Random Thoughts from Week 2

Here is the first Random Thoughts article on UTTQ. This will be a semi weekly feature on UTTQ, depending on how many thoughts I have on the previous week's games. I will just give out a few thoughts on a variety of things from the previous week or so that I feel need to be said but yet I don't want to write a long article about it. So please debate, critique, and enjoy.

• The replacement officials were pretty good in Week 1, or at least reasonably competent. However, Week 2 was a much different story. Maybe it's just the fact that I watched two of the most poorly officiated and controversial games of the weekend (the WAS@STL game and the Monday night DEN@ATL game), but I have seen and heard about bad calls in other games as well. The officials mismanaged the games, made many simple mistakes that I have NEVER seen the regular locked-out officials make, and generally allowed games to get out of hand. The chippiness in both the WAS@STL and DEN@ATL games were enough to cause the officials to get flustered and make (or not make) accurate calls. The NFL must understand that the regular officials not only have a better understanding of most obscure rules, but that they also have the respect of the players. Don't get me wrong, you wouldn't see Ray Lewis hugging Walt Anderson after a defensive pass interference call, but the players generally know and respect the regular officials for their details and regulation of the game. There is little delay during penalties, fewer replays that are reversed, and the flow of the game is generally smoother. Sure, the regular refs make mistakes sometimes. But they hardly make such easy mistakes as not knowing the penalty yardage or failing to flag a flagrant jab or punch. They respect the game too much to do that. And, in that regard, the mistakes they do make are often judgement call mistakes that could go either way.
• The Bucs-Giants game ending is the talk of the league. Was Greg Schiano right to rush his defense at New York quarterback Eli Manning during a victory formation? Or was Tom Coughlin right in asserting that those actions had no place in the National Football League? To be honest, I sided with Coughlin early on, but then switched to Schiano's perspective. Now, after careful considerations on both fronts, I have come to realize that no one was right or wrong. First off, think about the formation. The victory formation was established to secure a win by having the quarterback kneel down to run out the clock. Many times both teams accept the outcome of the game by then and simply play like it's a Pro Bowl field goal attempt. But sometimes, the quarterback may back up and delay the kneel to force more time off the clock. Even rarer, a team may actually run a play during a kneeldown formation (although it's illegal to simulate the kneel and then run the play, as evidenced by this NCAA game). In that regard, the defense shouldn't merely give the quarterback the benefit of the doubt and should try to get him down if he does delay kneeling. So Schiano was right in that aspect. However, with 5 seconds left, the Giants had no reason to ask Eli Manning to back up for 5 yards before taking a knee, so the Buccaneers had little reason to actually force him to kneel as quickly as possible, thus making the bull rush on the final play highly unnecessary. So Coughlin had some right to be mad. But could there still be some merit to the Bucs' actions? Very rarely, a defense may get lucky and have the quarterback fumble the snap, or even force a fumble via the extremely rare "swatting of the center's ball hand immediately after he hikes the ball but before the ball reaches the quarterbacks hands" maneuver, but both are, like I said, rare. Schiano may have been employing such a tactic, since a last minute penalty would've been meaningless, but a fumble and recovery by the defense could have set up a last second game-tying touchdown attempt. In the end, though, I believe both coaches had their faults: Schiano didn't need to employ the tactic, but Coughlin didn't need to call him out for doing it. It should be reasonable for the Bucs to play to the final gun in a desperation attempt to get the ball back, but it certainly was not necessary in such circumstances.
• Already being dubbed "Swooshgate" (I used to hate scandals being called "---gate", but now I've come to accept it as an unavoidable part of "professional journalism" these days), Robert Griffin III's wardrobe has attracted quite the attention. Griffin, who is sponsored by Adidas, plays for a league that is universally sponsored by Nike. As such, the league asks players to wear Nike uniforms, gear, and even shoes (although there is some leniency in this department). Griffin, who is and should be wary of his public image, wore a shirt last week that had the Nike swoosh marked over with a crudely written "HEART" wordmark. The league talked to Griffin about defacing/hiding the Nike logo and that he should not do it, and that was that. However, this week Griffin appeared during warmups with a plain gray shirt over his presumably Nike-branded undershirt. Apparently this has caused a minor controversy as well, with people shaming RGII for not listening to the NFL's wishes. Seriously? Cut the man some slack. He shouldn't be forced to wear gear that someone has sanctioned to him. If anything, he should just warmup without a shirt on from this point forward. I kid, but the NFL shouldn't have complete authority over the way a player dresses. Sure, it's good for RGIII to show face in something by the NFL's official supplier of gear, but he does that every friggin' week. Just look for the mark of the beast above his TV numbers on Sundays, and you'll see that he does represent Nike quite well on the football field. On the practice field he doesn't, but who cares! In 10 years his football career photo album will include pics of him on the field of play, in full Nike uniform. So to all the mediaheads trying to make much ado about nothing, try to focus on something more important. Like the fact that his Adidas shoes were taped over to conceal the three stripes.

