Looking for a Way Out: How the 2009 Oakland Raiders Can Contend in the AFC West

After receiving some compelling comments on my last article, I’ve decided to re-evaluate the 2009 Oakland Raiders and their opportunity to make some noise in the AFC West.

By no means am I a Raider Hater; I’m just stating my opinions and beliefs on what needs to be done in order for the Raiders to have a legitimate shot at the division:

 

1. The offense needs to be improved

The Raiders averaged 16.4 points per game last season which was 29th overall in the NFL. The Raiders total offense was 29th in NFL (272.2 yards per game). Their passing attack was a league worse at 148.1 yards per game. However, the running attack was impressive as it placed in the top 10 with an average of 124.2 yards per game.

JaMarcus Russell is the reason for concern. Russell struggled in his first full season as the Raiders quarterback, throwing for 2,423 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Russell in his first year struggled holding onto the ball, as he fumbled 12 times and constantly seemed as if he was unaware of the blitz.

In order for the Raiders to have some shot at challenging San Diego and Denver, Russell needs to step up his level of play. He needs to become the leader of the offense, he needs to develop some discipline. Russell has the talent to be a solid quarterback, but in order to be somebody he needs to step it up.

The wide receivers on the team also need to find a way to step up their level of play. Averaging 16 points and 272 total yards a game is not going to cut it in the NFL. The talent is definitely there, just the discipline is absent.

 

2. The defense needs to stop the run

Nnamdi Asomugha did his job last year by recording 40 tackles with one interception last year. Asomugha is a class-act kind of guy who is clearly emerging as a leader on defense. Derrick Burgess continued to play competitively last year, but the Raiders as a whole failed to stop the run.

Take week four against the Chargers last year as a prime example of how the defense seems to run out of gas in the second half. Up 15 at halftime, the Raiders allowed the charges to score 25 points in the fourth quarter. LaDainian Tomlinson ran all over the Raiders in the second half and the Chargers ran at will against the Raiders weak run defense.

If the Raiders can improve on stopping the run, then look for them to win those close and sometimes upsetting games.

 

3. The team must find a leader

It could be the coach, it could be the quarterback. It could even be Al Davis. Davis  fired Lane Kiffin after a poor start last season. Davis has had a number of different coaches. Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell are the coaches who failed to produce wins.

Tom Cable seems like a decent coach, who seems to have the respect of his players. Al Davis really needs to swallow his ego and allow his coaching staff to run the team as they see fit. Leadership is extremely valuable and necessary when it comes to sports. If the Oakland Raiders find a leader then look for a competitive team in 2009.

 

In general, I’d like to say thank you to all those who take the time to read and leave comments. I appreciate everyone’s opinions and I hope you continue reading.

Chicago Bears 53-Man Roster: Early Look At Whom to Cut and Whom to Keep

Well, if I didn’t have enough respect for GMs and coaches before, I definitely do now. I sat down with the Bears current roster and tried trimming it down to 53 men and then 8 practice squad members, thinking it should be pretty easy. HA! I was in for a treat.

The actual roster was hard enough, but the practice squad was just ridiculous. Trying to figure out who was eligible for it and who would clear waivers to be signed to the squad is like a guessing game.

So if you feel I left something (or someone) out that shouldn’t be or kept someone on there that you think is stupid, please let me know. I was just happy that my math all worked out. Besides, constructive criticism is always welcomed.

So without further ado, the Chicago Bears 2009 roster (If it had to be done by tomorrow).

 

Offense

# of Quarterbacks = 3

Jay Cutler, Caleb Hanie, and Brett Basanez. All NFL rosters have three quarterbacks. End of story.

Odd man out: N/A

# of Running backs = 3

Matt Forte, Kevin Jones, and Garrett Wolfe. Forte is a stud. We just re-signed Jones so he is safe (barring injury) and Wolfe is the change of pace back that seemingly all teams want to have.  

Odd man out: Adrian Peterson. I wanted to find a way to keep him. His special teams abilities are great, he has great character, and is not a terrible backup running back. But we just can’t have four.

# of Wide Receivers = 5

Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Brandon Rideau, Juaquin Iglesias, and Johnny Knox.

Hester, Bennett and Iglesias are easy keepers. Rideau has shown a lot of promise in the past couple years, so he is a go and while I think Knox should be on the practice squad, I am afraid he would not clear waivers.

Odd man out: Yup, Rashied Davis. It sucks. He had a bad season last year, but has made clutch catches and is one of two receivers that have caught a pass in the NFL last season that was on our roster. Truly breaks my heart.

