Last
Updated-
04/04/01 08:57:47 AM
FEATURES-
NFC Championship Game photos by Old Hacker-
Click
Here!!
NFC Champs wallpaper by Mark Kane(684kb)-
let image load then right click to either save or set as wallpaper-
Click Here!!
Bucs post-game coverage
Bucs pre-game coverage
Vikings post-game coverage
Vikings pre-game coverage
ZINE Home Page
GUESS WHAT? BY
JAMESJM
(Jan 27)
MY RAMS are in the SUPER BOWL.
Imagine a missionary arriving home in the States today after having spent a year in the
jungles of Borneo. First thing he sees is that THE RAMS ARE IN THE SUPER BOWL...could
he/she handle the shock?
I wasn't in Borneo during the last year, I was home watching the Rams, and I'M in
shock. I think the missionary would have to go through some serious debriefing.
My family asks me the same thing every day---"You ready, Dad?".
Friends are wishing me luck at the Grocery store, the hardware store, the gas station, the
irrigation district, everywhere!
The newspaper keeps running articles specifically targeting MY RAMS.
THE RAMS ARE IN THE SUPER BOWL.
Just One Win More. That's all it is.
I trust this defense....they will give up some points...but they will keep us in the game.
The offense needs only 2qtrs of RAMS FOOTBALL to win the game...3Qtrs is a bonus, and
4qtrs will make it a rout.
THE RAMS ARE IN THE SUPER BOWL |
|
GAME BALL
BY RAM-BLE (Jan 27)Guess who got the
Vikes game ball. Billy Jenkins.
So, when you are so quick to finger him as a "weakness", think twice. TEs have
done little this year. And when they have, it's been the LBs on them.
Yes, Billy ain't Toby as to hitting. But, he's REALLY involved. Leads every game in
tackling or is second. Involved is Billy. Involved!
This Super Bowl might "depend" on Billy. Tennessee is strong at TE and weak at
WR. So, Billy may have to stop Tennessee. |
OH BROTHER
BY JEDIMACH (Jan 27)
I live in Memphis and the fans here, including the sports media guys, think Kearse can
cover Faulk out of the backfield.
Why? ...because he is fast.
They don't understand that quick AND fast is different from fast. How does Kearse move
laterally or backpeddle?
I cannot believe it! Please Titans...put Kearse on Faulk out of the backfield.
By the way...they think Ken Holmes will handle Orlando Pace too. |
RAMS WIN? TITANS WIN?
BY ZOOEY (Jan 29)
1. THE RAMS WILL LOSE. Jeff Faustus is superb at inspiring his troops to overachieve. He
has defied the odds to get Tennessee to where they are right now. Somehow, that team is
always ready to play and they are highly opportunistic.
They are great at stripping the ball (ask Warner) and hawking turnovers. Statistically
they are a middle of the pack team, but they make big plays at important times. That
doesn't show up in the stats.
Jevon Kearse owns a little piece of the real estate between Miller's ears. Miller can say
what he wants - and crowd noise will be less of a factor - but if Kearse can draw a
penalty on Miller early, that plays to the Titans advantage for the next couple of series
at least.
Torry Holt is banged up and rib injuries (even bruises) are very painful. If he gets hit
hard, his effectiveness may be reduced.
McNair is capable of popping off big runs right when the defense has him cornered. There
is nothing so demoralizing as collapsing a pocket on 3rd and long and having the QB scoot
out of there for a 35 yard run. And he can do it.
But mainly the Titans just win. They find ways. They lateral the ball on kickoffs when
their season is over. They get flags picked up for them. They have penalties thrown
against the other team on phantom calls. They get crucial turnovers and convert them. They
hang around in games and beat teams with sheer will power.
And their head coach sold his soul to the devil.
THE RAMS WILL WIN. I get a kick out of the anaylses offered by various media types that
compare the OLs, the RBs, the QBs and so on.
Kurt Warner doens't play against McNair, so how they compare isn't really relevant, is it?
It matters how the OL of one team compares to the DL of the other, right?
