The NFL has undergone a number of changes in the past 25 years.  Foremost among those changes have been the liberalization of rules to strengthen the passing game.  Quarterbacks have never been as protected as they are today.  Receivers have never had more room to operate — and they’ve never been bigger.  In 1996, Keyshawn Johnson and Terrell Owens exploded the concept Sterling Sharpe and Michael Irvin had brought to life in 1985.  These big, powerful receivers have become the prototype for a generation.  Of course, they are not alone.  Receivers like Carolina’s Steve Smith and Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward continue to be effective.  So who is covering these guys?

Former Cal Bear, Nnamdi Asomugha - A Thinking Man's Corner

In 2003, the NFL had what I believe to be the best class ever for defensive backs.  Six players were taken in the first round.  Eight more were drafted in the second round.  Eight players were taken in the fourth round.  Among those fourth round selections were a handful of the best cover corners in the league: Buffalo’s Terrence McGee (111th overall), Philadelphia’s Asante Samuel (120th overall by New England), and Pittsburgh’s Ike Taylor (125th overall).  Samuel (2) and McGee (1) have played in three Pro Bowls.  Taylor has yet to make it, but his coverage skills are comparable to anyone in the league.

Taylor Can Cover...He Just Can't Catch!

Asante Samuel has 31 career interceptions.  Ike Taylor has just eight.  For Samuel, its enough to lead a prestigious class that includes #43 Troy Polamalu (pictured above), Jacksonville Jaguar Rashean Mathis, and Oakland Raider Nnamdi Asomugha.  Among those who cover the league, the former Cal Bear Asomugha (#31 overall) is the best cover corner in the league.  That’s heady praise for a guy who plays in the same division as Champ Bailey and is a former teammate of Charles Woodson.  It may or may not be deserved, but his inclusion in this conversation is duly noted.

Mathis, meanwhile, may be the best corner that no one knows outside of Florida.  He does it all and has 28 career interceptions.  Mathis has great hands, speed and agility.  At 6-1, 200 lbs., this graduate of Bethune-Cookman proved his mettle by earning a first-team All Pro nod in 2006.  He had eight interceptions that season.  Quarterbacks around the league have learned the lesson.  He hasn’t had more than four in a season since then.  He plays four games every season vs. Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson.  He’s as good as it gets.

Rashean Mathis -- All Wheels, All Hands, All Ball.

Another superb talent in this draft class is Chicago Bear cornerback Charles Tillman.  Like Mathis, Tillman has good size and plays with tremendous speed and leverage.  Tillman’s forte is the strip.  He has forced 19 fumbles since being the 35th pick of the 2003 draft.  He also has 22 career interceptions.  He has more than 450 tackles.  The only two players drafted in 2003 with more tackles than Tillman are his teammate Lance Briggs and Packer LB Nick Barnett. (NOTE:  Tillman and Taylor both went to the University of Louisiana – Lafayette.)

Tillman: 19 forced fumbles, 22 interceptions.

Tillman’s numbers are spectacular.  He was the 7th defensive back taken in that draft.  Terrence Newman of the Dallas Cowboys was first.  Newman has not turned in to the elite corner that was anticipated when he left Kansas State, but he is still starting for the team and he is making plays.  He has 21 career interceptions and has played in one Pro Bowl. Newman, arguably, is improving at this stage of his career.  He has forced three fumbles this season.

Seattle selected Marcus Trufant with the 11th pick.  He was a Pro Bowler in 2007.  He has 18 career interceptions and 430+ tackles.  Trufant has put in work in the league and is a solid performer — when healthy.

Titans draft pick Andre Woolfolk (Oklahoma, 28th overall) has been out of the league since 2006.  He had an undistinguished career with the Titans.  He had good size and wheels.  He might have excelled in a different system, but a team with players like Adam Jones and Courtland Finnegan has a nose for DB talent.

The other first round pick, Sammy Davis (Texas A&M) by the Chargers didn’t work out either.  Davis played with three teams and was last with the Buccaneers in 2007.

So who are some of the other notables in this draft class:

• Eugene Wilson.  He played cornerback at Illinois, was converted to safety by the New England Patriots and earned a Super Bowl ring in 2003 and 2004.  Wilson started alongside Rodney Harrison on the undefeated 2007 team.  He plays for the Houston Texans.
• Ken Hamlin.  Drafted by the Seahawks out of Arkansas, Hamlin gained a reputation as a ferocious hitter.  He was a solid performer in Seattle (2007 Pro Bowl) and now plays for the Dallas Cowboys.
• Mike Doss.  The former Ohio State Buckeye safety was drafted to play in Tony Dungy’s cover-2 scheme.  Doss was on the field when the Colts defeated the Bears in the Super Bowl a few years ago.  He has been supplanted by the ferocious Bob Sanders in Indy, but he was solid during his tenure in Indy.  He cashed in his Super Bowl chips and spent a year with Leslie Frazier in Minnesota, and a year with Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati.  Doss is out of the league.
• Ricky Manning, Jr. You remember him! He was the UCLA rookie (3rd round, 82nd overall) who fueled the Carolina Panthers to a road playoff win in Philadelphia back in 2003.  The Eagles were set to play in the Super Bowl and face off against either the Colts or Patriots.  The Panthers were a bunch of upstarts with two young corners who were going to get run off the field.  Instead, the guys who lined up across from Manning never even made it off the line of scrimmage.  He delivered a masterful beat down to everyone wearing green that day.  Three interceptions later, Manning was a star and the Panthers were headed to the Super Bowl.  Ricky Manning, Jr. plays for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League.
• Yeremiah Bell.  Bell is the Dolphins starting strong safety.  He was drafted in the 6th round, 213th overall.  He’s been a solid performer for the Dolphins.
• Donnie Nickey, Tennessee Titans strong safety (Ohio State, 5th round, 154th overall).  Nickey played with Doss in the national championship game and anchored a secondary (along with Chris Gamble) that beat the Miami Hurricanes featuring Kellen Winslow, Jr., Willis McGahee and several other players drafted in the first round.  Nickey has played in 96 NFL games.

I won’t use this time and space to talk about Troy Polamalu.  It is sufficient to say that his career is on a Hall of Fame trajectory.  He is the headliner for his class.  What is particularly noteworthy, though, is the level of talent throughout this class.  Some of these corners have size.  Some still play in the return game.  McGee has five kickoff return touchdowns (seven total) in his career.  Most excel against elite receivers.  Chad Ochocinco hasn’t had a 100-yard game vs. Pittsburgh since Ike Taylor was looking for a prom date.  Andre Johnson hasn’t had a 100-yard game vs. Jacksonville since the middle of 2006. They all wreak havoc all over the field.  They require teams to game plan for them.  Charles Tillman, Ike Taylor, Rashean Mathis, Terrence McGee and Nnamdi Asomugha are as good as it gets in the NFL — and they all came to play at the same time.

2003 was the NFL’s best draft class for defensive backs.  It will be interesting to see if they eventually get the full credit they deserve for playing in an area where the decks are stacked against defenders.

]]> http://tonysports.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/jets-looking-to-slain-two-headed-monster/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:54:32 +0000 illwill30 http://tonysports.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/jets-looking-to-slain-two-headed-monster/ http://rookieblitz.com/2009/11/27/stock-market-friday-nfl-week-12/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:05:56 +0000 Brandon LaClair http://rookieblitz.com/2009/11/27/stock-market-friday-nfl-week-12/ http://ianlewis2007.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/good-news-for-vauxhall-jobs/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:38:17 +0000 stevesmith2010 http://ianlewis2007.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/good-news-for-vauxhall-jobs/

I was pleased to hear the good news that General Motors are not going to cut any jobs in Ellesmere Port. It is about time the workforce got some good news.  I know lots of people locally work there, so well done to everybody for their hard work.

It’s the cymbal thingy on a drum set? It’s played by raising and lowering the foot allowing it to clash together. The pressure of the lowering can depend on the sound it produces. It reportedly was invented as a way for musicians to play more than one instrument at a time.

Its also apparently a type of cupcake. Hmm, learn something new (and random every day)

Here’s a cool video of Steve Smith of Journey performing Mr. Hi Hat:

After a busy morning cooking the mens breakfast at Christchurch Parish Centre and then delivering the by election newsline on the Lingham Estate, along with our candidate Steve Williams, a less strenuous afternoon was the order of the day.

I  visited the Christmas Fair at Sandbrook Community Centre along with Leah Fraser.

The fair was well supported and had the usual stalls, bric a brac, cakes and my favourite tombola. I came away with two cans of lager as my prizes, not like Leah who carried off a bottle of gin! Father Christmas was pleased to see me as the photograph demonstrates, I did ask for an early Christmas present, wonder what it was?

