This week in the Four Downs, Stock and Doc shoot the breeze over just how good AP is, and just what is going on in Washington? Plus, is it wise to assign Jim Mora Jr Head Coaching designate duties? And what exactly is Jeremy Shockey worth to the Champs?
1st Down Adrian Peterson is already the best running back in the NFL.
STOCK FICTION ! I’ll take LaDanian Tomlinson for right here and right now (well, not right now, that knee injury could be a bit of a problem). It’s a pretty close run thing but Tomlinson is more proven that Peterson and one season won’t see me put All Day ahead of #21. Let’s not forget that the A-Train, Anthony Thomas was rookie of the year ahead of Tomlinson in 2001, so there’s proof positive as if it was needed that one year (no matter how good it might have been) isn’t enough substance to elevate him to the top of the NFL running back ranks. That’s without even mentioning that once again he couldn’t get through a full season injury free.
DOCFICTION ! Can’t disagree with you here. He’s stunned me to be honest with how well he has adapted, but after one season he’s not the best around just yet. That day may well come sooner rather than later as you rightly point out, with LT’s injury status. But AP’s got history on the shelf too and that might come back to haunt him. I fancy a slow down in his production next year as people adapt the limit his impact, plus his duties on special teams should get cut back severely as he becomes even more important to the Vikings. The sky’s the limits for the guy but its wrong to, in the words of Bill Parcells, anoint him for Canton just yet.
2nd Down Jim Zorn’s appointment at Washington smacks of desperation.
STOCKFICTION ! There is certainly a whiff of desperation, but I’m not going to take desperation as the overriding factor so long as Vinnie Cerrato and Danny Boy let him actually run the team. He’s got a good reputation coming from being quarterbacks coach in Seattle and we’ve seen some of the best coaches in recent years (Bill Cowher, Andy Reid) come in without experience as coordinators, heck he’s not even the only head coach this off-season to be appointed without experience as an offensive or defensive coordinator. Certainly this head coaching search doesn’t reflect well on the Redskins, turned down by Steve Spagnuolo and Snyder’s unwillingness to hire his choice (Jim Fassel) because of the perceived reaction from the fan base. Certainly Zorn wouldn’t have been their first choice and the fact he was hired as offensive coordinator first adds to the air of desperation, but if they think he’s the right man for the job and they allow him to build his team, then I see no reason why it’s a desperation move. A re-tread would be far more of a desperation move than a complete change of direction.
DOCFACT ! What else is it? Did God speak to Dan Snyder in a dream, telling him that Zorn was his guy? Hardly. It’s obvious that they liked the guy enough to appoint him to OC, he was someone they thought had potential, and after scouring the ranks of the unemployed and offering, he became someone who offered the most to them right now, rather than in the future. But that means they initially didn’t think they had it in him to be Head Coach, otherwise that’s the job he would have had in the first place! They were nave to wait for Spagnuolo, lord only knows what was going through Snyder’s head when the name Fassell appeared, particularly based on his latest work, and what the Skins need someone to take Campbell forward. They’ve got that with Zorn and after all this mess and an initial hard learning period, I see him taking the Skins forward.
3rd Down Anointing Jim Mora Jr as the next Head Coach of the Seahawks is a bad move.
STOCKFACT ! It sets your head coach up as a lame duck (well Holmgren’s announcement did that) and also puts Mora in a pressure filled position. What happens if the team bombs and Holmgren leaves on a sour note? Is that a situation where you’d hire someone from within as your new head coach? What happens if the Seahawks secondary collapses and is the cause for key defeats for the Seahawks? Making this decision public is completely unnecessary and short sighted. It can be done in private and just let the necessary people know of the plan. Making it public just adds extra pressures to the locker room in the event of a poor season. If things collapse for the Seahawks next year and there is a clear divide between those in favour of Mora and those not, do you re-visit the decision?
DOCFICTION ! I’m amazed you said fact without even referring to his ability as a Head Coach! Whilst I have strong reservations about Mora’s ability as a Head Coach, the stability this provides ensures that Seattle, probably the most consistent NFC team over recent years, can continue to plan ahead. Your arguments about him being a lame duck and Seattle bombing would hold some credence but this is a team in the NFC West! They’ll always be pushing for that title, and should retain it again this year. So, whilst their choice may not be the best this move is really a non-event. Seattle is not particularly newsworthy, are stuck way out west, go under the radar and as I say, play in a poor division. It’s really not a big story.
