NFL Random Thoughts

[j.hen]

Not you too Raji

 

[NAHSTE]

C'mon you're on my team, you know that's my move!

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Deion after Jerome Simpsons hurdle highlight....
"Jerome Simpson is going to jump through the uprights one day...(random banter).....hes gonna be the first player to score a TD and extra point in one play."

 

[Houston]

Deion after Jerome Simpsons hurdle highlight....
"Jerome Simpson is going to jump through the uprights one day...(random banter).....hes gonna be the first player to score a TD and extra point in one play."

Just me, or was Philip Rivers pretty lifeless? I was missing the regular crew

 

[Leftwich]

Mike Tolbert is probably not gonna be retained by the Chargers...

I can see him going to Detroit and opening up the running game and screen game. Probably playing #2 to Best and part of a three headed monster with Leshoure.

 

[Buzzman]

Mike Tolbert is probably not gonna be retained by the Chargers...

I can see him going to Detroit and opening up the running game and screen game. Probably playing #2 to Best and part of a three headed monster with Leshoure.

Thats exactly what Detroit needs. Mike Fucking Tolbert, who can sit on the bench and never see the filed sitting at #4 on the depth chart.

 

[EmpireWF]

This writing is annoying.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/...ula-that-could-add-up-to-stunner-in-green-bay

Look, let's be honest: New Orleans could be the best club anywhere -- provided it plays the rest of its games indoors. But if and when the Saints are forced outside for a conference championship game -- particularly if it's Green Bay in January -- it's over. Dome teams just don't win championship games outdoors, and the Saints are proof.

"Particularly if it's in Green Bay?"

Well sherlock, the only way the Saints are playing outdoors for the title game, it would have to be in Green Bay. Nothing 'IF' about it.

 

[Woy]

Mike Tolbert is probably not gonna be retained by the Chargers...

I can see him going to Detroit and opening up the running game and screen game. Probably playing #2 to Best and part of a three headed monster with Leshoure.

Get the fuck on this Reinfeldt and bring back Smash & Dash.

 

[Houston]

The announcers this weekend have been pretty bad.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oywFIWNcMH0&feature"]Tom Hammond calls Matt Schaub "Shoop" or "Shoob" (or something) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Aso]

The announcers this weekend have been pretty bad.

Tom Hammond calls Matt Schaub "Shoop" or "Shoob" (or something) - YouTube

Yeah that was a huge wtf moment. I don't like Tom Hammond anymore after that. Like for real?

 

[Sharkweather]

Van Gorder out of Atlanta?

:yeah:

 

[j.hen]

Van Gorder out of Atlanta?

:yeah:

!! One down, 2 to go!

 

[Villain]

In 2010, the Saints barely beat the 49ers by a single field goal in San Francisco 25-22. I think that bodes well for the 49ers chances this time around.

 

[Woy]

http://www.tennessean.com/article/2...ssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports Tennessee Titans

When Mike Munchak replaced Jeff Fisher as head coach of the Tennessee Titans last February, he had to wait to make an impression on his team.

More than five months later, when he stood before his players for the first time after the NFL lockout, Munchak made it clear there would be changes. During the 2011 season, he followed through with his promise.

And while there was no storybook ending to Munchak’s first season — the Titans finished 9-7 but missed the playoffs — another thing became apparent: The fingerprints left behind by Fisher have faded.

It’s Munchak’s team now. His mantra has been accountability, discipline and camaraderie.

“He definitely changed the culture,” fullback Ahmard Hall said. “Coach Munchak did things his way, with his own style, and guys really bought in. If anyone was skeptical at first, they have to feel better about things now. Things are definitely heading into the right direction.”

After serving 17 years as an assistant coach, Munchak stepped right into the fire after being selected by owner Bud Adams to replace the only NFL head coach the city had ever known. Munchak took over a team in transition, coming off a 6-10 season that was filled with controversy.

In 2011, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck established himself as the face of the franchise on the field. On the sideline and at the top, however, it was the no-nonsense approach Munchak put into motion that made the biggest impression on the team.

When players cleaned out lockers on Monday to start the offseason, the message hadn’t been forgotten. Players believe it will carry into 2012.

Quick success
Munchak was one of five first-year head coaches in 2011, and only two finished with a winning record. San Francisco Coach Jim Harbaugh’s team finished 13-3. The other three — Carolina’s Ron Rivera (6-10), Oakland’s Hue Jackson (8-8), and Cleveland’s Pat Shurmur (4-12) — finished with a combined record of 18-30.

“He’s really been able to put his stamp on it,” linebacker Will Witherspoon said. “Coach Munchak has really done everything he needed to as a head coach in his first year. We’ve all played hard to make sure that we’re living up to that standard.”