Well done to everyone involved in organisisng the fair, it was good to see the scout post with a stall at the fair too.

Analysis of Week 11 in the NFL

Game Recaps

Dolphins 24 Panthers 17

Does anyone watch Thursday Night Football this season? Two weeks, and two of the most boring and meaningless games later, we considered shutting the TV off. We watched to see if the Dolphins abandoned the Wild Cat after Ronnie Brown was injured. They didn’t. We watched to see if Jake Delhomme could go another game without an interception. He couldn’t. At least this week is Thanksgiving, so they are forced to put something interesting on.
Game Ball: Ricky Williams had 22 carries for 119 yards and two touchdowns after takin gover full-time running back duties.

Redskins 6 Cowboys 7

Arguably the worst played game of the day. Dallas may be winning, but they don’t look like a powerhouse by any means. The Cowboys are squeeking by,  but they won’t be for lon gif they keep this up. To beat the Redskins by one point is a joke, especially when your defense couldn’t even get to Jason Campbell all day. Washington played like they have all season, but the Cowboys can’t afford to keep things status quo. Their schedule gets worse as the weeks go on.
Game Ball: No thank you.

Browns 37 Lions 38

Did you expect this game was going to be this incredible? Couldn’t have asked for a better game out of Brady Quinn or Matthew Stafford, but simply watching Stafford battle through injury to come back and throw the game winning touchdown was something, wasn’t it? Our theory: Both teams are about good enough to win in Division I college football, so it’s no wonder Stafford and Quinn looked like stars. It does help, however, when you have Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew to catch those passes.
Game Ball: Brady Quinn went 21 for 33 with four touchdowns, his best performance of his career.

49ers 24 Packers 30

The 49ers are a powerful team, but their last awakenings/second-half comebacks aren’t enough this season. Mike Singletary has the right to be mad – his defense could only manage two sacks and couldn’t shut down Aaron Rodgers at all in the first half. Green Bay looked like the total team Sunday – Ryan Grant led on the ground while Greg Jennings led the air attack. The defense was strong including the secondary. Green Bay is creeping their way back into relevance.
Game Ball: Ryan Grant has 21 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Steelers 24 Chiefs 27

What?! Huh?! Don’t worry, we have an explaination for this: Kansas City head coach Todd Hailey spent two weeks last year trying to beat the Steelers. While he couldn’t get it done in the Super Bowl, this win may have meant more. Yes, it was in overtime after Ben Roethlisberger was injured, but even with the wins, the numbers don’t match up. The Steelers played a great game, a complete game, so the statistics were a surprise. Let’s hope, for the Steelers sake, that Roethlisberger is alright.
Game Ball: Chris Chambers caught four passes for 119 yards, including the one that eventually won them the game.

Seahawks 9 Vikings 35

The Vikings are doing this quietly, but boy are they doing it. Brett Favre is getting better as the weeks go on, this time connecting with his four best recievers for touchdowns (Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, Visanthe Shiancoe, and Sidney Rice) before Seattle had even scored a point. At this time, Minnesota has so many weapons it’s got to be nearly impossible to game plan against them. Seattle, along with Matt Hasselbeck, looked lackluster (especially their run game, which went a grand total of four yards).
Game Ball: Brett Favre went 22 for 25 with 214 yards and four touchdowns.

Atlanta 31 Giants 34

Atlanta stages a valiant battle, but the Giants couldn’t lose five straight, could they? Eli Manning couldn’t let people think he was horrible, and the defense couldn’t have lost a step, could they? Not this week. The Giants stay in the hunt with the win, in part because their leading receivers (Mario Manningham and Steve Smith) seemingly returned to form. Atlanta may be out of the wildcard hunt, but we are more surprised that Matt Ryan hasn’t progressed this year at all (he may have even digressed a little).
Game Ball: Mario Manningham had six catches for 126 yards.

New Orleans 38 Buccaneers 7

You would think, with the coverage, that the Saints didn’t play Sunday. Oh, but they did. For a game that got off to an awfully slow start, the Saints sure put up some numbers. Tampa Bay, has lost that fire we saw in the last two weeks, especially Josh Freeman who looked startled to say the least. His three interceptions let the Saints dominate. Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas made up for the loss of  Reggie Bush. What was supposed to happen, did happen… to the Buc’s dismay.
Game Ball: Pierre Thomas went 92 yards on 11 carries.

Bills 15 Jaguars 18

This is what happens when you don’t hav ea running game. You can throw and throw and all you will get are interceptions and mismanagement. Terrell Owens got his big game and outplayed everyone on the field, but how can his day only translate to one touchdown for Buffalo? Answer: No running game. David Gerrard was sloppy and the Jags really need to tighten up their offense before they lose the games that wouldn’t put them in the playoffs.
Game Ball: Terrell Owens had nine catches for 197 yards and one, amazing, 98 yard touchdown catch.

Ravens 15 Colts 17

If you as us, as of now the Colts have had the toughest road to 10-0. Baltimore’s defense was ready for this matchip, and they did incredible against Peyton Manning, limiting him to one touchdown and two interceptions. They just have too much to guard, even for Baltimore’s defense. You block Dallas Clark? You left room for Pierre Garcon or missed Joseph Addai. even on his worst day, Peyton Manning is dangerous… and the Ravens learned that.
Game Ball: Pierre Garcon had six receptions for 108 yards.

Cardinals 21 Rams 13

ESPN’s Monday morning coverage mentioned that the bad teams are getting better as the weeks go on – as is the case with the Rams. They have a lot of holes to fill, but they gave Arizona a run for their money that suggests the Rams could be successful again some day. Steven Jackson had his fourth 100+  yard game in a row, but all fingers point to the quarterback, Marc Bulger, and his inability to keep the ball. Arizona may be 7-3, but no one is paying attention. The Kurt Warner/Larry Fitzgerald/Anquan Bodon connection is back, and the Cards are more threatening seeing that they are under the radar.
Game Ball: Anquan Boldon had eight receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown.

Chargers 32 Broncos 3

We really did think this would be a little more competitive, but San Diego wanted the AFC West so they went in to Denver and took it. Denver didn’t have much a choice in letting Kyle Orton play, but it was clear that he wasn’t the same and that he wasn’t in sync with the offense. That great Denver defense lost Brian Dawkins and never even got through to sack Philip Rivers, but it was the 200+ rushing yards that the Chargers put up that made the difference here. The Broncos can’t seem to stop the bleeding – their vets are injured, they are  yelling at each other, and it looks like they need leadership more than ever. Young Josh McDaniels needs to think of something… and quick.
Game Ball: The San Diego running backs – LaDainian Tomlinson, Mike Tolbert, Jacob Hester, and Darren Sproles – ran for 203 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry on a whole.

Bengals 17 Raiders 20

Another head scratcher this week. The Bengals looked cocky and in control coming in – but perhaps that was too much. Behind new starter Bruce Gadkowski, Oakland showed us the team we have seen glimpses of all season (but that great team usually loses the game in the final minutes). Cincinnati’s defense that shut down the Steelers last week looked weak and tired. Three fumbles, an interception, and two Carson Palmer rushing touchdowns later (hey, if you don’t have a running back you have to do it yourself) the Bengals came out of this one looking stupid. The Raiders, however, we can assume will turn back into themselves at midnight… but this week was one to remember for Oakland fans everywhere.
Game Ball: The Oakland defense shut down Cincinnati to keep them in the game, and then held them to a shut-out fourth quarter to seal the deal.

Jets 14 Patriots 31

Even if the Jets didn’t have major injuries and a turnover-prone quarterback, the Pats still would have won. Whoever played them this week, after that fourth-and-two fiasco, was bound to get a beating. The  difference between this week and the last time they met was simple: Wes Welker. Because Darrelle Revis is so great at covering Randy Moss, Welker gives Tom Brady someone else to throw to. We are wondering, however, where Mark Sanchez of Week 3 went.
Game Ball: Laurence Maroney had 22 carries for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

Eagles 24 Bears 20

The Eagles seem to always find a way to win the game taht matter, so it was no surprise here. They’re playing well, and the tradition in Philly is getting better as the season goes on. Rookie running back Shady McCoy is progressing, McNabb is accurate, and their defense is still dangerous… but there is something lacking in Philadelphia. As for Jay Cutler and the Bears, we’re pretty sure they aren’t going to be the subject of any good news for the next couple months. It isn’t all Cutler’s fault – there’s the receivers who drop  balls aimed at their chest, and the defense who couldn’t stop my pee wee team. Can we start speculating about their off season yet?
Game Ball: Shady McCoy did fumble the ball, but he came back to the tune of 99 yards and one touchdown.

