The Sportmeisters NFL Season Preview: AFC North

By Derek and Ryan of The Sportmeisters

With the NFL season fast approaching, Sportmeisters Derek and Ryan break out the crystal ball and forsee the future of all 32 NFL teams. Today, Derek and Ryan look at the AFC North, and discuss how they got to their respective decisions. What follows is a transcript of that discussion.

Ryan:

• Pittsburgh Steelers: 15-1
• Baltimore Ravens: 11-5
• Cincinnati Bengals: 9-7
• Cleveland Browns: 3-13

Derek:

• Pittsburgh Steelers: 15-1
• Baltimore Ravens: 7-9
• Cincinnati Bengals: 7-9
• Cleveland Browns: 3-13

Ryan: Derek, it looks like we’ve been drinking the Pittsburgh Steelers kool-aid again.

Derek: With good reason, Ryan. The AFC North was a much closer race then people thought it would be last year. However, this year it won’t be that close.

Ryan: I have it a bit closer, with three teams over .500, but you’re sold on just Pittsburgh to make noise in the North.

Derek: The defending Super Bowl Champion Steelers look to be on easy street this year. They have a few tough games against Tennessee, Chicago, Minnesota, Green Bay, and San Diego, but I think their Monster Defense gives them the edge against all but San Diego.

Ryan: In what is sure to be a first, the only game we agree on Pittsburgh losing is at San Diego, but this team could easily lose a few other games. Their opening game against Tennessee will be tough, but with the home crowd behind them, I can’t see the Steelers losing. Along with that, the rejuvenated Ravens could make a stand or two in a tough physical matchup.

Derek: Baltimore has a much tougher schedule this year and second year QB Joe Flacco and LB Ray Lewis won’t be able to lead them to victory over Pittsburgh, Chicago, Indianapolis, San Diego, New England, Minnesota, Green Bay, and they may even lose to a revitalized Cincinnati.

Ryan: Derek, I’m going to disagree there, because I do think one of the most physical teams in the NFL will pound their ways to victory, much like last year. I see them defeating New England, Minnesota, and Green Bay.

Derek: Their strong Defense will lead them to wins over Cleveland, Kansas City, Denver, Detroit, and Oakland, but that won’t be enough to make the playoffs.

Ryan: That’s where you’re wrong, they’ll make the playoffs, using the successful formula of last year behind the running game and the defense to take a wild card spot.

Derek: Let’s move on to the Hard Knocks team of the summer, the Cincinnati Bengals. With a healthy Carson Palmer and a rejuvenated Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati will have a much better year this year, but it won’t be enough.

Ryan: It really won’t be for them, but I think it’s a victim of the division they are in. However, this team needs to fire Marvin Lewis and start fresh. Keep an eye on Carson Palmer’s injuries, as he still has not been the same since 2006.

Derek: Losses to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Green Bay, Chicago, Houston, San Diego, and the Jets will seal their fate outside the playoffs yet again.

Ryan: They’ll take Green Bay, and be close to a wild card slot in the final week, forcing them to defeat the Jets, but it won’t be enough either.

Derek: Finally, the Browns are still the bottom of the barrel, despite Eric Mangini’s overhaul.

Ryan: It takes a lot in year one to make a difference, and using the Bill Belichick mold, he made some huge trades to bring in some of his top contributors from his time at New York, but he’s still a year or two away.

Derek: He’s installed a new Defensive philosophy, but beyond quarterback, this team is still struggling for talent.

Ryan: Luckily, we’re not struggling for opinions on the AFC North.

The Philadelphia Eagles FINALLY Find Respect

Give The Philadelphia Eagles credit today!

They recognize their tradition now.

FINALLY!

Al Wistert is being inducted into the Eagles Ring Of Honor on 9/ 27/ 09.

It will occur during a halftime ceremony when the Eagles host the Kansas City Chiefs.

You may remember my calling the Eagles out on this in an older post.

The Philadelphia Eagles Are Devoid Of Honor

 

BUT, the job is not done for Al.

He SHOULD be in Canton!

Here is his story again.

Consider getting on board.

Al Wistert
6’1″ 214
Tackle
Philadelphia Eagles
1943 – 1951
9 Seasons
95 Games Played
8 Time All-Pro

Albert Alexander Wistert was drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia / Pittsburgh Steagles in 1943, the 32nd player chosen overall. The Steagles were a team that was comprised of Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers into one team because of World War II.

