The Line of Scrimmage

Sorry we’ve been away.

I am sorry to report that Phred is ill and is unable to continue his comments and picks for this season. I ask that you please say a prayer for him. Thank you.

The Babe

Phred is out of the country (or is that out of his mind?). Picks and comments will resume with Week 8.

INTRIGUING MATCHUPS WEEK 6

COWBOYS @ YIKES: The battle of preseason favorites for the NFC Championship didn’t quite work out as planned especially for the guys from Texas. To date, the Cowboys’ performance has been mostly uninspiring and maybe that’s coaching. To be sure, Jerry Jones isn’t going to take the blame. So, it falls to Wade, who will be gone unless things dramatically improve. In Minnieland, Bret Farve is showing his age more so than last season, and now he has an elbow to deal with. Please Bret, you were one of the game’s best; go back to Mississippi and go fishing or whatever they do in Mississippi.

We’re picking Dallas, 2 point dogs to right the ship, because their “D” is just too good to let Peterson control the game and do it all.

RAVENS @ PATS: This is World War III. Both these teams have only 1 blemish on their record but a different approach to the game. New England is all about Brady and the offense and Baltimore is about Ray Lewis and the defense. It remains to be seen how much effect the departure of Randy Moss will have on the Pats, therefore we will go with the 2.5 point dog here, the Ravens.

DOLPHINS @ PACK: This game is in Green Bay, and normally the Packers should have a walkover. However, if Miami QB Henne has one of his “sharper” days, it would have been a pretty good matchup. However, the loss of Aaron Rogers* and TE Finley and Finley’s backup for hopefully no more than this one puts a lot of pressure on the cheese heads. I wouldn’t bet this game with Bin Laden’s money.

*Rodgers suffered a concussion in last Sunday’s game. He practiced Friday and is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.

BROWNS @ STEELERS: This should be like going to an execution with Pitt at home and a 14-point spread. The interesting thing about this “contest” is that Big Ben is back off his suspension. Will Ben’s hiatus affect his play or will there be no rust and the Steelers continue to march?

NEW YORK JETS @ BRONCOS: The Jets are 4 – 1 and visiting Denver. The Broncs have won 2 largely on the back of (dare I say it) KYLE ORTON. I would like to revisit all the kicking and screaming that the “experts,” not to mention the Denver fans, subjected us to when the trade was made; Orton for Cutler - maybe not overall a bad deal for the Mile Highers. But this is the Jets coming to town and rarefied air be damned the New York #2 are two dimensional, i.e. they can run the ball, Denver can’t and if this is the week Sanchez is on the passing attack isn’t so shabby either. The biggest difference however, may be the “D” – the Jets have one if not the best in the league. If you are a wagerer, lay the 3 points, you can thank me later.

RAIDERS @ 49ers: San Francisco gave up a game last week that they should have won but that’s not the story here. Oakland is definitely challenged in the run stopping area so if the Niners are smart they will HAND THE ROCK to FRANK GORE 30 TIMES or more. It goes without saying that San Francisco has no aerial game. They have Alex Smith and I’m imploring Coach Mike to turn the ball over to David Carr. My inclination is to put a bob or two on the guys from the West Bay, the 49ers, and give the 6 counting on them to get their 1st win.

Happy weekend,
Fred

ENCORE PERFORMANCE

A funny thing happened on the way to the end zone. Antonio Gates scored on a reception of a Phillip Rivers pass and, except for Antonio’s size, I thought I was watching Jerry Rice. After the score, Mr. Gates—sans dance, chest bump or striking a Hulk Hogan pose—merely flipped the ball to the ref and headed for the bench like he’s been in the end zone before and he was just doing what he gets paid to do. Football is the ultimate team game, and any win is a team effort and for the team. A lot of the 11-man squad never make the “highlight” films because they’re doing what they get paid to do, i.e. pass blocking, run blocking or otherwise contributing to the win. As a matter of fact, these guys never even make the TV camera unless they make a mistake. I’m writing this again because it p….s me off, PLEASE save the celebration until after you win the game.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?