Titans 20 Houston 17

This game was a brawl from the start, but we were not sure who we wanted to see win. On one hand, you have Houston on the nation-wide screen for the first time this year, with an amazing offense and and upstart defense. On the other, you have Tennessee, who is surging behind Vince Young. The Titan’s rushing game, with Young involved, is untouched in the AFC (and maybe the league if they continue on this pace). You have two young guns, and no interceptions in a game? Any night that comes down to a last second field goal (after a last minute field goal) is an outstanding Monday night on this end.
Game Ball: Vince Young looked composed on Monday  night. He went 12 for 22 for 116 yards and one touchdown, but rushed 74 yards on ten carries.

Week 11 Wrap Up

- Injuries: Rams QB Marc Bulger is out for the next three to six weeks with a broken leg. Several MRIs revealed the break after the Rams thought he sustained just a muscle strain and a knee issue… Lions QB Matthew Stafford seperated his shoulder in the game against Cleveland on Sunday. He played in the game, throwing the game-winning touchdown pass before running off the field in pain. He may be out for the Thanksgiving game because of the short rest for the Lions… Although it was good news for Ben Roethlisberger’s head issues,Super Bowl foe Kurt Warner will undergo more tests to see if he did in fact sustain a concussion Sunday. The tests will be in around Thursday… While Roethlisberger isn’t nearly as bad as his injury could have left him, back-up Charlie Batch is having surgery on his wrist after sustaining an injury in his only series in overtime on Sunday. It is still unknown when Batch injured his wrist… Redskins running back Ladell Betts will be out for the rest of the season with strains to both the MCL and the ACL. Washington was already down one running back, with Clinton Portis out with a concussion… And finally, Bills C Eric Wood broke two bones in his left leg during play on Sunday. He is having surgery to repair the damage. DONT WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO UNLESS YOU WANT TO GAG.
- In a meeting Monday, the NFL and the NFLPA have agreed on a more aggressive procedure for players with concussion, starting with hiring neurologists for each team. The NFL will be putting up half of the money to hire these doctors, and about half of the 32 teams in the league have been approved already.
- Tuesday morning, and we have a lot of disgruntled coaches out there. Browns “coach” Eric Mangini contends that the Lions were faking their injuries in order to slow the Browns down on Sunday, while Jets coach Rex Ryan is mad that the Patriots threw a long, hail mary pass when their game was already in hand. Ryan called the move “disrespectful”.
- Just keeps getting worse in Denver. During Sunday’s loss to the Chargers, wide receiver Brandon Marshall was seen on the sidelines screaming at rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, who had fumbled the ball on the goal line. The trash talk restarted Monday morning to reporters.
- In the beginning stages of their search for a new head coach, the Bills apparently reached out to Bill Cowher, who politely declined.

And the UDU Game Ball Goes to…

We know the Lions aren’t going to be a playoff team for at least the next two years, but Detroit showed the had heart on the shoulders of their young quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford gets our game ball because he led all quarterbacks on Sunday by going 26 for 43 for 422 yards and five touchdowns. He threw two interceptions, but who wouldn’t when your throwing that much (Stafford was forced to make up for a running game that barely netted 57 yards). The final play of the game, Stafford begged to be on the field even with a seperated shoulder, and launched a rocket for the game winning TD. Tell us he has no heart, and we will ask you who does.

As I descended down the escalator by Gate B yesterday after the game, I overheard a Giants fan behind me say, “That was probably the most depressing win I’ve ever seen.” Now, I don’t entirely agree with him. I don’t think there is such a thing as a depressing win in the NFL. With a short 16-game season, any kind of win, whether it be a pretty win, an ugly win or even an accidental win, is a good win. Having said that (anyone who has seen the latest episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm knows why I had to throw that in), I could see where that fan was coming from. I wouldn’t call yesterday’s win a depressing one, or even an ugly one for that matter. Maybe “discouraging”. Perhaps even a little “unconvincing”. When the game-winning field goal sailed off Lawrence Tynes’ foot and through the uprights with 11:06 to go in overtime, I celebrated loudly along with whoever else had decided not to leave the stadium when the Giants took a 31-17 lead.

The truth is, the game shouldn’t even have come down to Lawrence Tynes and it definitely should not have come down to an overtime period because like I said earlier, the Giants had a 31-17 lead. How did a two touchdown lead turn into an overtime coin toss in the span of 12 minutes? Well, it happened in very similar fashion to how we lost the game against San Diego. Instead of stepping up and making a big defensive stop or two in the fourth quarter, the defense instead folded like an origami swan. Matt Ryan took the Falcons down the field for two consecutive touchdown drives that looked about as difficult for Atlanta as heating up a Pop-Tart.

I don’t typically use phrases like “dinking and dunking” because I’m not Ron Jaworski, but that’s exactly what the Falcons did on their back-to-back 12 play drives in the fourth quarter. They played it safe and kept everything in the middle of the field, which is ironically exactly what the Giants defense did. By guarding against the big play (a 70-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White or something along those lines) and trying to keep the clock running, they ultimately ignored the short to medium 10-15 yard passes over the middle and stayed away from Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez like he was a leper, even when he scored the game-tying touchdown with 28 seconds left.

Call me psychic if you want, but I knew that this game was going into overtime when the Falcons scored to cut the Big Blue lead to 31-24. It’s not that I’m a cynic or that my Gatorade cooler is half-empty, it’s just that if I’ve seen this once, I’ve seen it a hundred times. The Giants are just about the only team that can make a two touchdown lead feel like they’re losing. Giants fans shouldn’t have to sit on the edge of their La-Z-Boys or uncomfortable plastic stadium seats when the score is 31-17 with 12:08 to play in the fourth quarter, yet that’s exactly what I was doing yesterday. Luckily, yesterday’s overtime drama didn’t last too long, but it was just long enough for my Overtime Anxiety Syndrome to kick in. I seem to be a magnet for overtime games lately, as yesterday was the third one I’ve been to in the past two seasons, but before I could start chewing on my hat like it was a 14 oz. NY Strip, Eli Manning stepped up just like he had been doing all day and completed a 29-yard strike down the far sideline to Mario Manningham to set up the Giants on the Falcons’ 23-yard line. A few plays later, as we held our collective breath, Tynes tucked one inside the right upright and the Giants had snapped their 4-game losing streak. The first win in 42 days.

The performances that stood out the most to me yesterday were the ones turned in by Eli Manning (25/39, 384 yards, 3 TDs), Mario Manningham (6 rec., 126 yards) and Kevin Boss (5 rec., 76 yards, 2 TDs). Our fearless leader put forth his second thoroughly impressive game in a row, and aside from an interception on the opening drive of the game, he was nearly perfect. His 384 yards marked a career-high total and the first time he had ever thrown for over 300 yards at Giants Stadium, a pretty odd statistic, considering he’s in his 5th full season and has started almost 50 games there. He stepped up and made big throws in big situations, including huge 51-yard pass to Steve Smith (4 rec., 79 yards) that led to the Brandon Jacobs touchdown run early in the 3rd quarter which gave the Giants a 24-14 lead and answered the Falcons previous touchdown drive to start the second half. As for Mario Manningham, my love affair with his athleticism grows by the week and he made some catches yesterday that made me forget all about Amani Toomer’s sideline acrobatics and Plaxico Burress’s one-handed grabs. He is going to be a phenomenal wide receiver one day, and I feel like we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg right now, as far as his potential in the NFL.

All in all, the Giants picked up a sorely needed win yesterday that may have been the spark that they need to rejuvenate their season. Having said that, there are still several kinks that still need to be smoothed out on the defensive side of the ball. We’ll be able to tell for sure on Thanksgiving night in Denver, but for now, a nice overtime victory works well to help me forget the fact that I picked up Jason Snelling for my fantasy team to replace Michael Turner and then left him on the bench and watched as he scored two touchdowns yesterday. That’s life.

Read more: http://giants.gearupforsports.com/blog/#ixzz0XjCcoIHj

Each week, we dive into the stat sheets to see which weekly performers fantasy owners should applaud and which fantasy owners should write off as frauds. You can read past applaud or a fraud analyses in the category listing. And although we didn’t do this post last week, you can check out our fantasy football thoughts during the week via our Twitter feed here on the blog or here. Since we didn’t do this post last week, we thought we’d supersize this week’s version.

