Carson Palmer's Last 16 Games: MVP Worthy?

LOOKING AHEAD
by John Turney

Carson Palmer had injury issues in 2014 and was only able to play 16 games, but over that time he was putting up MVP-type numbers. Those, added to the 10 games he's played this year are not only impressive but also top Palmer's personal best over any 16-game stretch in his career.

From games 32 through 47 of Palmer's career, which covered parts of 2006 and 2007 Palmer's stat line was:  340/543  62.6%;  4151 yards;  34 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for a passer rating of 97.0

That was his now, third best effort over 16 games.

His second-best was in 2004 and 2005, from games 11 through 26 he did even better. Over than 16-game span his stat line was 356/515  69.1% 4077 yards with 36 touchdowns and 13 picks for a passer rating of 105.5. And he also was able to compile a 12-4 W-L record during that stretch.

From the beginning of the 2014 season through last Sunday, Palmer has been on more of a tear than in those excellent stretches in Cincinnati. In the most recent 16 games Palmer has compiled a 14-2 W-L record to go with his 358/563  63.6%;   4692 yards;  38 touchdowns and 12 picks for a passer rating of 103.4,

Needless to say, if he can muster in the final six games of 2015 what he did in the first six of 2014, Palmer has to be in the conversation for MVP and NFL Offensive Player of the Year. With Tom Brady and Cam Newton mentioned most, it will be stiff competition, but the issue is far from settled. The 2015 MVP will have to excel of the final six weeks to seal the deal.

Mark Barron: The Safety/Linebacker Who Wreaks Havoc in the Backfield.

LOOKING AHEAD

by John Turney

Mark Barron. Credit: Wikipedia

Mark Barron was drafted by the Bucs in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, in fact he was the 7th overall pick. In 2014 the St. Louis Rams acquired Barron for 4th and 6th round picks in the 2015 NFL Draft.  Barron had started all 37 games of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at safety, but was not a fit for Lovie Smith's defensive scheme and Smith opted for the trade. Smith was not the head coach when Barron was drafted.

The Rams, however, felt he had a role to play in Gregg Williams's scheme, something akin to what Roman Harper did with the Saints, an in-the-box safety, who could stop the run and blitz. In 2014 and early 2015 he did just that, seemingly making impact plays every week.

However, Barron's role changed this season after outside linebacker Alec Ogletree was injured in the Arizona game and the following week Barron was inserted in his WILL linebacker spot and he's performed quite well, so much so that he's among the NFL leaders in an important category, stuffs.

In 1992 STATS, Inc, now STATS, LLC., introduced the statistic that counts the number of running plays that resulted in a loss, and credited the tackler with a stuff. Pro Football Journal's Nick Webster has added "pass stuffs" which are passes that result in a loss (not sacks). An example of a pass stuff would be a wide receiver screen that a cornerback stopped for a loss.

Since Barron became a starting outside linebacker in Week 5, Barron has made 8.5 running stuffs and one passing stuff for a total of 9.5.  In addition, in the first two weeks of the NFL season Barron had two 1/2 stuffs (similar to a shared sack) in his role as an in-the-box safety bringing his 2015 stuff total to 10.5. See graphic below:

Graphic by Pro Football Journal

Is this significant? Well, considering that only J.J. Watt, with 11.0 stuffs, has more, it seems it would be. It is even more than dynamic teammate Aaron Donald, who is third in the NFL with 9.0 stuffs (all on run plays). The next nearest linebacker is Jackonville's Telvin Smith who has 8.5 stuffs. The player nearest to Barron in skill set may be Arizona Cardinal hybrid safety/linebacker Deone Buchanon who has 6.5 stuffs. He is playing a role similar to what Barron had played for the Rams prior to the injury to Alec Ogletree.

