Since it is only the preseason, I am not going to bother making predictions or giving in-depth recaps of any of the games (though weekly predictions is something I am adding this season).
However, I do want to give some of my first impressions on some potentially key quarterbacks in the NFL based on their performances in the first week of the season.
Neither Tom Brady nor Peyton Manning played in their teams’ preseason openers. Manning’s appearance without a jersey on the Colts’ sideline was to be expected, and he likely will not play at all this preseason as he continues to let his neck recover from corrective surgery). Brady’s absence from the playing field was very surprising, even to him, who did not even know until the team had arrived at the stadium that he and a small handful of other starters would not play against the Jaguars.
I got to watch the first few drives of the Browns/Packers game. Aaron Rodgers looked good, like he picked up nearly where he left off in the Super Bowl, with that lost step being attributed to it being preseason and having a shortened camp. Colt McCoy’s performance is what really impressed me. He might some very crisp passes into tight spots and everything was on the money. He left the game having gone 9/10 for 135 yards and a touchdown pass. Most notably, he threw no picks (he finished last season with 6 touchdowns to 9 interceptions).
Despite what many experts seemed to be saying, I thought Tim Tebow’s performance was pretty respectable against the Cowboys. He was not necessarily one of the standouts, but the contrast between my view and the views of most analysts on ESPN and NFL Network make me feel that his performance is worth mentioning. He was 6/7 for 91 yards. He did not look exceptionally comfortable, but he sure looked better than the projected Broncos starter, Kyle Orton, who was just 2/6 for 37 yards.
Staying on that game, Tony Romo, as usual, looked decent but did not impress, which I expected. However, Jon Kitna did not particularly impress me either, something I had not expected. Stephen McGee looked fine, and led the ‘Boys to a win, but he was playing against backups, so I would not dream of saying he should be the starter in Dallas. I will, however, say that I think Dallas has a tough decision ahead of them on who the starter would be. They will need to give both Romo and Kinta more than five passes in their game against the Chargers on Sunday.
It certainly looked like Kevin Kolb and Larry Fitzgerald were on the same page against the Raiders, but he did not look particularly sharp throwing the ball elsewhere. It will take some time to adjust to his new team, so nobody should be too concerned. If anything, it is a positive that Kolb has already apparently developed a bit of a rapport with the Cardinals’ best receiver.
Rex Grossman really stood out to me. The Redskins need a good quarterback if they want to have any shot at competing this year. I am still not convinced that he is the one, but he definitely made big strides toward be considered such in my mind. Granted he played the entire first half, and only the first drive against the Steelers starting defense, but on that drive he took the ‘Skins from their own 1-yard line to the Steelers’ 10-yard line, resulting in a missed 27-yard field goal attempt. Soon after he led an 82-yard drive for a touchdown, though against a second-string defense. Tim Hightower was the main attraction for Washington on the first drive, but Grossman made some nice passes. He made great passes later on, too, ones that I have no doubt would have been great against a first-string defense and a small handful that could have been big mistakes against a better defense. All in all, it was not a perfect outing, but a huge improvement from the final few games of the 2010 season.
Of course, I cannot close this out without mentioning the #1 overall draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Cam Newton. He got plenty of playing time and went 8/19 for 134 yards. I cannot really speak too much on this subject, as I have not had the opportunity to see more than a couple of his good plays from their game against the Giants. However, those numbers do not particularly impress me. Though there is more to football than stats, and if you make the plays in key spots and do not in other times, you can still come away with a win. But, by and large, players who make plays have better stats than those posted by Cam Newton. He is a rookie, so he has to be given time to adjust, but he better not think that he is locked in as their starter in Carolina. Clausen wants a shot, and Anderson has been a starter before, granted in a terrible Browns offense, but he knows how good it feels to start and you better believe he will fight for that right again.
I will be back next week with a short recap of players who stood out to me in week 2 of the preseason.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part III: AFC
AFC Postseason
1. New England Patriots (14-2) – AFC East Champion, Home Field Advantage
Bill Belichick has done some incredible things in New England. As controversial as he is, he always seems to get a good group together and make some noise in the regular season. I hesitate to call New England a Super Bowl team because they have not seemed to be able to put things together in the playoffs for several years now, but the more they get to the postseason, the more opportunities they have for another Super Bowl.
I do not have too much more to add here. This is a solid team that is strong in pretty much every area. Even their weak points would be strengths for most other teams in the NFL.
2. Baltimore Ravens (13-3) – AFC North Champion, 1st Round Bye
I do not see Baltimore winning more than 13 games (even Ravens fans probably will not complain about that), though I could see them losing up to 5 or 6. They will be in the playoffs, I have no doubts about that, but they have a big question mark at QB for me.
Joe Flacco is the only quarterback, so far, to lead a team to the postseason, and win a postseason game, in each of his first three seasons in the league. He is also tied with four other quarterbacks for most career postseason road wins. But he still has a lot to prove to me. Maybe it is unfair, but he still has some consistency flaws. However, with Ray Rice in the backfield, Ricky Williams backing Rice up, and new fullback Vonta Leach, the running game should be solid in Baltimore. Leach is also one of the better receiving fullbacks in the game and may aid in Flacco’s development.
Age is starting to catch up with Baltimore’s defense. As much as we would like them to, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are not going to be young forever. Neither of them is old by any stretch, especially Reed who is 32 years old. But hard-hitting defenders do not tend to last long in the NFL. Both have lasted longer than most, but there is a limit and I think that limit is fast approaching. Ravens fans do not have anything to worry about on that front for this year, but this could be the year we begin to see warning signs of breaking down for both of them.
3. Houston Texans (10-6) – AFC South Champion
Yes, I said it, the Houston Texans, NOT the Indianapolis Colts, will win the AFC South crown in 2011. It is a bold prediction, and I will likely be eating my words by season’s end, but with one of the better offenses in the NFL from 2010, plus Wade Phillips now coaching the defense, this is very likely the team to beat in the AFC South in 2011.
Gary Kubiak is in no way a coaching genius, but he has shown over the past few seasons that he can take a still-new team that has not enjoyed any real level of success, and make a group of winners out of them. Last season I predicted that Houston would sneak in as the last wild card team. I was wrong, but Houston did continue showing signs of improvement, and if they continue that trend of improvement, they will at the very least be in as a wild card team this season.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8) – AFC West Champion
Kansas City made the playoffs last season and was immediately tossed out by a much better Baltimore Ravens team. But I see no need to be concerned about that going into this season. With Jamaal Charles back and poised for even more success than he had last season, and Matt Cassel continuing to show that he belongs in a starting role in the NFL, I think the Chiefs will win the AFC West.
Todd Haley is a proven offensive mind, but the Chiefs biggest concern will be the defense, whose coach is Romeo Crennel who joined the team in 2010. Crennel was previously the head coach for the Cleveland Browns. He had no success in Cleveland, but he is a good defensive coach. He will have to prove it by going to work on the defensive line, which was a clear flaw in last year’s playoff loss to the Ravens. Running lanes were being opened too easily against them. Fixing that could guarantee an AFC West Championship in 2011.
