Same Old Story? Saints Will Be on Cusp of Playoffs in 2009

The New Orleans Saints have wasted two years of quarterback Drew Brees’ prime.

After missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season since Brees led them to the NFC Championship game, they fired defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs, replaced him with the highly respected Gregg Williams, and revamped their suspect secondary.

The changes should make them good enough to return to the postseason, but it’s hardly a slam dunk. The offense needs to be just as explosive as last year, when Brees nearly set the NFL single-season passing record and New Orleans led the league in yards and points. The defense, still no juggernaut, needs to come up big in critical moments.

The pass defense, which ranked 23rd last year, will make or break the Saints’ season.

Last year, the defensive backs came up empty too many times, even when they were in perfect position. Case in point: Carolina receiver Steve Smith’s 39-yard catch of a jump ball in tight double coverage near the end of regulation in the season finale. That play, which never should have happened, helped the Panthers kick a field goal with one second left after New Orleans had rallied from a 30-10 deficit to go ahead 31-30.

The off-season changes came quickly. 

The Saints cut starting safeties Josh Bullocks and Kevin Kaesviharn and picked up 11-year NFL starter Darren Sharper from the Minnesota Vikings. They also signed Pierson Prioleau, a veteran safety who played for Williams in Buffalo, Washington and Jacksonville. They join Usama Young, who will switch to free safety from corner-back, and Roman Harper.

Sharper, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, is on the downside of his career, but the Saints don’t need a world-beater. They just need a guy who won’t get beaten by seemingly everyone in the world. 

The Saints’ top three corner-backs should be free-agent pickup Jabari Greer, who returned two interceptions for touchdowns for the Buffalo Bills last season; Tracy Porter, who started the first five games as a rookie before being sidelined with a dislocated right wrist; and rookie Malcolm Jenkins, the No. 14 pick in the draft. All are potential upgrades, but they are unproven in New Orleans.

The key to a turnaround may not be the new players, but the new guy coaching them. Williams, a nine-year coordinator and three-year head coach, brings better credentials than Gibbs, who never had run an NFL defense when Saints coach Sean Payton hired him.

Williams’ defenses have ranked 10th or better five times in the last nine years and have finished third or higher three times—once each during his stops at Tennessee, Buffalo and Washington. The Saints finished in the bottom 10 defensively the past two seasons.

Williams should coax more production out of highly paid ends Charles Grant and Will Smith, who combined for six sacks last season. The Saints were 22nd in the NFL with 28 sacks, exposing their undermanned secondary.

If the pass rush and coverage improve even marginally, the Saints will make a run at the playoffs. They were closer than their 8-8 record indicated last season, losing five games by three points or fewer and scoring 70 more points than they allowed.

They re-signed their two key unrestricted free agents—linebacker Jonathan Vilma and offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb.

Their kicking game, which cost them two games early in the year, improved dramatically when midseason pickup Garrett Hartley connected on all 13 of his field goal attempts.

They will miss the power running of Deuce McAllister, but his bad knees reduced him to a short-yardage specialist. A healthy Reggie Bush and the underrated Pierre Thomas, who averaged 4.8 yards a carry last season, can hold their own in a pass-first offense.

The Saints have no shot, though, if the passing game falls off even a little bit. New Orleans was No. 1 in offense primarily because of Brees’ brilliance. He was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 5,069 yards—15 shy of former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino’s record total in 1984. Brees camouflaged the flaws in an average receiving corps with his pinpoint delivery and terrific decision-making.

The receivers, not the running backs, are the Saints’ most significant concern on offense. They struggled to get consistent separation, leading to Brees’ high interception total (17) as he tried to force the ball into tight coverage.

Marques Colston, who missed five games after injuring his left thumb in the season opener, dropped numerous passes when he returned. He finished with a career-low 47 catches.

Lance Moore, who emerged as Brees’ go-to-guy in Colston’s absence, averaged a modest 11.7 yards on his team-high 79 catches.

Devery Henderson, the Saints’ best deep threat, averaged a whopping 24.8 yards but had only 32 receptions because of his inconsistent hands.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey, limited by a groin injury, had zero touchdowns among his 50 receptions and averaged only 9.7 yards on his catches. He was less effective than backup Billy Miller (45 catches, 579 yards).

Second-year wideout Robert Meachem was virtually invisible, busting too many assignments to earn consistent playing time.

The Saints have enough pluses to make the playoffs and enough minuses to be looking at tiebreaker scenarios as they chase that elusive goal in late December.

Marino, the man Brees chased all of last season, missed the postseason four years in a row in the prime of his career (1986-89) because the parts around him weren’t good enough.

That’s one mark Brees has no interest in catching, but he is in danger of inching closer this year.

Pat and Kevin Williams: It’s Time to Serve Four-Game Suspensions

The Minnesota Vikings are heading into the 2009 season with high expectations.  Those expectations could soar even higher if Brett Favre comes out of retirement yet again to sign with the hated rival of the Green Bay Packers. 

Yet looming in the background of a season that many speculate as “the year” is the Pat and Kevin Williams saga. 

Late last year, the two standout defensive linemen tested positive for a substance known as Bumetanide, a substance commonly used to mask the use of illegal steroids. 

While the pair denied the use of steroids and subsequent drug tests have found no evidence of steroid use, Bumetanide is still a banned substance. Thus prompting the league to hand out a four-game suspension.

With the help of the Players’ Association, the Williams (and three New Orleans Saints players) filed a lawsuit against the NFL to get their suspensions lifted.  It worked, temporarily. 

A judge originally ruled to allow them to play last season, but it appears as that was only a short term reprieve from the inevitable suspension. 

U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson has dismissed the Players’ Association lawsuit, meaning the coming suspension is only a matter of time. 

The league was quick to make a statement in support of the judge’s decision.

The question now is, when will they be required to serve their four-game suspension? 

Conventional wisdom would suggest they drop their attempts to have it stalled and serve it the first four games of the season. 