Barron has no realistic shot at being voted to the Pro Bowl or many other post-season honors as it stands now, but if he continues to make plays as he has perhaps that can change. In addition to the 10.5 stuffs, he has a sack and three QB hits, and three passes defensed, one was deflected by Barron and intercepted by Laurinaitis. He has also been credited with a forced fumble by the Rams coaches in film review, though that does not show up in official NFL stats, but he did force a fumble on special teams in the Arizona game that gave the Rams a chance to take the early lead in that victory.

One oddity remains, after listing Barron as an outside linebacker for the first four weeks after the Ogletree injury, the last two weeks, the Rams coaching staff has had Barron listed as a "WS" in the official starting lineup along with strong safety (SS) T.J. McDonald and free safety (FS) Rodney McCleod. See graphic below.

Credit: NFLGSIS

However, a check of the game film reveals that Barron is playing the same position as he had the previous four weeks, starting the Bears and Ravens games as a linebacker, along with MLB James Laruinaitis and OLB Akeem Ayers. In the below screen shots, Barron is highlighted.

Credit: NFL Replay

Credit: NFL Replay

So, if the "Will safety" is a new position one cannot be sure, but regardless of nomenclature, Barron is having an excellent season through the first eleven weeks.

DOWN THE FIELD, DOWN THE FIELD WE GO

Looking Back
By T.J. Troup

Los Angeles Rams vs. New York Yanks,  November 19th, 1950.

Elroy Hirsch in 1951 action. Colorization by John Turney

*Note: the Elias Sports Bureau took over "handling" the league stats in 1961, so this saga is in no way an attempt to disparage them. Still listed in the Record & Fact book as the game with the most combined yards 1,133. The league could correct the error; but for now let us revisit this game on its 65th anniversary.                                    

BACKGROUND: The defending division champion Rams enter the game with a 7-2 record, with an opportunistic defense, and an offense that is setting production records. The 6-2 Bears are at home in Wrigley Field to take on San Francisco and have beaten the new boys on the block: The New York Yanks who also are 6-2 the week before. So if the Yanks are going to stay in the race they are going to have to limit the powerful Rams on this crisp November day in Yankee Stadium.  
          
1st QUARTER: Captains Jack Russell & George Ratterman have won the coin toss, and want the ball. Quick Sherman Howard returns Woodley Lewis kickoff to his own 40 yard line. Zollie "Tugboat" Toth attempts to dent the Ram defensive forward wall and helps the Yanks get to the Ram forty-five yard line before the Spec Sanders punts. Bob Waterfield starts today at quarterback and has completed two in a row, but league leading interceptor Sanders pilfers a Waterfield toss and returns 20 yards to the Los Angeles forty-five. On first down right defensive end Jack Zilly drops Ratterman for a 14 yard loss attempting to pass.

Nowhere in the final stat sheet are "sacks" listed, thus the total yards for the game SHOULD be changed. On second down, Ratterman is again rushed hard, and his poor throw is pilfered by rookie right corner Woodley Lewis (only Ram rookie ever to earn a Pro Bowl berth as a defensive back). The Rams take over on the nineteen. 3rd down and again Waterfield is intercepted (linebacker Ed Sharkey). New York moves the ball 35 yards before Chet Adams misses a field goal try from the Ram thirty-four. Los Angeles proceeds to drive 80 yards in 10 plays to take the lead at 12:17 of the first quarter. Waterfield throws a screen to right end Elroy Hirsch, and weaves his way to the left and scores from 36 yards out (key block is made by left end Tom Fears).  
             
2nd QUARTER: Tom Keane intercepted Ratterman late in the first quarter, but the Rams cannot capitalize and punt the ball back to New York. The two teams continue to trade punts until the Yanks get a drive started from their twenty after a missed Waterfield field goal attempt. John Rauch is in at quarterback and flips the ball to Toth who pounds his way 60 yards to the Ram twenty. Young gains 18 on a sweep left, and Ratterman finishes the drive with a two yard plunge. Tied at seven.

