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By the numbers: Our Vikings site takes a look
at which NFL stats were most significant for the teams who made the playoffs,
and which ones didn't really matter, noting "There is a fine line between
being a playoff team and a disappointment, especially in the NFC, where just two
wins were the difference between being the sixth seed in the playoffs and the
seventh overall pick in April's draft." This
is a good read for all NFL fans that you should link to from your fan
forums. It'll generate some good discussion and debate.
All about the QB: Jim Wexell goes against the
grain of the general consensus in the Pittsburgh media right now who believe
that offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt is the best selection for the head
coach vacancy because of his close relationship with QB Ben Roethlisberger. Find
out why he thinks that will just lead to more mediocrity or regression in
Pittsburgh and who he thinks is the right choice for the Steelers -- and
especially for Roethlisberger in
this Scout.com subscribers' feature.
One more year: The Giants ended the suspense
regarding Tom Coughlin's future with the team by inking him to a one-year
extension. So the current number of head coach vacancies is still at four
following the Falcons' signing of former Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino.
Arizona, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Oakland are still evaluating their options.
 | | Ravens LB Ray Lewis tackles Carolina's Kayshawn Johnson (Nick Laham/Getty Images) |
Short memory: At our Ravens site, middle linebacker Ray Lewis is quoted as
saying, "“You can be pretty all you want to,” a reference to his
perception that the Colts are a soft team. “It’s going to be a physical ball
game no matter how you want to look at it. What this defense creates right now
is matchup problems for people. We can’t be blocked.” Lewis evidently
forgets that the "pretty" Colts have beaten the Ravens the last three
times the teams have met, including last season's opener. Scout.com
subscribers can read more of his comments, as well as those of outside
linebacker Bart Scott as they provided Indy with some bulletin board material
this week.
Edge's pick? Brad Keller at our Cardinals site continues his
analysis of the coaching candidates for Arizona's top spot. In this feature, he
takes a look at Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell. "It
could just be that Edge [RB Edgerrin James] wanted to do one of his favorite
coaches from his former team a favor," Keller says. "Caldwell does
have a pretty impressive background, some head coaching experience, and he does
coach a marquee player at a marquee position." Find out more about the
likelihood of Caldwell landing in Arizona here.
Hold onto Portis: That's what Rich
Tandler at our Redskins site advises if the team seriously considers trading him
away after watching Ladell Betts perform so well this season. "Sometimes
the best deals are the ones that you don’t make," he says.
"One in that category certainly would be any trade that removes Clinton
Portis from the Redskins roster. It’s good to know that Ladell Betts can tote
the rock, but he isn’t the home run threat that Portis is and you’d like
your prime back to put the ball on the ground less often than he does."
Read the rest of his comments on that topic, why the Redskins shouldn't consider
a trade that drops them from the No. 6 spot in this year's draft and
much more in this feature.
The Super Bowl Nazi: For all of you old
Seinfeld fans, I'm sure you remember the famous "Soup Nazi" sketch
where Kramer is told "No soup for you!" after he makes a local
merchant unhappy. Well, Michael Lombardo has just become San Diego's "Super
Bowl Nazi" with this feature in which he emphatically says, "The
Chargers will not win the Super Bowl." Scout.com
subscribers can find out why's he's so adamant on that point right here.
Another coordinator job opens up: Denver has
fired their defensive coordinator, Larry Coyer, according to a report at our
Broncos site. Coyer has been in charge of the defense for the past four seasons
and was Mike Shanahan's third DC in Denver. Get
more on this story and other team personnel news here. We've also learned
today that Andre Patterson, who was the Broncos’ defensive line/tackles coach
for the past two seasons, has also been released from his contract.
Not a problem: Up until their four-game road losing streak in
the last half of this season, the Colts had won 11 of their previous 12 away
games. But head coach Tony Dungy told the hosts of Sirius NFL Radio on Monday
that he's not concerned about the Colts being the visiting team for Saturday's
playoff matchup. "Our team is very, very confident. We've gone to Denver,
we've gone to Baltimore last year and won on opening day, we've gone to The
Meadowlands, we've gone to New England this year on a Sunday night and
won," he said. "So we're used to going into hostile environments, I
think we'll relish the challenge." Scout.com
subscribers can find out what else he had to say and listen to the complete
interview at our Colts site.
New lows: Think the Vikings will be
focusing on offense in this year's free agency and NFL Draft? They
established franchise lows this season for first downs in a 16-game campaign
(272) and fewest touchdown passes (13). To make matters worse, two of those 13
TD passes weren't even tossed by a quarterback. K Ryan Longwell and RB Mewelde
Moore each got credit for one on trick plays.
 | | Packers WR Robert Ferguson (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) |
Report cards: Todd Korth at our Packers site takes a look at the team's wide
receivers and hands out their grades for the season. "Injuries continue to
plague this receiver, whose days as a Packer are numbered," Korth says
while evaluating Robert Ferguson. "...With two seasons left on his
contract, including a salary of $1.8 million in 2007, it seems likely that the
Packers will release him this off-season to create salary cap space."
Get his full analysis in this
Scout.com subscribers' feature.
Picking up the pieces: At our Kansas
City site, Darren Carter looks forward to the 2007 season after the Chiefs'
disappointing playoff showing against the Colts. But he has some advice for the
team's management and coaches to ensure a better outcome next year, including a
few players that he believes need to move on. "Ryan Sims’ lack of
production dictates he find another residence," he says. "Dante Hall’s
and Eric Hicks' declining production dictates their relocation. The need to get
Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page on the field dictates Greg Wesley’s
departure." Scout.com
subscribers can read more of his analysis at our Chiefs site.
More pressure: Ask Tampa Bay head coach Jon
Gruden what his defense needs to improve on before the 2007 season kicks off and
he'll tell you loud and clear. "In the NFL, you have to have
pressure," he said. "[DE] Dewayne White is a good football
player and we are going to try and get him back, but you have to have pressure.
Warren Sapp applied pressure, real pressure every snap. A disruptive
force." White is an unrestricted free agent who is expected to check out
his options, while DE Simeon Rice -- who is scheduled to earn $7.5 million next
season -- will likely be a cap casualty. Expect the Bucs to at minimum try to
find some pass-rush specialists for their depth chart in free agency or through
the draft.
Cowboy-killer: Seattle defensive back Jordan
Babineaux has haunted the Dallas Cowboys during his three-year career, and he
talked with the hosts of Sirius NFL Radio this week about the play that decided
the game against Dallas last weekend and the experience of starting in the
playoffs. Scout.com
subscribers can listen in to the complete interview at our Seattle site, as
part of their pregame preparations as Babineaux also discusses what it will take
from the Seahawks’ defense if Seattle hopes to upset the Bears in Soldier
Field on Sunday, and much more.
Notable: Rookie weakside linebacker A.J. Hawk finished third in
voting for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, but finished second all-time for
a team rookie record. Hawk, the fifth overall pick in the draft out of Ohio
State, made a team-high 155 tackles this season according to the coaches'
evaluation of game film. That places him second for most tackles by a Packers
rookie since the team started tracking tackles back in 1975. Rich Wingo holds
the record with 166 in 1979.
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