Al had played college football at the University of Michigan . He was a legendary two way player there. He had two brothers, Alvin and Francis, also play for the Wolverines. They all played the same position, Tackle on both sides of the ball, and wore the same number 11 jersey.

Francis was the first, Albert was the second, then Alvin was last. Their number 11 jersey has been retired by Michigan University , and is one of only seven to have achieved that honor. Albert played on Wolverine teams that lost only five games in his three years there. He was an All American and was named the MVP of the team in 1942.

One famous moment in Michigan University football history came against Notre Dame in South Bend , Indiana . Going in the locker room trailing at halftime, the Notre Dame fans told Michigan to go home because it was over. Wistert would have none of that and inspired his team mates with a pep talk that had the Wolverines fired up. Michigan rattled off 21 straight unanswered points in the third quarter and dominated Notre Dame to a 32 – 20 victory.

After playing in the 1943 East-West Shrine Game, Al was team captain of the College All Stars who played against the NFL World Champion Washington Redskins. Al’s team stomped the Redskins, led by Hall Of Fame Quarterback Sammy Baugh, 27 – 7.

Al Wistert is a member of the Michigan University Hall Of Honor, and a member of the College Football Hall Of Fame, as are both of his brothers.

Al went to his first Steagles practice knowing no one. He saw Hall Of Fame Defensive End Bill Hewitt sitting on some rocks smoking a cigarette. Al approached Hewitt to introduce himself to the fellow Wolverine Alumni who had played alongside his brother Francis in college. Hewitt had just come out of a three year retirement to play for $4,000. It was the most Hewitt had ever made in the NFL. Al had just signed with the Steagles for $4,500. Al extended his hand and introduced himself, but Hewitt did not say a word or offer his hand. Al then decided to run laps around the field by himself. Pretty soon, the entire Steagles team was following Al and running around the field.

The Steagles disbanded the following season, and the Steelers and Eagles went back to being separate teams. Wistert stayed in Philadelphia . Al would make his first All-Pro Team that year in 1944, and would garner this achievement for every year of the rest of his NFL career. In 1946, he was named team captain. An honor he served until 1950.

The Eagles went to their first championship game in 1947, but lost to the Chicago Cardinals 28 – 21. The 1948 season saw the Eagles win their very first championship during a blizzard in a rematch against the Chicago Cardinals 7 – 0. The Eagles then went back to the NFL Championship the next year and beat the Los Angeles Rams 14 – 0 in heavy rain.

The Eagles are the only team in NFL history to win back to back championships and not allow their opponents to score. Al announced he would retire after the 1951 season. The Eagles held an AL WISTERT DAY in the fourth from last home game that year. The team gave Al a brand new car, and many other gifts. One gift was a hand crafted dining room table that Al still uses this day to eat his meals off of.

The Eagles then retired his #70 jersey in 1952, the first Eagle to ever have had this done. Al Wistert is a member of the NFL 1940’s All-Decade Team.

I find it utterly amazing that Al Wistert has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame! This man truly embodies what Canton is supposed to represent. Not only was he an eight time All-Pro in his nine year career, but he was a very important member of an Eagles team that dominated the NFL in the late 1940’s.

He introduced the NFL to the stand up style of blocking you all see today, instead of the rolling type of blocks that were employed then, which allowed Wistert to use his speed and agility to keep on blocking more defenders downfield and making him better than all the rest.

Al was a true leader on and off the field. He captained a powerhouse squad full of Hall Of Fame players like Steve Van Buren, Pete Pihos, Alex Wojciechowicz, and Chuck Bednarik. His coach was Hall Of Famer Earle “Greasy” Neale. Al also gave back to the community by coaching a high school team in New Jersey over 50 miles away, even though he did not own a car. Neale liked and respected Wistert so much that he would lend his personal car daily to Wistert so Al could go teach kids how to play football. This says a lot, because Neale was a noted task master.

One game, Al came to the sideline to tell the coach he thought he had just broken his leg. Neale replied, ” Well, get back in there until you are sure that it is.” Al never missed a game in his career. He started every game of his career except the first five of his rookie season. He would soon supplant veteran Ted Doyle after the fifth game. The only other time he missed a start was in 1950 season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Wistert had a severely sprained ankle and could hardly walk, but he ended up playing most of the game anyways.

