2010 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Thanksgiving Edition

The college football season is prepping for its conference championships and bowl game announcements, making it a good time to for a mock draft update.  The hardest part of doing a mock this time of year is determining who is and is not coming back, which means we project and could see a larger than usual number of underclassmen declare in light of a possible rookie wage scale in 2011.  This number of declarations could especially impact the quarterback position as this mock will show.  (Draft order based on records as of 11/24/09)

First Round:

1. Cleveland Browns, QB Jimmy Clausen , Notre Dame – The Browns do not want the No. 1 overall pick, and would prefer to see Brady Quinn blossom during the second half of the season.  Unfortunately, the No. 1 pick is a real possibility, and Quinn is unlikely to shine enough to count on moving forward.  While a new administration would love to get a veteran QB, drafting a true franchise QB is more likely, which could lead the Browns to yet another Irish signal caller.  Clausen is not a surefire franchise QB, but he is the best QB prospect in the draft as long as his size does not become an issue. A reluctant selection on my part.

 

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DT Ndamukong Suh , Nebraska – Suh is the best and safest defensive linemen in the draft and fits the Bucs needs to a tee.  Easy pick although they would consider a pass rusher if they find one they like. No. 2 overall feels early for a DT, but Suh has played up to the hype this season.

 

3. St. Louis Rams, QB Sam Bradford , Oklahoma – Bradford is the draft’s biggest curveball as he will be able to throw in a limited fashion at best prior to the draft.  He fills a definite need and will be a popular pick in the St. Louis market, but he will be a risky selection.  Almost as concerning as his injury is how he struggled when faced with a pass rush in limited action this season and in the title game last year.

 

4. Detroit Lions, OT Russell Okung , Oklahoma State – Gerald McCoy will be tempting for the defensive minded HC Jim Schwartz, but this season has shown 2009 No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford has talent, but they need to vastly improve his protection if they hope to keep him healthy.  Okung is the best offensive tackle in the draft by far and the Lions will be able to find a DT in round two.

 

5. Washington Redskins, QB Jake Locker , Washington – The Redskins would prefer Okung fall to them, but if he does not (and possibly even if he does) they will look to select a franchise signal caller.  Locker has the best tools of any quarterback in the draft, but he also is the one who would benefit the most from another year with Steve Sarkisian.  He will likely come out in large part due to the pending rookie wage scale.  It won’t matter who the Redskins quarterback is if they do not improve their offensive line.

 

6. Buffalo Bills, DT Gerald McCoy , Oklahoma – Like the Redskins, the Bills need a left tackle badly but the drop-off after Okung is a significant one, and passing on a talent like McCoy could be tough considering run defense has been such an issue for the Bills. 

 

7. Kansas City Chiefs, WR Dez Bryant , Oklahoma State – Scott Pioli would prefer to fix his team upfront (on either side of the ball), but knows he needs to give an offensive mind like Todd Haley a true No. 1 wideout.  Bryant missed much of the season, but his blend of size and speed should make him an excellent fit at the next level.

 

8. Seattle Seahawks, S Eric Berry , Tennessee – The broken record of team’s hoping to fix their offensive lines but failing to fill it continues as the Seahawks can’t afford to pass up an Ed Reed-type playmaking safety to take a chance on one of the second tier tackles.  Fortunately, they still have another first round pick thanks to Denver.

 

9. Oakland Raiders, DE Carlos Dunlap , Florida – Al Davis loves tools guys and Dunlap is the ultimate tools defensive end.  Dunlap has rare size and speed for the position, but he has coasted through this season causing his stock to slip. 

 

10. Denver Broncos (from Chicago), ILB Rolando McClain , Alabama – The Broncos defense has exceeded all expectations this season, but it adding a thumper in the middle could be what they need to take it to the next level.

 

11. San Francisco 49ers, CB Joe Haden , Florida – The early run on quarterbacks takes the Niners out of that market and turns their focus on other needs.  Haden is easily the top cornerback prospect who plays with the type of physical style Mike Singletary loves. 

 

12. San Francisco 49ers, OT Bryan Bulaga , Iowa – A big play safety such as Taylor Mays or Earl Clark is tempting but the 49ers need to take advantage of their draft spot to fill a bigger need at right tackle with Bulaga.

 

13. New York Jets, DT Terrance Cody , Alabama – Cody is a risky prospect based on his weight but after watching how the Jets defense has fizzled since losing Kris Jenkins, Cody fills a major need at a position with few top prospects.

 

14. Tennessee Titans, DE Derrick Morgan , Georgia Tech – The Titans will also consider linebackers and corners, but the best past defense is a pass rush and Morgan is quickly becoming the top pass rusher in the draft and a hard guy to pass on at 14.

 

15. Houston Texas, RB Jonathan Dwyer , Georgia Tech – Earl Clark or Taylor Mays would feel a decade long need at safety, but anyone who has watched the Texans struggled in short yardage sees the value a guy like Dwyer could bring to the team.  Combine Dwyer with Steve Slaton and they could have one of the best running combos in the league.

 

16. Miami Dolphins, RB CJ Spiller , Clemson – Ronnie Brown is constantly banged up and Ricky Williams is not getting any younger making Miami a perfect landing spot for the best offensive playmaker in the draft.  Spiller lacks the size to be an every down back but the Dolphins offensive creativity will find ways to get him 20 touches per game.

 

17. Atlanta Falcons, DE Greg Romeus , Pittsburgh – One thing is certain, the Falcons will use this pick to fill a need on defense be it a pass rusher, or pass defender.  Romeus is the best prospect on the board to fill one of those needs (as long as he come out).