The Rams win this game because the strength of the Titans offense is Eddie George, and the
strength of the Rams defense is stopping Eddie George. The Rams have stuffed five 1,000
yard rushers this year and another (Alstott) who fell just short of 1,000. George got 68
yards running on the Rams in the regular season matchup, and that was with a 21 point lead
spotted to them early.
With Thigpen out (or at least hampered) the Titans have no way to stretch the Rams
defense. They will put 8 guys in the box most of the day and dare McNair to beat them
through the air. The Rams probably won't shut them down completely, but I can't see the
Titans putting up more than 10 or 14 points running their offense with double tight end
sets all day. It plays to the Rams strength, and they have been consistent shutting down
that part of a team's offense all year. They have done it EVERY game. No lapses. Why
should Sunday be different?
On the other side, the Rams offense has usually feasted on blitzes. Remember the first
four games of the season (which earned Warner a SI cover), the opponents threw blitzes at
Warner all day long and he carved them up. Blitzing is the Titans specialty.
Meanwhile, with Roberston out at FS, an inferior & less experienced Dorsett will
start. Chances are goo, I think, that he will make at least one major mistake in the game,
and he may play cautiously to try to avoid mistakes. If he does, the Rams will beat him.
That is a matchup they will look for all day.
In the first game, the Titans focused on shutting down Faulk. While they held him to
50-something yards in the first half, he ended up with 180-something all-purpose yards.
With Faulk and the WRs, it has been a case of "Pick your poison" all year for
defenses and only Tampa and to a lesser extent Detroit was able to play the Rams straight
up with any success. And Tampa was aided by the absence of Holt and Hakim for large chunks
of the game.
The Titans are playing well, but they simply are the underdog on both sides of the ball.
Rams win! Rams win! |
|
|
|
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO SUNDAY
BY KILLRAZOR (Jan 27)I made a pact with myself that
if the Rams win the game on Sunday, I will never drive myself crazy regarding the Rams
again. This is all I ask for---one more win and I'm home free.
One more win and the countless years of heartbreak will finally seem worth it. One more
win and the ultimate test of loyalty will finally pay off. All I have ever wanted in life
is to see the Rams win one Super Bowl, and the 11th hour of that dream is fast
approaching.
Its a shame that the Super Bowl is just not intended for the average person to attend. At
$1,600 minimum for one ticket, its almost impossible to witness my dream come true in
person.
Instead, I have to settle for the local sports bar, where the Rams have won every game
that I was there watching them play. I stayed home just two weeks this year, and those two
weeks the Rams lost to the Titans and Lions. Could I possibly be any place else other than
this bar? Hopefully there is one more win left in front of those screens.
It's funny---when the season first started, my team was on like two screens. Now, this
Sundays game, the Rams will be on all 34.
As a fan, its hard to sit by and watch the events unfold without a thing that you can do
except pray and *will* your team on to victory.
One more win and all the jokes about the Rams won't seem very funny anymore. Those
annoying relatives, who have nothing else better to say to you besides how bad the Rams
are, will finally have nothing to say at all. Yes, the laughing will stop, and the joke
will be on the rest of the league.
As I look at the final obstacle in our way (the Titans), I don't see a Montana, I don't
see a Jerry Rice, I don't see an 85 Bears defense, and I don't see a Viking style home
field advantage. I just don't see all the Ram killers of the past.
This is our time. Our game.
This Sunday, not only will fans rooting on the Ramswith every ounce of energy that we
have, but for long time greats who once played for the Rams, it will almost be like they
are suiting up the chin strap one last time. One more win and these great warriors will
finally see the team that they shed their blood for achieve something that they never
accomplished. A win on Sunday will be a tribute to all the Ram players as much as their
fans.
If there ever could be such a Heaven on Earth, a Rams victory could just about send us
there.
It all comes down to this Sunday.
