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Dan Patrick Show Chris Mortensen talks about the demise of Big D.wav: 1484 k Real: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | ||
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Mort's Mailbag |
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Looks like almost all of the prejudices about African-American quarterbacks have been, or are in the process of being, shed (hooray!). I can remember the days when this was not the case. Three questions about current African-American quarterbacks: 1) Who is the best "pure" QB? 2) Who do you consider the best African-American QB right now? 3) If you had to pick one of the up-and-comers, who would you choose and why? Thanks! -- Irvine, Calif.
-- Eric Woodward, Pasadena, Calif. Mort: Eric, it may be premature, who knows? We'll find out. As for McNabb, Eagles coach Andy Reid was actually glad that he threw a couple of bad interceptions. They came at a time when it didn't really hurt the team, but he had such a near-flawless preseason, that maybe McNabb had gotten a false sense of security. In other words, Reid thinks those interceptions will make McNabb a better QB, and picks really affect a QB rating. As for the yards, it doesn't matter. When you're blowing somebody out by that margin and your RB (Staley) is tearing it up, who cares? How many yards did John Elway throw when he won his first Super Bowl vs. Green Bay? It was 123 yards. Do you think he cared? Why don't we (the TV fans) get more "X's and O's" views during telecasts? I'm referring to the view from above the action that is often used when showing the development of plays in play-design breakdown.--Ned, Topeka, Kansas Mort: Ned, I couldn't agree with you more! Some games don't have a lot of cameras, but I have always thought that networks sort of cheat the fans on getting a real look at the game... I have a question about the Ravens. Do they really think fumbling Tony Banks could last the whole season? If he doesn't work out, then its interception Dilfer. Don't you think that the Ravens are in trouble with their QB situation? -- Tony, Arlington Heights, Ill. Mort: Tony, I think this is the real question about the Ravens. Banks played very well down the stretch last season, so Brian Billick has some confidence he'll recapture that. Banks and/or Dilfer will be the key as to whether the Ravens become a Super Bowl contender. They are a playoff contender because of their dominant defense.
What do the Patriots need to do to solve their offensive line woes? Mort: They need to get better players and keep them healthy. The offensive line needs to be the most cohesive unit on the field because of the complexities of the game. Anything that subtracts from that cohesiveness (i.e. free agency, injuries) is a setback. I am a big Browns fan and I am very happy they are back. I have two questions: 1) Couch seems to be doing well, but was their a better choice for the Browns? 2) How long do you think we have to wait before we can be in the hunt for the playoffs. Thanks for your perspective. GO BROWNS!-- Emanuele, Chicago Mort: Emanuele, time will tell on both fronts. Of all the QBs chosen in the '99 draft, Couch has the toughest task because he went to an expansion team. The Browns also have a tougher task than, say, Jacksonville or Carolina did as expansion teams, because the Jaguars and Panthers had their football operations in place a year longer than Cleveland did before they had to play. After watching the Edge NFL Match-Up, the anlaysis of Hoge, Jaws and Kolber led me to believe that the Titan's new offensive coordinator would put the "Air" back in AirMcNair. However, it seemed like a replay of last year's championship game. Short curl routes after short out routes. I realize George dropped a big pass and Wycheck had an opportunity in the end zone, but they were unfortunately the exception. I was suprised that with the success of those calls, not the execution, that the Titans did not continue to open up the offense. I realize Eddie George is MVP material and Fischer wants the offense to work off Eddie's success, but Les Steckel was replaced for a reason; they needed some offensive diversity. What does this week hold for the Titan's offense? -- Jim Rogers, San Diego, Calif. Mort: Jim, don't overreact to the Buffalo game. Playing in Buffalo on a Sunday night -- with the emotions that were running over -- was probably the toughest assignment any team could experience. Also, one of the problems with television is that the networks, including ours, have a tendency to shoot very tight shots, so we really don't see the whole field and coverages. The Titans took a few shots, and I would be stunned if they are not what everyone projects them to be -- a power-running team that will throw the ball downfield more with success. The Redskins were one personal foul and one bad officiating call away from losing their first game at home to the Panthers. I did not see a $100 million team on the field. Do you think this is a fluke or do you see hard times ahead for Norv Turner and Daniel Snyder? -- Todd Diggs, Matthews, N.C. Mort: Todd, most games in this league are decided by seven points or less, so everybody is a penalty or a kick return away from winning or being upset. Also, because of the personnel additions (regardless of talent), the Redskins most likely will be a work-in-progress, a team that will be better late rather than early in the season. And, remember, they were missing two offensive linemen against the Panthers. The Ravens' defense once again showed up at Pittsburgh last week. But the offense stalled. Tony Banks missed wide-open receivers on several occasions. The new offense didn't play together for most of the preseason, so they have to make up for it during the first couple of games of the season. Do you think the offense will adjust early enough to make Baltimore a true contender this season? -- Murtuza Habeeb, Baltimore, Md. Mort: Murtuza, you sound like a very knowledgeable fan. The Ravens' offense didn't work entirely as a unit in preseason because of various reasons. Nevertheless, Tony Banks has to make plays. He finally has the benefit of being in the same offensive system for two years, and he finished strong last season, so it really is on him. Sometimes, what happens is that you get new personnel (Shannon Sharpe, Ben Coates, Travis Taylor and Jamal Lewis) and the timing might be a little off, but that's a convenient excuse. The Ravens have a tough first-half schedule, so the offense has to do its part. I still believe the Ravens are a playoff team.
It looks like a dismal year for the 49ers. How long will it take to fix their cap problems so they can lure some top free agents once again? -- Dave Waibel, Newark, Del. Mort: Dave, Duce Staley really is a great player. Eagles coach Andy Reid told me that there isn't anything Duce can't do (run, catch, block). I expect him to be in the Pro Bowl, along with Marshall Faulk and Stephen Davis. I really believe now that the Eagles may be that team that takes the big leap this year. Playoffs, maybe. Super Bowl, not yet. MVP for Staley? He may be a candidate, but it is early. As for the Redskins, I think they'll be a much better team in November, December and January than they are now, as all the new guys mesh. Personally, after watching the Rams play Monday night, they're the only NFC team that looks like a Super Bowl team ... which they are, right?
Why so high on the Lions? They have no one special, and the other four teams in the division look far better than a team counting on an erratic and injury-prone Charlie Batch, a so-so coach and no backup QB. Herman Moore is finished and James Stewart is overrated. Mort: Richard, I think the Lions -- unlike the past couple of years -- will prove to be a strong team in the second half of the season. Bobby Ross, a so-so coach? You are so-so wrong. James Stewart behind that O-line will be a force, I think. Batch's injury status is the main issue. I'll give you that. |
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