Saturday Studmuffins: Former NFL Quarterback Steve McNair (1973-2009)

This feature is usually reserved for feats and accomplishments. I won't pretend to be good at eulogizing, or breaking news. And I won't pretend like I knew Steve McNair. I will only say that to die at 36 years old is extremely sad.

The three-time Pro Bowler logged 13 years in the National Football League, threw for over 30,000 yards, 174 touchdowns, and a 60.1 completion percentage. He was drafted third overall in 1995 by the Houston Oilers, moved with the franchise to Tennessee, and played as a Baltimore Raven for the final two seasons of his career.
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Sunday Sermon: What the Image Says

Now, almost every single post-season game has gone the way I hoped it would. Yesterday's Titans-Ravens game was a disappointment, only in terms of the final outcome. I'd like for Jeff Fisher to get one, and the whole Kerry Collins story was neat, too. Smash, and Dash, however, can drink a simmering vile of panther urine for all I care. That game, though, left a most profound thought smattered across my brain...

...and that is the fact that the Kansas City Chiefs are really no where near to contender status. The defenses displayed by both Tennessee and Baltimore were beyond impressive. They stopped the run, they hit guys like freight trains, they played their positions, they trusted one another, they wrapped up their tackles, they made picks, and they kept it to a field-goal game, more or less. It was remarkable.

Since Carl Peterson stepped down as GM for the Chiefs, I've waivered a bit on whether or not I think Head Coach Herman Edwards should be retained for another year. Now I'm certain he should not. He's a defensive-minded coach that would be entering his fourth year of this program. His secondary can hit hard and pick off a few passes. But they don't wrap up, they don't stay in position, they don't have trust, and they get smoked because the linebackers and linemen are flippin' terrible. Perhaps, if you don't count his first year here, this upcoming third season with "his players" is just what he needs to get this thing righted, but the gap between the Chiefs defense (last in the league) and that of both clubs on the field yesterday in Tennessee are astronomical, a leap very few could make, I imagine.

I suppose the same argument could be made for the Denver Broncos, but that stand is for some other guy on some other job.

Miscellaneously speaking, I'm pumped for the Cardinals. Really? An NFC Championship in Arizona? That's freaking nuts. Now, how to root in this Pittsburgh/San Diego tilt -- that's beyond me.
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Saturday Studmuffins: Tennessee Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher

The Big Lead tips us off to this story, which basically says that Jeff Fisher parachuted into practice yesterday. Geez. Must be nice to have a cool coach. Apparently, the jump was "from a helicopter with members of the 101st Airborne Parachute team and landed on the practice field...Players said the coach used the jump to deliver a message to his 10-0 team about overcoming obstacles. One of the parachute team members is Sgt. Max Ramsey, who lost a leg while serving in Iraq.

'He has been able to overcome that adversity and still do what he does,’ Tulloch said. 'It shows us no matter what, we can accomplish what we want. That's what I took from it. ... It is unbelievable.'"

Yeah. I'll say. If Herman Edwards ever did something exciting to motivate his players, something as an obstacle-overcoming example, it was never publicized. Either way, that's some cool stuff.

(photo courtesy of U.S. Army)
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Sleeping With the Enemy: Week Seven, Titans @ Chiefs

This is "Sleeping with the Enemy," a feature in which we interview fans of the opposing teams represented inside the House of Georges. Sort of. For a short spell, we interviewed fans of clubs facing both the Chiefs and Broncos, but our Denver faithful opted to switch to a Braille-only format, and publish it only on the stall walls of random Denver-area breakfast joints. It then evolved into a Chiefs-opponent-only feature, and this week it's even specialer: we've got two Titans fans in the House, and they were eager to break down this game with detail and precision. In the post-jump mix is Jimmy Morris from Music City Miracles, and Nick from Titan Sized. Join us, as we crunch Titans numbers, and examine a few of the 4000 things wrong with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Given that this Titans squad has played so well in the early goings of the season, I had a few questions to ask of Jimmy and Nick.

Bankmeister: This contest between the Chiefs and Titans looks to be an interesting one ahead of time, even if the final outcome is as bad as it could be. The Titans are undefeated, and have a largely reputable D. Stack that against a 1-4 Chiefs squad with next to no offense, and the field is obviously tilted in Tennessee's favor. What, in your estimation, are the three keys to Tennessee's early-season success?

Jimmy: 1. Defense: #1 in the NFL in scoring defense (11.2 points per game)
2. Running the ball: LenDale White and rookie Chris Johnson have combined for 119 yards per game
3. Protecting the football and forcing turnovers: #1 in the NFL in turnover ratio (+6)

Nick: 1. The play of the defense.
The Titans boast one of the best front four in football, with mad man Kyle Vanden Bosch and DT Albert Haynesworth eating up the right side, overachieving DT Tony Brown next to Haynesworth and the now resurgent "Freak" Jevon Kearse at left end. While the Titans may have one of the best D-Lines in the NFL, they have an even better secondary. Led by "The Young Guns" CB Cortland Finnegan and FS Michael Griffin (both of whom are tied for the league lead in interceptions) and "The Old Guys" CB Nick Harper (game-ending INT's in the last two weeks) and SS Chris Hope (leads the team in tackles), this group is probably the best unit in the league. And that doesn't even factor in the glue that holds the defense together, linebacker Keith Bulluck. He has been the one constant for this team for nine years now, and he is the one that the rest of the guys look to for leadership and emulate his work ethic.

2. The steady hand of QB Kerry Collins.
This season has been one full of successes for the Titans, but it has not allowed fans of the team to forget the turmoil that surrounded the team early on with the Vince Young saga. There was already plenty for us to debate given Young's early play, but when he went down with the knee injury, the team's hand was forced. While Collins hasn't been spectacular this season ( 3 td 3 int 73 passer rating), he gets rid of the ball quickly (only been sacked once), and has had two game-winning drives against good defenses (Jacksonville and Baltimore). While much of Kerry's success in running the offense can be attributed to our stellar offensive line, the bottom line is he's gotten it done with below average wide-outs.


