# NFL Week 6 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 13, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039 "2010-10-13T19:43:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/1 "2010-10-13T19:43:58Z")
I’ll open this discussion with the news that the [Eagles have traded Mike Bell to the Browns in exchange for Jerome Harrison](http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/13/eagles-trade-mike-bell-to-cleveland-for-jerome-harrison/?related=1). ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/2 "2010-10-13T20:40:17Z")
I’m shocked that **SenorBeef** hasn’t weighed in on this. I saw the news around noon expected to find a full on meltdown thread already. Maybe he’s weeping in a corner of his bathroom or something. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/3 "2010-10-13T21:18:12Z")
Simmons wrote a somewhat interesting “inside baseball” [column](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/101013&sportCat=nfl) about his inadvertently breaking last week’s Moss trade. I figured I’d post it here since it doesn’t warrant it’s own thread and the Moss trade that started it all makes it NFL relevant. Anyways, I thought it revealed some insights into what goes into being a sports reporter. We so often discuss and pass along sports news here on the Dope I thought people might be interested. Plus it’s another reason to be annoyed by Twitter. ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/4 "2010-10-13T21:30:21Z")
Can I just hop in to mention that I have heard that Jerome Harrison is the greatest running back to ever play the game? So great in fact, that he’s also the second greatest running back to ever play the game. Heard that somewhere. Maybe a magazine. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/5 "2010-10-13T21:41:21Z")
[Shawne Merriman is apparently done in San Diego](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5681243). They put him on IR with a “minor injury” designation, which means that as soon as he’s healthy (another week or two probably), they have to release him. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/6 "2010-10-13T21:49:10Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I’ll open this discussion with the news that the [Eagles have traded Mike Bell to the Browns in exchange for Jerome Harrison](http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/13/eagles-trade-mike-bell-to-cleveland-for-jerome-harrison/?related=1). Well the Brown’s clearly weren’t ever planning on using him, so that’s probably a net win for the Cleveland. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/7 "2010-10-13T22:09:58Z")
In news that may only be of interest to me, apparently the Bears are [reshuffling](http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/10/bears-shuffle-o-line-move-chris-williams-to-guard.html) their beleaguered offensive line once again. This, in and of itself, isn’t news since they’ve had a different lineup every week this season and probably used 8 different combinations last season. What is news is that former 1st round draft pick Chris Williams coming back from injury is being moved to Left Guard instead of tackle, a position he played briefly in college. This is a bizarre situation. Williams doesn’t appear to have the skills of mobility to play Guard well but the Bears have 4 OTs, none of which who are playing well but they are playing better than any of the OGs we have on the roster. Omiyale will remain at LT another week and we’ll see if that holds up at all. Thus far he’s disappointed everywhere they’ve played him, but LT seems to be his natural position and he’s not seen much time there. Last week he was solid enough to deserve another start I suppose. J’Marcus Webb played well enough to retain the starting RT role and we’ll see if he continues to split time with veteran Kevin Shaffer there. Hopefully he steps up and owns that job. Roberto Garza gets the hook leaving a hole at LG that needed to be filled, and with Williams healthy and needing to play I suppose it’s the only option left. An optimist would say that playing 3 OTs, 2 on the QBs blind side, in addition to TE Manumaleuna should give the Bears extra protection and the added size of Williams at LG might pay dividends in the running game too. However the loss in mobility might hamstring the running game and make blocking at the second level impossible. We shall see. I don’t think Williams will ever be adequate as a starting LT in the league and thus far he’s been a bust. He’s a slightly lighter and more athletic OT than the norm so converting him to OG might not be a complete reach and if he recalls his collegiate days there’s a chance this could be a net benefit for the Bears. Additionally, if Omiyale finally playing in his natural position means he’ll actually be solid as well perhaps the Bears offense will find some semblance of consistency. Let’s hope! At least the Seahawks won’t present too intense a challenge allowing them to gel a bit. More breaking news: Shawne Merriman [is done](http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/13/shawne-merriman-is-done-in-san-diego/) in San Diego. At just 26 he’ll certainly get a chance somewhere else. I wonder what team will take a chance on him and I wonder if anyone will consider him as a 4-3 OLB, I doubt it, but maybe that could revitalize his career. He’s never really had to play going