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NFC Review by the Gaming Todays Ted Sevransky
NFC review
November 09, 2010 7:08 AM by Ted Sevransky
EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to Teddy Covers’ unique look at the NFL. Teddy watches the games typing furiously on his laptop while giving you the key info that the box scores and game recaps simply don’t have. This week: NFC tidbits from Week 9.
Bucs
Josh Freeman is legitimately getting better by the week. He doesn’t panic when his team falls behind, exactly the type of QB you want on the field trying to rally from a deficit. The game has clearly slowed down for him — he’s patient in the pocket, and patient even when he decides to pull the ball down and run.
His throws put the ball in position for his receivers to make plays – this is one QB not afraid to make a mistake, and not afraid to take shots downfield. Tampa’s no name receiving corps is stepping up on a weekly basis, and it’s clear that this team believes in their young leader.
But the Bucs defense has all kinds of holes, particularly inept at stopping the run. Maybe Tampa is morphing into an OVER squad; exceeded the posted total by more than 5 TD’s in the last two games.
Cardinals
Last year, Arizona quarterbacks (mostly Kurt Warner) threw for 4,200 yards with 27 TD’s and 18 INT’s. This year through their first eight games, Arizona’s QB’s have 1,340 passing yards, 6 TD passes and 12 INT’s, with a cumulative QB rating more than 30 points lower than last year.
Derek Anderson was benched in favor of an undrafted rookie once already this year, and he deserved it again following this dismal performance. Anderson continues to throw into coverage, stare down receivers and miss defenders who are standing in his passing lanes.
It’s hard to overthrow a wide open Larry Fitzgerald, one of the best ‘jumpball’ receivers in the league. Anderson did it several times. With the game on the line, late in the fourth quarter, Anderson lacked any sort of toughness, taking three or four sacks by curling up; anticipating the hit, as opposed to firing downfield.
These QB problems are not going to get solved with the guys on the roster, leaving Arizona with a gaping hole at the most important position on the field, destined for an ugly, losing campaign.
Eagles
Michael Vick was never this good in Atlanta. Sunday, he threw perfect strikes downfield out of his own end zone. He showed poise under duress in the pocket, made correct run vs. pass decisions, quickly. Vick clearly has great chemistry with one of the league’s premier playmakers, DeSean Jackson.
And he still hasn’t thrown a single interception this season.
But the Eagles suffered more offensive line injuries. They got Jason Peters back at left tackle this week, but lost guard Max Jean-Gilles to a concussion. The offensive line wasn’t particularly physical today – Indy won the battle in the trenches.
Philly now has 27 consecutive games with at least one sack, a clear reflection of what this defense needs to do to be successful. Philly got lucky in a sense here – you can’t beat Indy very often settling for field goals or giving a whopping six first downs on defensive penalties.
Lions
After starting 0-4, Detroit had won two out of three looking like a ‘real’ team and not the bottom feeder for the better part of the last decade. The offense is explosive with Matt Stafford back behind center, and the defensive line is as good as any in the NFL.
One more draft – a new left tackle, some cornerback help and some linebacking help – and the Lions will be in position to reach the playoffs and maybe further noise. But with Stafford limping off the field late in the fourth quarter, you have to wonder what will happen if he’s hurt again.
Drew Stanton is not a capable backup QB, even if he’s just filling in for a week or two. The most bizarre play call of the year came right after the two minute warning; an incomplete pass with a backup QB nursing a three point lead against an opponent with no timeouts. That call combined with Stafford’s injury cost Detroit a winnable game.
Panthers
We had another Jimmy Clausen sighting, as he entered the game in the second quarter with Carolina pinned inside their own 5 after Matt Moore got hurt. Surprise, surprise, he nearly took a safety, and would have been forced into a three and out were it not for a really ‘iffy’ pass interference call.
Steve Smith is really struggling – he’s had an extremely unproductive season. Smith lined up in the wrong spot, slipped and fell nearly causing an interception, and he’s no longer requiring double coverage on every play. Smith didn’t catch a pass until third string QB Tony Pike came into the game in the fourth quarter.
It sure looks like many of the veterans on this team are going through the motions. As the offense struggled, the defense gradually wore down, allowing one long drive after the next; unable to get off the field. We saw a handful of real frustration penalties from this defense. Factor in an offense that leads the NFL in giveaways, and there’s not much light on the horizon.
Saints
Three key defenders returned from injury and it made a huge difference! Darren Sharper came back after missing the first half of the season, and he was a monster, forcing a key first half fumble that changed the momentum of the game. However, he did limp off the field with a hamstring pull and didn’t return.
Cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer also got back in the lineup, with Greer returning an interception to the house. The Saints dominated the turnover battle in their 2009 Super Bowl season with 24 takeaways and seven defensive TD’s through eight games.
This year, it’s 11 takeaways and no defensive TD’s – hence the dramatic change in their ATS fortunes. Greer’s interception return TD was their first defensive score of the year. The red zone offense is still problematic, settling for field goals. This problem is not likely to get better until Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas come back.
Vikings
The two hidden factors in Minnesota’s collapse have been poor play from the highly touted offensive line and a shaky effort from what is supposed to be a good secondary. Brett Favre is taking way too many hits for a 41-year-old man. Adrian Peterson doesn’t have holes to run through, even against lesser defenses.
This OL makes a ton of money and has a boatload of pro bowl experience between them, but they are playing like a bunch of veterans who care more about their paychecks. Similarly this defense, an elite unit last year, came into Sunday allowing 28+ points three times in the last four games and failing to record a sack for three straight weeks.
The Vikes notched six sacks Sunday, but this time it was the special teams that allowed two scores. This was on check of a comeback win, but the fundamentals in Minnesota are not very good these days.
