T.O. RELEASED IN SURPRISE MOVE;
Rumors of Carpenter's WR experience provide hope for future.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Shante Carver, here is your response
Shante Carver recently contacted us and wanted to know why we consider him a bust. You can read his comments here and here.
Shante, we agree that your play in the NFL improved each year. In 1997, you started all sixteen games for the Dallas Cowboys. Because you played (and started) the full slate of sixteen, we feel 1997 would be the best season to examine and the best example for our defense:
In 1997, the Dallas Cowboys finished 6-10. You had six sacks in five games. In those five games, the Cowboys went 4-1. In the other eleven games, the Cowboys went 2-9. We believe that you had a direct, positive impact on the Cowboys. We agree that when Shante Carver produces numbers, the Dallas Cowboys are doing well.
Additionally, you played behind some big names on the Cowboys' defensive line. That, along with a variety of other reasons, prevented you from getting on the field. However, you overcame it and started 25 consecutive games to finish your NFL career (23 reg., 2 playoffs). You also recorded a sack in the last Cowboys' playoff victory ('96-'97, MIN).
Looking at your entire body of NFL work, though, we feel your impact—in terms of consistency and production—did not match expectations for a first-round (23rd overall) draft pick.
Production can only occur when you get on the field. Your NFL career lasted 4 seasons, with only one full season (1997). During that final stretch of 25 straight games as a starter, you only tallied 9 sacks. On the whole, you played in 52 of 64 regular season games, starting 26, and you played in 5 of 7 playoff games, starting 4. Over 57 games, you recorded 13 sacks.
A short NFL career, with limited statistical value and an inability to stay on the field, neither meets the expectations nor realizes the potential of a first-round draft pick. The above characteristics qualify you as a bust on the NFL level.
This is not to say you were not a success on other levels—you were an All-American at Arizona State and a finalist for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award, after all. Your inclusion on the Cowboys bust list is simply reflective of NFL production with respect to expectations.
Shante, we agree that your play in the NFL improved each year. In 1997, you started all sixteen games for the Dallas Cowboys. Because you played (and started) the full slate of sixteen, we feel 1997 would be the best season to examine and the best example for our defense:
In 1997, the Dallas Cowboys finished 6-10. You had six sacks in five games. In those five games, the Cowboys went 4-1. In the other eleven games, the Cowboys went 2-9. We believe that you had a direct, positive impact on the Cowboys. We agree that when Shante Carver produces numbers, the Dallas Cowboys are doing well.
Additionally, you played behind some big names on the Cowboys' defensive line. That, along with a variety of other reasons, prevented you from getting on the field. However, you overcame it and started 25 consecutive games to finish your NFL career (23 reg., 2 playoffs). You also recorded a sack in the last Cowboys' playoff victory ('96-'97, MIN).
Looking at your entire body of NFL work, though, we feel your impact—in terms of consistency and production—did not match expectations for a first-round (23rd overall) draft pick.
Production can only occur when you get on the field. Your NFL career lasted 4 seasons, with only one full season (1997). During that final stretch of 25 straight games as a starter, you only tallied 9 sacks. On the whole, you played in 52 of 64 regular season games, starting 26, and you played in 5 of 7 playoff games, starting 4. Over 57 games, you recorded 13 sacks.
A short NFL career, with limited statistical value and an inability to stay on the field, neither meets the expectations nor realizes the potential of a first-round draft pick. The above characteristics qualify you as a bust on the NFL level.
Carver (98), with the 1993 Playboy All-American team, defense.
This is not to say you were not a success on other levels—you were an All-American at Arizona State and a finalist for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award, after all. Your inclusion on the Cowboys bust list is simply reflective of NFL production with respect to expectations.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
25 Things
If you have spent any time on Facebook within the last two weeks and you have friends, you have likely been tagged in a "25 things" note, requiring you to write 25 interesting facts about yourself. Alex and I have developed our own 25 things, with a Cowboys-centric twist.
