TALKIN FOOTBALL

Tuesday Edition

September 25th, 2012 

Talkin Football

Falcons Coming of Age

Matty Ice and the boys sent a message last Monday night against Denver and delivered a second on Sunday with their dismantling of the 2-0 Chargers. They are the real deal and some could argue the best team in the league at the moment.

It is clear the Falcons are on a mission this season and with all the pieces (Julio Jones, Roddy White, Tony Gonzales, and Michael Turner) in place for Ryan and the offense it’s all systems go. They have the weapons on offense and may have just enough on the defensive side to make serious noise this post season. In his first four seasons in the league Ryan has enjoyed modest success reaching the post season and making little  

noise, but this team is off to a fast start at 3-0, has a new look of confidence to it, and just may be on the verge of doing something great.

There's still a lot of football to be played, but with the current debacle of the Saints (who play Green Bay this week), if you live in Atlanta you have to love what lies ahead for Ryan and the Falcons the rest of the way; looking good.

Facts: Record 3-0, just beat Broncos and Chargers (on road) back to back. Number three (tied with Giants) scoring offense in league averaging 31.3 points per game. Eleven offense touchdowns, tied for most in league. The defense is ranked 8th against pass and is tied for second this season with 12 sacks. This is a complete and dangerous team.

By David Ortega

TALKIN FOOTBALL

Monday Edition

September 24th, 2012

  

Talkin Football

The New Manning Era: It's now Eli’s time.

After three weeks it's quite clear there's a new sheriff in town and his name is Eli. For the past decade some may argue that the NFL was Peyton's place, but the tide has shifted and now it's Eli Manning’s time to shine.

This Manning hardly gets the credit he deserves, but with two Super bowl rings under his belt and his recent dominance the past two weeks notice must be taken. Eli has become a difference maker and it's just a matter of time before the whole football world acknowledges his rightful place among the elite.

Eli has proven clutch time and time again in his young career and with the talented receivers he has lining up this season, he looks primed to rip off some big numbers along with some big wins. If we aren’t talking about this Manning now, it’s only a matter of time before his name dominates our conversations at the watercoolers.

Numbers: 1,011 passing yards (rank 1st), 8.6 yards per pass (rank 3rd), 5 touchdown passes (rank tied for 7th), 66.9 completion (rank tied for 10th), 79 completions (rank tied for 4th), 20 yards or more completion (rank tied for 2nd).

By David Ortega

WHATS THE LATEST

Mondy Edition

August 20th, 2012

What's the Latest

 

Kolb Done in Arizona?

It may be a little early to make the call, but we are definitely closer to seeing quarterback Kevin Kolb on his way out versus securing the starting gig in Arizona. Through two preseason games he has just not looked comfortable in the pocket or shown the confidence to take command of the offense.

In two games played Kolb’s numbers look horrendous; just 5 of 15 passing for 47 yards, with an interception. Kolb has also been sacked four times and has one of the worst preseason passer ratings of 15.1. Against the Raiders he may not have been scared, but he did not look like a quarterback with confidence, as he was often hit and knocked down, when he wasn’t getting sacked.

Kolb will undoubtedly need an outstanding performance in week three of the preseason against the Titans if he has any hopes of winning the starting job. I have not been to Vegas lately, but I am guessing his odds are long.

Manning Sharp, but not Great.

Against the Seahawks in week two of the preseason, quarterback Peyton Manning got plenty of work, throwing the ball 23 times and playing the entire first half. Manning also shook off some more rust on Saturday taking his first big hit this preseason. It wasn’t a ferocious hit, but it was nice to see the four-time MVP bounced back up with no issues.

The former Colt played well completing 16 of 23 for 177 yards in the air and he made a number of nice throws dropping the ball right in the bread-basket; the kid has not lost his touch. While there appears to be no reason for concern regarding his accuracy, Manning has yet to throw a touchdown pass this preseason (although not all his fault, just ask tight end Jacob Tamme who dropped an easy score against the Seahawks).

