The Sports Dish

My Bracketology

2006-03-13T12:49:00.000-06:00

Sum up of big games:
Indiana vs. Gonzaga: I like Indiana in that mach up mainly because Gonzaga has no one to stop a dominationg big man like Killingsworth. I like Morrison and think he is one of the best offensive players in the nation, but he just can't play defense.

George Washington vs. Duke: The Dukies look like their getting tired lately. Although, this is completely based on Pops making a healthy return to the lineup.

Ohio St. vs. Boston College: If you got to see BC in the ACC tourney, you saw why I have them going to the Final Four. Their a veteran team that plays right and still gets sparks from guys like Rice and Williams. I like Ohio St., but they just won't do well against BC's physical style.

Iowa vs. LSU: I've been called crazy for having these two in the Elite Eight, but I have good reason. Iowa is on a roll and is playing with a fire I haven't seen all year out of them. LSU has got a good team around Davis in the middle. I think Iowa wins this with their experience and the fact that they are rolling.

If you would like me to explain any other matchups in my bracket, just drop a comment.

Post Combine Mock Draft

2006-03-10T08:26:00.000-06:00

This is the first mock draft where I will be predicting trades. Unlike others, however, I won't have a load of top trades, since that rarely happens. Well, here it is, the post combine mock draft, enjoy.