Neither Cleveland, Detroit, or Green Bay have very strong running games.  San Fransisco’s Frank Gore would be the strongest RB on the docket for those four games.

If they continue to stall, they could be in for some trouble down the stretch facing teams with power running games, such as Baltimore and Pittsburgh in back-to-back weeks or Chicago, Carolina, and the New York Giants all at end of the season. 

If anything can be learned from the disaster that was Maurice Clarett, it’s that the NFL gets its way in federal court.  

Balance Will Be Key to Eagles Success in 2009

PHILADELPHIA—After an awful tie with the Cincinnati Bengals and a disastrous loss to the Baltimore Ravens that led to the benching of quarterback Donovan McNabb, the Eagles made it to the 2008 postseason by winning four out of their last five games.

 

The Birds’ formula for success during a playoff run that eventually led them to the NFC Championship game was a huge departure from head coach Andy Reid’s pass-happy approach to play-calling. During the stretch of games that put Philly into the playoffs, they showed balance on offense.

 

In three of the four wins that clinched wild card berth, the Birds ran more than they passed. In each of those victories, the Eagles as a team rushed for more than a 100 yards.

 

With the new players the Eagles have brought in through the 2009 NFL Draft and through free agency, Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg need to maintain that approach that got them into the playoffs last season.

 

If the new Birds’ personnel, especially the rookies, can be good enough to get some significant playing time, you’re going to see an Eagles team that will utilize the running game enough to keep opposing defenses from sending the kitchen sink at McNabb.

 

Not only did the Birds not utilize their rush offense very often, they did a poor job of executing when they did run. In losses to the Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, and New York Giants, the Eagles inability to convert on short yardage situations was the deciding factor.

 

The Eagles are hoping the signing of former Seattle Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver will help open up some holes for running back Brian Westbrook.

 

At 6′ 0″,  242-pounds, Weaver is an experienced, legitimate blocking fullback in the way that converted fullback Tony Hunt and former defensive tackle Dan Klecko were not. It helps that Weaver, who played under Reid mentor Mike Holmgren, is familiar with the Eagles offense and understands his role.

 

“What they’ve asked me to do in terms of my job and what I’m expecting as a player is to come in and lead block and open up some holes for Westbrook. That’s my plan,” Weaver said in a conference call with the Philadelphia media last March.

 

“I saw where Andy Reid comes from, he comes out of Mike Holmgren’s offense and I looked at that and said that’s the same exact offense that we run, so it won’t be a learning curve, it will be an opportunity for me to come right away and be full steam ahead to play.”

 

The Eagles are hoping rookie LeSean McCoy can quickly learn the offense and pass block well enough to get some carries in the running game to take the load off Westbrook, who spent a lot of time in the training room last season because of several nagging injuries.

 

The thing McCoy will need to do to get on the field is to learn how to pass block. If he does that, you would like to think the Eagles will utilize him the running game, especially in short yardage situations.

 

The reality is the Eagles are going to need McCoy and veteran backup running back Lorenzo Booker to be reliable backups to the injury-prone Westbrook. If they want to keep Westbrook fresh and the chains moving on short yardage situations, McCoy and Booker are going to need some touches.

 

If the Eagles can be successful at running ball, the passing game can only get better, right?

 

Well, for one thing, the tight end position should be a reliable target and McNabb’s safety valve when the outside receivers are covered. Brent Celek’s emergence during the postseason made it easier for the Eagles to say goodbye to L.J. Smith who underachieved during his time in Philly.

 

During the playoffs last season, Celek caught 19 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns—including two in the NFC title game. If he continues to improve, you will see the Eagles pass the ball to a reliable pass catcher, especially in red zone and short yardage situations.

 

The Birds will have some athleticism at the tight end position with rookies Cornelius Ingram (6′ 4”, 245-pounds) and Eugene Bright (6′ 4”, 255-pounds). If any of these players can get some quality playing time, McNabb will have additional weapons in the passing game.

 

If first-round draft pick Jeremy Maclin either breaks into the starting lineup or gets significant playing time to go along with DeSean Jackson, Hank Baskett, Jason Avant, and Kevin Curtis, the wide receiver position will finally be a position of strength rather than a liability.

 

Maclin will not only help stretch the field for the Eagles in the passing game, but look for Reid to throw in a few wrinkles that will utilize the speed of Maclin and Jackson. You will more than likely see a few more end arounds or maybe even the “Wildcat.”

 

If opposing defenses are worried about defending Eagles receivers, it’s going to be easier for Westbrook to be even more dangerous in the passing game. What vaulted Westbrook into a threat that he has become over the years dates back to 2004 when Terrell Owens was the Eagles go-to receiver. The extra added attention on Owens put Westbrook in one-on-one situations with defenders that simply could not cover him.

 

With the speed the Birds have at the wide receiver position, it’s logical to think the Eagles can just pass on almost every play. To the contrary, the Birds can be a more effective passing team if they can establish the running game in the way they did at the end of last season.

 

To make sure the Eagles become more of a balanced attack, the team signed former Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Stacey Andrews and former Patriots left tackle Jason Peters. The Eagles will move a now healthy Shawn Andrews, Stacey’s younger brother, to the right guard spot.

 

While the Birds like to go airborne with the football, they have a big enough offensive line that would rather run block and play smash-mouth football. For the Eagles have a strong passing game, they’re going to have to run the ball enough to keep teams off balance.

Examining The Unstable AFC North

Since the NFL’s most recent realignment in 2002, the AFC North did not have a repeat champion until the Pittsburgh Steelers accomplished the feat in 2007 and 2008.

The division is so erratic that whichever team the experts prophesy will claim the crown, often, ends up underachieving.

Superbowl XL champion Pittsburgh was expected to follow up its fifth championship with a division title in 2006, but it missed the playoffs altogether.

In 2007, the Baltimore Ravens were lauded as the next juggernaut and were projected to repeat their 2006 performance.  They won only five games.

