NFL Network studio analysis still sucks; BigBlueShoe on Indianapolis radio
by Brad Wells on Jul 17, 2009 3:25 PM EDT
in Bad Journalism
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Just a reminder: At 4:05pm I will be on "The Zone" on XL 950 Sports Talk
I enjoy NFL Network. I like Rich Eisen. I enjoy their NFL Combine coverage. I enjoy their NFL Draft coverage. All in all, it's a good network.
But for the love of God, their in studio "analysts" are as dumb and clueless as a sack of hammers.
NFL Network series 32 in 32, which profiles 32 teams in 32 days, lists the Colts as the #4 franchise in the NFL (behind the Patriots, Giants, and Steelers). Why the Colts are listed behind the Patriots (who they beat last year and have defeated 4 of the last 5 times) I don't know. Maybe they are ranking the teams via a "fan poll," which is a stupid idea because fan polls get freeped all the time.
Anyway, when you watch the segment, you can't help but wonder if in-studio analysts Solomon Wilcotts and Jamie Dukes actually watch the games of the teams they are profiling. In the segment, Wilcotts says the Chargers have beaten the Colts three straight times (not true) while Dukes says the Colts will miss Ron Meeks next year because he was a big reason Indy's defense did not totally suck.
Um.... what?
Look, I think Ron Meeks is a decent coordinator, but when he left I didn't see any players scream and cry about it as if they were disappointed in the decision. When Howard Mudd and Tom Moore retired (before coming back as consultants) you saw players like Peyton Manning express sadness and a bit of anger. Not so with Meeks, or with special teams coach Russ Purnell when he was allowed to pursue other ventures. Both Dukes and Wilcotts make no mention of Larry Coyer, the man with the impressive resume who is replacing Ron Meeks.
Dukes, who always seems to have a smug, "eat my sh*t" expression plastered on his face, also suggested that the Colts do not invest enough quality players on defense. He cites first round picks like Donald Brown, Anthony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark, Joseph Addai, and Reggie Wayne as weapons for Manning and the offense, but on defense the only reason they played semi-well was because of Meeks and Tony Dungy. He mentions Dwight Freeney (1st round, 2002) and Bob Sanders (first pick of Colts in 2004) as the only quality defensive players (or, "bodies" as Dukes calls them) for the Colts. Of course, if Dukes actually knew what he was talking about, he'd know that the Colts have CB Marlin Jackson (1st round, 2005), CB Kelvin Hayden (2nd round, 2005), DE Robert Mathis (Pro Bowl, 2008), and S Antoine Bethea (Pro Bowl, 2007). I think it is safe to say the Colts have the "bodies" to play great defense. I also think it's safe to say Jamie Dukes just kind of mails in these TV spots with little or no actual research done on the teams.
Wilcotts redeems the piece in the end, somewhat. He talks about Jim Caldwell wanting to put a stamp on the special teams and getting that area better.
All in all, this is a useless, throw away segment that (quite honestly) I expected more from. I mean, this is the NFL Network. If I wanted mindless blather from idiot studio pundits, I'd tune to ESPN. On NFL Network, it would be nice if they had people who, you know, actually knew what they are talking about.
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Rod Woodson
Not only this, but Rod Woodson is demented too. He said he doesn’t even think the colts will make the playoffs this year. Is he watching the same team as everyone else in the world?
Former New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"
Woodson has never said anything positive about the Colts..
it was especially enjoyable to watch him after we won the SB. He’s an arrogant ass.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Jul 17, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
he's from fort wayne, too
I believe that he blurted something allong the lines of, “Peyton Manning should give the MVP to demarcus ware.” After Peyton won it last year.
He’s a piece of crap.
"GO HORSE!"
Rod Woodson acts like he's embarrassed to be from Indiana
He is an idiot. He hates the Colts. To make the statement that we won’t even make the playoffs shows just how biased he is. He’s one of those guys who are on TV for no other reason than that he used to play football. He’s a freaking Hoosier, and he pretends he’s not.