backwards though so that might be a lost cause. Jermichael Finley [is done](http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/13/jermichael-finley-says-hes-done-even-if-the-packers-dont/) for the year. Not really a shock considering he had knee surgery, but the Packers were trying to sugar coat it before today. With Rodgers possibly out with a concussion and the Packers running game in shambles things are looking up for the Bears. Brett Favre says he [will not play](http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/13/brett-favre-on-elbow-i-dont-way-to-play-just-to-play/) this week if his elbow is sore enough, the streak be damned. Of course everyone knows he’s going to play, unless skipping a start will somehow serve to boost his ego and allow him to further own the news cycle, but at some point this season that might change. He’s not throwing in practice, which may not be that unusual but that means Moss and the rest of the offense aren’t getting the reps. All in all, it sounds like the Vikings are in trouble. More great news for the Bears. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/8 "2010-10-13T22:15:13Z")
My bold prediction for Week 6: The Cincinnati Bengals will _not_ lose. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/9 "2010-10-13T23:27:23Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I’m shocked that **SenorBeef** hasn’t weighed in on this. I saw the news around noon expected to find a full on meltdown thread already. Maybe he’s weeping in a corner of his bathroom or something. My thoughts exactly, both when I first saw the news on the ticker and then when I found this thread and saw no **Beef**. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/10 "2010-10-14T00:38:07Z")
Eh, he was going to get maybe 4 carries a game and be let go in free agency at the end of the season anyway. It’s not a sudden shock to me. I still have no fucking idea what the deal was, but apparently Harrison couldn’t do anything to earn playing time. I don’t know why **Jules** is making fun of me. FFS every guy the game got 20 carries he put up 168+ yards. In one of his 4 or 5 games as the primary ball carrier he set the #3 all time NFL single game record. I mean, you can make fun my excessive man love, but I wasn’t wrong about his talent. I’m actually a little sad to see him go to somewhere with an established back - if he went to Tampa Bay or something he would’ve been a star and at least there’d be vindication. Edit: I should add that it was clear after last game he’d given up on the team. He was making half-assed attempts at rushing last Sunday. I don’t blame him after the massive screwing he received in Cleveland, it might’ve wasted his career. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/11 "2010-10-14T03:32:13Z")
The worst part is that he’s going to a team that doesn’t really run the ball. Harrison isn’t really a screen/draw/swing pass type back. He’s much more of a one-cut, man blocking, downhill runner. He’d have been a star on the Bears or Packers, on the Eagles he probably will be no better than he was in Cleveland. The guy simply has to have some serious skeletons in his closet or be an absolute retard when it comes to accepting coaching. He apparently aggravated 2 different coaching staffs, perhaps he is chronically late for meetings, sleeps through film study and can’t pick up a blitz to save his life. Maybe the fact he hung on as long as he did in Cleveland because of his skills with a JaMarcus-like work ethic. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/12 "2010-10-14T03:45:31Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > The worst part is that he’s going to a team that doesn’t really run the ball. Harrison isn’t really a screen/draw/swing pass type back. He’s much more of a one-cut, man blocking, downhill runner. He’d have been a star on the Bears or Packers, on the Eagles he probably will be no better than he was in Cleveland. > > The guy simply has to have some serious skeletons in his closet or be an absolute retard when it comes to accepting coaching. He apparently aggravated 2 different coaching staffs, perhaps he is chronically late for meetings, sleeps through film study and can’t pick up a blitz to save his life. Maybe the fact he hung on as long as he did in Cleveland because of his skills with a JaMarcus-like work ethic. You’re mostly right except when he had those huge games last year most of the runs were zone blocking, not man - and they’ve been running man all this year. Why they changed what was wildly successful I have no idea. But he’s pretty good in space. He’s more quick than fast, but that works well on screens. I appreciate that you can see basically what he is. I swear, almost everyone I ever talked to about Harrison (or if I read fantasy football analysts and whatever) basically said he was Darren Sproles, change of pace, speedster, etc. and it couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s not that fast - not great top end straight line speed - but good acceleration, good vision, and good agility. But he’s better running through the traffic than running a sweep or something. Almost everyone basically just said “oh his NFL listing says 205 pounds so I guess he’s Darren Sproles”, which is bizarre since there are other 205 pound NFL backs that don’t get that treatment. It’s like a meme someone said once and it stuck universally despite it being obviously not true if you ever watched him. As for what he did - I have no idea. If he was missing practices or doing something obviously bad, the coaches would’ve said something in the media. I mean, they’ll suspend players or call them out in press conferences for that shit. No one ever said anything bad about Harrison. There was never anything leaked to the media. Nothing. It’s a complete mystery. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/13 "2010-10-14T04:04:56Z")
