Daily Brew 9/12: NFL Week 1 Round Up

Slightly hovering over the panic button, my finger is itching to make a move. Can someone please explain to me how it is the Badgers offense (lead by John freaking Stocco) can put up 50+ points in two consecutive weeks and yet the Packers can only put 3 on the board against an average defense at best?

It's frustrating, confusing, alarming, and just depressing. Packer fans two biggest concerns heading into this season were the offensive line and the defense. Those were really the only bright spots in yesterdays game.

The line looked a lot better than I expected, especially Whitticker and Klemm. They gave Favre enough time, and opened up enough holes for Green and the running game. Fault Mike Sherman for once again giving up on the run too quickly, which allowed the Lions to tee off on the line on nearly every possesion.

Considering what I saw last year on defense, I'd say the defense looked great. Al Harris shut Roy Williams down. SHUT HIM DOWN. Did any one know Williams was playing in the game yesterday? No, because Harris blanketed him.

Ahmad Carroll was heavily flagged yesterday (you don't say) but in fairness to him, a lot of the calls were BS calls. I think overall it was a poorly officiated game on both sides. Carroll had a legit hands to the face penalty, but after that it looked like the officials were just targeting him. Despite the bad calls, I was screaming at the tv in the second quarter "Take him out!" You just can't afford to have him on the field. Start Joey Thomas and give Mike Hawkins more playing time.

Mark Roman actually looked good, needless to say I was quite surprised. Maybe he really was injured most of last season. The other saftey starting was rookie Nick Collins. I didn't hear his name mentioned really at all, which I'll take. He didn't make any plays, but he didn't make any mistakes either.

The D-line used a lot of rotation, and I thought Cullen Jenkins looked really good. He used good angles (something Packer fans never saw last year) in pursuit, and showed a good burst off the line. KGB didn't look that bad either.

Now the bad. The linebackers. I thought the linebackers were horrible. Robert Thomas surprisingly got the start ahead of Roy Manning, and looked quick, but often times overmatched. Nick Barnett had a big roughing the passer penalty and made very little contributions otherwise, and Paris Lennon and the rest of the group allowed Marcus Pollard and the recievers to kill them over the middle.

The recievers I thought also did a poor job. No one seemed to ever get open, Robert Ferguson seemingly quit on the post route where Favre threw his first interception, and it goes without saying, but other than Bubba Franks the tight ends were no-existant.

I thought the play calling in general was horrible. How many swing passes did they throw? IT'S NOT WORKING, STOP THROWING THE 3 YARD DUMP PASS TO THE BACK OUT OF THE BACKFIELD! It didn't stop there, Sherman gave up on the run. How many times did they run on first down and gain 3 or 4 yards, and then attempt a 20 yard fly route on second down, only to see it fall incomplete and leave them with a third and long? TRY TO SUSTAIN A DRIVE MORON!

Favre didn't look that sharp either. Do I need to mention the red zone possesion where he could have walked into the endzone for a touchdown, but decided to throw a ball into double coverage for an incomplete pass forcing the Packers to settle for a field goal, which didn't happend because of the botched hold by Sander. On a side note, that was the deciding play of the game.

Top all of that off with the news that Javon Walker is lost for the season. Well, that's just great.

Here is what they need to do from here on out to be successful.

*Bring more pressure on defense. I'm sure they're still learing the Bates system, but the defense looked very vanilla at times yesterday. They need to cause some turnovers.

*Utilize Bubba Franks more. He is a valuable, and underutilized asset. You paid him like a top 10 tight end, now use him like one.

*Don't give up on the run. Try to run the ball like the Cheifs did yesterday. Use a mixture of Green and Davenport heavily througout games to wear other defenses down.

*Utilize Robert Ferguson. He said he wants to step up and get an expanded role on this offense, so give it to him. Now that Walker is down it's Ferguson's chance to shine.

*Stop making Brett Favre win games for you. He can still do it on an occassion, but make him the second option to the run. It makes him all the more deadly.

The good news is a bad Clevland team comes to town, and seemingly gives the Packers a good opportunity to rebound, and they expect to get N'ail Diggs back. The addition of Diggs and the play yesterday leaves me very optimistic about this defense and it's chances of contiually improving.

Look, are the Packers going to go to the Playoffs this year? No, they might not even finish better than 8-8 or god forbid worse, but this year was a long time coming. They haven't finished worse than 8-8 since Favre arrived. That's almost unheard of in the NFL. This year will help the young kids grow, and will probably net them a high draft choice in the draft which is something they really need. I'm prepared for the worst, but I'm expecting average.

Am I still the only one who's not a Mike Sherman fan, and is extremely perplexed by the contact extension?

It could be worse, we could be Vikings fans. Those sounds you heard were all of Wisconsin getting in a hearty laugh, and people jumping off the Vikings band wagon. The "Mikes Rule" really never fails. That rule:

Any team coached by one of the Mikes: Sherman, Tice, Shannahan and Martz (I'm leaving Mularkey and Nolan out because the jury's still out there, and they both won) will find a way to lose the game to inferrior talent because of poor coaching. Well boys, we went 4 for 4 yesterday.