Trade: Hou gets rd. 1 pk. 4
DE Abraham
2007 cond. 3rd
NYJ gets rd. 1 pk. 1

Round 1
1. New York Jets- Matt Leinart, QB, USC- The trade works out because Abraham wants out, Houston wants Brick and New York wants Leinart. Leinart fits nice in media central, New York, and also should be a great NFL quarterback.
2. New Orleans Saints- Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt- Though I'm not completely sold on Cutler, New Orleans needs a franchise QB. Cutler showed a solid arm at the combine along with great strength and some speed.
3. Tennessee Titans- Reggie Bush, HB, USC- Although it wouldn't surprise me to see Fischer go with DE Williams here, I think he'll see the potential in Bush. The Titans haven't had a consistent RB since Eddie George wore down, and Bush may solve that problem.
4. Houston Texans- D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, VA- Houston knocks out two birds with one stone in the trade. They move down to grab a badly needed offensive lineman, Brick, and they get a badly needed defensive end, Abraham. Ferguson can anchor the young line that will undoubtedly come out of this draft.
5. Green Bay Packers- A.J. Hawk, OLB, OSU- As I said in my last mock, Green Bay doesn't need much help on the D-Line. They do need an OLB though. Hawk is a big time playmaker like a Brooks or Urlacher and he can be the anchor of this defense along with Barnett.
6. San Francisco 49'ers- Mario Williams, DE, N.C. St.- Williams drawing comparisons to current super-athlete-freak-dude Julius Peppers is a good sign. Williams has a great mix of size, speed and moves. He'll be a great defensive end.
7. Oakland Raiders- Vince Young, QB, Texas- You know who Al Davis wants. And honestly, he doesn't give a shit about what Shell wants, he'll get Young. Although a project, Young has amazing potential that just can't be missed.
8. Buffalo Bills- Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon- There could not be a more agreed upon draft pick. Especially after the Bills cut DT Sam Adams. Ngata is a big stop plug that can play in either defense. He uses his hands well and has great lower body explosion.
9. Detroit Lions- Michael Huff, DB, Texas- Huff is another defensive playmaker who is drawing comparisons to a great safety, Ronnie Lott. There's still a debate as to where Huff will play in the pros, but I think he'll end up at safety.
10. Arizona Cardinals- LenDale White, HB, USC- With White's power and Arrington's speed and agility, the Cardinals have a one-two punch comparable to last years Steelers. Add in three young, talented wide recievers and you have a nice offense. They'll need to work on the O-line alot though.
11. St. Louis Rams- Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland- Many a person have asked, "How is Davis not a top 10 pick?" Simple elementary my dear Watson, no one needs him. Although the talent level is great, the top 10 teams have bigger concerns than TE. This won't bother the Rams, who will relish his playmaking ability.
12. Cleveland Browns- Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa- Greenway has been overshadowed by Hawk and hasn't been as hyped as super freaks Manny Lawson and Kamerion Wimbley, but he's better. He may not have a 42" vertical, or a 4.4 40, but he knows what he's doing and is a sure tackler.
13. Baltimore Ravens- Winston Justice, OT, USC- They lack a good RT and Ogden isn't getting any younger. With LenDale not falling to them, Billick will address other problems, one being the offensive line. He'll worry about a HB later in the draft.
14. Philadelphia Eagles- Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State- Sims is the versatile LB that the Eagles need. He's quick, instinctive and good in cover. They'll want to take a WR, but it'll depend on who they come out of free agency with.
15. Atlanta Falcons- Jimmy Williams, DB, VA Tech- DeAngelo Williams and Jimmy Williams in the same defensive backfield. Damn. It's still not certain where Jimmy will play in the NFL, even though I'm sure it'll be corner, he has really good cover skills.
16. Miami Dolphins- Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio State- With the release of Sam Madison, it's a sure bet they'll take one of the 3 CB's expected to go 1st round. Youboty is a very good cover corner but not a great tackler.
17. Minnesota Vikings- DeAngelo Williams, HB, Memphis- They'll want to take hometown fave Maroney with this pick, and they very well might. I just think that Williams is a better fit in the offense Childress is installing and that he is a better back overall.
18. Dallas Cowboys- Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State- The Cowboys will jump at the chance to get Santonio at the 18th spot. With their top two wideouts aging, they need him bad to. They also need a LB or DT, but those two positions are pretty deep this draft.
19. San Diego Chargers- Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn- Besides C Harwick and RG Goff, San Diego really has no evidence of an offensive line. Their power running game struggled last year because of that problem. An OLB or DE will be wanted here, but they need more help in the trenches.
20. Kansas City Chiefs- Tamba Hali, DE, Penn State- HC Herman Edwards has already said he'd like to get an end in the first round, and lucky him, he gets the second best. Hali's fall from a possible top 10 to 20 isn't his fault, teams just have other needs.
21. New England Patriots- Laurence Maroney, HB, Minnesota- Maroney will be a very nice fit in the Patriots running game. He's alot like Dillon with a bit more explosion and doesn't have the baggage. They'll also think about an DE, LB or DB.
22. Denver Broncos (via WAS)- Broderick Bunkley, DT, FSU- The Broncs likely won't be able to keep both Warren and Myers due to cap problems. Bunkley is a nice fit in a 4-3 because of his speed and pass rush ability.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Eric Winston, OT, Miami- Winston isn't as refined as the other top tackles in this class, but he's much more athletic. Winston, a former TE, doesn't have a lot of excess weight on his body and moves rather quickly.
24. Cincinatti Bengals- Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA- Lewis is a very good recieving TE with strong hands. Watching him run the gauntlet at the combine, he looked very swift for a TE. His blocking needs work but the Bengals will be happy with him just for his recieving ability and size.
25. New York Giants- Manny Lawson, LB, N.C. St.- Like I've said in the previous mock drafts, New York just needs linebackers. A lot. Although they'd like someone a little more refined at the spot like Ryans or Carpenter, Lawsons physical attributes are astonishing and Coughlin should be able to make him a huge playmaker.
26. Chicago Bears- Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia- Pope is an absolute beast at about 6'7". He'll provide the red zone recieving threat that the Bears need. An OLB will also be looked at here if Hillenmeyer isn't re-signed.
27. Carolina Panthers- Dominique Byrd, TE, USC- The fact that Steve Smith is shorter than Bobby Knight's temper and #2 WR Keary Colbert isn't developing as planned, a TE is a necesity. They would love a WR, but Moss is the only player worth it, and he'd be just like Steve Smith.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars- Darnell Bing, S, USC- Bing is probably one of the least heralded top players in this draft, and for no reason. Bing was the leader of the Trojans defense and is a solid all around safety.
29. Denver Broncos- Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami- If Lelie ever cares to get better, a combination of Moss and Lelie would be dangerous. And if that doesn't happen, Broncos fans can pray that Moss is the new Steve Smith.
30. Indianapolis Colts- DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama- DeMeco is a Dungy-esque player. Plays the right way, doesn't draw negative attention to himself and he's fast. A DT will be looked at here, as well as a RB to replace James if he leaves.
31. Seattle Seahawks- Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP- Howard, Tatupu and LeRoy Hill will soon compose one of the best squad of linebackers in the league with this pick. With no worthy WR available, the Seahawks go with the very raw but very good Howard.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers- Ko Simpson, S, South Carolina- This pick is based on FS Chris Hope not re-signing with the Steelers. If he does re-sign with the Steelers, look for them to go with CB Antonio Cromartie.

