One thing that I really like about this blog is it gives me documented proof of things that I've said about various subjects throughout the sports world. When I write something that later turns out to seem prophetic, I can gloat and flaunt my prognostication skills. When I write something that turns out to be extremely asinine, I can conveniently overlook it and it can be buried away where only the keenest of eyes can find it.
Today is one of those times that I can use this blog to drive a point that I made months ago. On May 10th, I wrote about the possibility of another labor dispute that might lead to a certain group of officials being locked out by the NFL. At the time, this was probably mostly an afterthought to most fans, and I can't say that I would blame people for glossing over this news. I thought it might be a problem, but I wrote that in the end the dispute would probably be settled prior to the season beginning, and all would be fine.
I may have been correct to at least worry somewhat about the labor dispute between the league and its officials, but there is no way I could have imagined how big of a problem it would eventually become.
Early this morning, the league announced that it had reached an agreement with the NFL Referees Association to put the normal officials back on the field in time for tonight's game between the Browns and the Ravens. While the agreement will not be officially ratified until Saturday, the league will temporarily lift the lockout to allow a crew of NFL officials to work the game tonight.
While the exact contention points are unknown, it seemed as though the retirement benefits packages the officials would receive was one of the main issues that the NFLRA would not give in on. The referees are still part-time employees, and their salaries are expected to average $173,000 by 2013. The league also has reserved the right to train incoming officials and use these trainees to replace working officials that may be under performing based upon the league's standards.
In my opinion, this makes perfect sense. If players can be benched due to poor performance, then officials should be able to be "benched" as well. The NFL promotes itself by saying that it is made up of the best in the business of football, whether it be as far as players, executives, or officials are concerned. The replacement officials obviously did not meet that standard. For the regular officials to live up to that standard, they should be responsible for keeping themselves in the best condition that they can, both physically and mentally.
As I read about the language included in the agreement between the league and the NFLRA, it all actually seemed to make sense. It has long been said that referees and offensive linemen are similar in that the less they are mentioned, the better. During any given game, if an offensive lineman is mentioned multiple times, it usually means he is being called for multiple penalties. That is why the best offensive linemen in the league are many times unknown to the casual fan. They don't throw touchdowns or intercept passes, but they do their job and are acknowledged by the players that really matter. If we hear the name of an official multiple times, it is often because he is in the middle of some kind of controversy. Ardent followers of the league know the names of many of the head referees, but not many know the names of side judges or umpires or other assistant officials unless they are involved in some sort of controversy.
What all of this recent talk of referee contracts really taught me was how hard these officials actually work to remain unknown. Being an NFL official, as I said in my prior essay, is in many ways a thankless job. If they officiate a game well, they are not praised, they are just doing their job like they should. If they make what some might consider a bad call, they get berated from each and every direction. However, the officials not only to continue to work hard on the field, but they work hard off the field as well.
One of the biggest concerns about the replacement officials was their unfamiliarity with the intricacies of the NFL rulebook. Whether they had come from high school, college, or even the lingerie league, the replacement officials were not well-versed in all the minute details of the NFL and its rules. Therefore, some parts of the games that were formerly taken for granted by players, coaches, and fans, were unable to be correctly managed without the normal officials. I never knew that the league gave its officials weekly tests to ensure that they were aware of any and all rules changes that might have been implemented, but thanks to this lockout, I now am.
While the officials were locked out, Ed Hochuli, one of the most well-known officials, organized conference calls and administered tests to simulate the ones given by the league each week. On-field conditioning sessions were also organized to guarantee that the regular officials would be ready to go the second that a new deal was ratified. When initial reports surfaced about the league and the officials nearing a deal, most insiders believed that it might still take some time before the regular officials would be ready to return to action because they may not have been completely up to date on the rules changes and not in peak physical condition. However, we learned that that was not the case at all. Not only were the officials willing to come back as soon as a deal was signed (and in this case, actually before a deal was signed), but they seem to be more than ready to come back and officiate as well.
Sure, officiating in any sport is like I have said multiple times, usually a thankless job. However, it is nice to know that when straits are dire and we are forced to deal with the alternatives, most of us can actually appreciate the work that these men and women put in to perform their duties to the best of their abilities. So before we all start hassling the officials because of their on-field calls, I think this lockout has at least taught us that they deserve a lot more credit than they get, and in the enormous pie that is the National Football League, the officials do in fact deserve a sizable piece.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: 5.5 games out of a playoff spot with 7 games to play means the season isn't officially over, but we will need a miracle plus some more to be playing into October. Like I said though, I will never give up until the team is mathematically out of the race, but that day seems to be getting very close. Patrick Corbin and Barry Zito will take the mound this afternoon as we finish a series with the playoff bound San Francisco Giants.
Daily Giants Update: Once again, we get a night game this Sunday, as this will be the third game we have played under the lights out of the four games on the schedule. We will have had plenty of time to rest and get healthy after beating up on the Panthers a week ago, and despite their 2-1 record, the Eagles have not exactly looked good. Division games are always toss-ups though, and getting a win on the road in Philadelphia would be huge in both the present and the future, so hopefully we can do just that.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
NFL Week 3 Recap
To say that Week 3 in the NFL was memorable would be an immense understatement. If you were a lifelong fan of any of the 32 teams, you could have suffered anything ranging from unbelievable madness and heartbreak to improbable joy. If you had never watched an NFL game before, you could have been thrilled, disappointed, and dumbfounded all at once. If you were a superstar player, you might have put on a spectacular performance that could propel your team to future success, or you might have suffered an injury that broke the hearts of your fans and teammates.
If you were a replacement official? Well, I'll address that later...
Jaguars 22 Colts 17 - In one of multiple games that came down to the final minutes, Jacksonville was able to overcome a 14-3 halftime deficit to come back and win on the road in Indianapolis. Maurice Jones-Drew officially showed that he is back and at full strength despite his long holdout, as he ran for 177 yards and one touchdown. It seems like the Colts have no problem whatsoever allowing Andrew Luck to throw a ton of passes each week, as he threw 46 of them for 313 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Blaine Gabbert was his usual uninspiring self for the Jags, but he connected with Cecil Shorts for an 80 yard touchdown with 45 seconds left to play to give Jacksonville the win. It wasn't exactly poetry in motion, but the Jaguars got the win and both teams now are 1-2.
Bills 24 Browns 14 - In what was far from a thrilling game, the Bills were able to jump out to an early 14-0 lead that they eventually parlayed into a 10 point win. Ryan Fitzpatrick was excellent, throwing for three touchdowns and zero interceptions to lead Buffalo's offense. After already losing Fred Jackson to injury, the Bills also lost C.J. Spiller in this game. While both will probably not miss more than a few games, Buffalo's running attack will obviously not be at full strength for at least a month. Brandon Weeden completed a high percentage of his passes, but still threw two interceptions and only one touchdown. Trent Richardson scored a touchdown, but had a bad day overall, only rushing for 27 yards. Buffalo is 2-1, while Cleveland is 0-3.
Jets 23 Dolphins 20 - Sadly, this was the only 1:00 game I was able to watch thanks to cable television. In a battle of bad offenses, the Jets proved to be less bad than the Dolphins as they got the win in overtime. Neither Mark Sanchez nor Ryan Tannehill was able to complete half of their attempts, and both threw more interceptions than touchdowns, but Tannehill threw an interception that was run back for a touchdown by LaRon Landry that proved to be very costly. The game went to overtime, where Dan Carpenter missed a potential game-winning field goal. The Jets followed that up by getting their own winning field goal attempt blocked, only to have the play blown dead just prior to the snap thanks to the genius idea that so many coaches have of calling a timeout seconds before the ball is snapped to ice the opposing team's kicker. Rex Ryan and Tony Sparano were ecstatic after seeing Nick Folk's initial attempt blocked, and Folk proceeded to make his second attempt and win the game for the Jets. Thank you Joe Philbin.
The biggest news from this game though was the torn ACL that Darrelle Revis suffered. The Jets lost their best player to a season-ending injury, and now will have to go the next 13 games without one of the best defensive players in the league. The Jets are 2-1, while the Dolphins drop to 1-2.
Chiefs 27 Saints 24 - In the second overtime game of the day, the Chiefs were able to go to New Orleans and win a battle of 0-2 teams. Jamaal Charles answered any questions that might have remained about whether or not he was fully recovered from his season ending knee injury in 2011, as he ran for a 91-yard touchdown in the third quarter on the way to a 233 yard day. In a somewhat odd circumstance, that run was actually Kansas City's only touchdown of the day, as they sacked Drew Brees for a safety and Ryan Succop kicked six field goals (including the game-winner in overtime). The Chiefs got into the win column and now stand at 1-2, while it is looking more and more like the loss of head coach Sean Payton is absolutely having a negative impact on the Saints, as they are now one of only two teams in the league that remain winless.
Bengals 38 Redskins 31 - In what was definitely one of the wilder games of the weekend, the Bengals outscored the Redskins to get the win at home. The first play of the game resulted in a wide receiver throwing a touchdown pass to another wide receiver, and less than four minutes later, a linebacker actually scored on a zero yard interception return to make the score 7-7. Cincinnati then jumped out to a big lead, although the Redskins were able to come back but in the end fell short. Both Andy Dalton and Robert Griffin III had big games, and both of these teams seem to be in good hands with their young quarterbacks. In case anybody was still wondering, A.J. Green is a legitimate stud at receiver for Cincinnati as well. The Bengals move to 2-1 with the win, while the Redskins drop to 1-2 with the loss.
Titans 44 Lions 41 - On most weeks, this game would have easily been the craziest game of the weekend, but on this week, the game between Tennessee and Detroit can only be considered one of a few unbelievable games. The Titans did their best to re-enact the Music City Miracle in the first quarter (and did a very good job I must add), as punt returner Darius Reynaud (Frank Wycheck) fielded a punt and then threw it across the field to Tommie Campbell (Kevin Dyson) who ran 65 yards for a score. Tennessee also scored touchdowns of 61, 105, and 71 yards to add to the insanity. Detroit's backup quarterback, Shaun Hill, even threw two touchdowns to get in on the fun. The fourth quarter of this game alone featured 46 points.
Somehow though, the craziness was far from over. Rob Bironas kicked a field goal on the first possession of overtime (which should mean the END OF THE GAME but now does not), and Detroit got the ball back, drove down inside the 10 yard line with a chance for an easy field goal to extend the game. However, on a play in which no one exactly knows what happened or why it happened, the Lions passed up the field goal attempt and were stopped on fourth and inches to end the game. Defense, special teams, playcalling, and rationale were all optional in this game, but at the end, the Titans and Lions both stand at 1-2.
Vikings 24 49ers 13 - There seems to be a surprise result each weekend in the NFL, and if you only looked at the scoreboard this would be the one that immediately stood out. Between the entire 2011 season and the first two weeks of the 2012 season, San Francisco looked like one of the best teams in the NFL, while the Vikings were nowhere near the top. However, the saying about any team being able to win on any given Sunday held true here, as the Vikings were led to a win at home thanks to a career-best performance from Christian Ponder. Ponder threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, Adrian Peterson was able to grind out 86 yards against a stout 49ers defense, and Minnesota took down the team that many thought was the best in the NFL through the first two weeks.
With the win, Minnesota moved to 2-1 and they will face the Lions in what is now a very intriguing NFC North match up in Week 4. As I said with New England last week, every elite team is entitled a poor performance now and then, and the 49ers can chalk this up into that column for now. They are now 2-1 and face the Jets in Week 4.
Bears 23 Rams 6 - In a game that did not provide much in terms of excitement, the Bears were able to defeat a Rams team that seems to put in far too many inept performances to inspire any confidence in the team. Sam Bradford was again below average for St. Louis, throwing two interceptions and zero touchdowns. Jay Cutler was not a whole lot better for the Bears, but thanks to a Chicago defensive touchdown and a nice day from Robbie Gould, the Bears were able to easily beat a Rams team that seems to be going nowhere.
With the win, the Bears move to 2-1. With the loss, the Rams drop to 1-2.
Cowboys 16 Buccaneers 10 - If nothing else, Greg Schiano has at least managed to shift most of the focus from his team losing games to the way that his team lines up against an opposing team's kneel down in the final seconds of the game. For the second consecutive week, Schiano sent his team on an all-out attack to try to prevent an opposing NFC East team from running out the clock, and for the second week his team failed. This game was much less dramatic and featured a lot less offensive fireworks than Week 2 against the Giants, but Tampa Bay still came out on the short end here, as neither offense could do much, but the Cowboys did enough to win. Dallas now stands at 2-1, while the Bucs stand at 1-2.
Falcons 27 Chargers 3 - In what seemed on paper to be one of the more intriguing games of the week, we saw a completely one-sided affair in San Diego that the Atlanta Falcons easily won. Matt Ryan continued his excellent early season play, as he completed 75% of his passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. On the other hand, Philip Rivers threw zero touchdowns and two interceptions for a Chargers offense that was unable to get much of anything.
With the win, Atlanta became one of only three 3-0 teams in the NFL. San Diego dropped to 2-1.
Cardinals 27 Eagles 6 - In what the standings say should not be a surprise, we saw a game in Arizona on Sunday that reality said we should be both surprised and enlightened by. When Arizona went to Foxborough, Massachusetts and beat the Patriots in Week 2, most figured that it was an aberration. However, it might be time to re-think that point of view. The Arizona Cardinals came through with another stellar performance in Week 3 that left them as one of only three remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL. As I said last week, Philadelphia's turnover problem finally came back to bite them, and there was no better illustration of that than when the Eagles were in the red zone in the final seconds of the first half.
Down 17-0, Philly was in position to score just before halftime. It seemed as though a field goal would be the worst case scenario, and while the Eagles would still have work to do in the second half, they would have at least gained some momentum by scoring just before the halftime whistle. The Eagles had a chance to take one more shot at the end zone with time winding down in the first half, and they figured that they might as well take one more shot before, at worst, kicking a field goal. However, Michael Vick dropped back to throw, was sacked at the seven yard line, and the Cardinals scooped up his fumble and ran the ball back 93 yards as the first half expired to turn what could have been a 17-7 game into a 24-0 game. A stunned Eagles team was never able to recover any sort of momentum, and they turned into a team that had magically pulled out two one-point wins into a team that has serious questions going into a very important game against a certain divisional rival that lifted the Lombardi Trophy last season.
After the game, as I said, the Cardinals moved to 3-0. The Eagles dropped to 2-1.
Raiders 34 Steelers 31 - In a game that featured a lot of offense, the Pittsburgh Steelers really demonstrated how they have gone from a team based around running the ball and morphed into a team that is completely dependent upon moving the ball through the air. Pittsburgh gained 379 yards passing and only 54 yards on the ground. Ben Roethlisberger threw four touchdowns. However, Pittsburgh still lost. Despite jumping out to 10 point leads multiple times, Pittsburgh's defense was unable to contain the offense of the Raiders. Carson Palmer threw three touchdowns of his own, and Sebastian Jamikowski kicked a field goal as time expired to give the Raiders a 34-31 victory.
With the win, the Raiders moved to 1-2, while the Steelers now have an identical 1-2 record thanks to the loss.
Texans 31 Broncos 25 - In what was an intriguing game on paper coming into the week, the Houston Texans beat the Denver Broncos by six points. However, upon further review, this game was not as close as the final score indicates. TheRockies got out to a 5-0 lead on the Astros, but Houston responded with four touchdown passes from Matt Schaub to make the score 31-11 as the third quarter wound down. Schaub's four touchdowns were part of a nice day for him, as he spread the ball around to four different receivers to satisfy fantasy owners of Arian Foster, Owen Daniels, Andre Johnson, and Kevin Walter all over the country.
