AJ's take on the NFL

Tim Tebow a below average quarterback with a way above average following.

2012-01-23T09:00:00.005-06:00

Tim Tebow a below average quarterback with a way above average following.
( Why?!! )

Sense when is being below average something to be celebrated? As a person Tim Tebow appears to be a well above average man. However as a NFL quarterback Tebow has shown nothing but very below average ability to play QB in this league. The question to ponder here is how in a league where you are judged by performance can a quarterback who completes under 40% of his passes be so highly celebrated? And before you say he win let's remember he lost 3 of his last 4 games and looked horrible in the losses. Heck he looked pretty bad in his team's wins too.

The Denver Broncos took the AFC west with a 8&8 record, losing their last three game to back into the division title. This is not to say Tebow didn't have something to do with Denver winning their division, but how much is up for debate. And debated is has been all season. You are either a hater or lover there's is no in between on the subject of Tim Tebow. Most experts see Tebow as a great competitor and a born leader, however bad throwing form and happy feet add up to a slim chance at becoming a franchise quarterback. Other see him as a over hyped QB with little or no upside to become an franchise quarterback. How would you like to be sitting in John Elway or John Fox seat? Tebow backers see him as an unappreciated talent who just deserve a chance to play, forget the fact he can't throw a football consistently or the fact the broncos had to dumb down their offense to fit his ability to play quarterback.

I fall on the over hyped side of the debate. Tebow has shown very little in his starts that leads me to believe he has the ability to improve enough to become an NFL ready let along a franchise quarterback in this league. There is no doubt that Tim Tebow is a competitor and and fighter and will take a big hit for his team. But as we've seen in this season of passing quarterbacks, if you can't consistently hit open receivers you become a liability to your team's offense.I know there are backers of Tebow who thinks all he needs is time to improve and that his leadership will get him by until the improvement comes. I think we've seen enough to know this is as good as it gets with this young QB, so time is not the answer however a position change might prolong his career in the NFL.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

No Pass Rush, No Pass D

2012-01-19T19:58:00.006-06:00

No Pass Rush, No Pass D

Well two of the best offensive team's in the NFL are now watching the playoffs from home, and the one thing they have in common is they couldn't stop a pass when needed. No pass rush means the pass D. With all the offensive fire power the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers have it came down to the inafectiveness of their defense to stop the pass that sent them home early. And most of their problem started up front with the defensive line play.

Even the casual fan know if you can't get a quarterback to move off his spot and he has what seem to be all day to look for an open Receiver it doesn't matter who your DB's are they are toast. It boil down to this " No Pass Rush, No Pass D " as great as the Saints and Packers were on offense they were just as bad on defense. Offense gets you to the dance, defense keeps you in it.

It will be very interesting to see how theses two teams with high power offensives will handle what is sure to be a very long off season tying to answer the many questions marks they have on the defensive's side of the ball.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

This Packer's Team Was Not Built To Lay Down.

2011-12-08T16:51:00.004-06:00

This Packer's Team Was Not Built To Lay Down.
( " Hello You Play To Win The Game " )

Since game 8 of this NFL season all the talk around the league has been can the super bowl champ's Green Bay Packers not only repeat but do it with an undefeated season. Now with a undefeated regular in eyesight ( 12&0 going into their game with the Oakland Raiders ) the talk has turn to should they even try. If they get to 14&0 with home field advantage through out the NFC playoff's would it be better to rest players ( aka the Manning led Colts of a few seasons ago ) or go the Patriots way and go all in and try and go for the undefeated season.

It blows me away how anyone could think a team should lay down ( and run away from perfection ) instead of embracing the very thought of reaching the ultimate goal that every team should strive for, being consider one of the greatest team's ever. The Packers are in position to do just that and I don't think this is a team that will bow down to the magnitude of the situation. In fact to a man they seem to embrace the ideal of what the possibility might mean for their team and the city of Green Bay WI. GM Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy have built a team of winners, and while losing is part of the game I can't believe they would ever set up this team to lose a game on purpose just to avoid the pressures of greatness.

I borrowed a famous quote from former NFL head coach and now ESPN annalist Herm Edward " Hello You Play To Win The Game " enough said.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

McCarthy The right coach at the right time

2011-12-02T13:41:00.004-06:00

McCarthy The right coach at the right time

If history has taught us anything it's taught us that timing is everything. In the case of a small blue collar city in the midwest and a blue collar guy from the steal city of Pittsburg this was a marriage made in heaven. Coach Mike McCarthy of the super bowl champion's Green Bay Packers has turn out to be a perfect fit as the leader of this story franchise from Green Bay Wisconsin. McCarthy has brought a no nonsense hard working approach to playing the game of NFL football back to a city that expect's nothing less from it's team.

In a time when money and ego's has gotten in the way of how football is played on the field, this coach has found a way to instill a team first concept with this talented bunch of players. You only need to listen to his pre and post game interviews to gain a sense of the value he puts on team. He talks of how we prepare as a team, " it's about what we do as a team " not what the other team is going to do. Like their coach, McCarthy's team has brought into his way of thinking that if you out work your opponent leaving no stone unturned in preparation there is nothing your opponent can throw at your team you won't have an answer for.