A 60 minute man, he never left the field at any time. Whether it was opening up holes for runners on offense or closing them on defense, Wistert was an amazing athlete durable, strong, and cerebral. Al was the smallest Tackle in the NFL, weighing 214 pounds, but he was a master technician who would out think, outwit, out gut, and dominate his opponents on both sides of the ball for every minute of every game.

Al said, “I never gave then the same thing twice. I always confounded them with a new plan of attack.” His team mates dubbed him “Ox”, because he was incredibly strong and dependable.

The game was much different then. A rougher and more violent game with less rules and padding for self preservation. They played games in all sorts of poor weather, unlike the climate controlled stadiums so many players enjoy today. They would spend days travelling to cities by train, instead of a few hours on an airplane like today.

Just to get a taste of these times, the Eagles took a train from Philadelphia to Los Angeles after beating the Giants. Despite only having a few days in L.A. , they shut out the Rams in monsoon like conditions to win an NFL Championship. To say these men were tough is an understatement. They did this for the love of the game, not the love for the money.

Many great football players eschewed the NFL in those days because they could earn more money outside of sports, and in other sports. Francis Wistert was given $100 by Cardinals owner Charles Bidwell just to sign a contract, even though he had no intention of ever playing in the NFL. Francis chose to pitch for the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball instead of playing football.

Albert Wistert decided to play professional football and was great at it. He was a 60 minute man who stayed on the field at all times. After he retired, he became successful in the life insurance business and made million dollar deals. But he chose to play football first, and he is one of the path pavers who made the NFL the multi-billion dollar empire what it is today.

The fact the Eagles retired his number first, and only one year after his retirement, shows how special a football player he was. Al Wistert is also a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall Of Fame.

As the years go on, the more we tend to forget great gridiron stars like Al Wistert. The veterans committee for the Pro Football Hall Of Fame MUST be blamed for not doing the jobs they were given to do. It is plainly evident to see, with all of the accolades, that a grave injustice has been perpetrated in regards to Al. It was not lost on his fellow players. After he retired, over 23 players and NFL’ers have written to the Hall Of Fame asking that Wistert be put in. Greats ranging from Chuck Bednarik to even former Eagles owner Norm Braman. Why the voters have chosen to ignore such a rich, diverse cast of NFL Alumni requests is bewildering. There is NO QUESTION that Albert Wistert belongs in Canton .

YOU can help by signing this petition:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/AlOxWistertHOF/

 

Fantasy Football Draft: What to do with the 8th Pick

Adrian Peterson is the number one pick in almost all fantasy leagues, that’s the easy part. After that the upper tier of running backs (Michael Turner, Maurice Jones-Drew, DeAngelo Williams, Stephen Jackson, LaDainian Tomlinson and Matt Forte) will be at your disposable. Each have loads of upside as well as some downside.

After the running back tier the best available players are tough to figure out. Here is a good 2009 fantasy team with the number eight pick in a 10 person league.

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LOTD: Packers Fans Exact Their Revenge on Favre by Clothing the Homeless

You know all of those Green Bay Packers fans whose closets are lined with Brett Favre gear, who splurged on number 4 Jets jerseys the minute he announced his unretirement last season? (I know at least one such family…but I will not call them out by name because I don’t want my supply of the world’s best meatloaf to be cut off.)

Well, what are these folks to do now that their beloved is playing for a different team and *gasp* one that is in the Packers’ very own division? (If it’s the family I know, who are more Favre fans than Packer fans, it’s head over to NFLshop.com and get Favre Vikings jerseys, of course!)

The good folks at 1670 WTDY in Madison, Wisconsin—namely, “The Wisconsin Guys,” Dan and Kurt—have an idea: donate all of your old Brett Favre clothes to the homeless! It’s called the “4 The Poor Jersey Drive.”

Today’s link of the day, from TheWisconsinGuys.com (via Sports By Brooks):

So, how do you get rid of that old Brett Favre jersey, hat, sweatshirt, etc…?

There is no need to blow it up, light it on fire, run it over, shred it, or any of the other pretty good ideas you may have. If you give it to us, we’ll put your name in a drawing to win tix to see Benedict Favre take on the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 1st.

