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LOTD: Why The Pittsburgh Steelers and Their Fans Suck

Published: September 8, 2009

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Pittsburgh Steelers Suck - steelers fan - why your team sucks series by Drew Magary

[Editor’s note: This post is dedicated to Ryan Russell and Nick Gerlach.]

Hands down on the best running series in the sports blogosphere is Drew Magary’s incomparable Why Your Team sucks series at Deadspin. No, it is not the kind of material that I would ever forward to my mom or dad to read…but that is precisely what makes it so sublime.

Here is the description that opens up every one of these posts, to give you an idea of their purpose: “Some people are fans of the [insert team name]. But many, many more people are NOT fans of the [insert team name]. This 2009 Deadspin NFL team preview is for those in the latter group.”

Today, Drew finished off the series by regaling Deadspin readers with funny, sophomoric, and expletive-filled prose describing the many ways why the Pittsburgh Steelers, their fans, and their city unequivocally suck.

Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and it is today’s link of the day.

Why Your Team Sucks: Pittsburgh Steelers — (Drew Magary via Deadspin)

6. The Steel Curtain is the worst metaphor ever. They’re curtains. They either open in the center, or they can be drawn upwards to allow you to pass through. That is the function of a curtain. It doesn’t matter what material it’s made from: steel, adamantium, chiffon. ALL CURTAINS ARE EASILY PENETRATED SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE DESIGNED THAT WAY. Call it the Steel Wall. Or the Steel Monolith. Call it something that connotes impenetrability. A curtain intimidates no one…

And then there is this, from the smorgasboard of write-in comments included at the end of each Why Your Team Sucks post. This guy is definitely a Browns fan:

Dave V.:

So many Pittsburgh fans are from Ohio, and they are the biggest bandwagon fans in the world. These troglodytes have never even been to Pennsylvania, and yet they adorn their overweight, uneducated bodies with gaudy yellow and black, and call themselves true Steeler fans.

Also published today were the Why Your Team Sucks posts for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. Both of these are equally, if not moreso, hilarious as well as surprisingly insightful.

And that we have that out of the way, onto the rest of today’s links.

Sports:

Non-Sports:

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* – Hilariously-named “Randy Beefsmith” photo credit: The Sports Hernia


Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


Steelers-Titans Thursday Night Football Preview and Prediction

Published: September 8, 2009

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In case football fans needed anything else to get them warmed up for the 2009 season, Miami and Florida State engaged in an epic battle last night that came down to the final play.

The U ended up stealing one at Doak Campbell Stadium—and, by the way, did anyone else come away really impressed with Graig Cooper?—putting an exciting capper on a solid first week of college football action.

This week, the big boys get added to the football queue, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans kicking off the 2009 NFL season on Thursday night.

Tell me that you aren’t just a little more excited this Tuesday than you’ve been on Tuesdays over the past few months. A little over 48 hours; that’s all we have to wait.

Before we delve into any matchups, here are all of the particulars that you need to know for the Steelers-Titans NFL season opener, courtesy of our MSF NFL Week 1 Preview and TV Schedule:

Tennessee Titans (0-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0)

(Note: the low prices cited about for tickets are as of Tuesday, Sept. 8. This could obviously change between now and gameday.)

So, now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about what to watch for and see if we can tease out a prediction that we feel comfortable with.

First, let’s take a quick look at how these teams compared statistically in 2008 (all Titans-Steelers stats courtesy of NFL.com):

  • Total Offense: Tennessee – 313.6 (21st) | Pittsburgh – 311.9 (22nd)
  • Rushing O: Tennessee – 137.4 (7th) | Pittsburgh – 104.6 (23rd)
  • Passing O: Tennessee – 176.2 (27th) | Pittsburgh – 206.3 (17th)
  • Total Defense: Tennessee – 293.6 (7th) | Pittsburgh – 237.2 (1st)
  • Rushing D: Tennessee – 93.9 (6th) | Pittsburgh – 80.2 (2nd)
  • Passing D: Tennessee – 199.8 (9th) | Pittsburgh – 156.9 (1st)

Quite obviously we can see that these two teams were led by their defenses in 2008. So you would think that their one matchup was probably pretty low scoring, right?

That the Titans’ vaunted 1-2 rushing punch of Chris Johnson and LenDale White probably struggled mightily against the 3.3 yard per carry average the Steelers’ D held opponents to last year?

Well, that’s not quite what happened. The Titans won their Week 16 matchup against the Steelers last year 31-14 on their way to the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC playoffs. Chris Johnson and LenDale White carried 31 times for 117 yards (3.8 yard average) and scored two TDs.

So while the Steelers did hold the Titans to 20 yards below their season average rushing the ball, the Titans were effective enough on the ground to win.

If you just looked at the stats, without knowing the outcome, you might actually think Pittsburgh won the game. The time of possession was even, Pittsburgh outgained Tennessee 374-322, and Pittsburgh converted 46 percent of their third downs compared to only 21 percent for Tennessee.

So what the hell happened?

As is often the case in the NFL: turnovers.

Ben Roethlisberger threw two INTs and also fumbled four times, losing two of them. Tennessee, on the other hand, did not turn the ball over once. Add to that the fact that Pittsburgh carried the ball 25 times for 73 yards, and it balances the scales a bit and makes the Titans’ romp (21-7 in the second half) a little more understandable.