Now by no means does this mean Green Bay can't be beaten, however it does mean it will take a huge effort to get the job done at their home or on the road. Another way in knowing Mike McCarthy was in the right place at the right time, was the arrival of now all world quarterback Aaron Rodgers to his young team in 2005. With hall of frame quarterback Brett Favre still on the roster and playing at a pro bowl pace, McCarthy was given the time it took to develop this raw but talented QB into the player we see today. Being in the right place at the right time is all about luck, but knowing how to handle that luck take's a lot of hard work and a believe's you can get a team to see you have what it take's to get the job done.

You only have to look at McCarthy's first 5 seasons in Green Bay ( one losing season, 3 playoff appearances, 2 NFC finals, and a super bowl win ) to know that GM Ted Thompson did his homework in bringing this blue collar coach to this blue collar city at the right time to lead this team. Thompson knew there were changes coming to the city of Green Bay and it's beloved Packer team, and knew he needed the right coach with thick skin in place to handle the fallout. I don't know if it was just dumb luck or some kind of Devine intervention, but for fans of the Green Bay Packers Mike McCarthy has turn out to be the right coach, at the right time, for their team in the tiny blue collar city of Green Bay Wisconsin.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Is Adamukong Suh A Dirty Player, Or Just To Old School For Today's NFL.

2011-11-30T07:33:00.004-06:00

Is Adamukong Suh A Dirty Player, Or Just To Old School For Today's NFL.

The question that has been debated around the water cooler this NFL season, just may heat up more after the two game suspension of the Detroit Lions pro bowl defensive tackle Adamukong Suh for his stomping of Packers offensive linemen Evan Dietrich-Smith on thanksgiving day. There is no doubt that play in that game cross the line into the dirty zone, however calling a player dirty places a tag on him he may never live down. The question I pose to the fans of NFL football is can it be Suh plays a old school brand of football that today's NFL can't get a handle on?

Let us not forget it was only a year ago Suh was rewarded for his style of play with rookie defensive player of the year and a trip to the pro bowl. We had his back on two bad personal foul calls for hits on quarterbacks because in the ref eyes he pushed them to hard. NFL football is a game of violence and intimidation and Suh bring both to the football field. In my opinion Adamukong Suh is not a dirty player but a guy who plays on the edge of dirty in today's NFL. Without that edge he's just another player and there would be no water cooler talk.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Packers, Saints, 49ers, and O yes the Cowboys Class Of NFC.

2011-11-29T10:58:00.005-06:00

Packers, Saints, 49ers, and O yes the Cowboys Class Of NFC.

Two teams ( the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints ) that was on everybody radar to not only get to but also win super bowl 46. A team ( the Dallas Cowboys ) that a loyal fan base hoped could regained the magic of yesteryear and a team ( the San Francisco 49ers ) led by a rookie coach no one saw coming are leading the charge in the NFC to super bowl 46 in Indianapolis. In a season that started with sweet dreams in Philadelphia to talk of redemption in Atlanta and little brothers ( Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers ) believing the time had come for them to sit at the big boys table, the NFC has the look of a four team race to the finish line.

While it can be said that the Atlanta Falcons look to have righted their ship, they are still a defense away from redemption. After a 5&0 start to the season the Detroit Lions had the look of a team ready to take it's place as one of the elite teams in the NFC. But youth and undisciplined play has brought the Lions crashing back down to earth. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers where do I start, after doing nothing in the offseason to help built on an great 2010 season ( 10&6 and just missing the playoff's ) the Buccaneer's may have to start all over from the top down.

The Chicago Bears last season's NFC north division winner, looked to have made all the right chances after being taken apart on national tv by the Lions. However with the loss of Jay Cutler for the remainder of the season, the Bears will have a hard time making the playoff's. The Packers and Saints are clearly at the head of the class in the NFC ( to much offense and the right QB's pulling the triggers ) but Dallas and San Francisco have solid teams and will give the Packers and Saints a fight for NFC title and a shot at super bowl 46.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

The Separation Of Powers In The AFC.

2011-11-29T06:39:00.005-06:00

The Separation Of Powers In The AFC.

A difference season, same old names at the top of the race to the super bowl in the AFC. With all due respect to the Houston Texans ( go ing on their third starting QB, the Oakland Raiders, coming out of a vary weak AFC west division ) the same old names ( New England Patriots, Pittsburg Steelers, and Baltimore Ravens ) pop up as the only real relevant teams that will represent the AFC in super bowl 46. Taking nothing away from the Cincinnati Bengals ( just to young a year or two away, or the Tennessee Titans they don't have enough to get there, and the New York Jets coach Rex Ryan can't talk this team into the title game this season ) you will see one of theses mainstays in this year's world championship game.

This season's AFC has had it's share of surprising teams. Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, oh and yes the Tebow led Denver Broncos. All great story's however by the end of the season this will be nothing more than a good read. It is aways said the cream rises to the top. And like always the Patriots, Steelers, and Ravens seem to be the same teams in the mix at the end of the season vying from home field advantage and that prize trip to the super bowl.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Growing Pains ( The Detroit Lions )

2011-11-27T10:54:00.004-06:00

Growing Pains ( The Detroit Lions )

The Detroit Lions are learning first hand what running with the big boys is all about in the NFL. It's one thing to have the talent to compete, however it's quite another story finding a way to win with that talent. I said from the beginning of the season the Lions could go 8&8 and it would be a good season for them. But after getting off to a 5&0 start expectations of sugar plums started the run wild in the motor city. Players, fans and even the media alike started believing the Lions had what it took to overtake the super bowl champion's Packers at the top of the NFC north.

