Optimism Justified for Minnesota Vikings

At this time of year, all teams are optimistic about the upcoming season and why not? Off season trades and the NFL draft infuse new blood into sometimes tired rosters giving even the most desperate teams a feeling of hope.  While we at PossessionPoints.com admire the positive attitudes that all teams have, we believe that there are some teams, more than others, who deserve to hold on to those high hopes and optimism.  For us, the Minnesota Vikings are one such team.

 

The Vikings are coming off a season where they ranked ninth in offense, fourth in defense and fifth overall according to the PossessionPoints statistic. While our rankings may differ from the traditional total yardage-type rankings, they do display a high correlation to winning. For example, we projected the 2008 Vikings would go 9-7 and take the division title.  We were a little off in that they won the division with a 10-6 record.

 

Based on those PossessionPoints rankings, we would have expected to see the Vikings work on offense first in the draft. So, we were not taken aback when they did exactly that drafting wide receiver Percy Harvin from Florida and offensive tackle Phil Loadholt from Oklahoma. These selections, coupled with their upgrade at backup QB with the acquisition of Sage Rosenfels (maybe starter after preseason), have prompted us to make an upward adjustment of at least five percent to Minnesota’s offensive numbers from last year.

 

For reference purposes, a five percent adjustment either positive or negative is considered a small adjustment in PossessionPoints. An average adjustment would range between 10 and 15 percent up or down, and a significant adjustment would be 20 percent or more in either direction. 

 

Minnesota’s three remaining draft picks went to the defensive side of the ball, and we are not yet sure if they got any impact players. With this in mind, we are most likely to forecast that their defense will be about the same as last year. There is certainly room for improvement with the Vikings in defense since they were 22 percent behind the league-leading Ravens. However, given that they ranked fourth in defense last season by our statistic, an unchanged forecast is not all that bad. Even if they remain unchanged in PossessionPoints, they should still easily be a top-10 defense next season.

 

There is another factor that gives support to our belief that the Vikings should be a tough team again in 2009. By our stat from last season’s performances, the Vikings have the second easiest schedule in 2009.  The difficulty is pretty balanced between home and road games as Minnesota has the fifth easiest home and the fifth easiest road schedules. (Having the Lions twice on their schedule does help).

 

We are long way from making our adjustments to all the teams in the league, and when we do complete the adjustments, the picture may change drastically. For instance, a significant upward adjustment in the Lions’ projected performance could spell trouble for teams who have to face a new Detroit team twice. As we get closer to the season, we will draw more a more concrete picture.  As of now, our outlook for the Vikings in 2009 remains positive and hopeful.

 

The 2009 Miami Dolphins: The Comprehensive Guide

The 2009-2010 NFL season is slowly creeping up on us.  Preseason is a mere three months away. 

It is never to early to take a look at the season at hand.

Contents:

1. Overview

2. Projected two-deep lineup

3. Draft analysis

4. Position analysis and overall Player Ranking

5. Schedule Prediction

6. Closing

Overview

The Miami Dolphins were the talk of the league last year.  Taking a team from 1-15 to 11-5 seems like an impossible task. 

Leave it to the Tuna to step in and do the impossible. 

The 2008 Miami Dolphins not only improved their horrendous record by the most wins in NFL history, they also won the AFC East division crown.

Can they repeat?  It depends on a few pieces.  This team will depend on a couple of young players to step in and play well early, and a few bounces will have to go their way.

The coaching staff is one of the best in the league.  They are young, fired up, and ready to take the challenge of defending their crown in a possibly cut-throat division. 

Projected Two-Deep Lineup

Starter First, Backup Second

(R) = Rookie

Offense:

QB: Chad Pennington, Chad Henne

HB: Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams

FB: Lousake Polite, Chris Brown

WR 1: Ted Ginn, Jr., Brandon Lonon

WR 2: Greg Camarillo, Patrick Turner (R)

Slot Receiver: Devone Bess, Brandon Hartline (R)

TE: Anthony Fasano, David Martin

LT: Jake Long, Brandon Frye

LG: Justin Smiley, Andy Alleman

C: Jake Grove

RT: Vernon Carey, Nate Garner

RG: Donald Thomas, Joe Berger

Defense:

LDE: Kendall Langford, Tony McDaniel

NT: Jason Ferguson, Pail Soliai

RDE: Philip Merling, Randy Starks

LOLB: Matt Roth, Quentin Moses

LILB: Channing Crowder, William Kershaw

RILB: Akin Ayodele, Reggie Torbor

ROLB: Joey Porter, Charlie Anderson

LCB: Will Allen, Sean Smith (R)

RCB: Vontae Davis (R), Jason Allen

FS: Gibril Wilson, Courtney Bryan

SS: Yeremiah Bell, Tyrone Culver

Draft Analysis

Round 1, Pick 25: Vontae Davis, CB, 5’11”, 203, Illinois

This was the right pick to make.  Vontae Davis may have a slight attitude issue…he thinks that he is the world’s best athlete, and some reports say he is a bit hard to coach.  However, if Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano cannot handle him, no one can. 

He has good size, good speed, and plays with great technique.  I predict he will start this year.

Pick Grade: A

Round 2, Pick 44: Pat White, Athlete, 6’0″, 197, West Virginia

I am one of those people who love this pick.  I can understand why people do not like it, but for me, I think the only negative is that he may have been available at their next second round pick, but I like how that pick turned out anyway.

Pat is a leader.  He is the all-time all-purpose yards leader at quarterback in Big East history.  You can see more about how I feel about Pat White in this article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/163092-why-pat-white-should-reinvent-the-miami-dolphins-offense.

Pick Grade: A+

Round 2, Pick 61: Sean Smith, CB, 6’4″, 214, Utah

The last of the picks that I love.  Who would not crave a 6’4″ CB?  Apparently the rest of the NFL, as scouts say he is too tall to play the NFL corner position.  In a division with Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, I beg to differ.

He lacks elite speed, but has plenty to spare to cover these receivers.  He should play a solid backup role this season and be groomed to be the starter across from Vontae.  It may very well give Miami its best corner duo since Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain.

The only negative for me is that Miami could have used a nose tackle.

Pick Grade: B+

Round 3, Pick 87: Patrick Turner, WR, 6’5″, 223, Southern California

I am not sold on this pick, but you can tell this current Dolphins regime loves size.  With the proper coaching, he could become a very imposing figure in the red zone.

People compare him to Keyshawn Johnson.  He uses his body to fend off receivers.  His production in college is suspect, however, which is strange considering he had so much talent around him.

We shall see.

Pick Grade: C-

Round 4, Pick 103: Brian Hartline, WR, 6’2″, 195, Ohio State

I am not sure about this pick either, but I like this kid a lot.  He has great speed and has good hands.  His college production was lackluster, with his career totals sitting at 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

NFL scouts have been quoted as saying he has some of the largest hands of any receiver in the draft.  With his 6’2″ frame, long arms, and big hands, he has the potential to be a very good receiver. 

Pick Grade: C+

Round 5, Pick 161: John Nalbone, TE, 6’4″, 251, Monmouth

This could be a diamond in the rough.  This guy has great size, 4.6 speed, can block, and is an All-American player for Monmouth.  The one negative I can see is he played for a small school.

However, I love the fact that Parcells looked at skill sets and not schools.  (See Kendall Langford and his production last year as a rookie).  He will push for a backup role. 

He may even beat out David Martin for that No. 2 spot.

Stay tuned.

Pick Grade: B

Round 5, Pick 165: Chris Clemons, FS, 6’1″, 210, Clemson

I am not sure about this pick.  Chris Clemons has speed to burn…he was clocked at 4.33 at the Combine, and was ranked the No. 3 free safety and 91st overall player in the draft.

The only problem is that he is a terrible tackler.  Hopefully after few years on the practice squad or as a special teamer, he will develop into a nice backup option. 

Pick Grade: C-

Round 6, Pick 181: Andrew Gardner, OT, 6’6″, 302, Georgia Tech

I really like this one.  Before a torn labrum, he was considered a third round pick.  When he heals, teams will regret passing on this large specimen of a player.

Excellent value in the sixth round!

Pick Grade: A+

Round 7, Pick 214: J.D. Folsom, OLB, 6’3″, 235, Weber State

This guy has a great story.  He went to Bolivia for two years on a church mission and just had a baby with his Weber State volleyball player wife. 

I wish this guy the best of luck, and the Dolphins told him they would use him on third downs and passing situations as an INSIDE linebacker. 

But come on…you could have picked him up in free agency and spent this pick on a higher ranked player. 