The Cleveland Browns just missed out on winning the division in ’07 due to a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Steelers, and they were the choice of many to supplant Pittsburgh in ’08.  Instead, injury and ineptitude culminated in a four-win campaign.

Much of the talk before this season’s training camp indicates another two-horse race between the Steelers and the Ravens in 2009.

The NFL has averaged roughly six new teams to the 16-team playoff field every season since the realignment.  The ’08 season saw a one-win team from the previous year become a division champion (the Miami Dolphins). 

Is it truly a stretch to envision either of Ohio’s professional football teams in the AFC North’s top spot at the beginning of January?

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are the champions.

While they will vie for their third consecutive division championship without the services of starting inside linebacker Larry Foote (who was signed by Detroit) and cornerback Bryant McFadden (Arizona), it appears that third-year pros Lawrence Timmons and William Gay are more than capable of taking their respective places.

Star linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, and All-Pro strong safety Troy Polamalu will return, and the defense should be its usual, dominant self under coordinator Dick LeBeau.  Even the defensive line is not so old that it cannot still wreak havoc.  First-round draft choice Evander “Ziggy” Hood will learn much from Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel this season, and he will be ready for regular duty in 2010.

As it has been the last few years, Pittsburgh’s success will hinge on the health of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. 

The questions surrounding his offensive line are as numerous as the sacks it has collectively allowed.

Two offensive linemen were taken in the 2009 draft, and only one, second-round pick Kraig Urbik, is widely considered a challenger for the right guard position.  A.Q. Shipley, center out of Penn State, is a long shot to challenge Justin Hartwig this season.

The Steelers also re-signed tackles Max Starks and Willie Colon, as well as guard Chris Kemoeatu and backup lineman Trai Essex.  It seems the team’s front office is satisfied with a Superbowl title, and less concerned with allowing the fourth-most sacks in the league (49) and boasting the fourth-worst rushing attack in terms of yards per carry (3.7).

As long as Roethlisberger is upright, the Steelers will always have a shot to win a game, a division, or a title, but even a large quarterback can only take so many hits.

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The Baltimore Ravens are hungry.

Last season, they fell just short of winning the division title (the tip of a football) and advancing to the Superbowl (Troy Polamalu’s interception ultimately denied them).

Quarterback Joe Flacco does not figure to experience a “sophomore slump”, just as another popular AFC North QB a few seasons ago, and second-year coach John Harbaugh knows anything is possible.

At first glance, it seems like the Ravens are pretty much intact.  Pulling back a layer, however, reveals that this team looks poised to take a step back.

Baltimore eventually re-signed linebacker Ray Lewis, but one of these seasons will be the one he falls from the tier of the elite.  And, as Lewis had expressed great interest in going to another team this off-season, there may also be a small, but noticeable loss of respect for a player who has long been the “heart” of the defense.

The franchise-tagging of outside linebacker Terrell Suggs was a good move, but the loss of inside linebacker Bart Scott and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan (to the Jets) may disrupt the chaotic harmony of the Ravens’ defensive front seven.

Running back Le’Ron McClain could constitute Baltimore’s “Weapon X” in 2009, but Flacco will have to maintain his 6.9 yards per pass average to keep the opposing defenses from keying on McClain, and he’ll have to exceed it to keep the the team a championship contender.  The health of Todd Heap will factor into Flacco’s success.

Draft-wise, there is no player that screams “instant impact”, but offensive lineman Michael Oher and defensive end Paul Kruger will help keep their respective units from falling too far when age catches up to Baltimore’s present starters.

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The Cincinnati Bengals are optimistic.

They spent most of last season without an experienced quarterback.  Carson Palmer was injured most of the season, playing in only three games and throwing only four touchdowns.  His replacement, Ryan Fitzpatrick (now in Buffalo) played in 13 games and threw only eight touchdowns against nine interceptions.

The Bengals’ scoring output in 2008 was the lowest in all of pro football, and it was barely half of what they amassed in 2007 (204 versus 380).

Defensively, Cincinnati allowed the most points in the division (364), but that number was better than any team in the NFC West.  In terms of total yards allowed, they were in the league’s top half.

Palmer has told the press that he likes his team’s chances, but that will rest squarely on him.  The off-season claimed prolific wide receiver T.J Houshmanzadeh (Seattle).  The acquisition of Laveranues Coles, while a decent receiver, does not provide a replacement.  Chad “Johnson” Ochocinco is is not only volatile on the field, but also in his own locker room.

The most significant keys to Cincy’s success depend on the defense continuing to build on last season and Carson Palmer improving his fourth quarter efficiency from 2007.  That season, Palmer’s QB rating in the fourth quarter was roughly 65.  A tired defense and an inefficient quarterback spells certain doom in close contests.

The Bengals did have eleven draft picks, but the first few were not at the so-called “skill” positions.  It will also be interesting to see how strong safety Roy Williams and defensive tackle Tank Johnson contribute to the evolution of the Bengal ‘D’. 

There are still too many issues in the Queen City to believe that it will be able to challenge Pittsburgh if the defending champs stay healthy.

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The Cleveland Browns are adrift.

By season’s end, injuries had riddled them so much at the quarterback position that Bruce Gradkowski started the final game, playing in an offense he had just started to learn on an emergency basis.

Perhaps the number of quarterback injuries and an ineffective rushing attack (3.9 yards per rush average) prompted the powers-that-be to make sure they drafted a prominent offensive lineman (Alex Mack), but they traded down to get him.

Cleveland’s front office brought in Eric Mangini to replace Romeo Crennel.  It is unclear where Mangini’s priorities lie.  The Browns have several needs to be filled, and instead of focusing on making one or two positions deep and dominant, he appears to be trying to affix band-aids to all of them at once.

The Browns need a reliable backup for tailback Jamal Lewis, but they drafted a running back in the final round (with the 195th pick), and signed untested free agent Noah Herron.

The Browns need to make sure that whichever quarterback is healthy at the moment has someone to catch his passes.  They lost tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr. to Tampa Bay and possibly wide receiver Donte Stallworth to a charge of vehicular manslaughter while DUI. 

