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Playing QB is really hard
posted: Monday, January 15, 2007 | Print Entry
An opening lecture or two before some thoughts and notes from a great playoff weekend and assorted happenings around the NFL:
It was good to hear New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick explain Sunday after his team beat the Chargers what many fans and media types fail to recognize -- a quarterback is not going to play a perfect game.
Tom Brady and Peyton Manning combined to throw five interceptions this weekend and each could have had at least one or two more picks.
What does that make them? Chokers? Losers? No, it makes them quarterbacks.
Playing quarterback isn't as easy as what you see on TV or in the stands or on the NFL game tapes that show a pristine high-angle view of what the quarterback sees or doesn't see.
In addition, the ever-growing difficulty of making pre-snap reads against clever defensive disguises makes it even harder. A quarterback has about three seconds (four seconds on a lucky play) to take a snap, retreat from center if he's not in the shotgun, process what he thinks he sees, then set and deliver the ball accurately to a receiver -- this, with 21 other bodies flying around in front of him. And that's if his linemen keep his pocket clean. He sees it from ground level, not from a bird's-eye view above the fray.
Brady threw three interceptions Sunday, including one to Chargers safety Marlon McCree with a little more than six minutes left to play that could have sunk the Patriots, much like his interception to the Broncos' Champ Bailey that eliminated New England in last season's playoffs. McCree's fumble gave Brady new life.
Brady once again showed the resilience that defines great quarterbacking.
Manning showed it Saturday against the Ravens. His job was the toughest this weekend, playing a Ravens defense that was the best in the NFL and arguably the best since the 2000 Ravens defense that delivered a Super Bowl championship. No quarterback faced a more talented secondary than Manning did with one of the greatest ball-hawking safeties in Ed Reed roaming the field.
Manning could have played better, yes. He was lucky Ray Lewis tipped two balls that might have been picked. Then again, his interception down the sideline to Reed was the right read, but the ball came out before the intended receiver, Marvin Harrison, was forced out of bounds.
Manning showed his resilience with an absolutely great throw to Dallas Clark to convert a late first down that essentially cinched the game for the Colts in a venue that has devoured a lot of quarterbacks.
Manning bashing is almost an art form in the sports forums across the country. Do you know how many big games he has won? You probably don't. What were the Colts before he arrived in Indianapolis? Dolts, for the most part. Now what are they? A perennial playoff team.
Brady and Manning oppose each other this weekend. The winner should be celebrated but the loser will not be a loser. There aren't many elite quarterbacks in this league so stop with the nitpicking. Appreciate these guys.
Playing quarterback is the toughest job in all of sports.
Marty deserves to stay
As for Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, yes, there were signals being sent from San Diego that his job might be on the line Sunday. The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it is.
How can a coach who has won 205 games in the NFL and who coached a team to an NFL-best 14-2 record in by far the toughest conference (AFC) with a first-year starting quarterback (Philip Rivers) be in trouble?
For what, losing a hard-fought game against Tom Brady and the three-time Super Bowl champion Patriots?
Do the Chargers fire defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for not teaching safety Marlon McCree to either knock down the pass on his fourth-down intereception or secure the ball properly? Or how about a defense that had just two sacks for minus-four yards in 51 pass attempts? Or how about a first-round draft pick, Quentin Jammer, letting Chargers castoff Reche Caldwell get off the jam on the 49-yard completion that set up the winning field goal?
Do the Chargers fire offensive coordinator Cam Cameron because Rivers was below 50 percent passing, or for his interception to Pats linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, or for the Chargers' inability to recognize the blitz when Rivers took some critical sacks?
Do the Chargers fire receivers coach James Lofton because he can't teach young wideout Vincent Jackson how to drag his feet at the back of the end zone on a fairly easy catch? Or for WR Eric Parker dropping some easy passes, not to mention botching a punt that led to a huge Patriots field goal?