 

18. Baltimore Ravens, WR Arrelious Benn , Illinois – Benn has hardly lit up the stat sheet in 2009, but it is hard to deny his talent.  His ability to get deep would make him an ideal fit for strong armed Joe Flacco.

 

19. Green Bay Packers, OT Charles Brown , USC – Brown has the footwork and the upside to be an excellent left tackle, which instantly would make him Aaron Rodgers best friend in Green Bay.

 

20. Jacksonville Jaguars, S Taylor Mays , USC – This could be Tim Tebow’s only shot to be drafted before round three but Mays would fill a more immediate need in the secondary (unless selling tickets counts as a draft need).

 

21. Pittsburgh Steelers, OT Anthony Davis , Rutgers – Seeing Ben Roethlisberger getting beat up every week has got to be a concern and while Davis is more of a right than a left tackle he still fills a major need for a Steelers offensive line needing multiple upgrades.  Davis also has the potential to be an excellent drive blocker in the Steelers mold.

 

22. Philadelphia Eagles, OLB Sean Weatherspoon , Missouri – Philadelphia has been playing smoke and mirrors with its linebackers all season and needs to make upgrading the position a priority in 2010.  Don’t be surprised if the Eagle go offensive line though as the Andrews brothers have not worked out as expected.

 

23. Seattle Seahawks, OT Trent Williams , Oklahoma – Taking a safety with their first pick virtually forces the Seahawks to go offensive line here.  Williams stock has fallen mightily this season as he has failed to convert to the left side.  He has the ability to be a solid right tackle, however, which would be just fine for the Seahawks who will take the best right or left tackle available given Sean Locklear’s ability to play either side.

 

24. New York Giants, S Earl Thomas , Texas – Seeing how badly the Giants defense has fallen apart after losing Kenny Phillips has shown why the Giants need to improve their secondary depth.  Thomas is an excellent ball hawk who would provide the center fielder type they need for their aggressive scheme.

 

25. Dallas Cowboys, ILB Brandon Spikes , Florida – Spikes does not have ideal measureables, but he is a playmaker who would fit nicely in the middle of the Cowboys defense.

 

26. Cincinnati Bengals, TE Jermaine Gresham , Oklahoma – Gresham slides due to his knee injury and would be a tremendous value for a Bengals team in dire need of a competent not to mention dangerous tight end.

 

27. New England Patriots, DE/OLB Jerry Hughes , TCU – Hughes is a tough guy to peg due to his lack of size, but he would be an excellent fit in a Patriots’ hybrid scheme in need of a pass rusher.  When Tully Banta Cain is considered one of your best pass rushers, its time to upgrade.

 

28. Arizona Cardinals, OLB Sergio Kindle , Texas – Kindle has some coverage concerns making him pretty much a 3-4 OLB.  The Cardinals have been searching for a pass rusher ever since switching to the 3-4.

 

29. San Diego Chargers, DT Dan Williams , Tennessee – A need pick as Jamal Williams is nearing the end of the line, and without him the Chargers have been extremely vulnerable to the interior run.

 

30. Minnesota Vikings, QB Tony Pike , Cincinnati – You never know if Brett Favre is going to come back, but it is hard to imagine the organization being comfortable with Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels as the quarterback of the future.  Pike is the type of high risk/reward pick that only a playoff team can take.

 

31. New Orleans Saints, OLB Navarro Bowman , Penn State  – The Saints could go a variety of directions including RB, O-Line, D-Line, LB, or S making this a best player available type pick.  An athletic linebacker like Bowman would add versatility to Gregg Williams aggressive schemes.

 

32. Indianapolis Colts, DE Greg Hardy , Mississippi  – The Colts are going away from the undersized defenders on defense, and grabbing a guy like Hardy provides insurance for the oft-injured Dwight Freeney.  A team can never have too many pass rushers.

Round Two:

33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR Golden Tate , Notre Dame

34. St. Louis Rams, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida

35. Cleveland Browns, RB Jahvid Best , California

36. Detroit Lions, DT Arthur Jones , Syracuse

37. Buffalo Bills, OT Selvish Capers, West Virginia

38. Kansas City Chiefs, DE/OLB Eric Norwood , South Carolina

39. Seattle Seahawks, QB Case Keenum , Houston

40.Oakland Raiders, DT Marvin Austin , North Carolina

41. Washington Redskins, OT Ciron Black , LSU

42. Carolina Panthers, QB Colt McCoy , Texas

43. San Francisco 49ers, S Morgan Burnett , Georgia Tech

44. New York Jets, CB Perrish Cox , Oklahoma State

45. New England Patriots (from Tennessee), WR Demaryious Thomas , Georgia Tech

46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Chicago), S Nate Allen , South Florida

47. Miami Dolphins, WR Damian Williams , USC

48. Kansas City Chiefs (from Atlanta), OG Mike Iupati, Idaho

49. Baltimore Ravens, CB Trevard Lindley , Kentucky

50. Houston Texans, DT Vince Oghobaase , Duke

51. New England Patriots (from Jacksonville), DE Corey Wootten , Northwestern

52. Green Bay Packers, CB Patrick Robinson , Florida State

53. Philadelphia Eagles, OG Joe Asamoah , Illinois

54. Denver Broncos, WR Brandon LaFell , LSU

55. New York Giants, CB Myron Lewis   Vanderbilt

56. Pittsburgh Steelers, DT Jared Odrick , Penn State

57. Cincinnati Bengals, CB Javier Arenas , Alabama

58. New England Patriots, RB Ryan Matthews, Fresno State

59. Arizona Cardinals, OG Sergio Render , Virginia Tech

60. Dallas Cowboys, WR Mardy Gilyard , Cincinnati

61. San Diego Chargers, RB Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State

62. Minnesota Vikings, DE Brandon Graham , Michigan

63. New Orleans Saints, DE Everson Griffin , USC

64. Indianapolis, OT Jason Fox , Miami, FL

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com .  He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com .