The solution, for now, has been to sign second- or third-tier WRs in David Patten and Mike Furrey (and so-so tight end Robert Royal), draft promising wideout Brian Robiskie, and gamble on receiver Mohamed Massaquoi.  Braylon Edwards, coming off a miserable season in 2008, and Joshua Cribbs are the only receivers who have any real rapport with quarterbacks Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.

It is unlikely that Mangini’s new offense (which he will no doubt have) will be effective at first.

While Cleveland’s pass defense was in the middle of the heap, its run-stopping unit was near the bottom.  This is where Mangini may have done the best job.  Signing former Jet Eric Barton, and linebackers David Bowens and Bo Ruud may help plug up the middle.

Between the two teams from the Buckeye State, the Cleveland Browns have the better shot at surprising the division.  They have enough question marks that, if they mostly answer “yes”, could produce a winner.

The S.F. 49ers Are Swiftly Taking On The Personality of Coach Singletary

January 24th, 1982…January 20th, 1985… January 22nd, 1989… January 28th, 1990… Jan 29th, 1995…

What is so significant about these dates? Let me give you a hint: Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Dwight Clark, John Taylor, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, Merton Hanks, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Brent Jones, Ricky Watters, Tom Rathman, Bryant Young, Dana Stubbafield… You still don’t get it?

These are the dates that immortalized the San Francisco 49ers. These are the dates that made average players, good players; good players, all-stars; and all-stars, Hall of Famers. On these days, the San Francisco 49ers became champions.

Don’t you miss those days? I know I do…

I also know that since 2002, the 49ers have been a miserable organization- equivalent to the Detroit Lions.

What has happened? Why have we become irrelevant?

Let’s see…

A soft/weak offensive line; injuries; an inconsistent, mediocre defense; a change in regime and most importantly, Fake leaders: Puppet Head Coaches! Dennis Erickson had a great knowledge for the game, but never made a successful transition from College, to the NFL. On the other hand, Mike Nolan, son of former 49ers Head Coach Dick Nolan, was brought in to bring toughness, and leadership.

There was only one problem… he didn’t have any power! His decisions were always “under the microscope”. Additionally, his “shelf-life” was based on QB Alex Smith’s progress; unfortunately, injuries and a lack of experience postponed QB Alex Smith’s & Head Coach Mike Nolan’s coaching career. What’s next?…

Hold on one second… there’s someone at the door.

“Mike Singletary!!!…The Legend!!!”

Okay, yes… I know that was extremely corny. But people, recognize what this man is bringing to this organization.

Coach Singletary brings credibility to the staff and demands respect- respect for the organization, the fans, the NFL, the coaching staff, their opponents, their teammates, and most importantly, themselves. What’s also special about Coach is that he is a Hall of Fame player; he knows what it takes to win and knows what it takes to have a successful career.

Our 49ers are filled with young stars that sometimes need a drill sergeant, but at the same time, they will need guidance- Singletary is a players’ coach who brings all of that to the table. We had great leaders (Dick Nolan, Bill Walsh, George Seifert), with credibility that led us in the past; Singletary can be the same kind of leader!

It starts from there folks- with the boss/chief/conductor. He sets the tone, the beat, the rhythm, and the harmony; it’s on the players to “sing” the melody.

Coach Singletary, himself, makes this 49ers team relevant this year- 2009, and in the future.

Unfortunately, we do not have fifty-three Mike Singletary’s running around. That wouldn’t be fair…

We do have a bunch of special players…

The question is: Will these players “melody” sound like “Rosanne”, singing the National Anthem? Or, will they sound like Whitney Houston (singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl)? After years of re-building, and how we finished the 2008 season… I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

The 2009 San Francisco 49ers are led by Running Back Frank Gore, and Middle Linebacker Patrick Willis. Both of these players are the “heartbeat” of their respective side of the ball.

You’re probably saying, “We already knew that… Duh! Is that it?”’

Your right! For the past few years, those two have been the only bright side; the only joy for the 49ers. This year is different…

Our defense is young and nasty; topped with some “veteran sprinkles”.

The leader: Patrick Willis. He is a special player; we know that. What the average fan doesn’t know is how talented this defense really is. What is key to the success of this defense are the linebackers: Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, Manny Lawson, and Parys Haralson.

In our 3-4 defensive schemes, it is imperative that Parys & Manny live up to Coach Singletary’s expectations, and reach/exceed their potential. They are both special players, with rare tools: size, intelligence, speed & power. If they can “ferry” these tools to Sunday, the 49ers defense will carry this team to the top of the NFC West. No pressure, right?

Additionally, since the 49ers chose not to add any pass rushers via Free Agency, former 1st round pick Kentwan Balmer must take advantage of this promising opportunity; he is the pre-season starting defensive end, alongside veteran Pro-Bowler, Justin Smith.

This team must… and I reiterate MUST, get to the QB! Even if you bring back Ronnie Lott, Merton Hanks, Deion Sanders, Eric Davis, and Tim McDonald; without a pass rush, this team will be eaten alive on a weekly basis- 2008, all over again.

Unfortunately, we do not have that Pro Bowl secondary. We do have a bunch of athletic and talented football players; not “prima donnas.” It is vital to have a No. 1, lockdown cornerback; we have that in Nate Clements.

Regrettably, veteran CB Walt Harris tore his ACL in pre-season practice last week. For two days, we had a huge hole in our secondary. On that third day following the injury, the 49ers welcomed in former Pro Bowler, Dre’ Bly.

Walt’s injury was terrible, but could this be a “blessing in disguise?” Walt Harris has a lot of heart, and great instincts, yes. But, his speed, and man to man cover skills were digressing- his age had caught up to him and he was getting beat time after time during the 2008 season. With this signing, our secondary just became a lot better.

Look, football games aren’t played on paper. This defense has to translate their great skills from the scout sheet, to the field. Ultimately, if this team doesn’t put pressure on the QB, and don’t capitalize on opportunities, this team will finish with the same record as last year. We can’t have that this year. This team needs to ascend, not regress.

