Tag Archives: Phillip Rivers

Phillip Rivers As Head Coach of The Buffalo Bills Is Ridiculous

by

0

Yesterday friends started peppering me on social media about Phillip Rivers interviewing to be Buffalo Bills HC. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen since he was just coaching high school. Nothing says how far Buffalo’s front office has fallen then to even grant this interview after that disastrous press conference. Right now there is a petition swriling in upstate New York with 69,000 signatures to reinstate Sean McDermott.

My sentiment is he should go and we need a proven Head Coach who will know how to mine a title from the ore of an aging roster. Too many are enjoying the “Aww shucks” demeanor and channelling this into a he could do the job and was a leader of offenses in the league. Lets take a closer look at Rivers’ effectiveness.

#1 Phillip Rivers in 2010 was the leader on a team that finished #1 on offense and #1 on defense. Do you realize this is the only team in the Super Bowl era that had this distinction and didn’t make the playoffs?? The others?? The 1977 Dallas Cowboys (12-2) who ran away with the Super Bowl XII Lombardi & the 1987 San Francisco 49ers (13-2) who should have won XXII but were upset in the playoffs by the Vikings. I covered this anomaly in my 2011 Chargers preview. How well was his leadership then??

#2 Phillip Rivers led his team to the playoffs 7 times in (now) 18 years to the playoffs and only made 1 AFC Championship Game. That was closed by an electric performance of Shawn Merriman. He had a 5-7 record in the playoffs and all of a sudden he knows what it takes to get Buffalo to the Super Bowl in a win at all costs within 3 years?

Yes he is a good soundbite and deserves credit or coming to try to save the Colts season but lets be real here… he went 0-3 and averaged 5.9 yards per attempt and I showed you how anemic those numbers are. Remember? Oh you don’t…

Yes 5.9 yards per attempt would have been 30th if he had enough pass attempts. He’d be with JJ McCarthy who is getting laughed at in Minnesota.

Now all of a sudden he is going to know what Defensive Coordinator to hire to mesh with the offense he is going to bring in. And what offense is that by the way?? Now he is developing talent and knows what to coach based upon high school kids.

Coaching an all white high school team is not the same as coaching an NFL ball club where the majority of those players are black and why doesn’t this same line of biased thinking not extend to black players?

Cam Newton was more accomplished than Rivers when he played, why not call him?? He was an NFL MVP and made it to Super Bowl 50. I’m sure the GM could help Cam get the right coaches in a committee’d approach to it. Evaluate with scouts to know who to select in the draft and free agency. He’ll hire the DLine Coach, LB Coach, Secondary Coach.

You know… Cam will grow into the positi0n. If my assertion sounds ridiculous to you then you know how ridiculous Phillip Rivers sounds to me.

Don’t even have me go into the qualified black coaches in the NFL like Eric Bienemy or even Duce Staley who haven’t been given a shot after a decade plus coaching in the NFL.

Tired of the privileged ploy and my choice is a proven Coach in Bill Belichick I already told you in the last article.

Truth of the matter is GM Brandon Beane never should have kept his job. His roster was atrocious as was the interview selection of Phillip Rivers as Head Coach. It was bad enough you and Terry Pagula looked like Montgomery Burns and Smithers at that debacle of a press conference. Hire Rivers as Coach and you’ll become a full fledged cartoon.

Ole Man River… Sigh Phillip Rivers That Is

by

5

Phillip Rivers coming back at 44 out of retirement to play for the Indianpolis Colts is a crazy prospect. So many would like to romanticize this signing where the ole’ gunslinger shows he can still do it when reality often shows us something drastically different.
Remember Kurt Warner being knocked out by Bobby McCray in his final game in the 09 playoffs? Kurt didn’t know it was his final game until his wife intervened and said that’s it. You can’t have your family go through this anymore. If you can recall, Warner was on the ground for several minutes after he tried to track Will Smith after an interception.
Remember Joe Montana laying knocked out in Rich Stadium in the 93 AFC Championship Game? Joe was caught in a vice after being hit by Bruce Smith, Jeff Wright, and Phil Hansen. Yes all 3 Bills defensive linemen on the field converged and hit him simultaneously and his helmet hit the turf and the lights went out. He never returned to the game.

