According to MaxDenver.com, Broncos head coach John Fox said that running back Willis McGahee broke his hand in the third quarter of Sunday’s 18-15 overtime triumph over the Dolphins.
The Miami product had 18 rushes for 76 yards on the ground and a lost fumble.
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And, boy, were his 49ers players entertained by it all.
San Francisco's emotional first-year coach is winning, and celebrating the team's turnaround in his unique style — even if he rubs people the wrong way in the process. The Niners are 5-1 heading into their bye week after a 25-19 victory over the previously unbeaten Lions.
"It's something you don't see every game. As a player, I was kind of pumped up about it," left tackle Joe Staley said, chucking. "They weren't fighting, they were just getting after it. It's an intense game and football is an intense sport with high emotions. It's just something that happened at the end of the game. Obviously you don't want to see a fight happen, but there was some yelling and stuff."
Harbaugh insisted before the trip back to Michigan, where he starred in Ann Arbor for the Wolverines, that he has no friends. He probably didn't make any at Ford Field.
And this isn't the first time. Something similar happened during his Stanford days with former Southern California coach and now Seahawks chief Pete Carroll. They have become bitter rivals.
In 2009, Carroll asked Harbaugh, "What's your deal?" when they met at midfield after No. 25 Stanford ran up the score on 11th-ranked USC in a surprising 55-21 rout, even attempting a 2-point conversion with the game way out of reach.
Harbaugh doesn't much care about that stuff. He is all about winning, whatever it takes.
Yet back in the locker room Sunday after the skirmish, the coach told his players he wished it hadn't happened and taken the focus off their monumental victory.
"He's a competitor," said tight end Delanie Walker, who scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:56 left. "And that shows a lot, you know. He was very emotional. It was a big win, we overcame a whole lot in the game and he kinda felt that — you know, he didn't play, but he coached the game. So I could see him acting the way he acted. Really wasn't no big thing, it was just a rough handshake, and I think it got carried out of proportion. But, you know, when he got in the locker room he talked about it, he wished it never happened because he didn't want to take away from our win."
Quarterback Alex Smith spent the moments after the game ended talking to former 49ers QB Shaun Hill, along with Staley. They all hugged.
"We had a slightly less physical handshake," Smith joked. "This team loves and appreciates the fact that our coach is fiery and a competitor. We like that. I don't think any of us hold that against him for what happened."
Schwartz on Monday said he regretted the incident, in which he chased down Harbaugh after the infamous postgame semi-greeting but was held back by players and team personnel.
Harbaugh had at least one supporter outside Santa Clara team headquarters, 3,000 miles away at that: big brother and Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh.
"I can tell you this, whoever was right or wrong, I know whose side I'm on. The same side I've always taken," John Harbaugh said Monday. "You know what? Everybody's got a lot to learn. I guess right now he's 5-1. If the biggest lesson he has right now is how to shake hands postgame after a victory, he's doing OK."
Some protocols of etiquette aren't clearly defined.
Titans coach Mike Munchak, who only saw a replay of the Harbaugh-Schwartz exchange, acknowledged that when people are passionate things like this can happen.
"I don't even know what the rules are and all that," Munchak said. "When I became a head coach, there were things I didn't know. I didn't even know if before the game you were supposed to go and shake. I was a line coach and I never went out to shake anyone's hand, or when I was a player, I never went out to shake anyone's hand. I very rarely like to do it after the game.
"It's good sportsmanship obviously, but I think everyone realizes how competitive we are, how hard you work. It's hard after a game to work that hard, 100 hours a week or something, especially some of the coaches and not play well or play poorly. But obviously, you could suck it up and go over and shake a guy's hand for 5 seconds or 10 seconds."
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis remembers Baltimore's lunchtime basketball games in 1998 with Jim Harbaugh and then-defensive coach Schwartz during Harbaugh's playing days for the Ravens.
"I think Jimmy and Jim both, I'm sure, wish things would have been different and it doesn't have to become such a big thing. But really, (there's) not much to it," Lewis said. "Schwartzy and I would be playing against Harbaugh all the time and we'd play lunchtime basketball and Jimmy was playing for us. Two competitive guys."
