Yes, the game has already begun. No, nothing of substance, besides the fact that San Diego's defense has limited the Patriots on their first two offensive possessions has taken place thus far. However, that occurrence is indicative of the fact that the Chargers' defense matches up with the Patriots defense better than any other team in the NFL. With the ability to generate pressure with their front four, a talented group in the secondary, and a group of linebackers that can work up to pressure the passer and cover weapons like Watson and Faulk, the Chargers are well equipped to limit the Patriots on offense, particularly if adopting some of the game plan elements the Jaguars employed last week, limiting the deep ball, filling the underneath zone with personnel, and attempting to generate pressure with the front four.
The Chargers would normally present a similar matchup when going up against the Patriots defense, but, with several stars likely to spend a significant amount of time on the sidelines, the Chargers do not possess the same potency on offense. The Chargers must extend drives and give their defense the opportunity to rest, as the pressure the Patriots generate on offense can wear a team down.
Yes, the Patriots are 17-0. However, it is far from a foregone conclusion that the Patriots will complete their quest. With the Chargers this week and, presumably, the Packers in the Super Bowl, the Patriots face their two greatest challenges of the season and I personally believe that they will fail to scale one of these obstacles.
20 January 2008
06 January 2008
Sunday Hits...
* In several of his latest blog posts, Peter Gammons has continually utilized the term "rat" to describe Brian McNamee as well as other generic informers in the Mitchell investigation. While players through MLB should receive a lion's share of the blame for not seeking to bring this issue to the forefront instead of watching their collective reputations flushed down the toilet, is it a wonder that so few would step forward when one of the most respected baseball journalists is tossing unseemly terms like "rat" around? Yes, McNamee only began releasing names when faced with criminal indictment and long prison sentences, but the motivation does not lessen the veracity of his statements.
* Hoping for an entertaining BCS championship game tomorrow night. But, with a team that has had a month off to recover from injuries sustained during their bruising run through the SEC, it's hard to see Ohio State keep up. If the Buckeyes can establish the run and pound away with Beanie Wells, they could make a game of it. But, I don't see the Buckeyes keeping Glenn Dorsey and Co. from getting penetration and halting the running game. Of course, if it is a tight, close game, I'll likely have to watch the end on my DVR since I have a flag football game. God, my team sucks. Nice guys, bad hands.
* The Giants are impressing in a rout of the Buccaneers. Their offensive and defensive lines are playing some physical football. Ahmad Bradshaw continues to contribute in the change of pace role for the offense, which was an important addition after they lost the productive Dedric Ward earlier this season.
* I understand that people oftentimes vote for candidates who best represent their own personal beliefs. In the case of Mike Huckabee, evangelicals boosted him to a larger than expected winning margin in Iowa. But, isn't a concern that, in a time when a president with a grasp of the foreign policy issues that surround the United States is vital to the nation's interests, Huckabee has repeatedly demonstrated an incomplete and inaccurate knowledge of world affairs?
* Hoping for an entertaining BCS championship game tomorrow night. But, with a team that has had a month off to recover from injuries sustained during their bruising run through the SEC, it's hard to see Ohio State keep up. If the Buckeyes can establish the run and pound away with Beanie Wells, they could make a game of it. But, I don't see the Buckeyes keeping Glenn Dorsey and Co. from getting penetration and halting the running game. Of course, if it is a tight, close game, I'll likely have to watch the end on my DVR since I have a flag football game. God, my team sucks. Nice guys, bad hands.
* The Giants are impressing in a rout of the Buccaneers. Their offensive and defensive lines are playing some physical football. Ahmad Bradshaw continues to contribute in the change of pace role for the offense, which was an important addition after they lost the productive Dedric Ward earlier this season.
* I understand that people oftentimes vote for candidates who best represent their own personal beliefs. In the case of Mike Huckabee, evangelicals boosted him to a larger than expected winning margin in Iowa. But, isn't a concern that, in a time when a president with a grasp of the foreign policy issues that surround the United States is vital to the nation's interests, Huckabee has repeatedly demonstrated an incomplete and inaccurate knowledge of world affairs?
End of the Run...
The Redskins seemed to let one get away in Seattle yesterday. The game left me frustrated and pissed off, with dropped passes, missed field goals, and a struggling offensive line rattling throughout my head.
On reflection, it's amazing that this season, rife with missed opportunities, injuries, tragedy, and second half collapses, culminated in a game in which the Redskins could have reasonably advanced to an emotionally charged divisional round game against the Cowboys, with talk of NFC Championships and Super Bowl appearances. While the talk proved to be premature, it is indicative of the perseverance and leadership demonstrated by Joe Gibbs and his staff, something that was not evident throughout the early part of the season.
The Redskins head into the offseason needing small adjustments instead of the wholesale changes that have marked so many offseasons. The fabric of this team seems to be as close knit as any in the NFL and bodes well for the prospects of next season. After so much frustration, the Redskins inspired, once again making them a team worth cheering.
On reflection, it's amazing that this season, rife with missed opportunities, injuries, tragedy, and second half collapses, culminated in a game in which the Redskins could have reasonably advanced to an emotionally charged divisional round game against the Cowboys, with talk of NFC Championships and Super Bowl appearances. While the talk proved to be premature, it is indicative of the perseverance and leadership demonstrated by Joe Gibbs and his staff, something that was not evident throughout the early part of the season.
The Redskins head into the offseason needing small adjustments instead of the wholesale changes that have marked so many offseasons. The fabric of this team seems to be as close knit as any in the NFL and bodes well for the prospects of next season. After so much frustration, the Redskins inspired, once again making them a team worth cheering.
Continued Journalistic Stumbling...
The Sean Taylor murder precipitated a great deal of controversy due to the rush to judgment and insensitivity displayed by several writers. Weeks after the initial stumbling, another writer has demonstrated a failed grasp of the issue. This time, the issue is the continued inspiration the players and staff of the Redskins drew from Taylor's passing. John McGrath of the Tacoma News Tribune offers a commentary on his fatigue at the projection of the loss of Taylor onto multiple aspects of the Redskins streak of four wins to end the season, specifically the importance several players placed on the 21 point margin of victory over the Cowboys in the final week of the regular season, along with their continued inclusion of Taylor as a starter on their official depth chart. A columnist residing on the opposite coast, with no direct relationship with any member of the Redskins organization, likely has little perspective on the relationships between the Redskins and Sean Taylor nor on the profound impact Taylor's death had on the locker room. Several writers for the Washington Post, who reside on the Redskins beat, had offered comments on the fact that the Redskins, particularly those who were close to Taylor, truly believed that Taylor impacted and affected their performance.
While McGrath is offering an opinion in his article, it seems to be a simple manifestation of his own personal fatigue over the issue rather than a researched column that has any basis in fact demonstrating the use of Taylor as a martyr by the Redskins organization, which is what McGrath seems to imply with a lack of sensitivity that is reminiscent of the early days after Taylor's murder.
While McGrath is offering an opinion in his article, it seems to be a simple manifestation of his own personal fatigue over the issue rather than a researched column that has any basis in fact demonstrating the use of Taylor as a martyr by the Redskins organization, which is what McGrath seems to imply with a lack of sensitivity that is reminiscent of the early days after Taylor's murder.
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