NFL Week 12

[dew1679666265]

i don't see ANYTHING special about jeff fisher.

 

This isn't necessarily directed at you sulley, mainly just an anecdotal opinion on Fisher as compared to Lovie and you were the most convenient to quote.

 

There are more similarities between what I've seen from Lovie and Fisher than what most people realize. Both seem to prefer conservative approaches offensively, though I think Fisher will take a couple more chances than Lovie. Both rely on strong defenses to win games, though the defensive philosophies are different (Cover-2 for Lovie, aggressive 4-3, Buddy Ryan-esque for Fisher).

 

I've heard complaints a lot on here about Lovie not hiring the best assistants and instead bringing in his buddies whether they're qualified or not (Ron Turner for example). Fisher, on the other hand, has always had excellent assistants. Mike Munchak, Jim Schwartz, Mike Heimerdinger, Jim Washburn, Dave McGinnis are all very good coaches and most of them I'd place near the top of their field. I've never been concerned about Fisher making a poor coordinator hire (though the Norm Chow hire didn't work).

 

Fisher's record, which is cited often by his critics, is also a bit misleading. He, much like Lovie I would imagine, took over a team that was pretty miserable his first couple of years and yet was able to get 15 wins out of them in 2 years. His biggest issue, however, was truly horrible cap problems from 2004 to 2006 that kept the Titans from really improving the team at all. 2004 and 2005 were his only really bad seasons and those years featured Billy Volek as the starting QB (2004) and Chris Brown as the starting tailback both years. Part of that was on Fisher, but mostly it was poor cap management by Floyd Reese. Outside of those two awful years, he's only had 2 losing seasons in 14 years, which is pretty remarkable.

 

He's also very good about getting his teams to overachieve (something people have also mentioned about Lovie). The 99 team had no business going to the Super Bowl and the 2008 team wasn't quite as good as the 13-3 record would lead you to believe (though it was still a very good team). The 8 and 10 win seasons in 2006 and 2007 were pretty remarkable as well, considering Vince was pretty terrible both years. Fisher is also good about adjusting his offense to his personnel (he milked a couple extra good years out of an aging roster just before the 2004 collapse by spreading out the offense, fazing out Eddie George and letting McNair and the receivers win us games).

 

I don't believe I'd fire Lovie just so I could hire Fisher, but that's more a credit to Lovie than a knock on Fisher. I think Fisher's in the top tier of coaches, but Lovie is pretty well average or better. Very rarely will you get worse than average out of a Jeff Fisher team no matter the quality of the talent.

[Exile on Waveland]

In the past they haven't had a starting RB, starting WR, and starting TE all injured at the same time.

 

They have (or at least very close to that). The problem is that the offensive line has never been this bad. Manning only has around 2 seconds to throw if that. The injuries have exacerbated that problem because Addai is a fantastic blocker, Clark was a better blocker than Tamme, and Collie stretches the field. They aren't even running the same plays anymore because they don't have the talent to run their normal plays.

 

Last year the Colts were a very, very good team that won every single close game they played. This year they're not quite as good and they've struggled in close games. The difference between the Super Bowl team and this one is really not that large though.

 

Don't forget Brody Eldridge being hurt. He's the best offensive lineman on the team. Unfortunately, he's a tight end.

 

Seriously, the Linkenbach-at-guard experiment has to end; I'm confused as to why it even started (Pollak is a disappointment and is by no means great, but he was improving and adequate). It's probably time to at least try McClendon and maybe even Thomas.

[dew1679666265]

Seriously, the Linkenbach-at-guard experiment has to end; I'm confused as to why it even started (Pollak is a disappointment and is by no means great, but he was improving and adequate). It's probably time to at least try McClendon and maybe even Thomas.

 

Jacques is too busy being a tight end.

[UMFan83]

I was about to say that tonights MNF game is one of the most meaningless MNF games ever, being between two 3-7 teams, but then I realized that the winner will be only 1 game out of a home game in the playoffs.

[Exile on Waveland]

Seriously, the Linkenbach-at-guard experiment has to end; I'm confused as to why it even started (Pollak is a disappointment and is by no means great, but he was improving and adequate). It's probably time to at least try McClendon and maybe even Thomas.

 

Jacques is too busy being a tight end.

