| | NFL football fans may just be witnessing the best offense in league history this season, says ESPN NFL analyst Tom Jackson.
During his weekly chat with ESPN.com users, Jackson expressed his amazement at the St. Louis offense and said the Rams scoring output will be hard to beat. Jackson also talked about the Redskins big win and what it will do for the moral of Washington fans.
If you missed Jackson's Sept. 25 chat, check out this edited transcript and find out the eternal offensive question in the NFL.
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Mon., Sept. 25
Jackson, a former Denver Broncos linebacker (1973-1986), is ESPN's NFL studio analyst for NFL Countdown (formerly NFL GameDay) and NFL PrimeTime -- ESPN's Sunday pre-game and wrap-up NFL shows. Jackson has also contributed reports for SportsCenter and provided analysis for ESPN's coverage of the NFL Draft since joining the network in September 1987 upon retirement from the NFL. Jackson's illustrious career enabled him to be the 14th Bronco inducted into Denver's "Ring of Fame" in ceremonies Oct. 4, 1992. He played in Super Bowls XII and XXI for the Broncos, and still holds Denver team records for most seasons (14) and games played (191). He retired with 20 career interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns.
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Sean: Now that the Bucs have lost a game, do you think the Vikings are the team to beat in the NFC
Central? I'm looking forward to their matchup.
Tom Jackson: No, I don't think there is a team to beat yet in the NFC Central. Before the season, I thought it
would be a hotly contested division.
With the talent on the Bucs, I still think they are the team to beat if indeed there is a team to
beat. Their loss on Sunday wasn't a conference game, and it was one that I feel they gave away.
The matchup with the Vikings will be a good one and will tell a lot about the rest of the season.
Jay: Can the Jets continue their success if Vinny Testaverde continues his inconsistent play?
Tom Jackson:
I think in order to win championships, the QB position has to play well. They have been very
fortunate this far and they have been able to instill that "don't die, keeping battling" mentality.
The Jets epitomize "team" and what team should be all about. A great example was Bryan Cox
talking with Vinny and told him "hang in there, we still have a chance, we are all behind you
and we need you to win this game."
It doesn't matter who you are, that is what football should be all about. It is not all Xs and Os
and schemes and route running. It is all about "team". And that is what makes the Jets the best
all-around team in football.
Eric: Why did the Giants get away from the run so early in the game with Washington?
They were being outplayed but still not down by a great deal of points? Wouldn't establishing
ground control have slowed down Washington's attack?
Tom Jackson:
I think it is the eternal question that coaches always ask themselves. It is the first time in the
course of the season that Ron Dayne was not the leading rusher (attempts) on the Giants. It put more
pressure on Kerry Collins and the rest of the offense. Only coach Fassel knows why they got
away from running the ball. I think that Ron Dayne is a step slow in this league. The ability and
necessity to get through the hole isn't there. He is hesitating and that may be why the running
game struggled.
The primary example: The Dallas Cowboys have given up 200 yards twice to a runner. Why,
didn't the Washington Redskins run the ball with Stephen Davis? It is the eternal question and
only the coaches know the answer.
Danny White: With the NFC East being so weak, what are the chances Dallas cam pull
together? Their offense is decent, but what does Campo have to do to make that defense
work?
Tom Jackson:
I don't think their offense is all that decent. This team doesn't run the ball with Emmitt Smith like they
have in the past. Regardless of what Cowboy fans think, Smith is in the twilight of his career. I
also think that Troy Aikman is not the QB for this offense, Randall Cunningham is. But Jerry
Jones says he will stick with Troy unless he is hurt.
Defensively, they lack the ability to play the corners. They are deficient on the run defense,
especially at the end position. Although they have outstanding speed at LB, they are light. That
lets teams run on them. That can't be fixed.
Here is a stat to take with you the rest of the season. Only once or twice in the past has a team
had two 200-yard runners against them and it has happened to the Cowboys twice so far this season. I think this lack of run defense will haunt them the
rest of the year.
ESPYBoy: After a very bad start the Packers show up and beat the Cards. Do you think Brett Favre's
arm is now ready and painless to guide the Packers?
Tom Jackson:
He certainly looked healthy. It was the first time this year he threw the long ball with good
velocity. His set up was quicker and he was delivering the ball on time. If he is healthy, it will
go a long ways to the success of this team.
With a healthy Dorsey Levens, we saw more of the old Packers' plays that take pressure off
the QB. If Favre can remain healthy, the Packers can be very successful. This also leads back to the first
question on why the NFC Central will be hotly contested.
NFCFalconFAN: The St. Louis Rams look beatable don't they. The Falcons scared them a little, don't you
think, or am I still being too optimistic for the birds?
Tom Jackson:
Yes, you are.
I think what we are looking at with the Rams, offensively, is the most potent attack of any team in
the history of the league. They have speed, QB skills that are unique and a coach who will use
them on every down. Warner completed 12 passes for over 320 yards on Sunday. That is hard to believe.
This offense is averaging 40 points a game.
Although you can score on this team, they sit in the locker room and believe the other team will
have to score 40 points to beat them. And although this defense isn't outstanding, it is good
enough.
Stick: Do you think the Bears were a bit to frivolous with their draft picks this year, possibly focusing
too much on the defense (who has yet to stop anyone) and not enough on a running back?
Tom Jackson:
I think you judge your team by production. Last year, when they were using more than one QB,
they felt effective on offense. That is why they focused on defense.
The fact that Cade McNown has the job and the high expectations from the results of last year,
I think McNown is experiencing growing pains. The big question now is Curtis Enis. They are
not getting production out of the running game and it is putting pressure on McNown. Defensively
coordinators around the league are taking away many of the Bears plays that were successful
last year. Their best play (Sunday) was a fumbled snap, a double dribble by McNown and a
long completion when the defense had relaxed. Broken plays are not going to get it done.
The personnel that they have has to start performing and earning their money. If not, it will be
tough to fix.
Jerry Maguire: What is your opinion on the Bruce Coslet situation?
Tom Jackson:
It is probably long overdue. Bruce has not has success with this team. They have two pretty
good OT, a good prospect at QB, they got Corey Dillon back in the fold and they have a
playmaker in Peter Warrick. But the players just didn't want to play for Coslet and he did what
he had to do.
There are a lot of questions within this team, including management questions. Coslet was probably going to get fired if he didn't
resign. If this team is going to turn things around, it will probably be because of a new coach.
Jeff: What are your thoughts on the AFC West? Seems to be bunched up a bit more after Seattle's
win and KC's upset of Denver.
Tom Jackson:
Before the season, I felt the AFC West and the NFC Central were going to be the two most competitive divisions.
I think the Raiders are strong and Jon Gruden deserves a lot of credit. I had a feeling they
would be better than in the past. The Broncos have come back well from injuries. Seattle will
do what Mike Holmgren always does -- win games. K.C. has a lot of playmakers on offense
and may have the best defense in the division.
Each team in the division has something they do very well, but all the teams have weaknesses. I
knew this division would be very competitive and it is playing out just like I thought it would. I
think this division will come down to the schedule and who is playing who the last weeks of the
season. It will be hotly contest.
It is a crazy year in the NFL.
That's all the time I have for now. Before I go, I just want to make one more comment.
Last week I said I would be interested to see how the Redskins would bounce back after their
Sunday night loss. I think yesterday's win was the first step to getting back to the team they
wanted to be at the beginning of the season. I was impressed with the way the team bounced
back because I knew they would face a lot of questions and criticism during the week.
That's all, take care everyone. | |
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