# of Fullbacks = 1

Will Ta’ufo’ou.

THAT’S RIGHT, I said it. Goodbye mediocre McKie. No more fullback dives for no gain every week. We need a change and now is the time. Ta’ufo’ou runs low to the ground and knows how to hit (If this happens, a Ta’ufo’ou jersey would be sick to have).

Odd m(e)n out: McKie, of course, and back up Jason Davis.

# of Tight Ends = 3

Greg Olsen, Desmond Clark, and Michael Gaines.

Olsen and Clark have been a killer one-two punch and should only get better. Gaines will be able to come in and be a very effective run blocker and could even drop back in to the fullback slot.

Odd man out: Kellen Davis. This doesn’t make a lot of sense to me since he is only in his second year and he could be good down the road.

If he cleared waivers, he would be good on the practice squad, but I think he played in more than nine games last year on special teams, so he might not be eligible for it. To bad.

# of Offensive Tackles = 3

Orlando Pace, Chris Williams, and Kevin Shaffer.

There would actually be four, since Frank Omiyale can slide into that tackle position as well, but he is a starting guard.

Not terrible options here, although Pace is older, Williams is unproven, and Shaffer’s starting position on the Browns was taken by former Bear John St. Clair…Yes, it will be an interesting year.

Odd man out: Cody Balogh. If space was opened up at other positions, Balogh could slide in and ease some of the pressure. A good candidate for the practice squad, though.

# of Offensive Guards = 4

Roberto Garza, Frank Omiyale, Josh Beekman, and Tyler Reed.

Reed being the only surprise, he adds depth at a position that needs it considering Omiyale is a back up tackle and Beekman is the reserve center.

Odd men out: Dan Buenning and seventh round pick Lance Louis. Both could be sent to the practice squad, with Louis being the more intriguing of the two. 

# of Centers = 1

Olin Kreutz… Questions?

Odd man out: N/A

Offensive total = 23

Defense

# of Safeties = 5

Kevin Payne, Craig Steltz, Josh Bullocks, Glenn Earl, and Danieal Manning.

Manning doesn’t really count. He is listed as a safety on the roster, but if he is on the field during a defensive position, he needs to be a nickel corner. He is a miserable safety. 

Odd man out: Sixth-round pick Al Afalava. Look for the practice squad.

# of Cornerbacks = 5

Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher, Corey Graham, D.J. Moore, and Zachary Bowman.

There is talk of moving Graham to safety, which I am all for,  because it would basically be flipping him and Manning. But otherwise a solid corps, if healthy.

Odd man out: Trumaine McBride. Another guy I don’t want to see us lose, McBride had a great rookie year, but was just abused last season whenever he got into games.

With the addition of Moore and the potential of Bowman, I am afraid there just won’t be a way to keep him.

# of Linebackers = 6

Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Pisa Tiniosamoa, Jamar Williams, Nick Roach, and Marcus Freeman.

Urlacher, Briggs, and Pisa are a given. Williams has been waiting in the wings for a chance to play, and the coaching staff seem to just love him.

Roach came in last year and played pretty well. He would have been the starter this year if it wasn’t for the addition of Pisa.

Freeman is a rookie; a lot of people feel his upside is huge. He will learn well playing behind those three starters.

Odd men out: Hunter Hillenmeyer and Joey LaRocque. Hunter was a great guy, but in the end he just doesn’t have a spot here. Look for him to be in one of the early cuts so he has a chance to jump on with another team.

LaRocque was another special team ace that Hester and Manning will probably miss more than one would think.

# of Defensive Ends = 5

Adewale Ogunleye, Alex Brown, Mark Anderson, Israel Idonije, and Henry Melton.

I want to put Melton on the practice squad, but there would be no way he’d make it through waivers. Idonije is listed as a DT but he can play anywhere on the line, so I put him here.

Odd man out: Ervin Baldwin. Another player who never really got a chance, he could be practice squad material if he is eligible.

# of Defensive Tackles = 5

Tommie Harris, Marcus Harrison, Jaron Gilbert, Dusty Dvoracek, and Anthony Adams.

Gilbert is listed as a DT but there was talk of him being capable of playing end as well which gives some more flexibility to the line. These four DT, if they stay healthy, and with the coach of “Hot” Rod Marinelli, could become a dominate force.

Odd man out: Matt “Big Toe” Toeaina. Toeaina got some playing time a couple years ago for the Bears when they suffered injuries and played pretty well. He just doesn’t really have a spot on the roster and I am pretty sure he is not eligible for the practice squad.

