tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post7858267377956670062..comments2023-10-31T06:31:41.395-04:00Comments on Bottom of the Barrel: ...Our Pets' Head Are Falling Off!: Week 7Bengoodfellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-46297156978342811392012-10-23T15:13:06.813-04:002012-10-23T15:13:06.813-04:00Ivn, that is true about New England's early Su...Ivn, that is true about New England's early Super Bowl victories and the Steelers won the 2005 Super despite of Roethlisberger. I will say this though, both Roethlisberger and Brady were young during those Super Bowls so I wouldn't compare them to Alex Smith. Neither Roethisberger or Brady were at their peak in those Super Bowls, while Alex Smith is essentially a veteran at this point and probably isn't going to improve drastically. Maybe it is a small difference. <br /><br />Gruden did use the passing game as a running game, like with Charlie Garner. <br /><br />I probably would take the Giants and the Falcons over the 49ers right now. I think the 49ers are a good team, and I have pretty much guaranteed they will win the Super Bowl now, but I think they have a ceiling. Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-19362540429804507732012-10-23T14:36:17.448-04:002012-10-23T14:36:17.448-04:00I think Mark Rypien is the real outlier there beca...I think Mark Rypien is the real outlier there because he had a crazy career year in 1991 and never approached that again. <br /><br />The other guys there won as caretakers who made plays when they had to, and Brady even straddles the line because the early-2000's Patriots teams were more conservative and defensive-minded and the 2004 team especially leaned on the running game. You could also include Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger's first Super Bowl victories in that category.<br /><br />also, rich's comment about Alstott being a HOF fullback is kind of misleading — that 2002 Bucs team had an awful running game, as Gruden's teams usually did. everyone was shocked when Pittman ran as well as he did in that SB. they basically used a conservative passing game as a substitute for the run game. which makes sense considering he's a Walsh guy by way of Holmgren.<br /><br />Picking the Niners isn't flying in the face of conventional wisdom so much as it is an assumption that the defense and running game would be good enough. and honestly, other than the Giants I don't know who I would take to beat them right now.ivnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-3921758929370737062012-10-23T11:39:35.253-04:002012-10-23T11:39:35.253-04:00Waffle, That's not picky. I was going to go ba...Waffle, That's not picky. I was going to go back to 1980, but then decided against it and only went back the last 25 years. That's a mistake. If so, that would include Joe Theismann as well. Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-66735956962854386232012-10-23T10:40:15.820-04:002012-10-23T10:40:15.820-04:00Not to be picky, but if the list of Super Bowl qua...Not to be picky, but if the list of Super Bowl quarterbacks goes back to 1980, where's Jim Plunkett? I'm pretty sure he won during that time period. I'm also pretty sure I had a lot more hair back then too.waffleboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01940752426128243444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-58359044176729078562012-10-23T08:57:48.965-04:002012-10-23T08:57:48.965-04:00Rich, that Baltimore 2000 defense was incredible. ...Rich, that Baltimore 2000 defense was incredible. They did have a strong running game also, which helped them a lot. Part of the reason I'm not betting on SF is I don't know if that is a historically good defense or not. If anything, they do fit the Baltimore model a little bit. <br /><br />Brad Johnson wasn't a bad QB, but I wouldn't consider him elite by any measure. Still, he is probably better than Alex Smith, which goes back to the main point. <br /><br />I almost added in who the coaching staff was, but didn't want to make it seem like I was saying the '90 Giants had a good defense simply b/c of the coaching staff. They did have a good coaching staff though with two of the best coaches of the last 30 years and Parcells (see what I did there?) on staff. <br /><br />They have a quality running game and a quality defense, but I don't believe Alex Smith won't shit the bed. I believe if the running game and defense take another step further and become better than maybe the 49ers could win the Super Bowl, but at this point they are going to dominate bad teams, but good teams are going to be able to put pressure on Smith to throw. <br /><br />What helps the Giants is they can score points so quickly, other teams don't have a chance to run on them as much. I don't know how they are so bad at stopping the run, but they did a pretty good job against San Francisco at stopping their run prior to San Fran giving up on the run. <br /><br />As a Giants fan, you want them to only finish with 9-11 wins, right? It's good luck sort of. <br /><br />It was not a good week for the officials. I thought they blew the call against the Bucs, but they were right about that. I hate whining about officiating and that isn't why Carolina lost, but it certainly didn't help at the end. Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-73447530137148019512012-10-22T18:27:45.807-04:002012-10-22T18:27:45.807-04:00"You need an elite quarterback to win a Super...<i>"You need an elite quarterback to win a Super Bowl" someone scoffs and says, "What about Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson."</i><br /><br />You can win a Super Bowl with them, but you sure as hell have a top 10 all-time defense. You aren't winning shit with Trent Dilfer and the NO Saints defense.<br /><br />The other thing that gets overlooked is that Dilfer had Jamaal Lewis and Brad Johnson wasn't a shit sad QB (he was a two time pro-bowler believe it or not) who had a HOF FB in Alstott.<br /><br />Basically, you aren't winning a SB unless you're very good in both phases or you're all-time great at one and at least serviceable in the other.<br /><br /><i>historically great defenses behind them.</i><br /><br />The Giants D that backed up Ole Jeffy to a SB wasn't too shabby either. Fewest points allowed (by 28), second in total yards and allowed the fewest first downs (by 6).<br /><br />Oh and the coaching staff from that team included: Parcells, Belicheck and Coughlin.<br /><br /><i>I am just saying he isn't an elite quarterback and that is usually what it takes to win the Super Bowl.</i><br /><br />I'm in a slightly different camp. I'm in the "you can win with him, but holy shit would it be easier if you got a better QB" camp. It's a long name, you should see our business cards.<br /><br />If they stick with what works best for them - namely running the ball and forcing turnovers - they have a shot to win. That defense is championship quality, the running game is championship quality. The QB situation isn't ideal, but it's competent enough to get the job done if you can get the Alex Smith who isn't shitting himself on every pass.<br /><br /><i>Alfred Morris has been really good so far this year. He ran for over 100 yards this week</i><br /><br />The Giants cannot stop the run. I do not know how they are so bad at this, but they are very bad at it. Right now, they are allowing five yards a carry. That's a big 5.0 yards per carry. Good for third in the league, behind Buffalo and Atlanta.<br /><br />However, teams are only averaging 25 carries a game against them, so their total yards allowed isn't terrible.<br /><br />Moral of the story: Giants' defense is going to get it's ass kicked for the next decade by RGIII and a Shanny led rushing attack.<br /><br /><i>the Giants played poorly now and played better towards the end of the season.</i><br /><br />This is actually their MO. Last year they were 6-2 through week 8 and then went on a 4 game losing streak.<br /><br />They were also 6-2 through week 8 of the 2007 season. Then promptly went 4-4 to finish the year.<br /><br />So what I'm saying is the Giants could easily lose their last 9 games. They play each divisional team plus: <br /><br />Baltimore, GB, Cincinnati, Pitt, NO and Atlanta.<br /><br />Despite their 5-2 record, I doubt they finish with more than 10 wins.<br /><br /><i>poor officiating</i><br /><br />Ya, as much as the replacement refs sucked, this was not a good week for the regular officials. <br /><br />During the Niners game, they called a penalty of Patrick Willis... while he was on the sidelines injured.richnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-35101035802550579712012-10-22T16:25:19.261-04:002012-10-22T16:25:19.261-04:00Anon, I think that is the only conclusion we can d...Anon, I think that is the only conclusion we can draw at this point. The football gods are displeased at the multiple use of haikus and blanket statements. Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-90995298358144837742012-10-22T15:20:14.973-04:002012-10-22T15:20:14.973-04:00Indianapolis Colts 17 Cleveland Browns 13
Is ther...<b>Indianapolis Colts 17 Cleveland Browns 13</b><br /><br />Is there any doubt that the botched extra point in this game was a warning from the "Football Gods" to Peter King? Letting him know that making Easterbrookian, blanket statements such as "extra points never affect games" will not be tolerated?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com