One and done. So you made it to the Wild Card round and you got bounced straight away. What now? Cabo sounds nice. But get real! There’s work to be done in this NFL 365 days a year. So let’s take a look at whether the glass is half full or half empty for the teams that didn’t survive past Week One of the NFL Playoffs.
I believe most teams this off-season will deal with three critical areas of improvement:
3. How to get the most out of your roster through budget-friendly players: i.e. back-up running back, defensive tackles, number-two receiver, etc.
Let’s start with the shocked and stunned Pittsburgh Steelers. About right now they should be finished crying into those Terrible Towels.
The Steelers know how to re-tool (get it??) — they’ve won 10+ games in 6 of the last 8 seasons. This organization drafts for the future, filling needs before they become an issue. Protecting Ben Roethlisberger from injury has been and will be a key to this franchise for the next three to five seasons. Another running back to complement Rashard Mendenhall will also be a big factor as he tries to return from a torn ACL.
Mike Tomlin’s tough next-man-up stance is great because, as I said, this team drafts for the future. Look at how well the young receivers drafted a year ago stepped into the featured role previously occupied by Hines Ward. After a 12-5 season, the Steelers’ glass is definitely half full…
The Atlanta Falcons may need a visit from positive thinking guru Tony Robbins to somehow shake their playoff funk. That 0-3 postseason record is a hard pill to swallow no matter how you might try and sugarcoat it.
Mike Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan need to find a way to take Smith’s aggressive vision (fourth-down risk-taking) and translate it into Ryan’s weekly performance. Julio Jones (54 receptions) should not have to play second fiddle to Roddy White (100) and Tony Gonzalez (80). Young pass rushers would help, along with a big physical corner. Let’s also see how RB Jacquizz Rodgers develops next season. Can he play like Darren Sproles or is he just a little guy?
With all that young talent, the glass is half-full in Hotlanta…
For the Cincinnati Bengals, rookie QB Andy Dalton played well (58% completions, 20 TDs, 13 INTs) during the regular season. But in the playoffs, he took his lumps with 3 INTs against the Texans. The contract status of Cedric Benson and how the Bengals (they of the notoriously tight pockets) respond will be interesting. Benson picked up 1,067 yards rushing, but only averaged 3.9 per carry. In this pass-happy NFL, what is a 1,000-yard rusher worth?
The Bengals were tough and scrappy on defense and will be aided by a #1 pick in 2012 and more to come from the Raiders for Carson Palmer. Even in the tough AFC North the Bengals should be able to make some noise and hopefully sell out Paul Brown Stadium.
While the record will show only 1-over .500 at 9-8, I say the glass is half-full in the Cincy…
Finally, the Detroit Lions have some of the top young, marquee talent in the league. GM Martin Mayhew has done a great job in getting on-the-field talent, but also adding James “Shack” Harris (formerly with the Ravens and the Jaguars) to his brain trust has helped. Matthew Stafford came through the season with an just owwie to his finger and a 5,000-yard passing season and Calvin Johnson earned the title Megatron. No other big receiver can match his route-running ability and after-the-catch skills.
A few sessions of anger management for Ndamukong Suh and the defense will just be fine. I love Jim Schwartz’s take-no-prisoner style of play. He gets the most out of his players and with a good front office they have their sights set on Green Bay.
A first trip to the playoffs since 1999 means the Lions’ cup is half full…
Hey, wait just one minute. I see what you’re thinking. How can everyone’s glass be half full? The Falcons scored 2 points, the Lions were gutted for 626 yards, the Steelers got Tebowed and the Bengals lost to a third-string rookie QB. Trust me, there were plenty of teams that didn’t make the playoffs and their glasses were dirty and empty! You know who they are. So drink up, playoff losers, the water’s nice and cold.
– James Lofton
James and Dave Sims will be in Foxboro on Saturday night to see if Tim Tebow’s cup continues to runeth over. Coverage of our NFL Divisional Round doubleheader begins Saturday at 4PM Eastern with 49ers-Saints, followed immediately by Patriots-Broncos.