The sweeping changes made by Munchak came on and off the field.

On the field, that plan was simple: Play as a team. As a coach, he even proved to be a gambler of sorts, not hesitating to roll the dice on fourth down.

Munchak also showed he was unafraid to shake things up from Day One. All players — no matter how many years of experience — stayed in the team hotel in training camp. Players, coaches and team employees weren’t allowed to wear hats inside the building. While at the Baptist Sports Park practice facility, players were not permitted to use cellphones outside the locker room.

Also, the game systems and the blaring speakers that used to turn the locker room into a party room were removed. The locker room, in Munchak’s eyes, is for business. Plus, he wanted to build camaraderie.

“He instilled discipline, but he also tried to get all of us to mesh and be one, and for the most part he definitely succeeded,’’ cornerback Alterraun Verner said. “We built a lot of bonds, and I think that helped us play more together as a team. I think that will grow even more moving forward.”

Munchak also went old-school on the dress code. For road trips, he wanted his players to dress as if on a business trip. The casual wear was replaced by Sunday bests.

On the practice field, the approach was noticeably more serious as well. That also carried over when it came to disciplinary issues. If a player was late to a meeting, he paid for it. No matter the player.

“Not saying with Fisher things were out of control, but with Munchak I appreciated how he made sure he set the rules straight upfront, and he stuck with them. And he didn’t show any favoritism,” running back Javon Ringer said.

“He made sure everyone was on the same level. … No matter who you are, everyone got fined. No one was able to come up with an excuse and be able to get away with it.”

Work isn't over
Players, however, said Munchak hardly ruled by fear.

He surprised his players with a trip to the bowling alley back in training camp. During the season, he regularly entertained them with pregame history lessons or speeches.

While the Titans lacked discipline on the field at times and had way too many penalties for Munchak’s liking, players seemed to buy in.

Veteran safety Chris Hope, however, reminded there’s still work to be done. Hope said consistency is still lacking in some areas. The hard-to-explain losses at Jacksonville and Indianapolis provided proof on the field.

“I do think it’s headed in the right direction, but it’s only been one year. So there’s a lot more things you have to do. You can paint a house and regut it, but if you don’t fix the foundation of it, you are still going to reap the same results. There has to be consistency and accountability from top to bottom,” Hope said.

“Just being a 100 percent professional, and when you do that it leaves no room for error. It still doesn’t guarantee you a Super Bowl or playoffs, but it weeds out those guys who aren’t willing to buy in. Eventually, I think that will come.”

As Munchak said goodbye to his first team this past week, he was fully aware many of those players won’t be back.

The Titans have 18 players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents in March, and the Titans won’t be able, or want, to sign them all. What Munchak does want is more progress next year, and a trip to the playoffs.

The change in culture, however, is in motion.

“There is no telling how long something like that takes,” Munchak said. “But I think I saw a lot of changes, and I think they got used to what is expected of them. … It was a good first step this year in a lot of areas. I think they are going to want to be part of this.

“I think that it’s something that they are going to say, ‘You know what, we did a lot of things well; I like the direction we are heading.’ That’s what you are trying to achieve here, that this is a place that you want to work because you know what’s expected of you. You know what we are going to expect out of you, we know what is going to be demanded of you. There will be no secrets with that and there will be structure, and I think guys like that.”

Hopefully the team will be hungrier coming into 2012 since they just missed playoffs. There's definitely a bright future in Tennessee.

 

[ram29jackson]

I'm sure I said something about 5000 yards passing would be easy for multiple QBs to get a year or so ago. and I'm sure i was poo poo'd about saying it.....

whether i'm right or wrong about what I said, it would be interesting to see...

 

[ralaw]

Brian Griese is on Mike and Mike talking about how the league will have 3 players (Tebow, Newton, RG3) who have the ability to run and pass.........yet he didn't mention Vick. Why is everyone excited about the idea of having running/passing QBs ala Tebow, Newton and RG3 running an offense and they speak of how the league and QB position is changing to more of a run/pass threat type of QB, yet when McNabb, Vick, etc came into the league they were ridiculed for not being pocket passers and running too much? Yet as a passer Tebow sucks and he's praised?

 

[EmpireWF]

We need 4 people to fill the remaining spots in the upcoming mock draft.

Saints, Bears, Lions, Raiders

http://www.virtualsportsdaily.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1949573#post1949573

 

[Exasperate]

How I feel watching the Pats/Broncs game :nelson:

 

[Villain]

>Tebowing.

 

[Houston]

I hope we get rid of Mario Williams next year.