There are plenty of things in Manning’s game currently to call out that look pretty good; his command on the field, decision making, tempo, and while he has looked sharp, he has been far from great at times. Manning has made the short to intermediate throws without issue, but we have really yet to see him go deep. He has also been plagued with passes getting knocked down and tipped at the line leading to a couple of interceptions against the Seahawks.

All-in-all for a quarterback that missed all of last season, Manning has looked strong on the field and appears to be moving in the right direction. He’s still a work in progress and Denver fans have yet to see the finished product. I would say they have much to look forward to.

By David Ortega

TALKIN FOOTBALL

Thursday Edition

August 16th, 2012 

Talkin Football

 

The Best in the West

Should Denver be the Favorite?

If you were to ask this Broncos’ fan you might be surprised by the answer. Even with the addition of Peyton Manning and as good as he has looked thus far in camp, it’s far too early to start crowning, boasting, or bragging about any changing of the guard. There are still 17 weeks of regular season football, none of which Manning has seen in over a year.

There wasn’t a lot of separation in the division a year ago and even with the addition of Manning to Denver, it’s too early to see the difference. Manning offers the Broncos a potential upgrade on the offensive side, but we’ll need to see his durability following all of those neck surgeries he underwent.

The Raiders and Chiefs will have many questions to answer this season with a number of key players (Charles, McFadden) returning from injury and a number of new faces finding their fit, but don’t count either out. Last season the Silver and Black showed some promise with Carson Palmer in the huddle and with a full training camp and preseason under their belt, they figure to once again be a factor if they can keep key folks healthy.

With both Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel returning from injury, the Chiefs will do their best to figure into the AFC West Division equation. Always tough at Arrowhead, Kansas City will provide a stiff test for the division foes.

When you talk about the AFC West you can not discount the San Diego Chargers. They still have Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, plenty of complimentary pieces on offense and a tough defense. Denver may have made what looks like the biggest move this off-season, but the Chargers have owned the West for the past several seasons and they have not gone away.

It’s too soon to pick a favorite, but if Denver is going to claim any stakes in the west they will have to prove their worth when they meet the Chargers on Monday night in week 6,

Does Moss Run Deep or is there Gold in the Bay?

Yeah, I may be a little confused by that title as well, but simply put should Randy Moss be considered a difference maker in San Francisco. And with or without Moss, do the Niners have any real threats within their own division?

Last season with a ball-control offense and a ferocious in your face defense, the Niners came one game from returning to the Super Bowl. With much of their core defense in place and second year head coach Jim Harbaugh at the helm, the Niners will enter the 2012 season as the perennial favorites.

They have made some notable additions on offense that include ex-Giant receiver Mario Manningham and ex-retired receiver Randy Moss, but are these changes going to make a huge impact? The offense is ball control and run heavy (ranked 3^rd in attempts last season) and with Alex Smith under center, it does not figure to change much, even with the new additions.

Both the Rams and Cardinals are teams in repair looking for their identity and don’t figure to make much of a push for the division. With a new head coach and a young arm under center in St. Louis the Rams will be hoping to build quickly in 2011. Even with an improving defense the Cards seem less of a threat in the hunt for the division as they are still in search of their starting quarterback.

The Seahawks are an improving squad under the direction of head coach Pete Carroll and should all their pieces fall into place this season they could conceivably make this division interesting. On paper the Seahawks would appear to be a formidable opponent, but fortunately for the Niners they must take their case to the field.

A strong run game and stout defense figure to be the correct recipe to stay atop the division, and the Niners should once again fit that mold.

By David Ortega

WHATS THE LATEST

Tuesday Edition

August 14th, 2012

What's the Latest

Replacement Refs: Out with Old, in With New?

That may be the way of the NFL world for the moment, but is that a good thing or bad? The replacement refs have been far from spectacular thus far this preseason and we have only seen one week of work.

It’s hard to take either side in this matter, when you consider the current state of the economy and the fact these guys are well paid; considering they only work about half the year. After reading a couple of articles and understanding a little more of what’s at stake, of course the issue is money. The Refs want more and the League wants to give them less; business as usual.