5. New York Jets (13-3) – 2nd Place AFC East, Wild Card
Looks like I am buying into Rex Ryan’s Super Bowl guarantee. You can fault the Patriots for the second best record in the NFL getting just a Wild Card spot.
The Jets have so much going for them. Even though they did not get Nnamdi Asomugha, they have a great defensive backs group anyway. The defense is great without him; they would just be able to easily beat New England at Foxboro with him.
I still have doubts about Mark Sanchez, but I believe in Rex Ryan more and more every day. If he is convinced that Sanchez is the face of the franchise and is the quarterback he is going to win a Super Bowl with, I am willing to trust him until Sanchez proves him wrong. One way or another, Rex will win a Super Bowl in New York before long.
6. Indianapolis Colts (10-6) – 2nd Place AFC South, Wild Card
The only reason I have the Colts in here is because I picked the Colts to beat Pittsburgh early in the season on merit of the game being played in Lucas Oil Stadium. They could just as easily have been left out and seen the Steelers in the playoffs trying to get back to the Super Bowl.
My biggest concern for Indy is Peyton Manning’s recovery from neck surgery. It was not a major operation, but the neck is a tricky thing. If he is able to make a full recovery by the start of the regular season, the Colts could just as easily win 12-13 games, win the AFC South, maybe get a 1st round bye, and be a team in the Super Bowl discussion. But if he is not at his best, the Colts could just as easily win as few as eight games and miss the postseason altogether.
Could Sneak In
Pittsburgh Steelers
Like I said, the Steelers could just as easily make the playoffs as sit in the first spot out of it in early January. That is not promising news for Pittsburgh fans who would like to see their team return to the Super Bowl to take the Lombardi Trophy this year. So how does a team who has 12 players chosen to be Gotham’s football team in the next Batman movie miss the playoffs? Inconsistency.
They know how to beat the Ravens, but they play inconsistently against almost every other team in the league. They show up and play lights out football one week, showing why their quarterback is so highly touted and why they should always be in Super Bowl talks. But then they come back and everything seems to go wrong. Plus they have a linebacker who cannot even talk nice about his quarterback, let alone the commissioner of the NFL.
Mike Tomlin is a great coach, and one of my favorites in the league on the basis of ability and personality. But if players like James Harrison cannot behave properly for a coach like him, I think Pittsburgh may be in trouble regardless of whom their leader is.
Cleveland Browns
I think Colt McCoy may be the answer to the Browns postseason hopes. He might never be the one to finally get them to the Super Bowl, but he may well be. I still have some questions to be answered about him, but he seems to learn very quickly and he improved a lot over the course of last season. He threw 6 touchdowns and 9 picks last season, but he was getting better with every game and if he starts 16 games this season, the Browns might win more than the 8 I have given them.
Tennessee Titans
Mike Munchak is my biggest question going into 2011. With much less time to work with the team prior to preseason and the regular season than in most years, rookie head coaches are going to be at a major disadvantage this year. I think it will help that they have a veteran quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck leading their team this year.
But Munchak also has to deal with Cortland Finnegan. Finnegan plays cornerback and is known for getting a little too physical, purposefully starting senseless things to get in the heads of receivers he is paired up against. Last year he was ejected after picking a fight for no reason against Texans receiver Andre Johnson, who was also ejected after losing it and striking Finnegan multiple times. This year, Finnegan is holding out for more money, which I feel he still needs to earn, but with all the fines he has been dealt, I guess it makes sense he would want some extra money to cover all that.
Denver Broncos
Kyle Orton is listed as the number one quarterback, and rightly so in my opinion. But Broncos fans want Tim Tebow to start. This dividedness gets things off on the wrong foot for a team that already is not exactly a common pick for the postseason this year. The only thing that keeps them close in my mind is that the AFC West could be fairly week this season, with no team stepping up to take control of the division. A few big plays in a couple key division matchups could swing things Denver’s way.
San Diego Chargers
I really like Philip Rivers, and the Chargers deserve a postseason spot more than anyone in the AFC West, but nothing will be given to them and after the disaster of a season they had in 2010, the Chargers will have to reprove themselves as the team to beat in the AFC West.
Oakland Raiders
With Tom Cable out in Oakland and Hue Jackson in, things may be looking up for the Raiders. Last season was an embarrassment. They went 6-0 in the AFC West and missed the playoffs, the only team to have ever ‘achieved’ that distinction. Oakland has been a long time without a winning football team, and with the disadvantage of Jackson having less time to work on things his way, the seven wins I gave them for this season are probably the upper limit. But, as I said with the Broncos, if the AFC West is as close as I expect, a few big plays in a division game or two could shift things for the better in Oakland.
You can see my complete standings predictions and my NFC Postseason Preview at the following URLs:
Standings: 2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part I: Standings
NFC Postseason Preview: 2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part II: NFC
1. New England Patriots (14-2) – AFC East Champion, Home Field Advantage
Bill Belichick has done some incredible things in New England. As controversial as he is, he always seems to get a good group together and make some noise in the regular season. I hesitate to call New England a Super Bowl team because they have not seemed to be able to put things together in the playoffs for several years now, but the more they get to the postseason, the more opportunities they have for another Super Bowl.
I do not have too much more to add here. This is a solid team that is strong in pretty much every area. Even their weak points would be strengths for most other teams in the NFL.
2. Baltimore Ravens (13-3) – AFC North Champion, 1st Round Bye
I do not see Baltimore winning more than 13 games (even Ravens fans probably will not complain about that), though I could see them losing up to 5 or 6. They will be in the playoffs, I have no doubts about that, but they have a big question mark at QB for me.
Joe Flacco is the only quarterback, so far, to lead a team to the postseason, and win a postseason game, in each of his first three seasons in the league. He is also tied with four other quarterbacks for most career postseason road wins. But he still has a lot to prove to me. Maybe it is unfair, but he still has some consistency flaws. However, with Ray Rice in the backfield, Ricky Williams backing Rice up, and new fullback Vonta Leach, the running game should be solid in Baltimore. Leach is also one of the better receiving fullbacks in the game and may aid in Flacco’s development.
Age is starting to catch up with Baltimore’s defense. As much as we would like them to, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are not going to be young forever. Neither of them is old by any stretch, especially Reed who is 32 years old. But hard-hitting defenders do not tend to last long in the NFL. Both have lasted longer than most, but there is a limit and I think that limit is fast approaching. Ravens fans do not have anything to worry about on that front for this year, but this could be the year we begin to see warning signs of breaking down for both of them.
3. Houston Texans (10-6) – AFC South Champion
Yes, I said it, the Houston Texans, NOT the Indianapolis Colts, will win the AFC South crown in 2011. It is a bold prediction, and I will likely be eating my words by season’s end, but with one of the better offenses in the NFL from 2010, plus Wade Phillips now coaching the defense, this is very likely the team to beat in the AFC South in 2011.
Gary Kubiak is in no way a coaching genius, but he has shown over the past few seasons that he can take a still-new team that has not enjoyed any real level of success, and make a group of winners out of them. Last season I predicted that Houston would sneak in as the last wild card team. I was wrong, but Houston did continue showing signs of improvement, and if they continue that trend of improvement, they will at the very least be in as a wild card team this season.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8) – AFC West Champion
Kansas City made the playoffs last season and was immediately tossed out by a much better Baltimore Ravens team. But I see no need to be concerned about that going into this season. With Jamaal Charles back and poised for even more success than he had last season, and Matt Cassel continuing to show that he belongs in a starting role in the NFL, I think the Chiefs will win the AFC West.
