SB Nation - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh To Tour Persian Gulf

Bruce Raffel — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:02:34 -0000

Baltimore Ravens second year head coach John Harbaugh is going to experience the "real" war in July, as he joins a group of NFL head coaches who have been invited to tour the Persian Gulf to meet and greet the men and women of this country who are putting their lives on the line each and every day. While we may consider the battles waged between the white lines of the gridiron each Sunday in the fall a "war" it is no comparison to what is happening on a daily basis halfway around the world from us. Men and women, including kids who are old enough to vote but not even able to legally drink, spend the better part of each day wondering if they will make it through the day unscathed by enemy fire, roadside bombs, all while fighting an unseen enemy in desert conditions.

The Ravens coach is joining New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, and former head coaches Bill Cowher (Pittsburgh Steelers) and John Gruden (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), who will meet and speak with the servicemen and women in the Gulf, including both Iraq and Afghanistan. This is quite an honor for the Ravens second year leader, as the others have earned their reputations in the league through years of success and experience.

To read the entire story, go to BaltimoreRavens.com.

Now is not the time to make your comments about what Harbaugh should do to Cowher and Fisher once they lean out of the chopper to get a better look as they fly over enemy territories, but I can't stop you....

Talking a Little Cowboys @ Buccaneers

Aaron Novinger (Bigrigga31) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:08:56 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

I'd bet T-New's already thinking about the Bucs game.

Browse more photos »

Is it too soon to talk about Tampa?

Obviously, we’ve got training camp to get through. We’ve got players to waive (down to 75 on Sept. 1st; 53 by Sept. 5th), perhaps players to acquire, and almost assuredly will have injuries (hopefully minor) to account for. The fine-tuning will begin in Oakland (Aug. 13th); then, for the first game in Cowboys Stadium against the Titans (Aug. 21st). The next game against the Niners (Aug. 29th) should allow us a real look at the starters for much of the game, and then a preseason wrap-up in Minnesota (Sept. 4th) will define the roster.

Sunday, September 13^th, will be Cowboy Kickoff Day. The defense will do its best to limit those pirate cannons from firing at anytime other than during the halftime show. Mike Jenkins will have the opportunity to avenge his infamous missed tackle on new Buccaneer back Derrick Ward. Gerald Sensebaugh’s return to Florida will be tested by the talented, yet oft-injured Kellen Winslow and the former towel-thrower, Antonio Bryant. Will it be Byron Leftwich trying to make the offense forget about Chucky?

More after the jump.

On the flipside, new head coach Raheem Morris posts consistency in his defensive-laden resumé:

Morris takes over a defense that has produced 36 Pro Bowlers since 1996, the most in the NFL, and finished as the NFLs top-ranked defense two times (2002 and 2005). The past 13 seasons have also seen the Buccaneers defense rank in the Top 10 on 11 occasions and in the Top 5 eight times.

Romo will have to be accurate against a good trio of Cover-2 safeties, Tanard Jackson, Jermaine Phillips, and Sabby Piscitelli. Corners Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib will be looking to corral the Cowboys receivers. Dallas’ running game and reliability in tight ends, Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett, should help keep Morris’ secondary honest.

This website has the Cowboys as 3-point favorites with the over/under resting at 42. Here’s some of what they say about the game:

Both teams have impressive running back corps and will lean on the rushing attack while the passing game works out the kinks. Totals bettors should look to the under on the 42 points, with the ground game eating up the clock.

Tampa Bay added Derrick Ward this offseason and he will share carries with Earnest Graham. The Cowboys have a healthy Marion Barber and Felix Jones behind Romo. Those two were on pace for a huge year last season before injuries took out Jones and slowed Barber.

It’s early to talk about Tampa and there is much work ahead. Assuming the coaches have already scouted the Bucs, we might as well brainstorm the match-up as well. It certainly beats wondering what went wrong with last season!

A Look Around the NFC South Blogs

Jaxon — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:00:24 -0000

I thought I would check in our NFC South bretheren blogs to see what they are talking about that might interest Panther fans. So here it goes:

Atlanta Falcon Position Battles: The Cornerbacks - The Falcoholic
This time we're going to look at perhaps the most wide open position on the entire roster. Last time we did this little exercise, William "C4" Moore ran away with the strong safety crown. Because there's so many more options at cornerback, I imagine the vote is going to go a little differently. Basically, the top four vote getters are going to be our top four corners going into the season, with the top two being assumed as our starters. Make that vote count!

They are all competing to see who gets the honor of being torched by Steve Smith in 2009.

Meet A New Atlanta Falcon: S William Moore - The Falcoholic
Role: I'd frankly be surprised if Moore wasn't bringing his tlaent to bear on some unfortunate souls from the start of the season. The Falcons didn't pick him up to sit unless he performs at a level significantly below Thomas DeCoud this summer, and he's such a force against the run already that he makes sense at strong safety. I fully expect him to get a ton of snaps and potentially factor in on special teams, if Mike Smith is willing to get him on the field for that as well. I see a very bright future for Moore, who could be a decade-long starter in the NFL if he steers clear of injury.

If DeCoud is so good then why did they draft Moore?

The Falcoholic - Falcons Have Now Signed 5 of 8 Draft Picks
"The Atlanta Falcons today signed sixth round draft pick linebacker Spencer Adkins. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Adkins, 5-11, 246 pounds, totaled 72 tackles (42 solo), 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and one interception in 31 career games at the University of Miami (Fla.). Last season, he set career highs in tackles for loss (six) and sacks (four) while contributing with 17 stops. The Falcons have now signed five of the eight 2009 Draft selections, which include: cornerback Christopher Owens (third round), cornerback William Middleton (fifth round), offensive tackle Garrett Reynolds (fifth round), Adkins (sixth round) and defensive tackle Vance Walker (seventh round)."

Looks like there is a lot of fresh meat in the Falcons defensive backfield.

Can the Saints Maintain their Offensive Fire Power While Simultaneously Improving their Defense? - Canal Street Chronicles
He noted that during offense vs. defense drills it was the offense that initially got the better of their defensive counterpart until Williams and his unit began making plays and challenging Drew Brees and company. This led me to wonder if an improved defense might actually help push the Saints offense to improve as well and not become complacent. After all, if the Saints managed to put together the best offense in the league while practicing against one of the worst defenses in the league on a daily basis, just think what they can accomplish now facing a decent defense every day.

If that logic holds, would a defense that constantly practices against a top offense benefit from that somehow? I guess the logic does not hold.

Meachem's Last Stand - Canal Street Chronicles
Originally I had planned to write some long, well-researched, inspirational post filled with facts, numbers and references that would astound the mind and boggle your brain. But I just didn't know how to work it all out and I just wasn't really feeling it. I've since come to learn that I'm pretty apathetic toward Robert Meachem. I've also come to realize that we don't really need any facts and figures to discuss this topic. There is only one factoidal truth worthy of note regarding this matter: Meachem has been a disappointment thus far given his first round pick status.

It looks like the Saints are not the only team waiting for a highly drafted WR to make an impact. I'm sure you know who I am referring to (Okay, since some slow Saints fans might be reading this: Dwayne Jarrett)

Plot to take over Da Chronic enters its final phase - Canal Street Chronicles
Now, from my secret lair in the Old City Ice House, I am prepared to take over Canal Street Chronicles for good...or evil, as the case may be. Because once the power of the Blogosphere is in my hands, I will inaugurate a little war. In a matter of hours, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo will have annihilated each other. We shall see a new power dominating the world!

