Archives
January 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
12:37:00 PM EST
*Norv Turner made an unbelievably bizarre decision in sticking with Phillip Rivers throughout in the AFC Championship Game. The reason it was so strange is that he had no reservations in pulling LaDainian Tomlinson when it was evident that he was too hurt to make a positive contribution. Turner recognized his team's great depth at running back with Michael Turner and Darren Sproles. He also had a quarterback named Billy Volek waiting on the bench. Volek has a proven track record in the NFL beyond leading a fourth quarter comeback after coming off the bench cold. Three years ago, he started eight games for the Titans and completed 61.1% of his passes while posting an 87.1 quarterback rating. The Patriots also have significantly less film on him than they do on Rivers, who had played against New England twice in the past two years. If San Diego did not have a quality backup, it would have made sense to stick with an injured Rivers. Since they had Volek, they should have gone to him. It was obvious from Rivers' first pass that he was having trouble on his knee. He was not getting anything on his passes. Every time New England sent a blitz, he had to hobble around and had to make a rushed throw with already sloppy mechanics. One of his interceptions came as a result of him failing to compensate for his gimpy knee and seriously underthrowing a ball. San Diego failed to come away with a touchdown in three redzone trips. The Pats rushed three and dropped everybody else back into coverage. This was because they knew that Rivers could not fit anything into a tight window with his receivers covered. Norv Turner did a lot to resurrect his reputation this season, but he failed to give his team the best chance to win the AFC Championship. Rivers should be commended for gutting out that game, but the coaching staff needed to intervene.
*Throughout the season, many pundits noted New England's lack of a running game as a potential weakness. It was really all part of Bill Belichick's master plan. A year ago, the Pats rode Lawrence Maroney too hard during the regular season, and he wore down. He was ineffective against the Colts and the Chargers in the Playoffs. This year Belichick knew that he had the talent to rely exclusively on the pass in the early going with good weather. He made sure to keep Maroney fresh almost to an extreme for bad New England weather in January. It sure paid dividends in the AFC Playoffs as Maroney had a pair of 100 yard games.
*In the NFC we saw bad Brett Favre rear his ugly head. Any observer could sense that something bad was about to occur. Green Bay could not run the ball, and the Giants were having great success moving it against the Packers defense. These conditions were tailor made for Favre to try and do too much. We saw this recklessness in recent years with overmatched Green Bay teams. Favre decides that he has to be the hero, and his fearless gunslinger mentality shines through. He tries to make huge plays regardless of the risk. This started in the second half, when he started throwing into double and triple teams. It did not hurt the team then, but it ended Green Bay's season with the overtime in the interception. This was reminiscient of Jake Plummer two years ago. Plummer avoided the crippling mistakes throughout the year, only to revert to form in the Conference Championship Game.
*The bitterness of this loss transcends the game itself for the Packers. Normally when a team that young wins 13 games, it is a stepping stone year, and the window of opportunity will remain open for years to come. Green Bay is a unique situation. This might have been the first and last chance this group will have to go all the way. So much of the success was tied to Favre turning back the clock. He was an elite quarterback with terrific playmaking and decision-making abilities this season. If he retires, there is no indication that Aaron Rodgers can play at the same franchise quarterback level, Even if Favre does return, there is no proof that this was just an out of context year for a quarterback who appeared to be on the decline. The Packers may never again get a magical quarterbacking run like they got this year, and that was part of their run of success.
*If this was the end for Favre, there should be no shame in the way it ended. People remember the glory with which John Elway went out. That certainly would be storybook, but many of the best do not get to end their careers on such a high note. Steve Young, Troy Aikman, and Jim Kelly could not even leave the field for the last time under their own power. Dan Marino's last game was a humiliating 55 point loss in the Playoffs. Favre is in good company if he decides to hang it up.
*People are not giving Lawrence Tynes enough credit for the kick he made in overtime. Tynes appeared destined to go down with Scott Norwood, Lin Elliot, and Doug Brien in Playoff kicking infamy after missing a pair of fourth quarter kicks that could have sent the Giants to the Super Bowl. Nailing any 47 yard kick is extremely difficult. Now add in bone-chilling temperatures that made the ball as hard as a rock and the pressure of an NFC Championship on the line. Tynes also had to deal with what had to be shattered confidence. People will focus on the two misses, but Tynes' successful kick was one of the greatest in NFL history. It belongs right up there with Adam Vinateri in the snow against Oakland.
*Football fans should feel cheated by these Playoffs. During the regular season, there were four superteams. They were New England, Indianapolis, Dallas, and Green Bay. This appeared to set up an epic Championship Weekend and Super Bowl. Now none of these four will meet in the Playoffs. Yes, the Giants and Patriots played a classic in their first meeting, but there has been something missing in the postseason. It would have been much more fitting for the Patriots to try and finish their historic run by vanquishing their bitter rival in the AFC Championship Game and then either taking down the NFC's best team, Dallas, for a second time or defeating a legend in Brett Favre. That scenario would have made for a season finish for the ages. The Playoffs are at their best when great teams meet. The Chargers and Giants are nice teams, but a team going up against history should have to go through the ultimate tests to prove themselves as worthy champions.