Todd Haley is a proven offensive mind, but the Chiefs biggest concern will be the defense, whose coach is Romeo Crennel who joined the team in 2010. Crennel was previously the head coach for the Cleveland Browns. He had no success in Cleveland, but he is a good defensive coach. He will have to prove it by going to work on the defensive line, which was a clear flaw in last year’s playoff loss to the Ravens. Running lanes were being opened too easily against them. Fixing that could guarantee an AFC West Championship in 2011.
5. New York Jets (13-3) – 2nd Place AFC East, Wild Card
Looks like I am buying into Rex Ryan’s Super Bowl guarantee. You can fault the Patriots for the second best record in the NFL getting just a Wild Card spot.
The Jets have so much going for them. Even though they did not get Nnamdi Asomugha, they have a great defensive backs group anyway. The defense is great without him; they would just be able to easily beat New England at Foxboro with him.
I still have doubts about Mark Sanchez, but I believe in Rex Ryan more and more every day. If he is convinced that Sanchez is the face of the franchise and is the quarterback he is going to win a Super Bowl with, I am willing to trust him until Sanchez proves him wrong. One way or another, Rex will win a Super Bowl in New York before long.
6. Indianapolis Colts (10-6) – 2nd Place AFC South, Wild Card
The only reason I have the Colts in here is because I picked the Colts to beat Pittsburgh early in the season on merit of the game being played in Lucas Oil Stadium. They could just as easily have been left out and seen the Steelers in the playoffs trying to get back to the Super Bowl.
My biggest concern for Indy is Peyton Manning’s recovery from neck surgery. It was not a major operation, but the neck is a tricky thing. If he is able to make a full recovery by the start of the regular season, the Colts could just as easily win 12-13 games, win the AFC South, maybe get a 1st round bye, and be a team in the Super Bowl discussion. But if he is not at his best, the Colts could just as easily win as few as eight games and miss the postseason altogether.
Could Sneak In
Pittsburgh Steelers
Like I said, the Steelers could just as easily make the playoffs as sit in the first spot out of it in early January. That is not promising news for Pittsburgh fans who would like to see their team return to the Super Bowl to take the Lombardi Trophy this year. So how does a team who has 12 players chosen to be Gotham’s football team in the next Batman movie miss the playoffs? Inconsistency.
They know how to beat the Ravens, but they play inconsistently against almost every other team in the league. They show up and play lights out football one week, showing why their quarterback is so highly touted and why they should always be in Super Bowl talks. But then they come back and everything seems to go wrong. Plus they have a linebacker who cannot even talk nice about his quarterback, let alone the commissioner of the NFL.
Mike Tomlin is a great coach, and one of my favorites in the league on the basis of ability and personality. But if players like James Harrison cannot behave properly for a coach like him, I think Pittsburgh may be in trouble regardless of whom their leader is.
Cleveland Browns
I think Colt McCoy may be the answer to the Browns postseason hopes. He might never be the one to finally get them to the Super Bowl, but he may well be. I still have some questions to be answered about him, but he seems to learn very quickly and he improved a lot over the course of last season. He threw 6 touchdowns and 9 picks last season, but he was getting better with every game and if he starts 16 games this season, the Browns might win more than the 8 I have given them.
Tennessee Titans
Mike Munchak is my biggest question going into 2011. With much less time to work with the team prior to preseason and the regular season than in most years, rookie head coaches are going to be at a major disadvantage this year. I think it will help that they have a veteran quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck leading their team this year.
But Munchak also has to deal with Cortland Finnegan. Finnegan plays cornerback and is known for getting a little too physical, purposefully starting senseless things to get in the heads of receivers he is paired up against. Last year he was ejected after picking a fight for no reason against Texans receiver Andre Johnson, who was also ejected after losing it and striking Finnegan multiple times. This year, Finnegan is holding out for more money, which I feel he still needs to earn, but with all the fines he has been dealt, I guess it makes sense he would want some extra money to cover all that.
Denver Broncos
Kyle Orton is listed as the number one quarterback, and rightly so in my opinion. But Broncos fans want Tim Tebow to start. This dividedness gets things off on the wrong foot for a team that already is not exactly a common pick for the postseason this year. The only thing that keeps them close in my mind is that the AFC West could be fairly week this season, with no team stepping up to take control of the division. A few big plays in a couple key division matchups could swing things Denver’s way.
San Diego Chargers
I really like Philip Rivers, and the Chargers deserve a postseason spot more than anyone in the AFC West, but nothing will be given to them and after the disaster of a season they had in 2010, the Chargers will have to reprove themselves as the team to beat in the AFC West.
Oakland Raiders
With Tom Cable out in Oakland and Hue Jackson in, things may be looking up for the Raiders. Last season was an embarrassment. They went 6-0 in the AFC West and missed the playoffs, the only team to have ever ‘achieved’ that distinction. Oakland has been a long time without a winning football team, and with the disadvantage of Jackson having less time to work on things his way, the seven wins I gave them for this season are probably the upper limit. But, as I said with the Broncos, if the AFC West is as close as I expect, a few big plays in a division game or two could shift things for the better in Oakland.
You can see my complete standings predictions and my NFC Postseason Preview at the following URLs:
Standings: 2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part I: Standings
NFC Postseason Preview: 2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part II: NFC
2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part II: NFC
NFC Postseason
1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4) – NFC East Champion, Home Field Advantage
Even before I went through and picked winners for all 256 regular season games, my two favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl were Philadelphia and Atlanta, so I was not at all surprised to see them at the top of my postseason preview.
The biggest question for me going into 2011 is how players like Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson respond to the high level of success they had last season (with the bigger concern in my mind being Jackson). As they say, “pride goes before the fall.” Take Chad Ochocinco for example. He got a big head, started showing off, and what has happened? Is he still a very good receiver? Yes, absolutely. But I rarely rank him in my top 20-25 for NFL receivers anymore. Will DeSean Jackson suffer the same fate? I believe the answer to that question is the key to just how close to 12-4 and home field advantage the Eagles will get.
Now, regardless of their offense, the Eagles have a fantastic defense this season that will take them to the playoffs. With the addition of Nnamdi Asomugha to their secondary, complimenting an already solid defensive corps, it will be very difficult for their opponents to establish any kind of passing game, and the ground attack can only take a team so far.
2. Atlanta Falcons (11-5) – NFC South Champion, 1st Round Bye
A big part of this record, in my mind, is how the Falcons will do at home. I have them winning around seven of their home games, meaning they are right around .500 on the road. They had a lot of success at home last season and I think they will continue that this season. Their fans are even more expectant of success this year and will be that much louder, disrupting their visitors.
The key to getting a better record than what I predict (by winning away games) is the development of Matt Ryan. For the past few years I have said that Ryan could develop into a Peyton Manning type quarterback, and I still see that potential. But I did not see much improvement over the course of last season, so the question in my mind is what he has done and how much he has improved over the offseason without the help of coaches keeping track of his work and guiding his progress.
