Saturday, February 16, 2008
Here We Go: The 2007 NFL Season Kicks Off
It's the final hours before the start of the 2007 regular season of the National Football League, and I'm having a hard time even thinking about anything else.
Thursday night's matchup between the Saints and the Colts is probably one of the best ways to start the season -- from a business standpoint, anyway. We all know what Peyton Manning can do with a football in 3.5 unhurried seconds, and all the weapons on the Saints offense are ready to prove that they weren't just a one-hit wonder last season. Combine those two tidbits with the fact that neither team has much to speak of on the defensive side of the ball, and we may have a scoring outburst that can rival an out-of-control Madden game between those two college guys everybody knows who play Madden so much they haven't been to class in about a year and a half.
Needless to say, I'm pretty pumped up. But that's just the beginning of several outstanding matchups over the weekend.
Obviously we should all be aware that the Chargers are hosting the NFC champion Chicago Bears to open the season, and it promises to be a great game. LaDainian Tomlinson is always fun to watch, but in light of his recent Nike commercial (which shows him absolutely shredding the Chicago defense on his way to another touchdown), I'm sure there's no need for any extra motivation on either side of the ball.
The thing I'm most curious to see, though, is whether or not Rex Grossman has learned anything from last season. I know, the Bears won 13 games and made it to the Super Bowl with Rexy taking the snaps. But if you're at all like me (and since you've read this far, there must be something there), then you must have been pleading for him to just stop giving the ball away. I mean, he had to have known that he had one of the league's best defensive units of all time, right? Why was it so hard for him to understand the concept of keeping his mistakes to a minimum so as to allow his team's strength to control the tide of the game?
Week one will show us what, if anything, the Chicago coaches have drilled into Grossman's head. Because if he wants to make it out of San Diego with anything more than just his uniform and a series of nasty grass stains, he's going to have to play a whole lot better than he did for the majority of last season.
Another game to watch will be the Atlanta/Minnesota game, if only to see the entire city of Atlanta collectively wonder why Michael Vick was their starting quarterback for the past six years. I know I'm not alone in this, but I just get the feeling that the Falcons are going to be a better team without the erratic Vick. He has such amazing athleticism, yes, but for that matter, so does Carl Lewis, and I don't know if I'd want him as my quarterback. Vick has been fun to watch, but when your team is set up to run the ball, hit short, accurate passes and play tough defense, a flashy quarterback who'd rather scramble 18 yards behind the line of scrimmage and heave up a jump ball into coverage is the last thing you want. Granted, Joey Harrington isn't exactly going to be the savior of the franchise (take it from a Dolphins fan). But in the end, he's going to be just what the Falcons need.
I'll just touch on one more matchup I'm looking forward to seeing, and that's the Baltimore/Cincinatti contest on Monday night. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is now two seasons removed from a torn knee ligament, and the Cincy offense looks ready to explode again.
But standing in the way is an always-tough Ravens defense that has been the hallmark of the team ever since the escape -- er, move -- from Cleveland. On a quick side note, I just have to point something out -- Baltimore safety Ed Reed is probably the pro football player I'd least like to meet in a dark alley. I know there are bigger, stronger guys out there, but something about Reed just looks... unstable. Hopefully he doesn't decapitate any wide recievers this season, anyway. If nothing else, though, it enhances the aura around the Ravens that you just don't want to mess with that defense.
We will have to keep an eye on Chad Johnson, though. If Ocho Cinco finds his way into the end zone, he promises to deliver a celebration that will be front-page worthy. He's even said that he's set aside money for all the fines he expects to rack up with his antics, so be prepared.
Whichever team you follow, week one has plenty of solid matchups that shouldn't disappoint. So grab the chips and salsa, kick that recliner back into "I'm not moving until Tuesday morning" mode and settle in for a great week.
-- -- --
As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the first week of the season, even if it's after the fact.
So send me an email to sports@valleycenter.com or comment on the blog page by going to www.valleycenter.com and clicking on the "RR Blogs" link.