Do the Chargers fire general manager A.J. Smith for getting arrogant about veteran Drew Brees' shoulder injury when he allowed the Pro Bowl quarterback to test the free-agent market? Wouldn't a veteran like Brees, who has taken the Saints to the NFC title game, have made a few more plays Sunday than Rivers?
The absurdity of it all boggles the logical mind. Football, like quarterbacking, is not going to be played without flaws. Ultimately, players have to make plays in defining moments.
A year ago, it was clear that the relationship between Schottenheimer and Smith was frosty, at best. For whatever reason, Smith isn't a Marty guy. Remember, Schottenheimer was hired by the late, great John Butler.
Smith wanted Schottenheimer out a year ago. Team president Dean Spanos wisely put restraints on his general manager, noting that the last time he let a GM (Bobby Beathard) run a good coach (Bobby Ross) out of town, it set the franchise back. There's always more to the story but common sense has to prevail here.
It was a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching defeat for the entire Chargers family. But you don't let your brain malfunction when the dust settles. Move on and see if next season can be even better with Rivers back for his second year as a starter and Schottenheimer back for another run.
Oh, and not only do you not let Marty go with one year left on his contract, you give him an extension.
Playoff observations
• LaDainian Tomlinson is a classy veteran but he probably would have been better off not commenting about the Patriots' lack of class in mimicking Shawne Merriman's lights-out histrionics at midfield during the immediate aftermath of their victory. Honestly, the Chargers are asking for it by embracing an over-the-top celebration every time the guy makes a play. What about the 50 plays Merriman didn't make Sunday?
• This thought certainly crossed my mind five times Saturday when Adam Vinatieri was kicking field goals for the Colts -- where is Mike Vanderjagt?
• One team's scout had this impression about Ravens great Ray Lewis: "He's become a better pass defender than he is a run defender. Fifteen tackles? That's just a misleading stat. He isn't a dynamic run stuffer anymore and the Ravens have given him a couple of pretty good pluggers up front in [Haloti] Ngata and [Kelly] Gregg. But one thing I'll say for Lewis is that it's clear he's a great student of the game."
• Same scout on the Ravens' Steve McNair: "He gave them a presence and great composure but they have to be very honest with themselves about his arm. He's lost a bunch of RPMs. You've got to be able to stick some balls to beat that Tampa 2 defense."
• Also, give a lot of praise to Colts line coach Howard Mudd and his blockers for not only protecting Manning a lot better than the Ravens thought they could, but for gashing the Baltimore defense for some big runs by Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai.
• I love Bears coach Lovie Smith's resolve in defending quarterback Rex Grossman, who bounced back in a big way Sunday against the Seahawks. Good for Lovie. Good for Rex.
• After witnessing the splendor of Brian Urlacher's athleticism in pass coverage, I wonder whether offensive coordinator Ron Turner can talk Smith into lending the middle linebacker to the offense for a few plays at tight end this weekend.
• Running back Deuce McAllister was a stud for the Saints in their win against the Eagles and Reggie Bush has won over some skeptics who believed he would physically wear down in a long NFL season. He showed his toughness by bouncing back from a jarring hit on the game's second play … and he sure hasn't lost any juice in those legs.
• The false start that nullified Jeff Garcia's fourth-down completion with two minutes left was committed by right guard Scott Young, who replaced injured All-Pro Shawn Andrews (neck) in the third quarter.
• Eagles coach Andy Reid will regret for a long time his decision not to try another fourth-down pass on the very next play after the penalty, opting for a punt. Such is the pain of coaching.
• Think about the Saints being a team of destiny: Sean Payton probably would have taken the Green Bay Packers head coaching job that went to Mike McCarthy; Drew Brees probably would have been a Miami Dolphin if team doctors had passed him, not Daunte Culpepper, on a physical; Reggie Bush probably would be watching the playoffs on TV if the Houston Texans had drafted him with the No. 1 pick, as expected.