Defensive total = 26

Special Teams

Punter = 1: Brad Maynard

Kicker = 1: Robbie Gould

Long Snapper = 1: Patrick Mannelly

Total players = 52 out of 53

That leaves one spot open. Fill it in. Personally, I keep A.P. for special teams skills.

Practice Squad players

(assuming they all clear waivers and are eligible. I tried checking that, but the rules are kinda funny so I may have missed something somewhere.)

1. Derek Kinder – seventh round pick as a wide receiver that has a lot of athletic ability.

2. Lance Louis – another seventh rounder, is a massive guard with a lot of upside.

3. Al Afalava – sixth round pick that needs to improve tackling.

4. Joe Clermond – a hybrid player who can play both end and linebacker.

5. Cody Balogh – Bears might need help at tackle if one or especially two of them go down. Balogh was on the team last year and should be improving.

6. Ervin Baldwin – if he makes it through waivers, look for Baldwin to replace either Clark or Gaines in the next few years.

7. Eric Peterman – wide receiver from Northwestern could be a future special teams stud.

8. Dahana Deleston – safety from UConn had a great Pro day, running a 4.43 40.

And there you have it. Might I have a different opinion once training camp starts AND ends? Yes.

Will the Bears do something sneaky like put a player they like on IR and let him learn the system? Almost certainly.

Do I hope the original A.P. has a spot on this team come September? More than anything.

Flash In The Pan: The Donte Stallworth Saga Must End

Earlier this month, Browns WR Donte Stallworth was suspended indefinitely by commissioner Roger Goodell after the former’s guilty plea of DUI Manslaughter of Mario Reyes while driving above the legal alcohol limit.

Stallworth submitted his guilty plea and was sentenced to only 30 days in a Miami prison. Along with that he received eight years probation, a sentence considered by many to be extremely lenient.

In 2008, he signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns hoping to add to their once-potent offense. He disappointed with only 17 receptions and one touchdown on the season.

Stallworth is the second player to be suspended indefinitely along with former QB Michael Vick. Unlike Vick, he will not serve his full suspension in prison.

In the eyes of the new Browns’ regime, there is no room for troublemakers. Therefore, it should be fitting that the Browns cut all ties to Stallworth before he becomes a distraction to the organization.

There is a very good chance that Stallworth will not suit up for the Browns again, as now there is simply no room left on the roster.

Coach Eric Mangini and GM George Kokinis had already prepared for the future by drafting WRs Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoi in the draft and signing FAs Mike Furrey and David Patten.

Clearly, they had prepared for the departures of Joe Jurevicius and Kellen Winslow II, but also for the eventual suspension of Stallworth.

But regardless of his legal situation or the fact that he was very ineffective for any number of reasons, the Browns have to either now or eventually cut him loose.

Although he will have many years left on his contract, it might very well be the best thing for the franchise.

Stallworth’s crime is on the same level as Vick’s was two years ago, although Vick did have more jail time than Stallworth will.

Vick was recently cut from the Atlanta Falcons despite being on their roster during his suspension.

For the sake of reputation, Cleveland management should consider eliminating all connections with the troubled receiver despite taking on salary cap implications.

Financially it might not be the smartest thing to do, but morally there’s no better option.

It is unfortunate that Stallworth’s career has been injury prone and incapable of living up to full expectations. But, maybe what could’ve saved his reputation was staying clean and being a good samaritan in the community.

Instead, he was in a substance abuse program prior to his tenure with the Browns.

His inability to stay clean was inevitably the downfall of his career with the recent DUI manslaughter of Mario Reyes in Miami just this March.

Therefore, Browns management needs to make a zero-tolerance statement by cutting Stallworth loose. They may not have been the most successful franchise, but at least they have a chance to save face getting rid of a big mistake.

 

Below are some stories detailing the Stallworth incident from conviction to plea bargain to suspension in order:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4033632

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-10/1245186213303040.xml&storylist=national

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2009/06/nfl_suspends_cleveland_browns.html

Why Character and Leadership Matters in the NFL

Every year we see the same players act out and play the diva. Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Brett Favre (recently to an extent), Jay Cutler, Plaxico Burress, and many other smaller names are the usual suspects. These are the players who take the “me first” attitude: no matter what happens, it has to benefit them. Or they take the “I’m better than you” attitude.