3. The play of rookie running back Chris Johnson.
Widely criticized for taking Johnson with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 draft, the rookie out of East Carolina University quickly quelled the debate with his pre-season and early regular season play. While his play has dropped off some in recent weeks, his touches have increased during that same span, and he is clearly the number one guy in the Tennessee backfield. He looks like a guy that can carry the load for this team for years to come, and I think is making GM Mike Reinfeldt and Coach Jeff Fisher look pretty savvy right now. I think he'll have a big day against a weak Chiefs' run defense.

B: For Kansas City fans, this game is coming at a bizarre time, in three separate fashions. One, in the last game the Chiefs played, Larry Johnson was held to two rushing yards. That effort, if you can call it that, come one week after a 198-yard output. How will such inconsistent numbers match up against the Titans' run defense? The second factor is that the NFL trade deadline just expired, and the Chiefs failed to trade Tony Gonzalez, a transaction he requested. Does Gonzalez have a marquis day, or does he come out laissez faire, angry that they didn't get a deal done for him? Third, it's the return of Brodie Croyle at quarterback. He's claimed he's not 100%, and that he likely won't be for the rest of the season, but knows he must contribute to this team in a winning fashion or chalk his Kansas City career up as over. Is the Titan pash rush one he should fear in terms of intimidation and injury? They've already netted 15 sacks as a unit. Does this trend of averaging three a contest continue?

J: Well it appears now that LJ isn't going to play so that answers that. The Titans pass rush is very good when healthy. Right now it looks like Pro Bowl defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and defensive tackle Tony Brown might miss the game. That will slow the rush a little bit, but the defensive plan will be to get after Croyle all day long.

N: As I said earlier, the Titans' defense is its biggest strength. Albert Haynesworth is probably one of the front-runners for defensive MVP thus far, and there is just no way that the Chiefs can cover both he and Vanden Bosch on that right side (unless they put their entire o-line over there). With that said, KVB has been a bit banged up since he left the Baltimore game with a knee injury and will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game (although he says he'll play). What will be interesting to see is if the Chiefs utilize the speedy Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith more this week, as these faster, more change-of-pace backs have given the Titans some trouble this season (see the Bengals Chris Perry and the Texans Steve Slaton).

As for Gonzo, that guy is the consummate professional, and that shouldn't change because he didn't get the trade that he requested. The biggest concern for Chiefs fans should be whether the QB (whoever that may be) will even be able to get him the ball. I don't see that trend of getting to the QB change this week for the Titans, especially against that line.

B: On the Tennessee side of the football, Chris Johnson appears to be carrying the load, except when in goal-line formations, then LenDale White gets the ball. Is this a formula that Jeff Fisher will continue to employ, or will one of the two emerge as a featured back? Regarding the pass, what is the fan base feeling on Kerry Collins being at the helm? Will there be another phase of Vince Young football, or will his personal issues/"injuries" keep him from again securing the one slot on the depth chart?

J: I think we will see the 2 back system for the whole season. The Titans LOVE to run the ball so they will need both guys. The fan base is happy with Collins at the helm. The most important thing is for the quarterback to take care of the ball in this offense. Collins has done that for the most part. It is his team until he quits doing that. We will see VY again because he has too much potential and they are paying him too much money to ride the pine, but it might not be until 2009.

N: That will probably be the case if the Titans get down inside the two or three-yard line, as LenDale White-Castle is the epitome of a "three yards and cloud of dust" running back. But in watching the Titans over the last couple of weeks, many observers will note that the majority of the red zone carries have gone to Johnson. They are sealing off the outside and allowing him to get to the sidelines more, as evidenced in the Minnesota game three weeks ago.

As far as the feeling about Kerry Collins at the helm, most Titans fans seem to be very comfortable with him leading the offense. His numbers haven't been huge, but he also hasn't thrown but three INT's (one of them being a tipped ball against Baltimore) and more importantly as I said earlier, he hasn't been sacked but once since taking over (which can be credited to great pass blocking by the offensive line as well). He has also made big plays when the Titans have needed him to the most. It's obviously not how we would have scripted it, but the guy has led a team to the Super Bowl (in this decade) and has a very high football IQ. VY should be using this time to learn from the veteran, because if he does come back to lead this team at some point, he'll be better off for it. And for the record, I think Vince will be back as the starting QB for the Titans, even if it's not this season .

B: In the receiving corps, the Titans have some decent ends of tightness in the form of Alge Crumpler and Bo Scaife, but lack any real number-one-type receivers. Justin Gage, Brandon Jones and Justin McCareins have all combined for roughly 450 yards and a couple of touchdowns, but FisherBall seems to be about strong defense, and running the ball. Assuming Collins stays in, and given his alleged ability to put the ball in the air, will they ever open up the playbook for this guy?

J: No. That is not the style of ball Fisher wants to play which is part of the reason they don't have a #1 receiver on this roster. The front office figures why give a guy a bunch of money if he isn't going to be that big of a factor anyway? It isn't always fun to watch, but it has been effective so far this season.

N: I think they have some in recent weeks with Justin McCareins, as he is a guy that offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger is comfortable with from their first stints as Titans and during their time with the Jets. Brandon Jones played quite well against Baltimore filling in for the injured Gage, in my humble opinion. The biggest question will be if and when Justin Gage can get healthy, as he has been hampered all season by a knee injury. He developed a really nice rapport with Young last season, and I think he can do the same with Collins if he can get back on the field. But yes, you are correct in that FisherBall is all about controlling the line of scrimmage with the offensive and defensive lines and the Titans do that better than any team in the league. Although the defensive line has been rightfully showered with accolades, the play of the o-line has gone largely unnoticed outside of Tennessee. It starts with the coaching. Hall of Famer Mike Munchak is one of the best positional coaches in the NFL. The line lost two of last years starters and has still managed to improve. It is also one the deepest units on the team; Daniel Loper and LeRoy Harris can play guard and tackle (respectively) without a huge drop off. Book-ended by two young tackles, Michael Roos & David Stewart, and with two young running backs, the Titans will be able to punish defenses for some time to come.

B: The month following the Chiefs game is a tough one for Tennessee, in that they draw Indy and Green Bay at home, then travel to Chicago and Jacksonville. Beyond that, it only barely gets easier, if at all. How do you see the season shaping up for this squad? Are they the real deal? Give us a prediction for this club. Can they win 13 games? More?