San Francisco's players talked about the run-in on the flight home from the Motor City, even with Harbaugh sitting among them in coach class and not in his first-class seat.
"It's almost like he's still playing football. He's with us," defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois said. "Just to see a coach fired up, to see him jumping with you, slapping five, patting you on the back, telling you good job and stuff and he's into the game, that's our energy right there. We thrive off of him. It seems like he's still playing football but he's just doing it from the coach's position."
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AP Sports Writers David Ginsburg in Baltimore, Joe Kay in Cincinnati and Teresa M. Walker in Nashville contributed to this story.
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Brian and I will try to provide as many updates as possible until Kill returns to his duties, which we hope is soon!
According to a Minnesota news release sent Sunday, Kill is continuing to show signs of improvement and is resting comfortably at a local hospital. Minnesota team physician Dr. Pat Smith says all tests performed on Kill to this point have shown normal results. Further testing will continue, and Smith hasn't said when Kill could be released from the hospital.
Another update on Kill's status is expected Monday.
"Coach Kill is in good hands and is receiving the very best in medical care," Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi said in a prepared statement. “Right now the reports we have received from our medical staff are positive and I am very pleased that he continues to show steady signs of improvement."
Assistant head coach Bill Miller and coordinators Matt Limegrover and Tracy Claeys are leading the team during Kill's absence.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy says quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ shoulder is sore after he was hit during Sunday’s NFC championship game victory over the Bears at Soldier Field.
McCarthy didn’t seem overly concerned Monday, saying every player has bumps and bruises at this point in the season.
The Packers quarterback appeared to take a shot on his right shoulder from Bears defensive back Danieal Manning during his 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of Sunday’s game.
Published: January 16th, 2011 | Tags: Bill Belichick, Bill Belichick, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, New England Patriots, NFL GameDay Morning, Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Warren SappIs Bill Belichick the best NFL coach of all-time?
NFL Network’s Michael Irvin thinks so, and as Belichick moves up the list in several coaching categories, it’s a conversation that only gains merit.
“I think Belichick is to the contemporary fan what Vince Lombardi was to the historians of this game,” Irvin said. ”That’s what Belichick is. He’s a wonderful coach. I’ve said it [before]: The best of all-time, in my eyes.”
If the Patriots win Sunday against the Jets, Belichick will improve to 16-5 in the playoffs, tying him with Steelers great Chuck Noll (16-8) for the fourth-most playoff wins by a head coach in NFL history. Belichick has the second-highest playoff winning percentage (.750), trailing only Lombardi (9-1, .900). He also currently holds the mark for most seasons with 14-plus wins (four) in the regular season.
Do you agree with Irvin?
Posted in: NFL Network
Tulsa also interviewed Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee and former offensive coordinator Chad Morris for the position, and reports also surfaced that Texas A&M defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter was also a candidate. Athletic director Bubba Cunningham said Blankenship emerged as the choice because of his vision for the football team, his vision of the university, and his deep knowledge and understanding of Tulsa.
Blankenship certainly has the energy, enthusiasm and passion for the school, given his playing career there. He grew up in Oklahoma, and is set to make this a seamless transition, thanks to his relationship with the players and university supporters. His promotion also means Tulsa can work on keeping its recruiting class intact. Graham has tried poaching Tulsa recruits and taking them to Pittsburgh, getting the speedy wide receiver Jakeem Grant from Mesquite, Texas, to drop Tulsa from his list.
A big recruiting weekend is upcoming for Tulsa to keep its class intact. Here are a few other thoughts from Blankenship during his introductory news conference:
On the opportunity to coach at his alma mater: "It's overwhelming. I think to be the head coach at a Division I program anywhere is a tremendous blessing but to get to go back to your alma mater and go to a place I feel I know inside out is a tremendous blessing."
