First Coach fired – Tom Coughlin, unless Joe Gibbs goes winless for the first seven weeks which is a distinct possibility.
First Player To Go "Crazy" – Joey Porter. On a bad team with a horrendous offense, the insane Porter is sure to blow up very early in the Dolphins season.
When the first T.O. controversy will occur – With a new head coach and offensive coordinator, I’m saying week four, but it could be sooner.
Ten breakout players for the 2007 season – Houston WR Jacoby Jones and QB Matt Schaub, Pittsburgh WR Santonio Holmes, Baltimore SS Dewan Landry, St. Louis DT Adam Carriker, Denver WR Brandon Marshall, San Francisco OLB Manny Lawson, Chicago WR Mark Bradley, Buffalo LT Jason Peter, and Indianapolis WR Anthony Gonzalez.
Four teams that will surprise a lot of people this year: Houston, Buffalo, Oakland, and Green Bay.
Offensive Rookie of the Year = Marshawn Lynch
Defensive Rookie of the Year = Patrick Willis
Defensive Player of the Year = Shawne Merriman; Dark Horses = Randall Godfrey, DeMeco Ryans
Offensive Player of the Year (MVP exempt) = Steven Jackson; Dark Horse = Willie Parker
MVP = Tom Brady; Dark Horse = Brian Westbrook
Finally, How the Playoffs will play out:
AFC Playoff Seedings NFC Playoff Seedings
1) New England 1) Chicago
2) San Diego 2) New Orleans
3) Baltimore 3) Philadelphia
4) Indianapolis 4) Seattle
5) Pittsburgh 5) Dallas
6) Buffalo 6) St. Louis
AFC Championship Game – New England vs. Baltimore, with New England winning.
NFC Championship Game – Chicago vs. Philadelphia, with Chicago coming out victorious.
Super Bowl: New England 31 – Chicago 21
Note: This season preview was very fun to write, and I look forward to finding out if my predictions are correct.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Picks for Opening Night
This season I'm going to pick every NFL game with no point spread. All the picks will come at a later date - probably late Saturday - but for now I am going to pick New Orleans more because I'm going to watch the game tonight and I do not like rooting for the Colts.
My pick: NO 35 - IND 28
My pick: NO 35 - IND 28
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Countdown - 1st seed in the AFC - Possible Super Bowl Winner
New England Patriots – (2006 record = 12-4) – Projected 2007 record = 13-3
Me too. I've also bought into the offseason hype of the New England Patriots. Even with the loss of Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison for at least six and four weeks respectively, I’m picking the Patriots to make it through the very difficult AFC and face the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl. I kept trying be different from all the “experts” by trying to convince myself that, head-to-head, the Ravens or Chargers would beat the Patriots, but I couldn’t because of two reasons. Tom Brady and Bill Belicheck.
Brady - the second best quarterback in the league - played exceptionally well last year with a very mediocre receiving core, only one of which is still with the team. The acquisition of Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, Kelly Washington, and wild card Randy Moss gives the Patriots the most dangerous passing attack in the league because of the talent of the receivers and their quarterback. Nobody – not even the Patriots themselves – know what to expect from Moss. He could be the most explosive/dangerous receiver in the league as he was in Minnesota, or an absolute bust as he was in Oakland. Nobody knows. And the Patriots obviously hope that Moss returns to his Minnesota form, but if he doesn’t New England has plenty of other options starting with Welker and Stallworth. And although Stallworth will be placed on the physically unable to perform list with the likes of Richard Seymour (according to ESPN.com), Welker will certainly benefit a great deal with Brady throwing to him in the slot.
The Patriots defense, like the receiving core, was upgraded in the offseason with Belicheck and the rest of his staff bringing in super utility linebacker Adalius Thomas, and resigning cornerback Asante Samuel and middle linebacker Junior Seau. Thomas should be a significant upgrade and will allow Belicheck a great amount of flexibility in his defensive schemes with Thomas able to play any linebacker position, defensive end, and in the secondary. Seau brings more leadership to a team that is full of it (I think Seau came back for what seems like his 25th season because he wants a championship more than anything, and I think that’s kind of pitiful but that’s a topic that I will save for the regular season), and Asante Samuel provides a shutdown cornerback that the Patriots were certain they were going to lose this offseason. But the thing that I am most interested in watching this upcoming year is how the New England secondary will perform and how much does the New England slow down because of age. Those are two of the many things that could go wrong with this team, but I’m still a big believer in the schemes of defensive master Bill Belicheck and I believe that because of Belicheck and the rest of the Patriots coaching staff the Patriots defense will be very successful.
Star to Watch – Contrary to popular belief, the player that is the most crucial to the Patriots offense is running back Laurence Maroney. Many people will argue that Tom Brady is the most important player (and correctly so), but the person that will have to step up and perform well to take the pressure off of Brady is indeed the second year back out of Minnesota. With Corey Dillon having been released by the Patriots, Maroney takes over the number one running back role with little help supporting him. And for Maroney to carry the load he will have had to have put in the work during the offseason to avoid hitting the same wall he hit in the last quarter of the 2006 season. Also watch: Randy Moss, who could propel the Patriots offense into one of the best in the league if he plays up to his potential. Also Watch: Asante Samuel, who is playing for a large contract this season but could be a problem in the New England locker room after his lengthy holdout.
Player to Watch – The most unsung player on the celebrated New England defense is mammoth defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. Wilfork, like fellow stud nose tackles Casey Hampton and Jamal Williams, continuously demands double teams and is the big reason for the success of the Patriots defense against the run. In my opinion, Wilfork will elevate his play even higher this year and make the Pro Bowl over either Hampton or Williams in the AFC. Also watch: Lesser known players that are key to the Patriot’s success are: The entire offensive line who will have to block for Brady for the passing offense to reach its capability, and Kyle Brady who will be an excellent blocking tight end. On the defensive side of the ball watch for Roosevelt Colvin rushing the passer off the edge with much more frequency now that Richard Seymour is physically unable to perform, and Ellis Hobbs who will be tested often playing opposite of Samuel.
What I expect to see from the 2007 New England Patriots:
- I expect quarterback Tom Brady to throw much more often than he did last year, and in turn, this will lead to Brady starting in the AFC Pro Bowl, and becoming a serious contender for the MVP of the league.
- Also in the backfield, I expect Laurence Maroney to excel as the lead back this season because opposing defenses will be so concerned with stopping the Tom Brady and the New England passing attack.
- Randy Moss will be just “alright” this year, but Wes Welker will be excellent in the slot for the Patriots and will be known as one of the best signings of the offseason. Ben Watson will also be great catching passes from Brady as well.
- The Patriots defense will be one of the top five in the league lead by the aforementioned Vince Wilfork, and stud secondary players Asante Samuel and Eugene Wilson. But the best player on New England’s defense will be Adalius Thomas, who will thrive in Belicheck’s defensive scheme playing all over the field.
- Finally, Rodney Harrison will return from suspension and be ineffective because he is off HGH. He will then retire and testify to all parties concerned about learning about HGH and how easily Harrison obtained the illegal drug.
How the New England Patriots will fare in 2007:
The Patriots will finish the regular season with a 13-3 season and have a difficult path through the AFC playoffs as the number one seed facing the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers. But the homefield advantage, superior quarterbacking, and excellent coaching will all be factors that lead the Patriots past these two opponents and into the Super Bowl.
Me too. I've also bought into the offseason hype of the New England Patriots. Even with the loss of Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison for at least six and four weeks respectively, I’m picking the Patriots to make it through the very difficult AFC and face the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl. I kept trying be different from all the “experts” by trying to convince myself that, head-to-head, the Ravens or Chargers would beat the Patriots, but I couldn’t because of two reasons. Tom Brady and Bill Belicheck.
Brady - the second best quarterback in the league - played exceptionally well last year with a very mediocre receiving core, only one of which is still with the team. The acquisition of Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, Kelly Washington, and wild card Randy Moss gives the Patriots the most dangerous passing attack in the league because of the talent of the receivers and their quarterback. Nobody – not even the Patriots themselves – know what to expect from Moss. He could be the most explosive/dangerous receiver in the league as he was in Minnesota, or an absolute bust as he was in Oakland. Nobody knows. And the Patriots obviously hope that Moss returns to his Minnesota form, but if he doesn’t New England has plenty of other options starting with Welker and Stallworth. And although Stallworth will be placed on the physically unable to perform list with the likes of Richard Seymour (according to ESPN.com), Welker will certainly benefit a great deal with Brady throwing to him in the slot.
The Patriots defense, like the receiving core, was upgraded in the offseason with Belicheck and the rest of his staff bringing in super utility linebacker Adalius Thomas, and resigning cornerback Asante Samuel and middle linebacker Junior Seau. Thomas should be a significant upgrade and will allow Belicheck a great amount of flexibility in his defensive schemes with Thomas able to play any linebacker position, defensive end, and in the secondary. Seau brings more leadership to a team that is full of it (I think Seau came back for what seems like his 25th season because he wants a championship more than anything, and I think that’s kind of pitiful but that’s a topic that I will save for the regular season), and Asante Samuel provides a shutdown cornerback that the Patriots were certain they were going to lose this offseason. But the thing that I am most interested in watching this upcoming year is how the New England secondary will perform and how much does the New England slow down because of age. Those are two of the many things that could go wrong with this team, but I’m still a big believer in the schemes of defensive master Bill Belicheck and I believe that because of Belicheck and the rest of the Patriots coaching staff the Patriots defense will be very successful.
Star to Watch – Contrary to popular belief, the player that is the most crucial to the Patriots offense is running back Laurence Maroney. Many people will argue that Tom Brady is the most important player (and correctly so), but the person that will have to step up and perform well to take the pressure off of Brady is indeed the second year back out of Minnesota. With Corey Dillon having been released by the Patriots, Maroney takes over the number one running back role with little help supporting him. And for Maroney to carry the load he will have had to have put in the work during the offseason to avoid hitting the same wall he hit in the last quarter of the 2006 season. Also watch: Randy Moss, who could propel the Patriots offense into one of the best in the league if he plays up to his potential. Also Watch: Asante Samuel, who is playing for a large contract this season but could be a problem in the New England locker room after his lengthy holdout.
Player to Watch – The most unsung player on the celebrated New England defense is mammoth defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. Wilfork, like fellow stud nose tackles Casey Hampton and Jamal Williams, continuously demands double teams and is the big reason for the success of the Patriots defense against the run. In my opinion, Wilfork will elevate his play even higher this year and make the Pro Bowl over either Hampton or Williams in the AFC. Also watch: Lesser known players that are key to the Patriot’s success are: The entire offensive line who will have to block for Brady for the passing offense to reach its capability, and Kyle Brady who will be an excellent blocking tight end. On the defensive side of the ball watch for Roosevelt Colvin rushing the passer off the edge with much more frequency now that Richard Seymour is physically unable to perform, and Ellis Hobbs who will be tested often playing opposite of Samuel.
What I expect to see from the 2007 New England Patriots:
- I expect quarterback Tom Brady to throw much more often than he did last year, and in turn, this will lead to Brady starting in the AFC Pro Bowl, and becoming a serious contender for the MVP of the league.
- Also in the backfield, I expect Laurence Maroney to excel as the lead back this season because opposing defenses will be so concerned with stopping the Tom Brady and the New England passing attack.
- Randy Moss will be just “alright” this year, but Wes Welker will be excellent in the slot for the Patriots and will be known as one of the best signings of the offseason. Ben Watson will also be great catching passes from Brady as well.
- The Patriots defense will be one of the top five in the league lead by the aforementioned Vince Wilfork, and stud secondary players Asante Samuel and Eugene Wilson. But the best player on New England’s defense will be Adalius Thomas, who will thrive in Belicheck’s defensive scheme playing all over the field.
- Finally, Rodney Harrison will return from suspension and be ineffective because he is off HGH. He will then retire and testify to all parties concerned about learning about HGH and how easily Harrison obtained the illegal drug.
How the New England Patriots will fare in 2007:
The Patriots will finish the regular season with a 13-3 season and have a difficult path through the AFC playoffs as the number one seed facing the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers. But the homefield advantage, superior quarterbacking, and excellent coaching will all be factors that lead the Patriots past these two opponents and into the Super Bowl.
1st seed in the NFC - Possible Super Bowl Winner
Chicago Bears – (2006 record = 13-3) – Projected 2007 record = 12-4
The 2007-08 season will be a make or break season for Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman. With one of the two best defenses in the league, several excellent offensive weapons, and the best special teams in the NFL, Grossman has all the pieces in place to lead the Bears back to the Super Bowl in 2008. Grossman – the goat of last years Super Bowl loss – has by far the most pressure on him of any player in the league coming into this season, and it is imperative that he start the season well to prove to the fans and his teammates that he is the right person for the job. Right out of the gates things become very difficult for Grossman and the Bears with games against San Diego, Kansas City, and Dallas, and Grossman will be under constant pressure for these three very aggressive teams – something he struggled with mightily last year. I expect the Bears to find out very quickly whether or not Grossman is the permanent solution or if he’s just a “manage the game” kind of quarterback like the experts keep saying, and Grossman needs to be better than a game managing quarterback in order for the Bears to win the improving NFC.
The second player with the most to prove – and the one who will be the most important in aiding Grossman’s attack on opposing defenses – will be third year running back Cedric Benson. The former fourth overall pick’s wish was granted this offseason when Chicago brass traded former starting running back Thomas Jones to the Jets, allowing Benson to take over the reigns as Chicago’s number one running back. Benson’s bruising style seems to fit Chicago’s style of play and the city’s state of mind much better than Jones the previous year (a pounding, bruising, take no prisoners style of running the football). Those two factors aside, Jones was a very productive back during his time in Chicago and Benson must increase his productivity a great deal and stay healthy for the Bears to make a smooth transition between starting running backs.
Throughout the offseason – especially once the Bears traded for Darwin Walker and signed All Pro outside linebacker Lance Briggs – Bears fans and experts around the league seemed to assume that the Bears offense will continue to be one of the best in the league. And while the talent on the Bears can only be matched by the Baltimore Ravens, the one thing that the Chicago Bears must be concerned with is an injury to one of their three best players. The players that I’m talking about are Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris, and Brian Urlacher. With Urlacher and Harris, a bad precedent in the team’s success with both out. Three years ago Urlacher suffered a hamstring injury and the team did not win a single game in his three week absence and Harris’ groin injury last year left the defense crippled and with a serious hole that was continuously exploited by opposing running attacks. These three players are arguably the best at their individual positions in the league, and if any one of them got hurt it would be devastating for the Bears’ defense and their chances to return to the Super Bowl.
Star to Watch – While most of the media and the fans (including myself) will closely be watching the performance of Cedric Benson and Rex Grossman, I will continue to keep my eye on one of Chicago’s emerging players, and that is Bernard Berrian. Last year Berrian was a consistent big play threat for Chicago, and he will very important this year in the attempt to keep opposing defenses honest against the Bear’s solid running game. Berrian – teamed up with a wide receiving corps made up of Muhsin Muhammad, Mark Bradley, Rashied Davis, and converted cornerback Devin Hester – forms one of the best, and most explosive receiving units in the league. I expect Berrian to further his progression a great deal this season into one of the best big play wide receivers in the league, which is to say that I expect the play of quarterback Rex Grossman to be much better than last year.
Player to Watch – The player that I am most interested in watching transition into the Chicago defense is safety Adam Archuleta. Archuleta – in his first year with the team - had a abysmal season with the Washington Redskins playing only special teams for the last seven games of the year – and it is safe to say that Archuleta didn’t fit in Washington’s defensive scheme. But one place where Archuleta thrived was in St Louis with ex-Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith. In Smith’s cover 2 based system, we will see Archuleta up at the line of scrimmage much more frequently than he was with Washington, and I believe that this will play to Archuleta’s strengths and so does the Bears coaching staff. Also watch: Mark Anderson, whose stellar rookie season might have been a fluke. Plus, Anderson will have to play better against the run than he did last year. Also Watch: Mike Brown and Ricky Manning Jr. If both play well throughout the season and stay healthy (Brown) the Bears will have the best secondary in the league with Tillman and Vasher on the corners.
What I expect from the Chicago Bears:
- I believe that the Bears will be the best team, once again, in the NFC and will secure homefield advantage with two weeks to go in the season.