J: This team is the real deal. I predicted before the season that they would win 11 games, and I think that is about where they end up. The schedule so far has been pretty soft, and the Titans have done a good job of taking care of business. They will lose some games against some of these tough teams, but I think they will win the AFC South.

N: In our season preview, I believe that we picked the Titans to win a modest nine games and be right on the cusp to yet again make the playoffs. Barring a total meltdown, it looks as though they are well on their way to at least that. It would be crazy to think that they won't hit any bumps along the way, but this team looks for real. The game here against Indy on Monday Night Football will be our biggest test yet as the Colts look to have figured some things out and are finally getting healthy (minus the recent news about Addai). What we don't need to do is look past teams like the Chiefs, Bears and Jets like it seems the Giants did with the Browns last Monday night. If we can make it to that week 8 match up against the Colts undefeated, and beat our bitter division rival, the Titans will solidify their stake to the claim of the best team in football. Luckily, we get a good Green Bay team here as well, as Titans' fans give the team one of the better home-field advantages in all of football. The Jags always play us close and seem to be getting themselves together as well, so traveling their should be a really tough match up in week 11. I could see this team getting 13 wins, but that's a long way off still.

And given that there's a ridiculous amount of drama associated with the Chiefs, only adding to their tendency to play really bad football, Jimmy had a few questions for me.

J: Who is the best quarterback on your roster? Is there a legit NFL QB on the roster?

B: Without trying to seem like I'm bailing on a tough question, it's nearly impossible to answer since we haven't seen consistent play yet out of Croyle. Most folks say he's no good because he's lost all the games that he's started; I say the team has lost them. To answer it directly, it's Damon Huard right now, but if Croyle could stay healthy, I might be one of the only people left in the area that think Croyle could be the best on our roster.

J: How much talk is there that Larry Johnson is going to be suspended?

B: As of right now, there is no talk. (Editor's Note: This part of our conversation occurred prior to Thursday afternoon.) All's Herm has said is that they're dealing with it within the organization, and I imagine they'll wait to comment on it until the legal process has been completed. It's being called a minor assault, or something bizarre like that. I doubt the Chiefs would suspend him, but it's possible that Goodell could step in and do so. (Note: Clearly, I know nothing, as it was in fact the team that suspended him, and not the league.)

J: Talk about the Tony Gonzalez situation. How big of a distraction is it? Do you think they should have traded him?

B: It is a distraction. Everyone in the organization tells the media that it's not, but it is, and Tony's post-deadline comments only add to that, even though he says he'll be quick to get over it. I don't think it will be a distraction during gametime, but the players have been well aware of the scenario. I do think they should've traded him. I wrote about it here (link to come), but in a nutshell, it would've been best for him. Since he's still here, however, I'm secretly happy that he's still a Chief.

J: What 5 steps do the Chiefs need to take to turn it around?

B: Whew. Five steps? Toughie. First and foremost, solve the quarterback dilemna. If Croyle isn't going to work, they need to spend a first-round pick on one that will, pronto. Second, they need to broaden the overall scheme just a smidge. Run the ball, stop the run, and control the clock might've worked in the stone ages, but there's too much talent in today's NFL, and they will blow you up more often than you'd like. They need to find a balance of passing and running, and not immediately go into the run-only shell when things appear frightening. Third, they need to solidify the right side of the offensive line and in doing so, obtain more QB protection. Period. That might even need to be number two. Fourth, they need legitimate number two and number three receievers. Dwayne Bowe's pretty good, but so far he ain't great, and teams will successfully hone in on him and get in his head when they know the Chiefs are looking to him most every time. Finally, they need to iron out any flaws and errors with items one through four, stay the course with them, and bring in a smart head coach that will adhere to that philosophy. Herm's a good coach and he's a smart guy, but he's not a smart coach, and he will never be great. My new mantra: Like terrible decsion-making and a lack of championships? Herm Edwards is your man.

And so did Nick...

N: Tony Gonzalez has been around forever, but his production is still there. We know now that he was not traded, but is that not a good thing for the the team? I mean, isn't there some value in having vets that are also stand-up guys around a young team (kinda like the Titans over the last few years)?

B: I think it is a good thing for the team. Tony's a great leader, role model, and still a great athlete in his prime. In today's KC Star, there were a couple of mentionings of what Tony's presence could mean for the development of Brodie Croyle, should he stay healthy and the starter. These mentionings were of course asterisked with the claim that such developmental contributions were not a part of the non-trade. So yes, there is value in that, and I'd argue that it's more than "some"; you have the everyday presence of teaching young guys things, but perhaps more powerful is the stuff the youngsters aren't necessarily thinking about such as how Tony's stayed in great shape throughout each calendar year of his career, and barely missed a game as a result.

N: The Chiefs have been downright dreadful against the run this year (dead last). The running game has always been the bread-and-butter of the Tennessee offense (12th overall this season). It seems as though we have a huge advantage in this particular area. Should we assume that is mainly the fault of a bad Chiefs d-line, or is there something that we are missing and shouldn't look over?

B: Dreadful indeed, and the Titans do and will have a huge advantage in this area. The d-line shares a fault, no doubt, but I would actually hang more blame on the defensive scheme, and the fact that -- I've said this, perhaps ad nauseum on the HoG -- Herm Edwards, defensive-minded as he is, is a good coach and a smart man, but he is not a smart coach. The Cover Two scheme either doesn't gel with Defensive Coordinator Gunther Cunningham's personality, is outdated, or Edwards doesn't know how to operate it. It's probably the latter, given that he was never an actual coordinator.

Either way, we were much better against the run last year, but we still gave up the token huge plays both on the ground and in the air. To answer your question, it appears to me that the D-line's assignment is applied pressure first, tackle the runner second. That kind of means the linebackers are the first line of defense, and Derrick Johnson is finally coming into a solid, consistent player, Donnie Edwards is getting old (and he's hurt), and Demorrio Williams -- for my money -- had largely unimpressive numbers in a Falcons uniform, so why would he be any better in another crappy regime. Then there's the secondary, who might be our strength. Our young safeties are playing tight football, and our even younger corners show a ton of potential. Shocker, that's what Herm played. No wonder the rest of the unit is sub-par.