We will be taking those used but now useless clothing items to Minneapolis just prior to the Green Bay/Vikings Monday Night Football game on October 5th and we’ll be giving them to a Twin Cities homeless shelter. See, they don’t have to go to waste!

That, ladies and gentleman, is a constructive way to deal with feelings of anger, betrayal, and revenge…and could only come from the good folks who inhabit the glorious Midwest. Think Philly fans would be clothing the homeless with old Mike Schmidt jerseys if he had unretired to play for the Yankees? Shoot, they might not even give a homeless guy an old McNabb jersey and he’s still their QB!

(Philly fans, feel free to email me to express disgust that I just perpetuated the old stereotypes again…you were the first fanbase that came to my mind…I’m sorry!)

And here you go, some other solid links from around the web today.

Sports:

• University of Oregon threatening cheerleader Amanda Pflugrad over online bikini photos? — (Busted Coverage)
• Rick Pitino has had it with you lying liars — (Deadspin)
• Who cares what the topic is, this is always worth a click — (Hot Clicks)
• AFC West Preview — (MoonDog)
• I’ve finally kicked the Cubsahol…for now — (Not Qualified to Comment)
• MLB realignment is stupid — (Sharapova’s Thigh)
• Blogs With Balls Radio premieres on the Joe Sports Fan Radio Network — (Hugging Harold Reynolds)
• Colt McCoy and his Heisman ’stache — (Major League Jerk)
• QB controversy in Minnesota? What? — (The Viking Age)
• Jay Cutler 2009 Predictions — (Jay Cutler Superstar)
• Team-by-team success when top two starters pitch — (MLive.com)

Non-Sports:

• Granny goes nuts, attacks news crew with a garden hoe (AWESOME!) — (Straight Pinkie)
• The hotties of beer pong — (Spewf.com)
• Courtney Starburst looks good in Jamaica — (Hail Mary Jane)

A 2009 NFL Season Preview

It’s that magical time of the year when, as the immortal George Carlin once quipped, “Everything is dying.”

That’s right NFL fans, the national pastime is back.

Right now, everyone’s picks are right…Except for mine. I seem, as smart as I am, to get five of the 12 playoff teams right every year. Yet, I keep on picking. 

It is the parity of the NFL that I blame for my shoddy pickings. This season there are only five teams with no chance of making it to the playoffs. Here is the first list of my 2009 NFL shoddy pickings:

The Five Worst Teams in the NFL

1. Detroit
2. Kansas City
3. Cincin-cinncin-cinsin-the Bengles
4. Cleveland (this is my team, but these dawgs will not have their day)
5. St. Louis

Okay, I have 27 teams left. Let’s see if I can’t get rid of a few more. So here is the second list of my 2009 yada, yada, yada.

Teams with no shot at the Super Bowl

6. Denver
7. Tampa Bay
8. San Francisco
9. New York Jets
10. Jacksonville

The good news, if you’re a fan of one of these teams, they could all get as far as the Conference Championship Game.  But, as Tim Allen’s sidekick on Tool Time often quipped,  “I don’t think so, Tim.”  For the purposes of this quip I’ll play the role of Tim. 

Now that we have come to the end of the humor section of my 2009 you know the rest (if you didn’t laugh, then it was just an introduction), so now it is time to talk about some winners.

Division Winners

11. Phila-Philla-Philadelf-Philly-The Eagles
12. Green Bay
13. Carolina
14. Arizona
15. New England
16. Pittsburgh
17. Indyan-Indianap-Indiapol-The Colts
18. San Diego

You notice there are no records next to the teams because they’re shoddy enough.

Wild Card Teams

19. New York Giants
20. Brett Favre, er, Minnesota
21. Tennessee
22. Oakland

So 11-22 are my playoff teams.  I am reaching with the Raiders because of their talent on the field and their coach is literally cracking skulls.

Why these Teams won’t make the Playoffs

23. Dallas — Wade Phillips
24. Chicago — Jay Cutler
25. New Orleans — Defense
26. Atlanta — I might be wrong about them
27. Seattle — Injuries
28. Miami — They won’t be as good as they were last year
29. Buffalo — T.O.
30. Baltimore — I hate them like poison
31. Houston — I picked them the last two years, and they let me down
32. Washington — A good team in the toughest division in the NFL

My Greatest Hope for the Season

The Browns go to the Super Bowl.