Quarterbacks

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills - Fitzpatrick, who was named the Bills’ starter by interim head coach Perry Fewell this week, responded with 297 passing yards and a touchdown. However, fantasy owners shouldn’t get too carried away, since 98 of those yards and the touchdown came on one bomb to Terrell Owens. Fitzpatrick isn’t a top-24 quarterback even if he remains the starter in Buffalo. Verdict: A fraud

Matt Leinart, Cardinals – Kurt Warner suffered a concussion, and that thrust Leinart into the lineup vs. the Rams. Leinart’s numbers (10-of-14, 74 yards) were solid but unspectacular. But given Leinart’s supporting cast, he is someone fantasy owners should definitely pick up this week, pending Warner’s status. Verdict: Applaud

Eli Manning, Giants – Manning threw for 384 yards and three touchdowns in the Giants’ win over the Falcons. Part of that was because he was facing a below-average pass defense, but it’s still a good sign for a player who has often faded over the second half of the season. We’ll use this performance as reason enough to leave Manning among the top 16 fantasy quarterbacks – for now. But it doesn’t mean you should start to start Manning for your team. Verdict: A fraud

Brady Quinn, Browns – Quinn threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns against the Browns in a shootout that Cleveland ultimately lost. But don’t read too much into this one, because Detroit’s pass defense is a very soft crew. Quinn is still outside the top 25 among fantasy quarterbacks. Verdict: A fraud

Alex Smith, 49ers - Smith’s three touchdown-pass day would have been a fantasy headline in a week that didn’t include an improbably Brady Quinn/Matthew Stafford pinball game, but it does show that Smith is fantasy relevant. He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in three of his five games this year, which is a sign that Smith is a good fantasy backup with upside in leagues with at least 12 teams. If he’s on your league’s waiver wire, you need to pick Smith up this week. Verdict: Applaud

Matthew Stafford, Lions – In the shootout against the Browns, Stafford threw for 422 yards and a stunning five touchdowns. That shows he does have what it takes to produce on the NFL level. Unfortunately, he won’t get to play the Browns defense every week. This is an isolated incident that can’t move Stafford into the top 25 at quarterback from a fantasy perspective. Verdict: A fraud

Running Backs

Joseph Addai, Colts – We included fantasy football thoughts on Addai in our Colts/Ravens game thoughts post. This verdict is as a starting running back going forward. Verdict: Applaud

Marion Barber, Cowboys – There was a lot of noise about the Cowboys giving Felix Jones more run this week, but it was Barber who carried the load for Dallas against Washington. Barber’s 99-yard day was his best since Week 2. Barber hasn’t been a top-20 back, but this game might be the start of something. For now, consider Barber a flex, but don’t be afraid to start him on Thanksgiving against the Ravens. Verdict: Applaud

Mike Bell, Saints - Bell piled up 75 yards and two touchdowns against the Bucs, but most of his work came in garbage time. Pierre Thomas is still the guy in New Orleans, and Bell is still not a guy who can start because of his limited role. Verdict: A fraud

Rock Cartwright, Redskins - With Clinton Portis out for the game and Ladell Betts hurting his knee, Cartwright became the Redskins’ top running back. He responded with 67 rushing yards on 13 carries, plus 73 yards on seven catches. We can expect Portis to miss at least one more game, and that means Cartwright is worth a claim as we find out about the severity of Betts’ injury. If Betts misses next week’s game, Cartwright could even be worth starting next week. Verdict: Applaud

Justin Forsett, Seahawks - In his first game in relief of Julius Jones, Forsett had just nine yards on nine carries. But he did have a touchdown run along with 80 receiving yards. Forsett isn’t a top-25 back, but he is a guy who can fit into your flex spot based on the matchup as long as Jones is out. That means you need to keep Forsett on your roster if you have him. Verdict: Applaud

Lex Hilliard, Dolphins – With Ronnie Brown out and Patrick Cobbs already on injured reserve, Hilliard is about the only guy Miami has behind new starter Ricky Williams. But Hilliard had just four carries and two catches against Carolina, and he totaled just 31 yards. Despite his standing, Hilliard just isn’t going to get enough touches to be fantasy relevant except in mega leagues of 16 teams or more. And even in those leagues, Hilliard is just bench depth. Verdict: A fraud

Laurence Maroney, Patriots – Maroney ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns, finding the end zone for the fifth consecutive game. He is now a starting-quality fantasy running back. Don’t hesitate to put him in your lineup. Verdict: Applaud

Ray Rice, Ravens – We included fantasy football thoughts on Rice in our Colts/Ravens game thoughts post. This verdict is as a top-10 running back going forward.Verdict: Applaud

Kevin Smith, Lions - Smith only ran for 45 yards against Cleveland, but he had 104 yards receiving plus a touchdown. It was just the fourth touchdown of the year for Smith, who has been a borderline top 25 running back all season from a fantasy perspective. We’ll use this performance to say that Smith is still an excellent flex option and possibly even a No. 2 running back in your league. Verdict: Applaud

Jason Snelling, Falcons – With Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood both inactive, Snelling was the go-to guy for the Falcons this week, and he finished with 76 yards on 25 carries, along with two touchdowns. That’s good production, but it’s enough for you to squeeze Snelling into your lineup for one more week as long as Turner remains out. Verdict: Applaud

Ricky Williams, Dolphins - In the first game with Ronnie Brown out, Ricky Williams went nuts with 119 rushing yards and three total TDs. While he won’t have those kind of monster numbers every week, Williams is now an every-week starter in every league. Verdict: Applaud

Wide Receivers

Chris Chambers, Chiefs - In his first game as the Chiefs’ de facto No. 1 receiver in the absence of Dwayne Bowe, Chambers delivered four catches for 119 yards. Of course, his 61-yard catch and run in overtime turned his effort from pedestrian to impressive, but the bottom line is that he delivered. While Bowe is out, Chambers is a top-35 receiver who is worth a look as a third wideout or flex play in many leagues. Verdict: Applaud

Pierre Garcon, Colts – We included fantasy football thoughts on Garcon in our Colts/Ravens game thoughts post. This verdict is as a third receiver or flex play going forward. Verdict: Applaud

Derrick Mason, Ravens – We included fantasy football thoughts on Garcon in our Colts/Ravens game thoughts post. This verdict is as a third receiver or flex play going forward. Verdict: Applaud

Mohammed Massaquoi and Chansi Stuckey, Browns – Both Massaquoi and Stuckey had five catches and a touchdown vs. Detroit, with Massaquoi piling up 115 yards and Stuckey amassing 76. But while Stuckey’s explosion is likely a product of a shootout against a bad team, Massaquoi has emerged as the Browns’ clear-cut No. 1 receiver. That doesn’t mean a ton, but it does put the rookie from Georgia inside the top 35 wide receivers and make him a potential flex play against highly favorable matchups. We can’t recommend Stuckey as a waiver claim, on the other hand, except in monster-sized leagues of 16 teams or more. Verdict: Applaud Massaquoi; A fraud for Stuckey

Robert Meachem, Saints - We tweeted this last week, but it’s now clear that Meachem is the No. 2 option among Saints receivers (including TE Jeremy Shockey). That means that Meachem is moving into the top 25 of fantasy receivers. He has scored touchdowns three weeks in a row, including two this week, so the gravy train is moving. Even though Meachem had just two catches in this game, we believe in Meachem as a fantasy force. Get on board with him now. Verdict: Applaud

Legedu Naanee, Chargers – Naanee scored for the second straight week, but he had just one two-yard catch in this game. Malcom Floyd is still the Chargers receiver you want behind Vincent Jackson. Verdict: A fraud

Terrell Owens, Bills - Owens’ numbers got a huge boost from a 98-yard touchdown catch, which was only his third touchdown of the season. But Owens would have had a decent fantasy game even without that monster catch, as he finished with 9 catches for 197 yards. Owens has perked up a bit lately, to the point that you can once again consider starting him as a third receiver or a flex. But it would be foolish to pencil T.O. into your starting lineup without checking matchups and other options. Verdict: A fraud

Steve Smith, Panthers - Smith’s numbers have suffered this season with Jake Delhomme spraying the ball all over the place, but over the last five games Smith has had at least 56 yards in every game but one, and in that game he scored twice. All four of Smith’s touchdowns this season have come over that span. Smith isn’t a top-10 fantasy receiver, but he is back inside the top 20 now, which means he should be starting for your team. Verdict: Applaud

Tight Ends

Kevin Boss, Giants - Boss had a ridiculously slow start to the season, but he had five catches for 76 yards and two scores in this game, giving him four touchdowns in his last three games. That’s good enough to move him into the top 12 at tight end. Ride this hot streak if you can. Verdict: Applaud

Dallas Clark and Tom Santi, Colts – We included fantasy football thoughts on Clark and Santi in our Colts/Ravens game thoughts post. This verdict is as a top-10 receiver (both WR and TE for Clark) going forward and as a waiver claim for Santi. Verdict: Applaud Clark; A Fraud for Santi

Carolina Panther’s wideout Steve Smith is expected to play its team’s game against Miami Dophins following a minor car accident.

