Category: NFL (Page 640 of 1282)

      The Wildcat: Just a new/old formation

      September 30, 2009 /

      The Washington Post asked me to participate in their NFL blog “The League” for the 2009 season. Below is a recent post I wrote for the site about whether or not the Wildcat is here to stay.

      In a day and age of video games and fantasy football, it’s no wonder that a single formation can start a new craze.

      The Wildcat is just a variation on the single-wing formation, yet based on the buzz it has received since last season, one would think that it’s the eighth wonder of the world. (The formation is actually one of the things featured in the new version of Madden.)

      The idea behind the Wildcat is to play 11 on 11 football instead of 10 on 11, which occurs when the quarterback hands the ball off to his running back and then stands idle behind the play. It’s just one small advantage for the offense, which is why it has been effective at every level.

      But this idea that the Wildcat is going to revolutionize the way NFL coordinators implement their offensive game plans is absurd. Most teams (including the Dolphins) use the formation in less than nine percent of their snaps on game day, which is a telltale sign that teams aren’t going to suddenly ditch the use of a drop back passer to line their running back up at quarterback on the majority of their plays.

      Those that say the Wildcat is a gimmick or that it doesn’t have a place in the NFL haven’t been paying attention. It forces defenses to spend time throughout the week in practice specifically game planning against it and also adds the element of surprise on game day.

      That said, football isn’t about one player, one coach or one formation. The Wildcat can be an effective tool, but there’s a reason why teams only use it sparingly: It’s just one formation in a NFL playbook.

      To read the entire article, click here.

      NFL

      Will the Redskins ever win under Snyder?

      September 30, 2009 /

      When it comes to examining the Washington Redskins, let’s take our foot off Jim Zorn’s neck for a second, shall we?

      Since Daniel Snyder purchased the Redskins in May of 1999, they’ve had a winning record only three times in those 10 years (1999, 2005, 2007). In each of those winning seasons, they went to the playoffs but advanced no further than the first round. (And in 2007, they didn’t even make it past the first round.)

      During Snyder’s reign as owner in Washington, the Redskins have been aggressive in free agency, inking notable names Bruce Smith, Jeff George, Deion Sanders, Jeremiah Trotter, Jessie Armstead, Randy Thomas, Lavernous Coles, John Hall, Phillip Daniels, Marvin Washington, Shawn Springs, Antwaan Randle El, Adam Archuleta, Andre Carter, London Fletcher, Fred Smoot, Jason Fabini, Albert Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall.

      But where has it gotten them?

      This past offseason, Snyder made Haynesworth the richest defensive player in NFL history and so far, the Skins have an ugly win against the Rams and a loss to the previously 0-19 Lions to show for it. Granted, it’s still early and Washington can turn things around, but a team doesn’t lose to the Lions without having massive internal bleeding.

      Continue reading »

      NFL

      Needing a spark, Browns go back to Anderson

      September 30, 2009 /

      Browns head coach Eric Mangini told reporters on Wednesday that Derek Anderson would replace Brady Quinn at quarterback and start this Sunday against the Bengals.

      From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

      Mangini said “giving Derek the opportunity is something I think will help us offensively.” He said Anderson’s performance on third down Sunday in Baltimore — including 3-of-4 on a field goal drive — helped him clinch the job. He said he needs to improve on throwing interceptions, after throwing three in Baltimore.

      Mangini had little choice. Quinn wasn’t moving the offense, looked uncomfortable in his decision-making and wasn’t giving his receivers a chance to run after the catch. While Anderson shouldn’t be expected to fix what ails the Browns, he does have a stronger arm, will test defenses vertically and did move the ball more efficiently than Quinn last week against the Ravens. (Granted, Anderson also threw three interceptions against Baltimore.)

      Cleveland’s defense has played well enough to keep the Browns competitive, but the offense has been stagnant and while Quinn isn’t the only one to blame, the quarterback is always the first one to be replaced when a team is losing. If Quinn had showed any signs that he was progressing as a passer, then maybe Mangini would have given the young QB more time. But he wasn’t, and thus it’s time to give Anderson a shot to lead the offense again.

