I'm ready for some (more) football, so here are five subplots heading into Week 2.
1: Are the rejuvenated 'Boys for real?
The San Diego/Dallas game last Sunday was an unexpected nail-biter. A critical Cowboys' fourth quarter drive was stalling after they got into Charger territory, but a third down penalty on San Diego's Quentin Jammer gave Dallas new life. This eventually led to a 2 yard touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe to Keyshawn Johnson. The Chargers struck back, using a 33 yard pass on 4th and 14 from Drew Brees to Eric Parker, and eventually had 1st and goal at the 7. But three consecutive passes failed, and on 4th Brees' attempt was picked off by Aaron Glenn to effectively end the game.
All of a sudden, I've noticed that several football writers are giving Bledsoe a more optimistic outlook than I had been used to in the recent past. As Chris Mortensen put it, "There's never been any secret about the key to his success -- protect him and he can be lethal." Or perhaps Michael Smith has it right: many teams simply are not passing very much, so the chance Bledsoe throws an interception is diminished. John Clayton believes that coach Bill Parcells will be assisted by the team's fresh 3-4 defensive scheme; Dallas plays Washington this week.
2. Did the Redskins change horses too quickly?
Meanwhile, the experts are bitterly divided about quarterback Mark Brunell, who will make his season debut as a starter on Monday night after Patrick Ramsey was somewhat ineffective in the opener. However, some noted that Ramsey's accuracy improved as the game progressed, and that he shouldn't have been penalized for being injured halfway through their win against Chicago. Coach Joe Gibbs is apparently ready for the criticism, calling the decision to start Brunell "one I had to make."
How will Brunell fare? Some believe the veteran will simply be overmatched, and that his abilities have declined in recent years. It should be noted that the Washington offensive line is far from a sturdy bulwark against opposing defenses. However, Len Pasquarelli insists that Brunell was stronger in camp this year than he was as the opening day starter in 2004, and that Washington eventually wants to give young Jason Campbell a shot at the number one role.
3. Was I too slow on the draw for my own good?
Many who play fantasy football will recognize that second-year running back Willie Parker had a phenomenal game last Sunday for the Steelers. My team does have two outstanding running backs in Shaun Alexander and Tiki Barber (with Fred Taylor as insurance). Even so, I'm still one of the guys kicking himself for being too slow to pick Parker up in my league. If the kid continues as well as he has, I may end up kicking injured vet Jerome Bettis to the curb before long. As fantasy guru Eric Karabell put it, there's no reason to think Parker can't keep his solid production going.
4. It's the Rams against their former savior: who will win the 'Warner Bowl'?
If there are three things I remember about living in St. Louis, they are as follows:
1) The Blues made mighty playoff runs, only to be stopped by Detroit.
2) The Cardinals traded a minor pitcher for a veteran first baseman named Mark McGwire.
3) St. Louis football was so awful that when my high school band arrived at a competition at what was then called the Trans World Dome, the director remarked "It smells terrible; the Rams must play here."
If this makes me sound fixated on sports, it's because I am. But soon after I left town, the Rams' fortunes changed with two maneuvers: the acquisition of running back Marshall Faulk, and the discovery of quarterback Kurt Warner after incumbent Trent Green went down with an injury. The eventual result was the 2000 Super Bowl Championship, but since then Warner was replaced with now-starter Marc Bulger, and Warner moved on to the New York Giants, and most recently the Arizona Cardinals. Now Warner's new team meets the one where he once became the darling of the NFL, with the loser limping home 0-2. As the Post-Dispatch's Jim Thomas says, the past is still fresh in the memories of longtime Rams.
5. Speaking of a player's return against his former team, how about this one?
San Francisco and Philadelphia will play each other Sunday, but it is the 49ers who enter sporting a 1-0 record. The 49ers, the league's doormat in the 2004 campaign, are out to prove that last year's struggles without star wide receiver Terrell Owens are behind them. Owens, the subject of immeasurable media wrath in the offseason for his contract dispute with the Eagles, insists that this will be just another game for him. The Chronicle's Gwen Knapp thinks that's ridiculous, and she's right, but we cannot forget that this is also an Eagles team expected by its fans to go deep into the playoffs once again. They cannot afford an 0-2 start, although it would be surprising to see that happen the way the matchup looks on paper. Even last week, the Niners put up statistics that were decidedly inferior to those of St. Louis, the team they defeated. Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb insists he will play despite a bruised sternum.
football
1: Are the rejuvenated 'Boys for real?