Congrats to MtnExile on taking over the Lead Blogger role over at Canal Street Chronicles.

Sears Non-Starter - Buc 'Em
In a somewhat surprising release of information, it appears as if Arron Sears has lost his starting job. As you may or may not know, Sears has been inactive in the offseason due to some apparent concussion issues, either from 2008 or offseason work. The team, and Sears have maintained silence on this issue, calling it a personal matter. Apparently, Sears wasn't excused from minicamp, and as a result of not being there, a formal change in the depth chart has been made with Zuttah now occupying the starting left guard spot. Morris is quoted as saying about Zuttah.

I would like to think this helps the Panthers but Zuttah is a good player so I bet its a wash.

By the Numbers - Rehashing the 2008 Defense - Buc 'Em
We'll start by looking at the Buc's defense in relation to passing yards per game, rushing yards per game, yards per passing attempt and yards per carry. This will give us an idea game by game if the Bucs were wearing down towards the end of the season. We will also look at the Buc's per game average and year averages vs the league average. Finally, we'll look at the same numbers from the first 12 games as compared to the last 4 games, those in which the Bucs were panned for giving out.

What jumps out at me is that 299 yards rushing the Panthers hung on the Bucs during that Monday Night game! That is one stat that never gets old or loses its relevance.

Buc 'Em - Another Smith That Can Return Kicks
There's no doubt that Clifton Smith provided one of the feel good stories of the 2008 NFL season for Buc's fans. An undrafted free agent, he was largely expected to be just another NFL body. After all, we had drafted return man extraordinaire Dexter Jackson in the 2nd round to take care of the return game. To avoid any hyperbole and avoid a story we all know too well, Jackson didn't exactly pan out in year 1. Clifton Smith soon won the job and by the end of the year, was lounging in Hawaii on the NFC Pro Bowl Roster. He provided a spark to our return game and cemented the job as our punt/kick return man.

Clifton Smith did have a surprising year returning the ball. Might the Panthers find a similar gem in their bevy of UDFA kick returners in camp?

Projected Panthers 2009 Depth Chart: Cornerbacks

MichaelProcton — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:02:18 -0000

More photos » by MATT SLOCUM - AP

Rookie CB Sherrod Martin slaps the hand of a receiver aside as he breaks up a pass.

Browse more photos »

Since Richard Marshall was drafted in 2006, the Panthers have had the luxury of having "three starters" in their cornerback rotation, with Chris Gamble really stepping up his game and his consistency in the last year or so, and the steady (if sometimes burnable by good speed receivers) veteran Ken Lucas. After Lucas was cut this offseason in a salary-saving move that actually didn't save much money at all (another story for another day), however, a lot of young players are going to be thrust in the spotlight and we'll find out if they're ready for the big time. Below, we'll take a look at the players competing for spots on the roster and how the depth chart is shaping up for the 2009 season.

Base set (2 CBs)

CB1	CB2
Chris Gamble	Richard Marshall
C.J. Wilson	Sherrod Martin
Dante Wesley

Nickel Formation (3 CBs+Jon Beason/Thomas Davis)

CB1 (outside)	Nickel CB (covering slot )	CB2 (outside)
Chris Gamble	Richard Marshall	C.J. WIlson
Dante Wesley	Sherrod Martin	Dante Wesley

You may be surprised not to see recently-signed 7th-round draft pick Captain Munnerlyn on either of these depth charts, but last season, the Panthers carried just five corners, and only three of those played more than a handful of snaps on defense. The Panthers return four corners from their 53-man roster last year in starter Chris Gamble, nickel back Richard Marshall, and special teamers C.J. WIlson and Dante Wesley. However, the team will be replacing its only departed starter in Ken Lucas--who had started for four relatively successful (if somewhat inconsistent) seasons--was cut in a cost-cutting move that only saved about $2.4 million after a trade with the Lions fell through after Lucas refused to play in Detroit. Lucas was signed by the Seahawks--for whom he played his first four years in the league--and is currently listed as a starter opposite Marcus Trufant.

Now, a breakdown of every CB on the Panthers' current 80-man roster:

Chris Gamble (6th year, Ohio State) - 6'1", 200: Gamble has been a relatively successful draft pick of the Panthers after they traded up in the 2004 draft to get him, but last season, he really put it all together. Gamble was never a full-time cornerback in college (playing wideout as well), and, as such, his technique and consistency was a work in progress from the beginning. He had lots of interceptions early in his career (13 in his first two years), but that had a lot to do with the fact that he had good hands and opponents were willing to challenge him. This year, though, even though the picks didn't necessarily come in bunches, he truly began to show those "shutdown corner" abilities every team looks for in their #1 CB. As his teammate and fellow defensive starter Damione Lewis said:

"They stick him out on an island from time to time, and he's making plays out there. Every time they threw to him, the ball is on the ground, it's batted down or he's getting a pick or a big hit. He's (always) doing something where he's making a lot of noise over there."

To reward Gamble for his consistent improvement, the team signed him to a six-year, $53.5 million contract (of which $23 million is guaranteed) during Week 13. This contract places him among the top five CBs in the NFL in terms of salary, but the money wasn't the only reason Gamble wanted to stay a Panther:

"I didn't want to be with another team. I like the organization, the coaching staff, the fans (and) my teammates," Gamble said on the day the contract was announced. "I wanted to get it out of the way."

By the end of the season, Gamble had scored the defense's only TD on a fumble return against the Chargers, led the secondary in tackles with a career-high 101, and tied for the team lead in INTs with three. Hopefully he will not grow complacent with his new deal and will continue to provide performance commensurate with his salary. It will also be interesting to see how Gamble, who has always played as more of a finesse corner, responds to Ron Meeks' system and coaching style, which has always called for a more physical corner who can be a stout and consistent tackler against the run.

Richard Marshall (4th year, Fresno State) - 5'11", 189: Marshall was a second-round pick of the Panthers in 2006 at a time when it seemed that he was blocked by established starters in Gamble and Lucas, but the Panthers have used this to their advantage, believing they've had three starter-quality corners in the event of any injury or the abundance of three-plus wideout sets now popular across the league. As such, Marshall has started 14 games in his young career when stepping in for an injured Gamble or Lucas or when the team opened in a nickel set, although none of those starts came last year. However, he was the only player to reach double figures in tackles on both defense and special teams (a role he's thrived in since he arrived), leading the team with 20 stops on kick and punt coverage. He was somewhat inconsistent last year, particularly down the stretch as he was picked on by opposing quarterbacks. In my opinion, though, he did not receive some deserved blame from fans that was instead ticketed for Lucas. However, from having arrived to the team as something of an egotist, he showed his improving maturity in taking some of the responsibility after the huge performance by Antonio Bryant in the Week 14 MNF game against the Buccaneers. Speaking about one long TD after the game, he said,

"A lot of people think it was Luke's fault; in reality it was my fault. I was playing too close to the line (of scrimmage) and I hesitated and I didn't get back deep. That was my fault. I should never have been that far up.

"I watched film and they showed me where I did wrong and how close I was; I should have been back deeper and I've just got to learn from my mistakes and I'll be there next time."

He also summarized his season after the playoff game against Arizona:

"I feel like last season wasn’t one of my best seasons. I feel I could have played better, tackled better, on defense and special teams."