Super Bowl XLVI Prediction

The time has finally come. Only two teams are still standing after a most amazing, dramatic, heart-rending...exciting, thrilling season in recent memory. And now, we have a Super Bowl rematch between two teams that played one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent memory four years ago. Of course, many differences exist between Super Bowl XLVI and Super Bowl XLII, but the main storylines of each game will undoubtedly be at the position that has remained the same in both games. Eli Manning is leading a hot road-warriors Giants team (again), and trying to solidify his claim of being an elite quarterback in the process. The fact that Eli has already made it to 2 big games is quite astounding. In the meantime, Tom Brady is trying to reach a higher level of greatness that only few quarterbacks share: the winner of four Super Bowls. Brady can surely thrust himself into the likes of Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, and John Elway. Either way, both teams will be striving for that goal of being the best of the best and crushing their newly formed rival. This ain't Yankees-Red Sox, but it sure is starting to feel that bitter.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The Pats come into this game with a quarterback on the pedestal of NFL greatness. Tom Brady leads his motley crew once again into the Super Bowl. It's stunning that Brady has managed to lead this team year after year into the playoffs, despite a constantly rotating roster (says something about those other AFC East teams...). Belichick-Brady may be a coach-quarterback duo that will live on for years to come in New England after they are done. A Super Bowl victory now could cement their legacy and prove that Super Bowl XLII was a flop; a minor hiccup in a historic decade of dominance. But enough gushing about Brady. What does he have to work with? Well, the running game has been off and on throughout the season, at best. Backs like Danny Woodhead, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and Stevan Ridley can certainly carry the load, but their efficiency is mostly in the redzone, close to the goal line. In the air is where the magic happens. The Patriots have an unassuming combo of tight ends that are really just versatile receivers. Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski can snatch the ball out of the air as well as anyone, and provide good exploitations for the Pats' passing game between the hashmarks. Wideouts Deion Branch and Wes Welker are also threats on the outside, while contributors like Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater can provide more mix-and-match combinations both short and deep. The O-line for the Pats have been shaky at times, but the return of Sebastian Vollmer should certainly help. Key "injuries" on the offensive front include Matt Light and Rob Gronkowski, who both serve vital roles in this offense. Light's health will be extremely valuable considering the pass rush by the Giants' D-line.

On defense, this team has managed to find meaning in their line, led by the athletic, gut-busting Vince Wilfork. The linebackers have also stepped up as of late, led by former Gator Brandon Spikes in the middle. Overall, this defense is solid. The only question about it is the secondary. The corners for the Patriots have been up and down throughout the season, but have come on late to form a respectable bunch. Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, and company can all be playmakers, while players like James Ihedigbo and (snicker) Julian Edelman can be counted on for support. What should be particularly intriguing is the play of Devin McCourty, who can roam the field as good as anyone and catch up to the play. For this team to stay in the game, they must rely on their defensive unit to stop Brandon Jacobs and company on the ground, and the elusive Eli Manning and his merrymen of receivers in the air. If the Patriots defense can step up in the biggest game of their lives, the offense will handle the rest.

Special teams-wise, the Pats still rely on ol' Stephen Gostkowski, who has successfully replaced Adam Vinatieri. Zoltan Mesko continues to reliably handle punting duties, while Woodhead and Edelman are the returners.


