Tag Archives: NFL

Why Mike Singletary Should Be the Next Coach of the Chicago Bears

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Last night as we watched the Bears struggle on offense you knew the sand was out of the hourglass when it comes to Coach Mike Nagy. His offense has been beyond anemic. Right now Colin Cowherd is waxing philosophical about analytics and how an offensive minded coach is what the Bears need. To move away from the defensive identity Chicago has long been recognized for. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there are multiple ways to win in the NFL.

Nevermind these armchair types that didn’t play positions that are the soul of football. Spouting b.s. about analytics, QBR and were the type that took their ball and went home when you hit them too hard as kids.

Cant stand sportswriters like that

Wasn’t Mike Nagy brought in with his huge play sheet with 748 plays where only 6 have proved to work?? I thought Mike Martz who was the offensive minded coach who was the architect of The Greatest Show on Turf was going to bring the Bears into the modern age?? Even going back to 1999 Dick Jauron was hired and brought in BYU offensive guru Gary Crowton and the Bears struggled.

Jauron saved his job when he moved away from Crowton’s mistake prone offense and the 3 headed QB of Cade McNown, Shawn Matthews and Jim Miller and moved to a balanced run first offense and made it deep into the playoffs in 2001. So all the calling for the latest sleek passing offense hasn’t proved fruitful in the winds whipping off Lake Michigan into Solider Field. For decades… 

There is still a fire and brimstone defense in Chicago and a balanced approach would best serve this team. Enter Mike Singletary. 

Singletary has already cut his teeth when he was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. People forget it was Singletary that built the 9ers into the team Harbaugh took to Super Bowl XLVII after 2012. He didnt get the chance to complete his mission as the team was building and he was growing as a coach.  

As a leader he would be able to reach young players as he was able to reach Patrick Willis, Novorro Bowman and Ray Lewis.

How?? He’s been there as a player and as a coach. He also would be entering his 2nd tenure where many coaches like Dick Vermeil, Pete Carroll and Bruce Arians achieved their greatest successes.

Since his tenure as head coach in San Francisco he has stayed in the craft coaching collegians at the Hula Bowl and within the LA Ram and Viking organizations as well. Continually working toward this 2nd opportunity. 

Of course there are two elephants in the room when it comes to the plight of black coaches and the ageism that has afflicted Head Coach hirings in the last few years. National media has beat this drum of teams looking for the next Sean McVay but let the Chancellor of Football remind you…

I mentioned Mike Singletary to coach the Bears and some think he is too old or the game passed him by. I do rememeber a 63 year old Dick Vermeil having that said about him. The game had changed blah…blah….zzzzzz…. Well 3 years later 12 NFL records fell as his Greatest Show on Turf Rams stormed to Super Bowl XXXIV. They also said that about Pete Carroll (wasn’t he in his 60’s) leaving USC and that was after being fired by the Patriots and Jets. Three years later he had an insurmountable lead over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII.
 
Experience mixed with youth in the coaching ranks and veteran players is one of the mixes that works. Otherwise a very old (nearly 70) Bill Belichick and his experience wouldn’t have embarrassed young Sean McVay in Super Bowl LIII just 3 years ago. 
 
Experience? Belichick knew to go to the I and power it down the throat of a defense not conditioned to take on the run.
 
The same type of experience, leadership, and player credibility Singletary would bring to a franchise that has been lacking in each of these areas. As a black former player and coach there is so much to be gained by this organization in bringing in one of their own. Just as they had Mike Ditka back in 1982. Singletary is a Chicago Bear and one who can restore stability to an organization that desperately needs it. 
 
Bring Mike Singletary in as head coach. The Bears and the NFL need this. 
 
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2021 Preview – The Truth About Dak Prescott

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While writing about the teams of the National Football League there are certain values you assess certain players with. One here at Taylor Blitz Times is the description of the quarterback. Is the quarterback an Alpha or a Beta? In doing so Dak Prescott has been labeled a Beta Quarterback which has drawn the ire of Cowboys fans. Its a clash waged on social media between friends/readers for a few years now.

Cowboy fans have been waiting to see a healthy Dak Prescott hit the field.

To bring you up to speed lets take you back and define the line between the two distinctions:

The alpha infuses confidence in his football team through his play and leadership. His teammates are inspired through his verve, spirit, and fight which in turn raises their level of play to meet his.  You can see the confidence in their eyes when the game is tight. He doesn’t shrink when games are on the line or when the team is up against a superior opponent. This is what every coach covets each year in the NFL draft…

Then you have the beta quarterback that many teams seem to be afflicted with. He comes through with the physical gifts that scouts and coaches can see where he can improve, and can possibly sculpt a winner from. He shows promise and can win you a few football games yet isn’t a leader. This is the guy that looks to his teammates for confidence when they’re looking to him for theirs.