- The Bears running attack will suffer a bit this year with the two back tandem from last year being broken up, but Cedric Benson will be much happier now that Thomas Jones is a New York Jet. Also, the Bears receiving threesome of Muhsin Muhammad, who I expect to have another down year and eventually get cut next offseason, Bernard Berrian, and Mark Bradley will be a very pleasant surprise to most around the league.
- The Bears defense will be great this year with superior speed and very good to great players at every single position (expect a very good year from Dusty Dvoraceck) with Brian Urlacher contending for the defensive player of the year award (more with awards and predictions tomorrow or Thursday). I predict that the Chicago defense will be ranked near or at the top in every defensive category once the year is done, but they will struggle against teams like San Diego, Denver, and Dallas who have big and physical offensive lines.
- A big reason why the Bears have been and will be successful is because of the stellar team they are able to put on the field in 3rd down and long situations. With Ricky Manning Jr joining Tillman, Vasher, Archuleta, Brown, Urlacher, and Briggs in the back seven it can plainly be said that that back seven is damn near impossible to penetrate. With this thought, it can be said that third down conversions are the most underrated stat in football, and the Bears should be glad that they are so well equiped to stop other teams in such key situations.
- Finally, what you all have been waiting for (this is just a way to amuse myself, I know nobody is reading this). I expect Rex Grossman to be very good this year. I see him progressing a great deal from last year and being a big reason why the Bears fare well against tough opponents. With this being said, Grossman will not be Peyton Manning nor should he have to be anything close. The most important thing that Grossman needs is solid offensive line play to keep the pocket secure to allow Grossman to find open receivers.
How the Chicago Bears will fare in 2007-08:
I expect the Bears to be the best team in the NFC with an 12-4 record – as was already stated – and beat New Orleans to reach the Super Bowl. In the Super Bowl, I believe that the hypothetical game I’ve set up will be very close with the Bears having a shot to win at the end because of defense and special teams controlling the field position game like they had all season. More to come on what I think the result of the 2008 Super Bowl in Arizona will on Thursday (Is it a tease to tease no one?).
The 2007-08 season will be a make or break season for Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman. With one of the two best defenses in the league, several excellent offensive weapons, and the best special teams in the NFL, Grossman has all the pieces in place to lead the Bears back to the Super Bowl in 2008. Grossman – the goat of last years Super Bowl loss – has by far the most pressure on him of any player in the league coming into this season, and it is imperative that he start the season well to prove to the fans and his teammates that he is the right person for the job. Right out of the gates things become very difficult for Grossman and the Bears with games against San Diego, Kansas City, and Dallas, and Grossman will be under constant pressure for these three very aggressive teams – something he struggled with mightily last year. I expect the Bears to find out very quickly whether or not Grossman is the permanent solution or if he’s just a “manage the game” kind of quarterback like the experts keep saying, and Grossman needs to be better than a game managing quarterback in order for the Bears to win the improving NFC.
The second player with the most to prove – and the one who will be the most important in aiding Grossman’s attack on opposing defenses – will be third year running back Cedric Benson. The former fourth overall pick’s wish was granted this offseason when Chicago brass traded former starting running back Thomas Jones to the Jets, allowing Benson to take over the reigns as Chicago’s number one running back. Benson’s bruising style seems to fit Chicago’s style of play and the city’s state of mind much better than Jones the previous year (a pounding, bruising, take no prisoners style of running the football). Those two factors aside, Jones was a very productive back during his time in Chicago and Benson must increase his productivity a great deal and stay healthy for the Bears to make a smooth transition between starting running backs.
Throughout the offseason – especially once the Bears traded for Darwin Walker and signed All Pro outside linebacker Lance Briggs – Bears fans and experts around the league seemed to assume that the Bears offense will continue to be one of the best in the league. And while the talent on the Bears can only be matched by the Baltimore Ravens, the one thing that the Chicago Bears must be concerned with is an injury to one of their three best players. The players that I’m talking about are Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris, and Brian Urlacher. With Urlacher and Harris, a bad precedent in the team’s success with both out. Three years ago Urlacher suffered a hamstring injury and the team did not win a single game in his three week absence and Harris’ groin injury last year left the defense crippled and with a serious hole that was continuously exploited by opposing running attacks. These three players are arguably the best at their individual positions in the league, and if any one of them got hurt it would be devastating for the Bears’ defense and their chances to return to the Super Bowl.
Star to Watch – While most of the media and the fans (including myself) will closely be watching the performance of Cedric Benson and Rex Grossman, I will continue to keep my eye on one of Chicago’s emerging players, and that is Bernard Berrian. Last year Berrian was a consistent big play threat for Chicago, and he will very important this year in the attempt to keep opposing defenses honest against the Bear’s solid running game. Berrian – teamed up with a wide receiving corps made up of Muhsin Muhammad, Mark Bradley, Rashied Davis, and converted cornerback Devin Hester – forms one of the best, and most explosive receiving units in the league. I expect Berrian to further his progression a great deal this season into one of the best big play wide receivers in the league, which is to say that I expect the play of quarterback Rex Grossman to be much better than last year.
Player to Watch – The player that I am most interested in watching transition into the Chicago defense is safety Adam Archuleta. Archuleta – in his first year with the team - had a abysmal season with the Washington Redskins playing only special teams for the last seven games of the year – and it is safe to say that Archuleta didn’t fit in Washington’s defensive scheme. But one place where Archuleta thrived was in St Louis with ex-Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith. In Smith’s cover 2 based system, we will see Archuleta up at the line of scrimmage much more frequently than he was with Washington, and I believe that this will play to Archuleta’s strengths and so does the Bears coaching staff. Also watch: Mark Anderson, whose stellar rookie season might have been a fluke. Plus, Anderson will have to play better against the run than he did last year. Also Watch: Mike Brown and Ricky Manning Jr. If both play well throughout the season and stay healthy (Brown) the Bears will have the best secondary in the league with Tillman and Vasher on the corners.
What I expect from the Chicago Bears:
- I believe that the Bears will be the best team, once again, in the NFC and will secure homefield advantage with two weeks to go in the season.
- The Bears running attack will suffer a bit this year with the two back tandem from last year being broken up, but Cedric Benson will be much happier now that Thomas Jones is a New York Jet. Also, the Bears receiving threesome of Muhsin Muhammad, who I expect to have another down year and eventually get cut next offseason, Bernard Berrian, and Mark Bradley will be a very pleasant surprise to most around the league.
- The Bears defense will be great this year with superior speed and very good to great players at every single position (expect a very good year from Dusty Dvoraceck) with Brian Urlacher contending for the defensive player of the year award (more with awards and predictions tomorrow or Thursday). I predict that the Chicago defense will be ranked near or at the top in every defensive category once the year is done, but they will struggle against teams like San Diego, Denver, and Dallas who have big and physical offensive lines.
- A big reason why the Bears have been and will be successful is because of the stellar team they are able to put on the field in 3rd down and long situations. With Ricky Manning Jr joining Tillman, Vasher, Archuleta, Brown, Urlacher, and Briggs in the back seven it can plainly be said that that back seven is damn near impossible to penetrate. With this thought, it can be said that third down conversions are the most underrated stat in football, and the Bears should be glad that they are so well equiped to stop other teams in such key situations.
- Finally, what you all have been waiting for (this is just a way to amuse myself, I know nobody is reading this). I expect Rex Grossman to be very good this year. I see him progressing a great deal from last year and being a big reason why the Bears fare well against tough opponents. With this being said, Grossman will not be Peyton Manning nor should he have to be anything close. The most important thing that Grossman needs is solid offensive line play to keep the pocket secure to allow Grossman to find open receivers.
How the Chicago Bears will fare in 2007-08:
I expect the Bears to be the best team in the NFC with an 12-4 record – as was already stated – and beat New Orleans to reach the Super Bowl. In the Super Bowl, I believe that the hypothetical game I’ve set up will be very close with the Bears having a shot to win at the end because of defense and special teams controlling the field position game like they had all season. More to come on what I think the result of the 2008 Super Bowl in Arizona will on Thursday (Is it a tease to tease no one?).
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Countdown - 2nd seed in the AFC
San Diego Chargers – (2006 = 14-2) – Projected 2007 record – 13-3
In 2006 the San Diego Chargers garnered two distinct labels. They were the most talented team in the NFL and the most disappointing in the playoffs. After fizzling out in a great game to the New England Patriots, the Chargers felt that they needed to make a change and hired former San Francisco offensive coordinator Norv Turner to try to get them over the hump, and reach a Super Bowl. And the Chargers better hurry up and get there LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego’s best player, turned 28 years old this offseason. This number might not seem like much to the casual football fan, but 28 to 29 is usually the age in which running backs begin to deteriorate, and without Tomlinson and backup running back Michael Turner – who will surely leave this offseason – the Chargers chances of winning the Super Bowl decrease dramatically.
While Tomlinson is great – the best running back in the NFL - the Chargers line of great players does not stop with him. On the Chargers’ defense – one of the best and most aggressive in the league – San Diego contains stud nose tackle Jamal Williams and All Pro linebacker/defensive end Shawne Merriman. Williams – one of the most underrated players in the league – commands a double team on every run play and is the big reason why San Diego’s run defense was the second best in the league last year behind Minnesota. In the other facet of the defense’s focus – the passing game – Merriman wreaks havoc upon opposing offensive tackles and quarterbacks alike. With 17.5 sacks in only twelve games due to a suspension because of steroid use, Merriman was the most dominant pass rusher in 2006 and looks to replicate his previous season.
But things should be much more difficult for Merriman this season because of the almost certain increase in amount of double teams that he will face this year. But like other great defensive ends in the league – Dwight Freeney and Jason Taylor to name two – Merriman’s double teams should allow other defensive players to better rush the quarterback. Another pitfall that might hinder Merriman’s season is an aspect that has not received much attention this offseason, and that is the issues with his steroid use. We don’t know what he needed it for, for how long did Merriman use steroids, and hundreds of other things involving Merriman’s performance and his steroid use. That will be one of the most interesting things to watch with San Diego this year and something that I will particularly pay close attention to as the NFL season progress, and that is how will Merriman perform once he is off the juice.
Star to Watch – The most important player to the Chargers offense is – without a doubt – LaDainian Tomlinson, but the player that must be effective to keep opposing defenses honest against the run is quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers was stellar last year after spending two years on the bench with a 92.0 quarterback rating and throwing for more than 3200 yards in his first season as starting quarterback, but the jury is still out on him. Many times last year – against Kansas City and Oakland in particular – Rivers looked incredibly shaky and was bailed out by the fantastic play on Tomlinson and his defense, and he will have to play consistently in 2007-08 for the Chargers to have any chance of reaching their ultimate goal.
Players to Watch – The San Diego linebacking core is relatively inexperienced after replacing Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey with the likes of first year starters Matt Wilhelm and Scott Cooper. Both Wilhelm and Cooper’s importance is magnified by having one of the best nose tackles in the game -Jamal Williams - keeping offensive lineman off both linebackers, freeing them to make tackles against opposing running backs. Other players to watch on the defensive side of the Chargers are in the secondary, where the Chargers will have to improve on their lackluster pass attack in order to win the Super Bowl. Especially watch the disappointing Quentin Jammer who the Chargers are still waiting to fulfill his top five selection potential, and rookie starting safety Eric Weddle who – as all reports from San Diego training camp are saying – has played extraordinarily well early on.
What I expect to see from the San Diego Chargers:
- LaDainian Tomlinson will not have the same success as last season. Partly because teams will focus more on stopping the run and also because the Chargers want to use Michael Turner much more often to save Tomlinson for the playoffs.
- Philip Rivers will step up and have a stellar season throwing to the unstoppable Antonio Gates and emerging wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who should have a breakout this season, and this time Rivers will lead the Chargers out of the first round of the playoffs.
- The San Diego offensive line will be excellent both run and pass blocking - as it was all of last year - lead by stud guard Mike Goff and, what should have been the offensive rookie of the year last year, Marcus McNeil.
- The San Diego three defensive lineman – Williams, Igor Olshansky, and Luis Castillo will be the best three defensive lineman against the run this year, and Castillo will see his sacks rise to above ten (an astronomical number for a 3-4 defensive end).
- The San Diego linebackers and secondary will be very inconsistent at the beginning of the season, but will eventually settle down into above average groups. Merriman and Shaun Philips will be great at the outside linebacker positions rushing the passer, but the aforementioned Cooper and Wilhelm will struggle at times this year in coverage and against the run. The San Diego secondary will face a lot of pressure this year due to the aggressive nature of the Charger’s defense with a lot of the cornerbacks and safety’s time spent in man to man press coverage.
How the San Diego Chargers will fare in 2007-08:
The Chargers will finish 12-4 to 13-3 in a pretty lousy division, and will reach the AFC conference championship beating either Baltimore or Indianapolis in their first game. But once the Chargers reach the conference championship the coaching of Norv Turner and his staff will kill the team’s chances, and Turner will somehow – whether it be poor play calling or bad time management - be the one that prevents the Chargers from reaching and winning the 2008 Super Bowl in Arizona.
In 2006 the San Diego Chargers garnered two distinct labels. They were the most talented team in the NFL and the most disappointing in the playoffs. After fizzling out in a great game to the New England Patriots, the Chargers felt that they needed to make a change and hired former San Francisco offensive coordinator Norv Turner to try to get them over the hump, and reach a Super Bowl. And the Chargers better hurry up and get there LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego’s best player, turned 28 years old this offseason. This number might not seem like much to the casual football fan, but 28 to 29 is usually the age in which running backs begin to deteriorate, and without Tomlinson and backup running back Michael Turner – who will surely leave this offseason – the Chargers chances of winning the Super Bowl decrease dramatically.
While Tomlinson is great – the best running back in the NFL - the Chargers line of great players does not stop with him. On the Chargers’ defense – one of the best and most aggressive in the league – San Diego contains stud nose tackle Jamal Williams and All Pro linebacker/defensive end Shawne Merriman. Williams – one of the most underrated players in the league – commands a double team on every run play and is the big reason why San Diego’s run defense was the second best in the league last year behind Minnesota. In the other facet of the defense’s focus – the passing game – Merriman wreaks havoc upon opposing offensive tackles and quarterbacks alike. With 17.5 sacks in only twelve games due to a suspension because of steroid use, Merriman was the most dominant pass rusher in 2006 and looks to replicate his previous season.
But things should be much more difficult for Merriman this season because of the almost certain increase in amount of double teams that he will face this year. But like other great defensive ends in the league – Dwight Freeney and Jason Taylor to name two – Merriman’s double teams should allow other defensive players to better rush the quarterback. Another pitfall that might hinder Merriman’s season is an aspect that has not received much attention this offseason, and that is the issues with his steroid use. We don’t know what he needed it for, for how long did Merriman use steroids, and hundreds of other things involving Merriman’s performance and his steroid use. That will be one of the most interesting things to watch with San Diego this year and something that I will particularly pay close attention to as the NFL season progress, and that is how will Merriman perform once he is off the juice.
Star to Watch – The most important player to the Chargers offense is – without a doubt – LaDainian Tomlinson, but the player that must be effective to keep opposing defenses honest against the run is quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers was stellar last year after spending two years on the bench with a 92.0 quarterback rating and throwing for more than 3200 yards in his first season as starting quarterback, but the jury is still out on him. Many times last year – against Kansas City and Oakland in particular – Rivers looked incredibly shaky and was bailed out by the fantastic play on Tomlinson and his defense, and he will have to play consistently in 2007-08 for the Chargers to have any chance of reaching their ultimate goal.
Players to Watch – The San Diego linebacking core is relatively inexperienced after replacing Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey with the likes of first year starters Matt Wilhelm and Scott Cooper. Both Wilhelm and Cooper’s importance is magnified by having one of the best nose tackles in the game -Jamal Williams - keeping offensive lineman off both linebackers, freeing them to make tackles against opposing running backs. Other players to watch on the defensive side of the Chargers are in the secondary, where the Chargers will have to improve on their lackluster pass attack in order to win the Super Bowl. Especially watch the disappointing Quentin Jammer who the Chargers are still waiting to fulfill his top five selection potential, and rookie starting safety Eric Weddle who – as all reports from San Diego training camp are saying – has played extraordinarily well early on.
What I expect to see from the San Diego Chargers:
- LaDainian Tomlinson will not have the same success as last season. Partly because teams will focus more on stopping the run and also because the Chargers want to use Michael Turner much more often to save Tomlinson for the playoffs.
