. It paid off when starter Chris Cook broke his arm during the season. Jefferson has provided nice coverage but for a player of his height he should make more plays on the ball. He's right there but receivers repeatedly catch balls over him. That shouldn't happen. He did make a nice play to break up a pass to Brandon Marshall on third down in the second half.
Despite that one play by Jefferson, the Vikings can't find an answer for Marshall. He had about a dozen drive extending receptions two weeks ago. He had 160 yards yesterday. Quarterback Jay Cutler and Marshall have been a deadly combination.
The Vikings have to find a receiver like Marshall of their own. A receiver that can just go up and make a play. They had one with Sidney Rice but he got away. They might have drafted one last spring in Greg Childs but he tore the patella tendon in both knees in training camp. Hopefully he can come back but he has a tough road ahead of him. If the Vikings pursue a big receiver in free agency, Danario Alexander is doing for the San Diego Chargers exactly what the Vikings need in Minnesota.
Vikings rookie safety Harrison Smith bagged his second pick-6 of the season. I've said it before and I'll say it for as long as Smith plays Vikings football, it is so great to finally have a playmaker at the back of the Vikings defense.
Smith received some recruiting attention as a running back in high school. His two interception returns for touchdowns this season showed those running back skills.
Fellow rookie, corner Josh Robinson nearly got his own pick-6. His return early in the game was ruled a touchdown on the field but replay showed that he had stepped out at the 5-yard line.
The Vikings 2012 Draft class continues to excel. Tackle Matt Kalil is already one of the top players in the league at his position. Safety Harrison Smith has been outstanding. Josh Robinson looks to be a starter at corner for a long time. Tight end Rhett Ellison does pretty much everything on offense and special teams. Receiver Jarius Wright has made some plays since he had to step up with the loss of Harvin. Kicker Blair Walsh has been nearly perfect. This class will be Vikings mainstays for a decade, maybe more.
Defensive end Brian Robison had a sack and a forced fumble. The loose, bouncing ball headed upfield and a Bears lineman fell upon it for an 8-yard gain. I hate when the bad guys benefit from a great play by the good guys.
The players around the league are wearing patches commemorating the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 50th Anniversary. Punter Chris Kluwe took the opportunity to stand up for a Hall of Fame injustice. He had a note attached over the patch calling for the induction of former Raiders punter Ray Guy. I see a fine coming.
Seeing the snow fall outside the Metrodome kinda brought back really fine memories of old Metropolitan Stadium and the days when the Vikings played in the snow. It's easy to say from the comfort of a couch but I miss those days.
Jerry Angelo made the personnel decisions for the Bears for over a decade until he was fired last offseason. For whatever reason, he never saw the need to even try to add anything close to a playmaking a receiver. It was a mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. After kicking Angelo out the door, the Bears traded for Marshall and drafted Alshon Jeffery. Marshall has proven to be a difference maker for a while now. Jeffery should provide an excellent option opposite Marshall. He was outstanding at South Carolina. He has the size and hands to do the same in the NFL.
When Mike Martz was running the Bears offense they traded tight end Greg Olson to the Carolina Panthers. The extremely talented Olson was wasted in a silly offense that didn't use tight ends. The Bears probably regret that trade now.
It's good to see Panthers quarterback Cam Newton turning things around in his last few games. The expectations for him after an outstanding rookie season were way too high. He's a terrific football player.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles should never run with the football. There's not enough time in a game. He ran for a touchdown yesterday but it looked as if he was running in mud. Most linemen run faster than Foles. He's a very slow football player. I'm faster and that's just sad.
New York Giants back David Wilson was a kick returning beast yesterday. He took one 97 yards for a touchdown. When the Saints finally kicked away from Wilson, Jerrell Jernigan took it back about 60 yards. Counting interceptions, punts and kicks, the Gaints had over 400 yards of return yardage. The Giants had their offense moving but those returns were brutal for the Saints. Nearly 300 of those yards were on kick returns. Big returns immediately following a score just suck away momentum.
Wilson added another 100 yards on the ground with 2 TDs. The Giants might have found another weapon for their playoff chase.
Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III left the game against the Baltimore Ravens with a knee injury. It looked like a significant hyperextension at best. It was promising to see him standing on the sideline as his team won in overtime behind fellow rookie quarterback Kirk Cousins. Griffin is a brilliant, fun football player. The league is better with him on the field. I'm hoping for the best.