There were 2 games on Monday night this week, on both the Jets defeated the Vikes in New York 29 – 20. The Jets owned the first half, although they had not scored a TD. But midway through the 3rd quarter, the Vikings came out from under the ether, and by the 4th stanza (with 3 minutes left) the New Yorkers’ lead had been cut to 2 points. Over the next 2 weeks, we will learn a great deal more about the Minnies, as week 6 they host Dallas and week 7 they travel to Green Bay for a meeting with the Pack.

You don’t have Peyton on your team, but is Alex Smith the best you can do? Alex Smith is not a franchise unless you’re talking about Burger King. The Niners are still winless, and Philly didn’t help.

New York Giants 34 and Houston 10, and it wasn’t that close. Eli 3 TD, 297 yards to Schaub’s 196 and no TDs.

The Saint Louis Rams were looking better as of late and sported a respectable 500 record. The Detroit Lions on the other hand were winless at 0 – 4. So, how come the boys from Motown trounced the Rams 44 to 6? Sam Bradford had zero TDs, 2 INT’s and a QB rating of 46.1 compared to Shaun Hill with 3 TDs, 0 INTs and a rating of 117.6.

Arizona played host to the World Champion New Orleans Saints and the final was Cards 30, Saints 20. More embarrassing was the fact that Arizona started an undrafted rookie at QB going against Drew Brees. Perhaps the stat line says it all. Brees for his 279 yards, 2 TD performance also was intercepted 3 times. You can’t turn it over and expect to win!

There were two shockers. Number one was Dallas giving it up to Tennessee. Romo threw for 406 and 3 Touches but he also threw 3 to the wrong people (see above). Factor in 12 penalties of 133 yards and 6 sacks. Chris Johnson was the Titans offense, chipping in for 131 and 2 TDs. But QB Vince Young, yeah that one, had 0 picks and 2 TDs, as well.

The number two shocker was the biggie. Let us have a show of hands, how many out there had the Raiders beating the Chargers? San Diego scored 27, but Oakland had 35. The Chargers also had 3 TDs 2 belonging to Philip Rivers who threw a week 5 leading 431 yards and 0 INTs. The Raiders had 1 offensive touchdown and also no interceptions. The difference was Oakland’s defensive scores, which largely came about because of 3 San Diego fumbles, all of them lost. Oakland fumbled 3 times as well but each time retained possession. What did I say about turnovers?

AFC SOUTH

All 4 teams in this division: Houston, Jacksonville, Tennessee, and Indiana have identical records at 3 and 2. Let’s hear it for parity in the AFC South.

Happy weekend,

Fred

NFL WEEK 4 – Comic Relief
(strange week)

ANOTHER MONDAY NIGHT SHOT TO HELL!

I was looking forward to what I believed to be the game of the week – Monday Night Football. The Patriots, though young (especially the “D”), still had Brady, Moss, and Welker going up against a possible Super Bowl contender, the Dolphins. And, Miami looked like they had finally found a signal caller in Chad Henne, who one of the “experts” pre-game opined to be the best QB prospect since Marino, in addition to a shut-down defense. I even went down to Blackies, my monthly visit, where I could see Pats’ Coach Bill Bellyache and that God-awful grey hooded sweatshirt on the 54 inch screen in high def. Another disappointment — no sweatshirt.

While the net yards rushing were a coin flip between the two teams, the second coming of Marino threw for over 300 yards to Brady’s 146 and neither Moss nor Welker scored. As a matter of fact. Moss was shut out on the day. So how come New England beat the stink out of Miami 41 – 14? Four defensive scores, that’s how – boring. The only thing interesting about the game was Patriot RB Danny “Woody” Woodhead, who also apparently has a gig on special teams as well as RB. He’s 5’ 9”, weighs nothing and had the visitor’s only offensive score.

LATE NEWS THIS AM

Randy Moss has come full circle. He’s just been traded to the Vikings where he began his pro ball career.