In the fourth quarter, Peyton Manning was able to throw two touchdowns to bring the Broncos within striking distance, but in the end they were unable to overcome a deficit that was too large against one of the best teams in the NFL. Some are ready to jump all over Manning for the Broncos' 1-2 start, but they have had a tough opening three weeks, so there is still plenty of time for Denver to turn things around.
On the other hand, the Texans move to 3-0, and thus far have definitely lived up to expectations in the eyes of most. They take on the Titans at home this week, and 4-0 is a definite possibility.
Giants 36 Panthers 7 - I know that I would normally save the Giants for the end of my weekly recap, but Week 3 brought about extenuating circumstances.
Going into the game five days ago I was apprehensive, concerned, and a bit unsure about what to expect. What I got was a sure fire reminder of why the Giants are the defending Super Bowl champions, and why the franchise is going through what is arguably its most successful decade in its history.
At this point, it is useless to wonder about why the Giants' organization does not receive nearly as much credit as it deserves. From top to bottom, it is not only one of the most prestigious in the NFL, but it is one of the most prestigious in all of sports. I feel like I should go on and on about how the Mara family has paved the way for the NFL to become what it is today but I won't do that (for a few reasons). Basically what I would like to say is, the notions and beliefs of this organization over the past decade have been nothing other than spectacular.
Despite being without our number one running back and our number one receiver, the team never missed a beat in a complete dominance of the Panthers. Andre Brown and Ramses Barden stepped in to provide more than enough relief, the defense played as well as it has played in about eight months, and Eli Manning again proved why he is on his way to becoming the best quarterback in the history of this franchise.
Brown, Barden, Manning, Martellus Bennett, Prince Amukamara...the list goes on and on. I was proud to be a Giants fan after this game because of the complete team effort that they put forth. We go to 2-1 and the Panthers go to 1-2. Bring on the Eagles!
So, after the 4:00 games on Sunday, that was pretty much it. Nothing especially noteworthy happened in the final two games of the weekend. I'd mention them here, but I actually don't even remember the games well at all. So that's really all there is to say about an exciting NFL Week 3. Until next time, the countdown to Week 4 begins...
If you were a replacement official? Well, I'll address that later...
Jaguars 22 Colts 17 - In one of multiple games that came down to the final minutes, Jacksonville was able to overcome a 14-3 halftime deficit to come back and win on the road in Indianapolis. Maurice Jones-Drew officially showed that he is back and at full strength despite his long holdout, as he ran for 177 yards and one touchdown. It seems like the Colts have no problem whatsoever allowing Andrew Luck to throw a ton of passes each week, as he threw 46 of them for 313 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Blaine Gabbert was his usual uninspiring self for the Jags, but he connected with Cecil Shorts for an 80 yard touchdown with 45 seconds left to play to give Jacksonville the win. It wasn't exactly poetry in motion, but the Jaguars got the win and both teams now are 1-2.
Bills 24 Browns 14 - In what was far from a thrilling game, the Bills were able to jump out to an early 14-0 lead that they eventually parlayed into a 10 point win. Ryan Fitzpatrick was excellent, throwing for three touchdowns and zero interceptions to lead Buffalo's offense. After already losing Fred Jackson to injury, the Bills also lost C.J. Spiller in this game. While both will probably not miss more than a few games, Buffalo's running attack will obviously not be at full strength for at least a month. Brandon Weeden completed a high percentage of his passes, but still threw two interceptions and only one touchdown. Trent Richardson scored a touchdown, but had a bad day overall, only rushing for 27 yards. Buffalo is 2-1, while Cleveland is 0-3.
Jets 23 Dolphins 20 - Sadly, this was the only 1:00 game I was able to watch thanks to cable television. In a battle of bad offenses, the Jets proved to be less bad than the Dolphins as they got the win in overtime. Neither Mark Sanchez nor Ryan Tannehill was able to complete half of their attempts, and both threw more interceptions than touchdowns, but Tannehill threw an interception that was run back for a touchdown by LaRon Landry that proved to be very costly. The game went to overtime, where Dan Carpenter missed a potential game-winning field goal. The Jets followed that up by getting their own winning field goal attempt blocked, only to have the play blown dead just prior to the snap thanks to the genius idea that so many coaches have of calling a timeout seconds before the ball is snapped to ice the opposing team's kicker. Rex Ryan and Tony Sparano were ecstatic after seeing Nick Folk's initial attempt blocked, and Folk proceeded to make his second attempt and win the game for the Jets. Thank you Joe Philbin.
The biggest news from this game though was the torn ACL that Darrelle Revis suffered. The Jets lost their best player to a season-ending injury, and now will have to go the next 13 games without one of the best defensive players in the league. The Jets are 2-1, while the Dolphins drop to 1-2.
Chiefs 27 Saints 24 - In the second overtime game of the day, the Chiefs were able to go to New Orleans and win a battle of 0-2 teams. Jamaal Charles answered any questions that might have remained about whether or not he was fully recovered from his season ending knee injury in 2011, as he ran for a 91-yard touchdown in the third quarter on the way to a 233 yard day. In a somewhat odd circumstance, that run was actually Kansas City's only touchdown of the day, as they sacked Drew Brees for a safety and Ryan Succop kicked six field goals (including the game-winner in overtime). The Chiefs got into the win column and now stand at 1-2, while it is looking more and more like the loss of head coach Sean Payton is absolutely having a negative impact on the Saints, as they are now one of only two teams in the league that remain winless.
Bengals 38 Redskins 31 - In what was definitely one of the wilder games of the weekend, the Bengals outscored the Redskins to get the win at home. The first play of the game resulted in a wide receiver throwing a touchdown pass to another wide receiver, and less than four minutes later, a linebacker actually scored on a zero yard interception return to make the score 7-7. Cincinnati then jumped out to a big lead, although the Redskins were able to come back but in the end fell short. Both Andy Dalton and Robert Griffin III had big games, and both of these teams seem to be in good hands with their young quarterbacks. In case anybody was still wondering, A.J. Green is a legitimate stud at receiver for Cincinnati as well. The Bengals move to 2-1 with the win, while the Redskins drop to 1-2 with the loss.
Titans 44 Lions 41 - On most weeks, this game would have easily been the craziest game of the weekend, but on this week, the game between Tennessee and Detroit can only be considered one of a few unbelievable games. The Titans did their best to re-enact the Music City Miracle in the first quarter (and did a very good job I must add), as punt returner Darius Reynaud (Frank Wycheck) fielded a punt and then threw it across the field to Tommie Campbell (Kevin Dyson) who ran 65 yards for a score. Tennessee also scored touchdowns of 61, 105, and 71 yards to add to the insanity. Detroit's backup quarterback, Shaun Hill, even threw two touchdowns to get in on the fun. The fourth quarter of this game alone featured 46 points.
Somehow though, the craziness was far from over. Rob Bironas kicked a field goal on the first possession of overtime (which should mean the END OF THE GAME but now does not), and Detroit got the ball back, drove down inside the 10 yard line with a chance for an easy field goal to extend the game. However, on a play in which no one exactly knows what happened or why it happened, the Lions passed up the field goal attempt and were stopped on fourth and inches to end the game. Defense, special teams, playcalling, and rationale were all optional in this game, but at the end, the Titans and Lions both stand at 1-2.
Vikings 24 49ers 13 - There seems to be a surprise result each weekend in the NFL, and if you only looked at the scoreboard this would be the one that immediately stood out. Between the entire 2011 season and the first two weeks of the 2012 season, San Francisco looked like one of the best teams in the NFL, while the Vikings were nowhere near the top. However, the saying about any team being able to win on any given Sunday held true here, as the Vikings were led to a win at home thanks to a career-best performance from Christian Ponder. Ponder threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, Adrian Peterson was able to grind out 86 yards against a stout 49ers defense, and Minnesota took down the team that many thought was the best in the NFL through the first two weeks.
With the win, Minnesota moved to 2-1 and they will face the Lions in what is now a very intriguing NFC North match up in Week 4. As I said with New England last week, every elite team is entitled a poor performance now and then, and the 49ers can chalk this up into that column for now. They are now 2-1 and face the Jets in Week 4.
Bears 23 Rams 6 - In a game that did not provide much in terms of excitement, the Bears were able to defeat a Rams team that seems to put in far too many inept performances to inspire any confidence in the team. Sam Bradford was again below average for St. Louis, throwing two interceptions and zero touchdowns. Jay Cutler was not a whole lot better for the Bears, but thanks to a Chicago defensive touchdown and a nice day from Robbie Gould, the Bears were able to easily beat a Rams team that seems to be going nowhere.
With the win, the Bears move to 2-1. With the loss, the Rams drop to 1-2.
Cowboys 16 Buccaneers 10 - If nothing else, Greg Schiano has at least managed to shift most of the focus from his team losing games to the way that his team lines up against an opposing team's kneel down in the final seconds of the game. For the second consecutive week, Schiano sent his team on an all-out attack to try to prevent an opposing NFC East team from running out the clock, and for the second week his team failed. This game was much less dramatic and featured a lot less offensive fireworks than Week 2 against the Giants, but Tampa Bay still came out on the short end here, as neither offense could do much, but the Cowboys did enough to win. Dallas now stands at 2-1, while the Bucs stand at 1-2.
Falcons 27 Chargers 3 - In what seemed on paper to be one of the more intriguing games of the week, we saw a completely one-sided affair in San Diego that the Atlanta Falcons easily won. Matt Ryan continued his excellent early season play, as he completed 75% of his passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. On the other hand, Philip Rivers threw zero touchdowns and two interceptions for a Chargers offense that was unable to get much of anything.
With the win, Atlanta became one of only three 3-0 teams in the NFL. San Diego dropped to 2-1.
Cardinals 27 Eagles 6 - In what the standings say should not be a surprise, we saw a game in Arizona on Sunday that reality said we should be both surprised and enlightened by. When Arizona went to Foxborough, Massachusetts and beat the Patriots in Week 2, most figured that it was an aberration. However, it might be time to re-think that point of view. The Arizona Cardinals came through with another stellar performance in Week 3 that left them as one of only three remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL. As I said last week, Philadelphia's turnover problem finally came back to bite them, and there was no better illustration of that than when the Eagles were in the red zone in the final seconds of the first half.
Down 17-0, Philly was in position to score just before halftime. It seemed as though a field goal would be the worst case scenario, and while the Eagles would still have work to do in the second half, they would have at least gained some momentum by scoring just before the halftime whistle. The Eagles had a chance to take one more shot at the end zone with time winding down in the first half, and they figured that they might as well take one more shot before, at worst, kicking a field goal. However, Michael Vick dropped back to throw, was sacked at the seven yard line, and the Cardinals scooped up his fumble and ran the ball back 93 yards as the first half expired to turn what could have been a 17-7 game into a 24-0 game. A stunned Eagles team was never able to recover any sort of momentum, and they turned into a team that had magically pulled out two one-point wins into a team that has serious questions going into a very important game against a certain divisional rival that lifted the Lombardi Trophy last season.
After the game, as I said, the Cardinals moved to 3-0. The Eagles dropped to 2-1.
Raiders 34 Steelers 31 - In a game that featured a lot of offense, the Pittsburgh Steelers really demonstrated how they have gone from a team based around running the ball and morphed into a team that is completely dependent upon moving the ball through the air. Pittsburgh gained 379 yards passing and only 54 yards on the ground. Ben Roethlisberger threw four touchdowns. However, Pittsburgh still lost. Despite jumping out to 10 point leads multiple times, Pittsburgh's defense was unable to contain the offense of the Raiders. Carson Palmer threw three touchdowns of his own, and Sebastian Jamikowski kicked a field goal as time expired to give the Raiders a 34-31 victory.
With the win, the Raiders moved to 1-2, while the Steelers now have an identical 1-2 record thanks to the loss.
Texans 31 Broncos 25 - In what was an intriguing game on paper coming into the week, the Houston Texans beat the Denver Broncos by six points. However, upon further review, this game was not as close as the final score indicates. The
In the fourth quarter, Peyton Manning was able to throw two touchdowns to bring the Broncos within striking distance, but in the end they were unable to overcome a deficit that was too large against one of the best teams in the NFL. Some are ready to jump all over Manning for the Broncos' 1-2 start, but they have had a tough opening three weeks, so there is still plenty of time for Denver to turn things around.
On the other hand, the Texans move to 3-0, and thus far have definitely lived up to expectations in the eyes of most. They take on the Titans at home this week, and 4-0 is a definite possibility.
Giants 36 Panthers 7 - I know that I would normally save the Giants for the end of my weekly recap, but Week 3 brought about extenuating circumstances.
Going into the game five days ago I was apprehensive, concerned, and a bit unsure about what to expect. What I got was a sure fire reminder of why the Giants are the defending Super Bowl champions, and why the franchise is going through what is arguably its most successful decade in its history.
At this point, it is useless to wonder about why the Giants' organization does not receive nearly as much credit as it deserves. From top to bottom, it is not only one of the most prestigious in the NFL, but it is one of the most prestigious in all of sports. I feel like I should go on and on about how the Mara family has paved the way for the NFL to become what it is today but I won't do that (for a few reasons). Basically what I would like to say is, the notions and beliefs of this organization over the past decade have been nothing other than spectacular.
Despite being without our number one running back and our number one receiver, the team never missed a beat in a complete dominance of the Panthers. Andre Brown and Ramses Barden stepped in to provide more than enough relief, the defense played as well as it has played in about eight months, and Eli Manning again proved why he is on his way to becoming the best quarterback in the history of this franchise.
Brown, Barden, Manning, Martellus Bennett, Prince Amukamara...the list goes on and on. I was proud to be a Giants fan after this game because of the complete team effort that they put forth. We go to 2-1 and the Panthers go to 1-2. Bring on the Eagles!
So, after the 4:00 games on Sunday, that was pretty much it. Nothing especially noteworthy happened in the final two games of the weekend. I'd mention them here, but I actually don't even remember the games well at all. So that's really all there is to say about an exciting NFL Week 3. Until next time, the countdown to Week 4 begins...
Monday, September 17, 2012
NFL Week 2 Recap
There are always too many discussion points during any given NFL weekend to write individually about, so I've decided that instead I will just recap the games in one post. The week started this past Thursday night with the Packers beating the Bears 23-10, and it will end tonight with the Broncos in Atlanta to play the Falcons. In between, there was all sorts of fun. I'll try to touch on every game (even if it is just briefly for some), and then look closely at the Giants. So without further ado, here is my NFL Week 2 recap (minus the Monday night game).
Packers 23 Bears 10 - Green Bay was able to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start by shutting down a Chicago team that seemed to be extremely confident heading into this game. Green Bay proved that the road to the NFC North crown still runs through Lambeau Field, and Chicago's offensive line was a problem again. These two will probably be in close contention for the playoffs at the end of the year, so this head-to-head win really helps the Packers and hurts the Bears. Both teams now stand at 1-1 heading into Week 3.
Bills 35 Chiefs 17 - Buffalo played this game exactly how they need to in order to be successful. C.J. Spiller had a huge day, running for 123 yards, and Ryan Fitzpatrick only had to throw 19 passes. Fitzpatrick did a fine job when he did throw, and we really need to start giving credit to a Buffalo running attack that is very good. The Bills sacked Matt Cassel five times as well, and it was actually 35-3 until Kansas City scored two late touchdowns to satisfy Dwayne Bowe's fantasy owners and make the score look somewhat respectable on paper. Buffalo now stands at 1-1, and the Chiefs already find themselves two games behind in the AFC West at 0-2.
