My Week 7 Vibes

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:10 am

I’m not an NFL head coach. I never will be. And I do not claim to have more knowledge of the game than anyone who coaches at that level.

But sometimes, I think NFL head coaches make the game more complicated than it needs to be. Example:

The Seahawks are down by 11 with 1:52 left to play in their game with New Orleans on Sunday Night. Simple math says at some point Seattle will need a field goal to tie. They have fourth-and-nine at the New Orleans 14 so what does head coach Mike Holmgren do?

Kick the field goal, right?

Nope, he goes for it. And fails badly. Game over.

Al Michaels and John Madden were speechless. By bypassing the field goal, Holmgren put the game in the hands of one play as opposed to giving his team a fighting chance. As Martin Riggs once said, I don’t make things complicated, sometimes things get complicated all by themselves.

Now let’s take a look back at Week 6 and a look ahead to Week 7.

Is it Week 7 already? Wow.

This just in: David Carr stinks as an NFL quarterback. OK, that isn’t breaking news but anybody who saw what Vinny Testaverde did against the Cardinals has to come to the conclusion that if a 300-year-old guy can play quarterback better than you can, it’s time to find another line of work.

And on behalf of Steve Smith owners everywhere, let me say to Vinny:

THANK YOU.

Speaking of the Panthers-Cardinals game, with Vinny starting and Tim Rattay taking over for the injured Kurt Warner, that meant both teams were using QBs they had signed the week before. I’ll say it again – I’ve never seen a season this bizarre before.

Welcome back Larry Johnson.

Maybe Brad Childress learned a few things about how to use his best offensive weapon during the bye week. He unleashed Adrian Peterson to the tune of 21 touches against the Bears and … well … you saw the result. The Bears won’t be forgetting that wave of destruction anytime soon.

If the Bengals don’t get Rudi Johnson healthy real soon they might as well bag this season and start prepping for 2008. Kenny Watson has done OK but he lacks Rudi’s talent and the Bengals badly miss the balance Rudi brings to the offense.

Remember in Week 1 when the Titans ran all over the Jaguars’ vaunted run defense? Five games later and it’s safe to say that was a fluke. Nobody runs on the Jags.

Nobody runs on the Titans either. They aren’t getting a lot of attention because their offense has so many issues but that’s a darn good defense in Tennessee.

Tuesday was trade your former Badgers day in the NFL. First, Michael Bennett got dealt to Tampa Bay and then Chris Chambers got traded to San Diego. Somehow, Brooks Bollinger was spared.

Speaking of Chambers, the Chargers overpaid to get him but he's going to bring a legit WR to the passing game and a third dynamic threat to the offense. Somewhere, Philip Rivers is smiling.

Meanwhile in Miami, the Dolphins have basically said by trading their second-best offensive player they are waving the white flag on this season and prepping for 2008. That ought to build fan enthusiasm. And that sound you hear are the Ted Ginn Jr. and John Beck engines revving up.

I’m a big Matt Schaub fan but at some point he’s got to get the ball into the end zone.

Santana Moss played terribly against the Packers and promptly benched himself. Has that ever happened in an NFL game before? Who’s the head coach there?

The Patriots are scary good. Yes, I realize this isn’t a new development but it’s frightening to think they could be down to their third-string RB and still steamroll over everyone. And to top it off, their defense is only going to get better.

Shaun Alexander reminds me of Eddie George in his final year with the Titans. George didn’t just hit the wall; he smashed into it and became about as worthless as you could get as a starting RB. Alexander’s game is tailing off in much the same way. He just looks old, sluggish and uninspired. If you can move him for decent value, I’d do it.

Sometimes LaDainian Tomlinson makes it look so easy it’s scary.

So that’s all Drew Brees needed – a lead.

I agree with John Madden. When Reggie Bush is touching the ball on nearly every play to start the game it makes sense for defenses to key on him. At least a little. Or you can do what Seattle did in the first half – play him straight up. That sure was a good idea.

Anybody else notice it’s Week 7 and the Browns are in serious contention for a division title?

I’ve said before that Braylon Edwards has a lot of Randy Moss in him – good and bad. Right now we’re seeing the good. And it’s real, real good.

David Garrard isn’t doing all that much from a fantasy perspective but he’s quietly playing well as the Jags’ starting QB. I don’t think he’s more than a decent QB2 from a fantasy perspective but he’s growing on me as an NFL starter.