“One cut downhill running” is terminology that Alex Gibbs’ zone blocking schemes pretty much invented in Denver anyway, so it seems really weird to describe it as flourishing in a man blocking scheme. Your description of him, on the other hand, **Beef** , sounds exactly like Brian Westbrook, who obviously had a running style that could thrive in the Eagles offense (which is the opposite of the above). Kind of slow, incredible feet, finds space between the tackles and doesn’t get bottled up. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/14 "2010-10-14T06:18:30Z")
He reminds me of Tiki Barber the most. Vision, agility, not really exceptional physical traits but a well rounded package. You know what sucks most about this? Mangini knew he was never going to give Harrison a chance. He traded up and invested heavily to get a running back in round 2. He never gave Harrison the most carries in any game this season. He switched the blocking scheme away from what was working and he tended to give Harrison the crappy touches based on game situation. It’s clear he wanted to be rid of him. So why not trade him last offseason? Here we had a guy playing for a team that had no passing offense whatsoever (the Browns averaged 6.5 completions per game in their 5 wins - no shit), the other team was dedicated entirely to stopping him, and yet he put up 600 yards over the last 4 games of the year. His value had to be pretty high at that point - if you’re sure you’re gonna dump him anyway, why not trade him at this point? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/15 "2010-10-14T13:10:28Z")
I am quite nervous about this week, and the season, for the Packers. They’ve now lost their top receiving threat (Finley), their top interior linebacker (Barnett), and their top special teams player (Martin) to go with losing their top rusher (Grant), their top Strong Safety (Burnett). Add in lingering injuries to their stud pass rusher (Matthews), their versatile D Lineman (Pickett), and their QB (Rodgers), and it’s ugly in Packerland. On the upside, Bulaga is getting some quality NFL time and is looking good (although I’d prefer him at LT, not RT). It sounds like Rodgers will play, which is a huge help, but this team, which already wasn’t living up to expectations, is at an early turning point. I’m really hoping McCarthy and this team can suck it up, deal with the injuries, dig deep and play a complete, 4 quarter game this week. I do think this week will tell a lot about the state of the Packers. I was actually a bit surprised to see them a 6 point favorite, but they are at home. Should be an interesting game. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/16 "2010-10-14T14:39:44Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I am quite nervous about this week, and the season, for the Packers. I’m going up to GB for the game this week (my annual trek to actually use a chunk of my season tickets, rather than sell them). I’m nervous, too. Between the injuries, the inability to put together a complete game, and the lack of discipline, this team really hasn’t lived up to expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/17 "2010-10-14T14:51:04Z")
The Dolphins are at a bit of a crossroads as well and they need to finally get something out of their offense. Should be a compelling game all around. I’m not sure I buy the comparisons with Harrison to Tiki and Westbrook. Both those guys were elite in the passing game and on third downs. Harrison hasn’t shown much if any receiving ability in the past couple seasons, with only 61 career catches, and the one consistent complaint about him was that the Browns never seemed to trust him to pick up the blitz. He always came off the field on 3rd down for both reasons. Tiki and Westbrook were classic 3rd down style backs who played every down if you get my meaning. Tiki and Westbrook were also prone to dancing in the backfield, usually to good effect, Harrison to his credit is generally much more decisive than that. I’d compare him to Clinton Portis or MJD before Tiki and Westbrook. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/18 "2010-10-14T18:15:33Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Hamlet](#): > > > > I am quite nervous about this week, and the season, for the Packers. > > I’m going up to GB for the game this week (my annual trek to actually use a chunk of my season tickets, rather than sell them). I’m nervous, too. Between the injuries, the inability to put together a complete game, and the lack of discipline, this team really hasn’t lived up to expectations. I will third the concern, but what are you gonna do? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/19 "2010-10-14T20:36:56Z")
Pout. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039/20 "2010-10-14T20:51:21Z")
And blame the Refs. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-6/557039.md?page=2)