Still, Marshall will have his chance to show his continued improvement and willingness to learn as he is currently pegged to be an opening-day starter for the first time in his career. However, because of his (relative) lack of size, he's still ticketed to be the inside corner in nickel formations. Hopefully Marshall responds to the challenge of being a true starter for the first time, and perhaps he will be spurred on by the fact that he is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Whether it's for the Panthers or another team, Marshall is about to undergo a one-year audition for a starting role in the league.

C.J. Wilson (3rd year, Baylor University) - 6'1", 195: Wilson is a former seventh-round draft pick who played mostly CB in college but was initially slated to play safety in the NFL. However, that didn't hold, and with the addition of Chris Harris and Charles Godfrey to the safety position, Wilson made the move back to CB and didn't look back. He hasn't played much in his NFL career, logging just eight games total in two years, and just two of them last year on defense, but he did see lots of action in the preseason last year, starting one game against the Eagles on national TV as the nickel back. Wilson was regarded relatively well for a late-round pick coming out of college:

"Wilson is a guy who really stood out to us when we watched all the defensive backs. He’s a versatile player who lined up at both safety and corner in college. Wilson was a real playmaker at Baylor and showed good ball skills on tape."

--Patriots Weekly, Patriots.com

A productive defensive back with above-average ball skills, Wilson nicely projects as a dime back at the next level and will get looks late in the draft.

--Sports Illustrated

At this time, Wilson seems to have impressed the Panthers, as he's currently slated to be the team's first sub corner, ahead of second-round pick Sherrod Martin, according to a blog entry by Darin Gantt of the Rock Hill Herald.

Small note, but an interesting one as they worked on two-minute offense against nickel defense Thursday. Even though he's a starter this year, CB Richard Marshall will maintain his inside responsibilities when they go to three corners. C.J. Wilson will cover an outside receiver when they go to an extra DB. Sherrod Martin's also getting a look at the nickel spot, as the converted safety is working to learn a new position.

Since that statement seemed very firm to me and I was surprised that a second-round pick would be getting reps only as a backup nickel to a starter who he almost certainly won't pass, I asked whether Gantt thought that personnel grouping was pretty final. His response:

I think the nickel look (Marshall inside, with Gamble and Wilson outside) is probably solid, unless someone gets hurt or Munnerlyn freaks out and replaces Wilson. Wesley's a special teamer.

Surprising to see Martin not mentioned at all, but he is learning a new position, and only the season will tell, if Wilson can hold off his challengers as the top sub corner. Chance of making team: 90% (WIlson hasn't shown a great affinity for ST play, so if he shows poorly through camp and falls down the depth chart, he could be cut in favor of Wesley or Munnerlyn, both of whom offer more versatility as special-teamers if not playing much at CB.)

Sherrod Martin (rookie, Troy) - 6'1", 198: Martin was a second-round pick this year of the Panthers--their third overall--and he hopes to be another of many players who has been able to make an impact out of Troy University in the Sun Belt Conference. There are 13 alumni of the school in the NFL, including defensive standouts DeMarcus Ware, Osi Umenyiora, and Leodis McKelvin. Like several other prospects in the last few years, the Panthers did not Shy away from using an early pick on a player they felt would need to make a position change to be most successful in the NFL. Though Martin spent much of his college career at safety (both free and strong), he's being ticketed for cornerback with the Panthers. There were those who thought he was better off staying at safety, but the Panthers were looking for a big, physical corner to replace the departed Ken Lucas. Martin was a productive college player, setting an NCAA record for interceptions in a quarter with three in the second quarter last season against Alcorn State. Martin was as surprised as anyone, as he had not had a single interception in nearly three years:

"I'm speechless. The team did a lot of good things tonight. The defensive line and linebackers hustled and executed. I had the easy job, all I had to do was catch the football."

Martin was also a willing and frequent tackler, setting a school record among DBs (and ranking 10th overall) in Troy history with 191 solo tackles. His 292 total tackles rank 2nd and 14th respectively on those two lists. In his junior season, Martin also set a school record and led his conference with six forced fumbles, a great number for a DB.

Martin is a prospect who is relatively old for a rookie (25), a result of having greyshirted at the beginning of his college career and was granted a medical hardship for the '06-'07 year (what would have been his junior season) following dual shoulder surgeries to repair his AC joints, which are the pivot point which enables the arm to be brought above the head. Impressively, though, Martin had played through these shoulder injuries during his sophomore year. Martin also missed time in his redshirt junior season with a broken hand which required surgery and caused him to sit out a pair of games.

Finally healthy last year, Martin came out strong, establishing a new career high in tackles (94) and making the All-Sun Belt first team. After the season, he was invited to the Senior Bowl, where he made three tackles and broke up a pass for the winning South team. Martin also had an impressive showing at the combine, running a faster-than-expected 4.52 in the fourty (a mark he bettered with a 4.46 at his Pro Day) that showed off speed that would translate to the corner position. In addition, he showed very well in the agility drills, posting the second-best short shuttle time of all players at the combine and tying for third among all players in the three-cone drill.

As a player, Martin is considered aggressive and physical, with strong tackling ability as well. He is also unafraid to deliver the big hit, and his speed and agility project well at any position in the secondary. However, there were those who question his instincts and ability to make the proper reads while up at the line as a cornerback rather than back off the line as a safety. There is also some concern that Martin is a "workout warrior" whose tested physical abilities do not always translate to the field. Finally, though he got through his senior year healthy and has shown the toughness to play through pain in the past, his injuries cannot be ignored.

Martin was drafted by the Panthers as a player whose physical abilities were a bit ahead of his football skills, particularly at the cornerback position, where he played little in college. Because of this, it will be important to be patient with him, as his current dime back spot on the depth chart would be a disappointment for many given his draft position in the second round, particularly with a CB picked two spots later (Sean Smith) running as a starter for the Dolphins. However, Martin's skillset fits well into what Ron Meeks asks of his cornerbacks and he should project as no less than a nickel back with the potential to play safety if needed who can be a standout as a special teams gunner (a role he played and succeeded in at Troy), an important ability given the need to replace Richard Marshall's reps at the position, which will fall off now that he is a starter. Chance of making team: 100% (even if Martin does not win any more than the dime back job out of training camp, he'll be put on special teams and given a chance to develop; a 2nd-round pick won't be cut.)