But as we all know, the Titans flamed out in the playoffs while the Steelers righted the ship and did not lose again, all the way through the Super Bowl.

What can we expect this year between the Titans and Steelers in their regular season matchup? I think it will be a game very similar to last year, except that that the Steelers will be more protective of the ball, will be at home, and will squeeze out a victory as they begin their defense of Super Bowl No. 6.

A couple quick reasons why I think the Steelers will win:

Ben Roethlisberger has had another hellish offseason, no doubt wants to put it all behind him, and just start making plays on Sunday again.  The Titans present a formidable matchup, as they are still very sound defensively, even without Albert Haynesworth, but I don’t think Ben turns the ball over four times.

Heinz Field is not an easy to place to come into and steal a win.  The Steelers were 6-2 at home last year with their losses coming to the Giants and Colts. On Thursday night, I think Heinz Field will be an especially tough place to play.

The towels will be waving, the energy level will be extra high, and the Steelers will no doubt be immensely fired up to begin their title defense. I have a lot of faith in Mike Tomlin, despite my hatred for the Steelers, and am not picking against him and the Steelers at home in the team’s first game since winning the Super Bowl.

Willie Parker’s yard per carry average has dropped each of the last three seasons, plummeting all the way to 3.8 yards per carry last season. He does, however, usually play well in the first game of the season, or in his first game after a long break.

Case in point: last year Willie Parker had 138 yards on 25 attempts in Week One against Houston. He followed that up with 105 yards on 28 attempts against the Browns. Then he got hurt, missed four games, and over his next two starts, carried the ball 46 times for 185 yards.

Clearly, Parker is at a stage in his career where he gets worn down when used consistently. The Steelers have already said they will use Rashard Mendenhall more to spell Parker, plus it’s only Week One…so he can’t worn out yet.

Contrary to what happened in Week 16 last year, I think a fresh Willie Parker allows the Steelers to run the ball for better than a 2.9 yard average this year.

Also, I think the Titans will struggle to clear the 100 yard mark on the ground Thursday night. I have Chris Johnson in a bunch of fantasy leagues, so I hope I’m wrong, but that Steelers’ D is going to be fired up and ready to make a statement that their dominance of 2008 will continue in 2009.

Teams will have to wait until later in the season, when the Steelers are a little bit beaten up, to get any traction on the ground.

And while the Titans brought in former Steeler Nate Washington to provide a deep threat, the Titans WRs and Kerry Collins’ ancient arm do not inspire me.

I do think that this will be a close, hard-fought game all the way through. However, the 4th quarter will be owned by Pittsburgh; I think Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu will come through big plays late (like they always seem to), and the Steelers will pull away down the stretch. 

If I were a betting man, I’d take the Steelers and give the points. I’m not, so I’ll just sit back Thursday night and enjoy the first game of what should be another awesome 17 weeks of regular season NFL football.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


Jamal Lewis Makes Final Cut, Remains a Cleveland Brown

Published: September 7, 2009

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After reports came out of Cleveland that the Browns might cut Jamal Lewis, he remains a Brown after the team trimmed down to the 53-man roster.

I can’t figure out the motive behind the thought of cutting Lewis. Eric Mangini’s plan to establish any kind of ground game would be out the window with the loss of Lewis. Were they serious, or was this a carefully planned media release to motivate the veteran?

Although rookie running back James Davis and fellow backup Jerome Harrison have shown promise at the running back position, they at this point are only nice complements to Lewis.

In the preseason, Lewis demonstrated the ability to smash the hole with violence and displayed that he still has his hard-nosed running style. I am, as any Browns fan should be, ecstatic that Lewis is still a Brown.

— Kurt Fraschetti

Become a fan and follow me on Facebook.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


Cleveland Browns Might Cut Jamal Lewis

Published: September 5, 2009

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I have three words for Eric Mangini and George Kokinis if they are seriously considering cutting veteran running back Jamal Lewis:

Don’t.

Do.

It.

In the Plain-Dealer this morning, Mary Kay-Cabot wonders if the Browns will do just that, despite the fact they already paid him a $3.5 million bonus this offseason and that his only backups are the current injured Jerome Harrison and 6th round rookie James Davis, who has apparently become the next Jim Brown after one 81-yard scamper against the Detroit WinlessLions.

A quick excerpt:

Could Browns running back Jamal Lewis be cut today when the Browns trim their roster to 53?

NFL sources said rumblings began a couple of days ago that Lewis, who turned 30 last week, could be one of the dozen players the Browns let go, and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter on Friday put Lewis at the top of his list of big-name players on the bubble. Nationalfootballpost.com’s Mike Lombardi also speculated Lewis will be cut.

Among the many reasons why I think this would be a terrible move:

  1. It makes the $3.5 million already given to Lewis basically just a colossal waste of money.
  2. Lewis has done a tremendous job of accepting that his role will likely be reduced this year and has taken to mentoring Davis, who went to the same high school as Lewis. For a rookie RB, this must be invaluable.
  3. Jamal Lewis may be too old and slow to be a featured, wear-’em-down type back any more, but he can still churn out tough yards and get goalline carries. Have Jerome Harrison of James Davis proven they can do this?
  4. As much as we all want to hope that the Browns can engineer a Dolphins- or Falcons-like turnaround in 2009, the fact of the matter is that the Browns are more likely than not building for the future.

