Chat with Pat
2:00 PM - 2:00 PM ETPat Kirwan
16 comments
NFL.com senior analyst and former NFL front office executive Pat Kirwan chatted live on Thursday, July 3, dishing on why Joe Namath was his all-time favorite, why Cedric Benson could have a big year and the strategy behind the Bears passing attack.
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Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Hey everyone. Glad to be with you for another chat. Everyone ready? I am. Let's get going. -
Brian, Maine
2:05 PM ET
Who is your favorite player of all time?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Hey Brian. No one has ever asked me that. Growing up, I'd say Joe Namath. I was a New York kid. I enjoyed all the color and the personality that came along with him. I thought it was great for the game at the time. He didn't always play great, but he always played like he could win a game with 10 seconds left if he had a shot at it. I loved Joe Namath.
When I went on to coaching, I felt like I was molded by the passing game and some of the things he did.
My favorite coach of all-time is Bill Walsh. We did a video series together, and he shared everything. He even wrote down his favorite play of all-time for me. Phenomenal. -
Eric , Maine
2:11 PM ET
Name the NFL's top 5 QB's in your eyes.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Hi Eric. I'll go with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees without even thinking about it. Donovan McNabb. Then the fifth one is tough, but I'll go with Philip Rivers. I like his Dan Marino style. -
Chris Coulombe, Chicago, Illinois
2:12 PM ET
Why is no one giving the reciever corps from the Bears any love Pat! Sure their inexperienced but there have been many instances where qb's make recievers. What makes this group any different?!
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I agree with you. I think Cutler will upgrade the production of the WRs. Devin Hester caught 51 passes last year and is starting to convince me he can be a good WR. I was impressed with Iglesias at the senior bowl, he's smooth in and out of breaks, has good hands, and can catch balls behind him. He should be able to produce like Steve Smith did for the Giants hsi rookie season.
Don't forgt, though, that the focus of the passing attack for the Bears is the TEs. Cutler is familiar with that scheme. Clark and Olson should combine for upwards of 150 receptions. I bring that up because the Bears' two TE sets usually only leave two WRs on the field. -
JOHN, BUFFALO
2:16 PM ET
JASON PETERS HAD HIS WORST YEAR LAST YEAR SO WILL HIS ABSCENCE REALLY HURTS THE BILLS OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
John. He didn't have a great year, I'll agree with you. But he is a premier left tackle, and he could handle a pass rusher by himself. I'm not sure Langston Walker can do that on a steady diet. I talked to Shawn Andrews this week, who was a college teammate of Peters, and now his Eagles teammate. I won't be surprised if Jason is back in the Pro Bowl. Ask coach Jim McNally, who discovered Peters, what he thinks. He's one of the best, and should stay there.
The Bills have some questions at tackles and how they will build their protection packages to help both tackles. -
Todd , London, Ont., Canada
2:20 PM ET
I just asked what you thought about McNabb 30 seconds ago and you answered that by putting him your top 5. How can you justify that ranking when he has been so inconsistant and average since TO left. He had the Eagles below 500 until Garcia came in ad saved the day. With such great defenses in Phily and him apparently being so great why have the Eagles been Super Bowless.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
If we judged QBs by winning the Super Bowl only ,there'd be a number not in the HOF right now. I judge McNabb on his full body of work. And he's brought his team to the playoffs, and the NFC Championship, many times. He can still escape when he has to, and I could argue that there are many years where he had average and below average WRs and he still made it work. If you're a Philly fan, and you're waiting for him to leave, call me in five years after he retires and tell me how five wins feels. -
Brandon, fairfax, va
2:22 PM ET
What kind of season do you expect Chad Pennington to have? If he does as well as he did last season..do you see the Dolphins keeping him as the starting QB next season?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Yes, I do. Bill Parcells and Co. want to win games. Bill, if he suspects Pennington give him the best chance, which I think he will, he'll be around. Ted Ginn Jr. has to get better. Greg Camarillo is back, which will help. And keep your eye on Davone Bess. He should put up some big nubmers this year. The Dolphins call Chad "Coach Pennington" That should tell you all you need to know about who the QB should be. -
tuna, socal
2:25 PM ET
pat i love your essay's. i pride myself on useless football knowlage and your questions make me feel like a complete idiot. give me your take on the chris johnson vs maurice jones-drew....who would you want in your backfield?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I like both. But to answer your question, I like MJD, because to me, football requires a rugged, never-say-die mentality, all the time. That's Mo. He has had a chip on his shoulder since high school. The day he was drafted, he told me he was better than Reggie Bush, and that he'd prove it. He's my first choice.
