Welker Done, Will Pats Be Next?

The New England Patriots could only watch as their hopes for a long playoff run may have been dashed when Wes Welker crumbled to the turf with a torn ACL and MCL against the Houston Texans this past Sunday.

Welker, in my opinion, is one of the top 5 receivers in the league, and is the security blanket for Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots.

At the time of his injury, Welker had amassed 123 receptions for 1348 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Welker will be replaced in the lineup by former Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman (37 receptions for 359 yards and 1TD) for Sundays’ playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Patriots were already fighting an uphill battle in facing the no longer great, but still quite formidable, Ravens defense, and although Edelman looks like a fine young receiver, I don’t like the Pats’ chances without Welker.

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NFL Mock Draft Top Five: Feel Free to Mock

While it’s insane to think its possible to predict an entire NFL draft, it might be within the realm of possibility to figure out the first five picks.

Below is the best estimation of the first five picks of the 2010 NFL draft based upon scouting reports, team needs, coaches’ philosophical styles and gut instinct. Enjoy and feel free to rip me a new one in the comments section. 

 

St. Louis Rams: Ndamukong Suh

While the more traditional route would have the Rams taking a QB, no QB in this draft makes passing on Suh a realistic possibility.

Suh lives in opponent’s backfields in run or pass plays, as his combination of strength, acceleration, lateral quickness, high motor and violent hands make him virtually unblockable. Suh is the type of player that will not only have impressive stats but will also positively impact that the stats of his teammates.

Chris Long’s sack numbers would increase with the attention Suh demands while at the same time freeing James Laurinaitis in the run game. With Suh on the defensive line and last year’s second overall pick, left tackle Jason Smith, in the fold the Rams will have their line of scrimmage effectively anchored for a decade on both sides of the ball.

Quarterback will continue to be a massive problem and Suh won’t solve that, but the Rams are so horribly lacking in talent that they may not even be ready for developing a young QB.

The last thing the Rams need is a Alex Smith, David Carr, Tim Couch or JaMarcus Russell type situation, and Suh appears to be a new age Reggie White. The Rams should take solace in what the Texans did when they took Mario Williams number one overall and traded for Matt Schaub later.   

Detroit Lions: Eric Berry

It’s rare for a defensive tackle to be taken first overall, it would be a history making precedent for the Lions to take a safety with the second overall pick.

And yet that is exactly how special Tennessee Junior Safety Eric Berry is.

Berry is not just a player, he is a culture changer, as his mere presence can change the outlook and morale a team has entering a game. Yes, they already have one of the league’s premier young safeties in last year’s second round pick Louis Delmas, but that shouldn’t prevent Berry from being the pick.

Delmas and Berry have a chance to be the league’s most talented safety duo since LaRon Landry and the late great Sean Taylor laced em’ up together briefly for the Redskins.

It’s like Berry was created in a science lab. Ed Reed’s ball-hawking, the tackling of Troy Polamalu, Ray Lewis’s leadership and infectious love of the game combined with the ability to lock down the slot as a nickel cornerback in man to man situations and an innate ability to time the blitz when rushing the quarterback.

A Lions defense featuring Berry, Delmas, Ernie Simms, DeAndre Levy and Cliff Avril would be one of the most athletically explosive, versatile and entertaining defenses in the NFL.

Tampa Bay Bucs: Gerald McCoy

When the Bucs traded Gaines Adams to the Bears for a 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft they may have gotten a great deal but they also lost their only worthwhile, young defensive lineman.

With Josh Freeman established as the franchise cornerstone, it is now time for the Bucs to focus on rebuilding their defense. Oklahoma fourth year junior defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has the most explosive first step of any defensive tackle to enter the NFL since the Bears’ Tommie Harris.

McCoy can shoot a gap and reach a QB before he even reaches the end of his three-step drop. Head Coach Raheem Morris may not run a pure cover-2 defense, but his defensive philosophy is not far off. Morris asks his defensive lineman to penetrate instead of plug, which is the perfect role for McCoy. McCoy is talented enough that he may in fact be able to fill the massive shoes Warren Sapp left vacant when he left for the black hole. 

Washington Redskins: Sam Bradford

It will be interesting to see Bradford’s reaction, a member of the Cherokee nation, when a team with a horribly offensive and racist name drafts him.

Bradford has the accuracy, arm, foot speed, athleticism and moxie that new Head Coach Mike Shanahan looks for in a QB. Bradford is coming off shoulder surgery to his throwing arm though and is not guaranteed to be ready for training camp, let alone rookie camp.

Combine Bradford’s inexperience running a pro-style offense, with the Sooners he ran an offense almost exclusively out of the Shotgun, with his injury history, it is obvious Bradford should not play as a rookie.

