NFL Week Four running thread.

[93Devil]

Wasn't Whisenhunt part of the decision to bring Ben back too soon? Wasn't he at least part of the conversation? It's hard to believe he was not. That said, Ben was brought back way too soon.

AZ won that game yesterday fair and square. If the Steelers cannot run for 100 yards, they do not deserve to win. Also, the Cardinal d-line whipped the Steeler o-line.

Ben was 1-for-3 on bombs. He did hit Holmes in stride.

Not sure I buy the part about not deserving to win if they can't run for 100 yards. Good teams find other ways, like taking full advantage of Arizona's lousy corners.

Elite quarterbacks make those throws at least two out of three times. The first one to Washington wasn't terrible. He actually got his hands on it, though it was a bit too far. Would've been a great catch.

And if I heard it correctly, Whisenhunt was definitely including himself as one of the ones responsible for bringing Roethlisberger back too quickly. I don't think he was dodging his part of the blame there. The issue was Roethlisberger refusing to admit that he was rushed back too soon, which anybody who watched the games can tell you is an accurate assessment.

If you take away Willie's one 20-yard run, he had 17 yards on 18 carries. Instead of the 100 yard comment, how about if your star RB cannot get one yard-per-attempt through the first 3 1/2 quarters of the game you do not deserve to win.

If you cannot run, you cannot win. Also, committing 11 penalties (one allowing a TD on a punt return) does not help anything either.

Committ 11 turnovers
Cannot run for three quarters
Throw a pick in your own end zone
Allow a punt return TD

Those four things happen to a team in the course of a game, unless you are players The Sisters of the Weak, you are going to lose the game.

 

[outofplace]

LIke I said pages ago, the Arizona defensive coordinator should get credit for that win and not Breaston or Warner or Whisenhunt. Of course, with one of the worst TV teams in the NFL working the game, the poor guy never got his name mentioned.

BTW, is that No. 94 on the Cardinals always a beast like that? He was in the Steelers backfield more than Dookie Davenport was yesterday.

No idea, but give Breaston some credit, too. He also had a couple of good kickoff returns. He's dangerous.

That crew was horrible. I wrote above that they never got around to mentioning that Breaston is from Pittsburgh (though Dierdorf had to drool over him being a Michigan guy repeatedly). I also don't remember them ever saying anything about Casey Hampton being out of the game, which is a huge loss for that defense. ****-poor work.

 

[hockeybeat]

Can ChicagoSportsJournalists.com explain why the Bears had Griese throw 52 passes yesterday?

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I also don't remember them ever saying anything about Casey Hampton being out of the game, which is a huge loss for that defense. ****-poor work.

No, but we got about 1,294 shots of Polamula standing on the sideline while the defense was on the field.

 

[chester]

It's truly hard for this Browns fan to grasp the fact that if Phil Dawson doesn't have that kick blocked in Oakland, that team would be 3-1. Even sitting here at 2-2, with wins over Cincinnati and Baltimore, is kind of amazing. Maybe I'm crazy - actually, I know I am - but this team might not be as ****ty as they looked in Week One. They could win 6-8 games if they improve a little bit on defense, because I'm not buying an improved defense yet based on slowing up Baltimore's pop-gun offense.

They still have Miami, St. Louis, Buffalo, Jets, San Francisco, Houston and Arizona left to play, all which could very well be winnable games if the offense continues to play well.

 

[93Devil]

It's truly hard for this Browns fan to grasp the fact that if Phil Dawson doesn't have that kick blocked in Oakland, that team would be 3-1. Even sitting here at 2-2, with wins over Cincinnati and Baltimore, is kind of amazing. Maybe I'm crazy - actually, I know I am - but this team might not be as ****ty as they looked in Week One. They could win 6-8 games if they improve a little bit on defense, because I'm not buying an improved defense yet based on slowing up Baltimore's pop-gun offense.

They still have Miami, St. Louis, Buffalo, Jets, San Francisco, Houston and Arizona left to play, all which could very well be winnable games if the offense continues to play well.

You are correct. I did not think an NFL team could look worse than the Browns did in week one.

It is an amazing fact considering it's Anderson leading the charge.

 

[proudpittsburgher]

Wasn't Whisenhunt part of the decision to bring Ben back too soon? Wasn't he at least part of the conversation? It's hard to believe he was not. That said, Ben was brought back way too soon.

AZ won that game yesterday fair and square. If the Steelers cannot run for 100 yards, they do not deserve to win. Also, the Cardinal d-line whipped the Steeler o-line.

Ben was 1-for-3 on bombs. He did hit Holmes in stride.

Not sure I buy the part about not deserving to win if they can't run for 100 yards. Good teams find other ways, like taking full advantage of Arizona's lousy corners.

Elite quarterbacks make those throws at least two out of three times. The first one to Washington wasn't terrible. He actually got his hands on it, though it was a bit too far. Would've been a great catch.

And if I heard it correctly, Whisenhunt was definitely including himself as one of the ones responsible for bringing Roethlisberger back too quickly. I don't think he was dodging his part of the blame there. The issue was Roethlisberger refusing to admit that he was rushed back too soon, which anybody who watched the games can tell you is an accurate assessment.

If you take away Willie's one 20-yard run, he had 17 yards on 18 carries. Instead of the 100 yard comment, how about if your star RB cannot get one yard-per-attempt through the first 3 1/2 quarters of the game you do not deserve to win.

If you cannot run, you cannot win. Also, committing 11 penalties (one allowing a TD on a punt return) does not help anything either.

