I never really cared much about the Tampa Bay B********s one way or the other. Then, in 2015, they drafted Jameis Winston, and all that changed.
I actively, fervently, loathe them now.
Anyone who has half a brain knows about Winston. He's a thief. He's a serial asshole. The only reason he wasn't charged with rape while he was in college was because he was a big-time football player. The story about how that rape investigation was botched stinks to high heaven.
In spite of everything that was known about Winston, Tampa Bay drafted him anyway. That's how things are done in the NFL; if you can play, the league will overlook all manner of disgusting behaviour. Since Winston has been in the league, his assholery has continued, unabated. He's started fights on the field. He gave a weirdly sexist speech to a group of elementary school kids (!). He gave a bizarre pep talk to his team before a game (eat a W?!?).
And, in 2016, he (allegedly) sexually assaulted an Uber driver.
(Please, sports media, stop saying he was suspended for "groping" an Uber driver. It's sexual assault. Stop covering for this idiot.)
In the aftermath of the 2016 incident, Winston lied about it, involved someone else in an attempt to say he wasn't even there, then, once it was proven that he was, he issued the standard scumbag non-apology where a person says they're sorry but not why or for what. Then, in a move that is SO NFL, the league, finding Winston to be in violation of its personal conduct policy, suspended him, but not for the standard six games (remember Ezekiel Elliot?); they suspended him for only three because he agreed not to appeal.
The whole thing is just too disgusting.
So what is it with this franchise? I have my theories, but I don't want to get into politics too much on this site. It'll have to suffice to say that I call my wacky, baseless theory "The Bay Orange Connection."
So anyway, let's recap Week One.
There's no science to picking games. I don't overthink what looks obvious, obsess a bit more over the close matchups, and hope for some luck. I'm not really big on stats; I'm more interested in how one team matches up against another, and I base my conclusions on as much observable evidence as I can digest. In short, I watch; games, highlights, as much as I can. Afterwards, I try to learn from what I witnessed, and use that to manage my expectations for next week.
So, what did I learn from Week One?
Atlanta at Philadelphia
Philly's defence looked really solid, which will serve them well through any offensive hiccups the team will have under the solid-but-not-spectacular Foles, and the inevitably returning Wentz. Atlanta seems to be struggling with some of the same problems with offensive play-calling that they experienced last season. Their red zone offence was very predicable, and more than anything cost them a winnable game.
Houston at New England
New England looked rock-steady on offence, with Phillip Dorsett looking particularly sharp, while their defence looks much more solid than it did at the beginning of last season. For Houston, Desaun Watson looked rusty, but that's to be expected. Also, Bill O'Brien is up to his tired old schtick, bungling obvious decisions and refusing to take any responsibility. How this guy keeps his job never fails to astound me. Hey Bill; those timeouts don't carry over, and you don't get bonus points for saving them. Timeouts are there to be used, when necessary. Everyone but you seems to know this.
San Francisco at Minnesota
Minnesota looks to be as-advertised. Performed well on both sides of the ball, and, as I alluded in my season preview, Kirk Cousins looks very comfortable, like a guy who finally doesn't have to do it all. Take heart San Fran fans: Garopollo had to lose eventually, and he was facing a top-tier defence. He, and the team, will have better days ahead. Soon.
Kansas City at LAC
Lots of folks raving about KC, and Mahomes. I watched the game. Kid has talent, hit some big plays. Still looks raw. C******s essentially handed them the game. It's been a while since I've seen a team play as sloppily as LA did in this one. Some of it comes down to coaching, but mostly it was just poor execution. Rivers looked great, and could have had three or four TD passes in the first half if not for his recievers' incompetence. Special teams was a mess as well. Things like this shouldn't happen every week. I still think LA takes the division.