Bengals 34 Browns 27 - Andy Dalton was able to spread the ball around, as six different Cincinnati receivers had over 30 receiving yards, and three different receivers scored touchdowns. The Bengals didn't trail once during the game, but Cleveland's rookie quarterback and running back played much better than they did in Week 1, in what was a definite step forward for a Cleveland team that not much was expected of this season. Cincinnati is now 1-1, and Cleveland is 0-2.
Panthers 35 Saints 27 - It has only been two weeks, but it is looking like the frenetic offseason in New Orleans is definitely effecting the team, despite the great amount of talent on the roster. Drew Brees was not at his best, and despite being able to score, New Orleans could not slow down a steady, Cam Newton-led attack. Once again, head-to-head divisional games always play a role in deciding who makes the playoffs and who doesn't, so two months from now, this win could look even better for Carolina.
Texans 27 Jaguars 7 - This game was the perfect example of the Texans. Quiet dominance. Houston went about its business with little to no fanfare, and completely dominated the Jaguars. They pounded out 216 rushing yards, Matt Schaub was efficient and effective, and their defense suffocated an obviously overwhelmed Jacksonville team. Houston ran 83 plays as opposed to 38 for the Jaguars, and Blaine Gabbert threw for a measly 53 yards, while the team as a whole only gained 117 yards of offense. Houston now stands at 2-0, and the Jaguars are 0-2 and close to being in the market for a new quarterback.
Dolphins 35 Raiders 13 - It took a lot longer than expected, but Reggie Bush seems to have firmly entrenched himself as a true number one back in the NFL. Bush ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns, and Ryan Tannehill looked much better than Week 1 and was able to get his first win as an NFL quarterback. Carson Palmer had a good day for Oakland, but they were unable to run the ball, and eventually were overwhelmed by Miami's attack. The Dolphins moved to 1-1, and the Raiders dropped to 0-2.
Cardinals 20 Patriots 18 - This was probably the biggest surprise of the week, as Arizona was able to go into New England and beat the Patriots thanks to a missed field goal in the final seconds by Stephen Gostkowski. The Patriots put up pretty good numbers on paper, but they just couldn't put the ball into the endzone. New England's first touchdown came with 2:06 to go in the game. Elite teams are entitled to a clunker here and there though, so I wouldn't expect this to be anything other than a blip on the radar for the Patriots. The Cardinals moved to 2-0 with the win though, so maybe we are seeing a team that will take a nice leap forward in 2012. New England dropped to 1-1 with the loss.
Eagles 24 Ravens 23 - You could ask 10 different NFL fans with 10 different viewpoints about the Eagles' first two games and I guarantee you will get 10 different answers. After turning the ball over five times in Week 1 against the Browns, you figured that Philly could pull off a tightrope act like that against bad teams but not good ones. However, the Eagles came out and turned the ball over four times against a very good Ravens team and eked out a victory this week as well. Two games, two wins, and a combined margin of victory of two points. I tend to think that the Eagles are playing with fire with all of these turnovers and are bound to get burnt sooner rather than later, but at this point, all they need to say in response is look at the standings. It doesn't matter how you win them, as long as you win them. Philadelphia is now 2-0, while the Ravens drop to 1-1.
Colts 23 Vikings 20 - Andrew Luck showed a lot of good things in getting his first career win. Indianapolis seemed to have the game in hand with a 20-6 lead, but the Vikings scored twice in a span of less than five minutes to tie the game at 20 in the fourth quarter. However, Luck stayed the course and led the Colts into field goal range in the final seconds to allow Adam Vinatieri to kick the game winning field goal (because, really, is there anything else that Vinatieri does besides win games with field goals?). This was a positive sign for the Colts for more than a few reasons. Indianapolis and Minnesota now both stand at 1-1.
Rams 31 Redskins 28 - RG3 had another very good game for Washington but Josh Morgan took a horrible unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that took the Redskins out of range for a potential game-tying field goal and St. Louis held on here. Granted, it still would have been a long kick, and it was far from a sure thing (just ask the Patriots), but for the week, Washington fans can blame Morgan for the loss. The biggest storyline of this game going forward though, is how good Griffin seems like he will be. Washington and St. Louis are both 1-1.
Seahawks 27 Cowboys 7 - This was such a typical Dallas Cowboys performance. After looking very good and beating the Giants on national television to open the season, they get a long week of rest to listen to everyone say how good they are and they go to Seattle and lay an egg. Marshawn Lynch had a huge game on the ground with 122 yards, and Dallas went without a point for the final 42 minutes of the game. New England gets a pass for losing a game they should have won this week because they have a history of success. Dallas doesn't get a pass from me because they have a history of failing to come through in the clutch, and any bad game against a team they should beat has the potential to prevent them from making the playoffs yet again.
Steelers 27 Jets 10 - The Jets were served a slice of humble pie in Pittsburgh after a huge performance in Week 1 and a good start in Week 2. After taking a 7-3 lead in the first quarter, the Jets could muster only three points the rest of the way, as they were unable to mount any type of offense after that. We did get a look at two very good run defenses here, as Bilal Powell's 33 rushing yards was the most by any individual on the day. In the end though, this scoreline is pretty much exactly what many people would have expected. The Steelers and Jets are both now 1-1.
Chargers 38 Titans 10 - No Ryan Mathews and no Antonio Gates meant no problem for San Diego, as Jackie Battle and Dante Rosario combined for five touchdowns in a beat down of Tennessee. Chris Johnson has gone from superstar running back to complete disaster in the Tennessee backfield, and he has fantasy owners across the country absolutely infuriated with his poor play. The best thing he can say about yesterday was that at least his rushing yardage was actually higher than his number of total carries, unlike it was in Week 1. The focus should be on the Chargers here though, as they put on a solid all-around performance, and are one of only five teams that have started the season 2-0 (although barring a tie, the winner of tonight's game will make it six 2-0 teams). So far, so good for the Chargers, but if recent history has taught us anything, it is that we need to wait a while before judging the Chargers because they are prone to long hot and cold stretches. Tennessee is 0-2.
49ers 27 Lions 19 - Through two weeks, it would be hard to argue against the 49ers looking like the best team in the league. They have held two potent offenses in Green Bay and Detroit in check, and they are using the same formula that they used last season to perfection so far this year. Unlike most teams in the NFL, the 49ers actually tackle and don't just try to make huge, jarring hits that are either highlight reel successes or embarrassing failures, and they continue to protect the ball on offense. When Detroit did get into scoring range, San Francisco was able to hold them to four field goals and only one touchdown. There is still a lot of time to go, but San Francisco looks like they are on a war path to get to the Super Bowl. They stand at 2-0, while the Lions are now 1-1.
Giants 41 Buccaneers 34 - In what was a crazy game on a hot day at the Meadowlands (as my sunburn can demonstrate), the Giants did what they normally do: put themselves and their fans through a range of emotions that include excitement, rage, elation, disgust, and finally, happiness with a win. Eli Manning threw three first half interceptions, one just before halftime that was run back for a touchdown and really hurt. However, as usual, he was excellent down the stretch and led yet another comeback victory. Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz ran rampant all day, and Martellus Bennett added a lot of yards as well. Andre Brown came in for an injured Ahmad Bradshaw and also had a really nice game on the ground to ensure that there was some sort of offensive balance. Bradshaw may miss this Thursday's game, so hopefully Brown can step in and provide the same kind of help this week because it seems like David Wilson still does not have the confidence of the coaching staff.
The secondary is still a major concern for the Giants though, as Vincent Jackson had a huge day as well for Tampa Bay. However, when plays absolutely needed to be made in the fourth quarter, the defense was able to do just enough to hold on.
Between Manning, Nicks, and Cruz, the Giants probably have the best threesome in terms of the passing game in the entire NFL. There are flaws around that though, and Bradshaw's injury, along with an injury to David Diehl that we still don't know the severity of, prove that this is far from a perfect team. In the end though, a win is a win, and the Giants never like to do things the easy way. A short week followed by a game this Thursday against the Panthers means we need to recover quickly and try to find a way to at least slow down Steve Smith so we have a chance to win in the fourth quarter. If that happens, the best fourth quarter quarterback in the NFL will get us another win.
Tampa Bay dropped to 1-1 with the loss.
So Week 2 will be complete in about seven hours. We will have six 2-0 teams, six 0-2 teams, and a whole lot of 1-1 teams. Aside from the Giants, some games to look forward to next week are Atlanta vs San Diego, Houston vs Denver, and New England vs Baltimore.
Packers 23 Bears 10 - Green Bay was able to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start by shutting down a Chicago team that seemed to be extremely confident heading into this game. Green Bay proved that the road to the NFC North crown still runs through Lambeau Field, and Chicago's offensive line was a problem again. These two will probably be in close contention for the playoffs at the end of the year, so this head-to-head win really helps the Packers and hurts the Bears. Both teams now stand at 1-1 heading into Week 3.
Bills 35 Chiefs 17 - Buffalo played this game exactly how they need to in order to be successful. C.J. Spiller had a huge day, running for 123 yards, and Ryan Fitzpatrick only had to throw 19 passes. Fitzpatrick did a fine job when he did throw, and we really need to start giving credit to a Buffalo running attack that is very good. The Bills sacked Matt Cassel five times as well, and it was actually 35-3 until Kansas City scored two late touchdowns to satisfy Dwayne Bowe's fantasy owners and make the score look somewhat respectable on paper. Buffalo now stands at 1-1, and the Chiefs already find themselves two games behind in the AFC West at 0-2.
Bengals 34 Browns 27 - Andy Dalton was able to spread the ball around, as six different Cincinnati receivers had over 30 receiving yards, and three different receivers scored touchdowns. The Bengals didn't trail once during the game, but Cleveland's rookie quarterback and running back played much better than they did in Week 1, in what was a definite step forward for a Cleveland team that not much was expected of this season. Cincinnati is now 1-1, and Cleveland is 0-2.
Panthers 35 Saints 27 - It has only been two weeks, but it is looking like the frenetic offseason in New Orleans is definitely effecting the team, despite the great amount of talent on the roster. Drew Brees was not at his best, and despite being able to score, New Orleans could not slow down a steady, Cam Newton-led attack. Once again, head-to-head divisional games always play a role in deciding who makes the playoffs and who doesn't, so two months from now, this win could look even better for Carolina.
Texans 27 Jaguars 7 - This game was the perfect example of the Texans. Quiet dominance. Houston went about its business with little to no fanfare, and completely dominated the Jaguars. They pounded out 216 rushing yards, Matt Schaub was efficient and effective, and their defense suffocated an obviously overwhelmed Jacksonville team. Houston ran 83 plays as opposed to 38 for the Jaguars, and Blaine Gabbert threw for a measly 53 yards, while the team as a whole only gained 117 yards of offense. Houston now stands at 2-0, and the Jaguars are 0-2 and close to being in the market for a new quarterback.
Dolphins 35 Raiders 13 - It took a lot longer than expected, but Reggie Bush seems to have firmly entrenched himself as a true number one back in the NFL. Bush ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns, and Ryan Tannehill looked much better than Week 1 and was able to get his first win as an NFL quarterback. Carson Palmer had a good day for Oakland, but they were unable to run the ball, and eventually were overwhelmed by Miami's attack. The Dolphins moved to 1-1, and the Raiders dropped to 0-2.
Cardinals 20 Patriots 18 - This was probably the biggest surprise of the week, as Arizona was able to go into New England and beat the Patriots thanks to a missed field goal in the final seconds by Stephen Gostkowski. The Patriots put up pretty good numbers on paper, but they just couldn't put the ball into the endzone. New England's first touchdown came with 2:06 to go in the game. Elite teams are entitled to a clunker here and there though, so I wouldn't expect this to be anything other than a blip on the radar for the Patriots. The Cardinals moved to 2-0 with the win though, so maybe we are seeing a team that will take a nice leap forward in 2012. New England dropped to 1-1 with the loss.
Eagles 24 Ravens 23 - You could ask 10 different NFL fans with 10 different viewpoints about the Eagles' first two games and I guarantee you will get 10 different answers. After turning the ball over five times in Week 1 against the Browns, you figured that Philly could pull off a tightrope act like that against bad teams but not good ones. However, the Eagles came out and turned the ball over four times against a very good Ravens team and eked out a victory this week as well. Two games, two wins, and a combined margin of victory of two points. I tend to think that the Eagles are playing with fire with all of these turnovers and are bound to get burnt sooner rather than later, but at this point, all they need to say in response is look at the standings. It doesn't matter how you win them, as long as you win them. Philadelphia is now 2-0, while the Ravens drop to 1-1.
Colts 23 Vikings 20 - Andrew Luck showed a lot of good things in getting his first career win. Indianapolis seemed to have the game in hand with a 20-6 lead, but the Vikings scored twice in a span of less than five minutes to tie the game at 20 in the fourth quarter. However, Luck stayed the course and led the Colts into field goal range in the final seconds to allow Adam Vinatieri to kick the game winning field goal (because, really, is there anything else that Vinatieri does besides win games with field goals?). This was a positive sign for the Colts for more than a few reasons. Indianapolis and Minnesota now both stand at 1-1.
Rams 31 Redskins 28 - RG3 had another very good game for Washington but Josh Morgan took a horrible unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that took the Redskins out of range for a potential game-tying field goal and St. Louis held on here. Granted, it still would have been a long kick, and it was far from a sure thing (just ask the Patriots), but for the week, Washington fans can blame Morgan for the loss. The biggest storyline of this game going forward though, is how good Griffin seems like he will be. Washington and St. Louis are both 1-1.
Seahawks 27 Cowboys 7 - This was such a typical Dallas Cowboys performance. After looking very good and beating the Giants on national television to open the season, they get a long week of rest to listen to everyone say how good they are and they go to Seattle and lay an egg. Marshawn Lynch had a huge game on the ground with 122 yards, and Dallas went without a point for the final 42 minutes of the game. New England gets a pass for losing a game they should have won this week because they have a history of success. Dallas doesn't get a pass from me because they have a history of failing to come through in the clutch, and any bad game against a team they should beat has the potential to prevent them from making the playoffs yet again.
Steelers 27 Jets 10 - The Jets were served a slice of humble pie in Pittsburgh after a huge performance in Week 1 and a good start in Week 2. After taking a 7-3 lead in the first quarter, the Jets could muster only three points the rest of the way, as they were unable to mount any type of offense after that. We did get a look at two very good run defenses here, as Bilal Powell's 33 rushing yards was the most by any individual on the day. In the end though, this scoreline is pretty much exactly what many people would have expected. The Steelers and Jets are both now 1-1.
Chargers 38 Titans 10 - No Ryan Mathews and no Antonio Gates meant no problem for San Diego, as Jackie Battle and Dante Rosario combined for five touchdowns in a beat down of Tennessee. Chris Johnson has gone from superstar running back to complete disaster in the Tennessee backfield, and he has fantasy owners across the country absolutely infuriated with his poor play. The best thing he can say about yesterday was that at least his rushing yardage was actually higher than his number of total carries, unlike it was in Week 1. The focus should be on the Chargers here though, as they put on a solid all-around performance, and are one of only five teams that have started the season 2-0 (although barring a tie, the winner of tonight's game will make it six 2-0 teams). So far, so good for the Chargers, but if recent history has taught us anything, it is that we need to wait a while before judging the Chargers because they are prone to long hot and cold stretches. Tennessee is 0-2.
49ers 27 Lions 19 - Through two weeks, it would be hard to argue against the 49ers looking like the best team in the league. They have held two potent offenses in Green Bay and Detroit in check, and they are using the same formula that they used last season to perfection so far this year. Unlike most teams in the NFL, the 49ers actually tackle and don't just try to make huge, jarring hits that are either highlight reel successes or embarrassing failures, and they continue to protect the ball on offense. When Detroit did get into scoring range, San Francisco was able to hold them to four field goals and only one touchdown. There is still a lot of time to go, but San Francisco looks like they are on a war path to get to the Super Bowl. They stand at 2-0, while the Lions are now 1-1.
