NFL 2009 Regular Season (Early) Prediction – Kansas City Chiefs

This is my attempt to predict the 2009 NFL Regular Season for the Kansas City Chiefs. I am a fan of the Chiefs but I will try to stay as unbiased as I can. Last year, I thought they would go 9-7, and we all know how that turned out. Hopefully this year I can be a little more accurate.

This is what I call an “early” predicition because the season is nowhere near being ready to go, the draft has not even occurred, nor has the final days of the free agent signing. Anyway, I will come out with another prediction toward the beginning of the season that may or may not be more accurate.

Many people have already said that the Chiefs have the toughest schedule in the league since the schedules were released, and I have to agree. It isn’t just about the teams they face, but more about facing tough teams week after week after week.

They will have a whole new look to their franchise, a new GM, head coach as well as some coaching staff, new QB, etc. It will be a tough season for the Chiefs but I think they will be the opposite of the Cleveland Browns from 07-08. What I mean by that is that the Browns went 10-6 in the 2007 season because they played a really easy schedule and played two or three playoff teams that year. They ended up missing the playoffs by one game. As a result of their great season, they were awarded about five primetime games, as well as a much tougher schedule in which they played the NFC East. As a result, the 10-6 Browns from the 2007 season became the 4-12 Browns in 2008. They were never a good team, they just had an easy schedule. Therefore, I think the Chiefs will have a pretty bad year because of their tough schedule and get no respect, and then in 2010 have a great year because let’s face it, their schedule can’t get much harder than what it is this year. The tough schedule this year will prepare a young Chiefs team to play harder than ever and be ready for the playoffs in 2010. But, as for now, it will be another long season with spotlights of hope. Just one more season Chiefs fans…
Enjoy!

The New York State of Mind

Last September, as many New Yorkers may remember, was not a great month for baseball. The Yankees were out of the playoffs before the month even began and the Mets were busy mustering up another monumental collapse.

How did the New York baseball teams deal with very glaring needs that cost them post season opportunities? They went big. That’s how New York rolls.

The Yankees signed the two best free agent pitchers and the best hitter available. The Mets on the other hand had an awful bullpen and needed to address it.

Did they just get a new arm to anchor the pen? No.

Instead of getting just the current saves record holder K-Rod, they went over the top and acquired another top of the line closer to set him up. This is how New York sports teams like to deal with problems.

Which brings me to the Giants. We all know about the teams collapse and loss of momentum at the end of the season.

We all still feel the pain from watching Donovan Mcnabb picking up the phone on the Giants sideline and rubbing the horrible defeat in our faces. Lastly, we’ve heard about every excuse in the book as to why it happened.

Play calling, Jacob’s health, D-line health, Plaxico, Pierce showing signs of age, and numerous more. Point is most of these supposed problems have been taken care of in the off-season. The most well documented problem has yet to be addressed and that is the Wide Receiver Position.

As a fan I have read every article available on the Internet about every type of speculation as to how to address the problem. There are three ways to deal with the situation: Anquan Boldin, Braylon Edwards, or a rookie wide receiver.

A rookie WR would take time to mature into a valuable player and the Giants kind of want to win now. The supposed cost of each of the two big wide outs are a 1st and a 3rd (Boldin), and a 2nd, 5th and Steve Smith (Edwards).

Most fans like one wide receiver or the other and most GM’s acknowledge both are very talented players. There is reluctance to give away Steve Smith who is the only reliable receiver on the Giants roster right now and there is a lot of reluctance to give up a 1st and a 3rd for any wide out.

The problem is that you have to be willing to mortgage your future to get a great talent like Boldin or Edwards on your team. If you are willing to give up so much which wide receiver would you want?

My answer is, why not both? If the Giants are give up the asking price for both WRs it would still leave the Giants with a pick in each round except the first.

The Giants could use a starter at the SAM but with capable players like Blackburn, Clark, Wilkinson, Kiwi, and Kehl all available to rotate and compete. They have depth and do have capable players at the position.

Kiwi is staying on the line but I am sure we will see him set up as a backer in certain packages to get all the best blitzers on the field together. Mainly the Giants need the draft picks for depth at positions like OL and CB.

