Carucci's Corner
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ETVic Carucci
26 comments
Welcome back to Carucci's Corner, where NFL.com senior writer Vic Carucci takes your questions during a live chat on Friday, Oct. 30 at Noon ET.
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Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
Hello, everyone, and welcome to this week's chat as we set you up for Week 8. I'll be in Philadelphia this week to report on the Giants-Eagles game for NFL.com and NFL Network. Check out the coverage. Now, let's get started! -
Murray, Canada
12:03 PM ET
Hey Vic, will Vince Young energize his team or are they done??
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
If you believe that any sort of change could be a good thing for a winless team, then I suppose it's possible that Young makes a difference. I'm not optimistic about that happening. My thought is, if Young was capable of making a difference, then he would have been starting a while ago. Jeff Fisher is a smart enough coach to figure that out. Why he would wait until now to make such a move is a surprise, to say the least. -
Aquaman88, Washington, DC
12:06 PM ET
What are the Giants chances of ending their 2-game losing streak this week in Philly?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
Pretty good, given that the Eagles have some issues of their own, especially on offense. I think it's a game between teams that are presumed to be among the elite but have sort of lost their way. Looks like a pretty even match. -
Billy Page, soyh carolina
12:08 PM ET
Hi,Vic!! Do you see the cowboys possibly now as the best team in the nfc east and do you think if they keep playing the way they did last week that they might just go somewhere in the playoofs this year?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
You could make the argument that the Cowboys are playing the best of the teams in the division. Certainly, that win over Atlanta was a good prove-it victory. But I think we've been here before with the Cowboys, haven't we? Until they show they can sustain this level of play through the rest of the season, especially down the stretch and into the playoffs, a lot of us won't truly buy into the fact that they're something special. Remember, they won the NFC East in 2007, and then watched the Giants win the Super Bowl. -
Greg, Cleveland, Ohio
12:10 PM ET
What are the chances the Browns draft a quarterback next year?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
For the Browns' sake, I hope it's a slam-dunk decision. How could they possibly even consider going into another year with the current mess? -
Steven Cirruca, NYC
12:12 PM ET
Hey Vic! What is it going to take for the falcons to get into the playoff now, especially going up against the saints this week?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
First, a shameless plug. Please check out my piece on the site that addresses teams sitting behind strong division leaders and what they need to do to make the playoffs. The Falcons are on the list, of course, and the main point I make about them (and will make here) is they need to figure out how to get their running game going. They were the second-best rushing team in the league last year. Now, they're 19th. Fix that, and, I think, they've got a very good chance of reaching the postseason. -
joe, erie pa
12:14 PM ET
the steelers Oline looks alot better this year as does there passing game. running game looks the same so the steelers being better than lasy year can tey get back to the big stage this year
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
I think they have the ability to get back to the Super Bowl, and your points are well taken. Last week, their defense stepped up and made the plays we're used to seeing from that unit. The offensive line is doing a better job of protecting Ben Roethlisberger, but I also think the design of the offense (more no-huddle and leeway for him to call his own plays) has helped a great deal as well. The running game shows flashes, and has been helped by the greater attention that opponents are paying to the passing attack. Overall, I'd put the Steelers among the better teams in the AFC and the league. They're going to have something significant to say about who represents the AFC in the Super Bowl. -
Dan, Big Rapids, MI
12:17 PM ET
Is wade phillips in trouble this season? Whodo they go after as a a possible replacment?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
He doesn't look like he should be in trouble at all. That was a quality win over Atlanta, and as we established earlier, the Cowboys are probably playing the best of anyone in the NFC East. Now, if it all collapses for them, then, obviously, Phillips' situation would become tenuous. But I maintain he is the right guy for Jerry Jones because he understands his role and does nothing to detract from the spotlight of an owner who has always relished being the primary face/voice of that organization. -
Brad, Canada
12:21 PM ET
Hey Vic, thanks for chatting once again! Do you think Steve Slaton can fix his fumble problem before it costs the Texans a game?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
Hard to say, because it looks like a fairly pronounced problem with four fumbles in seven games. On the one hand, Gary Kubiak is concerned about the turnovers hurting the team. On the other hand, he doesn't want to take Slaton off the field and lose his productivity when he does hang onto the ball. It's a tough call, but I agree that it threatens the Texans' chances of finally being a playoff team. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Slaton has problems in Buffalo, because the Bills' defense has been playing hard and is very turnover-minded. They will focus on trying to punch that ball out every time he touches it. -
David Bacon, Mesa, AZ
12:24 PM ET
What's going on Vic? Why do you low ball my Bengals in your rankings? We've beat the Squealers and the Pack (in their back yard), yet you have both ranked ahead of us. Thanks for your time. WHO DEY!!!