My more Realistic Hope for the Season

Green Bay beats Minnesota twice (three times, if they meet in the playoffs).

Tom Brady doesn’t have his season end in the first quarter (because even though I really hate New England it would mess up my already shoddy picks).

Wild Card Weekend

Green Bay over Minnesota
New York Giants over Arizona
Pittsburgh over Oakland
San Diego over Tennessee

Divisional Weekend

Philly over New York Giants
Carolina over Green Bay
New England over Pittsburgh
Indy over San Diego

Championship Sunday

Philly over Carolina
New England over Indy

Super Bowl XLIV (XLIIII)

Philly over New England

Cheese steaks for everyone as the chowder turns red. 

2010 NFL Mock Draft: Alpha Version

Ok, I know this is ridiculously early, but I wanted to get one done before the regular season started. Although stronger than 2009, the class of 2010 is still relatively weak. Sam Bradford headlines a QB class that’s sure to be full of underclassmen deflecting for the NFL in lieu of the upcoming Collective Barganing Agreement negotiations that are sure to do something about the ridiculously high rookie salaries.

2010 Mock, 1 Round. The order was determined by splitting up the teams ranked 1-5, 6-16, 17-27, and 28-32 and then drawing out of a hat. The reason being that the bottom 5 teams are pretty well labeled as well as the top 5, but what order those teams will be or how well the other 22 teams will do is all speculation, so I left it up to chance as opposed to hurting my head as to predict why team x is 12 while team y is 15.

Also, I’m not predicting any trades until after the scouting combine. Obviously official trades will be observed.

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New York Jets Attempt to Fly in Preseason

On Monday night, the New York Jets passed the halfway mark of the preseason. The Jets are 1-1 in the preseason. The Lions went undefeated in the 2008 preseason, so that tells what a preseason record means.

Today, in a surprise to almost no one, Rex Ryan named Mark Sanchez as the opening day starter for the Jets.

Sanchez did not show much to win the job, it was more that Kellen Clemens did not show enough to make anyone say that he deserves to still compete for the starting quarterback spot.

Ready or not, Sanchez is under center for the first snap in Houston.

The biggest fear for any franchise is to see its star player, especially a quarterback, go down. If Sanchez should miss time, he will most likely be missed as much as any superstar quarterback in the league. The depth of the roster is at a kiddie pool level.

Sanchez had 16 career starts at USC. He will need to equal that number in one season in the NFL.

Kellen Clemens is not showing much. Clemens is in his fourth season and should be showing more rhythm than blues, but it just is not there for him and it makes one wonder what the Jets really saw in him.

The real quarterback battle is for the number two spot. Erik Ainge, in his second year, has looked slightly better than Clemens. It is tough to truly judge Ainge’s performances because they have come against some players who will not be collecting full NFL paychecks this fall. But, I think he could at least equal Clemens’ performance on the field. 

The Jets should look to grab any veteran backup they can find. Does Vinny Testaverde still have another year left in him? 

Leon Washington should never leave the field. I think Washington would even contribute on defense if you put him in the secondary. He is that much of a playmaker.

He is in a contract dispute with the Jets, but the more I see his effort, the more I want the Jets to become Teddy KGB from Rounders and say, “pay that man his money.”

David Clowney is averaging 27 yards per reception in the two preseason games. He needs to see action with the first team against the Giants on Sunday. Clowney has great speed, but I really want to see it in action against a first team defense. 

The number-two wide receiver position still appears open. Chansi Stuckey has it presently and Brad Smith is right behind him, but Clowney should see more time and should be the home run threat in this offense.

Dustin Keller will be the primary target. Many rookie quarterbacks tend to find their tight end to save them as the pocket shrinks and the time they used to have in college to throw the ball elapses.

I think we can expect around five catches per game in the 2009 season for Keller. He can get open and take a 10-yard pass and turn it into a 20-yard pass.

The Ghost has been precisely that. Linebacker Vernon Gholston has one solo tackle and two assisted tackles in two games.

With Calvin Pace missing the first four games of the season due to suspension, you would think that Gholston has a great opportunity to shake the bust label. From what we have seen in the preseason, Gholston has looked a little slow and a little bit lost. His ability to shed blocks must improve for him to be an integral player on defense. 

The undrafted rookie from Rutgers, Jamaal Westerman, is having a very nice training camp. He should not only make this team, but should contribute down the road.

