QBCL Part 9
After giving it three weeks to buck its ideas up, I thought I would revisit the denizens of the Quarterback Challenged League (otherwise known as the NFL) to see if much had changed after the sorry state we last saw it in (i.e. the highest num ber of INTs/game of the season in Week 9).
But sorry to relate, Week 10 was even worse, Week 11 showed a BIG improvement, and Week 12 fell back again. The bottom line - it's still not a good time to be a quarterback, unless your name is Manning, P; Favre; Brady; Brees; Rivers; or Rodgers.
Here's how the actual stats stack up:
Wk 10 - 36:32 (15 games)
Wk 11 - 52:29 (16 games)
Wk 12 - 41:31 (16 games)
The TD:INT count - the TD numbers hit the 2nd lowest of the season (behind only Wk 8's 31), then bounced up to the HIGHEST (surpassing Wk 2's 48); then reverted to mediocrity with the 2nd lowest TD total for a full 16 games. The INT totals have improved over Wk 9. But they are still pretty consistently and depressingly high.
Wk 10 - +4
Wk 11 - +23
Wk 12 - +10
The TD:INT ratio; we hit rock bottom in Wk 10, then the BEST ratio of the season, only to drop back to increasingly ordinary levels again.
The games with BOTH QBs having a positive TD:INT ratio -
Wk 10 - 4
Wk 11 - 5
Wk 12 - 2
Getting 4 and 5 games respectively is, actually, pretty decent. But then Wk 12 drops off a cliff. Horrendous.
Teams with a positive TD:INT ratio
Wk 10 - 13
Wk 11 - 18
Wk 12 - 13
Only 13 for a 15- and 16-game line-up is pretty much scraping the bottom of the barrel. The 18 teams equals the previous high, though (Wk 2).
Multi-pass TD teams
Wk 10 - 11
Wk 11 - 14
Wk 12 - 11
11 is pretty feeble for either a 15- or 16-game sked; 14 is still only average. And, when you consider Green Bay, Minnesota and New Orleans on their own contributed 11:0 to our stats in Wk 12, that TD:INT figure for the week suddenly drops back to 30:31 otherwise. Uglier and uglier.
Teams that did NOT produce a passing TD
Wk 10 - 8
Wk 11- 6
Wk 12 - 8
Only Wks 3 and 6 produced more blanks (9), hence we are still in 'gord blimey' territory here. That figure had reduced to just 4 in Wk 9.
Fumbles and fumbles lost by the QBs
Wk 10 - 16-4
Wk 11 - 19-10
Wk 12 - 12-8
10 fumbles lost represents the second-highest of the season (13 in Wk 4) and take some of the gloss off the 52:29 TD:INT figure, while the 8 in Wk 12 also gives us a turnover total of 39, the 3rd highest of the season (44 in Wk 6 and 42 in Wk 1)
TNSQ: or Teams Not Set at Quarterback
The Usual Suspects of Cleveland, Oakland, Detroit, St Louis, Seattle, Washington, Buffalo, Chicago and Carolina give us an obvious Nondescript Nine, up from 7 the last time we checked but still below the season high of 12 (Wk 6). BUT, Miami and the NY Jets are starting to look worried again (3 TDs and 9 INTs between them in the past two weeks), Tampa Bay can't be sure yet about Josh Freeman and both Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco seem to be going backwards with Atlanta and Baltimore. And who knows what Eli Manning will turn up for the Giants these days? Those who CAN be happy are Indy, Green Bay, Denver, Houston, Cincinnati, Philly, San Diego, Minnesota, Arizona (if Kurt Warner is fit to play), New Orleans, Pittsburgh, New England and the revitalized Tennessee. That still leaves Dallas, Kansas City, Jacksonville and San Francisco wondering if Their Man is still good for the long-term (and this weekend's games may well go a long way towards deciding that picture). That means 13 teams who ARE firmly set, and 4 more who MAY be. Not terribly edifying for the QBCL, is it?
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
NFL Four Levels of Power, Week 12
It is now pretty clear there are the merest handful of teams that are Very Good and a fair bunch who are Absolutely Awful. Then there is everyone else in the middle. And there is plenty of scope for that bulging number in between to become either this year’s Arizona Cardinals – or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
So, where does that leave the increasingly confused Four Levels of Power...
Champions League (the genuine Super Bowl contenders)
New Orleans (no change): Oh come on, surely there is no doubt for now (until they lose to someone like Washington) over who is No 1? They not only passed the Litmus Test, but the Olympic Trials, the Gut Check, the Balancing Act and any other kind of test or trial you care to name.
Indianapolis (no change): In juries? Check. Lack of running game? Check. Opponents with the lead? Check. OK, must be time for another Colts win, then.
Minnesota (no change): OK, now this is officially getting Far Too Silly. Brett Favre has about 30 receivers to throw to, 20 options on the ground, an O-line that would give the Berlin Wall a good run for its money and a defense that regularly gets him the ball back. Only an injury to that 40-year-old body can now derail this express train to the playoffs.
San Diego (no change): It will be interesting to see if the running game can REALLY carry the load when a defense puts the squeeze on Philip Rivers.
Cincinnati (no change): Conservativism, thy name is Marv Lewis.
Premier League (The SB wannabes)
New England (relegated): That look of disbelief from Bill Belichick on Monday night was from seeing his team completely undressed in front of the TV nation. Not a pretty sight, either one.
Dallas (no change): I can’t believe the ‘Boys can really be this high, knocking on the door of the Champions League. But look around and see who might be giving them a run for their (considerable) money and the answer is not many, Benny. But, for three quarters, they let the godawful Raiders hang around, with Oakland doing their full Keystone Cops impression, so they could just as easily drop out of sight as jump up to the next level.
Green Bay (no change): All of a sudden, the Packers are looking around and thinking ‘If we can avoid the Vikings, this playoff lark might be a doddle.’
Philadelphia (no change): Another team who played their Get Out Of Jail Free card last week. Luckily they were playing one of the Conference teams who can be guaranteed to shoot themselves in at least one foot before the end of 60 minutes these days.
Arizona (no change): Luckily, they are still in the NFC Least.
Pittsburgh (no change): Without Big Ben and Chris Kemoeatu, they still had the beating of Baltimore, until Dennis Dixon’s lone mistake of the night.
Baltimore (no change): The Steelers proved if you can minimize Ray Rice’s impact, these Ravens will struggle to score. Joe Flacco isn’t the answer just yet.
Denver (promoted): This year’s yo-yo team, their shaky psyche got a boost from the Jekyll & Hyde Giants. Now they need to show they can win a game without any help from the opposition.
Giants (no change): This is a team that looks like it is running in quicksand (pretty much like Brandon Jacobs).
Atlanta (no change): Phew! Just in time – a win over one of the Sickly Seven. Just enough to keep the Falcons afloat on the NFL’s current sea of mediocrity.
Tennessee (promoted): Vince Young, that was a 99-yard drive for the ages. And that six game ‘false start’ to the season is starting to look more and more like a ball-and-chain around the Titans’ ankles.
San Francisco (promoted): The Spirit of Singletary lives on. But now they face their acid test at Seattle, a team they should beat handsomely if they are be taken seriously.
Championship (the teams just treading water)
Miami (relegated): That fourth-quarter meltdown at Buffalo could look awfully painful come the playoff picture.
Jacksonville (relegated): Two trips to the West Coast, just 3 points scored and 61 conceded. Fortunately, their travel plans don’t call for any more time zone changes.
Houston (no change): You get the feeling Matt Schaub will either explode for 5 TDs and a massive Texans win against Jacksonville this week, or implode and take Gary Kubiak with him.
NY Jets (promoted): Mark Sanchez still isn’t ready for his close-up yet, but get Thomas Jones and the ‘D’ cranked up and good things can still happen in the wacky world of Rex Ryan.