The one thing people forgot to factor in was this was still your lovable losers from Detroit, who only a few seasons ago didn't win a game. Winning is something built over time not after 5 games. The growing pains this talented Lion's team is experiencing is the pressure of winning and what it's take to maintain that winning attitude when everyone you play wants a pease of you. Unfortunately for the Lions their meltdown on the field start's at the top with head coach Jim Schwartz and has flowed down to their all world defensive tackle Adamukong Suh with his stomp heard around the league on thanksgiving. It's hard for a coach to expect restraint and discipline from his team, when he's show little or none his-self ( you only need remember the Harbauh handshake ) to get where I'm going with this.

This season's Lions has 5 games left to turn around a season that is getting away from them, by taking baby steps and stop listening to all the hype and remember it's one play and game at a time. There is no doubt this Lions team has talent on both sides of the ball, and the ability to play with anyone in the NFL. But until someone in leadership take's them by the hand and shows them the ways of playing winning football, you can expect a lot of growing pains to continue.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Jim Harbauh Bring's Old School Football To San Francisco

2011-11-24T10:38:00.004-06:00

Jim Harbauh Bring's Old School Football To San Francisco

Rookie head coach Jim Harbauh of the 8&1 NFC west leading 49ers has brought a refreshing old school style of NFL football to the city by the bay. The turnaround in San Francisco is nothing short of remarkable. Harbauh has change a whole mindset of losing in less than a season with hard nose smash mouth football. It has all started at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The 49ers have a mentality of hit them hard, hit them often, take away your opponent will to compete. Mix in a great running game some timely passing and a defense that imposes it's will on the other team's offense and there you have a winning formula.

What makes the job coach Harbauh has done more amazing is he did it with very little time ( because of the lockout ) to get a full handle on his team. The most important thing for this turn-a-round is this team is playing Harbauh football. From day one he laid out his plan and his players who only needed leadership brought in. And yes it's help's that they play in the NFC west, however this 49ers team has gone into the NFC east and handed out loses. The only thing we have yet to see is can quarterback Alex Smith win a QB driven game. Will he be able to deliver in an old fashion shoot-out?

Regardless of which side of the debate line your on regarding the 49ers this season, even the most harden doudter ( I'm one ) has to give it up to the outstanding coaching job Harbauh and his coaching staff has done with this young team. Gone are the days of the west coast offense spread them out 4 or 5 deep and finest the ball down the field. Ring in the Harbauh old school smash mouth brand of football. Either way the fans of 49ers football can stand up proud knowing winning NFL football is coming back to the city by the bay.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Has Rex Ryan And His Jets team Talk Themselves Out Of The Playoff's

2011-11-22T09:14:00.006-06:00

Has Rex Ryan And His Jets team Talk Themselves Out Of The Playoff's

When you look up The old saying talk is cheap you will see a large logo of the New York Jets at the heading of this statement. When you openly put a target on your back as the Jets have under mouthy head coach Rex Ryan, you knew it would be only a matter of time before the walls came tumbling down. The Jets have taken selling wolf tickets to a new level of stupid. It's one thing to be the guy who walk's into a bar, go's up to the biggest guy in the place and punches him in the face to show he has street gred. It's a difference story when you call ahead to let everyone know your coming and what you are going to do.

From the first day Ryan took the head coaching job of the Jets three seasons ago to now Ryan has served up as much bulletin material as Muhammad Ali. And now his selling wolf tickets tack-tis has trickle down to his players. Someone needs to tell the Jets the game is played on the football field and not through the press. Every team the Jets play now will be waiting behind that barroom door with a chair ready to hit them over the head when they come thur the door. Rex and his players might not like the fact that hall-of-famer and former Jets icon Joe Namath called out coach and team for their trash taking with little results on the field. Maybe now with their season slipping away from them will they take some old school advice and shut up and just play football.

I know Rex and his band of trash talkers have played in the last two AFC championships games, however this team's brashness is starting to catch up with them. Jets fans will find out over the next six weeks if Rex Ryan can coach, or is he just a guy full of hot air with no real ability to lead their Jets team to a super bowl championship. In my opinion Rex's style is short term and has already run it's course.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

The Right Winning Chemistry

2011-11-17T06:49:00.005-06:00

The Right Winning Chemistry
( check your ego at the locker room door )

The defending super bowl champion Green Bay Packers are well on their way to making a run at back to back super bowls ( 9 & 0 ) and the one thing that stand out more than anything is team chemistry. The Packers look to be the odds on favorite to not only get to, but also win super bowl 46. While team chemistry is a key component to winning in the NFL. The Packers under the leadership of coach Mike McCarthy have found to leave their ego's at the locker room door before every games this season so far. To a man the only thing we've heard from this team from the beginning of the season is a united attitude of winning as a team.