It sounds as if I am putting the entire 2009 season on the shoulders of the defense. Of course the offense has to make plays, but as we all know, defense wins championships. Don’t get it twisted, though… this 49ers offense must play well, in order to win.

As I said earlier, Frank Gore is the leader of the offense. He is the focal point, and the player who will receive most of the touches (rushing/receiving). Even though he has put up some respectable numbers (through injury-riddled seasons) since his rookie year, what has plagued his personal growth, and the 49ers offensive growth has been the lack of balance- passing vs. rushing.

Defense’s, for three years, has stacked the “box”- bringing defensive backs up to the line of scrimmage, in order to stop Frank. Why, you ask? Or how can that be a successful strategy? Because the 49ers haven’t had a productive passing game since 2002- when we had Jeff Garcia, running the offense.

Since 2003 Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey, Trent Dilfer, Alex Smith, J.T. O’Sullivan, and Shaun Hill have all attempted to lead this 49ers to a championship.

We all thought that Alex Smith was going to be the “man” when we drafted him with the 1st pick of the 2005 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, his age entering the league (19), change of coaches/coordinators, and injuries has stumped his growth. J.T. O’Sullivan was former 49ers O.C.’s “needle in the haystack” in 2008.

He was sole responsible for 22 turnovers (11 fumbles/11 interceptions) in 9 games. That is obviously not the ingredients/recipe for success. Starting from week 10 to week 17, the 49ers ended the year with a 5-2 record with Shaun Hill leading the way.

As a QB in the NFL, you do not have to have the arm of Peyton Manning, or have a celebrity singer as a girlfriend to be successful; all you need to be is efficient—take care of the ball, and lead your team. Shaun Hill might not have an attribute that catches your eye, but what he does have is toughness, and the “eye of the tiger.”

What this team has been craving for has been a playmaker- someone who can take over games, through the air. Crabtree is that guy! He was head and shoulders better than every defensive back who guarded him, and better than every WR in college.

Not to make excuses for our lack of consistent QB play, but we haven’t had a legitimate WR in years: Rashaun Woods, Arnez battle, Antonio Bryant, Brandon Lloyd all have tried to be that No. 1 guy.

Even thought Bryant is pretty good, he is not a No. 1 WR. Crabtree is that special kid, that has the combination of attributes of Rice/Owens. He has the route running/intellect/hands of rice and the play-making/strength/breakaway speed of Owens.

Just like Owners are kicking themselves for letting Moss drop in the 98 draft, owners will be kicking themselves over the 09 draft. He will make Hill/Smith better and more confident- knowing they can throw the ball to a certain area, and Crabtree will go get it.

Crabtree is a beast and I can’t wait until the season starts!

Also, it’s worth adding that Glen Coffee is a mean S.O.B.. He is the perfect complement to Mr. Gore, and defenders will pay dividends if they try to get in front of him when he’s running down hill.

Obviously, I expect a lot from the 49ers in 2009. This team has tasted defeat for one too many years and it will come to an end this year. Losing is terrible, yes. But, if you have character, you can learn and gain wisdom from each loss.

Coach Singletary has installed character into these players- they have swiftly taken upon the personality of their coach. When you can turn anything negative into a positive, the outcome is always prosperous.

That being said, if this team pays attention to the details, and believe in themselves, this 2009 season can be the beginning of something special in San Francisco.

Jacksonville Jaguars Could Sneak through Tough Division, into Playoffs

After a terrific 2007 campaign that included an 11-5 record and making it to the second round, the Jaguars followed that up by flipping that mark to a disappointing 5-11 in 2008.

Jacksonville failed to make the playoffs; as a matter of fact, they were the worst team in their division record-wise.

This year will be different.

Why? Well, let’s start off with the obvious.

First and foremost, the Jaguars filled in their obvious need for a No. 1 target by signing seven-time Pro Bowl selection Torry Holt to a three-year contract. Holt, 32, appeared to have an off year in 2008 as he struggled to record 800 receiving yards and only claimed three touchdowns.

However, with a terrible St. Louis offensive line, Marc Bulger, his Rams quarterback at the time, was sacked an alarming 38 times. Now, Holt not only will have a tougher and more aware David Garrard, but also a better offensive line, which brings me to my second point.

Jacksonville drafted two tackles in Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton. The Jaguars found a bit of a steal with Monroe available at eight. I firmly believe that Monroe was the best tackle in the draft as he has the most polished game. Britton blocking on the other end only helps their offense more.

Now it’s time to focus on the not-so-obvious.

The Jaguars must have been pleased and shocked to find Rashad Jennings in the seventh round. They found the perfect replacement for Fred Taylor—at least three rounds after he should have been taken.

Jennings combines strength, size, and power, and with he and Jones-Drew as a one-two punch, the running game is revamped, which of course creates opportunities for the passing game. Expect Jennings to be a goal-line finisher, and his combination with MJD to be similar to that of Chris Johnson and LenDale White of the Titans.

Then, in the third round of the draft, Jacksonville found two prospects that should help them on the other side of the field in corner-back Derek Cox and DT Terrance Knighton. Respectively, Cox was a small-school standout that should help out the Jaguars poor passing defense. Knighton not only should pressure the quarterback but also stuff runs. But I hope the Jaguars can make even more improvements.

The prospects they drafted show definite promise for the future.

Expect improvements from this Jacksonville team. Although they may be in one of the toughest divisions in the league, as many as three teams are allowed in the playoffs from one division. The AFC South will most likely offer up the Colts and Titans, but the Jags could compete with the Texans for a spot.

I am predicting that Garrard will have a much better year with a better offensive line. With Torry Holt in his arsenal of targets, I expect Garrard to throw for 20-plus touchdowns, 65 percent completions, over 3,500 yards, 10 or fewer interceptions, and a couple of yards and touchdowns on the ground.