Chicago (no change): The Bears defense isn’t coming out again until they know Brett Favre is a long, long way away.
Carolina (no change): Remember Good Rex and Bad Rex? Well the Panthers have Bad Jake, and Even Worse Jake.
Buffalo (promoted): Where did THAT quarter come from?
Kansas City (no change): Perhaps the Chargers really are that good, but the Chiefs need to see a bit more from Matt Cassel if they are to avoid being dragged back down into the Conference.
Blue Square Conference (down among the dead men - and we're down to a Sickly Seven)
Seattle (no change): A quick reminder for those newly-arrived in the Bargain Basement - a win over a fellow Conference denizen counts for little.
Washington (no change): What that defense would give to have Jason Campbell on the OTHER side.
Tampa Bay (no change): A brave rearguard battle deserved better than that fourth down heart-breaker against Atlanta, but some of Raheem Morris’ play-calling was a little, ahem, unconventional.
Oakland (no change): I take it all back. That was a very unfair reference to the Keystone Cops. The Cops would have been MUCH better organized against the Cowboys. And Cincinnati are now thinking – we lost to Bruce Gradkowski??
Detroit (no change): After several encouraging moments in recent weeks, it still looks like a long, LONG haul back to respectability for the Lions.
St Louis (no change): Isn’t it next season YET?
Cleveland (no change): Well, they DID score a touchdown…...
It is now pretty clear there are the merest handful of teams that are Very Good and a fair bunch who are Absolutely Awful. Then there is everyone else in the middle. And there is plenty of scope for that bulging number in between to become either this year’s Arizona Cardinals – or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
So, where does that leave the increasingly confused Four Levels of Power...
Champions League (the genuine Super Bowl contenders)
New Orleans (no change): Oh come on, surely there is no doubt for now (until they lose to someone like Washington) over who is No 1? They not only passed the Litmus Test, but the Olympic Trials, the Gut Check, the Balancing Act and any other kind of test or trial you care to name.
Indianapolis (no change): In juries? Check. Lack of running game? Check. Opponents with the lead? Check. OK, must be time for another Colts win, then.
Minnesota (no change): OK, now this is officially getting Far Too Silly. Brett Favre has about 30 receivers to throw to, 20 options on the ground, an O-line that would give the Berlin Wall a good run for its money and a defense that regularly gets him the ball back. Only an injury to that 40-year-old body can now derail this express train to the playoffs.
San Diego (no change): It will be interesting to see if the running game can REALLY carry the load when a defense puts the squeeze on Philip Rivers.
Cincinnati (no change): Conservativism, thy name is Marv Lewis.
Premier League (The SB wannabes)
New England (relegated): That look of disbelief from Bill Belichick on Monday night was from seeing his team completely undressed in front of the TV nation. Not a pretty sight, either one.
Dallas (no change): I can’t believe the ‘Boys can really be this high, knocking on the door of the Champions League. But look around and see who might be giving them a run for their (considerable) money and the answer is not many, Benny. But, for three quarters, they let the godawful Raiders hang around, with Oakland doing their full Keystone Cops impression, so they could just as easily drop out of sight as jump up to the next level.
Green Bay (no change): All of a sudden, the Packers are looking around and thinking ‘If we can avoid the Vikings, this playoff lark might be a doddle.’
Philadelphia (no change): Another team who played their Get Out Of Jail Free card last week. Luckily they were playing one of the Conference teams who can be guaranteed to shoot themselves in at least one foot before the end of 60 minutes these days.
Arizona (no change): Luckily, they are still in the NFC Least.
Pittsburgh (no change): Without Big Ben and Chris Kemoeatu, they still had the beating of Baltimore, until Dennis Dixon’s lone mistake of the night.
Baltimore (no change): The Steelers proved if you can minimize Ray Rice’s impact, these Ravens will struggle to score. Joe Flacco isn’t the answer just yet.
Denver (promoted): This year’s yo-yo team, their shaky psyche got a boost from the Jekyll & Hyde Giants. Now they need to show they can win a game without any help from the opposition.
Giants (no change): This is a team that looks like it is running in quicksand (pretty much like Brandon Jacobs).
Atlanta (no change): Phew! Just in time – a win over one of the Sickly Seven. Just enough to keep the Falcons afloat on the NFL’s current sea of mediocrity.
Tennessee (promoted): Vince Young, that was a 99-yard drive for the ages. And that six game ‘false start’ to the season is starting to look more and more like a ball-and-chain around the Titans’ ankles.
San Francisco (promoted): The Spirit of Singletary lives on. But now they face their acid test at Seattle, a team they should beat handsomely if they are be taken seriously.
Championship (the teams just treading water)
Miami (relegated): That fourth-quarter meltdown at Buffalo could look awfully painful come the playoff picture.
Jacksonville (relegated): Two trips to the West Coast, just 3 points scored and 61 conceded. Fortunately, their travel plans don’t call for any more time zone changes.
Houston (no change): You get the feeling Matt Schaub will either explode for 5 TDs and a massive Texans win against Jacksonville this week, or implode and take Gary Kubiak with him.
NY Jets (promoted): Mark Sanchez still isn’t ready for his close-up yet, but get Thomas Jones and the ‘D’ cranked up and good things can still happen in the wacky world of Rex Ryan.
Chicago (no change): The Bears defense isn’t coming out again until they know Brett Favre is a long, long way away.
Carolina (no change): Remember Good Rex and Bad Rex? Well the Panthers have Bad Jake, and Even Worse Jake.
Buffalo (promoted): Where did THAT quarter come from?
Kansas City (no change): Perhaps the Chargers really are that good, but the Chiefs need to see a bit more from Matt Cassel if they are to avoid being dragged back down into the Conference.
Blue Square Conference (down among the dead men - and we're down to a Sickly Seven)
Seattle (no change): A quick reminder for those newly-arrived in the Bargain Basement - a win over a fellow Conference denizen counts for little.
Washington (no change): What that defense would give to have Jason Campbell on the OTHER side.
Tampa Bay (no change): A brave rearguard battle deserved better than that fourth down heart-breaker against Atlanta, but some of Raheem Morris’ play-calling was a little, ahem, unconventional.
Oakland (no change): I take it all back. That was a very unfair reference to the Keystone Cops. The Cops would have been MUCH better organized against the Cowboys. And Cincinnati are now thinking – we lost to Bruce Gradkowski??
Detroit (no change): After several encouraging moments in recent weeks, it still looks like a long, LONG haul back to respectability for the Lions.
St Louis (no change): Isn’t it next season YET?
Cleveland (no change): Well, they DID score a touchdown…...
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Four Levels of Power, Week 11
The Big Two (actually, it is really three with the amazing Brett Favre-fuelled Vikings) keep on rolling, and the Patriots are battling gamely to keep up. Otherwise, it is an out and out nail-and-tooth battle for The Rest, with no-one establishing any long-term credibility, and even the Conference also-rans showing some signs of life. San Diego look to have the most momentum, but if anyone can make sense of the truly bizarre NFC East, they are a better man than I, Gunga Din.
However, we can make SOME sense of it, hence our unique Four Levels of Power NFL rankings.
Champions League (the genuine Super Bowl contenders)
New Orleans (no change): OK, now it's litmus-test time against the Patriots and we'll see what this team is REALLY made of.
Indianapolis (no change): At some stage, the Colts' high-wire act is going to take a tumble, but it makes for mighty impressive viewing!
Minnesota (no change): Did I see that right; 22 of 25, and now 21-3 for TDs and INTs? At what point did Brett Favre turn into a pin-point, ultra-protective ball-hawk?
New England (no change): Wes Welker, 203 total yards, NY Jets 226. Might be a bit harder for the Pats this week.
San Diego (promoted): The only question is, have the Chargers peaked too soon?
