| | Both Tony Dungy and Trent Dilfer are at the crossroads of their career this weekend, says ESPN NFL reporter Andrea Kremer.
In her weekly chat with ESPN.com users, Kremer says if the Buccaneers lose again this weekend, there could be a shake up in Tampa Bay. She also touched on the quarterback situation in New York and Denver and says she admires the Chicago Bears and their quarterback rotation.
| |  | | It's only week 2, but the pressure's on Trent Dilfer this weekend in Philly. |
An edited transcript follows.
Ed: What's the latest on Terrell Davis' injury? Will it be a nagging injury all year long? Are the Pats for
real? Will you marry me?
Andrea Kremer: He is obviously going to try and play with it. Any time you have a limb that is knicked up, and
your a RB, you have to be concerned. I truly believe that NO injury heals during the year
unless you have surgery and sit out 6-8 weeks. Opponents will be looking to get a helmet on
that wrist. Subconsciously, is he going to be thinking about protecting it? I think he will be affected
by it, but not much.
I think we will find out a lot about both the Pats and Colts this week. I think they have to get
their running game going (same with a lot of teams). I think there are a lot of questions about
both teams. Drew looked good last week and they adjusted pretty well with all the injuries.
Thank you for asking football questions first. I know where your priorities are. But thanks for
the marriage offer but I think polygamy isn't legal in the U.S.
Mark Parrill: Any chance at this stage of Cleveland hiring a veteran QB?
Andrea Kremer:
They have a veteran quarterback in Ty Detmer. That is why he is there. Plus, they are
committing to the rookie (I would, however, be surprised is Couch starts the rest of the season). I
am surprised they went to Couch so early in the year. They didn't lose 43-0 because of Ty
Detmer and I would think they would want a little better supporting cast before throwing the
rookie in there. But no, they won't go get anyone else unless their is an injury.
Atlantan: What do you think Bubby Brister's role will be in Denver? Any chance of a trade?
Andrea Kremer:
There was talk that KC might be interested, but who else are you going to go to in Denver?
Chris Miller is soooo unproven at this stage of his comeback, that you can't rely on him. I don't
think you rule out Bubby playing this year for Denver because of injury or ineffectiveness by
Griese. Brister likes it in Denver, and I don't see them moving him.
The only way I see something happening is if Brister becomes such a distraction that they have
to move him. I don't think Brister will let that happen.
Matt Schick: How far do you see the Buffalo Bills going this year?
And what do you see them doing with Rob Johnson, since they have $50 million locked up in
the quarterback position?
Andrea Kremer:
You will see Rob Johnson this season. I commend the Bills for keeping Johnson despite the
price tag and that he played just as well in the preseason as Flutie. They realize that you need a
good backup if you are going to succeed in that division. I still think the AFC East is the best
division in football.
The Bills have to get production out of their running game with Thomas out. A. Smith has not
shown anything since his rookie year and they are thinking about putting in Jonathan Linton for
some carries. But you have to love the Bills receivers.
Bighead: Talk about the Vikings, is there anyway they can live up to last year's pace? What level of coach
do you consider Denny Green to be? Also, you seem to have a good working relationship with him,
is he your favorite coach to interview in the league?
Andrea Kremer:
No, I do not think they can live up to last year, record or point production -- it's a new season.
The best thing they can do is forget about last season, it is all they are hearing about.
I consider Green to be one of the top five coaches in the league. I think this year will be much
more difficult for him this year because he has a bigger role in the offense with Billick gone. I
talked with him yesterday and he is not mad about criticism of his offense. He doesn't want his
offense to get comfortable and complacent. That is why I think he is a great coach. But until they
score in the 40s again, they will be criticized. Their defense is a lot weaker. You have to look at
the WHOLE team. Can their defense handle a quick score offense? I don't think so. I think
they would rather be in a low-scoring game and win instead of a high-scoring game where the
defense may give up a score to lose the game. Bottom line -- they can't rely on their defense.
They have to control the ball better.
I enjoy working with Denny but I do enjoy working with others too. I think Denny appreciates
that I cover him fairly and I respect him as a person and as a coach.
Cory Scherer: Were the Bears a fluke last week with their offense? How long do you think
until Cade McNown gets the starting job?
Andrea Kremer:
I think that the fact that Dick Jauron had success rotating his QBs is amazing. I think it was a great
confidence builder with that win, but I don't think they will make any noise in their division.
