SPF T.I. Poll (Week Four)

Posted: Oct 03, 2007

Just like in the college ranks, it was a bit of a crazy week in the SPF Footprint. Right now, there are more bad teams than good, but the good teams are pretty darn good so we guess that evens things out a little.

Here's last week's "Team Identity" Poll:

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Washington Redskins
4. Tampa Bay Bucs
5. Tennessee Titans
6. Carolina Panthers
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Houston Texans
9. New Orleans Saints
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
11. St Louis Rams
12. Atlanta Falcons
13. Miami Dolphins

Now, on to this week's:

1. Dallas Cowboys - Randy Galloway is now making comparisons between Tony Romo and Roger Staubach. You know you are connecting when you are reminding people of your team's old legends. Before the game Galloway was writing about how underpaid Romo is at the moment. Jennifer Floyd Engel was sending out the same signals about OC Jason Garrett before the blowout win against the Rams. All is shiny and nice in Dallas.

2. Indianapolis Colts - As suspected, they blew out Denver. Indy did lose some players, but Bob Kravitz is still amazed that the offense didn't miss a beat. The Colts are now pretty banged up with a key game on the horizon.

3. Tampa Bay Bucs - This week's biggest gainer was also a loser when it came to the injury bug. Losing Luke Pettigout and Cadillac Williams for the season makes the Bucs dominating win against the Panthers a little more bittersweet. (However, there are rumors that the Bucs are looking to trade with the Vikings for RB Chester Taylor and OT Bryant McKinnie. This shows that Tampa is serious about making a run now.)

The Bucs will be facing the Colts this week. Everyone has a lot on the line. Gruden won a Super Bowl in Tampa with Dungy's team. Now Dungy has a Super Bowl of his own. Both men have something to prove.

3. Washington Redskins - The Redskins have a critical game after their week three loss to the Giants. The Detroit Lions used to be an easy win on the schedule, but they are 3-1 this season. Washington must take care of business even though Clinton Portis and Santana Moss are banged up.

5. Tennessee Titans - QB Vince Young was profiled on 60 Minutes last Sunday. Things are good for this team. Atlanta is a dangerous team, however. The Titans can't let their guard down.

6. Houston Texans - The one-two punch of the Houston Chronicle are both flagging this week's game as key for the Texans. Richard Justice remains hopeful. John McClain is a little more critical. Luckily, the Dolphins are their next opponent. A loss to that team seems inconceivable.

7. Cincinnati Bengals - Coach Marvin Lewis blew up after the Monday night loss to the Pats. SPF still isn't panicking. The Steelers lost as did the Ravens. The Bengals should be back to .500 by the time they play the Steelers. The team has personnel issues, but Lewis will get them worked out.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - They moved up in a bye week, but we're still not buying in. This is more of a case of other teams in worse shape than the Jags. In a Florida Times-Union assessment piece, the positives are in fact hiding huge negatives about this team. Yes, David Garrard is playing well statistically, but the Jags still can't get the ball down the field. They only have one play of 35 yards or more to a WR, but that WR wasn't either of their top picks, Reggie Williams or Matt Jones. Additionally, as predicted, the Colts made the Broncos look even more average than the Jags did last week. The Chiefs will be an interesting game this week. A loss wouldn't surprise us.

9. Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons won their first game of the year. Bobby Petrino got a second straight good game from Joey Harrington. That is a miracle in itself. It is good to see Petrino getting comfortable in his role as face of the franchise. The Vick incident will keep this team from the playoffs, but there is finally hope again. Maybe Petrino won't need to go back to the college ranks next year after all.

10. Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints -The Saints-Panthers matchup should be telling. The Charlotte media is bringing up the name Seifert when talking about the lack of intensity on this year's team. Scott Fowler chronicles how things went bad in a hurry. The Saints are coming off of a bye week. This is their chance to get the season back on track. They are tied this week, but these teams will be headed in separate directions come Sunday.

12. St. Louis Rams - The Rams came into St Louis as a vagabond team. Once there, they found an identity built around a high flying offense. They won one Super Bowl and went to another. In a short period of time with some of the same players still productive, the Rams are losing (0-4) and have no identity whatsoever. Bryan Burwell is writing about local blackouts, and this is never good. However, Jeff Gordon's column shows that Linehan is making serious changes. That's all that keeps this team out of the cellar.

13. Miami Dolphins - Cam Cameron. What more can we say? I guess this was the week that the rest of the South Florida sports media caught up with SPF. Before Sunday's debacle to the Raiders, the media was actually reporting drivel like this story about why Cam doesn't need to be a screamer because his defense knows what they need to do. I guess that means they know how to give up almost 300 yards rushing against the Raiders.

SPF has said enough since the season began. How about reading Dan LeBatard's words:

As if it weren't bad enough that the Dolphins were manhandled by an embryo coach -- Lane Kiffin is 5 years younger than Miami's quarterback -- add this to the list of shame: Taylor has produced more penalties this season than plays. Ted Ginn Jr.'s most exciting play this season was a tackle he made in this, the fourth game. And Dan Marino's records are being stolen by Brett Favre as the Dolphins are suddenly in danger of losing the ''NFL's winningest team ever'' label to the Steelers this year.

2007 is shaping up to be the worst Dolphins season ever. We've used the word corrosive. It fits this team, from top to bottom, to a tee.