- Philip Rivers will step up and have a stellar season throwing to the unstoppable Antonio Gates and emerging wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who should have a breakout this season, and this time Rivers will lead the Chargers out of the first round of the playoffs.
- The San Diego offensive line will be excellent both run and pass blocking - as it was all of last year - lead by stud guard Mike Goff and, what should have been the offensive rookie of the year last year, Marcus McNeil.
- The San Diego three defensive lineman – Williams, Igor Olshansky, and Luis Castillo will be the best three defensive lineman against the run this year, and Castillo will see his sacks rise to above ten (an astronomical number for a 3-4 defensive end).
- The San Diego linebackers and secondary will be very inconsistent at the beginning of the season, but will eventually settle down into above average groups. Merriman and Shaun Philips will be great at the outside linebacker positions rushing the passer, but the aforementioned Cooper and Wilhelm will struggle at times this year in coverage and against the run. The San Diego secondary will face a lot of pressure this year due to the aggressive nature of the Charger’s defense with a lot of the cornerbacks and safety’s time spent in man to man press coverage.
How the San Diego Chargers will fare in 2007-08:
The Chargers will finish 12-4 to 13-3 in a pretty lousy division, and will reach the AFC conference championship beating either Baltimore or Indianapolis in their first game. But once the Chargers reach the conference championship the coaching of Norv Turner and his staff will kill the team’s chances, and Turner will somehow – whether it be poor play calling or bad time management - be the one that prevents the Chargers from reaching and winning the 2008 Super Bowl in Arizona.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Countdown - 2nd seed in the NFC
New Orleans Saints – (2006 record – 10-6), projected 2007 record – 12-4
Following a great 2006 season that saw the New Orleans Saints helped lift the spirits of a city that was - and still is - in disarray. Much like last season, the city of New Orleans will look to the Saints to once again lift their spirits, a feet that will be dependant on an offense lead by Drew Brees.
But Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees and the passing game will not be the only means by which the Saints will win games in 2007-08. With versatile Reggie Bush again teamed with bruising running back Deuce McAllister, the Saints will be able to beat teams both on the ground and through the air. The big key to last season was McAllister staying healthy to carry much of the running load between the tackles, allowing Reggie Bush to move around and expose favorable matchups like he did at USC. The Saints hope - with McAllister and Bush both in decent health - to repeat the very same use of their running backs that head coach Sean Payton used in 2006.
Another reason why the Saints were successful in 2006 season - along with Brees and the rushing attack = was the emergence of rookie wide receiver Maques Colston. Colston’s breakout was especially important when the Saints’ former number one receiver, Joe Horn, missed the last half of the season. With Horn now an Atlanta Falcon, Colston will need to once again step up and perform like he did in 2006. While this will be a big challenge for the second year Colston, he does indeed have help. Explosive wide receiver Devery Henderson, rookie first round pick Robert Meachem, and offseason signee David Patten will provide quarterback Drew Brees many options while passing behind one of the best offensive lines in the league.
While the New Orleans’ offense seems to be a lock as one of the best in the league, their defense is another story. While the New Orleans front four – especially defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant – continue to challenge for Pro Bowl spots each year, it is the back seven – especially the secondary - that will hinder the Saints this season.
The aging Mike McKenzie headlines a New Orleans secondary that has tried to improve over the offseason by signing former Colts cornerback Jason David. David is a significant upgrade over aging cornerback Fred Thomas, but will not prove to be enough to change the play of a secondary that was near the bottom of the league against the pass last year. A big reason behind the Saints’ horrendous secondary play last year was Thomas, but equally bad were safeties Jay Bellamy – now relegated to a backup role – and Josh Bullocks – current starting free safety for the Saints. New starting strong safety – taking over for Jay Bellamy – is Roman Harper, who is coming back from a torn ACL last year. I personally don’t think that signing Jason David and adding inexperienced Roman Harper to the starting lineup will not make that significant of a difference this year for the Saints, and this is why I think the New Orleans defense will not play well enough for the Saints to reach the Super Bowl.
Star to Watch – While Reggie Bush gets most of the attention from the media; Deuce McAllister is as just as important to the Saints. McAllister, a bruising 232 pound running back, will need to stay healthy this year – something he has not been able to accomplish in the past - to keep the Saints offense balanced and effective. Without McAllister, Reggie Bush would be forced to run the ball much more between the tackles - where he was terrible last year - and this will damage the effectiveness of the Saints passing and rushing attacks. To say it bluntly: If Deuce McAllister gets injured or is relatively ineffective, the Saints will not surpass an overall record of 8-8. He is that important, and one of the most underrated players in the league.
Player to Watch – As was previously mentioned, the loss of Joe Horn should not be that significant of a blow to the Saints because they have a bevy of talented, young (except David Patten) receivers at their disposal. The fastest and most explosive of the Saints’ receiving core is fourth year wideout Devery Henderson. Henderson had been very disappointing before last season with just three touchdowns and under 300 yards in his first three seasons. And while 745 receiving yards in 2006 isn’t that impressive, the fact that Henderson had only 32 catches for 745 yards last year is quite impressive. Look for Henderson’s 23.3 yards per catch average to decrease substantially this year, because his yards and amount of catches will increase a great deal with a bigger role in the Saints’ offense. Also watch: Linebacking core Brian Simmons, Scott Fujita, and Scott Shanle will all three need to do a good job supporting against the run, and assisting the secondary against the opposing team’s passing attack.
What I expect to see from the Saints in 2007-08:
- Drew Brees will be just about as good as last year, and will be the starter for the NFC in the Pro Bowl just edging out Donovan McNabb.
- Reggie Bush will be excellent next season out of the backfield, catching punts, running pass routes, and serving gumbo in the parking lot before the game if he wants. On a related note: There are two words that will force Texans fans to jump ship in five years when Reggie Bush is the best running back in football: Mario Williams.
- Marques Colston will be a disappointment this year, not coming close to duplicating his 2006 season, but Devery Henderson will pick up the slack. Henderson will be phenomenal, and will prove – more than Colston – that the Saints were justified in cutting aging Joe Horn loose.
- The Saints defense will quite bad, and the dreadlocked Mike McKenzie will show his age when becoming used to chasing after opposing wide receivers streaking towards the end zone after McKenzie realizes that he may have lost a step or two over the offseason.
- One bright spot though, in the defense, will be both Charles Grant and Will Smith. Both will mirror the performance of Freeney and Mathis in Indy and challenge for a spot in the Pro Bowl.
- The last game of the year will be meaningless because both teams – the Bears and the Saints - will have their playoff seeds locked up. But the Saints and the Bears will play a very meaningful game in the conference finals, at Soldier Field, with the Bears once again proving that defense wins championships (or, at least, gets you to the Super Bowl).
- Finally, the city of New Orleans will still be in disarray after the season, and while the Saints will serve as a three hour diversion each week, the harsh reality of the situation will be summed up in one simple question by the survivors of the awful events of hurricane Katrina in 2005. That question: How is America considered the best country in the world when New Orleans still looks like this more than two years after Hurricane Katrina?
How the New Orleans Saints will fare in 2007-08 – Quite frankly, the New Orleans Saint’s division is terrible with Atlanta, Carolina, and Tampa Bay all sub 500 teams. In my opinion, the Saints should easily win at least five, if not six games in their division. Out of their additional ten games, I see the Saints winning an additional six (not opening night against Indy though) for a projected record of 12-4 and the second seed in the NFC’s playoffs. I believe that even though they have the potential to reach and win the Super Bowl, the Saints will lose to the Bears in the playoffs and their season will be considered a disappointment by their fans, unlike 2006.
Following a great 2006 season that saw the New Orleans Saints helped lift the spirits of a city that was - and still is - in disarray. Much like last season, the city of New Orleans will look to the Saints to once again lift their spirits, a feet that will be dependant on an offense lead by Drew Brees.
But Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees and the passing game will not be the only means by which the Saints will win games in 2007-08. With versatile Reggie Bush again teamed with bruising running back Deuce McAllister, the Saints will be able to beat teams both on the ground and through the air. The big key to last season was McAllister staying healthy to carry much of the running load between the tackles, allowing Reggie Bush to move around and expose favorable matchups like he did at USC. The Saints hope - with McAllister and Bush both in decent health - to repeat the very same use of their running backs that head coach Sean Payton used in 2006.
Another reason why the Saints were successful in 2006 season - along with Brees and the rushing attack = was the emergence of rookie wide receiver Maques Colston. Colston’s breakout was especially important when the Saints’ former number one receiver, Joe Horn, missed the last half of the season. With Horn now an Atlanta Falcon, Colston will need to once again step up and perform like he did in 2006. While this will be a big challenge for the second year Colston, he does indeed have help. Explosive wide receiver Devery Henderson, rookie first round pick Robert Meachem, and offseason signee David Patten will provide quarterback Drew Brees many options while passing behind one of the best offensive lines in the league.
While the New Orleans’ offense seems to be a lock as one of the best in the league, their defense is another story. While the New Orleans front four – especially defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant – continue to challenge for Pro Bowl spots each year, it is the back seven – especially the secondary - that will hinder the Saints this season.
The aging Mike McKenzie headlines a New Orleans secondary that has tried to improve over the offseason by signing former Colts cornerback Jason David. David is a significant upgrade over aging cornerback Fred Thomas, but will not prove to be enough to change the play of a secondary that was near the bottom of the league against the pass last year. A big reason behind the Saints’ horrendous secondary play last year was Thomas, but equally bad were safeties Jay Bellamy – now relegated to a backup role – and Josh Bullocks – current starting free safety for the Saints. New starting strong safety – taking over for Jay Bellamy – is Roman Harper, who is coming back from a torn ACL last year. I personally don’t think that signing Jason David and adding inexperienced Roman Harper to the starting lineup will not make that significant of a difference this year for the Saints, and this is why I think the New Orleans defense will not play well enough for the Saints to reach the Super Bowl.
Star to Watch – While Reggie Bush gets most of the attention from the media; Deuce McAllister is as just as important to the Saints. McAllister, a bruising 232 pound running back, will need to stay healthy this year – something he has not been able to accomplish in the past - to keep the Saints offense balanced and effective. Without McAllister, Reggie Bush would be forced to run the ball much more between the tackles - where he was terrible last year - and this will damage the effectiveness of the Saints passing and rushing attacks. To say it bluntly: If Deuce McAllister gets injured or is relatively ineffective, the Saints will not surpass an overall record of 8-8. He is that important, and one of the most underrated players in the league.
Player to Watch – As was previously mentioned, the loss of Joe Horn should not be that significant of a blow to the Saints because they have a bevy of talented, young (except David Patten) receivers at their disposal. The fastest and most explosive of the Saints’ receiving core is fourth year wideout Devery Henderson. Henderson had been very disappointing before last season with just three touchdowns and under 300 yards in his first three seasons. And while 745 receiving yards in 2006 isn’t that impressive, the fact that Henderson had only 32 catches for 745 yards last year is quite impressive. Look for Henderson’s 23.3 yards per catch average to decrease substantially this year, because his yards and amount of catches will increase a great deal with a bigger role in the Saints’ offense. Also watch: Linebacking core Brian Simmons, Scott Fujita, and Scott Shanle will all three need to do a good job supporting against the run, and assisting the secondary against the opposing team’s passing attack.
What I expect to see from the Saints in 2007-08:
- Drew Brees will be just about as good as last year, and will be the starter for the NFC in the Pro Bowl just edging out Donovan McNabb.
- Reggie Bush will be excellent next season out of the backfield, catching punts, running pass routes, and serving gumbo in the parking lot before the game if he wants. On a related note: There are two words that will force Texans fans to jump ship in five years when Reggie Bush is the best running back in football: Mario Williams.
- Marques Colston will be a disappointment this year, not coming close to duplicating his 2006 season, but Devery Henderson will pick up the slack. Henderson will be phenomenal, and will prove – more than Colston – that the Saints were justified in cutting aging Joe Horn loose.
- The Saints defense will quite bad, and the dreadlocked Mike McKenzie will show his age when becoming used to chasing after opposing wide receivers streaking towards the end zone after McKenzie realizes that he may have lost a step or two over the offseason.
- One bright spot though, in the defense, will be both Charles Grant and Will Smith. Both will mirror the performance of Freeney and Mathis in Indy and challenge for a spot in the Pro Bowl.
- The last game of the year will be meaningless because both teams – the Bears and the Saints - will have their playoff seeds locked up. But the Saints and the Bears will play a very meaningful game in the conference finals, at Soldier Field, with the Bears once again proving that defense wins championships (or, at least, gets you to the Super Bowl).
- Finally, the city of New Orleans will still be in disarray after the season, and while the Saints will serve as a three hour diversion each week, the harsh reality of the situation will be summed up in one simple question by the survivors of the awful events of hurricane Katrina in 2005. That question: How is America considered the best country in the world when New Orleans still looks like this more than two years after Hurricane Katrina?
How the New Orleans Saints will fare in 2007-08 – Quite frankly, the New Orleans Saint’s division is terrible with Atlanta, Carolina, and Tampa Bay all sub 500 teams. In my opinion, the Saints should easily win at least five, if not six games in their division. Out of their additional ten games, I see the Saints winning an additional six (not opening night against Indy though) for a projected record of 12-4 and the second seed in the NFC’s playoffs. I believe that even though they have the potential to reach and win the Super Bowl, the Saints will lose to the Bears in the playoffs and their season will be considered a disappointment by their fans, unlike 2006.
Countdown - 3rd seed in the AFC
Baltimore Ravens – (2006 record = 13-3) – Projected 2007 record = 13-3
Every year their offense hears the same thing. “The Baltimore Ravens will only go as far as their defense takes them,” but the offense hopes to close the gap between the two units. With veteran quarterback Steve McNair in his second year with Baltimore, his rapport with veteran wide out Derrick Mason and emerging star wide receiver Mark Clayton will be much improved. Baltimore has an abundance of weapons including Clayton and Mason – something that up until last year they did not have – and the two people that will benefit from the many weapons, in my opinion, of Baltimore is running back Willis McGahee and Todd Heap.
Newly signed running back McGahee – who has said that he is ecstatic to have gotten out of Buffalo – joins an excellent run blocking offensive line and a team with many University of Miami alums. McGahee, if he can stay healthy, should serve as a significant upgrade over aging running back Jamal Lewis. Lewis – at times last season – looked old and hindered the Baltimore offense a great deal. McGahee should serve as a much more explosive running back – if he can stay healthy – to complement quarterback Steve McNair and the fantastic Baltimore defense.
The other player that I expect to have a strong season in McNair’s second season is Baltimore tight end Todd Heap. One of the best at his position in the league, Heap consistently exploits mismatches against opposing secondaries and linebacking making him one of the few offensive players that Baltimore can count on. Where Heap also excels is blocking in the running game. I believe that Todd Heap will once again make the Pro Bowl this year with an even better year than the one previous, and he will be a big reason why the Baltimore Ravens will have a much improved pass offense.
Star to Watch – By watching the Baltimore Ravens’ starting defense, you can see eleven different stars, but three shine brighter than everyone else. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis is the unquestioned leader and the best linebacker of one of the two best defenses in the league. Lewis covers sideline to sideline better than most every middle linebacker and benefits a great deal from stud defensive tackles Haloti N’gata and Kelly Gregg keeping offensive lineman off Lewis so he can make plays in the middle of the defense. The second player that stands out is ball hawking safety Ed Reed. Reed seems to be around the ball at all times, seems to make 8-10 interceptions every season and makes at least 30 big plays on defense and on special teams each and every year – an astronomical number for a safety. With Reed and Lewis patrolling the middle of the field, both relegate the opposing offenses concentrate only on the outsides of the Ravens defense.
That is where the third star comes in. Chris McAlister is one of the two best cornerbacks in the league, and one of the most underrated players in the NFL. McAlister, like Bailey, has the ability to take an opposing wide receiver completely out of the game with his supreme size, strength, and speed. But because of the strength of the ten other players surrounding him, McAlister faces many more challenges than other cornerbacks equal to McAlister’s caliber. This can be seen with McAlister’s 22 passes defended and six interceptions last season, and while Lewis and Reed garner most of the headlines, McAlister continues to be one of the most important players to the success of the Ravens defense, and he is a big reason why the Ravens defense will once again be one of the leagues best this season.
