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29 Sep 2004, 04:41pm by Aaron Schatz
Mike Vanderjagt: Flush with an Ace Kicker
Indianapolis has the best kicker in the league, right? Nope. In this article reprinted from the New York Sun, Aaron explains why David Akers, not Mike Vanderjagt, sets the gold standard for kickers.
1 comment, Last at 29 Nov 2005, 12:33am by dan
29 Sep 2004, 01:58pm by Aaron Schatz
Dr. Z's Power Rankings: Back in the Saddle
There are 100 power rankings out there on the Web (heck, I do one too) but Dr. Z's are usually good for information about how teams are playing and how coaches are thinking. The information contained within is a better reason to read than the rankings themselves, although they make more sense now that Dr. Z has gotten rid of his early season "can't rank anyone above a team that beat them" nonsense.
2 comments, Last at 12 Feb 2007, 12:37pm by fentermine
29 Sep 2004, 10:26am by Aaron Schatz
Football Commentary: Week 3 Strategy Review
Here's the latest math-heavy strategy review from our friend William Krasker. This week he looks into whether Kansas City was correct in going for a first down on 4th-and-2 from the Houston 6-yard line, and discusses Joe Gibbs' series of controversial timeouts. He also takes issue with the official NFL recap referring to the Rams going for it on 4th-and-1 in overtime as "ill-advised."
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28 Sep 2004, 02:03pm by Aaron Schatz
TMQ: Beware the Wrath of Lambasthor
In his latest Tuesday Morning Quarterback, Gregg Easterbrook discusses the new book The Meaning of Sports by Michael Mandelbaum and introduces us to the football gods. Plus the usual assortment of curious tactics, best blocks, and season-changing plays.
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28 Sep 2004, 01:15pm by Aaron Schatz
Week 3 VOA Ratings
Here are the Football Outsiders team efficiency ratings after Week 3, along with Aaron's usual commentary for the math-o-phobic. Aaron explains why the 2004 Jaguars are superior to the 2003 Panthers, exposes the shocking truth about the Kansas City defense, and laments for his injury-riddled Super Bowl pick. Plus, the top ten passing performances of 2000-2004 according to Football Outsiders, topped by Peyton Manning's vivisection of the Green Bay Packers.
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27 Sep 2004, 03:42pm by Aaron Schatz
Grossman, Gordon, Garner Out for Season
Well, here's your big injury of Week 3, and it is a doozy. Rex Grossman won't be using this season to hone his skills as Chicago quarterback because he is out for the year after tearing his right ACL. Jonathan Quinn is going to be starting for the Bears, who have got to be looking at the waiver wire now if they have any hope of competing this season. Hey, the Chiefs just waived Damon Huard... In other injury news, Miami reporters are saying Lamar Gordon is out for the year. Boy, it just gets worse for the Dolphins. Charlie Garner's season (and possibly career?) is over in Tampa.
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27 Sep 2004, 01:49pm by Aaron Schatz
Snap Judgment: 300 Yards and Clouds of Dust
Here's today's ESPN Page 2 Snap Judgment, featuring quarterback ratings and comments by yours truly. According to PAR (Points Above Replacement), Peyton Manning's game yesterday was the best game by a quarterback since my numbers begin in 2000. Thanks to reader Brian Walsh for the excellent Dolphins' offense joke, although I liked Brian's version better than the ESPN edit.
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27 Sep 2004, 11:41am by Aaron Schatz
MMQB: The Rush Is On
Peter King extols the virtues of the Atlanta defense in his report on "The Game That Set Offensive Football Back Three Centuries." Seriously, what is the difference between last year's Atlanta defense and this year's Atlanta defense? It's mostly the same personnel, are they really that much better? Or did they get to play three games against the three NFC West teams that will spend the entire season sniffing Seattle's exhaust fumes? Or is it the switch to 4-3 and the arrival of defensive coordinator Ed Donatell? Gee, where did Ed Donatell coach last year? (looks down)
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23 Sep 2004, 12:39pm by Aaron Schatz
The Ultimate Offensive Line
It is so rare to see this much written about the offensive line. It started out with the Jeff Reynolds picking his "ultimate offensive line," which is unfortunately an ESPN.com premium link, but now they've put up a separate story picking the top five offensive lines overall, and it is a free story. This kind of attention to the offensive line instead of skill players is refreshing. ESPN picks Green Bay as the league's best line, and once again Reynolds' "ultimate line" consists of:
1 comment, Last at 19 Sep 2006, 10:50am by Klassenreisus
23 Sep 2004, 10:40am by Aaron Schatz
Bledsoe Refuses to Buckle to Critics
Why oh why do sportswriters ask such stupid, stupid questions? Apparently -- and this is a shock -- Drew Bledsoe refuses to say "yes" when Buffalo writers ask him if he should be replaced by Shane Matthews. First of all, I know Bledsoe has been bad, but Shane Matthews? And what do the writers expect him to say? "Yes, I have no idea why they are running me out there every week. I am truly pathetic." Asking questions with obvious answers is one of the things that makes fans lose respect for the local media, and one of the local media's worst habits.
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