Dante Wesley (8th year, Arkansas-Pine Bluff) - 6'1", 210: Though Wesley has never been a starting-caliber player (his two career starts came in his first two years for some pretty weak Panthers secondaries), he's found his niche in the league, never playing in fewer than 13 games through a seven-year career outside of 2006, when a broken collarbone limited him to three games. Wesley ranked not only ranked third last year in special teams tackles with 11, but he was the only Panthers special-team player to both force and recover a fumble. His TD return in Week 17 against the Saints was not only the only special teams TD for Carolina on the season, it helped provide the winning margin in a very tight game. Though Wesley mostly plays on special teams, he also has the size and ability to play safety in addition to his listed cornerback position, which may allow him to keep a roster spot even if Munnerlyn impresses. Chance of making team: 70%

Captain Munnerlyn (rookie, South Carolina) - 5'8", 186: Munnerlyn was a surprising early-entrant after his junior year who was disappointed to fall all the way to the 7th round after being told by the NFL advisory committee that he'd likely be picked in the first three rounds of this year's draft. The most notable thing about him is probably his lack of size: at 5'8", he will likely struggle against NFL-size wideouts, and while his speed is good, it didn't time at the elite level at the combine, where he ran a 4.51, despite having reportedly run as fast as 4.35 last summer. He did improve his time to a 4.41 at his Pro Day, but many scouts had already written him off after his poor combine showing. Many were surprised that Munnerlyn ended up declaring for the draft because, after a good sophomore year (in which he made first team All-SEC), he struggled at times last year, both on and off the field. Though he played a lot of zone throughout his college career, the signs he had shown of man-to-man shutdown ability seemed to fade some last year, registering no interceptions last year after racking up five in the previous two. In addition, Munnerlyn was benched by Steve Spurrier on two occasions last year, once against Mississippi for missing a team meeting and for the second half against Clemson along with fellow secondary member Emmanuel Cook. Spurrier had the following to say after the game:

"A few guys aren't playing quite like they did early in the year. I think that was obvious. It's disappointing. Football season's a long time. Teams either get better or worse. I thought we were getting better after the Arkansas game, and then it seems like we've taken a down turn since then."

Still, there are plenty of things to like about Munnerlyn and his game. In spite of his short frame, he's got solid strength and he plays tough, allowing him to be a pretty consistent tackler. His closing speed and change-of-direction ability help him overcome his lack of size. In addition, he has solid return ability on both kicks and punts. He had a game last season in which he returned both a blocked field goal for an 81-yard touchdown and a kick for an 84-yard touchdown (the longest kick return for South Carolina in more than ten years.) Consistency and awareness are two things Munnerlyn needs to work on, as he was beaten by receivers with precise route-running and NFL-style double moves. He also missed time in each of his three seasons with injuries, including an arm infection, a broken foot, and flu-like symptoms.

Munnerlyn is an interesting prospect who likely could have improved his draft stock by returning for his senior year, but a seemingly contentious relationship between himself and Steve Spurrier helped encourage him to begin his pro career early. Though I don't see Munnerlyn making the roster unless he can win the return job, he looks like a good practice squad candidate who could be a sold contributor in a year or two. Chance of making roster: 20%

D.J. Clark (rookie, Idaho St.) - 6'0", 200: Clark is a player with mid-round productivity, but late-round/UFA measurables. A college safety and a member of last season's pre-season All Big Sky team and the second team in the conference after the season, he is not particularly big or fast (4.63 speed), but has good hands (leading his team in interceptions for all of his four years in college) and plays with high intensity. His strength is consisdered to be in man-to-man coverage rather than zone, but he is a willing tackler with solid technique in coverage. I've also read that he can return kicks, but I can't confirm that anywhere. Idaho State apparently doesn't do a great job of archiving their stats. Chance of making team: 1% (and that's assuming he can compete to return.)

Poll

Will Sherrod Martin be able to adjust to his new position and overtake C.J. Wilson as the third corner for the Panthers?

Yes

169 votes

No

54 votes

It won't be either one of those two (explain below)

9 votes

232 votes | Poll has closed

49ers Year-by-Year: 1989

howtheyscored — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:00:18 -0000

This is a brief historical recap of the San Francisco 49ers 1989 season. 1989 ushered in a new age for both the NFL and the 49ers, but how would it affect the product on the field? How could George Seifert possibly fill the shoes of Bill Walsh? 1989 would end up being one of the most memorable years in 49ers history. Read on to see why.

Date:	Opponent:	Score:	Record:	Opponent's Record:
Sept. 10	@ Indianapolis Colts	W: 30-24	1-0	0-1
Sept. 17	@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W: 20-16	2-0	1-1
Sept. 24	@ Philadelphia Eagles	W: 38-28	3-0	2-1
Oct. 1	Los Angeles Rams	L: 13-12	3-1	4-0
Oct. 8	@ New Orleans Saints	W: 24-20	4-1	1-4
Oct. 15	@ Dallas Cowboys	W: 31-14	5-1	0-6
Oct. 22	New England Patriots	W: 20-37	6-1	2-5
Oct. 29	@ New York Jets	W: 23-10	7-1	1-7
Nov. 6	New Orleans Saints	W: 13-31	8-1	4-5
Nov. 12	Atlanta Falcons	W: 3-45	9-1	3-7
Nov. 19	Green Bay Packers	L: 21-17	9-2	6-5
Nov. 27	New York Giants	W: 24-34	10-2	9-3
Dec. 3	@ Atlanta Falcons	W: 23-10	11-2	3-10
Dec. 11	@ Los Angeles Rams	W: 30-27	12-2	9-5
Dec. 17	Buffalo Bills	W: 10-21	13-2	8-7
Dec. 24	Chicago Bears	W: 0-26	14-2	6-10
Playoffs:
Jan. 6	Minnesota Vikings	W: 13-41	15-2	10-7
Jan. 14	Los Angeles Rams	W: 3-30	16-2	13-6
Jan. 28	N Denver Broncos	W: 55-10	17-2	13-6

Head Coach: George Seifert

Key Losses: HC Bill Walsh, C Randy Cross, TE John Frank, ILB Riki Ellison, DE Dwaine Board, DE Jeff Stover

Key Additions: ILB Matt Millen, LB Keith DeLong

Before the 1989 season, longtime NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced that he would be retiring. Rozelle had been one of the key figures in the history of the league from almost the exact moment he took the office. He had presided over unprecedented league growth, including massive expansion and huge entertainment deals. He had been the face of the league for almost 40 years, and now that responsibility would fall on somebody else. That person would end up being Paul Tagliabue.

Rozelle wasn't the only league icon to step aside that offseason. 49ers' head coach Bill Walsh had struggled with his commitment to his position for what seemed like most of the decade. By the time the 49ers won the Super Bowl in 1988, he was mentally exhausted by the non-stop requirements of the job and emotionally exhausted by the highs and lows of the game itself. Having made his decision, he moved swiftly. Within three days of the Super Bowl victory, he met with Eddie DeBartolo and made his decision official with the team's owner. DeBartolo considered interviewing Jimmy Johnson for the position, but Walsh already knew who he thought the new head coach should be, and DeBartolo trusted his opinion.

George Seifert had already been in talks with both San Diego and Cleveland about their vacant jobs, but on his way to interview with the Browns, he got a message the Carmen Policy wanted to speak to him. That was all that he needed to hear. Seifert returned to San Francisco without ever reaching Cleveland. The coaching change was announced the next day.

The coaching announcement overshadowed the loss of a number of players who had played key roles for the team over the last few years, including Randy Cross, Dwaine Board, Jeff Stover, and John Franks, who retired at 27 to pursue a career in medicine. Another reason that these moves made little noise was that many of these players had already been supplanted on the depth chart by their replacements and, simply put, would not be missed.

The remaining players had a mixed reaction to the move. Some welcomed the change, while others were deeply sad to see him go. Still others, including Ronnie Lott, were maddened by what, to them, felt almost like a betrayal. All of them, however, felt a single, common desire, though: to prove that they could win without Walsh sitting behind the curtain. In a sense, they were the underdogs again, and all eyes would be on the defending world champions.

And the defending world champions put on a show. Opening the season with three road games, the 49ers pounced on both the Colts and the Buccaneers. Though the final scores were close, the 49ers only trailed once during both of these games, briefly during the first quarter in Tampa Bay. The game in Philadelphia wouldn't be so easy.