Seattle and the Bears should be a great game because Holmgren is going to be pissed after last
week. But I think Jauron has shown he can get a lot out of that team and that is impressive. But I
wouldn't buy clothes to sit next to the lake for the playoffs.
I don't really think there is any timetable on Cade. That is a tough question. Typically a backup
gets very little reps with the first team, in practice and only in the game if it is a blowout and that
is usually with backups. I think it is a good way of getting Cade experience by rotating him right
now and he is not costing the Bears a chance to win. Until it is proven that this rotation doesn't
work, there is no need to put him in there full time.
Robb: Do you think Ray Rhodes can carry the torch and get the Packers back to the big dance?
Andrea Kremer: I think Ray will do a great job in GB this year. When Ray came out of San Fran with five rings
he never experienced losing. When Philly starting losing, he lost it. I think he is better with a
veteran team. I believe he will eventually burn out some people with his coaching style, but for
the near future, I think he will have great success. GB tired of Holmgren.
Rich (NY): With Vinny gone for the season, can Rick Mirer carry the team to the playoffs?
Andrea Kremer:
Questionable at best.
I know that the spin that Vinny and some on the Jets are trying to put on Mirer is not going to
work. Vinny's career rebounded in New York because he was a Pro Bowl-caliber player before and Mirer is not.
Parcells and Charlie Weis worked hard with Vinny to get him to cut down on his interceptions
which he was tremendous on last year. Turnovers are the bain of Parcells' existence. Now you
have Mirer coming in with a lot of the same problems without the benefit of training camp. There
is no time to work on Mirer's turnover problems. The Jets offense is very complex.
MarcoIsland: After the Lions' huge win over Seattle on Sunday, is there any hope at all for a playoff spot
Andrea Kremer:
That division is so tough in the NFC Central. Whereas the combined running game for the Lions
gave them a credible threat without Barry, you are now without Herman Moore for over a
month and that is tough. The Lions had a formidable three-receiver set, but now it changes the
complexion of their offense even more.
There is no question that offense is jacked up to show they can do it without Barry. Batch
looked as relaxed as I have ever seen him.
I think predicting the playoffs all depends on injuries. I think it is a longshot for the Lions,
but the injury situation in the division and league makes anything possible. If Brett Favre is lost
for the season for some reason, it changes the whole level of competition in the league.
SteelFan: Do you think the Steelers are that good or the Browns are that bad?
Andrea Kremer:
I think the Browns are really bad.
The Pittsburgh spins is this: "they are professional players, ya da ya da..."
I thought the Browns would be better than that. But the confidence the Kordell got from that
game will be tremendous.
Ben: Do you think that horrible showing by the 49ers last week is a preview of what we can
expect for the rest of the season? I am worried that a 10-win season will translate into a
horrible playoff appearance against good competition.
Andrea Kremer:
There are a lot of reasons to be concerned in San Francisco. Most of the time I don't think the
early season tells much about the rest of the season, but I think that is different for the 49ers.
Their first three games will tell where they are headed.
I think the real overlooked problem is the offensive line. It has to do with the absence of Bobb
McKittrick their offensive line coach for 17 years who is out to battle cancer. He could get more
out of a line then anyone. Their offensive line was brutal last week. That just allows teams to tee
off on Steve Young. It doesn't matter if you have a great three-receiver set if you don't have time
to get them the ball. It will be tough for the 49ers but they will be able to beat up on the AFC
West.
But even if they win 10 games they will get spanked in the playoffs against real competition.
BucSteve: What does the future hold in store for the Bucs? Will they trade Dilfer? Is there anybody out
there who would take him? Is Zeier good enough or would they go to Shaun King?
Andrea Kremer:
There is a lot of sentiment that they should go to King because he may be better then what they
got out there now. I think Tony Dungy is at the crossroads of his career. He has stood by Dilfer
but when the players turn on him, that is a tough situation.
I think it was horrible that the NFL came out and said they made three mistakes in that game
that would have taken away two of Dilfer's turnovers. So that makes you say, "what if?" But
apologies don't get you the win and it doesn't keep your players from turning on you.
I think Dilfer will get one more shot and remember it is a road game. But if they lose and Dilfer
starts the next week against Denver at home, I would be SHOCKED.
Thanks for all the great questions and I look forward to more of the same next week. Enjoy
Week 2.
Take care everyone. | |
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