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Four Downs with Dang & Doc
by Brian Davis and Paul Hopkins
9/9/2009
 Tedy Bruschi’s retirement leaves a major question mark over the Patriots linebackers for 2009.
 DANG FICTION ! – They were already the weakest unit in the Patriots Defense anyway. I mentioned this a few weeks ago before this news broke. Losing a guy who may well have been cut, to make way for a younger player doesn’t really weaken the. Belichick may well have suggested to Bruschi that retiring might be a better option than the indignity of getting cut last weekend.
Jerod Mayo is a great player who will go onto become an All-Pro and has a great mentor alongside him in Adalius Thomas, but after that there’s not much to write home about. Even Thomas hasn’t set the world on fire since transferring from Baltimore. Gary Guyton and Shawn Crable are reasonable pass rushers, but Paris Lenon, Tubby Banta-Cain and Eric Alexander are going to have to show-up in a big, big way to have any kind of impact on this team, if one of these can be a real menace and cause havoc as a pass rusher then I’ll be happy to eat my words, as these guys are just filling roster spots, collecting their pay-cheques right now.
A bit like the Eagles, the Defensive line and the secondary are still very strong units so it’s not a massive concern and we’ll still see them deep into post season.
DOC FACT ! Truth be told it was probably time truth be told for Tedy to retire last season, but you cannot fault him for staying. An impressive career and someone with the upmost integrity and respect from the entire league. However, his retirement leaves even bigger questions about the Patriots linebackers than they had already. The Pats offence might be explosive, but behind an impressive defensive line, their defence really isn’t up to much. Belichick will need to work some of his magic to see his defence holds its end up to allow the Pats to get as deep in the post-season as that offence could take them.
 Chan Gailey being fired as offensive coordinator is a clear sign all is not well in Kansas City.
 DANG FICTION ! – If Todd Haley thinks he can do a better job than Chan Gailey then let him do it. Obviously he backs himself well after Co-ordinating the Cardinal’s sensational march to last season’s Super Bowl.
I find the timing a little strange considering we’ve only had the Exhibition games, but Haley knows how to win and how he wants to win, if Gailey hasn’t shown that in pre-season and 2 TD’s in 3 games would suggest he hasn’t, then maybe Haley lighting a fire under the ass of some of these Offensive players before the season starts, rather than 6 games into it when it might be too late, isn’t a bad thing, better to junk it now for me. This season was always going to be about rebuilding anyway.
Gailey got the Chiefs performing last year, but only once they went into the Spread. I’d guess that Haley wants to move away from that and work with a more pro-style based offense, if Gailey could only get them to work well from within the spread then maybe this move is in the best interest.
Haley will have to hand over a few extra responsibilities to his DC and positional coaches to allow him the freedom and time to call in the plays. It’s not ideal, but it’s the direction he wants the team to move in.
The Offensive line is a big concern. They might have to keep Thigpen, Croyle and Cassel around and active to see out the season. Still, Damon Huard is available again!
DOC FACT ! I was, and remain genuinely excited about the Pioli-Haley combination but its not looking particularly good at the present time, exacerbated by removing the offensive coordinator two weeks before the season beings. Gailey did in my opinion, and I remember saying it in this column, a simply superb job last season with the offence tools he had in Kansas City. There’s clearly been a difference of opinion in philosophy, it’s not ideal but I guess at least it has happened now. Todd Haley can coordinate an offence, and whilst it’s probably a bit more hands-on than he expected when he made the step-up to be a Head Coach, at least they’re in safe hands. It’s a sign that things are not as settled as they would like, but in the long run when you are rebuilding a franchise it’s probably best to get these issues sorted out early. This year is going to be tough for the Chiefs.
 With Kyle Orton and Chris Simms injured, rookie Tom Brandstater likely to start and Brandon Marshall suspended, the situation in Denver is becoming increasingly untenable for Josh McDaniels.