THE BIG STEP
BY RAMMED FOR LIFE (Jan 27)
WHAT IS THEIR DESTINY? Unquestionably, the Rams are looking
up. The league laughingstock is now stocked with talent, organizational stability,
confidence, and leadership. The future is golden. Unquestionably, the entire
organization has ALREADY achieved enormously. 1999 cannot be looked on in any way but as a
success.
But teams have come along and played in 1 Super Bowl, maybe even won one (the Jets, the
Bears) and then gone away again. ATL had a strong team, a worthy playoff competitor, but
it was vulnerable and soon collapsed.
This Ram team has staked a claim to greatness. True greatness. Dynasty-type greatness.
This team has staked a claim to be one of the great, historical offenses. It has not
DONE it yet, of course. You cannot be a dynasty or a truly great O in 1 year. Think,
though, of Montana's Whiners. They went to the big dance, won it the first time, and kept
on going. Think of Aikman's Cowboys. Same thing. We have the chance to take step one in a
journey that says to the League, "You can't touch this!"
That is so rare. Few teams have ever had that. The Packers, the Steelers, Montana's
Whiners. It is there on the table for us. This Sunday.
If we are for real, the whole league must deal with a serious ceiling on their
aspirations.
Credit for this year? Yes. Hope for the future. Of course. But looking at this Sunday, at
this door way, and the road beyond it ...Man, I can't look back. I can't look at
consolation. The chance is here. Take it. Be great. Fulfill the potential you have shown
this year.
If we don't do that, that will be a failure. The whole year won't be a failure. But it
will sour the year, believe me. Ask Viking fans about their Super Bowl and playoff losses.
Ask them about 1998--and 1969! It will be a failure on the eve of greatness.
And how will it affect the future? No one knows. Maybe not much. Dallas lost its first
Super Bowl and not much later broke through. It can be done. But many a team has flirted
with greatness, opened the door a crack, failed to step through ... and vanished. Think of
San Diego. Buffalo. Minnesota (They haven't BEEN to the Super Bowl since about 77!)
Once you break through, it is different. Just like last Sunday--if Ike HAD caught that TD
against Tampa, everything would have been different, easier. If we win Sunday, teams play
the champs next year. If we LOSE, they play us thinking we were busts, frauds,
benificiaries of an easy schedule.
The Super Bowl is an odd event. Because of its unreal atmosphere, it tends to mask its own
importance. People --teams!--don't realize amidst the circus how powerful it is. They are
often happy to be there. They have NO IDEA how big a difference there is between
being Super Bowl Champs and merely having played in one. The Giants and Buffalo. MN and
Green Bay.
But I have been around this league for a while as a fan, and all of that perspective comes
into play.
I call upon the Rams to clear the bar they raised and take the first step to being a great
team. They are responsible to themselves for completing that step.
IN CONTRAST. The Titans come into this game with a nice team playing over its head. I
doubt things will fall for them again next year. At any rate, they simply do not have the
capacity to just go out and whip people on their own initiative. They have ... this game.
This game is a mismatch.
They gave up lots of yards to JAX, which was SO TIGHT from being warned warned by Tom
"the Great Santini" Coughlin not to turn it over, that it turned it over.
With Thigpen hurt and McNair throwing, that O is just not a serious threat to score more
than 17 or so. Fewer points if they get no turnovers.
The D has a good front and some aggressiveness. But going man? Our old friend Jerry Grey
insists they will go man on our WRs. Come on! Seriously! And with their top safety out?
And no WAY in hell is TENN as fast as TB! I DO NOT buy that particular line of bull.
Furthermore, they are not HALF as disciplined! And, they plan on going man! Man! Come
on--jam us! Do that! And, they lack their best safety.
Well, okay, we did lose to them earlier, but that game is as clear a case of a lesser team
getting an early fluke and hanging on as you can imagine.
They are the Vikings East! How do they win? Big plays. That's it. Beginning and
ending.
Folks, we are going to show them some big plays!
I don't even see it being close. Here's to one of those ugly, blowout Super Bowls everyone
always complains about.
Vikings East. And, Vikings Lite (they can't score points).