    Unless there is something we don’t know about Lewis’ willingness to play the role of good soldier under the regime, there is no reason to cut him and prevent Jerome and James from having his experience and leadership at their disposal.

  5. Jamal Lewis is one of the few leaders on this offense. With Brady Quinn, a first-year starter, likely to take over as the QB, why not give him the support of a veteran in the backfield who can allow Quinn to grow into his leadership role.

I could go on and on. Yes, the Browns would save some money cutting Lewis, but I think it would be a terribly myopic decision. Hopefully when the final cuts are announced, Lewis’ name will not be among them and we can put this foolish story behind us.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


Links: Fines, Suspensions, and Layla Kiffin…What More Could You Want?

Published: September 4, 2009

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Layla Kiffin - LeGarrette Blount suspended, Brett Favre fine for chop block

Okay, as we wrap up another week in the sports world, a few quick hitters and then onto your daily link dump.  

And, for the record, the pictures of Layla Kiffin (whose husband has a big debut coming up) are not gratuitous.  As you will see, while she has nothing to do with LeGarrette Blount or Brett Favre, there is an interesting story about her at the top of the sports links.

First, updating a story that we covered in the wee hours of this morning, Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount has been suspended for the year after punching a Boise State player last night and nearly going into the stands after fans who were taunting him. My gut reaction is that it’s too much.  My rational reaction is that the kid has been in trouble before and there is a good chance that this was a “last straw” type thing.  Either way, I think the University of Oregon needs to take it upon itself not to take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach and make sure the kid gets help.

In related news, Todd McShay has spent an entire column stating the obvious: that Blount’s actions from last night will hurt his draft stock. What would we do with Todd McShay? Although, I am linking to him, so perhaps the joke’s on me.

Layla Kiffin - LeGarrette Blount suspended, Brett Favre fine for chop block

And finally, the last quick-hitter, ancient and indecisive Vikings QB Brett Favre has been fined 10K for his chop block on Eugene Robinson. Favre thought about retiring when he received word about the fine, then decided against it, then realized his arm hurt and he missed his tractor, and then looked at himself in the mirror and marveled at how good he looked in his new Wranglers. Then he retired again. And then unretired. Then, presumably, he paid the fine.

(And yes, for the record, that is Layla Kiffin staring thoughtfully at me while podcasting. The photo might be doctored, and might have originally had Lane in it, but I will neither confirm nor deny this. Kudos again to KVB for making me look an idiot with cartoon headphones on. In honor of his hard work I try to post this picture whenever I can.)

And now onto the links!

Sports:

Non-Sports:

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* – First Layla Kiffin photo credit: GratisBay.com

* – Second Layla Kiffin photo credit: 3rd Saturday in Blogtober


Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


Maurice Jones-Drew Injury Update: Bruised Right Leg in Fourth Preseason Game

Published: September 3, 2009

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There is a reason why the fourth preseason game typically is a battle of the backups.  

Most teams have had enough time to decide on their starters and a) don’t want any of said starters getting injured in a game that means nothing except $$$ in the organizations’ bank accounts; and b) want to use it as an opportunity to make final decisions on the back end of the roster.

Case in point: Jacksonville.

Fantasy football owners across the nation held their breath Thursday night when consensus (well, almost consensus) top-five pick Maurice Jones-Drew went down with a leg injury. According to the AP, via ESPN.com’s Maurice Jones-Drew injury update article (via PFT’s Maurice Jones-Drew injury update), the team is calling the injury a “bruised right leg.”

Jones-Drew injured his leg on the opening series when cornerback Fred Smoot tackled him following a short reception. Jones-Drew headed to the locker room, and team officials said his return was questionable.

The official party line for the Jags right now is that the injury does not appear to be serious. Whether it is or not, I would expect them to say that for as long as possible. With the team struggling to sell tickets, it would be devastating for their one offensive star (apologies to David Garrard and Torry Holt) to be out.

Sounds like we’ll have to wait until tomorrow for a more concrete MJD injury update.

I don’t believe I have MJD in any fantasy leagues this year. He’s always been a favorite of mine, but I think he’s being overvalued that high in the draft.  He still needs to prove he can handle the rushing load of a full-time back (although he does have 1st round value to me in a PPR league). Marion Barber buckled under the pressure a year ago, and I have similar fears about Jones-Drew.

Either way, I hope he’s healthy. It’s never fun to see a great player go down in the preseason.

Fantasy owners will want to take note that Greg Jones is slated to be Maurice Jones-Drew’s backup this season. Should MJD be forced to miss any time, Jones is the guy you want. And if you own MJD and don’t own Greg Jones…well, I question everything about you as a fantasy owner.


Peter King May Disagree, But There Are Reasons For Hope in Cleveland

Published: September 3, 2009

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There are plenty of reasons to expect the Cleveland Browns to not be very good and to not win very many games in 2009.

Chief among those reasons: they are, after all, the Cleveland Browns.

There is certainly a lot of Browns hate floating around as we approach the first week of the 2009 NFL season.

Peter King of SI has predicted that Cleveland will finish with the league’s worst record, 2-14, and be a game worse than even the Detroit Lions.

Take a few minutes to sample the power rankings at sites like ESPN, FoxSports, and elsewhere. The prevailing wisdom seems to be that while the Browns are not quite the worst team in the NFL, they are not too far away.

So what the hell am I thinking trying to approach a Browns 2009 season preview with the goal of disproving the conventional wisdom? Am I totally off my rocker sitting down this morning in search of legitimate reasons for why Browns fans should have hope heading into 2009?