As for Maurice Jones-Drew, well, not only will the UCLA alum receive more minutes, but he will also have a better offensive line. I see him finally reaching an elite level and scoring around 16 touchdowns, rushing for more than 1,000 yards, around two or three receiving touchdowns, and more than 600 receiving yards.

And then Torry Holt. He will have to prove the doubters wrong. He doesn’t actually have much to lose at 32, but he has a lot to win—including his first playoff berth since 2005 and possibly another super bowl ring. Expect him to return to his 1,000-yard standards with 80-plus receptions and around seven touchdowns.

Overall, I expect the Jaguars to make the playoffs or end up right outside of the bubble. The only problem is that they have a fairly tough schedule. If they can pull it out, great. But, they, like Torry Holt, don’t have much to lose.

I don’t think many people expect them to be a playoff-caliber team. But when you break it down, it looks so. Since they had so many players coming and going, I’m not sure if they will get it together until mid-way through the season, then they shall emerge as a sleeper team.

Article credit goes to sas45champs at RealSportsTalk.

Williams’ Attorney Remains Confident in StarCaps Case

Although claims from Vikings defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams’ side were denied by U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson on Friday, there is still reason for confidence from Vikings fans.

Magnuson remanded two claims made by Williams’ to Minnesota State Court. After this story broke, many thought this was the end of the fight for the two Pro Bowl defensive tackles.

The Williams’, along with three Saints players, were suspended four games last season for testing positive for the banned diuretic Bumetanide, which is a drug in the product called StarCaps. StarCaps is used in weight loss, but the diuretic can be used as a masker for steroids.

However, the two defensive tackles were granted a restraining order against the NFL and were allowed to play the rest of the season.

The Williams’ attorney, Peter Ginsberg, believes this move is a positive step for his clients.

“This gives my clients a terrific case and Judge Magnuson kept alive the heart of our case which is that the NFL improperly violated Kevin and Pat’s privacy rights and due process in administering these suspensions,” Ginsberg said.

“We brought this case in state court because we believed the state courts in Minnesota had the most interest in protecting its employees rights. Judge Magnusson agrees and now it’s back to state court, which is the forum that the NFL tried to run away from.”

Ginsberg also touched on the fact that the NFL wasn’t fully aware of Minnesota’s employee rights and the state court will protect these rights.

“The Minnesota legislature is very concerned about employer’s intruding on the privacy rights of their employees,” Ginsberg said.

“The NFL admitted during discovery that it didn’t know or care what Minnesota state law calls for. This lawsuit in part is making the NFL aware and concerned about how it should be protecting Minnesota employees.”

Along with this information Mike Florio of Profootballtalk.com, who has practiced law for almost 18 years, released a very informative article that summarized why this might work out for the Williams’.

In Florio’s article, he talks about a claim made under the Minnesota Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Act. Judge Magnuson touched on this, saying the law “prohibits employers from imposing discipline based on a single positive test.”

Well, as Florio said, the Williams tested positive only once for the banned diuretic and  the NFL can enforce a suspension upon the first positive test.

This law also gives the right to Minnesota employees to explain why they tested positive.

While many thought this was an upper-cut to the Williams’ case, this could work out and the two starting defensive tackles could indeed be starting in all 16 games this season. Time will tell, so make sure to check back.

With Proper Focus, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Schedule Favors a Repeat

As if going 12-4 and winning the Super Bowl isn’t difficult enough, the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers were able to pull it off with one of the most difficult schedules in recent NFL history.

Their path in 2009 should be much less violent, playing the NFC North and AFC West.  However, it goes without saying that there are no easy games or easy schedules in the NFL; every week is difficult. 

The Steelers have a tendency to play to the level of their competition, which is why an easier schedule may not benefit them. They had a disappointing 8-8 season in 2006 after winning Super Bowl XL.

Granted that was Bill Cowher’s final season and the team may have been distracted, but they need to keep that hangover in mind as they enter this season. 

The team’s greatest threat is on the offensive and defensive lines. The average age of the starting defensive line at the beginning of the season will be 32, a risky proposition considering how important 3-4 linemen are. The Steelers might need their first round pick, Evander “Ziggy” Hood to make an impact early and often.

The offensive line is equally sketchy as the Steelers lose long time left tackle Marvel Smith and right guard Kendall Simmons to free agency. Both players were injured last year and the Steelers went on to win with Max Starks and Darnell Stapleton. Starks and Stapleton are expected to assume the same roles this year, but I’m not warm and fuzzy about it.

After having their bye-week fall early in the season for so many years, the Steelers will have the benefit of a Week 8 bye-week in 2009. The first half of the season could be difficult as the Steelers kickoff the 2009 NFL season on a Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans.

These are the same Titans who soundly trounced the Steelers (31-14) in Week 14 last year with the No. 1 seed in the AFC on the line. Titans number one draft pick Kenny Britt should feel right at home in his debut considering how he tortured the Pitt Panthers at Heinz Field during his career at Rutgers.

The Steelers travel to Chicago in Week Two to take on a Chicago Bears team that has arguably the best quarterback they’ve had since Sid Luckman retired in 1950. Jay Cutler caught on pretty quick during his rookie season in Denver, if he catches on to Chicago’s system the same way, the Bears could be a contender this season.

Week Three is not late enough in the season for the Bengals to have their annual meltdown; but it won’t be long before Chad Ochocinco starts eyeing the trade deadline and Andre Smith decides he just wants to go home (as he did at the NFL Combine).

The Chargers will make their third straight trip to Pittsburgh for a Sunday Night game in Week Four. The way San Diego came back at the end of last year was truly amazing; winning four straight to sneak into the playoffs and then beating the Indianapolis Colts goes to show just how much talent is on that team. I expect this to be a marquee game next year.

The Steelers will get a chance to pad their record in Weeks Five and Six when they go to Ford Field to take on the Lions and follow it with a home game against the Browns. 

Considering that the Browns lost Kellen Winslow in the offseason and are relying on a broken down Jamal Lewis to carry the load, I don’t expect this to be a very productive offense, especially if Braylon Edwards is traded.