N: Our secondary makes most of our tackles (3 of the top 4 on the team), and CB Nick Harper and SS Chris Hope like to creep up to the line of scrimmage and show blitz. Do you think the Chiefs could punish our D if we're too aggressive? Do they have the personnel for misdirection, reverses, or gadget type plays?

B: With all due respect to your question and the Chiefs players, I doubt that the word "punish" could be used in any regard when speaking of the Chiefs' offense. The only exceptions would be: a) the right side of the O-line punishing the quarterback with their ole style of blocking, b) Larry Johnson punishing women in KC night clubs, or c) Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey punishing the fan base by pretending that his squad will one day find a legitimate balance between productive running and passing. And I'm certain the personnel is there, but conservative crew wearing the headphones would almost assuredly never call for any such shenanigans.

N: Glenn Dorsey was one of the top prospects coming out of college, even with the injury trouble that caused him to slip a bit in the draft. Have you see any development over the first five games to justify that "can't miss" tag, or is that not enough of a sampling to even determine his progress (no sacks, 1FF, 11 solo tackles)? Do you see his development as similar to Mario Williams slow start his rookie year or even our own Albert Haynesworth, who didn't really come into his own until his third year?

B: I believe that I am unfit to answer that question, and here's why: In my eyes, actual, hard-core football fans watch the game very differently from one another. For example, my father-in-law watches almost nothing but the dirty work in the trenches from the start of each snap to its conclusion. He would be somebody that could tell you, assuming he's seen each game. I don't watch football like that, especially with my team playing as poorly as it has for far too long. I'm mostly focused on the sticks; achieving and preventing first downs is what keeps me energized. I suppose that the best I could tell you is that any player is only as good as the players around him. Given that most of the players around Dorsey are either young, inexperienced, or in some cases, bad, I'd have to say those stats are pretty okay with me, especially considering our record. How that compares to Williams and Haynesworth is beyond me, as I'm a massive homer, but I will agree with you that Haynesworth became something of a beast in the last season and-a-half to two seasons.

N: Keeping the last question in mind, if 2008 is pretty much lost for the Chiefs, what do you think some of the team's goals are for the remainder of the season? They had a large and highly touted rookie class coming out of the 2008 draft. Which of them do you think will play on Sundays for a long time in this league? Do you expect a big overhaul in the off-season at quarterback, running back and maybe most importantly, head coach?

B: I don't want to sound off with these run-of-the-mill answers, but when you're real young and real bad, it's all about the basics, and right now, it has to be about finding ways to win football games. Sure, every club does that every week, but this club is doing it at a primitive level. Right now I can't say that I don't see any of them playing. Dorsey, Branden, the two Brandons, Jamaal Charles, and even Brad Cottam to a lesser degree have shown flashes. DaJuan Morgan and Will Franklin will need to be patient for opportunities to play, and frankly, with those sixth- and seventh-rounders, I don't know squat about them. But of those mentioned, I imagine they'll be around for some time.

Finally, it's like this: If the Brodie Croyle experiment fails, and the Chiefs don't spend their first-rounder on a quarterback in April 2009, that head office had better be on a plane for Siberia before the first day of the draft is over, because there will be a beyond furious, clinically insane mob of fans looking to rape and pillage. Honest Injun'. As far as Larry Johnson goes, who knows. I was glad we signed him to the big deal, then regretted being glad, and now I don't even know where I stand with him. Between Charles and Kolby Smith, I think a 1200-yard back could emerge, and I don't know if we'll see that opportunity, because if the Chiefs want to trade Johnson, I doubt they'll find anyone who will accept that fat contract.

And no, Edwards will not, much to my chagrin, be fired in the off-season. This good-ol-boys club is about as good ol' boy as it gets. He gets 'til early November '09 to figure it out. God bless us all.

In the end, it was a piece-mealed effort, but one that made for some heavy football scrutiny, some enjoyable reading, and one conclusive, predictive agreement...

J: I think the Titans come in there and win it going away, 28-10.

N: 30-10, Titans win.

B: Aw, what the hell. The Chiefs make a game of it: Titans 27, Chiefs 21.
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Tradition Tuesday: Brodie Bangs, Jay Jams

The rough focus of this blog sometimes appears to be a Litmus of the best ways in which to ridicule the once-glorious Chiefs of Kansas City, and examine whether or not the Broncos of Denverville can once again achieve the latitude tagged within the walls of this here House as "sustained excellence." We're well aware that the Chargers of Whale's Vagina and the Raiders of Oaktown exist in the AFC West as well, but we really only care about those teams when ours beats them, Hochuli-style or not. We've never taken Tradition chapters to California on a consistent basis; I know that Seven and I have attended at least one contest a piece at the Comms of Qual, wherein we verified that no Chargers fans actually exist, but that's another post for another day.

What is post-worthy for today centers on the contests these two clubs face this coming weekend. Well, by "weekend," I mean that KC will, as usual, play on Sunday like the rest of the league, while the Broncos will play one of their seven primetime games...wait, what? What's this? Denver has a road game? How could this be? The schedule in front of me says that Pat Bowlen's club, with the help of his good pal Roger Goodell, are guaranteed a minimum of 10 home games a year. They've already traveled to Oakland and Kansas City, and it's only mid-October. Seems foolish for the NFL's most favoritest club to be blowing their road load so soon. And they've still yet to play in San Diego! Unposterous!

Nevertheless, with nearly half of their games on primetime television (Editor's Note: As usual.), the other half slated for "flex"ibility, and a mere fourth and inches of them being played away from InVesCo, it's no wonder that these Broncos are in first place in the West. The cake scheduling, the suspect officiating are both trends of consistency, as are the recent abilities to lose at home to Jacksonville, while beating New England in Foxboro. I don't get it, but I'm sure Jaynificent the First will see to it that his club demonstrates: a) minimal defensive capabilities, b) zero running game, and c) his personal no-fools mode of only looking at "Diez y Cinco" every time he steps back to pass. Naturally, the end result will be a victory for the team not just sodomized by Norv Turner on national television.