Cincinnati (no change): Careless, careless, careless. My crystal ball says any more of this and there is only relegation in your future. PS: Just watching Oakland at Dallas - and the Bengals lost to Bruce Gradkowski?? How - did the defense all leave the field?
Premier League (The SB wannabes)
Arizona (no change): Now it's conclusive. With Kurt Warner = Genuine Playoff Contenders; Without = Forget It.
Pittsburgh (relegated): Another team to fall victim to an unexpected AFC West ambush. Big wake-up call for Big Ben.
Dallas (no change): When does a win look like a loss? When the 'Boys struggle to beat a woeful Redskins with the only TD of the game four minutes from the end.
Philadelphia (no change): You see what happens when you achieve that mythical thing called 'balance' in your play-calling?
Green Bay (promoted): Making a late run in the season's MVP race, here comes Aaron Rodgers!
Giants (promoted): Welcome back, Manning, E., your team has badly missed you.
Miami (promoted): In this season's heavy-lifting contest, Ricky Williams just jumped to the top of the list after carrying the whole Dolphins team to a win over newly-tough Carolina.
Jacksonville (promoted): Well, it was a win, but struggle like this against anyone other than the Bills and this is as far as the Jags' bandwagon rolls.
Baltimore (no change): The Ravens need to put out an APB for Joe Flacco. With 12 TDs in his first 7 games, he had this team on the move; with none in the last three, their season is in danger of dying a quick and dramatic death.
Atlanta (no change): Just when the real Matt Ryan returns, the defense goes AWOL. Mike Smith needs to get his roll-call in order.
Championship (the teams just treading water)
Tennessee (no change): If only some of these Titans had been available for the first six games. What? They were? Um...
Carolina (no change): Just a quick question, but if 42 Pass Attempts = just 227 yards (and 1 INT), while 27 Rushing Attempts = 172 yards, isn't this equation out of whack? See also Reid, Andy, under 'balance'.
Denver (relegated): Could the Broncos be the first team to finish the season 0-10 after starting 6-0?
Houston (no change): Another week of 'If Only...' for the Texans. It's starting to sound like Gary Kubiak's mantra.
San Francisco (no change): How much do you think the 49ers would like to have picked Aaron Rodgers in 2005 (rather than Alex Smith) these days?
Chicago (no change): Not quite good enough on offense, not quite good enough on defense. The Bears' season is fizzling out slowly but surely.
Kansas City (promoted): Just don't count on the opposition handing you three key turnovers every week.
Blue Square Conference (down among the dead men - and we're back up to a Nondescript Nine)
NY Jets (relegated): Probably not a great idea to get the Pats all riled up, hey Rex?
Seattle (relegated): Has their offense already decided it's the end of the season?
Oakland (no change): Well, if they only have to play the last minute of every game, they might be contenders.
Detroit (no change): For a moment, you're inclined to think this was something special, a 38-37 victory with a last-second TD throw. But then you remember, it was only the Browns.
Washington (no change): This offense has won three games? Really? How, exactly?
Tampa Bay (no change): If only they could have stopped the game after their first drive...
Buffalo (no change): Somehow this team has scored 155 points this season. So, another rhetorical question: Can anyone tell me how?
St Louis (no change): Only Oakland have scored fewer points this season. That lone win against Detroit already seems a LONG time ago.
Cleveland (no change): How comical is this - they finally score a shedload of points, and their defense proves even worse than Detroit's. Guess I have them pegged pretty much right where they need to be.
The Big Two (actually, it is really three with the amazing Brett Favre-fuelled Vikings) keep on rolling, and the Patriots are battling gamely to keep up. Otherwise, it is an out and out nail-and-tooth battle for The Rest, with no-one establishing any long-term credibility, and even the Conference also-rans showing some signs of life. San Diego look to have the most momentum, but if anyone can make sense of the truly bizarre NFC East, they are a better man than I, Gunga Din.
However, we can make SOME sense of it, hence our unique Four Levels of Power NFL rankings.
Champions League (the genuine Super Bowl contenders)
New Orleans (no change): OK, now it's litmus-test time against the Patriots and we'll see what this team is REALLY made of.
Indianapolis (no change): At some stage, the Colts' high-wire act is going to take a tumble, but it makes for mighty impressive viewing!
Minnesota (no change): Did I see that right; 22 of 25, and now 21-3 for TDs and INTs? At what point did Brett Favre turn into a pin-point, ultra-protective ball-hawk?
New England (no change): Wes Welker, 203 total yards, NY Jets 226. Might be a bit harder for the Pats this week.
San Diego (promoted): The only question is, have the Chargers peaked too soon?
Cincinnati (no change): Careless, careless, careless. My crystal ball says any more of this and there is only relegation in your future. PS: Just watching Oakland at Dallas - and the Bengals lost to Bruce Gradkowski?? How - did the defense all leave the field?
Premier League (The SB wannabes)
Arizona (no change): Now it's conclusive. With Kurt Warner = Genuine Playoff Contenders; Without = Forget It.
Pittsburgh (relegated): Another team to fall victim to an unexpected AFC West ambush. Big wake-up call for Big Ben.
Dallas (no change): When does a win look like a loss? When the 'Boys struggle to beat a woeful Redskins with the only TD of the game four minutes from the end.
Philadelphia (no change): You see what happens when you achieve that mythical thing called 'balance' in your play-calling?
Green Bay (promoted): Making a late run in the season's MVP race, here comes Aaron Rodgers!
Giants (promoted): Welcome back, Manning, E., your team has badly missed you.
Miami (promoted): In this season's heavy-lifting contest, Ricky Williams just jumped to the top of the list after carrying the whole Dolphins team to a win over newly-tough Carolina.
Jacksonville (promoted): Well, it was a win, but struggle like this against anyone other than the Bills and this is as far as the Jags' bandwagon rolls.
Baltimore (no change): The Ravens need to put out an APB for Joe Flacco. With 12 TDs in his first 7 games, he had this team on the move; with none in the last three, their season is in danger of dying a quick and dramatic death.
Atlanta (no change): Just when the real Matt Ryan returns, the defense goes AWOL. Mike Smith needs to get his roll-call in order.
Championship (the teams just treading water)
Tennessee (no change): If only some of these Titans had been available for the first six games. What? They were? Um...
Carolina (no change): Just a quick question, but if 42 Pass Attempts = just 227 yards (and 1 INT), while 27 Rushing Attempts = 172 yards, isn't this equation out of whack? See also Reid, Andy, under 'balance'.
Denver (relegated): Could the Broncos be the first team to finish the season 0-10 after starting 6-0?
Houston (no change): Another week of 'If Only...' for the Texans. It's starting to sound like Gary Kubiak's mantra.
San Francisco (no change): How much do you think the 49ers would like to have picked Aaron Rodgers in 2005 (rather than Alex Smith) these days?
Chicago (no change): Not quite good enough on offense, not quite good enough on defense. The Bears' season is fizzling out slowly but surely.
Kansas City (promoted): Just don't count on the opposition handing you three key turnovers every week.
Blue Square Conference (down among the dead men - and we're back up to a Nondescript Nine)
NY Jets (relegated): Probably not a great idea to get the Pats all riled up, hey Rex?
Seattle (relegated): Has their offense already decided it's the end of the season?
Oakland (no change): Well, if they only have to play the last minute of every game, they might be contenders.
Detroit (no change): For a moment, you're inclined to think this was something special, a 38-37 victory with a last-second TD throw. But then you remember, it was only the Browns.
Washington (no change): This offense has won three games? Really? How, exactly?
Tampa Bay (no change): If only they could have stopped the game after their first drive...
Buffalo (no change): Somehow this team has scored 155 points this season. So, another rhetorical question: Can anyone tell me how?
