I was going to post 'First!' but I thought it might annoy some people!

I don't think I agree with the coaching move and blunder of the week.

I think that the fake FG worked because the Panthers are idiots. Before that happened I said, "This is the perfect opportunity for a fake." Appearantly no one on the Panthers thought so.

The blunder has to be right before that, when Fox (at least he claims that he called this) thought that it would be a great idea to give the ball to the Vikings with a very stupid trick play. They had the game well in hand, and the guy that was supposed to get the ball was even covered. Wow, that was unbelievably stupid.

Disclosure: Dolphins fan. Boy did they look bad.

Whats with all the Joseph Addai love this week. It was houston, and he put up 80 yards and a TD. How is that impressive?

Better? Yes. I still wasn't happy with the game.

OTOH, I'm a Seahawks fan. I've seen so many late collapses, that it takes at least a 4-5 TD lead before I start to relax.

Favre had 55 attempts, not 55 completions, though it seemed like he had that many.

Speaking of early undue praise, it is a little early to be jumping on the Chargers defense bandwagon. So far they shut down the Aaron Brooks Experience and the guy who was fired to clear room for the Aaron Brooks Experience.

If your only comment is 'first', have you really made the first comment?

How any coach can top Fox with that lateral play for 'Coaching Blunder of the Week' is beyond me. The Falcons probably win that game regardless of the offensive strategy employed by Gruden. Fox absolutely handed Minn the golden opportunity they needed in a game he was winning. Doh!

Yeah, the John Fox lateral isn't just a coaching blunder - it's the sort of thing that gets you fired. Joe Namath would consider doing that after offering to kiss you.

IDK, which player has the better chance of throwing the ball competently, starting QB, or starting DB? When's a better time to have that player throw the ball, trailing by 2 TDs, or ahead by 1 TD? Which is riskier, forward pass from an offensive set, or lateral from punt return formation?

I'm not trying to be argumentative here, you made your choice and I respect that. Just outlining some of the reasons that I disagree.

Well, okay. Let's say Gamble does throw the ball well. What are some of the horrible outcomes? Why do a trick play on special teams (long considered a Minnesota strength) when you've got the game in hand and were otherwise unchallenged? Why do anything with _any_ risk?

That's why I think it's a boneheaded move to end all boneheaded moves - even if Gamble makes a perfect pass there are so many other things that could go wrong that are just not necessary that I just don't get why you'd call it. I don't think that TB calling 12 straight passes lost the game for TB - they lost because their opponents rushed the ball like no tomorrow.

I do think that Carolina lost the game almost entirely because of that playcall.

#4 - No kidding. I had to spend some time during the game explaining to my non-Hawks fan friend why I still can't eat or sit down even when we've got a 2-TD lead.

There is of course the slight possibility that our offense-oriented franchise finally has a good enough D to take the adventure out of late-game leads.

Excuse me while I go knock on wood for a while.

Re #11
Chris Simms looks like road kill out there. Having him throw 12 passes in a row given his struggles is just totally nuts.

Alternative defense of selection of Gruden: a chimp could see Gamble's throw was stupid. But you probably won't hear about Gruden, except maybe from TMQ. I mean, the Patriots last year in their loss to Carolina called 51 pass plays on 67 offensive plays from scrimmage (i.e., excluding punts/field goals), including 22 straight to end the game, and nobody said "boo."

Re: 3

Maybe the overall wasn't outstanding, but the YPC is pretty good. He looked much better out there...very comfortable and making some good moves. Even if it is against Houston, it's still very welcome here in the Circle City!

OTOH, I’m a Seahawks fan. I’ve seen so many late collapses, that it takes at least a 4-5 TD lead before I start to relax.

A 21-10 victory is pretty convincing, though. With a score like that, there's no reason to quibble about the performance of the offense or, say, officiating.

RE #3 Rich, You left out his (team-mate-caused) goal line fumble. But I digress.

I think the things favoring Addai love are the fact that he had just 12 carries, isn't the starter, is filling big shoes, and there's still the lingering memory of that pretend phone call from Manning to Brady after the draft telling TB "you guys got the runner we really wanted." As-if PM would be that stupid.

