Bucs, Jags fly under radar in Sunshine State

If you talk AFC playoffs, it’s all about the Colts and they’re flirtation with history. Then it’s the Broncos and no-mistake-Jake and the always-resurgent run game. And of course the Chargers and Chiefs and their high-powered offenses, and the constant attraction that is the Patriots.
If you talk NFC playoffs, it’s all about the Seahawks and the "is this the year they finally get there" question. Then it’s the Bears and the talk about how this new group is as good as the history-making ‘85 Bears. And then it’s the Falcons and Michael Vick.
So where does this leave the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Jacksonville is 9-3 but yet finds themselves three games out of first in the AFC South because they are paired with the Colts. And the 8-4 Buccaneers have seemingly become an afterthought to chic-Super Bowl-pick Carolina and the popular Falcons. Yet both are in serious playoff contention despite their doubters.
The Jaguars have been counted out now that Byron Leftwich is done for the regular season with a broken ankle. Stepping in is fourth-year man out of East Carolina David Garrard. But it’s the defense that gets the job done for the Jaguars, who have quietly built a solid resume, beating Seattle, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh. The Jags face the Colts next Sunday with a chance to be the first team to hand Indy a loss (they lost 10-3 in their previous meeting at the RCA Dome).
The Buccaneers were 5-1 when they lost Brian Griese for the year to a torn ACL, leaving the team with third-year pro Chris Simms (exit Griese, enter Simms, how’s that for history?) After two ugly losses, the Bucs at 5-3 were officially done. The offense scored three touchdowns in losses to lowly San Francisco and division rival Carolina and were about to start a tailspin. But then came Simms’ late-game heroics against Washington, followed by a road win against Atlanta. Suddenly, the Bucs are 3-3 with the lefty at the helm and just a game behind Carolina for first place in the NFC North (they face Carolina in Charlotte next Sunday).
Jacksonville is relatively inexperienced when it comes to postseason play, seeing as how they have not been there since 1999. But lest we forget that Tampa Bay won it all in 2002 behind one of the greatest defenses of all time, and a good chunk of that defensive core is still donning pewter and black, while the offense has gotten a spark from rookie running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams.
It is fair to say these teams from Florida are longshots to be playing in Detroit in February, but their success through 12 games in 2005 should not be overlooked. Both teams are have hard-nosed, physical defenses, competent quarterback play, and strong coaching. More importantly, both teams have a number of solid young players who will continue to flourish in years to come.

Monday Morning Musings -- Week 12 in the NFL

So how much more damage can Adrian Wilson inflict on opposing quarterbacks? The same guy who broke Donovan McNabb's ankle three years ago knocked Marc Bulger out last week and yesterday dealt Jacksonville's playoff hopes a major blow by essentially ending Byron Leftwich's season. To be fair, Wilson has emerged as one of the league's best safeties despite toiling in anonymity in the desert ... Consider Week 12 a reunion weekend of sorts. Three head coaches went up against former employers, and all three of them won. Jim Mora beat former 49ers boss Steve Mariucci, Marvin Lewis beat old friend Brian Billick, and Marty Schottenheimer won in his first visit to Washington since being fired by Daniel Synder following the 2001 season ... Why does it seem like the Giants are always done in by special teams? Forgetting their 2002 playoff debacle against the 49ers, two of their four losses this season have come as a result of faulty special teams. They allowed punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns in a loss to Minnesota in Week 10, then watched as Jay Feely missed three potential game-winning field goal attempts in yesterday's loss to Seattle ... The Colts are getting all the headlines, but perhaps the Chargers could be undefeated too. Just consider that they have held fourth-quarter leads in all four of their losses ... The Broncos' two losses were to the Dolphins and Giants, the same two teams they lost to in 1998 when the went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl. Furthermore, if Denver goes on to win the AFC championship, it will mark the seventh time in eight years that the eventual AFC champion has lost to Miami during the regular season, with all of those games taking place in Miami ... If you want to assess the jobs that 2005's three new head coaches are doing, just look at their records relative to last season. Neither San Francisco's Mike Nolan, Miami's Nick Saban, nor Cleveland's Romeo Crennel will be coaching in the playoffs this year, but through 12 weeks, all three have already won the same total number of games their predecesseors won in 2004. Albeit 2-9 this year, the 49ers were 2-14 last year, while the Dolphins and Browns, both 4-7 this year, finished 4-12 last year. It appears as if all three coaches have brought stability to organizations that so sorely lacked it last year ... Despite a 2-9 record of their own, the Packers have still managed outscore their opponents, 232-223, thanks in large part to a 52-3 hurting they put on the Saints in Week 5 ... So much for the Packers being well-received on the road. Seems like fans this year and making an extra effort to disrupt the Packers' rhythm -- literally. In a Week 8 visit to Cincinnati, a fan sprinted onto the field during a last-minute drive and took the ball away from Brett Favre. Then last week in Philadelphia, a fan ran onto the field to spread his mother's ashes before he, too, was taken into custody.