The offensive and defensive philosophies will be similar. "Our players are familiar with the system. We're not out to change the system they're comfortable with. Within that people misunderstand that means we're going to run the same plays in the same way. It was impressive and awesome to get to work with Gus Malzahn. Chad Morris is a wonderful coach and great human being. I love him and what he did with our offense but it's a real mistake to think Chad ran Gus' offense. The offense this year was unique to us. It's probably a little self-serving, but I try to remind people starting in 1992 at Union High School, we were running the no-huddle hurry-up offense that didn't catch on. ... Anybody that has watched what we've done offensively over the years understands it's going to be exciting, fast-paced, up tempo. The ball's going to be in the air. That's the only way I've ever done it."
On his coaching staff: Blankenship said he has reached out to coaches already and has also retained outside linebackers coach Jess Loepp, H-back and tight ends coach Archie McDaniel and secondary coach and recruiting coordinator Van Malone.
On the challenge of the first three weeks of the season: "I would rather approach those games with this returning squad than any squad I've ever coached. We have the guys ready to take a team that finished 24 in the country to make strides to go further."
On the recruiting class: "A lot of those were guys I was recruiting anyway. In most cases those guys were committed to this program. They weren't committed to a particular coach."
On how badly he wanted the job: "I told the selection committee it felt like game day to me. I was fired up and ready to roll. I was determined that if I got an opportunity to get in the batters box, I wasn't going to let the pitch go by. I was going to swing for the fence. We know it wasn't up to me but I thought I had done well enough to be considered."
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As expected after a 25-17 loss to the Rams which officially kicks them out of a chance at making the playoffs, the 49ers have canned head coach Mike Singletary.
The team fell to 5-10 Sunday, and the loss to the Rams knocks them from playoff contention in a wide-open NFC West.
A preseason favorite to win the division, San Francisco underachieved all the way, never living up to its expectations.
Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula will replace Singletary for the final game against Arizona.
Singletary went 18-22 in two-plus seasons as 49ers head coach, including a surprising 8-8 mark last year. But this season has been an almost wire-to-wire disaster.
Flip-flopping between starting quarterbacks, Singletary had a confrontation with his last choice during Sunday’s loss in St. Louis, jawing with Troy Smith on the sideline after he threw an interception.
Singletary is known, of course, as a Hall-of-Fame linebacker with the Chicago Bears. But he called coaching the 49ers one of the greatest experiences of his life.
“What made it so special were the players,” Singletary said in a release issued by the team. “They were some of the most outstanding men I have ever been around in my life.”
Singletary called the coaches “professionals” and said he wished the team “nothing but the best.” He thanked the owners for giving him an opportunity to coach in the NFL.
“I am indebted to them for that,” Singletary said. “I am also thankful for the faithful fans, I am just sorry I couldn’t give them more.”
Tomsula was in his fourth season as the 49ers defensive line coach after a nine-year career in NFL Europa.
A full-time head coach isn’t the only position the team will have to fill in the offseason. The 49ers have been working without a general manager since firing Scot McCloughan back in March.
Published: December 27th, 2010 | Tags: Warren Sapp, Bill Belichick, Charles Davis, Lovie Smith, Mike Lombardi, NFL Total Access, Raheem MorrisThere’s a lengthy list of head coaches who are deserving to be in the conversation as the NFL’s Coach of the Year. In no particular order: Bill Belichick, Mike Smith, Raheem Morris, Todd Haley, Lovie Smith, Mike McCarthy and Andy Reid are routinely mentioned. No shortage of quality candidates in that list.
When it came to voting time Monday on “NFL Total Access,” the picks from Charles Davis, Michael Lombardi and Warren Sapp were expectedly varied. Davis chose Lovie Smith. Lombardi went with Belichick. And Sapp says the choice is Morris.
“When you look at Morris, you’re talking about going with a second-year quarterback, starting seven rookies, placing eight starters on injured reserve during the course of the year and putting it out there at the beginning of the season the Bucs would get 10 wins,” Sapp said. “Right now they’re sitting at nine wins. That’s the Coach of the Year right there.”
Posted in: NFL Network
This obviously nullifies Maryland's coach-in-waiting plan, but the woman who set that up -- former AD Debbie Yow, who is now the athletic director at NC State -- said Franklin is "a terrific fit for Vanderbilt."