Round 2
33. Houston Texans- Max Jean-Gilles, OG, Georgia
34. New Orleans Saints- Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State
35. Tennessee Titans- Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State
36. New York Jets- Tatusi (Deuce) Lutui, OL, USC
37. Green Bay Packers- Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College
38. San Francisco 49er's- Tye Hill, CB, Clemson
39. Oakland Raiders- Gabe Watson, DT, Michigan
40. Buffalo Bills- Donte Whitner, S, Ohio State
41. Detroit Lions- Kamerion Wimbley, LB, Florida State
42. Arizona Cardinals- Greg Eslinger, C, Minnesota
43. St. Louis Rams- Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State
44. Cleveland Browns- Darryl Tapp, DE, VA Tech
45. Baltimore Ravens- Joseph Addai, HB, LSU
46. Philadelphia Eagles- Jason Avant, WR, Michigan
47. Atlanta Falcons- Davin Joseph, OG, Oklahoma
48. Miami Dolphins- Omar Jacobs, QB, Bowling Green
49. Minnesota Vikings- D'Qwell Jackson, ILB, Maryland
50. Dallas Cowboys- Claude Wroten, DT, LSU
51. San Diego Chargers- Devin Aromashodu, WR, Auburn
52. Kansas City Chiefs- Derek Hagan, WR, Arizona St.
53. New England Patriots- Stanley McClover, DE, Auburn
54. Washington Redskins- Charles Spencer, OG, Pittsburgh
55. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- A.J. Nicholson, Florida State
56. Cincinnati Bengals- Rod Wright, DT, Texas
57. New York Giants- Alan Zamaitis, DB, Penn State
58. Chicago Bears- Jeremy Trueblood, OT, Boston College
59. Carolina Panthers- Maurice Drew, HB, UCLA
60. Jacksonville Jaguars- Anthony Fasano, TE, Notre Dame
61. Denver Broncos- Jonathan Scott, OT, Texas
62. Indianapolis Colts- Jesse Mahelona, DT, Tennessee
63. Seattle Seahawks- Skyler Green, WR, LSU
64. Pittsburgh Steelers- Abdul Hodge, ILB, Iowa