Giants 41 Buccaneers 34 - In what was a crazy game on a hot day at the Meadowlands (as my sunburn can demonstrate), the Giants did what they normally do: put themselves and their fans through a range of emotions that include excitement, rage, elation, disgust, and finally, happiness with a win. Eli Manning threw three first half interceptions, one just before halftime that was run back for a touchdown and really hurt. However, as usual, he was excellent down the stretch and led yet another comeback victory. Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz ran rampant all day, and Martellus Bennett added a lot of yards as well. Andre Brown came in for an injured Ahmad Bradshaw and also had a really nice game on the ground to ensure that there was some sort of offensive balance. Bradshaw may miss this Thursday's game, so hopefully Brown can step in and provide the same kind of help this week because it seems like David Wilson still does not have the confidence of the coaching staff.
The secondary is still a major concern for the Giants though, as Vincent Jackson had a huge day as well for Tampa Bay. However, when plays absolutely needed to be made in the fourth quarter, the defense was able to do just enough to hold on.
Between Manning, Nicks, and Cruz, the Giants probably have the best threesome in terms of the passing game in the entire NFL. There are flaws around that though, and Bradshaw's injury, along with an injury to David Diehl that we still don't know the severity of, prove that this is far from a perfect team. In the end though, a win is a win, and the Giants never like to do things the easy way. A short week followed by a game this Thursday against the Panthers means we need to recover quickly and try to find a way to at least slow down Steve Smith so we have a chance to win in the fourth quarter. If that happens, the best fourth quarter quarterback in the NFL will get us another win.
Tampa Bay dropped to 1-1 with the loss.
So Week 2 will be complete in about seven hours. We will have six 2-0 teams, six 0-2 teams, and a whole lot of 1-1 teams. Aside from the Giants, some games to look forward to next week are Atlanta vs San Diego, Houston vs Denver, and New England vs Baltimore.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
NCAA "Conferences"
I just heard the news that the greatest collegiate institution in the history of mankind, Notre Dame, has decided to join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in all sports except football. Until now, Notre Dame has been one of the few remaining independent teams in college football, and they have played in the Big East in all other sports. I don't know why exactly Notre Dame chose to join the ACC, but it probably has a lot to do with the fact that the Big East conference recently lost a lot of its members in basketball, and Notre Dame felt that by joining the ACC, they would get more exposure. With more exposure, of course, comes more money, and money is probably the biggest reason that Notre Dame decided to make this move. Based upon those two facts, I can understand why Notre Dame made this move. I'm not going to knock them or any other school for trying to make as much of a profit as they can, but what this move really made me think of is one question. What is the relevance of conferences in college athletics?
I could go look this all up, but I'm not going to do that just to help prove my point. I consider myself a big fan of sports, and if I lose track of this stuff, then it leads me to believe that many other people are absolutely clueless when it comes to this subject. So Notre Dame now plays in the ACC along with schools like North Carolina, Clemson, Duke, and its newest member (at least for basketball, maybe not all other sports), Syracuse. Syracuse was one of the initial members of the Big East, and for the past decade, the Big East has been one of the best conferences in college basketball. Throughout that time period, longtime Big East schools like UConn, Georgetown, and Villanova have been very successful. However, the Big East also profited greatly from the arrival of teams like Marquette and Louisville from Conference USA. The addition of those two teams really helped the Big East become the power it was in basketball.
The Big East underwent a major overhaul recently in basketball, as Syracuse was not the only team to leave. I'm told by ESPN that the Big East was severely weakened in terms of basketball. The problem is, I can't exactly remember why. I know UConn is still in the Big East, and I'm about 99% sure that St. John's and Seton Hall are as well. I'm less certain about this, but I think Georgetown and Villanova are still Big East basketball schools.
For some reason, I think Pittsburgh left, and the only thing that would make sense would be that they left to join the ACC. If the conference was severely weakened, then it would also mean that either Louisville and/or Marquette left as well because they played a big role in making the Big East as good as it was in terms of basketball. I am not sure about West Virginia, but they have had a good basketball program recently, so they may have left as well. I am assuming that all or most of these schools are now members of the ACC because geographically that would make the most sense, but honestly, I'm not too sure about that.
Speaking of geography, in what is probably by far the most confusing conference realignment move, Boise State is a member of the Big East in football (I'm pretty sure). Boise State! Boise is in Idaho! How in the world does it make any sense for a team from Idaho to play in the Big East? Unless the rest of the college football in this country is being played in the Pacific Ocean, Boise is not east of pretty much anything. However outlandish this is, I think Boise State actually has the most right to claim that they needed more exposure in a bigger conference. Even though they are out in the middle of nowhere (at least in the eyes of a New Yorker...and honestly, that's really the only point of view that matters, isn't it?), they have been able to put together a sustainably great college football program. The biggest knock on them that has prevented them from playing for a national championship has been their soft schedule when compared to teams from the SEC, Big 10, and other BCS conferences. So while Boise State playing in the Big East may render a map of the United States irrelevant, for the school, it does actually make some sense.
Texas Christian (TCU) is also a football program that has been very good for the last decade, and their membership in a non-BCS conference has hurt them as well. I think they moved to either the Big 12 or the Pac 12 (formerly the Pac 10), and for the same reasons that Boise State joining a bigger conference makes sense, this move makes sense for TCU as well.
It doesn't stop there though. Not only does geography hardly matter when deciding conference membership, the names of the conferences don't matter as well. The Big 10 used to be called the Big 10 for a reason. There were 10 teams in the conference. However, for the past few years (how many, I honestly do not know), there have been 12 teams in the Big 10. This year Nebraska joined the Big "10" in football. I can't think of any team that left the conference in football, so does the Big 10 now have 13 teams? I'm not sure.
The Big 10 has to still be called the Big 10 because there is already a conference called the Big 12. The problem with that is (who would have guessed?) I don't think there are 12 teams in that conference anymore, at least in football. As I already mentioned, Nebraska left to join the Big 10, and I think Missouri left to join the SEC in football. As far as basketball, I don't know, I'll have to wait until the season starts to find out if Missouri and Nebraska are still Big 12 basketball schools.
Throughout all of this realignment or movement or whatever you want to refer to it as, the SEC seems to be the most stable of all of the conferences. I think the fact that there are so many SEC teams that have rivalries that date back so far (take your pick between Auburn, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and a few other schools), the conference members would never think about leaving. However, I never thought that Syracuse would leave the Big East in basketball, and that happened, so who knows, maybe Auburn will be playing football in the Pac 12 next year. Missouri joining the SEC in football this year though shows that the conference is still not open to the idea of adding new members.
As I am writing this, I now am not even sure that Missouri joined the SEC in football. I am 99% sure that they are not in the Big 12 anymore, and I'm pretty sure that they are now in the SEC but maybe they are in the Big 10 now. Within the SEC, there is the SEC East and the SEC West, and I am almost positive that each division contains the same number of teams (either five or six). So that means if Missouri is now in the SEC, either one other team had to join the conference or one team had to leave the conference to keep the number of teams even. So maybe Missouri is in the Big 10...
Some schools are members of conferences that make no geographic sense, some schools are members of one conference in football and a different conference in basketball, and there are other schools that I think are members of conferences that might not even exist anymore. I think Conference USA still exists, but if you asked me to name the teams in the conference off the top of my head I could come up with Memphis, Xavier (I think)...and no one else. I'm not sure if the Atlantic 10 even exists anymore either. I know it used to be a pretty good conference in terms of basketball with teams like UMass and Temple who both have a history of pretty good success in basketball. Maybe the Atlantic 10 still exists in basketball, and if it exists in football, then it is pretty bad. The Mountain West and the WAC are two different conferences, but I think they used to be one conference that split in half and then added a few teams each.
And don't even begin to ask me about lesser sports like volleyball, swimming, or any kind of women's sport, because I have no clue about those. Honestly, conference affiliations in anything but football and men's basketball probably make a heck of a lot more sense than those two sports, but I'm not sure about that.
If all of this is extremely confusing and makes little or no sense then I've proven my point. If it were up to me, I am getting close to saying that schools should just always play their rivals every year (UConn vs Syracuse in basketball, Auburn vs Alabama in football, etc.), the rest of the schedules can be filled out as normal, with the bigger schools playing the smaller schools looking to get some exposure, and we should just rank the teams at the end of each week.
When it comes down to the end of the season, we pretty much all know which teams are the best. A lot of times too much emphasis is put on conference membership at the end of the season, and it skews the view of the fans. Just because a team might be a middle of the pack team in a better conference doesn't mean it is better than a top team from a lesser conference (just ask Boise State).
Although without conferences then we wouldn't get the chance to see so many smaller schools in the NCAA basketball tournament due to automatic bids, and then we might not be able to see the upsets and improbable runs of teams like George Mason and Gonzaga...so maybe that isn't a good idea after all.
Conference membership and conference names and conference affiliations are so fluid and have changed so frequently lately, that it is near impossible to keep up. If anyone has a spreadsheet detailing the movement of each school in each sport or some kind of adjustable wall mural to help keep track, then please send me a copy because it has gotten to the point where I am not only unable to keep track, but I am also becoming unwilling to keep track.
Daily Giants Update: A Wednesday night season opener really stinks for a lot of reasons. The first of which is we lost to Dallas. The second reason is that it seems like forever until Week 2. We get Tampa Bay at home on Sunday, and on paper it is one of the easier looking games on the schedule, so a win would be great, especially since Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington are all 1-0. Obviously, it's still early, but the NFL is a league of unbelievable overreaction because of the time between each game, so let's beat the Bucs and make next week one that focuses more on the positive than on the negative.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: A great 1-0 win last night with Ian Kennedy out dueling Clayton Kershaw was nice to see, and the quick two game series against LA ends tonight with Trevor Cahill and Aaron Harang on the mound. I will not give up hope until this team is mathematically eliminated from postseason contention. A win tonight will put us only 2 games behind the Dodgers. Couple that with a Cardinals loss and we could be four games out of the playoffs with 19 to play. A long shot is better than no shot...
I could go look this all up, but I'm not going to do that just to help prove my point. I consider myself a big fan of sports, and if I lose track of this stuff, then it leads me to believe that many other people are absolutely clueless when it comes to this subject. So Notre Dame now plays in the ACC along with schools like North Carolina, Clemson, Duke, and its newest member (at least for basketball, maybe not all other sports), Syracuse. Syracuse was one of the initial members of the Big East, and for the past decade, the Big East has been one of the best conferences in college basketball. Throughout that time period, longtime Big East schools like UConn, Georgetown, and Villanova have been very successful. However, the Big East also profited greatly from the arrival of teams like Marquette and Louisville from Conference USA. The addition of those two teams really helped the Big East become the power it was in basketball.
The Big East underwent a major overhaul recently in basketball, as Syracuse was not the only team to leave. I'm told by ESPN that the Big East was severely weakened in terms of basketball. The problem is, I can't exactly remember why. I know UConn is still in the Big East, and I'm about 99% sure that St. John's and Seton Hall are as well. I'm less certain about this, but I think Georgetown and Villanova are still Big East basketball schools.
For some reason, I think Pittsburgh left, and the only thing that would make sense would be that they left to join the ACC. If the conference was severely weakened, then it would also mean that either Louisville and/or Marquette left as well because they played a big role in making the Big East as good as it was in terms of basketball. I am not sure about West Virginia, but they have had a good basketball program recently, so they may have left as well. I am assuming that all or most of these schools are now members of the ACC because geographically that would make the most sense, but honestly, I'm not too sure about that.
Speaking of geography, in what is probably by far the most confusing conference realignment move, Boise State is a member of the Big East in football (I'm pretty sure). Boise State! Boise is in Idaho! How in the world does it make any sense for a team from Idaho to play in the Big East? Unless the rest of the college football in this country is being played in the Pacific Ocean, Boise is not east of pretty much anything. However outlandish this is, I think Boise State actually has the most right to claim that they needed more exposure in a bigger conference. Even though they are out in the middle of nowhere (at least in the eyes of a New Yorker...and honestly, that's really the only point of view that matters, isn't it?), they have been able to put together a sustainably great college football program. The biggest knock on them that has prevented them from playing for a national championship has been their soft schedule when compared to teams from the SEC, Big 10, and other BCS conferences. So while Boise State playing in the Big East may render a map of the United States irrelevant, for the school, it does actually make some sense.
Texas Christian (TCU) is also a football program that has been very good for the last decade, and their membership in a non-BCS conference has hurt them as well. I think they moved to either the Big 12 or the Pac 12 (formerly the Pac 10), and for the same reasons that Boise State joining a bigger conference makes sense, this move makes sense for TCU as well.
It doesn't stop there though. Not only does geography hardly matter when deciding conference membership, the names of the conferences don't matter as well. The Big 10 used to be called the Big 10 for a reason. There were 10 teams in the conference. However, for the past few years (how many, I honestly do not know), there have been 12 teams in the Big 10. This year Nebraska joined the Big "10" in football. I can't think of any team that left the conference in football, so does the Big 10 now have 13 teams? I'm not sure.
The Big 10 has to still be called the Big 10 because there is already a conference called the Big 12. The problem with that is (who would have guessed?) I don't think there are 12 teams in that conference anymore, at least in football. As I already mentioned, Nebraska left to join the Big 10, and I think Missouri left to join the SEC in football. As far as basketball, I don't know, I'll have to wait until the season starts to find out if Missouri and Nebraska are still Big 12 basketball schools.
Throughout all of this realignment or movement or whatever you want to refer to it as, the SEC seems to be the most stable of all of the conferences. I think the fact that there are so many SEC teams that have rivalries that date back so far (take your pick between Auburn, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and a few other schools), the conference members would never think about leaving. However, I never thought that Syracuse would leave the Big East in basketball, and that happened, so who knows, maybe Auburn will be playing football in the Pac 12 next year. Missouri joining the SEC in football this year though shows that the conference is still not open to the idea of adding new members.
As I am writing this, I now am not even sure that Missouri joined the SEC in football. I am 99% sure that they are not in the Big 12 anymore, and I'm pretty sure that they are now in the SEC but maybe they are in the Big 10 now. Within the SEC, there is the SEC East and the SEC West, and I am almost positive that each division contains the same number of teams (either five or six). So that means if Missouri is now in the SEC, either one other team had to join the conference or one team had to leave the conference to keep the number of teams even. So maybe Missouri is in the Big 10...
Some schools are members of conferences that make no geographic sense, some schools are members of one conference in football and a different conference in basketball, and there are other schools that I think are members of conferences that might not even exist anymore. I think Conference USA still exists, but if you asked me to name the teams in the conference off the top of my head I could come up with Memphis, Xavier (I think)...and no one else. I'm not sure if the Atlantic 10 even exists anymore either. I know it used to be a pretty good conference in terms of basketball with teams like UMass and Temple who both have a history of pretty good success in basketball. Maybe the Atlantic 10 still exists in basketball, and if it exists in football, then it is pretty bad. The Mountain West and the WAC are two different conferences, but I think they used to be one conference that split in half and then added a few teams each.
And don't even begin to ask me about lesser sports like volleyball, swimming, or any kind of women's sport, because I have no clue about those. Honestly, conference affiliations in anything but football and men's basketball probably make a heck of a lot more sense than those two sports, but I'm not sure about that.