In the short term, the League and the Refs both need to make some concessions here and get the men in stripes back on the field for greater good of the game. What the league needs to understand, they need these professionals working now to protect their investment; the game itself and the 1500 or so players.

The game needs the regular referees need to get back on the field and open an on-going negotiation (through-out the season) that will make them full-time employees and get them a reasonable pay-increase. This is not a situation that you want to test the waters and hope for the best. Remember the NFL is a multi-billion dollar industry; they need to protect the players and the integrity of the game.

Replacements is not the answer, this is just an un-wise temporary solution to a long term problem. The two sides need to get back to the table and agree to get the regular zebras back on the gridiron.

Chad Johnson Done for Now?

Following his arrest Saturday for domestic violence, Chad Johnson’s comeback in 2012 has been halted and put on ice. It’s very unfortunate to see something like this happen; it’s an ugly situation and unfortunate for both Chad and Evelyn.

I can only say Chad has no one to blame but himself. Only he and Evelyn know the truth of what happened, but for Chad at this point that’s irrelevant. When you are considered an NFL Diva and a high profile athlete, you have to be ready for the baggage and responsibility that comes with that territory. You also have to be not only responsible for your actions, but accountable for the decisions you make; a profanity laced press conference, getting married so quickly, etc.

Chad Johnson has built this persona and image about himself as some kind of character (Ochocinco). He often work so hard at creating and living up to this persona, without realizing that he is also alienating himself from his team and other players. It’s not to say this is good or bad, but for some it’s often considered baggage.

And at 34 years of age and coming off a dismal showing with the Patriots last season, Johnson can hardly afford any slip up. You can get away with some things when you are on top, but when you have become irrelevant and considered sometimes a distraction; you have no room for error.

Johnson was on the comeback trail, but after a disappointing stint in New England, the recent events, and his poor display in Miami, any thoughts of a comeback undoubtedly will be put on hold for the time being.

Johnson may be staying positive and hoping he’ll get another chance with another NFL team, but certainly he’s got more serious matters pressing at the moment. His comeback will have to wait.

By David Ortega

TALKIN FOOTBALL

December 3rd, 2011, Saturday

TALKIN FOOTBALL

SLOWING DOWN TEBOWMANIA

From an observers perspective, stopping the Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and the Denver offense is much easier said than done. If you have been paying attention to any of the several NFL shows broadcasting on TV or reading the latest excerpts from the many websites on the net, you get the feeling this has become quite the popular subject. It’s something that has been at the forefront of discussions for several weeks now; funny thing is the topic doesn’t seem to be going away.

While all of the NFL and expert analysts share their opinion as to why the Tebow led offense can’t work and how to stop it, over the past four weeks Tebow-mania continues the roll and Broncos keep winning. Maybe one of the reasons everyone seems to be getting it wrong when they are sharing their thoughts is because while most do know what they are talking about, perhaps they are only thinking in conventional terms and methods.

How do you stop something that is so unconventional and unorthodox?

In hindsight I would have to offer, if you are going to game-plan to stop the Tebow-machine, you can’t use conventional or conservative means. When you face a team that does not throw the ball, when faced with a passing situation you can’t send your nickel or dime package on the field; hellooo, they don’t throw the ball.

I will be the first to admit, I am quickly becoming a fan of Tebowmania, although it is painful to watch on Sundays. But one thing I keep telling myself, this is how they do it, this is how He (Tebow) does it. It’s not going to look pretty and it’s not going to look much like anything I am used to seeing.

There are flaws in this offense and scheme, but I can see that it’s something the Broncos have identified and continue to work on. Let’s face it, the Denver passing game is a work in progress and unfortunately for opposing defenses, there is just enough there to do some damage and make plays.

So how do you stop Tebow and the Broncos offense; maybe you start by asking teams in the SEC? Or maybe you stop putting together a normal defensive game-plan and realize you are not facing a normal offense. I am not sure that there really is a viable answer, although I am sure we will hear more opinions over the weekend from many offering their thoughts on the subject.