Elsewhere, on the coaching front
• Ex-Falcons coach Jim Mora was in Miami on Sunday and Monday for his second interview for the Dolphins job. His respect for defensive coordinator Dom Capers is so great that he wouldn't change the defensive scheme if hired. Mora was 10 years old when Capers worked with his dad as an assistant at the University of Washington, and learned a lot when Capers was his dad's assistant in the USFL with the Baltimore/Philadelphia Stars, not to mention Capers' stint as an assistant in New Orleans when the elder Mora was the Saints' head coach.
• The Dolphins are serious about 33-year-old Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Yes, it may be a year or two premature but with a veteran staff around him, the Dolphins believe Schottenheimer might be worth the risk. Oh, and with Hall of Fame coach Don Shula participating in the interviews this week (along with Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino), it should be noted that Shula was 33 when he became a head coach with the Baltimore Colts.
• The Steelers have similar thoughts about Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, who at 34 going on 35 in March, is the same age as Bill Cowher was when they hired him.
• Why did the Steelers let offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt get away to the Arizona Cardinals? The Rooney family is still debating the merits of hiring outside the staff to re-energize the team, just as they did when Cowher was brought from the Kansas City Chiefs to replace Chuck Noll. Nevertheless, Steelers O-line coach Russ Grimm is still in the running.
• Nobody is going to be surprised if the Oakland Raiders do, in fact, hire USC's Steve Sarkisian, the 32-year-old quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach/offense.
• If the Dolphins hire Chan Gailey as head coach, you will hear a lot of speculation that he could be warming the seat for Bill Cowher in 2008. Cowher is very fond of Gailey, his former offensive coordinator, and gave the Georgia Tech coach a healthy endorsement to the Steelers on the way out the door.
• As for USC coach Pete Carroll, he's not going to the Miami Dolphins. But if the Chargers are bold enough to let Schottenheimer go, Carroll will be a very hot name to stay in Southern California, but move farther south to San Diego.
LINK
posted: Monday, January 15, 2007 | Print Entry
An opening lecture or two before some thoughts and notes from a great playoff weekend and assorted happenings around the NFL:
It was good to hear New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick explain Sunday after his team beat the Chargers what many fans and media types fail to recognize -- a quarterback is not going to play a perfect game.
Tom Brady and Peyton Manning combined to throw five interceptions this weekend and each could have had at least one or two more picks.
What does that make them? Chokers? Losers? No, it makes them quarterbacks.
Playing quarterback isn't as easy as what you see on TV or in the stands or on the NFL game tapes that show a pristine high-angle view of what the quarterback sees or doesn't see.
In addition, the ever-growing difficulty of making pre-snap reads against clever defensive disguises makes it even harder. A quarterback has about three seconds (four seconds on a lucky play) to take a snap, retreat from center if he's not in the shotgun, process what he thinks he sees, then set and deliver the ball accurately to a receiver -- this, with 21 other bodies flying around in front of him. And that's if his linemen keep his pocket clean. He sees it from ground level, not from a bird's-eye view above the fray.
Brady threw three interceptions Sunday, including one to Chargers safety Marlon McCree with a little more than six minutes left to play that could have sunk the Patriots, much like his interception to the Broncos' Champ Bailey that eliminated New England in last season's playoffs. McCree's fumble gave Brady new life.
Brady once again showed the resilience that defines great quarterbacking.
Manning showed it Saturday against the Ravens. His job was the toughest this weekend, playing a Ravens defense that was the best in the NFL and arguably the best since the 2000 Ravens defense that delivered a Super Bowl championship. No quarterback faced a more talented secondary than Manning did with one of the greatest ball-hawking safeties in Ed Reed roaming the field.
Manning could have played better, yes. He was lucky Ray Lewis tipped two balls that might have been picked. Then again, his interception down the sideline to Reed was the right read, but the ball came out before the intended receiver, Marvin Harrison, was forced out of bounds.
