Fantasy Football Breakdown: 2009 Bounce-Back Players

The Bruno Boys have already touched on the Sweet and the Sour. Now it is time for us to dive into the Marshmallowy.

In other words, the main bounce back players that I feel just had an off year last year and should offer plenty of value and stats to any fantasy football roster for the 2009 season.

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The Marshmallowy: Described as a spongy treat, this will be the Easter treat that describes the players that I feel will be bouncing back from a mediocre or forgettable 2008.

The quarterback that I feel will do pretty well after a sub-par 2008 is the Houston Texans Matt Schaub. Last year he threw for just 15 touchdowns, got picked off 10 times and accumulated just 3,043 passing yards on the season.

A lot of it can be attributed to injuries, as this marked the second year in a row in which he started only 11 of the 16 games for the Texans’ after coming in a trade from the Falcons.

He does have one of the best targets in Andre Johnson and has another pretty solid target in tight end Owen Daniels. Entering his late 20’s, this should be the year Schaub graduates into a lower-end QB1 in deeper leagues.

And for the award of stating the absolutely obvious, Tom Brady, if healthy, will bounce back and be a top-5 quarterback as well.

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At the running back position one player that I feel should bounce back after virtually two lackluster seasons is Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs. They are expected to be run-heavy and with their tougher schedule and lack of veteran players on the offensive side of the ball he really could turn into a true bargain as owners will shy away from his this year.

Bouncing back to a level of mid-tier RB2 shouldn’t be a problem. It was just two years ago that he was being grabbed as the No. 1 overall player on some draft boards. Just ask Bruno Boys staff writer Larry Joseph. Sorry bro, but I will never forget that day!

Another running back that I think will come at a bargain but should look more like his old self is the Dallas Cowboys RB Marion Barber. They still have a very potent offense even without Terrell Owens so the red-zone opportunities should be abundant.

The Cowboys will have to make up for Owens touchdowns and Barber could be the main beneficiary. With Felix Jones also coming out of the backfield, Barber most likely will never contend for the league leader in rushing yards, but a return to double-digit touchdowns is expected.

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At the wide receiver/ tight end positions there are a few players that were banged up with injuries in which they should be able to come back and be a force at their positions once again.

Jason Witten, Marques Colston, and Antonio Gates are all players that will most likely make their fantasy football owners happy this year due to regained health.

As far as players that I feel just had down years and should bounce back include T.J. Houshmandadeh, Santonio Holmes, Torry Holt and due to Marvin Harrison leaving town, Anthony Gonzalez.

You can expect the Colts to target a wide receiver in next weekend’s draft, but Gonzalez is entering veteran status and quarterback Peyton Manning has shown signs of connecting with him.

He will be the second option behind Reggie Wayne in Indianapolis but should act as a WR3 for your fantasy football squad.

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For more fantasy football insight and advice, click the link below…

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Heat Employ “No-Go-Out” Policy for Playoffs

Minnesota Vikings Should Consider Kanas State’s Josh Freeman

Josh Freeman, considered by many the third best quarterback prospect in this year’s draft, is one of the most difficult players to predict where he will be drafted. Many mocks have him going as high as No. 17 to the Jets, and completely falling out of the first round.

In my opinion, Freeman should be considered as a candidate to be selected by the Vikings with their No. 22 pick overall, assuming he is not taken in the previous picks.

First let’s bring up the measures: 6’6″, 250 pounds, 10″ hand size

The two comparable quarterbacks that I think of when I see these measurements are Donovan McNabb and Daunte Culpepper. Vikings Coach Brad Childress idolizes McNabb and was his former offensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

Culpepper had some MVP-caliber seasons in Minnesota, but some believe that this was a product of having Randy Moss as his star receiver.

As we know, size doesn’t automatically make you a good player, but it certainly helps to be a big sized, mobile quarterback especially in the game today with quick, strong linebackers and ends.

Second, the stats Freeman put up at Kansas State were spectacular. In 2008, he had 20 TD passes compared to only 8 INT. His efficiency rating of 136.48 was very good considering he didn’t have much talent around him, unlike Stafford and Sanchez. Freeman improved statistically each year and became more accurate of a thrower.