3. Green Bay Packers (10-6) – NFC North Champion
The Packers are the type of team that should be good for many years. If they made the playoffs each of the next ten seasons, I would not be shocked by any means. In the same breath, they are not a team that I see leading the conference during the regular season. To me, they scream, “peak during the postseason!” And in a lot of ways, that is the best way to do it, especially for an NFC team where 10 wins in a season, until last season, virtually guarantee a playoff birth.
Aaron Rodgers plays very well into this style. He plays well throughout the season, but his best games seem to be the last few of the regular season and then his postseason performances.
They will also, again, have one of the toughest defenses in the league, with a secondary that is very difficult to pick apart, a line that is nearly impenetrable with the run, and linebackers who can defend the run and the pass.
They key will be keeping players healthy. Last season they won the Super Bowl with 13 really good players on IR, but do not count on them having the same success if they lose a lot of players to injury again this year.
4. Arizona Cardinals (10-6) – NFC West Champion
The addition of Kevin Kolb makes all the difference to me. The Cardinals are a talented team, and have been for several years now. They had all the necessities for a playoff team, even last year, except for a quarterback who could lead them. With Kurt Warner, they did some things nobody expected from them. Last year, without Warner, they struggled to a 5-11 record, winning just one game against an NFC West opponent.
With a Kolb taking the snaps for them this year, I think we see Arizona back in the postseason and a playoff game in the desert.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) – 2nd Place NFC South, Wild Card
Tampa Bay could just as easily sneak off with the NFC South title and a 1st round bye in my mind, it is that close. Raheem Morris, in his second year as head coach (he lead Tampa to a 3-13 record in 2009), showed what his work ethic can accomplish, shocking the NFL by taking his team to a 10-6 record, barely missing the postseason (it is not common for 10-6 not to make the playoffs in the NFC). 2nd year quarterback Josh Freeman was great, throwing just 6 INTs to 25 touchdowns (only Tom Brady threw fewer among quarterbacks with at least 450 pass attempts last season).
With LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams returning, Tampa Bay’s offense is set.
Defense may be Tampa Bay’s weakness, but Morris is a defensive head coach, so any huge issues should be taken care of by the time week 1 of the regular season rolls around.
6. Dallas Cowboys (9-7) – 2nd Place NFC East, Wild Card
Dallas, honestly, does not impress me that much. That said, I think they have the potential to hit 10 or even 11 wins. Why? Jason Garrett. After the team started 1-7 last season, Wade Phillips was fired and Garrett was named the interim head coach. He led the team to a 5-3 finish. With Tony Romo back, I honestly feel like Dallas may be at a disadvantage. If Kitna were the starter, I probably would have given Dallas another win right off the bat.
Romo has had a good deal of success, and he is earned all of it. But during his 5+ games last season, Dallas only delivered one win. Kitna came in and Dallas lost two more game under Phillips and then went 5-3 under Garrett (with those 3 losses being by a combined 7 points). That first loss with Kitna could just as easily be faulted to him needing time to develop a rapport with the offensive starters.
If Romo has bounced back well from his injury and can return to his pre-2010 success, the Cowboys should do fine under one of the best young head coaches in the NFL.
Could Sneak In
New York Giants
Honestly, I do not see the Giants getting into the postseason. I only have them on this list because I have them winning nine games, and one more against a team I did not expect them to win against (maybe the Cowboys) would put them in.
Minnesota Vikings
Leslie Frazier did not have quite the same success following Childress’ firing as Jason Garrett did after Phillips’, but the Vikings have some things going for them. They are rid of Brett Favre, and though he was a good quarterback last year, that is all he was. Gone was the 2009 Brett Favre who miraculously led Minnesota to the NFC Championship game.
Now, they have Donovan McNabb, who could actually do really well since ex-Redskins have generally trended upward after leaving the D.C. area. The Vikings have one of the best defensive lines in the NFC (I only rank Detroit’s above theirs) and their secondary, though not superb, is solid. With Peterson in the backfield and a good corps of receivers, McNabb, if nothing else, should see success closer to what he had in Philadelphia than what he did in Washington.
Detroit Lions
As I mentioned above, the Lions probably have the best defensive line in the NFC, and they make a case for best in the NFL. Ndamukong Suh is a one-man wrecking crew in the trenches, and with the addition of Nick Farley in the 2011 draft, the question will be how running backs can get out any running room and how long will quarterbacks have to go through their progressions and get the ball out of their hands before the pocket collapses on them. Only the best quarterbacks will find any success, and even the best running backs might not find any, against this Lions defense.
My problem is the question mark surrounding the offense. They have a very good wide receiver in Calvin Johnson. But who should be leading the offense? Matthew Stafford or Shaun Hill? And will Jahvid Best stay healthy? He played very well on his injured foot last season, but if he cannot keep that foot in good shape, he can only play on it so long before it starts taking years off his career.
I say it is one more year that Lions fans will have to wait, but they could sneak in this year and I can definitely see them in the postseason following the 2012 season.
Chicago Bears
I do not know about the Bears. They could have another really good season this year and get into the postseason, but I wonder if their run last year, only to fall at the hands of Green Bay, at home, in the NFC Championship game may doom them to a disappointing season this year. Jay Cutler is a good quarterback, and I think if he could have continued last year in that game last year, he would have. When you are sacked 52 times (12 more than the next most sacked QB) in a season, I have difficulty challenging your toughness.
But, until he proves otherwise, I put him in the same category as Rex Grossman. He did a pretty good job last year, but he rode his teammate’s success to a deep playoff run. He was not the reason for them making the postseason, at least not in my mind.
Lovie Smith has been doing a really good job with this team, and he will continue to, but I think it will be another case of a good year followed by a few poor seasons before the next playoff run in Chicago.
New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees has proven that the Saints can never be counted out. I think that with the rise of Tampa Bay as a team to beat in the NFC South, the Saints may be left out of the dance this year.
But you never really know for sure. They still have a very good defense, coached by Gregg Williams, one of the better defensive minds in the league. They also nabbed Mark Ingram Jr., the only Heisman winner in Alabama’s history, late in the 1st round of the 2011 draft. Reggie Bush had a spotty career in New Orleans before leaving for Miami this season, but maybe Ingram will find more success.
All I know is that the Saints will have to prove themselves to me before I consider them a playoff team in 2011.
You can see my complete standings predictions and my AFC Postseason Preview at the following URLs:
Standings: 2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part I: Standings
AFC Postseason: 2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part II: AFC
1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4) – NFC East Champion, Home Field Advantage
Even before I went through and picked winners for all 256 regular season games, my two favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl were Philadelphia and Atlanta, so I was not at all surprised to see them at the top of my postseason preview.
The biggest question for me going into 2011 is how players like Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson respond to the high level of success they had last season (with the bigger concern in my mind being Jackson). As they say, “pride goes before the fall.” Take Chad Ochocinco for example. He got a big head, started showing off, and what has happened? Is he still a very good receiver? Yes, absolutely. But I rarely rank him in my top 20-25 for NFL receivers anymore. Will DeSean Jackson suffer the same fate? I believe the answer to that question is the key to just how close to 12-4 and home field advantage the Eagles will get.
