SB Nation User Blog: usana_gaines

Fire fox, cut jake, draft edwards, blah blah blah...bring on the aints.

usana_gaines — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:52:28 -0000

There's a lot of talk about what we should do. I've offered my opinion as well. Regardless of how Jake performs, we need to bring in a young guy. If we finish 10-6 or 9-7 and Jake plays well, it will be hard to argue that Fox should go as we have back to back winning seasons for the first time. Edwards will be drafted by the Panthers if he has the best value for the pick whenever we get that far down the Panthers draft board. With all that said, the rest of the team is looking to beat the Saints, and I say we're gonna get it done.

We just beat the defending NFC Champions by doing exactly what the CSR said we needed to do. We're going to need a little more from Jake to beat the Saints, but not 44 pass attempts. However, we beat the Cards who were 4-2 division leaders. They were giving up 67.5 rushing yards per game and 3 YPC. We destroyed them by attacking their strength. We intercepted Kurt Warner 5 times. Earlier this year, he was 24 of 26 in a game. They just destroyed the Giants the week before. Drew Brees has six turnovers in the last two games, and the Saints have 8. They had to make a comeback against a team without a D-Will, Beef Stew, Peppers, Beason or Smitty when they played Miami. The way our defense has played the last month, they won't beat us if we go up 21 early. They barely beat the Falcons. They're not as good as their record shows, and their descent is about to begin. Peppers had his best game since the Pro Bowl, and will play better against the Saints. He is playing as well as anyone in the league right now on defense, except maybe the monster - Thomas Davis. We shut down Warner, Wells, Fitz, Boldin, Adrian Wilson, Cromartie, etc. The Cards had more weapons on both sides of the ball. The games we lost were given away. We weren't beat, we gave them the game. I think we're done doing that. I say fire Fox, but not if we win the division. On Monday, we'll be 4-4, and the Saints will be 7-1. They know they aren't playing well, and a loss can send them into a midseason slump. We could win the division at 12-4 or 11-5, or be a wildcard at 10-6. Maybe I'm just excited cuz I have the day off from work, but, seriously, who's with me? Bring on the Saints. If I'm wrong, we'll see on the field. Until then, let's get ready to rumble.

The Cardinals Game

usana_gaines — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:11:32 -0000

So I'm watching the Cardinals/Giants game and there is real concern. For the record, I'm watching AFN, and they show games late. The Cardinals are the real deal, and could end up playing in New Orleans (or Carolina) for the NFC Championship game. The Vikings are playing better than they really are, and the Pack and Giants aren't good enough either. So here my observations that I noticed so far that I hope Fox noticed, and I have some suggestions.

First of all, against Eli Manning and his set of receivers (Smith, Manningham, Hixon), the Cards had no problem leaving their CBs one on one with the receivers and putting NINE guys in the box. We can't run against that. The best way to beat that is using a combination of play action, no huddle, quick slants and screens. I think Jake should start. He should run the no huddle cuz he's good at it. He should call his own plays. If Davidson calls a delayed draw to D-Will, and Jake sees nine in the box, he should change the call to a quick screen to Smitty. The Cards attacking defense wears down against a no-huddle that still runs 35 times in a game. Also, they ran a beautiful wildcat where the safety, Rolle, took a direct snap, drew in everybody, and threw a beautiful 50 something yard bomb to Larry Fitzgerald. Of course, Fitz dropped it and there was a holding call anyway, but I could see them trying again against us. I think we can win if scrap the old throw offense - throw it 40 times, commit 4 turnovers, give up a return TD, use only one offensive formation, and use all our timeouts in the first 20 minutes of the half.

Fanbole

usana_gaines — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:58:12 -0000

The word fanbole seems very familiar to me. I don't remember who said it first, but I think we've used that word here on the CSR before. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me. Well whoever said it first, Joe Posnanski took credit for it. Check out this qupte from his column:

"I haven't come up with a new word for a while, so I want to throw one out there .. the word is "fanbole" (pronounced FAN-buh-lee).

The definition is simply: A sweeping, exaggerated and often ludicrous sports statement that a fan makes when under the influence of an emotional sports event (and perhaps various substances)."

Thoughts?

I bet this guy has read the CSR a few times and thinks no one else is on to him. I've never even heard of him before.

coaches and timeouts

usana_gaines — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:03:32 -0000

So I have a couple questions for you guys. The first one is simple for people other than me. What is a 30 second timeout in the NFL? I've seen the call before and never understood it. In the Colts game, the defender runs up to the coach asking for a timeout and then the coach runs to the ref asking for a timeout. The ref blows the whistle and then says the Colts have taken a 30 second timeout. What is that, and what makes it different than a regular timeout?

Speaking of coaches...