NEW YORK GIANTS

The kings of New York return to the Super Bowl in quest of a title against an old foe. If New York can get the win, Tom Coughlin could be right up there with Bill Parcells as one of the greatest Giants coaches to ever live. And then if that's not a question of legacy, just look at who's under center. Eli Manning is only 31, but has tremendously rebounded from his tumultuous past. Once cast behind his brother Peyton and father Archie, "Little Bro" now has the chance to create his own chapter in Giants history. Of course, Manning is not alone on his quest. His receivers should get just as much play, despite Manning's effectiveness in the pocket. Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Mario Manningham all bring great hands, tremendous speed, and excellent route running to the table. With no true safety blankets underneath, Manning can exploit long passes on many plays. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw can still ground and pound, but the instability of the offensive line may cause the running game to experience a few problems.

Of course, the story of this Giants team is the hot, tough D. Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul are the bookends up front, with Chris Canty and Osi Umenyiora providing excellent support pressure. The Giants rely on the linebacking duties of Chase Blackburn, Michael Boley, and Mathias Kiwanuka, who are not only good in run stopping abilities, but also thrive on the pass coverage. Of course, the Giants secondary provides support on the backside with Corey Webster, Antrel Rolle, Kenny Philips, and Aaron Ross (and a slew of reliable backups). The Giants' flaw on their defense is probably the hole between the linebackers and the safeties, which the Packers and 49ers managed to exploit (unfortunately sloppy play from those teams resulted in more outside routes). The Giants will have to watch Tom Brady and company carefully, especially the tight ends who can easily chew up yardage between the hashmarks.

On special teams, the Giants have kicker Lawrence Tynes and punter Steve Weatherford. Tynes may have a weak leg, but he is still one of the more clutch kickers in the league today. Weatherford doesn't have much control of his punts sometimes, but he can still kick bombs. The returners are a carousel of Jerrel Jernigan, Will Blackmon, Aaron Ross, and Devin Thomas. After the NFC Championship Game, it will be interesting to see how the Giants attack and perform on punt return duties.

PREDICTION:
NEW ENGLAND 27, NEW YORK 24
Overall this is a very tough, physical matchup. Both teams have solid offenses and rising defenses. Like everyone else, I think this one will come down to a few key special teams plays. The Giants may be the hottest team right now, but something tells me to not forget about Tom Brady. Whoever jumps out to a big early lead will win, as these defenses will definitely get tired. And in that case, the offense with more firepower will win. The Pats have just enough to pull this one out, but the Giants surely won't take it easy. Either way, the tagline of Super Bowl XLII still resonates loudly, begging the question: "Who Wants It More?"

NFC Championship Prediction

The year is 2002, during NFC Wild-Card Weekend. The score is SF 39, NYG 38. The Giants have a chance to win the game on a 41 yard field goal with 6 seconds left. Giants long snapper Trey Junkin, on the final play of a solid career, botches the snap. Punter and holder Matt Allen can't get the snap down for kicker Matt Bryant, and runs to the right before throwing up a desperation lob as time expires. The pass falls incomplete, and the 49ers go away victorious, after coming back from a 38-14 deficit late in the third. However, Giants fans still steam at a missed call on the final play of the game, where eligible receiver Rich Seubert seems to be the victim of pass interference. The NFL eventually acknowledged the mistake, but the score was not changed. This year, with the two storied franchises meeting for the first time since that 2002 wild wild-card game, with the Giants wanting to avenge their 2002 counterparts. The 49ers, however, seem to be on a quest for destiny as they move one step closer to making it back to the big game. With so many bases to cover and storylines to play out, this one could be very exciting.

