WTFchris
09-27-2007, 12:43 PM
I'll start off this thread with a little article I saw about how the teams fair through 3 weeks:
Curing what ails NFC teams
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/chi.gif
Chicago (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=chi)
• Diagnosis: Super Bowl hangover
• Cure: Rex Grossman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6358) has regressed at quarterback. The Bears are down three Pro Bowlers on defense with injuries to Tommie Harris (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6773), Lance Briggs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6404) and Nathan Vasher (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6869). The defensive tackle position has been overhauled because of injuries, off-the-field problems and free-agent defections. Until Harris returns from his knee injury, the Bears could be average on defense. Going to Brian Griese (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4322) at QB is a start. The Bears also must get Devin Hester (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7806) and Greg Olsen (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=8285) more involved with the offense. With the Bears expected to give up more points, their offense must pick it up.
http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/det.gif
Detroit (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=det)
• Diagnosis: Leaky defense
• Cure: Clearly, the Lions don't have the cornerbacks to hold teams under 20 points a game. So the offense must continue on hyperdrive. Maybe Jon Kitna (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4157) gained so much confidence by throwing against his defense every day in practice. Kitna is on pace to throw for more than 5,200 yards and 32 touchdowns, but he's going to need to keep putting points on the scoreboard. The Lions' defense is giving up 31.3 points per game and 8.12 yards per pass attempt. Opponents have a 90.5 quarterback rating against the Lions, making virtually every opponent feel like a Pro Bowler.
http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/gnb.gif
Green Bay (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=gnb)
• Diagnosis: Running game has weak pulse
• Cure: Unless general manager Ted Thompson can pull off some kind of a running back trade, the Packers might have to go all season with a finesse passing offense. It has worked so far, but the weather has been good. Favre is completing 64 percent of his passes while throwing a lot of short, safe passes. Brandon Jackson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=8317), DeShawn Wynn (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=8482) and Ryan Grant (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7635) have combined for only 171 yards in three games and a 2.9-yard average. A trade is the only option. The Packers can't survive in November and December without a running threat.
http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/min.gif
Minnesota (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min)
• Diagnosis: Symptoms of weakness at QB
• Cure: They blew it. Coach Brad Childress might have overestimated what he had at quarterback. Tarvaris Jackson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7813) wasn't ready to take over an NFL offense that was going against any kind of a blitz, and now he's down temporarily with a groin injury. Brooks Bollinger (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6536) apparently isn't the cure because Childress traded for Kelly Holcomb (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3873) and started him fewer than 30 days after acquiring him. So much for off-season planning and training camp. The Vikings have only three offensive touchdown drives in 32 chances. To get through this season, they must rely on Holcolmb and Bollinger to manage the ground game and win low-scoring games.
The rest of the NFC (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3036325)
Curing what ails NFC teams
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/chi.gif
Chicago (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=chi)
• Diagnosis: Super Bowl hangover
• Cure: Rex Grossman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6358) has regressed at quarterback. The Bears are down three Pro Bowlers on defense with injuries to Tommie Harris (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6773), Lance Briggs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6404) and Nathan Vasher (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6869). The defensive tackle position has been overhauled because of injuries, off-the-field problems and free-agent defections. Until Harris returns from his knee injury, the Bears could be average on defense. Going to Brian Griese (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4322) at QB is a start. The Bears also must get Devin Hester (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7806) and Greg Olsen (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=8285) more involved with the offense. With the Bears expected to give up more points, their offense must pick it up.
http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/det.gif
Detroit (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=det)
• Diagnosis: Leaky defense
• Cure: Clearly, the Lions don't have the cornerbacks to hold teams under 20 points a game. So the offense must continue on hyperdrive. Maybe Jon Kitna (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4157) gained so much confidence by throwing against his defense every day in practice. Kitna is on pace to throw for more than 5,200 yards and 32 touchdowns, but he's going to need to keep putting points on the scoreboard. The Lions' defense is giving up 31.3 points per game and 8.12 yards per pass attempt. Opponents have a 90.5 quarterback rating against the Lions, making virtually every opponent feel like a Pro Bowler.
http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/gnb.gif
Green Bay (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=gnb)
• Diagnosis: Running game has weak pulse
• Cure: Unless general manager Ted Thompson can pull off some kind of a running back trade, the Packers might have to go all season with a finesse passing offense. It has worked so far, but the weather has been good. Favre is completing 64 percent of his passes while throwing a lot of short, safe passes. Brandon Jackson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=8317), DeShawn Wynn (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=8482) and Ryan Grant (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7635) have combined for only 171 yards in three games and a 2.9-yard average. A trade is the only option. The Packers can't survive in November and December without a running threat.
http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/min.gif
Minnesota (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min)
• Diagnosis: Symptoms of weakness at QB
• Cure: They blew it. Coach Brad Childress might have overestimated what he had at quarterback. Tarvaris Jackson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7813) wasn't ready to take over an NFL offense that was going against any kind of a blitz, and now he's down temporarily with a groin injury. Brooks Bollinger (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6536) apparently isn't the cure because Childress traded for Kelly Holcomb (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3873) and started him fewer than 30 days after acquiring him. So much for off-season planning and training camp. The Vikings have only three offensive touchdown drives in 32 chances. To get through this season, they must rely on Holcolmb and Bollinger to manage the ground game and win low-scoring games.
The rest of the NFC (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3036325)