(image courtesy of Kissing Suzy Kolber)

The end result of course, is that Denver is 5-2, and then faces -- oh, hey, look! -- a home game against the Miami Dolphins (Note: The Broncos may or may not travel to Cleveland the following week; Rog' and Patsy still have to meet for tea and crumpets to decide whether or not they'll make Fatass Crennell and his now-scary-looking Browns board a plane.)

Meanwhile, in the heartland, the ever-intelligent Kansas City Chiefs have announced that there will be a pre-game celebration for certain past-and-present players this Sunday at Arrowhead. While I'm sure the other players that will be recognized in this ceremony are equally important, the one worth mentioning is of course Tony Gonzalez. The greatest tight end of all time wound up three yards shy of a certain record in the victory against Denver, and was less than pleased that certain doofi didn't call one more risk-free pass play so that Gonzalez could set the record at home. Instead, he set it the following week in the worst professional football game ever played, so he had that going for him, which totally blew. Add to that, that in mere moments, the NFL trade deadline expires, and Gonzalez could be a member of another team, which would mean, um, HE WON'T FUCKING BE THERE. Good job, Herm. 'Preciate it, bro.

Once the game commences, however, it will likely be the beginning of the final stages of the Brodie Croyle Experiment. Now, there's no telling how long said stages could last. Many experts are predicting he won't make it through the game unscathed, which would mean that Edwards and Co. would again have to call on Santa Claus just a tad early, hopeful that he has some gifts ready.



Regardless of who's tickling the center's bottom, Larry Johnson will need to gain more than two yards, his net total against Carolina, and only one yard less than the total number of assault charges levied against him since he signed with Kansas City. The game, however, will be interesting in a number of ways. In between stints with the Chiefs as head coach, and his current gig as defensive coordinator (again), Gunther Cunningam was a linebackers coach (or something of that sort) for Head Coach Jeff Fisher and his Titans. It should be noted that Jeff Fisher is pretty rad. His club is now the only undefeated squad around, and he's been putting together some pretty tight teams since the Oilers left for Nashville. The Titan ownership has shown faith in him during the tougher times, and obviously for good reason.

The other interesting aspect of this game is that Kerry fucking Collins is quarterbacking this team. I mean, they drafted this head case



but he's proven to be little more than a Michael Vick or a Reggie Bush -- guys that can't really play the position they're supposed to, but they can run, baby. They can run. I suppose the jury on Vince Young is still sequestered somewhere in Graceland, but if Jeff Fisher says that Kerry Collins is a better answer for your football club than you are, then you's in trubs, boss.

Anyway, I'm not real sure why Old No. 7 elected to give Mr. Croyle the nickname of "Brodie Bangs." I mean, logic would tell me it's either a)



because of the locks covering his forehead, b)



what he actually bangs, or c)



the fact that defensive units bangs him around quite a bit. Don't get me wrong; I'm down with it.



Just as long as Jay can jam.



And something tells me...



...the boy can jam.
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Sleeping With the Enemy: Week One, Chiefs @ Texans

Welcome to the House of Georges' newest feature, "Sleeping With the Enemy." Each week, we'll publish a chat, recorded via a series of e-mail exchanges, with a fan of our teams' opponents for the week. Kickoff weekend pits the identity-seeking Kansas City Chiefs at Reliant Stadium where they'll battle the Houston Texans, while the Broncos invade Ralph Wilson Stadium for a dogfight with the Buffalo Bills. Your Texans expert is my cousin Yellow Rose, and what follows is her take on Gary Kubiak's new-look Texans, and how they'll fare on Sunday.

(Editor's Note: Yes, the title of this feature is terribly cliche, and no, no incest occurred in the making of this dialogue.)

Bankmeister: The Houston Texans. Where to begin. Your team was a lone expansion franchise that sort of got its wheels turning in 1997. Five years later, they hit the brand new turf at Reliant Stadium, with Head Coach Dom Capers at the helm, and Fresno State quarterback David Carr under center. They saw some early sucess in the form of wins under that regime, but they never put together a good enough offensive line to protect Carr from taking his weekly behind-the-woodshed throttlings. By the time the team got some decent running backs into the mix and someone not named Andre Johnson for Carr to throw the football to, it seemed like the window of opportunity had closed on that particular team. Do you chalk it up to too many unexperienced guys on the field? Poor coaching? Some sort of half-Mexican, half-cowboy Texas jinx? I'd vote for the latter seeing as how the franchise was somehow then spooked into taking Mario Williams over Regge Bush.

Yellow Rose: First of all, let’s clear up this Reggie Bush thing… had we had picked Reggie Bush, he would have had to run behind our famously weak offensive line. Bush’s style would have never fit in with Kubiak’s north/south, run-between-the-tackles type of offense. While picking Mario over Bush may have had the rest of the country scratching its head, not picking homer Vince Young left many Houstonians tearing up their tickets.

We are eternally optimistic here in Houston. Now we have Matt Schaub –- not as pretty to look at, but he might stay on his feet more often. If Ahman Green can stay healthy, the Texans have a chance of winning nine games and a possible playoff berth. Would this break the curse you speak of? Probably not, but it gives the city a good excuse to drink in excess. Besides we all know that in Texas, it’s really all about high school football.

Who are the Chiefs putting on the field at the QB slot? Will you be going with the youngster or the old man? We know one area where there will be no contest: uniforms. Ours are much prettier than yours.

B: You know, I always forget about the Vince Young thing. Probably because Bush was such an animal at USC, that you're thinking "whoever drafts first drafts this guy" -- no brainer -- right? But you make a good point. How fruitful would it be to have the nation's best college tailback behind the country's worst pro O-line? Not very.

And speaking of animals, acquiring Schaub was a whale of a deal. I mean, you guys coughed up significant draft picks to do it, but if you hadn't pulled the trigger then, the price might be even higher now seeing as how Arthur Blank, Bobby Petrino and company have all that Bad Newz on their hands. When ol' Ron Mexico was hurt last year, The Lone Reader and I talked extensively about how the Chiefs should go about nabbing Schaub. Of course then we thought that Trent Green would still be around (but look as bad as he did post-concussion) and Damon Huard would be gone, leaving us in a pretty unpretty quarterback pickle. But you guys scooped him up, leaving us less than pleased, however, the Chiefs had re-signed Huard, so we were okay with it.