First, let's look at New York. Sitting at .500 and almost certainly out of the playoff picture, the G-Men have managed to recapture the magic of their 2007 team with a stifling defense and re-found offense. The Giants got two big wins against the rival Cowboys to advance back into the playoffs. With masterful wins against the Falcons and 15-1 Packers, the Giants come to San Francisco better than they were earlier in the season when they lost to the Niners. Eli Manning has proven himself to be an exemplary quarterback. Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks have blossomed into a receiving trio that rivals that of any other in the league. And the ground game of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw perfectly complements the passing attack. The defense, of course, is a big story as well, with a penetrating defensive line featuring the likes of Justin Tuck, Chris Canty, and Osi Umenyiora. The linebackers and corners all provide support to the tremendous pressure. These Giants always seem to play exceptionally well come playoff time. They certainly are road warriors, but they do face a tremendous test in San Francisco.

Everyone says the NFC West sucks, but let's not forget that, for the past 12 Super Bowls, the division has averaged at least one representative in the big game every 3 years or so (St. Louis in 1999 and 2001, Seattle in 2005, and Arizona in 2008). This year, the Niners can continue that trend with a victory at home against a tough opponent. The Niners played their hearts out last week and won an epic against the Saints, and now face an even tougher opponent in the Giants. The Niners have been solid in all phases of the game, literally: offense, defense, and special teams have been astounding. The offense is led by the resurgent Alex Smith, who has shown more confidence and accuracy with the football. Smith has a workhorse in Frank Gore at tailback, and also has some receiving threats, most notably in tight end Vernon Davis. The Niners D has been no slouch either, led by standout players Justin Smith, Navorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, and Donte Whitner, with rookie Aldon Smith providing outstanding assistance up front. On special teams, the Niners have been nearly perfect behind the legs of punter Andy Lee and kicker David Akers. Overall, the Niners are a very talented football team. They have the willpower to succeed, especially under coach Jim Harbaugh. They believe, and that is a very strong advantage in itself.

So who will go away victorious? It may just come down to whoever plays better that day. The question of "Who wants it more?" could not be more appropriate in this situation. I'll give the Niners the edge at home.

SAN FRANCISCO 38, NEW YORK 31

UTTQ 2011 NFL Predictions: NFC East

The 2011 season may have not begun, but our 2011 NFL Regular Season predictions have. Here's a brief summary of each NFC East team, in no particular order, starting with the defending division champion Philadelphia Eagles:

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Dream Team certainly looks that way on paper. Among the most prized addition to this team includes Nnamdi Asomugha, perhaps the purest shutdown corner in the NFL. Michael Vick is as dangerous as ever; only questions about durability and blitz/coverage reads remain. Questions on the offensive line remain, but the receiving core of Jackson, Maclin, Avant, and Smith looks strong. Celek, McCoy, and Brown should also apply offensive support. The defense also looks studly, particularly the backfield group.

DALLAS COWBOYS
The boys in blue sucked last season, to put it bluntly. After a switch to a new coach in Jason Garrett, the Cowboys look to improve with a revamped offensive line, a stable core of receivers, and a familiar defense. Oh, and Tony's back too. As shown last season, Romo is vital to this team's success (or failure), and it is key that the o-line work together and stay healthy.

NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants are an interesting team. After tough losses through free agency (Steve Smith, Shaun O'Hara, Kevin Boss) and a recent rash of injuries (Prince Amukamara, Terrell Thomas), this Giants team may end up on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Eli Manning...is he a top quarterback? He has his ups and downs...but if this team is to win, he'd better look start looking more like one.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS
This once proud franchise has had fleeting moments of excellence, but recently, they have struggled. Coach Mike Shanahan hopes that will change this season. Of course, this depends on who plays under center. Will the tenured Rex Grossman start? Or the perennial backup John Beck? Either way, the Redskins have little shot at taking the division crown unless they can shore up their quarterback battle. Perhaps newcomer Tim Hightower can take pressure off this situation, for a while at least.


NFC EAST TITLE: Philadelphia Eagles

• Yes, I'm a victim to the hype. But with arguably the most favorable schedule (save for the Redskins) in the division, I believe Philadelphia has all the ingredients necessary to steal the division.

WILD CARD TEAMS: Dallas Cowboys

• The Cowboys may be this year's dark horse team. After an underwhelming season last year, look for the Boys to bounce back with a vengeance. The Skins have a favorable schedule, but too many questions are left to be answered (particularly at quarterback). The Giants are too inconsistent.