That should not be a worry though for Shanny, who can always force current Redskins QB Jason Campbell to stay another year. The Redskins will have Bradford learn from the bench for a year while fully healing his shoulder and then Shanny will have him in the Pro Bowl in no time.

Kansas City Chiefs: Rolando McClain

Chiefs’ General Manager Scott Pioli made it evidently clear during last years draft when he reached for LSU’s Lawrence Jackson, that he doesn’t care what outsiders think about his rebuilding the Chiefs.

Hence Rolando McClain, a pick many would consider a massive reach but something that is right up Pioli’s alley.

McClain would instantly become the Chiefs’ leader both emotionally and intellectually while also being an every down player for the Chiefs’ defense. McClain is almost like the Peyton Manning of defense, constantly gesturing, adjusting and intimidating.

With McClain you’re not just getting a player, your getting an extra defensive assistant coach. Though McClain lacks elite speed, he can go sideline to sideline and also possesses the strength and hip explosion to shed blockers at the point of attack. McClain may be a slight reach, but he shouldn’t disappoint Chiefs fans the way Jackson has. 

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Ndamukong Suh Headlines Too Early 2010 NFL Mock Draft

The Journey to the draft is about to begin.

Well, actually, it already has begun for 20 NFL teams. The playoffs begin Saturday, Jan. 9, and will go all the way to Sunday, Feb. 7 when a new champion is crowned.

That being said, we already know the top 20 draft order, except for some coin flips that will determine certain draft positions.

I will also unveil my formula of what I would do if I were the GM, and what I think the team will do.

Let’s not waste any more time and dive right into the (Too) Early 2010 NFL Mock Draft.

 

1. St. Louis Rams

What I would do—Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame

I am not backing down on this pick yet. Does Ndamukong Suh make sense? Of course he does, but the Rams need a face of the franchise, and they need to get Steven Jackson some help. 

What they will do—Suh, DT Nebraska

Can you blame them? No, and if they make this pick I will not chastise them one bit. I just think the need for a quarterback trumps them taking another defensive lineman early.

 

2. Detroit Lions

What I would do— Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State

The Lions have 120 million reasons to make this pick. It may not be popular or sexy, but Matt Stafford is already struggling with injuries, and getting a potential franchise LT would be a nice start.

What they will do—Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma

No Suh, no problem for Detroit. I don’t know why they like Jeff Backus and his eight sacks given up this year, but they do. So apparently, they will go with defense, and wait until Stafford’s arm falls off before they decide to protect him.

 

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What I would do—Suh

What a fit that would be. Suh is one of the top two or three prospects in the draft, so why do I have him falling to three? Because the other two teams have glaring needs that can be filled with excellent prospects.

What they will do—Eric Berry, S Tennessee

Again, there is nothing wrong with this pick. If he is there, they take him and then needn’t worry about the safety position for the next five to six years. I can’t really see any problems with this working out for them.

 

4. Washington Redskins

What I would do—Berry

Was talking with a buddy of mine the other day, and he was more than disenchanted with the idea of a QB being taken at four. I couldn’t agree more, but hey, I am a writer and not an NFL exec. Berry would be a great QB for the defense that, really, is not that far away from being top five in the league. Does he get them there? Maybe, but if he fell to them there is no way they should pass him up.

What they will do—Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma

New coach, new QB? Seems to have worked for other teams around the league, and Bradford is the accurate, ball control passer that Mike Shanahan likes.

 

5. Kansas City Chiefs

What I would do—Anthony Davis, OT Rutgers

Davis is already climbing most boards, and while I am not a fan of the so-called board climbers, I do see the ability; especially with all the athleticism he possesses.

What they will do—Okung

I guess it will depend on the week with who is going here. Okung is still the best OT prospect in my eyes, but he was off the board in my draft scenario; so Davis is the pick.

 

6. Seattle Seahawks

What I would do—Bruce Campbell, OT Maryland

Campbell is a bruiser, but more than that, he is a good-looking prospect at a need position for the oft-injured Seattle Seahawks offensive line. On top of that, if they are not intrigued with any of the QB prospects, then they need to find someone to keep Matt Hasselbeck upright.

What they will do—Anthony Davis

Just a better prospect in my eyes than Campbell. Will fill the same need though.

 

7. Cleveland Browns

What I would do—Bradford

Mike Holmgren will surely shake things up, and that means getting a franchise player.  The rest of the AFC North have their franchise passers, and are usually fighting for playoff position as the Browns sit watching. A defensive player crossed my mind, but I think Bradford has the ability to be special.