St Louis (no change): Only Oakland have scored fewer points this season. That lone win against Detroit already seems a LONG time ago.
Cleveland (no change): How comical is this - they finally score a shedload of points, and their defense proves even worse than Detroit's. Guess I have them pegged pretty much right where they need to be.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Four Levels of Power, Week 10
Our Titanic Twosome sail serenely on (kind of) after navigating another couple of potential icebergs in the shape of St Louis and New England. Minnesota and Cincinnati continue to keep pace, and the bunch of teams who still have eyes on a Wild Card berth remain buoyant. But we're still not seeing anyone making a solid case for Champions League status, and the wild, wacky nature of NFL '09 keeps on unfolding, especially if you're Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Denver and Philadelphia. Can ANY of them string together two straight weeks of progress?
So where does that leave everyone in our unique power rankings...
Champions League (the Best of the Best)
New Orleans (no change): Ho hum, still here, still pretty much unchallenged, even if they did have another almighty struggle against lightweight opposition. More importantly, 100 all-purpose yards, 2 touchdowns; is this finally the advent of Reggie Bush as an NFL force?
Indianapolis (no change): Even Peyton Manning seemed to struggle to get his head around the last-minute 'reprieve' handed out by New England's failed fourth-down play. However, the key stat is now 20-19; that's TD passes by Manning and Drew Brees in the season's battle for MVP honours.
Minnesota (no change): Adrian Peterson had as many fumbles as TDs. Against a good team in the playoffs, that spells End of Season. Luckily, it wasn't against a good team and they are now 8-1 for the first time since 1998.
Cincinnati (no change): What a difference a year makes! This time in 2008, the Bengals had just limped into their bye week at 1-8, with Cedric Benson rushing for 104 yards in their lone win over Jacksonville. The REAL difference, of course, is they don't have Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB.
Pittsburgh (no change): Somehow, last year's Ravens have become this year's Bengals, and the Steelers just weren't ready for that kind of intensity from a long-dormant rival. Somehow, I feel they will also meet again this season, and I can't see the Steelers losing again.
New England (no change): Do you think the Patriots' D are miffed at not getting the chance to save the game? Yup, me too.
Premier League (The SB wannabes)
San Diego (no change): Hard to know if it was the old bend-but-don't-break defensive strategy or on old-fashioned can't-defend-the-pass-for-toffee scenario for the Bolts against the Eagles. No-one should give up 450 yards passing and concede just 23 points. Let's see what the D manages in the rarefied air of Mile High this week.
Arizona (no change): Hold on, there's a theme developing here. The Cards gave up 495 yards to the inconsistent Seahawks but still conceded just 20 points. If they played the Chargers, would the winner be the first to score 100?
Dallas (no change): Here's a fine kettle of piscine creatures. NONE of the next six teams at this level managed to advance their cause an inch. They can't be ALL after the Wild Card, can they?
Baltimore (no change): Yes they won, but did you SEE it? With Brady Quinn playing like Niall Quinn, the Ravens still struggled to put 16 points on the board. Somehow I think they might be an angry team against the Colts this Sunday.
Denver (no change): Here's a sentence you never thought you would write: "Losing Kyle Orton doomed this team to defeat."
Atlanta (no change): Michael Turner out, Matt Ryan playing like the rookie he isn't, and the D giving up TDs to Jake Delhomme. Time for Mike Smith to prove he's not a one-year wonder.
Philadelphia (no change): Having all those shiny new wideout weapons seems to have blinded the Eagles' play-calling to something called balance. They haven't had it at any stage this season and the offence is looking increasingly out of whack. Really strange stat: NO runner has managed 100 yards in a game involving the Eagles this season.
Houston (no change): Time for Matt Schuab to prove he can get this team over the hump after his week off.
Championship (the teams treading water)
Green Bay (no change): So THAT's what a 3-4 defense is supposed to do!
Giants (no change): There's no truth in the rumour the Giants would like a second bye week. You couldn't blame them, though - no injuries and their closest two rivals both lost. The perfect week off.
Miami (no change): The Wildcat lost its claws with the season-ending injury of Ronnie Brown. Whether Ricky Williams can provide the same cutting edge is now the big question for the 'Fins.
Carolina (no change): With that one-two running punch, it is just baffling why the Panthers struggled through the first five games.
Tennessee (no change): Just where was THIS Chris Johnson in the first five games of the season, too?
Jacksonville (no change): 0 INT + MJD = W. Simple math.
San Francisco (no change): Can we come up with a new category of result for games like this? It wasn't so much a Win over the Bears as a Not Lose.
Chicago (relegated): Truly, catastrophically abysmal on offense.
NY Jets (no change): Hand out the Kleenex. And this was a two-box loss against the Jags.
Seattle (no change): Does the 'Red' zone stand for Red-faced? Cos that's how the Seahawks offense should be after putting up just 3 points in the whole second half at Arizona.
Blue Square Conference (down among the dead men - and it is still the Less-Than-Great Eight!)
Washington (no change): The Last Chance Saloon just got an extension, thanks to Mike Sellers' fake field goal TD, and an injury to Kyle Orton (you see, I didn't believe I said it the first time, so I had to say it again).
Tampa Bay (no change): If the Bucs can just find a way to get Kellen Winslow in the game in BOTH halves (7 catches for 102 yards in the second half), they would be THIS close to another win.
Buffalo (no change): A fine three-quarter team. Shame most games need a fourth quarter.
Kansas City (no change): Well, it WAS a win.....
St Louis (no change): Probably enough for a win against almost any other team. Now let's see the Rams put in that kind of effort two weeks in a row
Detroit (no change): The Lions simply have to get more out of Kevin Smith than 57 yards per game.
Oakland (no change): Well, at least they finally admitted what everyone else in the league has known all season, that JaMarcus Russell isn't the answer (unless the question is what quarterback will lose you the game in the quickest possible time?). His so-called receivers could also be dumped at the same time, though.
Cleveland (no change): And so we come to the very worst of the worst this week, a team so pitiful on offense that the only thing their QB will be remembered for is a cheap hit on a linebacker while trying to 'Tackle' someone else following another INT. Ye gods, what a feeble bunch.
Our Titanic Twosome sail serenely on (kind of) after navigating another couple of potential icebergs in the shape of St Louis and New England. Minnesota and Cincinnati continue to keep pace, and the bunch of teams who still have eyes on a Wild Card berth remain buoyant. But we're still not seeing anyone making a solid case for Champions League status, and the wild, wacky nature of NFL '09 keeps on unfolding, especially if you're Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Denver and Philadelphia. Can ANY of them string together two straight weeks of progress?
So where does that leave everyone in our unique power rankings...
Champions League (the Best of the Best)
New Orleans (no change): Ho hum, still here, still pretty much unchallenged, even if they did have another almighty struggle against lightweight opposition. More importantly, 100 all-purpose yards, 2 touchdowns; is this finally the advent of Reggie Bush as an NFL force?
Indianapolis (no change): Even Peyton Manning seemed to struggle to get his head around the last-minute 'reprieve' handed out by New England's failed fourth-down play. However, the key stat is now 20-19; that's TD passes by Manning and Drew Brees in the season's battle for MVP honours.
Minnesota (no change): Adrian Peterson had as many fumbles as TDs. Against a good team in the playoffs, that spells End of Season. Luckily, it wasn't against a good team and they are now 8-1 for the first time since 1998.
Cincinnati (no change): What a difference a year makes! This time in 2008, the Bengals had just limped into their bye week at 1-8, with Cedric Benson rushing for 104 yards in their lone win over Jacksonville. The REAL difference, of course, is they don't have Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB.
Pittsburgh (no change): Somehow, last year's Ravens have become this year's Bengals, and the Steelers just weren't ready for that kind of intensity from a long-dormant rival. Somehow, I feel they will also meet again this season, and I can't see the Steelers losing again.