Player to Watch – Linebacker Bart Scott is one of the brightest young players in the league. Examples of Scott’s brilliance and tenacity last year could be seen with his monster hit on Ben Roethlisberger and Scott’s fifteen tackle performance against San Diego last season. A six year veteran, Scott looks to build on last season’s success and aide Ray Lewis and the rest of the Ravens defense in their attempt to return to the Super Bowl. Also Watch – Mammoth offensive tackle Jonathon Ogden, who will have to play much better this year both run and pass block in order for the Ravens offense to reach their full potential.
What I expect from the Ravens:
- Mark Clayton will pick up the receiving slack for the ever declining Derrick Mason. Clayton will not challenge for a Pro Bowl slot because of the importance that offensive coordinator and head coach Brian Billick puts on pounding the football, but will have many clutch catches for the Ravens late in close games on the few occasions in which the Ravens are trailing.
Steve McNair will be adequate but Willis McGahee will be phenomenal this season for Baltimore.
- Baltimore will be one of – if not the – best defenses in the league. But their defensive excellence will not be enough to catapult the Ravens past New England in the AFC and into the Super Bowl.
- End Terrell Suggs will be great this season teaming up with Trevor Price to reek havoc on opposing tackles and quarterbacks. The defensive ends will team up with N’gata and Gregg to constantly demand double teams and keep opposing offensive linemen off of stud linebackers Bart Scott and Ray Lewis
- Finally, the Baltimore secondary with McAlister, Reed, Samari Rolle, and Dawan Landry will form the best secondary in the league. The safeties are hard hitting players with a great nose for the ball, and by teaming up with Rolle and McAlister – two of the best cover men in the league – they will make it quite difficult trying to pass against the 2007 Ravens.
How the Baltimore Ravens will fare in 2007-08: I see the Ravens replicating their 2006 season and finishing 13-3. And while the Ravens have the talent to make the Super Bowl, I do not think that they will unless the offense performs much better than they did in last year’s playoffs.
Every year their offense hears the same thing. “The Baltimore Ravens will only go as far as their defense takes them,” but the offense hopes to close the gap between the two units. With veteran quarterback Steve McNair in his second year with Baltimore, his rapport with veteran wide out Derrick Mason and emerging star wide receiver Mark Clayton will be much improved. Baltimore has an abundance of weapons including Clayton and Mason – something that up until last year they did not have – and the two people that will benefit from the many weapons, in my opinion, of Baltimore is running back Willis McGahee and Todd Heap.
Newly signed running back McGahee – who has said that he is ecstatic to have gotten out of Buffalo – joins an excellent run blocking offensive line and a team with many University of Miami alums. McGahee, if he can stay healthy, should serve as a significant upgrade over aging running back Jamal Lewis. Lewis – at times last season – looked old and hindered the Baltimore offense a great deal. McGahee should serve as a much more explosive running back – if he can stay healthy – to complement quarterback Steve McNair and the fantastic Baltimore defense.
The other player that I expect to have a strong season in McNair’s second season is Baltimore tight end Todd Heap. One of the best at his position in the league, Heap consistently exploits mismatches against opposing secondaries and linebacking making him one of the few offensive players that Baltimore can count on. Where Heap also excels is blocking in the running game. I believe that Todd Heap will once again make the Pro Bowl this year with an even better year than the one previous, and he will be a big reason why the Baltimore Ravens will have a much improved pass offense.
Star to Watch – By watching the Baltimore Ravens’ starting defense, you can see eleven different stars, but three shine brighter than everyone else. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis is the unquestioned leader and the best linebacker of one of the two best defenses in the league. Lewis covers sideline to sideline better than most every middle linebacker and benefits a great deal from stud defensive tackles Haloti N’gata and Kelly Gregg keeping offensive lineman off Lewis so he can make plays in the middle of the defense. The second player that stands out is ball hawking safety Ed Reed. Reed seems to be around the ball at all times, seems to make 8-10 interceptions every season and makes at least 30 big plays on defense and on special teams each and every year – an astronomical number for a safety. With Reed and Lewis patrolling the middle of the field, both relegate the opposing offenses concentrate only on the outsides of the Ravens defense.
That is where the third star comes in. Chris McAlister is one of the two best cornerbacks in the league, and one of the most underrated players in the NFL. McAlister, like Bailey, has the ability to take an opposing wide receiver completely out of the game with his supreme size, strength, and speed. But because of the strength of the ten other players surrounding him, McAlister faces many more challenges than other cornerbacks equal to McAlister’s caliber. This can be seen with McAlister’s 22 passes defended and six interceptions last season, and while Lewis and Reed garner most of the headlines, McAlister continues to be one of the most important players to the success of the Ravens defense, and he is a big reason why the Ravens defense will once again be one of the leagues best this season.
Player to Watch – Linebacker Bart Scott is one of the brightest young players in the league. Examples of Scott’s brilliance and tenacity last year could be seen with his monster hit on Ben Roethlisberger and Scott’s fifteen tackle performance against San Diego last season. A six year veteran, Scott looks to build on last season’s success and aide Ray Lewis and the rest of the Ravens defense in their attempt to return to the Super Bowl. Also Watch – Mammoth offensive tackle Jonathon Ogden, who will have to play much better this year both run and pass block in order for the Ravens offense to reach their full potential.
What I expect from the Ravens:
- Mark Clayton will pick up the receiving slack for the ever declining Derrick Mason. Clayton will not challenge for a Pro Bowl slot because of the importance that offensive coordinator and head coach Brian Billick puts on pounding the football, but will have many clutch catches for the Ravens late in close games on the few occasions in which the Ravens are trailing.
Steve McNair will be adequate but Willis McGahee will be phenomenal this season for Baltimore.
- Baltimore will be one of – if not the – best defenses in the league. But their defensive excellence will not be enough to catapult the Ravens past New England in the AFC and into the Super Bowl.
- End Terrell Suggs will be great this season teaming up with Trevor Price to reek havoc on opposing tackles and quarterbacks. The defensive ends will team up with N’gata and Gregg to constantly demand double teams and keep opposing offensive linemen off of stud linebackers Bart Scott and Ray Lewis
- Finally, the Baltimore secondary with McAlister, Reed, Samari Rolle, and Dawan Landry will form the best secondary in the league. The safeties are hard hitting players with a great nose for the ball, and by teaming up with Rolle and McAlister – two of the best cover men in the league – they will make it quite difficult trying to pass against the 2007 Ravens.
How the Baltimore Ravens will fare in 2007-08: I see the Ravens replicating their 2006 season and finishing 13-3. And while the Ravens have the talent to make the Super Bowl, I do not think that they will unless the offense performs much better than they did in last year’s playoffs.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Big Ten in Big Trouble
What a great college football weekend. We saw what many people are considering the greatest upset of all time - something that the Boise State victory over Oklahoma last year - with Division II champions Youngstown State defeating Michigan in the Big House further proving the severe weakness of the Big 10.
Big Ten victorious teams Saturday: Ohio State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan State, and Penn State.
Big Ten teams that lost Saturday: Illinois to Missouri, Michigan to Youngstown State, and Minnesota to Bowling Green.
The reason why the Big Ten struggles against out of conference teams - in my opinion - is because of one thing. Speed.
Here's a challenge - If you sit down on a saturday afternoon and watch the 11:00 a.m. ESPN game between two big ten opponents - say Ohio State and Minnesota for example - and then you watch the 2:30 p.m. CBS game between two SEC opponents - say LSU and Georgia - you'll see a great descrepancy in speed correlating to a much more entertaining, hard hitting, and faster brand of football in the CBS compared to the Big 10.
It's simple to try to figure out why the Pac 10 and SEC keep getting the best talent. The weather and the benefits of better competition.
If I'm an all state performer from the state of - for example - Florida, why would I ever consider leaving the Florida heat and go to a team like Michigan or Ohio State, where in the winter I would have to walk to each class (although at Ohio State you could get away with not going to class) in freezing temperatures, walk to the weight room to work out in freezing temperatures? It just doesn't make sense. The Big Ten will continue to lose elite players from the midwest because the allure of the warm weather and increasingly better football that the elite, warm weather schools have to offer will be too much to pass up.
That is why the Big Ten - and Notre Dame for that matter - is struggling recruiting the best players in the country. This is why Big Ten coaches are driving around in big SUVs, in the hope that both coasts become flooded due to global warming.
Big Ten victorious teams Saturday: Ohio State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan State, and Penn State.
Big Ten teams that lost Saturday: Illinois to Missouri, Michigan to Youngstown State, and Minnesota to Bowling Green.
The reason why the Big Ten struggles against out of conference teams - in my opinion - is because of one thing. Speed.
Here's a challenge - If you sit down on a saturday afternoon and watch the 11:00 a.m. ESPN game between two big ten opponents - say Ohio State and Minnesota for example - and then you watch the 2:30 p.m. CBS game between two SEC opponents - say LSU and Georgia - you'll see a great descrepancy in speed correlating to a much more entertaining, hard hitting, and faster brand of football in the CBS compared to the Big 10.
It's simple to try to figure out why the Pac 10 and SEC keep getting the best talent. The weather and the benefits of better competition.
If I'm an all state performer from the state of - for example - Florida, why would I ever consider leaving the Florida heat and go to a team like Michigan or Ohio State, where in the winter I would have to walk to each class (although at Ohio State you could get away with not going to class) in freezing temperatures, walk to the weight room to work out in freezing temperatures? It just doesn't make sense. The Big Ten will continue to lose elite players from the midwest because the allure of the warm weather and increasingly better football that the elite, warm weather schools have to offer will be too much to pass up.
That is why the Big Ten - and Notre Dame for that matter - is struggling recruiting the best players in the country. This is why Big Ten coaches are driving around in big SUVs, in the hope that both coasts become flooded due to global warming.
Countdown - 3rd seed in the NFC
Philadelphia Eagles – (2006 record = 10-6) – Projected Record – 11-5
It is well known that Philadelphia fans are very hard to win over. Even Santa wasn’t successful. But where Santa failed, Donovan McNabb succeed. At least initially. After hearing a chorus as he was drafted, McNabb played at a consistently high level winning over Eagles by leading the team to the conference championship in four straight years. But ever since the departure of Terrell Owens, McNabb has struggled mightily - not so much with his play - but with a string of devastating injuries that have hindered his almost sure fire path to the hall of fame.
McNabb was fine and then last year happened. He was once again in Pro Bowl form throwing to the likes of Donte Stallworth, Reggie Brown, LJ Smith, and Brian Westbrook, looking like McNabb might once again take the Eagles to their fifth NFC conference championship game in six years when McNabb rolls out and ruptures his ACL against Tennessee. This seemed like a huge blow at the time with the Eagles’ leader and best player out for the rest of the year. With Jeff Garcia taking over the reigns from McNabb, the Philadelphia Eagles seemed doomed.
But Garcia exceeded all expectations, and he lead the Eagles to the NFC East division title. Added to the division title, Garcia even won his first playoff game in Philadelphia. Suddenly, McNabb seemed expendable. Even though Garcia left in the offseason, McNabb once again had reason to feel uneasy in his role as the starting Philadelphia quarterback when Andy Reid drafted quarterback Kevin Kolb with Philadephia’s first overall pick.
Throughout the offseason Donovan McNabb has stated that he has felt extremely slighted this offseason, and this is why I expect McNabb to go out and have one of his best seasons to date. With weapons like Westbrook, Smith, Brown, emerging wide receiver Hank Baskett, and newly signed Kevin Curtis, McNabb has the tools at his expense. But the biggest challenge that he will face is simply staying healthy. I foresee McNabb having a huge season and backing up Drew Brees for the NFC in the Pro Bowl, and satisfying Eagles fans by leading the Eagles deep into the NFC playoffs.
Star to Watch – While most of the offseason focus has been placed on the Donovan McNabb saga, the Eagles most valuable player – and the player that deserves the most attention - is running back Brian Westbrook. Westbrook has made great strides in the past two years improving his running between the tackles – and while that is great - the thing that sets Westbrook apart is his pass catching ability. With 77 catches for a 9.1 yard average Westbrook led the team in receiving last year, giving linebackers fits all over the league. I expect great things from Westbrook this year with around the same amount of receptions but less wear and tear on his body with backup running back Correll Buckhalter finally healthy after a bevy of knee injuries taking more of the inside rushes for the Eagles.
Players to Watch – The Eagles have many big names on defense. Jevon Kearse, Brian Dawkins, new acquisition Takeo Spikes, and Lito Sheppard are all very important to the success of the defense. While the superstars on the Eagles are important, lesser known names such as Sean Considine and Broderick Bunckley will need to be extremely effective in order for the Eagles to have a successful 2007-08 campaign. Bunckley, the second-year former first round pick has – as has been reported from Philadelphia training camp – has been extremely impressive in the offseason and is taking on a space eating role similar to that of Tommie Harris and Vince Wilfork. I look for Bunckley to improve the Eagles’ defense against the rush, which will be especially important with the release of Jeremiah Trotter earlier in the preseason. The other player that will need to step into the starting lineup and perform well is strong safety Sean Considine. Considine will have many instances where he is up in the box to support the run, left in single coverage because of the aggressive blitzing nature of defensive coordinator Jim Johnston, and in regular pass coverage. Most safeties in the league do not excel in all three of these categories and only time will tell if Considine can be one of the rare exceptions. Both Bunckley and Considine will need to play up to the level of the Eagles star defensive players in order for the team’s defense to return to their solid form, and I think they will.
2007 Preview of the Philadelphia Eagles:
- Donovan McNabb will have a bounce back season and he will be great. Brian Westbrook will also be great this season and will be fresher in the playoffs this season compared to last. Along with these two players, the Eagles offensive line will be one of the three best in the NFC this year.
- Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown will prove to be one of the best cornerback tandems in the league this year, and will team with safeties Considine and Brian Dawkins to form one of the best secondary’s in the NFL.
- Takeo Spikes will play great, but the linebacking core will be very inconsistent against the run and against the pass with first time, full season linebackers Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong.
- Jevon Kearse will bounce back and have at least ten sacks this year.
- A breakout player in the Eagles offense will be Hank Baskett, who seems to fit in greatly with the type of receiver the Eagles like to utilize.
- Finally, Andy Reid will seriously consider leaving the Eagles to deal with the troubles of his sons who are having a very tough time staying sober. I think he will end up staying, but do not be surprised if Reid decides to put his family before his profession.
How the Philadelphia Eagles’ will fare in the 2007-08 season: In a talented but overrated division, the Eagles will be the best team in the NFC East and the third best team in the NFC. I see the Eagles losing to the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the playoffs, but they could easily beat the Saints and reach the Super Bowl if the defense plays well.
It is well known that Philadelphia fans are very hard to win over. Even Santa wasn’t successful. But where Santa failed, Donovan McNabb succeed. At least initially. After hearing a chorus as he was drafted, McNabb played at a consistently high level winning over Eagles by leading the team to the conference championship in four straight years. But ever since the departure of Terrell Owens, McNabb has struggled mightily - not so much with his play - but with a string of devastating injuries that have hindered his almost sure fire path to the hall of fame.
McNabb was fine and then last year happened. He was once again in Pro Bowl form throwing to the likes of Donte Stallworth, Reggie Brown, LJ Smith, and Brian Westbrook, looking like McNabb might once again take the Eagles to their fifth NFC conference championship game in six years when McNabb rolls out and ruptures his ACL against Tennessee. This seemed like a huge blow at the time with the Eagles’ leader and best player out for the rest of the year. With Jeff Garcia taking over the reigns from McNabb, the Philadelphia Eagles seemed doomed.
But Garcia exceeded all expectations, and he lead the Eagles to the NFC East division title. Added to the division title, Garcia even won his first playoff game in Philadelphia. Suddenly, McNabb seemed expendable. Even though Garcia left in the offseason, McNabb once again had reason to feel uneasy in his role as the starting Philadelphia quarterback when Andy Reid drafted quarterback Kevin Kolb with Philadephia’s first overall pick.
Throughout the offseason Donovan McNabb has stated that he has felt extremely slighted this offseason, and this is why I expect McNabb to go out and have one of his best seasons to date. With weapons like Westbrook, Smith, Brown, emerging wide receiver Hank Baskett, and newly signed Kevin Curtis, McNabb has the tools at his expense. But the biggest challenge that he will face is simply staying healthy. I foresee McNabb having a huge season and backing up Drew Brees for the NFC in the Pro Bowl, and satisfying Eagles fans by leading the Eagles deep into the NFC playoffs.