Subsequently when the situations get tight or they’re up against tough teams, he shrinks at the moment of truth.  Sure they win games they are supposed to win but the superior opponent he needs to beat to become a champion, he will always come up short. Late game interceptions, missed connections in crucial times, & mangled last minute drives which short ciruit his team’s efforts. Most important he always loses when an alpha quarterback is leading the other team. Constant big game heartbreak follows this guy….always.

Dak playing from behind…

In dissecting Dak’s play its been one where The Chancellor has described Dak as falling behind 20-7, then scrambles back gaining garbage yards against vanilla defenses. Only to lose 30-24 and Cowboy apologists blame everything but Dak. “Its the defense…. Its Mike McCarthy, the play calling etc.” Truth be told its Prescott’s fault struggling early in games although he has gotten better lately…. but still a beta quarterback. He feasts on his weak division and struggles against top defenses and contending teams.

For starters lets look at the 1st half of Prescott’s games in 2019 & 2020 before injury. We’re going to look at each with overall defensive ranking, defense vs pass ranking, Dak’s stats, whether the Cowboys were up and if they ultimately won the game:

Giants (25th / 28th v pass) 17 of 28 230yds 3TDs – up 21-7 at half /Win

Wash (27th/18th v pass) 12 of 18 – 86yds 2TDs – 1int / 1 sack up 14-7 at half/Win

Dolphins (30th/26th v pass) 9 of 19 – 95yds 1TD – up 10-6 at half/Win

Saints (11th/20th v pass) 11 of 15 – 88yds 0TDs 0ints -down 9-3 at half/Loss

Packers (17th/11th v pass) 8 of 14 -149yds 0TDs 2ints/2 sacks down 17-0 at half/Loss

Jets (7th/17th v pass) 13 of 20 – 125yds 0TDs 0ints down 21-3 at half/Loss

Eagles (10th/19th v pass) 12 of 16 -147yds 1TD 0ints /1sack / up 27-7 at half/Win

Giants (25th/28th v pass) 11 of 19 – 89yds 1TD 1int /up 13-12 at half/ Win

Vikings (27th/25th v pass) 12 of 19 – 185yds 2TDs / down 17-14 at half/ Loss

Lions (32nd/31st v pass) 16 of 25 – 274yds 2TDs/1 sack / up 24-14 at half/Win

Patriots (2nd/1st v pass) 10 of 15 – 88yds 0TDs 1 int/ down 10-6 at half /Loss

Bills (3rd/4th v pass) 16 of 24 163yds 1TD 1int/ 3 sacks/ down 13-7 at half/Loss

Bears (8th/9th v pass) 7 of 12 60yds 0TDs / 1 sack / down 17-7at half/Loss

Rams (12th/13th v pass) 9 of 15 158yds 2TDs up 28-7 at half/Win

Eagles (10th/19th v pass) 11 of 18 125yds 0TDs/ down 10-6 at half/Loss

Wash (27th/18th v pass) 12 of 19 120 yds 0TDs/3 sacks/ up 20-7 at half/Win

Of course the question will be raised as why just analyze the first half? Did you notice Dak was 8-0 when he led the Cowboys to a half time lead? What is glaring are none of these games showed him overcome a deficit to lead Dallas to a come from behind win. Also:

Did you notice Prescott was 2-6 against defenses that ranked in the top half in the NFL?? Or notice the 1-5 record vs playoff teams in 2019 with the lone win against the Eagles?? What about in 6 of those losses he didnt throw a TD in the 1st half of games?? I thought it was the defense Cowboy fans?? Why can’t Dak get leads on quality defenses or quality teams?? Where are his 4th quarter heroic comeback wins??

Troy Aikman’s 1st half of 93 NFC Championship Game

What made Troy Aikman a great quarterback is his 1st half consistency completing passes for 1st downs and touchdowns so he could turn it over to Emmitt and The Great Wall. In fact both Dallas and San Francisco in their yers of dominance came out passing. Notice the stat line where Aikman is averaging nearly 13 yards per completion. Dak needs to get leads and allow his defense to pass rush and line up in predictable down and distances.

This will also allow the Cowboys to turn it over to Ezekiel Elliott and what’s left of The Great Wall II as well.