The Jets currently have three players from Rutgers. They are Westerman, linebacker Brandon Renkart, and tight end Kevin Brock. Rutgers ranks tied for tenth in the number of players from one college playing in the NFL. That says quite a bit for a team that only eight years ago lost three games to West Virginia, Miami and Virginia Tech by a combined 184 points.

On special teams, Jay Feely has been 3-for-3 in his field goal attempts. Reggie Hodges has done well punting the ball and should be the starting punter.

The Jets do not have their full lineup like most teams because of some nagging injuries. Kris Jenkins, Shonn Greene, Darrelle Revis, and a few others have missed either a preseason game or some practice time.

And that is your in-flight entertainment for August on New York Jets Flight Number 2009. Currently, this plane has just left the hangar.

 

Singing the Blues? You’ll Feel Better If the Giants Address These Issues

Giants fans, we have reached a critical juncture in the NFL preseason. By game three, the starters receive their most extensive game action of the summer. Quarterback battles are won and lost. Coaches get an idea of who their starters will be come Opening Day.

 

By the final game of the preseason, rosters are rounded out with backups and specialists, and a few “surprise” cuts end up being made.

 

After the amazing run to Super Bowl victory against the Patriots and a 12-win follow-up season that ended in an uninspired Divisional Playoff exit last year, the Giants have set the bar for what needs to be accomplished. The organization and the fans expect eleven wins or better and Super Bowl contention every year.     

 

So if they are going to achieve their goal of another Super Bowl title, there are three big issues/positional battles that could determine success or failure for the 2009 New York Giants.

 

 

Quarterback

 

No question about it, Eli Manning is the starter; being the highest-paid player in the league warrants it that way. However, my concern is with the backups.

 

David Carr still looks uncomfortable, like he never recovered from the beating he took in Houston. Sure, he was credited with a touchdown drive against Carolina, but the defense gave him a short field and the score was a result of a short pass to RB Danny Ware, who did most of the work on a catch-and-run for 36 yards.

 

Andre Woodson is quickly looking like he is not going to make it, as he has made some head-scratching decisions with the football.

 

The wild-card in the battle to back up Manning is rookie Rhett Bomar. We forget how talented he was before he was dismissed from the Oklahoma program, but he has yet to see any significant action.

 

Look for Manning to get a good amount of work against the Jets this week, who employ an aggressive defense that should simulate the regular season. The other three should be worked in to see how they react as well. Perhaps one of these guys can help improve on the disconcerting 28% preseason third-down conversion rate.

 

However, by the time the final preseason game comes around against New England, we should see an equal dose of all three backups, competing for two roster spots. If Bomar plays well, I expect him to make the 53-man roster, while Carr or Woodson looks for a job. Manning has been durable since his ascent to starting quarterback in New York, but if he misses extended time the Giants do not have a proven option to take the reigns at this point.

 

 

Health of the Defense

 

A well-stocked, nine-deep defensive line is starting to get stripped a bit. Injuries have struck down defensive tackles Jay Alford and Chris Canty for extended time. Alford will rehab the MCL for the rest of the preseason and then determine the severity of the partial ACL tear. To make matters more difficult, Alford also doubles as the short-snapper on PATs and field goal attempts, a role to be filled by current long-snapper, Zak DeOssie.

 

Canty, a big offseason acquisition from Dallas, is going to see how bad his hamstring is. He is going try platelet-rich plasma therapy to see if the hamstring can heal quicker, thereby preventing a trip to the IR.

 

The Giants do have Barry Cofield, Fred Robbins, and Rocky Bernard to work in the middle, so I don’t believe there is a reason to go into all-out panic mode just yet. Plus, there is a glut of pass-rushers on the roster and DE Justin Tuck (currently battling some minor foot pain) will slide inside on obvious passing downs.

 

Look out for undrafted free agent DE Maurice Evans out of Penn State. He has been making some plays this preseason and he has a chance to stick on the roster if he can keep the momentum going.

 

In addition to the defensive line, the back seven has been bitten by the injury bug, too. All three of the projected starting linebackers (Danny Clark, Antonio Pierce, and Michael Boley) have missed time this summer with a variety of ailments.