Round 3
65. Houston Texans- Pat Watkins, S, Florida State
66. New Orleans Saints- Parys Haralson, DE, Tennessee
67. Tennessee Titans- Brodie Croyle, QB, Alabama
68. New York Jets- Brian Calhoun, HB, Wisconsin
69. Green Bay Packers- Rob Sims, OG, Ohio State
70. San Francisco 49'ers- Mark Anderson, LB, Alabama
71. Oakland Raiders- Ryan O'Callaghan, OT, California
72. Buffalo Bills- Maurice Stovall, WR, Notre Dame
73. Detroit Lions- Charlie Whitehurst, QB, Clemson
74. Arizona Cardinals- Jesse McCargo, DT, N.C. State
75. St. Louis Cardinals- Greg Blue, S, Georgia
76. Cleveland Browns- Greg Jennings, WR, Western Michigan
77. Baltimore Ravens- Kai Parham, ILB, Virginia
78. Philadelphia Eagles- Jahri Evans, OT, Bloomburg(PA)
79. Atlanta Falcons- Todd Watkins, WR, BYU
80. Miami Dolphins- Freddie Roach, LB, Alabama
81. Minnesota Vikings- Dee Webb, CB, Florida
82. Dallas Cowboys- Kellen Clemons, QB, Oregon
83. San Diego Chargers- Fred Matua, OG, USC
84. Kansas City Chiefs- Brett Basanez, QB, Northwestern
85. New England Patriots- Demario Minter, CB, Georgia
86. Washington Redskins- Will Blackmon, WR, Boston College
87. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Kelly Jennings, CB, Miami
88. Cincinnati Bengals- Daryn Colledge, OL, Boise State
89. New York Giants- Cory Rodgers, WR, T.C.U.
90. Chicago Bears- Jonathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina
91. Carolina Panthers- Andrew Whitworth, OL, LSU
92. Jacksonville Jaguars- Taurean Henderson, HB, TTU
93. Denver Broncos- Jason Allen, S, Tennessee
94. Indianapolis Colts- Leon Washington, HB, Florida State
95. Seattle Seahawks- Roman Harper, S, Alabama
96. Pittsburgh Steelers- Brad Smith, QB/WR, Missouri

Whew. Done. I'd like to thank my first period for giving me time to type all this. There will probably be one or two more before the draft. If I feel motivated, I may even do draft profiles by team before the draft. But more likely I'll just do team by team recaps after the draft.

Post Combine Defensive Position Rankings

2006-03-02T20:48:00.000-06:00

Defensive End
1. Mario Williams, N.C. State
2. Tamba Hali, Penn State
3. Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
4. Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech
5. Stanley McClover, Auburn
6. Parys Haralson, Tennessee
7. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
8. Ray Edwards, Purdue
9. James Wyche, Syracuse
10. Frostee Rucker, USC

Defensive Tackle
1. Haloti Ngata, Oregon
2. Broderick Bunkley, Florida State
3. Gabe Watson, Michigan
4. Claude Wroten, LSU
5. Rod Wright, Texas
6. Jesse Mahelona, Tennessee
7. Jesse McCargo, N.C. State
8. Orien Harris, Miami
9. Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma
10. Jonathan Lewis, Virginia Tech

Outside Linebacker
1. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
2. Chad Greenway, Iowa
3. Manny Lawson, N.C. State
4. Thomas Howard, UTEP
5. Ernie Sims, Florida State
6. Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State
7. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
8. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State
9. A.J. Nicholson, Florida State
10. Mark Anderson, Alabama

Inside Linebacker
1. Abdul Hodge, Iowa
2. D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland
3. Kai Parham, Virginia
4. Freddie Roach, Alabama

Cornerback
1. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech
2. Tye Hill, Clemson
3. Ashton Youboty, Ohio State
4. Antonio Cromartie, Florida State
5. Alan Zamaitis, Penn State
6. Dee Webb, Florida
7. Demario Minter, Georgia
8. Kelly Jennings, Miami
9. Jonathan Joseph, South Carolina
10. Cedric Griffin, Texas

Safety
1. Michael Huff, Texas
2. Ko Simpson, South Carolina
3. Darnell Bing, USC
4. Pat Watkins, Florida State
5. Donte Whitner, Ohio State
6. Greg Blue, Georgia
7. Jason Allen, Tennessee
8. Roman Harper, Alabama
9. Bernard Pollard, Purdue
10. Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech

Ramblings

2006-03-02T07:32:00.000-06:00

The College Dropout
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Duke loses to Florida State, 79-74. Texas loses to Texas A&M, 46-43. Tennessee loses to Kentucky, 80-78. Ohio State barely escapes a scare from Northwestern. North Carolina on the other hand is on a roll after slaughtering Virginia, 99-54.