New England (no change): Do you think the Patriots' D are miffed at not getting the chance to save the game? Yup, me too.
Premier League (The SB wannabes)
San Diego (no change): Hard to know if it was the old bend-but-don't-break defensive strategy or on old-fashioned can't-defend-the-pass-for-toffee scenario for the Bolts against the Eagles. No-one should give up 450 yards passing and concede just 23 points. Let's see what the D manages in the rarefied air of Mile High this week.
Arizona (no change): Hold on, there's a theme developing here. The Cards gave up 495 yards to the inconsistent Seahawks but still conceded just 20 points. If they played the Chargers, would the winner be the first to score 100?
Dallas (no change): Here's a fine kettle of piscine creatures. NONE of the next six teams at this level managed to advance their cause an inch. They can't be ALL after the Wild Card, can they?
Baltimore (no change): Yes they won, but did you SEE it? With Brady Quinn playing like Niall Quinn, the Ravens still struggled to put 16 points on the board. Somehow I think they might be an angry team against the Colts this Sunday.
Denver (no change): Here's a sentence you never thought you would write: "Losing Kyle Orton doomed this team to defeat."
Atlanta (no change): Michael Turner out, Matt Ryan playing like the rookie he isn't, and the D giving up TDs to Jake Delhomme. Time for Mike Smith to prove he's not a one-year wonder.
Philadelphia (no change): Having all those shiny new wideout weapons seems to have blinded the Eagles' play-calling to something called balance. They haven't had it at any stage this season and the offence is looking increasingly out of whack. Really strange stat: NO runner has managed 100 yards in a game involving the Eagles this season.
Houston (no change): Time for Matt Schuab to prove he can get this team over the hump after his week off.
Championship (the teams treading water)
Green Bay (no change): So THAT's what a 3-4 defense is supposed to do!
Giants (no change): There's no truth in the rumour the Giants would like a second bye week. You couldn't blame them, though - no injuries and their closest two rivals both lost. The perfect week off.
Miami (no change): The Wildcat lost its claws with the season-ending injury of Ronnie Brown. Whether Ricky Williams can provide the same cutting edge is now the big question for the 'Fins.
Carolina (no change): With that one-two running punch, it is just baffling why the Panthers struggled through the first five games.
Tennessee (no change): Just where was THIS Chris Johnson in the first five games of the season, too?
Jacksonville (no change): 0 INT + MJD = W. Simple math.
San Francisco (no change): Can we come up with a new category of result for games like this? It wasn't so much a Win over the Bears as a Not Lose.
Chicago (relegated): Truly, catastrophically abysmal on offense.
NY Jets (no change): Hand out the Kleenex. And this was a two-box loss against the Jags.
Seattle (no change): Does the 'Red' zone stand for Red-faced? Cos that's how the Seahawks offense should be after putting up just 3 points in the whole second half at Arizona.
Blue Square Conference (down among the dead men - and it is still the Less-Than-Great Eight!)
Washington (no change): The Last Chance Saloon just got an extension, thanks to Mike Sellers' fake field goal TD, and an injury to Kyle Orton (you see, I didn't believe I said it the first time, so I had to say it again).
Tampa Bay (no change): If the Bucs can just find a way to get Kellen Winslow in the game in BOTH halves (7 catches for 102 yards in the second half), they would be THIS close to another win.
Buffalo (no change): A fine three-quarter team. Shame most games need a fourth quarter.
Kansas City (no change): Well, it WAS a win.....
St Louis (no change): Probably enough for a win against almost any other team. Now let's see the Rams put in that kind of effort two weeks in a row
Detroit (no change): The Lions simply have to get more out of Kevin Smith than 57 yards per game.
Oakland (no change): Well, at least they finally admitted what everyone else in the league has known all season, that JaMarcus Russell isn't the answer (unless the question is what quarterback will lose you the game in the quickest possible time?). His so-called receivers could also be dumped at the same time, though.
Cleveland (no change): And so we come to the very worst of the worst this week, a team so pitiful on offense that the only thing their QB will be remembered for is a cheap hit on a linebacker while trying to 'Tackle' someone else following another INT. Ye gods, what a feeble bunch.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
QBCL Part 8
It looked like we might show a BIT of improvement this week in the Quarterback Challenged League (otherwise known as the NFL), but, sad to relate, the final three games of Week 9 turned in a miserable 10 INTs to leave the overall figure again looking just flat out miserable.
That means it is now four straight weeks of below-par performances. This can be partly explained in the TD column by the fact we have had just 13 (instead of 14 or 16) games since Week 7, but how does that explain the increase in INTs?
The figures don't lie, you know...
39:34: the TD:INT count; pretty much the same as last week's (poor) effort. The TD totals so far this season: 42, 48, 39 (all in 16 games), 41, 41, 39 (in 14), 39, 31, 39 (in 13). So 39 is a pretty popular score, maybe even an average score. But hardly impressive - an average of exactly 3 passing TDs per game. But 13 came in just two games (Arizona-Chicago and Green Bay-Tampa Bay), leaving just 26 among the other 11 games. And 34 INTs? That's 2.6 per game, the highest of the season (2.4 in Week 6). The INT totals so far: 35, 28, 25 (in 16), 22, 19, 34 (in 14) and 33, 25, 34 (in 13). No sign of improvement. At all.
+5: the TD:INT ratio; equalling the previous worst this season (Week 6). Woeful.
3: the games with BOTH QBs having a positive TD:INT ratio (Arizona-Chicago, surprising Kansas City-Jacksonville and San Diego-Giants). Only one above last week's low for the season. And 5 remains the high (Wk 4).
10: teams with a positive TD:INT ratio (Arizona, Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa Bay, San Diego, Giants, Pittsburgh). Another low for the season so far. The only consistency is in the steady decline. The figures so far: 14, 18, 17, 15, 15, 15, 11, 13, 12, and now 10. Truly miserable.
10: multi-pass TD teams (Arizona, Chicago, Kansas City, Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Detroit, San Diego, Giants, San Francisco, Pittsburgh). OK, that's 2 better than last week, but hardly impressive.
4: teams that did NOT produce a passing TD (Baltimore, Carolina, Tennessee, Denver). Amazingly, that's the lowest of the season so far, even with all 32 teams playing. So this is a GOOD thing - but a VERY rare positive in the increasingly bleak panorama of the QBCL.
15-4: fumbles and fumbles lost by the QBs. Well below average, so another plus point for the beleaguered signal-callers. At least they can actually hold on to the ball OK!
TNSQ: or Teams Not Set at Quarterback. Our Terrible 10 last week were: Oakland, Cleveland, Carolina, St Louis, Washington, Buffalo, Tampa, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Detroit and Chicago. And Tampa, Jacksonville and Chicago all went a long way on the improvement stakes. We're still waiting to see if Alex Smith is the answer for the 49ers (another 4 turnovers in Wk 9), while there were major alarms for Denver, Green Bay and Baltimore. So, just a Sad 7 for this week, well down on the season-high of 12 (Wk 6). But watch this space - Week 10 started with a truly abysmal quarterback show in the 49ers-Bears game with 0 TDs and a stunning 6 INTs. That's also 6:12 for Jay Cutler personally in his last 5 games - well on the way to putting Chicago back in here for keeps.
It looked like we might show a BIT of improvement this week in the Quarterback Challenged League (otherwise known as the NFL), but, sad to relate, the final three games of Week 9 turned in a miserable 10 INTs to leave the overall figure again looking just flat out miserable.
That means it is now four straight weeks of below-par performances. This can be partly explained in the TD column by the fact we have had just 13 (instead of 14 or 16) games since Week 7, but how does that explain the increase in INTs?
The figures don't lie, you know...