Jumping to an early lead against the Randall Cunningham led Eagles, the 49ers found themselves trailing by the end of the first quarter, and remained down by almost two touchdowns in the middle of the fourth quarter. And that's when Joe Montana came to life. All in all, the 49ers scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone - all touchdowns and all to different receivers. Montana's 428-yard, 5 TD onslaught was too much for the Eagles, and the 49ers won by a score of 38-28.

If only homecoming could have been so nice. In the 49ers' home opener against the division rival Los Angeles Rams on October 1, all of the offense ran out. Jerry Rice was held to fewer than 100 yards receiving for the first time that season and the running game was ineffective. The Rams offense wasn't much better, but they had the benefit of scoring the only touchdown of the game, and that proved to be the difference maker.

But San Francisco was determined and dominant in a way that they hadn't been since 1984. After more late game heroics by Montana afforded them a victory in New Orleans, the 49ers wouldn't let anybody get close for weeks. Even just days after the Loma Prieta earthquake, playing a "home" game against the Patriots at Stanford Stadium while Candlestick underwent repairs, the 49ers were unstoppable. They had gone 15-1 in 1984, and the way they were playing now, a similar record was not out of the question.

A surprising loss to the Packers on November 19 ensured that they wouldn't finish the season with the same record as 1984, but it was little more than a hiccup, as the 49ers rounded out the remainder of their schedule with more and more impressive wins almost by the week. They marched into the playoffs after shutting out the Chicago Bears - a team that they had shared many bitter games with over the course of the decade.

And on January 6, the 49ers welcomed the Minnesota Vikings to San Francisco - another team that the 49ers had paired against in bitter postseason contests over the last few years. And aside from the taste in the mouths of Vikings players and fans, nothing would be bitter about the most recent matchup. The Vikings played much the same kind of football that Bill Walsh had deciphered a year before, and the 49ers took advantage of all of the same tendencies and weaknesses. The rout eventually, mercifully, ended by a score of 41-13.

Next would be the Rams. During the regular season, the Rams had handed the 49ers half of their total losses for the season. The division rivals were extremely familiar with each other, and neither would be willing to give an inch to the other. But the 49ers knew how to take an inch or two from their familiar foes, and by pressuring Jim Everett into bad throw after bad throw, the 49ers once again made it look easy.

The defending champs were back in the Super Bowl. Their opponent: the John Elway led Denver Broncos.

At this point, as good as Elway and the Broncos were, nobody expected anything but a 49ers victory. Many people had the 49ers winning the game by 14 points. In private, Bill Walsh admitted that he believed the difference would be greater than that. The most simple way to put things is that Denver matched up poorly against San Francisco in just about every category. Denver would struggle to generate any kind of pass rush. They would falter in coverage - but against Jerry Rice and John Taylor, what team wouldn't? They would struggle to even move the ball on offense. The game ended up being more than a blowout. More than a rout, even. The 49ers decimated the Broncos on January 28^th, 1990. Montana threw for almost 300 yards and five touchdowns. Jerry Rice racked up almost 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns of his own. Roger Craig and Tom Rathman combined for more than 100 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, John Elway barely eclipsed 100 yards through the air and managed two interceptions to no touchdowns.

The 49ers won their second Super Bowl in a row, this time by a commanding score of 55-10. It was the most lopsided Super Bowl in league history.

Historic Profile: Paul Tagliabue

Paul Tagliabue took over as commissioner of the NFL during the 1989 season, on October 26. He remained in that station for the next 17 years, until September of 2006.

Born in 1940, Tagliabue played basketball at Georgetown University under an athletic scholarship. Ho would not pursue a career in sports, though, and in 1965 he graduated from the New York University School of Law. His law degree would take him far, as he caught on as a lawyer for the NFL, a position that would eventually lead to his commissionership.

Under Pete Rozelle, the NFL had become a huge success. Between league expansion and unprecedented media deals, he almost singlehandedly turned the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the nation. If there was any area in which his tenure had been a failure, it would have to be that the league was always at odds with the players while he was in charge, resulting in no fewer than two major strikes and continued unrest.

Tagliabue continued the successes of his predecessor. In early 1990, he announced a new, four-year television deal that was the largest in history at that point. The NFL only grew into a more and more profitable entertainment industry as a result. He also made sure to oversee league expansion, and oversaw the creation of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers in 1995.

But more importantly, he succeeded where Rozelle had failed. Under Tagliabue, the NFL experienced almost unheard of labor peace. In 1993, the NFL signed a seven-year collective bargaining agreement. From that point on, labor unrest would never be a serious issue for the NFL, for at least the duration of his tenure.

In 2009, Paul Tagliabue was elected into the NFL Hall of Fame. It's hard to argue that anybody could have been as important to the history of the league as Pete Rozelle, but it's just as hard to argue that Paul Tagliabue could have done a better job than he did during the 17 years that he was the commissioner of the NFL.

Primary References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_NFL_season
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Rozelle
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1989.htm
http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=267
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Tagliabue

Glenn Dickey, San Francisco 49ers: The First 50 Years. Turner Publishing Inc. 1995

Tampa 2, Cover 2; What do the Bears do?

wiltfongjr — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:31:45 -0000

There's been other blogs that looked at what the Bears do defensively, other breakdowns done, but coming from a coaching/teaching perspective, it's best to learn through repetition. I may touch on something that makes sense in a way that was misunderstood before, or I may hit on something that was overlooked in past posts. So what exactly are the Bears trying to do on Defense? Find out after the Jump...

The Bears play their version of the Cover 2 that Lovie Smith learned and help implement while working along side Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin in Tampa Bay (the Tampa 2), and that Tony Dungy learned while playing in Pittsburgh under Chuck Noll and Bud Carson. At it's simplest the Cover 2 means the 2 safeties play a deep zone, each taking half the field, and what ever combination of corners and linebackers are on the field will play 5 underneath zones. The most important factor in playing any variation of the Cover 2 defense successfully is speed.

The Cover 2 look is often criticized as being a bend but don't break defense. Offenses are able to pick up small chunks in the passing game and slowly move downfield. By sitting in the zone there are natural pockets a good QB can exploit. If a receiver finds a hole and makes a catch, in theory, the speed of the defense will converge and punish any potential ball carrier. Through the repeated beatings receivers eventually get alligator arms or start dropping the ball in fear.

Tampa 2 coaches always stress turnovers, and because they want a swarming fast defense, you'll always see guys trying to strip the ball. In theory, 1st guy wraps the ball carrier, 2nd guy in attempts the strip. Some players can do both on the tackle. Charles Tillman is one of the best at wrapping up and stripping in the same motion. You'll see the pass rushers going for the strip while trying to sack the QB.

Without a doubt, the biggest variation between the Cover 2 and the Tampa 2 is the middle linebacker will sprint down the middle of the field thus actually turning the defense into a Cover 3. The MLB is responsible for his usual short zone as he runs through it, and his deep middle zone as he gets to it. By the MLB doing this it takes away some of the coverage weaknesses of the Cover 2. If the football gods made a Tampa 2 MLB, they'd make a tall (6'4"), lean but big (260), with sideline to sideline speed, and that has good coverage skills, ideally a player that has played safety, basically Brian Urlacher. His height makes it harder to dump passes over his head between the two safeties, and his speed makes it hard to attack the seams like many teams do against the Cover 2. The Bears defensive scheme sometimes takes Urlacher away from the action, and that allows blockers to get into him on occasion.