The 25-man roster for the All-Bust Cowboys
Offense
QB: Quincy Carter
RB: Troy Hambrick
FB: Nicky Sualua
OL: Erik Williams' hands
OL: Solomon Page
OL: Rob Petitti
OL: Torrin Tucker
OL: Matt Lehr
TE: Eric Bjornson, David LaFleur
WR: Antonio Bryant
WR: Stepfret Williams
Defense
CB: Dwayne Goodrich
CB: Kareem Larrimore
S: Izell Reese
S: Justin Bariault
LB: Darren Hambrick
LB: Orantes Grant
Finesse LB: Bobby Carpenter
DL: Shante Carver
DL: Kavika Pittman
DL: Hunndens Guiseppi "Peppi" Zellner
DL: Dimitrius Underwood
Special
K: Jose Cortez
P: Micah Knorr
Coaching staff
Head Coach: Dave Campo
Asst. HC/ Offensive Coordinator: Chan Gailey
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Stewart
Special Teams: Mike Vanderjagt's ego
Quality Control: Wes Phillips
The 25-man roster for the All-Bust Cowboys
Offense
QB: Quincy Carter
RB: Troy Hambrick
FB: Nicky Sualua
OL: Erik Williams' hands
OL: Solomon Page
OL: Rob Petitti
OL: Torrin Tucker
OL: Matt Lehr
TE: Eric Bjornson, David LaFleur
WR: Antonio Bryant
WR: Stepfret Williams
Defense
CB: Dwayne Goodrich
CB: Kareem Larrimore
S: Izell Reese
S: Justin Bariault
LB: Darren Hambrick
LB: Orantes Grant
Finesse LB: Bobby Carpenter
DL: Shante Carver
DL: Kavika Pittman
DL: Hunndens Guiseppi "Peppi" Zellner
DL: Dimitrius Underwood
Special
K: Jose Cortez
P: Micah Knorr
Coaching staff
Head Coach: Dave Campo
Asst. HC/ Offensive Coordinator: Chan Gailey
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Stewart
Special Teams: Mike Vanderjagt's ego
Quality Control: Wes Phillips
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
A gigantic happy 38th birthday to Shante "Shaka" Carver!
Carver, seen here sacking Brett Favre in the 1996 NFC Championship Game.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Super Bowl XLIII
Chris and Alex make their final Super Bowl calls.
Alex: We need to do SB picks. Arizona has my heart tied up with Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth. Which apparently is also a Lasso of Justice, and the underdog. And maybe this is just my heart being real persuasive, and head being weak. But, I point to Parcell's last year, when we were tearing teams up. In comes Sean Payton, our old OC, with the Saints. Knows our personnel, our defense, and rips us, 41-17.
So, I see Whisenhunt knowing all that. And Pittsburgh is just good enough to keep it close. And then on top of that, Warner has SB experience. And Leinart isn't the QB. Also, the Pitt O-line is 29th in the league in sacks given up. And last year, they gave up 4 to a significantly worse Cardinals team, with a significantly better, Alan Faneca driven O-line.
I don't know. I'm riding the "shock the world" wave. Give me your opinions.
Chris: As far as knowing your enemy and understanding the personnel, I say Tomlin & Co. are just as able to analyze their opponent and neutralize the QB threat as Whisenhunt and Grimm. Now if I remember correctly, when you take Pittsburgh's D vs the opposing QB, the opposing QB has a 60-some rating. If you take Arizona's D vs opposing QB, the QB has a 90-some rating. I think Pittsburgh's D will be able to create enough of a mess for Warner.
Lucky for Pitt, their D is the strength, so I think Pitt's O vs Arizona's mystery D is a wash. It isn't as MUCH of a concern as the other match-up. I think Pittsburgh just needs to move the ball and not screw things up-- basically what they've done all year. Nothing fancy, just enough. If Roethlisberger screws up or goes down, I think Pitt's chances might be affected IF Arizona can get points off turnovers (with O) or if their D scores directly.
My heart, of course, wants Arizona to win—so the Steelers don't get six rings before the Cowboys. But my head sees Pittsburgh winning a close game.
Alex: Now hold on there, Chris. Remember now, if Roeth goes down, they have Leftwich. And in the games he played, he played well. I am actually of the impression that, behind that Steeler line, The Wich is better than the Burger. The Burger holds the ball too long.
Chris: I think I give the injury advantage to Arizona if Roeth goes down, for symbolism and momentum.
Alex: I think Roeth is the beneficiary of a GREAT team. Put Roeth in Dallas and we'd rip him apart. He'd be awful.
Chris: We'd rip whom apart?