It seems that there are several coaches asking for unemployment. The Titans seem destined for 0-4. We kept Jake and didn't draft a top tier QB, and we are 0-3. What if we had drafted a total bust in the top 5 (Vince Young), a guy who is total garbage (Pacman) and didn't have enough money to keep our best defensive player (Haynesworth - in part due to Young's contract), or our defensive coordinator. Maybe Fisher needs a restart. However, he and Fox enjoyed some real success last season. What about this year's losers who have never really been successful. Jim Zorn will be gone soon if the Bucs get their first win today. Mangini might get another season, but he's not earning it right now. Jim Mora might get a bye cuz it's his first year and his QB is hurt, but he's kind of stinkin it up, too. What about Gable in Oakland? Who do you think gets canned before February 1st?

From Jason La Canfora Chat on NFL.com

usana_gaines — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:33:36 -0000

Rich, VA

01:22 PM ET

Who do you see the Panthers picking up to replace Kemoeatu

Jason La Canfora, NFL Network

You can't find guys like that on the street, that's the problem. There aren't too many 330 pounders who can play. They have been scouting Green Bay closely and were very interested in Dusty Dvoracek from Chicago before he was lost for the season, again. If Casey Hamton hit the market he would be of interest for sure, I imagine, but would they want to give him a big ticket extension at age 31? They have been actively looking for sure. Better tighten up that run defense.

IMO, signing Casey Hampton would be a no-brainer, and if we can trade for him, I think we should. Of course, I don't know if he'll be cut, or if we can even afford him. But with him in the mix, we'd be instantly tougher against the run, and we need that facing Brandon Jacobs, Clinton Portis, Marion Barber, Brian Westbrook, Michael Turner twice, Derrick Ward/Cadillac twice, and Pierre Thomas twice (not so bad, but he's the best RB on the Saints).

Josh Johnson

usana_gaines — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:19:37 -0000

Check out this video: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/09000d5d811ee805/Pre-WK-1-Can-t-Miss-Play-QB-keeper. I always liked Josh Johnson and I really wanted us to draft him. Last season was his rookie year, and if you look at our draft, I'm sure there's a name or two we could have replaced with this guy. As a senior in college, he threw 43 TDs and only ONE interception. With Freeman, McCown, and Leftwich in Tampa, this guy doesn't even get a look anymore. I think if we don't draft a top-tier Tim Tebow like QB next year, we should trade for this guy. The price can't be that high for a 4th string QB. Then again, with all those faces, he might just get cut in the three weeks.

Madden '10 ratings are garbage

usana_gaines — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:06:09 -0000

Did anyone else see the ratings for Madden '10. I think they came out a while ago, so maybe i'm pretty late, but i'm offended. Let me give you some examples..

We have discussed our RBs on here at length, and most agree, based on highlights and official 40 times, that J-Stew is faster than D-Will, but J-STew got an 88 for speed and D-Will got a 95. That's garbage. Brayton, C.Johnson, Connor, Diggs, Rosario, Barnidge and Jarrett all got ratings below 70. And Moose got a 75 for speed. He's no burner, but 75 is ridiculous. Hilee Taylor got an 82. Is he really faster than Moose? Either way, amidst all my protest, I'll be getting my copy on Friday.

If it ain't us...

usana_gaines — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:02:54 -0000

We know this is the Panthers year to win it all. But, if by some freak turn of events, we don't win it. I think the Patriots will. Think about last year's 11-5 team. Then you add Fred Taylor, Joey Galloway, Derrick Burgess...and Tom Brady! What do you think? The Steelers haven't changed and the Eagles are supposedly better, even though I can't stand them. Then there are always unknowns such as the Chargers and their claim of LT being on the downside, and their QB who wants an Eli Manning like contract. The Giants will be tough again, too, but minus Plax and Ward. Let me know what you think, and then enjoy football every weekend from now until February.

Mike Vick is back, but we know he won't be in Carolina...thoughts?

usana_gaines — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:56:58 -0000

NEW YORK — Michael Vick was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday and could play in regular-season games as early as October.

Vick can immediately participate in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games — if he can find a team that will sign him. A number of teams have already said they would not.

"Needless to say, your margin for error is extremely limited," Goodell said in a letter to Vick. "I urge you to take full advantage of the resources available to support you and to dedicate yourself to rebuilding your life and your career. If you do this, the NFL will support you."

just fyi about UFL (United Football League)

usana_gaines — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:40:46 -0000

I figure I'mnot the only one who wants more football than regular season NFL games, so I'm posting this little bit from CNNSI T&R

The United Football League will kick off in October with teams in New York, San Francisco, Orlando and Las Vegas. The maximum salary will approach the minimum $620,000 a four-year NFL veteran gets, with some players making as little as $35,000, plus incentive bonuses. While such stars as Marvin Harrison and Derrick Brooks, both currently unsigned by NFL clubs, could wind up in the UFL -- so might Michael Vick, something commissioner Michael Huyghue is considering -- most of the players won't register highly on the recognition scale.