Bad Beats: Disaster awaits Raiders & Wolverines
By BEN BURNS - To be successful requires both hard work and passion
Sure was a nice showing from the Raiders against the Saints Saturday. Anyone out there man enough to admit they took Oakland +2.5?
If so, make sure that’s the last time you’re on the Raiders this year.
Exhibition or not, getting pounded 45-7 is ridiculous and really says something about the overall talent, coaching and character of this team.
“This is embarrassing to me,” new Raiders coach Tom Cable said.
You think?
“A lot of times, we were getting up to the ball, getting set, and they were still trying to get lined up,” said Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
This just in: The Saints like to run a little hurry-up offense … for about the last three seasons.
The Saints’ first-team offense was expected to play into the second half. Instead, Brees and company sat down early in the second quarter.
The Saints had 21 points and 225 yards on 29 plays in the first quarter.
"Really the plan was to give them 'x' number of snaps and what happened was that we got those snaps earlier than expected," Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters Sunday. "Our plan was to go a half, come out in the second half and we thought we would've been close to 30 snaps there, but we got to that number a little quicker.”
It was ugly from the start for the Raiders. JaMarcus Russell was sacked and fumbled on their third play. They turned the ball over three times total and committed 10 penalties.
After having the 31st-ranked run defense in the league last year, they look like they have gotten worse. The Raiders have surrendered 634 rushing yards in three preseason games, including 232 by the Saints.
You call pull out the “It’s preseason” card if you want, but that usually only applies if your problems are something fixable on the field.
Things aren’t any better off the field for Al Davis’ flailing franchise. Reports have Cable getting in a fight and breaking a bone in the face of assistant coach Randy Hanson in early August. That kind of thing divides locker rooms and raises some serious concerns about the team’s leadership and direction.
The Raiders’ season total on wins is 5.5. Hmmm …
Speaking of teams headed for disaster …
Reports surfaced over the weekend that several Michigan football players claim coach Rich Rodriguez is violating NCAA rules that limit the amount of time a team can train and practice.
ESPN.com reported that a player that started for Michigan last season said the team would be at the football facility from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
Four hours is the daily limit, with a weekly total of 20 hours, the NCAA allows teams to prepare.
Rodriguez and Wolverine officials are denying the accusations, but the damage has been done.
Michigan opened as 13-point home favorite in its season opener against Western Michigan.
The line was down to 12 and 11.5 at some books, as of Sunday.
The NFL's most competitive division will be up in the air once again in 2009. The Giants claimed the NFC East crown in 2008, but made a quick exit in the playoffs, falling at home to the Eagles. Philadelphia was coming apart at the seams after a 5-5-1 start last season, but Donovan McNabb reignited his Eagles squad, propelling them to the NFC Championship game.
The two teams that were left out of the postseason each finished the 2008 campaign on disappointing notes. The Cowboys won eight of their first 12 games, but dropped three of their final four to miss the playoffs. The Redskins were 6-2 through the first two months of the season, before losing six of their final eight contests.
Here are the season win totals for the NFC East,
NY Giants Over 9 ½ (-150) Under 9 ½ (+120)
Philadelphia Over 9 ½ (-160) Under 9 ½ (+130)
Dallas Over 9 (-130) Under 9 (Even)
Washington Over 8 (-120) Under 8 (Even)
The panel of experts has plenty of differing opinions on the NFC East, as all four teams have the potential to make the postseason, while it's likely that Washington is the one team that probably won't win this division.
Chris David is high on the Redskins' chances to finish 'over' the posted win total this season. David says despite Jim Zorn's offense averaging 16 ppg last season, Washington has a chance to pick it up this season, "If the offense improves in Zorn's second year, most would expect a jump in the win column. Four of the losses last year were by four points or less and people forget that Washington started 4-1 in 2008." David also points to Washington's advantageous schedule, "This year's opening schedule sets up nicely again with four of the first six at FedEx Field. The additions of Albert Haynesworth and Brian Orakpo should only make the Redskins' defense better in 2009."
Brian Edwards sees the Eagles as the best 'over' play in the NFC East. Edwards comments, "I really love this play although the 'chalky' price certainly makes it less attractive. Nevertheless, it's a winner. I have Philadelphia winning the NFC. The offense is loaded with speed and McNabb has the most weapons during his time with the Eagles, which, by the way, includes a 5-for-10 batting average in making the NFL's version of the Final Four."
I am in agreement with Edwards on the Eagles, not only on the McNabb point, but also on the addition of Michael Vick. Granted, Vick is out the first four games of the season, but the Eagles should be at least 3-1 when Vick joins the club. The Eagles had a multitude of problems the first three months of last season, but got on a great hot streak which almost sent Philadelphia to the Super Bowl.
