One Fan's Perspective

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons (3-2).

One player from the Falcons squad was suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Starting Guard Matt Lehr serves a four-game suspension because he tested positive for Ephedrine, a banned substance according the regulations of the NFL. He took a supplement that had the banned ingredient and will sit.

Another distraction for the Atlanta Falcons is Michael Vick as he sounded off to HBO’s Inside the NFL. I thought Vick was happier this year? When a player wishes for other receivers to be on his team, he insults the current receiving corps he plays with each week. Just give Vick the ball, coach?

Okay then.

Michael Vick’s Quarterback rating for the past five years is a 72.9. His QB rating this season is 66. He only completed 52.16% of his passes within those five years, and has completed only 50.4% this year.

But he’s a rushing quarterback, right?

Fine. He only has been in the top 15 of rushing yards twice in his career, and this season is in the top 25.

Peyton Manning he is not. How can Vick wish for “better receivers” when he can’t get the ball there? When he does rush for yardage, his energy level is shot for the next series of downs and if the offense falls apart before then, the Falcons usually punt.

Give him the ball coach – Vick is just another long list of whiners in the NFL, which I getting mighty tired of hearing. It’s worse this season than in previous seasons.

Pittsburgh will win this game and by a touchdown.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Oakland Raiders

The struggling Arizona Cardinals travel to Oakland to take on the hapless Raiders.

Much is wrong with the Silver and Black and the change in offensive coordinator for the Cardinals could spark the team to a win this week.

The Cardinals will win by a field goal (provided that Rackers can get his technique back).

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Football, Michael Vick, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers by pbcoyotes
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The Arizona Cardinals fired their offensive coordinator because the team needed a “change.” Mike Kruscek takes the reigns of an offense that has scored quick leads under rookie quarterback Matt Leinert in the first half for the past two games. The Cardinals had a 14 point lead last week against the Chiefs, and the team had a 20 point lead during the Monday game against the Bears.

Kruczek’s last coaching position before coming to the desert was at the University of Central Florida where he inherited Daunte Culpepper and the Knights had a 7-5 win-loss record. However, in 2002 and in 2003 the Knights posted only 3 wins and Kruczek was fired with two games remaining in the 2003 season. The starting quarterback during the 2003 season was Ryan Schneider who was dismissed from the team for academic violations. George O’Leary took over for the UCF Knights and the team didn’t win a game in 2004. O’Leary turned the football program around in the 2005 season as his team went 8-5.

Dennis Green has been through his share of assistant coaches. Kruczek is his third offensive coordinator and he is on his third offensive line coach. He says of the changes, “[T]here is a job that has to be done, and I’m going to give another guy a chance to do that job.”

Could it be a reason the team has been so haphazard during the past three years? Maybe Dennis Green is not the head coach everyone thinks he is – after all, he led the Minnesota Vikings to a 15-1 record one season only to not make the Superbowl. He should hire better people the first time, or use better screening methods.

Coach Green might think that it doesn’t fall on one guy – it does. It falls to him. If he can’t hire the right people the first time, which causes the players to become even more confused, maybe he is the problem.

Consistency in all levels is the key to success. Doing the same thing over and over again is the true definition of insanity.

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Football, NFL by pbcoyotes
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