We also see the troublemakers. No one knows why they can’t stay out of trouble. Notable players are Brandon Marshall, Tank Johnson, Adam “Pacman” Jones, Marshawn Lynch, Matt Jones, Chris Henry, Leon Hall, and many others.

Of course, who could forget the morons like Michael Vick, Donte Stallworth, and Plaxico Burress, who lack basic decision-making skills, and have paid the price?

Likewise, we see players who lead their team and are prime examples for leadership and character. Players like Ray Lewis, Ben Roethlisberger, Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees, Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, Kurt Warner, and James Farrior, just to name a few.

Now look at all the players and their teams. Notice that the leaders are all on successfully teams, and that the divas a criminals all belong to the laughingstocks of the league. It’s no coincidence.

Terrell Owens has been a productive and top-five receiver for the 49ers, Eagles, and Cowboys. But at the same time he also destroyed each team to an extent, the ‘Niners being the worst. It’s because his “me me me” attitude gets in the way of the team’s performance.

The Bengals are in the cellar of the AFC North partly because Chris Henry and Leon Hall can’t keep their noses out of trouble. The same goes for the the Broncos. Brandon Marshall can’t stop beating up his girlfriends, and Jay Cutler wants everything his way. Now they are in a state of disarray .

Ray Lewis, the heart and soul of the Ravens and the greatest team leader in recent memory, has consistently led his teams to success in some way, although not always a good win-loss record. Brian Dawkins led the Eagles to five NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl.

Ben Roethlisberger and James Farrior anchored the Super Bowl-winning Steelers this past season. Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner’s leadership made a huge impact in their surprising run to the Super Bowl and their first NFC Championship.

If this isn’t proof that character matters in the NFL, then I don’t know what is. As I have stated before, the NFL is about winning and losing. Players with strong characters are winners, players without any character are losers. It’s that simple.

The College Football Sideline Report: July Edition

That’s Mr. Heisman to You

Among the numerous reasons for Ohio State fans to be happy going into the 2009 season, Terrelle Pryor has to top the list.

The sophomore phenom is ready to build on the foundation that he laid for the Buckeyes in ’08.

Not since Reggie Bush and Vince Young have we seen an athlete of Pryor’s caliber in college football. Sure, Tim Tebow has won two titles and a Heisman since those two dominated the competition, but even Tebow is not on the level of pure athleticism that Terrelle Pryor enjoys.

Behind an experienced offensive line in ’08, Pryor was 100 of 165 passing for 1,311 yards with twelve TD’s and four INT’s. He also rushed for 631 yards on 139 carries with six TD’s.

What makes those stats really special is that he was a true freshman in ’08.

Now a year older, smarter, and competition tested, Pryor just might have quite a treat in store for the Buckeye-faithful. Sure you lost WR’s Robiskie and Hartline, but Ohio State almost always reloads with top-notch, skill position talent.

Pryor is a once-per-decade talent. Combine the quickness and speed of Vince Young, with the elusiveness of Reggie Bush, and the arm of Tom Brady and the result will be something close to Terrelle Pryor.

Pryor is a hybrid player. The kid is just an all-out athlete. 

Maybe you call this player-worship. Maybe you’ll say I am crazy. Hey, maybe I am, but I know an elite player when I see one. I am not even remotely a Buckeye fan. I just love good college football, and this guy is the very epitome of what is good about the game.

I expect big things from the Buckeyes in ’09. Terrelle Pryor winning the Heisman may just be one of those big things.

 

Next week I will continue my Heisman preview with Tim Tebow.

Top NCAA FB Stories (My opinion on the latest in the college football world)

Alabama decides to appeal the NCAA ruling that cost them 21 wins–

Well, technically the NCAA ruling didn’t cost the Tide the wins. The fact that 200 plus student-athletes were illegally obtaining books for friends is the real culprit. Hey Bama, you have a great program, try keeping your nose clean for more than five years at a time.

Cincinnati adds one year to coach Brian Kelly’s contract–

Brian Kelly is a tremendous coach. He was my choice for the Tennessee job until the Lane Train rolled through Knoxville and took us all by storm. Cincy may struggle a bit this season, but Kelly will have the Bearcats back in the BCS before too long. He will now make roughly $1.5 million per year through 2013. Congrats coach!

BCS Rejects Mountain West’s Playoff Poposal–

Wow,I don’t know about you, but personally, I am shocked. The truth is that college football’s championship participants will continue to be determined by an Intel Pentium processor for years to come.