Another graphic to contrast is this freeze frame from Joe Montana’s performance in the 1st half of the 1981 NFC Championship Game vs Dallas. Notice he is averaging 15 yards per completion??

The reason these are being shown is to get you to understand passing for 80 yards and 0TDs is why he is always behind. The other is Prescott signed a new contract for narly $40 million per year. You’re expected to win championships at these dollar figures.

Can Dak improve and play alpha quarterback football?? Of course he can but will he?? Its not been his norm nor a part of his mental makeup. Keep in mind Dak was only 1-3 last year and all 3 losses were to playoff teams to the Rams, Seahawks, and Cleveland Browns. By the way…he was playing from behind in the last 3 of his regular season starts.

Up ’til now Dak Prescott hasn’t been an alpha quarterback and hasn’t flashed any greatness. Several times during the season I had called him “Fools Gold” and a “Beta Quarterback” which drew the ire of Cowboys fans. Show me where he has exhibited greatness or a win against a marquee non NFC East team??

Now after a severe leg injury and several MRIs on his throwing shoulder keeping him out of the 1st 2 preseason games, Prescott is expected to be great?? This is a tall ask as he begins against Tom Brady and the Super Bowl Champion Bucaneers. Furthermore the Bucs defense ranked 6th last year. Oh boy! Dak… your mission, should you choose to accept it…

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Hardy Nickerson Belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Hardy Nickerson Belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

The Chancellor of Football's avatarTaylor Blitz Times

When most sportswriters chronicle a franchise’s turning point its usually attributed to the hiring of a coach or a number one draft pick QB who goes on to a Hall of Fame career. One where the culture of an organization completely shifts as the team has a pivotal player & focal point to build around. Enter Hardy Nickerson.

Most try to equate the turnaround with the drafting of Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks when the direction was set in motion several years before these two Hall of Famers were drafted in ’95.

Let’s take you back to the early 1990’s Tampa was a desolate outpost no one wanted to play for. It was a rudderless franchise that had just finished 1992 having set an NFL record with their 10th straight double digit loss season.

The culture was so demoralized just 8 years before 1st round draft pick Bo Jackson refused…

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2021 Preview – Time to Trade Aaron Rodgers

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This has been a bizarre offseason for not only the Green Bay Packers but most of the NFL. Never before in NFL annals have we seen this much player movement and news with marquee quarterbacks. The saga surrounding the Texans and former 1st round draft pick DeShaun Watson. The Jets and Bears moved on from failed former 1st rounders Sam Darnold & Mitch Trubisky. Drafting their replacements Zach Wilson and Justin Fields to assume the reins in their rookie seasons.

Will Rodgers don a Packers practice jersey again?

Then you have Matthew Stafford. The Detroit Lions all time passing leader requesting a trade that landed him in LA in exchange for Jarred Goff. Although in the latter stages of his career Stafford is still in his prime while Goff had quarterbacked the Rams to the Super Bowl just 3 seasons before.

Now we have the standoff between Aaron Rodgers and Packers President Mark Murphy over the culture in Green Bay. Lets keep in mind this team has played in the last 2 NFC Championship Games, has a young and improving roster, just removed Coach Mike McCarthy who Rodgers was no longer in step with…. what is the problem?

Is it Coach Matt Lafleur? All along the body english between these two suggests an uneasy coexistence.

The Packers ranked 5th on offense, 9th in defense and just re-signed RB Aaron Jones who has accounted for 30TDs in the last two seasons. Budding star wideout Devante Adams (115 rec. 1374yds 18TDs) is another Pro Bowl performer who developed with Rodgers help. The cupboard isn’t bare in Green Bay and the front office has done its job. At what point does this emotional grind between Rodgers and Murphy negatively impact the rest of the team?

The time has come to trade Aaron Rodgers.

History repeats itself more than we care to admit & this is 2008 all over again but with a twist. Jordan Love doesn’t appear to be ready to take the helm and that is where Rodgers can help. Not by playing this season trading him for 2 number one draft picks in case Love isn’t the guy. Who knows you may be able to swing a 3 team trade and acquire DeShaun Watson who is in need of a fresh start.

The parallels between the Favre/Rodgers saga and the Rodgers/(who knows) go beyond the draft situation. Back in 2007 the Packers rode a solid running game and a renaissance season from Favre to finish 13-3. They had homefield advantage hosting the NFC Championship Game and were upset by the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants. What was Green Bay’s record last year? Didnt they lose to the eventual champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers??