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Come to Think of it: NFL to Put Jay Cutler on Payroll of Every Team (Satire)

In a move sure to spark significant controversy around the league, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today that Bears QB Jay Cutler’s salary will be equally distributed to all of its teams, effective immediately.

Said Goodell of the surprising move, “Look, Cutler does his damnest to throw the ball to each team he plays, which helps them win, right? Well, then it’s only fair that the money the Bears are paying him gets shared by the entire league.”

“With the length and amount of that contract he’s signed to, the Bears can’t pull him, so eventually Cutler will play against most of the teams in the NFL before his career is over, and I just think his expected contribution to those teams should be recognized.”

The Bears were not immediately available for comment, with Lovie Smith saying only that he couldn’t personally vouch for the fact that Cutler plays for the Bears.

“Jay Cutler? Yes, I’ve heard the name. But I’m not going to get into questions about whether he plays football, and if so, if it’s for us or what have you. I just know that we still have a chance to reach our goal, and we’ll go from there.”

Cutler, who was acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos prior to the season, leads the NFL in interceptions, with 20. He threw two more in a 36-10 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.

Meanwhile, as to the rumor that the Bears have contacted the Guinness World Book of Records people, a team spokesman said, “I won’t confirm or deny that, but do I believe any publicity is good publicity? Yes I do. This whole interception thing has been spun in a such a negative light, and I just feel it’s high time that Jay gets recognized for the truly historic event we are witnessing.”

Cutler’s problems have even carried over to his personal life. His attempt to pass the potatoes during Thanksgiving dinner resulted in a mess on the floor.

As for the weak offensive line, lack of running game and poor receivers, Cutler said none of that matters.

“I am The Saviour, and my mere presence should elevate these mortals into super human status.”

No word on whether GM Jerry Angelo has returned from Barbados, come to think of it.

 

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Minnesota Has Favre Fever, But Adrian Peterson Still Vikings’ Backbone

Another Sunday in Minneapolis, another dreamland victory for the Minnesota Vikings. So life goes nowadays for the Vikes, led by a magical man who refuses to fade.

After Sunday’s 36-10 thrashing of the Chicago Bears, the Vikings are slowly building momentum to January and are making their case to be called the NFC’s best team. I know, the boys in the bayou have the most explosive offense in the NFL to go along with that sparkling 10-0 record, but take one peek north and you may find the surest brand of football today.

It never was supposed to be like this. Tavaris Jackson was supposed to be the guy under center, Adrian Peterson was supposed to handle an unprecedented amount of carries, and the Vikings were supposed to be clawing with the Bears and Green Bay Packers over the NFC North title.

What a difference a little persistence makes. When Vikings head coach Brad Childress refused to give up on bringing Favre to Minnesota until the day he picked him up from the airport, fate changed in the land of the lakes. Favre threw for 392 yards (10 shy of his career high) and three touchdowns Sunday adding to his MVP season, and further caressed the hearts of Vikings lifers.

No longer do you think Minneapolis and immediately begin pondering the possibilities of an afternoon spent in Mall of America. No longer do you think Metrodome and begin plugging your ears to escape the deafening sound of the blaring horns that accompany autumns spent inside one of the country’s loudest stadiums.

We think about Minnesota, we think about the Vikings, and now we think about how Favre has transformed a team with talent into a team with conviction. By simply donning a purple No. 4, Favre gave this city and this franchise hope. By merely stepping on the field, he gave this team leadership and confidence. That’s what a Hall of Fame presence will do.

Problem is, that nostalgia only lasts so long if it isn’t compounded with something of substance. Hype fades faster than morning dew if it isn’t worked with and molded into production. This party train that is steamrolling through Minnesota would have been off the tracks weeks ago if the New York Jets version of Favre showed up to complement the game’s best running back and a championship-caliber defense.

With the comfort of some new Wranglers and the blessing Dr. James Andrews put on his right arm, Favre is playing the best football of his career. With Sunday’s performance, Favre eclipsed the 2,850-yard mark for the season while sporting a 24/3 TD/INT ratio. Completing just about 70 percent of his passes for the 10-1 Vikes, Favre is grabbing all the headlines. The resurgence is well underway, or some say.

Lets not make any mistake about it. The Vikings wouldn’t be half the team they are today without Brett Favre. They wouldn’t be looking like legitimate Super Bowl contenders without the ol’ gunslinger whizzing passes around the field while maximizing the talents around him, such as targets Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin. And I wonder if the defense would be as good as they are if they knew they had to hold the opponent to two scores in order to win a game. With Favre, mental burdens have been purged.

There is no doubt Favre is the MVP of the Vikings and could even make a strong case for being the MVP of the league. But there’s one thing we must not forget. While Favre directs this magnificent orchestra of speed and power, it is Adrian Peterson that makes it possible.

Nobody needs to be reminded of the wizardry of Peterson. His fluorescent purple Nikes can be seen slashing and dashing across the turf on his way to another six points often. But it is in times like these, with heightened celebrity and attention flocking to the organization, when we say hell with the foundation.