Now, regardless of their offense, the Eagles have a fantastic defense this season that will take them to the playoffs. With the addition of Nnamdi Asomugha to their secondary, complimenting an already solid defensive corps, it will be very difficult for their opponents to establish any kind of passing game, and the ground attack can only take a team so far.
2. Atlanta Falcons (11-5) – NFC South Champion, 1st Round Bye
A big part of this record, in my mind, is how the Falcons will do at home. I have them winning around seven of their home games, meaning they are right around .500 on the road. They had a lot of success at home last season and I think they will continue that this season. Their fans are even more expectant of success this year and will be that much louder, disrupting their visitors.
The key to getting a better record than what I predict (by winning away games) is the development of Matt Ryan. For the past few years I have said that Ryan could develop into a Peyton Manning type quarterback, and I still see that potential. But I did not see much improvement over the course of last season, so the question in my mind is what he has done and how much he has improved over the offseason without the help of coaches keeping track of his work and guiding his progress.
3. Green Bay Packers (10-6) – NFC North Champion
The Packers are the type of team that should be good for many years. If they made the playoffs each of the next ten seasons, I would not be shocked by any means. In the same breath, they are not a team that I see leading the conference during the regular season. To me, they scream, “peak during the postseason!” And in a lot of ways, that is the best way to do it, especially for an NFC team where 10 wins in a season, until last season, virtually guarantee a playoff birth.
Aaron Rodgers plays very well into this style. He plays well throughout the season, but his best games seem to be the last few of the regular season and then his postseason performances.
They will also, again, have one of the toughest defenses in the league, with a secondary that is very difficult to pick apart, a line that is nearly impenetrable with the run, and linebackers who can defend the run and the pass.
They key will be keeping players healthy. Last season they won the Super Bowl with 13 really good players on IR, but do not count on them having the same success if they lose a lot of players to injury again this year.
4. Arizona Cardinals (10-6) – NFC West Champion
The addition of Kevin Kolb makes all the difference to me. The Cardinals are a talented team, and have been for several years now. They had all the necessities for a playoff team, even last year, except for a quarterback who could lead them. With Kurt Warner, they did some things nobody expected from them. Last year, without Warner, they struggled to a 5-11 record, winning just one game against an NFC West opponent.
With a Kolb taking the snaps for them this year, I think we see Arizona back in the postseason and a playoff game in the desert.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) – 2nd Place NFC South, Wild Card
Tampa Bay could just as easily sneak off with the NFC South title and a 1st round bye in my mind, it is that close. Raheem Morris, in his second year as head coach (he lead Tampa to a 3-13 record in 2009), showed what his work ethic can accomplish, shocking the NFL by taking his team to a 10-6 record, barely missing the postseason (it is not common for 10-6 not to make the playoffs in the NFC). 2nd year quarterback Josh Freeman was great, throwing just 6 INTs to 25 touchdowns (only Tom Brady threw fewer among quarterbacks with at least 450 pass attempts last season).
With LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams returning, Tampa Bay’s offense is set.
Defense may be Tampa Bay’s weakness, but Morris is a defensive head coach, so any huge issues should be taken care of by the time week 1 of the regular season rolls around.
6. Dallas Cowboys (9-7) – 2nd Place NFC East, Wild Card
Dallas, honestly, does not impress me that much. That said, I think they have the potential to hit 10 or even 11 wins. Why? Jason Garrett. After the team started 1-7 last season, Wade Phillips was fired and Garrett was named the interim head coach. He led the team to a 5-3 finish. With Tony Romo back, I honestly feel like Dallas may be at a disadvantage. If Kitna were the starter, I probably would have given Dallas another win right off the bat.
Romo has had a good deal of success, and he is earned all of it. But during his 5+ games last season, Dallas only delivered one win. Kitna came in and Dallas lost two more game under Phillips and then went 5-3 under Garrett (with those 3 losses being by a combined 7 points). That first loss with Kitna could just as easily be faulted to him needing time to develop a rapport with the offensive starters.
If Romo has bounced back well from his injury and can return to his pre-2010 success, the Cowboys should do fine under one of the best young head coaches in the NFL.
Could Sneak In
New York Giants
Honestly, I do not see the Giants getting into the postseason. I only have them on this list because I have them winning nine games, and one more against a team I did not expect them to win against (maybe the Cowboys) would put them in.
Minnesota Vikings
Leslie Frazier did not have quite the same success following Childress’ firing as Jason Garrett did after Phillips’, but the Vikings have some things going for them. They are rid of Brett Favre, and though he was a good quarterback last year, that is all he was. Gone was the 2009 Brett Favre who miraculously led Minnesota to the NFC Championship game.
Now, they have Donovan McNabb, who could actually do really well since ex-Redskins have generally trended upward after leaving the D.C. area. The Vikings have one of the best defensive lines in the NFC (I only rank Detroit’s above theirs) and their secondary, though not superb, is solid. With Peterson in the backfield and a good corps of receivers, McNabb, if nothing else, should see success closer to what he had in Philadelphia than what he did in Washington.
Detroit Lions
As I mentioned above, the Lions probably have the best defensive line in the NFC, and they make a case for best in the NFL. Ndamukong Suh is a one-man wrecking crew in the trenches, and with the addition of Nick Farley in the 2011 draft, the question will be how running backs can get out any running room and how long will quarterbacks have to go through their progressions and get the ball out of their hands before the pocket collapses on them. Only the best quarterbacks will find any success, and even the best running backs might not find any, against this Lions defense.
My problem is the question mark surrounding the offense. They have a very good wide receiver in Calvin Johnson. But who should be leading the offense? Matthew Stafford or Shaun Hill? And will Jahvid Best stay healthy? He played very well on his injured foot last season, but if he cannot keep that foot in good shape, he can only play on it so long before it starts taking years off his career.
I say it is one more year that Lions fans will have to wait, but they could sneak in this year and I can definitely see them in the postseason following the 2012 season.
Chicago Bears
I do not know about the Bears. They could have another really good season this year and get into the postseason, but I wonder if their run last year, only to fall at the hands of Green Bay, at home, in the NFC Championship game may doom them to a disappointing season this year. Jay Cutler is a good quarterback, and I think if he could have continued last year in that game last year, he would have. When you are sacked 52 times (12 more than the next most sacked QB) in a season, I have difficulty challenging your toughness.
But, until he proves otherwise, I put him in the same category as Rex Grossman. He did a pretty good job last year, but he rode his teammate’s success to a deep playoff run. He was not the reason for them making the postseason, at least not in my mind.
Lovie Smith has been doing a really good job with this team, and he will continue to, but I think it will be another case of a good year followed by a few poor seasons before the next playoff run in Chicago.
New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees has proven that the Saints can never be counted out. I think that with the rise of Tampa Bay as a team to beat in the NFC South, the Saints may be left out of the dance this year.
But you never really know for sure. They still have a very good defense, coached by Gregg Williams, one of the better defensive minds in the league. They also nabbed Mark Ingram Jr., the only Heisman winner in Alabama’s history, late in the 1st round of the 2011 draft. Reggie Bush had a spotty career in New Orleans before leaving for Miami this season, but maybe Ingram will find more success.