Bill Parcells knows what he is doing…even if sometimes we don’t understand!

Pick Grade: F

I believe this was a fruitful draft for Miami. Two potential starting cornerbacks, an intriguing QB prospect, and a couple of skilled receivers highlight this draft for me.

Overall Draft Grade: B

Positional Analysis

Quarterback:

I believe that the Dolphins have the best roster of QB’s since the Dan Marino era.

Chad Pennington was phenomenal last year.  Although he is not flashy, I believe he will continue to be that steady hand the ‘Phins need to succeed.

Chad Henne has shown he has all the tools necessary to be a starter, but will that translate to production on the field? 

He will be feeling the heat from rookie Patrick White, who will probably see more playtime than him this year in the wildcat formation.  This could cause the team to rethink everything if he is successful.

Position Grade: B+

 

Running Back/Full Back:

The R and R Express return for another season.  Ronnie Brown turned in a Pro-Bowl season last year, even if he did not break the 1,000 yard barrier.  However, can he be a great back outside of the Wildcat?

Ricky Williams is a great backup for the team, and I believe could be a starter if need be. 

Depth is an issue with this unit, as Patrick Cobbs and Lex Hilliard are the two backs behind R and R.  Cobbs has a great skill set but is no feature back, and Hilliard has a great deal of growing to do.

Polite is an excellent blocking fullback with some solid receiving skills.

Position Grade: B

 

Wide Receiver:

There are a lot of intriguing options in this group, but there is really no stand-out No. 1 guy.  I feel as though Miami needs to find a clear-cut No. 1 in free agency before the season starts.

As of now, Ted Ginn and Greg Camarillo are slated as the starters.  I really do think Ted Ginn has great potential, and if Camarillo heals quickly he can be a productive receiver. 

Davone Bess and Brandon London were nice surprises last year, especially Bess, who did everything quite well for the ‘Phins as a slot receiver. 

Ernest Wilford will probably be cut, and so we can expect to see the rookies (Turner and Hartline) compete for time as backups.  It really could be worse, though.

Positional Grade: C

 

Tight End:

This is a group of quality tight ends.  They are not the extremely talented game breaker types, ala Antonio Gates or Jason Whitten, but they are very large dependable targets for Pennington and Co.  

Fasano proved last year that he could be a starter with seven touchdown catches.  He is also a solid blocker.  If he becomes a more consistent player, he could be great.

David Martin backs up Fasano, and provides a decent safety blanket.  However, watch for 6’7″ Joey Haynos to come in to block, and John Nalbone could be a sleeper.

Positional Grade: B

 

Offensive Line:

This is probably one of the bigger offensive lines in the NFL.  They also have a nasty streak and will continue to grow into one of the elite units.  Vernon Carey, Jake Long, Jake Grove, and Justin Smiley can all be elite starters.

The key will be that right guard spot.  The guard needs to be athletic enough to pull for the running game, yet be sturdy enough for pass protection. 

There is also a lot of young depth to this unit.

Positional Grade: B+ and improving!

 

Defensive Ends:

The 2008 draft yielded two starters in Kendall Langford and Philip Merling.  These two played extremely well as rookies and are often overlooked. 

Starks and McDaniel have size and strength to compliment Merling and Langford, although the lack of depth on this line seems a bit discerning, and none of the backups really fill the mold of a 3-4 defensive end.  

Positional Grade: C-

 

Nose Tackle:

Jason Ferguson is the epitome of a nose tackle, but at 35-years-old, he has lost a step, and may be a bit undersized at 305 to continue to dominate.  Paul Soliai has the size (6’4″, 355) to be a dominant nose tackle, but his technique has often been critiqued.

The sleeper in this group is free agent pickup Joe Cohen, the young DT who San Fransisco cast off.  The man has the size to play well as a nose tackle, while the 49ers ran him in a 4-3 scheme that did not fit him well.

The Dolphins should have tried to draft a solid NT and should try to scour the waver wires for one.

Positional Grade: D+

 

Linebackers: 

The linebacker unit is an extremely solid unit and is probably the team’s strength.  Each position is at least two deep, and there is a lot of solid youth to go along with the veterans.

Specifically, Joey Porter is phenomenal and is the best outside blitzing linebacker in the league.  Channing Crowder has the swagger and skills to be a defensive leader.  Matt Roth has a never-ending motor and used to play DE, so he is skilled as a pass rusher.