The answer to both questions is: I’m not sure.

But here I am, and here you are, and damnit, at the end of the day this is the NFL we are talking about.

If a Dolphins or Falcons or Ravens fan had set out to write a similar post before last season began, they would have been looked at as fools too. And we know how that turned out.

Consider the following:

• The Dolphins, Falcons, and Ravens entered 2008 with new head coaches who had no head coaching experience. The Browns enter 2009 with a new head coach who actually has head coaching experience.

•The Dolphins and Falcons had been bad for a while. They were not a year removed from a 10-win season, as the Browns are.

• The Falcons and Ravens entered last year with first round rookie QBs starting. The Browns have one guy a year removed from making the Pro Bowl…who will likely be the backup. Brady Quinn, the Browns’ own first round pick, first-year probable starter at least enters this season with a couple of years of NFL experience under his belt.

Somehow, despite so many odds seeming to be stacked against them, the Dolphins, Falcons, and Ravens all made the playoffs last year. Time and again in the NFL we see teams rise from the depths of low-to-no expectations to shock the football world by winning nine, 10, or 11 games. 2007 in Cleveland was a prime example.

So no matter how bad you expect the Browns to be in 2009, remember that the Dolphins and Falcons were expected to be just as bad, if not worse, in 2008. And look where they ended up.

But simple, general, implied correlations such as what I’ve just done mean nothing. A Lions fan could say the same thing. So could a Raiders fan. It’s time to get specific.

We all rationally understand, based on recent NFL history, that teams going from worst-to-first is not a freak phenomenon in the NFL.

For Browns fans—my long-suffering and frowning brethren who are desperately grasping for hope, for something legitimate to believe in heading into 2009—what are some real and team-specific reasons why 2009 could be the season when we put the wait for next year on hold?

 

1. Eric Mangini will see your 4-12 record, and raise you a playoff berth

Forgive the somewhat obtuse poker analogy, but this fact remains: Eric Mangini has already proven that he can immediately take a team from 4-12 (the Browns’ record in 2008) to the playoffs.

He did it in 2006, his first year with the Jets, after New York had played to win the games in 2005 but did not win many under Herm Edwards.

Cleveland Browns 2009 Season Outlook - Reasons for Hope | Peter King, SI Browns Prediction

Interestingly enough, the parallels do not end there.

You may recall that in 2004, the year preceding the Jets’ 4-12 stumble and Edwards’ eventual ouster, the Jets went 10-6.  

Similarly, as I know you will recall because I’ve already mentioned it, the Browns went 10-6 in 2007, the year prior to their 4-12 collapse in 2008 that led to the ouster of then head coach Romeo Crennel.

So for Eric Mangini, this is not unchartered territory. The man has done it once, which should give Browns fans a legitimate reason to think that he can do it again.

(Note to all Browns fans: for the sake of our ever-diminishing sanity, let’s forget for the moment the fact that Mangini’s Jets yo-yo’d back to 4-12 in his second year, completing a four-year run of 10-6, 4-12, 10-6, 4-12 that we would obviously like to avoid.)

2. Braylon Edwards and Kamerion Wimbley have nowhere to go but up

Let’s get one given about the 2009 Browns out of the way right now. We all know that this is a team still in need of more playmakers on both sides of the ball. Thus, the playmakers that they do have absolutely must play up to their capabilities this season.

Braylon Edwards and Kamerion Wimbley are, unquestionably, two of the five most talented players on the Browns roster (along with the consistently solid Joe Thomas, Josh Cribbs, and Shaun Rogers…at least he was last year).

Both Braylon and Kamerion were awful in 2008, despite already having proven that they can succeed at the NFL level. These two must play much closer to their potential for the Browns to have success in 2009.

And there is every reason to believe that they will do so.

Cleveland Browns 2009 Season Outlook - Reasons for Hope | Peter King, SI Browns Prediction

Braylon Edwards is the player that I correctly pegged as the key to the Browns season in 2008 after we watched him struggle in Week 1 against Dallas. Sadly, I was proven correct as Braylon’s awful season was symbolic of the entire team’s failure last year.

But this is still a guy who was the third overall pick in the draft, who has shown that he can produce yards and TDs in big numbers, and who should be entering his prime at 26 years old.

In 2007, we probably saw Braylon’s ceiling. In 2008, we probably saw his floor. In 2009, we just need to see a very good receiver, which Braylon is perfectly capable of being. And if Braylon is only very good—putting on hold, for a moment, any expectation of him being great—he should produce 75-85 catches, 1,200-1,300 yards, and 8-9 TDs. These are not unreasonable numbers.

And think about it: if Braylon had just been good last year, as opposed to decidedly awful, the Browns probably win one or two more games.

Auspiciously, Braylon has appeared better and more focused this preseason (three receptions, 51 yards, and a TD in the Browns’ most recent preseason game) and should be more consistent if the Browns pick one QB and stick with him.

He can’t be worse than he was last year, and that alone will make the Browns better.

On the other side of the ball, Kamerion Wimbley is, like Braylon, a former first round pick with worlds of talent. He is also, like Braylon, prone to inconsistency and had his worst season as a pass rusher last year. After a great rookie season in which Wimbley got 11 sacks, he fell to only four last season.

