Monday Night FB chat!
Page 1 of 27
Welcome to SportsNation! Every Monday night, we'll be chatting during the NFL game. So, sit back, relax and enjoy!
We'll have one of our friends from Football Outsiders stopping by prior to the game to break down everything before kickoff. This week Bill Barnwell will be here to chat.
So, send your questions now and join the chat Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET!
More NFL: Monday Night HQ | NFL index
Buzzmaster: Hello football fans! We'll be here each week starting at 7:30 p.m. ET to chat live up to and during the Monday Night Football game! Get your best questions and comments ready and submit them below!
Bill Barnwell: Hey everyone! Some non-MNF news to start today: Rumblings are that GM George Kokinis might be out in Cleveland, only halfway into his first regular season.
Bill Barnwell: I can't say that I understand why. It's not like it was Kokinis's idea to build his team around the backups from the 2008 Jets. But there'll be more to come on that in the future, I guess.
Jason (New Orleans): Why does "jaws" constantly scrutinize every play by a QB when his career was nothing at all to brag about, having thrown just about as many INTs as TDs and having an overral rating of 72.8???? take it easy on em jaws, theyll all prob be better than you once its all said and done
Bill Barnwell: Well, because Jaws studies more tape of quarterbacks than anyone else on TV. I've never understood that leap of logic, anyway. I can eat a steak at a restaurant and tell you it's not cooked well, but that criticism only matters if I have two Michelin stars?
Ryan (cincinnati ohio): Why do people say Cedric Benson is bad?
Bill Barnwell: Well, he's playing at a level of performance totally unsupported by the rest of his career. So it's not unreasonable to believe that there's some skepticism regarding whether he can keep it up.
Jayson (Powder Springs, Georgia): Why does everyone think Drew Brees is going to throw all over our defense. We are going to own him.
Bill Barnwell: Well, your pass defense is 21st in the league in DVOA (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef), and he threw for 652 yards and four touchdowns (against three picks) in two games against you last year. So that's probably why.
DarthBilly32 (Chico, CA): Is Matt Ryan finally taking the reins over the Falcons? And if so, will he be a savior for years to come?
Bill Barnwell: I think he took the reins over last May...
Drew (tyler): are the saint a team that can go 19-0
Bill Barnwell: Possible, but there's a reason there's only been one perfect team in the last 40 years or so. A lot has to go right. A _lot_.
Chris (Lynchburg, VA): Why is it that the Browns owner can recognize incompetence and Dan Snyder can't do the same thing and fire Cerrato? You heard if Vinny's job is on the line at the end of this season?
Bill Barnwell: I'm not so sure that Mr. Lerner did recognize the proper incompetence in this situation, Chris. Either way, I wouldn't be too harsh on Cerrato. He's just carrying out Snyder's bidding. And Snyder can't fire himself.
nick (chicago): with heath evans out, is there any change in the way the saints will or should use thomas, bell, and bush?
Bill Barnwell: I think they might throw the ball a little more frequently while they get Eckel integrated into the lineup. I don't think there's a huge difference in quality between Eckel and Evans, so once he's around and aware, it should be about the same.
Dustin Graham (Ark City Ks): Jacksonville Maurice Jones -Drew rushed 8 times for 170 + yards why do they not give him the rock more feed it to him 15-30 times then he would 200 +
Bill Barnwell: Well, because they were behind. And you can catch up a lot quicker throwing the ball than you can running (unless MJD breaks a 80-yard run once every four carries, which isn't about to happen).
Lane (Kukuihaele, HI): Halloween was on Saturday so why did those guys in Cleveland dress up as an NFL team???
Tony Moye (Atlanta): Why do you think Michael Turner is more than a full yard per carry compared to last year. And don't you think if goes over 125 on 20 to 25 carries the falcons got a real shot?
Bill Barnwell: He's down a full yard per carry or so because the line's not playing as well, and the team probably overworked him last year. Having Norwood and/or Snelling healthy to shoulder the load this year would be beneficial to the Falcons.You have the causation for Turner's runs and the Falcons winning backwards. If Turner gets 20-25 carries, it will almost definitely be because the Falcons are ahead, and Turner's running out the clock in the second half.
Ian (SF, CA): Are the Niners a playoff team like they are boasting? They have an easy schedule but so do the Cardinals
Bill Barnwell: It looks like it's going to come down to whoever catches a break here or there, and how they play against each other heads-up. Seattle still has a shot.
Carlos (Atlanta): How dare you and the league compare or even say that Drew Brees is better than the Great Peyton Manning
Bill Barnwell: I'm not sure when I said that. If you mean in given weeks, absolutely, Drew Brees has played better than Peyton Manning at points. Over their career, Manning's easily the better player. Not sure what your beef is with "the league" saying something, too, considering it's a corporate entity.
Max (Detroit): Do you think that the lions have a chance at winning another game this season?
Bill Barnwell: Sure. I think they can win a couple more games, but it's a process. This year is about evaluating some of the young players on the roster and figuring out whether they're going to be impact players at this level.
Nick (MN): Are the young WR's in New York catching up to Eli? Or is it just the fact that there secondary is wiped out so they have to pass 40 times a game?
Bill Barnwell: I think Eli was playing a little over his head last year (he had a fluky-high performance on third down), the receivers are a little worse, the line's a little worse, and the rushing game hasn't been as effective. Basically, everyone's down about 5%.