Akin Ayodele was a steal last year.  Torbor, Moses, Anderson, Kershaw, and Folsom all add quality depth to a solid unit.

Positional Grade: A

 

Cornerbacks:

This unit is potentially stronger thanks to the draft.  Will Allen was a good player last year.  Hopefully, that can continue. 

Vontae Davis has infinite potential, and could be a great starter this league.  Sean Smith’s size makes him and great third or fourth corner.  

The wild card is Jason Allen.  Drafted as a safety, his full time switch to DB could either be great or lead Allen to the title of draft bust.  Nate Jones had a couple of nice games, as did Eric Green.

Positional Grade: C-.  It could go higher if Vontae and Sean perform.  Could also go lower.

 

Safety:

Very solid group.  Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell are as strong starters as you will find in this league. 

The backups are all young and have yet to established themselves. 

You may also see Jason Allen play safety if the young corners develop quickly, turning Allen into an all around defensive back.

Positional Grade: B

Special Teams:

This could be a very solid part of the team.  Dan Carpenter is an All-Pro in the making.  Brandon Fields is an excellent punter. 

The question is who will return kicks?  Will it be Bess?  Do you give Ginn another try?  Miami should have drafted Captain Munnerlyn of South Carolina with that seventh pick and used him as a return man.

Positional Grade: B.

Schedule Prediction

Sept 13: @Atlanta

Win.  Sparano proves he deserved Coach of the Year.

Sept 21: Indianapolis

Loss.  Dungy or no Dungy, these Colts still have Manning, and with Miami’s secondary, he could have a field day.

Sept 27: @San Diego

Loss.  San Diego realizes the time for a championship is now and play well all season long.

Oct 4: Buffalo

Win.  Miami wins at home, and T.O. starts to pout right about now.

Oct 12: Jets

Win. The Jets will be good, but what about the quarterback?

Oct 25: New Orleans

Loss.  Another pass-happy team led by Drew Brees carves apart a secondary that may not have found its groove yet.

Nov 1: @Jets

Loss.  The Dolphins lose in New York.

Nov 8: @Patriots

Loss.  The Pats are pissed because of last year. 

Nov 15: Tampa Bay

Win.  The Dolphins snap a three game skid by destroying the Bucs.

Nov 19: @Carolina

Loss.  The Panthers will be NFL elite at this point.

Nov 29: @Buffalo

Win.  Buffalo is in full scale T.O. distraction mode by now.  The Dolphins dismantle the Bills.

Dec 6: Patriots

Loss.  The Patriots are too much for the East this year with Brady back.

Dec 13: Jacksonville

Win.  Miami completes the sweep and becomes the 2009 Florida NFL champs beating Tampa and Jacksonville convincingly.

Dec 20: Tennessee

Win.  I do not buy the Titans this year. 

Dec 27: Houston

Win.  The Texans will be a highly improved team this year, but so will the Dolphins.

Jan 3: Pittsburgh

Win.  The Steelers will have wrapped up home field, and will rest starters.  The Dolphins may be playing for a wild card spot. 

Closing

I have the Dolphins sitting at 9-7.  The two less wins by no means says this team is not superior to the 2008 team. 

There was something magical about that team, no doubt, but the schedule this year is intense.  I feel as though the Dolphins are fighting for the final wild card spot.  They had a great draft and have addressed many needs. 

This team will continue on the right path and will be a serious Super Bowl contender from 2010 and beyond.  

A few solid upsets here and there, and the Dolphins could definitely compete for the East crown again. 

 

 

 

Three Giants Veterans Who Will Have To Emerge in 2009

With a multitude of draft slots, the Giants could have traveled down various paths that would be considered logical to alleviate their biggest needs. The most popular theory was that the Giants would trade at least their first round pick to attain Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards.

 

But in what is considered to be the Giants’ way, they came into the draft with 10 selections and left with nine rookies.

 

While the addition of young talent is a cause for excitement in the Meadowlands, there are certain veteran players who have little time to ponder how a Clint Sintim or William Beatty will contribute to the team. Instead, they will have to pick up their game for the team—and for themselves.

 

Eli Manning—Last year was a honeymoon season of sorts for Manning. If he struggled, questions may have flared up regarding if he was a one-month wonder in 2007, but he would have generally gotten a pass from the fans and media.

 

He played well up until December, but was erratic down the stretch, which may have coincided with the suspension of his star receiver. This year, that excuse does not exist for Eli.