Since that all sets-up Addai to be pretty un-special, 80 yards in 12 carries, two catches, a TD, and some good blocking is pretty special.

Finally, last week's running stats vs the Giants were so anemic, that Charles Manson running for 60 uyards yesterday would have gotten good reviews from Colts-watchers. "He has some issues in his past, but we're sure coach Dungy can straighten him out. Plus he sure knows what to do with the pigskin!"

(Also, according to Manning and the Indy Star--I did not see the game--his best move was knowing when not to block. On the play he scored on a 21 yard TD, he was assigned to stay in and block. When no rushers came across the line, he slipped out as a safety valve rather than stay doggedly back to protect Manning. That aspect will not get a lot of coverage right away, but in this offense, I want a smart RB.)

Re: 15

A 27-10 lead would seem to be pretty convincing, too, but the Seahawks managed to squander that about two years ago. Seahawk fans are nervous until the clock reaches double-zeroes.

The 'Hawks looked better, but for about 2-1/2 quarters they didn't look good on O. The defense prevented any drama in the game, which was nice to see. But the offense has a long way to go to even approach last year's version. Better than Week 1, but they can't disappear for half the game when the Giants come to town.

Oops! Make that 16 carries for Addai, still just half a day's work for Edge.

Note to self: learn to read!

Re: 16

D. Williams had 13 carries for 74 yrds and a TD for the Panthers. His TD is the ONLY TD for the Panthers this year. He also had 5 rec for 24 yrds. So he had 18 touches for 98 yards...all behind a patchwork O-line. In addition, he alone accounted for 5 of the Panthers 14 1st downs and returned a kickoff to the 50.

I know the Panthers aren't winning and so aren't getting any love, but you can't tell me those numbers aren't better than Addai's.

Re #12 - You & me both , Manteo!

I dunno, I'm not that excited about NYG-Seattle. But I think Falcons-Saints could be an eye-opener.

Nick - Thank you for your restraint.

What exactly is the point of writing a column before all of the week's games are over?

23: Because I hate Mondays and this gives me something to do?

Ugh. I'd actually forgotten the Ravens game--thanks for the memories, Doug.

Re: 15--I missed it the first time, but now I get your point. Subtle.

So Doug, did you notice when Spencer came in at LG? I missed the switch, but early on the 3rd TD drive I looked up and said, "Hey, Spencer's in there!" He looked good, but I'm curious to find out if his entry into the game was the reason that the 'Hawks suddenly got back on track again.

Re: 27

I missed the press conference--I usually do--but from what I saw yesterday I'm fine with the switch. Necessitated by injury, sure, but I was starting to think Pork Chop wasn't getting the job done anyway.

I'm thinking we'll start to see some of those long runs where Alexander cuts back left, since it'll probably be there now. Time will tell. Agreed with your observation, however, that Alexander's been playing more tentatively so far. Meanwhile Morris has simply been hitting the hole and running as far and fast as he can, and has had some success doing so.

Anyway, I feel better about Spencer in the LG spot against the Giants than I do Womack. But I don't think it matters who lines up against the Bears, he's in for a long day.

I think the other factor in Addai's favor is that the starter Rhodes only got 37 yards rushing on 14 carries. So it might not have just been a case of Houston stinking against the run.

Re: 29

And Foster only got 26 yards on the same number of carries as Williams: 13. And, the Vikings held Portis to 39 yards on 10 carries in week 1. Maybe the Vikings don't stink against the run as well.

Re:23 - The 03 and 04 Hawks had the worst LB's in the league, and suspect safeties (Terreal Bierra?).

re:28. Coltrane, I'm with you. Spencer looks like he belongs. I'm really looking forward to the Giants, not so much the Bears this early in the season.

Looking forward to playing at Soldier Field right now would be like looking forward to a root canal.

The Giants game should be interesting, though. And count me among those who saw an instant difference when Spencer came in. Even without the injury, I think Pork Chop was cooked.

I went to seahawks training camp this year. I was actually suprised when I heard womack was getting the start in week 1 because Spencer looked better in every aspect of blocking during drils especially pulling and getting to the outside to make a block.

This could be another blessing in disguise for the seahawks much like porkchop getting hurt last year and letting Locklear take over the RT position

35th!!!