Star to Watch – While most of the offseason focus has been placed on the Donovan McNabb saga, the Eagles most valuable player – and the player that deserves the most attention - is running back Brian Westbrook. Westbrook has made great strides in the past two years improving his running between the tackles – and while that is great - the thing that sets Westbrook apart is his pass catching ability. With 77 catches for a 9.1 yard average Westbrook led the team in receiving last year, giving linebackers fits all over the league. I expect great things from Westbrook this year with around the same amount of receptions but less wear and tear on his body with backup running back Correll Buckhalter finally healthy after a bevy of knee injuries taking more of the inside rushes for the Eagles.
Players to Watch – The Eagles have many big names on defense. Jevon Kearse, Brian Dawkins, new acquisition Takeo Spikes, and Lito Sheppard are all very important to the success of the defense. While the superstars on the Eagles are important, lesser known names such as Sean Considine and Broderick Bunckley will need to be extremely effective in order for the Eagles to have a successful 2007-08 campaign. Bunckley, the second-year former first round pick has – as has been reported from Philadelphia training camp – has been extremely impressive in the offseason and is taking on a space eating role similar to that of Tommie Harris and Vince Wilfork. I look for Bunckley to improve the Eagles’ defense against the rush, which will be especially important with the release of Jeremiah Trotter earlier in the preseason. The other player that will need to step into the starting lineup and perform well is strong safety Sean Considine. Considine will have many instances where he is up in the box to support the run, left in single coverage because of the aggressive blitzing nature of defensive coordinator Jim Johnston, and in regular pass coverage. Most safeties in the league do not excel in all three of these categories and only time will tell if Considine can be one of the rare exceptions. Both Bunckley and Considine will need to play up to the level of the Eagles star defensive players in order for the team’s defense to return to their solid form, and I think they will.
2007 Preview of the Philadelphia Eagles:
- Donovan McNabb will have a bounce back season and he will be great. Brian Westbrook will also be great this season and will be fresher in the playoffs this season compared to last. Along with these two players, the Eagles offensive line will be one of the three best in the NFC this year.
- Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown will prove to be one of the best cornerback tandems in the league this year, and will team with safeties Considine and Brian Dawkins to form one of the best secondary’s in the NFL.
- Takeo Spikes will play great, but the linebacking core will be very inconsistent against the run and against the pass with first time, full season linebackers Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong.
- Jevon Kearse will bounce back and have at least ten sacks this year.
- A breakout player in the Eagles offense will be Hank Baskett, who seems to fit in greatly with the type of receiver the Eagles like to utilize.
- Finally, Andy Reid will seriously consider leaving the Eagles to deal with the troubles of his sons who are having a very tough time staying sober. I think he will end up staying, but do not be surprised if Reid decides to put his family before his profession.
How the Philadelphia Eagles’ will fare in the 2007-08 season: In a talented but overrated division, the Eagles will be the best team in the NFC East and the third best team in the NFC. I see the Eagles losing to the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the playoffs, but they could easily beat the Saints and reach the Super Bowl if the defense plays well.
ME vs DI - Round 1
2007 College Football – Week 1 picks
Each week I will pick seven of the most talked about and most interesting games of the week on the college football schedule. I will pick the same games as the writers in the Daily Iowan pick.
Without further ado, here are my picks without much explanation.
Note: There are no point spreads
Iowa vs. NIU – in Chicago - My Pick: Iowa 31-NIU 17. I don’t know anything about NIU except for they are 0-9 against big ten opponents when they open their season against them. So - in my estimation -that’s good enough.
Georgia Tech at Notre Dame – My Pick: ND 35-GT 27. A tough pick to make considering the only player I know on either team is Tom Zybikowski. But I’ll go with superior coaching and the likes of Charlie Weis and Notre Dame.
Missouri vs. Illinois – in St Louis – My Pick: Mizzou 31-ILL 28. Ron Zook can’t coach. It’s that simple.
Florida State at. Clemson – My pick: FSU 31-Clemson 24. This is an extremely dangerous game for FSU who must start the season much better than they have in recent seasons. I believe they win the all important first game of the year by beating an extremely talented Clemson team. Also: Watch out for safety/linebacker hybrid Myron Rolle this season for FSU.
Tennessee at California – My Pick: Cal 42-Ten 14. I’ve heard that Volunteer quarterback Erik Ainge has a broken finger and Tennessee has a bunch of injured players? If that is the case, the 28 point margin should be increased.
Washington at Syracuse – Not applicable because the morons at ESPN have begun to overexpose college football by showing games every night of the week, including Friday nights. So I’ll pick a game equal to this one on Saturday, and that game is…
Colorado State at Colorado – My pick: CSU 24-CU 20. An absolute guess.
Oklahoma State at Georgia – My pick: Georgia 31-OK State 10 I forget the last game the Daily Iowan had and I threw the paper away, so I’m going to say that the paper had a close game like the Oklahoma State and Georgia game.
Note: I look forward to going against the Daily Iowan this year in the college picks, and I promise to actually get the games they pick into my blog in the Saturdays to come. Also expect pro football picks in the coming weeks with one on Wednesday for Indy vs. New Orleans, and then the rest of the NFL picks next Friday or Saturday depending on my work load with school and writing this. Also look for the completion of the NFL previews within the next two days. Also look for more baseball coverage – especially on the Cubs.
I’ve realized that for sports, the months of July and August are terrible. But thank God we are moving out of august and into September and October (the best sports month of the year).
Each week I will pick seven of the most talked about and most interesting games of the week on the college football schedule. I will pick the same games as the writers in the Daily Iowan pick.
Without further ado, here are my picks without much explanation.
Note: There are no point spreads
Iowa vs. NIU – in Chicago - My Pick: Iowa 31-NIU 17. I don’t know anything about NIU except for they are 0-9 against big ten opponents when they open their season against them. So - in my estimation -that’s good enough.
Georgia Tech at Notre Dame – My Pick: ND 35-GT 27. A tough pick to make considering the only player I know on either team is Tom Zybikowski. But I’ll go with superior coaching and the likes of Charlie Weis and Notre Dame.
Missouri vs. Illinois – in St Louis – My Pick: Mizzou 31-ILL 28. Ron Zook can’t coach. It’s that simple.
Florida State at. Clemson – My pick: FSU 31-Clemson 24. This is an extremely dangerous game for FSU who must start the season much better than they have in recent seasons. I believe they win the all important first game of the year by beating an extremely talented Clemson team. Also: Watch out for safety/linebacker hybrid Myron Rolle this season for FSU.
Tennessee at California – My Pick: Cal 42-Ten 14. I’ve heard that Volunteer quarterback Erik Ainge has a broken finger and Tennessee has a bunch of injured players? If that is the case, the 28 point margin should be increased.
Washington at Syracuse – Not applicable because the morons at ESPN have begun to overexpose college football by showing games every night of the week, including Friday nights. So I’ll pick a game equal to this one on Saturday, and that game is…
Colorado State at Colorado – My pick: CSU 24-CU 20. An absolute guess.
Oklahoma State at Georgia – My pick: Georgia 31-OK State 10 I forget the last game the Daily Iowan had and I threw the paper away, so I’m going to say that the paper had a close game like the Oklahoma State and Georgia game.
Note: I look forward to going against the Daily Iowan this year in the college picks, and I promise to actually get the games they pick into my blog in the Saturdays to come. Also expect pro football picks in the coming weeks with one on Wednesday for Indy vs. New Orleans, and then the rest of the NFL picks next Friday or Saturday depending on my work load with school and writing this. Also look for the completion of the NFL previews within the next two days. Also look for more baseball coverage – especially on the Cubs.
I’ve realized that for sports, the months of July and August are terrible. But thank God we are moving out of august and into September and October (the best sports month of the year).
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Countdown - 4th seed in the AFC
Indianapolis Colts – 2006-07 Super Bowl Champions (2006 record – 12-4), projected 2007 record – 10-6
Summary – Most teams (see 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers) coming off such a successful season like the Colts’ in 2006-07 would get caught up in all the activities of the offseason, and not adequately prepare for the start of the regular season. Common football terminology refers to this process as a team “losing their hunger.” While the Colts have one of the best leaders in the league as the captain of their team in Peyton Manning, it’s a guarantee that not all of the Colts are hungry this season. A prime example of this was the sudden retirement of Colts’ former left tackle 32-year-old Tarik Glenn, who, and this is pure speculation, retired because he lost the desire to prepare for a grueling offseason.
While most teams fall into the trap of relaxing after a Super Bowl victory, the Colts’ management has tried their best to bring in new blood to avoid having a down year. But by implementing six new starters, it can be certain that Indianapolis will struggle early in the year building the chemistry among their defensive players, which is so vital to the success of the defense.
The players with the most to prove on the defense are cornerbacks Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson, and safety Antoine Bathea. With opposing teams trailing often because of Indy’s explosive offense, it will be more than likely that the Colt’s secondary will be tested through the air a great deal late, in many contests. Helping the secondary will be the fastest defensive end combination in the league in Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, who hope to continue to put up incredibly strong numbers pressuring the opposing quarterback.
Where the Indy defense will struggle, like last year, will be in their rush defense. Not helping the cause is the yearlong absence of defensive tackle Booger McFarland with a damaged Achilles. The Indy rush defense will be the one area that will hinder the team the whole year, and ultimately will prevent the Colts from returning to the Super Bowl (it also doesn’t help that the Colts let former Pro Bowl linebacker Cato June escape during the free agency period).
Star to Watch – As always, the most important player to the success of the Colts is quarterback Peyton Manning. But the player that has moved into second in terms of importance is second year running back Joseph Addai. In 2006-07, Addai averaged 4.8 yards a carry, an astronomical number, and will have to put up numbers similar to that to support a very weak defense. Added to that pressure, the lose of Pro Bowl tackle Tarik Glenn will definitely hurt the effectiveness of Addai, and will force the talented running back to pass block much more for Manning. Also watch: The health of safety Bob Sanders will be key. The whole league saw how ineffective the defense was without Sanders last year.
Players to Watch – Two rookies that will be key to the success of the Colts are wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez and new starting left tackle Tony Ugoh. Ugoh, the most important newcomer for the Colts because he must protect Peyton Manning, receives the difficult task of protecting Peyton Manning’s blindside that Tarik Glenn had watched for Manning’s entire career. Ugoh will not be perfect and will receive a lot of help from tight ends and running backs, and while he will have moments of inconsistency I expect Ugoh to play well because of Peyton Manning controlling the defense with his audibles. I believe that the wild card for the Colts offense will be Anthony Gonzalez. With big shoes to fill in the form of Brandon Stokely -the best slot receiver in football besides Wes Welker - Stokely was a force when healthy and allowed All Pro wide receivers Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison to face single coverage on the ends. If Gonzalez is able to pick up Indy’s offense quickly, he should prove to Colts fans and the rest of the NFL that was just as good as college teammate, ninth overall pick Ted Ginn Jr.
What I expect to see from the Indianapolis Colts:
- Peyton Manning will stay healthy despite being pressured, hit, and sacked much more this season. He will once again have a great season, and will move closer to breaking every major passing record throwing to Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Anthony Gonzalez, and Joseph Addai out of the backfield.
- Bob Sanders will continue to break down during the season, and will not be nearly as effective in his return to the Colts’ secondary as he was last year in the Cincinnati game all the way through the playoffs.
- Dwight Freeney will be very disappointing in 2007-08 and people will begin to question if he is worth all the money he received this offseason. His lack of sacks will be due to the added attention he will receive on nearly every play from offenses that don’t have to concern themselves with double teaming Anthony McFarland. Freeney will also suffer from the abundance of running plays that will continue to be called against the Colts’ defense because of their inability to stop opposing running attacks.
- On the opposite end of the spectrum, defensive end Robert Mathis will have 11+ sacks this season because of the single blocking schemes allowed to him because of the double teams given to his counterpart Freeney.
- It is my contention that the Indy linebacking core is one of the weakest in the league, and they are one of the biggest reasons to why the Colts struggled so mightily against the run so much last year. Indy also did not do themselves any favors with letting Cato June leave for free agency, and I expect the linebacking core to be the weakest link in the Colts’ defense, and thus the team as a whole to suffer greatly from terrible play by the linebackers.
- I also expect the secondary to be average, and not benefit from the same pressure provided by Dwight Freeney over the previous five years. The safeties will be the most important position in the secondary with the emphasis of the cover two on deep zone plays, and the Colts better hope to God that Bob Sanders stays healthy, because if he doesn’t, the defense will be in real trouble.
- Lastly, I expect Tony Dungy, a la Bill Cowher, to retire once the 2007-08 season is over. I think he has too many interests outside of football (church and volunteer work) to keep him involved in a sport that is so demanding, and I think he will have a bit of a let down after reaching the pinnacle of America’s biggest sport.
How Indy will fare in 2007-08 season
I think the Colts will finish 10-6 or 9-7 in a very weak division. This is a very tough thing to predict because of the colliding factors There’s past history that says that many players will become complacent and will not be mentally prepared for the beginning of the season. But there’s also Peyton Manning, who is the ultimate professional, and who I can guarantee will be ready for New Orleans Saints on opening night. Also, there’s the fact that the Indy offense will/always is very good, but the Colts’ defense will be very bad. The big question is: Can Peyton Manning’s offense score enough points to cover for the defense’s mistakes? Only time will tell. But the one thing I am sure about is that the Indianapolis Colts will not repeat as Super Bowl champions in 2007-08. Mark it down.
Summary – Most teams (see 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers) coming off such a successful season like the Colts’ in 2006-07 would get caught up in all the activities of the offseason, and not adequately prepare for the start of the regular season. Common football terminology refers to this process as a team “losing their hunger.” While the Colts have one of the best leaders in the league as the captain of their team in Peyton Manning, it’s a guarantee that not all of the Colts are hungry this season. A prime example of this was the sudden retirement of Colts’ former left tackle 32-year-old Tarik Glenn, who, and this is pure speculation, retired because he lost the desire to prepare for a grueling offseason.
While most teams fall into the trap of relaxing after a Super Bowl victory, the Colts’ management has tried their best to bring in new blood to avoid having a down year. But by implementing six new starters, it can be certain that Indianapolis will struggle early in the year building the chemistry among their defensive players, which is so vital to the success of the defense.
The players with the most to prove on the defense are cornerbacks Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson, and safety Antoine Bathea. With opposing teams trailing often because of Indy’s explosive offense, it will be more than likely that the Colt’s secondary will be tested through the air a great deal late, in many contests. Helping the secondary will be the fastest defensive end combination in the league in Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, who hope to continue to put up incredibly strong numbers pressuring the opposing quarterback.
Where the Indy defense will struggle, like last year, will be in their rush defense. Not helping the cause is the yearlong absence of defensive tackle Booger McFarland with a damaged Achilles. The Indy rush defense will be the one area that will hinder the team the whole year, and ultimately will prevent the Colts from returning to the Super Bowl (it also doesn’t help that the Colts let former Pro Bowl linebacker Cato June escape during the free agency period).
Star to Watch – As always, the most important player to the success of the Colts is quarterback Peyton Manning. But the player that has moved into second in terms of importance is second year running back Joseph Addai. In 2006-07, Addai averaged 4.8 yards a carry, an astronomical number, and will have to put up numbers similar to that to support a very weak defense. Added to that pressure, the lose of Pro Bowl tackle Tarik Glenn will definitely hurt the effectiveness of Addai, and will force the talented running back to pass block much more for Manning. Also watch: The health of safety Bob Sanders will be key. The whole league saw how ineffective the defense was without Sanders last year.
Players to Watch – Two rookies that will be key to the success of the Colts are wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez and new starting left tackle Tony Ugoh. Ugoh, the most important newcomer for the Colts because he must protect Peyton Manning, receives the difficult task of protecting Peyton Manning’s blindside that Tarik Glenn had watched for Manning’s entire career. Ugoh will not be perfect and will receive a lot of help from tight ends and running backs, and while he will have moments of inconsistency I expect Ugoh to play well because of Peyton Manning controlling the defense with his audibles. I believe that the wild card for the Colts offense will be Anthony Gonzalez. With big shoes to fill in the form of Brandon Stokely -the best slot receiver in football besides Wes Welker - Stokely was a force when healthy and allowed All Pro wide receivers Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison to face single coverage on the ends. If Gonzalez is able to pick up Indy’s offense quickly, he should prove to Colts fans and the rest of the NFL that was just as good as college teammate, ninth overall pick Ted Ginn Jr.