"He will bring with him a relentless work ethic and a staff that does the same," Yow said in a statement released by Vanderbilt. "Working hard and working smart are his trademarks, along with expectations of academic excellence."
Franklin, 38, becomes the first minority head coach to lead the Vanderbilt football program.
I'll have more thoughts on how this will affect Maryland in a bit.
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Lance Guidry takes over as interim coach at Miami (Ohio) after Mike Haywood’s departure and will lead the team in the GoDaddy.com Bowl against Middle Tennessee on Jan. 6. I had a chance to catch up with Guidry on Friday afternoon, and here is a little of what he had to say: How are you going to prepare the team for the bowl game?
Lance Guidry: We're going to stay with what we've been doing offensively and defensively, and on special teams, keep practicing the same way just like Coach Haywood would want us to. It's going to be a business trip. The kids when they heard Coach Haywood was leaving were upset. Some were upset more than others, but it's my job to get the troops rallied and that's what we're going to do. We're going to play hard.
Will there be other changes to the coaching staff for the game?
LG: Everybody is staying intact for the game, which is good, and one reason I said I would take it. Coach (Bill) Elias and Coach Haywood are the only two going. Everybody that has a position is staying on, so things are rolling as if it would have if Coach was still here.
Why did you decide to take the interim coach job?
LG: I was recruiting down south and I was in Louisiana and they called me told me to get on a plane. I knew he applied for the job and was close to getting it. I figured "uh oh" he got it. When I got back, we had a meeting at 10 at night. It was 9:40 and I was talking on the phone with my wife, walking through the offices. When they heard my voice, the equipment manager said, "Guidry get in here." Athletic director Brad Bates and associate athletic director Jason Lener were in there with Coach Elias, Coach Haywood and (offensive coordinator) Morris Watts. They were all smiling. I'm like, "what's going on?" I didn't know what to expect. They said, "we want you to be to be the interim coach." I said, "don't do this to me." But then I asked, "OK who’s with me?" They said, "everybody’s is going to be with you. Do you want it?" I said, "Yeah, I'll take it." Brad said they thought I’d be the best guy being I'd be enthusiastic and get the kids out of a funk quick. I'm honored they want me to do it.
So what did you tell the team?
LG: When I got in front of them, I told them don't forget what got them here. It was hard work. Two years ago they were coming off a really bad season. Everything was new. All the early morning runs we had and all that, getting our butt kicked being 1-11 to where we are right now. I said whoever the head coach is, he needs a good football team. That's what they wanted to hear. I told them, "I'm jumping into this thing with two feet in. I'm not thinking about going to Pittsburgh. I have to coach the game. They believe in me, so I think we'll be OK.”
Do you want to be the head coach?
LG: I've got mixed feelings. I'm not going to go out there on a limb and do that. I haven’t told Brad that I’m interested. There are going to be a bunch of good applicants with this job. If they ask me to apply I would probably apply, but I’m not going to lobby for it.
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You had to expect that Ravens fans were not going to be happy this week following a tough defeat to the Steelers.
Sports talk radio has been flooded this week with fans who are still seething over another close defeat to the rival Steelers with playoff implications at stake. No show was immune, not even Head Coach John Harbaugh’s radio program last Tuesday night.
Some of the exchanges got heated and Harbaugh as usual defended his team. He also went one step further and delivered a message to anyone who still isn’t on board with the current regime of the Baltimore Ravens.
“I’m proud of this football team,” Harbaugh said. “I’m proud of our defense. I’m proud of our offense. We will fight our tails off to be the best team we can every single week.”
“If that’s not enough for you then go find another team to cheer for. If you’re not proud of this team then you don’t know football,” Harbaugh said.
I’d be interested to see what are readers think about these comments but let me add my own thoughts here.
Anyone who really follows this team is frustrated. I know I am. The expectations for this team for this season were elevated due to consecutive playoff runs and new additions to the offense. For some it was “Super Bowl or Bust” to be sure.