If Favre is the slick speedboat gliding across the lake in sheer beauty, Peterson is the relentless engine that keeps on churning water underneath the surface without poking up for some sun.

Early in the season, nobody expected Favre to play at this level, and therefore teams stacked the box against the Vikings, essentially saying, “Beat us, old man.” And he did. The game plan was to take away the Vikings greatest threat, Peterson, and force relatively unknown receiving targets to elevate their games. And they have.

While defenses are beginning to adjust—i.e. remain confused on how to attack the Vikings—Peterson is quietly putting together one of his finest seasons yet. He passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark during Sunday’s game, and already has rushed for two more touchdowns this season than he did in all of 2008. Peterson is on the cusp of averaging five yards per carry, right on par with last year’s rate.

Peterson has doubled his 125 receiving yards from a year ago, averaging almost nine yards per catch. The two-time Pro Bowler has done all of this while seeing his carries decline about two per game compared to last season. Childress would be smart to continue to ease the workload on Peterson as Minnesota wraps up the division and sets its sights on the playoffs.

A fresh Peterson in January means the opportunity to utterly obliterate opposing defenses, and the continued presence of Peterson allows Favre to succeed and remain healthy. Favre deserves credit for allowing the Vikings to back off Peterson slightly, but without “All Day,” would Favre even be standing heading into Week 13? It’s a question worth asking.

This story has grown almost too good to be true. Favre wasn’t supposed to come back at all, but when he did, it was clear he was as motivated as ever (for some possible reasons that could be painted in green and yellow). Favre wanted to make this thing work more than anybody, and he’s succeeding in style. Favre has almost become young again in the process.

And while I join many of you and dream up possible fairytale endings to this season—my favorite is a Vikings-Colts Super Bowl with a Favre-Manning showdown for the ages—remember one thing. While Favre dances up and down after scores, enjoying what has been his finest season, it’s the guy lining up in the backfield that keeps this dream alive.

Favre may hold the key to the city, but Peterson still holds the key to the title.

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Buffalo Bills: Perry Fewell Stakes Claim To Full-Time Head Coaching Job

As has been the case most of this season, the Buffalo Bills found themselves in another close game in the fourth quarter. The Bills were tied against the Miami Dolphins at 14 with only 3:35 left to play in the game. 

The Bills had the ball at the Miami 47 and had just allowed quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to be sacked for the sixth time by the Dolphins defense on the play before. The Bills were now faced with a 3rd-and-18 and they completed a seemingly harmless screen pass to Marshawn Lynch that took the ball down to the Dolphins’ 38. 

Faced with a 4th-and-10, you realize at the 38-yard line you are in no-man’s land.

Your options are quite limited. You can either: 

1) Risk giving the Dolphins great field position if you go for it and fail (risky choice, but possible)

2) Punt it and keep Miami bottled up deep in their own end (conservative and safe)

3) Kick a field goal, which is the last thing you would do if you were a rational and sane coach (crazy, loony-bin choice that would make Bill Belichick’s decision against the Colts look like child’s play)

Why? Well for starters, your kicker has never kicked a field goal this long (56 yards) in his entire career. The percentage of 56-yard field goals made would discourage most people from even considering it.

Finally, and most importantly, a missed field goal would give Miami even better field position than turning it over on downs.

There are plenty of stories during the 50-year history of the Bills regarding long field goals that have failed when the game was on the line. But right now, this team belongs to Perry Fewell, and he is going to continue putting his own unique stamp on the team.

Fewell tore up the conventional wisdom playbook and ordered Rian Lindell to go out and try the 56-yard field goal. Lindell, with the wind at his back, split the uprights with at least four yards to spare, giving the Bills a 17-14 lead, one that they would never relinquish.

 

Perry Fewell Demonstrates Strong Decision Making Ability

This call took guts. I find it hard to describe the courage, insanity, or craziness that led Fewell to throw all caution to the wind and go for it. The Bills were playing at home, and they desperately needed a win there, having won only once in their last nine home games.

But more importantly, Fewell is making a statement that he has what it takes to lead a team and be a head coach in the NFL. In my mind, his stock, which had already been rising, shot up dramatically within the Bills hierarchy with this win.

After Lindell made the kick, I thought to myself, “There is no possible way that Dick Jauron would have made that same call. He is just too conservative for his own good.” Fewell operated with daring and bravado, and in doing so, he is showing the Bills how to take control in the fourth quarter, how to take a game over and how to win.

He is also teaching the Bills to believe in each other and themselves. Fewell showed that he had faith in Rian Lindell. Earlier in the game, Lindell was wide on a 43-yard try, but the faith that Fewell demonstrated in his kicker was richly rewarded.

The fourth quarter has been a thorn in the Bills’ side all year long. In the past three weeks, they were outscored in the fourth quarter by a combined score of 54-0.

Today, they outscored the Dolphins 24-0 in the fourth quarter. Quite a dramatic turnaround. Earlier in the week, Fewell addressed the fourth quarter woes in a press conference and said it would be something he would be working on.

Fewell’s ability to seize clock and game management situations should also be mentioned. He demonstrated it last week in his debut against Jacksonville, and did the same thing today against Miami.

This time, he utilized his saved up time outs to allow the Bills to have more than a minute to orchestrate a drive at the end of the first half. The drive stalled when Fitzpatrick threw a pick that I blame Shawn Nelson for.

That wasn’t Fewell’s fault, however. He showed faith in his guys and got the ball back for them to do something with it one more time before the half ended. His management of the clock and understanding of game situations appears to be light years ahead of anything we saw from Dick Jauron.

Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher, Brian Billick, Jim Haslett, Mike Martz, and all of the other prospective options for the Bills next full time head coach have been put on notice. Perry Fewell has the reigns of this team, and he is coaching like he wants to keep them in his possession. He just may be the right guy for the job after all.

 

What Did We Learn About The Bills In This Game?

For the Bills, there appears to be a growing level of confidence that they can be a big-play offense and are capable of putting up points on the scoreboard. After one of the four interceptions generated by the Bills defense, the Bills were able to score on a long distance play on first down.

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a beautiful long pass to Terrell Owens for a 51-yard score, which meant for two consecutive games that this combination has hooked up for scores longer than 50 yards.

Fitzpatrick continues to show his ability to be a playmaker. One specific play had all three receivers running routes to the left side of the field.

When the pressure started to flush him out of the pocket, Fitzgerald found a way to scramble over to the vacated right side. He ran untouched for a 31-yard touchdown scamper.

Fitzpatrick was running for his life. Six sacks will do that to you, but he looked poised and remained calm in the face of adversity.

His only interception resulted from Shawn Nelson inexplicably running a route where he decided to let the defender take the inside position at the last second.

Another win as a starter ensures that Fitzpatrick’s stock is rising, while Trent Edwards is all but forgotten now. If the Bills are winning under Fitzpatrick, we may not see Brian Brohm’s debut this year after all.

Fred Jackson had gone the entire season without registering a single rushing touchdown. He had one called back due to penalty last week, but today Jackson scored two rushing touchdowns. His hard work has been rewarded.

Another factor that has been a sore subject for Bills fans is converting in the red zone. Today the Bills cracked the 20-yard line twice, and came away with two touchdowns. Can’t get any better than that.

Converting on third down has been a struggle all year as the Bills are last in the NFL in that category. Miami, on the other hand, is first in the NFL in that category.

So how did they fare today? The Bills converted on 3-10 for 30 percent, while the Dolphins converted on 5-13 for 38 percent. That is definitely better.

Newly signed free agent guard Kendall Simmons had some penalties and was bowled over for at least one of the Dolphins six sacks. The offensive line still is a big problem area, and with the loss of Eric Wood last week, this is a situation that will probably exist for the rest of the year.

Outside of Marshawn Lynch’s catch of the screen play that led to the Lindell field goal, he was basically absent from the game. Fred Jackson has taken over as the feature back and he had a strong game again for the Bills.

Not only did Jackson score his first two rushing touchdowns of the year, but he also amassed 73 yards rushing, 43 yards receiving, and another 61 yards in kick returns. I think that Fred Jackson is the Bills’ MVP so far this season. I can’t think of any other player that excels at every aspect of the game more than Jackson does.

His unassuming professional manner is something that people should try to live up to. He demonstrates no ego, and is all about the team. Give me a roster of all Fred Jacksons, and you will have a winner on your hands. 

 

What Did We Learn About Miami Today?

For the Dolphins, this game reminds me of the Bills-Jets game in New York. That was the game in which the rookie shine began to fade off of Mark Sanchez when he threw five interceptions on the day. I had a flashback to that game watching Chad Henne play.

Now that Ronnie Brown is gone for the year, the onus is on Ricky Williams to produce. However, Ricky is no longer a 20-something running back. In his 30’s, he needs to be spelled and rested when he is carrying most of the load.

The Bills gave Ricky his 100+ yard rushing game, but when the game was on the line, Ricky was worn out. Instead, the Dolphins had to rely on the arm of Henne to move the ball in the fourth quarter.

So the Bills defense pinned their ears back and started turning up the heat on Henne. The end result was three interceptions off of Henne, with each of the following registering one pick apiece: Donte Whitner, Drayton Florence, and just-up-from-the-practice-squad defensive tackle Corey Mace, the least likely pass interceptor you could imagine.

The Bills padded their AFC lead in interceptions by forcing Henne to put the ball up in the air. Jairus Byrd was unable to get any interceptions, as he still appears to not be playing at 100 percent, and was giving way to Donte Whitner for much of the game.

We also learned that Ricky Williams is not much of a threat when it comes to throwing the ball out of the wildcat formation. The last time Ricky attempted a pass was in 1999, and that nine-year layoff was very evident when he attempted to throw a pass into the end zone that was picked off by linebacker Chris Draft.

I suspect that it will be another nine or 10 years before Williams attempts another pass. The play by Draft was huge for the Bills at the time.

The Dolphins defense put strong pressure on Fitzpatrick all day long and caused an interception just before halftime. The Dolphins did give up a long touchdown to Terrell Owens, and they have to find a way to cure their own fourth quarter woes as well.

Coming into the game, the Dolphins had allowed the most points in the NFL in the fourth quarter with 117. The Bills were next in line at 109. Since the Bills added 24 points today in the fourth, Miami is now running away with that distinction.

Today’s game should give the rest of the league the formula for beating the Dolphins. Without Ronnie Brown, let Ricky wear himself out in the first half, and then pin your ears back and take it to Chad Henne in the second half. That simplified version of what happened seemed to work pretty well for the Bills today.

 

Most Memorable Game of the Season?

In this, the Bills’ 50th anniversary season, this game will be one of those contests that sticks in your head for quite a long time. The motto of this year’s marketing campaign was: “It is Amazing How Long a Moment Can Last”. The memory of Lindell making that field goal, and the follow up play of Fitzpatrick hitting T.O. for the long touchdown, are right in line with the marketing slogan.