Number 11, by the way, has drummed up more focus/media attention than I ever imagined possible for a Huard brother. The old guy, as you call him, has had my vote since doctors cleared Green to practice last year; I never wanted him pulled from the starting job. I've been hopeful all along that Huard would get the nod, but Herm Edwards' offseason praise, combined with HBO's "Hard Knocks" focus on Croyle, made it imminent that the young guy would get the green light. That had Chiefs fans wretching at the gut and wringing at the hands. Surprisingly though, Edwards announced that Huard will start against the Texans, which just made my flippin' year.

Now, let's back up a minute. I understand the concept of eternal optimism. I really do. In fact, I sometimes feel as though I'm the only one around that is when it comes to the Chiefs. I do, however, know where the line is. I seriously don't see any way the Texans can win nine games this year. Yes. Anything's possible. Yes, nine wins isn't asking a ton, but you always have to look around your division first. Jack del Rio's Jaguars squad is always a step away from being downright scary. With both the release of Byron Leftwich and the decision to go with David Garrard out of the way, the Jags are stacked and the run game is brimming with potential in Maurice Jones-Drew, even if he has to split carries with the 60-year-old Fred Taylor. Tennessee started playing some good football at the end of last year, and your boy Vince Young could have his breakout season. That leaves, yeah, the defending-champion, cut-that-meastly-Manning Colts. I doubt they'll be as tough as they were last year, but hell, they may even be tougher.

I'm not a gamblin' man, but if I nosed around for the Vegas stakes on the Texans winning the South, I'd not be surprised to find those odds a long shot. That's pretty much how you get it done in the AFC, too. Nine-game-winning wildcards in the AFC are a fluke, much like the Chiefs’ playoff berth was last year; the way in is to win the division. Right now I don't see that in the cards for either of our clubs, but they both have potential to put up a fight.

High school football? For real? I thought Texans were all about their college teams and their Cowboys. I do know a lot about drinking in excess. In fact, the entire House of Georges staff does. At least we're on the same page there. Not so much in the handsomer QBs/prettier uniforms department. But whatever.

YR: I understand your reluctance to embrace the idea of the Texans winning nine games, but watching them beat the Cowboys made my optimism even stronger. Giving the Cowboys a good old fashion ass kickin’ thrills us in Houston and earns us bragging rights for the rest of the year. The pre-season is making me feel that we are on the right track and will be ready for your Chiefs when they hit Reliant Stadium on Sunday. I caught a few episodes of Hard Knocks on HBO and have read that it was instrumental in getting your boy to re-sign. He says, “It was really about loyalty to my teammates to get back here as soon as I could.” Yeah, it had nothing to do with his $12 million signing bonus. He looked lonely on the show - working out all by himself. Do you think he will be ready? Is the team welcoming him back with open arms? Is Priest finished? There was a lot of speculation in our papers that he might get cut, or at least given a much-reduced role. Is there nothing sacred left? If a Priest isn’t safe, who is?

What about that Jacoby Jones? The third-round pick out of Lane College – wherever the hell that is – is definitely someone to watch when we suit up against the Chiefs. He provides some excitement that we have been lacking here in H-Town. The question now is how Kubiak is going to get the ball to him more often. (Ahman) Green was pretty impressive, so he should continue to carry the ball and our Johnson looked good with his TD. We are starting to look downright multi-faceted. Obviously the key here is Schaub. Not only was he 12-of-16, but we saw more scrambling from him in three quarters of that Cowboys game than we saw from Carr in his career here. I have a feeling that this “whale of a deal” will continue to improve and bring the whole team with him.

Mario is coming around – he had a sound game against Dallas and hopefully will be building on this. We looked pretty strong defensively after moving some things around. Doesn’t really matter that the old guy got the nod (personally, I think Croyle should be starting as he is your future, which will hopefully be stronger than your present), we are ready. I agree with your breakdown of our division, but I have to stand behind my team. In classic Houston fashion, we feel they are destined until proven otherwise. Hopefully this year they won’t prove otherwise.

And, by the way, high school football in Texas? Come on now. Haven’t you ever heard of Friday Night Lights? It’s not far from the truth. The state comes to a virtual halt on Friday nights when every Bubba leaves their trailer and heads to the small town stadium to re-live their glory days with the help of a six pack of Lone Star. We consider ourselves a bit more sophisticated here in the big city – we drink Bud Light.

B: I'll say this: "Hard Knocks" has been bad ass. Incredible entertainment. I agree that LJ looked lonely, but am skeptical that the show had anything to do with his return to the club. It was primarily about his green Benjamins (or Clevelands, I guess), but I do think there was a team aspect to it as well; they bridged a pretty huge financial gap (in the Chiefs' favor) and LJ full-on hustled to get to practice. Best I can tell, the reception has been the epitome of open-armed. Guys looked/sounded stoked to get him back on the field, and the player quotes in The Kansas City Star match up. And, yeah. He'll be ready. He may not have quite the workload against y'all that he'll have versus the Bears and Vikings in the following weeks, but he'll be good to go.

Priest, as always, is a bizarre story. Star columnist Joe Posnanski put together this incredible piece on him in. I really do think he wants to make the team, but with LJ, Michael Bennett, Kolby Smith and Marcus O' Keith all competing for spots, it'll be tough. Real tough. (Editor's Note: Teams announced their 53-man rosters prior to the publication of this piece, leaving Chiefs' running backs Holmes on the Non-Football Injury Reserve list (he can't suit up for six weeks) and O'Keith cut from the team.)

I will definitely be eyeing Mr. Jones. He's put together a dazzling pre-season, one that's been a nice mix of Schaub, Johnson and Green as well. Your team does look pretty tight. It is, however, the pre-season; I'd try to cage a little of that optimism if possible. You do have a good nucleus of a team there, though, and, I'd guess that most opponents see Houston Texans on the schedule and chalk it up as a W before the opening kickoff. That might be a hasty approach this year, as this club will definitely surprise some folks.

I understand your philosophy on Brodie Croyle, but he is just not ready. While this Chiefs team lacks some parts, there are segments of it that are ready to make a push for the playoffs (playoffs?!?) now. Thus, you go with the proven guy, especially when you open the season with two games on the road, the first of which is against an energetic young team looking to knock some teeth out, the second against the defending NFC champs. Put Croyle in that situation and he gets knocked around, you may have set him back irretrievably in terms of progression and confidence.