Manning showed his resilience with an absolutely great throw to Dallas Clark to convert a late first down that essentially cinched the game for the Colts in a venue that has devoured a lot of quarterbacks.
Manning bashing is almost an art form in the sports forums across the country. Do you know how many big games he has won? You probably don't. What were the Colts before he arrived in Indianapolis? Dolts, for the most part. Now what are they? A perennial playoff team.
Brady and Manning oppose each other this weekend. The winner should be celebrated but the loser will not be a loser. There aren't many elite quarterbacks in this league so stop with the nitpicking. Appreciate these guys.
Playing quarterback is the toughest job in all of sports.
Marty deserves to stay
As for Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, yes, there were signals being sent from San Diego that his job might be on the line Sunday. The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it is.
How can a coach who has won 205 games in the NFL and who coached a team to an NFL-best 14-2 record in by far the toughest conference (AFC) with a first-year starting quarterback (Philip Rivers) be in trouble?
For what, losing a hard-fought game against Tom Brady and the three-time Super Bowl champion Patriots?
Do the Chargers fire defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for not teaching safety Marlon McCree to either knock down the pass on his fourth-down intereception or secure the ball properly? Or how about a defense that had just two sacks for minus-four yards in 51 pass attempts? Or how about a first-round draft pick, Quentin Jammer, letting Chargers castoff Reche Caldwell get off the jam on the 49-yard completion that set up the winning field goal?
Do the Chargers fire offensive coordinator Cam Cameron because Rivers was below 50 percent passing, or for his interception to Pats linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, or for the Chargers' inability to recognize the blitz when Rivers took some critical sacks?
Do the Chargers fire receivers coach James Lofton because he can't teach young wideout Vincent Jackson how to drag his feet at the back of the end zone on a fairly easy catch? Or for WR Eric Parker dropping some easy passes, not to mention botching a punt that led to a huge Patriots field goal?
Do the Chargers fire general manager A.J. Smith for getting arrogant about veteran Drew Brees' shoulder injury when he allowed the Pro Bowl quarterback to test the free-agent market? Wouldn't a veteran like Brees, who has taken the Saints to the NFC title game, have made a few more plays Sunday than Rivers?
The absurdity of it all boggles the logical mind. Football, like quarterbacking, is not going to be played without flaws. Ultimately, players have to make plays in defining moments.
A year ago, it was clear that the relationship between Schottenheimer and Smith was frosty, at best. For whatever reason, Smith isn't a Marty guy. Remember, Schottenheimer was hired by the late, great John Butler.
Smith wanted Schottenheimer out a year ago. Team president Dean Spanos wisely put restraints on his general manager, noting that the last time he let a GM (Bobby Beathard) run a good coach (Bobby Ross) out of town, it set the franchise back. There's always more to the story but common sense has to prevail here.
It was a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching defeat for the entire Chargers family. But you don't let your brain malfunction when the dust settles. Move on and see if next season can be even better with Rivers back for his second year as a starter and Schottenheimer back for another run.
Oh, and not only do you not let Marty go with one year left on his contract, you give him an extension.
Playoff observations
• LaDainian Tomlinson is a classy veteran but he probably would have been better off not commenting about the Patriots' lack of class in mimicking Shawne Merriman's lights-out histrionics at midfield during the immediate aftermath of their victory. Honestly, the Chargers are asking for it by embracing an over-the-top celebration every time the guy makes a play. What about the 50 plays Merriman didn't make Sunday?
• This thought certainly crossed my mind five times Saturday when Adam Vinatieri was kicking field goals for the Colts -- where is Mike Vanderjagt?
• One team's scout had this impression about Ravens great Ray Lewis: "He's become a better pass defender than he is a run defender. Fifteen tackles? That's just a misleading stat. He isn't a dynamic run stuffer anymore and the Ravens have given him a couple of pretty good pluggers up front in [Haloti] Ngata and [Kelly] Gregg. But one thing I'll say for Lewis is that it's clear he's a great student of the game."