Judd Hall is high on the team that won the Super Bowl two seasons ago, the New York Giants. Despite the loss of top receiver Plaxico Burress, Hall believes the Giants should still thrive offensively. Hall says, "New York has a pair of more than capable wideouts in Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon for Eli Manning to target. That's not even including Brandon Jacobs taking over the rushing duties full-time this season, which will wear down opposing defenses. Hall points to a somewhat rough schedule for the Giants, "The league didn't do them any favors as the G-men play back-to-back home games just twice this season. This team should be able to win at least six of its eight home games and no fewer than four on the road. This should be an easy 'over' for us."
David disagrees with Edwards and I on the Eagles, as David is steadfast on the 'under.' "The Eagles have been catching a lot of buzz this summer as a team to watch, but for the wrong reasons in my opinion. Philadelphia has some serious offensive talent on paper and if Vick can stay healthy, the attack can be dangerous. The defensive unit lost arguably their best player safety Brian Dawkins to free agency and more importantly, their defensive coordinator Jim Johnson to cancer," David notes. "Andy Reid is a great coach but he's only put up one 10-win season in the last four years. I don't see happening again this year either," David points out.
Both Edwards and Hall don't see the Redskins making noise inside the division this season. Hall says, "Washington made a great move in getting Haynesworth for its defense. But what did they do to help out on offense? Not a whole hell of a lot." Edwards questions the offense in D.C., "Coaching and QB play are big factors for me and I'm not a big believer in Zorn. To a lesser extent, I'm not that high on Jason Campbell, although I'll stop short of completely throwing him under the bus. Clinton Portis isn't getting any younger and this division is brutal.
I selected the Giants as my best 'under' bet, simply because this team was clicking so well until the Burress incident last season, and then failed to regain that offensive mojo. Throwing in the loss of Derrick Ward to Tampa Bay, it's hard for me to see Manning and the Giants winning more than nine games.
Cowboys fans, we didn't forget about you. But, Vegas probably landed right on the correct number of wins for Tony Romo's club. It will be interesting to see if Terrell Owens will truly be missed, or if Roy Williams can step up and become an elite receiver in Dallas. And to see how many punts will be knocked off the scoreboard at new Cowboys Stadium.
Sevransky's AFC preseason betting tidbits
By TED SEVRANSKY - Direct From Vegas: Sports Investing for long term profits
Teddy spends every Sunday typing furiously at his laptop as he watches the games, giving you the key info that the box scores and game recaps simply don’t have. This week he fills you on the AFC’s preseason storylines.
Trent Edwards is no Jim Kelly
This offense is a disaster area right now. Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert's no huddle attack doesn't change the worst kept secret in Buffalo - this front five can't block anybody. Trent Edwards is struggling as well, throwing a bad interception for the second straight week.
Things to do in Denver when the Broncos are dead
Kyle Orton had four interceptions in the preseason heading into this game, and he threw a sure-fire pick on his first drive here, but it was dropped. Denver exclusively used a ball control offense, taking no shots downfield at all.
Starting guard Chris Cooper went down with an injury Sunday. He’s the only guard in the league who didn’t allow a sack last year. Check his status – any kind of serious injury would be a major loss for Denver
Too many Indians, not enough Chiefs
This is the worst offensive line I've seen all preseason, including the Lions and Bengals. CB Brandon Flowers looks like a legitimate playmaker in the secondary, something the Chiefs haven't had in recent years. That being said, Seattle had open receivers running downfield all evening long, and KC had all kinds of problems getting off the field on third down, allowing a whopping eleven conversions. Ten fumbles in the first nine quarters of the preseason gives us an idea of how bad this offense really is right now.
Airborne Jags
This team is opening up the offense and taking shots downfield, something they rarely did last year. Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter called an aggressive game, a positive sign for a team that needs to work on its passing game.
I’m not overly impressed with the front four on defense. They were unable to generate any sort of pressure when they weren't blitzing.
Defensive decline in Baltimore?
This team is so strong in the trenches -- this offensive line was completely re-built last year and it's paid enormous dividends. The addition of Matt Birk at center is only going to help.
But this defense seemed a tad bit sluggish. How much are they going to miss Rex Ryan and Bart Scott? If there is any sort of real defensive decline, there will be a ton of value betting the over on this squad.
Collins steadying force for Tennessee
Kerry Collins had plenty of time to throw behind the first-string offensive line, but not many open targets downfield for him to throw to. Nate Washington is hurt already -- would his presence on the field make a significant difference?
If the Titans can't run the ball down their opponent's throat, they'll have a hard time scoring. And don't ask this team to rally back from any serious deficits -- the offensive weapons simply aren't there. Still, it’s nice knowing you don't worry about Collins making a bunch of bad throws. His accuracy is tremendous and the guy doesn't make many poor decisions.
