Riot Week 10

Russell Street Riot Week 10

Check out the Russell Street Riot every Wednesday and the TV Geek every Tuesday on Russell Street Report, along with my spots on the Coaches Buzz around 7:30 every Monday night on 1300 AM.

7-1 and Can't Get No Love!

The Arizona Cardinals are 7-1 and leading the toughest division in football by 2 games.

Why is no one talking about them like they're for real?

Is it because we don't buy into Carson Palmer at quarterback?  

That shouldn't be the case, he took the Bengals to the playoffs in 2009 and has put up solid numbers in the NFL for years.  He suffered from injuries that ultimately forced him out of Cincinnati.  He had some bad starts in Oakland but let's be honest, there's not a QB outside of Manning, Brady, or Rodgers that wouldn't.

Is it because we don't think Bruce Arians can be the head of an NFL playoff team?

Think again, we collectively feasted on the Bruce Arians Interim Head Coach story in Indianapolis during their 2012 playoff run.  You remember, Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with, and beat, Leukemia while the team used that inspiration to propel themselves back into the #1 spot in the South.  Arians received Coach of the Year honors that year, where in his speech he said this...

"I can't stand here and say I was coach of the year. The organization was coach of the year," Arians said. "But more than anything it was Chuck. Cuz, I love you. You set the path. We just drove the bus. We kept the lights on the whole time."

We love the guy in sports in that is willing to diminish his value and give credit to someone else.

Likeable Head Coach--- Check.
Solid QB--- Check.

I got it!  Is it because they're coming out of nowhere?

Nope, they went 10-6 in 2013 narrowly missing the playoffs.  They even beat the Seahawks in Seattle in week 16.  That alone should make them the greatest football team to ever step foot on a football field, right?

Since back to back losses against Seattle and San Fran in Oct. '13 they've gone 13-3.  Over that stretch they've beaten the Chargers, Cowboys, Eagles, 49ers, and the Superbowl Champs.  That's pretty loud if you ask me.

It's gotta be a lack of stars!

Getting warmer.  Outside of Larry Fitzgerald, a 6-time Pro-bowler, I guess you probably can't name too many guys.

Let's get you acclimated.

Michael Floyd, 6'3 and 220lbs, has been a disappointment at WR so far this year.

Andre Ellington is a decent RB who has yet to break the 100-yard mark rushing in a game.  He can catch pretty well out of the backfield also.

They do have this Patrick Peterson guy.  He's got 12 picks since his rookie season in 2011, not too shabby.  Apparently he housed 4 punts for TD's in his rookie campaign too.

Alright, I'll give you the answer...

It's because they're stuck in the middle of Jim Harbaugh's khakis and the Superbowl Champs.

The Seattle Seahawks, have gotten off to a slow start this season and have been anything but impressive in their title defense.  Combine that low hanging fruit that can be squeezed into all kinds of Hot Sports Takes with the fact that they traded their best wide-out, Percy Harvin, for a couple chin straps to the Jets----- That's the exact spelling of a media frenzy.

The San Francisco 49ers are the same type of one-stop shop for the media.  Everyone suddenly hates Jim Harbaugh because no one wants to walk past him in the hallway.  Aldon Smith an is alcohol-soaked, gun toatin', bomb carryin' mad man who provides the world with a quick peak at what happens when Money and Fame Go Wrong.

They lose a couple games, fall back in the division and everyone needs to know why?!?!

WE MUST FIND THE NEGATIVE!

It's because Colin Kaepernick has tattoo's--- HE"S IMMATURE!
Jim Harbaugh always looks angry--- SEND HIM TO MICHIGAN, PLAYERS HATE HIM!
Seahawks adderall and PED Suspensions--- CARROLL'S A SCUM BAG!
Richard Sherman screamed at Erin Andrews---- SCARY BLACK MAN!
Russell Wilson's not black enough--- RACE CARD!

WE NEED MORE BLAME GAME!

Meanwhile, the real story is sitting in first place by two games in the best division in football.

They're an entertaining team, you should check them out sometime.






Check out the Russell Street Riot every Wednesday and the TV Geek every Tuesday on Russell Street Report, along with my spots on the Coaches Buzz around 7:30 every Monday night on 1300 AM.

They're not who we thought they were.

Due to my contributions for Russellstreetreport.com I rewatch (painful as it is sometimes) the  previous days Ravens game.  As I watch the games for a second time I always have notes jotted 

all over paper in my 5 year olds handwriting.  So I figure, let's put it to use for something.

The Secondary

It's been a couple years now since the Ravens could rely on #20 in centerfield to bail out cornerbacks on deep pass plays. 
Last night the Ravens trotted out a secondary that consisted of Lardarius Webb, Matt Elam, Dominique Franks, Chykie Brown, Darian Stewart, and Anthony Levine.
I can't believe Ben Roethlisberger threw 6 touchdown passes against that stellar squad of UFA's and injury ridden scrubs!
These guys wouldn't start for 27 teams in the NFL right now, aside from L Webb. 
That's not to say that Lardarius has even been that impressive so far this year.  At some point the Ravens are going to have to start thinking about moving L Webb to free safety but that's a
I don't know if it's communication issues or just a flat out lack of talent but any time this defense goes to a full zone, it's a disaster. 
Darian Stewart is consistently late backing up cornerbacks on deep passes.  You would think Chykie Brown is covering Victoria's Secret Models the way he refuses to try to track the football.  Dominique Franks has dropped about 4 interceptions so far this season.  The bust flag is being set at half mast for Matt Elam right now.  Anthony Levine can make some plays on Special Teams but that's where he belongs, not trying to cover Antonio Brown in a game that can diminish any hopes at a division crown.
How long until Jimmy Smith is back?
conversation for another day.
Baltimore being forced to take a corner in the first round this year is a real possibility.
 
Terrell "Hacksaw" "T-Sizzle" Suggs - Ball So Soft University

Remember back when Ray Lewis and Ed Reed left the Ravens and everyone said:
"It's fine, Suggs will take over as a leader on Defense"
Yeah, not quite.
Last night, Terrell Suggs breaks out the "late hit" on Legarette Blount.  The penalty bothered me.  The hit by Suggs did not.
What did bothered me is that he's busy barking at the Steelers sideline as opposed to talking to his teammates telling them to not let this game get out of control. 
The only thing Terrell Suggs lead last night was the dismantling of his own team.
Leader?  I don't think so.
While we're on the subject Suggs likes to talk about he gets up for Steelers games.  That's not so true either, he's got one sack against the Steelers since the 2011 season opener.
The only thing he Hacksawed last night was the Ravens gameplan on D.
 
CJ Mosley

The rookie out of Alabama (Roll Tide) is no doubt on pace for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors but he had a rough night trying to contain Le'Veon Bell.  Up to this point I'm not really concerned, I think we have a big enough sample size that would show that he will get better and adjust with time.
 

O-Line

I don't know what's going on week-to-week with the offensive line, some weeks they look unstoppable, some weeks it looks like they're getting paid for a mob hit on Joe Flacco. 
At this point the only thing I can point to is the competition.  The Ravens had huge success running the ball and protecting Flacco against the miserable NFC South but in the division and against the Colts, they've struggled.
Eugene Monroe had a particularly bad night Sunday, making 300-year old James Harrison look like JJ Watt.
 
Back to the drawing board boys, this team is not what we thought they were...

Check out the Russell Street Riot every Wednesday and the TV Geek every Tuesday on Russell Street Report, along with my spots on the Coaches Buzz around 7:30 every Monday night on 1300 AM.