Listen: the Gods of the Gridiron will NEVER permit a team to win a Super Bowl which relies
for 35% of its 3rd down versions on ...
the QB draw!
WHAT'S IN A NAME
BY ZOOEY (Jan 27)
I want everyone to understand that this is an Epic Battle between
Good and Evil. There's more at stake here than meets the eye.
So you are wondering, "What's up with the 'Titans' anyway? I've heard the name, but
what does it really mean?"
Well, I will tell you. Evil.
See, in the beginning, Uranus and Gaea (heavens and the earth) had 12 offspring--- 6 sons
and 6 daughters. (That's one MORE than is allowed on the field at any one time, btw).
These children are known as the Titans. Now, Uranus could regard his offspring only with
horror, and as soon as they were born he shut them up in the depths of the earth.
Well, it's no wonder, really. You might think that was harsh treatment for children, but
consider this (straight from the Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology), "The
Titans...had for the most part no very clearly defined personality."
No personality. Sounds like the Titans, doesn't it? I mean, there's "Air McNair"
who is averaging 100 yards passing over the playoffs. Some "Air." Some
personality.
Anyway. Their mother, Gaea, was troubled by all this locking up of her little brats, and
she hatched a plan. First, she fashioned a sickle out of stone and went to her Titans to
solicit support. Cronus, her youngest son, volunteered to help her once he heard her plan.
One night, Cronus waited until Uranus was asleep, and sneaked into his room and
"mutilated his father atrociously and cast the bleeding genitals into the sea."
That, my friends, is the First Official Act of a Titan. He castrated his father.
Once rendered impotent, Uranus was no match for his revolting kids, and Cronus usurped his
power and took over as Head Honcho of the Universe. He gave a few responsibilities to his
siblings, but mostly he ran the Show.
Well. The other Titans got busy procreating, some with Nymphs and whatnot, but a few of
them paired up TOGETHER---Oceanus eloped with Tethys, Coeus with Phoebe, and Hyperion with
Theia. They all had lots of kids.
Now, what goes around comes around, and Cronus, fearing his own kids (by his SISTER Rhea),
ATE them right after they were born. Just swallowed them up whole.
Rhea was not altogether pleased with this development, and so she decided to deceive
Cronus with her next child. After Zeus was born, Rhea wrapped up a big rock in a beach
blanket and gave it to Cronus, who tossed it back like a bag of potato chips.
Satisfied, he didn't notice that his son Zeus was off growing up with the shepherds (who
tend sheep and Rams, btw---a very cunning move here). When he reached adulthood, Zeus
vanquished Cronus, driving him from the sky and casting him to depths of the universe,
enchained. He set up shop with the other gods on Olympus, and began reigning the Earth.
The Titans were jealous of the new gods and wished to reconquer the kingdom. Then began
the terrible struggle. From their stronghold on Mount Othrys (Adelphia), the Titans
launched furious attacks upon Olympus. For ten years the outcome of the war remained
doubtful. Zeus made allies of the Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires. The Cylcopes gave him the
thuderbolt and the Hecatoncheires put their invincible arms at his service. Seizing in
their enormous arms great boulders, they crushed the Titans. "Sea and earth resounded
with the horrifying clamour and the shaken firmament groaned aloud."
In spite of their pride and courage, the Titans were finally defeated and, bound with
chains, cast into the abysmal depths of the earth--- as far below its surface as is the
earth itself from the sky. "It is there among impenetrable shadows and foul vapours,
at the very end of the world, that the Titans, by the will of the king of the heavens, are
buried."
So there you have it. The Titans' crimes are many: Treachery, Deceit, Treason, Tyranny,
Greivous Assault and Battery, Incest, Attempted Murder, Murder, and Cannibalism (of their
own children, no less).
How could anyone possibly cheer for that team? Their debauchery and evil knows no
boundaries.
And all of it orchestrated by Jeff Faustus.
Do you notice, too, how the media has completely FAILED to mention this Good vs. Evil
thing?
Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
SUPERBOWL PARTY PREDICTIONS
BY WV EWE (Jan 29)
Tomorrow I will don my 20 year old LA Rams jersey and go with my
husband to a Superbowl party down the street. The party will be hosted by some older folks
who are dear friends from our church. We will be greeted warmly and fed well.
Before the game we will chat about the church council, discuss the church prayer list and
the Sunday school program. Before the coin toss I will untangle myself from these
conversations and quietly find the best spot to watch the game. My husband will smile at
me, squeeze my hand and tell me that he hopes the Rams win.
The game will begin. My heart will start to pound as the realization finally hits me.
“Holy Cow,” I will say quietly, “the Rams are in the Superbowl.” My
eyes will well up. I will think of JamesJM and wonder if he’s in his favorite ditch.
The Ram’s will have the ball first. I will watch the WB’s explode during the
first drive. TD Bruce! “BRUUUUUCE,” I will cry out involuntarily as I am swept
away in the moment. I will think of the chat room and imagine the cheers scrolling down
the screen.
The Titans will get the ball. The 1st play will be a sack by Wistrom. “Wissed!”
I will yell. My husband and I will begin to discuss the plays as the game goes on. The
white haired church folks will begin to ask him questions about the Rams. “Ask her,
“ he will say. Strange looks will ensue. The Titans will punt.
The party conversation will turn to, “What’s Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap” and
dot.com commercials. There will be no other Rams fans there. There will be no Titan fans
there.
The Ram’s will get immediately into their rhythm. They will march down the field with
short to medium range passes and Marshall Faulk. A hole will open up for Faulk. He’s
gone! TD Marshall Faulk! “YES!!!” I will scream, “Momma!”. I will be
sitting directly in front of the TV now. The other guests will begin to murmur. My husband
will whisper something to me. I will be oblivious. “Can you see it yet, RFL?” I
will say quietly to myself.
Titan’s ball. Three and out! The Titans will have to punt again. The room will be
full of banter and party talk. Few people will be watching the game at this point. Az will
take the punt at the 15. Az to the 25. Az to the 35...the 50. “Oh my Gosh, Oh my
Gosh, Oh my Gosh.” Az to the 40...the 25...the 10. I will be on my feet. I will begin
to bounce up and down and hold the top of my head. Touch Down Rams!!!! “THE
WIZARD!!!!” I will shout! “I LOVE YOU, AZ” I will shout. “I WANT TO
HAVE YOUR BABY, AZ” I will scream! I will think of WVRam and throw my arms in the
air! I will begin to Bob and Weave and Weave and Bob! I will turn around….
Silence. The room will be silent except for my heavy breathing. The Bob and Weave will
slowly subside as the gray haired party guests’ faces come into focus. They are all
just sitting and staring at me. Except for the pastor who has had a few drinks and is
bobbing and weaving himself. “Heh, heh,” I will say, nervously. My husband will
shake his head and quietly say to himself, “You can dress her up…” He will
make our excuses as the half time show begins. It will be a short, quiet ride home. When
we arrive at the house he will turn to me smiling and say, “just go and be with the
Herd, OK.” “Tomorrow I will be normal,” I will promise him as I run to the
computer. |
|
I'M NOT GOING TO THE GAME
BY OLD HACKER
(Jan 27)
I just turned down SB tickets
I got a call from my Tenn Cuz. He offered me a free SB ticket. Sounds great,
but there was a catch. I would have to meet a caravan in Nashville and wear a Titans
jersey and hat to the game.
He could not believe that I would turn down a free SB ticket. I told him I wouldn't wear
that crap if he gave me a new car.
Could you imagine setting in the stands wearing that ugly stuff?
He assured me this was not a joke---is wife had to stay behind. But I finally told him
where he could stick that ticket.
It would have made his day just to get a picture of me in that stinking
jersey.
GO RAMS !!! |
|
THE X FACTORS
BY AFORMERPRO
(Jan 27)Lots of X factors in
this game.