No QB controversy, but Johnson brings professionalism to Vikes

He doesn’t have Daunte Culpepper’s arm, his size, or his speed. At 37-years-old, he isn’t considered mobile. And he likely will not be putting up the numbers that Culpepper did in 2004, when he set a franchise record by throwing for 4,717 yards. But he’s 3-0 since replacing the injured Culpepper, and he still has one thing on his plate that #11 doesn’t – a Super Bowl ring. And in three games, he has delivered Minnesota two road wins (they had none in four tries under Culpepper) and also a professional attitude so sorely missed with Culpepper at the helm.
He is humble and smart. He makes sound decisions. And you will never see him involved in a sideline blowup with teammates. Not to say that Culpepper isn’t bright, but he seems to lack the other afore-mentioned qualities. While incredibly gifted physically, Culpepper has yet to fully mature to the point where he can keep his cool when things get rough. And his teammates seem to feed off this, which might help explain their 2-5 start, not to mention being outscored by at least 20 points in all of their first four road games.
Enter Brad Johnson. When Culpepper tore three knee ligaments against Carolina, Johnson came in for mop-up duty and it looked like the Vikings season was now officially over. Not so. Johnson, who battled critics throughout his tenures in Washington and Tampa Bay, led the Buccaneers to a world championship in 2002, yet was still given only enough respect to be benched by the season finale of 2003 and ultimately shown the door following the 2004 season. Now back to where he started his career, Johnson has found a home in Minnesota, as well as his old touch.
The difference between the two is that when Johnson throws an interception, he simply goes over to the sideline, looks at aerial photos, and makes the necessary adjustment for the next series while not changing his mind set or expression one bit. When Culpepper throws a pick, he visibly shows his frustration, either by yelling or stomping his feet in anger. He is easily rattled and he lets one mistake affect his play the rest of the game. When Culpepper does throw a touchdown, he starts rolling his arms (a la a referee calling a false start), then swings his fist in celebration. What does Johnson do? He pats his teammates on the helmet and heads over to the sideline and gears up for the next possession.
Sure, the offensive production has dropped off since Daunte went down. But the other players have stepped up, and Johnson has done his part just to keep his team in the ballgame. Result: the Vikings are back in the race at 5-5.

Talk about exciting -- 6-4 Chargers as good as it gets

Never before has it been seen, or at least in recent memory. A 6-4 team that has looked so gosh-darn good throughout their first 10 games, yet only with six wins to show for it. The Chargers very easily could be sitting atop the undefeated perch with the Colts after 10 games considering that they’ve held fourth-quarter leads in all four of their losses, which have come by a combined 12 points. A late goal-line stand by Dallas. Last-second field goals by Denver and Pittsburgh. A blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Philadelphia. In their wins, they’ve looked downright awesome. They blew out the Giants and Patriots in consecutive weeks to the tune of 86-40, easily handled the Raiders, got three touchdowns by Antonio Gates against Kansas City, used a goal-line stand of their own against the Jets, then trashed Buffalo, 48-10. Whew. Certainly, with all the tough teams they’ve faced already, their schedule must get easier, right? Eh...not really. Their remaining road games send them to Washington, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. They also get a Week 17 visit from Denver. If San Diego can reach 10-6, it’d be nothing short of amazing.
We all know about the offense. It’s the defense that must stay poised. San Diego has been stout against the run this year, something they will need to continue against a fierce schedule. Meanwhile, come playoffs, assuming the Chargers are there, they are dangerous. New England? No problem. Chargers manhandled them 41-17. Denver? Tough. But the Chargers certainly outplayed them in their first meeting in Week 2, a 20-17 last-second Denver win. The Steelers? Also tough, and the Chargers took them to the wire in Week 5, only to fall, 24-22. The Colts? We’ll see. They meet in Week 15 at the RCA Dome. All in all, the Chargers mean business, something we haven’t really been able to say since the mid-90's. But Marty-ball is back, and so is a level excitement in Southern California for the Bolts.