What about when Roger Staubach got knocked out at 3Rivers Stadium in 1979 after taking a solid shot from the late LC Greenwood?
Staubach had one of the 5 concussions he suffered in the NFL and retired a few months later. One interesting aspect was how he looked in the famous come from behind 35-34 win over the Redskins in the finale but seemed out of sorts when they lost to the LA Rams…yet I digress but remember these men were 38, 38, and 37 at the time.
Why aren’t the Colts going after younger players who just retired in Nick Foles, Derrick Carr, Taylor Heinecke, or Sam Howell? These men are much younger and knowing Coach Steichen’s playbook isn’t the high point of competence. Surviving to finish multiple NFL games and make a playoff run seems more important.
It all sounds fantastic and romantic until a 24 year old edge rusher with 4% body fat clears the Left Tackle’s outside arm getting to full speed on an NFL football field. The closer we get to the playoffs where each game means more, the speed, intensity, and hitting ratchet up on a football field.
Yes QBs are supposed to get hit! Yes you should be able to land on them!
This isnt tennis and a 44 year old QB on a football field isnt going to end well.
I hope in Phillip Rivers sake he isn’t seriously injured and here where Coach Steichen needs to take his lumps not developing 1st round pick Anthony Richardson to be the insurance to be cashed in at this point. Well  I know he is on IR for another week or so but they signed Rivers to take them through the playoffs, not the next regular season game.
Phillip Rivers… your mission and you chose to accept it is…. Sigh
Thanks for reading go ahead like & subscribe!

Taylor Blitz Crystal Ball- Super Bowl LV: Colts over Packers: Colts Story

by

0

The 2020 season is underway and taking shape and several teams have stepped to the fore. The defending champion Chiefs look completely unbeatable as all world QB Patrick Mahomes continues on a torrid pace. The same with Russell Wilson up in the Pacific Northwest. Yet two teams are just under the radar and will gain momentum although they aren’t the sexiest picks as the season will progress.

A formidable defense is growing in the midwest that will finish as the best defense in football and currently ranks #2 in all the NFL. The Chiefs are busy putting the finishing touches on the Ravens no longer being the #1 defense which will leave the Colts at the top of the heap. 

Indianapolis Colts defense:

  • Will be ranked #1 in defense once the Ravens lose tonight.
  • Will be ranked #1 in the NFL against the pass.
  • 5 of their top 6 defenders have allowed 73% or less pass completions in their territory.
  • Colts have given up just 56 points through 4 games…29 in the last 3 games combined.
  • Through 4 games have garnered 10 sacks, 2 safeties, 7 ints returning 2 for touchdowns.
  • This defense has scored nearly as much as their opponents in the last 4 games 18 to 28.

It was the Colts who signed away DT DeForrest Buckner (19.5 sacks the last 2 seasons in San Fran) and CB Xavier Rhodes that have handicapped both the 49ers and Vikings defenses so far this season. Rhodes has scored on a pick 6 against the Jets and Buckner has scored on a safety with his 1.5 sacks this year. The other safety was recorded by former KC Chief Justin Houston who has 3.5 sacks and on pace for 14 this season. 

Keep in mind Houston is a 4 time Pro Bowler and had 11 sacks last year in his first year as a Colt. In 2014 he missed Michael Strahan’s record by 1 when he recorded 22 sacks. How well will he play with a lead and the best back 7 covering opponents receivers??

All this before we talk about emerging star Darius Leonard. Last year #53 turned heads accumulating 121 tackles, 5 sacks while forcing 2 fumbles and intercepting 5 passes and had 7 pass defenses. This year teams are staying away from him and have run into his talented teammates who round out the best defense in football.

The NFL will take notice once this team shuts down Cleveland and can make their way to the bye week at 5-1.

Head Coach Frank Reich who won Super Bowl LII as the Eagles Offensive Coordinator is getting into sync with Phillip Rivers. He doesn’t have to carry the Colts as they have the best offensive line in football and rookie RB Jonathan Taylor learning the pro game. Reich also coached Rivers during some of his best career years from 2013-2016 as first QB Coach then Offensive Coordinator.

The offense has taken a slight step back with Marlon Mack’s injury and Phillip Rivers just needs to be a guiding hand as the offense adjusts to Taylor and he can connect with TY Hilton. Rivers just needs to make key first downs and finish drives Jacoby Brissett left on the field last year. His role is similar to that of Peyton Manning’s in 2015 on the way to Super Bowl L with Denver. Minimize turnovers and get the young Colts an early lead and sic that defense on their opponent and turn to the running game. 