The accident occurred when Smith was in on its way to said game. Panther’s official confirmed that Smith was uninjured and will play.

If  Smith will not play, rookie cornerbacks Sean Smith and Vontae Davis have no one to cover all night.

While Smith has not put up any yardage, he has scored three times in the last three games.  Not bad!

MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-5) vs. CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-5)

1ST QUARTER :
- Panthers (K)John Kasay kicks 29 Yd. FG

2ND QUARTER :
- Dolphins (QB)Chad Henne passes to (RB)Ricky Williams for TD
- Dolphins (RB)Ricky Williams rushes for TD

3RD QUARTER :
- N/A

4TH QUARTER :
- Panthers (K)John Kasay kicks 33 Yd. FG
- Dolphins (K)Dan Carpenter kicks 37 Yd. FG
- Panthers (QB)Jake Delhomme passes to (WR)Steve Smith for TD
- Panthers (RB)DeAngelo Williams rushes for 2 point conversion
- Dolphins (RB)Ricky Williams rushes for TD
- Panthers (K)John Kasay kicks 48 Yd. FG

FINAL SCORE : MIAMI DOLPHINS 24 – CAROLINA PANTHERS 17

Dolphins are now (5-5)
Panthers are now (4-6)

Wedding days can be inundated with utter chaos. Choosing to shoot an engagement session with your wedding attire can alleviate part of the ceremony day stress. Dan Johnson and Traci Sterling choose to keep their wedding day simple by allocating a few hours from their wedding day photography package to a prior date. The couple chose their current Meridian residence as the setting for this lovely little Sunday afternoon shoot. It was truly evident how madly in love these two were with every click of the shutter. Such inspiration!

A nice bottle of champagne to mellow the mood.

Traci getting a helping hand.

Dan anxiously awaiting.

A quick note to remind Traci of his deep affection for her.

Sassily strutting down the stairs.

Gazing out at the beautiful November afternoon.

Dan’s platinum wedding band.

Fits like a glove.

Some of the great architecture that Dan designed himself.

Ahh yes, I think it’s time for that champagne.

“The Love Tub”

A quick transformation in to the casual attire.

Looking out over Dan’s expansive six-acre view.

Lean with it.

Another gorgeous Idaho sunset.

Showing off the dance moves.

Such a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Thank Traci and Dan for bringing me into your home to capture the true connection you have for one another! I can’t wait for the actual wedding in December.

More pictures can be found by clicking here.

This has turned into a huge game for Miami since it will be their first without their MVP of the season so far Ronnie Brown.  I fell sorry for the Dolphins since they have no lost their starting QB and RB.  Yes every team gets injuries but it has been a while since both teams lost players at these positions for the season after week 11.  Losing Brown opens up a few questions:
Does this mean the end of the Wildcat?
Or are we just going to see alot more of Pat White?
Is Ricky Williams up to the task of being the number 1 back again?
Can Chad Henne get this offence moving?

The good thing about it being a Thursday night game for Miami is that the Panthers will have had less time to sort out their game plan after hearing about Brown.

The Panthers will be looking to continue their recent good play and in particular they will hope Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith can stretch the field to allow the running backs some space.

For soem reason I honestly think that Miami are going to win this but the fact they lost Brown is making have second guesses but I’m going to stick to my first thoughts and predict a win for the Dolphins.

I meant to do this ranking prior to Week 9, since that’s the unofficial midway point of the season, but I got caught up in the resurgence of Carolina football (two top 25 teams in two weeks!!)

Without further ado:  

New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts

“We poppin like Champagne Bottles, but we never shook”

-Lil’ Wayne “Money 2 Blow” Remix 

That has to be the theme in New Orleans and Indianapolis as the Saints finally have a defense to go with their prolific offense and the Colts still have Peyton Manning.  As the last two undefeated teams in football, there really is nothing that worries these teams, especially the Colts who disposed of their chief rival on Sunday Night.  Stay tuned as both have tough match-ups coming up.  Colts in the ultimate grudge match (I think they may have played in Baltimore at some point…) and Saints (The Patriots come to town soon).

New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, and Minnesota Vikings

“Don’t think I don’t think about it”

-Darius Rucker “Don’t think I don’t think about it”

Each team has to have certain moments from the season on their mind.  The Patriots are one foot away (on a fourth down conversion against the Colts) from knocking off the AFC’s top team and putting distance between them and a middling division.  The Chargers are one sensational fourth down play (see: Lewis, Ray vs. Sproles, Darren) away from challenging for the AFC’s top spots.  The Vikings are one mishandled Chester Taylor pass away from perfection.  Though, each team is playing at a high level, which helps to quell those “what if’s”.  On a sidenote:  Props to Darius Rucker, Country newcomer of the year.

Cincinatti Bengals

“I’ll step on your porch, step to your boss/Let’s end the speculation, I’m talking to all you.”

-Jay-Z “Ain’t no Love (Heart of the City”)

Marvin Lewis has the Queen City Team playing like a bunch of bullies.  The Bengals are wearing the “Me against the world” title better than anyone this side of Tupac and the mid-90s Knicks.  Punishing defense, crushing run game (even more now that they’ve signed Larry “I didn’t mean to insult homosexuals, just Todd Haley” Johnson)… Still.  I don’t believe in them.  That “Hard Knocks” series before the season revealed something (not as much as I thought as I made constant “So this is what a 4-12 team looks like” remarks), but something.  I’m not ready to put them up in the second tier division, yet.  I know they swept the Ravens and Steelers, but still… there’s something still lacking.

Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Atlanta Falcons

“Woe is me, baby, this is tragic/ ‘Cause we had it, we was magic/ I was flyin’, now I’m crashin’”

-Kanye West “Knock you Down”

Each of these teams went from being sky high to well, not.  The Broncos started the season media darlings before being brought back to earth by the Ravens and Steelers in consecutive weeks, understandable.  However, the inexcusable thrashing they suffered at the hands of the Washington Clinton Portis’ was baffling.  The Steelers, more understandably, were swept by the Bengals.  The Cowboys were upended by the Brokeback Packers (not a gay diss, just an Aaron Rodgers diss… He looks like Jake Gyllenhal) who haven’t been able to win many games (only three out of their last ten!!).  The Eagles suffered back-to-back losses that weren’t very close.  The Falcons just lost to the Panthers…

Needless to say, each of these teams needs to regroup, much like Kanye in this whole post-award show backlash.

New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens

 “Reasons, like seasons, they constantly change and the seasons of last year, like reasons, have faded away.”

-Something Corporate “Me and the Moon”

The success of last season has (mostly) been missing for these teams.  All of them have struggled with the pre-season expectations and (more likely) their adjusted schedules.  The Giants raced out fast only to quickly be in search of answers losing four of their last five.  The Dolphins have introduced a lot of new wrinkles to their wildcat formation without the electric success from last year.  The Ravens have lost four games by an average of 5.3 points, the close games they thrived on finding ways to win last year.  Just like the tier above and below these teams, they need to find a way to right the ship or the next season (off-season) could be filled with many, discontenting reasons.

New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ers

“But heaven ain’t close in a place like this/Anything goes but don’t blink you might miss.”

-The Killers “Somebody Told Me”

What a grab bag of teams here… Each team has been great and awful this year (as has everyone else); however, these teams tend to be less “killers” than anything else.  Though, as with every season, each team still has a glimmer of hope to redeem what’s left, but, if they blink, they’ll miss.  Can Mark Sanchize pull a Matt Ryan/Joe Flacco and get his entourage to the play-offs?  Can Vince Young keep up his magic (3-0 since he became the starter)?  Can Maurice Jones-Drew carry the whole team every week?  Will Jay Cutler continue to try his hardest to submarine the play-off chances of the Bears?  Does anyone want to win the NFC West!?!?!?!  By week 12, we will know all of these answers and more.

Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, and Houston Texans

“Maybe, in the future, you’re gonna come back, you’re gonna come back to me.”