The funniest part I see through all of this, while so many continue to nay-say and believe the success of Tebow and Broncos offense can’t continue, Tebow and company just keep rolling along to the tune of four straight wins. With a 2-9 Vikings team next on the agenda, this whole song of dance of how they (Tebow and the Broncos) can’t keep to doing what they keep getting done may have to continue at least for another week.

Just my thoughts and my take on the subject….

By David Ortega

TALKIN FOOTBALL

November 30th, 2011, Wednesday

TALKIN FOOTBALL

The 2011 Philadelphia Eagles: How the Dream Died

Before the 2011 NFL Season was officially underway, they were unofficially tagged “the Dream Team”, but what exactly has gone wrong with the 4-7 Eagles may not be all that too difficult to explain; at least from my perspective, the unofficial “NFL Couch Potato.” Now how’s that for a title and a well earned one?

For the past 12 weeks I have had the privilege to be able to tune in every Sunday and catch nearly every game on six (dedicated for football) televisions; you should really stop by sometime to check out our set-up; it’s awesome! Throughout the season I have managed to catch quite a bit of the Eagles in action; I drafted running back LeSean McCoy as my number one, so I have a vested interest.

When I see all the talent this team possesses, I am quite surprised to see them struggling at 4-7 and hanging onto a thread to make the post season (yes, I believe they have a shot at the sixth spot). After watching them lay egg after egg, it comes as no surprise to see this team go from dream to nightmare. The funny thing, they have been their own worst nightmare with constantly shooting themselves in the foot with way too many turnovers. If you read the stat lines or box scores, sure you could lay all the blame or most of it anyway at the feet of quarterback Mike Vick (14 turnovers this season), but I believe that would be inaccurate.

The players take the field and are asked to execute the game plan and plays that are called, and if you ask me, there is where most of the blame lies. Maybe some of the players were quoted as calling the Eagles the dream team, but if you ask me I think they were not the only ones listening or believing it. It could be head coach Andy Reid himself may have gotten a little caught up in the hype and believed he had an unstoppable cast that he could unleash.

I am far from a professional analyst, but if you told me that the Eagles coaching staff became so arrogant as a result of the media hype that they believed they could come out of the gate with guns blazing I would have to agree. Stepping away from the defense for a moment and looking strictly at the offense; Vick is an incredible talent and gifted athlete, but the Eagles offense would appear to have quite a few of those gifted and talented athletes. As I watched some of the action in the first part of the season, I could not understand the early focus and dependency on the passing game. It seemed the Eagles were content with leaving the games solely in the hands and feet of Vick that he quickly became dependent himself on relying mostly on his mobility and athleticism.

In the teams’ first five games McCoy, one of the leagues’ most dynamic ball carriers only topped 18 carries once, while the Eagles offense struggled severely with Vick trying to carry most of the load; Vick carried the ball 38 times and turned it over 10 times (seven picks, three fumbles). It was quite evident this team abandoned any sense of balance and Reid was going to right this ship his way or sink; at 4-7 they are close to sinking.

The Eagles may have put together some nice names on defense, but when your offense starts to sputter and repeatedly turns the ball over it puts too much pressure on any defense to dominate and dictate tempo. Perhaps this dream defense and dream team is built more for playing from in front, rather than having to scramble and salvage. With an important matchup coming up this Thursday, the Eagles are facing a one and done situation. The reality is their hopes of making the playoffs are slim at best with a 4-7 record, but with the Giants beginning to slide, the Lions not playing as well as they did earlier this season, and the Bears losing Cutler, the doors has not closed yet.

At 9-7, the Eagles could still possibly slide into the post season and with the talent they do have, this dream team could quickly become someone’s nightmare matchup for Wildcard weekend. First things first though, the Eagles must win and keep winning, something they have yet to do through 12 weeks. Apparently as easy as it is to find reasons for failure or lack of success, the Eagles had better hope Reid can find some answers soon or this will be one dream Philadelphia will hope to soon forget.


By David Ortega