NFL's Bottom 10
By Bruce Marshall
We've had a month to digest the 2010 NFL season, which to this point has provided a lot more parity than it did at a similar point a year ago, when several teams were non-competitive, and the gap between the "haves" and "have-nots" was never wider. That gap, however, closed significantly in the final portion of the 2009 campaign, and the pattern has been similar this season. Indeed, only one team remains unbeaten (and who on earth would have guessed it would be Kansas City) as we enter the second weekend in October.
Still, there are a handful of situations that have already deteriorated, and a few more that could deteriorate further. Following is a quick look at the "bottom ten" in the NFL as we approach mid-October. We'll list these entries (with accompanying straight-up and pointspread records) in inverse order.
10-San Francisco (0-4 straight up, 2-2 vs. pointspread)... The 49ers' slow start has been well-documented, and based upon their straight-up mark might deserve to be a bit lower-ranked on this list. The regime of HC Mike Singletary sits on a shaky foundation, with the coach's shortcomings (particularly on the offensive side) becoming harder to camouflage. The uneven play of QB Alex Smith, exacerbated by yet another change of offensive coordinators (Jimmy Raye out, Michael Johnson promoted), hardly a shining moment for Singletary, continues to haunt the offense. Many believe Smith, who operated out of the spread when posting big numbers in college at Utah, would be better-suited to a shotgun rather than taking steps directly behind center as he has mostly done in the 49er offense. One wonders how much more rope Singletary will give Smith, with David Carr likely to get the call if the "O" continues to falter. Still, however, may believe that the 49ers can get back into the NFC West race, with a still-solid defense leading the way, although it's not much of a stretch to say the San Francisco season might be on the line Sunday night against the Eagles. This week hosts Philadelphia
9-Cleveland (1-3, 2-1-1)... Does HC Eric Mangini really want to put QB Jake Delhomme back in the lineup? Delhomme, sidelined since Week One with an ankle injury, is reportedly going to be a gametime decisions for Sunday's battle vs. the Falcons. But Delhomme resembled the "mistake Jake" of the 2009 season at Carolina in the opener vs. Tampa Bay when tossing a pair of costly picks, and more than a few AFC North observers believe that the Browns are better off with Seneca Wallace taking snaps at QB. The defense, however, has performed admirably and has kept the Browns in each of their first 4 games. With indications that Delhomme is past his sell-by date, we wonder how much upside the Brownies really have if they put Delhomme back in the lineup. Already, Cleveland is on the brink of losing touch with the Ravens and Steelers in the AFC North. This week hosts Atlanta
8-Jacksonville (2-2, 2-2)... That was a big win for the Jags last week against the Colts, but we don't believe HC Jack Del Rio is out of the woods just yet. There are still plenty of questions about the Jacksonville defense, and though the pass rush appears somewhat improved after last year's ineffective display, the jury is still out. As it is on QB David Garrard, who was completely ineffective in weeks two and three against the Chargers and Eagles, respectively, before bouncing back with a respectable performance against Indy. Most AFC observers believe that the Jags can be no worse than .500 (4-4) when their bye week hits on November 7 for Del Rio to have a realistic shot at hanging around until next season. Obviously, a loss this Sunday vs. the Bills would be a devastating blow. This week at Buffalo
7-Tampa Bay (2-1, 1-1-1)... The glow of early wins over the Browns and Panthers began to fade because, well, they're just the Browns and Panthers. And the Bucs were subsequently brought crashing to earth by the Steelers. Although top rookie draft picks Gerald McCoy and Brian Price have solidified one of the offseason question marks along the defensive line, there are still significant concerns about the offense and running game in particular. Don't be surprised to see Oregon rookie RB LeGarrette Blount get more chances carrying the ball in the coming weeks, and second-year QB Josh Freeman could really use someone taking the offensive burden off him. This week at Cincinnati
6-Seattle (2-2, 2-2)... If the Seahawks are considered a contender, it's only because they're in the NFC West. And after getting whipped by the Rams last week in St. Louis, any thought that Seattle should be in pole position in the division seems a bit misguided, especially since the team still can't win on the road (0-2 already this season, now 3-15 since 2008). Perhaps the midweek trade acquisition of RB Marshawn Lynch from the Bills will awaken what has been a dormant ground game. Although the zone blocking schemes have been mostly ineffective thus far. QB Matt Hasselbeck is being plagued by picks (6 of 'em already), to the point the Seattle media is even bringing up the possibility that backup Charlie Whitehurst, acquired amidst much fanfare in the offseason but easily beaten out by Hasselbeck in preseason, might get a chance soon. Although HC Pete Carroll is having none of it...for the moment. The Seahawks would also likely be staring a 3-game losing streak in the face if not for a pair of kick return TDs by Leon Washington against the Chargers on September 26, and the offense has only accounted for 30 points over the last three games. A winnable stretch of games, beginning with the Bears and including the Cardinals and Raiders, commences upon resumption of play following this week's bye. Bye this week