Week Seven could bring Brett Favre to Heinz Field if the Vikings pull the trigger on him. However, the Vikings’ run defense poses the greatest threat to the Steelers. If the Steelers can establish a ground game and control Adrian Peterson, I predict they’ll be 5-2 going into their bye-week with a relatively soft second half of the season.

Week Nine will take the Steelers to Denver on Monday Night Football to take on a Broncos offense that doesn’t have a starting running back or quarterback going into camp. Weeks 10 and 11 pit the Steelers against a Cincinnati team that should be well in the tank and a Kansas City team that might be in contention with Matt Cassell at the helm.

The Steelers go to Baltimore in Week 12 for a pivotal Sunday night game against the Ravens. After playing primetime games in Pittsburgh three of the last four years, the Ravens asked the league not to be scheduled in Pittsburgh for a night game.

They got their wish as the Steelers will play a primetime game in Baltimore for the first time since 2003. The Steelers beat the Ravens three times in 2008, but each game was very physical and emotional; I expect this game will be no different.

The Steelers will host Oakland in Week 13 to play a Raider team that could be the worst in the league at this point, but then have to quickly turn around and travel to Cleveland for a Thursday night game.

As usual, the AFC North will be decided in the last two weeks of the season as the Steelers and Ravens face off again in Week 16. This game will be especially important to the Steelers as they have a tough game in Miami the following week, whereas the Ravens will take on a lifeless Raiders team to finish out the season.

I expect the Steelers to win the AFC North and finish the regular season at 12-4, but it will require focus and leadership from the veterans who were on this team after Super Bowl XL.

Vinny Perretta: The Minnesota Vikings’ Next Great Slot Receiver

College draft days most significant analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said of Vinny Perretta: “He’s more of an underneath threat with the ability to make things happen after the catch.” 

The key word that Mel used for Vinny (“threat”) is more than appropriate. Perretta the Minnesota Viking free agent receiver and former Boise State Bronco Z receiver (slot/third) has great hands and superb vision.

Of course, that is not news to Boise State fans as game after game Vinny always came through in one fashion or another. One of Perretta’s many pluses is his ability to make things happen after the catch.

That’s why Vinny was used on the Broncos All-Star team (special teams). Perretta and the other Viking free agent from Boise State, Ian Johnson, were heavily used on special teams because they were extremely adaptable players with the constant abilities to make things happen.

Mel also tabbed Vinny as a poor man’s Wes Welker. Well maybe not a “poor mans’ but there is a significant similarity between the two receivers and if Mel is any where near close to his comparison the Vikings will have made their key pick of draft day without even using a draft pick.

Minnesota and Vinny were presumptuously sure that Perretta was not on the draft list radar. So the Vikings had Vinny fly out prior to the draft to get an up close and personal look into the one receiver who seemed to do everything the Boise State Broncos asked and look good doing it.

For example, Perretta threw the fourth-down pass to Derek Schouman that afforded the Broncos a last chance two-point conversion attempt to win the great Fiesta Bowl game of 2007. 

Vinny Perretta was always a go-to guy. Vinny can throw and catch but its what he gets done following the receptions that is always amazing; he just has that rare ability to find an opening and make something out of nothing.

Vinny plays like a giant on the field but his small stature has kept him from being noticed. For that matter Vinny has always flown under the radar. Perretta was not signed to a scholarship at Boise State right out of the hat, so to speak.

Vinny had to prove himself to Boise State Broncos. Prove himself he did. Vinny was a walk on at BSU in 2004 and played as a redshirt freshman for the Broncos the following year.

However, Vinny Perretta could have taken the scholarship he was offered to St. Mary’s but he knew deep within that he had game and that it needed to be seen at the BCS level.

Perretta is a nice multi-talented kid who now offers his talents for football fans to see at the NFL level. Look for Perretta to make the Minnesota Vikings team straight up and that will be another story.

Owner, Coach, Player…What’s Up Here?

It depends upon the sphere of application here. An engineer would concentrate upon the qualities of execution and develop methods of dissecting each and every aspect of inclusion.

This would quickly include speed of player, ability for change in direction, strength in short torque situations, explosiveness, starting speed from a zero point vantage, and ability to sustain energy levels and still retain explosive ability.

Each of us fans do our own tabulations to such demonstrators in players. These do affect direct applications on the carpet.

Then you have a coaching advantage. Teams respond to the direction given them from a coaching perspective.

This specific aspect can be bypassed by players and even be successful to a degree, as in football, the whole progression is dependent upon their own actions on the carpet under the lights.

Given their own direction, a group of players, people, or gang on the block will always digress and revert to a chaotic interaction 100 percent of the time. The time necessary to bind individual tendencies are subservient to the settling of personalities.

This defeats team considerations to a large degree. Team success here become rudderless and limited by an opponent being prey to a singular and random strength that this team can use.

When attempting to observe and give credence to aspects of both coaching influences and player talents it all occurs in the context of a game setting.

Even here, it all boils down to whether a team is successfully competitive and if not sustained over a period of time by winning, then it boils down to team successes or failures in a win and loss view.

That not withstanding, the current NFL is all about a yearly accosting of records and the potential to change everything within the time frame of from one to three seasons.

So the objectivity of individual influences of either players or coaching staffs are limited to view beyond scores weekly and overall yearly wins accumulated.

Without areas of concentrated observation and some relationship drawn and tracked, fans are then reduced to administering scores to the responsible members in this picture and grading coaching potential strictly upon team achievements.

This is for better or worse. The clamor by the fan becomes lateral in his pursuits and he demands change when that yearly total doesn’t meet his level of personal demands.

More and more, with the social aggressiveness involved in the expected role of a fan today, this becomes a clamor for team dominance and the asking for head felling intensely by that team’s supporters if failure has to be endured for even a single season.

Coaching has a focused role, that has to be reflected in a mode of interaction for their respective players and now, perceptions by the media and fans as well.

The degree of interactions has been expanded into a constant bombardment by the media and observers as well.