Keep in mind…teams with tumultuous offseasons don’t make it to the Super Bowl. Its not the norm. Now on the precipice of having fans in the stands at Lambeau fully for the 1st time in 2 years… do you really want to hear the hometown fans boo him?? Sentiment has turned during this offseason standoff and could happen if you bring him back.

Yes he is the reigning league MVP however he is 1-4 in championship games.

After this graphic Rodgers went on to lose the 2019 NFC Title to San Francisco 37-20. Then in 2020 he lost a week 6 matchup to Tom Brady’s Buccaneers 38-10 and we saw what happened last January. That is 7 times in a row!! Its one of the reasons Rodgers will not match Brett Favre’s legacy…when the Packers were against a superior opponent Rodgers never led Green Bay to that signature win.

My sentiment in response to the NFC Championship that evening was this:

Of course Rodgers could opt out or retire. There hasn’t been an NFL MVP who won the award then walked away from the game since….. *drum roll* Jim Brown in 1965. He retired due to Art Modell fining him for being late to training camp filming “The Dirty Dozen” If Rodgers does walk away ….both he and Jim Brown’s last NFL game were played at Lambeau Field in championship games.

So Mark Murphy the Packers would take a step back this year but 2022 and beyond the Packers will be serious contenders. The roster is stocked with young talent and you have the quarterback in Love or will be able to trade for the picks to acquire the next quarterback or get Watson in a swap. Your mission….should you choose to accept it…

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Whither Carson Wentz: Jalen Hurts Peers Over His Shoulder

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When the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Jalen Hurts with a surprise 2nd round pick, specuclation took off as to why. Many pundits were dumbfounded with the selection where fans argued the Eagles would use him as trade bait. The Chancellor of Football took a different approach… Hurts was insurance against Wentz not making it back to his 2017 pre-injury form.

If the Eagles give another knock kneed performance its time to turn it over to see what Hurts can do. 

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2020 AFC North Preview: What will Lamar Jackson Do for an Encore

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Last year we saw a transcendent performance at the quarterback position in Lamar Jackson. His 1,206 rushing yards was an NFL record while teaming with fellow 1,000 yard rusher in Mark Ingram. He threw for 36TDs as the Ravens did have defenses in a quandary over where the ball was. The read option was a weapon of epic proportions with Jackson’s ball handling & dazzling athleticism. 

However the Titans exposed Jackson’s weakness completing passes outside of his tight ends and outside the hashmarks in the playoffs. They also played disciplined gap control defense and made sure not to commit forcing Jackson into indecision handing off and in his pass options. He has to improve on his outside touch.

2019 AFC North Predictions

  1. Baltimore Ravens 13-3*
  2. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6**
  3. Cleveland Browns 8-8
  4. Cincinnati Bengals 4-12

In the Steel City Big Ben stabilizes an offense that sputtered with Mason Rudolph and “Duck” Hodges. Yet the defense drug the team to an 8-8 season as they emerged as a top ten defense (5th) and were solid against the pass (3rd) while leading the NFL with 54 sacks and 2nd in interceptions with 20. 

TJ Watt and Bud Dupree combined for 26 sacks were the modern version of Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd. Their disruptive pocket presence along with FS Minkah Fitzpatrick makes this the NFL’s best in defense. They will benefit with continuity and an emerging Devin Bush at inside linebacker.

Roethlisberger will get the Steelers back to the playoffs however the team will come up short of Baltimore without a true running back. James Conner is a ball carrier that can get the yards a play is designed for but nothing more. JuJu Smith Shuster is still trying to show he is a #1 receiver and has a chance with Ben back at the helm. Ben can will this team to 3 more wins with a pedestrian set of skill players with this defense. Good enough for a wildcard.

Its put up or shut up time in Cleveland for Baker Mayfield as the team brought in Case Keenum who is a stop gap veteran much in the way Tennessee picked up Tannehill last season. There is simply too much talent for this team to be 22nd in offense. 

Nick Chubb lead the NFL in rushing up until the final week of his sophomore season. He finished with 1,494 yards and 8 TDs and is the complete package. With former rushing champion Kareem Hunt backing him up they have insurance. Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham are a solid set of receivers but they don’t seem to complement each other. They seem to be the same receiver however a good coordinator should able to get the ball to them. Can Mayfield improve with his 3rd offensive coordinator? 

The division is Baltimore’s for the taking and with the drafting of Ohio St’s JK Dobbins he has a stronger skillset than an aging Mark Ingram. The Ravens should repeat last year’s performance with a 1-2 punch. They’ve added DE Calais Campbell to fortify their defense also. The question is can the Ravens make it to Super Bowl LV.

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