Just try not to send anything on Sunday, or even Monday evening.
I think I've got other plans.
Thursday night's matchup between the Saints and the Colts is probably one of the best ways to start the season -- from a business standpoint, anyway. We all know what Peyton Manning can do with a football in 3.5 unhurried seconds, and all the weapons on the Saints offense are ready to prove that they weren't just a one-hit wonder last season. Combine those two tidbits with the fact that neither team has much to speak of on the defensive side of the ball, and we may have a scoring outburst that can rival an out-of-control Madden game between those two college guys everybody knows who play Madden so much they haven't been to class in about a year and a half.
Needless to say, I'm pretty pumped up. But that's just the beginning of several outstanding matchups over the weekend.
Obviously we should all be aware that the Chargers are hosting the NFC champion Chicago Bears to open the season, and it promises to be a great game. LaDainian Tomlinson is always fun to watch, but in light of his recent Nike commercial (which shows him absolutely shredding the Chicago defense on his way to another touchdown), I'm sure there's no need for any extra motivation on either side of the ball.
The thing I'm most curious to see, though, is whether or not Rex Grossman has learned anything from last season. I know, the Bears won 13 games and made it to the Super Bowl with Rexy taking the snaps. But if you're at all like me (and since you've read this far, there must be something there), then you must have been pleading for him to just stop giving the ball away. I mean, he had to have known that he had one of the league's best defensive units of all time, right? Why was it so hard for him to understand the concept of keeping his mistakes to a minimum so as to allow his team's strength to control the tide of the game?
Week one will show us what, if anything, the Chicago coaches have drilled into Grossman's head. Because if he wants to make it out of San Diego with anything more than just his uniform and a series of nasty grass stains, he's going to have to play a whole lot better than he did for the majority of last season.
Another game to watch will be the Atlanta/Minnesota game, if only to see the entire city of Atlanta collectively wonder why Michael Vick was their starting quarterback for the past six years. I know I'm not alone in this, but I just get the feeling that the Falcons are going to be a better team without the erratic Vick. He has such amazing athleticism, yes, but for that matter, so does Carl Lewis, and I don't know if I'd want him as my quarterback. Vick has been fun to watch, but when your team is set up to run the ball, hit short, accurate passes and play tough defense, a flashy quarterback who'd rather scramble 18 yards behind the line of scrimmage and heave up a jump ball into coverage is the last thing you want. Granted, Joey Harrington isn't exactly going to be the savior of the franchise (take it from a Dolphins fan). But in the end, he's going to be just what the Falcons need.
I'll just touch on one more matchup I'm looking forward to seeing, and that's the Baltimore/Cincinatti contest on Monday night. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is now two seasons removed from a torn knee ligament, and the Cincy offense looks ready to explode again.
But standing in the way is an always-tough Ravens defense that has been the hallmark of the team ever since the escape -- er, move -- from Cleveland. On a quick side note, I just have to point something out -- Baltimore safety Ed Reed is probably the pro football player I'd least like to meet in a dark alley. I know there are bigger, stronger guys out there, but something about Reed just looks... unstable. Hopefully he doesn't decapitate any wide recievers this season, anyway. If nothing else, though, it enhances the aura around the Ravens that you just don't want to mess with that defense.
We will have to keep an eye on Chad Johnson, though. If Ocho Cinco finds his way into the end zone, he promises to deliver a celebration that will be front-page worthy. He's even said that he's set aside money for all the fines he expects to rack up with his antics, so be prepared.
Whichever team you follow, week one has plenty of solid matchups that shouldn't disappoint. So grab the chips and salsa, kick that recliner back into "I'm not moving until Tuesday morning" mode and settle in for a great week.
-- -- --
As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the first week of the season, even if it's after the fact.
So send me an email to sports@valleycenter.com or comment on the blog page by going to www.valleycenter.com and clicking on the "RR Blogs" link.
Just try not to send anything on Sunday, or even Monday evening.
I think I've got other plans.
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