So why not? Well you can argue that giving that many draft picks away can jeopardize the team’s future but they have the picks to trade.

You can argue that it is too bold of a move for GM Jerry Reese and your probably right, but doesn’t mean its not one worth making. You could even go as far as to looking at the financial side and say the Giants would be in a bind trying to sign both to long term contracts.

However, the Giants can fit both under the cap as of right now and could afford to sign Boldin to a Burress-like contract and still have the room to fit Edwards especially if Boldin’s deal has is primarily bonus money simlair to that of Corey Webster’s new contract so the cap hit isn’t that high. The Giants would have just enough money to have both contracts as well as sign their rookies.

It doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room, but man that tandem would be great. Don’t we as Giants fans deserve this when our tax paying dollars are going towards a new 1.3 billion dollar stadium or paying $20,000 just to have the right to purchase tickets for that seat? I say we do.

Most GM’s around football feel the consensus around the league is that 2010 will be uncapped which means the Giants are allowed two “transition” tags and one “franchise tag. Allowing both Edwards to get paid like a top WR, and the Giants to keep him as well as franchising Eli and signing him to a new long-term deal.

This move would all but guarantee a trip to the Superbowl, on paper of course. The Giants’ stout D, premier running game, elite passing game, and solid special teams with old man Feagles droppin’ it like its hot inside the twenty.

With Boldin and Edwards lining up on each sideline my fat uncle Leo could play the slot wide receiver and rake in 60 catches. How many people defenders would stay in the box knowing a single corner back isn’t enough to tackle Boldin or one corner isn’t enough to cover Edwards deep routes?

Some people harp on Boldin for being a great #2 WR and not a true #1 WR or that Edwards has all the talent but hasn’t shown consistency to be a #1. Well Boldin has the hands and consistency and Edwards has the talent and deep threat potential, they would be one hell of a tandem.

We wouldn’t think twice about Steve Smith in Cleveland while marching through one of the harder schedules in football with ease. What better way to go into a new stadium and silence all the fans that are complaining about the high prices of PSL’s or season tickets by winning them a Super Bowl.  

Could the Giants win one without these WR’s? Sure they could but it would be a lot harder and make the offense very one-dimensional.

The defense arguably is good enough to win a championship on its own. Why settle or why stop there? This is a New York team and the Giants should do what New York sports teams do. Go big or go home.

Comparisons: Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson?

Hello and welcome to another edition of Comparisons. Notice I use a lot of links in my articles, so get ready. This may be another funny one like last time, or it may not.

But by looking at the picture, I bet you it is funny. And guess what? I’m right, it is. Get ready for another funny article with the series of Comparisons.

Now you probably know what the comparison is, their names. And where do we start….

Michael Jackson

You know I have to do an article on the man who always has a “Thriller.” But now his popularity has gone up because of all the drama. Due to all of the drama everyone will be making fun of the best album ever made.

Tech Nine, a rapper, has already starts his album by making fun of Michael Jackson. If you look at the album cover, it looks to be a funny album. Thank you Tech.

I really don’t want to make fun of Jackson too much. I mean what about his sister?  Don’t you remember what happened to his sister at the Super Bowl? Not a good sight to see, but if you don’t remember, guys don’t start drooling. Please don’t. If you really want to look, what the heck, here you go.

 

Jackson is a great musician but I just can’t look at him since his face changed. Why Michael, why? I just wish Jackson never looked like that. Then I hear all of the stuff with, kids. Every time at school, when kids call someone like, you know, gay, they call the person Michael Jackson. If I hear this I say,” grow up kid!” Now I understand, what they were saying.

So we get Mike, but now what is he going to do. Buy this site? People just want him to die, like the rumors that have been going on lately.

Who’s next? Oh right.

The Other Michael Jackson

Jackson has always been number one. Then the NFL changed the rules so that he had to be number 81. His statistics are pretty good. Jackson also had the nickname, “Thriller,” for his leaping ability and having the same name as the singer with the hit song of his nickname.

At 6’4″ and 195 pounds, he would want to kill the other Michael. And according to Wikipedia, he changed his last name to Dyson. He was actually born with the last name Dyson. It kind of sucks for him because his last name had to be Jackson.

