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Cheat Sheet: Belichick coaching tree rotting
Just imagine NFL Films doing a similar filming with the Bill Belichick coaching tree this week. What would the mood be like in that room? Would there even be a conversation, or just a series of grunts, shrugged shoulders and hooded sweatshirts?
To be certain, the Belichick coaching tree — a branch off of the larger Bill Parcells redwood — has seen better times.
Last weekend, Belichick's Patriots, Eric Mangini's Jets and Romeo Crennel's Browns were outscored by a combined 114-52. Their collective record of 3-6 doesn't tell the whole story. Like the Jets-Chargers 48-29 final score Monday night, the situation is even worse than it appears.
In New England, there's definite reason for concern. After "managing" a game and ensuring a win over the Jets in his first career start since the 20th century, QB Matt Cassel looked mediocre against a Dolphins defense that entered the week averaging 272.5 passing yards allowed per game. New England had only 216 yards of total offense on the day. The offensive game plan was unimaginative and no identifiable adjustments were made at halftime. Worse than the offense, though, was New England's porous defense. Miami ran and passed all over a unit that looked old, slow and vulnerable.
With Brady and the Pats' top two running backs out with injury, cornerback Asante Samuel in Philadelphia and Randy Moss altogether non-existent since Cassel has taken over — things aren't exactly peachy in New England. And with games against 2-1 San Francisco and AFC West powers San Diego and Denver up ahead, there's a legitimate chance of New England falling into an unfamiliar 2-4 spot by mid-October.
In New York, the Jets entered the summer with high expectations. With high-priced free agent acquisitions across the board — New York was penciled in as a playoff contender by experts everywhere. Once Brett Favre was brought in and Brady went down in Week 1, the AFC East title was suddenly considered a realistic goal.
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| Belichick's coaching tree struggles even extend to the college game, with former Pats assistant Charlie Weis plodding along at Notre Dame. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images) |
Three weeks into the season, Favre's looked shaky at best and the defense has been poor. Tony K. and Co. sharing with the New York audience that Favre's not fond of the New Jersey traffic, hates the inconvenience of things in New York compared to Green Bay, and thinks the Jets players don't seem to be having as much "fun" as he's used to isn't exactly endearing the fan base much, either. Though hard to grasp for some, Jets fans would rather see wins and on-field production out of Favre than all the snowball tosses and butt slaps in the huddle that the media so often drools over when discussing him.
Romeo Crennel's boys, meanwhile, were everybody's AFC North favorite entering the season. Less than a month in, it's safe to say this team is by no means the best squad in their division — let alone a playoff contender. Questionable coaching decisions, two devastating home losses to start the season, and a clinic from the Baltimore Ravens defense and running game have put the beleaguered Browns in a precarious 0-3 hole. Unfortunately, it doesn't get much easier for Cleveland. After a matchup with the Bengals on Sunday, they've got games against the Giants, Washington, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Denver and Buffalo up ahead. Good luck.
The Belichick coaching tree's going through a tough 2008 season. The leaves are falling at an accelerated pace and the branches are undoubtedly broken.
But the season's still young.
Maybe we should just wait a bit on booking that roundtable discussion for NFL Films.
NFL Week 17
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Week 17 action
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Vikings 20, Giants 19 -- Recap | Box
Panthers 33, Saints 31 -- Recap | Box
Packers 31, Lions 21 -- Recap | Box
Falcons 31, Rams 27 -- Recap | Box
Texans 31, Bears 24 -- Recap | Box
Patriots 13, Bills 0 -- Recap | Box
Colts 23, Titans 0 -- Recap | Box
Steelers 31, Browns 0 -- Recap | Box
Raiders 31, Bucs 24 -- Recap | Box
Bengals 16, Chiefs 6 -- Recap | Box
Eagles 44, Cowboys 6 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 24, Jets 17 -- Recap | Box
49ers 27, Redskins 24 -- Recap | Box
Ravens 27, Jaguars 7 -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 34, 'Hawks 24 -- Recap | Box
Chargers 52, Broncos 21 -- Recap | Box
Analysis
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Photos
The Week 4 Cheat Sheet
Atlanta at Carolina, 1 p.m. EST
In one of the weirder stats you'll come across, the road team has won the last five meetings between these two teams. That should end Sunday with Julius Peppers and Co. getting to know Matt Ryan early and often. Pick: Carolina 28, Atlanta 13
Cleveland at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
The Bengals showed a lot of heart Sunday in New York, nearly pulling the biggest upset of the young season. The Browns? They haven't showed us anything but heinous, unwatchable football. Pick: Cincinnati 20, Cleveland 16
Houston at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Less than a month ago, I picked the Houston Texans as my surprise "sleeper" pick out of the AFC. Regrets, I've had a few. Pick: Jacksonville 30, Houston 21
Denver at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
At one point Sunday, the FOX on-screen ticker revealed the following statistic from the Chiefs-Falcons game: Thigpen, KC, 1-11, -1 yards, 1 Interception. And that's when things were going relatively well for the Chiefs. They should consider putting a parental advisory warning on the Arrowhead scoreboard before Sunday's game with Denver. Pick: Denver 42, Kansas City 13
San Francisco at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Drew Brees has won all three of his career starts vs. the Niners, completing 77 of 117 (65.8 pct.) for 858 yards with 7 TDs and just 1 INT for a 103.9 passer rating. A much needed homecoming for the road-weary Saints in this one. Pick: New Orleans 27, San Francisco 16
Arizona at New York Jets, 1 p.m.