Playing the Arizona Cardinals can sure make a team feel good about themselves. This time it was the Seattle Seahawks taking apart the Cardinals. 58-0.
I'm really looking forward to tonight's Houston Texans-New England Patriots game.
Next week is bad news for the Rams.
chicago bears 14
Now at 7-6, the Vikings likely need to win all three remaining games for the playoffs. Even then they'll need some help. All that they can worry about is their side of things. Those three games are at St. Louis, at Houston and closing with Green Bay at home. Pretty tough task but that's what it's going to take to get to the playoffs.
Adrian Peterson and the defense won this game. Until quarterback Christian Ponder can start making teams pay for all the attention paid to stopping Peterson that's how it's going to be. Peterson was awesome. So was the defense. They finally made stops on third down. They also got some big plays from rookies.
Peterson had 104 yards rushing and two touchdowns by the end of the first quarter. He finished with 154. Ponder didn't hit 100 yards passing in four quarters. Losing receiver Percy Harvin to injury has to be overcome in the remaining games.
Ponder made some clutch throws. He converted some third downs. It's a stretch to say that he played poorly despite the meager yardage. His one interception was on a deep throw at the end of the first half. It didn't amount to much since there were only seconds left. It was still a throw that he shouldn't have made as he wasn't able to set his feet to get the distance that he needed. Rookie Jarius Wright was open on the play but the pass was way short. Making off balance throws is perhaps Ponder's biggest problem. He keeps doing it and he keeps paying for it. He's got to stop doing it.
4 of Ponder's 11 completions went to Michael Jenkins. Each converted a third down. Each was big.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph should never end a game without a reception. He's too big of a target and too much of a weapon. He did catch the Bears onside kick attempt so he did make an impact.
The Vikings liked corner A.J. Jefferson's size (6'1") when they acquired him from the Arizona Cardinals just prior to the start of the season. It paid off when starter Chris Cook broke his arm during the season. Jefferson has provided nice coverage but for a player of his height he should make more plays on the ball. He's right there but receivers repeatedly catch balls over him. That shouldn't happen. He did make a nice play to break up a pass to Brandon Marshall on third down in the second half.
Despite that one play by Jefferson, the Vikings can't find an answer for Marshall. He had about a dozen drive extending receptions two weeks ago. He had 160 yards yesterday. Quarterback Jay Cutler and Marshall have been a deadly combination.
The Vikings have to find a receiver like Marshall of their own. A receiver that can just go up and make a play. They had one with Sidney Rice but he got away. They might have drafted one last spring in Greg Childs but he tore the patella tendon in both knees in training camp. Hopefully he can come back but he has a tough road ahead of him. If the Vikings pursue a big receiver in free agency, Danario Alexander is doing for the San Diego Chargers exactly what the Vikings need in Minnesota.
Vikings rookie safety Harrison Smith bagged his second pick-6 of the season. I've said it before and I'll say it for as long as Smith plays Vikings football, it is so great to finally have a playmaker at the back of the Vikings defense.
Smith received some recruiting attention as a running back in high school. His two interception returns for touchdowns this season showed those running back skills.
Fellow rookie, corner Josh Robinson nearly got his own pick-6. His return early in the game was ruled a touchdown on the field but replay showed that he had stepped out at the 5-yard line.
The Vikings 2012 Draft class continues to excel. Tackle Matt Kalil is already one of the top players in the league at his position. Safety Harrison Smith has been outstanding. Josh Robinson looks to be a starter at corner for a long time. Tight end Rhett Ellison does pretty much everything on offense and special teams. Receiver Jarius Wright has made some plays since he had to step up with the loss of Harvin. Kicker Blair Walsh has been nearly perfect. This class will be Vikings mainstays for a decade, maybe more.
Defensive end Brian Robison had a sack and a forced fumble. The loose, bouncing ball headed upfield and a Bears lineman fell upon it for an 8-yard gain. I hate when the bad guys benefit from a great play by the good guys.
The players around the league are wearing patches commemorating the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 50th Anniversary. Punter Chris Kluwe took the opportunity to stand up for a Hall of Fame injustice. He had a note attached over the patch calling for the induction of former Raiders punter Ray Guy. I see a fine coming.
