AFC South-NFC South: Tournament Bracket Round One

Let the fans decide I always say.

Well, except in MLB All-Star voting. I think we all can find a few reasons why.

I’ve decided to take the best players from each division and put them on a team. The teams from each division will face off each other. You as fans will choose which division goes on.

The rules are simple. I put down the starting teams and fans are able to substitute any players they wish. In order for a specific player to be substituted, fans must reply to the comment seconding the substitution. At the same time, other fans may decline the substitution by replying to the comment. A 60 percent majority vote is required to make a substitution.

Fans can also change the defensive alignment of their division. The same rules apply here as substituting a player.

I will make all the necessary adjustments within two days and give each division a week to square off. I will notify everyone through the comments section when no more substitutions are allowed.

The geographical divisions face off against one another (north vs. south, east vs west) and battle it out to see which division takes the championship.

The division with the most votes wins and moves on.

Take a look at your teams and make your moves. Vote for the better division roster and ENJOY!

AFC South (4-3 Defense)

Strength: Passing

Weakness: Defensive Tackle

Quarterback: Peyton Manning

Running Back: Steve Slaton

Fullback: Greg Jones

Wide Receivers: Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, and Anthony Gonzalez

Offensive Line: Indianapolis Colts Offensive Line

 

 

Defensive Tackles: John Henderson and Tony Brown

Defensive Ends: Dwight Freeney and Mario Williams

Outside Linebackers: Keith Bullock and Freddy Keiaho

Middle Linebacker: DeMeco Ryans

Cornerbacks: Cortland Finnegan and Rashean Mathis

Strong Safety: Chris Hope

Free Safety: Michael Griffin

 

 

Kicker: Adam Vinatieri

Punter: Craig Hentrich

K/P Returner: Chris Carr

NFC South (4-3 Defense)

Strength: Passing

Weakness: Defensive Tackle

Quarterback: Drew Brees

Running Back: DeAngelo Williams

Fullback: Brad Hoover

Wide Receivers: Steve Smith, Roddy White, and Marques Colston

Tight End: Tony Gonzalez

Offensive Line: Carolina Offensive Line

 

 

Defensive Tackles: Maake Kemoeatu and Chris Hovan

Defensive Ends: Julius Peppers and John Abraham

Outside Linebackers: Thomas Davis and Na’il Diggs

Middle Linebacker: Barrett Rudd

Cornerbacks: Chris Gamble and Chris Houston

Strong Safety: Jermaine Philips

Free Safety: Erik Coleman

 

 

Kicker: Jason Elam

Punter: Jason Baker

K/R Returner: Clifton Smith

 

AFC North-NFC North: Tournament Bracket Round One

Let the fans decide I always say.

Well, except in MLB All-Star voting. I think we all can find a few reasons why.

I’ve decided to take the best players from each division and put them on a team. The teams from each division will face off each other. You as fans will choose which division goes on.

The rules are simple. I put down the starting teams and fans are able to substitute any players they wish. In order for a specific player to be substituted, fans must reply to the comment seconding the substitution. At the same time, other fans may decline the substitution by replying to the comment. A 60 percent majority vote is required to make a substitution.

Fans can also change the defensive alignment of their division. The same rules apply here as substituting a player.

I will make all the necessary adjustments within two days and give each division a week to square off. I will notify everyone through the comments section when no more substitutions are allowed.

The geographical divisions face off against one another (north vs. south, east vs west) and battle it out to see which division takes the championship.

The division with the most votes wins and moves on.

Take a look at your teams and make your moves. Vote for the better division roster and ENJOY!