If all of this is extremely confusing and makes little or no sense then I've proven my point. If it were up to me, I am getting close to saying that schools should just always play their rivals every year (UConn vs Syracuse in basketball, Auburn vs Alabama in football, etc.), the rest of the schedules can be filled out as normal, with the bigger schools playing the smaller schools looking to get some exposure, and we should just rank the teams at the end of each week.
When it comes down to the end of the season, we pretty much all know which teams are the best. A lot of times too much emphasis is put on conference membership at the end of the season, and it skews the view of the fans. Just because a team might be a middle of the pack team in a better conference doesn't mean it is better than a top team from a lesser conference (just ask Boise State).
Although without conferences then we wouldn't get the chance to see so many smaller schools in the NCAA basketball tournament due to automatic bids, and then we might not be able to see the upsets and improbable runs of teams like George Mason and Gonzaga...so maybe that isn't a good idea after all.
Conference membership and conference names and conference affiliations are so fluid and have changed so frequently lately, that it is near impossible to keep up. If anyone has a spreadsheet detailing the movement of each school in each sport or some kind of adjustable wall mural to help keep track, then please send me a copy because it has gotten to the point where I am not only unable to keep track, but I am also becoming unwilling to keep track.
Daily Giants Update: A Wednesday night season opener really stinks for a lot of reasons. The first of which is we lost to Dallas. The second reason is that it seems like forever until Week 2. We get Tampa Bay at home on Sunday, and on paper it is one of the easier looking games on the schedule, so a win would be great, especially since Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington are all 1-0. Obviously, it's still early, but the NFL is a league of unbelievable overreaction because of the time between each game, so let's beat the Bucs and make next week one that focuses more on the positive than on the negative.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: A great 1-0 win last night with Ian Kennedy out dueling Clayton Kershaw was nice to see, and the quick two game series against LA ends tonight with Trevor Cahill and Aaron Harang on the mound. I will not give up hope until this team is mathematically eliminated from postseason contention. A win tonight will put us only 2 games behind the Dodgers. Couple that with a Cardinals loss and we could be four games out of the playoffs with 19 to play. A long shot is better than no shot...
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Protecting Dez Bryant from himself
Throughout his college and professional career, Dez Bryant has been referred to by pretty much anyone who has seen him play as immensely gifted and talented. At Oklahoma State University, Bryant was often times unstoppable and was a star in the making. Now in his third year in the NFL, Bryant is being counted on by the Dallas Cowboys to be a centerpiece of their offense for years to come. There is no doubt that Bryant has the ability to be a star wide receiver, but off-field issues have become a growing concern.
Bryant was born in Texas in 1988, and his mother was arrested for selling drugs when he was only eight years old. During his four years in high school, he lived in eight different homes. Now being born into a dysfunctional family is obviously not his fault, but the environment around him as he grew up was obviously not an ideal one to raise a child in. If it were not for football, who knows where he would be right now. In college, he was able to showcase his on-field talents in front of the entire country, and he quickly became a star prospect who was destined for great success in the NFL.
However, off-field issues still cropped up from time to time in college, and although nothing too serious occurred, his problems became bigger after he entered the NFL. Bryant was sued in 2011 for over $800,000 in jewelry that he supposedly took without payment. Then, only about a month and a half ago, Bryant faced domestic violence charges for allegedly attacking his mother. Although those charges were eventually dropped, it certainly did not help his image, and it continued to add to the list of off-field issues that he seemed unable to avoid.
Only a few days ago, reports arose about a list of "guidelines" that the Dallas Cowboys had constructed for Bryant. These were not routes to run or plays to learn like most guidelines any wide receiver is faced with, these instead had nothing to do with football, and pertained to Bryant's personal life off the field.
There are obviously unwritten rules for athletes that are expected to be followed without question. What these guidelines that the Cowboys have placed upon Bryant show is that the Cowboys believe he is unable to control himself off the field. Some of these rules that Bryant must reportedly follow is a midnight curfew, a prohibition from attending strip clubs, mandatory counseling sessions twice each week, and a rotating security team that must accompany Bryant at all times. There have been conflicting reports about how these rules were constructed, who the party was that initiated their implementation, and how all parties involved feel about their existence.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones originally said that he had no knowledge of any kind of behavioral controls for Bryant, but he seemed to backtrack in recent days, and multiple parties have now claimed that Bryant himself initiated the effectuation of the set of guidelines. Details about the entire situation are still murky, but Bryant is scheduled to address the entire situation later this week. Until then, we can only speculate as to why these rules were implemented, and who initiated their implementation.
One thing we can be sure of though, is the fact that the Cowboys are even acknowledging this is because they know that Bryant will play a huge role in their success on the field. If he were a fringe player struggling to make the team, there is no way that his off-field issues would be overlooked. He would be cut immediately. However, because Bryant is so young and talented, he is getting chances that only a select few people would get. The Cowboys can claim that they are simply trying to help a young man with personal issues, but the fact of the matter is that they are simply protecting their investment. It may not be fair, but it is the 100% truth. The Dallas Cowboys, like every other professional sports franchise, is a business organization. It is one of the most popular and heralded businesses in the entire country. In order for the Cowboys to continue to prosper, they need to put the best product on the field that they are able to, and Dez Bryant will play a large part in doing so for the foreseeable future.
Whether it be in the world of sports, the world of entertainment, the world of business, or any other moneymaking enterprise, it cannot be denied that those with the most talent are also given the most leeway. Josh Hamilton was given a second chance by the Texas Rangers despite a long history of drug and alcohol addiction because of his talent. Martha Stewart was convicted of crimes that would normally bring about severe punishment. Hip-hop musician DMX has been convicted of multiple crimes, but has faced minimal punishments compared to what an unknown citizen might receive for the same crimes. However, because these particular examples have talents that are unique, they have been judged based upon a different standard than most people would be.
Even though the Cowboys are the team I dislike the most in all of sports, I still hope that Dez Bryant can conquer his off-field problems, because he could be in line for a new contract that will grant him more money than he ever could have imagined when he saw his mother plead guilty to a crime when he was only eight years old. However, what this situation also shows us is that talented athletes receive special treatment that most of us would never receive. It may not be fair, it may not be just, but it is the truth. The NFL is the most popular sport in the country, and because of that, Dez
Daily Giants Update: The final preseason game will be tomorrow night against the Patriots. I do not expect to see many starters for any extended period of time, but the game will be very important in determining who survives the final roster cuts, and we may see some players who will be called upon to step in and fill critical roles throughout the regular season.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: A loss last night against the first place Reds was disappointing, but at least it wasn't against the last place San Diego Padres. Tyler Skaggs was pretty good in his second career start, and we have almost reached the point that looking toward 2013 will be the main focus of the year, although until we are mathematically eliminated, I refuse to give up hope. Wade Miley (who at this point should be the NL Rookie of the Year but probably has no shot to win because he plays on the west coast and the voters have no interest in games played on the west coast) goes tonight against Johnny Cueto. All we can do is hope for the best. Let's Go Diamondbacks!
Bryant was born in Texas in 1988, and his mother was arrested for selling drugs when he was only eight years old. During his four years in high school, he lived in eight different homes. Now being born into a dysfunctional family is obviously not his fault, but the environment around him as he grew up was obviously not an ideal one to raise a child in. If it were not for football, who knows where he would be right now. In college, he was able to showcase his on-field talents in front of the entire country, and he quickly became a star prospect who was destined for great success in the NFL.
However, off-field issues still cropped up from time to time in college, and although nothing too serious occurred, his problems became bigger after he entered the NFL. Bryant was sued in 2011 for over $800,000 in jewelry that he supposedly took without payment. Then, only about a month and a half ago, Bryant faced domestic violence charges for allegedly attacking his mother. Although those charges were eventually dropped, it certainly did not help his image, and it continued to add to the list of off-field issues that he seemed unable to avoid.
Only a few days ago, reports arose about a list of "guidelines" that the Dallas Cowboys had constructed for Bryant. These were not routes to run or plays to learn like most guidelines any wide receiver is faced with, these instead had nothing to do with football, and pertained to Bryant's personal life off the field.
There are obviously unwritten rules for athletes that are expected to be followed without question. What these guidelines that the Cowboys have placed upon Bryant show is that the Cowboys believe he is unable to control himself off the field. Some of these rules that Bryant must reportedly follow is a midnight curfew, a prohibition from attending strip clubs, mandatory counseling sessions twice each week, and a rotating security team that must accompany Bryant at all times. There have been conflicting reports about how these rules were constructed, who the party was that initiated their implementation, and how all parties involved feel about their existence.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones originally said that he had no knowledge of any kind of behavioral controls for Bryant, but he seemed to backtrack in recent days, and multiple parties have now claimed that Bryant himself initiated the effectuation of the set of guidelines. Details about the entire situation are still murky, but Bryant is scheduled to address the entire situation later this week. Until then, we can only speculate as to why these rules were implemented, and who initiated their implementation.
One thing we can be sure of though, is the fact that the Cowboys are even acknowledging this is because they know that Bryant will play a huge role in their success on the field. If he were a fringe player struggling to make the team, there is no way that his off-field issues would be overlooked. He would be cut immediately. However, because Bryant is so young and talented, he is getting chances that only a select few people would get. The Cowboys can claim that they are simply trying to help a young man with personal issues, but the fact of the matter is that they are simply protecting their investment. It may not be fair, but it is the 100% truth. The Dallas Cowboys, like every other professional sports franchise, is a business organization. It is one of the most popular and heralded businesses in the entire country. In order for the Cowboys to continue to prosper, they need to put the best product on the field that they are able to, and Dez Bryant will play a large part in doing so for the foreseeable future.
Whether it be in the world of sports, the world of entertainment, the world of business, or any other moneymaking enterprise, it cannot be denied that those with the most talent are also given the most leeway. Josh Hamilton was given a second chance by the Texas Rangers despite a long history of drug and alcohol addiction because of his talent. Martha Stewart was convicted of crimes that would normally bring about severe punishment. Hip-hop musician DMX has been convicted of multiple crimes, but has faced minimal punishments compared to what an unknown citizen might receive for the same crimes. However, because these particular examples have talents that are unique, they have been judged based upon a different standard than most people would be.
Even though the Cowboys are the team I dislike the most in all of sports, I still hope that Dez Bryant can conquer his off-field problems, because he could be in line for a new contract that will grant him more money than he ever could have imagined when he saw his mother plead guilty to a crime when he was only eight years old. However, what this situation also shows us is that talented athletes receive special treatment that most of us would never receive. It may not be fair, it may not be just, but it is the truth. The NFL is the most popular sport in the country, and because of that, Dez
Daily Giants Update: The final preseason game will be tomorrow night against the Patriots. I do not expect to see many starters for any extended period of time, but the game will be very important in determining who survives the final roster cuts, and we may see some players who will be called upon to step in and fill critical roles throughout the regular season.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: A loss last night against the first place Reds was disappointing, but at least it wasn't against the last place San Diego Padres. Tyler Skaggs was pretty good in his second career start, and we have almost reached the point that looking toward 2013 will be the main focus of the year, although until we are mathematically eliminated, I refuse to give up hope. Wade Miley (who at this point should be the NL Rookie of the Year but probably has no shot to win because he plays on the west coast and the voters have no interest in games played on the west coast) goes tonight against Johnny Cueto. All we can do is hope for the best. Let's Go Diamondbacks!
Monday, August 27, 2012
2012 NFL Preview: Part Eleven
With rosters being cut down to 75 players today, the NFL season is inching closer and closer, and that means it is time for the next part of my team-by-team look at the upcoming season. Next up are the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the teams that finished second in 2011 in the NFC North and AFC North. To begin, I will start in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are a team that has been very successful over the past decade, and a 12-4 record along with a playoff berth in 2011 would qualify as a great year for most teams. For Pittsburgh though, success comes with playoff wins, and a heartbreaking overtime loss in the first round of the playoffs left a bad taste in the mouth of Steeler nation. The team did lose a few pieces in the offseason, most notably longtime Steelers great Hines Ward, but they still believe that they have a good enough team to be right in the thick of things when January rolls around.
Non-divisional opponents: Denver, NY Jets, Oakland, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Washington, NY Giants, Kansas City, San Diego, Dallas
Looking at the numbers from 2011, the first thing that jumps off the page is how successful the defense was. Pittsburgh's defense was the best in the NFL in points allowed, total yards allowed, and passing yards allowed. They were also 8th in rushing yards allowed. They were the true definition of a standout defense in a league that was full of offense. The offense was in the top half of the league in most categories as well, so it was no surprise that this team went to the playoffs.
One oddity that hurt the team was the fact that despite such a good defense, their -13 turnover margin was the worst in the entire AFC. If their defense can force more turnovers than in 2011, they have a chance to be just as good as they were in 2012.
With the retirement of Hines Ward, the new undisputed leader of this team is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben is not the most elegant of quarterbacks, but he is still one of the best in the game today, as his two Super Bowl rings would suggest. Roethlisberger is one of only three starting quarterbacks in the game with multiple Super Bowl championships. However, due to a few factors, Roethlisberger seems to be constantly playing while hurt. His toughness is probably the best in the league at his position, but he was playing hurt for multiple games again during 2011. Part of his injury history is due to his style of play, and probably more of it has to do with what has been a porous offensive line for multiple years now, but if he is unable to stay healthy for the year, despite his incredible toughness and ability to play through pain, the Steelers will not be able to get him a third Super Bowl ring.
During the recent run of success in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have always been able to support Roethlisberger with a stellar running game. Whether it was Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker, or Rashard Mendenhall carrying the load, Roethlisberger has always been able to count on solid support in the backfield. That changed in Pittsburgh's regular season finale last year though, as Mendenhall suffered a serious knee injury that forced him out of the playoff game the next week and will likely sideline him for multiple weeks at the beginning of this year as well. The Steelers are still unsure when he will be able to return, but it is likely that he will miss multiple games to begin 2012.
In place of Mendenhall, Isaac Redman will probably get the most carries, and while he has been solid as a number two back, he has never proven that he can be a bellcow back. Pittsburgh also has Jonathan Dwyer to support Redman, and keep an eye on Baron Batch and rookie Chris Rainey, either of who could step in and provide some help as well. If the combination of these four backs can prove to be serviceable while Mendenhall recovers, the Steelers could find themselves with a ton of depth in the backfield by midseason.
The receiving corps in Pittsburgh has been led by Hines Ward for a long time, but he retired after the 2011 season, and Mike Wallace is officially the new star at the receiver position. Wallace is extremely explosive and is a threat to turn any catch into a touchdown. Pittsburgh did a very good job of slowly diminishing the role of Ward last year, and it really allowed Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders to improve. They will both be counted on to step in and fill larger roles in support of Wallace. Longtime Steeler Heath Miller returns as the tight end, and he has provided Roethlisberger with a steady security blanket for many years now. He will be counted on to fill that role again in 2012.
The biggest, and most glaring, problem for the Steelers recently has been the offensive line. While Roethlisberger's ability to avoid defenses and extend plays has played a part in his injuries, he has also had little support from his front five, and the combination of both has come back to haunt the Steelers more often than they would like.
The best player up front is definitely center Maurkice Pouncey. Like his brother, he is both young and talented, and he has the potential to make multiple Pro Bowls in the very near future. Pittsburgh addressed their need for help up front in the draft by selecting guard David DeCastro. DeCastro suffered a pretty serious knee injury in Pittsburgh's third preseason game, and his status for the season is in question. He will probably be able to return at some point, but it might not be until the latter part of the year.
The five guys up front are still by far the biggest question mark in Pittsburgh though, and losing DeCastro before the season has even begun is a serious blow. Until they prove otherwise, the offensive line will be the weakest part of this team, and Roethlisberger will have a tough time avoiding hits from opposing defenders.