If there's one thing I hear that just ticks me off is complaints that the Bears D-Line needs to keep the blockers off Urlacher. Nope. Wrong. That is such a pet peeve of mine. That isn't the basis of what the Bears do defensively. The Bears ask their defenders to attack 1 gap and 1 gap only, not to take up space. Back when the Bears had behemoth DT's Keith Traylor and Ted Washington, their scheme asked those 2 tackles to tie up the offensive center and guards as they had 2 gap responsibility. A quick word on gaps; between the center and guard is the A gap, between the guard and tackle is the B gap, between the tackle and the tight end is the C gap, outside the tight end is the D gap, and some coaches call the E gap just past the D but before the split ends. So Traylor and Washington would tie up the A and B gaps to either side of the center, allowing the MLB to run free. This was the successful formula the Ravens used in their Super Bowl win, with Ray Lewis causing havoc. In this current Bears defense Chicago has their defensive linemen attack their lone gap and to disrupt anything that runs by. They want them to penetrate through their gap, but not to over run the play. When you see a running back squirting under a D-Lineman for a gain that's a sure sign he over pursued his gap.

We'll hear commentators and read columnists referring to the 3 Technique defensive tackle. Sometimes I wonder if they even know what that is. Mike Mayock of the NFL Network generally does a god job of getting technical when explaining football jargon, but many others just throw stuff out there to sound intelligent. Tommie Harris (the 3 Technique) lines up on the guards outside shoulder and is responsible for shooting that B gap. The technique numbers basically pertain to where the lineman lines up. The nose tackle is basically a 0 Technique (head up on the center, and usually used in the 3-4 defense), a 1 Technique nose tackle (lined up on the centers outside shoulder), is the type of nose tackle the Bears use, but he still only has 1 gap, that A gap, responsibility. The Technique numbers simply go shoulder to shoulder down the line. The 2 Technique lines up on the guards inside shoulder, and so on. The 3 Technique tackle is essentially the engine that makes the car go, and the defensive line is that car. Nothing the Bears like to do defensively will work unless the car is running smoothly.

Penetration from front 4 is essential to any variation of the Cover 2. If you are forced to blitz, like the Bears were last year, you just can't run the defense. You need those 4 down lineman to penetrate and disrupt running plays or to pressure the QB on passing plays, so your remaining 7 defenders can play their zones accordingly. This is why Lovie calls the signing of Defensive Line Coach Rod Marinelli such an important piece of the puzzle. If Marinelli can max out the potential of the D-Line the defense will get back to more Cover 2, and subsequently less blitzing. Last years numerous blitzes and Mug look (lining the LB's up close to the line of scrimmage near the A gaps) took away from what Lovie Smith had built the defense up to be.

Another staple of the Tampa 2 is the weak side linebacker being put in situations to make plays. The Buccaneers had Derrick Brooks at that spot, and the Bears have Lance Briggs. You need a fast, instinctive player, with great range, and Lance Briggs is a perfect fit, perfect to the tune of 4 straight Pro Bowls. Briggs is usually the unblocked defender, as the D-Line all are shooting their gaps, the strong side linebacker is lining up with the tight end, and the MLB is usually taking on the 1st free blocker. Briggs is set up to succeed in the system, but he still has to execute.

Good secondary play is critical for the Cover 2. The corners have to be able to lock onto the wide outs while still looking for a secondary receiver to come into their zone. Knowing when to pass off the receiver to the deeper safety and then having the safety know when he's coming is where breakdowns can occur, and unfortunately the least experienced area of the Bears defense is safety. Strong safety Kevin Payne will have to be the seasoned veteran in '09, helping along either Craig Steltz or Corey Graham. If they can play fundamentally sound the defense should be back to a top five unit. Then again if that defensive line is causing chaos up front it may not matter.

Why hasn't Indy signed veteran LBer Derrick Brooks

BigBlueShoe — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:38:36 -0000

I got an email today (one of the few non-hate emails) asking me why the Indianapolis Colts have not made an offer to former-Tampa Bay Buccaneers LBer Derrick Brooks. Brooks, a future Hall of Fame lock, was released by TB early this off-season in a move that sent a clear message to both the team and the NFL: The days of Tampa 2 in Tampa Bay are over. They also released him because, at age 36, 2008 saw a sharp decline in Brooks' productivity. Since 2001, Brooks has averaged (averaged!) at least 115 tackles. In 2008, he had only 73.

So, to answer the question, Why hasn't Indy signed, or made an offer, for Brooks?, the simple answer is this: The current crop of Colts LBers are now better than Brooks. Clint Session, Indy's third year LBer, had 94 tackles in 2008 to go with 3 forced fumbles. He is penciled in to start at weakside backer, the position Brooks helped revolutionized in the Tampa 2. Backing up Session are two former Colts starters, Freddy Keiaho and Tyjuan Hagler.

If Indy were to sign Brooks, it is very likely Brooks would not even make the final roster cut down, let alone play any meaningful snaps.

Right now, Brooks is doing what Marvin Harrison is doing. They will wait. They'll wait for a few pre-season games to go by, and some players on some teams will start to get hurt and land on the PUP. This could even happen to the Colts. If a rash of injuries hits the weakside spot, I can pretty much guarantee you that (if Brooks is still out there) Bill Polian will certainly consider bringing him in. They did this with DE Simeon Rice back in 2007. He came in for Dwight Freeney when Dwight broke his foot. Unfortunately, Rice didn't play well. He was eventually cut.

Like so many teams, the trend is work with youth and ability as opposed to veteran "savvy." This is why great players like Marvin and Derrick are still lingering out there. They are simply waiting for some of this youth to break down. When that happens, NFL GMs will then give their agents a call, asking the to come in and right the ship a bit.

Atlanta Falcon Coaching Staff Lauded By ESPN

Dave the Falconer — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:00:45 -0000

The praise train keeps rolling on!

ESPN's Pat Yasinskas has been ranking positions all through the off-season in the NFC South, and the Falcons have been at the top or close to it of most of these rankings. The frosting on this cake of enthusiasm has to be the latest article, where Mike Smith and his merry band of coordinators and coaches draw the top spot out of the four teams, beating hot shot New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, oft-lauded Carolina Panthers coach John Fox and rookie head coach Raheem Morris for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's a pretty incredible honor after a single year.

Smith has been successful because he's a players' coach, but he's also a gruff son of a gun who expects the best everyone in the organization can give. Mike Mularkey has drawn some fire for scheming in a way that seems to recall James Bond villains (Turner, you'll clear the spike trap just in time for Baker to throw the screaming defender into the bottomless minefield), but there's no denying his creativity and he's smartly used his players in a way that will help them succeed. Brian VanGorder should do very well next season with more firepower on the defense. Overall, it's a staff that can safely be accused of putting the team in a position to succeed while staying firmly in the background. Can't say I mind that.

Of course, the turnover of coaching staffs at the NFL level suggests that Mularkey and VanGorder may not be around forever if their success continues. It's a testament to Mike Smith's strength as a coach that I believe we could weather that, but hopefully that's not something we're going to have to deal with any time soon. I like change as much as the next guy, but only if it's for the better.

What are your thoughts on Smith & Co.?

