The NFL Roundup 2021: Week 2 – What We Learned

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Normally, it takes a good three or four weeks for NFL teams to establish their identity when the new season gets underway. Because trial and error are key to helping every team understand what they’re all about, but 2021 is clearly going to be an exception to that rule. For every team out there is showing us their identity a mere two weeks into the season, something that can be attributed to the hard work that went into having a full offseason again and the poor personnel decisions some teams made and well, the end result of this surprise reveal is leading to some juicy storylines. The kind that have us buzzing the morning after Monday Night Football and well… with that in mind, let’s dive right in and discuss what these early lessons have taught us now that Week 2 has come to a close.

The Jacksonville Jaguars definitely hired the wrong head coach.
Sure, Urban Meyer has one hell of a resume. In fact, he could be up for debate as one of the finest coaches to ever coach college football. But time and time again, we’ve come to learn that a great college football mind doesn’t always translate to NFL success and Urban Meyer is once again proving that fact. Because he was supposed to come right in and transform the Jacksonville Jaguars into a powerhouse team. For he had draft picks galore, one that included top prospect Trevor Lawrence and owner Shad Khan has no problem spending money on quality free agents. But the end result of bringing Meyer here, has been a disaster two weeks in. For Lawrence looks like a rookie and isn’t making any progress just yet and the defense is porous, and the play calling is a joke and that falls on Meyer and that record and the quality of play makes it clear, Shad Khan and the rest of the front office got it wrong and it is only a matter of time before they decide to send Meyer packing and start over at head coach once again.
 
The Arizona Cardinals look shockingly good this year.
For a long, long time now… the Arizona Cardinals have been the butt of many NFL jokes. Because after their Super Bowl XLIII appearance, the team fell into disrepair and languished at the bottom of the NFC West for years on end. But the arrival of Kyler Murray and the craziest wide receiver trade ever, has changed their fortunes. For they have started to improve in all phases of the game and this year, they’re 2-0 and winning in a dominant and shocking manner and well, it just goes to show that when you get the right quarterback and build around him… wonders can and will happen and really at this point, if the Cards can figure out how to get their defense to play hard and aggressive, there’s a fair chance they’ll be in the playoffs for years to come. 
 
The Miami Dolphins need to think about making a change at quarterback.
Now that statement, is one that some Tua fans will undoubtedly disagree with. Because they will speak to how Tua just needs more time and more reps before he really unleashes his potential and well… they’re wrong. Because Tua has had a lot of reps and lots of time on the field and let’s be honest… he hasn’t improved and he has health concerns through and through and at this point, it’s time to move on from him. Simply because he’s either a bust or the wrong fit for Miami and when one considers that he was benched several times late last year so that the team had a shot at winning… it’s obvious the coaches know he’s not the guy as well. So, now is the time to contact say… the 49ers about potentially trading for Jimmy G, so their loaded roster can prosper and so Tua can take a moment and learn from a quality veteran before moving on, since he simply is not ready for prime time just yet.
 
The Carolina Panthers made the right move trading for Sam Darnold.
It wasn’t that long ago that top-tier draft pick Sam Darnold found himself at quite the crossroads. For he was struggling in Gotham, to the point where everyone thought he might be a bust, including the New York Jets… since they were eager to trade him as soon as 2020 came to an end. But sometimes being run out of town can be the best thing possible for a quarterback, since it gives them a fresh start through and through and clearly, Sam Darnold is making the most of his second chance and the Panthers made the right call in giving him one. Because he is finally finding his potential in Carolina and is making all the big throws that he is capable of. Plus, his accuracy is wonderful and hey, he’s the proud owner of a 2-0 record and if he can continue to command the offense in this manner, expect the Panthers to enjoy some serious success this year. 
 
The Kansas City Chiefs once again, must fix their defense.
It has often been said in football, that winning cures everything, and well… perhaps the time has come to update that phrase. Because winning doesn’t cure everything, in fact… it can make a team ignorant to its needs and its flaws and for proof, then look no further than the Kansas City Chiefs. Because despite going to the last two Super Bowls and winning one of them, they have yet to address their worst position on the roster… the secondary. Which is problematic, since they continually get burned through the sky by quarterbacks of every skill set out there. But since Patrick Mahomes is so darn good and can generate points, they don’t think all that much about fixing it. But after Sunday night’s shootout in Baltimore wherein the secondary helped to cost this team a critical victory, long after it cost them a Super Bowl… maybe now the Chiefs will think about doing something to shore up their corners, because if they don’t… there will be no Kansas City dynasty, just heartbreak and strife.

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