Norm Van Brocklin in 1951 action. Colorization by John Turney

Los Angeles moves into Yank territory, but Waterfield's field goal attempt is blocked by Martin Ruby. Woodley Lewis intercepts Ratterman's first down pass, and returns to the New York forty-two. Three quick plays and the Rams take the lead 13-7 on a Glen Davis sweep left (Waterfield's extra point attempt hits and cross bar). New York fails on a 4th down pass giving the Rams the ball in Yank territory with 10seconds left in the half. Waterfield delivers a 37 yard field goal and the half ends with Los Angeles out front 16-7. Both teams during the season have been involved in high scoring 3rd quarters, and this game will be no different.                                                                                    
3rd QUARTER: Rams punt after three plays, and Ratterman brings his Yanks down the field mixing runs and passes to the Los Angeles fifteen. George finds Howard open over the middle for the score on a juggling catch. Folks, we have a ball game at 16-14. Van Brocklin is in at quarterback and the Dutchman engineers a 78 yard drive. Offensive tackle Ed Champagne gets involved on a staple in the Ram offense, the tackle eligible for 10 yards to keep the drive going before Hoerner scores on a 32 yards excursion around right end. Next time Los Angeles has the ball Hirsch is open and Van Brocklin hits him with a pinpoint 15 yard pass. Elroy Crazy Legs his way another 43 yards to the New York twenty. Martin Ruby sacks the Dutchman for a 10 yard loss. The drive culminates with another Waterfield field goal to up the ante to Los Angeles 26 New York 14. Keane again intercepts Ratterman, and here come the Rams with their vaunted passing game moving down the field. Receptions by Fears for 11 and Hirsch for 24 put the ball on the four yard line. Dick Hoerner muscles his way into the end zone on 4th down for the score.                                                                        

 4th QUARTER: Ratterman attempting to get the Yanks back in the game throws long, but Lewis again intercepts(this time on the goal line). Waterfield's punt is blocked and Bruce Alford recovers in the end zone. The Yanks are still alive. Los Angeles counters with another pitchout play around right end by Hoerner. The big fullback thunders 64 yards to score (excellent blocks by Thompson & Smith cleared the lane)......Rams 40 Yanks 21. Ratterman completes four straight passes; the final one a 16 yard pitch to sure handed Dan Edwards. Hoerner fumbles (Signaigo recovers), and at midfield on a double reverse George Taliaferro heaves to Art Weiner for the 50 yard score. Rams 40 Yanks 35. Can New York stop the Rams and pull this one out? Hoerner fumbles again (Paul Mitchell recovers), but Keane intercepts for the third time also. This is the second time in Ram history that teammates have intercepted 3 passes apiece in a game. Los Angeles will not be denied today as the advance to the Yank twenty-three where Waterfield kicks his 3rd field goal. Less than two minutes remain as Ratterman fires the ball on every play, with his final pass being completed to Edwards on the Los Angeles thirty-six.                                                                

SUMMATION: The Rams will go on to win the conference title in a playoff battle with the Bears, as the Yanks fade in the race. This game though truly shows what two platoon football was all about in 1950. The teams tied the record for most passes attempted in a game with 88. The four sacks for 47 yards in losses signify that though entertaining the game is remembered for yards gained, it actually is not the record.

Finally; the Rams had the whammy on the Yanks as Los Angeles gained over 2500 yards in the four wins over New York during 1950 & 51. Dick Hoerner gained 313 rushing(on just 36 carries), and the passing game was an outstanding 88 of 154 for 1,459 yards with 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

Peyton Manning's last 16 games.

Looking Back
by John Turney

Credit: Score

Peyton Manning's woes Sunday have been a culmination of a 16-game span that can only be rivaled by his 1998 rookie season. It led to his benching in Sunday's game versus the Kansas City Chiefs in Denver.

Here are Manning's passing stats in the last 16 games he's played.

Certainly we are seeing the winding days of a Hall of Famer career, but what will unfold over the next few weeks is if it is the end of that career. Will our final views of Peyton spark memories of Willie Mays in the 1973 World Series or Joe Namath on a rainy Monday night in Chicago in 1977.

We shall see.