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12:37:00 PM EST
Championship Sunday Scattered Thoughts
*Norv Turner made an unbelievably bizarre decision in sticking with Phillip Rivers throughout in the AFC Championship Game. The reason it was so strange is that he had no reservations in pulling LaDainian Tomlinson when it was evident that he was too hurt to make a positive contribution. Turner recognized his team's great depth at running back with Michael Turner and Darren Sproles. He also had a quarterback named Billy Volek waiting on the bench. Volek has a proven track record in the NFL beyond leading a fourth quarter comeback after coming off the bench cold. Three years ago, he started eight games for the Titans and completed 61.1% of his passes while posting an 87.1 quarterback rating. The Patriots also have significantly less film on him than they do on Rivers, who had played against New England twice in the past two years. If San Diego did not have a quality backup, it would have made sense to stick with an injured Rivers. Since they had Volek, they should have gone to him. It was obvious from Rivers' first pass that he was having trouble on his knee. He was not getting anything on his passes. Every time New England sent a blitz, he had to hobble around and had to make a rushed throw with already sloppy mechanics. One of his interceptions came as a result of him failing to compensate for his gimpy knee and seriously underthrowing a ball. San Diego failed to come away with a touchdown in three redzone trips. The Pats rushed three and dropped everybody else back into coverage. This was because they knew that Rivers could not fit anything into a tight window with his receivers covered. Norv Turner did a lot to resurrect his reputation this season, but he failed to give his team the best chance to win the AFC Championship. Rivers should be commended for gutting out that game, but the coaching staff needed to intervene.
*Throughout the season, many pundits noted New England's lack of a running game as a potential weakness. It was really all part of Bill Belichick's master plan. A year ago, the Pats rode Lawrence Maroney too hard during the regular season, and he wore down. He was ineffective against the Colts and the Chargers in the Playoffs. This year Belichick knew that he had the talent to rely exclusively on the pass in the early going with good weather. He made sure to keep Maroney fresh almost to an extreme for bad New England weather in January. It sure paid dividends in the AFC Playoffs as Maroney had a pair of 100 yard games.
*In the NFC we saw bad Brett Favre rear his ugly head. Any observer could sense that something bad was about to occur. Green Bay could not run the ball, and the Giants were having great success moving it against the Packers defense. These conditions were tailor made for Favre to try and do too much. We saw this recklessness in recent years with overmatched Green Bay teams. Favre decides that he has to be the hero, and his fearless gunslinger mentality shines through. He tries to make huge plays regardless of the risk. This started in the second half, when he started throwing into double and triple teams. It did not hurt the team then, but it ended Green Bay's season with the overtime in the interception. This was reminiscient of Jake Plummer two years ago. Plummer avoided the crippling mistakes throughout the year, only to revert to form in the Conference Championship Game.
*The bitterness of this loss transcends the game itself for the Packers. Normally when a team that young wins 13 games, it is a stepping stone year, and the window of opportunity will remain open for years to come. Green Bay is a unique situation. This might have been the first and last chance this group will have to go all the way. So much of the success was tied to Favre turning back the clock. He was an elite quarterback with terrific playmaking and decision-making abilities this season. If he retires, there is no indication that Aaron Rodgers can play at the same franchise quarterback level, Even if Favre does return, there is no proof that this was just an out of context year for a quarterback who appeared to be on the decline. The Packers may never again get a magical quarterbacking run like they got this year, and that was part of their run of success.
*If this was the end for Favre, there should be no shame in the way it ended. People remember the glory with which John Elway went out. That certainly would be storybook, but many of the best do not get to end their careers on such a high note. Steve Young, Troy Aikman, and Jim Kelly could not even leave the field for the last time under their own power. Dan Marino's last game was a humiliating 55 point loss in the Playoffs. Favre is in good company if he decides to hang it up.
*People are not giving Lawrence Tynes enough credit for the kick he made in overtime. Tynes appeared destined to go down with Scott Norwood, Lin Elliot, and Doug Brien in Playoff kicking infamy after missing a pair of fourth quarter kicks that could have sent the Giants to the Super Bowl. Nailing any 47 yard kick is extremely difficult. Now add in bone-chilling temperatures that made the ball as hard as a rock and the pressure of an NFC Championship on the line. Tynes also had to deal with what had to be shattered confidence. People will focus on the two misses, but Tynes' successful kick was one of the greatest in NFL history. It belongs right up there with Adam Vinateri in the snow against Oakland.
*Football fans should feel cheated by these Playoffs. During the regular season, there were four superteams. They were New England, Indianapolis, Dallas, and Green Bay. This appeared to set up an epic Championship Weekend and Super Bowl. Now none of these four will meet in the Playoffs. Yes, the Giants and Patriots played a classic in their first meeting, but there has been something missing in the postseason. It would have been much more fitting for the Patriots to try and finish their historic run by vanquishing their bitter rival in the AFC Championship Game and then either taking down the NFC's best team, Dallas, for a second time or defeating a legend in Brett Favre. That scenario would have made for a season finish for the ages. The Playoffs are at their best when great teams meet. The Chargers and Giants are nice teams, but a team going up against history should have to go through the ultimate tests to prove themselves as worthy champions.
Written by georgecoztanza Blog about this entry |
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