NFL “STOCK UP/STOCK DOWN TEAMS” – THRU 5 WEEKS
OCTOBER 13, 2022
By Gary Greene
Well folks we had our first casualty of the season with Carolina firing HC Matt Ruhle. He was in over his head from Day 1 for most part but having no even above average QB in his short tenure ended his hopes of a long term run here. If Race wasn’t an issue in this country like it is Washington No Namers would have fired their “WORST HC BY FAR” Ron Rivera but heck thanks to the Race Card he likely will keep his job twenty more years. He is the most unprepared, clueless, classless and just plain worst HC I’ve watched in my career. Being a 50+ year No Namers fan I know this team inside out and backwards. My own mother calls for Timeouts instantly when they are needed but not ole Ronnie…he has no clue of game management, play calling, or anything. It’s now a “MUST WIN THIS SEASON” type league so although Rivera won’t be Fired, a few more will be.
STOCK UP TEAMS
1). NY JETS: After some early season Radio Shows saying I was high on the NY Jets (love the HC Saleh, loved the Draft picks they made). Look it’s only 5 weeks but (3-2) and they’ve overcome some key injuries too. My job is to see how teams progress, or don’t progress. Many have no real Game plans and quickly go away from what they want to do long term during a game. The future is very bright for this Jets team long term if they stay healthy. They have lots of young studs who should just get better with experience.
2). BILLS DEFENSE: So what if 4 starters in back 7 get hurt. Add some Defensive Linemen too….who cares….when you are the most loaded team in the NFL. We have now played 5 full games and the Bills Defense actually gets stronger in the second halves, allowing only 7 points. No points allowed all season in 3rd quarters. Folks this stat is so important as it tells you if a HC/Coaching Staff are capable at Halftime to see what’s going on and make the needed adjustments. This may be the best overall Coaching Staff in the NFL (Offense now even closing in on KC #1 Offense Coaching staff).
3). DALLAS COWBOYS DEFENSE: The talk is almost always Cooper Rush and how good he’s been at QB as to why Dallas is (4-1). It’s hilarious as Rush is average at best. It’s 90% the Defense why this team is so good. Led by young superstar Micah Parsons this Defense does it all well. Rush the Passer well = 20 SACKS (check), Bend but don’t break from Scoring = (check), Stop opposing teams star WR’s from having big games = (check). You have to give credit to DC Quinn as he has been terrific with adjustments in second halves this season (only 8 points allowed in the 4th quarter all season).
STOCK DOWN TEAMS
Note: If I had the time I might make half the league part of this section, but for now I will select the worst of the bad bunch.
1). LA RAMS: Wow, just Wow! This team is easily biggest disappointment in the league and lucky to be (2-3). They have no depth, no talent wide receiver after superstar WR Kupp, the Offensive Line is brutal (worst in league allowing 21 sacks), the Run game is, well there is no run game (only 62 yards rushing per game), and the Defense is dead by the 4th quarter (47 points allowed). What is worse they faced 4 Offenses that are average (that’s being kind). The Offense has scored 3 points all season in the 4th Quarter. QB Stafford is color blind (7 INT’s = #1) and missing open receivers often. The Offense has one TD the past two games and that was a off charts great catch by Kupp that turned into a 75 yard TD catch. That is flat out INSANITY. With all these problems and not just some heartbreaking losses in games they outplayed their opponent this isn’t going to greatly improve any time soon. The OL will likely be awful all season. Hence the Run game will to due to that. No depth will soon play a big factor going forward.
2). JAX JAGUARS OFFENSE: It’s still very early with a new HC and a young team but the Talk of the Town team is now in free fall mode. The past 2 weeks they look worse than last year’s Offense. They have turned ball over 7x the past 2 weeks. They are a terrible (8-21) on third down and (0-4) on fourth downs. The Offense just can’t make a big play when needed and you can see now the dropped shoulders and the almost “fear” on the Offensive players faces as the Offense is imploding. The shame of the Offensive woes of late is the Defense is not getting it’s due respect. They completely throttled the Texans last week and held the Eagles potent Offense to (4-15) on third down. The Offense though going 3 and out over and over cost them from getting some helpful needed rest between series. Stud RB T. Ettiene has zero TD’s in 5 games. He has only 11 catches and is being completely misused thus far. I give HC/Playcaller Pederson a (D) grade so far calling plays.
3). DETROIT DEFENSE: This was never a top Defense but even with stud Rookie Pass Rusher Hutchinson they get no pass rush. They blitz too much and they are just terrible vs. run (168 rush yards allowed) and vs. pass as well. They have only 2 Interceptions all year and they may have the worst overall depth in the league. Luckily they got a “BYE” week this week to rest up for some big Offense’s on deck (Dallas, Miami and GB). The luster of this Offense scoring lots of points has somewhat blocked most folks to the fact this Defense is really, really BAD. To me this HC Campbell (Mr. Rah Rah) is soon going to be a FIRED H.C. as he is in way over his head on X’s and O’s and he thinks he is in College Football going on 4th down over and over as if this is Madden Football. This Defense will soon wear out completely as the lack of depth will rear it’s ugly head often the rest of the way.