* Have you ever gotten where you dreamed about going? I know players who sometimes are so
happy and/or relieved JUST to make the SB that making it in itself becomes really
gratifying. Consequently they get flat just being so satisfied.This one reason it's hard
to win the first time there. If you lost the first time, you are real focused the second.
But here you have 2 teams who haven't been there and who are obviously pleased by the
whole thing. I'm not getting a good feel that there's much intensity yet. The team that
wants it the most usually wins a close game. Can't rest on your laurels guys.
Here's where Coach V can and will step up as a motivator.
* The Rams will deal with Kearse better by running at him, using screens, putting a TE on
him, and rolling the pocket away. He reminds me of Derrick Thomas (who we all have been
saying prayers for).
* From watching these 2 teams, I believe the Titans will win if McNair is hot
passing---which is infrequent---and will lose in most other scenarios (except the Rams
self-destructing with Int's and fumbles). McNair is mobile, big---and capable of having
both good and bad days.
* I look for Warner to show some mobility this game, which will surprise the talking
heads. He actually ran faster on his scramble down to the 3 last game [against Tampa] than
I have seen him run in 3 months. Everyone loves Kurt Warner and is rooting for him to
complete the last chapter.
I see little that makes me think this won't happen. |
CUTTING THROUGH A MYTH
BY NFLfan...post.net (Jan 27)
I don't buy in to this thing about losing after playing the Bucs. The Bucs
don't own a patent on playing physical football and I don't believe for a second that this
record has any bearing on the SUPERBOWL.
At least not as far as the SuperBowl is concerned...the desire to win the Championship I
believe IS THE BEST PAIN KILLER NOW. No matter how banged up and bruised a player gets, do
you really think he is going to give in to those pains on SuperBowl Sunday?
If you have ever watched the last game of the World Series, you will see starting pitchers
coming in to the game in the 5th and 6th inning even though they they are going on only 1
or 2 days of rest. The fact is, this IS THE GAME!
None of these players have anything to save themselves up for. There will be no quitting,
no gimping out early, no taking themselves out on game day. Yancy Thigpen and his broken
foot is still holding out hope that he will play. HE HAS A BROKEN FOOT but will risk
further injury to be a part of THE BIG GAME.
I would rather look at the health of the Rams and make the determination that all of their
regulars are ready to play this Sunday. With the exception of Wilkins, I think the teams
is as healthy as it has ever been.
Unfortunately, the Titans have lost 2 key players and have a gimpy McNair. |
TWENTY YEARS AGO
BY HEADSLAP (Jan 28)20 years ago
The Rams played in LA
The Rose Bowl never looked so good
and there was no replay
The Rams were in the Super Bowl
20 years ago
I was 27, not gray
and lived at 9,300 ft in the Rockies so fine
played softball, not golf
and worked in an underground mine
20 years ago
Deacon and Merlin were memories
with Roman, Jack and George Allen gone too
They played on grass
and their fans would show you
20 years ago
I had been a Rams fan for 14 years
Believing I was the only one alive suffering with cursed Ram views
There was no Fast Eddie, Old Hacker, ZN, Ramble, RFL, Nittany Ram or Grits Only something
called ESPN and my weekly sporting news
20 years ago
The niners reeked and the Rams were a magnificent D
With Youngbloods, Hacksaw, Freddy, Nolan and Larry
Just ask Seattle, he-he
But the Rams were 9-7 and "not deserving" to face the dynasty
20 years ago
I had been married 6 years
My oldest son and London Fletcher were four
and my second son was just two
My daughter was 14 months from being born
20 years ago
Georgia was Georgia
and President Jimmy from there
Pat Summerall was coherent
and the Rams had dominated the NFC West for several a year
20 years ago
I had no money or computer
ate peanut butter and jam
lived with no Herd
and the "Web" was just a guy doing his job ma'am
20 years ago
Haden got hurt
and Vince stepped in
With Wendall and Lawrence and Drew and Billy
My team was ahead in the fourth and they just might win
20 years ago
My brother didn't have MS
My nephew was not missing
My wife's mom and my dad were alive
and with him in summer we'd go fishing
20 years ago
Terry and Franco and John and Lynn and Jack and Mean Joe,
Stopped my only team
There were no tears and my hats off to them
As I was never more proud of my RAMS
Now
I fish and camp with my sons
My daughter wears her Rams shirt at UW just because
and my wife still stands by me after all the committed seasons
But this game is not quite as important as it once was...
