Four Downs with Stock & Doc
by Ben Stockwell and Paul Hopkins
31/10/2008
 
This week Doc is joined by fellow Diner writer James Izzard to debate four NFL-related topics, as Stockers recovers from the excesses of the International Series weekend. On the menu this week is Mike Singletary, Phil Rivers' quality, whether the Jets would be better with Pennington, and in Dallas, is a rock or a hard place the place to be at QB?
 
Mike Singletary's press conference following Sunday's defeat to Seattle will do him more harm than good in getting the 49ers job permanently.
 
JIZ – FACT ! - I do not think Mike Singletary is the future for the San Francisco 49ers and yes I do believe Sunday's press conference will do him more harm than good. I do however understand what he was trying to do and do sympathise with him. Singletary deserves his shot but I find it hard to believe he is the route the 49ers will go down as a permanent fixture. I believe San Francisco will go for an experienced head coach to try and turn the franchise around I'm thinking a Brian Billick or how about this swerveball Mike Holmgren! I don't think the owners will be too impressed having another highly drafted expensive player unhappy. Despite whether he deserved it or not Vernon Davis should be a key component to San Francisco's future they can not afford another expensive flop with the other one Alex Smith already looking like he is on his way out.
 
DOC – FACT ! – Singletary was already looked down on my some because of his lack of preparedness for the interviews he had in the post-season, and whilst his little rant was mildly amusing it was embarrassing. Benching O'Sullivan isn't that big a deal, Shaun Hill doesn't turn the ball over half as much. Chewing out Vernon Davis was probably something we all think is due but the way he went about it, will raise questions in a lot of people's heads about how he will deal with big name, highly-paid players. After all, as we've seen countless times, in the battle of wills, teams tend to stick with their players not coaches. I love his attitude, I love his passion, but I think Mike has not done himself any favours at all.
 
Philip Rivers is never going to be an elite NFL quarterback.
 
JIZ – FICTION ! - Phillip Rivers has all all the intangibles to be an elite NFL quarterback infact he already is a bonafide top 10 quarterback in my opinion. His accuracy is outstanding as is his decision making . What separates a guy with good intangibles to becoming an elite NFL quarterback is leadership and I believe Philip Rivers has what's necessary to become an inspirational leader. He earnt the respect of his peers playing through injury in last seasons playoffs and this season he has cut out the trash talking and concentrated on playing and has put in some fine performances. It will be interesting to see how the Chargers play out the second half of this season, Norv Turner has flattered to deceive thus far in San Diego and if they do miss out on the playoffs I wouldn't be surprised to see him get his marching orders which could perhaps hinder the development of Rivers. If Rivers continues in this vein there is absolutely no reason why the AFC West won't have two of the leagues best elite quarterbacks in Rivers and Cutler. (Sorry Jermarcus).
 
DOC – FACT ! – He simply hasn't got it. He can make a lot of throws but he will never be a true top tier QB consistently, which is the key word to distinguish the best from the also rans. Right now his team are 3-5 and at the end of that shootout at Wembley some of his throws, under no pressure were atrocious. Now, in 2004 his compatriots Eli Manning and ben Roethlisberger are firmly established at the top of the game, but Rivers is not yet. There's not many excuses either as he arguably has the most talented set of players around him. What were people talking about last season in the playoffs, with Rivers? His toughness, not his skills. He's good, but he just doesn't have 'it'.
 
With Chad Pennington and not Brett Favre, the Jets would stand a better chance of making the post-season.
 
JIZ – FICTION ! - Can Chad Pennington win you games on his own? No! The above statement is the basis behind my answer. Yes Favre has reverted back to his 2006 form rather than last seasons form taking unnecessary risks and major gambles but that's because he has too if the Jets are going to win games. New York is not Green Bay they do not have as much talent as last years Packers games so Favre is going to on occasion win games on his own. He will do this, and as the season progresses he will have a better understanding of the playbook and will keep Jets in games and win them games when in theory they should be well beat. He has also helped the progression of two young players that very well be stars of the future in Chansi Stuckey and Dustin Keller, unlike Pennington Favre spreads the ball around teams will find it a lot harder to scheme against than they would against a more predictable Pennington. Do I think the Jets will make the Playoffs? No I don't, but that have more of a shot with #4 under centre than #10.
 
DOC – FACT ! – The Jets loaded up during the post-season on players to make this team a running force, but against the pitiful Chief run defence Thomas Jones barely saw the ball, instead leaving it for Favre to fling it far too many times. This team doesn't look to me like they really understand what they are trying to do – and how. Favre looks like he's struggling to learn it, and to think they could have kept Chad Pennington, who would manage the games, control the ball and deliver a balanced offence. The Jets got dazzled by taking on Brett and right now, it's not looking like it's going to last.
 
After his performance against the Buccaneers, Brad Johnson should be benched himself for Brooks Bollinger.
 
JIZ – FICTION ! - Anybody who saw Brooks Bollinger play for Minnesota last season will understand why that statement is Fiction. Brad Johnson is certainly not the same player that contributed to a Tampa Bay superbowl win but he is still an intelligent veteran that now has had some time on the offence will not contribute towards Dallas losing. They won last week with a conservative game plan, Johnson managed the game ok and they didn't turn the ball over. If you don't turn the ball over games should still be close and I expect that ethos to be tested to the theory this week against the Giants.However clearly either solution is not ideal for Dallas coming into this huge game, Johnson doesn't seem to have a rapport yet with any of the receivers and the decoy Terrell Owens must be getting impatient, Dallas cannot get Romo back soon enough.
 
DOC – FICTION ! – Bollinger couldn't beat out Tavaris Jackson. I don't think i have any more telling statement than that. Look, Johnson shouldn't be playing football. Period. He does not have any accuracy of any kind any more, his arm strength has now completely gone. With this Dallas offence you need to stretch the field, but right now defensive coordinators know they do not need to with Johnson in there. Rather than throw in Bollinger to stretch the field because he does have arm strength we should look to the gadget play, utilising Patrick Crayton and even possibly Isiaih Stanbeck on trick plays to stretch the field. This of course needs to be accompanied by strong defence to keep the game close and smart play from Johnson not to make mistakes. Do that, and Dallas may upset the Giants. But its going to be incredibly tough. I believe this team needs a watershed moment to kick on from. Could this be it?