Seeing the snow fall outside the Metrodome kinda brought back really fine memories of old Metropolitan Stadium and the days when the Vikings played in the snow. It's easy to say from the comfort of a couch but I miss those days.
Jerry Angelo made the personnel decisions for the Bears for over a decade until he was fired last offseason. For whatever reason, he never saw the need to even try to add anything close to a playmaking a receiver. It was a mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. After kicking Angelo out the door, the Bears traded for Marshall and drafted Alshon Jeffery. Marshall has proven to be a difference maker for a while now. Jeffery should provide an excellent option opposite Marshall. He was outstanding at South Carolina. He has the size and hands to do the same in the NFL.
When Mike Martz was running the Bears offense they traded tight end Greg Olson to the Carolina Panthers. The extremely talented Olson was wasted in a silly offense that didn't use tight ends. The Bears probably regret that trade now.
It's good to see Panthers quarterback Cam Newton turning things around in his last few games. The expectations for him after an outstanding rookie season were way too high. He's a terrific football player.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles should never run with the football. There's not enough time in a game. He ran for a touchdown yesterday but it looked as if he was running in mud. Most linemen run faster than Foles. He's a very slow football player. I'm faster and that's just sad.
New York Giants back David Wilson was a kick returning beast yesterday. He took one 97 yards for a touchdown. When the Saints finally kicked away from Wilson, Jerrell Jernigan took it back about 60 yards. Counting interceptions, punts and kicks, the Gaints had over 400 yards of return yardage. The Giants had their offense moving but those returns were brutal for the Saints. Nearly 300 of those yards were on kick returns. Big returns immediately following a score just suck away momentum.
Wilson added another 100 yards on the ground with 2 TDs. The Giants might have found another weapon for their playoff chase.
Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III left the game against the Baltimore Ravens with a knee injury. It looked like a significant hyperextension at best. It was promising to see him standing on the sideline as his team won in overtime behind fellow rookie quarterback Kirk Cousins. Griffin is a brilliant, fun football player. The league is better with him on the field. I'm hoping for the best.
Playing the Arizona Cardinals can sure make a team feel good about themselves. This time it was the Seattle Seahawks taking apart the Cardinals. 58-0.
I'm really looking forward to tonight's Houston Texans-New England Patriots game.
Next week is bad news for the Rams.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Game Day Thoughts
Army-Navy is a beautiful game. I had the honor of attending one of these games.
It was difficult to see Army lose the way that they did. Quarterback Trent Steelman did everything he could to will his team to a win.
I know that TV loves the drama but they really should have backed off and given Steelman some space after the game. It was a tough time for the kid and they wouldn't get the camera away from him. It was ridiculous.
Congratulations to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel on winning the 2012 Heisman Trophy. Only a freshman, Johnny Football could win a couple more of these things.
Apparently after the Heisman awarded the number of Manziel autographed items exploded from about eight to thousands on ebay. Texas A&M says that most are fake. The memorabilia parasites make me sick.
If I had a Heisman vote, I would have had a hard time not voting for Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o.
Te'o also tops my list of college players that I'd like to see playing in Minnesota next year.
Adrian Peterson is pulling away from every other runner in the NFL.
It is simply brutal that Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin landed on injured reserve this week. His injured ankle was more severe than hoped. He was having a fantastic season. At least one of the Vikings receivers has to step up and be a threat on the outside. Someone. Anyone. Please.
Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver said that not only is Peyton Manning one of the best quarterbacks ever. He's the best offensive coordinator in the game. This is one of the best comments that I've heard to describe what Manning brings to a football team.
Against the Raiders last Thursday, Manning switched to sidearm to fit a pass around Raiders defenders to Demaryius Thomas on a quick slant. It was one of the most amazing adjustments that I've ever seen a quarterback make. Thomas was his hot read on a Raiders blitz. The windows on a slant open and close in an instant. Manning had to hit Thomas in that window or suffer a likely sack. I had to rewind and watch that play several times to be sure that I had seen what I thought that I had seen. Just amazing.
This little nugget came from a Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs executive in the early '60s. I'd love to see this kind of comment in a scouting report today:
"He can run a 220 in twenty seconds with a goat under each arm."