The Bucaneers were one of those teams that intrigued me heading into the season. They still have a good defense and have some talent on offesne, they just need a second reciever. They could make the playoffs.

Everyone who said the Vikes won't miss Moss can officially shut up. Watch Thursday nights game and yesterday's Vikings game and tell me the same thing. There is a huge difference in facing a team with Randy Moss as opposed to facing a team with three or four good recievers. Moss takes over an entire side of the field, teams gameplan specifically for him. You can't say the same about Burleson, Robinson, Williamson (who I still think will be a bust), Taylor, or Robinson. Speaking of which, I can't wait till Onterrio Smith returns form his suspension and starts hanging out with Koren Robinson. As a Packer fan, that is going to be such a beautiful disaster.

Back to the Moss thing, realize this, it's all on Duante now. It's his team, and he doesn't have that fall back or Randy Moss, or the fall back excuse of Randy Moss. There's no denying his talent, but he has to lead this team now. I just don't think he can do it.

I was one of the few who picked the Dolphins upset, so I'm a bit pleased about that. I'll leave you with these few things. The Denver Broncos are going to be horrible, one of the worst five records in the NFL. You heard it here first. I don't trust Jake Plummer, I don't like the recievers, the defense is basically the Browns d-line with some aging, average linebackers (sans DJ Williams) and the secondary is bad (Champ is hurt, Lynch is old, and the others suck).

Secondly, the Jets are a bad team too. The O-line is getting old, Curtis Martin is getting old, Pennington has no arm left, the D-line has significantly downgraded over the years (it's pretty much just John Abraham now), Jonathon Vilma is good, but other than that the linebackers are average, and the secondary even with Ty Law stinks.

The Chiefs will win the AFC west, and Kyle Boller sucks. The Ravens have to start Anthony Wright if they want to win games. Thats it, and I'm out.

The OC Friday Morning Hangover: Season Three Premier'pisode

I AM HUNGOVER! And it feels good don't it? Thursday nights have meaning again. And my friend Josh Schwartz came out slinging right out of the shoot. Here's my first sports reference of the evening: The OC is in mid-season form. And they look like a playoff team. One equiped to go deep into the postseason too dammit. This is the episode after Trey tried to kill his brother, Ryan and by the time the credits were ready to roll we were already feeling a little compassion for him. By the way, since great episodes from years past featured Oasis songs, I'm thrilled to disclose that from here on out it looks like great episodes will feature Bloc Party tunes. Yes, a great episode this was. Let's get to the aspirin and bloody's shall we?

I'd say I'm surprised that Trey didn't die, but I'm not and niether is anybody else. What I didn't see coming was Julie Cooper-Nicol-Cooper swanking her way into his hospital room and threatening to kill him via the pillow stiffling if he didn't publically say Ryan shot him instead of Marissa. If he complied she'd cut him a handsome $20,000 check. You've got to hand it to Julie, for a mother that has screwed over her daughter countless number of times, she pulls a lot strings trying to keep her happy. I should mention that I'm not using the word screw tightly either. Of course Trey lies to the feds so Ryan is looking at hard time. Of course he pulls the "I'm running away card" but he gets caught. Smooth Ryan. But apparently his future wife, Marissa Cooper can be stealth just like Seth and finagles her way into Treys room for the elder Atwoods round two with a Cooper female. Surprise, surprise, she gets Trey to confess that Julie offered Trey $20,000 (he should have demanded $500,000 ) to lie. Looks like Julie might be the one serving time with the Big Boss Man.

In a surprisingly touching moment early on in season thrice, during the closing moments, Ryan tries to catch up to his bro who checked himself out of the hospital and boarded a Greyhound bus to who knows where, to supposedly thank him for coming clean and (finally) doing the right thing. Trey is already on said bus, but watching the two polar opposite siblings acknowledge each other through a bus window followed by Ryan actually showing sadness by leaning on and embracing Sandy.

Could Jeri Ryan's character be any creepier? She's like a blond, female version of Oliver. Ok, a little much, but for a character just introduced, she's already just appearing in doorway's in the dark? Yeah, creep with a capital C.

Now, the three people that might actually read this are probably wondering how in all that's humane have I not so much as mentioned Summer Roberts yet? Well, keep your pants on. But I'll say this, was I the only one just baffled at the scene of the Fantastic 4 on the sailboat and on the island or wherever they were? First of all, for the truly attentive, you would have noticed that almost all of the short clips from shows that are featured during the starting credits came from that scene. But I'm not done yet...no, not even close JG so stop bouncing right out of your seat. In this same scene we actually witnessed an actual sailing scene, two years after we discovered that Seth is an avid sailor. We saw Ryan with no shirt on. We saw Seth tossing what at least resembled a football around. Ryan and Marissa were along embracing on the rocks. Seth and Summer were alone cuddling on the beach. They were all sitting and talking around a campfire. THEY WERE ALL ACTING LIKE NORMAL HIGH SCHOOL KIDS ENJOYING THEIR LAST DAYS OF SUMMER AS HIGH SCHOOLERS! Ryan was mockingly talking like Summer, they were enjoying each other's company, just hanging out and not complaining. I'm just stupified. Dumbfounded. I F'ING LOVED IT! It may have been the first time in the last week or so I've desired to be anywhere close to an ocean.