 

Sure, his offensive coordinator is under immense scrutiny. Yes, his wide receiver corps consists of question marks and youth. And yes, it will be windy in December and January. But he still has to produce. This is a championship-quality squad and the Giants have a chance to be special this season.

 

The acquisition of a Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin would have taken some of the load off of Eli’s shoulders, but neither of them will likely be Giants when they kick off the year at home against the Redskins.

 

Ultimately, Manning will have to thrive with talented, yet equally unproven targets. An upper tier quarterback is supposed to make his receivers look better then they are said to be. Let’s see if Manning does just that this year.

 

Ahmad Bradshaw—Fans can question many things about Bradshaw. But not his honesty. When asked by former teammate Michael Strahan if he preferred that both Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs return in 2009, Bradshaw simply responded with a “No.”

 

And who can blame him? He emerged from the depths where a seventh round rookie lurked into virtual stardom with a terrific playoff campaign. Then Derrick Ward came back from his broken leg in 2008 and complemented Brandon Jacobs in arguably the most dominant running game in the league.

 

Bradshaw was a mere bystander for most of the season, as he predominantly got his yards late in blowouts.

 

When thrust into the middle of a seesaw Sunday night game in Philadelphia, Bradshaw ran for nearly 40 yards on just five carries. But it could have been more had it not been for a fumble on the tail end of a long run in the third quarter. This fumble provoked Tom Coughlin to keep the ball in the hands of Ward and Jacobs for the rest of the game.

 

Bradshaw has had a history of fumbles stemming from his collegiate playing days, and while the Giants coaching staff has a history with curing fumbling ills (Tiki Barber anyone?), it is no given Bradshaw will repair his issue.

 

The Giants have two talented backs right behind Bradshaw on the depth chart. Rookie Andre Brown, who has drawn comparisons to Ward, and Danny Ware, who had a solid preseason in 2008.

 

Kevin Boss—One thing that can be said about Kevin Boss is that when the ball is thrown his way, good things generally happen. Except the ball wasn’t thrown his way too often. In just 33 catches he passed the first down marker 21 times and had six touchdowns, a very good rate.

 

But he did not command the amount of attention that a more respected tight end would, and without Plaxico Burress this really hurt the Giants down the stretch. The Giants were reportedly interested in acquiring Tony Gonzales at the deadline during the middle of the 2008 season and as recently as a month ago, but they passed both times.

 

Although the Giants’ offense hasn’t been predicated much on the tight end catching the ball in the last few years, the Giants do want Boss to emerge into a threat. He has good speed, a solid build, and rarely drops the ball.

 

But a tight end could be a quarterback’s best friend when the weather gets nasty, and if Boss proves he can’t produce in those situations, then the Giants may be tempted to acquire a tight end that can.

 

The Giants did draft a tight end in the third round, but Jerry Reese claimed that was to give Manning an option out of the backfield. However, if Beckum proves to be a reliable pass catcher he could see more action at tight end on passing downs, while Boss would be relegated to merely a blocking role.

 

Washington Redskins: Will Snyder and Cerato Go After Michael Vick?

Former Atlanta Falcon Michael Vick will be released from federal prison on May 20, and will serve out the rest of his sentence under home confinement.

If he is reinstated into the NFL, how long will it take for Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Vinny Cerato to dial up the Atlanta Falcons’ front office?

It’s no secret that current starting quarterback Jason Campbell isn’t wanted in D.C.  

After publicly striking out in a deal that would have brought in Jay Cutler, missing out on a trade that would have put them in place to take USC star Mark Sanchez in 2009 NFL Draft, and signing Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel to a free agent contract, the Redskins have all but kicked Campbell to the curb.

That’s where Vick comes in.

Vick would actually be a good fit for the Redskins.  He is from Virginia and starred at Virginia Tech.  Although he lost thousands of fans with his off the field problems, it isn’t a reach to say there are still thousands in Virginia who would love to see Vick in Burgundy and Gold.  That means jersey sales, media attention, and other dollar signs for Snyder and company.

On the field, Vick is not as good of a passer as Campbell, but would still be an upgrade because of his unbelievable athletic ability.  That is, if he still has that ability.

After a 23-month prison sentence, how rusty will he be?  The word is he has stayed in shape and even quarterbacked for the prison’s football team.  It’s probably safe to say there weren’t any players like Demarcus Ware breathing down his neck in the pen, though.

