News, Notes & Rumors Week 1

nfl

 

 

News:

The running game in week 1 was WAY down in part because lots of NFL teams have major O line issues.  The Seahawks struggled to score 12 points against the Panthers.  The Browns could not run or pass in a loss to the Dolphins.  The Steelers lose their C Maurkice Pouncey and score only 1 TD.  There was only one RB that got 100+ yards (Shane Vereen of the Pats). and he has a broken bone in his wrist.

 

Colin Kaepernick QB of the 49ers was outstanding against the Packers.  He was 27-39 412 yards with 3 TDs and no picks.  His new best friend is former Raven WR Anquan Boldin who caught 13 passes for 208 yards and a TD.  Despite only running for a total of 90 yards the Niners beat the Pack.   Jim Harbaugh is going to owe brother John a REALLY nice Christmas gift for the trade of Boldin.

 

While the Bills D played well, the Pats are clearly hurt by the loss of targets for Tom Brady.  Of course the two fumbles by RB Stevan Ridley did not help the O.  The same can be said for the Ravens losing … Read more at FryingPanSports

An open letter to ESPN and the NFL Channel

 95 percent of your viewers could care less about the New York Jokes (Jets).  If we wanted to watch clowns run into each other we would watch the Circus Channel.

Because both of you seem to live in Jets soap opera town, about 50% of us change the channel each time you start to cover the team.  We have gone from not caring about the Jets to hating them thanks to your super coverage of every dumb move they make.

So cover the other 31 teams more and let the Jets stew in their self made stupid sauce. 

That’s what I think.  Tell me what you think.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com.  He has also published several novels on and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.  Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts.  You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

He also edits .  

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

 Read more at FryingPanSports

Josh McDaniel is the wrong choice to coach the Browns.

Josh McDaniel is the wrong choice to coach the Browns.

 

Those of you that have been reading this site for awhile know I am not a fan of Josh.

 

On Mar. 17, 2009 after Josh was caught trying to trade for QB Matt Cassel (NE) and caused his pro-bowl QB Jay Cutler to demand a trade, I wrote the following:

 

Bowlen blew it when he fired Mike Shanahan and blew it again in hiring the 32 year old McDaniels. McDaniels is not mature enough to be a head coach in the NFL. It was a bad hire and this is only the first screwup for which McD will be responsible.

 

I was correct.  Following that debacle, Josh was forced to give pro-bowl WR away for next to nothing and would have lost pro-bowl DE Dumerville to free agency if he had not been fired.  McD implemented a 3-4 forcing Dumerville to play OLB.  That is not the best way to use his talent.

 

To the credit of Bowlen (owner of the Broncos) his next hire was a good one.

 

Now the most persistent rumor about who will replace Shurmur is—wait for it—Josh McDaniel.  That would … Read more at FryingPanSports

My Fearless League Predictions

 

It is time again for my fearless attempt (note:  no dart boards were injured during this exercise) to predict the outcome of the 2011 NFL Season.  I know that some of you will doubt my crystal ball but it seldom fails me (except when it needs repair which happens around this time every year).

AFC East

  1. Pats –
    This team has struggled in the playoffs but always has a great regular
    season.  This year it will get to the AFC
    Championship game.
  2. Jets – I wonder how good the O will be because I
    am not sold on QB Sanchez.
  3. Dolphins – This team is without a QB and it will
    show.  Daboll is the OC which is good
    news for the TE’s.
  4. Bills – This team is going to be in the running
    for the 1st pick QB Luck.  But
    will they be willing to pay enough to sign him if they get the 1st
    pick.

AFC North

  1. Steelers – They have a D older than the “over
    the hill gang” of Redskin fame and the window to winning is closing because of
    it.
  2. Ravens – They just can’t seem to find a way beat
    the
Read more at FryingPanSports

Mock Draft by Davie in Lakewood

  1. Carolina    Cam Newton QB Auburn…. They are forced to select a QB because they lack a second round pick.
  2. Denver       Marcell Dareus DT Alabama… opposite Dummerville helps defense
  3. Buffalo       AJ Green Wr Georgia… They believe Fitzpatrick is there future QB and giving him a top flight wr will help them compete in their division.
  4. Cincinatti  Julio Jones WR Alabama because Chad Johnson has tweeted out his welcome with Marvin Lewis
  5. Arizona    Von Miller   DE/OLB Texas A&M
    6.  Titans  Blaine Gabbert QB Missouri With no free agency Titans are deseperate and id against Minnesota to trade with Browns, surrendering a second round pick to keep Minnesota from grabbing their QB.  I want Peterson here but Heckert will trade down unfortunately.
  6. SF Patrick Peterson CB LSU  Harbaugh runs up card and maybe decides to wait for Andrew Luck in 2012.
  7. Detroit Prince Amurkamara CB  surrenders a second to get a cb they so deseperately need
  8. Dallas Tyron Smith OT, USC  Even Jones wakes up because his line play cost him Romo for the season last year.
  9. Seattle Jake Locker QB  Washington  Seattle trades up with Washington to steal Minnesotas dream pick
  10. Houston Texans Cameron Jordan DE/DT Cal  another blow to the Minnesota
Read more at FryingPanSports

Why has Bill Belichick’s coaching tree as been so barren?

Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England P...
Image via Wikipedia

As I predicted months ago, Bronco Owner Bowlen fired HC Josh McDaniels this week. This is what I said on this site on March 17, 2009:

The key story is that Bowlen blew it when he fired Mike Shanahan and blew it again in hiring the 32 year old McDaniels. McDaniels is not mature enough to be a head coach in the NFL. It was a bad hire and this is only the first screwup for which McD will be responsible.

That was written before the Broncos went 6-0 to start the 09 season. That start was followed by a 2-8 record to end 09 and a 3-9 start to the 2010 schedule.

It was obvious to me that McD was not nearly ready for the head job. But that is only the latest example of the failures of the Belichick disciples. Here is the major list of NFL head coaches that have come from the Belichick system:

Josh McDaniels – Fired after less than 2 years

Eric Mangini Browns (2009-?) – Was so bad at judging talent that he lost his GM control after a year and now is on the hot seat again.

Romeo … Read more at FryingPanSports