Well, believe it. The company famous for hiring Peter King and Rick Reilly now has published this brilliant piece by Adam Duerson. Initially it looks like a harmless little breakdown of the Titans vs. Colts game this Sunday. He even goes with the typical cliche numbered list of things that are important/should care about/keys to the game set up. But when inspected closer, one finds a myriad of horrifyingly dumb statements that are Laugh Out Loud Funny unless they’re serious, and his are. Let me show you.
His first point was: 1. Vince Young has changed.
Fair enough. How true. A bit old hat by now, unless you have some good analysis as to why, but fine. Obviously statistically and by the eyeball test, a true statement. But then he makes his second point…
2. …But he’s still the same guy.
So that is the basis of your preview on the game? “He’s changed! But his identity is still the same as a person…” Soooo dumb….. And it gets worse. Check this crap out:
And now the bad. For all his confidence, Young still makes stupid mistakes that, to me, show a lack of concentration. That game-winner to Britt last week? It was thrown into a slew of four defenders and would have been picked or deflected by a better secondary.
Oh, that’s what you saw? To you, that throw was a bad throw? Lets take a look at what was going on around Kenny Britt when Vince Young threw the ball:
The view of the End Zone as VY threw the ball (Click to enlarge)
WOW!! LOOK AT THAT RIDICULOUS QUINTUPLE COVERAGE!!!!! HOW DID HE EVEN FIT IT IN TO SUCH A TIGHT SPOT!!!!???
Fuck, dude. Look at the play. It isn’t that hard to tell. Britt wasn’t wide open, but with VY distracting the 1st level defenders by threatening to run combined with the out of position defender in the corner of the End Zone, he actually had quite a bit of room to throw the ball considering that ALL the covering defenders could plop their asses in the End Zone since the Titans had to score. Vince also then made a perfect throw to the perfect spot, and Britt made a play. It was a great play by any stretch of the imagination.
Would a better secondary have covered it? Possibly. They wouldn’t have had they been in the same position that the Cardinals secondary was in. And had they been in better position, then Young wouldn’t have thrown there. It’s an asinine argument to say, “a better secondary would’ve made a play on that.” Well, how the hell do you know he would’ve thrown it there on a better secondary? In the moment on that secondary against that specific coverage, Vince made the PERFECT play. Wasn’t luck. Wasn’t happenstance.
[The last drive] included a.) a deflected pass that miraculously ended up in Scaife’s hands and b.) another poorly thrown ball on fourth down that Britt corralled while jumping over a defender’s back. That’s more luck than talent.
Miraculous is a bit strong, nay? Lucky? Sure. But miraculous? Happens all the time both ways. Now the first throw to Britt to convert the 4th down… Once again. If Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, or Phillip Rivers make that throw, it’s him putting it in a tight spot and trusting his Receiver to make a play. Which he did. It wasn’t luck. He threw it knowing the defender was not looking at him and thus had no idea where the ball was, and so he trusted his Receiver to make a play on the ball. I’ve seen Peyton Manning make that throw to Harrison and/or Wayne SEVERAL times. Andre Johnson has made a career off catches like that. IT’S NOT LUCK, DOUCHE BAG.
Chuck Cecil’s defense doesn’t dabble much in bizarre stunts or excessive blitzing (elements that have proven effective against Manning in the past)
Do you watch football? Have you heard of this Peyton Manning you speak of? Have you watched any game tape that wasn’t UT vs. Florida circa 1997? Blitzing against Manning USUALLY means lots and lots and lots of big plays and touchdowns. Now, I am not saying to never blitz Manning, but excessive blitzing is something Manning has eaten ALIVE.
Fantasy Focus
SIT
Chris Johnson — Just think about it is all I’m saying.
Holy crap. Seriously? SIT Chris Johnson? When he is on pace to break 2,000 yards? SIT HIM??? Who should I start over him, then? Jamaal Charles? Maybe Rock Cartwright will do! New Orleans isn’t too good at Run defense guys!! SIT CHRIS JOHNSON FOR ROCK CARTWRIGHT!!!!
I just… you have no credibility, Mr. Duerson. You obviously don’t watch game tape. You obviously don’t play fantasy football (or at least very well). And you’re obviously reaching trying to prove counterpoints on why Vince ISN’T better than he used to be. Here is a piece of advice for you: PICK A NON-CLICHE FORMAT AND THEN WRITE ABOUT REAL FOOTBALL SITUATIONS!
If you think the Colts will beat the Titans, fine. I actually acknowledge that the Titans should be 8.5 point underdogs and likely won’t win this game. However, if your reasoning is that Vince Young ISN’T different (when you just said he is) despite statistical and film analysis from experts saying otherwise, then you’re an idiot. REAL reasoning that isn’t cliche is usually simple and boring (unless you watch film and can provide REAL analysis), but TRUE. Example: The Colts will beat the Titans because Peyton Manning is a lot better than the Titans secondary.
That’s an example of competent analysis.
Take notes, dickhead.
Tags: Adam Duerson, Mainstream Cliche Sports writing, Media Failures, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated hires crappy writers, worst Colts vs Titans breakdown ever