I just feel sad for him. Despite the name he is doing well and now everyone is going to start a new gig.

Conclusion

We need to conclude. Which is worse? Which is better? I say that the football player is better and the singer is worse. Why? Because the football player wasn’t in all the drama and all that stupid stuff in the real world.

The football player was just some guy who didn’t care if his name was next to a singer that is popular. He was just a guy focused on football and was a beast.

Now on the other hand, the other Jackson has made a fool of himself. He appears in pictures that just scare me.

Do you agree?

Probably in this one you need to. So good luck.

Readers, share your thoughts and the knowledge will be processed. Stay tuned for another edition of of Comparisons.

I’ll tell you my next one after the ending of each Comparisons article.

Next article in series: MC Hammer and Mike Tyson. Looks to be good. Coming to a site near you.

The Oakland Raiders: A Look Before the Draft

This offseason has been different as most Raiders fans would know. Not overspending for average players, restructuring contracts, and addressing needs. It’s a great sign compared to previous offseasons.

Oakland has also proven time and time again that they are awful at drafting. I wrote this as how I feel about every position on the team. I list active personnel (not all) and breakdown the position accordingly and list potential roster fillers.

Position: QB
Players: JaMarcus Russell, Jeff Garcia, Andrew Walter, TUI!! (even though i think he’s gone but whatever)
Round they should address: 1-2 in three years unless Russell pans out
Targets: TBD
Breakdown: Russell started off on the wrong foot, but now he’s there. I personally feel his window is rather small b/c Al is just that, Al..

Position: RB
Players: Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, Justin Fargas, Luke Lawton (if needed)
Round they should address: none
Targets: Your Mom
Breakdown: Even though he wasn’t needed, the Raiders drafted McFadden last year and left the rest of the needs to…well just not be addressed This is a run first team and they are completely fine w/ these three rotating. It should assist in keeping the three injury prone backs healthy then maybe McFadden can live up to the billing of being the 4th overall pick even though I doubt it will happen. We’ll see though.

Position: FB
Players: Oren Oneal, Luke Lawton
Round they should address: none
Breakdown: These two are just fine to handle the load at FB but if one is injured, someone in FA should be available to clog the hole.

Position: WR
Players: Javon Walker, Chazz Schillens, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Arman Shields, Todd Watkins, Jonathan Holland
Round they should address: 2-4
Targets: Ramses Barden, Johnny Knox, Derrick Williams
Breakdown: This is the most trivial part of the draft. Everyone for some reason thinks Oakland MUST HAVE a WR in this draft and very early. I think that’s a load of crap. W/ a team that runs the ball first and has an extremely unproven QB, why waste a top pick on one? he might see 3 passes his way the entire game as i believe Russell was 27th in the league in pass attempts last season. Not only that, it slows down the production of Schillens and Shields whom the team is relatively high on. Walker is a legit number 1 WR when healthy but we all know that’s a big problem w/ him, Higgins is a great slot guy w/ his speed and elusiveness and is a great PR which is why I cannot figure out why people have Maclin (who said he wants to return kicks) going to Oakland. So if Oakland wants to pay a guy 45 mill (probably what the 7th overall pick may ask for?) for a guy who will see a handful of passes a game and probably not even help out the offense go for it. I personally think it can be addressed later as it is not a very big need IMO. Not on a team that runs first and passes second w/ an erratic, unproven QB.

Position: TE
Players: Zach Miller, Tony Stewart, Darrell Strong
Round needed to address: none
Breakdown: Miller showed he will become an elite TE over time. He has fantastic hands and is a great route runner. Stewart is there for the blocking purposes and isn’t a bad option as a target either…The Raiders are fine at TE but I guess could go w/ depth in later rounds if they feel necessary.

Position: LT
Players: Mario Henderson, Khalif Barnes
Rounds needed to address: 1-7
Targets: Jamon Meredeth, Phil Loadholt, Gerald Cadogan
Breakdown: Another odd situation for Oakland. They obviously needed OT help after letting go of Kwame Harris after he showed he is too awesome to be on Oakland w/ his outstanding performance last season. They went out and signed three OTs in Barnes, Pears, and the bustatic second round pick from the ’05 Vikings draft in Johnson. I do not feel Oakland is in desperate need of T but they might be. They have plenty on the roster and Henderson played pretty good there when he came in after Kwame’s dominance became too much for everyone to witness. Seriously, we all would’ve died from watching something so awesome so they had to bench him. The human body just can’t handle it. Barnes is a question mark to me as i have not seen much of him at all. So they have all these guys, but who knows if they’re the long term answer.

