NFL - Random Opinions

Axe-how's the health of ex-ND player Jaylon Smith doing? I'm an ND fan and was sad to see him injured and miss an entire season. I knew he came back this year, but I don't follow the Cowboys. How's he doing for them ? Thanks.

 

A running game would help that too...Defense probably gets gassed, and if the offense could get a few long drives the defense would have more left in the tank. Dak is effective with a run game, mixed with play action passes. I know the line has been banged up, but like Tim said that should mean more runs, quick passes, rolling pockets, and play action. Garret is still calling plays right? Maybe time to hand those duties to the OC.

 

Actually, Garrett hasn't called the plays in a couple years. Scott Linehan's the play-caller.

A running game WOULD help...if they one. They did better against the Chargers, but in the first halves vs. Atlanta and Philly, their RBs had 24 runs for 67 yards. That's including a 22-yard carry.

 

He's playing better and better each week. They had wanted to limit him a bit this year, but with Sean Lee out he's been getting more snaps. He struggled earlier with a bigger workload, but he had a damn good game against the Chargers.

 

nice to read. his injury didn't look that severe when it happened and then to hear how bad it really was, was shocking. glad to see he's doing better. great pick by the Cowboys.

 

My mistake on Garrett calling plays, thought I read somewhere he was doing that. And if the running game is ineffective behind a banged up line, 3 step drops or rollouts would help the struggling line and maybe save Dak a few hits. True, the rollouts tend to split the field in half but maybe that would help Dak in the short term.

 

***The Eagles have won 5 games in a row. Its their 2nd such steak this season. Won 5, lost 1, won 5. They travel to Seattle this week and are 6-pt road favorites.

***5 weeks ago, the Dolphins and the Patriots were both 4-2 and tied atop of the AFC East. Today, New England is 9-2 and Miami is 4-7. Opposite trajectories.

***The (5-6) Chargers lost their first 4 games of the season, but 3 of the losses were by 7 points combined. One of those early losses was a 2-point nick v Philly. 3 of their 6 losses were to (1st place) Chiefs, (1st place) Patriots and (~tied~1st place Jaguars). This is the best "losing-record" team in the NFL in my opinion.

 

Halo you forgot to mention that Phillies last 5 in a row wins have all been by at least 20 points.

 

I think Will posted something like that earlier. It made me see the number (5) in a few notes I have.

 

Do the Chargers have a chance to make the playoffs...? I have them falling short, but I guess I wouldn't be shocked if they snuck in.

 

They are 1 game behind KC. Don't you think that they have a legitimate chance for the playoffs.

 

The Eagles have won 9 in a row. Won 1, lost 1, won 9.

 

Well two things. 1 is the whole Browns situation. 2 is I am on the record for really really disliking Kizer's game. Another year would have helped him but he wasn't really showing improvement anyways. He would have been a 3rd or 4th rounder this year at best and I still wouldn't like him.

 

Quite right - I had been looking strictly at wildcard scenarios.

 

My bad. You're right.

 

Crazy as it is, the Raiders control their own destiny in the AFC West. The Chargers would still need some help.

 

I got the "5 in a row" from the NFL Standings on NFL.com. I should've looked into that more thoroughly.

 

I think another year at ND would've helped him and sitting at least 1 year in the NFL to learn the ropes, not get thrown to the wolves in the den.

 

Morris during the 4 games
Falcons 11 carries for 53 yards 4.82 ypa
Eagles 17 carries for 91 yards 5.35 ypa
Chargers 9 for 36 4.00 ypa
Redskins 27 for 127 4.7ypa
Overall 64 for 307 with 4.8 ypa (which is higher than Zekes 4.1)

Now i guess you can argue he has gotten some runs late in the game to pad stats but part of it has to also be the game plan or not sticking to the game plan. When they played the falcons Morris didnt touch he ball in the entire second quarter. And whil its easy to say hey the problem is the running game isn't working in the first half its not like all of Zekes first half perfromances were golden either vs the Cardinals he had 9 carries for 35 yards for a 3.8 average and that included one 30 yard run. I also believe he had a 14 carry 28 yard 1st half performance vs the Packers. He went on to finish 116 yards on 29 carries that game but his first half was horrible. Looks like slow start halves is not new since Zeke went out. (I totaled the numbers as I scrolled through game logs so it is possible my math is off but it hopefully is not off by much).

 

Ravens probably still get the 5 seed despite the loss.