Ferris Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

The Decline in NFL Coaching

In Ferris Buellers day off, the Science teacher (famously played by Ben Stein) is taking attendance and continues to ask the whereabouts of Ferris but to no avail. Nobody knew where he was, and he just kept repeating his name hoping for a different answer. After watching the NFL this weekend, I had the same feeling as team after team, Coach after Coach, continued to just keep asking the same question and refusing to change their strategy. It’s almost as if the most basic of coaching has left the NFL and been replaced by science geeks holding their little Microsoft surface pro and seemed uninclined to do anything other than stare down at the computer pad, instead of what was happening before their very eyes.

Case and Points:

NY Jets: The Jets were pounded by the Cowboys yesterday as an average quarterback at best in Zach Wilson was pressured every time by Micah Parsons and his pals. Despite the obvious fact that Zach Wilson has proven he cannot be a pocket passer, the Jets and Offensive Coordinator Nate Hackett continued to have him do five step drops and watch helplessly as he was sacked, knocked down or hurried. Despite Micah being the best defensive player in the league, the Jets continued to try to block him with one offensive lineman. There wasn’t a tight end helping or chip blocking him. There was no extra running back kept in the backfield to pick up a block. They just kept sending Zach back to pass like lambs get lead to the slaughter. There was a glimmer of hope when a 5-yard pass to the sensational Garrett Wilson went to the house, so naturally the Jets found ways to get the ball in his hands right? Wrong. He didn’t have another catch until the 4th quarter. Last week’s sensation for the Jets, Breece Hall, rushed for 122 yards against a stout Buffalo defense, so what did the Jets do this week? He touched the ball 4 times. No that is not a misprint. 4 times when he could have been the RB in the backfield to help block or at least slow down the rushers who would certainly be worrying about a draw play. Ferris Bueller?

Arizona Cardinals: We all know the Cardinals are expected to be one of the lower tiered teams in the league, but a win is a win in the NFL and as Bill Parcells once famously said “The NFL stands for Not For Long”. After the Card defense buried the NY Giants with a stifling defense for the first half, they reverted to the tried-and-true formula for losing a football game with a big lead and began giving up plays, allowing yardage and momentum to change and eventually lost the game. Once again, the prevent defense has snapped defeat from the jaws of victory. On offense the Cardinals offense became ultra conservative and basically ran three plays and punted most of the 4th quarter. New head coach Jonathan Gannon needs to remember that in the NFL it is not unheard of to be a one and done coach, especially when you lose games you should have won. Bueller? Bueller?

Russell Wilson and Denver Broncos: The Broncos lost to the Washington football team yesterday as Russell Wilson continues his decline from superstar to a possible Zach Wilson status. There is no relationship between Russ and Zach, however their games of late are very similar and in both cases the respective teams are not putting the players in the best position to win. Russ is approximately 5”1 (5”6 in heels) and there have been rumors circulating that he will be featured in the new ‘Snow White’ movie coming out next year. He has not been and will never be a complete drop back passer. The best highlights in his career have been from moving, rolling out and being a two-way threat. Despite a ten-year history of this, last year and this year, Denver continues to ask him to do drop back passes like he is Josh Allen or Justin Herbert and can see easily over the hogs blocking for him. He is at his most dangerous when he is rolling out and he becomes a threat to throw underneath, run with the ball or throw one of his patented deep throws that are remarkably accurate. It also keeps him from taking some of the thumping that a 350lb nose tackle can put on him. For some unknown reason Nate Hackett and now Sean Payton are insisting he must be something he is not. Don’t look now but Denver is 0-2 and all that Payton fanfare is disappearing quickly so perhaps it’s time to cut the crap and play to his strengths? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?

-BSB