Last, Freeman has great arm strength. “There has been many plays where you just open your mouth and say wow!” football analyst Tim Hasselbeck explains. Freeman has a cannon for an arm, and many scouts believe that he has just as good of an arm, if not better than Stafford’s.

Freeman would fit nicely in Minnesota where he would just have to ‘manage’ the game offensively, and would not be forced into great leadership responsibility. Childress needs to solidify the quarterback position, and I believe Freeman is the answer.

St. Louis Rams: Let the Rebuilding Process…Continue

The hardest thing about being a hometown fan is realizing that your team was so much better one lifetime ago.

This can be said about the Oakland Raiders, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Detroit Lions and of course, the St. Louis Rams.

But the Rams have been going downhill since the departure of the Warners. Not since their impressive run in 2001-02 all the way to the Patriotic Super Bowl against New England. Since then, the Rams have made friends with teams in the basement of the NFL.

Seven years after the Patriotic Run, and four coaches later, the Rams are still looking for answers.

And the list of The Departed continues to increase as The Greatest Show on Turf tries to resurrect that moniker:

Mike Martz

Kurt Warner

Isaac Bruce

Torry Holt

Orlando Pace

The list continues to grow with every passing day.

While Chicago and Denver made the most noise in the offseason, the Rams flew under the radar. After giving Bruce his walking papers two seasons ago, they decided to honor Torry Holt’s legacy…by releasing him.

Now Holt is possibly heading to Jacksonville, while Bruce had a moderately productive first year in San Francisco.

Now, new head coach Steve Spagnuolo is stuck trying to find a way to bring this team back to the dominance they showed at the beginning of the century. So what do the Rams need to focus on heading into this weekend’s draft?

Let’s start with the basics.

Rams Offense

No high-octane receivers could handle the deep ball better than Torry Holt. For possession purposes, look no further than Isaac Bruce. Now they’re both gone, and the Rams are looking everywhere for suitable replacements.

Donnie Avery is good, but he cannot do this on his own. With two of the biggest and best receivers entering the draft, the Rams couldn’t have picked a better year to work on the first stretch of the offense.

Forget finding backups for Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson, and ignore finding a replacement for Orlando Pace, at least for this moment. If the Rams were smart, they would have tried to deal Holt instead of releasing him outright.

In the quarterback position, there was a reason Boller was sent packing from Baltimore: He’s iffy when it comes to clutch performance.

We already know that Matthew Stafford will most likely be the first round draft pick for Detroit (no matter how much they aren’t talking). With Michael Vick being released in the next few months, he needs a change for the better…and so do the Rams.

Bulger is on borrowed time not because of his playing but because of his age. Now Vick isn’t the best choice, but he was a proven quarterback before the dogfighting anarchy.

In regards to running back, Jackson has done as much as his body will allow as the successor to Marshall Faulk’s throne in St. Louis.

They have to realize that this isn’t Denver, and they need the pass as much as the run to get victories this season.

There is no telling whether Antonio Pittman has the stamina he had early in his career, and Brian Leonard continues to be relegated to the fullback position.

Now comes the two biggest needs on offense: The line and the receivers.

The offensive line took a huge hit with the departure of Orlando Pace to Chicago. Is Alex Barron a proven success at Pace’s old position? Who knows?

But just in case, the Rams grabbed Jason Brown, and “experts” are believing that they will grab Jason Smith out of Baylor to further add depth to the offensive line.

The experts claim that the offensive line is the greatest area of need for St. Louis, but I think it shares the spotlight with another area of need for the Rams.

As for receivers, look no further than either Jeremy Maclin out of Missouri, Michael Crabtree out of Texas Tech or Percy Harvin out of Florida. Maclin was great possession receiver with the Tigers last season.

Crabtree was the impact player for the Red Raiders. Hands down. As for Harvin, the Rams need toughness in this position, and in regards to Percy Harvin, it doesn’t get tougher than that.

So in my eyes, it comes down to Baylor’s Jason Smith and Florida’s Percy Harvin. The Rams shouldn’t make the same mistake twice by passing on a draft gem and taking another draft bust.

But Chris Long proved his worth last season and could be an even more dangerous member of the D-Line this upcoming season. So who gets the call on Saturday?