So like Braylon, we have probably seen Kamerion’s floor. I’m not quite sure we have seen his ceiling yet, however; and the combo of Eric Mangini and new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan may just be able to unleash it.

The Jets and Raiders (where Ryan coached last season) were both in the top half of the NFL in sacks last year. Say what you will about the ability of Ryan’s Raiders to stop the run—they couldn’t—but they did a decent job of getting after the passer.

And he is, after all, a Ryan.

The Browns have Shaun Rogers and D’Qwell Jackson as the centerpieces of their quest to improve the run defense. And let’s be honest, it could improve and still not be very good.

Kamerion Wimbley, on the other hand, is the centerpiece of the Browns’ pass rush, and there appear to be new strategies in play (such as moving him around more) to make him more effective.

Kamerion has too much talent to pick up only four sacks this year. If he can get back into double-digits, which he is perfectly capable of doing, the Browns’ defense will improve. An improvement by Kamerion alone won’t make the Browns defense great, and might not make it good, but it will at least make it better.

Assuming these two immensely talented players can play closer to their abilities than they did last season, it should make the Browns two or three games better. I suppose it’s fair to say that we should expect such improvement at our own risk, but it’s at least a reason for hope. 

Remember, we’re Browns fans. Hope is all we have.

3. The pieces are in place for the Browns to be far more effective running the football

Cleveland Browns 2009 Season Outlook - Reasons for Hope | Peter King, SI Browns Prediction

A lot of blame got heaped onto Derek, Brady, and Braylon for the Browns’ offensive struggles last season, and deservedly so; but the running game provided little in the way of backup.

The Browns finished 26th in the league in rushing last year with a paltry 3.9 yards per carry. Unless you have a healthy Kurt Warner with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin at receiver, that’s just not going to get it done.

Much was made of the Derek-to-Braylon and Derek-to-Kellen and Derek-to-Jurevicius combos that made the Browns’ 2007 offense so successful. But did you realize that the Browns also finished 10th in rushing that year and averaged 4.3 yards per carry?

With Brady Quinn likely to get the nod at QB, and two rookies plus a QB-turned-kick-returner-turned-wide-receiver likely to be among his top five targets on the outside, the Browns will have an inexperienced passing game in 2009 that will undoubtedly be a work in progress.

Where we have the best combination of experience and talent is in the backfield.

And, as with the assumed improvement of Braylon and Kamerion, I think it’s safe to assume that the running game will be better in ‘09—in large part because it cannot possibly be worse.

Jamal Lewis is a former freak-of-nature-type stud who could bowl over defenders and run by them at the same time. Now tumbling down the 30-and-over running back hill, Lewis lacks breakaway speed and can be painfully slow to the hole.

What he can do, however, is churn out tough yards while wearing down defenders, block effectively, and provide much-needed leadership on an offense that is devoid of it.

I’ve heard whispers that the Browns should cut ties with Lewis because of his diminishing skills as a runner. That’s a myopic viewpoint.

This will probably be his last year in Cleveland, but he will still be valuable, for the reasons mentioned above, even if his carries are reduced (which they should be) and he’s only a 3.8 yard per carry back.

Where my excitement and optimism about the Browns running game comes from is the presence and flashes of brilliance that we’ve seen from Jerome Harrison and James Davis. I’ve written at length about these two players and their potential for success in 2009 here and here, so I won’t repeat myself.

Suffice it to say, as long as Eric Mangini and Brian Daboll make good on their promise to get these guys more involved, the Browns will be a better running football team in 2009.

Something else to keep in mind: while everyone focused on the Jets’ passing game and Brett Favre last season, they were surprisingly effective running the football.

Thomas Jones and Leon Washington led a ground attack that finished ninth in the league in rushing.

And one more thing to keep in mind: Eric Mangini comes from the Bill Belichick school of coaching, where you focus on what players can do, as opposed to what they cannot do, and put them in positions to succeed and maximize their value to the team.

One example that proves this is the Jets’ superb use of Leon Washington last year.

The previous Browns coaching staff always seemed hung up on what players could not do, as evidenced by their exasperating unwillingness to get Jerome Harrison consistent touches.

The guy averaged more than 7 yards per carry! No one thinks he can keep that up with 100-125 carries, but he certainly is part of the solution to the Browns ground woes, and I expect the new coaching staff to recognize this. 

Time will tell how effectively Mangini and Daboll can direct the Browns offense, but the Jets’ success running last season plus the versatility of the Lewis-Harrison-Davis trio has me optimistic that we will be much better on the ground this year than we were last year.

We sure as hell (broken record alert!) can’t be much worse. And that right there is another reason to hope for and expect improvement. 

Finally, here a few additional quick-hit reasons for Browns fans to have hope heading into 2009:

• Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald are playmaking, ball-hawking cornerbacks who have flashed the potential for both greatness (the home Monday night win over the Giants) and for punishing lapses in focus (the devastating Broncos loss).

As they gain experience and enter their prime, improvement should be inevitable. Add to the fact that Eric Mangini is a secondary coach at heart and in experience, and I think we can safely assume that one position for which focus should be less of a problem this year is the defensive backfield.

• Josh Cribbs, whose contributions to the team’s 2007 success were never fully appreciated in my opinion, looks energized this preseason. Obviously something needs to be done with his contract, but if Cribbs can stay healthy and not fight nagging injuries like he did last year, he will make the Browns better on offense and special teams.