Even with the local media trying their best to throw a fly in the ointment ( with their talk after only one game of how quarterback Aaron Rodgers would be able to keep all of his receivers happy ) the superstar QB and his star studded receiving core just shrug it off as outsider trying to stir the pot. Now I'm not saying for one minute there are not a ton of ego's on this team, however this team has taken a single mindset to check their ego's at the door for the the sake of playing team winning football. It's easy to see this Packer's team has the focus it take's to repeat, and the talent on both sides of the ball to reach that goal.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Elite Quarterbacks In The NFL

2011-11-13T10:12:00.007-06:00

Elite Quarterbacks In The NFL

Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers........ Ben Rothlesburger and Stop.

We are at the halfway point of this NFL football season, so we've had more than enough time to separate the elite quarterbacks from the very good or average QB's. There has been so much talk over the last two season's on who the elite QB's in the league are that it's become very annoying. The list of names that have hit people's lists is a joke. There's only four elite quarterbacks in the NFL ( Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Ben Rothlesburger ) and you must stop there. Trying to add any other names to this list is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

There are a lot of very good quarterbacks in the NFL, however the tag elite is used to loosely in today's NFL. When I think of elite QB's the names that come to mind are ( Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, and Jim Kelly ) and how anyone can put Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco or Eli Manning in the same class as theses great quarterbacks is beyond me. You don't need a super bowl ring to be an elite quarterback, ( Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, and Fran Tarkenton ) but you need to be very special. Taking nothing away from the three young QB's mention in this post and one has a ring ( Eli Manning ) but elite they are not.

Elite quarterbacks are rare and special, only 23 modern day QB's are in the hall of fame. That itself speaks volume to what it take's to be an elite quarterback in the NFL. Some have called me old school because of my take on what i think the standard of an elite quarterback should be. I just don't believe you need to lower your expectations to fit the QB's of today's NFL football. There's more to being an elite quarterback than putting up Fantasy football numbers. The bottom line is can you count on this guy when all the chips are in. I've said it once and it bear's repeating an elite quarterback is a QB the other team knows can win no matter where the game is played. There's only a hand full of quarterbacks in the NFL today you can put that tag on week in and week out.

So before we start anointing every Johnny come lately QB's with eliteness after only a small body of work, let's remember true greatness of a quarterback comes after there's a book on him. A true elite quarterback is one who is alway a step ahead of his opponent.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Al Davis would never have made that trade

2011-10-23T10:29:00.004-05:00

Al Davis would never have made that trade

One of the great owner in NFL history has to be looking down on his team and wondering what the heck are you doing. I've been a fan of Al Davis the maverick owner of the Oakland Raiders from day one of the merger of the AFL and NFL. You could call Al Davis a lot of things ( egotistical, bullish in his thinking, and a very hard owner to work for as a head coach ) however the one thing Al Davis wasn't is stupid. This was a man who help shape NFL football into the game we have come to love today.

" Just win baby " was his motto, but no way he's gives up what could amount to first's round draft picks in 2012 and 2013 to get a quarterback well past his prime. No matter what spin Oakland's coach Hue Jackson try's to put on this trade, it has no upside. Winning a division title is to high a price to pay, because Carson Palmer is not the piece that get's you a Super Bowl.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

The best five coaches in the NFC after the first quarter of the season.

2011-10-12T21:02:00.022-05:00

The best five coaches in the NFC after the first quarter of the season.

Jim Harbaugh - San Francisco 49ers
Jim Schwartz - Detroit Lions
Mike McCarthy - Green Bay Packers
Sean Payton New Orleans Siants
Mike Shanahan - Washington Redskins

It's has aways been said a coach need's a quarter of an NFL season to gage what kind of team he might have any given season. I think this particular season with what coaches had to overcome due to the lockout, fans around the NFL are finding out what kind of coach they have leading their teams thur the first quarter of this season. Above I've listed my top 5 coaches in the NFC who took advantage of the short window they had because of the work stoppage, and did an outstanding job of preparing their team's to start a very difficult season of NFL football.

( 1 )
Number one on my list is San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh who took over a 49ers team that finish the 2010 season's with a 6&10 record and going nowhere fast. A gapping hole at quarterback because up to this point their first's overall draft pick of the 2005 draft pick Alex Smith had done nothing to show he belonged in the NFL let alonethe number one pick in any draft. Harbaugh has brought a take no pioneers approach he learn from his super bowl winning coach Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears. The 49ers have a toughness about them on both side of the ball and Harbaugh has found a way to reach his starting QB unlike coaches before him. If not for a questionable decision in the Dallas Cowboys game the 49ers might be one of three undefeated teams, however he's still number one on my list.

( 2 ) would have been easy putting Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz at the top of my list, however unlike Harbaugh his Lion's team was on everyone's radar as being a team to keep an eye on coming into the 2011 season. The Lions have started this season by winning their first 5 games and being one of only two teams who have yet to tasted a loss this season, which put him second on my list. The Lions enter this season with the key parts to fielded a playoff team. But with quarterback Matthew Stafford only having 13 starts in his first two seasons in the league, no one new if he could stand up to the pressure he would be under. Schwartz's has done a great job in the early stages of this season of instilling a winning attitude in his young team, and the believe's that anything is possible.