5-Arizona (2-2, 1-3)... The Cards might be tied for first place in the NFC West (and they can thank the normally-reliable Raider PK Sebastian Janikowski for gifting them a win on September 26) but we suspect their playoff chances are not a heckuva lot better than the Lions or the Panthers. We've seen UFL teams in better shape at the QB position that the Cards, who are still suffering from the Matt Leinart debacle. The latest twists have Derek "Wild Thing" Anderson benched after a series of uneven efforts and BYU rookie FA Max Hall getting the start on Sunday vs. the defending Super Bowl champ Saints in Glendale. But the bigger picture still revolved back to Leinart, whose inability to display the maturity and leadership necessary of an NFL QB has hampered the organization, which was able to camouflage Leinart the past couple of years thanks to the presence of Kurt Warner. Despite given every opportunity to claim the job and become the face of the franchise, Leinart was once again unable to step up this summer, and thanks also in part to his big money contract was considered surplus by disappointed HC Ken Whisenhunt, who released the former Heisman Trophy winner before the regular season. Leinart never commanded respect in the Card clubhouse, mostly because of smug arrogance and an attitude that was "all L.A." according to more than one teammate. Good riddance, but unfortunately, Leinart's shortcomings are going to impact the team the rest of this season. This week hosts New Orleans
4-Detroit (0-4, 3-1)... This 0-4 isn't like the past couple of 0-4s in the Motor City, as the Lions have been competitive in every game and are unfortunate not to have at least one win on the ledger. Second-year QB Matthew Stafford has been out since the opening week with a shoulder injury and might be sidelined until the Lions' bye week on October 24, although veteran Shaun Hill has been serviceable in relief. Hill, however, has piled up a lot of stats in the late going of recent games when the Lions were playing from behind, partly due to what has been an ineffective running game, ranking just 26th and gaining only 3.7 ypc. The defense, despite the addition of Nebraska's monster rookie DT Ndamukong Suh, ranks 26th vs. the run (just like the offense) while allowing 135 ypg, and has been guilty of allowing too many big plays. Inconsistent play from the LB corps has hampered HC Jim Schwartz's stop unit, with the absence of MLB DeAndre Levy (probably out a few more weeks with a groin strain and ankle problems) particularly harmful. Until the defense begins to perform a bit better, however, wins will remain elusive. This week hosts St. Louis
3-Oakland (1-3, 2-2)... After hyping ex-Redskin Jason Campbell as the QB of the future when acquiring him in the offseason, it only took the Raiders two games before benching Campbell in favor of journeyman Bruce Gradkowski. And the latest example of dysfunction within Raider Nation. Even normally reliable PK Sebastian Janikowski has been culpable, blowing three FGs in the recent loss at Arizona (including a 32-yard chip shot that would have won the game in the final seconds). And any extended absence of RB Darren McFadden, who will miss Sunday's game vs. the Chargers due to hamstring problems, will likely impact an offense that was making good use of his quick break from the gate to help control the ball and keep the suspect defense (which is allowing a whopping 5.3 ypc) off the field. Backup Michael Bush has not been nearly as effective as McFadden thus far. As usual, HC Tom Cable's hangs in the balance seemingly every week. Don't expect that to change as more uneven performances can be expected. This week hosts San Diego
2-Carolina (0-4, 1-3)... Although there was some encouragement to be taken from last week's close 16-14 loss to the Saints, the Panthers are still winless and not going anywhere this season, and a complete housecleaning could be in order soon. The switch from Matt Moore to Jimmy Clausen at QB after Week Two came a lot sooner than most had anticipated when Clausen's strong arm and upside seemed a worthwhile risk for an anemic offense that continued its misfiring ways from preseason play into the regular season. Clausen, however, is nowhere near a finished product, and the playbook is not expected to be expanded very far in the coming weeks. And now with star WR Steve Smith sidelined by a sprained ankle, we wonder who will serve as Clausen's receiving targets this week vs. the Bears. The defense is at least representative, which should give the Panthers a chance to score a win soon, but we're not sure that's going to be enough to save HC John Fox, his staff, or GM Marty Hurney, none of whom having their contracts extended after last season. This week hosts Chicago
1-Buffalo (0-4. 1-3)... How in the world did Buffalo end up with Ryan Fitzpatrcik as it starting QB a month into the 2010 season? Didn't the Bills spend a lot of time grooming J.P. Losman, and then Trent Edwards, to handle the QB job over the past seven years? Those are two examples of the many swings and misses that have hampered the Bills over the past decade, with the current pattern of whiffs perhaps extending to coaching hires and new HC Chan Gailey, who has Buffalo fans worried that this year's edition might threaten the Lions' 0-16 mark of two years ago, especially if it can't defeat beatable Jacksonville this week. There don't look to be many available wins in the rugged AFC East. On the plus side, electric Clemson rookie RB/KR C.J. Spiller will be getting more touches now that Marshawn Lynch has been traded to Seattle, but that doesn't answer the questions about an awful defense that has been helpless vs. the run (and ranks dead last vs. the rush at 174 ypg) as well as scoring defense (31.3 ppg). No wonder DB Donte Whitner is sounding the alarm bells. "If we continue the way we've been playing," said Whitner after last week's 38-14 demolition administered by the Jets, "we're not going to get a win!" This week hosts Jacksonville