• The Browns’ schedule, in theory, should be more palatable than last year’s. While the NFC North looks to be much improved this year, the AFC West has only one good team.

And if Baltimore continues its trend of being good one year and then bad the next, it could provide two in-division opportunities for victories that were not there last year.

Just a quick glance at the schedule reveals the following eight games that are very winnable: at Denver, vs Cincinnati, at Buffalo, at Detroit, at Cincinnati, and the last three games of the year: at Kansas City, at Oakland, vs Jacksonville.

If the Browns are indeed a better football team in 2009, and can find a way to just go 6-2 or 5-3 in these eight games, a 7-9 or 8-8 or *gasp* even better record is possible.

And those final three games, against teams that no one is pegging as playoff-caliber heading into the year, could prove valuable if the Browns somehow are in contention for a playoff spot.

So, in conclusion, Peter King can take his 2-14 prediction and shove it.

I like Peter King and read his Monday Morning Quarterback column religiously, and after last season’s debacle I suppose anything is possible.

When your team is picked to compete in the AFC, you get five prime-time games, and then you fall flat on your face, it’s hard to really argue when an outsider shows a lack of faith.

Cleveland Browns 2009 Season Outlook - Reasons for Hope | Peter King, SI Browns Prediction

But there are reasons for hope in Cleveland that many prognosticators, and even many fans, are not recognizing.

Similarly, there were reasons for caution heading into last year that many prognosticators, and certainly many fans, turned a blind eye towards. The unexpected happened in 2007 and the unexpected happened in 2008, so who’s to say the unexpected won’t happen in 2009?

I realize that I may be setting myself up for another season of disappointment and heartache, but I’m beginning to get excited and optimistic about the 2009 Browns.

I honestly have no idea if we will be better or if we will be worse, and the truth is that nobody does. This is the National Football League aka Not For Long aka No F’ing Logic, a league where the unexpected has ironically become the expected.

Eric Mangini has already proven that he can defy conventional wisdom and expectations in his first year with a new team, and the Browns have certainly proven they can defy conventional wisdom and expectations with their performance the last two years.

But, alas, this is the Browns we are talking about, a team notorious for its consistent ability to suck the hope and optimism out of its fans by a seasons’ end.

So call it a coping mechanism, call it foolhardy positivity, or even just call it crazy. Either way, while the fresh-cut-grass smell is still emanating from another NFL season set to begin, with every team sitting there even at 0-0, I will once more jump on the bandwagon of optimistic hope and believe that the unexpected can indeed occur in Cleveland.

We’ll see. 

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* – Eric Mangini photo credit: New York Post

* – Braylon Edwards photo credit: The Repository (Canton, OH) via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

* – Kamerion Wimbley photo credit: AP via DayLife



Can Peyton Manning and Co. Get to 12+ Wins for Seventh Straight Season?

Published: September 2, 2009

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As the 2009 season quickly approaches, The Indianapolis Colts look toward yet another season. This time, however, there is a much different look and feel to what has become one of the most prolific teams in the NFL.

The coaching staff has experienced the most turnover, starting with the departure of head coach Tony Dungy, who was replaced by protégé and former assistant coach Jim Caldwell. Several other coaching changes also have been made in addition to Caldwell taking over.

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Longtime offensive coordinator Tom Moore retired as well, as did offensive line coach Howard Mudd, although both were brought back to the team before the start of training camp as “special advisers.”

In addition, defensive coordinator Ron Meeks was replaced by Larry Coyer, who has been assigned the challenge of turning a mundane defense into at least a respectable one. And the most scrutinized position of late is that of new special teams coach Ray Rychlesky, who replaced Russ Purnell.

Other less notable coaching changes also have been made this offseason in an attempt to correct what was viewed by many as a subpar 2008 season despite a sixth straight 12+ win season, as well as a wildcard playoff berth, the first round ejection by 8-8 San Diego that capped the 2008 season.

As to players on the field, the draft brought much needed help at running back and on the defensive line.

The first round brought the Colts RB Donald Brown from Connecticut, who will hopefully boost a subpar running game and provide a sort of “Thunder and Lightning” combination between he and incumbent starter Joseph Addai.

Defensive tackles Fili Moala (Southern Cal) and Terrance Taylor (Michigan) were aquired in the second and fourth rounds, respectively. while receiver Austin Collie (BYU) was added in the fourth as well. Pat McAfee, a punter, was drafted to replace long time booter Hunter Smith who has found a new home in Washington with the Redskins.

Let’s break down each of the three units as the Colts get ready for the regular season, which is now less than two weeks away.


The Offense (The Good)

Of course any team with Peyton Manning will be successful offensively. The good news is that Manning’s knee is at full strength, and we won’t have to wait a hand full of games in the regular season to watch the timing get ironed out, as happened last year.

Joseph Addai has shown signs of returning to his former self in the preseason thus far, and rookie running back Donald Brown continues to impress. The question remains, however, will the offensive line be able to consistently open holes for these two feature backs to run through?

The line is healthier than last year, but there is a glaring issue in the worst possible spot: Peyton’s blind side. OT Tony Ugoh has been replaced as a starter by Charlie Johnson, due to the fact that no one on the coaching staff believes that Ugoh is working his hardest, nor living up to the potential his draft position and salary would suggest.

However, Johnson has not been much better thus far, with the Colt’s O-line giving up a horrific three sacks in just the first possession alone of the first preseason game against the Vikings.

