Maybe it's just me, but football, as much as I love the game, is missing itself.
Offenses are simply blaisé at best and the defenses are no better. A lot of it has to do with player safety, which I am for...we do not need any more Dave Duerson's or Junior Seau's.
But some of the player safety issues takes away what was great about the game. When you were hit by Dick Lane, you knew it. You knew WHY Jack Tatum was called "The Assassin". You just knew. You felt it.
Growing up, I got to see men like Jack Lambert, Gary Fencik, Howie Long play. Men who played on defenses with names.
There was "The Fearsome Foursome"; "Monsters of the Midway"; "The Purple People Eaters"; "The Steel Curtain". Names that struck fear.
Even the Offensive line of the Bears had a scary name: "The Black and Bruise Brothers". And let's not forget "The Hawgs" from the Washington Redskins.
Maybe it's just me, but I would like to see some of the fear of defenses back. Maybe give them names that strike fear.
But, that's just me.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Friday, September 30, 2016
Phone Test Post - Cushing and Watt
Ok. So trying to keep a blog going while only using my phone will be interesting. My computers don't seem to want to charge, so we will see how this goes!
It looks like JJ Watt is going to be out for a while. I blame the Patriots. Watt's back injury takes him out JUST BEFORE Cry Brady returns from his suspension? Yes, it's coincidence, but seriously. It doesn't feel or look that way.
Cushing is still out with his injury. While the Houston defense isn't the greatest, they certainly have the ability to be, but they NEED Watt and Cushing out on the field. Cushing makes them good while Watt makes them great.
Here's hoping we see those two return quickly. They are vital to the defense.
It looks like JJ Watt is going to be out for a while. I blame the Patriots. Watt's back injury takes him out JUST BEFORE Cry Brady returns from his suspension? Yes, it's coincidence, but seriously. It doesn't feel or look that way.
Cushing is still out with his injury. While the Houston defense isn't the greatest, they certainly have the ability to be, but they NEED Watt and Cushing out on the field. Cushing makes them good while Watt makes them great.
Here's hoping we see those two return quickly. They are vital to the defense.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
1985 Bears
It is no shock that 30 years after the Chicago Bears won their one and only Super Bowl, people are still talking about them.
What made them so special? So unique? Why do we still talk about them as though it were just the recent past?
Even those of us who grew up watching them have a hard time finding the answers.
They were a team that was hungry. After all, it was just one year earlier that the San Francisco 49ers ended the Bears season. With few exceptions, the '85 Bears played that game, and promised themselves and Chicago fans they would bring home the Lombardi.
And they did.
But what was it about the '85 Bears that keeps their names on our lips?
Most people know the name Walter Payton. He was sure and pure sweetness when he ran (hence his nickname "Sweetness"). Having a running back that everyone already knew was special helped, but what of Matt Suhey? Suhey was slow of foot, but he was open when Payton was covered.
Teams would worry about Payton that they barely noticed Suhey. He was a quiet weapon.
We had an Olympic medalist in Willie Gault. He was hard to catch once he was open.
We had Emery Moorehead, another very queit weapon.
But most importantly, we had an offensive line that other teams had nicknamed "The Black and Bruise Brothers" because they took a sack on McMahon as a personal insult and would try to place as much bruising on the other team's defense as possible.
Speaking of Jim McMahon, he played QB as though he was on the defense. He wasn't a great QB...mediocre at best...but he had the drive and desire to win, something that is missing from today's quarterbacks.
The team rallied behind him.
Then...the names every one knows. The 1985 Bears defense...the 46 D.
Dent. Hampton. McMichael. Perry. Wilson. Marshall. Duerson. Richardson. Fencik. Names that struck terror into the hearts of every offense.
What made the defense memorable?
The pressure. Block Dent? Who blocks Hampton or Wilson?
If you managed to block our defensive ends, who blocked Singletary? Get past Samurai Mike? You had Gary Fencik...whose nickname was very appropriately "Hitman".
See, the defense made offenses second guess everything. They put pressure on the offensive line like never before.