-Ingrid Michaelson “Maybe”

This is surely what the QBs of these three teams are saying in terms of their fan support.  Donnie Darko-Rodgers caught a break with a win over Tony “It must be getting cold outside because I’m losing games I should win” Romo and the Cowboys, but Green Bay won’t forget he’s not Favre (especially with the Vikings having swept the Packers already this season).  Poor Jake of the man, Steve Smith and the Charlotte fans are done with him.  It’s official.  They’re now, firmly, in the Sam Bradford/Troy Smith Sweepstakes.  As for Houston, all the passing yards look nice, Matt Schaub, but win a game of importance or stay healthy for a whole season.  Either one would be nice at this point.

Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Seattle Seahawks

“I know that it’s coming, I just hope that I’m alive for it.”

-Drake “Successful”

Yes, this entry needed a follow-up lyric to the first installment.  That’s really all there is to say about these teams.  Poor Clinton Portis and Jason Campbell… I would say I’m surprised by Josh Johnson play except that I’m more surprised by how well Josh Freeman has played.  He’s been consistent and stepped up when he needs to most… the two things he embarrassingly lacked at K-State.  The Ron Prince Era looks better and better.  Oh, and Matt Hasselback was washed up two seasons ago.  I’m frantically searching for evidence to the contrary.

Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Oakland Raiders

“See potential in ya, let me mould that/I can transform ya, I can transform ya.”

-Chris Brown “I can Transform Ya”

This one goes out to the young Bills (Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and Roscoe Parrish), young Lions (Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Kevin Smith), and young Raiders (Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, Louis Murphy, and JaMarcus Russell… Well, maybe not Russell).  Better times are coming guys.  Whether that means you get traded to well-managed franchises or you’re indentured until you hit free agency, hope is out there.  Or your GM could talk himself into Tebow being the Spread QB to break the trend and you get to chase after his wobbly ducks all next season.  It could really go either way at this point.

St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs

“It never stops, when my mama ask me will I change/ I tell her yeah, but it’s clear I’ll always be the same.”

-Tupac “Until the End of Time”

It feels like the Rams and Chiefs will continue to be horrible until the end of time.  The Rams can’t find anyone to buy them and will probably end up moving back to LA where they weren’t really liked in the first place.  If they were smart, they’d change their name in transit.  Maybe fool the West Coast into thinking they were someone else for a few years.  Steven Jackson is football’s version of Zach Greinke.  The Chiefs are a mess and I blame Todd Haley.  One person hasn’t ruined a team this badly since Toni Braxton was making her rounds in Dallas.  How do you alienate a future hall of famer (Tony Gonzales), a perennial pro bowl running back (Well, Larry Johnson has his own demons and would’ve self-destructed eventually… but Haley hurried the process), and a rising star wide receiver (Dwayne Bowe, too, is a moron, but at least he doesn’t post moronic Twitter updates and inspire a whole city to petition him out of town)?  Herm Edwards and Carl Petersen just keep smiling wider and brighter each week on their respective television appearances.

Cleveland Browns

“We see the sun about three times a year!”

-Hastily made Cleveland Tourism Video

This is, roughly, the same number of wins Browns fans can expect in any given season… And now they want to use Lebron in football games!?!?!  Whose idea was it to bring football back here, again? 

FIRST QUARTER
- Broncos (QB)Kyle Orton passes to (WR)Brandon Marshall for TD
- Jaguars (RB)Maurice Jones-Drew rushes for TD
- Buccaneers (K)Connor Barth kicks 51 Yd. FG
- Bills (RB)Fred Jackson passes to (WR)Lee Evans for TD
- Redskins (QB)Jason Campbell passes to (TE)Todd Yoder for TD
- Dolphins (RB)Ronnie Brown rushes for TD
- Panthers (RB)Jonathan Stewart rushes for TD
- Bengals (RB/KR)Bernard Scott 96 Yard Kickoff Return for TD
- Titans (RB)Chris Johnson rushes for TD
- Broncos (QB)Kyle Orton passes to (WR)Brandon Marshall for TD (2nd time)
- Jets (QB)Mark Sanchez passes to (WR)Jerricho Cotchery for TD
- Titans (QB)Vince Young passes to (WR)Nate Washington for TD

SECOND QUARTER
- Saints (RB)Reggie Bush rushes for TD
- Panthers (QB)Jake Delhomme passes to (WR)Steve Smith for TD
- Rams (QB)Marc Bulger passes to (WR)Donnie Avery for TD
- Jaguars (QB)David Garrard rushes for TD
- Vikings (RB)Adrian Peterson rushes for TD
- Dolphins (K)Dan Carpenter kicks 49 Yd. FG
- Saints (QB)Drew Brees passes to (RB)Reggie Bush for TD
- Falcons (RB)Jason Snelling rushes for TD
- Bills (QB)Trent Edwards passes to (WR)Lee Evans for TD
- Buccaneers (K)Connor Barth kicks 50 Yd. FG
- Redskins (P)Hunter Smith passes to (FB)Mike Sellers for TD
- Jaguars (QB)David Garrard passes to (WR)Mike Sims-Walker for TD
- Rams (RB)Steven Jackson rushes for TD
- Panthers (QB)Jake Delhomme passes to (WR)Steve Smith for TD (2nd time)
- Dolphins (QB)Chad Henne passes to (TE)Kory Sperry for TD

THIRD QUARTER
- Saints(D/ST) Saints (KR)Courtney Roby 97 Yd. Kickoff Return for TD
- Vikings (RB)Adrian Peterson rushes for TD
- Lions (QB)Matthew Stafford passes to (TE)Will Heller for TD
- Buccaneers (K)Connor Barth kicks 54 Yd. FG (has 3 50+ Yd Field Goals today)

FOURTH QUARTER
- Falcons (QB)Matt Ryan passes to (TE)Justin Peelle for TD
- Saints (QB)Drew Brees passes to (WR)Robert Meachem for TD
- Titans (RB)Chris Johnson rushes for TD
- Buccaneers (QB)Josh Freeman passes to (WR)Maurice Stovall for TD
- Jets (RB)Thomas Jones rushes for TD
- Vikings (QB)Brett Favre passes to (TE)Jeff Dugan for TD
- Titans (K)Rob Bironas kicks 51 Yd. FG
- Redskins (RB)Ladell Betts rushes for TD
- Panthers (RB)Jonathan Stewart rushes for TD
- Titans(D/ST) Titans (CB)Vincent Fuller 26 Yd. Interception Return for TD
- Rams (QB)Marc Bulger passes to (WR)Donnie Avery for TD
- Titans(D/ST) Titans (CB)Roderick Hood 31 Yd. Interception Return for TD
- Buccaneers (RB)Carnell Williams rushes for TD

Every time it seems to me that I’ve grasped the deep meaning of the world, it is its simplicity that always overwhelms me…. Everything simple is beyond us. What is blue, and how do we think “blue”?

—Albert Camus

Three seasons ago, the NFL peaked in terms of its own scheduling. Every team had enjoyed its bye week by Week 9 (hehe), meaning that there was a distinct midway point of the season by which everyone had played eight games.

The NFL, for some unknown reason, tinkered with its bye scheduling in the subsequent years, pushing some byes back later in the schedule. Thus, this year, while 30 of the 32 teams have already had their bye and have played eight games and can be totally compared at a kind of midway point, the Giants and Texans are 5-4 heading into their byes.

This does not, however, mean that we can’t still consider this halftime of the 2009 NFL season and the perfect time to look back at what I thought was going to happen, and what subsequently did not happen. We’ll hand out awards amidst some “Pats on the Back” and several “Yeah, about that…”s.

TEAM I WAS MOST WRONG ABOUT: Wow, there are a lot of contenders here. I had the Jets starting 0-5. I had the Broncos going 4-12 and the Titans at 11-5. I thought the Packers would win the NFC North and that the Rams AND Browns could EACH scratch out seven wins (not combined, EACH!). But none of these awful awful predictions can lay a finger on this one: “An offense with Haley calling the plays, Cassel at QB, Larry Johnson in the backfield, and Dwayne Bowe catching passes could be one of the AFC’s best.” I had the Chiefs at 9-7. The Chiefs. The same team that has lost 30 of its last 33 games! And traded their best player! What was I thinking???

PAT ON THE BACK: “The point is: It’s not happening again. The schedule is tougher, and Pennington hasn’t put together back-to-back good seasons since, well, he played for Marshall.”

The Dolphins are, in fact, exactly halfway to the 6-10 I predicted for them, in large part because Chad Pennington once again failed to back up a good year in the NFL. At the same time, I still think they’re the best under .500 team in the league and one of two teams currently saddled with five losses or more with a hope at the postseason. The other is the 49ers.

TEAM I WAS MOST RIGHT ABOUT: I think I did pretty well for myself in the NFC South, predicting a Saints’ division title, the semi-demise of Jake Delhomme, some struggles from the Falcons (who are a lot less impressive than they were three weeks ago), and that the Bucs were the worst team in the league. I stand by that with Tampa. They are the worst team in the league, even though Josh Freeman looked, without hyperbole, 1000 times better than I expected.