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
I think the Bengals are a good team. They've had some quality wins, to be certain. Believe me, they're on my radar and I won't hesitate to move them up when I believe it's warranted. Maybe I'm too tough a grader ... but the good news, David, is that EVERYONE thinks I "low ball" their favorite team, unless that club is sitting No. 1. I know our other voters hear the same thing, by the way. -
SPENCER , CROWSNEST, ALBERTA CANADA
12:26 PM ET
HEY VIC, LOVE YOUR WORK. DO YOU THINK ALEX SMITH CAN TURN HIS CAREER AROUND LIKE FOR EXAMPLE DREW BREES DID AFTER A FEW LOUSY YEARS IN SAN DIEGO? tHANKS
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
It's certainly possible. Maybe all of the time he has spent watching is paying off. But I need to see much more than one strong relief performance. I didn't think a whole lot of his skills when he came into the NFL, and he proceeded to confirm a lot of doubts that many league observers shared. At the same time, I didn't believe Shaun Hill was the answer, either. But this is a tremendous opportunity for Smith to sort of start from scratch and be in the more humbling position of trying to prove himself rather than stepping from the top of the draft into a starting job. The emergence of Vernon Davis has also helped and should continue to be a factor in Smith's development. -
Jesse V, Indy
12:29 PM ET
How about those Colts? Now that we are getting healthy and actually looking good on both sides of the ball what do you see in our future?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
Another Super Bowl win is definitely in the realm of possibility. In speaking with a few Texans players this week, I got the distinct impression that the Colts have generated a lot of respect for the way they're doing things in all phases. To quote Texans OT Eric Wright, "Peyton Manning is playing out of his mind." Which, when you consider how well Manning has performed through most of his career, is quite a compliment. But I agree. I think he's playing better than ever and lot of new pieces are falling into place with the older ones. -
Jason, New Jersey
12:32 PM ET
Hi Vic, Do you think there is any chance tampa fires morris and goes after one of the great coaches availible?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
As bad as the Buccaneers are playing, I don't think you could rule out a quick coaching change there. I just get the feeling that Raheem, while an excellent assistant, isn't ready to be a head coach and that is contributing to the team's problems. It is not the whole problem, and it might not even be the main one. But it's an issue. On the other hand, I don't know what appetite the Buccaneers' ownership has for wanting to hire one of the high-profile coaches available. They did, after all, put one of them in the open market: Jon Gruden. -
Ayaz, Norcross, GA
12:34 PM ET
Hey Vic, Do you think Darren Sharper is Defensive MVP?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
He would have my vote right now, but there's still a lot of season left to determine that. -
Matt, Washington
12:35 PM ET
Vic, with Larry Johnson now appealing his suspension do you think the Chiefs might just be fed up with his lack of production and character issues?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
It's hard to imagine the Chiefs finding any real comfort with their relationship with Johnson. I'm still surprised they decided to hang onto him, because it seemed as if something like this would happen if they struggled (and it was pretty clear they were bound to struggle this year). It's much easier for someone who has been with a team for a long time, who wasn't brought in by the current regime, to lash out and be a malcontent. I don't see a happy ending to this drama. -
buzz, durango,co
12:38 PM ET
why do us football fans have to lose a sunday night game every year to the world series?does baseball think i`m going to watch just because no football?wrong!
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
I don't think its baseball that is thinking that so much as the network executives who would prefer not to put a midseason NFL game up against a World Series contest. The midseason game might very well be much more compelling to millions of people (and I'd be one of them, of course), but that isn't something that anyone knows with certainty when the schedule is put together. And we're not at the flex portion of the schedule, so instead of taking the risk, TV gives the entire prime-time Sunday night stage to baseball. -
Mike, orchard park
12:41 PM ET
Hi Vic! Now that Buffalo has 2 roads wins, how do you feel about there chances this week? Also if they pull of a win and go .500 into the bye, do you think something special could happen with the rest of thier schedule being not real tough? Sorry I have one more. Back up QB's are usually good for 3 wins. Do you think Fitz can carry the team the rest of the way? Thanks Vic. Let's Go BUFFALO!
