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Sep. 18th, 2006 05:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
desertvixenhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14887506/
OPINION
By Neil Hayes
MSNBC contributor
Take heart, fans of the Browns, Dolphins, Chiefs, Packers, Panthers, Lions, Buccaneers, Panthers, Texans, and Titans. As hard as it might be to believe after your teams fell to 0-2 on Sunday, things could be worse.
You could be rooting for the Raiders.
Week 2 didn't reveal which is the best team in the NFL, although if the Super Bowl were played today, it would pit the Chargers against the Bears. Chicago spanked the self-destructive Lions 34-7 and have outscored their opponents 60-7 in their first two games. The Chargers have been equally impressive while racking up 67 points and allowing 7. The Ravens, Falcons, Bengals and Colts have also been impressive.
But there's no disputing the worst team in the league after Oakland's offense produced as many sacks and turnovers as points in a 28-6 loss to the Ravens. They hired a blast from the past in Art Shell. He hired an offensive coordinator who hasn't designed an NFL game plan since 1994 and together they blew the dust off a vertical passing game that just doesn't work in this pass-rush happy era.
Shell was about the only person who would take this job. What if Shell isn't up to the task? Will Al Davis hire Tom Flores? John Madden? Himself?
Oh, the Raiders are a mess all right. They have won 13 games in three seasons, own the league's worst record during that span and, as unlikely as it would seem, they aren't getting better. They are getting worse — much, much worse.
Color their future silver and bleak.
See? Don't you feel better about your 0-2 team now? Things could always be worse. That said, here are 10 teams that are in trouble two weeks into the season.
10. Tampa Bay Buccanneers.
The Bucs' 14-3 loss to the Falcons was worse than their 27-0 loss to the Ravens last week. These were the Falcons, after all, and the one thing the Bucs can usually count on was out-toughing the Falcons in a big game, at least until now. Sunday's game wasn't as close as the score indicated. Tampa Bay had beaten Atlanta six times in their last eight meetings but now find themselves two games behind Michael Vick's team in the standings. The schedule doesn't get any easier. The Bucs will play every team in the NFC East plus Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Seattle. Yikes. If you liked Jon Gruden's bigger beer face after Sunday's loss, imagine what it will be like if they lose to Carolina next week to drop to 0-3.
9. Miami Dolphins.
They became the trendy pick to win the AFC East and make a deep playoff run after they acquired quarterback Daunte Culpepper from the Minnesota Vikings. One problem. The Dolphins under second-year coach Nick Saban don't have a playoff-caliber offensive line. The Dolphins couldn't run the ball consistently in a loss to the Steelers last week, and that's a big problem since Saban wants his team to have a smash-mouth identity. Culpepper was sacked seven times by a Bills defense that was missing three starters in a 16-6 loss to the on Sunday. He was booed throughout the game as the Dolphins' offense barely avoided the shutout. You know things are bad when fans are chanting for backup Joey Harrington. If things don't get better, they may start chanting for Jay Fiedler.
8. Detroit Lions.
First-year head coach Rod Marinelli wants his team to hustle and be physical. He preaches mental-and-physical discipline, but his team displayed none of those traits in a 34-7 loss at Soldier Field. Marinelli, ever accountable, took the blame after his team racked up 14 penalties for 104 yards, had two fumbles that resulted in 10 Chicago points in what can only be described as an uninspired effort. "I'll take the bullet — right in the head," he said. The Lions would be the league's most dysfunctional team if it weren't for the Pride and Poise Boys in Oakland. They have a coach willing to throw himself under the bus after his players sleepwalk through a game. They have an offensive coordinator in Mike Martz who can give quarterback Jon Kitna a second career and make Roy Williams and Corey Bradford more productive receivers. They have talent on defense and could start taking steps in the right direction if they could just get out of their own way.
7. Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers entered the season as a popular Super Bowl pick. Two weeks later they are 0-2 with a floundering offense after a 16-13 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Injuries have played a big role in their back-to-back losses. This offense misses injured wide receiver Steve Smith. How could it not? The speedy wide receiver had 201 yards receiving against the Vikings last season. They also missed left tackle Travelle Wharton, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and center Justin Hartwig, who sat out Sunday's loss with a groin injury. The Panthers need to get healthy. Until then, they need to keep from getting beat on goofy special teams plays.
6. Houstan Texans.
Few players are more worthy of your pity than David Carr. He's smart, has a good arm and can use his feet to get out of trouble. He's even handsome, which means he's everything you would ever want a franchise quarterback to be. But he can't block for himself. That has been the problem for Carr in Houston and it was the problem from the outset of Sunday's 43-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Carr was sacked on the first play and fumbled the snap on the second, setting up a quick Indy touchdown. As if that wasn't bad enough, the Texans lost left tackle Charles Spencer to a fractured leg and center Mike Flanagan left with a foot injury, which means Carr should prepare for another beating next week and beyond.
5. Green Bay Packers.
Can anybody not wearing a yellow plastic triangle on his head name five Packers? Brett Favre doesn't count. Neither does Ahman Green or Donald Driver. Anybody? Hello? How about three? Can anybody who doesn't have a license plate with America's Dairyland on it name three? That's the problem. The Packers have a roster full of first-and second-year players. That's all good and fine as long as some of those players start emerging and first-year coach Mike McCarthy can prove that he's got this team headed in the right direction. Maybe Sunday's 34-27 loss to the Saints was a starter. The Packers made some plays and rallied against the Saints. Hey, you have to start somewhere.
4. Tennessee Titans.
The heck with rebuilding. The Titans thought they were a playoff team heading into the season, and why not? Stranger things have happened. Then Billy Volek, Steve McNair's longtime backup, struggled during the preseason and coach Jeff Fisher signed Kerry Collins, which is like waving a white flag. First-round draft pick Vince Young is being brought along slowly, which is probably a smart move, but talk of securing a playoff berth has been silenced. Barring some unforseen magic from Young, this season is about getting him experience and boosting his confidence for a playoff run in the future.
3. Cleveland Browns.
Memo to coach Romeo Crennel: Enough with the conservative game plans, already. If you think Charlie Frye is the answer at quarterback quit making him handoff and dump passes over the middle like you did in a 34-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Instead, send him onto the field and tell him to make plays. When he makes a mistake slap him on the behind and tell him to to make a play to make up for it. Being ultra conservative with a young quarterback can retard his development and destroy his confidence and you can't afford that. Frye is one of the few things your team has going for it. You're not going to the Super Bowl this season, but Frye has a chance to be a good one, as he proved when he uncorked a 75-yard pass in the fourth quarter that Braylon Edwards caught to set up a score. For God's sake, let him play.
2. Washington Redskins.
The hiring of offensive coordinator Al Saunders was the Redskins' biggest acquisition of the offseason. He was supposed to bring the highly efficient, high-scoring attack he designed in Kansas City to the nation's capital. The offense isn't clicking yet. That was evident during a 27-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. We don't know if Mark Brunell is the answer at quarterback. Of course, it would help Brunell and Saunders if Clinton Portis was available. Portis, one of the best running backs in the league, missed his second straight game with a shoulder injury. The problem is, when Portis is finally healthy enough to play, it will be too late.
1. Kansas City Chiefs.
Give the Chiefs, coach Herm Edwards and quarterback Damon Huard, making his first start in six years, credit. They had a good game plan, executed it well and had a great chance to win even without veteran quarterback Trent Green, who missed the game because of a concussion suffered last week. Of course, that had as much to do with the baffling Broncos as the Chiefs but still ... The only thing worse than falling to 0-2 after Sunday's 9-6 overtime loss to the Broncos is falling to 0-2 and knowing you still have to play the Chargers twice. Then again, there's a bright side: The Chiefs get to the play the Raiders twice more, too.
