Upon further review...
This is what struck me about the Week 2 games:
* Former Vikings head coach Mike Tice was a part of the most impressive victory of the season. Sure, the Jacksonville Jaguars were hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the Jaguars, 12-4 last year, beat the Steelers at their own game. The Jaguars played tremendous defense, and they pounded their opponent with their run offense. And even though they committed the first turnover, the Jaguars didn't lose their composure. If you didn't see the game, it was a rout, even if the final score was 9-0.
* The honeymoon in Miami is over for former Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper. A crowd of 72,797 at Dolphins stadium started booing him and chanting for backup Joey Harrington after a painful start. Culpepper fumbled a snap, and he looked lost as the Buffalo Bills swarmed him the entire first half.
For the game, he was sacked seven times.
While he finished with solid numbers (23 of 32 passing for 250 yards and a touchdown), he got most of that yardage as the Bills played conservatively to protect their lead. His touchdown came with just under two minutes left.
I think Culpepper will be successful in Miami, but not until he feels confident in his knee, his offensive line and the offensive scheme.
* The Michael Koenen project should end soon in Atlanta. The idea of a player handling punts, kickoffs and field goals seemed too good to be true. After making eight of eight field goal attempts, Koenen, who handled punts last year, won all three jobs. But he has missed two of eight field goals so far this season, including all four in Sunday's victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
You could only do it in a dome because, late in the season, you need to be able to get away with a few mishits.
"What he's doing is remarkable," Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell said last week. "I did it for three years in college. But the college season is half as long as the NFL, and I was tired. I'm interested to see how he does."
* The San Diego Chargers remind me of the Gophers.
They've generated some excitement, outscoring their first two opponents 67-7. But that's like the Gophers scheduling Tulsa and Troy State (2003) to open a season. The Chargers have a bye this weekend. But if they dominate in their next two games (at Baltimore, home against the Pittsburgh Steelers), then I'll be impressed.
Anyone disagree with me?
* Former Vikings head coach Mike Tice was a part of the most impressive victory of the season. Sure, the Jacksonville Jaguars were hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the Jaguars, 12-4 last year, beat the Steelers at their own game. The Jaguars played tremendous defense, and they pounded their opponent with their run offense. And even though they committed the first turnover, the Jaguars didn't lose their composure. If you didn't see the game, it was a rout, even if the final score was 9-0.
* The honeymoon in Miami is over for former Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper. A crowd of 72,797 at Dolphins stadium started booing him and chanting for backup Joey Harrington after a painful start. Culpepper fumbled a snap, and he looked lost as the Buffalo Bills swarmed him the entire first half.
For the game, he was sacked seven times.
While he finished with solid numbers (23 of 32 passing for 250 yards and a touchdown), he got most of that yardage as the Bills played conservatively to protect their lead. His touchdown came with just under two minutes left.
I think Culpepper will be successful in Miami, but not until he feels confident in his knee, his offensive line and the offensive scheme.
* The Michael Koenen project should end soon in Atlanta. The idea of a player handling punts, kickoffs and field goals seemed too good to be true. After making eight of eight field goal attempts, Koenen, who handled punts last year, won all three jobs. But he has missed two of eight field goals so far this season, including all four in Sunday's victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
You could only do it in a dome because, late in the season, you need to be able to get away with a few mishits.
"What he's doing is remarkable," Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell said last week. "I did it for three years in college. But the college season is half as long as the NFL, and I was tired. I'm interested to see how he does."
* The San Diego Chargers remind me of the Gophers.
They've generated some excitement, outscoring their first two opponents 67-7. But that's like the Gophers scheduling Tulsa and Troy State (2003) to open a season. The Chargers have a bye this weekend. But if they dominate in their next two games (at Baltimore, home against the Pittsburgh Steelers), then I'll be impressed.
Anyone disagree with me?
posted by Unknown at 10:25 AM
3 Comments:
Well, he was two-for-four in the opener, and 0-for-four in the second game.
Hope that clears it up.
Sean
Well, he was two-for-four in the opener, and 0-for-four in the second game.
Hope that clears it up.
Sean
Geez. I hear you.
Point taken.
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