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
I like their chances a lot. The Texans are a good team, but hardly invincible. Ralph Wilson Stadium is a tough place for the opposition, especially for a club still finding its way as the Texans are. And if they win three in a row and go .500 into the bye, it's hard to ignore the Bills' turnaround. A lot of their fans are conflicted and uncertain of what to make of them because they were so convinced by their earlier failings that the season was already doomed. Perhaps they're still right, but if you win three in a row, that's significant. And with Tennessee and Jacksonville coming up, a five-win stretch is not out of the question. Think fans in Tennessee, Tampa, St. Louis, KC, Detroit, and Cleveland would take that??? As for Ryan Fitzpatrick, I'm already on board with him starting the rest of the season, regardless of Trent Edwards' health. I think he gives the Bills the best chance to succeed. -
Darren, Charlotte
12:47 PM ET
Vikings or Packers??? AND WHY?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
Packers, in a very close one, because of Aaron Rodgers and their defense. Should be a great game. Can't wait to see it! -
Justin, Lexington, Ky
12:49 PM ET
Do you think Josh Freeman can pump some life into the Buccaneer offense, and maybe even get us a few wins this season?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
I think he's going to have a very difficult time. I know the Buccaneers did not want to put him on the field this soon, if at all this season. But they felt they had no choice, and maybe they didn't. Now, I think he takes a lot of rookie lumps. -
Jorge Jimenez, México city
12:50 PM ET
WIht the horrible way the bears dfens have played? Do u think the bears need Derrick Brooks
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
I don't think Derrick would make that much of a difference at this point. If he could, someone would have signed him by now. The Bears just need to figure out how to tackle better. That was an atrocious display vs. the Bengals. -
Bubba , Uncertain,Tx
12:52 PM ET
do you really think that the Denver Broncos are for real?in my personal opinion ,till they beat Indianapolis or New England ,they are still a low tier team,bottomline
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
Well, they've already beaten the Patriots. I agree that beating the Colts would give them greater validation, but I honestly think they're the real deal. -
Ayaz, Norcross, GA
12:55 PM ET
Hey Vic, I'm confused about the ProBowl. What if a player is playing in the Superbowl will he be forced to go to the Probowl as well???
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
Different approach this year. No Super Bowl players will be in the Pro Bowl. -
Danny, BC
12:56 PM ET
How is Austin Collie so productive as a rookie in the Colts offense so quickly? That's usually an offense that takes a while for rookies to pick up.
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
One, he's a very intelligent guy. Two, he has great instruction from Peyton Manning, who spent a great deal of extra time working with him during offseason workouts after Colts GM Bill Polian told Manning that Austin was ready to contribute as a rookie. -
Farjad, Mexico City
12:59 PM ET
Do you think that the day will come when QBs are going to use a red jersey during games too? What's wrong with them? Can't they use the weight room like the rest of the players?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
The NFL definitely walks a fine line between being protective of quarterbacks and protecting them too much, and, certainly, far more than players at other positions. But there are a couple of things to always consider in this debate: One, the quarterback is generally in a defenseless position, standing in a pocket and keeping his eyes focused down the field while defenders are charging toward him. Two, quarterbacks are the lifeblood of the league's success. For the most part, they're the highest-profile stars, and a team that doesn't have a good one is a team that usually is going nowhere. And teams generally don't have more than one good one ... if they even have one. -
Stephen, Prague
1:03 PM ET
With New Orleans able to stop the wildcat in Miami do you think we have seen the last of this formation this year.
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
Probably not, although I do think a lot of opponents are going to look at the Saints' defensive approach as a blueprint of how to handle the wildcat. It's also interesting to note that the Eagles seem to be using it less and less with each game, and that Michael Vick, their primary wild-cat player, has produced very little running or throwing. -
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
That's going to do it for this week. Thanks so much for your great questions, as always. Check out my reports on NFL.com and NFL Network from Sunday's game in Philadelphia between the Giants and Eagles. Talk with you again, and enjoy Week 8!
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