Colts over Pats hump; can they retain perfection?

At long last. The nightmare is over. The Colts, who hadn’t won in Foxboro since Jim Harbaugh was their quarterback, finally got a monkey off their back. Make that a gorilla. Peyton Manning’s precision finally came full circle against the Patriots, and the Colts reborn defense made it stand up as the Colts walloped the Pats, 40-21, in front of a national television audience. For now, the media will ease up on Peyton and Co. The Colts have finally won in New England and have clearly established themselves as the class of the AFC this year. But now the press can put their sole focus on the Colts into their perfect 8-0 start, and whether it will reach 16-0. As of now, the ‘72 Dolphins aren’t sweating. But considering Indianapolis has five of its final eight games at home, maybe they should start loosening their collars.
The Colts face the AFC’s worst team, the Houston Texans, next week, at the RCA Dome. The Texans are 1-7 but they were actually tied with the Colts at halftime in their week 7 meeting before Indy eventually won, 38-20. But the Texans are extremely overmatched and do not figure to give the Colts a legitimate challenge.
The real challenge for the Colts will come in the two following games, when they take on the top two teams in the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2). After the Houston game, the Colts travel to Cincinnati to take on a Bengals team in perhaps a familiar stop. Two years ago the Chiefs came to Paul Brown Stadium 9-0 only to have their perfect season ruined, 24-19. The Bengals, who will be coming off a bye, will try and make history repeat itself. Then the Colts return home and return to Monday Night Football, where they will face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger figures to be healthy by then and if he defeats Baltimore, will enter the game with his perfect career road record intact.
If the Colts get past the Steelers game unscathed, the ‘72 Dolphins will need to start wiping down with a beach towel. The lowly and rebuilding Titans visit in Week 13, followed by a trip to Jacksonville, who did give the Colts a scare in week 2 but fell by a touchdown. The Jaguars and Colts have split their past four games, with the last four meetings being within a touchdown. After the Jaguars, the San Diego Chargers come to town. Last season, the Chargers came to Indianapolis riding an eight-game winning streak. They took a 31-16 lead before the Colts came back to win in overtime, 34-31. The Chargers figure to be the Colts defense’s toughest remaining challenge, although Cincinnati is no patsy.
Indianapolis finishes with two games against the NFC West, first a trip to Seattle and then a visit from Arizona. The Seahawks and Colts do not have much history against each other, and not many teams have been able to go up to the Pacific Northwest and win recently. But if somehow, someway, Manning can lead Indy to 15-0, they should have no problem sealing the deal against the Cardinals in the season finale.
So, can they do it? History (save for Miami) says no. Conventional wisdom says no. But the Colts seem to have what it would take to complete this unthinkable task: a dynamic-yet-consistent offense, a stingy defense, and the game’s best quarterback. They have a tremendous home-field advantage at the RCA Dome, where they have lost just once in their past 13 games (including playoffs). Yet the prediction here is still no. The Colts could very well go 15-1, but the mounting media pressure and the undoubted target on their backs will become a burden, and the Colts ultimately will fall. If I had to pick a game for them to do it, it would be against the Bengals.

Is Prevent Defense Preventing Wins?