Position: G
Players: Robert Gallery, Cooper Carlisle, (heard) Marcus Johnson
Rounds needs to address: later for depth
Breakdown: Gallery may not be the LT everyone thought he would be but he is a damn good G. one of the best in the league IMO. Carlisle is older, but still very good. The Raiders G tandem is vastly underrated and overshadowed by Kwame’s pure awesome last year. they do need some depth I feel so that could be something acquired later.

Position: C
Players: Samson Satele, John Wade, Chris Morris
Rounds needed to address: already done
Breakdown: Some people think Oakland still needs to draft Mack or Unger in the second. They’re nutty. Already used a draft pick on one in Satele so who wastes two draft picks (one very high) on two C in one draft??Ii doubt Kwame would even do that.

Position: RT
Players: Mario Henderson, Paul McQuistan, Cornell “Lead Pipe” Green
Rounds needed to address: none
Breakdown: If Oakland does get their 10th OT via the draft, whomever starts at LT will force the other guy to move to RT. There are plenty of people to play this position and plenty of people who can do well. Green is not one of them and I’m having trouble figuring out why he’s still on the team after assaulting his wife.

Position: DE
Players: Derrick Burgess, Trevor Scott, Derrick Grey
Rounds needed to be addressed: 1-4
Targets: Michael Johnson, Robert Ayers, Kyle Moore
Breakdown: This is a big need for Oakland. Burgess is in the last year of his contract and is often injured. Brandon Albert and the potential having of Eugene Monroe on the Chiefs and a pass happy Charger team needs to be pressured and it needs to be done well. Scott saw limited player time as a rookie last season, but had done well in his time playing. Oakland may have found a diamond in the rough w/ him in the 6th round of last year’s draft. We’ll have to wait and see. Regardless, the team is very thin at DE and needs to address it.

Position: DT
Players: Tommy Kelly, Terrdell Sands, Gerrard Warren, William Joseph
Rounds needs to address: ASAP
Targets: BJ Raji, Ron Brace, Tez Doolittle, Alex Magee
Breakdown: Easily the worst position on the team. If it were based on place drafted, the Raiders would be stacked w/ Warren and Joseph. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. 31st against the run last season and the season before. That needs to change immediately. You cannot win games letting people run all over you and when you have the secondary Oakland has, you must utilize them and force teams to throw the football. Raji is a perfect fit if he is still around. He’s stout against the run and quick enough off the snap to get into the backfield and disrupt plays. He is absolutely the best pick Oakland can have and I would like to see another drafted in the later rounds for more depth.

Position: OLB
Players: Thomas Howard, Ricky Brown, Sam Williams, Jon Alston
Rounds needed to be address: 2-4
Targets: Russell Allen, Zach Follett, Kevin Akins
Breakdown: Thomas Howard is one of the most underrated OLB in the league IMO. Very good in coverage, very good sideline to sideline speed, instinctive etc. The guy can do it all. Unfortunately he cannot play both OLB positions. He just isn’t that good. I personally would like to see Marcus Freeman fill that void in the third round but we will have to see what happens. Ricky Brown and Williams have showed us they’re nothing more than depth and special teamers.

Position: MLB
Players: Kirk Morrison, Isaiah Ekejiuba
Rounds needed to address: later for depth
Breakdown: I believe Morrison could be a premiere MLB in this league but he needs help in front of him. He has played well w/ extremely poor play at DT and I feel w/ the addition of good people in front of him, he will emerge to be great. Ekejuba is all the depth needed but if necessary someone could be picked up later in the draft.

Position: CB
Players: Nnamdi Assomugha, Stanford Routt, Chris Johnson, Justin Miller, John Bowie
Rounds needs to address: None
Breakdown: It can finally be said. “Oakland does not need to draft a CB” and it breaks Mr. Davis’ heart to hear it. The Raiders have depth and have a fantastic trio of starters. If they are there, and they are healthy, they will produce and they showed that be the case last season. Especially Nnamdi.