( 3 )Number three on the list is not a surprise it's coach Mike McCarthy of the super bowl champion Green Bay Packers. The hardest part of being a - champ is that most people expect you to do it again. So if you don't start the next season with a bang, the only place you can go is down. Coach McCarthy has shown Packers fans he has the pulse of his team. With all the questions he fielded during the lockout about if by his team not having team workouts, might it hurt his team's chances to repeat. Mike McCarthy not only let the media know but also Packers fan that he knew his team's was taking care of business during the lockout and when the season started they would be ready to defend their title. The Packers have taken up where they left off last season, by winning their first 5 games played, so far so good no super bowl hangover for this super bowl team.

( 4 )
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton come's in atnumber 4, and if not for the close lost to the defending super bowl champ's Packers he would be first on my list. Of all the coaches on my list, the job Payton has done to get his team off to a 4&1 start this season is probably the most remarkable. Without the ability to have contact with his players ( due to the lockout ) and no real way of knowing what affect the lost to the 7&9 Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the playoff's would have on his team, Payton had to be a little worry about his team's mind set going into this coming season. The one ace in a hole coach Payton had going for his-self was knowing his team leader and hall of frame QB Drew Brees was not going to let his teammates forget how their season ended. Brees using money out of his own pocket, got his team together and ran his own team workouts. If there was ever a team the needed this time together before the lockout ended it was the Saints. Payton has parlayed his QB's hard work with his own great coaching into an almost perfect start to the season and a big chance at dethroning Green Bay as super bowl champ's.

( 5 )
Rounding out my top 5 is coach Mike Shanahan of theWashington Redskins who has proven his handling of the Donavan McNabb situation was right and all us football know it all's were wrong. Shanahan also gave further credence to Eagles coach Andy Reid ( poor Andy needs badly to be right about something ) that McNabb has lost the ability to play quarterback in the NFL. Shanahan and owner Dan Snider own up to their's mistakes of last season and cut ties with the dead weight they carry on the team by saying goodbye to millions of dollars and parting ways with McNabb and the out of shape, I don't want to play the 3/4 defense Albert Haynesworth. In doing that Mike sent a massage to his team that he had the backing of his owner, so it was his way or the highway. Now with a strong defense and running game and also a quarterback who can run his system on offense. The Redskins are out to a 3&1 record and leading the dream team Eagles and the rest of the NFC east.

Although we are only a quarter of the way into this NFL season, theses five NFC coaches have been far and away the best at doing their jobs.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

The Detroit Lions Have Roared Back To relevant's

2011-10-11T20:57:00.005-05:00

The Detroit Lions Have Roared Back To relevant's

Having two 5 & 0 teams at this stage of the NFL season is not surprising, the fact one of the undefeated is the Detroit Lions is well.....shocking!! The super bowl champion Green Bay Packers being one of the two is not that unexpected, however if you were given three teams at the beginning of the season who beside's the Packers would be undefeated at this point, the Lions would not have made anyone's list. Yes they are an up and coming team, but one of two yet to lose I don't think so.

If we go back to last season and throw in this preseason, the Detroit Lions have won 13 games in a row. We are watching this young team from the motor city grow up in front of our eyes. Everything starts with their rising star at quarterback Matthew Stafford who even tho he has taken some big hits this season he's been able to stay on the field. And with Calvin Johnson ( aka mega-tron ) at the other end of his TD passes, they are forming one of the best quarterback-Receiver combo's in the NFL. Also if you add in rookie receiver Titus Young, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, and second year back Jahvin Best to the mix the Lions have an offense that will give any defense in the NFL trouble.

While the Lions defense is still a work in progress, their defensive line is In my opinion the best in football. Led by all world tackle Adamukong Suh the Lions D-line has the ability to rush the passer with four which helps to protect a weak secondary, and their linebackers opportunities to get to the quarterback on blitzes. The Lions defense as has every other defense around the NFL had it's share of problems stopping teams this season, especially on the ground. But like all playoff caliber teams, their D has step up and made plays when needed.

The Detroit Lions served notice last season they would be doormats no more for teams in the league, however I for one and I might guess many Lions fans never saw this coming.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Aaron Rodgers Has The Three C's To Be A Great Quarterback.

2011-10-10T09:25:00.003-05:00

Aaron Rodgers Has The Three C's To Be A Great Quarterback.
( Confident, Cockiness and Coolness under pressure )

Just when we through it could't get any better, Green Bay's super bowl MVP, championship belt wearing star quarterback Aaron Rodgers is showing teams around the NFL his 2010 drive to the super bowl was just a sample of things to come. Rodgers has started the 2011 season as hard as it might seem to believe even better than last season's remarkable march to the super bowl. Aaron has shown in the first quarter of the season, there's another gear to his game and has shifted it to the next level. In my opinion a QB needs the three C's ( confident, cockiness, and coolness under pressure ) to be an elite quarterback in the NFL.

Confident

A quarterback has to not only have confident in his-self, but also earn the confident of the GM, head coach, fans, and the players he's trying to lead. Rodgers has shown everyone inside and outside of the organization from day one confident was one thing he was not lacking. Call it rookie arrogance or letting anger of having to sit and wait while 22 other rookies were drafted before him in the 2005 draft get the best of him. Aaron spoke with a clam confident when interview after being drafted that he would make all the teams that past on him regret their decision.