What they will do—Joe Haden, CB Florida

Nothing wrong with this pick here, just not one I would make. They need help on the defensive side of the ball and Haden should be a shutdown corner; but I just think that a franchise QB is too much to pass up.

 

8. Oakland Raiders

What I would do—Haden

Haden would be a great addition to the Raiders secondary and give them two great CBs.

What they will do—Bruce Campbell

Well, I don’t think the Raiders are interested in any of the QB’s on the board, and with Ryan Mallet not having declared yet, I think they go OT, which is not a bad thing. Campbell would bring toughness and add a nasty streak back to the Silver and Black.

 

9. Buffalo Bills

What I would do-McCoy

Chances of him falling this far are low, but in my eyes, this could happen. Of course that is why I am behind a computer and not in a luxury box watching the game every Sunday. McCoy is the second best DT prospect and he would be a welcome addition to the Bills defensive line.

What they will do—Derrick Morgan, DE Georgia Tech

Morgan is a fringe top 10 prospect. I guess that makes sense why he would be at No. 9 then. Morgan is an intriguing prospect because he has the size and speed that teams love, but with the switch to a 3-4 defense he may fall a little. The Bills, though, would love his ability to hold up against the run and rush the passer, so this may be where he ends up.

 

10. Jacksonville Jaguars

What I would do—Rolando McClain, LB Alabama

McClain is just a guy that gets the job done. He possesses so much talent to go along with his tremendous leadership ability that I don’t see how the Jags pass him up.

What they will do-Tim Tebow, QB Florida

I have fallen into the trap of believing Tebow is going to Jacksonville. I spent a couple of months trying to figure out how this makes sense, at all, and why the Jags would “waste” a pick on a project at QB. Then the last two home games happened and I realized they need to do whatever they can to keep that franchise there, even if it means making a reach at the 10th selection.

Tebow has a following like few others, and in Florida sports history, he is one of the most revered players ever. So even though I don’t agree with it and don’t like it, I will begrudgingly put him there…for now.

 

My early thoughts of WHAT I WOULD DO with the 11-20 picks:

11. Denver Broncos : Terrence Cody, NT Alabama

12. Miami Dolphins: Dan Williams, NT Tennessee

13. San Francisco 49ers: C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson (I will note this one before I get killed by the Niners fans. If they are moving to a more spread formation to suit Alex Smith, then I say get him a back who fits that mold better.)

14. Seattle Seahawks: Derrick Morgan

15. New York Giants: Mike Iupati, OG Idaho

16. Tennessee Titans: Taylor Mays, S USC

17. San Francisco: Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma

18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB TCU

19. Atlanta Falcons: Donovan Warren, CB Michigan

20. Houston Texans: Earl Thomas, S Texas

A little more in-depth look at 11-20 will come next week.

Thanks for the read.

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NFL’s Big Three Not Looking So Mighty Going into the Playoffs

For the bulk of the 2009 NFL season, the league has been dominated by three teams. 

When Week 13 ended, the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and Indianapolis Colts were a combined 34-1. 

Other teams flirted with elite status. Denver started 6-0 and the New York Giants charged to a 5-0 start early in the year. Cincinnati fought to enter the conversation with a 7-2 record. Ultimately, each of these teams was an afterthought, fighting for the title of “next best” behind the three juggernauts.

Across the final stretches of the season that notion has changed considerably. 

The Colts, Vikings, and Saints have gone 5-8 since that span. 

The Colts’ two losses are more disheartening than concerning, being that they occurred after the team pulled its core starters for much of the final two games. The Vikings and Saints have some room to worry, however.

New Orleans had little to play for to close the year, but they were still not expecting three consecutive losses to end the regular season. The ballhawking defense of the Saints proved to be fairly mediocre when they couldn’t turn big plays, ending the year ranked 25th overall in yards allowed. That defense will be further tested by the injury to starting defensive end Charles Grant, a major blow to the team’s front line.

On offense, Drew Brees and his battery of receivers can still put a scare into any team they face. The vastly improved running game had suffered from inconsistency to close the year however, reducing the high powered Saints to a one-dimensional offense at times.

With injuries to the defense and trouble with the running game, New Orleans is suddenly looking much closer to the 8-8 team of last year, whose aerial assault could not overcome deficiencies across other aspects of their game. 

In order to succeed, the team will need to reestablish the Mike Bell/Pierre Thomas running attack, and return to the earlier defense that was outscoring some teams’ offenses.

Minnesota was picked by many to be the NFL’s best over the two undefeated teams through much of the year. The array of offensive weapons made the team downright scary while Jared Allen and the Williams wall put up an unstoppable defensive front.

As the season came closer and closer to an end, Minnesota looked vulnerable. 