39:34: the TD:INT count; pretty much the same as last week's (poor) effort. The TD totals so far this season: 42, 48, 39 (all in 16 games), 41, 41, 39 (in 14), 39, 31, 39 (in 13). So 39 is a pretty popular score, maybe even an average score. But hardly impressive - an average of exactly 3 passing TDs per game. But 13 came in just two games (Arizona-Chicago and Green Bay-Tampa Bay), leaving just 26 among the other 11 games. And 34 INTs? That's 2.6 per game, the highest of the season (2.4 in Week 6). The INT totals so far: 35, 28, 25 (in 16), 22, 19, 34 (in 14) and 33, 25, 34 (in 13). No sign of improvement. At all.
+5: the TD:INT ratio; equalling the previous worst this season (Week 6). Woeful.
3: the games with BOTH QBs having a positive TD:INT ratio (Arizona-Chicago, surprising Kansas City-Jacksonville and San Diego-Giants). Only one above last week's low for the season. And 5 remains the high (Wk 4).
10: teams with a positive TD:INT ratio (Arizona, Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa Bay, San Diego, Giants, Pittsburgh). Another low for the season so far. The only consistency is in the steady decline. The figures so far: 14, 18, 17, 15, 15, 15, 11, 13, 12, and now 10. Truly miserable.
10: multi-pass TD teams (Arizona, Chicago, Kansas City, Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Detroit, San Diego, Giants, San Francisco, Pittsburgh). OK, that's 2 better than last week, but hardly impressive.
4: teams that did NOT produce a passing TD (Baltimore, Carolina, Tennessee, Denver). Amazingly, that's the lowest of the season so far, even with all 32 teams playing. So this is a GOOD thing - but a VERY rare positive in the increasingly bleak panorama of the QBCL.
15-4: fumbles and fumbles lost by the QBs. Well below average, so another plus point for the beleaguered signal-callers. At least they can actually hold on to the ball OK!
TNSQ: or Teams Not Set at Quarterback. Our Terrible 10 last week were: Oakland, Cleveland, Carolina, St Louis, Washington, Buffalo, Tampa, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Detroit and Chicago. And Tampa, Jacksonville and Chicago all went a long way on the improvement stakes. We're still waiting to see if Alex Smith is the answer for the 49ers (another 4 turnovers in Wk 9), while there were major alarms for Denver, Green Bay and Baltimore. So, just a Sad 7 for this week, well down on the season-high of 12 (Wk 6). But watch this space - Week 10 started with a truly abysmal quarterback show in the 49ers-Bears game with 0 TDs and a stunning 6 INTs. That's also 6:12 for Jay Cutler personally in his last 5 games - well on the way to putting Chicago back in here for keeps.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Four Levels of Power, Week 9
The genuine Contenders are starting to mass ominously near the summit of our Four Levels of NFL Power, and that could spell trouble for our well-established (and still unbeaten) Top Two. New England, Cincinnati and Dallas are all beginning to generate a significant rumble from bandwagons that could do some real damage in the coming weeks.
So let's see how that translates into the overall standings in our unique power rankings...
Champions League (the Best of the Best)
New Orleans (no change): Is there some kind of bizarre handicapping system going on down in Louisiana? The Saints seem to need to spot their opponents a couple of touchdowns before they are allowed out of the starting blocks themselves. If it happens again this week at St Louis we'll KNOW there's something fishy going on.
Indianapolis (no change): Dallas Clark is on course to catch 120 passes this year. Just think about that for a minute. The only players to top that figure in the past 15 years were called Marvin Harrison (2002), Jerry Rice (1995), Herman Moore (1995) and Cris Carter (1994 and '95). Would there be any doubt about this year's MVP if he gets there?
Pittsburgh (no change): The triple-headed monster - Big Ben, a pounding running game and the traditional, swarming D - woke from its early-season slumber in Denver, surveyed the parade of pretenders for their crown, and pronounced them weak. Watch out Cincy on Sunday.
Minnesota (no change): Let Groin-Watch commence. How far Brett Favre can run on that mythical strain will be as far as the Vikings end up going.
New England (promoted): All week they must have had The Who's refrain of 'We won't get fooled again' blaring in the background before their return fixture with The Wildcat. Would be kind of appropriate if they met up again during the half-time show at Super Bowl XLIV (the Pats and The Who, that is).
Cincinnati (promoted): The magic number for the Bengals is 104. That's the average per game rushing they're getting from the amazing Cedric Benson, not so much a retread as a complete rebuild. And CB version 2.0 is their key to post-season glory - if he keeps topping 104. Do that against the Steelers this week and the only things between them and a mind-boggling 14-2 are Minnesota and San Diego.
Premier League (The SB wannabes)
Dallas (no change): Their lowest winning score of the season was arguably the most impressive but you just know the 'Boys will find a way to turn this big stride forward into a limp at some stage.
Denver (relegated): Oh, that feeling of deja vu. It has just arrived 7 weeks early this season.
San Diego (no change): It's pantomime time, folks, with cries of 'They're behind you!" ringing in the Broncos' ears.
Arizona (no change): "Home games? We don't need no stinkin' home games." Except that the Cards will have to find a way to win at least one back in the desert, even if they run the table on the road (which seems highly likely after the complete demolition of the Bears). A 9-7 record might not be good enough, even in the weak-as-water NFC West.
Atlanta (no change): That gaudy 9.2 yards/rush from Michael Turner against the Redskins helps to take a lot of the spotlight away from Matt Ryan's continued struggles. His last three games have produced just 4 TDs and 6 INTs, while his 135 yards passing were he 2nd lowest of his 2-year career. How do you spell sophomore slump.....?
Baltimore (no change): And talking of 2nd-year struggles, Joe Flacco is 4:4 for TDs and INts in his last four games, and that won't get it done, either.
Philadelphia (no change): Hey, Andy Reid. On fourth and 1, you have a pretty good full-back this year, you know? That pitiful quarterback sneak wouldn't have fooled the woeful Browns.
Houston (no change): You knew this was coming, didn't you? "So near, and yet..."
Chicago (no change): When your quarterback throws for more than 350 yards and three TDs, you know it's not the fault of the offense when you lose. But this was a D that has struggled mightily in recent weeks (and the game against Cleveland just doesn't count).
Championship (the teams treading water)
Giants (relegated): Offense, defense, special teams; they all need a major tune-up during the bye week. The wacky NFC East is hardly cut and dried at this stage, but the Giants have to find a gear apart from 'reverse.'
Miami (relegated): This is still a powerful team on paper. Trouble is, they keep getting paper cuts.
NY Jets (no change): Rex Ryan has challenged his D to turn a few takeaways into TDs. It would help more if the offense would cut out the giveaways at the other end.
San Francisco (no change): Was that truly a half-game mirage at Houston? Those 3 Alex Smith second-half TD passes against the Texans turned into 3 INTs against Tennessee. But the D also gave up 315 yards to Vince Young and Co, so there will plenty of blame to go round if they don't get back on track against the battered Bears.
Seattle (no change): They outgained Detroit by only 97 yards and they can't expect the opposition QB to hand them 5 INTs every week. So not a lot to be thrilled about as they prepare for their Super Bowl at Arizona. Lose there and they are looking at another lost season.
Carolina (no change): A valiant loss to the Saints is no disgrace in these rankings, but wasting a 149-yard, 2 TD outing from DeAngelo Williams certainly is.
Blue Square Conference (down among the dead men - and it is now just the Less-Than-Great Eight!)
Tampa Bay (no change): Josh Freeman must be wondering what all the fuss was about. There's nothing to this NFL lark, he could be forgiven for thinking. Trouble is, he doesn't get to play the Packers' B-team every week.
Buffalo (no change): The bye week should have at least provided a few healthy bodies for Dick Jauron to work with for a change. But is there much life left in these decaying bones?