It’s a rather common cliche in the NFL, that prevent defense prevents from winning a game. Is it a believable theory? Certainly. And if you’re not sold, maybe you need look no farther than the Denver Broncos’ last three games. Granted, yes, they are 2-1 in those games, but if you are a Denver fan you know that those two wins should have been blowouts, not nail-biters (not that their 49-21 win over Philly was close, but at the start of the 4th quarter it was anyone’s game). In case you missed it, a 28-3 lead over the Patriots shrunk to eight points before a late defensive stand helped Denver preserve the win in week 6. The following game, the Broncos saw a 23-10 lead turn into a 24-23 Giants win in the closing seconds. And this past Sunday, a 28-0 advantage over the Eagles became 28-21 at the end of the 3rd quarter before the Broncos pulled away). Add to this the fact that three other teams have blown leads of 17 points of more in 2005, and a red flag should be raised. Surely, if you can build a lead that big, why can’t you hold it?
It would appear to shape up this way: teams will employ their defensive gameplan up to the point of building a huge lead, but once that lead is built, they will sit back and only rush four defensive lineman for fear of giving up a momentum-shifting big-yardage play. Worse yet for those teams, offenses can sense that and are not afraid to spread the defense out, or even take shots downfield. By switching to a prevent defense, a team is playing scared and straying away from what was successful for them early in the game. If a defense is wreaking havoc on an opposing quarterback early on, it can rattle his confidence. A good defensive football team will continue to attack, but strangely there is a trend of teams giving quarterbacks time to develop a rhythm.
This is not to say that the prevent defense is a bad thing, but for many teams it is in fact sending a message that "we are playing not to lose rather than playing to win". But then again there are some teams for whom the prevent defense may work, teams that can consistently generate pressure with their front four, thus not having to blitz to pressure the quarterback. But that is a select list, with only teams such as Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, and Carolina having the personnel to do so. So for the rest of the league, the message ought to be clear: play to win the game.

More than refreshing to see these Sox win it all

Alas, the Sox are world champions in 2005... the White Sox, that is. Yes that's right, the Chicago White Sox, who hadn't tasted a title since World War I, 1917 to be exact. Sure it was a four-game sweep, but this was still a very exciting World Series. The Astros and White Sox have similar styles of play, which is why all four games were decided by two runs or less, including a 14-inning classic in Game 4. So the ChiSox are second to none now, not even the beloved Cubs, who will have to now take a back seat to their partners on the South Side.
And how refreshing the 2005 MLB season has been. When the LCS rolled around, no Yankees and no Red Sox. Quite frankly, you couldn't ask for much more. No big egos. No massive payroll. No egotistical owner. Just a group of hard-working, blue-collar type players that played fundamentally sound baseball on a consistent basis. The old-fashioned way, if you will. Sure, the series didn't feature Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, or David Ortiz, but so what? This was old school baseball, and the White Sox earned it, and after they heard it all throughout the season: they're going to choke; they play in a soft division; they can't compete with the Yankees and Red Sox. And yet they persevered, winning an American League-best 99 games and their first division title in five years. And in case anyone doubted them entering October, they won 11 of their 12 postseason games just for good measure. And now classy owner Jerry Reinsdorf can enjoy this title as he did the six that his Chicago Bulls won in the 1990s. And best yet, another season has passed without George Steinbrenner putting another ring on his finger, while A-Rod and Giambi are still searching for their first. Oh, and Red Sox Nation? Shut up. You can just get back on the Patriots bandwagon, but even that isn't a lock in 2005.
But we're here to congratulate the Chicago White Sox, not bash the hated Red Sox and Yankees. To congratulate Frank Thomas, who has battled recent injuries after being one of the most dominant players in the 90s and now finally has reached the top. And to congratulate GM Ken Williams, whose savvy and smarts have provided the Sox a core group of players that could keep them in contention for years to come. And who could overlook the job that second-year manager Ozzie Guillen did? He was as fiery on the bench this year as he was in his playing days, when he became a fan favorite on the South Side. In all, it was a magical ride for the White Sox in 2005, and how refreshing it is to see the city of Chicago boast a World Series championship, even if it isn't the lovable Cubbies.

