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The Around The NFL writers will look at some big questions as we hit midseason. Our NFL NOW comrades have also been like a preschoolgraduation. On Tuesday we asked in 2014. Now up: Who or what has been this season's biggest Addison Reed Jersey disappointment?Seattle SeahawksNo one saw the starting out with a 4-3 record. The schedule has been difficult, but there is no spinning getting manhandled at home by Dallas, followed by a lo s in St. Louis. In two games this year (Dallas, San Diego), the ' defense was dispatched. The Legion of Boom is no longer scary with playing slower, and young players and getting victimized. There have been off-field stories of unrest. The running game is inconsistent and the offense is le s explosive without . The need their defense to dominate like 2013 or to reach another level because they haven't been championship caliber yet. -- Gregg RosenthalNew Orleans SaintsI picked the to win the . I expected the offense to break records set by the last season. After finishing fourth in defense in Rob Ryan's debut, I figured they could be even better with three- Taylor Rogers Jersey time er joining at safety. Instead, the have been the NFL's most disappointing outfit, failing to put together a single impre sive performance until Sunday's over the . Byrd is out for the season, Vaccaro has been a liability and the defense can't stop anyone. At least the offense is finally finding its identity. -- Chris We selingThe stalled takeoff of the fourth down revolution.According to The New York Times, coaches are still going for it on fourth down only about five percent of the time. The data, however, is overwhelming when suggesting that coaches need to be more open-minded when it comes to taking risks. Though it is a quick way for a coach to torpedo momentum, it's also just a few succe ses away from transforming the NFL. Imagine how much more complex and interesting offenses can become if they are thought of in four-down increments throughout the game. Imagine with Kent Hrbek Jersey more opportunities to throw the football! -- Conor OrrThe Falcons from top to bottomThe : A franchise quarterback, an elite wideout and nothing else around them. is coaching a team that can't run the ball, can't rush the pa ser, can't pa s protect and can't keep opponents to under 27.6 points per game. Thomas Dimitroff is a celebrated general manager for good reason, but he's just as culpable for this product as Smith. I'm not thinking either . -- Marc Se slerNFC SouthWhat a sad division. The winner of Thursday night's - tu sle will lead the division with a .500 record. New Orleans' Week 8 win was the first victory for the division since Oct. 5. The group will exit October with a combined four victories for the entire month. The . The are swirling the toilet bowl and couldn't even hold a 21-point halftime lead in London. The have held the division lead despite being a sieve on defense. The have Justin Morneau Jersey been equally as bad on defense. New Orleans could still win the division despite starting 2-4. There is a chance another 10-win NFC team could mi s the playoff, while the . -- Kevin PatraAdrian PetersonI won't defend 's actions involving his son, which, if true, certainly deserves a punishment that takes him off the field. Consider this more a football fan's lament about how Peterson's legal i sues and subsequent roster purgatory wiped away a year of a gifted player's prime and put a black mark on the entire season.I don't feel bad for Peterson. The disappointment here is for fans (who seem to be on the losing Robbie Grossman Jersey end of too many anvil drops) and anyone else who loves watching Peterson play. A.P. blew it, and we all lost. -- Dan HanzusThe latest Around The NFL Podcast at the midway point and previews -. Find more Around The NFL content on . |
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