PAT ON THE BACK (WITH MAJOR QUALIFICATION): “While Joe Flacco will be given more offensive responsibility in Year Two (besides, you know, handing off and throwing the occasional deep ball), the defense will take a step back with the departures of Rex Ryan, Bart Scott, and Jim Leonhard—all to the Jets.”

Man, I was right on with that one. Flacco’s play through the first eight games has been one of the bigger surprises in the AFC North. It is not as surprising as the subpar play of the Baltimore defense, though.

Of course, the next sentence: “It won’t be a huge step, but it will be enough to offset the offensive improvement, especially considering the uncertainty in the Baltimore running game.”

I believe Ray Rice has solved that “uncertainty.”

YEAH, ABOUT THAT…: “It’s awfully tough to count on Cedric Benson to be a constant contributor offensively. I think it’s a bounceback year for Carson Palmer and that the Bengals will be competitive, but it’s tough to see this team scratching out much space in this division.”

BUT, if Cincinnati loses their last eight games (practically a sure thing), they’ll match my 6-10 prediction.

FIRST-HALF MVP: Peyton Manning. There is no need to explain.

PAT ON THE BACK: “Can I see the Titans being a team that goes from 13-3 to 7-9? Absolutely: Kerry Collins is their quarterback.”

YEAH, ABOUT THAT…: “At the same time, I expect them to grind out close wins and find themselves at the top of the division and with a first-round bye for a second straight year.”

Even if Tennessee does what we all expect and wins out behind Vince Young, it’s unlikely 10-6 will be enough for a first-round bye.

FIRST-HALF LVP: JaMarcus Russell. I already did my ‘splainin’ on this one.

PAT ON THE BACK: “I tried to keep the Colts out of the playoffs, but it’s really hard to find an eighth loss for this team.”

I was right. It is really hard to find an eighth loss for this team. And it’s not like I said it was easy to find any of the first seven.

YEAH, ABOUT THAT…: “Everything sets up perfectly for San Diego to cruise to the top seed in the AFC.”

So, not happening. BUT, you think the Colts aren’t rooting for the Broncos to win that division and the Chargers to stay home in January? Indianapolis hasn’t lost to a non-Charger team in any game in over one year, and the Colts are undefeated in playoff games against teams that aren’t the Chargers since 2006.

MAYBE MY BEST CALL OF THE YEAR: “Plus, is Matt Forte really that good? I’m always wary of one-year running back wonders (hey there, Olandis Gary!).”

Through eight games, Matt Forte has 441 yards and is averaging 3.6 yards per carry. He has just over half the yardage Cedric Benson has for the Bengals.

PAT ON THE BACK: “Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon are tenable NFL receivers.”

Smith leads the league in receiving. Unfortunately, his coach still doesn’t think a Super Bowl MVP at quarterback and the league’s leading receiver can attempt a pass in the red zone with a chance to put the game away late without throwing an interception. Worst. Decision. Ever.

YEAH, ABOUT THAT…: “They’re pretty good, and I could see them winning the other three divisions in the NFC.”

That’s about the Redskins. The 2-6 Redskins. The dull, nothing going on upstairs…Redskins.

DEFINITELY MY BEST CALL OF THE YEAR: “The Lions will end their regular season losing streak in Week 3 against the Washington Redskins.”

The Redskins are 2-6, and their two wins have come by two over the Rams (1-7) and by three over the Bucs (1-7). Two of their losses have come to the Lions (1-7) and the Chiefs (1-7).

YEAH, ABOUT THAT…: “Let’s get this straight: Brett Favre is an improvement over Tarvaris Jackson and/or Sage Rosenfels. But a Super Bowl contending improvement?”

If the Vikings lose out, they’ll finish with the 7-9 I prescribed for them this season. That said, they will neither win nor appear in the Super Bowl.

STAT THAT BEARS WATCHING: Chris Johnson is averaging 6.7 yards per carry. This would not be an NFL record, since Michael Vick averaged 8.4 yards per carry just three years ago for the Falcons. But, nobody with as many as Johnson’s 144 carries thus far this season has ever averaged as much as 6.7 yards a carry. The list of single-season leaders in yards per carry is stocked with quarterbacks and part-time backs from older eras.

If Johnson keeps up his current pace—and this isn’t an outlandish thing to conceive of: the Titans have already faced two of the toughest defenses in the NFL (PIT and NYJ), and their offense has shown some life the past two weeks with Vince Young at quarterback (haven’t seen the games, but I imagine they have incorporated some kind of spread-option with Vince and Chris, which has the potential to be the toughest play to defend in the league with their respective speeds*)—he can not only challenge the 2,000-yard mark but also Jim Brown’s 6.4 yards per carry from 1963, when he ran for 1,863 yards for the Browns.

So there’s something worth watching in Tennessee.

*If NFL fields were set up with wider hashmarks like those in college, I’m pretty sure the Titans could run this play every down and be very successful. Young or Johnson would get to the edge at least once every three plays.

YEAH, ABOUT THAT…: “Edgerrin James is still a good enough running back to keep teams honest.”

This week: In case you missed it last week, “Seahawks release Edgerrin James.”

COACH MOVING FASTEST UP THE “COOLEST COACHES” LIST: Did you see Ken Whisenhunt after beating the Bears last week? That was awesome! Anytime I get to link back to this is noteworthy.

Whisenhunt, comfortably at No. 4 in the preseason rankings, is seriously challenging Jeff Fisher’s slot at No. 3. It will be tougher to surpass Singletary at 2 and impossible to catch Tomlin at 1.

COACH STILL IN LAST ON THE “COOLEST COACHES” LIST: Brad Childress managed to look even creepier this season. He’s really upped the ante.

The Jets had a bye and the Chiefs played the Jaguars, so I don’t need to address those teams with my weekly features.

Prior to the Week 10 Snap

Last Week: 5-8

This Season: 48-65

Chicago (+3) over SAN FRANCISCO

Surprised the Niners are favored, you know, after losing to a 1-6 team.

NY JETS (-6.5) over Jacksonville

A rematch of that scintillating ’98 AFC Divisional Playoff Game!

Denver (-4) over WASHINGTON

How fast have the oddsmakers jumped off the Broncos’ bandwagon? Four points?

PITTSBURGH (-7) over Cincinnati

I’ll keep picking against the Bengals until they stop proving me wrong.

TENNESSEE (-6.5) over Buffalo

If ever a team could go from 0-6 to 10-6…

Detroit (+16.5) over MINNESOTA

Sure, why not? Those Lions should have covered last week.

New Orleans (-13.5) over ST. LOUIS

Saints haven’t covered the last two. But they play the Rams.

CAROLINA (+1.5) over Atlanta (outright)

NFC South teams don’t lose at home to other NFC South teams.

MIAMI (-10) over Tampa Bay

Josh Freeman in the hostile road environment at Land Shark Stadium? Not likely.

Kansas City (+1.5) over OAKLAND (outright)

That “not likely” was referring both to the chances of Freeman playing well and there being a hostile crowd at Land Shark Stadium. And no team should lose twice to these Raiders.

ARIZONA (-8.5) over Seattle

Cards have learned how to play on the road; can they win at home anymore?

SAN DIEGO (-2.5) over Philadelphia

Because I want it to happen.

Dallas (-3) over GREEN BAY

Big day for DeMarcus Ware.

INDIANAPOLIS (-3) over New England

Patriots defense just isn’t good enough to stop the Colts anymore, especially in Indy.

Baltimore (+11) over CLEVELAND

Still think the Ravens are that division’s best. And I’m going out on a limb: I’m sure the Browns are its worst.

Analysis of Week 9 in the NFL

Game Recaps

Redskins 17 Falcons 31

The Falcons had it easy this week, but they continued to play mediocre football. Matt Ryan wasn’t impressive. Unfortunately, the running back showdown we anticipated was shut down by an injury to Clinton Portis, but Michael Turner really took the reigns and stole the show. With games against New York and Philadelphia on tap for the next month, the Falcons have to eliminate mistakes in order to play survive. Washington’s problems, on the other hand, just keep getting worse.
Game Ball: Michael Turner carried the ball 18 times for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

Cardinals 41 Bears 21

The Bears look worse every week, and it seems like they may be out of the hunt for good in such a competitive division. Jay Cutler actually played well, but that just wasn’t enough when your defense isn’t working well and you have a complete lack of a rushing game. Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner continue to communicate well, but four Cardinal receivers caught touchdown passes from Warner while Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower combined for 150 yards on the ground. Cutler’s three touchdown passes weren’t enough to win a game full of defensive miscues and missed opportunities. Arizona wins extra points for head coach Ken Whisenhunt’s post game press conference.
Game Ball: Kurt Warner went 22 for 31 with 261 yards and five touchdowns.