Dan Marino was the ONLY one who was able to read the 46 Defense and beat them at their own game.
What made the '85 Bears so special? They were, in simple terms, a team. Richardson wasn't looking to be traded. Fencik wasn't about being the only guy on defense making big plays.
They worked together. Whatever underlying dislike of each other there may have been....except for Ditka and McMahon...it was left in the locker room. Even the feud between Ditka and McMahon didn't distract. Ditka had his QB's back and the Punky QB knew it.
What made them so special? Their love of city, team, ownership, fans, each other and winning. That's what.
And today's teams could learn a thing or thousand from that special team.
What made them so special? So unique? Why do we still talk about them as though it were just the recent past?
Even those of us who grew up watching them have a hard time finding the answers.
They were a team that was hungry. After all, it was just one year earlier that the San Francisco 49ers ended the Bears season. With few exceptions, the '85 Bears played that game, and promised themselves and Chicago fans they would bring home the Lombardi.
And they did.
But what was it about the '85 Bears that keeps their names on our lips?
Most people know the name Walter Payton. He was sure and pure sweetness when he ran (hence his nickname "Sweetness"). Having a running back that everyone already knew was special helped, but what of Matt Suhey? Suhey was slow of foot, but he was open when Payton was covered.
Teams would worry about Payton that they barely noticed Suhey. He was a quiet weapon.
We had an Olympic medalist in Willie Gault. He was hard to catch once he was open.
We had Emery Moorehead, another very queit weapon.
But most importantly, we had an offensive line that other teams had nicknamed "The Black and Bruise Brothers" because they took a sack on McMahon as a personal insult and would try to place as much bruising on the other team's defense as possible.
Speaking of Jim McMahon, he played QB as though he was on the defense. He wasn't a great QB...mediocre at best...but he had the drive and desire to win, something that is missing from today's quarterbacks.
The team rallied behind him.
Then...the names every one knows. The 1985 Bears defense...the 46 D.
Dent. Hampton. McMichael. Perry. Wilson. Marshall. Duerson. Richardson. Fencik. Names that struck terror into the hearts of every offense.
What made the defense memorable?
The pressure. Block Dent? Who blocks Hampton or Wilson?
If you managed to block our defensive ends, who blocked Singletary? Get past Samurai Mike? You had Gary Fencik...whose nickname was very appropriately "Hitman".
See, the defense made offenses second guess everything. They put pressure on the offensive line like never before.
Dan Marino was the ONLY one who was able to read the 46 Defense and beat them at their own game.
What made the '85 Bears so special? They were, in simple terms, a team. Richardson wasn't looking to be traded. Fencik wasn't about being the only guy on defense making big plays.
They worked together. Whatever underlying dislike of each other there may have been....except for Ditka and McMahon...it was left in the locker room. Even the feud between Ditka and McMahon didn't distract. Ditka had his QB's back and the Punky QB knew it.
What made them so special? Their love of city, team, ownership, fans, each other and winning. That's what.
And today's teams could learn a thing or thousand from that special team.
A Re-Introduction Post
Since it's been over three years since I last updated this blog, I thought I would reintroduce myself.
Even though I have watched football the past few years, I have been out of the conversation for various reasons.
I love the game. While I know the game, there are those who know the game better than I do and I'm okay with that.
I like conversations about the game...explaining why I love this team and player but not this team or this player. And hearing why others love this team and player but not this team or this player. Makes it interesting.
This blog will...and has...go from stats to sexy players. Because I love cupcakes, but love cupcakes with frosting better.
Be prepared for a weird blog that will be everything you expected and nothing you expected.
Even though I have watched football the past few years, I have been out of the conversation for various reasons.
I love the game. While I know the game, there are those who know the game better than I do and I'm okay with that.
I like conversations about the game...explaining why I love this team and player but not this team or this player. And hearing why others love this team and player but not this team or this player. Makes it interesting.
This blog will...and has...go from stats to sexy players. Because I love cupcakes, but love cupcakes with frosting better.