All I know is that the Saints will have to prove themselves to me before I consider them a playoff team in 2011.
You can see my complete standings predictions and my AFC Postseason Preview at the following URLs:
Standings: 2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part I: Standings
AFC Postseason: 2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part II: AFC
2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part I: Standings
In preparation for this post, I went through each week, one game at a time, picking the winner from each game and keeping track of the win/loss standings for each team. I do not have individual game predictions for you here, but I have standings predictions.
A couple of side notes: by week 3 I only had New England and the New York Jets still undefeated, only New England was left in week 4, and I have them losing in week 10. I also have Miami winless until week 10.
Season Standings
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles: 12-4
Dallas Cowboys: 9-7
New York Giants: 9-7
Washington Redskins: 5-11
NFC North
Green Bay Packers: 10-6
Minnesota Vikings: 9-7
Detroit Lions: 8-8
Chicago Bears: 7-9
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: 11-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 11-5
New Orleans Saints: 9-7
Carolina Panthers: 2-14
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: 10-6
San Francisco 49ers: 6-10
St. Louis Rams: 6-10
Seattle Seahawks: 5-11
AFC East
New England Patriots: 14-2
New York Jets: 13-3
Buffalo Bills: 4-12
Miami Dolphins: 3-13
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: 13-3
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6
Cleveland Browns: 8-8
Cincinnati Bengals: 2-14
AFC South
Houston Texans: 10-6
Indianapolis Colts: 10-6
Tennessee Titans: 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-14
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8
Denver Broncos: 7-9
San Diego Chargers: 7-9
Oakland Raiders: 7-9
You can see my NFC Postseason Preview and my AFC Postseason Preview at the following URLs:
NFC Postseason: 2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part II: NFC
AFC Postseason: 2011-12 AFC Postseason Predictions, Part III: AFC
A couple of side notes: by week 3 I only had New England and the New York Jets still undefeated, only New England was left in week 4, and I have them losing in week 10. I also have Miami winless until week 10.
Season Standings
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles: 12-4
Dallas Cowboys: 9-7
New York Giants: 9-7
Washington Redskins: 5-11
NFC North
Green Bay Packers: 10-6
Minnesota Vikings: 9-7
Detroit Lions: 8-8
Chicago Bears: 7-9
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: 11-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 11-5
New Orleans Saints: 9-7
Carolina Panthers: 2-14
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: 10-6
San Francisco 49ers: 6-10
St. Louis Rams: 6-10
Seattle Seahawks: 5-11
AFC East
New England Patriots: 14-2
New York Jets: 13-3
Buffalo Bills: 4-12
Miami Dolphins: 3-13
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: 13-3
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6
Cleveland Browns: 8-8
Cincinnati Bengals: 2-14
AFC South
Houston Texans: 10-6
Indianapolis Colts: 10-6
Tennessee Titans: 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-14
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8
Denver Broncos: 7-9
San Diego Chargers: 7-9
Oakland Raiders: 7-9
You can see my NFC Postseason Preview and my AFC Postseason Preview at the following URLs:
NFC Postseason: 2011-12 Postseason Predictions, Part II: NFC
AFC Postseason: 2011-12 AFC Postseason Predictions, Part III: AFC
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Madden NFL 12
As I was working on my 2011-12 Postseason Preview (now set to be posted sometime Thursday afternoon before 7:30pm), I happened to look at my calendar and saw the date, August 9th, and tried to remember what significance today’s date held for me. Finally I realized it: the Madden 12 demo launches today!
So I took a break, downloaded the demo on my PS3, and spent the next 20 minutes watching all the extras that came with the demo. Everything the design team was saying sounded good; check that, it all sounded great! But, as anyone who truly cares about the product they are planning to purchase would do, I had to play the game to get a good feel for it myself. So even as you read this, don’t take my word for it, use it to get yourself excited for your own gaming experience, just as I used the EA Sports Extras from the demo.
Now, this being the first demo I’ve ever downloaded prior to purchasing the complete game, I don’t have a great grasp on how things translate to the full game, though having seen ShakeDown2012’s video of him playing the demo for NCAA Football 12, I can assume that most of the presentation from the game will be similar, or the same, as what will be found in the full game on August 30.
I really liked the pre-game presentation. Probably the only problem with it that I had was the Packers and Bears players slapping hands with each other at mid-field just prior to the coin toss; handshakes, maybe, but high-fives and smiles? Not for this big of a rivalry anyway.
Staying on the topic of presentation, NCAA Football 12 was definitely done right, in my opinion. There has never been much of an emphasis on halftime, but you always see some graphic with highlights from the previous quarter at the end of each quarter, so the fact that they didn’t have any special halftime presentation didn’t bother me, especially considering how good a job they did with the end of quarter segments. The NFL is different, and for it you need a different presentation. Madden certainly delivered for me. The end-of-quarter segments are simply a panning of the stadium with the score box in the lower left corner. But the halftime presentation; wow! I definitely have ideas on improvement, and maybe it will be a little different (hopefully better, if so) for the full game, but the full-screen replays of both plays and players’ expressions on field is great.
My final comment on presentation is for the post-game segment saying, “This telecast is copyrighted by the NFL for the private use of our audience. Any other use of this telecast or any pictures, descriptions, or accounts of the game without the NFL's consent, is prohibited,” was awesome. Sure, it was a little silly and I definitely chuckled when I heard it, but it adds a certain level of authenticity to the game that I didn’t even know was missing.
As for the game play, it impressed me just as much as NCAA Football 12 did, which is to say, a whole heck of a lot! At one point I was unhappy when Julius Peppers broke of a block (a block I thought should have much more difficult to break) to tackle me when I tried to scramble through a whole. When I reviewed the replay, I realized that everything was smooth and realistic with how he broke off the block. I couldn’t find a single fault with anything concerning game play.
The best part was the difficulty. No, I’m not referring to ‘Rookie,’ ‘Pro,’ ‘All-Pro,’ and ‘All-Madden.’ I’m referring simply to the passing game. Usually I have been able to pick apart defenses with no problem. All new logic in zone coverage makes everything a little more difficult. Yes, where the defenders in coverage move is more realistic and makes sense in retrospect. But for someone who is used to the way defenders have moved in Madden in the past, it took some getting used to and I threw two picks in the game, the first one coming on my first pass. For those of you who like to dump the ball off to your HB, FB or TE in the flat, forget about using a quick bullet pass. You’ll have to time it right and lob it over the corner that broke off his receiver to cover that zone.
As with NCAA Football 12, they fixed the tackling animation in Madden 12, waiting until the actual point of impact to begin the tackle animation, and how much the players involved weight and the speed and direction at which they hit each other plays a huge factor in the result of the tackle (for instance, whether the runner will be able to fall forward for an extra yard or two or if he will be pushed back and forward progress will come into play). The same rules are involved with gang tackles.
I still have some work to do in figuring out the passing game. In NCAA Football 12, if you push down on the left analogue stick while passing to a receiver running a curl route, the ball will be thrown near the receiver’s feet, causing a low catch that isn’t defendable. When I tried the same trick in the Madden demo, the ball hung up in the air and a defender managed to pick it off (my second INT).