Alex: Roeth. The media would tear him down. And so would opposing linemen. I don't think Roeth is worth anything. Just an okay player on a great team. Serviceable. Like Scott Mitchell, pre-Lions.
Chris: I think Roeth is a cool, calm, and collected leader.
Alex: Oh, he's a leader. But again, he became one because he's on a GREAT team. If he had played in Dallas his whole career, he'd be out of football. 'Cause our running game isn't good enough.
Chris: Being on a great team wasn't Aikman's fault, nor was it Steve Young's/ Joe Montana's fault. They may have made their teams better.
Alex: I know, I know. My point is, if Roeth goes down, I think the passing game is better off with the Wich.
Chris: Yeah. Warner going down is more damning than Roeth going down, for me.
Alex: Yeah. Leinart would choke harder than Vanderjagt on a LeBatt Blue.
Chris: Ouch.
FINAL PICKS
Alex's heart: Arizona
Alex's head: Arizona, 32-24
Chris' heart: Arizona
Chris' head: Pittsburgh, 27-20
Alex: We need to do SB picks. Arizona has my heart tied up with Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth. Which apparently is also a Lasso of Justice, and the underdog. And maybe this is just my heart being real persuasive, and head being weak. But, I point to Parcell's last year, when we were tearing teams up. In comes Sean Payton, our old OC, with the Saints. Knows our personnel, our defense, and rips us, 41-17.
So, I see Whisenhunt knowing all that. And Pittsburgh is just good enough to keep it close. And then on top of that, Warner has SB experience. And Leinart isn't the QB. Also, the Pitt O-line is 29th in the league in sacks given up. And last year, they gave up 4 to a significantly worse Cardinals team, with a significantly better, Alan Faneca driven O-line.
I don't know. I'm riding the "shock the world" wave. Give me your opinions.
Chris: As far as knowing your enemy and understanding the personnel, I say Tomlin & Co. are just as able to analyze their opponent and neutralize the QB threat as Whisenhunt and Grimm. Now if I remember correctly, when you take Pittsburgh's D vs the opposing QB, the opposing QB has a 60-some rating. If you take Arizona's D vs opposing QB, the QB has a 90-some rating. I think Pittsburgh's D will be able to create enough of a mess for Warner.
Lucky for Pitt, their D is the strength, so I think Pitt's O vs Arizona's mystery D is a wash. It isn't as MUCH of a concern as the other match-up. I think Pittsburgh just needs to move the ball and not screw things up-- basically what they've done all year. Nothing fancy, just enough. If Roethlisberger screws up or goes down, I think Pitt's chances might be affected IF Arizona can get points off turnovers (with O) or if their D scores directly.
My heart, of course, wants Arizona to win—so the Steelers don't get six rings before the Cowboys. But my head sees Pittsburgh winning a close game.
Alex: Now hold on there, Chris. Remember now, if Roeth goes down, they have Leftwich. And in the games he played, he played well. I am actually of the impression that, behind that Steeler line, The Wich is better than the Burger. The Burger holds the ball too long.
Chris: I think I give the injury advantage to Arizona if Roeth goes down, for symbolism and momentum.
Alex: I think Roeth is the beneficiary of a GREAT team. Put Roeth in Dallas and we'd rip him apart. He'd be awful.
Chris: We'd rip whom apart?
Alex: Roeth. The media would tear him down. And so would opposing linemen. I don't think Roeth is worth anything. Just an okay player on a great team. Serviceable. Like Scott Mitchell, pre-Lions.
Chris: I think Roeth is a cool, calm, and collected leader.
Alex: Oh, he's a leader. But again, he became one because he's on a GREAT team. If he had played in Dallas his whole career, he'd be out of football. 'Cause our running game isn't good enough.
Chris: Being on a great team wasn't Aikman's fault, nor was it Steve Young's/ Joe Montana's fault. They may have made their teams better.
Alex: I know, I know. My point is, if Roeth goes down, I think the passing game is better off with the Wich.
Chris: Yeah. Warner going down is more damning than Roeth going down, for me.
Alex: Yeah. Leinart would choke harder than Vanderjagt on a LeBatt Blue.
Chris: Ouch.
FINAL PICKS
Alex's heart: Arizona
Alex's head: Arizona, 32-24
Chris' heart: Arizona
Chris' head: Pittsburgh, 27-20
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