Yeah. Sure. I know about Friday Night Lights. I just didn't realize the magnitude of it in The Lone Star State. I have to say, if I were to join in on the festivities, I'd prefer doing so from the big city instead of with the trailer-dwelling Bubbas, but I'll drink a Lone Star over a Budweiser product any day of the week.

(Note: Yellow Rose, being the football fan that she is, passed this conversation along to her 14-year-old son, Blake Goldberg. Here’s what the young Texans fan had to say about the development of our exchange, thus far.)

BG: I have read over everything and I don’t know a whole lot about the Chiefs but I have a couple things to say about Texas and the Texans. First off, the whole Reggie Bush/Vince Young/Mario Williams argument: I think every Texan, when they heard the name Mario Williams as the number one draft pick for the Houston Texans, died a little bit inside. It was the one of the worst decisions in Texans history. Yellow Rose says he made two and-a-half tackles this pre-season against the Cowboys which is his highest yet. Two and a half tackles? That’s supposed to be a number one draft pick? And the other two? Bush is tearing it up against every team and Young even made the cover of Madden 2008. And need I remind everyone that the Saints, led by Reggie Bush, made it to the playoffs? Vince Young, on his very first pro game in Houston , pulled off a QB sneak to win the game. Yellow Rose says that Mario Williams is a long-time player and all, but shouldn’t a first-round (especially a first-overall pick) draft choice show a little more greatness then a measly two and-a-half tackles? I think we should have picked Reggie Bush and then let the Texans focus on stacking up its O-line and once they do that… Super bowl Champs. But since the Texans had to pick the pansy Mario Williams, stacking up its O-line won’t do anything - less sacks, yes, but more touchdowns, no.

High School Football/Schaub- Every Friday night from about August to October, every Texan that is a true football fan is asking the question “Who is playing tonight?” Everyone knows that high school football in Texas is as important or even maybe more important then dogs are to Michael Vick. Well, anyway with the new highly respected Schaub finally here in Texas and finally getting rid of the soon-to-be-backup quarterback for the Panthers, David Carr, I think in a couple years and a few semi-smart draft picks later, the Texans will have a very good shot of making it to the playoffs. Two years ago, that seemed impossible. Schaub will with no doubt have a HUGE impact on this team not only as a strong player but in leadership skills while Carr couldn’t run to save his life and was way too obsessed with his hair to care about anything else. I think that this year that the Texans will go .500, a game above, or a game below. Texans are going to have to have time to grow with their new quarterback. Also, Amobi Okoye, the Texans' 19-year-old first-rounder of this year, was the best pick they could have done. They have a growing team; of course they need someone that could grow with the team and improve with them. In the next couple of years, the defense will be led by this man, not Williams.

B: Alright, kid. Your passion for your team has clouded your judgment a bit here. YR is right in her assessment of not taking Reggie Bush. In the NFL, you develop a running back one of two ways: he plays immediately, even if his new team is terrible, or he gets minimal action because there's someone in front of him on the depth chart. Bush would've had someone in front of him in Domanick Davis, er...Williams, whatever, had he stayed healthy. Your points regarding the selection of (Mario) Williams may be valid; he should indeed be producing more. Your points on the other two guys, however, hold no water. The Saints were destined for success last year, regardless of Reggie Bush's role, which I might add was pretty minimal for the first 10 weeks of the season; he returned kicks on special teams and lined up in the back field very little since he had Deuce McAllister in front of him. Drew Brees was the leader of that squad with his four billion passing yards and guys like Joe Horn and Marques Colston to throw it to.

To claim that Bush is "tearing it up against every other team" is just plain silly. They got whooped by the Steelers, then beat the Bills, Bengals and Chiefs, victories that had next to nothing to do with Reggie Bush, not to mention the fact that it's the pre-season. And your boy Vince Young? On the cover of Madden? Nobody cares. That means you're a pretty good player. There're lots of those in the NFL. A game-winning QB sneak against the Texans? Big deal. I could've done that. As could've you.

Everyone knows that about high school football in Texas ? I beg to differ; I didn't, but either way, back to things that matter. You shouldn't be so quick to worship Schaub and throw David Carr under the bus. Had you ever even heard of Schaub before the Texans acquired him? You don't know how he'll face adversity, and you certainly don't know how Carr will fare in Carolina. One of the hardest things to do in pro sports is have success as an expansion club. Dom Capers did it with Jacksonville. Scotty Bowman did it with the St. Louis Blues in the late 60s, and the Florida Marlins have somehow managed to eke out two World Series titles in their short existence.

To a degree, you have to recognize that the chances of the Texans having, up to the 2006 season, success as a franchise, are about as slim as a member of the Bush family not being a total ass. You can't dog Carr for not being quick on his feet; the guy was running for his life for four solid years. And I won't even address your hair-obsession comment. Five hundred, a game above or a game below? Which is it? Stake a claim. Finally, good call on Okoye. He was a pretty hyped-up kid, one that definitely has potential. Be careful with your quarterback bashing, though. Let's not forget that Carr threw for almost 14,000 yards, 60 touchdowns, and a 75-plus passer rating in his time in Houston. Those are pretty decent numbers, my friend. Not bad for a team fresh out of the gates.

BG: Alright, first of all, Reggie Bush: You cannot say that that the Saints were destined for greatness… In the 40-year history of the Saints, they had never made an appearance in an NFC championship game until last year. Reggie Bush did have someone playing in front of him; that is true, but Mario Williams didn’t. Reggie did not show a lot of action but still did a whole lot more then Mario Williams. Plus Reggie Bush played running back/tailback, wide receiver, punt-return, and kick return. Mario Williams plays D-end (and sucks at it). Skip past the regular season to the post-season, in the NFC divisional game, Bush ran for 52 yards and scored a touchdown and had 3 catches for 22 yards. Mario Williams sat on his couch and watched the game. Now to the NFC Championship game, Bush caught a pass on the 22-yard line and ran 78 yards dodging a Bears' safety for a touchdown. Again Mario Williams was watching the game on television. It is true that Reggie Bush could not have led the Texans to the playoffs last year but I have no doubt in my mind that he could in years to come. Mario Williams will most likely not.