The most intriguing position on the Colts offense comes at wide receiver. With the departure of long time No. 1 receiver Marvin Harrison, the Colts are looking to fill a significant void of experience and production. Reggie Wayne will become the No. 1 WR (and basically was last year) while third-year man Anthony Gonzalez will take over the No. 2 spot.

But who will be the No. 3 WR in the slot?

Dallas Clark, the Colts starting tight end, will no doubt be put into the slot with various personnel groupings. Through two weeks of the preseason, we have seen Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie making great plays and looking to be solid contenders for the slot when the Colts go three-wide. 

Tom Santi and Jacob Tamme look to have locked up the backup roles to starting TE Dallas Clark.


The Defense (The Bad)

Amidst all of the many questions that surround one of the NFL’s worst third down defenses is, what about Bob? It’s been a while since Bob Sanders has played an entire season, but when he is in the lineup we all know that his presence is invaluable as a stabilizing and inspirational force  in the Colts’ D.

The linebackers looks solid, anchored by Gary Brackett, Phillip Wheeler, and Clint Session, but still seems somewhat weak in certain coverage and run schemes and situation.

The defensive line seems to have improved, adding a couple of 300+ pounders, but the injury to Raheem Brock could make things a little more challenging. The pass rush, anchored by DE’s Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, seems as strong as ever; but, can the Colts stop the run?

Only time will tell if Larry Coyer can make a major difference replacing Ron Meeks as the leader of what was ranked as one of the worst run defenses in the league last year, as well as one of the worst defenses at getting off of the field on third down.

A lot of questions remain for the Colts on defense, and only time will tell how good the D can be in 2009.


Special Teams (The Ugly)

Where do I start with the special teams?

The Colts can boast that they have one of the most reliable placekickers in the league in Adam Vinatieri. However, the lack of touchbacks, the poor kick coverage, and poor kick returns that are often riddled with turnovers and bad decisions, have plagued the Colts for years and made both the offense and defense have to work much harder to attain victory.

They say that defense wins championships, but I personally believe that special teams plays just as important a role, if not slightly more. There must be change. There must be improvement. Need I say more? Ray Rychlesky, the pressure is on from Day One.

2009 Outlook

This season’s schedule seems a little soft at first glance, but there could be teams that were weak last season that may be more of a challenge this year. The Colts will host the Jaguars, Seahawks, 49ers, Texans, Patriots, Titans, Broncos, and Jets, and will find themselves traveling to the Dolphins, Cardinals, Titans, Rams, Ravens, Texans, Jaguars, and Bills.

Will the Colts make it to 12 wins for a seventh consecutive season? Las Vegas thinks not. The over-under for the Colts is currently 10. My prediction is somewhere between 11 and 12 wins, but, of course, that’s why they play the games!

There has been a lot of change in Indianapolis this offseason, and the Colts have more competition in the AFC then ever before. Only time will tell if Peyton Manning will win his second Super Bowl, or perhaps a record 4th MVP. He’s Peyton, so anything is possible.

Either way, here’s hoping on another fun ride and successful season for the Colts—one of the NFL’s best and most consistent team over the course of this decade.


Carson Palmer Ankle Injury Update, Week 1 Status, and Fantasy Outlook

Published: September 1, 2009

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Carson Palmer Injury Update, Status, Fantasy Outlook and Projection

One of the biggest questions this pre-season, in both real and fantasy NFL circles, has been the health of Bengals QB Carson Palmer.

His injury last year presaged a terrible season for the Bengals in which pretty much everything that could go wrong did go wrong.

But hopes in Cincy have been raised this year thanks to Palmer’s return, the reemergence of Chad Ochocinco as a player (apparently) focused on winning again, and an emerging defense that is better than it is given credit for being.

Of course, they do have Cedric Benson…but I just said that hopes had been raised, not that the Bengals are perfect.

Either way, the entire house of cards rests on the injured ankle of Carson Palmer, which has prevented the Aikman-like QB from playing in the Bengals’ last two preseason games. From the looks of it, via PFT, the AP, and Mr. Ochocinco himself, Palmer is “fine” and should be ready to go for the season opener on Sept. 13.

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In fact, he may even play in the Bengals’ fourth pre-season game this Thursday. 

From the AP report updating Carson Palmer’s injury status:

Palmer threw to receivers during the first 30 minutes of practice Monday, the first time he’s done that in nearly three weeks. The quarterback dropped back after taking snaps and moved around without problem on his sprained left ankle.

The only news that could possibly be better for Cincinnati sports fans would be the firing of Dusty Baker. But, actually, even that would not trump the healthy return of Carson Palmer to the football field this year.

So let’s assume for a moment that Palmer is healthy and ready to go on Sept. 13. How do you value this guy in fantasy drafts and/or trade talks?

As recently as last season (despite a less than stellar 2007, based on his own standards), Palmer was one of the top-5 QBs in fantasy. He appeared poised to enjoy a long, continuous tenure among Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees as those year-in, year-out consistently strong QBs that you can build fantasy winners around.

