NFL Review Week 9

Sorry about only posting one thing since I have come back. I am still trying to get back onto it with my busy schedule, but thank you very much for the large response in views at the beginning of last week. That spike in views as nice to see. Anyway, down to business.

Week nine was a big week for the NFL. It was the start of the separation of the best in both leagues from the rest. I think that there are a few huge points that were shown about this NFL season so far.

1. There is a clear cut favorite in both the AFC & NFC
1. The tough AFC North has brought the Baltimore Ravens to rise as the cream of the crop.
2. The Greenbay Packers have shown that they are not only the NFC favorite, but they are the clear cut favorite to win the Superbowl as defending champions and as the only undefeated (8-0) team left in the league.
2. All AFC division’s are slugfests right now.
1. The AFC East has three 5-3 teams all vying for a division championship and/or a wildcard spot.
2. The AFC North has three teams with six wins, and even though the Ravens look like the favorite, they are certainly the toughest division in the AFC
3. The AFC West is an even bigger cluster**** with Kansas City, Denver, and Oakland all at 4-4. Then you have Denver still in the mix only a game back. (This Reminds me of the NFC West last year, which has not got much better.)
4. The AFC South is a bit different, but even the Houston Texans (6-3) will have to battle off the (4-4) Tennessee Titans for
3. Peyton Manning is way more important to the Colts that I ever thought.
1. Most people would have thought that the Colts with such a good roster would have at least been able to win a game or two by now without Mr. Manning, but such would be wrong as the Colts stand at 0-9 as the only winless team in the league.
2. The loss of Gary Brackett also cannot be forgot. That leaves a huge hole in a defense that has been led by Brackett almost as long as Manning has led the offense.
4. The Dream Team is what the name says it is: A Dream
1. The Eagles have started 3-5 and are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
2. They would have to finish at least 7-1 to get a playoff spot, and even then that might not get it done.
1. Did I Mention they still have games remaining @NYG, @Dallas, and home games against New England and the Jets?
5. Sam Bradford has lived up to MY expectations in his second season. Not everyone else’s greatness that people see in him
1. Three touchdowns in six games is not going to get it done, and neither is his 54% completion rate or 73.3 QB rating.
2. Notable QB’s with a better rating: Tavaris Jackson (now benched), Kyle Orton (Now Benched), Colt McCoy, and the illustrious Matt Moore.
3. Rex Grossman of all people has a better completion rate than Sam Bradford
4. Bradford went back to his college days of staring down receivers, and that is what has hurt him. Even his decision making ha been good with only three interceptions.
6. Eli Manning my finally be breaking out from under his brother’s shadow now that Peyton is on the sidelines
1. The younger Manning has the fifth best passer rating in the league this season, and he is at least top ten in most passing categories.
2. He has looked a lot more poised and harder to be rattled than ever. He looks like the Manning that led the Giants to their historic upset of the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl a few years back.
7. Detroit is for REAL, and they are only going to get better with their young core of talent.
1. The longer Stafford is healthy, the more he looks like the franchise Quarterback that we thought he would be.
8. Last Season should have been notice for the Bills breakout year.
1. The first half of last season, the Bills were 0-8. They finished 4-4 and should have been 5-3 if it was not for a dropped pass by Stevie Johnson against Pittsburgh.
2. People tried to tell Ryan Fitzpatrick he could not play Quarterback in the NFL, because he is from Harvard.
1. You may now find the Rams and Bengals kicking themselves for the decision to give up on Fitzpatrick.
3. Chan Gailey is proving that he can coach in the NFL.
9. Cam Newton is the best Rookie Quarterback in the history of the NFL.
1. 2,712 yards of total offense, 20 total touchdowns, and only 9 turnovers. He also has more rushing first downs than Mike Vick.
2. His willingness to sit and the pocket and read a defense has made the difference. It is astonishing how well he pump fakes and looks off a defense.
3. The wins are the only thing that is not there, but his defense has let up the fifth most points in the league.
1. The wins will come.
10. I am so tired of listening to people talk about Tim Tebow that it makes me want to puke.
1. Note to ESPN: I am not a Tebow fan. I am not a Bronco Fan. And I really do not need an update on half of football that Tim Tebow plays. That is what a box score is for. I did not subscribe to these updates and would really like them to stop.
1. Please & Thank you

What is wrong with Chris Johnson?

After a long awaited return, here I am, back again to fuel your sports world with my own witty thoughts. I would like to thank all of you have been following me on twitter, and those of you who have even sent me e-mails of support. After a long hiatus, I am returning to Pinto’s Sports with sports writing that only I can lay down (Don’t think that I am arrogant, you all know that it is true). But seriously, thank you all for the support. I have been checking in on the blog during my absence, and I have still had daily views almost every day, and for that, I commend all of you who have stuck by my side.

Thank you for your support.

Now down to business. I wanted to start out with a softie column to get my self back into the game, but look forward for more to come.

So, what is wrong with Chris Johnson? To be honest, I do not think that anything is wrong. He is still the impact player that he has always been, but it is hard to see.

He has certainly had a rough time running the ball through the first half of the season, and I think that there are a few big reasons for that.

Who was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans last season? It was not Mike Munchak. Who was the QB of the Titans last year? It was not Matt Hasselbeck. These are two huge changes that have effected Johnson’s game. Even their offensive coordinator has changed.

Why has coaching effected him this much? The key is the lockout. Yes, they have mainly a very similar system under Munchak as it was under Fisher, however, every coach has a different strategy. During the shortened training camp, and subsequently, Johnson’s holdout, the new Titans staff had to work in an offensive plan for the season.

They have been running the ball a little bit differently than we have seen them run the ball in the past. With Javon Ringer being the back around for training camp, you see that they had the idea that they would be running the ball in between the tackles more. Of course, Johnson certainly has the ability to run the ball between the tackles, but he is a lot more dangerous on a sweep, pitch, or even catching the ball out of the back field in the flat (which is something that they had been doing less of at the beginning of the season.)

I think the quick change in scheme when Johnson came back at the beginning of the season definitely had an effect on the offensive line. They have not been nearly as effective run blocking and setting up screens as they did last year.

The quarterback situation is also different. Any team in the NFL is going to run a different defense against a team with Vince Young at Quarterback than Matt Hasselbeck under center.

Also, let us not forget the new big contract. It would hard to run as hard when you just got a new contract, and one of your best friends (Vince Young) was sent packing. Do not forget that Young and Johnson were very close friends.

I do not think it would be a good idea for Munchak to bench Johnson. At this point, if they bench Johnson, they will not only be waisting that huge contract, but they will also be putting into the head of a player like Johnson (who has already held out) that he is not needed. I doubt that will make him run harder. He already has the money. at that point he will probably just ask for a trade.

Trust me Johnson still has passion for this game. He still plays with a smile on his face, and I have not seen him give up on a run yet, even though I have often seen him being met two or three yards in the backfield.

You almost have to stick with him. At 4-3 in the AFC South, the Titans are still in the hunt, why in the world would you take your most dangerous player off the field?

Do not even tell me, ‘because Javon Ringer is averaging 3.5 YPC compared to Johnson’s 2.8′. Look throughout the NFL. Ben Tate is averaging 5.2 and Arian Foster is only averaging 3.9. Ricky Williams is averaging 4.7 over Ray Rice’s 4.3. Lots of change of pace backs get more yards per carry, because they have less carries, and more chances on third and long where they will gouge a defense for eight or ten yards without even getting a first down. That is just how it goes.

I am not saying that Chris Johnson will even return to form this year (especially if they bench him), but trust me, he will be back. He is still the most talented player on the offense by far.

You cannot bench him