The immediate function of the coaching staff is first to cultivate a team-supportive climate that continually addresses the extremes of dynamics and sacrifice demanded for participation in the NFL.

If the culmination of all combined coaching directives does not accumulate a successfully rewarding level of reference for the player, that player loses focus and personal reward adequate to sustain a focus of technique and aggressive personal receptiveness to sustain his role in NFL games.

A coach thus has to support a player-directed motivation and leadership, yet retain the line of disjointed discipline required to keep it continually motivating, and not lose the respect of the team in the process.

These attributes are reflective in association, but a picture of wins and losses don’t address the particulars of style, schemes, techniques required, and an overriding influence of individual team history and successes.

Certain things can be observed in this progressions of coaches, such as Washington settling in upon a physically demanding set of veterans and stocked both sides of the ball.

To this group were added a crunch-delivering set of running backs and this ball of function was wrapped in a strictly baseline diet coach of Joe Gibbs.

Mike Ditka got a no nonsense team of huge and aggressive players and then set a top-notch running back to control flows of the opponent’s game.

Jimmy Johnson sold his neighbor’s wife, the city’s cash flow, and his own owner down the stream to get a whole group of top notched and top end producers backed by an offensive line completely capable of mauling every defense they approached.

New England’s head coach, Belichick, set up a transitional team that accumulated talent by first acquiring older and thus cheaper veterans that were tied into a system, and then starting to accumulate increasing amounts of draft choices to build a dynamic and replenishing group of inserts as the older parts wore out.

Those all were the fan and media observable view of the actual rewards of function, but not the workings themselves.

The player is dependent upon the amount of work that he receives during the course of a single season. This then is accumulative as long as his body shape remains at the optimum side of function.

As time accumulates in a particular player, technique, and sustainability of that technique is as important as the aspect of top end dynamics of that talent by the player.

This reverts back to the role and function of the coach, who imparts that onto the player.

For a period of time, individual players were allowed to play around with such directions on their own, but increasingly it is necessary to share the work, stress, and toil of individual development and successes to progress a team directed sense of accountability and trust.

Here again, is where the coaching staff starts to be directive as to levels of accumulated successes. The goal levels thus become higher and the ability to reintegrate them in a team setting improves as well.

This isn’t yet a complete systems analysis of what affects the aspect as concentrated as play on carpet.

This is where the owner/GM enters the picture. With the multi-millions and even billions of dollars that enter the cash flow picture, sustainability, bottom line expenses, and maximum organizational safeguards are employed in addition to direct relationships of wins and losses.

The gate returns and outward cash flows inward become the business bottom line of these very organizations.

This is the nature of the beast at the professional levels of a sport, as it all is glued together by a team’s ability to pay for what is put onto the field. Gate returns governs the ownership selection of coaches and thus, team character and play.

Some of a large group of owners are more than content to judge relative successes with the bottom line market value of their teams in their local and adjust expectations accordingly.

Even here, although, not all coaches see themselves limited by cash flow once their team walks onto the field. Some of these very coaches are able to direct all within their own realm and integrate player talents into their own schemes and systems of play.

When one takes a progressive ownership group, and watches where it moves and gives it’s support, a variety of tendencies are at work here also. Uniformity is often the exception in these areas.

Some of the owners of franchises chose a dominant leader and relinquish all functional team controls over to them and sustainability reverts to gate revenues. Then there are figures dominate all player acquisitions and then expect those given the tasks to win with what they are given.

Next, you have sustainability of organizations, that are enhanced with an accumulation of time and interaction among coaching staffs themselves. The longer a group of good coaches are together, the stronger the transition periods of time reflect discipline and quality of play on the field.

In today’s pattern of merry-go-rounds of coaching shifts to opponent teams and a chance to move up…there is a depletion to sustainable coaching staffs. This becomes a further problem for the owners/GM’s of organizations.

Even with good talent, a continual shift and change in top team direction and discipline is diminished with this type of constant change.

A team such as Philadelphia has been riding a combination of a group of long standing coaching staff, not allowing cap to be a limiting feature as to base talent on the team, and using the draft to continually accumulate choices and result in a general rise in team talent as well.

Here, Dallas has accumulated both with a picture of bringing it to the field on the season that is started. At present, resources have all been directed to a stable team now, that in addition has a very broad base of youth from which to again grow and maintain.

Player strengths only have dominance as it plugs back into a team directed strength and ability to attack specific aspects of an opponent. Here again, coaching directs this.

It then becomes necessary, for the coaching staff to in addition to sustainable features and ability to develop and maintain individual talents and strengths, but to meet the demands of a continually more educated and copycat league within the NFL itself.

A game-time generalship is thus needed with input by all parts of that coaching staff to maintain an adaptive element during game time itself.

Here is were accumulated knowledge with an older and in place staff and full knowledge of the metrics of their interactions during ‘the show’ become dominant.

This discernible element can have as much application in a game as ability to maintain optimum potential in both scheme and players.

These elements thus are subjective to owner perspectives and such variables as bottom line wins and losses, which can cause a clamor strictly reflective of change. No, what we have is a flow chart all interrelated…from owner, to coaches, and then to the player.

Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, and Tony Romo are all part of a functioning franchise as well as NFL team. Each has a role in the function. Jerry Jones has the role of providing the environment of stability and the ability to maximize at each point in the process of selection.

Wade Phillips has to ensure that technique of each player is developed and integrated into a successful scheme of team play that during game conditions is adaptive to changes on that field and maximizes both scheme and player strengths.

The players have to maintain a sense of team directed and successful interaction as well as individual accountability to do all he is tasked with. They are all inter-related come game time.

The failure of any one of those participating groups affects team product. For this group of participants in this year’s Dallas Cowboys, I feel there is a fine level of commitment and determination by all involved. Direction has been established at all three levels of observation…now, we shall see how it all comes to view come GAME DAY!

CCBoy is a CP Staff Writer/Analyst…you can read more of his work at cowboyspride.net

 

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