| Randolph Charlotin. 10th December, 2008 - 1:58 pm
 For almost as long as "the chicken or the egg" debate, there has been in the NFL the question of whether the system makes the player, or does the player make the system.
Two teams are putting that question to the test.
We'll start at the top of every team's depth chart, the quarterback. They say you can't win without a franchise quarterback. New England is rewriting that thought with a passer that hadn't started a game in eight years.
Matt Cassel held clipboards through college and in his four years in the NFL. He saw the greatness of 2007 league MVP Tom Brady as Brady broke the single-season touchdown pass record. Cassel also saw the hit that ended Brady's 2008 season. How does a team replace 50 touchdowns?
They don't. But in less than three months, Cassel has gone from hand-holding to re-writing records now that his hands are free. Fans that ordered Zoloft by the caseload immediately after Brady's knee injury are now guzzling Cassel Kool-Aid (extra sugar added). People think the Patriots should trade three-time Super Bowl-winning Brady in favor of the younger, more mobile Cassel now that Matt has the Patriots on the edge of the playoffs.
So how did Cassel, who barely played, quickly get up to speed and play at Brady's level? New England's high scoring offense isn't easy. It gives migraines to MENSA. Was Cassel just buried behind Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Brady for years?
Cassel does have raw talent, but he also hit the offensive lottery walking into a huddle that features receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Matt also had four years watching and learning from arguably the best quarterback this decade. Brady started with half as much experience and won a Super Bowl throwing to David Patten and Troy Brown.
It's too early to call. Cassel has to build a better case in favor of the player making the system. Maybe increasing the number of variables will yield clear results.
To do this, cross New England's line of scrimmage from offense to a defense that has been ravaged by injuries. A questionable secondary started the season with free agent signee safety Tank Williams on injured reserve. He was later joined by Rodney Harrison and cornerback Terrence Wheatley. Jason Webster was signed as an in-season injury replacement. He's on IR, as well.
But it's illogical to compare low expectations to none. New England is being challenged elsewhere defensively.
A 3-4 defense is designed for the linebackers to be the playmakers. Well a lot of 'backers had chances to make plays for the Pats. Adalius Thomas was just placed on IR. His replacement Pierre Woods was inactive Sunday due to a broken jaw. And, Tedy Bruschi's season might be over after a knee injury suffered against Seattle.
Head coach Bill Belichick is considered a defensive genius and will have to prove it. One way to compensate for the injuries is by adding wrinkles to the defense. But signing Rosevelt Colvin (31 years old) and Junior Seau (39!) wasn't what Belichick had in mind.
Fortunately for New England, Seau and Colvin played in this system before so it shouldn't take them long to get up to speed. Already the defense blitzed more than usual against the Seahawks. In the past the defense switched from 3-4 to 4-3 when necessary.
What other adjustments will be in store for New England's defense? The D already had problems. But if they can keep the status quo for the rest of the season, then it would be one vote in favor of the system.
One last file. This one belongs to the Denver Broncos. Head coach Mike Shanahan confidently said his system makes running backs successful. He proved it with Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Orlandis Gary, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns, and now Walter Payton.
Whoops! I mean Peyton Hillis. But I'm sure Shanahan wishes it was Sweetness instead of Hillis. Payton missed one game out of his first 187. Hillis will miss the final three.
Which, in comparison to his backfield mates, isn't too bad. Hillis was the Broncos' fifth running back. Projecting through the end of the season, Michael Pittman will miss eight games, Selvin Young 10 games, Andre Hall four games, and Ryan Torrian 14 games. If Tatum Bell holds up, then he'll play in seven of sixteen games.
Having Bell as a reserve must be comforting for Shanahan as Bell had a 1,000-yard season with Denver in 2006. But Shanahan's words ring true so far, as the Broncos average 4.5 yards per attempt despite cycling through disposable running backs.
With both New England and Denver lacking depth, they could use a Michael Lewis-like story. He was the former New Orleans kick returner that delivered beer before becoming a Pro Bowler for the Saints. But neither team needs a receiver. If they did, my contact information is below.
For more by Randolph Charlotin, check out his blog at http://www.newenglandpatriotsnews.com/randolphc/weblog/. He can be contacted at lordrc@verizon.net. |