Does the NFL fine players to justify questionable calls on the field? I hope not but that's the only explanation for the $15,750.48 fine tossed at Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen for his clean hit on Aaron Rodgers. Griffen was flagged for roughing the passer when his hit forced a game changing interception by Jared Allen. Griffen hit Rodgers in the chest as he was throwing. No blows to the head or face. Not even a tap. It certainly wasn't a low hit. The NFL said that the hit was late. It affected the throw so I don't see how it could be considered late. It's a mystery. Griffen shouldn't have been flagged during the game. He certainly shouldn't have been fined after careful(?) viewing later.
Speaking of fines. I absolutely agree with the need and quest for safety but the fines are too frequent and too high. Beyond that, the amounts are just silly. The new CBA has some goofy calculation that results in fines like $21,725. It's no wonder that the lockout took so long if they took time to determine horseshit like that.
The Vikings have announced Oct. 13, 2013 as the day that ground is broken on the new stadium. That's getting real close to being a real great birthday present to me.
Tomorrow night's Houston Texans-New England Patriots is one of the most anticipated of the season. After all 16 of the Vikings games, it is for me.
That Texans-Patriots game is so anticipated that it's not even listed on the NFL schedule in my Vikings media guide. For some reason they have the Rams and Seahawks playing the Monday Night game of Week 14.
Next week the Patriots host the San Francisco 49ers. That's another keeper. There'll be a bunch of yahoos calling that a Super Bowl preview.
Go Vikings!
It was difficult to see Army lose the way that they did. Quarterback Trent Steelman did everything he could to will his team to a win.
I know that TV loves the drama but they really should have backed off and given Steelman some space after the game. It was a tough time for the kid and they wouldn't get the camera away from him. It was ridiculous.
Congratulations to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel on winning the 2012 Heisman Trophy. Only a freshman, Johnny Football could win a couple more of these things.
Apparently after the Heisman awarded the number of Manziel autographed items exploded from about eight to thousands on ebay. Texas A&M says that most are fake. The memorabilia parasites make me sick.
If I had a Heisman vote, I would have had a hard time not voting for Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o.
Te'o also tops my list of college players that I'd like to see playing in Minnesota next year.
Adrian Peterson is pulling away from every other runner in the NFL.
It is simply brutal that Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin landed on injured reserve this week. His injured ankle was more severe than hoped. He was having a fantastic season. At least one of the Vikings receivers has to step up and be a threat on the outside. Someone. Anyone. Please.
Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver said that not only is Peyton Manning one of the best quarterbacks ever. He's the best offensive coordinator in the game. This is one of the best comments that I've heard to describe what Manning brings to a football team.
Against the Raiders last Thursday, Manning switched to sidearm to fit a pass around Raiders defenders to Demaryius Thomas on a quick slant. It was one of the most amazing adjustments that I've ever seen a quarterback make. Thomas was his hot read on a Raiders blitz. The windows on a slant open and close in an instant. Manning had to hit Thomas in that window or suffer a likely sack. I had to rewind and watch that play several times to be sure that I had seen what I thought that I had seen. Just amazing.
This little nugget came from a Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs executive in the early '60s. I'd love to see this kind of comment in a scouting report today:
"He can run a 220 in twenty seconds with a goat under each arm."
Does the NFL fine players to justify questionable calls on the field? I hope not but that's the only explanation for the $15,750.48 fine tossed at Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen for his clean hit on Aaron Rodgers. Griffen was flagged for roughing the passer when his hit forced a game changing interception by Jared Allen. Griffen hit Rodgers in the chest as he was throwing. No blows to the head or face. Not even a tap. It certainly wasn't a low hit. The NFL said that the hit was late. It affected the throw so I don't see how it could be considered late. It's a mystery. Griffen shouldn't have been flagged during the game. He certainly shouldn't have been fined after careful(?) viewing later.
Speaking of fines. I absolutely agree with the need and quest for safety but the fines are too frequent and too high. Beyond that, the amounts are just silly. The new CBA has some goofy calculation that results in fines like $21,725. It's no wonder that the lockout took so long if they took time to determine horseshit like that.
The Vikings have announced Oct. 13, 2013 as the day that ground is broken on the new stadium. That's getting real close to being a real great birthday present to me.
Tomorrow night's Houston Texans-New England Patriots is one of the most anticipated of the season. After all 16 of the Vikings games, it is for me.
That Texans-Patriots game is so anticipated that it's not even listed on the NFL schedule in my Vikings media guide. For some reason they have the Rams and Seahawks playing the Monday Night game of Week 14.