20 years ago
I hope my team plays well |
SOME CRUCIAL THINGS IN
THIS GAME
BY TOM RIVERS (Jan 29)NO STATS PLEASE. The Titans "D" is 17th overall, #
25 vs pass. But this is one game where regular season stats don't make much difference.
Frequently the losing team is the one which allowed the hoopla of Super Bowl week take
them off focus.
Dick has a lot of coaches who have been to the Super Bowl and he has a few players who
have been there before. The players who are disciplined enough to look at that extra reel
of tape before they head out to the parties are the ones who will come out of the tunnel
focused and ready. These are the players that know on Sunday at 6:30 PM it is just another
professional football game and you better bring your hitting suit and you better know them
better than they know you.
MARTZ & MULTIPLE WR SETS. More receivers, more formations, more shifts and motions.
When a defense loses a starting defensive back, like the Titans lost Marcus Robertson last
week, it has a trickle down effect on their multiple defensive back packages. With the
abundance of receiving talent that the Rams have it creates for Martz some real
opportunities to use his multiple receivers sets.
All season long the Titans 6th best pass defending defensive back has stood on the
sidelines during practices and games because up until last week he was the 7th best pass
defending defensive back. He was hired in the first place because of his ability to
contribute to special teams. Every time the offense shifts and every time a receiver goes
in motion all 6 of those defensive back must adjust their coverage. The time is short and
there is very little room for error. The Titans pass defense not only has slightly less
talent to play pass defense with, they are also forced into a situation where there is a
little more likelihood of an error. They may turn one of the Rams talented receiver loose
or inadvertently create a terrific mismatch. A game that was already going to be tough has
been made ever tougher.
Imagine Warner looking at 5 receivers vs. blitz Out of the shotgun with an empty
backfield, Warner has 5 receivers going downfield at the snap. The defense must commit a
minimum of 5 players to pass defense. Warner has 5 blockers and the defense can send no
more than 6 pass rushers. The blockers must make sure the extra rusher, often Bishop, is
coming from the outside since he will have father to rush and Warner will have more time
to throw. It takes about 2 seconds for an unblocked rusher to get to the QB from the
outside. In 2 seconds the receivers can be downfield far enough so that Warner can loft a
pass which can be caught at 40 yards downfield (ala Ricky Proehl). Also any inside
receiver should be able to get open on an outside break. With no free safety, the pass
defender must defend from inside out, making Kurt try and complete the harder throw.
When receivers reads blitz most will cut their route short in or out and look right away
for the ball. One receiver will turn his route into a fade or go route so that Kurt can go
for the homerun if it feels right. Great option if you know you have a big speed or size
mismatch. Martz probably has Warner looking each down with each formation for his possible
mismatches. The Titans are Man team. (and a pretty good one)
Last week that was harder to do. The Bucs are the best defensive team in the league and
they play great zone defense. Our one touchdown was when Kurt caught them in man and he
went for the homerun.
I would hope we could turn the Titans into a zone team early, by hitting some big ones
against their blitz concept. One of the Cardinal rules of competition is to "try and
have your opponent beat you left-handed." Make a zone team play man or make a man
team play zone.
TURNOVERS. No question the turnovers are key. I think that the Titans best chance to win
would be to win the turn-over battle.
If we each force two, it's a wash, we win. But if we force one and they force four or
five. That could well be the margin of victory for the Titans.
The average NFL teams turns the ball over about 2.3 times a game. If a team can be +3 in
turnovers over their opponents they will win 90% of the time. Upsets almost always are the
result of the weaker of the two teams winning the turnover battle. |
|
|
~Superbowl XXXIV~ 