ACC Title Game is Back in Prime time–

Rightfully so. We had a few laughs at the ACC’s expense last season when it seemed the conference was one of the nation’s worst. In ’09 the ACC will be one of the nation’s best. Ga. Tech, FSU, UNC, Va. Tech, Clemson, NC State, and even Miami have quality teams and great talent. That prime time game will definitely be one to watch!

NCAA Quotes of the Week:

“They’re (recruits) so excited about everything but they say ‘Coach, who’s going to throw us the ball?’ – UT Coach Lane Kiffin on not finding a QB for the 2010 signing class so far.

“It quickens the pace of everything we are doing.” – Former Alabama head coach, and current Georgia State head coach, Bill Curry, talking about his decision to schedule ‘Bama for the upstart program’s 2010 inaugural season.

“The league is going to get some unbelievable exposure.” – Florida AD, Jeremy Foley on the SEC’s 15 year media deal with ESPN and CBS.

My Preseason Top 35:

After much discussion, reading, and internal turmoil I have finally completed my 2009 Preseason Top 35, and will publish the Top 30 in my August edition of the College Football Sideline Report. Here are numbers 35-31 just to whet your appetite.

35. Texas Tech – The Red Raiders lost a lot of talent after last season, but with this prolific system in place Tech usually doesn’t miss a beat. This season, however, they may struggle. I still expect the Raiders to get to a bowl game, but you can forget a top 10 appearance in ’09.

34. Miami – The young talent at Miami is stout. They are ready to put the program back on the map. Too bad they’ll have to wait until next year. How’s this for an opening month; @ Florida State, vs. Georgia Tech, @ Virginia Tech, vs. Oklahoma. The ‘Canes will make some progress, but expect a breakout in 2010.

33. Arkansas– This Razorbacks team is a year away as well. While they return 9 starters on defense, and 8 on offense they have to compete with a loaded SEC West. Not to mention those nine defensive starters started on the 72nd ranked defense in the nation last season. Ryan Mallett will put up grand numbers in ’09, but it wont be nearly enough.

32. Cincinnati – I love what Brian Kelly has done with this program. But only one returning starter on defense will prove to be this team’s downfall in ’09. That’s mainly because of the competition it will face. South Florida, Rutgers, and West Virginia will all be better in ’09.

31. East Carolina– Skip Holtz has a large task. Becoming the hunted rather than the hunter usually brings with it some bumps and bruises. While East Carolina brings back a ton of talent, including QB Pinkney, it will struggle some in ’09. Still, Holtz could parlay 08’s partial success and any success he may gain in ’09 into a big time coaching position elsewhere. My guess: South Carolina, after Spurrier steps down at the end of ’09.

Next month’s edition will feature my top thirty, bowl predictions, conference predictions, preseason All-American teams, and many more exciting features.

Stay tuned.

As of 8:58 on Saturday, June 27, 2009 there are sixty nine days, or 1671 hours, or 100,262 minutes, or 6,015,707 seconds until college football kicks off the 2009 season…I can’t wait.

 

 

 

New Broncos Show a Promising Future

Last year’s promising season was spoiled by a weak and lagging defense. This off season, many changes have been made, on both sides of the ball, that will help Denver improve dramatically. I will not say if the time is this year or next, or later, but with the changes made, Denver looks primed to take over the AFC West.

A few key factors that could help them achieve this are:

Management:

The big deal this off season has been firing Mike Shanahan and hiring Josh McDaniels, who was New England’s offensive coordinator. It is hard to predict how he will handle being a head coach, but looking back may help.

He is, without question, a good coach for the offense. Look at what he has done with the Pats. He knows how to run an offense and has set about building it up.

Defense is the main concern of this franchise. Strong defensive coaching is mandatory. San Francisco 49ers’ coach Mike Nolan, has been called in to bring the defense up to par. To do this, he has brought in the 3-4 scheme to allow for a new type of pressure and better pass defense.

QBs:

No one can talk about the Denver Broncos without talking about the loss of Jay Cutler and the addition of Bears QB Kyle Orton. Orton is a considerable downgrade from the strong-armed Cutler. He has a weak arm and is not very mobile. Is he a bad player? Just the opposite, actually Orton excels at accurate, short-range pass attacks to move the ball. A strong O-line means that mobility isn’t a major concern. McDaniels is sure to create a west coast style short-pass game to play to Orton’s strengths.

RBs:

Last year’s running game was good, but overshadowed by a dominating pass game. This year, it is hard to say how the run game will play with no returning backs, but it can be assumed they will do better. This year, they have gone out of their way to get RBs to help them out. First-round pick Moreno will see most of the carries and will do great if his college record shows any hint of what is to come. He had an outstanding two-year college career and posted some great stats.