Next week the Patriots host the San Francisco 49ers. That's another keeper. There'll be a bunch of yahoos calling that a Super Bowl preview.
Go Vikings!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
It's The NFL for Keenan Allen
Lost in the excitement of Cal's hiring of Sonny Dykes as the new head coach was receiver Keenan Allen's announcement that he was calling his college career done and heading to the NFL. The slight attention that this announcement received wasn't entirely due to Cal bringing in a new coach on the same day. It was also due to it not really being a surprise. Similar decisions by Aaron Rodgers, Marshawn Lynch, DeSean Jackson and Shane Vereen had a little suspense. Actually, that Vereen decision was a bit of a surprise. There was no suspense with Allen's decision. He came to Berkeley because Cal was offering his brother, Zach Maynard, a scholarship and the quarterback gig. No other school on Allen's radar did. Maynard played his last season at Cal and as a result so did Keenan Allen. Even beyond that little family dynamic it was pretty obvious from his first college game that Allen would soon be ready for the NFL. He is and he decided to make that move now.
Keenan Allen is a terrific, game changing football player. I've really enjoyed watching him play for Cal. With the ball in his hands, he runs more like a running back than receiver. Part of that is his willingness for contact. Receivers usually shy away from it. They hit the turf or run out of bounds. Allen will bull forward to get more yards. In that respect, he resembles a taller version of Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin. The running ability of Allen, while one of his greatest strengths, brings about his biggest problem. Sometimes he forgets to catch the ball. His game breaking running causes him to forget that catching the ball is only half the play. Sometimes he runs before he's made the catch. Nearly all of his drops come from this. He has excellent hands. He makes difficult catches look routine. He will occasionally have a drop because he's looking to run too soon. Allen certainly isn't alone with this problem. Every single person that has ever caught a football has probably at one time looked to run before the catch. Well, Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry probably never did. Allen has to realize that no run after the catch is possible without the catch. The other thing that could hurt Allen might come up at the Scouting Combine. I'm real curious to see his 40-yard time. He doesn't look fast on the football field. That could be due to his running being so smooth, so easy. He seems to glide. All this speed stuff could just be me. Last year, Marvin Jones, Allen's receiving team mate at Cal, ran a sub-4.5 at the Combine. I would have guessed that he'd run around a 4.6. I'm pretty sure that Allen is faster than Jones. I'm sure that Keenan Allen will run a better 40 than I think. I'm sure that he'll be a first round pick. With the Minnesota Vikings incredible need at receiver, he's a player that they have to seriously consider. I wouldn't mind seeing Keenan Allen going from Cal to the Minnesota Vikings.
Thanks for the Cal years Keenan Allen. A little short but they were fun.
Keenan Allen is a terrific, game changing football player. I've really enjoyed watching him play for Cal. With the ball in his hands, he runs more like a running back than receiver. Part of that is his willingness for contact. Receivers usually shy away from it. They hit the turf or run out of bounds. Allen will bull forward to get more yards. In that respect, he resembles a taller version of Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin. The running ability of Allen, while one of his greatest strengths, brings about his biggest problem. Sometimes he forgets to catch the ball. His game breaking running causes him to forget that catching the ball is only half the play. Sometimes he runs before he's made the catch. Nearly all of his drops come from this. He has excellent hands. He makes difficult catches look routine. He will occasionally have a drop because he's looking to run too soon. Allen certainly isn't alone with this problem. Every single person that has ever caught a football has probably at one time looked to run before the catch. Well, Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry probably never did. Allen has to realize that no run after the catch is possible without the catch. The other thing that could hurt Allen might come up at the Scouting Combine. I'm real curious to see his 40-yard time. He doesn't look fast on the football field. That could be due to his running being so smooth, so easy. He seems to glide. All this speed stuff could just be me. Last year, Marvin Jones, Allen's receiving team mate at Cal, ran a sub-4.5 at the Combine. I would have guessed that he'd run around a 4.6. I'm pretty sure that Allen is faster than Jones. I'm sure that Keenan Allen will run a better 40 than I think. I'm sure that he'll be a first round pick. With the Minnesota Vikings incredible need at receiver, he's a player that they have to seriously consider. I wouldn't mind seeing Keenan Allen going from Cal to the Minnesota Vikings.
Thanks for the Cal years Keenan Allen. A little short but they were fun.
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