Position: S
Players: Michael Huff, Tyvon branch, Hiram eugene
Rounds needed to address: 2-7
Targets: Patrick Chung, Nic Harris, Chip Vaughn. Michael Mitchell
Breakdown: Huff is on his last leg here. he has played terrible since being the 7th overall pick and has played both FS and SS. Opposite of him will be second year guy Tyvon Branch who is a giant question mark. A hard hitting SS is necessary to help out w/ the porous run defense and also a guy who is good in coverage if Huff folds again. If that be the case, bring on Taylor Mays in next year’s draft.

Report: Eagles Have Deal For Jason Peters

According to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio, the Philadelphia Eagles have a deal in place for Bills left tackle Jason Peters.  The Eagles will reportedly send the the 28th pick, a fourth-round pick, and an undisclosed pick in 2010 in exchange for Peters.

The deal will be contingent on Peters passing a physical, as well as an agreement on a contract.  Peters is said to be flying into Philadelphia today to meet with team officials.

If these reports are true, it would seem that the odds of Anquan Boldin wearing midnight green in 2009 would be pretty much over.  Even though the Eagles have started a tradition of trading out of the first round, it would be highly unlikely.

To acquire Boldin along with Peters, the Eagles would theoretically have to trade both first-round picks, a third-round pick, and a fourth-round pick.  If that were to happen, it would mark an almost extinction-level shift in philosophy at the NovaCare complex. 

Nick Wehry’s Packers Draft Contest Picks

The first player selected by the Packers in the 2009 NFL draft will be: Everette Brown—DE/LB Florida State

Do I really need to explain why Brown would be a great choice here?

He is an explosive defensive end with great upside. With Aaron Kampmans move to linebacker, Brown would fill his gap on the line perfectly. He’s a tough player and a worker.

The second player selected by the Packers in the 2009 NFL draft will be: Phil Loadholt—OT Oklahoma

Loadholt has the great size and strength that the packers need to add to an aging line. He could also learn from some greats in Tauscher and Clifton

 

Will the Packers make a draft day trade involving their first round No. 9 pick? (yes/no) No.

Will the Packers third selection be an offensive or defensive player? (off/def) Offensive Player

Will the Packers use any of their draft choices (day one or two) to take a punter? (yes/no) Yes.

 

Laugh of The Week: Dennis Green’s Famous Rant

 

This article is also featured on Bears Backer: It’s THE Blog For Any Chicago Bears Fan.

Last week, on the debut of the segment Laugh of The Week, Bearsbacker.com brought you Deion Sanders rapping.

This week, we bring you former Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green’s famous post-game rant. Every time I watch this video, I can’t stop laughing at how funny it is.

The ridiculous comeback win by the Bears was sweet, but the post-game interview with Green was icing on the cake.

This is what Green said, if you didn’t hear it in the video:

“The Bears are what we thought they were; they’re what we thought they were. We played them in preaseason—who the hell takes a third game of the preseason like it’s bull****, bull****!?

“We played them in the third game—everybody played three quarters. The Bears are who we thought they were! And that’s why we took the damn field.

“Now if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But they are who we thought they were, and we let ‘em off the hook!”

I’m laughing just reading that.

Anyway, Green is currently set to take over as the coach of the San Francisco franchise in the new United Football League, which will debut this October.

Check back next Friday for an even funnier Laugh of the Week.

 

All quotes from Wikipedia.org

Why Anquan Boldin Should Be a Philadelphia Eagle

Aside from the constant drama over Donovan McNabb, the topic of most chatter in Philadelphia sports circles is wide receivers. Terrell Owens. Javon Walker. Chad Johnson. Larry Fitzgerald.   

From 2004 through 2008, those names were part of the majority of Eagles discussions. The Eagles actually did get one of those guys. He helped the team make a trip to the Super Bowl. He also helped shake the foundation of the organization.

The most recent name is Anquan Boldin. Many Eagles front office defenders scoff at the notion of the team needing a “No. 1” wide receiver. This year they actually have the best case they’ve ever had. The current crop of Eagles receivers is very talented and still improving.