My Rankings
1. UConn
2. Memphis
3. Villanova
4. Duke
5. Gonzaga
6. George Washington
7. Pittsburgh
8. Illinois
9. Texas
10. North Carolina
11. Ohio State
12. Boston College
13. Tennessee
14. Washington
15. Kansas
16. UCLA
17. LSU
18. West Virginia
19. Oklahoma
20. Georgetown
21. Florida
22. Nevada
23. Marquette
24. North Carolina State
25. Iowa

Panic! at the NFL
It's the apocalypse, NFL version. Teams cutting vets like crazy trying to get under cap. Players under contract for a few more years are not sure where they're going to be next year. The heart and soul of the Panthers is gone (Brentson Buckner). Denver loses one of the games top DE's(Trevor Price). The Bills cut two of their defensive stop gaps (Milloy and Adams). The Dolphins cut ties with a long time pro-bowler (Sam Madison). And the Redskins will have to cut 10 to 15 players to get under cap. On top of all this, we're likely to see an uncapped year in 2007. Don't you love how all American sports end up screwing themselves when labor talks come around?

The Answer
I know of a really good question for Jerry Colangelo. Who is the NBA's best competitor? The answer? Allen Iverson, A.I., The Answer, etc. I do not understand how the co-captain of the last team and a player who is far and away the NBA's best competitor is not on the "Dream Team". Iverson did nothing in the last world championships or Olympics to disgrace or embarass the U.S. In fact, I think he embodies the common American person. A hard worker that doesn't take crap and never gives up. So what's the answer when people wonder why Team USA doesn't succedd? Well, The Answer.

Post Combine Offensive Position Rankings

2006-02-28T08:52:00.000-06:00

With the offense done working out for the most part, here are my post combine position rankings for offense.

Quarterbacks
1. Matt Leinart, USC- Most pro ready QB, highest floor of top 3, lowest ceiling
2. Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt- Bullet arm, good head, needs to develop a winners mentality
3. Vince Young, Texas- Sketchy arm motion and lack of smarts hurts him, great leader and amazingly high ceiling if put in right system
4. Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green- Project, pushes the ball, great athleticism and leadership
5. Brodie Croyle, Alabama
6. Charlie Whitehurst, Clemson
7. Kellen Clemens, Oregon- recovering from ankle surgery, good arm and good head
8. Darrell Hackney, Alabama A&M
9. Brett Basanez, Northwestern
10. Paul Pinegar, Freson State
sleeper- Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M

Halfbacks
1. Reggie Bush, USC- Electrifying playmaker, needs to bulk up
2. DeAngelo Williams, Memphis- Complete back, needs to prove understanding of NFL offense
3. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota- Also a complete back, lacks great burst
4. LenDale White, USC- Bruising HB, needs to work on recieving
5. Joseph Addai, LSU- Another complete back that lacks great burst and a second gear, needs to work on moves
6. Maurice Drew, UCLA- Good back that needs to bulk up, learn how to block
7. Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin
8. Leon Washington, FSU
9. Taurean Henderson, TTU- Good recieving back, needs to prove he has top running abilities as well
10. Jerome Harrison, Wash. St.
sleeper- De'Arrius Howard, Arkansas

Wide Recievers
1. Santontio Holmes, OSU
2. Chad Jackson, Florida- a 4.32 40 along with good size and solid hands
3. Sinorice Moss, Miami
4. Jason Avant, Michigan- will be a good slot reciever and over the middle target
5. Derek Hagan, AZ St.
6. Devin Aromashodu, Auburn
7. Maurice Stovall, ND- dropped some weight, needs to work on speed
8. Skyler Green, LSU
9. Todd Watkins, BYU
10. Greg Jennings, Western Michigan
sleeper- Greg Lee, Pittsburgh

