NFL Sunday School: Football Learnings from Week 4 October 8, 2009
Posted by Paul in : Uncategorized , trackback
Were you to see me on an average NFL Sunday, you wouldn’t necessarily think that anything academic was happening. Donning no more than sweats or a pair of boxers, I lay there, rather passively, on a sofa. Behind a sleepy gaze aimed at the television screen, the wheels are nevertheless turning. The gridiron contests occurring in front of me conjure up a variety of thoughts: casual musings, deep pigskin ruminations, possible play call alternatives, and keen observations. I may only let out a sporadic groan or onomatopoeia, but this keen football mind is studying the game intently. The following are my findings after yet another Sunday spent scrutinizing the game.
1) Despite his moxie and great start to the season, Mark Sanchez had to go through a tough game. And he certainly got served up one, in the Big Easy. The lumps he took throughout the highly-anticipated tilt against the Saints, were just about as hard to swallow and digest as some of the Cajun food that emanates from Louisiana. Mark Sanchez had a turnover-filled Sunday, digging a two-touchdown deficit for the Jets, and putting them in a difficult spot early on in the Sunday’s clash. So much so, that defensive stalwart Kris Jenkins embraced the young signal-caller on the sideline, and told him to keep his head in game. Even the great ones have had games like this early on in their careers. Do you remember Peyton Manning his first NFL campaign? How about Brett Favre learning on the fly, as Mike Holmgren tried to channel those gunslinger instincts of his? Mark Sanchez will rebound fine from such a loss. His team and his fans are believers. After all, he had led them to a 3-0 record prior to Sunday.
2) The new hot coaching trend: going for it on fourth down and short. We saw it done time after time on Sunday, by coaches who seemed pre-occupied more by making statements with their egos, than following sound football theory. And more often than not, it seemed, the defense sniffed out the offensive play-call and stuffed the running play, before it had an opportunity to inch itself past the yellow marker. Is this something we’re going to keep seeing as the season evolves? Or are head coaches going to come to their senses, and realize that kickers and punters have their purpose as well?
3) Tom Brady gets the star treatment from NFL officials. It didn’t take a keen football observer to see what transpired. On a couple of occasions, Brady got grazed by a defender but nonetheless benefited from roughing the passer penalties called on the opposing defense. In both instances, the Patriots capitalized by continuing their drives, and concluding them with a trip into the end zone. Brady used body language, rhetoric skill, and his NFL poster boy status, in invoking pity from officials, who gladly reached into their pockets and pulled out a yellow hanky. Since then, Rodney Harrison has told Brady to put on some slacks, on NBC’s “Football Night In America”. The incident has re-opened a recent debate: is the NFL overprotecting their quarterbacks? Or is this type of treatment justified, for the stars of this weekly NFL TV show?
4) Despite enticing Sunday match-ups on paper, none end up rivaling the build-up to Monday Night’s clash between the Packers and the Vikings. There’s no doubt that the NFL had sexy match-ups to roll out to its television audience and fans this Sunday. New Orleans was hosting the Jets in a game that would make most football fans’ mouths water. Dallas was traveling to the Mile High to take on the Broncos. And the Bolts were headed East to Heinz Field to challenge the Steelers on Sunday Night Football. A couple of these match-ups quickly became one-sided, and didn’t live up to their billing. But none provided the subplots, story line, anticipation, and sheer build-up that were delivered to us on Monday night. A man was seeking revenge against his former employer. Most of Corporate America can relate to that. When Brett Favre first took the field in the Metrodome against his former team, flash bulbs sparkled throughout the stadium. There was an understanding amongst fans and players alike that this was more than just a regular season game. ESPN’s rating released on Tuesday proved that out. We had witnessed a story of vindication.
5) Mike Nolan seems to have that Broncos defense firing on all cylinders. The Broncos defense last year was the sole reason Mike Shanahan was let go by Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. Year after year, the offense could be counted to be productive. But a series of poor draft selections on the defensive side of the ball and what-seemed-like poor coordination left the unit in disarray last season, and the Broncos on the outside looking in, when it came to the post season. Enter Josh McDaniels as head coach. A man, who quickly manages to alienate his star quarterback and most prominent receiving target. Very quietly, former 49ers head coach and Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is brought on to breathe new life into a defense that was left for dead. The result? A revived unit that has allowed only 7, 6, 3 and 10 points respectively in its first four games. Any defense that allows such low outputs week-in week-out, whoever the opponent is, deserves a huge amount of credit.
6) Brett Favre is clearly better right now, than he was last season. To those out there that had doubts about the ability of this soon-to-be 40 year-old, those were certainly quieted with Monday night’s performance. Favre showed no sign of the injury that plagued him late last year. He threaded passes past Packers defenders and through to his Viking targets with incredible precision and purpose. A couple of the throws he made on Monday night took us back to Favre circa 1998. Brett’s passer rating was through the roof, as he threw for 271 yards and 3 TD’s on the night. The term “vintage Favre” was repeated quite a bit to describe #4’s performance and the overall outcome on Monday night. It quickly became apparent to the most vitriolic critics why the Vikings had left the door open for this living legend, for so long. He was their coveted missing piece. And he fully proved it, on Monday evening.
Comments»
Great piece as usual! The thing that stood out most for me from Week 4 is the fact that coaches seem to be going for it more on 4th and short then in years past. We saw some absurd decisions throughout Week 4. Sometimes the value of a good punt and field position are being overlooked in these tight contests.
I think Mark Sanchez was bound to have a terrible game. Even Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan had some bad games last year. Sanchez seems to be handling his first bit of adversity well, as he took it all in stride this week. He has a great poise about him. I look for him to bounce back with a solid performance on his first MNF appearance in Miami as I think he will lead the Jets to the AFC East title this season.
I think all QB’s obviously get “kid glove” treatment from the NFL, and that is understandable as this is a QB league. However, players like Brady and Peyton Manning get extra special treatment. However, I don’t think this is much different then we see in all sports. Superstar NBA players get more fouls, great pitchers often get a bigger strike zone, great hitters a smaller one, etc.
I am honestly shocked at what the Broncos are doing. I can’t believe they are 5-0. I thought they would be one of the worst teams in the NFL with all of their off-season turmoil.
I think Favre is playing better then at any point last year. It will continue for a few more weeks. However, I have a hard time envisioning him playing at this level all season and into the playoffs.