THE monsters (?) OF THE MIDWAY

Another bizarre game was the New York Giants visiting the Bears of Chicago. Both these squads gave us a balanced attack. Unfortunately Chicago’s was rather anemic, with a total net yards passing of 51 and 59 rushing. Additionally, Cutler was sacked 8 times in the first half. So much for Mike Martz tutoring and offensive coordinating. A grand total of 3 points were scored in the first half, as well with the Giants grabbing the lead 3 – zip. With 10:52 remaining in the 4th quarter, the Bears finally got on the board via a field goal, but lost anyway. What a surprise. By the way, our thanks go out to NBC, which chose to show a Cialis commercial instead of the Chicago 3-pointer. I know I tuned in to see two people sitting side by side in empty bath tubs on the beach.

DESERT RATS

Two years away from a Super Bowl, one which they almost won, and now they’re playing like a Pop Warner team. What happened to the Arizona Cards? For one they traded away one half of the best receiving tandem in the league, Anquan Boldin, to Baltimore. But mainly you look at the roster and there’s no Kurt Warner listed. I admit I haven’t had any faith in Matt Leinart forever, and I applauded the pick-up of Derek Anderson. I was even a defender, but it’s getting harder. Versus the Patriots, he was held to just 124 yards passing and a QB rating of 23.2. That’s right Alice — 23.2 compared to Rivers’ 148.1. Needless to say the Zonas were blown out to the point that a starter has NOT been named for the upcoming game against Nawlins.

Late News: Shortly after this was written the Cardinals decided Anderson could watch the game and rookie Max Hall would be the starter.

CATCH THE BALL

I can’t remember as many dropped passes as I’ve seen so far this season. I don’t mean “circus” catches, but balls that hit receivers and DB’s in their hands or chest. You guys make the big bucks and receivers, especially, have NOTHING ELSE TO DO. I mean you are void of any redeeming value if you can’t do just that one thing.

THE PEARLY GATES

Antonio Gates, by far the Chargers’ best ball catcher, scored in the Cardinals game. Maybe it’s because he’s used to it, but after his TD he didn’t dance like he was trying out for Dancing with the Stars or celebrate as if he had just found a cure for cancer. Good for Antonio.

On that note I’ll leave you alone for now.

Fred

What is wrong with the NFL kickers this season? I have never seen so many missed field goals! I have watched in horror as Sebastian Janikowski, Garrett Hartley, Josh Brown, Jeff Reed, and Lawrence Tynes missed routine field goals.

The New Orleans Saints signed 46-year old John Carney after Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime in a 27-24 loss to Atlanta. Today, Carney booted field goals of 32, 32 and 25 yards, along with an extra point, in a 16-14 Week 4 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Janikowski missed five field goals in three games, three misses from inside 50 yards.

But, there is always a reason to be hopeful. Josh Brown missed a 36-yard field goal that could have made the difference in the St. Louis Rams’ 2-point loss to the Oakland Raiders. Today Brown was perfect - he made 2 field goals and 2 extra points to help the Rams to a 20-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks. And Josh Scobee made a 59-yard field goal to give Jacksonville a 31-28 victory over Indianapolis.

The quintessential NFL player, George Blanda, died Monday, September 27, 2010. In his NFL career, which spanned 2 decades, Blanda played as a quarterback and kicker. Blanda’s amazing play is legendary - In a five-game stretch in 1970, Blanda personally won five games for the Oakland Raiders. “It got to the point where when he’d come in [the game], the whole team would go, ‘Here comes George. We’re going to do it now,’ ” his coach John Madden said. “Then pretty soon all the fans started believing, and they’d all go nuts. And then the topper is when the opponents knew it. It was like, ‘Oh no, here he comes.’ ”

Mr. Blanda, thank you for all that you gave the game.

While NFL coaches increasing try to “ice” field goal kickers, it’s hardly worth the effort. According to the Wall Street Journal, since 2000, NFL kickers made 77.3% of field goals in the final two minutes or overtime when no timeout was called before the kick. However, kickers made 79.7% of these field goals, no matter the distance, when a timeout was called.

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