Even still, there is something missing. The detractors will tell you Anquan Boldin isn’t a big play receiver. They will tell you his success is due to playing opposite Larry Fitzgerald. They will tell you he doesn’t have the speed to stretch the field.

Guess what? It doesn’t matter. What is missing from the Eagles’ receiving corps isn’t big plays. What is missing from the Eagles’ receiving corps isn’t deep speed. What is missing is exactly what Boldin would bring.

Eagles receivers struggled in the red zone last year. Eagles receivers dropped the third most passes in the NFL. At the biggest moments in the biggest games, Eagles receivers have a tendency to get pushed around and disappear. 

To steal a line from the great Christopher Walken, “The Eagles got a fever, and the only prescription is Anquan Boldin.” 

Anquan Boldin is big, strong, and competitive. You will never see him stand still, waiting for the ball to get to him for so long that a defensive back will step in and break up the play. Boldin will attack every ball thrown his way.

Eagles wide receivers accounted for only 10 touchdowns in 2008. Boldin scored 11 on his own in just 12 games. Of his 11 touchdowns, 10 came in the red zone. Do you think that would help the offense?

Boldin led the league in red zone receptions and red zone touchdowns. He was second in the league in yards after the catch. He had 56 first downs last year, and 17 of them were on third down.

Some people say that Boldin was inconsistent down the stretch, and that his big play ability is declining. Look at his production, and it will show the truth.

Boldin had over 80 receiving yards in seven out of 12 games. He caught at least five passes in all but one game. He even made the two longest plays of his career last year. He scored a 79-yard touchdown in Week Two against Miami, and added a 71-yard touchdown in the playoffs.

Boldin may not catch many passes 30 or 40 yards down the field, because he isn’t a vertical receiver. Boldin’s game is using his size, strength, and quickness to get open on short to intermediate routes and make something happen with the ball in his hands.

DeSean Jackson is a vertical receiver. So is Kevin Curtis. They are one of the fastest wide receiver duos in the league, but they are too small and not physical enough. Anquan Boldin will help create space for the two of them.

Maybe he won’t make a bunch of 40-plus yard plays, but he will free up Jackson to do that. He may not go for 100 yards and a touchdown every week like T.O. did, but he doesn’t need to. 

Boldin could make just 60 catches for 800 yards and six touchdowns next year and make a huge impact. He will be able to make all the plays they couldn’t make last year.     

Aside from his receiving skills, he is also a tough competitor and a great blocker. 

Brian Westbrook and the running game will benefit from Boldin, and on a team losing Brian Dawkins and likely Jon Runyan, he will bring some much-needed attitude and toughness. He would bring a swagger this offense hasn’t had since 2004.

Let critics say what they will about Boldin not being worth a first and third-round draft choice. Maybe on paper you can make a case that he isn’t, but on the field, it’s much harder.

Anquan Boldin would enhance every aspect of the Eagles’ offense. He would help make every player better. For a team that was just a touchdown away from the Super Bowl last year, isn’t that exactly what you need?

The Eagles have more pressing needs to address than wide receiver, but this is a move they need to make. They still have 10 other picks to fill the holes.

It is time to fill the most glaring hole: the one where the Lombardi Trophy is supposed to be.    

Breaking News: Jason Peters to Be Traded to The Philadelphia Eagles

It looks as though the wait is over in the Jason Peters saga. Buffalo Bills fans have learned that the Pro Bowl left tackle will be traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.

WGR 550 in Buffalo has already reported this news as of 1:15 p.m. Friday. Tim Graham and Sal Paolantonio of ESPN have reported that the two teams are close to finalizing a deal.

Graham said the deal would send Peters to Philadelphia for a first- and fourth-round pick in the upcoming 2009 NFL draft and also a conditional pick in the 2010 draft. The first-round pick would be the 28th overall selection.

The Bills already have the 11th overall selection.

According to ESPN, the Eagles would like to have a contract in place before the trade is completed. Peters has been asking to be the highest-paid tackle in the league for over a year now. He is set to make only $3.375 million next season.

ProFootballTalk.com has already confirmed the trade.