And how bout our hero Sandy just throwing daggers at James Cooper. "Yes I will question your motives for being back." And you know what, if you took anything away from the previews, he's right. I'm still pulling for that Sandy Cohen action figure they hinted at once in season two.

Feels good to be back folks and if I didn't love postseason baseball I'd be furious that The OC is taking the month of The OCT. off to gracefully let The Joe Buck call The WS. I'll catch you The NW (Next Week Filzen, Next Week.)

QUESTIONS FROM THE COUCH
1. Ryan cut his hair in between the finale and this episode. In the opening scene, which was flashbacks to them at the hospital when Trey was admitted, he had short hair. I can see it now. "I almost got killed and now my brother may be dead, shot by my girlfriend. Yeah, this calls for a little SuperCuts before I hit the hospital." I can't be the only one thinking this can I?

2. Have we seen the last of Trey?

3. Will the writers unveil that Oliver is Jeri Ryan's son?

4. Bloc Party has at least nine solid songs, so are we promised nine great episodes? I am taking this Bloc Party thing too far?

5. How many times did JG get angry during the episode? Gaddis, a little help.

6. Was this a fantastic premier or what?

A FEW LAST COMMENTS:
1. We will see more sailing scenes this season.

2. Sandy will actually be cast in an actual courtroom.

3. I'm leaving the door open to JGs Cohen divorce theory.

Daily Brew 9/7

Well I have to admit it's been quite a while since you've seen anything from me, but it feels good to be back.

Are there any Packer fans who don't like Ted Thompson? Anyone? The only bad thing I can say about him as a GM is that I wish he was hired four years ago. Lets just review what he's done so far...

Drafting Aaron Rodgers.

If Mike Sherman is still the GM they don't draft him. They would take a defender that Mike Sherman the coach felt he could use now.

Drafting Nick Collins, Will Whitticker, Terrance Murphy, Marviel Underwood, Junius Conston, Michael Montgomery, Mike Hawkins and Brady Poppinga and signed Chris White and Roy Manning as undrafted free agents. All of whom have made the team and will contribute in one form or another.

Hiring Jim Bates. A no brainer there.

Letting Rivera and Whale leave. Mike Sherman would have re-signed at least one of the two, again because he is also the coach, and much like his prior signings it would have the set the franchise back for years. Don't argue with me on this one, you can't afford to pay that much for a 30+ year old guard with a history of injury problems, or give Whale that much money when you have so many holes on your team as it is.

Not resigning Bhawoh Jue, Michael Hawthorne and Kurt Schottenhiemer.

Re-Signing Bubba Franks and not giving in to Javon Walker or Drew Rosenhaus. Again, two more no brainers.

Now comes my personal favorites:

Cutting R-Kal Truluck, James Lee, Ben Steele, Nick Luchey and Cleditus Hunt. All deadbeats.Trading Steve Morley (who Sherman had the nerve of giving the highest signing bonus ever given to a CFL player) and Chris "I can run, but can't tackle, understand schemes, or play defense" Johnson.

Getting Robert Thomas for Chris Johnson.

Giving Vonta Leach playing time.

Assembling a younger and quicker defense that features 21 players under the age of 30.

Uncle Teddy has truely saved this franchise. I shudder to think where we would be if Sherman was still running the show. We'd be stuck in cap hell, and have guys who can contribute for maybe two more years, but then they're worthless and we're still paying for them. I don't want to pile on the guy, but Sherman invested over $110 million in the defensive line. Most notably guys like Hunt, Jackson, KGB, Jamal Reynolds and Joe Johnson. Yikes.

We all owe Thompson a huge thank you.

I've missed a few tuesdays, but the new cd purchase lately was the new Kanye West "Late Registration." It is one of the best cd's I've purchased in the past year. Full review to come later.

Why can't the Saints play in Reliant Stadium on Monday night? The Texans aren't. Isn't it just punishing them to have them play their "home opener" against the Giants at the Meadowlands?

The Brewers will finish 80-82, which is a real shame, because it only prolongs the losing streak despite making a ton of progress in the season.

ESPN's Brian Kenny has Brian Calhoun in his top 5 to watch for the Heisman.

How did the Badgers score 56 points?

Is there anything more annoying than having someone relay their entire fantasy draft to you? A simple "I got Moss with my first pick" will do for me, I don't need to hear who you "sleepers" were in the thirteenth and fourteenth rounds.

The arrest warrant mentioned on the promo's for the season premier of the OC has to be for Ryan. Speaking of which, it kicks off on Thursday, not he NFL.