TRANSYLVANIA: Happy Halloween [Week]! I love taking my kids trick-or-treating because they get so damn excited. Now I’ll have to manage their massive candy haul, mostly by eating it myself. Anything for my kids! Here are some NFL Observations, organized by candy.
Almond Joy, Mounds
These coconut candies are almost as bad as getting pennies.
The best time to fire Terry Bradshaw from his pregame gig (or put him out to a Chris Berman-side pasture) was 15 years ago. The second best time is now. Holy snowstorm, are Rex Ryan’s teeth white. Is that spray paint?
Anyway, two things in the NFL have really pissed me off lately. One, the extra second they give the offense on delay of game penalties. The explanation is something stupid about the time the refs need to look from the ball to the play clock. Huh?
Here are several solutions to that problem off the top of my head: a buzzer, a flashing light, putting play clocks on the sides of the stadium so the ball and the play clock are in the ref’s line of vision, a buzzer in the refs pocket synched to the play clock, a designated person who presses a buzzer connected to the refs ear when it hits zero, etc. I could go on. We don’t have the technology to solve this? The Giants got burned vs the Ravens on a Mark Andrews TD where the ball was snapped two seconds after the play clock hit zero. It’s happened a lot this year.
And don’t get me started on the soft roughing the passer penalties. The Jets game was turned around on a pick six that was nullified by an extremely questionable one. The rules analyst on the broadcast was running through the list of what you’re not supposed to do – “not late, not low, not high, he didn’t fall on him, sh!t Joe, I have no idea why they called that.” Maybe the ref got confused and thought Mac Jones was Tom Brady. Speaking of, Brady’s last win vs Atlanta was secured on a really bad roughing call. I know they want to protect the QBs, but come on, it’s tackle football.
Milk Duds, Whoppers
Mediocre candy, mediocre QBs. As a coach, you’ve got to know what you have.
The Giants steadfast committment to the run has been impressive, and has kept them close in games they’ve pulled out late. Part of it certainly has to do with knowing the Giants don’t have the personnel, especially after the two O line injuries, to drop Danny Jones back to throw it 45 times.
The blueprint was working ageinst the Seahawks but they couldn’t overcome the two punt fumbles by Richie James. Hey, I ain’t bitching about six and two at the bye.
The Jets, on the other hand, did not commit to the run without superstud Breece Hall. They got impatient when the game was still close and Zach Wilson tried too hard to make things happen. His escapability is impressive, but he doesn’t use the extra time wisely. Those interceptions on Sunday were brutal.
Reeces Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kats
The Cadillacs of Halloween candy. Several stud players could be on the move today.
Big names like Alvin Kamara, Bradley Chubb, Kareem Hunt, DJ Moore, Brandin Cooks, Jerry Jeudy (to the Giants), Greedy Williams, etc are supposedly on the table. I can’t remember the last time there were so many big names being bandied about at the deadline. Most will probably stay put if the teams can’t rope in a Ricky Williams offer, but maybe a few will be on the move.
The Giants are in an interesting spot. Logic dictates they won’t do anything big and maybe look to sell any pieces that aren’t part of the future. But I’m sure they’d like to give Jones a little more artillery to really see what they have at QB. He’s been better obviously, but is he “the guy.” It’s be nice to give him a number one receiver for the first time in his career and see what that looks like.
That’s it for me. Comment below, check out Angry Ward follow us on Twitter at @BenWhit8, @MeetTheMatts, @Matt_McCarthy00, Instagram @MeetTheMatts and like our Facebook page, Meet The Matts.