Chicago at Green Bay
It's no secret that Mike McCarthy drives me nuts. Green Bay's offensive philosophy under him often seems to be this: call some basic play, and if it doesn't work, Rodgers will "make something happen." Because Rodgers is what he is, it works, but too often, that "something" is Rodgers getting hit and injured, and the team suffering for it. It was interesting to watch Rodgers operate after he returned from his injury; he was deadly efficient, in a scheme that removed the risky elements of the team's so-called offensive plan. There's something to be learned there, but I doubt things will change. Chicago's defence is going to be really something, especially when Khalil Mack really gets going (considering his debut, I shudder to think about it). Now they just need to work on that offensive identity a bit more, and learn how to close out games.
LAR at Oakland
This is the easiest game to analyze. Oakland looked good early, by executing basic plays and getting some tough running from Marshawn Lynch. LA came out flat, which isn't surprising considering the team's new additions, Aaron Donald's holdout, and things like Jared Goff and Brandin Cooks playing together for the first time. In the second half, the R**s got rolling, and Oakland's limitations were exposed, and LA won going away.
In learning, one musn't overlook one's failures either:
Tampa at New Orleans
This was one of three games in week one where I had no doubt as to the outcome. This is, as they say, "...why they play the games on the field and not on paper." I've only seen the highlights, but from what I saw, it didn't look like TB was doing anything special on offence. New Orleans's talented young secondary, such a strength last season, looked like it couldn't do anything right. I have to wonder if that's a coaching/preparation issue. At any rate, giving up that many points isn't a sustainable model of success, even with an offence like New Orleans has.
Tennessee at Miami
Nothing to be learned here. Just a potent reminder that Mother Nature doesn't care about your plans, be they game or other.
Kansas City at LAC
Already covered this. I'll need to see more from KC before I believe they should start planning any parades.
Washington at Arizona
One sucky team beat another sucky team that sucked harder. The Adrian Peterson resurgence won't last, just like it didn't last season.
NYJ at Detroit
Looks like the J**s have found themselves a QB. Also looks like Matt Patricia has found that Detroit isn't New England, and Detroit has found that Matt Patricia isn't Bill Belichick.
Bonus Coverage
Week One Player(s) of the Week: Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson II, Miami:
I actively, fervently, loathe them now.
Anyone who has half a brain knows about Winston. He's a thief. He's a serial asshole. The only reason he wasn't charged with rape while he was in college was because he was a big-time football player. The story about how that rape investigation was botched stinks to high heaven.
In spite of everything that was known about Winston, Tampa Bay drafted him anyway. That's how things are done in the NFL; if you can play, the league will overlook all manner of disgusting behaviour. Since Winston has been in the league, his assholery has continued, unabated. He's started fights on the field. He gave a weirdly sexist speech to a group of elementary school kids (!). He gave a bizarre pep talk to his team before a game (eat a W?!?).
And, in 2016, he (allegedly) sexually assaulted an Uber driver.
(Please, sports media, stop saying he was suspended for "groping" an Uber driver. It's sexual assault. Stop covering for this idiot.)
In the aftermath of the 2016 incident, Winston lied about it, involved someone else in an attempt to say he wasn't even there, then, once it was proven that he was, he issued the standard scumbag non-apology where a person says they're sorry but not why or for what. Then, in a move that is SO NFL, the league, finding Winston to be in violation of its personal conduct policy, suspended him, but not for the standard six games (remember Ezekiel Elliot?); they suspended him for only three because he agreed not to appeal.
The whole thing is just too disgusting.
So what is it with this franchise? I have my theories, but I don't want to get into politics too much on this site. It'll have to suffice to say that I call my wacky, baseless theory "The Bay Orange Connection."
So anyway, let's recap Week One.
There's no science to picking games. I don't overthink what looks obvious, obsess a bit more over the close matchups, and hope for some luck. I'm not really big on stats; I'm more interested in how one team matches up against another, and I base my conclusions on as much observable evidence as I can digest. In short, I watch; games, highlights, as much as I can. Afterwards, I try to learn from what I witnessed, and use that to manage my expectations for next week.
So, what did I learn from Week One?