As far as the defense goes, the numbers from last year cannot be denied. This is one of the best defensive units in the league. When you talk about the defense of the Steelers, you have to begin with the linebackers. Playing a 3-4 system means that you need to have a strong group of linebackers, and the Steelers have just that. LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison combine to form one of the best outside linebacker tandems in the NFL, and with Lawrence Timmons playing inside, this is a unit that will be feared each and every week.
Up front, the line has been led by nose tackle Casey Hampton, and he can still occupy multiple blockers, although he is getting up there in age so he is not the dominating presence that he once was. Brett Keisel also is a very good 3-4 defensive end, and the line is still definitely formidable.
The secondary is led by (in my opinion) one of the most exciting players to watch in the history of the league, Troy Polamalu. Polamalu can defend the run and the pass unbelievably well, and although his age is starting to creep higher and higher, he is still one of the best safeties in the game today. If it were not for Polamalu, Ryan Clark would be more highly regarded in the eyes of most fans, but his talent is overshadowed by that of his running mate. Clark is still a very good free safety that gets the job done.
The depth at cornerback is a bit of a concern however, as Ike Taylor is a very good defender (although he chose the worst time of the year to play a terrible game in Denver in the playoffs) but the talent behind him is not too great. This isn't the hugest concern, but it would be nice if Pittsburgh could get one of its other cornerbacks to step up and become a legitimate number two.
The special teams unit in Pittsburgh is about average. Shaun Suisham and Jeremy Kapinos do a respectable job as the kicker and punter, but neither is a standout. Antonio Brown has been a dynamic returner, but with his role on offense growing, it is likely that the Steelers will look to some younger players to return kicks and punts, so the jury is still out as far as their return game goes.
Looking at the schedule, we see a slate of games that is pretty tough. Playing against the NFC East will be no easy task, and the Steelers also will have to go to Denver in Week 1 to try to avenge their playoff loss from last year. Pittsburgh will not play a divisional game until Week 7, and they will get the Ravens twice within a three game span in Weeks 11-13. There are no easy stretches on the schedule, so Pittsburgh will be challenged from start to finish in 2012.
Best-case scenario: The running game can stay afloat until Rashard Mendenhall returns, the offensive line is able to protect Roethlisberger and allow him to stay healthy for all 16 games, the defense plays just as well as it did last year, and the Steelers make a deep playoff run (possibly all the way to a Lombardi Trophy).
Worst-case scenario: The offensive line is unable to protect Roethlisberger and he is forced to play at less than 100% for the majority of the year, the defense regresses and some of the stars begin to show their age, and the Steelers miss the playoffs in what will be a tough division.
Realistic prediction: I am still concerned about the offensive line here. No matter how tough Roethlisberger is, he still will need some kind of help from his offensive line. I think the receivers can step up and make up for the loss of Ward, and I still think that the defense will be good (although maybe not spectacular like last season). I'm going to say that Pittsburgh will go 10-6 and challenge for a postseason berth.
Detroit Lions
After a long period of putrid football that included the first 0-16 season in the history of the NFL, the Lions turned into contenders in 2012, finishing 10-6 and making the playoffs. The season was highlighted by the emergence of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson as one of the most dangerous quarterback-wide receiver tandems in the league. Stafford was able to stay healthy for the entire year and had a great year, while Johnson has become, most would say, the best at his position in all of football.
Detroit is still not a perfect team, but making the postseason last year was a giant leap forward, and the 2012 Lions will have higher expectations than any Lions team in a very long time.
Non-divisional opponents: St. Louis, San Francisco, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Seattle, Jacksonville, Houston, Indianapolis, Arizona, Atlanta
A look at the numbers from 2011 show exactly how important Stafford and Johnson were to this team. The passing game was 4th best in the league, and the Lions were 5th in the league in total yards, as well as 4th in scoring. After that, the numbers are not as pretty. The 29th ranked rushing attack shows how much of a problem the running back position is, and the Lions defense was no higher than 22nd in any major category. Detroit did not make any major splashes in free agency, so they will be counting on improvement from the players surrounding Johnson and Stafford. If they can get better production from the supporting cast, the Lions could be a force to be reckoned with again in 2012.
As I have already mentioned, Matthew Stafford had a great 2011 season, and the former number one overall pick seems like he will be able to be the franchise quarterback that the Lions have been unable to find in a long, long time. However, Stafford has had a history of injuries, and 2011 was the first time he was finally fully healthy for a full season. Another injury-free season should be enough to prove that Stafford can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league for many years to come.
The 29th ranked rushing attack in the NFL obviously shows how one-dimensional this offense was in 2011. While Detroit's passing attack is one of the league's best, the team will greatly benefit from an improved rushing attack to take some of the pressure off of Stafford and his receiving corps. The problem is, the season has not even started yet and the Lions already have multiple issues in their backfield.
Jahvid Best is the top option at running back, but he has a lengthy injury history and will miss over a month to start the year. The second option is Mikel Leshoure, and he will miss the first two games of the year due to a suspension. The next option, Kevin Smith, suffered an ankle injury in the Lions third preseason game, but the injury doesn't appear too serious, and Smith should be the starter in Week 1. Smith played well in a few starts last year and if he can hold the fort down early in the year, the backfield of the Lions can be at full strength by midseason. Still, starting the year with the number three back on the depth chart certainly is not a good thing for a rushing attack that was already one of the worst in the NFL.
The group of receivers is headlined by Johnson, but he is by no means the only threat that Stafford has to throw to. Nate Burleson is not a household name when mentioning the best number two wideouts in the game, but with so much attention paid to Johnson by opposing defenses, Burleson has settled into a nice complementary role. Titus Young is also a very good third option, and he is still young with plenty of time to get better. Detroit also drafted Ryan Broyles in the second round to add even more depth.
At the tight end position, Detroit has Brandon Pettigrew, and he is developing into a top-flight option as well. With another full year of health from Stafford, this passing game actually has the potential to be even better than it was a season ago.
The offensive line is only average. The team drafted offensive tackle Riley Reiff with their first round pick, and they hope that he can make an impact sooner rather than later. Improvement from the group up front will not only open up holes for the running backs, but it will give Stafford a better chance to stay healthy.
Moving to the defensive side of the ball, the group up front is the strength. Ndamukong Suh is the biggest name of the bunch, although the reason for that is not only his on-field performance, but also his poor on-field behavior. He came into the league as a rookie in 2010 and had an unbelievably good year. In 2011, he regressed in terms of both his play on the field, but he also became known for his growing list of fines and suspensions. He is quickly gaining the reputation as one of the dirtiest players in the league, and it seemed as though that reputation hurt him and played a part in his statistical regression in 2011. Suh has made multiple proclamations about improving his on-field behavior, but he has not done enough to prove that he is truly committed to doing so. When at his best, he can be one of the most dominant forces in the game at the defensive tackle position, but he needs to control what is quickly becoming an attitude problem that could really hinder the growth of the defense as a whole.
The Lions also feature a very good group of defensive ends that can rush opposing passers. Kyle Vanden Bosch is a seasoned veteran who can still provide pressure off the edge. On the other side, Cliff Avril has shown a great deal of improvement and with Suh providing a potentially dominating presence in the middle of the line, Avril has been able to produce a lot of sacks. The Lions will count on him to do more of the same in 2012.
The linebacking group does not contain any superstars. They are an average group that greatly benefits from the talent on the line in front of them. Detroit used two late-round draft picks on the linebacker position with the hope that they can at least have good depth at the position, even if the group contains no standouts.
The secondary, like the linebacking corps, is only average. The team was 22nd in the league defending the pass in 2011, and that will need to improve, especially with more than a few teams on the schedule that feature very potent passing attacks. The two safeties are the best of the group, with free safety Louis Delmas being the best of the bunch. Detroit used three draft picks on defensive backs, and they added Jacob Lacey in free agency as well. Like the linebacking group, the Lions at least are attempting to build a lot of depth in the secondary.
The special teams group can get the job done, but is nothing spectacular. Jason Hanson, who has seemingly played forever, remains the kicker and Ryan Donahue is the punter. Stefan Logan can also be an explosive returner at times.
The schedule is not extremely difficult, but the Lions will play some tough games out of their division. The NFC North itself is a strong division though, and the head to head matchups between Detroit, Chicago, and Green Bay will likely decide who makes the postseason and who stays home.
Best-case scenario: Stafford and Johnson are both able to repeat their exceptional 2011 seasons, the running game at least stays afloat and can get back to full strength by the second half of the season, Suh keeps his behavior in check and turns in a dominant season that allows the rest of the defense around him to succeed, and the Lions win the division.
Worst-case scenario: Stafford gets injured, the running game is nowhere to be found, Suh adds to his growing list of fines and suspensions, the defense is exposed due to a down year from the group up front, and the Lions cannot keep up with Green Bay and Chicago in the division.
Realistic prediction: I still need to see Stafford remain fully healthy for another year before I can believe that he will be a star going forward, but his 2011 season was undeniably great. The Lions passing attack has the potential to be extremely potent, but the problems at running back before the season has even started certainly does not help. In a division with an extremely good Packers team, and a Bears team that has improved a lot, I am going to say that the Lions take a small step back in 2012 and finish with a record of 9-7.
That ends part eleven of my look at the upcoming NFL season. Next up will be the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys. That should be fun...
Daily Giants Update: There were a lot of good things that came from the third preseason game. The fourth and final game will be used almost exclusively to decide the final spots on the roster, and we are unlikely to see a lot of the starters much, if even at all. Nine days and counting until the season officially begins.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: Ugh
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are a team that has been very successful over the past decade, and a 12-4 record along with a playoff berth in 2011 would qualify as a great year for most teams. For Pittsburgh though, success comes with playoff wins, and a heartbreaking overtime loss in the first round of the playoffs left a bad taste in the mouth of Steeler nation. The team did lose a few pieces in the offseason, most notably longtime Steelers great Hines Ward, but they still believe that they have a good enough team to be right in the thick of things when January rolls around.
Non-divisional opponents: Denver, NY Jets, Oakland, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Washington, NY Giants, Kansas City, San Diego, Dallas
Looking at the numbers from 2011, the first thing that jumps off the page is how successful the defense was. Pittsburgh's defense was the best in the NFL in points allowed, total yards allowed, and passing yards allowed. They were also 8th in rushing yards allowed. They were the true definition of a standout defense in a league that was full of offense. The offense was in the top half of the league in most categories as well, so it was no surprise that this team went to the playoffs.
One oddity that hurt the team was the fact that despite such a good defense, their -13 turnover margin was the worst in the entire AFC. If their defense can force more turnovers than in 2011, they have a chance to be just as good as they were in 2012.
With the retirement of Hines Ward, the new undisputed leader of this team is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben is not the most elegant of quarterbacks, but he is still one of the best in the game today, as his two Super Bowl rings would suggest. Roethlisberger is one of only three starting quarterbacks in the game with multiple Super Bowl championships. However, due to a few factors, Roethlisberger seems to be constantly playing while hurt. His toughness is probably the best in the league at his position, but he was playing hurt for multiple games again during 2011. Part of his injury history is due to his style of play, and probably more of it has to do with what has been a porous offensive line for multiple years now, but if he is unable to stay healthy for the year, despite his incredible toughness and ability to play through pain, the Steelers will not be able to get him a third Super Bowl ring.
During the recent run of success in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have always been able to support Roethlisberger with a stellar running game. Whether it was Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker, or Rashard Mendenhall carrying the load, Roethlisberger has always been able to count on solid support in the backfield. That changed in Pittsburgh's regular season finale last year though, as Mendenhall suffered a serious knee injury that forced him out of the playoff game the next week and will likely sideline him for multiple weeks at the beginning of this year as well. The Steelers are still unsure when he will be able to return, but it is likely that he will miss multiple games to begin 2012.
In place of Mendenhall, Isaac Redman will probably get the most carries, and while he has been solid as a number two back, he has never proven that he can be a bellcow back. Pittsburgh also has Jonathan Dwyer to support Redman, and keep an eye on Baron Batch and rookie Chris Rainey, either of who could step in and provide some help as well. If the combination of these four backs can prove to be serviceable while Mendenhall recovers, the Steelers could find themselves with a ton of depth in the backfield by midseason.
The receiving corps in Pittsburgh has been led by Hines Ward for a long time, but he retired after the 2011 season, and Mike Wallace is officially the new star at the receiver position. Wallace is extremely explosive and is a threat to turn any catch into a touchdown. Pittsburgh did a very good job of slowly diminishing the role of Ward last year, and it really allowed Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders to improve. They will both be counted on to step in and fill larger roles in support of Wallace. Longtime Steeler Heath Miller returns as the tight end, and he has provided Roethlisberger with a steady security blanket for many years now. He will be counted on to fill that role again in 2012.
The biggest, and most glaring, problem for the Steelers recently has been the offensive line. While Roethlisberger's ability to avoid defenses and extend plays has played a part in his injuries, he has also had little support from his front five, and the combination of both has come back to haunt the Steelers more often than they would like.
The best player up front is definitely center Maurkice Pouncey. Like his brother, he is both young and talented, and he has the potential to make multiple Pro Bowls in the very near future. Pittsburgh addressed their need for help up front in the draft by selecting guard David DeCastro. DeCastro suffered a pretty serious knee injury in Pittsburgh's third preseason game, and his status for the season is in question. He will probably be able to return at some point, but it might not be until the latter part of the year.
The five guys up front are still by far the biggest question mark in Pittsburgh though, and losing DeCastro before the season has even begun is a serious blow. Until they prove otherwise, the offensive line will be the weakest part of this team, and Roethlisberger will have a tough time avoiding hits from opposing defenders.
As far as the defense goes, the numbers from last year cannot be denied. This is one of the best defensive units in the league. When you talk about the defense of the Steelers, you have to begin with the linebackers. Playing a 3-4 system means that you need to have a strong group of linebackers, and the Steelers have just that. LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison combine to form one of the best outside linebacker tandems in the NFL, and with Lawrence Timmons playing inside, this is a unit that will be feared each and every week.
Up front, the line has been led by nose tackle Casey Hampton, and he can still occupy multiple blockers, although he is getting up there in age so he is not the dominating presence that he once was. Brett Keisel also is a very good 3-4 defensive end, and the line is still definitely formidable.
The secondary is led by (in my opinion) one of the most exciting players to watch in the history of the league, Troy Polamalu. Polamalu can defend the run and the pass unbelievably well, and although his age is starting to creep higher and higher, he is still one of the best safeties in the game today. If it were not for Polamalu, Ryan Clark would be more highly regarded in the eyes of most fans, but his talent is overshadowed by that of his running mate. Clark is still a very good free safety that gets the job done.
The depth at cornerback is a bit of a concern however, as Ike Taylor is a very good defender (although he chose the worst time of the year to play a terrible game in Denver in the playoffs) but the talent behind him is not too great. This isn't the hugest concern, but it would be nice if Pittsburgh could get one of its other cornerbacks to step up and become a legitimate number two.
The special teams unit in Pittsburgh is about average. Shaun Suisham and Jeremy Kapinos do a respectable job as the kicker and punter, but neither is a standout. Antonio Brown has been a dynamic returner, but with his role on offense growing, it is likely that the Steelers will look to some younger players to return kicks and punts, so the jury is still out as far as their return game goes.
Looking at the schedule, we see a slate of games that is pretty tough. Playing against the NFC East will be no easy task, and the Steelers also will have to go to Denver in Week 1 to try to avenge their playoff loss from last year. Pittsburgh will not play a divisional game until Week 7, and they will get the Ravens twice within a three game span in Weeks 11-13. There are no easy stretches on the schedule, so Pittsburgh will be challenged from start to finish in 2012.