 

Ha, yeah. Since he's been moved to tight end -- at least based on his exemplary work in the preseason -- it is conceivable that the best two offensive linemen on the Colts are currently tight ends.

[dew1679666265]

Ha, yeah. Since he's been moved to tight end -- at least based on his exemplary work in the preseason -- it is conceivable that the best two offensive linemen on the Colts are currently tight ends.

 

In all seriousness, I like Jacques quite a bit (not as a tight end, though). He's a big, road grating lineman who should do well anchoring an interior line spot. He was still a little raw coming out of UT, but I hope the Colts give him a shot at some point to earn playing time on the line.

[Formerly Snayke]

Gangster:

 

Sam Bradford's outstanding performance for the St. Louis Rams during their 36-33 victory at Denver places the rookie in select company.

 

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Bradford became the first rookie in NFL history to pass for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions during a road victory. John Elway was the last rookie to hit 300 yards with three touchdowns and no picks in a game, regardless of location or results (against Baltimore in 1983).

 

Bradford also became the 11th quarterback over the past five seasons to pass for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions during a road victory.

 

The others? Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Drew Brees, Matt Schaub, Tony Romo, Tom Brady, Michael Vick, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and, uh, Bruce Gradkowski.

 

It's just a shame that being in John Elway's company means the coaching staff has to put him in bubble wrap in the fourth quarter.

[jersey cubs fan]

Johnson and Finnegan were each fined $25,000 but not suspended for their fistfight yesterday. They can thank the Richard Seymour precedent of "slugging guys who probably deserve it."

[Guest]

I was about to say that tonights MNF game is one of the most meaningless MNF games ever, being between two 3-7 teams, but then I realized that the winner will be only 1 game out of a home game in the playoffs.

 

This has to be the first time a game between two 3-7 teams mattered for something other than draft position.

[Exile on Waveland]

Ha, yeah. Since he's been moved to tight end -- at least based on his exemplary work in the preseason -- it is conceivable that the best two offensive linemen on the Colts are currently tight ends.

 

In all seriousness, I like Jacques quite a bit (not as a tight end, though). He's a big, road grating lineman who should do well anchoring an interior line spot. He was still a little raw coming out of UT, but I hope the Colts give him a shot at some point to earn playing time on the line.

 

So do I. He's potentially something the Colts really haven't had since I can remember (a road-grater). I honestly don't see how he could do worse than the current guards (especially Linkenbach) and has potential to be something far better. Seriously, Linkenbach was literally lifted off his feet and thrown into Manning last night. That's just not acceptable.

[Careless]

What a catastrophe.

[Guest]

Johnson and Finnegan were each fined $25,000 but not suspended for their fistfight yesterday. They can thank the Richard Seymour precedent of "slugging guys who probably deserve it."

 

I don't know how Johnson got off without a suspension.

[Guest]

There is a stark difference between the Arizona Cardinals offense of the last few seasons and this year.

[Careless]

SF's defense did a great job at getting into blocking positions on that int return

[cubbyvirus00]

how on Earth is Andersen a starting NFL QB?

[Andy]

how on Earth is Andersen a starting NFL QB?

NFL teams aren't always very intelligent.

[JonJayCutler]

Just saw the highlight of Derek Anderson going off on a reporter at the podium after he was asked about "smiling" on the sideline while the Cardinals were getting their crap handed to them. This has to be one of my biggest pet peeves in sports. When will people figure out that cracking a smile on the sideline doesn't equate to not giving a damn?

 

On the other hand, watching another Cardinals post-game tirade after a MNF game was pretty cool. Denny's was better though.

[dew1679666265]

Just saw the highlight of Derek Anderson going off on a reporter at the podium after he was asked about "smiling" on the sideline while the Cardinals were getting their crap handed to them. This has to be one of my biggest pet peeves in sports. When will people figure out that cracking a smile on the sideline doesn't equate to not giving a damn?

 

On the other hand, watching another Cardinals post-game tirade after a MNF game was pretty cool. Denny's was better though.

 

If players don't hang their heads the entire game and shed tears, they don't care and are probably clubhouse cancers.

[jersey cubs fan]

Johnson and Finnegan were each fined $25,000 but not suspended for their fistfight yesterday. They can thank the Richard Seymour precedent of "slugging guys who probably deserve it."

