10/1/05

I have to start this article off with a little background about me. I'm a diehard Green Bay Packer fan. I was born a Packer, and I'll die a Packer. I can be as unbiased as the next guy as long as the Pack aren't playing. Once that game starts though, it's a different story. They could be down 20 points in the fourth quarter and I'll still be figuring out how they can come back. So please don't take this the wrong way.

With the season going the way it is, I think it's time to pick up a new team. Just so I have someone to root for come January. No, really. It's ok fellow Packer fans, I promise I'll still only watch the Packers when they are on. I'll still get stark raving drunk and scream at the TV when the games are on. But I need to feel happiness too. I need to root for a team that has a real chance to go far. A team on the rise. A team like the Cincinnati Bengals. They have a 3-0 record and are looking to make it four wins this week against the Texans.

Carson Palmer is really coming in to his own this year. With 8 TDs and only 3 turnovers, his QB rating is well over 100. I know it's only three games into the season, but that's up there with Peyton's numbers last year. Rudi Johnson is a stud running back, putting up the numbers that Corey Dillon did when the Bengals sucked. They have arguably the top WR tandem in the NFL with Oregon State alums Chad Johnson and TJ Houshman--whatever it is. I'd put Chad up there just below Moss and TO when it comes to skills on the field. He has speed, runs great routes and catches the ball when he's supposed to. The main difference is that Chad's on field antics are actually funny. The sign he hid in the snow a couple of years ago was pure comic genius. And did you see the dance against the Bears? Awesome!

With the Jets losing their top two QBs, there is an open spot in my playoff board. I'm giving it to the Bengals now. This is a team I really think has a shot to get past the first round this year. I tend to think
you have to lose the big game before you can win it, so I don't expect one more than one playoff win. But you never know. They do play the games for a reason.

Maybe I'm an idiot for starting to lose faith in my team. I'm sure you'll let me know what you think. I know it goes against the maxims of being a fan. But what can I say? I can be a bit of a frontrunner sometimes.
 

9/10/05

Michael Vick is the most overrated quarterback in the NFL. Let’s be honest, he’s not even really a QB, he’s a running back that throws the ball a couple of times a game. Seriously, watch him sometime. He looks at one guy (Alge Crumpler) sees that he’s not open and runs like the wind. Don’t get me wrong, Vick can run. He’s one of the fastest, most elusive guys in the NFL. But if you can force him the throw, you’ll beat Atlanta. Kansas City forced Vick to throw and they beat up on the Falcons 56-10. KC gave up an average of 27 points a game last year and Michael Vick’s Falcons could only muster 10? He’s got to be better than that if he wants to be one of the best.

Until Vick learns to run as a last resort, he will not be a QB in my eyes. Quarterbacks go through progressions. Quarterbacks move from receiver to receiver until they either find the open man or they have to move to avoid a sack. Speaking of sacks, for a "Scrambling QB" Vick sure gets sacked a lot. Only David Carr got sacked more last year. Vick needs to become more elusive in the pocket before people consider him one of the best. He needs to learn it isn't all about the big play, that it's ok to dump the ball off to his outlet and get a 5 yard gain. Moving the ball down the field methodically wins games. Yes sometimes you have to go for it all, but not every play.


When Michael Vick runs the ball it’s electrifying, don’t get me wrong. His highlight reel is second to none. He ran for over 900 yards last year alone. Heck, I’m willing to bet he breaks the QB rushing record this year. I’m also willing to bet he turns the ball over more than he scores. Last year Vick scored a total of 17 TDs running and throwing. Compare that to 19 total turnovers. Over his career those numbers are 49 TDs and 45 TOs. Eventually that’s going to catch up to him. Other top tier quarterbacks are close to a 2-1 ratio. Vick’s ratio is barely 1-1. Those are Jon Kitna numbers.

Now, before you all fill my email box with hate mail let me say this. Michael Vick is still young. He has time to learn to be a true QB. But teams like Philly and Tampa Bay will continue to eat him alive until he learns to go through progressions and maybe hit a receiver every once in a while. He still has time to take the next step towards being one of the best. Steve Young and John Elway figured it out. It looks like Daunte Culpepper and Donovan McNabb have figured it out as well. But Until Michael Vick figures it out he’ll just be a running back who throws the ball every once in a while, and the Falcons will be just another above average team in the weak NFC.