Ravens 7 Bengals 17

Cincinnati is full of stars and each week they pull together and simply do their jobs. Cedric Benson claws for every inch, Carson Palmer stays smart, and OchoCinco keeps us entertained. Can you ask for more? The Bengals prove week in and week out why they are a contender, but what is going on with the Ravens? Joe Flacco can’t carry the team every week, but the defense that is so famous isn’t there anymore. Add to that the horrible receivers they have in Baltimore – Derek Mason pulled in three passes, but he was thrown 13 – and you  have the makings for a .500 team with “potential”.
Game Ball: Cedric Benson ran for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Texans 17 Colts 20

We love Houston, and this game is why. They kept at pace with the undefeated Colts, and made a game of a matchup that was lopsided on paper. Matt Schaub continued to connect with Andre Johnson, but this week it wasn’t enough, especially against that tough Indianapolis defense. There was one blaring problem: Giving the Colts 100+ yards on penalties is not the way to go against a team that can beat you in the blink of an eye. The Colts are just plain scary good, and this week they proved that when Peyton Manning isn’t having the best of days, their defense can take control.
Game Ball: Dwight Freeney had only four tackles, but three of them were quarterback hits and he managed 1.5 sacks as well.

Dolphins 17 Patriots 27

These AFC East games are always a battle, but we knew coming into this that Miami had problems with Randy Moss. What do they do? They let him fly all over the field. Tom Brady didn’t have to play well he just needed to be better than Chad Henne. The Patriots lost the battle for ball possession, red zone conversions, and even turnovers. Yesterday, Brady said that Joey Porter’s comments during the week motivated them. Miami really needs to concentrate on how to get over the close games or their season will go down in flames.
Game Ball: Randy Moss caught only six passes, but went for 147 yards with a touchdown.

Packers 28 Buccaneers 38

Who would’ve guessed? The fourth quarter meltdown was a sight to see, but give the Bucs some credit for exhibiting what we think was killer instinct. After six sacks, of course Aaron Rodgers is going to look dazed and be more mobile, so it’s no wonder he made all of the mistakes he did (I.E. three interceptions). The Pack outplayed Tampa in every way, but it was two touchdowns by the defense that sealed the deal and got them the win. If Green Bay doesn’t go out and get some help for that offensive line they aren’t going anywhere.
Game Ball: Josh Freeman may not have been spectacular, but he won his first game by going 14 for 31 with 205 yards and three touchdowns.

Chiefs 21 Jaguars 24

The Chiefs may have battled back, but they played so horrible in the first half that winning was nearly impossible. The difference this week was David Gerrard playing like an NFL quarterback, going 18 for 27 with a touchdown. Kansas City’s complete lack of a running game is becoming more evident as the season goes on, so Jacksonville dominated by controlling the game with Maurice Jones-Drew in the backfield. Matt Cassell looked better, but Kansas City has more problems than solutions at this point.
Game Ball: Mike Sims-Walker had six catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Lions 20 Seahawks 32

The Lions played organized, effective football… for one quarter. Then, apparently, they realized they were the Lions. Analysts say not to blame Matthew Stafford because he’s a rookie and hes learning, but five interceptions is a heck of a learning curve. The fact is, the game was within reach before he threw the ball away, and he knows that. Seattle won a game they were supposed to win, but we are disappointed that we don’t get to see Jim Mora’s post game press conference. There are reports saying that Seahawks coaches told Matt Hasselbeck that he would have to win this game on his own, and boy did he ever perk up.
Game Ball: Matt Hasselbeck went 39 for 51 with 329 yards and one touchdown.

Panthers 20 Saints 30

Once again, New Orleans had to battle back to stay perfect. Carolina played the caliber football we knew they were capable of, but goo teams eliminate mistakes (fumbles, dropped balls, etc.) and find a way to win. With the game on the line and two minutes to go, the Panthers couldn’t put together a drive and ended up with a fumble. That fumble negated DeAngelo Williams’ 100+ yard game, Steve Smith’s explosiveness, and Jake Delhomme’s interception-less performance. The Saints receivers averaged 13.8 yards per catch which spurred the comeback, but it was their defense that kept them in the game.
Game Ball: Robert Meachem had five catches for 98 yards and one touchdown.

Chargers 21 Giants 20

Even as close as this one was, this wasn’t Giants football. Eli Manning did well and stepped up against his draft-day foe, but the defense let up halfway through the game. Phillip Rivers made the Giants look silly, but when your team can onl muster the energy to play one full quarter what do you expect? The confidence that got the Giants their Super Bowl ring two years ago is gone, and these players are going to be forced to put their nose to the grindstone and work out these kinks before they are left behind in their division.
Game Ball: Vincent Jackson was explosive, with 5 catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns.

Titans 34 49ers 27

Another tough loss for San Francisco, but there were reasons for it. The revolving door of quarterbacks isn’t working well – Shaun Hill was benched for Alex Smith who has had his second bad start in a row, and we are only assuming we’ll she Hill again down the road – and San Francisco isn’t showing that fire that had everyone so impressed in the beginning of the season. The Titans on the other hand have benefitted from a chance at QB. Vince Young may not be the second coming, but he’s bringing a fresh perspective to Tennessee and he sure is performing better than Kerry Collins. Smith’s three interceptions gave Tennessee the game.
Game Ball: Chris Johnson had his third straight 100+ yard game with 25 carries for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

Cowboys 20 Eagles 16

We have to say, neither team played exceptionally well. The difference was Andy Reid and his inability to keep that little red flag in his pocket. Listen, any game that ends up in a loss because you didn’t have enough time outs to get yourself a chance is a poorly coached game, but there were plenty of other problems. Donovan McNabb was inconsistent, DeSean Jackson was invisible, and Jason Peters continued to make mistakes. The Cowboys took advantage of Philadelphia, but thats what you have to do to be successful in this league. An observation: Tony Romo threw who he was “supposed” to throw to… but Roy Williams just didn’t look impressive.
Game Ball: can we say no one? Rookie Shady McCoy led Philadelphia in rushing and receiving yards, and didn’t make many mistakes in the process.  

Steelers 28 Broncos 10

The Broncos have lost two straight, and to save themselves from continuing to skid they need to do a lot. Their defense seems to have lost some steam – especially the secondary – and their rushing game has been quieted for the second straight week. It seems like there may have been something on the tape that these teams have seen, because the Broncos are completely ineffective. The Steelers played well, but their defense really stole the show. Between James Harrison and Troy Polamalu, there was no where to go. Ben Roethlisburger simply controlled the game, and thats all he needed to do, because Kyle Orton was no match at QB.
Game Ball: Rashard Mendenhall is really progressing as the season goes on. He had 22 carries for 155 yards, including four explosive rushes that gave the Steelers the definite control.

Week 9 Wrap Up

- Injuries: Cincinnati wide receiver Chris Henry broke his left forearm after a hit by Fabian Washington Sunday. This will likely end his season, depending on the severity of the break which will be reported by Wednesday… Washington running back Clinton Portis took a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit by Thomas DeCloud int he first half. He was diagnosed with a concussion and will likely sit out 2-4 weeks… Quarterback Jason Campbell was sacked five times in the first quarter alone, and all of that action took a toll on his body. The QB left the game twice Sunday, once with a chest issue and the second was because of an ankle sprain. Doctors don’t know if he is going to miss any time… Atlanta wide receiver Brian Finneran suffered a knee injury in the first half. Atlant will evaluate him Tuesday and release his status mid-week… Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman admitted Monday that he played most of Sunday’s game with a concussion. He was evaluated after the game and could be out from 2-4 weeks depending on residual symptoms.
- Detroit media was abuzz Monday after cameras caught Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford apparently arguing during the Lions’ loss to Seattle. Coach Jim Schwartz told reporters there was no problem. Stafford threw five interceptions in the game.
- Kansas City unloaded Larry Johnson after the running back’s Twitter attack on coaches. Johnson won’t be out there for long; analysts already are looking at Seattle, Indianapolis, and Houston as possible landing spots.

And the UDU Game Ball goes to…

Kurt Warner went 22-32 with 262 yards and five touchdowns, by far his best performance so far this season. Through nine weeks, Warner has a 65.7 completion percentage, but this week was all about rebounding from the five interception loss in Week 8.