Best-case scenario: The running game can stay afloat until Rashard Mendenhall returns, the offensive line is able to protect Roethlisberger and allow him to stay healthy for all 16 games, the defense plays just as well as it did last year, and the Steelers make a deep playoff run (possibly all the way to a Lombardi Trophy).
Worst-case scenario: The offensive line is unable to protect Roethlisberger and he is forced to play at less than 100% for the majority of the year, the defense regresses and some of the stars begin to show their age, and the Steelers miss the playoffs in what will be a tough division.
Realistic prediction: I am still concerned about the offensive line here. No matter how tough Roethlisberger is, he still will need some kind of help from his offensive line. I think the receivers can step up and make up for the loss of Ward, and I still think that the defense will be good (although maybe not spectacular like last season). I'm going to say that Pittsburgh will go 10-6 and challenge for a postseason berth.
Detroit Lions
After a long period of putrid football that included the first 0-16 season in the history of the NFL, the Lions turned into contenders in 2012, finishing 10-6 and making the playoffs. The season was highlighted by the emergence of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson as one of the most dangerous quarterback-wide receiver tandems in the league. Stafford was able to stay healthy for the entire year and had a great year, while Johnson has become, most would say, the best at his position in all of football.
Detroit is still not a perfect team, but making the postseason last year was a giant leap forward, and the 2012 Lions will have higher expectations than any Lions team in a very long time.
Non-divisional opponents: St. Louis, San Francisco, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Seattle, Jacksonville, Houston, Indianapolis, Arizona, Atlanta
A look at the numbers from 2011 show exactly how important Stafford and Johnson were to this team. The passing game was 4th best in the league, and the Lions were 5th in the league in total yards, as well as 4th in scoring. After that, the numbers are not as pretty. The 29th ranked rushing attack shows how much of a problem the running back position is, and the Lions defense was no higher than 22nd in any major category. Detroit did not make any major splashes in free agency, so they will be counting on improvement from the players surrounding Johnson and Stafford. If they can get better production from the supporting cast, the Lions could be a force to be reckoned with again in 2012.
As I have already mentioned, Matthew Stafford had a great 2011 season, and the former number one overall pick seems like he will be able to be the franchise quarterback that the Lions have been unable to find in a long, long time. However, Stafford has had a history of injuries, and 2011 was the first time he was finally fully healthy for a full season. Another injury-free season should be enough to prove that Stafford can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league for many years to come.
The 29th ranked rushing attack in the NFL obviously shows how one-dimensional this offense was in 2011. While Detroit's passing attack is one of the league's best, the team will greatly benefit from an improved rushing attack to take some of the pressure off of Stafford and his receiving corps. The problem is, the season has not even started yet and the Lions already have multiple issues in their backfield.
Jahvid Best is the top option at running back, but he has a lengthy injury history and will miss over a month to start the year. The second option is Mikel Leshoure, and he will miss the first two games of the year due to a suspension. The next option, Kevin Smith, suffered an ankle injury in the Lions third preseason game, but the injury doesn't appear too serious, and Smith should be the starter in Week 1. Smith played well in a few starts last year and if he can hold the fort down early in the year, the backfield of the Lions can be at full strength by midseason. Still, starting the year with the number three back on the depth chart certainly is not a good thing for a rushing attack that was already one of the worst in the NFL.
The group of receivers is headlined by Johnson, but he is by no means the only threat that Stafford has to throw to. Nate Burleson is not a household name when mentioning the best number two wideouts in the game, but with so much attention paid to Johnson by opposing defenses, Burleson has settled into a nice complementary role. Titus Young is also a very good third option, and he is still young with plenty of time to get better. Detroit also drafted Ryan Broyles in the second round to add even more depth.
At the tight end position, Detroit has Brandon Pettigrew, and he is developing into a top-flight option as well. With another full year of health from Stafford, this passing game actually has the potential to be even better than it was a season ago.
The offensive line is only average. The team drafted offensive tackle Riley Reiff with their first round pick, and they hope that he can make an impact sooner rather than later. Improvement from the group up front will not only open up holes for the running backs, but it will give Stafford a better chance to stay healthy.
Moving to the defensive side of the ball, the group up front is the strength. Ndamukong Suh is the biggest name of the bunch, although the reason for that is not only his on-field performance, but also his poor on-field behavior. He came into the league as a rookie in 2010 and had an unbelievably good year. In 2011, he regressed in terms of both his play on the field, but he also became known for his growing list of fines and suspensions. He is quickly gaining the reputation as one of the dirtiest players in the league, and it seemed as though that reputation hurt him and played a part in his statistical regression in 2011. Suh has made multiple proclamations about improving his on-field behavior, but he has not done enough to prove that he is truly committed to doing so. When at his best, he can be one of the most dominant forces in the game at the defensive tackle position, but he needs to control what is quickly becoming an attitude problem that could really hinder the growth of the defense as a whole.
The Lions also feature a very good group of defensive ends that can rush opposing passers. Kyle Vanden Bosch is a seasoned veteran who can still provide pressure off the edge. On the other side, Cliff Avril has shown a great deal of improvement and with Suh providing a potentially dominating presence in the middle of the line, Avril has been able to produce a lot of sacks. The Lions will count on him to do more of the same in 2012.
The linebacking group does not contain any superstars. They are an average group that greatly benefits from the talent on the line in front of them. Detroit used two late-round draft picks on the linebacker position with the hope that they can at least have good depth at the position, even if the group contains no standouts.
The secondary, like the linebacking corps, is only average. The team was 22nd in the league defending the pass in 2011, and that will need to improve, especially with more than a few teams on the schedule that feature very potent passing attacks. The two safeties are the best of the group, with free safety Louis Delmas being the best of the bunch. Detroit used three draft picks on defensive backs, and they added Jacob Lacey in free agency as well. Like the linebacking group, the Lions at least are attempting to build a lot of depth in the secondary.
The special teams group can get the job done, but is nothing spectacular. Jason Hanson, who has seemingly played forever, remains the kicker and Ryan Donahue is the punter. Stefan Logan can also be an explosive returner at times.
The schedule is not extremely difficult, but the Lions will play some tough games out of their division. The NFC North itself is a strong division though, and the head to head matchups between Detroit, Chicago, and Green Bay will likely decide who makes the postseason and who stays home.
Best-case scenario: Stafford and Johnson are both able to repeat their exceptional 2011 seasons, the running game at least stays afloat and can get back to full strength by the second half of the season, Suh keeps his behavior in check and turns in a dominant season that allows the rest of the defense around him to succeed, and the Lions win the division.
Worst-case scenario: Stafford gets injured, the running game is nowhere to be found, Suh adds to his growing list of fines and suspensions, the defense is exposed due to a down year from the group up front, and the Lions cannot keep up with Green Bay and Chicago in the division.
Realistic prediction: I still need to see Stafford remain fully healthy for another year before I can believe that he will be a star going forward, but his 2011 season was undeniably great. The Lions passing attack has the potential to be extremely potent, but the problems at running back before the season has even started certainly does not help. In a division with an extremely good Packers team, and a Bears team that has improved a lot, I am going to say that the Lions take a small step back in 2012 and finish with a record of 9-7.
That ends part eleven of my look at the upcoming NFL season. Next up will be the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys. That should be fun...
Daily Giants Update: There were a lot of good things that came from the third preseason game. The fourth and final game will be used almost exclusively to decide the final spots on the roster, and we are unlikely to see a lot of the starters much, if even at all. Nine days and counting until the season officially begins.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: Ugh
Thursday, August 23, 2012
2012 NFL Preview: Part Ten
As we get deeper and deeper into my look at the upcoming NFL season, next up is the Titans and the Falcons. Both of these teams have a good amount of questions coming into this season for a number of reasons. As I write this, the Titans are actually playing on ESPN, so it works out nicely. I can not only watch them on TV, but I can give you all a preseason look at them as well.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans had an up and down year in 2011. The star of the team, running back Chris Johnson, got a new contract before last year, and he was expected to be the best running back in the NFL. The problem was, someone must have forgotten to tell him that. He got off to a terrible start before finally picking up the pace at the end of the season, but by his previous standards it was a bad year. He finished with 1,047 yards, which is still a great year, but for a guy that broke the 2,000 yard barrier the year before, it was a big drop off. He also only scored four touchdowns, which was a big disappointment. For the Titans to improve this season, they will need Johnson to produce much more offense than he did in 2011.
Non-divisional opponents: New England, San Diego, Detroit, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Chicago, Miami, NY Jets, Green Bay
A look at the numbers from 2011 shows an offense that was below average, and the 31st ranked rushing average really reflects upon how poorly Johnson played. The passing attack was actually ranked 12th in the NFL, and the Titans have a group of receivers that are not exactly well known, but they are a pretty solid bunch. The scoring defense was 8th in the league, but the defense was below average in all other major categories, so the Titans can't expect a trend like that to continue in 2012. The defense needs to get better.
Aside from Johnson, the Titans also face a dilemma at the quarterback spot. Matt Hasselbeck was behind center for the majority of 2011, and although he is not nearly as respected as he should be, he put together a somewhat solid, if unspectacular season. That has been Hasselbeck's M.O. throughout his career. Going into 2012 though, the Titans have chosen to go with second year pro Jake Locker as their starting quarterback. Locker was highly touted coming out of the University of Washington when he was drafted, and the Titans hope that with a year learning from Hasselbeck and the staff under his belt, he can grow into the role of their starting quarterback and remain there for years to come. Locker does a lot of things well, and with Hasselbeck as a mentor, I think he has a chance to have a pretty good season.
The success of Locker, and the offense as a whole, largely will come down to how Chris Johnson performs. Was 2011 just an aberration? Or did Johnson get his big contract and then rest on his laurels? How Johnson performs this season will answer those questions. When at his best, Johnson is extremely explosive and can be unstoppable. However, if he is not focused, the offense will really suffer. If he is effective, the Titans can utilize the play-action pass to really fool defenses, and it will make Locker's transition into the starting role a lot easier.
As far as Locker's targets to throw to, they may not be household names, but he has a lot of solid options. Nate Washington had a very good 2011, and he seems like he is primed for another solid 2012. Kenny Britt is solid as well, but due to a combination of injuries and off-field problems, I am not sure that the Titans can count on him to be out there each and every week. He missed a lot of games in 2011 due to injury, and he is facing a possible suspension to start this year as well. Tennessee drafted wide receiver Kendall Wright out of Baylor in the first round this year, and he has the potential to be a nice weapon on the outside. Add a good receiving tight end in Jared Cook, along with Johnson's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, and the Titans have a better receiving corps than the casual fan might see on paper.
The offensive line is solid. Left guard Steve Hutchinson is the most well-known of the group, and although he is still a good player, he is on the downside of his career. Left tackle Michael Roos is probably the best of the group, and as I have said many times before, a good left tackle really goes a long way in helping young quarterbacks develop, so the presence of Roos should help Locker a lot. The rest of the line is good, but the depth is not so great, so the group up front will have to stay healthy. If they can protect Locker and open up holes for Johnson, the Titans offense has the potential to be above average across the board.
The defensive side of the ball is where the Titans struggled last season, and they lost a few pieces, so the unit will have to improve in 2012. One notable move Tennessee made in the offseason was the addition of defensive end Kamerion Wimbley. Wimbley has developed into a very good pass rusher, and his presence alone will help everyone around him. The Titans drafted defensive end Derrick Morgan with the hope that he could provide a good pass rushing threat off the edge, but he has been a disappointment thus far. The team hopes that with the addition of Wimbley on the other side, Morgan will have more space to attack. Defensive tackle Jurrell
As far as the linebacking unit goes, the Titans really like middle linebacker Colin McCarthy, and outside linebacker Akeem Ayers can be pretty good as well. Will Witherspoon is beginning to show his age on the weak side, but Tennessee drafted outside linebacker Zach Brown out of North Carolina with their second round pick, so with a little seasoning, he might be able to possibly step in and give the Titans a solid second option behind the aging Witherspoon.
The secondary is where the Titans took the biggest hit in the offseason, as cornerback Cortland Finnegan left for St. Louis. Finnegan is known for his feistiness and willingness to get in the face of opposing receivers, but his talent as a corner is undeniable, and the Titans will miss him. Jason McCourty will replace him as the number one cornerback, and McCourty is young and talented, so the team will hope that he can develop into a solid number one cornerback. Michael Griffin is a talented safety, and he has good playmaking ability and ball skills. The secondary is respectable, but there is no denying that the loss of Finnegan will hurt a passing defense that was already in the bottom half of the league.
As far as special teams goes, the Titans have arguably the best kicker in the league in Rob Bironas. He has a booming leg and very good accuracy. As I write this, their return specialist Marc Mariani just went down with a leg injury that looked pretty serious. We will have to wait to see what the prognosis is, but his lower leg was bending in a direction that legs are not supposed to bend, so this might be the last we see of Mariani in 2012. Losing him would be a big blow to Tennessee's return game.
The schedule is somewhat tough, as the Titans will get an NFC North division that contains three good teams, as well as games against the Patriots, Chargers, and Steelers. The first four games of the year are extremely tough (New England, San Diego, Detroit, Houston), and Tennessee should be thrilled if they can go 2-2 during that stretch. On paper, this schedule looks to be pretty tough, and I'm not sure that a team with a rookie quarterback will be able to find a lot of success.
Best-case scenario: Johnson bounces back and puts up over 1,500 yards, in turn allowing Locker to ease his way into the quarterback spot and find some early success, the young players on defense improve as a unit, and the Titans finish second in their division.
Worst-case scenario: Johnson struggles again, Locker flops as the starting quarterback, the loss of Finnegan proves costly as the Titans cannot stop teams from throwing the ball against them, and the Titans find themselves near the bottom of the division and out of playoff contention by Thanksgiving.
Realistic prediction: I think the worst-case scenario is more likely here. Locker has some of the tools to be a solid quarterback, but thus far has been nothing spectacular. With a pretty tough schedule in front of them, I am going to say that the Titans finish 5-11.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have a lot to prove in 2012. For some time now, Atlanta has been a team that has been able to succeed in the regular season, but they have continually fallen flat on their faces in the postseason. Over the past four seasons, the team has gone 11-5, 9-7, 13-3, and 10-6. They made the playoffs in three of those seasons, but did not win one playoff game in any of them, and they have not won any postseason game since 2004. I was shocked at how lifeless the team looked in the postseason last year when they lost 24-2 to my Giants. It was as if they had given up by the start of the third quarter. Unless they are finally able to turn regular season success into postseason success, the Falcons may need to make some serious changes.
Non-divisional opponents: Kansas City, Denver, San Diego, Washington, Oakland, Philadelphia, Dallas, Arizona, NY Giants, Detroit
The numbers from 2011 show a team that was above average pretty much across the board. The weakest part of their offense was the 17th ranked rushing attack, but with a very good running back in Michael Turner, I don't think that the running game is too much of a concern.
Defensively, the weakest link was the secondary. The Falcons added Asante Samuel to try to address this, but there is a reason that the Eagles were willing to let him go. He is not the standout corner that he was with the Patriots, and they will need improvement from their holdovers in the secondary to prevent teams from being able to throw the ball against them again.
Matt Ryan is an enigma at quarterback. There have been a growing number of rookie quarterbacks that have found instant success in their first year in the league, but he seemed to set that trend during his rookie season. He has been very solid as the quarterback of the Falcons, and has an unbelievably good record in home games since he came into the league, but the failures of the team in the postseason have mirrored Ryan's play. There is only so long that a player can go before they need to step up in the big games, and Ryan is reaching the point that he has to do so. As of now, he is a very good quarterback, but until he finally starts to lead the Falcons to victories in the playoffs, he will never reach the level of the best in the game.