In case you forgot the Colts have the NFL’s best offensive line. Led by All Pro G Quenton Nelson and LT Anthony Costanzo, they powered the NFL’s #3 rushing attack last year. They just need their rookie RB Taylor to hit his stride and timing now that he is a surprise starter due to injury. Taylor will catch stride and rush for 1,000 yards before season’s end. His 250 yards and 2 TDs have just scratched the surface and the Colts should be rolling fully around midseason.

Taylor after scoring against the Jets

Which is just in the nick of time as they host the Packers in 7 weeks that will be a preview of Super Bowl LV. If they handle Green Bay in that week 11 matchup this team will win 13 games and will be vying for home field advantage. We’re upping the ante when The Chancellor of Football predicted they would win 11 and go to the AFC Championship before the season began in this preview.

This is the back 7 the defending champion Chiefs don’t want to face. Leonard is the most athletic Linebacker in the game and can cover TE Travis Kelce. He ate up underneath routes all last year when he led the team with 5 picks as teams were trying to throw to their “Y” receiver. “Y” is Tight End in coach speak…

This team will win Super Bowl LV with a group of hungry players who don’t have a distorted ego and a sinister sneaky defense against the pass. Much like the Philadelphia Eagle team Coach Reich was a part of in winning LII. Taylor Blitz Times said it first.

Thanks for reading and please share the article. 

2020 AFC South Preview: Bound For a Championship Game Appearance

by

0

Well…well… well… it looks like we’re going to have an NFL season after all. So we’re here to rub the crystal ball and see what we think will happen this 2020 season. Amid the backdrop of empty stadiums the NFL plans on kicking off the 101st season amid the Covid pandemic.

With two teams that fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs in the playoffs, it’s not far fetched to assume a team from the AFC South will appear in this year’s AFC Championship Game. The Houston Texans melted after having a 24-0 lead in the divisional round before losing. Then the clock struck midnight on the cinderella Titans in the AFC Championshp after holding a 17-7 lead. Each come into the new season wondering what might have been. 

2020 AFC South Predictions

  1. Indianapolis Colts 11-5
  2. Tennessee Titans 9-7**
  3. Houston Texans 7-9
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12

The mantle of best offensive line shifts from the “Great Wall of Dallas II” to the Indianapolis front line. This group led a game managing Jacoby Brissett to a manageable 18TDs & 6 picks and serviceable Marlon Mack to 1,091 yards and 8 TDs.

This line led by All Pro G Quenton Nelson and LT Anthony Costanzo powered the NFL’s #3 rushing attack. Now they add 226lb north south runner Jonathan Taylor out of Wisonsin. He had multiple 2,000 yard seasons in the Big Ten and translates well in tandem with Mack. This is before speaking of the upgrade to Phillip Rivers who already knows Head Coach Frank Reich’s offense from their time together with the Chargers a few years back.

Rivers has signed a 1 year $25 million dollar deal and is playing for his legacy. Fellow 2004 draftees Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger each have 2 Super Bowl wins and Rivers has yet to appear in one. The Colts have a proven leader in this 16 year veteran who should be able to push the ball downfield better than the aforementioned Mr Brissett.

Down in Tennessee they hope to strike lightening twice with a good season out of Ryan Tannehill. Hard to coax from a retread quarterback the division now has film on. Keep in mind bruising defensive teams that rely on a bellcow running back like league leading rusher Derrick Henry rarely repeat close to the vest playoff runs. Last year the Titans were 3-1 in games decided by 3 points or less. The ball won’t bounce that way a 2nd straight year.

Rashaan Evans will become one of the NFL’s best linebackers this season.

Gone is 5 time pro bowl DT Jurrell Casey, former Patriot change of pace back Dion Lewis, TE Delanie Walker and LB Wesley Woodyard. This is a tremendous loss of veteran leadership and with Casey, playmaking ability.

Houston resigned Deshaun Watson to a megadeal and then traded his #1 weapon in DeAndre Hopkins. They traded him for underachieving RB David Johnson from the Cardinals. Johnson was on the bench and fallen completely out of favor with the Cardinals Coach. What Bill O’Brien saw in this move has yet to be understood by The Chancellor of Football. Or any other pundit for that matter.

Watson will be holding the ball more next year now the team doesn’t have a #1 receiver. He will regress from the 333 of 495 for 3,852 yards 26TDs and 12ints he tossed in 2019.

This will be Bill O’Brien’s last season as the Houston Texans head coach. However this division will have the Colts make the AFC Championship Game. 

Thanks for reading and please share the article.Â