What I expect to see from the Indianapolis Colts:
- Peyton Manning will stay healthy despite being pressured, hit, and sacked much more this season. He will once again have a great season, and will move closer to breaking every major passing record throwing to Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Anthony Gonzalez, and Joseph Addai out of the backfield.
- Bob Sanders will continue to break down during the season, and will not be nearly as effective in his return to the Colts’ secondary as he was last year in the Cincinnati game all the way through the playoffs.
- Dwight Freeney will be very disappointing in 2007-08 and people will begin to question if he is worth all the money he received this offseason. His lack of sacks will be due to the added attention he will receive on nearly every play from offenses that don’t have to concern themselves with double teaming Anthony McFarland. Freeney will also suffer from the abundance of running plays that will continue to be called against the Colts’ defense because of their inability to stop opposing running attacks.
- On the opposite end of the spectrum, defensive end Robert Mathis will have 11+ sacks this season because of the single blocking schemes allowed to him because of the double teams given to his counterpart Freeney.
- It is my contention that the Indy linebacking core is one of the weakest in the league, and they are one of the biggest reasons to why the Colts struggled so mightily against the run so much last year. Indy also did not do themselves any favors with letting Cato June leave for free agency, and I expect the linebacking core to be the weakest link in the Colts’ defense, and thus the team as a whole to suffer greatly from terrible play by the linebackers.
- I also expect the secondary to be average, and not benefit from the same pressure provided by Dwight Freeney over the previous five years. The safeties will be the most important position in the secondary with the emphasis of the cover two on deep zone plays, and the Colts better hope to God that Bob Sanders stays healthy, because if he doesn’t, the defense will be in real trouble.
- Lastly, I expect Tony Dungy, a la Bill Cowher, to retire once the 2007-08 season is over. I think he has too many interests outside of football (church and volunteer work) to keep him involved in a sport that is so demanding, and I think he will have a bit of a let down after reaching the pinnacle of America’s biggest sport.
How Indy will fare in 2007-08 season
I think the Colts will finish 10-6 or 9-7 in a very weak division. This is a very tough thing to predict because of the colliding factors There’s past history that says that many players will become complacent and will not be mentally prepared for the beginning of the season. But there’s also Peyton Manning, who is the ultimate professional, and who I can guarantee will be ready for New Orleans Saints on opening night. Also, there’s the fact that the Indy offense will/always is very good, but the Colts’ defense will be very bad. The big question is: Can Peyton Manning’s offense score enough points to cover for the defense’s mistakes? Only time will tell. But the one thing I am sure about is that the Indianapolis Colts will not repeat as Super Bowl champions in 2007-08. Mark it down.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Countdown - 4th seed in the NFC
Seattle Seahawks – (9-7 in 2006) – Projected record of 10-6
The most consistent team over the past four years in the very inconsistent NFC East, the Seattle Seahawks enter the 2007 season with many question marks. The secondary’s ability to support the very strong front seven is one thing that has hurt Seattle in the past, and the Seahawks hope they brought in enough help with the signings of Bryan Russell and Deon Grant from Cleveland and Jacksonville respectively. But – as is always the case with the extremely aggressive defense in Seattle – the success on the defensive side of the ball will depend on the effectiveness of the pass rush.
Another question mark that the Seahawks hope to answer in a positive way is the inconsistent play of the offensive line. With one of the best running backs in league rushing for Seattle, Shaun Alexander was only able to rush for a miniscule 3.6 yards/carry in 2006. 3.6 yards per carry is well below the league’s average, and dramatically down from the year previous. The decrease in effectiveness of the Seattle rushing attack put much more pressure on quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, which was seen in his sub-par 18-15 touchdown to interception ratio in 2006.
To try to solve this quandary I looked for answers. Reading different publications, I saw that many experts think that the departure of left guard Steve Hutchinson is the main reason for the decrease in the yards per carry of Alexander and the extreme ineffectiveness of above-average backup Maurice Morris. Time will tell, and we should know the answer to the effect that Hutchinson’s absence has on the offensive line very quickly after the start of the season with both Alexander and the offensive line at full strength (something neither was at last season). The offensive line, more than anyone except the secondary, will be the unit that determines the success of the Seahawks skill players.
Star to Watch: Without much argument from anyone in the NFL inner circle, the title of the NFL’s best left tackle goes to Seattle’s Walter Jones. An immovable force, Jones serves as the Seahawks’ “go to guy (more with this phrase later)” in the running game. What I mean by this is that when the Seahawks need a big first down they usually look to run behind Walter Jones and his left side of the line. With that being said, previous experience has shown us that if Jones goes down the Seattle offensive line will fall apart, and Seattle will fall out of the playoffs. So Seattle fans should be on their knees at night praying for good health for themselves, parents, children, and Walter Jones.
Be sure to also closely watch stars: Shaun Alexander. Who, the Seahawks hope, just suffered a down year and has not begun the decline familiar to so many elite running backs. Deion Branch. Who looks to better gel with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Juliun Peterson. Who is looking to improve on his stellar season last year.
Player to watch: After the loss of both Jerramy Stevens and Darrell Jackson, someone will have to step up and pick up the slack in the Seahawks’ passing game. That player, I believe, is four-year-veteran wide receiver DJ Hackett. Hackett showed a lot of promise last year, and was referred to by many people around the Seahawks’ organization as Hasselbeck’s “go to guy,” a honor that carries extra weight on a team with weapons in the passing game such as Nate Burleson, Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Jackson, and Stevens. The Seahawks should be able to exploit many weaknesses using four wide receiver sets, and Hackett will be the catalyst for the Seahawks’ complex attack.
Also watch: Defensive end Patrick Kerney, cornerback Marcus Trufant, and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu all of whom I expect to improve on their impressive seasons last year.
What I expect to see from the Seahawks:
- The Seattle Seahawks, who have one of the best home field advantages in the league, will continue to be dominant at home but will struggle on the road because of their defense will not benefit from the same communication problems opponents have at Qwest Field.
- The running game will improve from last year, but will not be as dominant as it was in the 2005-2006 Super Bowl season. One factor is that current starting left guard Rob Sims is not as good as former left guard Steve Hutchinson. Another factor is that Shaun Alexander is indeed, as many experts fear, on the downside of his career.
- The Seahawks passing game will be rather inconsistent at home because of the rain in Seattle, but will be dominant in some games. The biggest factor in the passing game is the way quarterback Matt Hasselbeck limits turnovers, which he will have to improve on if the Seahawks wish to return to the Super Bowl in 2007-08.
- I see the Seattle defense as one of the top five units in the league, and I believe they will back my thought up with excellent play throughout the year. Bringing in Patrick Kerney to rush off the edge was a very underrated move, and the Seahawks will benefit from his rush defense as well.
- Lofa Tatupu will play very well this year, but not nearly as well as his 2006 pro bowl season when he was an absolute force in the middle of the defense. But there will be times when the Seahawks, a very undersized defense when compared to other teams around the league, will severely struggle against the run.
- Julian Peterson will be one of the three best outside linebackers in the league in 2007, and start for the NFC in the pro bowl if he decides to show up for the event.
- The Seattle secondary will struggle at times, but will step up because of the pressure provided by the Seahawks extremely talented and aggressive front seven. I expect Deon Grant to be as good as he was in Jacksonville, but I see Brian Russell being benched for the likes of safety Jonathon Babineax at some point during the season.
How the Seattle Seahawks will fare in 2007-2008:
I see the Seahawks riding the strong performance of their defense into the fourth seed of an improved NFC, and continually improving NFC West. Their position could easily be flipped with St Louis’ depending on how each team fares against the other, which will decide the tie breaker. And with a lot of playoff experience, I believe that Seattle has a legitimate shot at representing the NFC in the 2008 Super Bowl in Arizona.
The most consistent team over the past four years in the very inconsistent NFC East, the Seattle Seahawks enter the 2007 season with many question marks. The secondary’s ability to support the very strong front seven is one thing that has hurt Seattle in the past, and the Seahawks hope they brought in enough help with the signings of Bryan Russell and Deon Grant from Cleveland and Jacksonville respectively. But – as is always the case with the extremely aggressive defense in Seattle – the success on the defensive side of the ball will depend on the effectiveness of the pass rush.
Another question mark that the Seahawks hope to answer in a positive way is the inconsistent play of the offensive line. With one of the best running backs in league rushing for Seattle, Shaun Alexander was only able to rush for a miniscule 3.6 yards/carry in 2006. 3.6 yards per carry is well below the league’s average, and dramatically down from the year previous. The decrease in effectiveness of the Seattle rushing attack put much more pressure on quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, which was seen in his sub-par 18-15 touchdown to interception ratio in 2006.
To try to solve this quandary I looked for answers. Reading different publications, I saw that many experts think that the departure of left guard Steve Hutchinson is the main reason for the decrease in the yards per carry of Alexander and the extreme ineffectiveness of above-average backup Maurice Morris. Time will tell, and we should know the answer to the effect that Hutchinson’s absence has on the offensive line very quickly after the start of the season with both Alexander and the offensive line at full strength (something neither was at last season). The offensive line, more than anyone except the secondary, will be the unit that determines the success of the Seahawks skill players.
Star to Watch: Without much argument from anyone in the NFL inner circle, the title of the NFL’s best left tackle goes to Seattle’s Walter Jones. An immovable force, Jones serves as the Seahawks’ “go to guy (more with this phrase later)” in the running game. What I mean by this is that when the Seahawks need a big first down they usually look to run behind Walter Jones and his left side of the line. With that being said, previous experience has shown us that if Jones goes down the Seattle offensive line will fall apart, and Seattle will fall out of the playoffs. So Seattle fans should be on their knees at night praying for good health for themselves, parents, children, and Walter Jones.
Be sure to also closely watch stars: Shaun Alexander. Who, the Seahawks hope, just suffered a down year and has not begun the decline familiar to so many elite running backs. Deion Branch. Who looks to better gel with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Juliun Peterson. Who is looking to improve on his stellar season last year.
Player to watch: After the loss of both Jerramy Stevens and Darrell Jackson, someone will have to step up and pick up the slack in the Seahawks’ passing game. That player, I believe, is four-year-veteran wide receiver DJ Hackett. Hackett showed a lot of promise last year, and was referred to by many people around the Seahawks’ organization as Hasselbeck’s “go to guy,” a honor that carries extra weight on a team with weapons in the passing game such as Nate Burleson, Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Jackson, and Stevens. The Seahawks should be able to exploit many weaknesses using four wide receiver sets, and Hackett will be the catalyst for the Seahawks’ complex attack.
Also watch: Defensive end Patrick Kerney, cornerback Marcus Trufant, and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu all of whom I expect to improve on their impressive seasons last year.
What I expect to see from the Seahawks:
- The Seattle Seahawks, who have one of the best home field advantages in the league, will continue to be dominant at home but will struggle on the road because of their defense will not benefit from the same communication problems opponents have at Qwest Field.
- The running game will improve from last year, but will not be as dominant as it was in the 2005-2006 Super Bowl season. One factor is that current starting left guard Rob Sims is not as good as former left guard Steve Hutchinson. Another factor is that Shaun Alexander is indeed, as many experts fear, on the downside of his career.
- The Seahawks passing game will be rather inconsistent at home because of the rain in Seattle, but will be dominant in some games. The biggest factor in the passing game is the way quarterback Matt Hasselbeck limits turnovers, which he will have to improve on if the Seahawks wish to return to the Super Bowl in 2007-08.
- I see the Seattle defense as one of the top five units in the league, and I believe they will back my thought up with excellent play throughout the year. Bringing in Patrick Kerney to rush off the edge was a very underrated move, and the Seahawks will benefit from his rush defense as well.
- Lofa Tatupu will play very well this year, but not nearly as well as his 2006 pro bowl season when he was an absolute force in the middle of the defense. But there will be times when the Seahawks, a very undersized defense when compared to other teams around the league, will severely struggle against the run.
- Julian Peterson will be one of the three best outside linebackers in the league in 2007, and start for the NFC in the pro bowl if he decides to show up for the event.
- The Seattle secondary will struggle at times, but will step up because of the pressure provided by the Seahawks extremely talented and aggressive front seven. I expect Deon Grant to be as good as he was in Jacksonville, but I see Brian Russell being benched for the likes of safety Jonathon Babineax at some point during the season.
How the Seattle Seahawks will fare in 2007-2008:
I see the Seahawks riding the strong performance of their defense into the fourth seed of an improved NFC, and continually improving NFC West. Their position could easily be flipped with St Louis’ depending on how each team fares against the other, which will decide the tie breaker. And with a lot of playoff experience, I believe that Seattle has a legitimate shot at representing the NFC in the 2008 Super Bowl in Arizona.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Countdown - 5th Seed in the AFC
Pittsburgh Steelers – (2006 record = 8-8); Projected record = 11-5
Summary – The case can easily be made that the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered from a Super Bowl hangover from their Febuary 2006 victory. Even ex-starting outside linebacker Joey Porter hinted that some of the passion vanished from the team at the beginning of the 2006 regular season. But this year, with a change at the head coach position and an overhaul of the assistant coaches, I think that the Steelers’ players will be ready for the start of the 2007-08 season after trying to impress the new staff throughout training camp.
New 35-year-old head coach Mike Tomlin (2nd youngest coach in the league to the Raiders’ Lane Kiffen) takes over the reigns of one of the most stable franchises in the league, but will have a tough legacy to follow. Bill Cowher has big shoes to fill, but experienced and talented players will help aide Tomlin’s transition by accelerating in playing smash mouth offense coupled with a ferocious blitzing attack on the defensive side of the ball.
But more important than the hiring of Tomlin will be the play of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger set the tone for the 2006 season many months before opening day when one summer morning he was struck by a car while riding on his motorcycle. A horrific crash – as many motorcycle crashes are – Roethlisberger suffered serious damage to his face, arm, and ligament damage to his knee. And while he recovered to start the 3rd game of the season, Roethlisberger’s play was erratic and filled with mistakes. He will have to play extremely well this season and improve on the 18 - 23 touchdown to interception ratio he threw for last season. But Roethlisberger doesn’t have to do it all himself. Joining him in the backfield is running back Willie Parker, who carried most of the running load last year, and looks to duplicate the extremely successful season he had last year. Blocking for Parker, Roethlisberger, and stud wide receiver Hines Ward is an impressive offensive line headlined by Alan Faneca. The line – like Roethlisberger – also has something to prove because of the loss of OL coach Russ Grimm, who left for Arizona with offensive coordinator Ken Wizenhunt, and I look for them to succeed in the face of adversity.
Star to Watch: The strengths of the Steelers is not on offense, though that is the unit most people discuss. The defense, grouped with Tomlin’s adapted 3-4 scheme, will prove to be what determines the success of the Steelers this season. Although FS Troy Polamalu receives most of the headlines, it is defensive nose tackle Casey Hampton who strikes fear in the hearts of opposing offensive coordinators and offensive lines alike. Hampton, the 6 foot 1 inch 325 pound nose tackle, makes it virtually impossible for opposing running backs to have success against the Steelers rush defense, which frees up Polamalu to roam the field and disrupt the opposing passing attack. Hampton, more than any other player is indispensable to the defense (See: “leader” Joey Porter).
Players to Watch – With the aggressive nature of the Steelers’ defense and their strength against the run, the Pittsburgh secondary will come under great stress with the abundance of man to man situations in which they are faced. The players under the most pressure are the two starting cornerbacks – Ike Taylor and Brian McFadden – along with inexperienced safety Ryan Clark, who will be forced to cover for the gambling Polamalu. Especially considering that the Steelers will face receivers such as Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmanzadeh, Braylon Edwards, Derrick Mason, and Mark Clayton twice this season, the secondary will need to step up to the challenge in order for the Steelers to make the playoffs.
What I expect to see from the Pittsburgh Steelers:
Ben Roethlisberger will be very good, but not great. He does not need to be Peyton Manning. Roethlisberger needs to get back to what he does well, and that is taking safe throws (the key to every quarterbacks success) and maneuver in the pocket to avoid pressure (which he does better than nearly every quarterback not scheduled to be sentenced on December 10th, 2007). If he does those two things, the Steelers will be successful, and I foresee him doing both.
Hines Ward will have a bounce back season with the improvement of Roethlisberger, and Santonio Holmes will be a breakout star in 2007. Also: Heath Miller will prove to be a nice security blanket, and will be very effective in red zone situations both blocking and catching the football.