Prediction: Percy Harvin. As much as the Steve-O wants to bring in Smith, he needs to start from the outside and work his way to the inside. How many times can you draft an offensive or defensive linemen before you think outside the box?

As much as McShay and Kiper want Smith to be No. 2, this is a moment for the Rams to think about the guys who will step in and accept the roles left by the loss of Bruce and Holt.

Rams Defense

There is no question that Chris Long and Leonard Little are the anchors of the Rams Defense. But the Rams will need more than just Long and Little to keep quarterbacks and receivers from getting closer acquainted to each other.

But even worse, the Rams rushing defense was among the worst in the league. But who could possibly step up and make the most noise for them this season? As well as the draft?

There are way too many holes on the defense for the Rams to focus on filling the loss of Orlando Pace. It’s obvious that this is the road that “experts” claim the Rams should take.

They feel that Brown is the best one out there, but what does that mean for the defense. Take away the injury-riddled players, and what do you got left? Not much.

Adam Carriker left his toughness in Lincoln with the Huskers, while Tye Hill has been more thorn than help. Steve-O managed to snag James Butler and get Ron Bartell back in the secondary.

Chris Draft needs help in the linebacker position, since Will Witherspoon has always been a gametime decision. Pisa Tinoisamoa is good, but can he manage to lead this group of former bad-asses to the next level?

So who can the Rams get to start this winds of change in the Gateway City?

Prediction: James Laurinaitis. Ask anyone in Buckeye Country if they know Joe, and they’ll most likely say that they know Joe…and James. While father was dominating the WWE ring, son was feasting on Wolverines Baby Back Ribs. 

Laurinaitis has proven that he can adjust when it counts. He has speed and strength, but what makes him a great pick is his intelligence on the field.

With a guy like Spagnuolo at the helm, this could turn into a match made in heaven…or a match made in anarchy. 

Rams Special Teams

Simply put: Give the ball to Dante Hall…because he’s not the same threat he used to be in KC.

Slight Adds Motivation for Brandon Myers

Iowa’s Brandon Myers misses a pass during the fourth quarter against Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on September 27, 2008. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

IOWA CITY — Brandon Myers thought he had played himself into the draft discussion.

Good statistics. Started every game for a team that won nine games. Converted three third-down catches into first downs in a bowl game. All-Big Ten selection by the league’s coaches.

But Myers, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end from Prairie City, wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine in February. Initially, it hit him hard that NFL scouts didn’t think he was one of the nation’s top 20 tight end prospects.

“I thought I had good film from this year,” Myers said. “I thought with our success we had and having Shonn (Greene) and Mitch (King) and everyone was watching, getting first-team all-Big Ten, I thought for sure I’d definitely get a shot.

“I was happy for my teammates that got to go but at same thing, I wanted to go. It definitely made me realize I had to work that much more harder and I have that much more to improve. I wasn’t selected in the top 20 tight ends; obviously I have to pick up my game and get better.

Myers, 23, hauled in 34 passes for 441 yards and four touchdowns last year. He earned the Iowa offense’s Coaches Appreciation Award. But neither those statistics or that praise earned him a spot at the NFL Combine.

But that’s not all bad, either. Former Iowa defensive end Aaron Kampman didn’t make the NFL Combine, but he was a fifth-round draft pick. Kampman has played in two Pro Bowls for Green Bay.

“Yeah, that was the first thing Coach (Kirk) Ferentz mentioned to me, which definitely made me feel better,” Myers said. “But obviously I was still disappointed. If things turn out like Aaron Kampman, I’ll be all right with that.”

Myers has gotten some play from NFL scouts and teams within the last month. Scouts from 29 teams watched him and other Hawkeyes compete during pro day in late March. He ran a 4.74 40-yard dash time and had 17 bench press repetitions of 225 pounds.

Myers also has been one of the most active Hawkeyes in taking visits before this weekend’s draft. He’s met with several teams, whose officials conduct interviews similar to those at the combine.

Dan Shonka, general manager and national scout for Ourlads Scouting Services LLC, doesn’t have Myers ranked as a drafted player. But Shonka said Myers has skills that will help get him into a camp and possibly stick with a team.