Atlanta at Philadelphia
Philly's defence looked really solid, which will serve them well through any offensive hiccups the team will have under the solid-but-not-spectacular Foles, and the inevitably returning Wentz. Atlanta seems to be struggling with some of the same problems with offensive play-calling that they experienced last season. Their red zone offence was very predicable, and more than anything cost them a winnable game.
Houston at New England
New England looked rock-steady on offence, with Phillip Dorsett looking particularly sharp, while their defence looks much more solid than it did at the beginning of last season. For Houston, Desaun Watson looked rusty, but that's to be expected. Also, Bill O'Brien is up to his tired old schtick, bungling obvious decisions and refusing to take any responsibility. How this guy keeps his job never fails to astound me. Hey Bill; those timeouts don't carry over, and you don't get bonus points for saving them. Timeouts are there to be used, when necessary. Everyone but you seems to know this.
San Francisco at Minnesota
Minnesota looks to be as-advertised. Performed well on both sides of the ball, and, as I alluded in my season preview, Kirk Cousins looks very comfortable, like a guy who finally doesn't have to do it all. Take heart San Fran fans: Garopollo had to lose eventually, and he was facing a top-tier defence. He, and the team, will have better days ahead. Soon.
Kansas City at LAC
Lots of folks raving about KC, and Mahomes. I watched the game. Kid has talent, hit some big plays. Still looks raw. C******s essentially handed them the game. It's been a while since I've seen a team play as sloppily as LA did in this one. Some of it comes down to coaching, but mostly it was just poor execution. Rivers looked great, and could have had three or four TD passes in the first half if not for his recievers' incompetence. Special teams was a mess as well. Things like this shouldn't happen every week. I still think LA takes the division.
Chicago at Green Bay
It's no secret that Mike McCarthy drives me nuts. Green Bay's offensive philosophy under him often seems to be this: call some basic play, and if it doesn't work, Rodgers will "make something happen." Because Rodgers is what he is, it works, but too often, that "something" is Rodgers getting hit and injured, and the team suffering for it. It was interesting to watch Rodgers operate after he returned from his injury; he was deadly efficient, in a scheme that removed the risky elements of the team's so-called offensive plan. There's something to be learned there, but I doubt things will change. Chicago's defence is going to be really something, especially when Khalil Mack really gets going (considering his debut, I shudder to think about it). Now they just need to work on that offensive identity a bit more, and learn how to close out games.
LAR at Oakland
This is the easiest game to analyze. Oakland looked good early, by executing basic plays and getting some tough running from Marshawn Lynch. LA came out flat, which isn't surprising considering the team's new additions, Aaron Donald's holdout, and things like Jared Goff and Brandin Cooks playing together for the first time. In the second half, the R**s got rolling, and Oakland's limitations were exposed, and LA won going away.
In learning, one musn't overlook one's failures either:
Tampa at New Orleans
This was one of three games in week one where I had no doubt as to the outcome. This is, as they say, "...why they play the games on the field and not on paper." I've only seen the highlights, but from what I saw, it didn't look like TB was doing anything special on offence. New Orleans's talented young secondary, such a strength last season, looked like it couldn't do anything right. I have to wonder if that's a coaching/preparation issue. At any rate, giving up that many points isn't a sustainable model of success, even with an offence like New Orleans has.
Tennessee at Miami
Nothing to be learned here. Just a potent reminder that Mother Nature doesn't care about your plans, be they game or other.
Kansas City at LAC
Already covered this. I'll need to see more from KC before I believe they should start planning any parades.
Washington at Arizona
One sucky team beat another sucky team that sucked harder. The Adrian Peterson resurgence won't last, just like it didn't last season.
NYJ at Detroit
Looks like the J**s have found themselves a QB. Also looks like Matt Patricia has found that Detroit isn't New England, and Detroit has found that Matt Patricia isn't Bill Belichick.
Bonus Coverage
Week One Player(s) of the Week: Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson II, Miami:
Check back Thursday for my Thursday Night Quick Pick.
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