February 6, 2007

Its been a couple of days since the Super Bowl has ended, and I have used this time to really sit back and, free of the emotion of the game, study what happened. Since I do not have access to the coaches’ tape, I can only use what I saw during the game’s telecast. Looking back, I really think that Rex Grossman is getting a raw deal. I definitely am not saying that he played spectacular or even good. At best, he was serviceable. However, how much can you expect from a rookie QB?

That inception he threw is beyond explanation. He blew that play. It was a safe call. If the corner doesn’t bite, throw the ball away or check down. Rex did neither; he forced the ball and then didn’t even get over to stop the Colts from returning it for a score. That second interception was a by-product of the weather. If Rex can do one thing well, its fling the ball around. That ball got caught in the wind and rain, and held up so that Bob Sanders could make the pick.

I am amazed however, at the fact that it’s Rex’s fault that the defense allowed 81 plays!! I mean how is that possible?!?!?!? Rex didn’t allow the Colts to rush for 191 yards and for an average of 4.5 yards per carry. He didn’t allow the Colts to convert on 44% of their third down. Look the Bears played passive defensively; they only sacked Peyton Manning once and rarely sent any type of blitzes at him. Peyton responded by sitting back there and picking the Bears apart. And when they tried to stop the pass, the Colts running game pounded them. It seemed to me as if Lovie was afraid to go after Peyton. I hope not because I think he has the athletes and hitters to punish the Colts. For all of the “physicality” the Colts showed this season. The receivers still moved away from contact during the Super Bowl.

And what about the play calling? On a 2nd & 1 play, when you are having success running the ball, would you call a pass play in the rain? Even after Cedric Benson got hurt, you could still run Thomas Jones and pick up a yard. I think the Bears play calling played a role in Rex playing bad.

To wrap this up, congrats to Peyton, Tony Dungy and all of the Colts. They truly deserved to win the Super Bowl. They survived all of the ups and downs of the season and wound up on top. As for the Bears, they seem to have major issues. First they have to re-sign Coach Lovie Smith. Then they have to either franchise LB Lance Briggs or look to trade him before he hits the free agent market. Also, defensive coordinator Ron Rivera may leave to become either the head coach or defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. And as if the list wasn’t long enough, look for the “Get Rid of Rex” chants to grow louder and louder as we get closer to the draft. That I think would be a safe thing to do. Maybe not a first round QB, but a second and definitely a third. At best, this motivates Rex, who is in the final year of his contract (i.e. money year), who plays more consistent and with the combination of the return of Tommie Harris and Mike Brown plus the still watered down NFC, the Bears could be right back in Super Bowl XLII.

Now that football is on hiatus for awhile, L , we can turn our attention to the NBA. First let’s start with the All Star selections. I think it would be a travesty if Carmelo Anthony is not added to the All-Star team. He is leading the league in scoring. That would be absurd. If it does happen, it will speak to larger problem. A growing divide (and power struggle) between the brass of the league and the players in it. First it was the dress code, then it was the switching and then switching back of the ball. I just hope that both sides remember that without the fans none of them would have a job. I think David Stern will do the right thing and add Carmelo.

As for ‘Melo’s regular team, the Nuggets are in the midst of a bad injury stretch which has comprised the plan for AI and ‘Melo to mesh together. Luckily for them, though it is only early February and the season does not end until April. They don’t have much time to get their act together. Game on Nuggets, Game on.