4th Down The success enjoyed without him show that the Giants don’t need Jeremy Shockey.
STOCKFICTION ! Yes, they won a Superbowl without Shockey but to say they’re a better team without him I think is off base. Kevin Boss is certainly a better blocker than Shockey, but he is not close to the receiving threat that Shockey is. The thing that eased the loss of Jeremy Shockey for this Giants team was the late emergence of the likes of Steve Smith taking receptions out of the slot and not exposing Boss’ weakness as a receiver. Can this team survive without Shockey? Of course they can, they won a Super Bowl without him, so they’re obviously good enough without him. However I can’t see how having Jeremy Shockey (one of the better receiving tight ends in the league) doesn’t make this team better. Whether his impact on the field matches his impact on the salary cap is a different question and it could be frugal for the Giants to look for a cheaper option as a receiving tight end.
DOCFACT ! They don’t need him at all. If ever there was a case of hype over substance it could quite easily be him. Without him Eli doesn’t have to get a certain number of balls to a tight end that may or may not fancy it at the time. Players did step up to the plate for Eli, but I tell you what. He looked a far better quarterback without having Shockey there. Like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. All the top quarterbacks need a tight end they can rely on, and despite the talent, despite the intensity, Shockey just is not reliable enough. The best place for him in New York is being loaded on Coors in a skybox like he was at the Super Bowl. Even better, maybe they can work a way for him to not just spend the off-season in Miami.
1st Down Adrian Peterson is already the best running back in the NFL.
DOC FICTION ! Can’t disagree with you here. He’s stunned me to be honest with how well he has adapted, but after one season he’s not the best around just yet. That day may well come sooner rather than later as you rightly point out, with LT’s injury status. But AP’s got history on the shelf too and that might come back to haunt him. I fancy a slow down in his production next year as people adapt the limit his impact, plus his duties on special teams should get cut back severely as he becomes even more important to the Vikings. The sky’s the limits for the guy but its wrong to, in the words of Bill Parcells, anoint him for Canton just yet.
2nd Down Jim Zorn’s appointment at Washington smacks of desperation.
DOC FACT ! What else is it? Did God speak to Dan Snyder in a dream, telling him that Zorn was his guy? Hardly. It’s obvious that they liked the guy enough to appoint him to OC, he was someone they thought had potential, and after scouring the ranks of the unemployed and offering, he became someone who offered the most to them right now, rather than in the future. But that means they initially didn’t think they had it in him to be Head Coach, otherwise that’s the job he would have had in the first place! They were nave to wait for Spagnuolo, lord only knows what was going through Snyder’s head when the name Fassell appeared, particularly based on his latest work, and what the Skins need someone to take Campbell forward. They’ve got that with Zorn and after all this mess and an initial hard learning period, I see him taking the Skins forward.
3rd Down Anointing Jim Mora Jr as the next Head Coach of the Seahawks is a bad move.
STOCK FACT ! It sets your head coach up as a lame duck (well Holmgren’s announcement did that) and also puts Mora in a pressure filled position. What happens if the team bombs and Holmgren leaves on a sour note? Is that a situation where you’d hire someone from within as your new head coach? What happens if the Seahawks secondary collapses and is the cause for key defeats for the Seahawks? Making this decision public is completely unnecessary and short sighted. It can be done in private and just let the necessary people know of the plan. Making it public just adds extra pressures to the locker room in the event of a poor season. If things collapse for the Seahawks next year and there is a clear divide between those in favour of Mora and those not, do you re-visit the decision?
4th Down The success enjoyed without him show that the Giants don’t need Jeremy Shockey.
STOCK FICTION ! Yes, they won a Superbowl without Shockey but to say they’re a better team without him I think is off base. Kevin Boss is certainly a better blocker than Shockey, but he is not close to the receiving threat that Shockey is. The thing that eased the loss of Jeremy Shockey for this Giants team was the late emergence of the likes of Steve Smith taking receptions out of the slot and not exposing Boss’ weakness as a receiver. Can this team survive without Shockey? Of course they can, they won a Super Bowl without him, so they’re obviously good enough without him. However I can’t see how having Jeremy Shockey (one of the better receiving tight ends in the league) doesn’t make this team better. Whether his impact on the field matches his impact on the salary cap is a different question and it could be frugal for the Giants to look for a cheaper option as a receiving tight end.