Allen’s impressive sack total (14.5) loses some polish when considering 7.5 of those occurred in the pair of Packers games. Stretching along the other 14 games, Allen has a respectable, but less superhuman, seven sacks.

On offense, the team’s expected powerhouse running game behind Adrian Peterson looked far more ordinary than expected, ranking 13th in the NFL in team yardage, including the span where he averaged below four yards a carry in eight of the final 10 games (his only two big games coming against a league-worst Lions defense and a Giants team that simply gave up to end the year). 

Brett Favre picked up the slack for the team’s running game by putting up MVP-quality numbers across the entire season. The Vikings’ eighth overall passing offense did suffer some setbacks however, with Favre throwing more interceptions across the final five games (four) than in the first 11 (three). 

Favre will have the advantage of playing in a dome, but could still be a threat to force a pass at the wrong time. Even with a strong performance, there are concerns Brad Childress may be too stubborn to allow Favre the room to be the Hall of Fame leader he is.

Indianapolis does not have the obvious decline across their final games like New Orleans or Minnesota. They lost because they invested playing time in Curtis Painter in order to keep Peyton Manning healthy for the playoffs.

They now have a tremendous amount of pressure to succeed. The team is 7-8 in the playoffs during the Manning era, and nothing short of a title will assuage fans who feel they were denied a proper chance at going 16-0 in the regular season.

History may not be on their side either. Currently the Colts are 1-4 in the playoffs when Jim Sorgi closes the regular season. 

One year is a blip, two can be a coincidence, but four quick exits can be considered a trend. Granted, Painter ended the year, not Jim Sorgi, but the Colts are still a team whose playoff resume this decade is somewhat disappointing.

The lone year Indianapolis won the Super Bowl, Manning played the entire regular season trying to fight for higher seeding. The team was never allowed to let off the gas, and consequently scrapped their way to an NFL championship. They have not fared as well when resting starters.

Paired with all of this is a year where half of their 14 wins occurred by way of fourth quarter comebacks. The Colts may have refused to lose across those 14 games, but were by no means steamrolling their opposition every night.

These teams have all maintained their upper echelon status by holding onto first round byes, but after spending the year head and shoulders above all opposition, they are now essentially one of the pack. 

This opening is great for a playoff season where any one of the 12 teams could find itself hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy, but a rude awakening for three giants who had looked to tower above the rest of the league going into the playoffs.

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Peyton Manning DOES NOT Deserve to be NFL MVP, but Brett Favre Does…

All this hype about Peyton Manning winning his NFL record fourth MVP, the fact that the Colts would have gone undefeated had he played the last two games, his seven fourth quarter comebacks—ALL of that is overrated.

There are MANY reasons why Peyton Manning should not win MVP again this season, and they each fall into three categories—Statistical, Opposing Teams, and Other Quarterbacks.

Its All About Statistics

For starters, Peyton Manning did not lead the league in any categories this season, as he finished second in completion percentage and touchdowns behind Drew Brees, another MVP candidate, and finished second in yards behind Matt Schaub.  He also finished eighth in the league YPA. These are not necessarily bad signs.

However, what makes him undeserving is the fact that he is not even in the top five in QB rating and doesn’t even have a rating of 100.  Ben Roethlisberger, who didn’t even MAKE the Pro Bowl roster, has a higher rating than him.  

His 16 interceptions are in the top five in the league, and the only other people who have more than him are Jay Cutler, the three rookie quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman, and Jake Delhomme.  

All of these QBs are known as interception machines. To even be close to the same category as them is just poor play.

The Truth About His Opposing Teams

Many people comment on his fourth quarter comebacks constantly, as the Colts won four straight games by a combined 10 points, an NFL record.  Let’s break down these and the rest of his comeback wins:

Week 2 @ Miami (W 27-23) —Nope, Chad Pennington threw an interception in the end zone as time expired

Week 8 vs. San Fran (W 18-14) —Nope, he didn’t even throw the game winning touchdown, it was the running back, and it came with 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter.  Looks like his defense comes up big again

Week 9 vs. Houston (W 20-17) —Nope, Kris Brown choked as usual.  Yes, Peyton Manning drove them down the field for a winning touchdown, but he didn’t even throw it, and if he hadn’t made a crucial interception late in the first half, they never would have been in that position to narrowly escape with a close win

Week 10 vs. New England (W 35-34) —Nope, the Patriots just choked by going for it on their own 28-yard-line.  When you give the quarterback that two minutes to make a 30 yard drive, of course they’ll score.  If they don’t then they just flat out suck

Week 11 vs. Baltimore (W 17-15) —Nope, the Ravens choked in multiple ways.  First of all, his defense came up big with an interception inside their own 20 yard line. Second, they recovered a fumble on a punt return to seal the narrow win.  Oh yeah, and Peyton Manning threw two picks that could have easily decided the game with a different outcome.