Be prepared for a weird blog that will be everything you expected and nothing you expected.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Houston Defense
It is no secret that, despite my love for the Chicago Bears, I am also a Houston Texans fan. I can not, unlike the Bears, figure out where my love for the Texans started, but they are one of my teams.
But, unlike the Bears, the Texans defense is only known by one name: Watt. Don't get me wrong. JJ Watt is one of the greatest defensive ends in the game now and he will be in the Hall of Fame.
But, he is the only one that seems to be the only one on the D that other teams worry about, though they should also fear Brian Cushing, but they don't.
The issue is that when the offense is able to block JJ, there's no one else stepping up, save Cushing.
JJ Watt is the most unblockable DE to play the game since Richard Dent. But who steps up? Just Cushing and he steps up hard.
However, the Texans can not have just two on defense. The others are good, but not good enough.
In 1985, when the Chicago Bears were their most dominant, when Dent was blocked, Hampton, McMichael, Perry, Marshall, and Wilson weren't. If an offense managed to block the line, who blocked Singletary, Richardson, Duerson, Fencik, or Fischer?
The Texans need to watch videos on the '85 Bears.
JJ Watt and Brian Cushing are great players, but they cannot be the only players on the Texans defense reaking havoc on offenses.
But, unlike the Bears, the Texans defense is only known by one name: Watt. Don't get me wrong. JJ Watt is one of the greatest defensive ends in the game now and he will be in the Hall of Fame.
But, he is the only one that seems to be the only one on the D that other teams worry about, though they should also fear Brian Cushing, but they don't.
The issue is that when the offense is able to block JJ, there's no one else stepping up, save Cushing.
JJ Watt is the most unblockable DE to play the game since Richard Dent. But who steps up? Just Cushing and he steps up hard.
However, the Texans can not have just two on defense. The others are good, but not good enough.
In 1985, when the Chicago Bears were their most dominant, when Dent was blocked, Hampton, McMichael, Perry, Marshall, and Wilson weren't. If an offense managed to block the line, who blocked Singletary, Richardson, Duerson, Fencik, or Fischer?
The Texans need to watch videos on the '85 Bears.
JJ Watt and Brian Cushing are great players, but they cannot be the only players on the Texans defense reaking havoc on offenses.
Cushing and Butkus
I have spent time this past week watching YouTube videos of Brian Cushing highlights. He is by far underrated. The more of his highlights I watch, the more I realize that I have seen his playing style before.
In this journal a few years ago, I compared Ndamukong Suh to Dick Butkus, but this past weekend, I can no longer stand by that comparison.
I realized that I never blogged about Cushing, for reasons I can never understand.
When you see this picture of Cushing, you realize the sort of player he is.
This image is from 2012 (and made me realize that I had not blogged about it...which is what made me think about starting this blog up again).
It's the most iconic picture of the linebacker. He headbutted another player. It is this sort of passion that's missing from the game.
Was it smart? No. Even he said it, but there's a chip on his shoulders that would make the greatest linebacker to have ever played game proud.
Same intense look. Same style of intimidation.
When I see the Texans linebacker play and with the intensity in which he does, I can ONLY think to compare him to Dick Butkus.
In this journal a few years ago, I compared Ndamukong Suh to Dick Butkus, but this past weekend, I can no longer stand by that comparison.
I realized that I never blogged about Cushing, for reasons I can never understand.
When you see this picture of Cushing, you realize the sort of player he is.
This image is from 2012 (and made me realize that I had not blogged about it...which is what made me think about starting this blog up again).
It's the most iconic picture of the linebacker. He headbutted another player. It is this sort of passion that's missing from the game.
Was it smart? No. Even he said it, but there's a chip on his shoulders that would make the greatest linebacker to have ever played game proud.
Same intense look. Same style of intimidation.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Starting Over...
So, having neglected this blog for over three years, watching a highlight from 2012 of Brian Cushing made me want to start writing in here again. Especially when I found out that I did not blog about it.
Hopefully, I can see this journal become what I wanted it to be.
Hopefully, I can see this journal become what I wanted it to be.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)