 DANG In Terms of Orton it’s FICTION !. With Marshall, it’s FACT ! – Kyle Orton’s injury is just a mild dislocation; albeit with some blood, ok, a lot of blood. Reports are that he’ll be fine to start in week one, so other than Orton being somewhat of a downgrade from Cutler, nothing’s really changed here.
As for Brandon Marshall, the way he’s been behaving in training batting down balls in receiver dills, walking whilst his teammates run and booting the ball skywards instead of handing it to the ball boys, the Broncos are probably going to be better off without him. Nobody needs a cancer like that in the team. These antics at training show what a complete Diva he is, he should grow up, get his ass out on the field this season and prove he’s worth a new contract, regardless of what team that new contract will be for.
He has made a huge error if he believes he is doing the right thing by acting in this way.
His market value is decreasing by the day. The suspension will hurt even more to that value along with his reputation which at this moment is in tatters.
DOC FACT ! – It’s simply stunning how Denver has turned itself around 360 degrees this off-season and are now facing backwards. Cutler might have acted a little churlishly but you don’t just come in and isolate your QB as probably the one person who you have at your disposal who is top class. And you certainly don’t look to replace him with an inferior QB. And as a knock-on you irritate Brandon Marshall. Someone who isn’t really playing with a full deck of cards in the head to begin with. So now he doesn’t want to play for you, or well some days he practices hard and then others he hates it. I don’t blame McDaniels for suspending Marshall because as brilliant as he is, he’s a loose cannon right now and not something you need in the locker room when you’re trying to assert yourself anyway. Unless Brandon has such a change of heart that makes you think he’s had a lobotomy then there’s no way long-term he can remain in Denver either. And to think you lose your best two players (by some distance) because of a decision and action you took within weeks of coming in hangs around Josh’s neck like a millstone waiting to pull him under. Add in what was a bit of a puzzling draft Knowshon Moreno aside in my opinion and has a rookie head coach ever faced this much scrutiny, bad will and questioning before even having a game in charge? The siege mentality he will have learnt under Belichick is going to have to come in useful in 2009. The pressure is ramped up on McDaniels.
 It is merely Jerry Jones’ ego that is delaying the inevitable raising of the Cowboys new screen in Cowboys stadium, Arlington.
 DANG FICTION ! – Jones complied to league rules when they submitted the stadium plans, the NFL signed it off, the restrictions were that it was set to 85 foot above, they put it at 90. However, the fact that it has been hit in a pre-season game and punters are booming them off of the thing in warm-ups, it will have to be moved before the first regular season game. It will certainly be something the NFL will have to reconsider with future stadium developments. They will certainly have to raise it beyond 100 feet for standard regulations.
In the meantime, consider this; your punter is deep in his own half, he booms one, only for the ball to hit the screen, it’s called back for a do-over (which the league has agreed will happen for now), so you re-snap the ball, but it’s botched, your punter fumbles or falls on the ball and fails to kick away, the Cowboys recover 5 yards out and go on to score, or one of your key players gets seriously injured on the play. How are you going to feel about the screen then?
One thing I will be sure of; I bet Jerry Jones won’t pay for it to be moved himself!
DOC FACT ! Oh look Jerry’s got himself the centre of attention again. The world’s largest screen or whatever it is note it isn’t as big as his ego however has taken over from T.O. as the issue for everyone to have an opinion on. But I will say this. The only punter who has not tried to hit it is Mat McBriar. It’s now become some little game of un-upmanship for punters to try and outdo each other, and get a little bit of name recognition. A little bit pathetic if you ask me, but so be it. Jones should just bite the bullet and get it sorted with the NFL to have it raised. Mind you, at $40m to install and position it I reckon the reason behind the stalling is that he’s angling to get some financial support to do so. Because after all, as erratic an owner and perplexing a GM he is, he’s one hell of a businessman. The only other thing I have left to say is when someone returning a kick-off or punt muffs it, citing the screen as a distraction…
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