AFC NORTH (3-4 Defense)

Strength: Defense

Weakness: Rushing Offense

Quarterback: Carson Palmer

Running Back: Willie Parker

Fullback: Lawrence Vickers

Wide Recievers: Chad Johnson, Hines Ward, and Derrick Mason

Tight End: Todd Heap

Offensive Line: Ravens Offensive Line

 

 

Nose Tackle: Shaun Rodgers

Defensive Ends: Aaron Smith and Haloti Ngata

Outside Linebackers: Terrell Suggs and James Harrison

Inside Linebackers: Ray Lewis and D’Qwell Jackson

Cornerbacks: Ike Taylor and Samari Rolle

Strong Safety: Troy Polamalu

Free Safety: Ed Reed

 

 

Kicker: Phil Dawson

Punter: Sam Koch

K/P Returner: Josh Cribbs

NFC North (4-3 Defense)

Strength: Offense

Weakness: Safety

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers

Running Back: Adrian Peterson

Fullback: Jason McKie

Wide Receivers: Calvin Johnson, Greg Jennings, and Bernard Berrian

Tight End: Greg Olson

Offensive Line: Vikings Offensive Line

 

 

Defensive Tackles: Kevin Williams and Tommie Harris

Defensive Ends: Jared Allen and Aaron Kampman

Outside Linebackers: Lance Briggs and Chad Greenway

Inside Linebacker: Nick Barnett

Cornerbacks: Charles Woodson and Antoine Winfield

Strong Safety: Kevin Payne

Free Safety: Nick Collins

 

 

Kicker: Ryan Longwell

Punter: Brad Maynard

K/P Returner: Devin Hester

Minnesota Sports Franchises: The Ultimate Professional Farm System

If an NFL or MLB team ever needed a player, who do they look for? They go into the Twins or Vikings organizations.

Through the years, Minnesota franchises have done very well in bringing up great players only to let them walk and become superstars in other places.

Most notable is David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox.

For six years, the Twins groomed Ortiz to be their designated hitter. After his best season with the team in 2002 where he hit 20 home runs and 75 RBI’s, they let him go to the Red Sox.

Over the next six years of his career, Ortiz hit 231 home runs while driving in 731 runs.

How about Fred Robbins?

While he may not stand out as much as David Ortiz, Robbins played for four years with the Vikings before leaving for the New York Giants.

In his five seasons there, he has 23 sacks in 66 starts and has been a road block for opposing running backs since his arrival.

Of course there’s Matt Garza and Jason Bartlet, who the Twins got rid of in one day.

Garza has posted an ERA of 3.70 in Tampa Bay in his two seasons with 223 strikeouts.

Bartlett should have been starting in this year’s All-Star Game as he’s only two home runs shy of tying his total in four years with the Twins.

Both are playing their best baseball right now.

You could also make a case for Randy Moss.

Even though his years were filled with run-ins with the law, he was the best receiver in the game. He’s not happy with the direction the way the organization is being run so they trade him away. That’s not always the correct way to settle things.

I don’t care what he was like. He was the best at what he did and is now a role model for wide receivers everywhere.

It’s not only players that the franchises are bringing up, but coaches as well.

The moment Mike Tomlin got enough recognition as a defensive coordinator, the Vikings let him walk and become the head coach of the Steelers.

What did he do? Well, he just won a Super Bowl with one of the most dominating defenses ever to play the game.

We are only a year or two away from losing our current defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. He is supposed to be a Tony Dungy replica and I’ll be damned if I were to let him slip away to another team.

The newest member Minnesota got rid of was Marion Gaborik of the Minnesota Wild.

While he’s had his share of injuries, he was still one of the most dynamic players in the game. He didn’t fit the defensive scheme well and wanted out.

The Wild finally got a new coach and are going to change, but without Gaborik.

It’s tough seeing all this talent walk out of Minnesota only to find success elsewhere. I can only imagine what the Twins would be like with Mauer, Morneau, and Ortiz hitting together.

I can only imagine what it would be like having a Mike Tomlin for a head coach instead of a predictable conservative coach.

As fans of Minnesota, we forget these players because others take their place only to be let go sooner or later.

It’s all part of life up here. We just have to keep waiting for the chance to strike it big. Until then, we’ll have to settle being the farm system of the professional sports.