Buckhalter is a seasoned veteran who has been in the league a while. His experience makes him a very solid second back who can get good yards when Moreno is out.

WRs/TEs:

It’s hard to say how the receiving game will play out with Marshall’s status being unknown. So we will assume he won’t be with the team.

Royal would step up and become the No. 1 WR for Orton and would run a lot of quick slants, looking for holes where he can get the ball and turn up field. The other WRs would prove adequate for the job. One player will emerge as the best of them and make a good second option.

Scheffler will be the starting TE and makes for a strong receiver in the flats, on the sidelines, or over the middle. At 6’5″, 250 lbs, he makes for a big target wherever he runs his routes.

Defensive Line:

The switch from a 4-3 to 3-4 leaves Denver in need of some big linemen. I don’t know who’s going to get the starting three positions so I can’t comment much on how they will do. But they will need to improve from last year. They had no pressure and could not stop the run so they need to get physical.

LBs:

D.J. Williams has an ILB spot and will be a force stopping the run and playing coverage over the middle. He is fast enough to get to the flats and cover RBs so he is one of the most useful players on the defense.

Dumerville will most likely play weak OLB and get to blitz. A change from DE, it will interesting to see how he adapts to the new position. But he will mainly be a player who can move around and rush the QB, trying to create pressure from the blindside. And we know he can pass rush.

Jarvis Moss will probably be the other OLB and play more man coverage against the TE or FB. His coverage skills are unknown so it is unsure as to how well he can cover these players.

DBs:

This is where the most changes have been made. Champ Bailey is one of the best CBs in the league, and his knowledge will help him excel against some of the best WRs. Alphonso Smith (drafted in first round) could very well become the other CB. In college, he was a force and didn’t allow a score against him. Pretty good, right? For a rookie, he has a long career ahead of him.

The safety position is where it’s at. There were two big problems the defense had last year. One, they couldn’t get in the backfield, stopping the run and pressuring the QB. The other problem was a lack of turnovers. The changes to the safeties have brought in ball hawks that can deliver punishing hits as well as force turnovers.

Brian Dawkins is a seasoned veteran with a lot of years under his belt and brings experience. Plus, he is a beast. Dawkins knows how to play and can get things done. Plus, he would make a great mentor to young safeties. If I had young players and wanted to bring in a guy who could teach them, Dawkins would probably be one or two. Didn’t Denver draft two safeties this year?

As for the rookie safeties, they can play and will learn under Dawkins. They are strong players who have a nose for the ball and have a way of generating turnovers. Two great players who can lead the defense for the next several years.

With the many many changes made, on both sides of the ball and in management, Denver is a completely different team. They have the tools to make them powerful for the next decade. Especially in a few years, once the players have developed, Denver will become the dominant team in the division and should see a few years in the playoffs.

The Rise and Fall of the Tampa-2 Defense as We Know It

Through Youthful Eyes: The Bleacher Report Learning Experience

About 10 months ago, I stumbled upon a website called BleacherReport.com, partly as a result of mere chance and partly because it was exactly what I was looking for.

At the time, of course, I had no idea it was what I was looking for.

Described as a “fan journalist” site, I had virtually no idea of what I was getting into when I decided to sign up for a membership except for the fact that I wanted to write articles about sports for people to read and discuss.

My passion.

I started with a small article about a player from the Vancouver Canucks. That piece got just over 400 reads, and I said what most people would say when over 400 people have read your work.

“Sweet!”

For my second article, I decided to tackle a bigger challenge: Michael Vick and his dog fighting scandal, as well putting forth a controversial question to the readers, Does Michael Vick Deserve A Second Chance?

With the second article amassing over 3,000 reads, I said what most would say when over 3,000 people have read your work.

“Wow!”

As time went by, I wrote more and more articles and eagerly anticipated the response they would bring with them. So much to the point that I would log on to one of my school’s computers during the lunch hour just to see if there were any new reads or comments left behind.

In a matter of months, Bleacher Report suddenly became a site that I visited regularly, reading and writing articles, giving and receiving comments, and for the first time in my life, I felt as if people cared about what I had to say regarding sports.

Because, at least in my eyes, it doesn’t matter how large of audience is reading what you wrote if it’s not the right audience that’s reading it.

And in the time that I’ve been writing articles I have felt as if every single one of my articles have been presented to the right audience. Good or bad, well-researched or poorly-reasearched as they might have been, they have never been read by the wrong people.

