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thoughts and observations |
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WEEK SIX REVIEW
Here it comes. All the media was abuzz about the unproven, injury prone Trung Canidate from La Machine. "Not having Faulk will hurt that offense." Now, get ready to hear the world go off on Canidates 230+ yard performance Sunday. And do you think Mike Martz is feeling a bit glib after he's been repeatedly bashed for taking Canidate with the team's first draft pick in 2000? After Martz selected Canidate, he stated how tough it is to have your primary running back go down, after witnessing Super Bowl teams like Atlanta and Denver lose their ballcarriers during the '99 season, and that's the reason he selected Canidate. Remember, he caught a lot of flak for not drafting for defense, but there was nothing wrong with the defense at the time. It was coming off a season where it was ranked sixth overall in the league. However, mark my words, there was already tons of talk about Canidate and Martz, and there will be more. Once again, it's amazing how short the collective media's memory is. You would think all the football writers were former cornerbacks, their memories are so short.
Not that all the media does it. Don't think I'm talking about everyone, although there are many. You have guys like Len Pascarelli and Howard Balzer, among others, who have a grasp on things. I have a deep amount of respect for those guys, and others like Chris Mortenson. What's really funny is that some idiot writer can write an article about how some teams are mixing cow dung into team meals, and it's bringing intensity levels up. Then, you would see twenty more articles touching on it within a day. When the story falls through, the next series are about the Bears defense. There's no moral here. Just don't let the media overblow your perceptions. Or just listen to me.
Oh, and here's something real intelligent. Why don't you give the league's mightiest team some fodder for motivation in your upcoming game? That's what the Jets did. Talked about the Rams being a finesse team. How they were going to bully them. And who got bullied? Every year, people start to talk about how the Rams cannot run the ball. Then, the Rams get mad and shove the ball down someone's throats. And the talk goes away...for awhile.
A look around...
Browns a Playoff Team?
I went to Nebraska during the weekend to catch a game, and coming back Sunday I had the misfortune of listening to two boneheads on a sportstalk radio station stating the Browns were far from a playoff team! Come again? Why not the Browns? If they are far from it, how far are the Ravens now? Holy cow people, you better hope cloning becomes advanced, because you need your brain regenerated. There's only two teams in the AFC that have only one loss, the Raiders and Steelers. Maybe the Browns will not make the playoffs, but to say they are not in the running is senseless.
What Receivers Are
Okay, receivers are somewhat similar to tight ends, except usually much leaner and faster. Receivers are generally used to push the ball further down the field than what running plays and short dumps to backs and tight ends will give you. Most NFL teams feature receivers much more than tight ends. The idea is to throw the ball to them to take pressure off your running game, and it really works when you can hit them in stride and allow them to use their athletic abilty to gain more yardage. Now, do you understand, Mr. McNair?
Brad Is No King
Are the Bucs really better with Brad Johnson than Shaun King? I know, their salary cap says so, but there is little doubt to me that King could make more happen. And do you think King would have gotten sacked ten times? A resounding NO. Riddle me this, Dunge-man, when does a young quarterback's light usually go on? That's right, in his third season! Very good. I'm sure the Bucs next coach will know that, too.
Rumor Mill
Word has it that Barry wants to be like Mike. You know, the guy of Coors fame, Barry Sanders. Used to be a running back for the Lions. The Lions say they will accomodate him if he wants to play for someone else. I don't see it happening. Two years off from running the football is a far cry different than basketball. You can't play pick-up football games the same way.
The Dangling Participle
Every NFL player needs a nickname, even if it's "Kicker". Go do your job, Kicker. You see? Now, Brian Griese has one, courtesy of me. That shoulder is bothering him, and it will likely curtail his career. That's three years as a starter, and three years of serious shoulder problems. It doesn't look good. He's tough, but other players cannot play without an ACL (unless you're Jimmy Hitchcock, who has no ACLs), and quarterbacks cannot throw without a shoulder.
How Good Is Favre This Week?
Yeah, this is another rant. Brett Favre is great. There's no doubting that. But going overboard last week after he had a strong game against the Ravens was a little premature. "Favre is the best." "Favre is better than ever." Those are some of the things written last week. That was a week after he threw three interceptions against the Bucs. Does this make Tim Couch one of the best now?