One more thing I saw that was really great is how players change over the course of the game. In the pause menu you can see a box on the right side of the screen that says something along the lines of ‘Dynamic Performance.’ In the demo I played, only Jay Cutler showed up in this box, but you could see some of the things that actually do make him the player he is. One of them concerned how much pressure he was feeling from the blitz. At one point it read ‘heavy,’ but as I piled on the sacks, it progressively changed to ‘paranoid.’ I felt this was pretty realistic since not only did he hit the dirt a lot last season, but he also seems to get rattled by pressure very easily.
Overall, I was very impressed with the demo. Additions would be welcome, especially if they come in presentation, but if this is how the game play will feel in-game for the final version of Madden 12, I’m perfectly content with that, too, as long as other features have been fixed, namely for superstar (since it already sounds as though they’ve taken pretty good care of the needed changes to franchise mode).
Remember to check back on Thursday for my preview of this year’s postseason. You can also follow me on twitter: @CPuffett. On there you’ll find sports updates and links to new blog posts.
So I took a break, downloaded the demo on my PS3, and spent the next 20 minutes watching all the extras that came with the demo. Everything the design team was saying sounded good; check that, it all sounded great! But, as anyone who truly cares about the product they are planning to purchase would do, I had to play the game to get a good feel for it myself. So even as you read this, don’t take my word for it, use it to get yourself excited for your own gaming experience, just as I used the EA Sports Extras from the demo.
Now, this being the first demo I’ve ever downloaded prior to purchasing the complete game, I don’t have a great grasp on how things translate to the full game, though having seen ShakeDown2012’s video of him playing the demo for NCAA Football 12, I can assume that most of the presentation from the game will be similar, or the same, as what will be found in the full game on August 30.
I really liked the pre-game presentation. Probably the only problem with it that I had was the Packers and Bears players slapping hands with each other at mid-field just prior to the coin toss; handshakes, maybe, but high-fives and smiles? Not for this big of a rivalry anyway.
Staying on the topic of presentation, NCAA Football 12 was definitely done right, in my opinion. There has never been much of an emphasis on halftime, but you always see some graphic with highlights from the previous quarter at the end of each quarter, so the fact that they didn’t have any special halftime presentation didn’t bother me, especially considering how good a job they did with the end of quarter segments. The NFL is different, and for it you need a different presentation. Madden certainly delivered for me. The end-of-quarter segments are simply a panning of the stadium with the score box in the lower left corner. But the halftime presentation; wow! I definitely have ideas on improvement, and maybe it will be a little different (hopefully better, if so) for the full game, but the full-screen replays of both plays and players’ expressions on field is great.
My final comment on presentation is for the post-game segment saying, “This telecast is copyrighted by the NFL for the private use of our audience. Any other use of this telecast or any pictures, descriptions, or accounts of the game without the NFL's consent, is prohibited,” was awesome. Sure, it was a little silly and I definitely chuckled when I heard it, but it adds a certain level of authenticity to the game that I didn’t even know was missing.
As for the game play, it impressed me just as much as NCAA Football 12 did, which is to say, a whole heck of a lot! At one point I was unhappy when Julius Peppers broke of a block (a block I thought should have much more difficult to break) to tackle me when I tried to scramble through a whole. When I reviewed the replay, I realized that everything was smooth and realistic with how he broke off the block. I couldn’t find a single fault with anything concerning game play.
The best part was the difficulty. No, I’m not referring to ‘Rookie,’ ‘Pro,’ ‘All-Pro,’ and ‘All-Madden.’ I’m referring simply to the passing game. Usually I have been able to pick apart defenses with no problem. All new logic in zone coverage makes everything a little more difficult. Yes, where the defenders in coverage move is more realistic and makes sense in retrospect. But for someone who is used to the way defenders have moved in Madden in the past, it took some getting used to and I threw two picks in the game, the first one coming on my first pass. For those of you who like to dump the ball off to your HB, FB or TE in the flat, forget about using a quick bullet pass. You’ll have to time it right and lob it over the corner that broke off his receiver to cover that zone.
As with NCAA Football 12, they fixed the tackling animation in Madden 12, waiting until the actual point of impact to begin the tackle animation, and how much the players involved weight and the speed and direction at which they hit each other plays a huge factor in the result of the tackle (for instance, whether the runner will be able to fall forward for an extra yard or two or if he will be pushed back and forward progress will come into play). The same rules are involved with gang tackles.
I still have some work to do in figuring out the passing game. In NCAA Football 12, if you push down on the left analogue stick while passing to a receiver running a curl route, the ball will be thrown near the receiver’s feet, causing a low catch that isn’t defendable. When I tried the same trick in the Madden demo, the ball hung up in the air and a defender managed to pick it off (my second INT).
One more thing I saw that was really great is how players change over the course of the game. In the pause menu you can see a box on the right side of the screen that says something along the lines of ‘Dynamic Performance.’ In the demo I played, only Jay Cutler showed up in this box, but you could see some of the things that actually do make him the player he is. One of them concerned how much pressure he was feeling from the blitz. At one point it read ‘heavy,’ but as I piled on the sacks, it progressively changed to ‘paranoid.’ I felt this was pretty realistic since not only did he hit the dirt a lot last season, but he also seems to get rattled by pressure very easily.
Overall, I was very impressed with the demo. Additions would be welcome, especially if they come in presentation, but if this is how the game play will feel in-game for the final version of Madden 12, I’m perfectly content with that, too, as long as other features have been fixed, namely for superstar (since it already sounds as though they’ve taken pretty good care of the needed changes to franchise mode).
Remember to check back on Thursday for my preview of this year’s postseason. You can also follow me on twitter: @CPuffett. On there you’ll find sports updates and links to new blog posts.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Pre-Season Time!
Never before in my life have I been so excited for pre-season action in the NFL. I spent my afternoon watching last year’s episodes of Hard Knocks, focused on the New York Jets training camp, and realized just how badly I am craving some pro football.
I had planned to post as soon as the lockout ended. But the moment it ended, I knew that each post would only end in me turning around and posting something else on the now-most-recent acquisition.
Players were flying from one team to another so quickly it left my head swimming, so I chose to wait until the trades and signings slowed down to write my first post-lockout post; this one.
Probably the biggest acquisition was the Eagles’ signing of cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who’s career in Oakland began in 2003. He started 99 of the 122 games he played in and has 11 career interceptions. His best games as far as being a shutdown corner go came back in 2005 and 2006. In 2005 he had 14 knockdowns and a career high 60 tackles, 55 of them solo tackles. 2006 was his best year overall; he made his first career interception (and then 7 more that season), had a career high 19 knockdowns, and he had 50 tackles (48 solo). Projections had him landing either in Dallas or with the Jets, but he shocked everyone and chose Philadelphia. With him, Asanté Samuel, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in their secondary, their defense is going to be very tough to penetrate.
Before I move onto another topic, and since I’ve already brought up Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, I may as well stay on the subject and explain how he got to Philadelphia. He arrived as part of the imminent Kevin Kolb trade. Kolb is now in Arizona, to whom he was traded for Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2nd round pick in next year’s draft.