The fact that these plays came against the hated AFC East rival Miami Dolphins makes them all the sweeter. Miami had dominated the last three meetings, but failed to dominate this one.

 

Short Week of Practice For The Bills

The Bills now have to quickly game plan for the New York Jets as they go up to Canada for an odd Thursday evening contest in their annual “Toronto home game”. Toronto fans should be excited to see the new T.O. and Fitzpatrick combination at work. The Bills are playing with more passion and sense of purpose under Fewell, and the team is becoming fun to watch again.

The Bills will be attempting to sweep the Jets this season, and once again will want to put pressure on Mark Sanchez, getting inside his head one more time. Or maybe we should make that five more times to be exact?

 

Is There Any Downside To This Win?

With each victory that the Bills secure under Fewell, they are going to be separating themselves from a high draft seed. The talk about going after a franchise quarterback will be more difficult if they wind up drafting in the 12-16 range.

I know it is way too early to know who is declaring, and how well some QBs are able to perform at the combines, but it is something to keep in mind. If the Bills keep winning, I am not sure that too many people are going to be complaining about it.

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Week 13 NFL Power Ratings: Three Teams Are Superior To The Rest

The Colts kept their win streak rolling at 11-0 to keep firmly in the No. 2 power ranking position. Next week they host the Titans and should win this game to keep high in the rankings.

New Orleans is of course, No. 1, and plays No.4 New England on Monday Night Football.

New Orleans can stay at No. 1 with a win , or drop to No. 3 with a loss. If New England pulls off the upset, New England will grab No.3, knocking the Saints to No. 4.

Minnesota, currently is No. 3, of course. The Vikings also would benefit from a Saints loss in the power ranking world.

Dallas is No. 5 at 8-3 and hoping for a New England loss to move up. 

San Diego is at No. 6 and Cincinnati is number 7, each team at 8-3.

Denver had risen up a notch and is now No. 8 at 7-4.

Green Bay is on a roll now at 7-4 and is ranked No. 9.

Arizona is now No.10 amid quarterback issues. Warner is key to this team making the playoffs and advancing.

No. 11 are the Giants, who need wins in the next two weeks against Philadelphia and Dallas to get it going for a wild card spot most likely.

No. 12 will be the Philadelphia Eagles, who also need a win next week against a hurting Atlanta team.

No 13 are the Baltimore Ravens, who trying to keep their playoff hopes alive at 6-5.

No 14 are the 6-5 Atlanta Falcons, who must beat Philadelphia next week to stay alive in a playoff hunt as well.

The Giants occupy the No. 15 position and will need some breaks to make the playoffs this season.

Pittsburgh is at number 16, mainly due to injuries and will also need a break to qualify for the postseason.

Jacksonville has moved up and is 6-5, even after a loss to San Francisco. No 17 to the Jags.

Tennessee is right back in it now at 5-6 and is hot, but must play Indianapolis next week. Tennessee is at No. 18.

Miami is at No. 19, followed by the Jets at No. 20.

Houston has fallen to No 21 and must win out to make the post-season.

The Forty-Niners are at No 22 and also have a long road to the playoffs this season.

Carolina is at No. 23, followed by Buffalo at No. 24.

Chicago has fallen all the way down to 25 now, and could drop further.

Kansas City has No 26, and Washington is No. 27.

The Raiders are at No.28. Tampa Bay, thanks to the play of rookie QB Josh Freeman, moved up to No. 29.

Detroit is at No. 30, and the Rams are No. 31.

The worst team in professsional football is still…… the Cleveland Browns.

Thomas NFL Mikee Moreland.

 

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Risk of Signing Larry Johnson Pays Off For Bengals in Win over Browns

The Cincinnati Bengals received some criticism for the signing of running back Larry Johnson after his release from the Kansas City Chiefs a few weeks ago. After Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns, the Bengals appear to have made the right move.

With an improved offensive line, Johnson showed the Bengals why signing him for insurance he was worth the risk after his 107-yard rushing performance against the Browns in Cincinnati’s 16-7 win over Cleveland.

Johnson was signed by the Bengals as insurance in case running back Cedric Benson’s hip injury would keep him out longer than expected.

With another player on the roster with a history at being the No. 1 running back, head coach Marvin Lewis felt better about resting Benson for the second-straight week against the Browns.

Along with Johnson, he felt confident enough to rest Benson because of the impressive play of rookie running back Bernard Scott the last three weeks.

After rushing for 119 yards in his first career start against the Oakland Raiders last week, Scott ran for 87 yards on just 18 carries against a Browns defense ranked 29th in yards allowed per game with 159.9.

In seven games with the Chiefs this season, Johnson struggled with a weak offensive line, averaging just 2.7 yards-per-carry while rushing for just 377 yards and zero touchdowns.

In his first two games with the Bengals, he is averaging 4.7 yards-per-carry—thanks to an improved offensive line.

From 2005-06, Johnson was arguably one of the top running backs in the NFL, running for a combined 3,539 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Part of the reason why Johnson was able to find such success was because the Chiefs had one of the top offensive lines in the league.

Now that he has an improved offensive line, it should be interesting to see how the Bengals can use him as another option at running back.

It may be just one game, but the Bengals and their fans have to be excited about Johnson breaking the 100-yard mark in just his second game with his new team.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

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Bears-Vikings: Vikes Have Too Many Weapons

The Bears dropped another game on Sunday as they simply cannot stop the high-powered Vikings.

The Vikings are who we thought they were. (Couldn’t help myself.)