And lastly, Harry Callahan once said that a man’s got to know his limitations, and I know mine. The Stone Cold Lock of the Week seemed like a good idea when the season began and it was fun after Week 1. But it’s clear my talents do not extend to the gambling arena – at least not on a consistent NFL basis. A smart man knows when he’s been beaten and I’ve been beaten. So I’m retiring the Stone Cold Lock Pick of the Week. Maybe I’ll revisit it later in the season; maybe not. We’ll see. But for now …

Sayonara.

BillyWaz · Post by **BillyWaz** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:21 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

The Seahawks are down by 11 with 1:52 left to play in their game with New Orleans on Sunday Night. Simple math says at some point Seattle will need a field goal to tie. They have fourth-and-nine at the New Orleans 14 so what does head coach Mike Holmgren do?

Kick the field goal, right?

Nope, he goes for it. And fails badly. Game over.
I agree Tom. That was one of the worst called games I have seen in a while. "The Walrus" TWICE called a run on 3rd and 4+, and was stopped. Not going for the field goal was just the icing on the cake.

Add the fact that everytime they showed him he looked like his car had been stolen, and you gotta wonder if he and Shaun are "on" the same thing?

Great vibes Tom. However, I am diappointed that there will no longer be a STONE COLD LOCK each week (not that I have been betting it thank goodness! )

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:22 am

I'll probably revive it later in the season. But it's kicking my ass right now and I'm tired of the beat down.

Inf4life · Post by **Inf4life** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:33 am

I definitely agree that the Chargers vastly overpaid for Chambers, considering the fact that the Patriots got Moss for a 4th rounder. But Chambers will take the pressure off of LT so it's all good in the short term.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:46 am

Originally posted by Go Getta:
I definitely agree that the Chargers vastly overpaid for Chambers, considering the fact that the Patriots got Moss for a 4th rounder. But Chambers will take the pressure off of LT so it's all good in the short term. I agree. It's a Win Now move. I wish the Packers had a GM with that type of aggressiveness.

Inf4life · Post by **Inf4life** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:50 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:
quote:Originally posted by Go Getta:
I definitely agree that the Chargers vastly overpaid for Chambers, considering the fact that the Patriots got Moss for a 4th rounder. But Chambers will take the pressure off of LT so it's all good in the short term. I agree. It's a Win Now move. I wish the Packers had a GM with that type of aggressiveness. [/QUOTE]The worst part about the Packers not making the move, is that the person they drafted with that 4th rounder they ended up cutting. They must have some rocket scientists working for them. :rolleyes:

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:02 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

David Garrard isn’t doing all that much from a fantasy perspective but he’s quietly playing well as the Jags’ starting QB. I don’t think he’s more than a decent QB2 from a fantasy perspective but he’s growing on me as an NFL starter.
Great column Tom, but I will file a contrary opinion on Garrard not being a FF starter. After the first six weeks he is averaging 18.11 points per game (for the five weeks he has played) - that is good for 9th amongst NFL QBs (actually Hasselbeck is 8th with 18.12). On total FF points he is 12th, so while he is not the sexy play and never has a thirty point game for you, he also doesn't score less than fifteen points and his 15-21 point weeks keep teams from losing a lot of games. Add in that you could have drafted him after ALL your other starters and several backups this year, and he was a Great value pick.

[ October 17, 2007, 10:03 AM: Message edited by: Captain Hook ]

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:09 am

He's been solid Perry and you're right, I'm probably not giving him enough due. I just don't see much upside there because his WRs are pretty terrible. But he won't hurt you most weeks and that's definitely a huge plus in his favor.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:11 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:
quote:Originally posted by Go Getta:
I definitely agree that the Chargers vastly overpaid for Chambers, considering the fact that the Patriots got Moss for a 4th rounder. But Chambers will take the pressure off of LT so it's all good in the short term. I agree. It's a Win Now move. I wish the Packers had a GM with that type of aggressiveness. [/QUOTE]The Chargers GM, A.J. Smith, may be motivated by job security. Perhaps the Packers should try the same approach with Thompson.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:13 am

Originally posted by King of Queens:
quote:Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:
quote:Originally posted by Go Getta:
I definitely agree that the Chargers vastly overpaid for Chambers, considering the fact that the Patriots got Moss for a 4th rounder. But Chambers will take the pressure off of LT so it's all good in the short term. I agree. It's a Win Now move. I wish the Packers had a GM with that type of aggressiveness. [/QUOTE]The Chargers GM, A.J. Smith, may be motivated by job security. Perhaps the Packers should try the same approach with Thompson. [/QUOTE]No chance of that happening. I agree Smith's job may be in jeopardy but I like a GM who sees a weakness and attacks it. Maybe the move doesn't work but you didn't sit idly by. The Patriots did the exact same thing at the WR position in the offseason and we're seeing how well that's working out.