Collision Sport

The NFL has rejected 2 appeals by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison for a total of $95,000. That is about $140,000. in real money. Hey football fans, football is not a contact sport, it is a COLLISION sport. Not too long ago, the veteran coaches of the 1970's and before taught their players when tackling to put their facemask on the ball. Now the fear exists in the NFL that defensive players leading with a helmet can create a stir and can cause the player to be levied a fine by the NFL hierarchy. Like I said in a previous blog, a hard charging running back can lower his head below pad level while running full speed and drive his helmet into a defensive players helmet and never be levied a fine. Should it not be a 2 way street. We all know that the Concussion issue has come to the fore-front in football circles, and the NFL is attempting to avoid serious injuries especially to the brain. But again I say, football is a high speed COLLISION Sport. These 240 to 260 pound linebackers, like James Harrison, are flying around the field with explosiveness and driving their powerful bodies into receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks. These types of linebackers and Defensive Ends did not exist 50 years ago. As my memory serves me, the Steelers had an offensive lineman who was real good named Gerry" Moon" Mullins who played guard and tackle at about 240 pounds under Coach Chuck Noll in the 1970's. The speed of the game and the size of the players has changed dramatically so I think adjustments need to be made with the equipment especially the outside shell of the helmet. A soft helmet shell would solve numerous problems. Can it be done?

Heinz "Field"

Are we in the 21st Century? I would not believe we are especially if you look at the surface of the field at Heinz Stadium. After 5 football games in 2 days, the center of the field at Heinz Stadium resembles being in a sawdust pit. The surface is sandy, lumpy, and has ruts running through it. It is hard to believe that a surface like this exists in the National Football League and in the Big East Football circles. If the gurus of the NFL require that so many stadiums have grass surfaces, then utilize grass in stadiums around the league that only an NFL team plays on. The Steelers will play a minimum of 10 games on it, the U. of Pittsburgh plays a minimum of 6 games on this surface, and the field really takes a beating when the WPIAL plays 4 championship games in a 12 hour period on this surface. I have very little knowledge on growing and maintenance of grass surfaces, but as the old saying goes "grass does not grow on a busy street." Heinz Field is a busy street. The people that determine what type of surface should be on the floor at Heinz Stadium, should really take a strong look at putting down a upscale field turf type of surface. The technology that exists with field turf is fantastic. Field turf can last for an extended period of time and the maintenance is minimal. If it can be worked out, why not give it a try on the Heinz Stadium surface.

Say it Ain't So

I thought I would be the last one to come out with this statement, but it is time for the great Brett Favre to end his outstanding career. After the way he played during the 2009 football season(33 touchdown passes and only 7 interceptions), I thought he could come back to be productive again this campaign. But say it ain't so. After 10 games and a 3 and 7 record with a virtually almost impossible shot at making the playoffs, it may be time for the Vikings to begin playing their back-up quarterbacks. Favre has 10 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions, his ankle looks to be bothering him, and his arm strength is not like it used to be. His incredible stretch of starts continues on(295). He has never missed starting a game since this streak began with his first start on September 27, 1992. At 41 years old, Brett Favre is a true warrior. Favre has 1 Super Bowl under his belt, has been elected to the Pro Bowl a phenomenal 11 times, and is the only quarterback in NFL history to have a victory over all 32 teams in the league. There are numerous others records he has set. I would actually like to see Favre break into the coaching ranks as a QB coach for some NCAA Division 1 program. Imagine if you are a potential Division 1 recruit and Brett Favre walks into your home or shows up at your high school to recruit you. It would not surprise me if Favre plays in 2011, but I think he has a great life ahead of him after football.