      Mangini needs this move to pay off or else he’s going to start losing the locker room (if he hasn’t already). He got off to a rough start with players like Shaun Rodgers when he was hired, and hasn’t endeared himself to others with his crass attitude and Bill Belichick-like demeanor. It may be too early to suggest that he’s on the hot seat, but if he doesn’t get a win soon he’s going to have a mess on his hands.

      NFL

      Herschel Walker challenges Dana White to a fight

      September 30, 2009 /

      Former NFL great Herschel Walker appeared on ESPN First Take on Tuesday and challenged UFC President Dana White to a fight. Walker’s hostility towards White stems from comments made by the UFC prez after Walker signed a deal with Strikeforce.

      From Fightline.com:

      “I think it’s ridiculous,” White stated about Walker’s signing during an interview on Inside The Ultimate Fighter. “People think we’re anti-competition? We’re anti-dumb competition. Doing stupid things like this, putting a 50 year old guy in the Octagon for the first time, and then going out there putting out press releases like it’s a big deal because you signed a 50-year-old Herschel Walker? Are you serious?”

      Walker took White’s comments to heart, and had some comments of his own for White.

      “Who ever made him the guy to measure athletic talent?” Walker asked the show. “I don’t think Dana knows anything about athletic talent.
      “He knows about fighters, which is different,” Walker continued. “He’s running a show right now with heavyweights and I’ll put dimes to donuts, all the heavyweights on his show right now I will beat. That’s pretty easy to say.”
      Walker went on to issue a challenge to the UFC President.

      “Dana always tells people to put their money where your mouth is. Dana says I’m so old? Why doesn’t he step into the ring with me because he’s been practicing (MMA), as well?”

      It sounds like Walker is biting off more than he can chew. I don’t know enough about the MMA to know who would take down whom, but I think it’s a safe bet that if Walker went against any of the UFC’s top fighters he might struggle. Other athletes-turned-MMA fighters have gone in the ring before, only to be dismantled quickly. But again, I don’t Walker’s fighting style, so I admit I’m talking out of my league here.

      Either way, I’d pay to see a Walker-White clash. (Actually, I wouldn’t…but I’d at least watch the highlights.)

      Mixed Martial Arts, NFL

      Kirwan: Time for Eagles to trade Vick?

      September 30, 2009 /

      Senior NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan suggested in a recent article that now might be the best time for the Eagles to trade Michael Vick.

      Michael Vick said he expected to be a starting quarterback when he reentered the NFL. When I look at some of the quarterback situations around the league, I think he’s right, but I don’t really see him as a fit in Philadelphia after watching Kevin Kolb for the past two weeks.

      The return of Donovan McNabb, as well as having Jeff Garcia under contract, makes Vick a guy to consider trading. He saw limited duty in his first real game and he will get better with more work, but his contract next year probably means he will not be an Eagle after 2009.
      In the past two weeks, Kolb has completed 55 of 85 passes for 718 yards (8.44 yards per attempt) with four touchdowns, three interceptions and just two sacks. Any young QB that only gets sacked once every 43.5 attempts and distributes the ball to seven different receivers every game is the future — and he’s a whole lot cheaper than Vick.

      In Vick’s career, he has been sacked an average of once every 10 pass attempts. And when it comes to the Wildcat, receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin can handle those duties if the Eagles care to continue using it.

      I don’t think there are any real worries about the fallout from Vick’s off-the-field issues anymore and maybe a team like the Raiders would love to have him on the roster. He has to be worth a decent draft pick. Garcia is the veteran backup the Eagles need for insurance. When the Eagles activated him to the 45-man roster this weekend, they confirmed they see him that way, too.

      Garcia was just released so that the Eagles could make room for middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, although I don’t think that would change Kirwan’s mind regarding Philly trading Vick.

      Kirwan suggests that Vick “has to be worth a decent draft pick.” Not sure I agree with that. He hasn’t shown enough in his limited time back to convince any team that he can be their starting quarterback and no team is going to part with a draft pick just to use Vick in the Wildcat.

      One thing I do side with Kirwan on is how teams don’t have to worry about the fallout from Vick’s off-field issues. The Eagles essentially took the first blow and they didn’t receive much criticism. But again, I don’t see any team parting with a 2nd or 3rd rounder (what I would deem a “decent” draft pick) to add Vick just based on what we’ve seen so far.

      NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