The Eagles stayed busy by picking up recently-cut Vince Young, who has had a lot of ups and downs with the Titans. His past two years have probably been his best, but he has only played in 24 games over the past three seasons. He will take Kolb’s vacated spot, backing up Michael Vick on Philadelphia’s depth chart.
To replace Young, the Titans signed Matt Hasselbeck who led Pete Carroll’s Seahawks to a divisional playoff appearance last year, knocking off the defending Super Bowl champs in the wild-card round.
New England was also rather busy, bringing in Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth. Assuming he doesn’t step off the field every third play as he did in Washington, the addition of Haynesworth on the defensive line will make their run defense even tougher than it already was, in addition to greatly bettering their pass rush (they were in the middle of the league in sacks last season). The Patriots already have several proven receivers, including Wes Welker and Deion Branch, and younger players who proved their worth last season, like tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, so adding Ochocinco will simply add extra depth to an already solid receiving corps.
In addition to trading Albert Haynesworth to New England, the Redskins also traded away quarterback Donovan McNabb. He will be in Minnesota this year, and the Redskins will get a 6th round pick in next year’s draft and a potential pick in 2013.
The Cowboys recently cut wide receiver Roy Williams, among other players. Williams has had a pretty good career overall if you look at his year-to-year numbers. In fact, he did so well in four years in Detroit (five if you include his 2007 season greatly shortened by a knee injury) that the Cowboys traded 1st, 3rd, and 6th round picks in the 2009 draft and a 7th round pick in 2010 to Detroit for him. He has played decently in Dallas for the past two seasons, but never reached the level of productivity that they needed from him. He has been picked up by Minnesota, with whom he has signed a one-year contract.
Another former Cowboy will also be in the NFC North this season as Chicago picked up running back Marion Barber.
The Dolphins picked up Reggie Bush in a trade with New Orleans, sending away safety Jonathan Amaya. There were also draft pick(s) involved, but they are so far undisclosed.
All of this was done (not necessarily in order) over the first few days after the lockout ended and free agency began. There are still several transactions being made every day, but so far not as many big names have been involved. DeSean Jackson is expected to end his holdout and report to camp with the Eagles tomorrow. There still is no word on when or if the Chris Johnson holdout might end in Tennessee. And despite his tweets, it looks as if the Titans will also have to deal with Cortland Finnegan holding out as well.
With the preseason fast approaching, I am working on a season outlook and playoff prediction for the coming season. Hopefully I will be able to publish it sometime on Wednesday, the day before the first five preseason games of 2011, including Seattle in San Diego, scheduled for an 8:00pm start time on ESPN.
Remember to check back weekly for new posts. I’ll probably be more active on the blog than I was last season, but I can’t really give any guarantees since I’ll also have a busy schedule between classes and athletics.
As always, I appreciate any feedback, including criticism. Nobody is a perfect writer, and I am bound to make mistakes like anyone else, so please be considerate with how to criticize on grammar/spelling issues, but certainly don’t hesitate to correct any facts if I have made errors concerning them.
I had planned to post as soon as the lockout ended. But the moment it ended, I knew that each post would only end in me turning around and posting something else on the now-most-recent acquisition.
Players were flying from one team to another so quickly it left my head swimming, so I chose to wait until the trades and signings slowed down to write my first post-lockout post; this one.
Probably the biggest acquisition was the Eagles’ signing of cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who’s career in Oakland began in 2003. He started 99 of the 122 games he played in and has 11 career interceptions. His best games as far as being a shutdown corner go came back in 2005 and 2006. In 2005 he had 14 knockdowns and a career high 60 tackles, 55 of them solo tackles. 2006 was his best year overall; he made his first career interception (and then 7 more that season), had a career high 19 knockdowns, and he had 50 tackles (48 solo). Projections had him landing either in Dallas or with the Jets, but he shocked everyone and chose Philadelphia. With him, Asanté Samuel, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in their secondary, their defense is going to be very tough to penetrate.
Before I move onto another topic, and since I’ve already brought up Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, I may as well stay on the subject and explain how he got to Philadelphia. He arrived as part of the imminent Kevin Kolb trade. Kolb is now in Arizona, to whom he was traded for Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2nd round pick in next year’s draft.
The Eagles stayed busy by picking up recently-cut Vince Young, who has had a lot of ups and downs with the Titans. His past two years have probably been his best, but he has only played in 24 games over the past three seasons. He will take Kolb’s vacated spot, backing up Michael Vick on Philadelphia’s depth chart.
To replace Young, the Titans signed Matt Hasselbeck who led Pete Carroll’s Seahawks to a divisional playoff appearance last year, knocking off the defending Super Bowl champs in the wild-card round.
New England was also rather busy, bringing in Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth. Assuming he doesn’t step off the field every third play as he did in Washington, the addition of Haynesworth on the defensive line will make their run defense even tougher than it already was, in addition to greatly bettering their pass rush (they were in the middle of the league in sacks last season). The Patriots already have several proven receivers, including Wes Welker and Deion Branch, and younger players who proved their worth last season, like tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, so adding Ochocinco will simply add extra depth to an already solid receiving corps.
In addition to trading Albert Haynesworth to New England, the Redskins also traded away quarterback Donovan McNabb. He will be in Minnesota this year, and the Redskins will get a 6th round pick in next year’s draft and a potential pick in 2013.
The Cowboys recently cut wide receiver Roy Williams, among other players. Williams has had a pretty good career overall if you look at his year-to-year numbers. In fact, he did so well in four years in Detroit (five if you include his 2007 season greatly shortened by a knee injury) that the Cowboys traded 1st, 3rd, and 6th round picks in the 2009 draft and a 7th round pick in 2010 to Detroit for him. He has played decently in Dallas for the past two seasons, but never reached the level of productivity that they needed from him. He has been picked up by Minnesota, with whom he has signed a one-year contract.
Another former Cowboy will also be in the NFC North this season as Chicago picked up running back Marion Barber.
The Dolphins picked up Reggie Bush in a trade with New Orleans, sending away safety Jonathan Amaya. There were also draft pick(s) involved, but they are so far undisclosed.
All of this was done (not necessarily in order) over the first few days after the lockout ended and free agency began. There are still several transactions being made every day, but so far not as many big names have been involved. DeSean Jackson is expected to end his holdout and report to camp with the Eagles tomorrow. There still is no word on when or if the Chris Johnson holdout might end in Tennessee. And despite his tweets, it looks as if the Titans will also have to deal with Cortland Finnegan holding out as well.
With the preseason fast approaching, I am working on a season outlook and playoff prediction for the coming season. Hopefully I will be able to publish it sometime on Wednesday, the day before the first five preseason games of 2011, including Seattle in San Diego, scheduled for an 8:00pm start time on ESPN.
Remember to check back weekly for new posts. I’ll probably be more active on the blog than I was last season, but I can’t really give any guarantees since I’ll also have a busy schedule between classes and athletics.
As always, I appreciate any feedback, including criticism. Nobody is a perfect writer, and I am bound to make mistakes like anyone else, so please be considerate with how to criticize on grammar/spelling issues, but certainly don’t hesitate to correct any facts if I have made errors concerning them.
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