“He does catch the ball well,” Shonka said. “He screens off blockers. He’s not a big drive blocker for a tight end, which you don’t have to be. You just have to create a little seam where you have somebody run up inside you. He’s that kind of guy.”

Shonka said Myers has an advantage on other tight ends by playing in Iowa’s pro-style offense.

“A lot of them are more like slot guys than tight ends,” Shonka said. “(Myers is) used to blocking in Iowa’s system. That definitely helps him. If he was drafted late, it would not surprise us, but we think probably going to end up being more like a free-agent guy. He’ll have a chance to go to camp and show what he can do.”

That’s just what Myers wants. He and his agents have discussed potential destinations if he doesn’t get drafted. By early April he had visited four NFL teams and several others would like a closer look at a player the teams didn’t interview at the NFL Combine.

“Obviously I’d love to get drafted,” Myers said. “I think taking these visits, it definitely gets my name out there. It’s kind of like the domino effect where one team hears about other teams hear about it and bring me in. I have no idea if I get drafted or where I will be. I just want a shot, just want a chance. It doesn’t really matter where. I just want an opportunity to play.”

I Can’t Escape The NFL Draft

Graffin’s Packer Draft Contest Picks

The first player selected by the Green Bay Packers will be:

Chris “Beanie” Wells RB-Ohio State                                                                                                         

This selection would irritate me and probably everyone else as well. As everyone knows Ted Thompson loves the best value and there is a good shot that will be Beanie at No.9. Plus, I haven’t seen anyone else pick him.

The second player selected by the Green Bay Packers will be:

Clint Sintim OLB-Virginia  

At 6-3 256 he’s a little lighter then other OLB’s projected around this spot. With above average sacks last year (11), I think he would be what Thompson would have in mind as a pass rushing OLB opposite Kampman.

Will the Packers make a draft day trade involving their first round No. 9 pick?No

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

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

Additional Comments: I think Ted Thompson feels that the front three are set with the depth picked up through free agency and will go with OLB’s and CB’s before D-line.      

Philadelphia Eagles: from Torment to Triumph

Grown men sat still, silent, and full of sadness. The clock had expired long ago, but the despair and heartache were still sweeping over the walls of Lincoln Financial Field, towards the I-95 ramp, down the Broad Street exit, and all the way to city hall.

Yes, this was a dreary but well-known feeling to most Philadelphia sports fans, but the frigid winter air that night carried something a little extra. What that additional ingredient may have been cannot be articulated for sure, but, as the city of Philadelphia wept in agony over a third consecutive NFC championship loss, a pessimistic cloud cast its shadow over the City of Brotherly Love.

Surely, Philadelphia had experienced its fair share of sports heartbreaks—i.e. 23 years of them, but something was different after the Eagles’ three-year catastrophe. Suddenly Philadelphians everywhere entered into a long state of depression—local hangouts lost their appeal, cursing off New Yorkers became more than just a recreational activity, and, somehow, cheese-steaks lost their taste. 

When the Eagles finally broke through the wall and defeated the Atlanta Falcons in the 2006 NFC championship game, a portion of that prolonged depression seemed to have been beaten out of the city’s interior, in one, flashing moment—similar to the punishing hit inflicted on Algie Crumpler by a former Eagles free safety. Although the Eagles eventually fell to the mighty Patriots in the Super Bowl by one measly FIELD GOAL, a substantial weight had been lifted from the shoulders of Philadelphia’s sons and daughters, from William Penn down to Pat and Geno. 

Always depicted as a football city, Philadelphia’s depression symptoms were slightly lifted with an Eagles appearance in football’s greatest game—it was as if medication had temporarily eased the pain that the uncountable losses had inflicted on the city’s people. However, as the Terrell Owens saga reinvented the word of torment for Philadelphia sports fans, the city further longed for the ultimate prize. 

The Phillies’ improbable run to the World Series, in 2008, broke the 25 year championship drought in Philadelphia. Cheese Wiz, fried onions, and diced meat quickly regained their delicious, hearty aroma and taste, and flipping off drivers with New York license plates immediately returned to being a simple and pleasing activity. Looking back on it, Brad Lidge sliding to his knees and lifting his arms in celebration, completely liberated a city that had, for so long, suffered the misery of the sports spectrum. 

