Against The Grain -- Week 4

2009-10-08T11:39:04-04:00

2009-10-05T00:02:24-04:00

109

2009-10-05T00:02:24-04:00

2009-10-08T11:39:04-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/557/7/thumb/Bolts.bmp 1774 CA

SafetyBlitz

Calabasas 5597

109 Thanks, Perloff. I feel so much more confident in picking Denver's D up off the waiver wire now that I know you don't think much of them. 7169960

2009-10-08T08:58:11-04:00

715

serotonin

No City 37039

108 *I must have some bizarre form of dyslexia or something, because in that first sentence I typed "decision", when it was supposed to be "division" "Denver's gonna win their division." Fixed. 7165452

2009-10-08T08:55:53-04:00

715

serotonin

No City 37039

107 Denver's gonna win their decision. The real joke is on clowns like Perloff who are still deluding themselves into thinking San Diego is anything other than a mediocre team this year. The Chargers have exactly one thing going for them -- a good passer in Rivers. Unfortunately, they have nothing else. Defense, crap. Running game, crap. This isn't a team that can win a division, as a result. Denver, on the otherhand, has a few different strengths in their favor this year, which should let them win the weakest division in the league and be a playoff team. First of all, their defense is for real -- it's time for people like Perloff to man up and admit that. Second of all, Orton doesn't make turnovers. And third of all, there are still quality playmakers on offense with Marshall and Royal. Now, combine these assets, and you have a formula for a team that can reliably grind out wins against inferior opposition, and makes for a classic darkhorse against the more overtly elite teams. And all that will be more than enough to win the AFC West this year. 7165478

2009-10-07T23:19:41-04:00

bonobo

Poway 885092

105 (Sorry about the above post!) I am a Charger fan, and I think the Broncos are for real. Their D will keep them in most any game. Whereas the Chargers D will keep any opposing team in the game. My gut says the Chargers win this one at home (with the Broncos winning the rematch.) But I see Denver winning at least two of the next four. 7164250

2009-10-08T08:03:00-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/440/4/thumb/tommy_hanson_medium.jpg 6430 LA

BSchwartz07

Shreveport 4424

(Sorry about the above post!)I am a Charger fan, and I think the Broncos are for real. Their D will keep them in most any game. Whereas the Chargers D will keep any opposing team in the game. My gut says the Chargers win this one at home (with the Broncos winning the rematch.) But I see Denver winning at least two of the next four.

106 that isn't a stretch at all 7164911

2009-10-07T23:19:41-04:00

bonobo

Poway 885092

2009-10-07T23:18:36-04:00

bonobo

Poway 885092

104 http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/huddle_up/posts/79681-against-the-grain-week-4?eref=fromSI 7164192

2009-10-07T17:39:42-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/878/163/thumb/platypus-stuffed-plush-f787.jpg 2 NV

Vegas Bronco fanatic

Henderson 878823

103 Just another football writer that knows the future. If he is so certain of the 4-4 record he should bet the house in Vegas. He could retire and we wouldn't have to read a few sentences that don't make sense. 7159915

2009-10-07T13:50:57-04:00

dustinpz

Seattle 877298

102 I can't believe this blog post is still up. The conclusions written in this so called article are terrible. Perloff, you should post some form of a follow-up on this. Answer the comments here face your critics on your justifications. A lot of these people have been very clear on their points and have done more research on stats and match-ups in their responses to your "From the Gut" sloppy assertions. Maintain some integrity and eat some crow on this. 7155333

2009-10-07T13:46:54-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/440/4/thumb/tommy_hanson_medium.jpg 6430 LA

BSchwartz07

Shreveport 4424

101 Com King- Agreed about Cromartie, the CB position is the hardest to read by looking at stats alone, the best DB's don't see the ball, and on the flip side some CB's that are not very good will get picked up quite a bit. My issue is that the less talented DB may have 8 INT in a season but give up 2 TD's a game, people see the 8 picks and think this guy is amazing, meanwhile another DB only givees up 2 catches a game yet has 4 picks people assume he isn't producing. Until "yards rec against" becomes a stat you will have to just see for yourself. I get that Rivers, Gates and Jackson are talented, but I'd argue outside of Gates the other two are good not great. There are plenty of QB's that are more talented and plenty of WR's the produce more, but then again you said you don't get the hype either so whatever. I'll sit back and see them sit in the top 10 on everyone's power rankings and ride that to a 8 to 9 win season. 7155245

2009-10-07T10:51:03-04:00

Com King

Paris 220644

100 --> BSchwartz Because they have an excellent quarterback in Philip Rivers, who has two great targets to throw to in Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates. But I agree with you, it shouldn't be enough to get all that hype. BTW, the Bolts should start Antoine Cason instead of Antonio Cromartie AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Having 10 interceptions in a season is great, but this guy doesn't focus and struggles a lot in coverage ... 7150954