Daily Slop:Mike Florio makes up more Redskins lies, Lavar's restaurant bankrupt, Zorn Guarantees Cooley 7 TDs

KevinE — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:01:31 -0000

After falsely starting rumors Laron Landry wanted to be traded, now Mike Florio from PFT says Dan Snyder is going after Brett Favre. [junkies]
(Enough is enough with Florio...I hope you're happy with your purchase NBC)

Lavar Arrington's Sideline Bar & Grill just filed Chapter 11 [gazette]

Chris Cooley's camp a success, sets the bar for this season [Fairfax Conn]

Cooley even admitted that Redskins coach Jim Zorn guaranteed him seven touchdowns this season during a recent practice.

Lorenzo Alexander gives back. Starts foundation in Oakland community [CCT]

"I feel it's only right, being blessed to be able to play in the NFL, to give back to these kids. I know in Oakland there are a lot of kids that don't have a good foundation or have someone they can look up to. I'm just trying to allow people to see that you can be successful coming out of Oakland."

Fred Smoot not wanted by the PBA [Skins Blog]
(I'm looking very forward to Fred's response on this)

Redskins Insider breaks down the Pro and Cons of Brandon Marshall [Insider]
I stopped reading when I got to the Con: "Marshall faces a trial this summer"

Tickets now available for the Redskins Welcome Home Luncheon, Aug. 26th [Redskins.com]

Dallas Cowboys roster starting to gel. Roy Williams' (S) replacement impressing [nfl.com]

Buccaneers might start QB Josh Freeman [nfl.com]

Terrell Owens BLASTS his real estate agent on Twitter [Yahoo]
(I agree with him on this one)

And doing my normal routine for the Slop, I noticed Google had a pretty substantial FAIL today:

Finding the Winning Factors - 3 & Outs

mgrex03 — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:45:00 -0000

This week in the Finding the Winning Factors series, let's take a look at a not-so common stat: 3 & Outs. Technically it should be called "Drives without a First Down", but 3 & Outs is the common vernacular, so we'll go with that. Here's how I calculated it:

Drives without a First Down

Tough huh? I looked at dividing it by the number of drives in a game, but it wasn't as good at predicting as just straight 3 & Outs. In the stats I included the Percentages, just for completeness (and to show the Colts awesomeness on offense and not-awesomeness on defense).

I went back to 2001 to see how teams do. That means I'll be looking at 4,080 games over the past 8 years. I did this calculation for every game, then found the overall average for a game. I then went back and compared every game to this average, and found wins/losses based on being above or below average.

Let's get to the numbers:

The Overall Average number of 3 & Outs over the past 8 years is 3.92 / Game. About 1 per quarter, and 34.5% of all drives. That seems high to me, but the numbers don't lie. Funny enough there have been exactly 16,000 3 & Outs the past 8 years.
The Colts have by far the least number of 3 & Outs, with 336 (or 2.63 / Game). The difference between the Colts and #2 (Patriots) is the same difference between #2 and #14 (Giants). The Colts are also way ahead in Percentage at only 25.6%. I'm not surprised by this at all.
Defensively, the Ravens are #1 again, causing 633 3 & Outs (or 4.95 / Game). That 1 more 3 & Out, on average, for every game. How have the Colts done? If you guessed dead last, you'd be right. The Colts have only forced 399 3 & Outs (or 3.12 / Game). Yikes. But we already knew the Colts were bad at this.
So how often do teams win when they are Above Average on Offense? 1096-767-0, which is 58.8%. That's definitely not as good as some of the other stats we've looked at. Having an Above Average defense produces a record of 1271-942-4, which is 57.4%, which is a little worse than the offense. This doesn't seem like it is going to give us good predictions.
When both the Offense and Defense are Above Average, their record is 577-248, or 69.9%. This ranks 7th out of 10 stats so far, which won't make the cut. I plan on keeping the top 6.
The best game since 2001? Week 5 in 2005, where the Redskins had 12 drives without a 3 & Out against. the Broncos. That's pretty darn good. Unfortunately for them, they lost to the Broncos 21-19. Best game for the Colts offense? Week 11 in 2003 against the Jets, where they had 11 drives without a 3 & Out, tied for 2nd best game overall (8 games).
The worst game since 2001? Week 15 in 2006, where the Buccaneers had 13 3 & Outs against the Bears. They did have 19 drives in that game though, and scored 31 points, losing in Overtime. The Colts worst game not involving Sorgi? Week 12, 2001, a 39-27 loss to Baltimore, where they had 8 3 & Outs. The Colts have only had 5 games with more than 5 3 & Outs.
The Colts have only lost 2 games when they have had less than 4 3 & Outs, and the defense has forced 4 or more 3 & Outs: Week 10 in 2003 against the Jaguars (28-23 loss), and Week 13 in 2003 against the Patriots (stupid Edge not getting in the End Zone at the end). The Colts have won 21 straight games since then. Come on defense, get your act together and get off the field!

So what did we learn today? Well, 3 & Outs aren't the best way to predict football games, but it isn't the worst we've looked at so far. We also learned the Colts are really good on offense, and really bad on defense.

I promised a table of all the stats we've looked at so far, and those we still have to look at. Here goes:

Statistic	Average	Off Win%	Def Win %	Off/Def Win %
ANPY/A	5.085	70.6%	70.2%	88.6%
Yds/Play	5.095	62.2%	61.6%	77.4%
RZ Eff	65.6%	59.3%	60.6%	69.7%
RB Success	45.6%	54.8%	54.5%	59.0%
Yds/Drive	28.36	63.2%	63.6%	81.5%
ToP/Drive	2:39.3	65.4%	65.3%	79.6%
DSR
Yds/Carry	4.125	52.8%	52.2%	55.0%
3rd/4th Down	39.1%	62.6%	61.8%	75.1%
Turnovers
Avg Start Pos	31.20	65.0%	62.8%	72.9%
Plays/Drive
Net Punts Yds/Game
Penalty Yds / Play
First Downs/Drive
3 & Outs	3.92	58.8%	57.4%	69.9%

After the jump you'll see the offensive and defensive numbers for each team, as well as Win/Loss records when going above/below the league average. Click on the headers to sort. Here's a link to the last 5 years worth of data. There's not much of a difference, especially since it only took out 3 years worth of data.

Here are the Offensive and Defensive Numbers...