Yay! We aren't the absolute worst!
DV
OPINION
By Neil Hayes
MSNBC contributor
Take heart, fans of the Browns, Dolphins, Chiefs, Packers, Panthers, Lions, Buccaneers, Panthers, Texans, and Titans. As hard as it might be to believe after your teams fell to 0-2 on Sunday, things could be worse.
You could be rooting for the Raiders.
Week 2 didn't reveal which is the best team in the NFL, although if the Super Bowl were played today, it would pit the Chargers against the Bears. Chicago spanked the self-destructive Lions 34-7 and have outscored their opponents 60-7 in their first two games. The Chargers have been equally impressive while racking up 67 points and allowing 7. The Ravens, Falcons, Bengals and Colts have also been impressive.
But there's no disputing the worst team in the league after Oakland's offense produced as many sacks and turnovers as points in a 28-6 loss to the Ravens. They hired a blast from the past in Art Shell. He hired an offensive coordinator who hasn't designed an NFL game plan since 1994 and together they blew the dust off a vertical passing game that just doesn't work in this pass-rush happy era.
Shell was about the only person who would take this job. What if Shell isn't up to the task? Will Al Davis hire Tom Flores? John Madden? Himself?
Oh, the Raiders are a mess all right. They have won 13 games in three seasons, own the league's worst record during that span and, as unlikely as it would seem, they aren't getting better. They are getting worse — much, much worse.
Color their future silver and bleak.
See? Don't you feel better about your 0-2 team now? Things could always be worse. That said, here are 10 teams that are in trouble two weeks into the season.
10. Tampa Bay Buccanneers.
The Bucs' 14-3 loss to the Falcons was worse than their 27-0 loss to the Ravens last week. These were the Falcons, after all, and the one thing the Bucs can usually count on was out-toughing the Falcons in a big game, at least until now. Sunday's game wasn't as close as the score indicated. Tampa Bay had beaten Atlanta six times in their last eight meetings but now find themselves two games behind Michael Vick's team in the standings. The schedule doesn't get any easier. The Bucs will play every team in the NFC East plus Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Seattle. Yikes. If you liked Jon Gruden's bigger beer face after Sunday's loss, imagine what it will be like if they lose to Carolina next week to drop to 0-3.
9. Miami Dolphins.
They became the trendy pick to win the AFC East and make a deep playoff run after they acquired quarterback Daunte Culpepper from the Minnesota Vikings. One problem. The Dolphins under second-year coach Nick Saban don't have a playoff-caliber offensive line. The Dolphins couldn't run the ball consistently in a loss to the Steelers last week, and that's a big problem since Saban wants his team to have a smash-mouth identity. Culpepper was sacked seven times by a Bills defense that was missing three starters in a 16-6 loss to the on Sunday. He was booed throughout the game as the Dolphins' offense barely avoided the shutout. You know things are bad when fans are chanting for backup Joey Harrington. If things don't get better, they may start chanting for Jay Fiedler.
8. Detroit Lions.
First-year head coach Rod Marinelli wants his team to hustle and be physical. He preaches mental-and-physical discipline, but his team displayed none of those traits in a 34-7 loss at Soldier Field. Marinelli, ever accountable, took the blame after his team racked up 14 penalties for 104 yards, had two fumbles that resulted in 10 Chicago points in what can only be described as an uninspired effort. "I'll take the bullet — right in the head," he said. The Lions would be the league's most dysfunctional team if it weren't for the Pride and Poise Boys in Oakland. They have a coach willing to throw himself under the bus after his players sleepwalk through a game. They have an offensive coordinator in Mike Martz who can give quarterback Jon Kitna a second career and make Roy Williams and Corey Bradford more productive receivers. They have talent on defense and could start taking steps in the right direction if they could just get out of their own way.
7. Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers entered the season as a popular Super Bowl pick. Two weeks later they are 0-2 with a floundering offense after a 16-13 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Injuries have played a big role in their back-to-back losses. This offense misses injured wide receiver Steve Smith. How could it not? The speedy wide receiver had 201 yards receiving against the Vikings last season. They also missed left tackle Travelle Wharton, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and center Justin Hartwig, who sat out Sunday's loss with a groin injury. The Panthers need to get healthy. Until then, they need to keep from getting beat on goofy special teams plays.
6. Houstan Texans.
Few players are more worthy of your pity than David Carr. He's smart, has a good arm and can use his feet to get out of trouble. He's even handsome, which means he's everything you would ever want a franchise quarterback to be. But he can't block for himself. That has been the problem for Carr in Houston and it was the problem from the outset of Sunday's 43-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Carr was sacked on the first play and fumbled the snap on the second, setting up a quick Indy touchdown. As if that wasn't bad enough, the Texans lost left tackle Charles Spencer to a fractured leg and center Mike Flanagan left with a foot injury, which means Carr should prepare for another beating next week and beyond.
5. Green Bay Packers.
Can anybody not wearing a yellow plastic triangle on his head name five Packers? Brett Favre doesn't count. Neither does Ahman Green or Donald Driver. Anybody? Hello? How about three? Can anybody who doesn't have a license plate with America's Dairyland on it name three? That's the problem. The Packers have a roster full of first-and second-year players. That's all good and fine as long as some of those players start emerging and first-year coach Mike McCarthy can prove that he's got this team headed in the right direction. Maybe Sunday's 34-27 loss to the Saints was a starter. The Packers made some plays and rallied against the Saints. Hey, you have to start somewhere.
4. Tennessee Titans.
The heck with rebuilding. The Titans thought they were a playoff team heading into the season, and why not? Stranger things have happened. Then Billy Volek, Steve McNair's longtime backup, struggled during the preseason and coach Jeff Fisher signed Kerry Collins, which is like waving a white flag. First-round draft pick Vince Young is being brought along slowly, which is probably a smart move, but talk of securing a playoff berth has been silenced. Barring some unforseen magic from Young, this season is about getting him experience and boosting his confidence for a playoff run in the future.
3. Cleveland Browns.
Memo to coach Romeo Crennel: Enough with the conservative game plans, already. If you think Charlie Frye is the answer at quarterback quit making him handoff and dump passes over the middle like you did in a 34-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Instead, send him onto the field and tell him to make plays. When he makes a mistake slap him on the behind and tell him to to make a play to make up for it. Being ultra conservative with a young quarterback can retard his development and destroy his confidence and you can't afford that. Frye is one of the few things your team has going for it. You're not going to the Super Bowl this season, but Frye has a chance to be a good one, as he proved when he uncorked a 75-yard pass in the fourth quarter that Braylon Edwards caught to set up a score. For God's sake, let him play.
2. Washington Redskins.
The hiring of offensive coordinator Al Saunders was the Redskins' biggest acquisition of the offseason. He was supposed to bring the highly efficient, high-scoring attack he designed in Kansas City to the nation's capital. The offense isn't clicking yet. That was evident during a 27-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. We don't know if Mark Brunell is the answer at quarterback. Of course, it would help Brunell and Saunders if Clinton Portis was available. Portis, one of the best running backs in the league, missed his second straight game with a shoulder injury. The problem is, when Portis is finally healthy enough to play, it will be too late.
1. Kansas City Chiefs.
Give the Chiefs, coach Herm Edwards and quarterback Damon Huard, making his first start in six years, credit. They had a good game plan, executed it well and had a great chance to win even without veteran quarterback Trent Green, who missed the game because of a concussion suffered last week. Of course, that had as much to do with the baffling Broncos as the Chiefs but still ... The only thing worse than falling to 0-2 after Sunday's 9-6 overtime loss to the Broncos is falling to 0-2 and knowing you still have to play the Chargers twice. Then again, there's a bright side: The Chiefs get to the play the Raiders twice more, too.
Yay! We aren't the absolute worst!
DV