109

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://img.fannation.com/upload/si_blog_post_images/43641/moreno-knowshon.jpg" alt="Moreno-knowshon" width="300" height="400" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Look for Knowshon Moreno and the Broncos to falter soon. AP</div> </div> A weekly NFL column that heads in the opposite direction of your average pro football analysis. 1. Congrats to the Broncos for the 4-0 start. And condolences in advance to Denver fans for your team's 4-4 record at the midway point (Their next games are New England, at San Diego, at Baltimore and Pittsburgh). A home win over the Cowboys is supposed to be the crowning win that convinces us all they're for real? 2. The five best losses in Week 4: a. Jets proved their defense is for real despite losing 24-10 to the Saints. New York's defense may have six (Kris Jenkins, David Harris, Bart Scott, Darrelle Revis, Kerry Rhodes, Jim Leonhard) potential Pro Bowlers. b. The Lions' Matthew Stafford got into some impressive grooves in a 48-24 loss to the Lions. c. Browns should have settled their quarterback debate in their 23-20 overtime loss to the Bengals. d. The Ravens have to think they can beat the Patriots regardless of their 27-21 loss. They'll see each other again in AFC divisional playoffs. e. After falling 16-13 to the 'Skins, the Bucs have to think Josh Johnson and Cadillac Williams can probably lead them to at least one victory this season. 3. Too bad there are so few midseason trades in the NFL. There are about 15 teams that need wide receiver Terrell Owens more than the Bills, starting with the Chicago Bears. 4. Do you get the feeling the Titans would rather go 3-13 with Kerry Collins than have Vince Young succeed? This would be a great draft to start over at quarterback, and they don't need the PR mess of cutting V.Y. if he is an improvement over Collins. 5. From a marketing standpoint, do you think the Jags are nervous that David Garrard is starting to put up great numbers again? Or will he just be a stop-gap until Tim Tebow learns to throw like a pro quarterback? 6. The last two seasons the division that faced the woeful AFC West has produced teams that were overrated heading into the playoffs. The 2007 Packers went 4-0 against the AFC West and finished 13-3 before losing in the playoffs. Last season, the Panthers swept the AFC West and dropped their first postseason game. This year, the Giants have to be considered favorite to have the best record in the NFC since they face the AFC West. But will they be overrated because of it like the Panthers and Packers were? In fact, the whole NFC East is in danger of being highly overrated. The AFC West will also help Washington's Jim Zorn keep his job for a few more weeks, take the heat off Tony Romo in Dallas and make Michael Vick look good in Philly. 7. The Ravens haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 39 games. That ends Week 6 in Minnesota when Adrian Peterson reaches the century mark against Baltimore -- it will be the only time someone does. 8. The Browns probably chose Brady Quinn to start this season because he was a first-round pick, even though Derek Anderson looks like a much better quarterback. Now they have to turn their eyes toward another position. Would Braylon Edwards be on the field if he wasn't a high first-round pick? 9. Here's a solution for everyone who was is bored watching the Chiefs, Rams and Raiders lose without a fight: Relegation. Like the English Premier League and many other international sports bodies, the bottom two teams could be sent down to a new minor league for football. You'd eliminate some of the embarrassing blowouts and add some intrigue for teams that are already out of it. Can you imagine how much harder the bottom-feeding teams would play if they thought they were going to be kicked out of the NFL? 10. Despite the criticism, the NFL isn't going to back off its aggressive enforcement of personal fouls against the quarterback and defenseless receivers. Not with growing evidence of problems with head injuries. I'm surprised the NFL can't do more with technology to help players, like NASCAR did to protect its drivers after Dale Earnhardt died or MLB is doing by requiring the oversized helmets for minor leaguers. With all the money flying around the NFL, they can't do anything to help quarterbacks' helmets? They'd hate it, but it would let the defense play at full speed. http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/397/2/thumb/Perloff.jpg 684 NY

Andrew Perloff

New York 3992 79681 <div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://img.fannation.com/upload/si_blog_post_images/43641/moreno-knowshon.jpg" alt="Moreno-knowshon" width="300" height="400" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Things may not be looking up for Knowshon Moreno and the Broncos. AP</div> </div> A weekly NFL column that heads in the opposite direction of your average pro football analysis. 1. Congrats to the Broncos for the 4-0 start. And condolences in advance for your 4-4 record at the midway point (Their next games are New England, at San Diego, at Baltimore and Pittsburgh). A home win over the Cowboys is supposed to be the crowning win that convinces us all they're for real? 2. The five best losses in Week 4 belong to the Jets, Lions, Brown, Ravens and Bucs.