Committ 11 turnovers
Cannot run for three quarters
Throw a pick in your own end zone
Allow a punt return TD

Those four things happen to a team in the course of a game, unless you are players The Sisters of the Weak, you are going to lose the game.

worst part is, they had multiple chances to win that game. They just didn't capitalize on them. Plus, on one of the long passes, to Washington I think, he slowed down on the route about half way. If he runs it out, Ben hits him in stride as well. Not that I want to lose, but an NFC, out of conference opponent is the loss to get.

 

[93Devil]

True, and that is why that loss does not bother me.

Losing at home next week to the Seahawks would start to make me nervous, though.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

someone from TB just got absolutely obliterated on some hit in the open field. Looks like he broked his leg on the tackle.

It was the Panthers who gave out throughout the game.

The pass rush couldn't sack my stepfather, whose mobility is near zero. Kris Jenkins said the team has no heart and he's right. Ritalin Child spent the third quarter on the phone, probably spouting profanities at Jeff Davidson as Smith and David Carr have almost no rapport. Julius Peppers is completely MIA. A vat of stickum couldn't keep DeShaun Foster's hands on the freaking football.

Holy smoke ... :'(

What happened in that game? I only saw a bit of it. When I turned it on Carr was stinking it up. What happened to Jake? I know he had an elbow problem coming in.

All those years Carr was in Houston, we always heard it wasn't Carr; it was the line. Maybe it was Carr.

Jake has a strained elbow. He didn't practice all last week, leaving the garage door open for Carr.

Carr and Ritalin Child have no chemistry, something that Jake has. It's probably why Smith was screaming at Jeff Davidson. Thing is, he dropped a pass or two. Drew Carter and Keary Colbert couldn't hold on to a nice pass to save their lives. That hurt, because Tampa's defense, while not back to the form that made them almost unbeatable a few years back, looks quite good.

And then there the defense, where they just look almost dead. Mike Minter's retirement has probably hurt more than anyone will admit.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Can ChicagoSportsJournalists.com explain why the Bears had Griese throw 52 passes yesterday?

Because Cedric Benson is awful?

(Please continue Bears fans ... thought I'd offer a head start ... )

 

[outofplace]

Wasn't Whisenhunt part of the decision to bring Ben back too soon? Wasn't he at least part of the conversation? It's hard to believe he was not. That said, Ben was brought back way too soon.

AZ won that game yesterday fair and square. If the Steelers cannot run for 100 yards, they do not deserve to win. Also, the Cardinal d-line whipped the Steeler o-line.

Ben was 1-for-3 on bombs. He did hit Holmes in stride.

Not sure I buy the part about not deserving to win if they can't run for 100 yards. Good teams find other ways, like taking full advantage of Arizona's lousy corners.

Elite quarterbacks make those throws at least two out of three times. The first one to Washington wasn't terrible. He actually got his hands on it, though it was a bit too far. Would've been a great catch.

And if I heard it correctly, Whisenhunt was definitely including himself as one of the ones responsible for bringing Roethlisberger back too quickly. I don't think he was dodging his part of the blame there. The issue was Roethlisberger refusing to admit that he was rushed back too soon, which anybody who watched the games can tell you is an accurate assessment.

If you take away Willie's one 20-yard run, he had 17 yards on 18 carries. Instead of the 100 yard comment, how about if your star RB cannot get one yard-per-attempt through the first 3 1/2 quarters of the game you do not deserve to win.

If you cannot run, you cannot win. Also, committing 11 penalties (one allowing a TD on a punt return) does not help anything either.

Committ 11 turnovers
Cannot run for three quarters
Throw a pick in your own end zone
Allow a punt return TD

Those four things happen to a team in the course of a game, unless you are players The Sisters of the Weak, you are going to lose the game.

worst part is, they had multiple chances to win that game. They just didn't capitalize on them. Plus, on one of the long passes, to Washington I think, he slowed down on the route about half way. If he runs it out, Ben hits him in stride as well. Not that I want to lose, but an NFC, out of conference opponent is the loss to get.

Both incomplete deep balls were to Washington. Maybe you're thinking of the first one, when he got his hands on it. The second one, Roethlisberger just missed hiim.

And 93Devil, if they have to go without Casey Hampton and Troy Polamalu for any length of time, that is what would make me nervous. Take those two away and suddenly the team's strongest point, run defense, becomes an area of vulnerability.

 

[93Devil]

... and Hines Ward.

 

[outofplace]

... and Hines Ward.

I think he is expected back next week. But yes, that is a huge factor as well. He is the key to their short passing game and a key blocker for the run.

 

[proudpittsburgher]

... and Hines Ward.

Getting Ward back is key to opening up a bigger threat downfield with Holmes. I wouldn't mind getting willie out in open space with a few chances out of the backfield like the Chargers do with LT. But if the O-line is going to be a revolving door, you need him to pick up blocks.

 

[pallister]

You have to admit, Zeke, that you are quite classless.

 

[Chi City 81]

You have to admit, Zeke, that you are quite classless.

Pallister says while drinking a can of Miller Lite.

 

[sportschick]

Classlessness is part of his charm.

 

[Angola!]

Is Chad Johnson not playing? No catches through the first quarter.

 

[sportschick]

He's playing, but the Bengals did **** in the first quarter.

 

[Angola!]

Right when I type that he catches a 21-yard pass.
The reason I asked is because I refuse to switch off the baseball game, thanks SC.