Team	Offense			Defense
Team	3 & Outs	Drives	3 & Outs %	3 & Outs	Drives	3 & Outs %
Colts	336	1311	25.6%	399	1331	30.0%
Patriots	413	1395	29.6%	499	1431	34.9%
Steelers	434	1429	30.4%	556	1425	39.0%
Broncos	446	1439	31.0%	488	1419	34.4%
Chiefs	449	1444	31.1%	449	1441	31.2%
Rams	459	1473	31.2%	490	1452	33.7%
Chargers	457	1425	32.1%	526	1481	35.5%
Jets	431	1340	32.2%	419	1365	30.7%
Saints	472	1460	32.3%	476	1448	32.9%
Vikings	472	1458	32.4%	478	1447	33.0%
Seahawks	477	1472	32.4%	476	1480	32.2%
Packers	498	1488	33.5%	504	1496	33.7%
Jaguars	473	1412	33.5%	479	1401	34.2%
Giants	496	1478	33.6%	513	1485	34.5%
Falcons	498	1455	34.2%	467	1454	32.1%
Ravens	523	1507	34.7%	633	1537	41.2%
Buccaneers	518	1466	35.3%	572	1464	39.1%
Titans	526	1486	35.4%	562	1471	38.2%
Raiders	516	1449	35.6%	487	1470	33.1%
Bengals	522	1447	36.1%	448	1441	31.1%
Bills	518	1435	36.1%	487	1418	34.3%
Cardinals	533	1474	36.2%	497	1479	33.6%
Texans	444	1227	36.2%	373	1219	30.6%
Eagles	551	1517	36.3%	569	1514	37.6%
Dolphins	538	1479	36.4%	524	1459	35.9%
Cowboys	549	1499	36.6%	547	1491	36.7%
Redskins	545	1482	36.8%	551	1468	37.5%
Panthers	571	1510	37.8%	545	1504	36.2%
Browns	557	1464	38.0%	461	1451	31.8%
Lions	563	1474	38.2%	452	1462	30.9%
49ers	586	1486	39.4%	456	1442	31.6%
Bears	629	1555	40.5%	617	1590	38.8%
Total	16000	46436	34.5%	16000	46436	34.5%

Here are the Win/Loss records of teams when they go above/below average:

Team	Offense								Defense
	Above Average				Below Average				Above Average				Below Average
	Win	Loss	Tie	Pct	Win	Loss	Tie	Pct	Win	Loss	Tie	Pct	Win	Loss	Tie	Pct
Patriots	63	14	0	0.818	34	17	0	0.667	59	11	0	0.843	38	20	0	0.655
Steelers	56	18	0	0.757	29	24	1	0.546	53	24	1	0.686	32	18	0	0.640
Colts	71	20	0	0.780	20	17	0	0.541	40	8	0	0.833	51	29	0	0.638
Chargers	44	24	0	0.647	27	33	0	0.450	48	25	0	0.658	23	32	0	0.418
Packers	37	20	0	0.649	38	33	0	0.535	43	29	0	0.597	32	24	0	0.571
Cowboys	29	15	0	0.659	37	47	0	0.440	35	37	0	0.486	31	25	0	0.554
Eagles	40	14	0	0.741	41	32	1	0.561	52	25	1	0.673	29	21	0	0.580
Ravens	32	24	0	0.571	39	33	0	0.542	62	36	0	0.633	9	21	0	0.300
Seahawks	42	25	0	0.627	29	32	0	0.475	45	23	0	0.662	26	34	0	0.433
Jets	32	37	0	0.464	30	29	0	0.508	36	18	0	0.667	26	48	0	0.351
Broncos	45	24	0	0.652	29	30	0	0.492	43	25	0	0.632	31	29	0	0.517
Rams	36	35	0	0.507	24	33	0	0.421	40	30	0	0.571	20	38	0	0.345
Dolphins	24	20	0	0.545	37	47	0	0.440	40	37	0	0.519	21	30	0	0.412
Panthers	28	20	0	0.583	36	44	0	0.450	41	31	0	0.569	23	33	0	0.411
Bears	23	14	0	0.622	46	45	0	0.505	56	31	0	0.644	13	28	0	0.317
Giants	35	29	0	0.547	33	31	0	0.516	46	27	0	0.630	22	33	0	0.400
Titans	25	20	0	0.556	45	38	0	0.542	52	28	0	0.650	18	30	0	0.375
Falcons	37	21	0	0.638	25	44	1	0.364	30	33	1	0.477	32	32	0	0.500
Buccaneers	39	20	0	0.661	27	42	0	0.391	47	30	0	0.610	19	32	0	0.373
Saints	33	30	0	0.524	27	38	0	0.415	32	28	0	0.533	28	40	0	0.412
Chiefs	36	34	0	0.514	23	35	0	0.397	33	28	0	0.541	26	41	0	0.388
Vikings	37	29	0	0.561	24	38	0	0.387	35	33	0	0.515	26	34	0	0.433
Bills	25	31	0	0.446	27	45	0	0.375	40	34	0	0.541	12	42	0	0.222
Jaguars	35	29	0	0.547	27	37	0	0.422	35	30	0	0.538	27	36	0	0.429
Browns	24	22	0	0.522	25	57	0	0.305	27	38	0	0.415	22	41	0	0.349
49ers	26	18	0	0.591	28	56	0	0.333	32	32	0	0.500	22	42	0	0.344
Bengals	25	28	0	0.472	29	45	1	0.393	29	26	1	0.527	25	47	0	0.347
Redskins	29	22	0	0.569	29	48	0	0.377	41	41	0	0.500	17	29	0	0.370
Cardinals	22	26	0	0.458	27	53	0	0.338	28	34	0	0.452	21	45	0	0.318
Raiders	24	28	0	0.462	21	55	0	0.276	29	38	0	0.433	16	45	0	0.262
Texans	24	30	0	0.444	16	42	0	0.276	19	29	0	0.396	21	43	0	0.328
Lions	18	26	0	0.409	13	71	0	0.155	23	43	0	0.348	8	54	0	0.129
Total	1096	767	0	0.588	942	1271	4	0.426	1271	942	4	0.574	767	1096	0	0.412

And finally, Win/Loss records when the offense is above average, and the defense holds the other team below average

Team	Above Average				Below Average
Team	Win	Loss	Tie	Pct	Win	Loss	Tie	Pct
Patriots	32	3	0	0.914	7	9	0	0.438
Steelers	29	9	0	0.763	5	9	0	0.357
Jets	18	3	0	0.857	12	14	0	0.462
Packers	15	7	0	0.682	10	11	0	0.476
Falcons	15	8	0	0.652	10	19	0	0.345
Chargers	26	10	0	0.722	5	18	0	0.217
Giants	20	9	0	0.690	7	13	0	0.350
Ravens	26	10	0	0.722	3	7	0	0.300
Seahawks	23	7	0	0.767	7	16	0	0.304
Rams	21	13	0	0.618	5	16	0	0.238
Eagles	20	8	0	0.714	9	15	0	0.375
Jaguars	17	8	0	0.680	9	15	0	0.375
Bears	15	5	0	0.750	5	19	0	0.208
Broncos	23	7	0	0.767	9	12	0	0.429
Cowboys	15	7	0	0.682	17	17	0	0.500
Panthers	14	9	0	0.609	9	22	0	0.290
Colts	26	2	0	0.929	6	11	0	0.353
Buccaneers	25	5	0	0.833	5	17	0	0.227
Dolphins	12	6	0	0.667	9	16	0	0.360
49ers	14	8	0	0.636	10	32	0	0.238
Chiefs	21	9	0	0.700	11	16	0	0.407
Saints	13	11	0	0.542	8	21	0	0.276
Titans	13	5	0	0.722	6	15	0	0.286
Raiders	15	7	0	0.682	7	24	0	0.226
Cardinals	10	8	0	0.556	9	27	0	0.250
Vikings	20	12	0	0.625	9	17	0	0.346
Bengals	11	7	0	0.611	11	26	0	0.297
Browns	10	8	0	0.556	8	27	0	0.229
Bills	17	13	0	0.567	4	24	0	0.143
Redskins	18	12	0	0.600	6	19	0	0.240
Texans	10	8	0	0.556	7	21	0	0.250
Lions	13	4	0	0.765	3	32	0	0.086
Total	577	248	0	0.699	248	577	0	0.301