Cockiness

I don't think you can be a great player in any sport let alone an elite quarterback in the NFL without having some kind of cockiness attacked to your personality. The great one's had it, Joe Montana had it,as did Troy Aikman, and Dan Marino showed that cockiness of an elite QB day one he step on an NFL field. Aaron Rodgers has that cockiness that it's takes to be great. He walks with that swagger that tell's his opponents, I'm good, you know it, now try to stop me. Cockiness without performance mean nothing in sports, in the early stages of his NFL career his performance has live up to his cockiness.

Coolness under pressure

To be a great quarterback in the NFL a quarterback has to have that coolness under pressure. That ability to slow a game down, know where he is in a game, and what it will take to win that game. From the first minute GM Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy informed Rodgers he would be replacing Packer's icon Brett Favre as their starting quarterback, it seem as if Rodgers had a coolness and calmness about himself that he was indeed ready to take on the task at hand. Even after facing the distain from fans and media when Favre out of the blue decided he wanted to end his brief retirement and get his old job back; when his GM an Coach had Handel it the only way they could by telling Favre he had to compete ( wink wink to get his job back, it was never going to happen ) show a coolness under pressure that had to make playing in an NFL game seem easy.

While it is way to early to put an hall of frame tag on Rodgers, it's very easy to see he has the three C's to get him there. his first three and a quarter season's as Green Bay's starting QB has been nothing short of remarkable knowing all he had to endure to get to where his is. The only thing I can tell fans on NFL football is don't blink, because we are seeing something special.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

The Philadelphia story " who didn't see this coming "

2011-10-06T09:27:00.002-05:00

The Philadelphia story " who didn't see this coming "

A 1 & 3 start, coaches taking the blame for team's bad play, and players calling each other out to man up. And that folks give you the Philadelphia story. Now I ask you, " who didn't see this coming "? After in my opinion making the biggest free agency haul in NFL history And having fans and media putting them in the NFC championship game and the super bowl with all the moves they made; the Eagles have started the season by falling flat on their faces.

The Eagles had a 50-50 chance at best putting theses peaces in place with little time to prepare for the season due to the lockout. And now that we see the defenses around the league being the side of the ball most affected by the lockout, Andy Reid and his Eagle's team are left now answering question on why it is not working out for their dream team. With football being all about timing and chemistry and needing time to put the two element together, I ask my question again " who didn't see this coming "?

The biggest obstacle the Eagles faced going into the 2011 season was how were they going to make theses parts fit without destroying the team chemistry they'ed built with Mike Vick's coming back party of 2010. That bring me to timing which in the case of of pro football is everything. While the Eagles as everyone knows did pick up some very talented players to fill some holes on defense, as we now see theses guys needed more than 5 weeks to get their timing together. Your asking players who have been playing in other teams system's for a few seasons to come in with limited time to practice; your also asking them to work with a rookie defensive coordinator who has never coached the defensive side of the ball in his NFL career. ( " who didn't see this coming "? )

An NFL season ( 16 games ) give teams very little room for mistakes, and this season in particular because of the lockout has magnify defensive shortcomings with all 32 teams in the NFL. But unlike the other 31 defenses in the NFL, the Eagles put the self proclaim dream team tag on themselves and with that a huge target on their backs for everyone in the football world to see. Now a quarter of the way into the season the Eagles find themselves in last place in the NFC east looking up at the Redskins and Giants with the pressure mounting to right their ship before it sinks. Eagles fans will find out in the second quarter of the season ( games with the Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, bye week, Dallas Cowboys, and the Chicago Bears ) what 200 million dollars buys you, as of today it's last place.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo " is who we think he is "

2011-10-04T15:09:00.005-05:00

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo " is who we think he is "
( not a great leader )

For the first four weeks of this NFL season the Tony Romo bandwagon has been jumped on and off more than a kids jungle gym. The Cowboy's QB has come under more scrutiny than any quarterback in the NFL in some time. Being the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys is about winning super bowls, not just competing for a division title. Tony Romo has shown signs that might lead you to believe he has what it takes to get the Cowboys to the only game that matter to owner Jerry Jones and the fans of this story franchise. ( The Super Bowl )

There has been much debate on if the fought lies with Romo or head coach Jason Garrett, and while Garrett get's some of the blame, most of the blame go's to Romo. Your quarterback has to be the smartest player on the field and Tony has shown little or no smartness at key stages of Cowboys losses over the years. Romo has a strong arm and can make all the throws it takes to be an super bowl winning quarterback. However the one thing missing with Romo's game seem to be between the ears, the ability to manage a game and the time clock.

Now I wasn't there on the side line with Jason Garrett or Tony Romo, but I know Garrett had to be talking with Romo on where he was in the game and what it was going to take to make a 24 point lead stand up in the Lion's game. I think the time has come if I can borrow a quote from former coach Dennis Green ( " Romo is who we think he is " ) a quarterback with a ton of physical ability but no mental toughness to lead a team to the big game.

If your looking to win a Fantasy football league title Romo might be your guy, however if the super bowl is your goal you may have to look for another quarterback.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Has there's ever been a better time to play quarterback in the NFL?

2011-10-03T10:53:00.002-05:00

Has there's ever been a better time to play quarterback in the NFL?
( is the game to one-sided? )

With NFL quarterbacks putting up passing numbers at a record pace this season, one has to wonder why on earth anyone on the offensive side of the ball would have anything to say about QB protection. There has been much debate this season on if the quarterbacks in the NFL are being over protected by the league and my answer is an inflated YES!!!