A feeling that I didn’t have when I first joined Bleacher Report.

As hard as it is to admit, I used to be a lot more of a stubborn person than I think I am today. I used to cringe at the sight of a negative comment and think of ways how to make some sarcastic response to salve my ego. But after a while, I realized something.

At 18, I figured that I have to be one of the younger writers on this site, so why was I so hard on myself when things didn’t go precisely according to plan in terms of how my articles were received?

Am I a bad writer? Do people not like my style? Am I too pushy leaving messages on people’s bulletin boards to read my articles? But the conclusion I came to didn’t involve any of these scenarios.

It’s all a part of a learning experience.

I realized that by asking myself all these questions, I had taken all the negative feedback that I had been faced with and turned it into a situation where I could develop as a writer because I wanted so badly to prove them wrong.

Isn’t that what good writers do?

Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t, to know the answer to that question I first must become one.

But what I can say is that had it not been for Bleacher Report I would have definitely still wanted to pursue sports journalism as I am planning to currently, but I would have likely missed a very important life lesson.

And you know what? I just realized that’s what I’ve been looking for all along.

Fantasy Football: Predicting a “Breakout Candidate”

A dream of every fantasy football manager is to draft the “next big thing” in the middle-late rounds.  The guy who flashes the potential to be a game-changer in real life and difference-maker on your fantasy roster.

  Two years ago, it was the sensational rookie running back from Sooner Country, Adrian “All Day” Peterson who took the fantasy world by storm.  Last season the title was claimed by back Michael “The Burner” Turner, who had switched teams during the off-season.

  Who is it going to be this year?

  To start, lets have a look at ten of the most notable breakout performers from last season and reasons as to why they may have experienced so much success.

  -Michael Turner-

  Everyone knew he had potential, the question was when would he have a chance to start?  An answer came in the off-season when the Chargers let him go; an when the Atlanta Falcons signed him.  No longer was he hidden in LaDanian Tomlinson’s shadow; Turner was ready to show not just the Falcons, but also the entire NFL what he had, and he sure showed them.

  -Roddy White-

  Although Roddy White was another Falcon, the similarities between him and Turner end there, (although they both put together sound statistical seasons).  White, instead of benefiting from opportunity, benefited from consistently improving in each season he has played in the NFL.  In 2005 he caught 29 passes for 446 yards.  In 2006 he caught 30 passes for 506 yards.  In 2007 he caught 83 passes for 1,202 yards.  And last year he caught 88 passes for 1,382 yards.

  -Calvin Johnson-

  The Big Nasty from Georgia Tech improved upon his rookie numbers last season, raising his catches from 48 to 78, his yards from 756 to 1,331, and his touchdowns from four to 12.  Aside from the insane amount of talent that Johnson possesses, perhaps what increased his numbers so dramatically was the fact that fellow talented wide receiver Roy Williams was shipped to the Dallas Cowboys mid-season.  No longer did he have to split a significant amount of targets with another receiver on the team.

  -Dwayne Bowe-

  Bowe, like Johnson, improved upon his rookie numbers from two seasons ago.  Receptions increased by 16, yards by 27, and touchdowns by two.  He was hampered by inconsistent quarterback play, but now has capable QB Matt Cassel to throw him the ball.

  -Steve Slaton-

  The first of three rookies on this list of 2008 breakouts.  Slaton enjoyed a fine season last year with the Texans, since he was in position to start come the regular season.  He proved that his college career was no fluke as he totaled 1,282 yards on 268 carries, and an extra 377 yards on 50 receptions while also scoring ten total touchdowns.  Look for these numbers to grow next season since he will hopefully have a fully healthy Matt Schaub throwing him the ball and keeping the passing game, (and in turn running game) honest.

  -Chris Johnson-

  Rookie number two on the list.  Johnson ran the fastest combine 40 time out of anyone in the draft last season, clocked with a robust 4.24 seconds.  He let his speed know on the field as well, garnering 1,228 yards on 251 carries, for a stellar 4.8 ypa while also adding in nine touchdowns.  Look for Johnson to improve upon these numbers since LenDale White, (the other back in this rbbc) is not looked too highly upon amongst the Tennessee Staff.

  -Matt Forte-

  The third and final rookie on this list.  Forte enjoyed perhaps the best rookie season of any player this decade in terms of fantasy production in his first season in the bigs.  He was the starter from day one, and boy, did he let know that he was the starter.  Forte rushed the ball a ridiculous 316 times, and caught the ball an equally ridiculous 63 times for a grand total of 1,715 total yards, and 12 scores.  Of the three rooks, I feel that Matty F has the highest chance of failing to meet his previous seasons’ statistics, just because they were so crazy.