Middle linebackers Lary Foote and James Farrior will be solid as usual, and OLB Clark Haggins will be in Pro Bowl form in the absence of Joey Porter. Speaking of Porter, the Steelers will be a better defense in the absence of one of the most overrated players of the league.
Finally; Mike Tomlin will not coach as long as Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh, but he will be very effective as head coach, and that effectiveness will begin this year.
How the Pittsburgh Steelers will fare – I see an 11-5 record in their future, securing the fifth seed in the very strong AFC. They could move up if one of the top tier teams falters (Indy, San Diego, Baltimore), but I think for now the safest place to put the Steelers is as the number five seed because of the strength of the teams within their division. But while they’ll have a strong regular season, I don’t see the Steelers making much noise in the postseason when Tomlin will undoubtedly be forced to go through the likes of more experienced head coaches. In the end, the Steelers will miss Bill Cowher patrolling the sidelines, but will be happy in the future that lies ahead in the hands of Tomlin and his staff.
Summary – The case can easily be made that the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered from a Super Bowl hangover from their Febuary 2006 victory. Even ex-starting outside linebacker Joey Porter hinted that some of the passion vanished from the team at the beginning of the 2006 regular season. But this year, with a change at the head coach position and an overhaul of the assistant coaches, I think that the Steelers’ players will be ready for the start of the 2007-08 season after trying to impress the new staff throughout training camp.
New 35-year-old head coach Mike Tomlin (2nd youngest coach in the league to the Raiders’ Lane Kiffen) takes over the reigns of one of the most stable franchises in the league, but will have a tough legacy to follow. Bill Cowher has big shoes to fill, but experienced and talented players will help aide Tomlin’s transition by accelerating in playing smash mouth offense coupled with a ferocious blitzing attack on the defensive side of the ball.
But more important than the hiring of Tomlin will be the play of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger set the tone for the 2006 season many months before opening day when one summer morning he was struck by a car while riding on his motorcycle. A horrific crash – as many motorcycle crashes are – Roethlisberger suffered serious damage to his face, arm, and ligament damage to his knee. And while he recovered to start the 3rd game of the season, Roethlisberger’s play was erratic and filled with mistakes. He will have to play extremely well this season and improve on the 18 - 23 touchdown to interception ratio he threw for last season. But Roethlisberger doesn’t have to do it all himself. Joining him in the backfield is running back Willie Parker, who carried most of the running load last year, and looks to duplicate the extremely successful season he had last year. Blocking for Parker, Roethlisberger, and stud wide receiver Hines Ward is an impressive offensive line headlined by Alan Faneca. The line – like Roethlisberger – also has something to prove because of the loss of OL coach Russ Grimm, who left for Arizona with offensive coordinator Ken Wizenhunt, and I look for them to succeed in the face of adversity.
Star to Watch: The strengths of the Steelers is not on offense, though that is the unit most people discuss. The defense, grouped with Tomlin’s adapted 3-4 scheme, will prove to be what determines the success of the Steelers this season. Although FS Troy Polamalu receives most of the headlines, it is defensive nose tackle Casey Hampton who strikes fear in the hearts of opposing offensive coordinators and offensive lines alike. Hampton, the 6 foot 1 inch 325 pound nose tackle, makes it virtually impossible for opposing running backs to have success against the Steelers rush defense, which frees up Polamalu to roam the field and disrupt the opposing passing attack. Hampton, more than any other player is indispensable to the defense (See: “leader” Joey Porter).
Players to Watch – With the aggressive nature of the Steelers’ defense and their strength against the run, the Pittsburgh secondary will come under great stress with the abundance of man to man situations in which they are faced. The players under the most pressure are the two starting cornerbacks – Ike Taylor and Brian McFadden – along with inexperienced safety Ryan Clark, who will be forced to cover for the gambling Polamalu. Especially considering that the Steelers will face receivers such as Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmanzadeh, Braylon Edwards, Derrick Mason, and Mark Clayton twice this season, the secondary will need to step up to the challenge in order for the Steelers to make the playoffs.
What I expect to see from the Pittsburgh Steelers:
Ben Roethlisberger will be very good, but not great. He does not need to be Peyton Manning. Roethlisberger needs to get back to what he does well, and that is taking safe throws (the key to every quarterbacks success) and maneuver in the pocket to avoid pressure (which he does better than nearly every quarterback not scheduled to be sentenced on December 10th, 2007). If he does those two things, the Steelers will be successful, and I foresee him doing both.
Hines Ward will have a bounce back season with the improvement of Roethlisberger, and Santonio Holmes will be a breakout star in 2007. Also: Heath Miller will prove to be a nice security blanket, and will be very effective in red zone situations both blocking and catching the football.
Middle linebackers Lary Foote and James Farrior will be solid as usual, and OLB Clark Haggins will be in Pro Bowl form in the absence of Joey Porter. Speaking of Porter, the Steelers will be a better defense in the absence of one of the most overrated players of the league.
Finally; Mike Tomlin will not coach as long as Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh, but he will be very effective as head coach, and that effectiveness will begin this year.
How the Pittsburgh Steelers will fare – I see an 11-5 record in their future, securing the fifth seed in the very strong AFC. They could move up if one of the top tier teams falters (Indy, San Diego, Baltimore), but I think for now the safest place to put the Steelers is as the number five seed because of the strength of the teams within their division. But while they’ll have a strong regular season, I don’t see the Steelers making much noise in the postseason when Tomlin will undoubtedly be forced to go through the likes of more experienced head coaches. In the end, the Steelers will miss Bill Cowher patrolling the sidelines, but will be happy in the future that lies ahead in the hands of Tomlin and his staff.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Countdown - 5th Seed in the NFC
Dallas Cowboys (Last Season: 9-7) – Projected record = 9-7
Summary – With polarizing coach Bill Parcells gone from the Cowboys’ fold, many players seem to be much happier. Terrell Owens and Julius Jones both have made comments – in essence – saying good riddance to Parcells, and that the Cowboys will be a better team in his absence. To make such a strong statement about such a well respected coach can be terrible karma, and usually I would take Jones’ and Owens’ statements into consideration and drop the team out of my top twelve, but there’s too much talent on the Cowboys for them to miss the playoffs. Players like the deteriorating Owens, Tony Romo, Terry Glenn, Marion Barber III, Julius Jones, Jason Whitten, and that’s just the offensive side. In the most overrated division in the league, the Cowboys should beat up on the Redskins and Giants as well as the other weak NFC opponents outside their division.
Much of the concentration will be focused on the relationship between Romo and his receiving corps – mostly 81 – but the thing that will determine the Cowboys’ offensive success is the production of the running game. With one of the best two back combinations, the Cowboys need Barber III to build on the success he had at the end of 2006, and Julius Jones to return to the form he had previous to the success of Barber III.
The Cowboys defense will also need to improve dramatically. With some of the most physically talented players at their positions in the league (Roy Williams, Terrence Newman, Demarcus Ware, Jason Ferguson, etc.) one stands out when looking at the new head coach owner Jerry Jones hired.
Star to Watch - Demarcus Ware looks to use his physical gifts to impact the game like Cowboys’ coach former player Shawne Merriman did in San Diego. But Ware is a better coverage linebacker than Merriman, and the Cowboys will need to use his coverage skills to aide the secondary that will undoubtedly have coverage issues like they did in 2006. Look for Demarcus Ware to increase his sacks and overall effectiveness because of the installation of a much more aggressive defense implemented by new head coach Wade Philips. Also watch: T.O’s companion Terry Glenn, one of the most underrated players in the league who gets much less attention than his counterpart, but is just as good. Roy Williams will also need to be much better in pass coverage this season to aide new safety Ken Hamlin and inconsistent Terrence Newman.
Player to Watch – One of the former top tight ends in the league, Jason Whitten, will need to have a much better season if the Cowboys are going to contend for a Championship in 2007-08. Whitten, a big target with soft hands, only had one touchdown and below 700 yards receiving last year, disappointing both fantasy owners and the Dallas organization. But expect Whitten to serve as Tony Romo’s security blanket and catch more balls and become much more effective in the red zone.
What I expect to see from the Cowboys throughout the year:
Julius Jones will return to his previous form and team up with Marion Barber III to form one of the best – if not the best – running back tandem in the league. Barber and Jones will take much of the pressure off inexperienced quarterback Tony Romo, allowing more time to find weapons such as Whitten, Owens, and Glenn.
The Dallas defense will evolve into one of the top seven units in the league behind the strong play of Ware, Williams, NT Jason Ferguson, and unsung defensive leader MLB Bradie James.
The replacement of Bill Parcells will prove to be of little effect in terms of X’s and O’s, but the handling of Terrell Owens will drastically different. Head coach Wade Philips will refer to TO as TO or Terrell or Owens, and not just “he” like Parcells, and TO will speak out constantly (with ESPN covering the Cowboys more than any other team). Annoying everyone in the Cowboys’ locker room.
Bill Parcells will be excellent on the set of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown teamed up with Emmitt Smith and former receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
Terry Glenn will put up similar yardage figures as Owens, but will not score as many touchdowns. Also, Jason Whitten will prove that 2006 was a fluke and will score at least six touchdowns, and put himself back into the pro bowl.
How the Dallas Cowboys will fare – 9-7, and fifth seed in the playoffs. The Cowboys will look like Super Bowl winners one week and dogs the next. They are one of the most dangerous teams in the league, but their season will be one of severe inconsistency, much like 2006. But the Cowboys will win their first round playoff game only to lose to the number one seed in the second round of the NFC playoffs. Also, Terrell Owens will be cut after the 2007 season when management realizes that he is not worth the trouble.
Summary – With polarizing coach Bill Parcells gone from the Cowboys’ fold, many players seem to be much happier. Terrell Owens and Julius Jones both have made comments – in essence – saying good riddance to Parcells, and that the Cowboys will be a better team in his absence. To make such a strong statement about such a well respected coach can be terrible karma, and usually I would take Jones’ and Owens’ statements into consideration and drop the team out of my top twelve, but there’s too much talent on the Cowboys for them to miss the playoffs. Players like the deteriorating Owens, Tony Romo, Terry Glenn, Marion Barber III, Julius Jones, Jason Whitten, and that’s just the offensive side. In the most overrated division in the league, the Cowboys should beat up on the Redskins and Giants as well as the other weak NFC opponents outside their division.
Much of the concentration will be focused on the relationship between Romo and his receiving corps – mostly 81 – but the thing that will determine the Cowboys’ offensive success is the production of the running game. With one of the best two back combinations, the Cowboys need Barber III to build on the success he had at the end of 2006, and Julius Jones to return to the form he had previous to the success of Barber III.
The Cowboys defense will also need to improve dramatically. With some of the most physically talented players at their positions in the league (Roy Williams, Terrence Newman, Demarcus Ware, Jason Ferguson, etc.) one stands out when looking at the new head coach owner Jerry Jones hired.
Star to Watch - Demarcus Ware looks to use his physical gifts to impact the game like Cowboys’ coach former player Shawne Merriman did in San Diego. But Ware is a better coverage linebacker than Merriman, and the Cowboys will need to use his coverage skills to aide the secondary that will undoubtedly have coverage issues like they did in 2006. Look for Demarcus Ware to increase his sacks and overall effectiveness because of the installation of a much more aggressive defense implemented by new head coach Wade Philips. Also watch: T.O’s companion Terry Glenn, one of the most underrated players in the league who gets much less attention than his counterpart, but is just as good. Roy Williams will also need to be much better in pass coverage this season to aide new safety Ken Hamlin and inconsistent Terrence Newman.
Player to Watch – One of the former top tight ends in the league, Jason Whitten, will need to have a much better season if the Cowboys are going to contend for a Championship in 2007-08. Whitten, a big target with soft hands, only had one touchdown and below 700 yards receiving last year, disappointing both fantasy owners and the Dallas organization. But expect Whitten to serve as Tony Romo’s security blanket and catch more balls and become much more effective in the red zone.
What I expect to see from the Cowboys throughout the year:
Julius Jones will return to his previous form and team up with Marion Barber III to form one of the best – if not the best – running back tandem in the league. Barber and Jones will take much of the pressure off inexperienced quarterback Tony Romo, allowing more time to find weapons such as Whitten, Owens, and Glenn.
The Dallas defense will evolve into one of the top seven units in the league behind the strong play of Ware, Williams, NT Jason Ferguson, and unsung defensive leader MLB Bradie James.
The replacement of Bill Parcells will prove to be of little effect in terms of X’s and O’s, but the handling of Terrell Owens will drastically different. Head coach Wade Philips will refer to TO as TO or Terrell or Owens, and not just “he” like Parcells, and TO will speak out constantly (with ESPN covering the Cowboys more than any other team). Annoying everyone in the Cowboys’ locker room.
Bill Parcells will be excellent on the set of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown teamed up with Emmitt Smith and former receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
Terry Glenn will put up similar yardage figures as Owens, but will not score as many touchdowns. Also, Jason Whitten will prove that 2006 was a fluke and will score at least six touchdowns, and put himself back into the pro bowl.
How the Dallas Cowboys will fare – 9-7, and fifth seed in the playoffs. The Cowboys will look like Super Bowl winners one week and dogs the next. They are one of the most dangerous teams in the league, but their season will be one of severe inconsistency, much like 2006. But the Cowboys will win their first round playoff game only to lose to the number one seed in the second round of the NFC playoffs. Also, Terrell Owens will be cut after the 2007 season when management realizes that he is not worth the trouble.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Countdown - 6th Seed in the AFC
Buffalo Bills (Last year: 7-9) – Projected record = 10-6
- Summary – 2006 was a season of numerous“close but no cigar” type games for the Buffalo Bills. With 5 losses of 3 points or less, Buffalo was on the cusp of the playoffs in the very strong AFC. The teams that Buffalo lost to in the 3 point or less games were very strong. Detroit (3 points), mere non-playoff qualifiers Tennessee (1 point), and playoff teams San Diego (3 points), New England (2 points), and Super Bowl champions Indianapolis (1 point). The quality of teams that defeated Buffalo by such a close margin mixed with the youth of the Bills team last year bodes well for their hopeful progression into a 2007 playoff team.
A year later, and an additional year of experience for Buffalo will prove to be invaluable for a team that was one of the youngest in 2006. Game management in tight ballgames will be critical for the entire team, but especially for quarterback J.P. Losman. The big target Losman will look to will be stud WR Lee Evans. While he is one of the shorter wide receivers in the league, the 5’9” Evans uses his excellent speed and superb agility to consistently beat secondaries. This past year against Houston, Evans used his superior skill set to score two 83 yard touchdowns in one quarter.
While the Bills seem to be confident in the abilities of Losman and Evans, tremendous uncertainties lie in spots vacated by traded stars Willis McGahee, Nate Clements, and Takeo Spikes. Stepping in to their large shoes are first round draft pick Marshawn Lynch, former Indy CB Jason Webster, and second round pick MLB Paul Posluszny. From what has been reported from Bills camp, Posluzney has been impressive, while Lynch has looked “just okay.” Because of the importance of the running game taking pressure away from the passing game, Lynch and fellow runningback Anthony Thomas will need to step up in order for the Bills to be successful.
- Stars to Watch – The underrated tandem of defensive ends – Matt Schobel and Chris Kelsay are two players with loads of experience on a very inexperienced defense. These two will have to consistently pressure the opposing quarterback, because if they don’t the Bills’ young secondary and linebacking core will continously be exposed. Plus: be sure to watch the best punter in the league Brian Moorman, who is - and will be - instrumental in winning the field position battle Bills coach Dick Jauron loves to play.
- Player to Watch – The unit to watch on the offensive side of the ball will be the Buffalo Bills offensive line. More specifically, newly signed LG Derrick Dockery. Dockery will form one of the most formidable offensive left side of the line combinations with 25 year old Jason Peters. The former Washington Redskin will do wonders in the effort to increase the 3.8 yard average Buffalo managed in 2006, and provide JP Losman the proper time needed to improve the passing offense. Also, focus on the aforementioned Lynch, Posluzney, and look for another wide receiver to step up and divert some of the coverage away from Lee Evans.
What I expect to see throughout the year:
-The Bills’ defense will struggle at certain points in the season, but they will continue to grow and mature as a unit throughout the year, as they did last year, and will become one of the ten best defenses in the league.