Minnesota displayed all their weapons and had the game in hand without relying on a heavy dose of Adrian Peterson to put the game away.

It’s scary when a team can dominate another team without using their best player.

The Bears offense got off to a promising start when it tied the game at seven early on, but it couldn’t get anything done after that.

The Vikings upped the pressure and dominated the line of scrimmage, keeping Cutler and Co. in check.

There isn’t much more too add other than the beat goes on for the Bears’ lackluster season.

The poor play of the offensive line hurts everyone else on that side of the ball. Cutler doesn’t have time to throw the ball, Forte doesn’t have anywhere to run the ball, and the receivers can’t run their routes.

What’s most disappointing about this game is that the Vikings were without standout defensive back Antoine Winfield and they still couldn’t expose Minnesota’s average pass defense.

The Bears continue to fall in nearly every rank of the NFL. Not even Chicago’s special teams, a phase of the game they usually play very well, has been consistent this season.

 

The Good: Their only TD drive.

This is a bit of a stretch but their wasn’t much good about this game. The Bears used short, quick passes to avoid the pressure early.  

The Bad: Injuries.

Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, Zachary Bowman, and Orlando Pace all got banged up. Pace hasn’t performed anywhere near to the level the Bears had hoped but Briggs and Tillman have been playing hard all season.  

The Ugly: Pass protection.

I’ve given up on the offensive line making running lanes but now they’re putting Jay Cutler in harm’s way on almost every play. No continuity on the line has led to the Bears’ offense being completely ineffective against most teams this season.

The Difference: Being outmatched.

The Bears simply could not matchup against the Vikings’ weapons. Being down to our third and fourth-string linebackers has been hurting the Bears all season. It’s no surprise it was open season for Minnesota as the Vikings moved up and down the field at will.

 

Five Questions

Should we give Gaines Adams back to the Bucs?

Should the Bears rest Cutler the rest of the season?

How many picks were really Cutlers fault?

Do you want to punch Ron Turner every time he calls that quick WR screen?

Will the Bears be better next season?

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OMG! Vince Young Drives For 99, Tennessee Titans Win Fifth Straight

Chris Johnson had another 150+ yard effort in the matchup Sunday afternoon between the Tennessee Titans and the Arizona Cardinals, including an 85-yard rush for a touchdown in the second half.

But if you watched the same Titans game I did, then you’re probably thinking, “Big fat hairy deal; did you see that catch?!?!?”

The catch I am referring to, of course, is the game-winning catch reeled in by rookie wide receiver Kenny Britt. After starting on their own one-yard line, the Tennessee Titans, led by resurgent quarterback Vince Young, drove 90 yards to the Arizona nine-yard line. But with time running out and a touchdown needed to win, they looked to be facing their first loss in the last five games.

They had already had to convert on 4th-and-long twice in the drive, both times on laser-accurate passes by a surprisingly efficient “Pocket Vince.” In fact, Young had played well in the pocket all day; he really had no choice, seeing as the Cardinals had done a fabulous job of keeping him there the entire game.

Arizona had him there again, 4th-and-goal from the nine-yard line, with four seconds remaining in the game.

Then it happened.

For only the second time in the game, Young escaped the pocket, scrambled out, and then threw a high dart to the middle of the end zone.

Enter Kenny Britt. Elevating high above the five players surrounding him, Britt hauled in the pass, took a hit on the way down, and tucked the ball away securely to score the final touchdown of the game with no ticks left on the clock.

The stadium erupted, as it should have.

Britt’s reception to score the game winner was sweet redemption from the previous series. After catching a 53-yard bomb from Young, Britt was blindsided, fumbling the ball and appearing to put a dagger in the heart of the Titans hopes of a come-from-behind win.

But Vince Young and company would have none of it. After the defense gave them one more shot (no thanks to punt returner Kevin Kaesviharn, who seems to have developed an aversion to catching punts), the offense took over at the one-yard line. Playing like a seasoned pro, Young calmly stood in the pocket on the Titans 99-yard final drive and continued to prove to his detractors that he is more than just a scrambler.

He’s still young and he will still make mistakes from time to time, but with each passing game Young learns just a little bit more about what it means to be a professional quarterback.

His decision-making improves with each series. His accuracy is vastly improved. His pocket presence is beginning to take shape. The simple fact that defensive coordinators find it necessary to contain him there lends credence to his ability to gain yards with his legs.

And it would seem that keeping him inside might not be as detrimental as one might think; Young threw for 387 yards and a touchdown against Arizona Sunday.

With this win the Titans pull that much closer to pulling off the improbable, that being a 10-game streak to finish out the season and make the playoffs.

But with Chris Johnson running around like wildfire, and Vince Young continuing to step up his game, the improbable is beginning to look possible.

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Chicago Quits in Loss to Minnesota: Bears Throw in the Towel on Season

I am writing this article in the fourth quarter with eight minutes left. I do not need to see the rest of the game. Everything I need to know the Bears showed me in the first three quarters. And that is quite obvious.

The Chicago Bears have quit.

They have quit on this game.

They have quit on this season.

They have quit on Lovie Smith.

And they have quit on their fans.

Not every player and not on every play. But the Bears have stopped caring if they win or not.

There is no fire. No passion. At this moment, the Bears defense has allowed 518 yards in three and a half quarters. Favre is 10 yards short of his career high.

On both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, the Chicago Bears have cashed out on the 2009 season. 

Lovie Smith should be gone at the end of this season and quite frankly, I do not care who replaces him. Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, Leslie Frazier, or my girlfriend’s roommate. Anyone else (other than Ron Turner).