Update:
For short comparison oft-criticized Sam Bradford seems to have turned a corner, though he is, again, injured with concussion and possible left shoulder injury.

First in the Secondary - A look at NFL DB's behind the line of scrimmage

By Nick Webster

Through Week 6 of the NFL season, an interesting trend has developed among defenders.  Of the NFL’s Stuff leaders – a stuff being a play where a defender tackles a runner for a loss on either a run or pass play – two defensive backs are representing themselves strongly. Tied for third place through six weeks are Philadelphia Safety Malcolm Jenkins and Arizona Safety Deone Bucannon with 6.5 stuffs a piece. 

Adrian W

How impressive are these figures, both players are on pace to set the single-season mark for a defensive back. The existing leaders (1982 to date) and the only defensive back with double-digit stuffs are:

How good were Wilson and Winfield in career stuffs? They are well clear of their competition.
Here are the career leaders, as per Pro Football Journal in stuffs by defensive backs. As can be seen, both Wilson and Winfield were the best in making plays in the backfield.

Most Career Stuffs, DB (1982 - 2014)
Player	# Seas	Stuffs	P/Yr
Adrian Wilson	12	65	5.4
Antoine Winfield	14	59.5	4.3
Troy Polamalu	12	47.5	4.0
Darren Woodson	12	41.5	3.5
Steve Atwater	11	38	3.5
Brian Dawkins	16	47.5	3.0
John Lynch	15	43.5	2.9
Rod Woodson	17	38.5	2.3
Charles Woodson	17	37.5	2.2
Ronnie Lott	14	29	2.1
Joey Browner	10	20.5	2.1

Should we expect to see Jenkins and Bucannon join the likes of Winfield and Wilson?  Unlikely, each has already exceeded his career high, and while they play in schemes that employ them with great frequency near the line of scrimmage, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll end the year among the league leaders . . . who will?  A betting man would be advised to put his money on, you guessed it, J.J. Watt . . . or the up-and-comer, Aaron Donald, might Calais Campbell finally break through and see mainstream acclaim?  It will certainly be fun to watch.  Overall Stuff leaders through week 6:

Rk	Name	Stf
1	J.J. Watt	8
2	Kevin Minter	7.5
3	Malcolm Jenkins	6.5
4	Deone Bucannon	6.5
5	Aaron Donald	5.5
6	Jaye Howard	5.5
7	Jonathan Babineaux	5.5
8	Calais Campbell	5
9	Bennie Logan	5
10	Brandon Marshall	5
11	Henry Anderson	5
12	Telvin Smith	5
13	Aaron Lynch	4.5
14	Cameron Heyward	4.5
15	Jelani Jenkins	4.5
16	Michael Bennett	4.5
17	Tyrann Mathieu	4.5
18	Cameron Jordan	4
19	Damon Harrison	4
20	Khalil Mack	4

The NFL's 75th Anniversary Two-Way Team (1994)

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney

In 1994, for the NFL's 75ht Anniversary a blue-ribbon panel chose a 75th Anniversary Team and also a Two-Way team, which didn't receive the publicity of the 75th Anniversary Team. However, it was very interesting in its own right. It was composed of 19 players, Hall of Famers all and six of them were on the aforementioned 75th Anniversary Team.

Here is the complete team:

Bronko Nagurski

Don Hutson

Dutch Clark

Fats Henry

On This Day in NFL History, October 8, 1933

(Hat tip NFL Alumni and TJ Troup   This Day in Football-A Day-By-Day Record of the Events That Shaped the Game)

LOOKING BACK
by John Turney

Cliff Battles is first NFL player to gain 200 yards rushing. He did so on October 8, 1933. In that game against the New York Giants as he rushed 16 times for 215 yards, and scored one touchdown.

This shot if from the game Battles gained his yardage, but it is unknown if the ball-carrier is Battles.

1933 Boston Redskins versus New York Giants, Fenway Park. Colorization by John Turney

This shot is from 1937.

Cliff Battles #20, Sammy Baugh #33. Colorization by John Turney