A quick look at Carson Palmer’s stats from 2005 and 2006 manifests this greatness:

 

  • 2005: 101.1 rating; 3,836 yards; 32 TDs; 12 INTs
  • 2006: 93.9 rating; 4,035 yards; 28 TDs; 13 INTs

 

2007 and 2008, however, were not nearly as productive:

 

  • 2007: 86.7 rating; 4,131 yards; 26 TDs; 20 INTs
  • 2008: 69.0 rating; 731 yards; 3 TDs; 4 INTs

 

As you can see, even before getting hurt last year Palmer was not playing to his usual level. Part of that had to do with a complete lack of a running game, as well as the fact that Chad Ochocinco seemed determined to be as big a pain in the ass as he possibly could.

So with Cedric Benson no doubt poised to continue churning out 2-3 yard stumbles where 5-10 yard gains are possible, and TJ Houshmandzadeh now catching passes from Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle, why should there be optimism that the ‘05-’06 Palmer will reemerge in 2009?

Honestly, there probably should not be quite that level of optimism, but still some optimism nonetheless.

Carson Palmer Injury Update, Status, Fantasy Outlook and Projection

Chad Ochocinco has brought a much better attitude to camp, at least it seems. In addition, TJ has been replaced by the steady Laveraneus Coles who, while no longer the burner he once was, is still a productive WR.

And the surprise of Bengals camp has reportedly been a rejuvenated Chris Henry, who has worlds of talent but has never particularly acted like he possessed a brain.

If he truly has matured, that’s still a pretty lethal WR trio for Palmer to air it with.

But without the steady Rudi Johnson providing consistent backfield production any longer, the Bengals will still be somewhat one-dimensional, which will obviously make them easier to defend and probably keep Palmer’s INT totals a little bit higher.

His yardage will probably stay high, because the Bengals should throw a lot, but I don’t see quite the same TD:INT ratio that we saw during his immaculate 2005 campaign.

My Carson Palmer projections for 2009 look something like this:

 

  • QB rating: 92-97
  • Passing yards: 4,000-4,200
  • Passing TDs: 27-28
  • INTs: 17-19
  • Rushing: Umm, none…as usual.

 

I would take the following QBs for sure before Palmer in a draft: Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, and Aaron Rodgers. After that, I’d rate Palmer right there with Peyton Manning (who is a great QB and consistent but overrated this year for fantasy purposes people!!!), Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb, and Matt Ryan.

He is certainly worthy of starting, and you’re in a great position if you can get him as a backup, but I would expect him to be below the first tier. Draft him expecting 2008-level production, and then be pleasantly surprised if and when he surpasses it. 

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* – Carson Palmer throwing photo credit: Art Monk Football League



LOTD: Top 20 NFL Jersey Sales Suggest We Are Approaching the Apocalypse

Published: August 31, 2009

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Today’s link of the day comes from the good folks at Shutdown Corner, where the Mighty MJD has broken down the top 20 highest selling NFL jerseys from Apr. 1-Aug. 28.  

Though it won’t surprise anyone now, it certainly would have surprised a lot of people back on Apr. 1 if you’d said that two of the four highest selling jerseys over the next five months would be Brett Favre in purple and Michael Vick for the Eagles.

Here is the list of Top 20 selling NFL jerseys, courtesy of Darren Rovell’s SportsBiz, via Shutdown Corner:

1. Brett Favre, Vikings
2. Jay Cutler, Bears
3. Troy Polamalu, Steelers
4. Michael Vick, Eagles
5. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
6. Tony Romo, Cowboys
7. Mark Sanchez, Jets
8. Tom Brady, Patriots
9. Adrian Peterson, Vikings
10. Eli Manning, Giants
11. Terrell Owens, Bills
12. Peyton Manning, Colts
13. Hines Ward, Steelers
14. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
15. Jason Witten, Cowboys
16. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
17. Joe Flacco, Ravens
18. Matt Ryan, Falcons
19. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
20. Michael Crabtree, 49ers

The most startling fact is this, as explained by MJD: Vick has only been with the Eagles for 14 days, yet he is fourth in jersey sales over the past five months. Amazing.

List of Top 20 NFL Jersey Sales - Brett Favre - Vikings, Michael Vick - Eagles, Michael Crabtree - 49ersAnd really, I suppose that we can’t be too surprised about Favre topping the list. Many of his old Green Bay fans will buy a jersey wherever he plays, and the entire Minnesota fanbase is salivating at finally having a QB with some positive winning experience as a starter. Forget that he’s 40 and over the hill and probably won’t make it through the season healthy.

(In fact, he might not make it out of the preseason. Just caught on ESPN that Favre apparently thinks he may have another ready-made excuse if he stinks this year: a cracked rib. Uh oh…)

Honestly though, consider the implications of the following statement four or five years ago: “In the year 2009, Brett Favre Vikings jerseys will be the highest selling jersey in the NFL.” It would have sounded totally non-sensical and the kind of thing that a Packers fan would describe as a certain sign of the dawning of the apocalypse.

And here is a contemporary sign of the impending end of the world: Michael Crabtree—who is a turd—has yet to sign with the 49ers and is threatening to skip the entire season, and he is ranked No. 20 in jersey sales…out of all players in the NFL! 

At least his holdout appears to be hurting his sales though.  Darren Rovell mentions that Crabtree was eighth on the list a short time ago.  As MJD points out, for those 49ers who were excited that Crabtree fell to No. 10 and then gobbled up his jersey, it “could turn out to be the worst jersey investment of all-time.”

Or, like I said, just a precursor to the apocalypse. 

And now some other great links to carry you through the afternoon and evening. See you all tomorrow morning.

Sports:

Non-Sports:



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