Kansas City (no change): The Chiefs against the Raiders? Time to draw the curtains to protect the innocent.
Washington (no change): Last orders in the Last Chance Saloon for Jim Zorn this Sunday with the visit of Denver.
Oakland (no change): A merciful week off. No, not for the Raiders but for anyone who has to watch them. If they can't now scrape something together against the Chiefs, surely even Al Davis has to realise it's time to clean out this moribund closet?
St Louis (no change): That's a wicked piece of scheduling. Get your week off then run straight into the Saints. Still, at least they can see exactly how far they are off the pace.
Cleveland (no change): Another team to take pity on their fans by taking a week off. Now it's up to Brady Quinn to remind us how feeble this offense is.
Detroit (no change): Matt Stafford could be the first person in history to be thrown to the Lions - and end up being thrown back.
The genuine Contenders are starting to mass ominously near the summit of our Four Levels of NFL Power, and that could spell trouble for our well-established (and still unbeaten) Top Two. New England, Cincinnati and Dallas are all beginning to generate a significant rumble from bandwagons that could do some real damage in the coming weeks.
So let's see how that translates into the overall standings in our unique power rankings...
Champions League (the Best of the Best)
New Orleans (no change): Is there some kind of bizarre handicapping system going on down in Louisiana? The Saints seem to need to spot their opponents a couple of touchdowns before they are allowed out of the starting blocks themselves. If it happens again this week at St Louis we'll KNOW there's something fishy going on.
Indianapolis (no change): Dallas Clark is on course to catch 120 passes this year. Just think about that for a minute. The only players to top that figure in the past 15 years were called Marvin Harrison (2002), Jerry Rice (1995), Herman Moore (1995) and Cris Carter (1994 and '95). Would there be any doubt about this year's MVP if he gets there?
Pittsburgh (no change): The triple-headed monster - Big Ben, a pounding running game and the traditional, swarming D - woke from its early-season slumber in Denver, surveyed the parade of pretenders for their crown, and pronounced them weak. Watch out Cincy on Sunday.
Minnesota (no change): Let Groin-Watch commence. How far Brett Favre can run on that mythical strain will be as far as the Vikings end up going.
New England (promoted): All week they must have had The Who's refrain of 'We won't get fooled again' blaring in the background before their return fixture with The Wildcat. Would be kind of appropriate if they met up again during the half-time show at Super Bowl XLIV (the Pats and The Who, that is).
Cincinnati (promoted): The magic number for the Bengals is 104. That's the average per game rushing they're getting from the amazing Cedric Benson, not so much a retread as a complete rebuild. And CB version 2.0 is their key to post-season glory - if he keeps topping 104. Do that against the Steelers this week and the only things between them and a mind-boggling 14-2 are Minnesota and San Diego.
Premier League (The SB wannabes)
Dallas (no change): Their lowest winning score of the season was arguably the most impressive but you just know the 'Boys will find a way to turn this big stride forward into a limp at some stage.
Denver (relegated): Oh, that feeling of deja vu. It has just arrived 7 weeks early this season.
San Diego (no change): It's pantomime time, folks, with cries of 'They're behind you!" ringing in the Broncos' ears.
Arizona (no change): "Home games? We don't need no stinkin' home games." Except that the Cards will have to find a way to win at least one back in the desert, even if they run the table on the road (which seems highly likely after the complete demolition of the Bears). A 9-7 record might not be good enough, even in the weak-as-water NFC West.
Atlanta (no change): That gaudy 9.2 yards/rush from Michael Turner against the Redskins helps to take a lot of the spotlight away from Matt Ryan's continued struggles. His last three games have produced just 4 TDs and 6 INTs, while his 135 yards passing were he 2nd lowest of his 2-year career. How do you spell sophomore slump.....?
Baltimore (no change): And talking of 2nd-year struggles, Joe Flacco is 4:4 for TDs and INts in his last four games, and that won't get it done, either.
Philadelphia (no change): Hey, Andy Reid. On fourth and 1, you have a pretty good full-back this year, you know? That pitiful quarterback sneak wouldn't have fooled the woeful Browns.
Houston (no change): You knew this was coming, didn't you? "So near, and yet..."
Chicago (no change): When your quarterback throws for more than 350 yards and three TDs, you know it's not the fault of the offense when you lose. But this was a D that has struggled mightily in recent weeks (and the game against Cleveland just doesn't count).
Championship (the teams treading water)
Giants (relegated): Offense, defense, special teams; they all need a major tune-up during the bye week. The wacky NFC East is hardly cut and dried at this stage, but the Giants have to find a gear apart from 'reverse.'
Miami (relegated): This is still a powerful team on paper. Trouble is, they keep getting paper cuts.
NY Jets (no change): Rex Ryan has challenged his D to turn a few takeaways into TDs. It would help more if the offense would cut out the giveaways at the other end.
San Francisco (no change): Was that truly a half-game mirage at Houston? Those 3 Alex Smith second-half TD passes against the Texans turned into 3 INTs against Tennessee. But the D also gave up 315 yards to Vince Young and Co, so there will plenty of blame to go round if they don't get back on track against the battered Bears.
Green Bay (relegated): They lost? To Tampa BAY and their rookie QB? Altogether now: "Bwahahahaha!!"
Tennessee (promoted): Powerful running game? Check. QB playing controlled, error-free ball? Check. Opportunistic defense? Check. Seems like 2008 all over again..
Jacksonville (promoted): You see what happens when the QB protects the ball? The double double-barrelled threats of Sims-Walker and Jones-Drew certainly appreciate it.Seattle (no change): They outgained Detroit by only 97 yards and they can't expect the opposition QB to hand them 5 INTs every week. So not a lot to be thrilled about as they prepare for their Super Bowl at Arizona. Lose there and they are looking at another lost season.
Carolina (no change): A valiant loss to the Saints is no disgrace in these rankings, but wasting a 149-yard, 2 TD outing from DeAngelo Williams certainly is.
Blue Square Conference (down among the dead men - and it is now just the Less-Than-Great Eight!)
Tampa Bay (no change): Josh Freeman must be wondering what all the fuss was about. There's nothing to this NFL lark, he could be forgiven for thinking. Trouble is, he doesn't get to play the Packers' B-team every week.
Buffalo (no change): The bye week should have at least provided a few healthy bodies for Dick Jauron to work with for a change. But is there much life left in these decaying bones?
Kansas City (no change): The Chiefs against the Raiders? Time to draw the curtains to protect the innocent.
Washington (no change): Last orders in the Last Chance Saloon for Jim Zorn this Sunday with the visit of Denver.
Oakland (no change): A merciful week off. No, not for the Raiders but for anyone who has to watch them. If they can't now scrape something together against the Chiefs, surely even Al Davis has to realise it's time to clean out this moribund closet?
St Louis (no change): That's a wicked piece of scheduling. Get your week off then run straight into the Saints. Still, at least they can see exactly how far they are off the pace.
Cleveland (no change): Another team to take pity on their fans by taking a week off. Now it's up to Brady Quinn to remind us how feeble this offense is.
Detroit (no change): Matt Stafford could be the first person in history to be thrown to the Lions - and end up being thrown back.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
QBCL Part 7
I thought I'd give it a couple of weeks to see if the signal-callers of the Quarterback Challenged League (otherwise known as the NFL) could clamber out of the Week Six hole they dug for themselves. I should have known better. Not only did they not improve on that particular nadir, they have managed to get worse in several significant categories.
So, with no further ado, let's get on to...The Figures:
Wk 7: 39:33, only marginally better than the worst TD:INT ratio of the season in Wk 6 (39:34), again equalling the lowest passing TD total and only two off the highest INT figure. Amazingly, if you take freakish Cincinnati (and Carson Palmer's 5 TD blitz of Chicago) and smooth Indianapolis (3:0) out of the equation, you get a miserable 31:33. Feeble.