• Same scout on the Ravens' Steve McNair: "He gave them a presence and great composure but they have to be very honest with themselves about his arm. He's lost a bunch of RPMs. You've got to be able to stick some balls to beat that Tampa 2 defense."
• Also, give a lot of praise to Colts line coach Howard Mudd and his blockers for not only protecting Manning a lot better than the Ravens thought they could, but for gashing the Baltimore defense for some big runs by Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai.
• I love Bears coach Lovie Smith's resolve in defending quarterback Rex Grossman, who bounced back in a big way Sunday against the Seahawks. Good for Lovie. Good for Rex.
• After witnessing the splendor of Brian Urlacher's athleticism in pass coverage, I wonder whether offensive coordinator Ron Turner can talk Smith into lending the middle linebacker to the offense for a few plays at tight end this weekend.
• Running back Deuce McAllister was a stud for the Saints in their win against the Eagles and Reggie Bush has won over some skeptics who believed he would physically wear down in a long NFL season. He showed his toughness by bouncing back from a jarring hit on the game's second play … and he sure hasn't lost any juice in those legs.
• The false start that nullified Jeff Garcia's fourth-down completion with two minutes left was committed by right guard Scott Young, who replaced injured All-Pro Shawn Andrews (neck) in the third quarter.
• Eagles coach Andy Reid will regret for a long time his decision not to try another fourth-down pass on the very next play after the penalty, opting for a punt. Such is the pain of coaching.
• Think about the Saints being a team of destiny: Sean Payton probably would have taken the Green Bay Packers head coaching job that went to Mike McCarthy; Drew Brees probably would have been a Miami Dolphin if team doctors had passed him, not Daunte Culpepper, on a physical; Reggie Bush probably would be watching the playoffs on TV if the Houston Texans had drafted him with the No. 1 pick, as expected.
Elsewhere, on the coaching front
• Ex-Falcons coach Jim Mora was in Miami on Sunday and Monday for his second interview for the Dolphins job. His respect for defensive coordinator Dom Capers is so great that he wouldn't change the defensive scheme if hired. Mora was 10 years old when Capers worked with his dad as an assistant at the University of Washington, and learned a lot when Capers was his dad's assistant in the USFL with the Baltimore/Philadelphia Stars, not to mention Capers' stint as an assistant in New Orleans when the elder Mora was the Saints' head coach.
• The Dolphins are serious about 33-year-old Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Yes, it may be a year or two premature but with a veteran staff around him, the Dolphins believe Schottenheimer might be worth the risk. Oh, and with Hall of Fame coach Don Shula participating in the interviews this week (along with Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino), it should be noted that Shula was 33 when he became a head coach with the Baltimore Colts.
• The Steelers have similar thoughts about Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, who at 34 going on 35 in March, is the same age as Bill Cowher was when they hired him.
• Why did the Steelers let offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt get away to the Arizona Cardinals? The Rooney family is still debating the merits of hiring outside the staff to re-energize the team, just as they did when Cowher was brought from the Kansas City Chiefs to replace Chuck Noll. Nevertheless, Steelers O-line coach Russ Grimm is still in the running.
• Nobody is going to be surprised if the Oakland Raiders do, in fact, hire USC's Steve Sarkisian, the 32-year-old quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach/offense.
• If the Dolphins hire Chan Gailey as head coach, you will hear a lot of speculation that he could be warming the seat for Bill Cowher in 2008. Cowher is very fond of Gailey, his former offensive coordinator, and gave the Georgia Tech coach a healthy endorsement to the Steelers on the way out the door.
• As for USC coach Pete Carroll, he's not going to the Miami Dolphins. But if the Chargers are bold enough to let Schottenheimer go, Carroll will be a very hot name to stay in Southern California, but move farther south to San Diego.
LINK