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
Woodson played at Purdue
I agree with Indy Lori. It is a shame that Rod is so negatively biased against the Colts. He probably still has family in northern Indiana.
if you go to NFL.com
youll notice an article that talks about the Colts around the middle or bottom of the page. I had to step in and put alot of these fans in there place, but as always, their ignorance makes me invisible.
BBS is on
feed here for non-indy residents
That's big talk for a little guy,
but I'm walkin' without reply.
-Lil Wayne "Mr. Postman"
Thanks, Shake.
Nice comments about last season, BBS!
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Jul 17, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Derek
He gave a little shout out to shake n bake on the show.
SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.
heard it
thanks to Derek and you for the love.
That's big talk for a little guy,
but I'm walkin' without reply.
-Lil Wayne "Mr. Postman"
by shake n bake on Jul 17, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Our stats gurus -
you and mgrex03…
That was pretty awesome. The first time my schedule has allowed me to listen.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Jul 17, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah it was
though that stuff doesn’t bother me since I am all about “Objective, objective, objective” trying to make the subjective jump as small, as late and as clear as possible in analysis.
That's big talk for a little guy,
but I'm walkin' without reply.
-Lil Wayne "Mr. Postman"
by shake n bake on Jul 17, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
It's true
I watched the episode yesterday. The rankings were done by fan voting online, BTW. Jamie Dukes didn’t know what he was talking about. The whole he was talking, I cringed. If Ron Meeks was such a good defensive coordinator, then our defense wouldn’t have given up so many +5 minute drives last season. Dukes is biased anyways, along with so many of the other in-studio analysts on NFL Network. What can you expect though? Most of them actually played in the NFL and are going to favor teams they played for / liked.
"People don't realize that I'm just like them. I got feelings just like them. I go through hell in my life, just like them." Allen Iverson
Watched it too....
it made me a little angry to be honest. Not because of the ranking (anywhere in top 5 is where I thought the Colts would be), but because…
A) all of the preview video clips were negative making it seem like it is a team in turmoil
B) Dungy and Meeks were fine coaches, but Meeks specifically never did anything great or ever put any wrinkles into the D that could have been the difference between playoff success and failure…. furthermore Meeks was what I consider average at in-game scheme changes to adapt to the opposition….the “do what we do” philosophy only seemed to work when the offense was clicking and if the offense ever struggled it seemed like the defense could never get off the field.
In complete contrast to the Tampa Bucs D that Tony had before, the Colts have always been very vanilla and NOT aggressive at all. I think that comes down to Meeks and his style which just wasn’t a good fit for this type of team in the end. I’m glad Caldwell realized that.
Basically I just couldn’t understand why Dukes and Wilcotts were almost completely negative and really painted the picture that the Colts are a bunch of scrubs and a superman in Manning….not true at all.
"I'm looking for Ray Finkle....and a clean pair of shorts."
by AceOfSpades on Jul 18, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
ALSO..
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8114028f&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
Rod Woodson hates the Colts. :]
"People don't realize that I'm just like them. I got feelings just like them. I go through hell in my life, just like them." Allen Iverson
Probably because they’re both classless me-first idiots that would never have had a place within the Colts organization. I bet it’s a blow to their egos to never draw the interest of one of the best talent evaluators/roster builders in the history of the game.
It’s amazing that there are so many people who played the game who don’t seem to have the mind to understand it. Somehow the NFLn manages to employ several of these guys. There have to be literate, intelligent, well-spoken former players who don’t just spout the same ill-researched cliches that any idiot fan would come up with. Instead we get morons like Deion and Dukes and Mr. Historically Low Wonderlic. Gifted athletes, sure. But total morons. (Actually, I think Deion is reasonably intelligent. He’s just a flamboyant arrogant ass.)
