VIRGINIA
Virginia took another lump last week, getting run over, around, and through by Georgia Tech's rush attack on its way to a 33-21 loss. Like the game against FSU, the score isn't that indicative of how comfortable the win was for the victor. GT led 33-14 late, before UVA really opened up the offense on its final drive to get within 12 points (and only two points away from my 31-21 prediction). Sure, Virginia led 7-6 for awhile and was only down 13-7 at halftime, but the score could've been 27-7 Yellow Jackets at the half. Some costly turnovers by GT kept UVA in the game, but the Cavs were unable to turn the TOs into points, mostly because of a largely stagnant offense. Virginia was able to produce a few good running plays, including Max Milien's long TD run to go up 7-3 early, but the passing game in the first half was atrocious. Marc Verica threw for only 22 yards in the first half. I don't think the WRs had many, if any, catches in the first 30 minutes. All the throws were checkdowns to RBs and TEs. I think the problem was a combination of Verica and OC Bill Lazor being unsure of Verica's abilities and the OL not giving great protection. Eventually though, Verica has to let it rip and throw some passes down field. He looked nervous in the pocket. I guess he's scared to go on an interception spree like in the final four games of 2008 when he ended up the year with 16 interceptions. But as he is right now, he's not helping us win games. It's like he's playing not to lose. That will only be good enough to beat Eastern Michigan and maybe Duke or Maryland from here on out. For us to get anywhere beyond 6 wins, Verica will need to find the form that helped him catch fire for four games in 2008. He needs to take more chances and act like a winning QB. If he throws too many inteceptions, then we will just move on and start with a new QB that is young and has plenty of time to develop.
The defense is a concern too right now. After the first three games of the season, it looked like our defense started from where it left off after the Groh tenure--always keeping us in the game when our offense wasn't up to snuff (especially evident against USC). The defense has been pretty bad though--especially the run defense--against both FSU and GT. I never would have expected the run defense to stop the GT option, but it barely slowed it down at all. The Jackets were routinely picking up eight yards or more on the ground. Anthony Allen had a career game for GT and the offense piled up over 500 total yards, over 400 on the ground I believe. Virginia should be able to better contain a traditional offense this weekend in UNC after having to deal with the speed of FSU and complexity of GT. Still more concerned than I have been in a long time though about UVA's defense.
DALLAS
The Cowboys let a win slip out of their hands Sunday against the Titans. They battled back from a 17-3 deficit, and had multiple chances to surge ahead and take the lead. Watching the recording, I kept wondering how we didn't win this game. It was there for the taking but Dallas ending up having too many bad plays and penalties and, I believe, too much bad luck. Tony Romo threw three inteceptions, but two were on pretty lucky tipped passes by the Titans, who nevertheless did a good job of pressuring Romo all game. Marc Columbo got a ridiculous celebration penalty that did, I suppose, follow the rules, but was still absurd, odd, and unlucky.
Dallas is 1-3, but could easily be 3-1 or 4-0. It is still less than 10, maybe 5, plays away from turning the three losses into wins. It is easy to see why Virginia is 2-3. It is not playing well on offense or defense. Dallas, however, is playing very well on offense, and has had its moments on defense. The defense right now is not as dominating as it has been under Wade Phillips, but is still in the top half of the league. The passing game is clicking along as good as it ever has. The run game is not great, but is serviceable and is capable of picking up chunks of yardage.
There is one thing I can't get out of my mind, though. Washington is 3-2. Dallas is 1-3. All of the Redskins' wins are by close margins. They have won all their close games besides their game against Houston. Dallas has lost all of its close games. I think the general agreement among everyone is that Dallas is the more talented team. Where does this leave things? Well, simply put, I think Mike Shanahan is a better coach than Wade Phillips. Shanahan might have the worst team in the NFC East, but he might very well be the best coach in that division. The Redskins maybe have gotten lucky so far while Dallas has been unlucky so far, but some of it also has to go back--inevitably--to coaching.
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BRAVES
Atlanta lost every game to San Francisco by a mere one run in what ended up being a tough series with terrific pitching. It was a hard way for Bobby Cox to go out. I was hoping the Braves could get past the Giants. I didn't expect them to beat the Phillies in a series but I thought it would be nice for Atlanta to win a playoff series and get to the NLCS for Cox's farewell.
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TONY STEWART PICKS UP MUCH-NEEDED WIN
Oftetimes, football teams are in must-win situations--like this weekend when desperate Dallas and Minnesota teams play each other. The only thing any team in that situation has to do, however, is beat the team in front of it. This past weekend at California, Stewart was facing a must-win sitaution--as were lots of other Chase drivers--but he was able to pull out the victory despite having 42 other competitiors to deal with. As a result, Stewart launched himself back into the championship conversation, moving from 10th to fifth in points. He now sits 107 points behind, of course, Jimmie Johnson, who extended his lead over Denny Hamlin to 36 points. Kevin Harvick is third, 54 points back, and Jeff Gordon is fourth, 85 points back. This weekend, the Chase heads to Charlotte, a traditionally strong track for Johnson. I believe it'll be an uphill battle for anyone to dethrone the four-time champion from here out.