We can expect ball control once again this year -- look for Tennessee to own the time of possession battle and gradually wear down opposing defenses in the second half.
NFL spread sheet: Super Bowl faves have visible holes
By LARRY JOSEPHSON
They sit comfortably atop most everyone’s power rankings. They still have the best coach and the best quarterback in the league and two of the best receivers. The D-line is stocked with No. 1 draft choices.
They’re the favorite to win the AFC East (-400), the conference championship (+225) and to capture another Super Bowl (+400).
So why are warning flags concerning the New England Patriots being hoisted at the mansions in Newport, R.I., potato country in upstate Maine and everywhere in between?
The concern is on the defensive side of the ball, where there doesn’t seem to be many, if any at all, playmakers. The linebacking corps was so thin that Bill Belichick was forced to spend a pair of draft picks to bring in Derrick Burgess from Oakland in hopes of finding someone who could pressure opposing quarterbacks. Jerod Mayo is the real deal and will play between Burgess and the underachieving Adalius Thomas as the Pats move to a 4-3 alignment.
D-linemen Richard Seymour, Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork may be pacing themselves as they wait for the start of the regular season, and the coaching staff is praying that adding a fourth down lineman (they’ll rotate players there) will create some mayhem in the pocket. It hasn’t shown in three exhibitions.
If the Pats can’t get pocket pressure, things will be ugly in a secondary that is being rebuilt for the fifth straight season. No one is really certain who will start, but it probably won’t matter. Shawn Springs was brought in to lock down big wideouts and make sure Terrell Owens doesn’t go off, but Springs has hardly been on the field. The club’s secondary got burned plenty last season and has been unimpressive thus far.
Did we mention that preseason MVP favorite Tom Brady may or may not have a bum shoulder after last week’s pummelling by Albert Haynesworth? The Pats have gone into Kremlin mode on Brady’s health, and don’t expect him to play in the final exhibition, against the Giants.
With the Pats counting on Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker to put up enough points to cover up their defensive shortcomings, there should be some interesting O/U totals on the boards. Oddsmakers list the opener against the Bills in Foxboro at 47.5 (Pats -10.5).
QB conundrum in Cleveland
Here’s the problem for the Browns: Coach Eric Mangini would give up Ring Dings for a month if Brady Quinn could seize the starting job at QB. But Quinn is not that much better than Derek Anderson, and the Brownies don’t want to commit quite yet because they feel they might be able to get a half-decent draft choice for Anderson. So they continue in limbo, Mangini unwilling to admit that Quinn is the guy because it would lessen Anderson’s trade value.
Down-and-out pattern for Smith in SF
Is Alex Smith really Ryan Leaf without the crappy attitude? Shaun Hill has earned the starting QB job in San Francisco, and Smith will chase playing time table scraps with Damon Huard.
Smith never generated any mojo for the 49ers after being taken No. 1 overall in 2005. Four different offensive coordinators in four years hasn’t helped, and he’s been dogged by injuries. Smith has taken a pay cut to stay on board, but it looks like he’ll be wearing a baseball cap and carrying a clipboard again this season.
Cristal, please, and leave the bottle
Instead of punching out assistant coaches, maybe Raiders boss Tom Cable should pick out a few players to lay out. The 45-7 loss to the Saints opened eyes across the league and signalled that Oakland is just not ready to make any kind of a playoff run in the weak-as-Jello AFC West.
Worse yet, veteran Greg Ellis said after the game that some players on the team are spending more time partying than boning up on the playbook. Al Davis loves a team full of crazy-eyed good-timers, but if Ellis is correct, the Raiders will struggle for the seventh straight season.
Philly O-line getting its act together
After weeks of stops and starts, the rebuilt Eagles’ offensive line appears to have settled down and the team hopes two weeks of playing together will have them ready for the opener at Carolina.
Starter Todd Herremans won’t be back from foot surgery until late September at the earliest, and Shawn Andrews will take his spot. Left tackle Jason Peters has not been impressive, but the coaches are confident he’ll figure things out.
Dealing with Michael Vick’s impact has made things just a little more difficult for the line. They have time. The first half of the schedule is loaded with winnable games.
No-huddle is for no-nothings
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity, so you wonder why the Bills are sticking with a no-huddle offense that has failed to put points on the board in two consecutive games. Buffalo is averaging just 10 yards per possession in exhibitions, and the first-string offense has had the ball 15 times and produced just three points.
Buffalo has been shut out twice in a row -- Green Bay (21-0) and Pittsburgh (17-0). Bloggers are tearing apart the team like swarms of locusts, ripping everyone from coach Dick Jauron to owner Ralph Wilson to QB Trent Edwards.
Nfl 9/1
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