FWIW I have no qualms with being placed behind those organizations in general, especially if it’s a vote among the general public. Though most people around the league dislike Belichick and the Krafts (Jonathan specifically), they generally respect them. Everyone respects and admires the Steelers and Giants too, though I’m not convinced there’s anything about the new generation Giant ownership that is any better than a dozen other top franchises, this one included.
Is the radio show archived anywhere in a universal format? I couldn’t load it live, may have been a PC-only thing. I’d like to listen to it.
there's a podcast page here
not sure if BBS’ appearance will go up
http://xl950.com/pages/4746462.php
That's big talk for a little guy,
but I'm walkin' without reply.
-Lil Wayne "Mr. Postman"
by shake n bake on Jul 17, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions
interview is up
on the above link: http://xl950.com/pages/4746462.php
by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jul 17, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions
You are soooo right!
Not only not informative, it was just poor reporting. It makes you doubt everything else they say on the NFL Network. That’s okay, we’ll gloat in February.
Dukes sucks big-time, Woodson not so much...
Seriously, Dukes is just saying whatever that pops in to his head. Either some uninformed general opinion – like the one about how meaningful Meeks were for us – or he comes up with some quasi-conspiracy/crazy theory.. Either way it rarely works in favour of the Colts, and somehow the ’Boys, the Pats and the Steelers are getting A LOT of love.
Woodson on the other hand seems more calm and well-informed. He is obviously biased against the Colts, but as I recall it he used the “they’ve been good for so long that they are due for a down year”-excuse. He is just trying to back up his opinion, and while it doesn’t make sense he is merely trying to stand out from the throng of all the other analysts out there.
Finally, the Colts always seem to get the shaft. Every Colts segment is considerably shorter than pretty much every other segment. That sucks but besides that I actually like most of the stuff they “broadcast” on nfl.com
Length of segment
Agree 100% with that. The segment was just a splash of soundbites and a couple of the same video clips they always show for Manning. Other than that, they spent about 30 seconds actually talking about the team and most of that was about Meeks. Contrast that to the 4 minutes they spent with a 4 man roundtable discussing the Eagles and I was left unimpressed.
There was almost no thought put into the piece and it made me question the NFL network which I had generally thought to be pretty good with analysis prior to that.
"I'm looking for Ray Finkle....and a clean pair of shorts."
by AceOfSpades on Jul 18, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
What??
Woodson always hates the Colts. Dukes, useless. I just watched his “best in the biz” and he ranked Peyton #2 behind TB. It just amazes me how much praise and props Brady is getting this year when HE DIDN’T EVEN PLAY LAST YEAR!!! Oh and not to mention that our guy was MVP. GRRR!!
I thought his best of the Biz for Organizations
was the best. I mean, the guy had the Cowboys in his top 5. Then, he said, well it is the history that puts them there, being that they have won five super bowls, but have not won a playoff game since 1996. Well, if that’s his criteria, then shouldn’t the 49ers or Raiders or Dolphins or Packers make the list. At least those teams have all won playoff games this decade. Then, as contractually obligated by the media, he has the Pats at number one. I think the Colts were number three, so at least we are on the list, but having the Pats ahead of the Steelers is ridiculous. I mean, I have never seen so much c***-sucking for a team that has not won a super bowl in over four years. The Steelers have won TWO, since the Pats last won one, and they cannot jump them. Jamie Dukes has to stop.
Saw that too
I think the Colts as #3 is about right. I think the Pats are #2 but the Steelers should be #1 by a large margin. They have recent success, long term success and so many players over time that will go down as greats of history so I can’t argue with that.
Cowboys in the top 5 is a joke for same reasons you stated. Also I loved how he put the Cowboys in the top 5 over the Eagles, which I consider to be a top 5 franchise, simply because the Cowboys were good 17+ years ago and the Eagles never won a SB….what a crock.