So will Snyder go after Vick?  And at what cost?  If I were Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, I’d be giddy that I get to deal with the Redskins and their incompetent owner.  The Redskins still have the 2010 first round draft pick, and although they kept good on their word not to trade it during the 2009 draft, I can see it happening.

Simplifying the NFL: Atlanta Falcons Edition

Simplifying the NFL is a little project I am working on. What I’m going to do is quite simple. I am going to basically be making a cheat sheet for every team that I can possibly do. 

I decided to start with the Falcons, because, well, they are truly what I know. I hope you enjoy.

 

Head Coach: Mike Smith

Key Offensive Players: Matt Ryan—Quarterback, Michael Turner—Running Back, and Roddy White—Wide Receiver

Key Defensive Players: John Abraham—Defensive End, Curtis Loftin—Middle Linebacker, and Erik Coleman—Free Safety

Other Important Players: Jerious Norwood—Running Back/Kick Returner and Michael Koenen—Punter and Kick Off Specialist

Young Talent: Matt Ryan—Quarterback, Curtis Loftin—Middle Linebacker, and Chevis Jackson—Cornerback 

Players that are not back: Keith Brooking—Outside Linebacker, Michael Boley—Outside Linebacker, and Grady Jackson

New Faces: Tony Gonzalez—Tight End, Peria Jerry—Defensive Tackle (Draft), and Mike Peterson—Outside Linebacker (Free Agency). 

Goal on Offense: To run Turner as many times as possible to open up the passing lanes for Ryan and White to attack the offense down field. 

Strength on Offense: A Running Back who can carry the ball 30 times in a game as well as a complete wide receiving core. 

Weakness on Offense: The age of the center and depth on the offensive line

Goal on Defense: To contain the opposing team’s offense and rushing the passer with four down linemen. 

Strength on Defense: John Abraham and Erick Coleman Thats it. 

Weakness on Defense: The cornerbacks are all extremely young and inexperienced. 

Offseason Methods: To get what the team needs. The goal is to only patch the roster up with free agency. The goal in the draft is to fill the biggest need that is evaluated by the team. 

Rivals (Official): Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, and Carolina Panthers

Rivals (Unofficial): Philadelphia Eagles (pending on this year’s Bears game, the Bears could join this list)

Best Moment Last Season: Last second miraculous win over the Chicago Bears

Last Season Ended: First Round in the NFC Playoffs to the NFC Champion Cardinals

This Season Starts: Against the Miami Dolphins

 

Hope you enjoyed this little simplification of the Atlanta Falcons Tell me what you thought. Seriously, I need feedback on this project. 

 

GM Jerry Angelo Interview summary from ESPN 1000 Part II

Al Davis Assistant Position Available

Dear Mr. Davis,

I was recently informed that you were in need of a personal assistant and thought I might inquire about this exciting opportunity.

This past weekend, I had the chance to follow along with your draft picks.  I must say, you seem to have a special intuition for what makes a great professional football player.  I have a feeling we probably have a lot in common.

Like yourself, I have a disdain for the so-called experts.  They think that just because they spend their time researching how something works, studying the traits of people who have been successful, and all that other nonsense, that gives them a platform to tell other people what they should do.  I too suffered through eight years of listening to these idiots before I finally mustered up the courage to tell my 9th grade teacher I wouldn’t be going to school anymore. 

Instead of droning on about my resume, let me just give you some examples of how I could be a great asset for you and your Raiders organization.

1. The Heyward-Bey pick was brilliant.  While all these other teams were wasting their time watching game film, you steadfastly held that stopwatch above your head and declared the next Jerry Rice would be a Raider.  Because speed trumps everything, right?  That’s why my first business trip would be to Jamaica, where I will make Usain Bolt fall in love with Oakland.

2. Next item on the agenda: get rid of Janikowski.  We can do much better.  If you’ll just ante up a bit more money, I think I could get Tiger Woods to switch sports.  He can drive a golf ball well over 300 yards…just think of what he could do kicking a football!

3. Did I mention I know a plastic surgeon who specializes in making faces less transparent?  He’s working with basketball analyst Hubie Brown on a new experimental technique right now.  Just say the word and I’ll hook you up.

