STUNNED IN NEUTRAL by Steve T

I'd like to preface this blog with the understanding that I'm helping pile on. I don't get the obsession with LeGarrette Blount. George Schroeder made some excellent points in his Guard piece today. I just can't believe this thing has such strong legs. Does anyone actually listen to Chip Kelly? He's made it really clear LB is his 5th string running back. I defy anyone beyond the obsessive recruiting geek fans to name your favorite teams 4th string back! Yet fans and some media members are focused on the deepest member of the depth chart. Obviously the ESPN yo yo's were all over it because they've become more about gossip and drama than sports. I know the easy out is for Kelly to just put Blount on the podium, have him answer the idiotic questions, then have him take a knee at the end of the half. I respect the hell out of him for not caving to this least common denominator mentality. He's got a game plan, a killer road trip, and a conference to win. No time for petty, clueless, can't let go schmucks!
Of course we're now into day 2 of the "Bellicek Bashing" since the Patriots went for it on 4th & 2 from their own 30, failed, and the Colts got a late Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne TD to win the Sunday nighter. This is not so dramatic. From my chair, punt the ball. I don't care about all these statistics that say you make the 1st down 78% of the time. You must incorporate how deep in your own territory you're stuck and who you might turn the ball over to. Peyton isn't exactly Brady Quinn. He's one of the games elite assassins who will make you pay. That said, trusting Tom Brady and that offense to get a couple of yards to put the game on ice is not the insanity many would have you think. Again, it's not a huge extreme, just a case of the cackling hens taking it over the edge.
Speaking of, how about that Ravens win over the Browns. Cleveland may have one of the most inept offenses in the history of this league since the 1970 merger. They simply don't throw the ball more than 12 feet downfield. Against a defense like Baltimore, if the threat of a big play fails to exist, it's setting your quarterback up to get destroyed.
FYI...one in a row. I told you yesterday that Zack Greinke of the Royals would win the AL Cy Young. As for the NL trophy. I think the guy atop the wins list will take the prize. I think it will be Adam Wainright of the Cardinals by a nose over reigning champ, Tim Lincecum of the Giants. Wainright led the league in innings pitched, wins, starts and had over 200 kays and his ERA wasn't much higher than Lincecum's, 2.48 to 2.63. Plus he was the glue who held together this team early when Chris Carpenter was injured and St. Louis did make the playoffs.