Old School

There is a poll question in the Post Gazette asking the local sports fans: are the Steelers running too much, passing too much on offense, or just have the right mix? 29% say they run too much, 25% say they pass too much, and 46% say it is the right mix. I am an old school football guy and I think the Steelers need to run the football more. Does there offensive dictate this running game procedure? Maybe when the offensive line is healthy. I said it before and I will say it again, the Steelers should have a mandate to run the ball. Here is a eye opening statistic but it refers to a college football program from the ACC. Under Coach Frank Beamer, when the Virginia Tech Hokies have more rushing yardage than their opponent, their record is an amazing 160 and 10. Running and strategically moving the ball down the field corresponds with eating up the clock, weakening the oppositions defense, and freezing the oppositions offense. On the other side of the coin, a team has to have the horses to run the football. I am an advocate of having a great offensive line combined with a couple of good running backs. I like linemen that are powerful, play with leverage, can move their feet, pull on sweeps and angle block. Linemen that know the release point and can go block another defensive player. I am old school but give me 8 to 10 of these guys. It may not be pretty but you can win a bunch of football games running the football.

Chapter From Brady

After watching the Pittsburgh vs. New England game on Sunday night, it made me start to think that the Steelers may need to investigate a chapter of the Tom Brady Book of Offensive Schemes. What a well executed and prepared offensive scheme the New England staff brought to the table against the Steelers. Short well thought out passes that turned a passing game into a sophisticated running game as New England strategically orchestrated their offensive scheme last Sunday evening. Could the Steelers run an offense like the one the Patriots have? Yes they could. With the Steelers offensive line being stung this pre-season and season with major injuries, an offense like New England's may help solve their pass protection problems that occured this past Sunday. Big Ben, as we know, sometimes holds on to the ball too long but Big Ben was sacked 5 times and had a bunch of hurries. The running game was not as precise as it was earlier in the season. This group of offensive linemen gained valuable experience against the Patriots, but it is still running somewhat behind the offensive line that started the season. Maybe a dunk and dink offense will work vs.the Raiders. I really think the Steelers defense was on the field so long last Sunday, that by midway through the third quarter, the defense was spent. They have 7 games remaining, Big Ben needs a Big Ben friendly offense, and the defense needs to spend more time on the sideline rather than on the field.

The Cow Boys

All throughout the summer and prior to the beginning of the NFL season, all the so-called experts from the NFL Network and all the other affiliates were embracing the Dallas Cowboys. Many of these gurus actually were committed to the Dallas Cowboys as potential if not a sure fire Super Bowl team. In the meantime, what has happened. After 8 games, the Cowboys might just be the Dallas Cows. Many think they are the worst team in the NFL at the halfway juncture. The team is playing with no sense of urgency, there not playing as a team, and basically the Cowboy players looked like they just flat out quit on Coach Wade Phillips. Can Jason Garrett rescue the Cowboys from the damage that has been done? We will see in the next 8 contests but after watching them play, it looks like the Cowboys as a unit are out of shape and need a conditioning program. The players look and play tired. There is no enthusiasm. There is no urgency to win. Instead of blaming the coaches, could this all fall back on owner Jerry Jones. Of all the owners in professional sports, 68 year old Jerry Jones probably is the most involved with his team. Jones not only owns the Cowboys but he is the General Manager. He is heavily involved in the team's draft and dad-to-day operations. Could he be the first owner to fire himself? If the Cowboys go 2 and 14, should Jones let himself go as General Manager. This could be a first in Sports History. If he hires a coach like Bill Cowher, a guy like Cowher may demand he has total control of the team. We will see what happens in January.

My Heisman candidate

Every year as football fans surf the TV for their favorite football game or to watch their favorite football team play, a group of sports personnel are trying to gather their thoughts on who they should vote for to win the Heisman Trophy. Is this really the best player in college football or is this an award for a player who just happens to play on the best team and has the most dominate statistics and gets the most visibility. Who are these people that vote? I would really enjoy having a pow wow with them as a large group to pick their brains and found out they accumulate and research their information to get to a Heisman Trophy winner. I really do not care who wins the Heisman Trophy but it is a prestigious award and it is extremely popular. What do the voters look at? Passing yardage(Yes), Pass completion percentage(Yes), rushing yardage(Yes), receiving yardage(Yes), teams winning record(Yes), Passion for the game(No), team player(No), blocking skills(No), football intelligence(No), leadership(No). The guy I like is Navy FB Alexander Teich. He is a football player. He does his job on and off the field, he runs hard, he blocks like you are supposed to, he is the ultimate team player, he plays with great passion for the game, he has a high football IQ, he provides leadership for Navy's program, he single handily destroyed Notre Dame's defense but in the final analysis he will not get a single vote for the Heisman Trophy. He gets mine even though it does not count.