Virginia took another lump last week, getting run over, around, and through by Georgia Tech's rush attack on its way to a 33-21 loss. Like the game against FSU, the score isn't that indicative of how comfortable the win was for the victor. GT led 33-14 late, before UVA really opened up the offense on its final drive to get within 12 points (and only two points away from my 31-21 prediction). Sure, Virginia led 7-6 for awhile and was only down 13-7 at halftime, but the score could've been 27-7 Yellow Jackets at the half. Some costly turnovers by GT kept UVA in the game, but the Cavs were unable to turn the TOs into points, mostly because of a largely stagnant offense. Virginia was able to produce a few good running plays, including Max Milien's long TD run to go up 7-3 early, but the passing game in the first half was atrocious. Marc Verica threw for only 22 yards in the first half. I don't think the WRs had many, if any, catches in the first 30 minutes. All the throws were checkdowns to RBs and TEs. I think the problem was a combination of Verica and OC Bill Lazor being unsure of Verica's abilities and the OL not giving great protection. Eventually though, Verica has to let it rip and throw some passes down field. He looked nervous in the pocket. I guess he's scared to go on an interception spree like in the final four games of 2008 when he ended up the year with 16 interceptions. But as he is right now, he's not helping us win games. It's like he's playing not to lose. That will only be good enough to beat Eastern Michigan and maybe Duke or Maryland from here on out. For us to get anywhere beyond 6 wins, Verica will need to find the form that helped him catch fire for four games in 2008. He needs to take more chances and act like a winning QB. If he throws too many inteceptions, then we will just move on and start with a new QB that is young and has plenty of time to develop.
The defense is a concern too right now. After the first three games of the season, it looked like our defense started from where it left off after the Groh tenure--always keeping us in the game when our offense wasn't up to snuff (especially evident against USC). The defense has been pretty bad though--especially the run defense--against both FSU and GT. I never would have expected the run defense to stop the GT option, but it barely slowed it down at all. The Jackets were routinely picking up eight yards or more on the ground. Anthony Allen had a career game for GT and the offense piled up over 500 total yards, over 400 on the ground I believe. Virginia should be able to better contain a traditional offense this weekend in UNC after having to deal with the speed of FSU and complexity of GT. Still more concerned than I have been in a long time though about UVA's defense.
DALLAS
The Cowboys let a win slip out of their hands Sunday against the Titans. They battled back from a 17-3 deficit, and had multiple chances to surge ahead and take the lead. Watching the recording, I kept wondering how we didn't win this game. It was there for the taking but Dallas ending up having too many bad plays and penalties and, I believe, too much bad luck. Tony Romo threw three inteceptions, but two were on pretty lucky tipped passes by the Titans, who nevertheless did a good job of pressuring Romo all game. Marc Columbo got a ridiculous celebration penalty that did, I suppose, follow the rules, but was still absurd, odd, and unlucky.
Dallas is 1-3, but could easily be 3-1 or 4-0. It is still less than 10, maybe 5, plays away from turning the three losses into wins. It is easy to see why Virginia is 2-3. It is not playing well on offense or defense. Dallas, however, is playing very well on offense, and has had its moments on defense. The defense right now is not as dominating as it has been under Wade Phillips, but is still in the top half of the league. The passing game is clicking along as good as it ever has. The run game is not great, but is serviceable and is capable of picking up chunks of yardage.
There is one thing I can't get out of my mind, though. Washington is 3-2. Dallas is 1-3. All of the Redskins' wins are by close margins. They have won all their close games besides their game against Houston. Dallas has lost all of its close games. I think the general agreement among everyone is that Dallas is the more talented team. Where does this leave things? Well, simply put, I think Mike Shanahan is a better coach than Wade Phillips. Shanahan might have the worst team in the NFC East, but he might very well be the best coach in that division. The Redskins maybe have gotten lucky so far while Dallas has been unlucky so far, but some of it also has to go back--inevitably--to coaching.
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BRAVES
Atlanta lost every game to San Francisco by a mere one run in what ended up being a tough series with terrific pitching. It was a hard way for Bobby Cox to go out. I was hoping the Braves could get past the Giants. I didn't expect them to beat the Phillies in a series but I thought it would be nice for Atlanta to win a playoff series and get to the NLCS for Cox's farewell.
---------------------------------------------------------------
TONY STEWART PICKS UP MUCH-NEEDED WIN
Oftetimes, football teams are in must-win situations--like this weekend when desperate Dallas and Minnesota teams play each other. The only thing any team in that situation has to do, however, is beat the team in front of it. This past weekend at California, Stewart was facing a must-win sitaution--as were lots of other Chase drivers--but he was able to pull out the victory despite having 42 other competitiors to deal with. As a result, Stewart launched himself back into the championship conversation, moving from 10th to fifth in points. He now sits 107 points behind, of course, Jimmie Johnson, who extended his lead over Denny Hamlin to 36 points. Kevin Harvick is third, 54 points back, and Jeff Gordon is fourth, 85 points back. This weekend, the Chase heads to Charlotte, a traditionally strong track for Johnson. I believe it'll be an uphill battle for anyone to dethrone the four-time champion from here out.
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