NFL Week 1 Review. Where is the Defense?

Posted by Stevegoat on Sep 14, 2011 in Rants from Stevegoat | 1 comment

I am putting this defense play sheet on our website in the event that all NFL teams have lost theirs.

After watching countless hours of NFL games this week, replays on NFL Network, analyst shows, etc. I have come to the conclusion that defense in the NFL is a dying breed. With apologies to the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills, no one else in the NFL seems to know how, or want to play any defense.

All around week one was a mix of poor special teams play and terrible defense.

This all started on Thursday night when our Green Bay Packers took on the New Orleans Saints. The Packers boasted an opportunistic, fast and pressure defense………and they got carved up. Yes, I know, they played the Saints who are an offensive machine, but still…..they got roasted and toasted all night. Go at Sam Shields, expose Hawk in coverage, rinse repeat. The Saints also rely on a pressure scheme and are very opportunistic…….carved up. The Saints were worse than the Packers. At least the Packers stopped some key drives down the stretch.  Its a good thing both these teams will put up 30-40 a game because they will need it.

Now, on the other hand, and I HATE SAYING THIS, it looks like this will be another year of dealing with “Chicago Bear” football. Week one, the Bears played what was supposed to be an improved Atlanta Falcon team….I say supposed because what did they really improve. The Falcons’ problem last year was their sieve defense, which was embarrassed against the Packers in the playoffs. What did they do in the draft to improve their team? They traded a bunch of picks for a receiver……..DUMB SHITS. So, they take this “improved” team to the windy city and get slaughtered. The Bears are “who we know they are”; An opportunistic defense predicated on the Tampa 2 scheme, a special teams which sets Jay “Deputy Dog” Cutler and the offense up with short fields. And, to my chagrin, it worked to perfection. The Bears beat the piss out of the Falcons, due in large part to the Falcons’ defense which is still a sieve. HEY FALCONS, THE BEARS DO ONE THING….THEY DUMP IT OFF TO FORTE….COVER HIM. If Matt “Natty” Ice cant figure out Tampa 2 coverage (which befuddled Favre for years), he will have a LONG season. Natty, go watch some old Tampa Bay tape, because you will see a shit ton of this defense from here on out.

On to Kansas City. WTF was that? Jesus Christ Chiefs. You were the darling of the AFC last year. Up and coming Matt Cassell, good young defense, good RB……poop in pants. Seriously, The Chiefs should have known they were in trouble when their first team lost to the Packers’ 3rd stringers in the last game of the pre season. But to get stomped at home, against Nick Barnett’s Bills? Terrible.

Another team that boasts a “hell of a defense” is the Pittsburgh Steelers. I am not sure if it was a Super Bowl Loser hangover, but the Steelers looked like shit. Joe “Unibrow” Flaco looked like the next coming of Joe Montana. Not much to say about this game because it was over when it started. One team showed up with heart, the other is still claiming Tramon Williams was guilty of pass interference.

Whoever says “One man doesn’t make a team”, need only to watch the Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning’s absence had turned a perennial contendor into what may be the 2nd team in NFL history to finish 0-16. Wowsers are they terrible. Kerry Collins looks like he is retired. Their defense, which is built only to PLAY WITH A LEAD THAT MANNING HAS CREATED, is now lost. Those edge rushers now have to honor the run and, well, they are screwed. Houston Texans…..congratulations on your first division title and post season birth. This race is over.

The final game I will discuss is the Cardinals vs. The Panthers of Carolina. I know, Cam Newton is TD Jesus now. STOP. Go to NFL Network and watch one of the 15 replays of this game that are airing this week. Watch Cam Newton. Drop back, fix on receiver…..wait…..still fixed on receiver….throw….complete because the Cardinals’ LB is slow or the DB forgot the game was going on. Cam was sacked a ton and it should have been more. He is a one read QB who fixates on receivers. Against a serviceable defense (only 3 currently in the NFL, Bears, Ravens and Bills) he will toss about 25 interceptions. But still, impressive showing by the rook. Ryan Leaf started 2-0. The Cardinals are OK. Kolb is, well, Kolb. Not spectacular….kind of like Mike Tomczack.

I seriously hope the quality of play improves this week. The lockout undoubtedly hurt defenses and special teams. It was supposed to be the offenses who struggled, but it is the other way around. I was all excited to tune into week one Sunday Football and was treated to the Bears feeding the Falcons their asses and the Ravens title belting the Steelers. Both games were over by half time.

If defenses in the NFL continue to play like this, Mike Tomczack has said he will contemplate a return to the NFL. His agent is contacting the Colts.