If I were to have written this article at halftime, it would have been a tirade of profanity and anger.

But now, that anger has melted into depression.

Next week, I will still put on my bears Jersey. I will still find a place in Hawaii that has the Bears vs Rams game on. I will still cheer and believe the Bears can win every game. But it is fruitless.

Even as I type this the Bears, down by 26, run the ball for 1 yard on first and ten with six minutes left…How is anyone to succeed with such a blatant lack of leadership on the sideline?

The Bears cannot succeed with this coaching staff, or lack there of.

It hurts.

You know what hurts even more? Having to watch the Bears get destroyed while listening to Joe Buck and Troy Aikman verbally falaish Brett Favre for the entire game.

I have spoken with several bear fans and perused blogs online during the second half and all I seem to hear is loyal, dedicated fans turning the game off early because they are disgusted beyond belief at the lack of effort this team has put forth.

While I continue to watch, I cannot tell you why. My brother has officially joined the bandwagon that hopes the Bears lose out in hopes it will force G.M. Jerry Angelo or Team President Ted Phillips to make changes to this coaching staff and brain trust.

And when you do not record a first down for the ENTIRE SECOND HALF, you shouldn’t have a job as a head coach or offensive coordinator in the National Football League.

Two minute warning has arrived…but the game, and season, ended much much earlier.

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New York Jet Defense, Revis Harass Carolina Panthers in 17-6 Win

The New York Jets played there most complete game of the season since toppling Tom Brady and New England Patriots in Week Two (16-9) as Darrelle Revis scored the team’s first defensive touchdown of the season in a 17-6 victory.

The Jets improved to 5-6 with five games to play with playoff possibilities still on life support.

While mathematically still in the hunt, the Jets will need to virtually run the table at 10-6 and hope for the best with various tie breakers working against Gang Green.

The defense harassed Panther quarterback Jake Delhomme all day long as he continued to play the worst football of his career.

Delhomme finished 14 for 34 for 130 yards and 4 more INT’s that led to two Jet scores. The Jets got to Delhomme 3 times as he overthrew receivers and looked erratic all day long.

The running game was no better as the Jets held DeAngelo Williams to just 40 yards on 16 carries of which 18 came on one carry.  Jonathan Stewart  carried the ball 9 times for 35 yards and 13 came on one carry. Take away the two big ground gainers, and the Jet defense held the Panthers to just 44 yards all day long!

The only bright spot for the Panther offense was the fact Williams reached the 1,000 yard mark as he pushed his overall total for the season to 1,022.

Mark Sanchez distributed the ball well today as 5 receivers made receptions with Dustin Keller grabbing 4 balls for 68 yards and Braylon Edwards catching an additional 3 balls for for 40 yards. While Sanchez didn’t throw any touchdowns, he managed the game well with a magnificent 13 of 17 for 154 yards and just one INT.

A silence fell over the Meadowlands in the second half when Sanchez was forced out of the pocket and ran to his right looking for the first down marker. The Panthers Richard Marshall grabbed the rookie from behind and forced him out of bounds with Sanchez apparently grabbing at his left knee.

Sitting out for three plays, Sanchez returned after Kellen Clemens briefly took control of the offense and the Jets were forced to punt. Clemens looked flat as he underthrew his receiver and it only confirmed the need for the franchise to get themselves a legitimate back-up for Sanchez as the weather gets colder and the possibility of injury greater in the season’s waning weeks.

Only Jet owner Woody Johnson and GM Mike Tanenbaum can explain why this franchise refuses to invest in a real back-up for the rookie Sanchez!

Upon his return Sanchez threw an ill fated interception which could have opened the door for another second half collapse and Panther comeback.

Steve Smith would make a spectacular catch in the end zone despite great coverage by Revis, but Jet Head Coach Rex Ryan challenged the ruling on the field and Carolina was forced to settle for a John Kasay field goal to make the score 14-6 with about 12 minutes left to play.

The final score came with roughly four minutes to play as Jay Feely booted a 47-yard field goal to extend the Jet lead to 17-6 all but sealing the victory.

After weeks of Rex Ryan talking about his defense, the unit led by Darrelle Revis actually came to play.

Revis proved again why he is an elite, shutdown defender as he held Pro Bowler Steve Smith to just two receptions and no touchdowns. Revis doubled his interception total for the season at four and the Jet defense looked every bit aggressive against the run holding the Panthers to just 75 yards on the ground.

Thomas Jones had another good outing with 75 yards on 25 carries increasing his season yardage total to 959 on a total of 216 carries. With 5 games remaining, Jones is poised to reach 1,000 yards for the fifth consecutive time next week as he improved his all-time yardage total to 8,774 and his 57th lifetime rushing touchdown.

The Jets received some help with the Buffalo Bills defeating the Miami Dolphins 31-14 which leaves both clubs tied at 5-6. Unfortunately for the Jets, the Dolphins hold all tie breakers and the Jets would love to see the New Orleans Saints knock off the Patriots Monday night which would leave New England at 7-4 and the Jets just two games behind in the loss column with five to play.

The Jets will play division rival Buffalo on Thursday in Toronto, Canada in what should be regarded as a neutral site as the Jets seek to get back to .500 in a must win scenario. The Jets are catching a break as they’ll play indoors versus playing at night in chilly Orchard Park where the Jets have historically played poorly in sub zero conditions in past December contests.

With Mark Sanchez showing lots of guts and managing the offense quite well, the Jets just might be able to play themselves back to respectability with the faint hope of a playoff spot should they continue to win while getting some needed help along the way.

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