Wk 8: 31:25, and a new low. Only 31 passing TDs in 13 games? Pathetic. And, if you take just two games out of this equation (Minnesota-Green Bay and Seattle-Dallas), that figure becomes 19:25. That should horrify quite a few.
Wk 7 and 8: +6: Only 1 better than the previous low of +5 (again in Wk 6). So, after the high of +22 in Wk 5, we've now gone 5, 6, 6. Not so much in a rut as down the deepest, darkest mine.
Wk 7, 2: the games with BOTH QBs having a positive TD:INT ratio (San Francisco-Houston, and Philadelphia-Washington, somehow!). Worst of the year. What is going on here?
Wk 8, 3: hardly a whole lot better (from Wks 2-5 we had 4, 4, 5, 4).
Wk 7, 13: teams with a positive TD:INT ratio (Green Bay, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Jets, Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington). Only 2 above the previous low of 11 (Wk 6). Ordinary.
Wk 8, 12: Baltimore, Seattle, Dallas, Miami, Jets, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Minnesota, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans). Again, down near the bottom of the barrel.
Wk 7, 10: multi-pass TD teams (Green Bay, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, Indianapolis, New England, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Dallas, Washington). Week 1 gave us a paltry 9, so this represents more barrel-scraping, methinks.
Wk 8, 8: ye gods, another low (Seattle, Dallas, Jets, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Green Bay, Arizona, New Orleans). Is there a word below feeble?
Wk 7, 6: teams that did NOT produce a passing TD (Cleveland, St Louis, Minnesota, Carolina, Oakland, Miami). The best so far was the 5 of Wk 4, and the average is 6.7, so this is above average. Just!
Wk 8, 8: Denver, Houston, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, Jacksonville. Only 2 previous weeks (Wks 3 and 6) did worse than this with 9. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...
13-4 and 10-5: fumbles and fumbles lost by the various QBs. The average to date is 17.75-7.25 so both of these are much better than the average. Phew!
TNSQ: or Teams Not Set at Quarterback. This stat had grown to an incredible 12 after Wk 6 - Oakland, Cleveland, Carolina, St Louis, Tennessee, Washington, Buffalo, Tampa, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Detroit and the Jets).
Wk 7 - we can reduce it (praise be!) to 10 by dropping San Francisco (the rebirth of Alex Smith) and the Jets (Mark Sanchez back on firmer ground).
Wk 8 - it stays at 10; Tennessee claw their way out (thanks to the rebirth of Vince Young) but I have to include Chicago (after Jay Cutler goes 1:4 in two weeks, including the ultimate fallibility of failing to throw a TD against Cleveland - CLEVELAND! - for god's sake).
Therefore, our Terrible Ten reads: Oakland, Cleveland, Carolina, St Louis, Washington, Buffalo, Tampa, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Detroit and Chicago.
Terrible Ten warning - Arizona and Giants, whose QBs have gone 3-6 and 2-5 for the past two weeks.
And, of that miserable number, two stand out like beacons. Cleveland, whose last 4 passing yardages read: 23, 122, 85 and 99 (and Brady Quinn STILL can't get a start!), with 9 turnovers in that spell. 'Starting' QB Derek Anderson now has a 'passer' rating of 36.2. HAH!! And Oakland, whose last 4 have gone 100, 224 (the amazing win over Philly), 61 and 109 with 6 turnovers from 'top pick' JaMarcus Russell, who now has a 'passer' rating of 48.3. Can anyone tell me WHY these two 'quarterbacks' are STILL starting (apart from the fact they have byes this week)??
I thought I'd give it a couple of weeks to see if the signal-callers of the Quarterback Challenged League (otherwise known as the NFL) could clamber out of the Week Six hole they dug for themselves. I should have known better. Not only did they not improve on that particular nadir, they have managed to get worse in several significant categories.
So, with no further ado, let's get on to...The Figures:
Wk 7: 39:33, only marginally better than the worst TD:INT ratio of the season in Wk 6 (39:34), again equalling the lowest passing TD total and only two off the highest INT figure. Amazingly, if you take freakish Cincinnati (and Carson Palmer's 5 TD blitz of Chicago) and smooth Indianapolis (3:0) out of the equation, you get a miserable 31:33. Feeble.
Wk 8: 31:25, and a new low. Only 31 passing TDs in 13 games? Pathetic. And, if you take just two games out of this equation (Minnesota-Green Bay and Seattle-Dallas), that figure becomes 19:25. That should horrify quite a few.
Wk 7 and 8: +6: Only 1 better than the previous low of +5 (again in Wk 6). So, after the high of +22 in Wk 5, we've now gone 5, 6, 6. Not so much in a rut as down the deepest, darkest mine.
Wk 7, 2: the games with BOTH QBs having a positive TD:INT ratio (San Francisco-Houston, and Philadelphia-Washington, somehow!). Worst of the year. What is going on here?
Wk 8, 3: hardly a whole lot better (from Wks 2-5 we had 4, 4, 5, 4).
Wk 7, 13: teams with a positive TD:INT ratio (Green Bay, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Jets, Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington). Only 2 above the previous low of 11 (Wk 6). Ordinary.
Wk 8, 12: Baltimore, Seattle, Dallas, Miami, Jets, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Minnesota, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans). Again, down near the bottom of the barrel.
Wk 7, 10: multi-pass TD teams (Green Bay, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, Indianapolis, New England, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Dallas, Washington). Week 1 gave us a paltry 9, so this represents more barrel-scraping, methinks.
Wk 8, 8: ye gods, another low (Seattle, Dallas, Jets, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Green Bay, Arizona, New Orleans). Is there a word below feeble?
Wk 7, 6: teams that did NOT produce a passing TD (Cleveland, St Louis, Minnesota, Carolina, Oakland, Miami). The best so far was the 5 of Wk 4, and the average is 6.7, so this is above average. Just!
Wk 8, 8: Denver, Houston, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, Jacksonville. Only 2 previous weeks (Wks 3 and 6) did worse than this with 9. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...
13-4 and 10-5: fumbles and fumbles lost by the various QBs. The average to date is 17.75-7.25 so both of these are much better than the average. Phew!
TNSQ: or Teams Not Set at Quarterback. This stat had grown to an incredible 12 after Wk 6 - Oakland, Cleveland, Carolina, St Louis, Tennessee, Washington, Buffalo, Tampa, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Detroit and the Jets).
Wk 7 - we can reduce it (praise be!) to 10 by dropping San Francisco (the rebirth of Alex Smith) and the Jets (Mark Sanchez back on firmer ground).
Wk 8 - it stays at 10; Tennessee claw their way out (thanks to the rebirth of Vince Young) but I have to include Chicago (after Jay Cutler goes 1:4 in two weeks, including the ultimate fallibility of failing to throw a TD against Cleveland - CLEVELAND! - for god's sake).
Therefore, our Terrible Ten reads: Oakland, Cleveland, Carolina, St Louis, Washington, Buffalo, Tampa, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Detroit and Chicago.
Terrible Ten warning - Arizona and Giants, whose QBs have gone 3-6 and 2-5 for the past two weeks.
And, of that miserable number, two stand out like beacons. Cleveland, whose last 4 passing yardages read: 23, 122, 85 and 99 (and Brady Quinn STILL can't get a start!), with 9 turnovers in that spell. 'Starting' QB Derek Anderson now has a 'passer' rating of 36.2. HAH!! And Oakland, whose last 4 have gone 100, 224 (the amazing win over Philly), 61 and 109 with 6 turnovers from 'top pick' JaMarcus Russell, who now has a 'passer' rating of 48.3. Can anyone tell me WHY these two 'quarterbacks' are STILL starting (apart from the fact they have byes this week)??
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