Chris brings other elements to the game, as you know. It wouldn't break my heart to get stuck with him. But the funniest comment of teh offseason was from Jeff Fisher, when commenting on Chris' attempt for a new nickname for the RBs in Tennessee ... he suggested "Dumb and dumber." That was great. -
Sam, Tulsa
2:28 PM ET
Do you think the wildcat is a fad or something teams will add to their playbook permanently?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I don't think it's a fad. But I don't think it will ever be a core offense. Many teams will employ some version of it, and it will be used sporadically to force you to prepare for it and check to see if you can soundly defend it. It also has a place in bad weather conditions. Example -- even the great Buffalo teams of the 1980s abandoned their great three-WR sets when heading into the wind, and used two RBs and one WR. To me, the Wildcat is a way to get through a bad quarter of weather conditions.
Jon Gruden and I have spent many conversations this offseason about the Wildcat, and he believes if the man receiving the snap is a legit runner and can throw, you could expand the formation. It's one reason why Tim Tebow could be a high first-round pick. -
Mike, Cincinnati
2:32 PM ET
Do you think Cedric Benson will have his coming out party this year, and show off his top 5 pick ability? Or is Bernard Scott gonna take his spot late in the season?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I think he's set up to do it Mike. Last year he gained the trust of the coaches, and the return of Carson Palmer will force more seven in the box defenses. Carson will check to the run, and Cedric will have opportunities for a big season. Bengals coaches have told me that Cedric has put everything that happened to him in the past and he's working hard. I don't think 1,200 yards is out of the question. -
Austin McCloskey, Lebanon, IN
2:35 PM ET
Will Matt Cassell put up the same numbers as he did in New England for Kansas City.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
If Dwayne Bowe is in shape, he should be able to produce good numbers. But a problem is that there's no Tony Gonzalez to level out the coverage. The answer is no. -
eric, so cal.
2:38 PM ET
Is it possible/likely that the Broncos will field a worse defense than they did in '08? That was a pretty tough bunch to watch as a fan.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
They've been floundering on defense for a long time. Right now, they have the fewest of their own draft picks on their defense than any other NFL team -- with four. They've never built a defense. And now, they're in a converstion to the 3-4, which they might not be able to pull of this season. Mike Nolan will have to use a hybrid look until they get better. It might be tough to watch again this season. -
josh , va
2:41 PM ET
Hi Pat, realistically, what do you think the Broncos record will be this year.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I went through their schedule, and I think they're about a six- or seven-win team. It's easy to say 8-8, but I'll put them on the short side of that. From Oct. 4 to Nov. 26 is the definition of murder's row -- Dallas, New England, San Diego, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Washington, San Diego, New York Giants. Then at KC, then Colts and Eagles. Not easy. -
Eric, Murrieta, Ca
2:44 PM ET
With all the recent talk of top mike backers on NFL.com where would you rate Kirk Morrison of the Oakland Raiders, 130+ tackles seems good to me but I have a bias being a Raider fan
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I don't think your biased at all. Thanks for the heads up, but I think he's very good. He's overshadowed by guys who are on teams that win more games. I would say this -- there are some players who are sure to be on everyone's lists, but are there based on reputation. I know you know who they are. If you watch the tapes, Kirk should be up in that top group.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I don't think your biased at all. Thanks for the heads up, but I think he's very good. He's overshadowed by guys who are on teams that win more games. I would say this -- there are some players who are sure to be on everyone's lists, but are there based on reputation. I know you know who they are. If you watch the tapes, Kirk should be up in that top group. -
James, Thunder Bay, On, Canada
2:48 PM ET
Hey Pat. Can you give me a few impact rookies who were second day draftees (or undrafted players) who you beleive will make signifigant rookie impact on their respective teams? Thanks.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
This year, second day guys who have a chance be good or at least on my radar. I think WR Iglasias in Chicago. DE Michael Johnson in Cincy. Reports are he's looked good. TE Chase Koffman in KC. And then Chargers sixth-round pick SS Kevin Ellison out of USC. He was hurt and couldn't run at the end of his senior year. He could actually start. And then Jaguars third-round pick Derrick Cox, the safety. -
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
OK everyone, time for me to get to my radio show. Enjoyed the questions today, we got to talk some football. Have a happy 4th of July everyone!