Top 100

NFL Network has just completed its top 100 best NFL players of all time. My honest assessment reveals that it is very hard to accomplish. They had a panel of 85 people choosing these top 100. I would like to get an analysis of who was on this panel. I sure there were many evaluators on this panel that never put a helmet on. Much of it is done on statistics rather than what the player meant to his individual team. For example, is Jerry Rice the greatest player of all time? I agree that he is a super talent but he had a great QB throwing to him in Joe Montana. Montana has big time football instincts, defensive recognition ability, and progressive skills from the QB slot that were off the chart. Does this come into account for Jerry Rice? What about Running Back Walter Payton who was unreal athletically and ran with reckless abandon, power, and quickness and speed. This guy name surfaces but not not enough and it my opinion was probably one the greatest players of all times if not the greatest in Mr. Dick Butkus, middle linebacker of the Chicago Bears. Butkus was a one man wrecking crew who was quick, powerful, and played with great passion, and really understood the complexities of the entire game. Fortunately, Butkus was number 10 on the list. A player that really got overlooked is RB Earl Campbell. He was a stud when he played for the Houston Oilers and ranked number 55 of all time. Tough job picking these guys in some semblance of order especially if you never saw them play. But someone has to do it.

Headlines

Here are some of the sports headlines on comcast.net sports for Wednesday November 3rd, 2010. T.O. rips McNabb, Vikings Head Coach Childress says trade for Randy Moss was a mistake, Bills claim Shawne Merriman off waivers from San Diego, Titans claim Moss, and James Harrison meets with Roger Goddell. Terrell Owens has to comment on many items and now on his T.Ocho show shown on Versus, he can be a more outspoken guy. But really now, is Owens just looking for attention? I wonder what network is going to hire him after he retires. Will he replace Coach Bill Cowher if Cowher decides to go back to coaching? Or should he sign with the NFL Network and work along side Deion Sanders? Merriman is an interesting pick up because at 26 he is a young veteran. He first 3 years with the Chargers he had 43.5 sacks which is huge but the last 3 years he has had only 4. The Bills need to start putting heat on the opposing QB's. Who knows if trading for Randy Moss is a mistake? Vikings gave up a 3rd round selection for him and he played 4 games there. The old adage may be true here "Haste makes Waste." Now Moss can team up with Vince Young. I have a prediction which some day may hold true: Randy Moss and Terrell Owens will be playing on the same team before they both retire. Wow, James Harrison going to meet commish Roger Goddell. Don't you think the NFL should look at Running Backs who ram their helmets into defenders that sometimes are standing still. It is a 2 way street Mr. Commish.

Sam Bam

Remember New England Patriots Power Running Back Sam Bam Cunningham who played collegiate football at Southern Cal. I am starting to think that some NFL teams need more guys like Sam Bam Cunningham especially around the goal line. Sam, who unbeknown to many a football fan, is the older brother of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham. Let's go back to Sunday night when the Steelers had 1st and goal from the half yard line. The half yard line is 18 inches from pay dirt. The Steelers could not get it in for a score. This happens to many a team. Is there an explanation for this? Are the NFL defense that strong and athletic that down in the red zone, their speed and athleticism make it difficult to score. This is where a specialist like Sam Bam Cunningham can come into play. This guy could get into the end zone with his power, explosion, and instincts near the goal line. And I mean a specialist like a punter, a placekicker, a long snapper. He comes in near the goal line and powers his way into the end zone or he leaps over the linemen to get into the end zone. Nothing fancy. These guys are out there, teams need to go and find them. The San Diego Chargers used to utilize LaDainian Tomlinson leaping ability to spring over the linemen to get into 6 point territory. This may be easier said than done, but the more I watch professional football, the more I see teams drives thwarted near the goal line. Teams need to find guys like Sam Bam Cunningham.