"I'm looking for Ray Finkle....and a clean pair of shorts."
by AceOfSpades on Jul 18, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Actually that list of Best organizations that Dukes put up is a joke
The Colts did not come in 3rd, they came in 4th, behind facepalm, the baltimore ravens.. His reason? the ravens made the playoffs 5 out of 9 times this decade and of there 15 picks, 39 went to the probowl. Dumbest reasoning ever considering the Colts have had more probowlers from draft picks this decade, more playoff appearances and less busts in teh first round than the ravens. "Analysts: like dukes and woodson are full of epic fail.
by metal_militia on Jul 19, 2009 1:59 AM EDT up reply actions
At least
Wilcotts put Manning #1 and followed it by saying “it’s splitting hairs between those two” which I respect.
I don’t even care where they rank players, but I like to listen to the “why” behind their rankings and they never have a logical point to back anything up.
"I'm looking for Ray Finkle....and a clean pair of shorts."
by AceOfSpades on Jul 18, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
NFLN
Strikes again with their terrible analysis. That’s what you get though, when you get a group of no brain meatheads with a collective IQ of around 80 to give their “expert” opinions. We don’t invest in defensive “bodies”? I understand, I guess, since we didn’t trade up to take Fili Moala, draft Terrence Taylor and Jerraud Powers, re-sign Ed Johnson, sign Adam Seward, and didn’t draft young guys recently like Clint Session, Phillip Wheeler, or Marcus Howard either. Yep, I guess Bill Polian just doesn’t care about defense, and Ron Meeks was the best DC ever, esp. better than some guy we just got to replace him that’s not even worthy of mention. Right, NFLN?
Not to mention
that we let key defensive players like Buster Davis and Josh Thomas go in free agency. Polian obviously only cares about padding Manning’s stats.
At least according to Dukes and Woodson.
"It's the greatest job in the world until Peyton comes off the field and you think his thumb might be broken and there's three minutes left in the AFC Championship Game and you're down by three to New England and you haven't taken a snap all year. Yeah, it's a great job until that point." - Jim Sorgi
by gizzardfanny on Jul 18, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Im pretty sure these rankings
Are based on the power rankings that fans submitted….and then they rank them accordingly and talk about them in the order “We” decided
Bleeding Black and Gold.....forever
Not about the rankings
Not for me at least….I figured the Colts would be in the top 5 and 4 is about right.
1. Steelers – defending champs with more offseason additions than losses
2. Giants – only question mark is how they deal with the permanent loss of Plax
3. Eagles – added key free agents in the offseason and have good young talent at WR now
4/5 – Colts – healthy Peyton, depth at DT, return of Brackett and Marlin and addition of Brown at RB. Can finally move on without ?Marvin Harrison? and any questions surrounding the future of Dungy.
4/5 – Pats – Solid overall team, but concerns about the secondary and losses of some key players that created much of their success of the past (Vrabel, Izzo, Harrison, etc). Brady was out a full year last season and is coming off major knee surgery. Offense will be good again as long as Brady has minimal rust….should improve as the year goes on.
I give the Colts the edge over the Pats as the preseason begins based on the health of Manning over Brady although the same case could be made for the Pats as they still have Billy Bells and the Colts have a new coach in Caldwell. Coyer will show Colts fans what they have been missing and people will realize that Meeks was overrated.
"I'm looking for Ray Finkle....and a clean pair of shorts."
Suddenly have mad respect for you
For not only putting us Number 1, but putting the Pats outside top 3 : )
Im not really one to make rankings….but my top 5 would look similar to yours….maybe Eagles number 2 though…..if they dont make a deep playoff run, it wont be for a lack of talent or effort by the front office.
Bleeding Black and Gold.....forever
by Michael Hewitt on Jul 21, 2009 3:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Well
rankings in the NFL don’t mean anything at all and that’s the beauty of it.
I can’t wait to get this season started.
"I'm looking for Ray Finkle....and a clean pair of shorts."
I share your enthusiasm…..offseason is killer
Bleeding Black and Gold.....forever
by Michael Hewitt on Jul 22, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions
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