  -DeAngelo Williams-

  The Panther had a season for the ages last year.  Like many on this list, Williams had improved statistically in each of his seasons in the league.  In 2006, (his rookie season), he rushed the ball 121 times for 501 yards and a score.  Then in 2007, he ran with the ball 23 more times for 216 more yards and an additional three scores.  And then there was last season:  273 carries, 1,515 yards, 20 total TDs.  It is important to note that his ypa went up each season as well.

  -Matt Schaub-

  I know what you are thinking, “How can a guy who missed five games last season be considered a “breakout player”?  Well i’ll tell you why.  Despite the fact that he missed nearly 1/3 of the season, he still managed to pass for over 3,000 yards and 15 scores.  That’s Matt Ryan’s numbers in 1/3 less the time.  Schaub had talent to work with, (especially with Slaton’s emergence) and is looking at a dandy season next year.

  -Aaron Rodgers-

  After three seasons of waiting on the bench in favor of old man Favre, Rodgers finally got his chance to show his stuff last season.  And show his stuff he did to the tune of 4,038 passing yards and 28 touchdowns compared to just 13 interceptions.  Rodgers is an example that opportunity can make flourish.

  So with all this in check, let’s look at a simpler and more mathematical way to look at the above “reasons” as to why these players achieved such high success.

  Forty percent of the “break-outs” showed statistical improvement each year.

  Thirty percent of the “break-outs” were rookies in a position to start.

  Ten percent of the “break-outs” benefited from a key departure on their team.

  Ten percent of the “break-outs” benefitted from a key addition on their team.

  Ten percent of the “break-outs” benefited from joining a new team.

 
  With that in mind, here are ten players who show one of those pre-requisites for this upcoming season.

  Chris “Beanie” Wells- (Rookie in position to start).
  Michael Crabtree- (Rookie in position to start).
  Derrick Ward- (New team).
  Kyle Orton- (New team).
  Jerricho Cotchery- (Key departure from team).
  Domenik Hixon- (Key departure(s) from team).
  Donnie Avery- (Key departure from team).
  Anthony Gonzalez- (Key departure from team).
  Devin Hester- (Key addition to team).
  Greg Olsen- (Key addition to team).

  Target these “break-out candidates”, and you will sure assume some middle-late round stars on your roster.

Seattle Seahawks Choose Taylor Mays

This is the very first thing we should hear at the draft in 2010.  Players like him don’t come around very often.  The fact that he calls Seattle home is a dream come true. 

He was an All State football and track athlete in High School at Odea in Seattle.  His father played for the Huskies and a few teams in the NFL.  His mother is an Executive at Nordstrom.  He decided on USC because he wanted to create his own legacy.  So it would seem he has the Ruskell character and pedigree of school.

He is a four year starter on arguably the best program in the country at USC.  He’s been an All American since his sophomore year and was second team All American his Freshmen year. 

He was clocked at a 4.29 his Sophomore year and Pete Carroll has no problem telling anyone that Mays is the fastest kid on the team and that really means something when you’re at Southern Cal. 

He has one more season left and has been told by Carroll that he will become more involved in the defense at his free safety position which should lead to some amazing numbers in 2009.

I know that everyone likes Eric Berry, but he is tiny.  He’s only 5’11” and weighs 211lbs.  I’m impressed with his ability to play safety but you can’t give up 6’3″ and 235lbs for that.  His skill level is not that much greater if it is at all to overcome those numbers.

It would be a travesty of Lincecum type proportions if the Seahawks don’t pick up Taylor Mays in the first round of the draft.  I don’t care if it’s Denver’s pick or the Seahawks, but it has to get done or we will pay severely. 

We have been burned in this city before by not picking up our hometown players I hope we don’t repeat those mistakes in 2010. 

I think it is very apparent to most Seahawks fans that our Safeties need help and if Hasselbeck stays healthy I think he can play a few more years.  That gives the Hawks time to focus on getting the best player available and hoping that Ruskell can find us our next QB or RB in the second-seventh rds.

The Seahawks’ defense is on the verge of something special and with Mora and Bradley at the helm it can happen.  Mebane, Tatupu, and Mays holding down the center of the field would be devastating. 

So when the time comes for Ruskell to make that pick  I hope that he makes the right decision and realizes that the best stuff is homegrown. 

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