In other news...Miss Iceland 1974 Catherine Greig received her $2M reward this week for supplying the FBI with information that led to the capture of fugitive Whitey Bulger who, I believe, was either a mob boss or Ireland's #1 Porn Star, I'm not sure which...Also in California the state has revoked funding to a Suicide Hotline that is thought to have ties to Al Qaeda though for my money it sounds like a case of just matching people with a need...And finally goodbye to the Dictator of Many Spellings, Moammar K/Kh/C/Qaddafi. Now as soon as the markets open Monday someone remind me to sell my Jheri Curl stock.
NFL NOTES
--To some extent I guess I'm a child of the '80s. I still roll up the sleeves on my sportcoat, wonder when they're going to remake Jake and the Fat Man and scream out like the old man in the Thomas Dolby video every time I hear the word "Science" which working in a High School is, sadly, a lot. One thing, however, I did overcome is my Buddy Ryan/1986 Bears obsession with the non-stop, all out blitz. In fact I can pinpoint the exact moment it died as coming during a 76 yard bootleg TD run in 1995 against Ryan's Arizona Cardinals by Chiefs QB Steve Bono that is so slow that if you get lined up properly with the horizon you can time it with a Chronometer (see here http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7636492405319981257#).
Today's complex offenses with their speed, motion, cut back plays and misdirection require a DC to take a more comprehensive approach to play calling that utilizes a variety of packages. Still one thing was abundantly clear as I watched the Giants-Bills game last week and that is in 3rd and medium to short yardage you have to rush more than three.
Last week Chan Gailey's clearly overmatched group nearly stole a victory from New York at The Meadowlands by virtue of two big plays and a dink-and-dunk offense that could make Chad Pennington seem like Darryl Lamonica. In the aforementioned 3rd down situations the Giants continually rushed 3 perhaps wary of giving up another 66 yard catch and run as they had in in the first quarter only to see Bills' receivers settle into vast open pockets just beyond the markers for easy pitch-and-catch first downs. Putting 8 in coverage and still having receivers be wide open is kinda like the Steve Miller Band hibernating in the studio for 6 years only to release Abracadabra...what's the point. May as well send another rusher or two in hopes of hurrying the throw, getting a sack or a batted ball.
Or in other words the days of the "Blitz 'em all and let God sort 'em out" D is gone, but for the love of God don't go back to the Tom Bass (S.D.)-Rod Rust (Den.) days of all out "Read and React." Thanks.
People say this site is all about the boobs...This should show 'em...--Speaking of the Bills see the Michigan/Rutgers/Georgia Tech analysis section of yesterday's CFB post for difficulties encountered by teams that can't stretch the field. HC Gailey has done a magnificent job with the Buffalo offense, but while Ryan Fitzpatrick is a solid game manager his arm has all the strength of last night's Chow Fun. If it weren't for R-Fitz underthrowing two deep open receivers resulting in turnovers the Bills could be 5-1 right now. We like them versus the Miamis and Denvers of the world, but games against the Jets, Dallas and New England on the road could be Go Against situations as they're inability to stretch the field leaves them vunerable to better D's and schemes.
--In a quick note we just got "followed" on Twitter by our first actual NFL player, Green Bay Defensive End Lawrence Guy whose goes under the handle @THATGUY which I thought was reserved for Marlo Thomas's brother...but whatever...
--Fred's Picks are 1-2 as New Orleans went down at Tampa Bay last week. I personally maintain Tampa as a Go Against squad, but laid off last week as Dome teams often struggle outdoors on grass. The better play may be in two weeks when the Bucs travel to the Big Easy off a bye. As for today Fred likes Cleveland -3 over Seattle. Personally I have no feeling on this play (though my Charlie Whitehurst bashing of last week might indicate otherwise) mostly because Colt McCoy doesn't inspire much confidence in me. The happy, smiling, mop-topped, Dennis The Menace that looks out from his CBS Fantasy Sports bio reminds us of the skinny, nerdy looking lead actor in the TV show Burn Notice who is supposed to be chasing down mustachioed drug dealers and thug-like terrorists. I often ponder how such innocent, innocuous looking people could succeed in such cutthroat, macho worlds until I come to the realization that I'm actually considering picking up the Browns QB or watching more that 5 seconds of Burn Notice and I quickly move on. Wager at your own risk.
--One thing we've noticed in our gimlet-eyed view of human nature is that people "Wanna Believe". In fact it's almost as if they're saying "You Gotta Believe" until I get to feeling like it's me, the corpse of Upton Sinclair and 6.9 billion Tug McGraws in the world. Thus I feel it my obligation to nihilistically point out squads that may have gotten a false bump in the public eye from wins last week.
Today we see a misleading trio in Chicago, the Jets and Philadelphia. As for the Bears beating the Vikings at home, no matter how bad, proves little. They say age doesn't matter these days, that 50 is the new 40, 40 the new 30, 10 the new embryo...um, I'm guessing on that last one...but frankly Donovan McNabb looked about 105 last Sunday Night. Throw in that Da Bears are only two weeks removed from a loss to Detroit in which the O-Line suffered more false starts than an ADHD 100 meter dash and this is not a club that has gotten over the proverbial hump. Similiarly the Jets were presented last week with a home game against a QB, Matt Moore, who were it not for injuries and the likes of Jake Delhomme would still be pulling clipboard splinters out of his hand every Sunday night...or in other words welcome to Miami Andrew Luck. And finally Philly nearly blew a 20 point lead due to Red Zone difficulties and turnovers until John Beck stepped out of his role as Moonpie in Rollerball (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0065183/) to QB the Redskins and save the day. The Eagles are off this week and the Bears get Tampa, but keep an eye on the Chargers as a play against the Jets...now for some picks.
Deaf Chargers cheerleader Melissa Adams. You know I notice a lot of hot women with implants aren't able to hear me. Researchers should look into that.--Mark Twain said, "all a man needs to succeed is ignorance and confidence." We have plenty of the former, but little of the latter and the latter seems to be what's necessary in the world of wagering. Therefore it seems week in and week out our various analyses are good, but when it comes time to putting that into selections we fall to pieces, follow the public and back the Eagles. Today we'll just go with our gut and try Denver -1.5 over Miami, the Chargers in a pick over NYJ and finally Dallas to finally right the ship vs. the "I Didn't Know He Was Still In The League" A.J. Feeley-led Rams at -14. Recreational purposes...not intended to induce...don't touch Baby's college fund...and like disclaimers apply.
Alright so maybe it's a little bit about the boobs...Follow us on Facebook or Twitter (sprtcom102). Also see our ol' school wrestling posts at the "Seminal Sluts" and "Crimson Mask" titles. Women of ESPN at "Something In The Way She Says Gamecocks". Lenny Dykstra at "The Dumbest Guy In The Room". And NY Mets jokes at "Bad Stuff 'Bout Da Mets" and "Stealing Ed Kranepool's Soap". Your the best...each and every one of you!
