Four Downs with Stock & Doc
by Ben Stockwell and Paul Hopkins
8/8/2008
 
This week the guys look at Steve Smith's conduct in Carolina, whether pre-season has a value, what will happen to 2007's fairytale Big XII teams, and look at the NFC North without considering Favre.... well, nearly.
 
Steve Smith's two game suspension from the Carolina Panthers is too lenient.
 
STOCK – FICTION ! – If anything it's too strict, yes alright he lamped Ken Lucas when his helmet was off and by all accounts it was a cowardly shot when Lucas wasn't expecting it, but so what? It's a training camp scrap, these things happen and they know full well about Smith's issues with his temper. This isn't a league enforced suspension it's a team enforced suspension and to paraphrase Jeremy Clarkson what the Panthers have done is say, “I've got two feet I'll shoot myself in the left one”. Unless Roger Goodell is even crazier than even I think then he's not going to come down on every single training camp bust up, so why take away your only decent receiving threat just to send a message. Fine him, suspend from part of training camp, do anything that sends some sort of message, but don't hurt your team's ability to win at the start of the season. The NFC South race is wide open, if you're serious about competing then taking away your best offensive player for the opening two games of the season is just dim. They've cut off their nose to spite their face.
 
DOC – FACT ! – There's a difference between scuffles and pull apart brawls and out and out assault. And its not like Steve Smith hasn't got previous. He's behaved himself of late, but on occasion you do still see it there bubbling away. Granted its what makes him what he is, but it may be worth looking at getting some anger management. Now, onto the suspension. The question I have is what would the suspension be if he did this outside of training camp and on the street? Random Roger would probably have given him a bit longer. For me, he's got off lightly. Credit to John Fox for taking action, but rather sort it out for yourself than leave it to Mr Arbitrary to do it for you.
 
Pre-season games are a waste of time.
 
STOCK – FICTION ! – Depends who you mean, they're not a waste of time for everyone but they're a waste of my time and I can't be bothered with them. For fans they're just utterly dull and don't tell people anywhere near as much as some would like to believe. The plays and schemes used are vanilla and players really don't get a chance to show what they'll do in the regular season. They are relevant for the coaches, players assuming new starting roles and fringe players/rookies looking to crack the 53 man roster. For everyone else they're a waste of time and particularly for fans with season tickets they are a dreadful waste of money. The fact that these games get included at the same price as regular season games in a season ticket package is borderline criminal. Great money spinner for the team/league, but for the fans they're a complete waste in more way than one.
 
DOC – FACT ! – They are and they aren't. From a fan's point of view they're boring, they're dull and it's a bit of a tease. After waiting since the winter for football, we get this to start off with. Everyone gets all excited that “at least its some football” but then after a week or so, everyone is bored with it. Coaches probably love it, rookies and FA's probably look forward to making an impact, but to me its glorified practice. Roll on the real season.
 
After fairy tale seasons in 2007, Kansas and Missouri will both fade away back to oblivion in 2008.
 
STOCK – FACT ! – Oblivion might be a bit much but Kansas at least will slip a long way. Missouri I think will still remain relevant but they aren't going to suddenly take the step and beat Oklahoma or anyone else in the South but they will still be there or there abouts in getting an at large bid for a BCS game, though another loss in the Big XII title game won't help their cause. Kansas however is the team that is primed to drift back to mediocrity after taking advantage of the stars aligning just about perfectly for them last season. From having the easiest slate of inter-division games from the Big XII South last year (Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M) they now go to the hardest (Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech), that right there is three extra losses on the schedule. Then you've got to look at some of the players they've lost; Anthony Collins (starting left tackle), Aqib Talib (#1 corner and one of the best in the nation), Brandon McAnderson (starting running back), Marcus Henry (#1 wide receiver). So they've lost some of their best players and their schedule is markedly harder, that to me is the recipe for a nose dive in the win column for the Jayhawks. What the hell is a Jayhawk anyway?
 
DOC – FACT ! – Guaranteed Kansas will sink. People will find them out their gameplan, you're spot on about their loss of talent, but I'm going to rant on this schedule they had last year. How could that justify their ranking? It must have been the luckiest schedule in the history of the Big XII. This year they're destined to fade away. Now, onto Mizzou. I'm a bit of a Chase Daniel fan, but I wonder what the impact of their late season faltering will be. They'll stick around and I fancy them to cause an upset or two in the Big XII this year. They won't be leading the pack but they'll be a factor when all is said and done.
 
With the departure of Brett Favre the race for the NFC North is wide open.
 
STOCK – FICTION ! – It's as wide open as it was before Brett Favre decided that sitting on his sit down mower in Mississippi was too boring a way for him to while away his years, it's as wide open as it was before Ted Thompson tried to railroad him into staying retired and it's as wide open as it was before Favre came back to training camp. It's as wide open as it's ever been; it's a two horse race, so not very wide open at all. The two contenders are the Vikings and the Packers and the fate of the division rests upon which QB can best lead their talented teams this season. Tarvaris Jackson has had some juice injected into his franchise with the addition of; a stud pass rusher to help the Vikings pass defence, a new free safety to further help that pass defence and most importantly for Jackson is the legitimate deep threat to use play action more effectively this year and back teams out of those 8 man fronts. Then you've got the Packers resting on how Rodgers plays, he's got a supremely talented team as well and probably has more balance if he can run the passing game more effectively, but the Vikings are probably more explosively talented. The QB who plays the best under pressure will be the QB who wins the division for his team. The Lions and Bears are complete non-factors.
 
DOC – FACT ! – Now that America's #1 soap opera is over, we can actually focus on the NFC North. Hallelujah! If Favre had have got back into the Packers starting role then it wouldn't have been open. Now, however, you have two unknowns at QB with pretty talented teams around them, and it really can go either way. I love the Packers WR's, in particular Jennings, and if Rodgers clicks with them they'll be front runners, but I'm not yet convinced Rodgers will ease into the NFL, and it may take half a season for him to find his feet. Tavaris, I dont like but around him the talent is very high, and there's enough now to compensate for him (just). Let's ignore Detroit and Chicago who, at best, can play party poopers to one or both of the Vikings or Packers. Simply because of the turmoil in Green Bay, and a belief that defence wins, I'll stick my next out and go with the Vikes... just. All I can say, is that the NFC is opening up for those Cowboys. Oh yes, and again thank the Lord above that this Favre circus is over!