Peete to start vs. Detroit

I wouldn't count any game on our schedule a win. The Lions will be our best chance, most even match-up. Arizona would be right there, too. But any other game is in question.
Minnesota is going to be looking to squash us early.
We always seem to play the Pack good, anything can happen there.
TB should over power us.
I can see 3-4 by the bye week, at best.
As long as we get 1 more win this year, I'll have to be content with that. Improvement is improvement, as long as we are consistently competitive and improve as the season goes on, wins and losses don't concern me as much.

 

I'm feeling better about Leftwich after reading TFY's analysis of him. They talk about him having average accuracy, being late on timing passes, but having the arm, the head, and a quick release. If we went that way, I think I'd be happy right now. He fits the O, can make plays at times but we wouldn't have to Marino this team to make the offense work either.
Certainly can't argue with his stats, mostly his TD/INT ratio.
On the other hand the ease of which both he and Pennington played in that offense and Pennington's long sitting time might cast doubt - well, if Pennington wasn't putting up a 125 QB rating in preseason.

 

The only reason Pennington isn't starting is that the team isn't as in tune with him on a personal level. He's earned the job IMO. The fans would probably have a fit, too. Vinny is the second coming of Nameth to those idiots. Granted, Vinny's still got game...gutsy fucker if nothing else...but the best man should get the job.
Pennington gets a shot of any kind and the team will rally behind him. A few W's and the Jets fans will be saying Vinny Who?

 

we beat a bad team, one that on this day at least was worse. while the glow of feasting on a 10-7 victory over a fellow loser is nice, especially since it has been so long, i would hesitate to carry that feel-good sentiment into a winning record at the midpoint of the season.

we have a real shot at beating detroit next week. and that's that. vikes, cards and falcons, despite being losers this week, did not look poor in defeat. if atlanta plays like they did yesterday, we won't split anything with them, especially considering how good we've tended to make them look over the last several contests.

3-4 wins, and i wouldn't be surprised to see us go 0-6 in the division. i don't think you can expect much more out of this team. we have an anemic offense, and our defense, while aggressive, is extremely green and not strong enough to carry the team yet.

 

geez cosmik, didn't you see anything to give you any hope? i know that i'm stupidly optimistic but still your pessimism sucks. on the bright side:

1. we ran the ball well against a very good run defense with our backup running back, a guy that most fans thought was gonna be a waste. our best offense weapon, Foster, was out but will be back soon and will be busting loose. Hoover was a huge surprise with his production from the FB spot.

2. we won with our backup QB, a guy who's thrown something like 1 pass in the past 2 years. the position is iffy but, i personally think there's good reason for hope this season for a big improvement at QB over what we've had and have come to expect.

3. we won despite Terry being called for at least 3 penalties on plays that we would have achieved a first down, and despite Moose dropping a ball that would have put us in position to get at least 3 points. Terry will quit fucking up (in games) soon. count on it. and, i got this feeling that Moose will soon quit dropping balls. without these mistakes we would have put more points on the board. still we controlled time of possession by an impressive margin.

4. we won despite only scoring 10 points and barely missing a field goal at the end of the game that pretty much would have sealed the game. not bad for a 1-15 team that's shown a knack for blowing leads in the 4th Q much less protecting a 3-point lead.

5. the players are fired up now and could start building some confidence with a win against Detroit. i think Fox and Del Rio have genuinely captured the respect of the players and have revived a passion among the players that has been missing since the days of Sam Mills. that energy and confidence should get the team to play at a much higher level and help them to win some games.

6. our defense looks like it could be a great defense. the corners held up and Fair could help. the pass rush was very strong. we virtually shut down the Ravens run game, which features a great running back and offensive line. they're young and will make mistakes but they have the speed now to recover. i think they will cause more mistakes with their speed than they will make.

7. the fans got excited and we're giving us an advantage. they love Fox and Del Rio and the enthusiasm they bring. if we can get on a little roll, we will have home-field advantage again.

8. the tight-ends re-appreared in our offense and specifically, Walls. he could be a huge boost for us.

9. the special teams looked good again.

10. we won with less talent back when we went 12-4

>> Peete didn't do anything Weinke couldn't do out there, other than the fact he knew the offense. The Ravens played a bunch of zone, and Weinke's problem was more with man coverage and blitz recognition. Although if Weinke had been out there, we probably would have seen more aggressive coverage.

Did ya take note of Moose's comment that someone was saying that there were a lot of "steely eyes" in the huddle and that everyone was noticing? my interpretation is that there wasn't leadership in the huddle when Weinke was in there. I didn't see the game. Was Peete able to throw to his left? Was he able to hit wide-open receivers with consistency? Did he not throw interceptions? Did he average over 5 yards per completion? If so, I'd say that Peete gave us some things the Weinke couldn't give us and that would be leadership, completions, first-downs and a win.

 

Weinke has made all those throws against zone coverage. Most of Peete's stuff was dink and dunk, minus the flea-flicker (ala Minnesota) and the Walls TD. I doubt Weinke would have been able to hit the Walls TD, so I'll give you that. That one took touch. But I think he would have been more able on the deep curl to Moose that Peete underthrew.

Weinke's problem has never been against zone. That's what teams fed him early in the year last year, and he had fairly good stats. It's against press coverage and blitz pickup. When teams started figuring that out, he struggled.

My point, which you apparently missed, was that while Weinke may have performed similarly against the same coverage that Peete saw, my guess is that Weinke would not have seen as much zone, since the book our there on him.

BTW, really good Ravens run D?

 

Dang ppl I'm not expecting ANY more wins, but if you look at each of these games and their strengths and weaknesses I'm pointing out a POSSIBLE win... I mean hell if you go into EVERY week thinking your team is gonna lose every game you must be a miserable miserable football fan... I mean hell why even watch

 

actually I think physically, Weinke would have made the Walls throw. he's not had trouble throwing deep left, just shorter left.

 

I had to go to the Lion's board to find more pessimism than here. They hate their GM and their coach. They feel that the Lions are the worst team with us as second to the bottom. I think they might lynch M&M if they lose to us. Our fans are plume optomistic compared to the Lions' fans.

I guess losing to us is the most dishearting thing that can happen to a team. I was sitting within 20 feet of the Raven tunnel sunday when they came off the field after losing. I thought they were going to puke. Sad,sad looking bunch. It looked much better on their faces than ours.

 

i'm pleased as punch they won. ecstatic even.
not trying to be pessimistic, just realist.
it's ...disconcerting... to see the fans multiplying up the wins this season after one game. the only thing we defeated was the spectre of 15 straight losses and what...one and a half seasons of home losses?
hell...there were lots of positives, and i'd like to see them at 8-0 at the midpoint, but i don't think it's possible.

hope i'm wrong.