Nate’s 9: Thoughts on
the NFL Season
#9. Hard to say that I saw this season coming from the
Arizona Cardinals. I actually really liked
their team heading into the season, as they hit on all of my points for winning
in the National Football League, but I was certain that injuries, or the NFC
West, or just some sort of dysfunctional occurrence that usually happens to the
Arizona franchise would keep them from winning 8 games this season. It still looks like the road to the playoffs
will be very difficult, but I also thought that before they beat the Indianapolis
Colts in a landslide yesterday.
#8. Every quarterback tends to have some glimpses of
capability, but it doesn’t mean they should be a starter in the NFL. My point I’m trying to make here is I watched
a lot of West Virginia college football over the last few years, because their
offense is very entertaining. Most
football fans should know that entertaining does not equal good. I really didn’t like Geno Smith as an NFL
quarterback, and I believe he is what is holding back the Jets from possibly
locking up that 6th seed.
They have built a very nice squad from 1 to 53. My only concerns with this franchise stem
from the quarterback position, and now they have gotten it wrong twice. I think Rex Ryan at least appears in one
super bowl if he just spent as much time developing the right guy for his
offense as he does with his pre-game speeches and his extracurriculars. It’s a shame that no quarterbacks in next
year’s draft are the answer.
#7. Entropy is one of the worst things that can happen to a
coach in the NFL. The minute you get
stagnant and unmotivated to achieve greatness, is the minute you need to search
for a fresh start. Case in point, Mr.
Andy Reid. One could argue that the
Philadelphia Eagles have more talent on their roster than the Kansas City
Chiefs, but yet he has had a ridiculous amount of success this year in Kansas
City. I attribute all of that to
motivation. He didn’t care if he won or
lost in Philly anymore, because his job was pretty much safe, and even when he
was on the hot seat, you felt like he could leave Philly on his own terms. Now, he has something to work toward,
especially because it’s a new relationship in Kansas City, which with a 3-13
season could be over in an instant. I
think this is always why Bill Parcells moved on after a certain number of
seasons. That’s why I’ve been so
impressed with the Jeff Fisher’s, Bill Belicheck’s and Sean Payton’s of the
world. They stay motivated, even when
sometimes their success says they don’t have to.
#6. I’m scared if the Falcons end up with the number 1 pick
in next year’s draft. My rule about
following the NFL has always been this:
there are no rules. A QB shouldn’t
always have to go #1 in an NFL draft.
More often than not, a team should take the best player available. Imagine if the Raiders had taken Calvin
Johnson instead of JaMarcus Russell. So
although there are a number of good QB prospects in next year’s draft, I think
the best player far and away is Jadeveon Clowney. The Falcons have had a tough time this season
due to a number of things: injuries, lack of a pass rush, teams winning in
Atlanta, but obviously a fully loaded and talented Atlanta roster is hard to
beat. Imagine next year when they jump
to early leads and then they have Clowney and Umenyiora coming after you. Right back where they belong.
#5. I believe that only injuries will keep Denver from winning
the super bowl this season. We all saw
how good they can be; jumping to a 24-0 lead in New England against a very
underrated and strong Patriots team. We
also saw what happened the minute DRC got injured. Without Bailey and Cromartie I have to admit
their defense looks quite penetrable. Tom Brady figured it out in time; get the
ball out early and often. They had a
tough time matching up with Thompkins, Amendola and Gronk after Cromartie left
the game. But they never went for the
big play because it meant Denver’s offense would be back on the field. New England played the perfect half, but I’m
curious to see if they can do it against a full-strength Broncos team.
#4. It pays to be mediocre.
The year Seattle won the NFC west with a 7-9 record, was the year the
NFL dynamics changed. Now it’s the best
division in football and I don’t think it’s that close. Part of the reason is all four teams hit on
their coaches. Pete Carroll, Jim
Harbaugh, Jeff Fisher and Bruce Arians.
They are all probably in the top 25% of their trade, and they have all
drafted very well since that season.
Earl Thomas, Michael Floyd, Aldon Smith, Chris Long, and many others are
on the fast track to stardom. The NFL is
very cyclical, and maybe next it will be the NFC East’s turn to take advantage
of the higher draft positions over these next few seasons.
#3. Maybe it’s a sign of the times, but I have a hard time
understanding why people don’t place Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees
in the conversation for greatest quarterbacks of all-time. I know the NFL has become a passing league,
and with the tough calls on the defense it’s easier to pad statistics, but it’s
because of these guys that GM’s everywhere believe that a good quarterback is
necessary to win in today’s NFL. This is
the same NFL in which the likes of Doug Williams, Mark Rypien and Phil Simms
won Super Bowls’ over John Elway and Jim Kelly.
Clearly it can be done. But the
fact that these teams led by Manning, Brady and Brees makes the playoffs year
after year is a testament to their greatness, and why the league is what it is
now. Let’s mention them with Johnny, Dan
and Joe.
#2. The Miami Dolphins are the perfect average team. My theory about the 49% really gets tested to
the limits when analyzing the Dolphins. (I believe that winning teams stem from
having players at every position better than average. So if Philip Rivers is the 16th
best QB in a 32 team league, the Chargers are in the top half, Matt Forte –
Bears, Bengals WR, etc). The Dolphins
literally hover at the 49% at almost every position. It’s obviously what the NFL wants; the true
parity that they look for with the salary cap and draft, etc. and I’m impressed
that the Dolphins literally are that version.
Tannehill (19th), RB (19), WR (17), TE (15), OL (14, but
might go down minus the bully), DL (13), LB (14), DB (19) ST (14). Crazy, right!? 8-8 team in my mind.
#1. What are the Carolina Panthers? I’ve noticed that most publications are
labeling them a top 5 team in the league, which is amusing, but they have won
some massive games. They have gotten a
bit lucky in the fact that both San Francisco and New England may have been
looking ahead to their next week’s opponents (at New Orleans; at New England),
and have still flown a bit under the radar.
Or are they a really tough out in the NFL because they all so well
balanced on offense, and their defense has been very effective? I don’t know, but if you can tell me your
thoughts on the Panthers, I’d love to hear them.
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