NFL Dream Team

If you can have a fantasy draft of your own NFL team, who would you pick?

There are no other people drafting against you, so you are free to choose the best of the best.

Can you make your team go undefeated?

I can only imagine what would happen if American style football was a worldwide event.

If that were so, I’m sure that this team would go undefeated against any other team ever.

These may not be the best NFL players in the NFL at their positions, but they are the players that would fit great and work together best. It’s sort of like how Herb Brooks ran his Olympic team back in 1979-1980. It’s not the best players, it’s the right ones.

Forget the 3-4 or 4-3 defense, wildcat , double-wing, or shotgun formations. No matter what the suit, these guys would get it done!

Something Wrong at Vikings Homepage

It has come to my attention via numerous e-mails that the Vikings Web page is not working properly. To all those who think I can do something about it, I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do.

I have been sent complaints of people not getting proper access to Vikings articles, as well as the rankings disappearing. I have not encountered the article problem yet, but if you do, just keep trying.

I have contacted Bleacher Report support and noted the problem. Hopefully, things will be running up to speed in no time.

Please stop sending me e-mails about the problem.

If you have a question regarding anything else, feel free to ask. I just can’t tell you what’s happening with all this.

Again, there is not a whole lot I can do. Keep coming back and checking the articles!

To all Viking fans, KEEP ON WRITING!

Adrian Peterson and the Quest for 2,000 Yards

Last year around this time, Adrian Peterson set a goal for 2,000 yards rushing in a single season. He fell short of that mark by about 240 yards by gaining 1,760 on the ground.

He had it easy last season facing the 32nd ranked defense of the Detroit Lions and the 26th ranked Green Bay Packers twice. Both teams have upgraded their defense and it’s unlikely either will finish in the same spot again.

The Bears on the other hand ranked fifth in rush defense last season and Peterson played them twice, rushing for 252 yards.

Overall in 2008, rushing defenses that Peterson faced ranked an average of 19th.

In 2009, Peterson will face rushing defenses that finished an average of 18th in 2008.

This season, he faces stiffer competition.

In back-to-back weeks, Peterson will have to rush against the Baltimore Ravens at home before heading on the road to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens finished 2008 ranked third in rushing defense while the Steelers ranked second.

Peterson didn’t have the opportunity to face a traditional 3-4 defense last season. The last time he did so was against the San Francisco 49ers who held Peterson to just three yards on 14 carries.

Sadly though, that was after he was coming back from a two-week break after suffering a blow to the knee by Al Harris of the Green Bay Packers.

The 2009 season brings plenty of 3-4 defenses, though. With the Packers switching to a 3-4 defense, the Vikings will play six games against a 3-4. Those games include the Packers twice, Ravens, Steelers, Browns, and 49ers.

So, will Peterson be able to play well against the 3-4? Only time will tell.

His hardest obstacle will come against the Steelers who haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since November 18, 2007 when Thomas Jones rushed for 117 yards. The problem for the Steelers is they haven’t faced an Adrian Peterson before.

Peterson saw a bunch of eight and nine-man fronts. With a new quarterback on his way, that’s all about to change.

The likely addition of Brett Favre will open the field for Peterson to run wild. He has destroyed six and seven-man fronts and he will see many more in 2009.

Say what you want about Brett Favre. Defensive Coordinators won’t be putting eight men in the box nearly as often with a Hall of Famer at the helm.

The NFL has only had a handful of 2,000 yard rushers: O.J Simpson (2,003), Terrell Davis (2,008), Barry Sanders (2,053), Jamal Lewis (2,066), and Eric Dickerson (2,105).

Can Peterson become the next?

The Complete 2009 NFC Running Back Predictions

The NFC produced a ton of talent at the running back position in 2008.

The top four rushers in the NFL came from the NFC: Adrian Peterson (Vikings), Michael Turner (Falcons), Deangelo Williams (Panthers), and Clinton Portis (Redskins).

The running game is what ultimately sets up the passing game. It is said that if a running game can be successful in a game, a passing game will develop.