The New Orleans Saints Must Learn to Finish

“Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.”- Proverbs 24:27 (NIV)

It may seem odd to start a sports column with a verse from the Bible, but the team I am writing about is the Saints. And frankly, I think the team needs to get back to its roots a little more.

I had a little extra time last night, so I put on the recorded NFL Replay broadcast of the Saints home loss on Monday night to the Vikings from October 6. This single game was a painful reminder of just why the Saints struggled to an 8-8 record a season ago, despite being one of the most talented teams in the entire league.

They didn’t finish.

Not only did they not finish games, they didn’t finish drives (or enough of them), heck they didn’t even finish plays.

In the Vikings game, Robert Meachem ran a perfect fade route on a third down, Brees threw a perfect pass, and Meachem dropped the football.

The Saints had to attempt a long field goal which was blocked and returned for a touchdown.  

There were countless instances in this game, and others, that the corner or safety would have perfect coverage, but allow the receiver to make the catch. I’m not asking for an interception, just knock the ball away. Do NOT let your guy catch the ball.

FINISH!

Following are a few suggestions I have for Sean Payton and his staff for the remainder of the off season to make sure the team finishes games in 2009, and beyond.

Finish your outdoor work…

Basically, I am saying, it is necessary that the players work as hard as they possibly can in the offseason conditioning program, and do so with the vision of finishing games. They need to finish that extra rep on the squat rack, or push out that extra rep on the bench.

When your running, do it with the idea that the extra burst you put in will get that extra yard on third down, or will allow you to finish off the sack, or will allow you to be able to gather and explode down the field to either make a play on the ball (for a DB) or make the catch for a receiver.  

It will pay off in November and December, and hopefully January.

Get your fields ready…

This applies more to the mental side of the game. Make sure the schemes and techniques being taught and learned are those that will allow you to succeed on third down and pressure situations.

Also, make sure the way you run training camp and OTAs are conducive to early season success. The Saints struggles at the beginning of the season the past two years have been the reason they’ve missed the playoffs.

If they had won more games at the beginning of the year, they would have been in better shape at the end of the year, and they could have played more relaxed.

But this is all in vain, lest we forget to finish.

Build your house.

I could go many different directions on this one. And I’d like to address them all briefly.

1. Now that the guys have put in the work in the offseason and in training camp, they must finish the job on Sundays (or Mondays or Saturdays).

2. Find an identity quickly. Most of us see the Saints as a pass-oriented offense with a conservative defense, which generally fails.

Sean Payton has talked about being more of a physical football team next season. While I don’t disagree with that philosophy, I’m not sure how well it fits the personnel on the roster.

Use training camp and the early part of the season to find out if you’re capable of being this physical team. If not, abandon it immediately and go back to being the team you’ve been.

It’s better to have a true identity than trying to be something you’re not. Once you’ve established this, you can make other teams try to play your game. That’s how the Saints will win football games this season.

3. Protect your home turf. Last season, the Saints went 6-2 at home. Not bad, but they did have two crushing losses, which both essentially ended on game-winning field goals.

Once again, finish. You can’t have the opposing team come in and beat you on a last second field goal. Winning teams don’t let that happen.

4. While chronologically this fits more with the two up top, it really fits here better, or at least I think it does, and that is build for the coming years through the draft.

Find football players in the draft who know how to finish. While I’m not really in favor of drafting a running back in the first round, at least Knowshon Moreno knows how to finish. In fact, he may be the best in this category of any player in the entire draft.

In other words look for players like Moreno who know how to finish.

This is a reason Malcolm Jenkins would be a great pick. He knows how to finish plays. He almost always finishes plays.

There’s a defensive tackle from Cincinnati named Terrill Byrd who is a likely late-round pick who knows how to finish plays. There are several other guys like this that I like, but many of them play positions the Saints don’t really need to build at.

This is also the main reason I do not like Chris “Beanie” Wells. Wells doesn’t finish runs. People say he is the big powerful back the Saints offense needs, but his conversion percentage was not very good. He doesn’t show the competitiveness to be a finisher.

And there are other guys out there who know how to finish who I am not as familiar with or just haven’t seen. Either way, I think when drafting, the Saints need to look at player’s ability to finish.

Because if the Saints want to be among the league’s elite teams, they need to finish. 

 

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