The Jets haven't lost a game against the Cardinals since 1978. Those wins, of course, came back when the Jets resembled a formidable NFL franchise. Pick: Arizona 33, New York Jets 14
Green Bay at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Brian Griese, the reinvented (yet again) gunslinger down in Tampa Bay, has won all three career starts versus the Packers, completing 51 of 82 (62.2 pct.) for 716 yards, with 6 TDs for a 99.4 passer rating. Of course, that was all before he went up against Aaron "Ted Thompson was right (yet again)" Rodgers. Pick: Green Bay 23, Tampa Bay 16
Minnesota at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Gus Frerotte and Kerry Collins are meeting for the first time since they originally squared off in 1932. Old white quarterback jokes, folks! The Vikings have won the last four games in this series by a combined score of 111-60, but I like the 3-0 Titans in this one. Pick: Tennessee 16, Minnesota 13 (OT)
San Diego at Oakland, 4 p.m.
The last time the Raiders beat the Chargers (2003), your kids hadn't heard of Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers or text messaging lingo like "LOL" and "OMG." Those were the days. Alas, like the Raiders' eternal futility, the streak will continue to exist on Sunday. Pick: San Diego 35, Oakland 7
Buffalo at St. Louis, 4 p.m.
Pro Football Pick'em
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In response to my open-ended question as to who would win in a neutral-field, 50/50 split-crowd game between the 2008 Missouri Tigers and 2008 St. Louis Rams, reader Scott Alexander responded, "What I find confusing is the idea that there may still be enough Rams fans to create a split crowd." Ouch. Pick: Buffalo 31, St. Louis 10
Washington at Dallas, 4:15 p.m.
Is it absurd to suggest that the NFL's four best teams play in the NFC East? Not at all. WR Terrell Owens tied a Cowboys club record and set a career high with 4 receiving TDs in his last game vs. the Redskins. He was quiet last week. Look for him to wake up on Sunday. Pick: Dallas 31, Washington 16
Philadelphia at Chicago, 8:15 p.m.
Brian Westbrook will most likely play, Matt Forte's looking like a veteran Pro Bowler and Kyle Orton's neck beard is still alive in our hearts and dreams. This will be a good one. Pick: Philadelphia 23, Chicago 21
Baltimore at Pittsburgh, Monday night
Baltimore's Joe Flacco aims to join ex-Bengal Greg Cook (1969) as the only two rookie quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era to start a season 3-0. Flacco hasn't gone up against a defense like the Steelers' yet, though. Hell, Flacco hasn't gone up against a real NFL defense yet. Pick: Pittsburgh 27, Baltimore 17
Reader Email of the Week:
Peter,
Are you kidding me, man? You tore up Bryan T. last week for mentioning "Road Trip" in the same breath as "Blazing Saddles" and "Spaceballs." Are you one of those old blowhards who doesn't think anything produced in the past 25 years can compete with the crap "from yesterday?" What's next — you're going to tell us you don't like the Internet and the forward pass?
— Claude C., Gainesville, Florida
Claude,
I love the Internet and the forward pass. Especially when it's dial-up Internet and forward passes completed in leather helmets. In truth, I am very much in favor of things from today as opposed to yesteryear. I'd take the 2008 Celtics over the 1986 Celtics, the McFlurry over the McRib, and any Andy Samberg "Saturday Night Live" digital short over Steve Martin's "King Tut" dance. I just didn't like "Road Trip" very much, OK? Lay off of me, Claude!
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