 

I don't know how Johnson got off without a suspension.

 

I think an unprovoked sucker punch getting just a fine one week before pretty much sealed the deal for Johnson, since that was actually a provoked fight.

[Soul]

Just saw the highlight of Derek Anderson going off on a reporter at the podium after he was asked about "smiling" on the sideline while the Cardinals were getting their crap handed to them. This has to be one of my biggest pet peeves in sports. When will people figure out that cracking a smile on the sideline doesn't equate to not giving a damn?

 

On the other hand, watching another Cardinals post-game tirade after a MNF game was pretty cool. Denny's was better though.

 

If players don't hang their heads the entire game and shed tears, they don't care and are probably clubhouse cancers.

 

In fairness, the reporter tried pretty hard to couch his question and asked for the context of the conversation. He tried to ask it in as respectful terms as possible.

[dew1679666265]

In fairness, the reporter tried pretty hard to couch his question and asked for the context of the conversation. He tried to ask it in as respectful terms as possible.

 

I don't see why you need to ask the question at all. It's not like Anderson and Lutui are over there laughing at the fans who showed up to the game or how much they enjoy throwing games and not trying.

 

Lutui said something funny, Anderson chuckled a little bit. I don't get why it matters what Lutui said.

[dew1679666265]

Johnson and Finnegan were each fined $25,000 but not suspended for their fistfight yesterday. They can thank the Richard Seymour precedent of "slugging guys who probably deserve it."

 

I don't know how Johnson got off without a suspension.

 

I think an unprovoked sucker punch getting just a fine one week before pretty much sealed the deal for Johnson, since that was actually a provoked fight.

 

I'm surprised Cortland didn't get a worse fine (or even a suspension) than Johnson did since Cortland instigated it. I'll take it, though, because we need Cortland out there.

[Soul]

In fairness, the reporter tried pretty hard to couch his question and asked for the context of the conversation. He tried to ask it in as respectful terms as possible.

 

I don't see why you need to ask the question at all. It's not like Anderson and Lutui are over there laughing at the fans who showed up to the game or how much they enjoy throwing games and not trying.

 

Lutui said something funny, Anderson chuckled a little bit. I don't get why it matters what Lutui said.

 

The question is asked because that's what reporters do. They ask questions. The main issue is whether the reporter was being confrontational, and in the beginning I don't think he was. He was asking for the context, and asking in such a way that he was clearly giving Anderson an easy way out.

 

If he had started off saying "hey, what are you doing smiling when you are losing?" then I'd feel differently. But he only said that after Anderson started flipping out. The first question was done respectfully, IMO.

[dew1679666265]

The question is asked because that's what reporters do. They ask questions. The main issue is whether the reporter was being confrontational, and in the beginning I don't think he was. He was asking for the context, and asking in such a way that he was clearly giving Anderson an easy way out.

 

Reporters ask questions, but why ask that one? Why not ask more questions about the game and why the Cardinals lost and how they can improve? Why does it matter that Lutui told a joke and Anderson laughs at jokes?

 

I just don't get the point in asking that particular question.

 

If he had started off saying "hey, what are you doing smiling when you are losing?" then I'd feel differently. But he only said that after Anderson started flipping out. The first question was done respectfully, IMO.

 

I don't have a problem with the way the reporter asked the question. You're right that it was asked in a respectful manner, but that doesn't mean anything could have been gained by asking the question.

[Flames24Rulz]

The question is asked because that's what reporters do. They ask questions. The main issue is whether the reporter was being confrontational, and in the beginning I don't think he was. He was asking for the context, and asking in such a way that he was clearly giving Anderson an easy way out.

 

Reporters ask questions, but why ask that one? Why not ask more questions about the game and why the Cardinals lost and how they can improve? Why does it matter that Lutui told a joke and Anderson laughs at jokes?

 

I just don't get the point in asking that particular question.

 

If he had started off saying "hey, what are you doing smiling when you are losing?" then I'd feel differently. But he only said that after Anderson started flipping out. The first question was done respectfully, IMO.

 

I don't have a problem with the way the reporter asked the question. You're right that it was asked in a respectful manner, but that doesn't mean anything could have been gained by asking the question.

 

The first question was fine. The follow-ups were pretty bad, though. It seemed like a fan found his way into the press room and just started blatantly provoking Anderson.