4. I cannot believe the media is doubting your second pick, Michael Mitchell.  If you hired me, I would talk some sense into everybody.  Sure, he was projected as a fifth to seventh round pick.  Whatever.  You knew the Bears were gonna pick this guy otherwise, and how could we live with ourselves if we let the Bears have him?! 

We play the Bears at least once every two or three years!  The mere sight of Michael Mitchell wearing a Bears uniform would make me want to slit my wrists.

5. This game of drafting players is all about progressive thinking.  Somewhere in the jungles of Cambodia, there’s a kid that can throw a durian fruit at 60 miles per hour.  We need to be ready to jump on this talent before anyone else does.  You can teach things like team leadership, the complexities of the NFL playbook, pocket presence, and general hand-eye coordination.  That’s the easy stuff.  But you can’t teach fruit tossing.

Before you interview the next person for the job, picture it in your head—a perfect Cambodian spiral darting through the air into Usain Bolt’s outstretched hands in the back of the end zone, capped by Tiger Woods’ extra point that rips through the back netting and lands somewhere in the San Francisco bay.

I look forward to hearing from you soon about the assistant position.  Thanks again for your time and consideration.

Top Ten Passers Of ’09

Well you would think, well it is Draft time and i should be talking about that, but I thought it would be more fitting to do this, the NFL as we Know is a pass-happy league nowadays and thats how it is, so it got me thinking of QB performances, so i compiled a list of who i think will lead Passing this year, and none of them listed are rookies because i dont see a breakout year for Rookie QBs that we saw last year, and the man shown above Jake Delhomme just got kicked out of my top 10 so anyways on with the show.
(Note: i originally intended to publish this before the draft but I waited a alittle bit to put it together because ive been busy)

Merrill Reese: The Voice Of Philadelphia

“It’s Gooooood! It’s Gooooood!” Eagles’s fans know the pretty basic, famous quote of this man of men very well.

If any Eagles’ fan tells you they don’t love Merrill Reese, they are lying. His fairly monotone, very recognizable voice can be heard calling the plays of every Eagle’s game since 1977—that’s 10 years before I was even born.

Wow.

It is an undeniable fact that he is the voice of the Philadelphia Eagles and along with the late Harry Kalas, the voice of the “City of Brotherly Love.”

I can remember from an early age muting every week’s Eagles game and putting on 94.1 WYSP just hear him call the game. It is the voice that chills are made of. The way Merrill paints a picture of the action is mind blowing. Whether it is a game winning field goal or a rush of three yards up the middle, you always feel like you are “under center” with Merrill.

Even though it is a fairly new call, Merrill’s call of the 102-yard interception return by Lito Sheppard will be stuck in my head forever. “Intercepted! Intercepted! Running down the left sideline…the 50…40…30…20…10…Lito Sheppard, running with the football…and he dives into the end zone! He dives into the end zone!”

Merrill is a hometown product, born September 2, 1942 in Philadelphia. He got his degree in communications from Temple University, right in the heart of the city. After bouncing around from gig to gig, Merrill worked as a backup for WIP’s Charlie Smith. From there he worked his way up and finally, was assigned the color commentary job for Eagle’s games.

Ever since he was a kid, it was his dream to call Philadelphia Eagles’ games. He is now living his dream and has done so for over three decades, as is chronicled in his book “It’s Gooooood,” published in 1998.

On May 15, 2005, Merrill Reese was given the Broadcaster of the Year Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters

Going into his 32^nd year, he is tied for the longest-serving current announcer in the NFL with Gil Santos, the voice of the New England Patriots.

 

Todd Boeckman Ohio State Quarter Back: Bengal

Todd Boeckman: One of the nations most under rated quarterbacks. He went to St. Henry’s high school and attended the Ohio St. University for college.

He was red shirted and then grey shirted. After Troy Smith left, he finally got the starting job. In his senior year however, he lost it to Terrell Pryor. Lets explore his past, present, and future.

Boeckman was born June 8, 1984 in the rural town of St. Henry’s, Ohio. There he grew up and went to St. Henry’s high school.

He was one of the nations top recruits and went to Ohio St. University. His first year as starter, his stats were: 191/299 pass comp. 63.9 %, 25 T.D.’s and 14 interceptions. After he lost his starting job, he had 5 T.D.’s to 2 interceptions.

Now Boeckman plays for the Cincinati Bengals. He was undrafted then signed from free agency. Hopefully he’ll see some action in the years to come. 

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