Category: NFL (Page 1176 of 1282)

It’s been six years since the Detroit Lions hired Matt Millen as CEO/GM. It’s also been six years since the Lions have had a winning season.

Millen has been responsible for the head coach hires of Marty Mornhinweg (5-27 in two years), Steve Mariucci (15-27 in two and a half years) and Rod Marinelli (2-7 so far this season). Mornhinweg was the guy who decided to kick off after winning an overtime coin flip because he wanted the wind at his back. The Lions opponent that day, the Bears, took the gift from Mornhinweg and went right down the field to nail a game winning field goal. This is the type of guy Millen has hired – it’s ridiculous.

Added to his sparklingly track record for hiring coaches, he also has the reputation of drafting like pinball wizard too. Joey Harrington, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams are some of the best examples that this guy has no clue what he’s doing. In fact, it’s been reported that Williams is so overweight, lazy and unproductive that the Lions are now considering quarterback Josh McCown at wide receiver over the first rounder from USC.

The fact of the matter is that Millen was a former player and TV analyst. That’s it. He had no prior front management experience and is way under qualified for the position. The Detroit Lions need to recognize that, cut their losses and move on.

In honor of the 2006 NFL season, Bullz-Eye.com will take one contest off the schedule every week and break down each team’s strengths and weaknesses vs. its opponent. Plus, no preview would be complete without a forecasted score – you’ll find a prediction on the game at Bullz-Eye.com as well.

A lead in the AFC West is on the line this week in Denver when the Broncos host the Chargers. Can LaDainian Tomlinson run amuck on the stout Denver defense? Will Philip Rivers stay hot? Will Jake Plummer by replaced by rookie Jay Cutler still by the fourth quarter?

On tap for Week 4: Chargers (7-2) at Broncos (7-2).

The NFL is just past the midway point and that means Bullz-Eye.com is cooking up some power rankings. In this installment, every team’s strength and flaw is front and center.

Here’s a sneak peak of the top and bottom five. To see the entire list and where your team ranks, click here.

1. Indianapolis Colts (9-0)
First Quarter Ranking: 2
Strength: It’s hard to believe, but it seems like Peyton Manning is getting even better at being an on-field offensive coordinator. Rookie Joseph Addai is quickly becoming what the Colts lost in Edgerrin James.
Flaw: It should be hard to find a flaw on an undefeated team, but Indy’s run defense has been horrid this year. Many pundits believe that the run defense will keep the Colts from a Super Bowl, and even with Manning playing as well as he is, I’d tend to agree.

2. Chicago Bears (8-1)
First Quarter Ranking: 1
Strength: The defense is making it tough for opponents to establish any kind of rhythm on offense. At times, Rex Grossman is playing at a Pro Bowl level and Thomas Jones is starting to find running room in a now balanced Chicago offense.
Flaw: At times, Grossman also looks like an utter disaster in forcing passes and throwing off his back foot. Teams are starting to gut the inside of the Bears run defense too.

3. San Diego Chargers (7-2)
First Quarter Ranking: 6
Strength: First year starter Philip Rivers has exceeded expectations in replacing Drew Brees while LaDainian Tomlinson has been…well, LaDainian Tomlinson. The secondary, which was arguably the worst in the league last year, has also played extremely well.
Flaw: It hasn’t entirely caught up to the Chargers yet, but the linebacker crew has been held together by duct tape the past couple of weeks. With Shawne Merriman serving a four-game suspension and Shaun Phillips out with a serious injury, Denver should take the division if San Diego trips up.

4. Denver Broncos (7-2)
First Quarter Ranking: 9
Strength: For yet another season, the Broncos are one of the league’s best in the rushing department, but that’s not the main reason why Denver is 7-2. The defense has been lights out and Champ Bailey continues to show why he’s the best overall cornerback in the league.
Flaw: Jake Plummer is going to cost this team a couple of games before the regular season is all said and done – especially when the Broncos run into opponents that can stop the run (like San Diego maybe?).

5. Seattle Seahawks (6-3)
First Quarter Ranking: 8
Strength: This team has banded together following the losses of Matt Hasselback and Shaun Alexander. Seneca Wallace and Maurice Morris have kept Seattle alive and the defense is starting to come around after a few bad outings.
Flaw: Besides getting slammed with two curses at the same time, the offensive line has really missing guard Steve Hutchinson. Pork Chop Womack has been brutal and even when Alexander is healthy again, the Seahawks are going to have trouble down the stretch if they can’t run the ball.

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-6)
First Quarter Ranking: 28
Strength: Losing Chris Simms has given rookie Bruce Gradkowski a chance to show that he can at least compete in this league. Ronde Barber has turned in some great games, most notably the two interceptions he returned for TDs against Donovan McNabb and the Eagles.
Flaw: Cadillac Williams has been average at best and the defense has allowed opponents to gash them on the ground almost every week.

29. Detroit Lions (2-7)
First Quarter Ranking: 29
Strength: Jon Kitna is playing some of his best football in Mike Martz’ system and Roy Williams is starting to become one of the better wide receivers in the league. When Martz uses him, Kevin Jones shows how tough of a runner he actually is.
Flaw: They’re still the Lions. After a huge upset over the Falcons, they lose to the 49ers at home. It’s Detroit.

30. Tennessee Titans (2-7)
First Quarter Ranking: 31
Strength: Rookie Vince Young has given the fans and the organization something to hope for in the near future.
Flaw: While Young adds some excitement, his passing numbers aren’t very good and the Titans defense is a disaster.

31. Oakland Raiders (2-7)
First Quarter Ranking: 32
Strength: The young defense flies around the football and the secondary statistically is one of the best in the league. Nnamdi Asomugha has turned in some solid performances at corner.
Flaw: The offense is probably one of the worst I’ve seen from an NFL team in a long time. Andrew Walter isn’t the answer, the offensive line is worse than terrible and Randy Moss hardly tries anymore.

32. Arizona Cardinals (1-7)
First Quarter Ranking: 24
Strength: Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald can be just as good as Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne some Sundays.
Flaw: Dennis Green, Dennis Green, and most importantly and above all else: Dennis Green.