After Michael Vick's post game rant of a need for more protection by ref's against late hits, the debate heated up between media members as well as fans. In my opinion, there's is no better position to play at this time than NFL quarterback. With all the rule changes lately in the NFL siding toward the offensive side of the ball, there is no wonder why even average QB 's in the league are lighting up defenses with record numbers.

Not even can you not hit a quarterback legally, DB's can't put big hits on Receivers to separate them from the ball anymore. Talk about making the game one sided. Defenses in the NFL are clearly behind the eight ball this season trying to defend offenses without the ability of actually playing defense. Football is all about hitting and intimidation, so without hitting there is no intimidating which is not football.

So let me know what you think. Is NFL football becoming to offensive? Great Time To Be A Quarterback!!

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Three 2010 division winners facing must win games this weekend.

2011-09-28T20:11:00.008-05:00

Three 2010 division winners facing must win games this weekend.

Atlanta Falcons
Chicago Bears
Philadelphia Eagles

Already going into game four of the 2011 NFL season, we have three division winners from last season facing must win situations. I mean no disrespect at all to division winners Seattle, Indianapolis, or Kansa City who for difference reasons going into 2011 season, had no one picking them to be relevant in this season's playoff picture let alone winning their divisions. However the three teams above two of which were on a lot of lists to make the super bowl, could be one loss away at this early stage of the season of falling out of the playoff picture all together.

I know it might be harsh to write teams off after only four games, but let's take a look at how the divisions races might look with a loss by any of theses three teams this weekend. With the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions already two games ahead in the loss column, and both playing very winnable games this weekend the Bears may have no chance of getting back in the race with a loss to Carolina at home.
And with Jay Cutler looking like....well like Jay Cutler the Bears have the look of a team that could very well be on the outside looking in if they can't find some way right their ship.

The Atlanta Falcons who last season had the best record in the NFC going 13 & 3 and getting what every team plays for, a chance of knowing the road to the super bowl would have to go thru the Georgia dome. Not only did the Falcons failed to get out of the second round of the NFC playoff's after a first round bye. They were totally outclassed and manhandled by the super bowl champ's Green Bay Packers on their home field. Playing in the same division as the one year removed super bowl champ's New Orleans Saints and last season 10 win Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Atlanta can ill afford leaving Seattle with a loss knowing what lay's ahead of them on their schedule. ( two games with New Orleans, a rematch with the super bowl champion Green Bay Packers, a trip to the motor city to play the now potent Detroit Lions, not to mention a return game with the Buccaneers ) A loss this weekend and the Falcons and their fans might have to start thinking about next season after only four games.

The Philadelphia Eagles the self anointed dream team, are now living the nightmare of high expectations. After only three games the Eagles may be one loss away from having no chance at seeing the playoff's let alone a trip to Indianapolis for this year's super bowl. Andy Reid and the Eagles are finding out what you think you have is not actually what you have. With all the chatter that surrounded the team with it's offseason free agents pickups, the Eagles are now seeing what a lockout can do to very good players who have little or no time to work together with no mini camps or offseason OTA's. Where as I do see the Eagles having the easier road of the three teams at getting back into there divisional race. ( because I don't believe the other teams in their division has what it take to give that knock out punch ) I can see the heart and soul of their team quarterback Mike Vick who has already been concussed and now with a badly bruised hand not making it through this football season. No way this dream team can win without Vick so this weekend the Eagles must find a way to keep the 49ers stout defense off their star quarterback, or the Eagles and their fans may find out karma has a not so funny way of showing itself when you least want it.

Even knowing four games does not a season make, I see theses three 2010 division winners going into game four knowing it very well may be the defining game of their whole season.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Three NFL Teams that grew up Sunday?

2011-09-26T18:04:00.020-05:00

Three NFL Teams that grew up Sunday?

Three teams took big boy steps in the NFL Sunday to show the rest of the league they will not be over looked this season. The Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and the Oakland Raiders won games after spotting their opponents double digits leads. Without any recent history of winning anyone's of theses teams could have roll over and just laid a giant egg and no one would have been surprised at all. But this is a difference season and theses three teams have a difference look to them.

How easy could it have been for the Lions knowing their history in Minnesota ( 13 years of losing in the dome ) falling behind 20 to 0 at halftime to say to themselves here won go again And call it a day. But this Detroit Lions team has a stud at quarterback ( Matthew Stafford ) and weapons to come back on any team in the NFL.

Facing the best QB in football ( Tom Brady ) and spotting him a 21-0 lead who would have blame the Bills if they packed it in and started thinking to their next game knowing nobody expected them to be in the game anyway. However the Buffalo Bills have proved already in this young season they can score a lot of points, and let's face it New England's defense is not very good. The Bill's took advantage of 4 Brady int's and manhandled the Pat's secondary with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing darts all over the field to snap a 15 game losing steak to the New England Patriots.