Week 12 vs. Houston (W 35-27) —I can give him credit for this win, he came up big in the fourth quarter with a drive to take the lead at the beginning.  However, he also had help from his defense, who intercepted two passes, one which was returned for a touchdown, and the other which gave them great field position in Houston territory. Manning did throw two interceptions earlier in the game which almost cost them, but I’ll still give him credit for bringing the team back from a 17-0 deficit.

Week 15 vs. Jacksonville (W 35-31) —This one is questionable.  Manning did throw a touchdown to Reggie Wayne midway through the fourth quarter to give them the lead, but once again, it was his defense that stepped up in the clutch and intercepted David Garrard, who had a great game up to that point.

So basically, five out of Manning’s seven “comeback wins” have to do with the other team choking and not Manning’s play in the clutch.

No more comments about how Indy’s defense sucks. If it did, the Colts would have lost almost all of those games. Instead, they made interceptions. I’m sick of hearing people say that Peyton Manning has no help defensively. The facts say otherwise.

Also, Manning only faced two top 10 defenses all season. He faced Tennessee and Jacksonville twice, which had the 27th and 31st ranked pass defense. That’s four easy wins right there.  He also faced Arizona, which had the best run defense at the time, meaning he pretty much had to throw, therefore inflating his stats.

So Who Deserves to be NFL MVP?

If you’re going to say that a quarterback does not deserve something, you better damn well say who does. This is where Brett Favre comes in.

Favre, who is also a three time MVP winner, had unquestionably the best season of his career. He threw 33 TDs and only seven picks. That’s an average of less than one every two games, which is amazing, and is less than half of what Manning threw.

People complain that Favre does not deserve it because he has a large supporting cast. Maybe, but there have been moments in the Vikings season where he has had to come up with big plays.

For example, the last-second touchdown pass against San Francisco in Week Three was probably the most crucial play of the season for the Vikings, as it sent both teams in different directions. If not for that play, the Vikings would have been an up-and-down team, and the 49ers would have probably been contending for a playoff spot.

Instead, it sent the Vikings to a 3-0 start, while the 49ers lost six out of their next 10 games from there. This provided the Vikings the spark they had needed all season, and they rolled to a 10-1 start and eventually, a 12-4 finish and a first round bye in the playoffs.

And who can forget the most memorable Brett Favre moments of the season, where he faced his old team twice?  Not only did he win both times, he amazed, as he threw for seven touchdowns and no picks in both of those games.

Finally, Brett Favre appeared to be out of the race with two games to go.  But during the last six quarters of the season, he revitalized a Vikings offense that had scored only seven points the previous six quarters and threw six touchdowns and no picks en route to earning the Vikings a first round bye in the playoffs.

So there you have it.  Peyton Manning, while good this season, has certainly not been MVP level as people say he has been.

Peyton Manning?  This season?  Overrated?

I think so.

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Dylan Favre Snubs Uncle Brett’s Alma Mater & Minnesota Vikings News

Mississippi’s Mr. Football, Dylan Favre, nephew of Brett Favre, has accepted an offer to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He also received scholarship offers from Southern Miss, Tulane, and Northwestern State. His uncle Brett played for Southern Miss.

In other news, the Buffalo Bills flew to Minneapolis to interview Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Super Bowl champion and former Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick is expected to interview for the position next week.

Former Vikings practice squad wide receiver Nick Moore has been signed to the New England Patriots practice squad. He had also worked out with the Dolphins, Saints, and Rams. Moore’s brother Lance is a wide receiver for the Saints.

The Arizona Cardinals signed fullback Nehemiah Broughton, who spent the preseason with the Vikings. Broughton was signed to the Cardinals active roster.

Current Vikings Bryant McKinnie, Tarvaris Jackson, Sydney Rice, EJ Henderson, former Vikings Fred Robbins and Bobby Wade, and former Minnesota Golden Gopher Marion Barber III have all recently become writers for Player Press Sportscaster Network.

Bryant McKinnie and Sydney Rice have been spending the off week in Miami.

Visit Jesse L. Medford’s Facebook Fan Page for instant access to new articles. Also, if you have anything interesting that you think would fit in one of my columns, please send me a message.

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Cardinals-Packers Playoff Opener is Sold Out, But is that a Good Thing?

The Cardinals playoff opener against the Green Bay Packers has officially sold out. Whether that’s a good thing is yet to be seen.

Everyone has talked about the health of Anquan Boldin, Calais Campbell, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as keys to the game. They’ve pontificated about the psychological edge the Packers may have based on the fact that they have beaten the Cards twice this season at University of Phoenix Stadium. They’ve compared the Packers great finish to the Cardinals lackluster one.