-JP Losman will have a breakout year throwing to Evans, Lynch out of the backfield, Peerless Price, Josh Reed, and what will be a great slot receiver in Roscoe Parrish. But in order to have this breakout year, Losman must control the ball and improve his 1.35 touchdown-interception ratio from 2006.
-Finally, I expect the jokes regarding the age of Bills' GM Marv Levy to commence once people see the young talent Levy and the rest of the Bills’ management has brought to Buffalo in just two years. And I expect this young talent to blossum and make Buffalo contenders in the brutal AFC for years to come.
- How the Buffalo Bills will fare – 10-6, and the 6th seed in the playoffs, and they will shock many teams and the “experts” at ESPN with a mix of efficient and explosive play from the Bills' young offense and defense.
- Summary – 2006 was a season of numerous“close but no cigar” type games for the Buffalo Bills. With 5 losses of 3 points or less, Buffalo was on the cusp of the playoffs in the very strong AFC. The teams that Buffalo lost to in the 3 point or less games were very strong. Detroit (3 points), mere non-playoff qualifiers Tennessee (1 point), and playoff teams San Diego (3 points), New England (2 points), and Super Bowl champions Indianapolis (1 point). The quality of teams that defeated Buffalo by such a close margin mixed with the youth of the Bills team last year bodes well for their hopeful progression into a 2007 playoff team.
A year later, and an additional year of experience for Buffalo will prove to be invaluable for a team that was one of the youngest in 2006. Game management in tight ballgames will be critical for the entire team, but especially for quarterback J.P. Losman. The big target Losman will look to will be stud WR Lee Evans. While he is one of the shorter wide receivers in the league, the 5’9” Evans uses his excellent speed and superb agility to consistently beat secondaries. This past year against Houston, Evans used his superior skill set to score two 83 yard touchdowns in one quarter.
While the Bills seem to be confident in the abilities of Losman and Evans, tremendous uncertainties lie in spots vacated by traded stars Willis McGahee, Nate Clements, and Takeo Spikes. Stepping in to their large shoes are first round draft pick Marshawn Lynch, former Indy CB Jason Webster, and second round pick MLB Paul Posluszny. From what has been reported from Bills camp, Posluzney has been impressive, while Lynch has looked “just okay.” Because of the importance of the running game taking pressure away from the passing game, Lynch and fellow runningback Anthony Thomas will need to step up in order for the Bills to be successful.
- Stars to Watch – The underrated tandem of defensive ends – Matt Schobel and Chris Kelsay are two players with loads of experience on a very inexperienced defense. These two will have to consistently pressure the opposing quarterback, because if they don’t the Bills’ young secondary and linebacking core will continously be exposed. Plus: be sure to watch the best punter in the league Brian Moorman, who is - and will be - instrumental in winning the field position battle Bills coach Dick Jauron loves to play.
- Player to Watch – The unit to watch on the offensive side of the ball will be the Buffalo Bills offensive line. More specifically, newly signed LG Derrick Dockery. Dockery will form one of the most formidable offensive left side of the line combinations with 25 year old Jason Peters. The former Washington Redskin will do wonders in the effort to increase the 3.8 yard average Buffalo managed in 2006, and provide JP Losman the proper time needed to improve the passing offense. Also, focus on the aforementioned Lynch, Posluzney, and look for another wide receiver to step up and divert some of the coverage away from Lee Evans.
What I expect to see throughout the year:
-The Bills’ defense will struggle at certain points in the season, but they will continue to grow and mature as a unit throughout the year, as they did last year, and will become one of the ten best defenses in the league.
-JP Losman will have a breakout year throwing to Evans, Lynch out of the backfield, Peerless Price, Josh Reed, and what will be a great slot receiver in Roscoe Parrish. But in order to have this breakout year, Losman must control the ball and improve his 1.35 touchdown-interception ratio from 2006.
-Finally, I expect the jokes regarding the age of Bills' GM Marv Levy to commence once people see the young talent Levy and the rest of the Bills’ management has brought to Buffalo in just two years. And I expect this young talent to blossum and make Buffalo contenders in the brutal AFC for years to come.
- How the Buffalo Bills will fare – 10-6, and the 6th seed in the playoffs, and they will shock many teams and the “experts” at ESPN with a mix of efficient and explosive play from the Bills' young offense and defense.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Countdown - 6th Seed in the NFC
The Countdown – Team 12
12 - St Louis Rams (Last year: 8-8) - Projected record this year = 9-7
- Summary - In 2006, the Rams were one of the most explosive teams in the league under the leadership of new head coach Scott Linehan. QB Marc Bulger, RB Steven Jackson, and big play WR Torry Holt lead - year in and year out - one of the most powerful offenses in the league. But the St Louis Rams' hopes are not dependent on the likes of the offense. It is the defense that will control the Rams' destiny. Last year in games against Seattle – where the Rams saw their 28 point lead disappear in the fourth quarter, Chicago - where the troubled Rex Grossman faired exceptionally well, and many of the other games which the Rams lost (and even some of the games that the Rams won). The Rams defense and special teams will need to do a much better job eliminating big plays in order to get the ball back for their high powered offense.
- Star to watch: One of the most underrated players in the league is Pisa Tinoisamoa, one of the best cover linebackers in the league. Very reminiscent of Derrick Brooks in the way he runs and reads plays, the Hawaiian Tinoisamoa will be key for the success of St Louis’ defense.
- Player to watch: As always, notable names such as Orlando Pace, Leonard Little, Bulger, Holt, and Jackson will have a huge impact on the success of St Louis. But be sure to watch Brian Leonard - the backup running back to Steven Jackson - who was very impressive at Rutgers catching the ball out of the backfield this past year. Leonard will serve QB Marc Bulger well out of the backfield, and will allow Steven Jackson to defer a portion of the beating that he took pounding the ball against opposing defenses last year. Also be sure to watch rookie first round pick NT Adam Carriker, who will be instrumental in stopping the run.
What I expect to see throughout the year:
- A familiar name to the people of south Florida is Randy McMichael. McMichael had a down year – as did most of the Dolphins offensive players – and was looking for a change in offensive schemes, which is why he relocated to the midwest. While the tight end has not been the focal point for St Louis’ in past seasons, McMichael – like Leonard – should serve as a security blanket for Bulger when facing the pressure he is bound to face with weaknesses at the guard positions for the Rams.
- I expect St Louis to continue to move away from “the greatest show on turf” vertical passing approach that had become their trademark in the Rams' glory days. To do this, offensive cordinator Greg Olsen will look to pound their stud running backs Steven Jackson, and second round draftee Leonard to control time of possession. With that being said, the Rams continue to bolster their passing games with the likes of the aforementioned tight end Randy McMichael and newly signed wide receiver Drew Bennett.
- I expect there to be inconsistency from St Louis’ secondary. The aging Corey Chavous anchors a secondary that includes former first round draft pick Tye Hill, CB Fakhir Brown, and safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. This unit, more than any other, will decide the fate of the Rams. With the aide of a stellar pass rush anchored by Leonard Little and La’Roi Glover, the Rams secondary must prove that it can eliminate big plays from opposing offenses. This will prove to be extremely difficult, considering that the Rams have three very strong passing attacks in their own division.
How St Louis will fare - 9-7, and the 6th seed in the playoffs (But this could improve with the development of their defense).
12 - St Louis Rams (Last year: 8-8) - Projected record this year = 9-7
- Summary - In 2006, the Rams were one of the most explosive teams in the league under the leadership of new head coach Scott Linehan. QB Marc Bulger, RB Steven Jackson, and big play WR Torry Holt lead - year in and year out - one of the most powerful offenses in the league. But the St Louis Rams' hopes are not dependent on the likes of the offense. It is the defense that will control the Rams' destiny. Last year in games against Seattle – where the Rams saw their 28 point lead disappear in the fourth quarter, Chicago - where the troubled Rex Grossman faired exceptionally well, and many of the other games which the Rams lost (and even some of the games that the Rams won). The Rams defense and special teams will need to do a much better job eliminating big plays in order to get the ball back for their high powered offense.
- Star to watch: One of the most underrated players in the league is Pisa Tinoisamoa, one of the best cover linebackers in the league. Very reminiscent of Derrick Brooks in the way he runs and reads plays, the Hawaiian Tinoisamoa will be key for the success of St Louis’ defense.
- Player to watch: As always, notable names such as Orlando Pace, Leonard Little, Bulger, Holt, and Jackson will have a huge impact on the success of St Louis. But be sure to watch Brian Leonard - the backup running back to Steven Jackson - who was very impressive at Rutgers catching the ball out of the backfield this past year. Leonard will serve QB Marc Bulger well out of the backfield, and will allow Steven Jackson to defer a portion of the beating that he took pounding the ball against opposing defenses last year. Also be sure to watch rookie first round pick NT Adam Carriker, who will be instrumental in stopping the run.
What I expect to see throughout the year:
- A familiar name to the people of south Florida is Randy McMichael. McMichael had a down year – as did most of the Dolphins offensive players – and was looking for a change in offensive schemes, which is why he relocated to the midwest. While the tight end has not been the focal point for St Louis’ in past seasons, McMichael – like Leonard – should serve as a security blanket for Bulger when facing the pressure he is bound to face with weaknesses at the guard positions for the Rams.
- I expect St Louis to continue to move away from “the greatest show on turf” vertical passing approach that had become their trademark in the Rams' glory days. To do this, offensive cordinator Greg Olsen will look to pound their stud running backs Steven Jackson, and second round draftee Leonard to control time of possession. With that being said, the Rams continue to bolster their passing games with the likes of the aforementioned tight end Randy McMichael and newly signed wide receiver Drew Bennett.
- I expect there to be inconsistency from St Louis’ secondary. The aging Corey Chavous anchors a secondary that includes former first round draft pick Tye Hill, CB Fakhir Brown, and safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. This unit, more than any other, will decide the fate of the Rams. With the aide of a stellar pass rush anchored by Leonard Little and La’Roi Glover, the Rams secondary must prove that it can eliminate big plays from opposing offenses. This will prove to be extremely difficult, considering that the Rams have three very strong passing attacks in their own division.
How St Louis will fare - 9-7, and the 6th seed in the playoffs (But this could improve with the development of their defense).
Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Upcoming Weeks
I'm trying to avoid, as is the case in most Augusts previous to this one, all the hype surrounding the NFL's preseason. I think the preseason is relatively insignificant, and I get very angry at ESPN when they lead Sportscenter with a preseason game that doesn't involve a serious injury.
While I will continue to try to avoid all preseason games except the Bears, I am planning on working on creating a preseason ranking of the top 15/16 teams in my eyes in the NFL. This will be based on last year, and the offseason each team has had. Included with the numerical ranking will be 3 or 4 things I expect to see from that team, breakout players, a star watch, and why that team is located where they are in the rankings. There might be other things included with these things if I think of some, but we'll see.
After the rankings will be the way I see the postseason breaking down all the way to the Super Bowl, where I will pick a winner. I will also pick breakout player, rookie of the year, MVP's, and coach of the year for each league.
Weekly NFL columns will be found on my blog during the NFL season, which will in many ways mirror that of Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback with observations of the past week, rankings of the teams after the week, and other things that will be determined at a later date.
Look out for this, and I should be much better at breaking down the NFL and NBA than I am with soccer and baseball, because I have a more extensive background with these two sports.
But also look for a breakdown of the NASCAR race from Michigan this week. And also look out for my attempt to try to sound like I know what I am talking about with breaking down the University of Iowa's football squad this upcoming year. The UofI breakdown will also be coming soon.
While I will continue to try to avoid all preseason games except the Bears, I am planning on working on creating a preseason ranking of the top 15/16 teams in my eyes in the NFL. This will be based on last year, and the offseason each team has had. Included with the numerical ranking will be 3 or 4 things I expect to see from that team, breakout players, a star watch, and why that team is located where they are in the rankings. There might be other things included with these things if I think of some, but we'll see.
After the rankings will be the way I see the postseason breaking down all the way to the Super Bowl, where I will pick a winner. I will also pick breakout player, rookie of the year, MVP's, and coach of the year for each league.
Weekly NFL columns will be found on my blog during the NFL season, which will in many ways mirror that of Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback with observations of the past week, rankings of the teams after the week, and other things that will be determined at a later date.
Look out for this, and I should be much better at breaking down the NFL and NBA than I am with soccer and baseball, because I have a more extensive background with these two sports.
But also look for a breakdown of the NASCAR race from Michigan this week. And also look out for my attempt to try to sound like I know what I am talking about with breaking down the University of Iowa's football squad this upcoming year. The UofI breakdown will also be coming soon.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Zambrano signs extension
Maybe it's the team or maybe it's the position. Either way, I'm terrified for the upcoming five/six years of Carlos Zambrano's future. If Zambrano is indeed crazy, logic says that he can't be trusted with a lot of money. Exhibit A: Mike Tyson. |
Sunday, August 12, 2007
News Flash Cubs Fans
News flash Cubs fans -- your team is in serious trouble.
The Chicago Cubs, who a couple weeks ago were the hottest team in baseball, have cooled off considerably. In their last ten games the north-siders are 3-7 with holes being displayed over those ten games in the starting pitching and power hitting.
Replacing Alfonso Soriano (the Cubs best power hitter) with the platoon of Matt Murton, Cliff Floyd, and Jacque Jones has forced Cubs skipper Lou Piniella to create a lineup full of singles hitters that do not strike fear in opposing ball clubs. The only healty hitter that consistently hits for power in the Cubs lineup is Derrek Lee, and even he is struggling to hit the ball out of the park this year compared to years previous. And without multiple healthy players capable of hitting for power (homeruns and doubles), there will be stretches of games where the team struggles to score runs (see: 3 wins in past 10 games).
The lack of run production is especially troublesome because of the struggles of some of the Cubs starting pitchers. Sean Marshall and Rich Hill have struggled mightly, with Hill looking as if he can't handle the pressure of pitching in a pennant race. But the struggles are not limited to the two tall lefties. Jason Marquis, a sinker ball pitcher who does not strike out many hitters, is inconsistent because he throws his mediocre sinker far too much, a pitch hitters are more than capable of hitting.
And while the team is in a load of trouble, Cubs fans (in typical fashion) are more concerned about Milwaukee's recent struggles (which can be expected without the ace of their staff, Ben Sheets), and do not realize that the St Louis Cardinals are only four games behind of their struggling ball club.
My prediction (if anyone cares), due to the latest run of play, is that the Cubs will not make the playoffs. They will finish third in the NL central because of a struggling starting staff, and the difficulty the team will have stringing singles together to support their pitchers.
The Chicago Cubs, who a couple weeks ago were the hottest team in baseball, have cooled off considerably. In their last ten games the north-siders are 3-7 with holes being displayed over those ten games in the starting pitching and power hitting.
Replacing Alfonso Soriano (the Cubs best power hitter) with the platoon of Matt Murton, Cliff Floyd, and Jacque Jones has forced Cubs skipper Lou Piniella to create a lineup full of singles hitters that do not strike fear in opposing ball clubs. The only healty hitter that consistently hits for power in the Cubs lineup is Derrek Lee, and even he is struggling to hit the ball out of the park this year compared to years previous. And without multiple healthy players capable of hitting for power (homeruns and doubles), there will be stretches of games where the team struggles to score runs (see: 3 wins in past 10 games).
The lack of run production is especially troublesome because of the struggles of some of the Cubs starting pitchers. Sean Marshall and Rich Hill have struggled mightly, with Hill looking as if he can't handle the pressure of pitching in a pennant race. But the struggles are not limited to the two tall lefties. Jason Marquis, a sinker ball pitcher who does not strike out many hitters, is inconsistent because he throws his mediocre sinker far too much, a pitch hitters are more than capable of hitting.
And while the team is in a load of trouble, Cubs fans (in typical fashion) are more concerned about Milwaukee's recent struggles (which can be expected without the ace of their staff, Ben Sheets), and do not realize that the St Louis Cardinals are only four games behind of their struggling ball club.
My prediction (if anyone cares), due to the latest run of play, is that the Cubs will not make the playoffs. They will finish third in the NL central because of a struggling starting staff, and the difficulty the team will have stringing singles together to support their pitchers.
Wayne Rooney's broken foot
In Manchester United's season opening match, Wayne Rooney suffered a fractured right foot minutes before halftime. While losing Rooney is a definite blow to ManU, they still possess an abundance of strikers (especially considering they signed one of the best in the world, Carlos Tevez).
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