So far what we’ve seen is that the Ravens are a very good AFC team. They are 8-4 with a two game lead over the next contender for a playoff spot with four games to play. They have proven that they can play with and possibly beat any opponent in the NFL. But the team has had its struggles and last Sunday night’s game simply magnifies any doubts that fans have as to weather or not this is a championship club.
The offense has been a concern since the days this franchise began and while they have shown improvement under Cam Cameron the first two seasons, this season they are back to being a middle of the pack unit – even with more talent.
Something has to give. Is it the play-calling? Is it the coaching? Is it execution? Is it player personnel? It’s probably a bit of all these things but it’s clear something needs to change.
I don’t really take too much stock in what Harbaugh says. I was shocked that he admitted publicly that he felt the offense was subpar. It’s the first time I can remember that he’s shown that type of honesty with the media and the fans as to his feelings about his team.
He’s never really shown much regard for those that cover the team or the fan’s knowledge of the game he coaches anyway. In some respects he’s right to be testy and upset when most don’t really know what they’re talking about. But his behavior is also consistent with who he is – a bit smug and self-assured and at times treats people with less than the respect they might be due. Just ask anyone at WNST.
But you have to expect those questions and commments when you have a public radio show. Otherwise why do it if not for the some extra money.
It’s up to you coach. If you don’t want to hear it then do something to fix it. It may mean making some hard choices at the end of the season but it’s time for you to step up and lead.
AP Photo/Sue OgrockiNew Indiana coach Kevin Wilson is confident he can build a quality defense.What do you think it's going to take to turn around the defense at IU? Kevin Wilson: Well, we'll start with our coordinator and structure, and I'm going to take some time to research and get the right person there, myself being much more offensive-oriented. So we'll take a little time and get the right one there and start with the structure standpoint. From there, I don't know because I've not really had the opportunity with our defense to know if there's physical limitations or concerns with certain position groups that aren't as talented, as strong, as big, as fast as we need.
So we'll start here with our defensive leadership, we'll start with our defensive structure. I've got a couple thoughts, but I'm going to wait until we get our defensive guy on staff and not square-peg or pigeonhole him and give him a chance to get it going. We're going to buy some time from the coaching and scheme standpoint, and I don't know a great deal about our actual personnel as we speak.
Is it a concern for you that the defense has been a problem for more than a decade? Indiana has had the offensive players -- Antwaan Randle El, Ben Chappell and those guys -- but the defense hasn't really caught up.
KW: I don't have a clue what their defensive stats have been. I just know for nine years, 15 spring practices, all preseason, every Tuesday and Wednesday going against coach [Bob] Stoops, with the attitude and the mind-set, I might be known as an offensive guy, but having come from the environment that I just came from, I have a great feel for what it looks like and how to structure, practice, recruit, coordinate, prepare, put a defense in great position.
Because I'm coming from one of the greatest defensive places there is with the coaching and the way that thing has been run with Bob, with Mike [Stoops], with Bo Pelini, with Brent Venables, that's been a pretty strong defensive place. Trust me, the hardest thing at Oklahoma isn't game day. The hardest thing at Oklahoma is Tuesday and Wednesday in practice.
There's a perception that Indiana is a basketball school. How do you deal with that? Was it a concern for you when you started talking about the job?
KW: It really wasn't. Coach [Tom] Crean is a great coach and we do have phenomenal tradition in basketball. He's going to be an extremely positive and avid supporter because this school is such a strong school, I don't think it should take a backseat or not be strong in any department. I don't think our school, the way president [Michael] McRobbie has it set up, he doesn't want to be average in anything.
From an athletic perspective, with our new administration with [athletic director] Fred Glass, with resources and dollars and Big Ten revenue and things we're generating and raising, I don't think we want to be just a member of a conference in any sport. We're pushing ourselves to get ourselves in position to play at an extremely high level, to play at a consistent winning level and start putting our teams in position to play for championships in all sports. It's great we're a basketball school, but what we really are at Indiana is we're a great school. We should be great at all things. We're looking forward to the challenge, and we're looking forward to the opportunity to build this thing and make it into a strong program.