They’ve talked about every possible factor in this game except the most important one.

Will University of Phoenix Stadium look like me after too many hours in the sun—all red—or will it resemble the condiment tray near the hot dog stand with relish, mustard, and ketchup? As a matter of fact, can we ban relish, mustard, and cheese from the game completely?

It may seem inconsequential, but the Cardinals have fed off the energy of their home crowd since Ken Whisenhunt became coach in 2007. They are 16-8 at home with him at the helm.

Without the completely pro-Cardinal crowd in both home playoff games last year, those close games easily could have gone in favor of the Falcons or Eagles.

Everyone knows the Packers fans are willing to travel to road games (I mean really, would you want to be in Green Bay if you didn’t have to be?). If the two games between these teams have taught us anything, outside of the fact that Green Bay likes to win meaningless games, it’s that there are a lot of Packer-backers willing to show up in Glendale.

It’s such a serious subject that the Phoenix Business Journal talked to Southwest Airlines, who said their direct flight from Milwaukee to Phoenix on Friday is booked (they also said they’ve seen an uptick on their Chicago to Phoenix flights, so there may just be a beer and brats fest at the convention center).

Even Cardinals’ stud defensive end Darnell Dockett realizes the importance of the home crowd. He expressed as much on his Twitter page.

“Damn! Green bay fans ROLLS DEEP! OMG I hope they don’t take over our stadium! I knew we had disloyal fans that would sell there tickets-SMH!” (Pardon the grammatical mistakes, they are far worse than the ones you are used to in my pieces).

Forget Mike McCarthy and Ken Whisenhunt’s game plans, forget the nagging injuries, and you can definitely forget any supposed psychological advantage Green Bay has with their two previous wins on the Cards’ home turf. But there is one thing that could swing the balance in Sundays playoff game.

Is the stadium red, or is it full of cheddar heads?

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Oakland Raiders: An Early Look at the 2010 Draft

With this season already in the record books for the Oakland Raiders, it’s never too early to look to next year.

Next year starts with the evaluation of those college football players who will be selected in the upcoming draft, and whilst the Raiders are quite well stocked at some positions, in others they are in desperate need of some new blood.

Oakland has the No. 8 pick this year, and the chance to pick up a real difference maker.  But they have to address the same old problems that have dogged this team over the last seven years. That is, a poor run defense and a shaky offensive line.

Here are my candidates that I believe should be considered. There will be a lot of movement up and down draft boards between now and April, and this is just an early assessment.

Offensive:

The Raiders are in dire need of a right tackle at the very least. Mario Henderson has been hot and cold on the left side, but Cornell Green has been a liability and simply has to be replaced if this offense is going to make progress.

Don’t kid yourself, we could select Russell Okung of Oklahoma State, but he will be gone by the time the Raiders are on the clock.

Brian Baluga from Iowa declared for the draft today though, and would be a great fit. 

The Hawkeyes already use a zone blocking scheme, which would make the transition to the NFL and Cable’s offense much easier. Baluga is a dominating run blocker and also a good pass protector.  At 6’6” and 315 lbs, with considerable athletic ability, he is a prototype NFL tackle who could play either side.

Anthony Davis of Rutgers may have as much upside as any tackle in the draft. Again, he has prototype size, and certainly has the speed and agility to fit in at Oakland. He has really impressed as the season continued, and looks like a top 15 pick. He has no real weaknesses, and projects to be an excellent NFL tackle.

Trent Williams is the best offensive lineman on probably the best offensive line in the country at Oklahoma. He may lack the athleticism to be an elite left tackle, but especially early on he would most likely be asked to man the right side for Oakland. He is a strong run blocker, and would be an instant upgrade over Green.

Defense:

The Raiders defense has had problems with tackling and discipline all season, and they have struggled at linebacker and defensive tackle. 

There have been questions asked of Kirk Morrison in the middle, and too many long runs plays have come straight over him. Depending on the CBA, he may be a free agent in March, along with Thomas Howard, Ricky Brown, and Jon Alston. 

Linebacker is therefore a big priority this offseason. 

Whilst Tommy Kelly has at times played well as the three technique tackle on the defensive line, the Raiders lack a true nose tackle to occupy blockers and clog the middle.

Rolando McLain of Alabama has all the physical attributes you look for in a middle linebacker, and has the speed/size combination that Al Davis loves. 

He is a sure tackler, who takes good angles to the ball, and is a high character kid. This would be a great selection, but McLain has yet to declare for the draft, so he remains a question.

Brandon Spikes has been the heart of an excellent Florida Gators defense. He is a ferocious hitter and plays the game with a real passion. 