The San Diego/Dallas game last Sunday was an unexpected nail-biter. A critical Cowboys' fourth quarter drive was stalling after they got into Charger territory, but a third down penalty on San Diego's Quentin Jammer gave Dallas new life. This eventually led to a 2 yard touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe to Keyshawn Johnson. The Chargers struck back, using a 33 yard pass on 4th and 14 from Drew Brees to Eric Parker, and eventually had 1st and goal at the 7. But three consecutive passes failed, and on 4th Brees' attempt was picked off by Aaron Glenn to effectively end the game.
All of a sudden, I've noticed that several football writers are giving Bledsoe a more optimistic outlook than I had been used to in the recent past. As Chris Mortensen put it, "There's never been any secret about the key to his success -- protect him and he can be lethal." Or perhaps Michael Smith has it right: many teams simply are not passing very much, so the chance Bledsoe throws an interception is diminished. John Clayton believes that coach Bill Parcells will be assisted by the team's fresh 3-4 defensive scheme; Dallas plays Washington this week.
2. Did the Redskins change horses too quickly?
Meanwhile, the experts are bitterly divided about quarterback Mark Brunell, who will make his season debut as a starter on Monday night after Patrick Ramsey was somewhat ineffective in the opener. However, some noted that Ramsey's accuracy improved as the game progressed, and that he shouldn't have been penalized for being injured halfway through their win against Chicago. Coach Joe Gibbs is apparently ready for the criticism, calling the decision to start Brunell "one I had to make."
How will Brunell fare? Some believe the veteran will simply be overmatched, and that his abilities have declined in recent years. It should be noted that the Washington offensive line is far from a sturdy bulwark against opposing defenses. However, Len Pasquarelli insists that Brunell was stronger in camp this year than he was as the opening day starter in 2004, and that Washington eventually wants to give young Jason Campbell a shot at the number one role.
3. Was I too slow on the draw for my own good?
Many who play fantasy football will recognize that second-year running back Willie Parker had a phenomenal game last Sunday for the Steelers. My team does have two outstanding running backs in Shaun Alexander and Tiki Barber (with Fred Taylor as insurance). Even so, I'm still one of the guys kicking himself for being too slow to pick Parker up in my league. If the kid continues as well as he has, I may end up kicking injured vet Jerome Bettis to the curb before long. As fantasy guru Eric Karabell put it, there's no reason to think Parker can't keep his solid production going.
4. It's the Rams against their former savior: who will win the 'Warner Bowl'?
If there are three things I remember about living in St. Louis, they are as follows:
1) The Blues made mighty playoff runs, only to be stopped by Detroit.
2) The Cardinals traded a minor pitcher for a veteran first baseman named Mark McGwire.
3) St. Louis football was so awful that when my high school band arrived at a competition at what was then called the Trans World Dome, the director remarked "It smells terrible; the Rams must play here."
If this makes me sound fixated on sports, it's because I am. But soon after I left town, the Rams' fortunes changed with two maneuvers: the acquisition of running back Marshall Faulk, and the discovery of quarterback Kurt Warner after incumbent Trent Green went down with an injury. The eventual result was the 2000 Super Bowl Championship, but since then Warner was replaced with now-starter Marc Bulger, and Warner moved on to the New York Giants, and most recently the Arizona Cardinals. Now Warner's new team meets the one where he once became the darling of the NFL, with the loser limping home 0-2. As the Post-Dispatch's Jim Thomas says, the past is still fresh in the memories of longtime Rams.
5. Speaking of a player's return against his former team, how about this one?
San Francisco and Philadelphia will play each other Sunday, but it is the 49ers who enter sporting a 1-0 record. The 49ers, the league's doormat in the 2004 campaign, are out to prove that last year's struggles without star wide receiver Terrell Owens are behind them. Owens, the subject of immeasurable media wrath in the offseason for his contract dispute with the Eagles, insists that this will be just another game for him. The Chronicle's Gwen Knapp thinks that's ridiculous, and she's right, but we cannot forget that this is also an Eagles team expected by its fans to go deep into the playoffs once again. They cannot afford an 0-2 start, although it would be surprising to see that happen the way the matchup looks on paper. Even last week, the Niners put up statistics that were decidedly inferior to those of St. Louis, the team they defeated. Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb insists he will play despite a bruised sternum.
football
posted by Alex at 9:48 PM
1 Comments:
hi.
I am a chiefs fan. surely enjoyed the thumping the chiefs gave the jets last week.
me and bill parcells went to the same college.
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