Eagles looking to buck SBH trend

Not sure what SBH stands for? Just ask the St. Louis Rams. Or better yet, the Oakland Raiders. It stands for Super Bowl Hangover, and it's a serious syndrome experienced by many a team who've seen their championship dreams crushed in the Big Game. The Atlanta Falcons were the first to suffer from it, following a 34-19 loss in Super Bowl XXXIII to Denver with a dismal, injury-riddled 5-11 campaign in 1999. Two years later, the Giants failed to crack .500 a year after falling to the Ravens in Super XXXV. And since then, the Rams, Raiders, and Panthers have all had losing seasons following a Super Bowl loss.
So here are the 2005 Eagles, who came into training camp with a 24-21 loss to the Patriots in February still fresh on their minds (not to mention numerous distractions from loudmouth receiver Terrell Owens and whining by scatback Brian Westbrook). Through six games, Philly is 4-2 but lucky to be so, relying almost solely on the passing game to generate points. After dominating the NFC a year ago, few realistically thought the Eagles would crumble as teams before them have. They may not go 13-3, or even with the competitive NFC East, but they almost assuredly will have a sixth straight winning season. This should come as a relief to obnoxious Eagles fans, who won't be witnessing a downfall like the Raiders have since suffering a 48-21 blugeoning to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII.
To say Oakland has hit the skids since the end of the 2002 season is an understatement. Once an AFC powerhouse, the Raiders are simply overmatching in the talented AFC West, and winning in the notorious Black Hole no longer seems like a daunting task. Entering last Sunday's contest against Buffalo, the Raiders were 10-27 since the start of 2003, including just two wins away from home. In 2003, players lost complete respect for head coach Bill Callahan, constantly ripping him in the media, eventually leading to Callahan's dismissal after a horrid 4-12 season. Norv Turner, the former Redskins coach, has not fared much better, as his team won just 5 games in his first year last season. And at 2-4 (including the win yesterday against the Bills), the Raiders have virtually no chance at competing for the playoffs. Injuries and malcontention have added up to a disastrous recipe, something that almost would have inevitably been different had the Raiders beaten the Bucs in the Super Bowl.
And the Raiders aren't alone. The Rams have one just one playoff game in the past three seasons since being shocked by 14-point-underdog New England in Super Bowl XXXVI, while the Giants have won none. The Panthers appear back on track, but first had to see a chunk of its roster land on Injured Reserve last year as the team got off to 1-7 start before a strong finish nearly landed them back in the playoffs.
So what is the cause of SBH? I for one will go with the mental strain that comes from dealing with a loss in the Super Bowl and knowing you came so close to ultimate glory. It becomes that much harder knowing you worked that hard to get to that point and telling yourself, well if we can get there, then certainly we can get back and win it. But contributing factors such as injuries and player movement simply make it hard to get back to the Super Bowl, let alone the playoffs. Hearing about the Eagles and Patriots is like listening to a broken record, but the bottom line is they have been staples in the playoffs while other teams have been rather inconsistent over the past few years. I'd love more than anyone to see both of these teams miss out on the postseason in 2005, but that simply isn't reality. The Eagles are a safe bet to buck the SBH trend, but only time will tell.