My Picks Last Week
Yeah, I picked the Bills...and the Cardinals. Then I missed...a bunch. Now I remember why I hadn't been doing picks for awhile. Actually, I used to be a lot better than this. What can I say, it's been an unpredictable season. There are really bad teams (i.e., Skins, Boys, Chefs), and there are great teams (uhh, Rams). Then, there's the rest. The bad teams can only beat each other. I didn't put the Lions in there, because they're righting the ship, and really will fit more in "the rest" category quickly. I left others off the great because they need to show me more. So, picks are tough. What's really bad is a lot of oddsmakers are not doing any better than me. Scary, eh?
MIKE LIKES
Week Seven (Bye: Atlanta, Cleveland, Green Bay):
Indianapolis (-3) at Kansas City
Does anyone want this game? The Colts have fallen apart, but realistically the Chiefs are just not good enough to win games against better teams. They just find a way to lose. They may keep it close, but the Colts should control the entire game.
Pick: Colts
N.Y. Jets (2.5) at Carolina
The Panthers are another team that finds ways to lose. The Panthers and Tshimanga Biakabutuka found a running game, and then lost Biakabutuka, so who knows how they will look there. The Jets are just glad to have the Rams game over.
Pick: Jets
New Orleans at St. Louis (-13)
The Saints have a great front four, but a suspect secondary. While they played the Rams well last season, the Rams had no defense. Now they do. Plus, the Rams have a score to settle.
Pick: Rams
San Francisco at Chicago (-2.5)
Both teams have only one loss. It should be a tough fought game. The 49ers just have a little more talent. If other games are an indication, the Niners will start slow and come back. The Bears can win this game, but the Niners have had two weeks to prepare.
Pick: 49ers
Cincinnati at Detroit (-3)
The key question is who will help Johnnie Morton in the Lions passing game? Even though the Bengals are an improved team, the Lions are getting close, are coming together, and are sick of losing.
Pick: Lions
Jacksonville at Baltimore (-7.5)
Baltimore has slid this year, especially on the defensive line. Jaguar teams would have taken advantage of this in the past, but the Jags offensive line is a shell of its former self. The Jags would have to play over their heads to win this one.
Pick: Ravens
Minnesota at Tampa Bay (-4)
The Vikings appear to be back on track, thanks to Daunte Culpepper. The Bucs don't even look like the same team. Well, maybe offensively. It should be a tough game, but the Vikings will lose this game before the Bucs will win it.
Pick: Vikings
Arizona at Dallas (Even)
The Cowboys are bad. The Cardinals, however, may not be as bad as advertised. Jake Plummer is not turning the ball over like the past couple of years, and the offense continues to improve as a result. This should be a statement game for the Cards.
Pick: Cardinals
Miami (-2.5) at Seattle
Even though I feel the Seahawks can win this game behind Shaun Alexander, Miami's bye will have given them a better rest...and they are the better team. They will not get away with mistakes (see Jay Feidler), so they better not turn the ball over.
Pick: Dolphins
Buffalo at San Diego (-8.5)
The Rob Johnson/Doug Flutie Bowl. The Bills have improved since a slow start, and may perform well offensively if Junior Seau cannot play, but the Chargers will be better overall. LaDainian Thomlinson will be the key man, but Doug Flutie will claim it was because he's better than Johnson.
Pick: Chargers
New England at Denver (-8.5)
Two teams moving in different directions. The Patriot defense will be ready to play The Dangling Participle, and should create some turnovers. Look for another week of Tom Brady talk.
Pick: Patriots
Tennessee at Pittsburgh (-3)
While the Titans have come through the past two weeks, they will be playing a tough defense and a control running offense. Something they used to be. Now, they have trouble against the run, and cannot run. The Steelers just keep winning.
Pick: Steelers
Moving on...
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THINGS I KNOW:
Despite the critics, the Steelers are one of the AFCs best.
Tampa Bay and Arizona would be a good game. And that's scary.
The Patriots are really sorry they gave that 100-million dollar contract to Drew Bledsoe.
Dick Vermeil is crying himself to sleep at night.
Both Dick and Trent Green really, really miss their old St. Louis homes.
THINGS I CAN PREDICT:
No team in the AFC will have a record better than 12-4.
The Rams will clinch home field advantage by the end of week fourteen.
The Ravens will go on a search for youth after their season ends at week seventeen.
Jim Mora will not be the head coach of the Colts next season.
Picks two through six in the 2002 NFL Draft will go to teams with only three wins. Picks six through twenty-six will go to teams with an 8-8 record. The rest will go to cities who have football teams.
Mike owns and publishes SkillPositions.Com, along with a big, expensive, and talented staff. Don't use this work without permission in writing. Mike has been known as the world's only living heart donor. He also thinks morals are paintings on walls, and scruples are money in Russia.
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