Andre Smith Will Make The Cleveland Browns Better

When you look at the record of Emmitt Smith and even Troy Aikman over the years, you will see staggering numbers that don’t tell the whole story of the dominance for those Dallas Cowboys teams that won three Super Bowl titles in a four year span.

The whole truck-load of a story includes Nate Newton, Erik Williams, and the behemoth Larry Allen.

Those three powerdrivers, in particular, gave Emmitt Smith plenty of room to run, and made life so easy for Troy Aikman.

In order to be consistent in the NFL, you have to able to control the line of scrimmage. The idea is simple but the execution is much harder.

Phil Savage, in my mind, made a huge error in selecting Joe Thomas over Adrian Peterson. Joe Thomas has not made the Cleveland Browns any better, and not only that, Joe Thomas has contributed to the demise of one QB (Charlie Frye, traded to Seattle as a third string), demise and injuries to Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Dorsey and Grabowski (?). That’s an amazing casualty list of QB injuries for a OLT supposed to protect the money position.

Coming out of college, people knew that Joe Thomas was weak, had short arms, and was coming off an injury. He also failed to turn up the Senior Bowl.

All the while, Adrian Peterson is running into the Hall of Fame.

People may say we didn’t have the OL then, but come on, Phil Savage wasted 2 picks on Brady Quinn when those picks could have had 2 OGs! Phil Savage should have taken Jamaal Brown in 2005 over Braylon Edwards anyway.

Come the 2009 draft, the Browns are again in a rebuilding phase. Once again the Browns need to strengthen the trenches in order to compete in the Black-n-Blue division of the AFC North.

Mangini and Kokinis has to do the smart thing and select Andre Smith at No.5 to rebuild that OL that couldnt punch in from the goalline. The Browns lost all time of possession in 2008, prompting Romeo to play prevent to keep the score close.

The other name that should be on the top of the list is BJ Raji.

Andre Smith and BJ Raji are the only two names worth the No.5…..to the Cleveland Browns

The Secret Weapon to the Success of the Vikings Offense in 2009

“With the 44th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select Sidney Rice, Wide Receiver from the University of South Carolina.”

The Vikings were in major need of young and talented wide receivers. Sidney Rice was expected to be the pick when Minnesota was on the clock.

Rice had high expectations as being the next best thing for the Vikings. Many expected him to be a potential future Pro Bowler.

He has perfect size for a receiver, 6’4”, 205 lbs. Could you honestly ask for anything better?

Rice signed a four year deal with the Vikings shortly after the ’07 draft.

A little known fact about him is that he excels at two sports. He led his high school basketball team, Gaffney, to a State Championship.

Rice averaged 18 points and seven rebounds per game, earning him the 4A Basketball player of the year.

He is known for being a fast and athletic type of player. Rice is also one of the more nice players in the NFL. He addresses every reporter that he speaks to as “Sir or Ma’am”

There is no doubt that he is a great athlete and a great person in general, but when is it time for him to become a great NFL player?

So far in his two year career Rice has 46 receptions, 537 yards, and eight touchdowns. Personally I’m not going to write him off yet as being a bust. Often times it takes a receiver longer to develop into a great player than other position players.

Rice caught his first career touchdown against the Green Bay Packers on September 30, 2007. From that moment I had strong faith in this kid. I knew he would turn out to be a phenomenal key to the Vikings offense.

Believe it or not, Rice even completed two passes for 94 yards in 2007. He has a career QB rating of 109.7.

He has the total package of a great player.

Is it the Quarterback situation that is holding him back, or is it the fact that he has hardly seen the field in his short lived NFL campaign?

Rice was plagued with an ankle injury for most of the 2008 season. He only had 15 receptions for a total of 141 yards.

Minnesota needs to find some way to utilize Rice’s incredible abilities. He has great potential to be a threat to the opposing secondary.

With all of this said, I still believe the Vikings need to draft a receiver in either the first or second round.

Bobby Wade won’t be around forever. When he leaves for another team, Rice can move into the slot, leaving somebody like Hakeem Nicks or Darrius Heyward-Bey to start.

I hope all of you Vikings fans keep the faith in Sidney Rice. He is a great player who just needs to find his place in Minnesota’s complicated offense.

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