Browns vs. Texans -- the first 4 years

The honeymoon is officially over for the Houston Texans. At 0-4, they are staring at the rest of the NFL as the only remaning winless team. It wasn't supposed to go this way. The Texans progressed slowly but steadily through their first three seasons, increasing their win total from 4 to 5 to 7, narrowly missing a .500 finish last year with a week 17 loss to Cleveland. So naturally, year four equals playoffs, right? Apparently not. David Carr, the first overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, has already been sacked 27 times this season as the Texans have the lowest-ranked offense in the league. The defense has given up far too many plays. And the team has already fired its offensive coordinator, giving Chris Palmer the boot after just two games.
Oddly enough, it was Palmer who was the first head coach in the new era of the Cleveland Browns. He lasted just two years, posting a 5-27 record. And while Dom Capers has far more credibility in the coaching ranks than Butch Davis ever did, it is the Browns who earned a playoff berth in their fourth season back, not the Texans, it would appear. Like Houston, Cleveland improved its win total in its first three years, also reaching 7-9 by year three. But unlike Cleveland, Houston does not appear poised to go 9-7 and reach the postseason, as the Browns did in 2002. Granted, Cleveland played in a much weaker AFC that year, but Houston is miles away from the playoffs at this point. The offensive line is porous, a trend that started when the team made All-Pro tackle Tony Boselli the first pick in the expansion draft, only to have Boselli retire because of injuries before ever playing a snap for the Texans.
Now, the coach, quarterback, and even general manager Charlie Casserly are in hot water. Casserly must share some of the blame after jettisoning some of the Texans most productive defensive players in its first three seasons. Jamie Sharper was a salary cap casualty, Aaron Glenn and injury liability, and Jay Foreman was simply not needed was the apaprent logic behind these moves. Yet the youthful exuberance supposed to be displayed by the Texans of defense has yet to be seen, and the biggest defensive acquisition, cornerback Phillip Buchanon from the Raiders, has been a complete bust, so much so that he was benched after week 2. So far, not so good.
The Texans remaining schedule is no walk in the park, either, as they head to Seattle and host undefeated Indianapolis in the next two weeks before getting a visit from -- guess wh0 -- Cleveland, against whom they are 0-2 lifetime. As of now, it looks like the Texans are regressing, not progressing.

ChiSox can compete despite lack of offense

One of the nicest stories of the 2005 baseball season has been the Chicago White Sox, who enter Saturday's action with the AL's best mark at 78-47. Yet many wonder if the White Sox, still overshadowed by the lovable losers of the midwest, the Cubs, can carry their success into the postseason. I believe they can. Under fiery second-year skipper Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox are doing things the old-fashioned way. Rather than survive with a barrage of long-balls and high-scoring affairs, the White Sox play games close to the vest, preferring to move runners up and ultimately manufacture runs. And you can certainly afford to do that when you have the starting pitching that the White Sox do. Their rotation is anchored by Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, and Jose Contreras. But the Sox also have an effective bullpen. Ever heard of Neal Cotts? How about once-troubled youngster Bobby Jenks? No? Probably haven't heard of Damaso Marte either. But so what? They have been holding leads down for the Sox all year despite not having a true closer. Oft-injured Dustin Hermanson has been bothered by a nagging injury and is in his first year closing ballgames. But the point is that the starting pitching goes deep into games, so Guillen probably won't have to worry about his bullpen wearing down. The key for Chicago will be overcoming the experience factor-- or lack thereof. This team hasn't been to the postseason since 2000, when they were whitewashed in three games by Seattle. But unlike the Yankees and Red Sox, the White Sox actually have a competent pitching staff. Sure, they don't score too many runs, but 78 times this year they've still outscored their opponent. As ESPN's Stephen A. Smith says, quite frankly, that's all you need.

Orioles Downfall Not Just Pitching

As a devoted Orioles fan, it's been tough to swallow the last two months. Since a 42-28 start, the Birds have gone 18-35 and have endured a steroid suspension and a managerial change. Now at 60-63 after another ugly loss to Cleveland, they're back home to take on Los Angeles and Oakland. I've been asking myself, how could they look so good early and so poor as of late? Contrary to popular belief, it's NOT just the pitching. Yeah, Sidney Ponson is a cancer on the team and the bullpen generally can't hold the rare leads they seem to get. But this so-called "vaunted offense" has been dormant since the end of June. I have never in my lifetime of watching baseball seen a team fail so miserably in the clutch on a consistent basis. Stranding runners, double plays, poor baserunning. I look at Boston, New York, and Texas and see teams that always are capable of putting runs on the board. But not the Orioles. And there always seems to be an excuse. "We're pressing too hard... We're hitting balls hard but right at people... We're just struggling right now, we'll break out of it." Really? When?
At any rate, fans who think the problems are one dimensional have every right to think that but they still have the wool pulled over their eyes. The offense has been anemic as of late despite the Orioles' lineup being one of the league's best on paper. But the game isn't played on paper now, is it?

What is this all about?

On this site I will share my Jim Rome-esque (not really) opinions about sports. As an Orioles fan, I have a lot of criticisms for a team that has hit the skids after a promising start. But I have a lot of insight to offer on plenty of other teams and issues in sports.