I know you haven't been there too long, but from talking to the players or seeing any tape from last year, how close is Indiana to getting over that hump?
KW: I haven't really studied it. I know we're not playing horseshoes, so I don't want to be close. From what I've gathered, there is a strong nucleus of some talent coming back, sounds like a great recruiting class. I know we've done a very nice job in our scheduling and what we've got nonconference. I know the Big Ten league, I know it's going to be competitive. But I also feel we're going to put a plan in place, a process in place, to win.
We're not trying to win three, five years down the road. In fairness to our seniors, our alumni and our fans, we need to win right now. That's not trying to be arrogant or boastful or making statements that can't come true, but we're going to try and build something. It's a process, it's going to take time, but in fairness to our seniors, we're going to do everything we can to be as good as we can as fast as we can.
When you look at scores and you look at the talent, yeah, they're not far off. But being close is not winning. Being close doesn't excite me. But it does make me feel like there are the resources here where we feel like we have a chance. We tried to start [Tuesday] with a change of mind-set, a change of body language, a change of how we act and carry ourselves to see if we can get this thing going in a positive direction and build something that's going to be special here for our school and these players and for the fans and for the state of Indiana.
Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.Dear Leslie Frazier,
I feel that we have become pen pals in recent weeks. And I do appreciate you taking my advice to run the football repeatedly against the Redskins. That was huge. Only RB Adrian Peterson‘s bum ankle kept that plan from working out perfectly.
But I need you to listen to me again.
Please keep Peterson on the bench. I know that you said that Peterson’s ankle injury would probably come down to a game-time decision. No, make that decision now. That decision should be to keep him on the bench.
I understand your unwillingness to do so. I mean, it’s easy for me to say, seeing I am not the one auditioning to be the coach of the Los Angeles, oops, I mean Minnesota Vikings next year. But we have seen these ankle injuries become too problematic because the players are rushed back into the lineup way too quickly.
And if you don’t want to listen to me, just go ahead and call your pal Norv Turner in San Diego. Ask him how RB Ryan Mathews is coming along.
That’s the thing, coach. You put Peterson in the lineup, he runs wells for a couple of plays, maybe, and then he pulls up lame and is gone for the game. And then all of those fantasy enthusiasts who put Peterson in their lineup — almost out of obligation — will be left with maybe a handful of fantasy points. If they are that lucky.
The best thing to do is to run rookie RB Toby Gerhart — and not just because I added him off the waiver wire. Honestly, if you cannot beat the Bills without Peterson, I am not sure you deserve to be the coach.
Now I understand that you might just be pulling a rouse, so the Bills have to study film on Peterson. But believe me coach, I am not even sure that the Bills study film. In fact, I am not sure that they even practice. And if they do practice this week, they will likely spend all of that time reteaching WR Stevie Johnson how to catch. The Bills look like some pickup football team that gets together for a game every Thanksgiving.
So let’s end the charade and put Gerhart in the lineup. Then he becomes a start of the week, puts up a great stat line and everybody goes home happy.
Regards.
Posted in: Fantasy
Dear Leslie Frazier,
Congratulations on being elevated to the position of interim coach of the Vikings. You follow in a long line of successful men who have guided this storied franchise — Bud Grant, Dennis Green and Les Steckel. Taking over a franchise can be a daunting task, but here is some advice to not only help you adjust to your new role, but help fantasy enthusiasts as well.
First, introduce yourself to RB Adrian Peterson. Your team was doing a pretty good job of getting the ball to him earlier in the season, but Peterson has not topped 20 attempts since Week 8. After conversing with NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks, I understand that defensive coaches typically like to run the ball a lot. I mean a whole lot. Go with that instinct, Leslie. Budget 20 to 25 carries for Peterson, along with a number a swing passes, too.
Also, see that bruising back over there, rookie RB Toby Gerhart? Yeah, let’s end this experiment where he’s given attempts at certain points of the game. Gerhart got only one attempt against the Packers — thankfully because you guys had fallen behind so much — but that was one attempt too many.
