Open Thread: Divisional Playoffs, Saturday 1/11

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 11, 2009 9:32 AM CST in St. Louis Rams Hire Jeff Fisher

In no way did I think that the Arizona Cardinals were for real, so I admit to being more than a little surprised when they beat the Panthers last night. Classic case of why I don't bet on football games.

Some coaching updates from the PD this morning. Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is a finalist and will have a second interview with Devaney, Rams owners Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez, and senior advisor John Shaw. Devaney seems to think enough of Frazier to skip the first round interview. Frazier's a popular guy around the league, interviewing for several vacancies and considered a finalist for the Broncos job as well. And you can bet the Donkeys won't be spare with their offer. Word is he had a good interview in Detroit too. The Vikings defensive coordinator job is kind of an ivy league program for head coaches with notable alums Mike Tomlin and Tony Dungy. Compare that to the recent list of Baltimore defensive coordinators who became head coaches, Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan, hmmm.

Anyway, here's a scouting report on Frazier. Interestingly, one observer thinks that Frazier would shift to a Tampa-2 scheme in the defensive backfield. How does that effect the Rams current personnel? With so many DBs coming off the books this year, it's probably easier to shift from man coverage to the Tampa-2. How would Bartell and Atogwe fit in that scheme, both of whom have been identified by Devaney as priorities to resign for the coming season (they'll use the franchise or transition tag on Atogwe, and Bartell might be apt to follow Haslett if he goes elsewhere).

Here's the updated coaching matrix.

Two more games today to decide the conference championship lineup. On top of my strike out on the Cardinals prediction, I was shocked to see the Titans go down as well. Yeah, you can blame the missed delay of game penalty, but they made their fair share of mistakes too. Credit B-more's defense;they made the stops when it mattered despite the box score numbers favoring the Titans, except for the turnovers. A missed field goal never helps either, as Rams fans know all too well.

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If it makes you feel any better.

If I were a betting man, I would have gone 0-2 yesterday.

And just to be on record, today I’d have gone with the Giants (currently losing 7-3 at the end of the 1st quarter) and the Steelers.

Figure that means we’ll the Eagles and Chargers advancing….

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by Tackle Box on Jan 11, 2009 12:44 PM CST reply actions

I never

really believed in the Titans as a playoff team. I don’t know why…I guess I just didn’t believe in Kerry Collins. They had a great defense and a great running game, but I was never really on board.

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by Toddius on Jan 11, 2009 12:51 PM CST reply actions

see, i figured

a solid D and a good run game was the key to playoff success, but if you’ll notice the running backs are getting shut down in the playoffs.

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 11, 2009 4:13 PM CST up reply actions

Not sure if this mean anything

and it probably doesn’t. But I was wondering about head coaches and if there was a definitive slant to where they originate (offense or defense). Anyway, here’s what I found:

Offensive:

Tony Sparano (MIA)
Gary Kubiak (HOU)
Tom Cable (OAK)
Norv Turner (SD)
Tom Coughlin (NYG)
Andy Reid (PHI)
Jim Zorn (WAS)
Mike McCarthy (GB)
Brad Childress (MIN)
Sean Payton (NO)
Jon Gruden (TB)
Ken Wisenhunt (ARI)
Mike Shanahan (Fired)

Defense:

Dick Jauron (BUF)
Bill Belichick (NE)
John Harbaugh (BAL)
Marvin Lewis (CIN)
Eric Mangini (CLE)
Mike Tomlin (PIT)
Tony Dungy (IND)
Jack Del Rio (JAX)
Jeff Fisher (TEN)
Herm Edwards (KC)
Wade Phillips (DAL)
Lovie Smith (CHI)
Mike Smith (ATL)
John Fox (CAR)
Jim Haslett (STL)
Mike Singletary (SF)
Jim Mora, Jr. (SEA)
Romeo Crennel (Fired)
Rod Marinelli (Fired)

So, the overall total comes to 12 from Offense and 17 from Defense. But what I found interesting was in the AFC, only 4 are from Offense (Sparano, Kubiak, Cable, Turner) with 10 from Defense while in the NFC there are 8 from Offense and 7 from Defense.

Of note: AFC North – 0 from Offense, NFC East – 3 from Offense (Coughlin, Reid, Zorn).

Not sure if it means anything, but I figured I’d share it.

by Tackle Box on Jan 11, 2009 3:27 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Also

In the playoffs, it’s split 6 and 6, but the AFC has 4 from Defense and the NFC has 4 from Offense.

by Tackle Box on Jan 11, 2009 4:00 PM CST up reply actions

good stuff

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Jan 11, 2009 7:09 PM CST up reply actions

I was a a betting man

(albeit of the small, $20 each variety)

and I’ll be 4-0 if the Stoolers can win this one. I really thought Balty’s D would win the day…turned out, they needed a little extra help to get that big win. I just had a feelin’ about our guy Warner and those Cardinals…after seeing that regular season game between them, I really thought Arizona had a good chance. I rolled with ‘em just to make watching the game exciting! And Philly/NYG? Sorry, but with no Burress i.e. no deep threat, I thought the Iggles would shut down the Giants’ O…and they did. So, that left one home team that HAD to win, and I like Pitt’s chances in bad weather.

Toot too goes my own horn,
bigwood25

P.S.

Leslie Frazier
Rex Ryan
Jim Fassel
Jim Haslett
…are those our 4 leading candidates?

by bigwood25 on Jan 11, 2009 4:32 PM CST reply actions