Vince Young- Who cares who is on the cover of the biggest football game that will be out in 2007? How can you say that? How many players are in the NFL? And how many players out of all of those get put on the cover of a video game? The answer is one. Vince Young is a rookie and he got put on it. You can’t say that it does not matter if he is put on it. You have to be an unbelievably good player to do it as a rookie. Also the QB sneak against the Texans wasn’t (easy); the invincible Mario Williams in on that play? Also why didn’t the Titans score every play if it was so easy to score on the Texans?

Schaub- Well me bashing David Carr was a little harsh. We still do not know how Schaub will turn out, but I think most people would agree that Carr was not the best quarterback ever. Carr was also a no. 1 draft choice and throughout his 5 years with the Texans he went 24-56 with 250 sacks.

B: Listen bud. Last year, while you were nursing your hours-of-Madden-induced sore thumbs and pining over your Texans drafting guys not named Reggie Bush and Vince Young, the state due east of you was addressing real-life concerns. One in particular was called Hurricane Katrina. Maybe you've heard of it. The NFL, along with a major chunk of its nationwide fan base, was steadfast in getting behind the city of New Orleans and its football team. Drafting Reggie Bush, acquiring Drew Brees through free agency and developing rookie wide receiver Marques Colston put the pieces of destined-greatness into place. Oh, and the organization also hired a guy named Sean Payton to coach them. He won a small prize called NFL Coach of the Year. We're not talking about the 40-year history of the Saints. We're talking about the 2006 season.

Now, if you want to talk about leading clubs, scan through those same 40 years of NFL history and tell me how many times a defensive end led a team to the playoffs. I'm too lazy to look it up, but I can guarantee you that the answer is zero. On the rare occasion that a defensive player of any variety leads a team into the playoffs (and perhaps a championship), it is almost always a linebacker. See Ray Lewis and the 2001 Baltimore Ravens. Defensive ends are meant to bolster your pass rush and tighten up your D in a more global sense. I'm not arguing that the Texans drafting Williams wasn't a mistake. Let's not forget, though, that the rest of your squad also watched those games on television. Much like the rest of David Carr's teammates are to blame for "his" record and sack total.

Finally, the guy that coached the Chiefs before Herman Edwards was a game named Dick Vermeil. Maybe you've heard of him. He's famous for hugs and tears and being old and coaching two different teams in the Super Bowl. He also had a great mantra, something he'd pound into his teams' heads. It went like this: "Let's not forget guys, that the main thing is the main thing." Loosely translated, "We're all here to do one thing: hoist the trophy with Vince Lombardi's (not Young's) name on it. No one's out there auditioning to be graced with the highly jinxed cover of your precious video game. They're there to win championships. Well, and to collect piles of dollars, too. But they're in it to win it.

And to answer your "Why didn't the Titans score on every play..." question, I'll keep it simple: That never happens in professional football, wise guy. Ever. You know that as well as I do. The bottom line is that the Texans, in their brief history have been pretty awful. As I mentioned, that's to be expected from an expansion team. They've had some talent. They've showed some flashes of rounding the corner. This could very well be that year. You've got to load the chess board, though, before you move that first pawn. I feel your draft-debacle pain, brother. I really do. Trust me. I've been a Chiefs fan for 27 years and suffered through draft nightmares so big in comparison to the Williams/Young/Bush scenario, that you'd need six Texases to fit them all in there.

(Note: We now return to our regularly scheduled, non-video-game-oriented conversation concerning the non-dream world and this year’s football season.)

B: Nevertheless, Miss Rose, your club, as have most, I believe, has announced its starters. You’ve got Schaub under center, Green toting the rock, Jordan “I-65” Black at left guard, Steve McKinney having his sac fondled by Schaub, and Jacoby Jacobs as one of your five wide outs. Not one of those guys have taken a regular-season snap in an allegedly pretty Houston Texans uniform. That’s five of your starting 11. Any concerns there? My feel is that the first quarter of this campaign could be Carr Re-visited especially when game one pits you against a relatively scary-looking, young-and-tough Chiefs defense. Regardless, best of luck with your season, at least the last 15 games of it.

YR: I have to say – I am nervous. The last time Larry Johnson faced the Texans he rushed for 211 yards and two touchdowns. It was a pretty embarrassing defeat and if I am to believe all the hype, he hasn’t slowed a step. I am just hoping that he doesn’t quite have his football legs after missing most of training camp. Hopefully he won’t get too many carries and our defense will shut him down. The other thing that makes me a bit on edge is the fact that we changed both our quarterback and our running back this year. While Kubiak feels a certain level of comfort because both Schaub and Green come from very similar offenses, it doesn’t often bode well for teams that experience that much change. But, as we all know, change it what the Texans need. We made some drastic changes in the off-season and the players seem pretty psyched up about it. This emotional turnaround may be enough to make a difference – especially since the Chiefs are not as strong as they were in 2005.

I attended the annual Texans Players’ lunch last week and was able to sit next to Jerome Mathis. Would love to say that he gave me an inside look into the pregame prep they were doing, but NO. The kid is really going to have to work on his press skills if he continues in this line of work. He got some playing time against Tampa Bay but will most likely be designated to special teams and kick returns. What I did learn was this: The Texans like to bowl as a team together. Shantee Orr is the best bowler but Mathis is gaining on him. Not a lot of useful information in our quest for pre-game hype, but it was a fun time. By the way, Ephraim Sallaam (left tackle) can look forward to being a stand-up comedian when he retires from football.

In general, I think the Texans are ready and out to prove something. They are truly pumped –- you can feel a different energy in the whole city. I predict that Schaub will have a great game (with less than 2 sacks), finding his tight ends often to complete his arsenal. We just have more weapons this year and it has to be more difficult for the Chiefs to prepare. Ahman Green should rush for decent yardage and we would all love to see another dramatic return from Jones. I am going with a home-team victory. The paper is citing a three-point spread and I think it probably will be that close.

Yellow Rose: 31-28, Texans

Bankmeister: No way is this game that high scoring. 19-10, Chiefs



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