NFL Quick Shots: Why do teams abandon the run on third down?
My favorite NFL play as a kid was a third-down draw play to Walter Payton, Earl Campbell or O.J. Simpson. Now, even the best running backs seldom run on third down. Heck, only three of Adrian Peterson’s 197 carries for Minnesota have been on distances between third-and-3 and third-and-7. Why?
The Bears tried to pass on their first 17 third downs Sunday. It worked well, especially the two third-and-1 passes. But what’s the point of running 38 times if the defense knows you pass on every third down? Matt Forte is no Walter Payton or Adrian Peterson, but he’s more adept at busting the occasional long run than he is running between the tackles. Chicago needs to give Forte a chance to break that long run with two or three run calls on third-and-medium. That should also open up more passing lanes for Jay Cutler.
Or they could ask WWBCD (What Would Brad Childress Do) and keep throwing every time on third-and-3.
I say giving $78 million to McNabb is worth firing a GM for. Maybe they can hire Brad Childress to coach.
Sports Illustrated’s Peter King writes the Vikings can’t bench Favre until they “are mathematically out of it.” Benching Favre isn’t giving up. He was incredible last year, but he’s now the NFL’s No. 31-rated passer and he’s only going to get older and more injured. Tarvaris Jackson led the Vikings to six wins in a row three years ago, had a 95.4 passer rating two years ago and runs very well. Jackson could be worse than Favre. He could also be better. At 3-6, Minnesota needs to change something.
The Panthers are upset that Tampa Bay players dove into the pile head first on a fourth-down sneak, leaving Carolina’s Jimmy Clausen with a concussion. The Panthers should be more upset that Carolina, with Matt Moore injured, is being quarterbacked by three rookies: Clausen, Tony Pike and Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State, who was supposed to be a receiver.
Jaguars safety Sean Considine forced a fumble two plays before Jacksonville’s winning Hail Mary pass. If the former Byron star hadn’t stripped the ball loose, Houston would have been in range for a game-winning 51-yard field goal.
“Sean did a great job tackling and creating the turnover. ... It was a huge play,” cornerback Derek Cox told the Florida Times-Union.
If you give Jay Cutler time, he’ll make big plays. But even with time, he still makes the occasional reckless throw, as he did with a red-zone interception against the Vikings. “I’ve got to be more aware down there and just take the field goal,” Cutler said.