Like McLain, he is a full-sized physical linebacker who can handle life in the middle. Spikes plays well in coverage, and had four interceptions in his senior year. He is a little less disciplined that McLain, but again, is a high character individual. 

He would be a reach in the top ten, but if he was available in the second or the Raiders traded down, he would be a good option.

Dan Williams from Tennessee has had an excellent senior year, and would give the Raiders the dominant presence on the interior of the defensive line that they have needed. 

Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy will be long gone, but Williams could be the ideal compliment to Tommy Kelly. Williams is the sort of defensive tackle that makes linebackers look good.

Any of these players would help address areas of weakness on the Raiders roster, and would also put an end to the run of poor first round draft picks that Oakland has made over the last 10 years. 

 

 

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Who Do The New Orleans Saints Have Reason To Fear More?

The New Orleans Saints have a bye this week as the Wild Card teams battle it out in their respective games. Although New Orleans can take the time to relax, and of course practice, surely they can’t help but wonder who they may play in the Divisional Round in two weeks time.

The answer to their question is still yet to be decided. 

We do know it will be either the Arizona Cardinals or the Green Bay Packers.  Since Dallas is the third seed in the NFC Playoff picture, a win for the Cowboys or Eagles will automatically match them up with the second seeded Minnesota Vikings.

As for Arizona and Green Bay, the Saints don’t have a whole lot of experience with either one. 

The Packers played the Saints in the 2008 season, where they were manhandled in an embarrassing 51-29 loss, thus ending any chance for the Packers to reach the postseason.

The Saints will have their hands full with either of these teams.  Both have high powered offenses that can be even more explosive in the postseason.  The following factors are what the Saints are going to have to deal with:

 

Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints

This match up will likely be one that turns into a battle between two great quarterbacks.  Aaron Rodgers is at his best at the moment, coming off a Pro Bowl season where he threw for 4,434 yards, he would be sure to give Saints’ defense some trouble.

For the Packers defense, much of the same story could be told.  Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, Nick Collins and AJ Hawk are all dominant players that have been successful in stopping the run. 

New Orleans is used to being able to get their way with defensive lines, and sending Reggie Bush up the middle to make a few cuts and hopefully dance into the end zone for six. 

Sure it could happen against a strong Packer defense, but he is less likely to get as many hand offs knowing that Charles Woodson is lurking in the backfield.

Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

This is probably the most exciting of the four possibilities.  Any game where Larry Fitzgerald is ranked against a top notch defense is always set to be a blockbuster.

Currently, no Cardinals players rank among the best in the NFL, and their confidence has taken a dive since a big loss to the Packers last week.  Like last season though, don’t count them out. 

When you think the Cardinals are down and out, they’ll come right back.

Their resillient attitude may lead them into a game against the Saints, and more importantly could restore their confidence within a week.

With Anquan Boldin’s injury, it is unlikely he will be playing.  He is out for the match up against the Packers, and there is a chance he will miss the following game as well if the Cardinals are to make it.

A young rookie wide receiver could be a weak point for the Cardinals, and at the same time a point for the Saints to take advantage of.

Prediction

Of the two teams, the one to fear more is the Green Bay Packers.  The Packers are the sleeper team of the Wild Cards, and one of the favorites to sneak into the Super Bowl. 

With a win over the Cardinals, you can bet your dollar that the Packers are going to have confidence like none other. 

If the Packers do face the Saints, expect Packer fans to turn out in record numbers at the Superdome.  The Packers haven’t made the playoffs since their Brett Favre ’07 season, and the excitement for many Packer faithfuls is already taking over.

As for fearing the Packers, well the Saints may not go that far.  Even though they have had three straight losses, they are still a very good team.  They’ve beaten teams like the Packers in the postseason, and can do it again. 

Brees, Colston and Bush are the trio to fear for the Packers.  While Rodgers, Jennings and Woodson is the trio to fear for the Saints.  If the Packers do make it, it will be an interesting game to say the least.

 

 

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Kyle Orton vs Alex Smith: Comparing Two Very Similar Quarterbacks

With the 2009-2010 NFL season now in the books for the majority of the NFL’s 32 teams, it is time for fans to discuss why their clubs failed to qualify for the postseason.

Fans around the league will argue over what went wrong, what they can do better and where they need upgrades.

The majority of these fans are going to throw out absurd ideas about who should stay and who should go from their team. Likewise, owners will often make rash decisions about player personnel before giving enough time to diagnose what went wrong.

Now in particular, their are two teams with quarterbacks who while are very similar, are players who should be looked at in completely different lights.

