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Four Downs with Dang & Doc
by Brian Davis and Paul Hopkins
25/9/2009
This week, Dang and Doc debate the 0-2 and the 2-0 teams, and where they might be destined. Elsewhere are the Saints for real and what should the Niners do with Michael Crabtree?
 Which 0-2 team have the most to worry about?
DANG – CAROLINA. We picked up on this last week, but following another demoralising divisional defeat and facing a loaded schedule, they head into Dallas this week before having an early bye week to re-group, more than likely as an 0-3 team. Dare I say it, with coaching changes made? For the first 3-4 games after the bye they have a chance to get things on the go again, but after that, the schedules brutal. Id be very surprised if this team gets 6 wins, which when you were a 12 win team a year ago is a disappointing situation to be in, and one that is going to help out the San Francisco 49ers no end in next years draft, regardless of the Crabtree situation, theyre going to get a great player, possibly top ten talent, in return for Everette Brown.
 DOC Carolina clearly are in a mess right now, but they did look better against Atlanta this week, so perhaps the hyperbole was a little bit overblown last week. So I will go with MIAMI. They did exceptionally well last year and havent really looked too bad this time around. But they were soundly beaten by the Falcons in week one and then, inexplicably they lost to the Colts on Monday night after dominating the game. Chad Pennington looks to be tailing off and is struggling through a lack of a reliable receiving option. The running game remains very strong, but the Dolphins are one of those teams at a crossroads for their season shortly.
Which 2-0 team have caught the eye the most?
 DANG – BALTIMORE. I know theyve given up a whole lot of yards through the air, but that defense can sort itself out, I have no doubts about that. The most impressive thing for me so far though is Joe Flacco. I had my doubts of a sophomore slump for this season, but after two games, Im very impressed. To go west and beat the Chargers takes some doing and make no bones about it, this Baltimore team is good, Pittsburgh take note, you guys have got to pull your fingers out.
DOC NEW YORK JETS The new Ravens. Sanchez is better than Flacco was at this point last year, hes better than I thought he was going to be this early. And this defence is far better than I thought. Theyll win the AFC East from here, Ive changed my position.
 Which 0-2 team will turn it around the quickest?
 DANG – TENNESSEE. This team is too good to be 0-2. The secondary has let the team down in the first two games. Both games they have only gone down by 3 points whilst giving up an average of 360 yards through the air, yet with plenty of pass rush. Its just a matter of time before they create merry hell for somebody and chalk up a huge defensive performance and rack up the points offensively. In the hole that Big Albert left, Jovan Hoye, Tony Brown and until Sundays incident, Jason Jones have all performed more than sufficiently so far, however, Jones may now face the heavy hand of the law after he allegedly punched a Houston Texan on the sideline after a scuffle between Andre Johnson and Courtland Finnegan.
DOC TENNESSEE Agreed, its not even close. None of the other 0-2 teams will end up with a winning record in my view. The Titans still will in my book. Theyve had a tough couple of weeks and only just lost both games. Now, whilst this may become a trend for them during the season as tends to be the case for one team every year but the Titans are too tough a football team to not rebound back from a slow start and still be in contention for a wild-card spot come January.
Which 2-0 team are in a false position?
 DANG – DENVER. One fluke last minute game winning play after failing to score a Touchdown for the previous 59 minutes, doubled with a cup cake of a game, against the woeful Browns, puts Denver in very schedule friendly 2-0. I know! I know! You can only beat whats put in front of you, but if youre looking at purely records, then to put all of the teams that are 2-0 together, the Broncos are the most surprising at this stage and a team which wont be making the post season this year. San Diego is too talented. The rest of the AFC is too talented.
DOC – DENVER Same again. Nothing much else to add. McDaniels shouldnt get too comfortable yet.
 The Saints are the real deal?
 DANG – FACT !. This is a championship calibre team, only the 4th team in history to score 45 points or more in their opening two games, even without Pierre Thomas; their top running back, theyre still looking the part, tag onto that, the defense already has 6 interceptions, you simply have to like this team right now.
Drew Brees is on fire, his receivers are on fire, the Offensive line is strong, particularly the right hand side, Jeremy Shockey looks like the explosive Tight End he was in the Big Apple. Everything is all falling into place.
On the other side of the ball, I still think teams can put points on them but 6 picks in two games is some going. Darren Sharper looks like hes 24 not 34, they have plenty of options. Vilma is still a no-nonsense hitter.
Theyll get some help from their divisional rivals stuttering along the way and I think we might see a re-match of last week in the NFC Championship game, but it wont be quite so easy for them then with McNabb back and if everybody else stays fit for Philly.
DOC – FICTION ! Offence unbelievable after two weeks for beating up on pretty moderate offences. Come back in a few weeks and well discuss then. Theyre racking up the points, they do look very entertaining and are great to watch, but come the winter months where they wont be in the dome, how sustainable will all this be? That all being said they may well end up the best team in the NFC by default however. Theyve just crucified the Eagles and the much heralded Giants stole a win in Dallas thanks to the ineptitude of Tony Romo and Wade Phillips defensive scheme (alleged scheme), which highlights that they are nowhere near as good as many think. They might well end up the cream of the crop but Im not convinced just yet.
 The 49ers should be rewarded with a high draft pick if the Jets are found guilty of tapping up Michael Crabtree.
 DANG – FACT !. Tapping up takes place in the NFL, fact. Tapping up is a murky part of the game that needs to be stamped out, fact.
The 49ers fell afoul of this in 2007 after they made contact with the Bears Lance Briggs as he headed for FA. The 49ers were later docked a 5th round pick and flip flopped 5 places in the 3rd round with the Bears.
This is a whole new can of worms. This is allegedly another team, bidding for a player that has been drafted by a different team. The NFL draft is critical to a teams future, this must not happen again. The slotting system isnt a defined pay scale, but its worked in previous years to good effect. The reason why Crabtree was holding out now makes sense, thanks to Deion Sanders outburst on National TV that he knows other teams will pay more than the 49ers are offering.
Hey thanks for the tip Deion! Having been caught out at this in the past, were now in a good position to investigate and seek some form of compensation. Im sure the 49ers Front Office has complied enough evidence to now make a strong case for this. If Crabtree doesnt sign and ends up going back in next years pot and the Jets are found guilty, I believe the 49ers should be rewarded with at least a second round and a lower round pick. If he doesnt then the Jets should be at least docked and maybe the 49ers rewarded with a token 3-5th round pick.
The 49ers staked a huge part of 2009s season on having an elite WR, now it looks like they wont have him and I dont see why the 49ers should break the slotting system for this Diva who has been incredibly ill advised.
If Roger Goodell does not take a strong stand point on this then people should rightly call for his resignation. Lets see if there really is an East Coast bias in the NFL.
DOC – FACT ! If theyve tapped Crabtree up to the point where he isnt signing for the 49ers then yes they should be rightly punished, with the 49ers receiving appropriate compensation of the highest level for the interference in signing Crabtree. If its true then his agent wants to be suspended for his actions in this. Because no matter how wrong the Jets might have been, it takes an agent to be central to these type of discussions. Crabtree is the biggest type of idiot going for allowing this to happen, for allowing him to be distracted by the almighty green and will get what he has coming come what may for not being professional enough to report to San Francisco. In the long run hell lose out more than anyone. The teams will move onto the next big thing for them to throw money at, the agent wont be far behind trying to milk his new cash cow. The whole situation is a sorry mess and Crabtree has nobody to blame but himself. If the Jets have helped murky the water and influence his mind, they need punishing and the 49ers need appropriate compensation.
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