 

This past Saturday against Chicago, Pierce’s replacement (Chase Blackburn) looked completely over his head at the middle. However, rookie third-round pick Clint Sintim has looked solid in all facets; coverage, pass-rush, and athletic ability in particular. He could take Clark’s strong-side starting job.

 

With Boley recovering from hip surgery and being suspended for the regular-season opener, Bryan Kehl and Gerris Wilkinson need to hold down the fort at the weak side.

 

To keep the hits coming, CB Aaron Ross reinjured his hamstring in the last training camp practice on Tuesday. Corey Webster and Kenny Phillips have also been fighting through some of their own health problems (hip and knee, respectively).

 

Any team can overcome a few injuries here and there, but when a cluster of them send virtually the entire starting defense to the trainer’s room, this could be too much to deal with. A return to health by the bulk of the unit in time for the September 13th opener against Washington will be imperative to success.

 

 

Receivers

 

Rightfully so, a lot was made about the loss of Manning’s favorite target in the passing game in 2008, Plaxico Burress. When that kind of chemistry is broken up down the stretch run into December and January, it can be very difficult to recover.

 

This year, Manning has had the entire offseason to develop a rapport with his receivers. Remember, Donovan McNabb and Tom Brady each experienced success on offense by spreading the ball out to middle-tier receivers. While it would be nice to see a “go-to” receiver emerge, it is not necessary, especially with a strong running game. Instead, each receiver should work on establishing a niche.

 

Steve Smith displays good possession receiver skills; I think he could fill Amani Toomer’s old role. Domenik Hixon is capable of big plays downfield, but needs to have better concentration.

 

First-round pick Hakeem Nicks shows flashes of ability, but his start to camp was limited by a hamstring injury, so he is just hitting his stride. Ramses Barden is 6’6” and an intriguing red-zone option, but seems to be a better athlete than a pro receiver right now (remember Clarence Moore, Ravens fans?).

 

The team is also high on Mario Manningham, who could also factor in the return game. Ex-Miami Dolphin Derek Hagan has performed better than expected in camp and has a shot at stealing a roster spot. That means Sinorice Moss and David Tyree are the two guys on the bubble. If they don’t perform well, there is a good chance either could be traded for a conditional draft choice or outright released.

 

In any case, this is a group that lacks experience, but each receiver brings something different to the party. Eli Manning has had an entire offseason to figure out which receivers he can lean on in a big spot. Who those guys are will be a question that is hopefully answered by Cutdown Day.

 

 

Summary

 

A backup quarterback has to emerge as merely tolerable. The defense needs to get healthy. The receivers need to carve out roles for themselves.  If these three issues can be adequately addressed, then the Giants have a Super Bowl-caliber team. If not, it could all fall apart quickly.

 

As August winds down, it will be very easy to take the temperature of this team going forward. All you have to do is look at the Tom Coughlin Mood Ring. When it is a rosy color, things are going well. When it is a shade of red that doesn’t occur in nature, there are problems.

 

Keep an eye on these developments, because they will be the difference between glory and agony in 2009.

 

Dick LeBeau Named Senior Nominee to the Hall-of-Fame

After a successful Super Bowl win, defensive guru, Dick LeBeau, has been named as a finalist to the Professional Football Hall-of-Fame at the age of 71.

In my humble, unbiased opinion, “It’s about time!”

Every August, certain Hall-of-Fame voters, who are also members of the Senior Selection Committee, select two players, whose professional careers ended at least 25 years prior.

Dick LeBeau was not just a coach, but also an excellent cornerback, and he played with Dick “Night Train” Lane and Lem Barney over a 14-year career with the Detroit Lions.

He is tied for seventh in all-time career interceptions, had nine fumble recoveries, and four defensive touchdowns.

He was drafted in 1959 by the Cleveland Browns as a fifth round pick from Ohio State University. He was cut by the Browns and then signed by the Lions where he became a legend.

However, his accomplishments on the field are only half of what this man has done for the game of football. This guy became a defensive coach and in 1995, he became the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That first year, the Steelers went to the Super Bowl and even though they lost, it’s still quite an accomplishment. He left the Steelers in 1997 and came back in 2004.

Every year he’s been with the Steelers, they have been in the top 10 in defense, except in 2006 when they were ranked 11th.

Twice they have been No. 1, and three more times in the top five.

Dick LeBeau has been a father figure to his players and many of them consider him as just that, a father.