The Denver Broncos fell apart after a 6-0 start and missed the playoffs and the San Francisco 49ers went through a quarterback change despite a 3-1 start and also missed the playoffs.

Denver became just the third team in nearly 40 years to start the season 6-0 and fail to qualify for the playoffs, but their quarterback Kyle Orton was part of the solution, not the problem.

The 6′ 4″, 217 pound 2005 draft pick played at a higher level than his team’s 8-8 finish.

San Francisco fell short of the playoffs for the seventh straight season, as Alex Smith got back on the field only to show the same inconsistencies he has shown throughout his career.

This 6′ 4″, 217 pound 2005 draft pick played at a level expected for a team who finished the season at 8-8.

Both quarterbacks led their teams to .500 records in their first years under a new offensive scheme and both were with completely different teams.

Orton was traded to Denver over the offseason and Smith hadn’t appeared in a game since 2007 when he had a completely different 49ers roster around him. The 2009 49ers had a Pro Bowl version of Vernon Davis, three different starters on the offensive line, Michael Crabtree and a vastly improved defense. Smith hardly had any of this talent around him in ’07.

Add the new coaches and Smith almost had an entirely different team supporting him.

So going into the 2009 season, you had two quarterbacks who had shown flashes of success but weren’t exactly thought highly of by the majority of NFL fans.

Orton had completed just 55 percent of his career passes for 5,319 yards in 33 games including 30 touchdowns against 27 interceptions prior to 2009.

Smith had completed just 54 percent of his career passes for 4,679 yards in 32 games including 19 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.

After this past season the numbers remained quite similar when you look at the quarterbacking statistics for the 2009.

Orton:

W-L: 8-8   Rating: 86.8   Comp%: 62.1  Yds/G: 237.6  Yds/A: 7.0  TD: 21   INT: 12

Fum: 4  FumL: 2

Smith:

W-L: 5-5  Rating: 81.5  Comp%: 60.5  Yds/G: 213.6  Yds/A: 6.3  TD: 18   INT: 12

Fum: 2  FumL: 1

 

Looking at the statistics both quarterbacks were similarly awful prior to this season, especially when you consider the lack of weapons they had around them in their first few years.

Now after the 2009 season, it is clear they both improved.

This time around, they were similarly average (again, when looking at the numbers).

But any Bronco fan who bashes Kyle Orton needs a reality check. Orton led your team to a 6-0 start. Three of those wins came against teams currently in the playoffs and of those three, Orton posted quarterback ratings above 115 in two of them. And his 96.7 rating against New England wasn’t too shabby either.

Orton unfortunately suffered an injury in the week 10 contest against the Washington Redskins and in the following week’s rematch against San Diego, Orton wasn’t healthy enough to play his best football.

Against the Chargers Orton turned in an awful 55.4 rating but in three of the Broncos’ eight losses he turned in a rating above 90.

Fans can’t blame Orton for the Bronco defense allowing JaMarcus Russell of all people to lead a game winning touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. Nor can they blame Orton for Donovan McNabb shredding the Denver defense for 322 yards and three touchdowns.

And in the season finale against the Chiefs, well, it ain’t like Orton can go out on defense and help stop the Kansas City running game which broke loose for 317 yards and three touchdowns.

Orton did have a bad game in the finale, but it also didn’t help that he was without three of his favorite targets in the passing game with neither Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal or Tony Scheffler in the lineup.

Alex Smith, on the other hand, had all three of his top targets in the passing game available during the 49ers season finale against the 1-14 St. Louis Rams but still accumulated just 23 yards passing in the first half.

But as much as I have diagnosed the last two games of the 49ers schedule which came against the aforementioned Rams and Detroit Lions, these two games had no luster. So perhaps it is understandable that Smith didn’t play to his capabilities in meaningless games.

However, let’s compare these two quarterbacks in games against teams that made the playoffs.

Orton went 4-4 against teams that made the playoffs this season. Smith on the other hand went 1-3 against playoff teams with his sole win coming in a game where he managed a quarterback rating of just 59.7 and led the offense to just 24 points despite his defense forcing seven turnovers.

The answer is clear: Kyle Orton is the better quarterback. While Denver may have had a better offensive line than San Francisco, Orton was simply much better than Smith when both players had adequate time to throw.

A couple of signature throws from Orton were his beautiful 19-yard touchdown pass to Tony Scheffler in week six against the Chargers and his 75-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall in week 10 against the Redskins.

Signature throws from Alex Smith? Can’t really think of any that match the quality of throws Orton was able to put up this season.

While Smith can certainly improve, the 49ers still need to allocate a good chunk of their time scouting for other options because Smith just might not ever become the guy they thought they were getting when they drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2005.

The Broncos on the other hand, they have their guy.

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