We have cleared the quarterback position as well as the AFC predictions.

Here are the 2009 NFC running back predictions!

A Message To The NFC North: You Have No Shot

That’s right. The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings don’t have a shot at a Super Bowl title in 2009.

Who cares about Minnesota and their sixth ranked defense. They only had 45 sacks last season. They only have Adrian Peterson. They only the best rushing defense three years running. They only sign a future Hall of Famer to lead their talented offense.

Who cares about Green Bay. Their team was decimated by injuries last season, but that doesn’t matter. Aaron Rodgers only threw for 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. The fact that they have an insane secondary with four former Pro-Bowlers doens’t matter.

Who cares about the Bears. They only acquired a quarterback who threw for 4,526 yards last season. The fact that they have a running back who can rush for 1,200 yards and catch close to 500 more yards is garbage. After all, their defense gave up a total of 4.9 yards per play which was good for sixth in the league.

Who cares bout the Lions. No, seriously…

The fact is, the NFC North has three teams that can easily compete for a Super Bowl title in 2009.

To all of you who think the North doesn’t stand a chance, let me ask you, “Why not?”

With some very bad luck on their side last season, the Bears still mustered a solid 9-7 record with a relatively tough schedule. With some key coaching changes like the pickup of defensive line coach, Rod Marinelli, their luck will change for the better.

The Packers finished 13-3 only a year ago before being ousted two weeks before the Super Bowl. They were destroyed by injuries and it’s unlikely that it will happen again. Their defense is very underrated and we could be in for a major surprise.

The Vikings finished 10-6 with no help from the quarterback position and injuries to two of the teams captains. While a new quarterback is on the way, this team could be extremely deadly.

The Lions are the Lions, but don’t count them out. They may not be a Super Bowl team, but they will shock some teams in 2009. Their quarterback has reportedly lost a ton of weight, they have upgraded their entire roster, and people will underestimate them foolishly.

To say that the NFC North is a weak division because of an 0-16 team is ridiculous. Last time I checked, there are three other teams in the division, all more than capable of beating you.

With all the changes in the NFC North this season, it’s hard not to believe that two of them won’t be going to the playoffs in 2009.

That’s right, I’ve say it. A wild card team will come out of the North. Who exactly remains to be seen.

If your team faces the NFC North next season, think twice before tallying in a win. The biggest favor you can do is underestimate us.

So keep on talking NFL fans. Keep thinking the NFC North is weak. Your oblivious nature will be your downfall.

The Complete 2009 AFC Running Back Predictions

The quarterbacks are done with and now it’s time for the running backs.

Teams like the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans have relied heavily on their running games the last few seasons (and in the Panthers case, their entire franchise history).

With more teams switching to a two-running back set, their value sky-rocketed just last season when we witnessed one of the best running back draft classes in NFL history.

Players like Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Steve Slaton, and Jonathon Stewert played a vital role in the team’s success. Others like Kevin Smith, Darren McFadden, Jamaal Charles, and Felix Jones are superstars in the making.

The running game is very important. It establishes a solid frame to build a passing attack around. The running game keeps the safeties honest and the linebackers near the line of scrimmage.

Without further ado, here’s the predictions for each AFC team! ENJOY!

The Complete 2009 AFC Quarterback Predictions

The Quarterback is the most valuable part to any offense. Without a good quarterback, an offense usually crumbles. Of course there are exceptions to every rule as Joe Flacco proved last season as an effective game manager, but less than stellar quarterback.

Just look at what Drew Brees did this last season. While the rest of the offense was struggling to stay healthy, Brees single-handedly kept his team in nearly every game only for the defense to blow it.

With a good quarterback under center, every team is a playoff contender. Those teams who struggle at the quarterback position like the Vikings or Titans rely heavily on their running game to carry the team, but a quarterback has more of an impact overall.

I will try to make this a series for each position, so keep checking back with me. I’ll try to post the NFC as soon as possible.

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