After losing a heart breaking shootout in week 2 to the above Buffalo Bills and falling behind by 10 to the New York Jets and their supposedly great defense, the old Oakland Raiders might have seen this as a sign of bad things to come and just gave up. But this is a new Raider team with a new head coach ( Huge Jackson ) and a running attack that open holes in that vaulted Jet's D my grandmother could have run thought. The Raiders showed sign last season they might be turning a corner and heading in the right direction ( by beating every team in their division in all six meetings )
but with no change at quarterback and a coaching move in the after going 8 & 8 it's hard to know how this team might react to a game like Sunday's'

I wrote in an earlier post that I didn't see any surprise teams coming out of this 2011 season, but I can now say I am happy to be wrong. I thought the lockout would put young teams behind the eight ball with little or no time to prepare for the coming season. But theses three young teams with no recent history of winning, pasted a huge test Sunday by coming back to win games that in their recent pasted would have been unthinkable.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

The NFL needs to remember quarterback are football players too!!

2011-09-23T08:06:00.006-05:00

The NFL needs to remember quarterbacks are football players too!!

The National Football League has taken the rough and tough game of football to something just short of flag football. When did the NFL quarterback position become not a part of football? How can any and all football players in the NFL except the quarterback be expected to play tackle football. The power to be in the NFL seem as if their trying to turn quarterbacks into pansy's who after taking legal hit by defenders turn to the refs to see if a flag might be thrown in their favor.

I know the quarterback is one of the most important player on the team, however the guy is still suppose to be a football player. I believe the NFL is over protecting the QB's around the league and making it harder and harder for a defender to know what a legal hit really is. How can you tell a player on the defensive side of the ball who has been taught to react to the ball, that he now has to think in that spit second before he reaches the quarterback on how he must now ease him down gently not to incur a penalty flag or a fine from the home office.

It's hard as a fan to watch what seem to be two difference set of rules being played on the same football field. There a set of rules that says you need to protect the quarterback at all cost no matter how bad the call looks. ( the guys are football players ) Than there's that other sets of rules that says you can hit running backs and receivers as hard as you want as long as you don't lead helmet to helmet. The time has come for the NFL to take a step back and rethink the protection rules for NFL quarterback and realize theses guys are also a part of the national football league.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Freak Of Nature

2011-09-22T08:33:00.005-05:00

Freak Of Nature

Cam Newton is not the norm in the world of NFL football, he is a freak of nature. This rookie QB has come in and taken the football league by storm and there is no football expert who saw this coming. How could anyone have predicted over 800 yards of passing in his first two starts as a NFL quarterback. Yes I know he was the first player taken in this year's NFL draft, but he's still a rookie who had a lot of questions coming into this season. And let us not forget no offseason time with his coaches so how could anyone see this kind of play coming.

One can see this young quarterback didn't just sit back during the lockout taking pats on the back for being the number overall draft pick in this year's draft, thinking look at me I made it. He spent all that off time working on the things people saw as shortcoming in his game. It's only been two games but Cam Newton has proven his na-sayer wrong about his ability to play quarterback in the NFL. There is no doubt this rookie QB will have his peaks and valley this season, however one thing that can't be question at this time is the Carolina Panthers decision to take Newton as their guy to lead their team.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Week two bring more injuries. ( Lockout? )

2011-09-22T06:48:00.004-05:00

Week two bring more injuries. ( Lockout? )

After the first two weeks of this NFL season, team after team in the league has had to deal with season ending injuries to a lot of it key players. Injuries have and will always be a part of NFL football, however the list of injuries are compiling at a record pace. There's aways a few teams each season that has to deal with a rash of unexpected injuries, ( that's football ) but this problem has spread league wide this season. I believe we are now seeing the biggest impact the NFL lockout is going to have on the 2011 season.

We need to remember with no mini camps or OTA's and no ability for coaches to oversee players conditioning in the offseason. There was no way to monitor team progress, so it not a big surprise to see so many players going down with theses multitude of injuries. The NFL gave players little or no time to get in playing shape, so get prepared for more injuries that are sure to impact the outcome of the already crazy 2011 season.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

ESPN Needs To Tell Skip Bayless To Just Go Away.

2011-09-17T11:20:00.004-05:00

ESPN Needs To Tell Skip Bayless To Just Go Away.

As I write this post I write it knowing Skip Bayless may never get a chance to read it. I don't know if the power to be at ESPN sit in a room and then decide let's ask Skip if he minds looking like a fool on national tv. I find it very hard to believe that a guy who is suppose to have an insight into sports, come across like he has no clue at all. Skip's stance on the Tim Tebow situation has made a joke out of Tebow and has myself and other NFL fans questioning his competence to even speak for ESPN on any subject when it come to sports.

I know there a chance Bayless is just taking the obvious hard line on a lot of bad debate points, however Skip seem to have taken silly to an all time low. It's not just the Tebow debate I'm taking about, it's the way he's going after players and coaches without giving fans any information to back up his point. He gives us no inside information of having talk to anybody that might add creditability to what he is saying.

There is nothing wrong with healthy debate on any sports issues, however when it's take a personal turn to name calling to make your point, it become tiresome and old. Shouting at the top of your lungs to try and get your point across makes a person look ill inform and dumb. Skip Bayless in my opinion is niter informative or entertaining on ESPN's first take, he has become very annoying and predictable. I'm not writing this posts to give any credence to Skip Baylees even knowing it will. I am writing this hoping the power to be at ESPN take a closer look at tape of one their flagship programs and see this guy has no place on it.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com