Remember, Peterson’s nickname is A.D. As in “all day.” Not as in ”all day except for the times Gerhart is in the lineup.” Seriously, if you want to mix things up, get the ball in the hands of WR Percy Harvin. That makes sense. This Gerhart thing does not.
And finally, maybe it’s time to end this Brett Favre nonsense. Maybe you can gather Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson and that kicker, go over to Favre’s apartment and offer to drive him to the airport to send him back home to Mississippi. Leslie, there is no fault in romanticizing the past. For instance, I will always remember Jessica Simpson from her “Newlyweds/Dukes of Hazzard” days. But once the mom jeans, or in this instance the Wranglers, come on, it is time to turn the page.
Oh, and did I mention that you need to get the ball to Peterson? I only bring it up again because it is rather important. However, I trust that you will do the right thing.
Regards.
Posted in: Fantasy
One of the questions we were having about Jason Garrett’s rise to head coach of the Dallas Cowboys was how would the defensive players respond to him. When Wade Phillips was the coach Garrett had little to no influence on the defensive players and what they did week in and week out. Some of the players even criticized the Cowboys offensive player caller for not calling a balanced game until the Green Bay shellacking.
If I had to choose an image from Sunday’s win over the Giants, it would be that of OLB DeMarcus Ware joking and laughing with his new head coach on the sidelines as the clock was winding down. It wasn’t just Ware either, there were visible shots of Brooking, James, and Newman all exchanging hugs or joking with Garrett at the end of the game. It was an answer to the question that a lot of people were asking.
While one game doesn’t mean anything, it is great to hear that the defensive players have also bought into what Garrett is selling. “You feel a different vibe around here,” Bowen said, “Everybody was all in behind coach Garrett and you see what happened out there.” Bowen is just an example of the attitude that is starting to spread, not just amongst the defense, but the whole team.
Coach Spagnuolo said that their reasoning for starting Kevin Dockery over Bradley Fletcher at starting corner which had disastrous consequences was because “we’ve got a number of corners, a number of guys that are competing all the time,”. Now, I know Coach Spagnuolo is an honorable guy and does not want to rip Fletcher in the press for having bad practices or taking plays off and I think that’s a very honorable way to go about coaching and I’m sure his players appreciate that. But, for us as fans it is infuriating.
Fletcher has had a good short career in St. Louis when he has been healthy. He’s got burned a few times over 8 weeks, but everyone in the Rams secondary has. Fletcher has been a better corner facing off against better wide receivers for the Rams in 2010, plain and simple. Why are we suddenly giving starts for “good play”. If Dockery plays well at nickel corner, that is great, he has earned himself another game at nickel corner.
Why are the Rams suddenly using a rotational system at their starting CB position, not to mention outside linebacker. Additionally, let’s not get started on the rotation practice that they have used at right guard this year and tackle in the past.
This is not the preseason. The Rams should not be giving reps on the basis of the last good game, they should be giving starts and reps based on who is going to have a good game this week. The game against San Francisco was the biggest game of the Rams season and they started out by playing Kevin Dockery at 2nd corner. The 49ers targeted and exploited Dockery twice in the opening quarter.
The regular season is not a test track and every position cannot be swapped in and out as easily as defensive linemen. The Rams have precious little depth and they do not need to waste time giving out starts like little league trophies. Play the best guy for this week. Period.
Remember that the Titans were the team that first drafted troubled college running back LeGarrette Blount?
Well, now that the Titans are working out running backs, including former first-round pick Larry Johnson, one has to wonder if Jeff Fisher regrets getting rid of Blount.
If your wondering the same thing – Fisher does say he wishes Blount was still a Titan. “I thought we could get him to the practice squad, get him on practice squad, knowing that when and if there was any kind of interest, we could bring him back to the active roster. That didn’t happen, but I’m very, very happy for him.”
Blount was claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and now has 359 yards rushing with four touchdowns on 75 carries this year.
As far as Johnson goes, Fisher says that he’s ready if the Titans do decide to sign him, but as of now no decision has been made.
