By TJ Troup 
The 2023 season is upon us, and my first column. Oh, it is not Tuesday? Guess Coach TJ did not get the memo?
Years ago in Steve Sabol's office late in the summer, we talked of the upcoming season. Steve had many classic lines yet his statement, "There are 16 teams talking playoffs, and 16 teams talking Super Bowl" still rings true.
So much conjecture, so many opinions, and many of those opinions don't have one shred of fact to them. Sad, just damn sad.
Am I making any predictions? Hell no, but will ask all of you a couple of questions.
Ready?
Here goes ... which division is the weakest in the NFL, and which is the strongest? Sixteen games and we all decide which game or games we will watch.
Yes, at 4:25 EST on Sunday will be on my couch watching the Bears play the Packers. Eric Goska just might watch that game also.
For me, the most compelling game is the match-up between the Niners and the Steelers and will be at the sports bar at 1 PM to watch. Many times in the past have taken the calendar day and tied that into historical games. Why change?
September 7th, 1963 the moribund Oakland Raiders with a new head coach—some guy named Davis takes the Silver & Black to Houston Texas. The Raiders committed 17 penalties in the game.
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| Art Powell |
No doubt they came to hit and prove to Mr. Davis they could play tough ass football. The Raiders are also opportunistic in that they take the ball away 10 times from the Oilers.
How many teams this weekend will take the ball away ten times? Probably none.
Oakland leads 10-6 entering the 4th quarter, and quarterback Tom Flores lofts a pass to Art Powell for 85 yards and a touchdown. Powell will latch onto 7 passes for a team-record 181 yards in his first Raider game.
Final: Oakland 24 Houston 13.
The Raiders, Al Davis, and Art Powell are off to an impressive start in '63, and there will be more to come.
There are quarterbacks that you just enjoy watching, and the reasons for watching might be different for each of us. One of those quarterbacks for me was Brian Sipe.
His season in 1980 was an expression of who he was. Poised, confident, savvy, and opportunistic ... when Sipe saw a flaw in coverage he exploited that flaw.
The first Monday night game in '81 brings the talented San Diego Chargers into Cleveland.
Football practice was over, got home as quick as I could to watch, and there was plenty to watch as Dan Fouts completed 15 consecutive passes in the game. Charlie Joiner was open all night and caught 6 for 191 yards. 
Sipe set a team record with 31 completions, but San Diego dominated play in a 44-17 win. We all know it is a passing league now, yet how many quarterbacks this weekend will complete 31 passes, and how many quarterbacks this weekend will complete 15 in a row?
Enjoy the games.
From Brian wolf ...
ReplyDeleteThanks TJ ...
Passing league or not, hopefully offensive linemen will get to fire out and run block for backs ready to prove their worth to their teams and their defenses, whether they get paid well or not. Rookie QBs will need all the help they can get.
Bosa proved holding out of camp can get results, will Jones get paid as well and start next week?
Cooper Kupp was a dominant receiver winning the triple crown of categories during the Rams SB year in 2021. Can he bounce back from injuries or is he done? Matt Stafford will need him but can he stay healthy as well?
Could the Cardinals be tanking their season already, hoping to get a QB out of USC next year? Is Murray going to bounce back and prove people wrong, or prepare to join another team next season?
Can Rodgers in NY, join Brady and Stafford in winning it all with a new team? It shouldnt happen but the NFL loves great storylines. Denver can become a great story as well but dont have enough playmakers yet.
Josh McDaniels might be the first coach on the hotseat. Players dont respond to him and he better pray that Garoppolo can stay healthy. Adams, like Donald for the Rams, could be traded if their teams falter too quickly.
Key divisional games with GB at Chicago--though the Packers usually dominate, regardless of QB--Buffalo at NYJ(MNF)LV at Denver, LAR at Sea and Cin at Clev. Can Watson lead his team to wins and justify all that money? Better hand it off to Chubb ...
Hopefully defenses around the league will practice good hitting and tackling fundamentals during the games while keeping mental and physical breakdowns to a minimum.
Zebras will feel the heat, so hopefully they will try not to screw up calls too much. Lets hope players show true contrition and play through pain for their teammates.
glad to have you back CoachTJ!....what IS it about the Bears and Packers that might motivate you and Mr. Goska to deign to observe the contest?
ReplyDeleteahhh, Brian.....you write:"'hopefully offensive linemen will get to fire out and run block for backs ready to prove their worth..." sadly, this is not the 1950s or 60s....fat guys belly bumping each other is not the legacy of Parker, Kramer, and the late lamented Fuzzy...how many qbs will throw 50 passes this weekend?
and: "Could the Cardinals be tanking their season already?" an unkind response (my response) is 'haven't they been doing that rather consistently since 1948?
further: "Hopefully defenses around the league will practic...tackling fundamentals." Steelers will....a couple others will....what's the over/under this weekend on missed "head down trying to bring a ball carrier to the ground shoulder hit w/no arms" technique?
finally: "Zebras will feel the heat"....yup. I'm starting the year off with my annual curmudgeonly rant: "get rid of replay and let the game flow....it's a game, not existential combat."
now lets get to it and "PLAY BALL!"
....thanks BW...always relish your comments.
ReplyDeleteBW ...
DeleteHaha ... The Cards played for Don Coryell, Jim Hanifan and Bruce Arians.
I think I meant to say players showing attrition, not contrition ...
Thanks Coach, for letting me rant. I will watch some games until the officials make me irritable. Hopefully the players give all they have so it will be interesting by Thanksgiving.
...."curmudgeonly" Jim.....how about a damn accurate statement made by you.
ReplyDeletegolly....I didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers (not Beattie)....I come here in friendship and post for fun...Brian and I (I think) have a longstanding back and forth.....admittedly I am passionate about that which I'm passionate....I leave the "accurate" statements to John Turney.....I love the history of the game and anyone who knows me knows I love the 1950s (too young to actually experience it)....what I love about that special era was the primal wildness of it....the spontaneity....the characters that populated it....I was and remain (like a bitter old Brooklyn Dodger fan who wonders what the hell a statue of Jackie Robinson is doing in the LA Dodger Stadium), a BALTIMORE Colts fan....I hate the corporate sanitized version of the modern NFL....how come we don't have cool nicknames any more?....all that said, I watch and enjoy parts of today's game....Aaron Donald, TJ Watt, Derrick Henry, the way Josh Allen throws himself at defenders.....modern guys playing "old school" football.....I apologize if I've offended you.....
DeleteBW ...
DeleteWithout replay, the game would flow much faster Jim, but there is too much riding on play or call accuracy in regards to gambling, so it will stay. Coaches though, should be willing to challenge any call or obvious play foul but can only do so much. Most calls arent reversed anyway.
"....there is too much riding on play or call accuracy in regards to gambling...."
DeleteMerle Hapes and Frank Filchock approve of this post.