But, his greatest accomplishment was how he changed defensive football.

He is universally regarded as the inventor of the Zone Blitz, which is used to confuse the offense by dropping back players that usually blitz into zone coverage, while using players that usually play coverage as blitzers.

For example, one would have the outside linebacker drop into coverage and call for a cornerback blitz.

If he wasn’t a Hall-of-Famer as a player or as a coach, any unbiased person cannot say that if you combine both of them, then he should have been in the Hall years ago.

Steelers and Lions fans should be rejoicing when this great player, coach, and person will be inducted to the Hall-of-Fame.

I say that because I believe there is a greater chance of me being teleported to Pluto to become the ambassador of an alien race, than this guy being denied induction.

He’s already got the Senior Committee behind him, which is five voters, and he’s got Ed Bouchette-the Pittsburgh voter, and Tom Kowalski-the Detroit voter, so I don’t see this guy being denied.

When you think about it, Dick LeBeau deserves it, especially this year because Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice are up for induction and it is just appropriate that these three greatest of the greats be inducted together.

Hock’s Take: I Take Back Nearly Everything I Said About Brett Favre

Just last week, I bemoaned the end of my consecutive Favre-less streak, but I stand here before you a changed man.

Actually, I’m sitting here, and I’m not really before you, but the point still stands. I have seen the light!

No matter what happens this year, I’m glad that Brett Favre is a Minnesota Viking.

Now I can hear all the “haters” out there, who’d want defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to punch Brett in the jaw. “He’s too old, he’s washed up! Didn’t you see him at the end of last year? And now he’s got a torn rotator cuff on top of that?”

It’s all true, of course. He’s a washed-up shell of his former self coming into a team and system he doesn’t know as much about as he thought he did, but ultimately, it doesn’t matter.

The best case scenario for the Vikings this year is that Favre is a great stop-gap. A playoff team with as much talent as Minnesota has should be able to ride even a mediocre quarterback deep into the playoffs. There’s no reason to think they can’t win a Super Bowl.

Worst case? The Vikings make a ton of money. Favre’s jersey is already selling out across the state. Even last year, in the more jaded New York market, Favre’s jersey was the best selling in the NFL, and Minnesota is a much better locale for licensed sports merchandise.

Ticket sales are already up, and should continue to climb as the roster takes shape heading into the season. That means more ad revenue and fewer possible blackouts, which means less begging for money from corporate sponsors.

Additionally, even if Favre does flop and the Vikings go 4-12 (they won’t), they’ll be in a perfect position to draft one of the top college QBs coming out this year.

You can’t tell me that the Vikings wouldn’t be better for drafting Bradford, McCoy or, yes, even Tebow.

I don’t think it’s all for naught. Ultimately, I think the Vikings will do well under Favre, make the playoffs, and possibly even make the Super Bowl. Even if they don’t, interest in the team has never been higher, and that’s good for everyone.

News From Around the League:

NFC East: Michael Vick is expected to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars, probably only taking a handful of snaps, then it’s back to the pound where he plans to read to disadvantaged puppies.

NFC South: Julius Peppers has been taking a lot of criticism for taking plays off during the preseason, but in Peppers’ defense, he’d much rather be taking plays off for another team during this stretch.

NFC West: Still terrible.

NFC North: Lions coordinator Scott Linehan is apparently furious about how poorly the Lions have been practicing lately. I guess nobody told him that he’s coaching the Lions. Then again, I’m thinking this group makes his Rams squad look pretty fantastic in hindsight.

AFC East: Terrell Owens hasn’t practiced with the Bills since the first preseason game, and probably won’t play for the rest of the preseason. His agent, Julius Peppers, says this is nothing to worry about.

AFC South: Titans Punter/Running Back A.J. Trapasso nailed the scoreboard at Cowboy Stadium with a punt, netting me a cool $10.

AFC West: LaDainian Tomlinson continues to play his first preseason games in years, trying to work himself into game shape after two disappointing seasons (by his standards). Terrell Owens and Julius Peppers declined to comment.

AFC North: Bengals first round draft pick Andre Smith still has not signed, in a deal that has gotten a lot more scrutiny since the negotiations are being broadcast on HBO’s series “Hard Knocks.” In case you haven’t seen the series, the two sides are still miles apart on what cheese will top Smith’s mountain of cheeseburgers.

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