The running game has been a staple in the offense of the Falcons for the last few seasons. Coming over from San Diego as a backup to LaDainian Tomlinson, there were some questions about how Michael Turner would perform as the starting running back. He is on the smaller side and had never shouldered the load as a full-time number one back, but he has since answered all of those questions and become a workhorse back that the Falcons can count on. His durability and toughness have allowed him to pass most reasonable expectations of him, and he has become one of the best backs in the NFL since coming to Atlanta.
The receiving corps in Atlanta is also a definite strength. Number one wideout Roddy White is a legitimate star, and Julio Jones seems to be establishing himself as a great number two option for Ryan to throw to. Tight end Tony Gonzalez may be getting old, but he is one of the best at his position in the history of the game, and he is still a very effective weapon, especially when teams have to double cover the receivers and he can roam freely in the middle of the field. Harry Douglas is an unknown name to a lot of people, but as the number four receiving option, he is well above average. As far as skill position players around him, Ryan has plenty of great weapons that he can utilize in all kinds of different ways.
The offensive line is the weakest part of this offense, and if the guys up front can improve, this offense has the potential to be one of the best in the league. Right tackle Tyson Clabo is the best of the bunch, and while no one on the line is terrible, there is also no one that is great. If the unit can play better, then it will make things a lot easier for the rest of the offense to put up points.
The defensive line, like the offensive line, is good but not great. John Abraham has been one of the best in the business at rushing the passer for a while, but he does not have the quickness and burst that he once had. He can still cause problems for opposing quarterbacks, but the Falcons cannot count on him to take over games by himself like he once did. Corey Peters can be pretty good inside, and Ray Edwards is a respectable pass rusher opposite Abraham, so Atlanta will need someone besides Abraham to be able to provide consistent pressure on opposing offenses.
The linebacking corps is only average at best. Outside linebacker Sean Witherspoon is the best of the bunch, but the rest of the group is unspectacular. The team added Lofa Tatupu in the offseason, and he had some good years in Seattle, but has been disappointing recently. The linebackers will need to step up and not be the weak link of the defense.
In the secondary, Atlanta has some players that have the potential to combine to form a pretty good unit, at least at the cornerback position. Brent Grimes has developed into a pretty good corner, and as I said before, Asante Samuel was added over the offseason. Although not a perfect cornerback, he still has terrific ball skills, but his tackling, as it has always been, is sub par. With more than a few teams on the schedule that have numerous receiving threats, Atlanta's secondary will need to play well.
The special teams unit is solid. Harry Douglas is a good threat as a returner. Matt Bryant and Matt Bosher are not outstanding, but they provide a kicking game that is good enough.
The schedule this year is pretty tough for the Falcons. They get the NFC East, which is arguably the best division in football, as well as the AFC West, which has some teams that are ascending. Atlanta only plays one division game in the first nine weeks of the year, so success in the second half of the season will be imperative. As I said before though, this is no longer a team that will be judged on its success in the regular season alone. Until they start winning postseason games, Atlanta will not be meeting expectations.
Best-case scenario: Ryan is able to put together a very good year and utilize the numerous weapons around him, the defense can step up and play better as a unit, and the Falcons finally can advance in the playoffs. Maybe not to the Super Bowl, but any kind of postseason victory will do at this point.
Worst-case scenario: The defense struggles and cannot stop many of the high-powered offenses that Atlanta will face, Atlanta gets overtaken by the Panthers in the division and misses the playoffs, and serious changes are made in the offseason, starting with the firing of head coach Mike Smith.
Realistic prediction: Until this team shows me that they can succeed in the postseason, recent history suggests that they will not meet the expectations that many have placed upon them for the past few years. A tough schedule ahead of them doesn't help. I'm going to say 9-7.
So that's all for part ten of my NFL preview series. Next will be a look at the second place teams from 2011 in the AFC and NFC North, the Lions and the Steelers.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans had an up and down year in 2011. The star of the team, running back Chris Johnson, got a new contract before last year, and he was expected to be the best running back in the NFL. The problem was, someone must have forgotten to tell him that. He got off to a terrible start before finally picking up the pace at the end of the season, but by his previous standards it was a bad year. He finished with 1,047 yards, which is still a great year, but for a guy that broke the 2,000 yard barrier the year before, it was a big drop off. He also only scored four touchdowns, which was a big disappointment. For the Titans to improve this season, they will need Johnson to produce much more offense than he did in 2011.
Non-divisional opponents: New England, San Diego, Detroit, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Chicago, Miami, NY Jets, Green Bay
A look at the numbers from 2011 shows an offense that was below average, and the 31st ranked rushing average really reflects upon how poorly Johnson played. The passing attack was actually ranked 12th in the NFL, and the Titans have a group of receivers that are not exactly well known, but they are a pretty solid bunch. The scoring defense was 8th in the league, but the defense was below average in all other major categories, so the Titans can't expect a trend like that to continue in 2012. The defense needs to get better.
Aside from Johnson, the Titans also face a dilemma at the quarterback spot. Matt Hasselbeck was behind center for the majority of 2011, and although he is not nearly as respected as he should be, he put together a somewhat solid, if unspectacular season. That has been Hasselbeck's M.O. throughout his career. Going into 2012 though, the Titans have chosen to go with second year pro Jake Locker as their starting quarterback. Locker was highly touted coming out of the University of Washington when he was drafted, and the Titans hope that with a year learning from Hasselbeck and the staff under his belt, he can grow into the role of their starting quarterback and remain there for years to come. Locker does a lot of things well, and with Hasselbeck as a mentor, I think he has a chance to have a pretty good season.
The success of Locker, and the offense as a whole, largely will come down to how Chris Johnson performs. Was 2011 just an aberration? Or did Johnson get his big contract and then rest on his laurels? How Johnson performs this season will answer those questions. When at his best, Johnson is extremely explosive and can be unstoppable. However, if he is not focused, the offense will really suffer. If he is effective, the Titans can utilize the play-action pass to really fool defenses, and it will make Locker's transition into the starting role a lot easier.
As far as Locker's targets to throw to, they may not be household names, but he has a lot of solid options. Nate Washington had a very good 2011, and he seems like he is primed for another solid 2012. Kenny Britt is solid as well, but due to a combination of injuries and off-field problems, I am not sure that the Titans can count on him to be out there each and every week. He missed a lot of games in 2011 due to injury, and he is facing a possible suspension to start this year as well. Tennessee drafted wide receiver Kendall Wright out of Baylor in the first round this year, and he has the potential to be a nice weapon on the outside. Add a good receiving tight end in Jared Cook, along with Johnson's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, and the Titans have a better receiving corps than the casual fan might see on paper.
The offensive line is solid. Left guard Steve Hutchinson is the most well-known of the group, and although he is still a good player, he is on the downside of his career. Left tackle Michael Roos is probably the best of the group, and as I have said many times before, a good left tackle really goes a long way in helping young quarterbacks develop, so the presence of Roos should help Locker a lot. The rest of the line is good, but the depth is not so great, so the group up front will have to stay healthy. If they can protect Locker and open up holes for Johnson, the Titans offense has the potential to be above average across the board.
The defensive side of the ball is where the Titans struggled last season, and they lost a few pieces, so the unit will have to improve in 2012. One notable move Tennessee made in the offseason was the addition of defensive end Kamerion Wimbley. Wimbley has developed into a very good pass rusher, and his presence alone will help everyone around him. The Titans drafted defensive end Derrick Morgan with the hope that he could provide a good pass rushing threat off the edge, but he has been a disappointment thus far. The team hopes that with the addition of Wimbley on the other side, Morgan will have more space to attack. Defensive tackle Jurrell
As far as the linebacking unit goes, the Titans really like middle linebacker Colin McCarthy, and outside linebacker Akeem Ayers can be pretty good as well. Will Witherspoon is beginning to show his age on the weak side, but Tennessee drafted outside linebacker Zach Brown out of North Carolina with their second round pick, so with a little seasoning, he might be able to possibly step in and give the Titans a solid second option behind the aging Witherspoon.
The secondary is where the Titans took the biggest hit in the offseason, as cornerback Cortland Finnegan left for St. Louis. Finnegan is known for his feistiness and willingness to get in the face of opposing receivers, but his talent as a corner is undeniable, and the Titans will miss him. Jason McCourty will replace him as the number one cornerback, and McCourty is young and talented, so the team will hope that he can develop into a solid number one cornerback. Michael Griffin is a talented safety, and he has good playmaking ability and ball skills. The secondary is respectable, but there is no denying that the loss of Finnegan will hurt a passing defense that was already in the bottom half of the league.
As far as special teams goes, the Titans have arguably the best kicker in the league in Rob Bironas. He has a booming leg and very good accuracy. As I write this, their return specialist Marc Mariani just went down with a leg injury that looked pretty serious. We will have to wait to see what the prognosis is, but his lower leg was bending in a direction that legs are not supposed to bend, so this might be the last we see of Mariani in 2012. Losing him would be a big blow to Tennessee's return game.
The schedule is somewhat tough, as the Titans will get an NFC North division that contains three good teams, as well as games against the Patriots, Chargers, and Steelers. The first four games of the year are extremely tough (New England, San Diego, Detroit, Houston), and Tennessee should be thrilled if they can go 2-2 during that stretch. On paper, this schedule looks to be pretty tough, and I'm not sure that a team with a rookie quarterback will be able to find a lot of success.
Best-case scenario: Johnson bounces back and puts up over 1,500 yards, in turn allowing Locker to ease his way into the quarterback spot and find some early success, the young players on defense improve as a unit, and the Titans finish second in their division.
Worst-case scenario: Johnson struggles again, Locker flops as the starting quarterback, the loss of Finnegan proves costly as the Titans cannot stop teams from throwing the ball against them, and the Titans find themselves near the bottom of the division and out of playoff contention by Thanksgiving.
Realistic prediction: I think the worst-case scenario is more likely here. Locker has some of the tools to be a solid quarterback, but thus far has been nothing spectacular. With a pretty tough schedule in front of them, I am going to say that the Titans finish 5-11.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have a lot to prove in 2012. For some time now, Atlanta has been a team that has been able to succeed in the regular season, but they have continually fallen flat on their faces in the postseason. Over the past four seasons, the team has gone 11-5, 9-7, 13-3, and 10-6. They made the playoffs in three of those seasons, but did not win one playoff game in any of them, and they have not won any postseason game since 2004. I was shocked at how lifeless the team looked in the postseason last year when they lost 24-2 to my Giants. It was as if they had given up by the start of the third quarter. Unless they are finally able to turn regular season success into postseason success, the Falcons may need to make some serious changes.
Non-divisional opponents: Kansas City, Denver, San Diego, Washington, Oakland, Philadelphia, Dallas, Arizona, NY Giants, Detroit
The numbers from 2011 show a team that was above average pretty much across the board. The weakest part of their offense was the 17th ranked rushing attack, but with a very good running back in Michael Turner, I don't think that the running game is too much of a concern.
Defensively, the weakest link was the secondary. The Falcons added Asante Samuel to try to address this, but there is a reason that the Eagles were willing to let him go. He is not the standout corner that he was with the Patriots, and they will need improvement from their holdovers in the secondary to prevent teams from being able to throw the ball against them again.
Matt Ryan is an enigma at quarterback. There have been a growing number of rookie quarterbacks that have found instant success in their first year in the league, but he seemed to set that trend during his rookie season. He has been very solid as the quarterback of the Falcons, and has an unbelievably good record in home games since he came into the league, but the failures of the team in the postseason have mirrored Ryan's play. There is only so long that a player can go before they need to step up in the big games, and Ryan is reaching the point that he has to do so. As of now, he is a very good quarterback, but until he finally starts to lead the Falcons to victories in the playoffs, he will never reach the level of the best in the game.
The running game has been a staple in the offense of the Falcons for the last few seasons. Coming over from San Diego as a backup to LaDainian Tomlinson, there were some questions about how Michael Turner would perform as the starting running back. He is on the smaller side and had never shouldered the load as a full-time number one back, but he has since answered all of those questions and become a workhorse back that the Falcons can count on. His durability and toughness have allowed him to pass most reasonable expectations of him, and he has become one of the best backs in the NFL since coming to Atlanta.
The receiving corps in Atlanta is also a definite strength. Number one wideout Roddy White is a legitimate star, and Julio Jones seems to be establishing himself as a great number two option for Ryan to throw to. Tight end Tony Gonzalez may be getting old, but he is one of the best at his position in the history of the game, and he is still a very effective weapon, especially when teams have to double cover the receivers and he can roam freely in the middle of the field. Harry Douglas is an unknown name to a lot of people, but as the number four receiving option, he is well above average. As far as skill position players around him, Ryan has plenty of great weapons that he can utilize in all kinds of different ways.
The offensive line is the weakest part of this offense, and if the guys up front can improve, this offense has the potential to be one of the best in the league. Right tackle Tyson Clabo is the best of the bunch, and while no one on the line is terrible, there is also no one that is great. If the unit can play better, then it will make things a lot easier for the rest of the offense to put up points.
The defensive line, like the offensive line, is good but not great. John Abraham has been one of the best in the business at rushing the passer for a while, but he does not have the quickness and burst that he once had. He can still cause problems for opposing quarterbacks, but the Falcons cannot count on him to take over games by himself like he once did. Corey Peters can be pretty good inside, and Ray Edwards is a respectable pass rusher opposite Abraham, so Atlanta will need someone besides Abraham to be able to provide consistent pressure on opposing offenses.
The linebacking corps is only average at best. Outside linebacker Sean Witherspoon is the best of the bunch, but the rest of the group is unspectacular. The team added Lofa Tatupu in the offseason, and he had some good years in Seattle, but has been disappointing recently. The linebackers will need to step up and not be the weak link of the defense.
In the secondary, Atlanta has some players that have the potential to combine to form a pretty good unit, at least at the cornerback position. Brent Grimes has developed into a pretty good corner, and as I said before, Asante Samuel was added over the offseason. Although not a perfect cornerback, he still has terrific ball skills, but his tackling, as it has always been, is sub par. With more than a few teams on the schedule that have numerous receiving threats, Atlanta's secondary will need to play well.
The special teams unit is solid. Harry Douglas is a good threat as a returner. Matt Bryant and Matt Bosher are not outstanding, but they provide a kicking game that is good enough.
The schedule this year is pretty tough for the Falcons. They get the NFC East, which is arguably the best division in football, as well as the AFC West, which has some teams that are ascending. Atlanta only plays one division game in the first nine weeks of the year, so success in the second half of the season will be imperative. As I said before though, this is no longer a team that will be judged on its success in the regular season alone. Until they start winning postseason games, Atlanta will not be meeting expectations.
Best-case scenario: Ryan is able to put together a very good year and utilize the numerous weapons around him, the defense can step up and play better as a unit, and the Falcons finally can advance in the playoffs. Maybe not to the Super Bowl, but any kind of postseason victory will do at this point.
Worst-case scenario: The defense struggles and cannot stop many of the high-powered offenses that Atlanta will face, Atlanta gets overtaken by the Panthers in the division and misses the playoffs, and serious changes are made in the offseason, starting with the firing of head coach Mike Smith.
Realistic prediction: Until this team shows me that they can succeed in the postseason, recent history suggests that they will not meet the expectations that many have placed upon them for the past few years. A tough schedule ahead of them doesn't help. I'm going to say 9-7.
So that's all for part ten of my NFL preview series. Next will be a look at the second place teams from 2011 in the AFC and NFC North, the Lions and the Steelers.
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