Tight End
1. Vernon Davis, Maryland- an absolute beast
2. Marcedes Lewis, UCLA- very smooth reciever, needs work on explosion
3. Leonard Pope, Georgia- big target and an alright blocker
4. Dominique Byrd, USC
5. Anthony Fasano, ND
6. Joe Klopfstein, Colorado
7. T.J. Williams, N.C. State
8. Tony Scheffler, Western Michigan
9. Anthony Mix, Auburn
10. Jason Pociask, Wisconsin
sleeper- Charles David, Purdue

Offensive Tackle
1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia- added 17 lbs. after the Senior Bowl
2. Winston Justice, USC- stock is rising fast
3. Marcus McNeill, Auburn
4. Eric Winston, Miami
5. Jeremy Trueblood, Boston College
6. Jonathan Scott, Texas
7. Ryan O'Callaghan, California
8. Jahri Evans, Bloomsburg(PA)- unknown player with all the physical attributes
9. Daryn Colledge, Boise State (T/G)
10. Andrew Whitworth, LSU (T/G)
sleeper- Terrence Pennington, New Mexico

Guard
1. Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia- good road grader, over-extends arms in pass protection
2. Tatusi (Deuce) Lutui, USC (T/G)- versatile lineman, played OT in 2004
3. Davin Joseph, Oklahoma
4. Charles Spencer, Pittsburgh
5. Rob Sims, Ohio State
6. Fred Matua, USC
sleeper- Mark Setterstrom, Minnesota

Center
1. Nick Mangold, Ohio State- stock also rising rapidly
2. Greg Eslinger, Minnesota
3. Pat Ross, Boston College- had a good 40 for his size
4. Mike Degory, Florida

NFL Combines Winners and Losers, so far...

2006-02-27T07:44:00.000-06:00

Winners
Chad Jackson, WR, Florida- Jacksons most impressive feat of the weekend was running a 4.32 40, with some clocks having him as low as 4.27. To go along with showing amazing speed, he did well in drills and likely solidified himself as a first rounder in a not so strong WR class.
Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt- Not only was Cutler the only one of the top 3 QB's to work out, he lifted the 225 lb. bench 23 times and he ran a 4.77 40. Cutler also showed off his strong arm in drills and looked to have a good feel on the touch and rhythm throws. He has moved ahead of Young in my rankings.
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia- The knock on Ferguson at the Senior Bowl was that he wasn't big enough. Problem solved. "Brick" weighed in at the combine at 312 lbs., 17 lbs. heavier than his Senior Bowl weight.
Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State- Everybody seems to be talking about Mangold, and really, there is no reason not to. I've seen Mangold work out, lift, and run; he looks to be in great shape. He also has the biggest hands for any center there. Although there is talk about him going first round, I'm pegging him as a top 10 second rounder.
Losers
Vince Young, QB, Texas- How is it possible to hurt your draft stock by not working out? Well, by Jay Cutler kickin' ass and Croyle and Jacobs not doing to shabby either. I really would've liked to see Vince throw and put up a fight against Cutler, but Vince didn't and Cutler did. Too bad.
Reggie Bush, HB, USC- This isn't because Bush didn't work out, I'm perfectly aware of his ability. This has more to do with size. He measured in under 5'11" and 201 lbs., 15 short of most peoples ideal playing weight for him. Still the top HB on the board, I expect him up in the 210-215 range when USC's pro day comes around.
Brad Smith, QB, Missouri- I'm surprised to see Smith not work out at WR as well as QB at the combine. Smith has all the intangibles for a WR and just needs refining. Although he'll get his shot at QB, teams won't hesitate to move him to WR.
Mike Kudla, DL, Ohio State- 45 reps at 225 lbs. Yea, impressive much? I think so to, but he didn't accomplish his goal of breaking the combine record, he only tied it at 45 with Isaac Sopoaga, DT. His personal best is reportedly 52, which I can believe after seeing his arms. But come on meathead, you were so close!

In Other News
The Texans are reportedly trying to deal the 1st overall pick. Ironically, this comes a day after Reggie measured in at the combine. I'm really not shocked by this news though, mainly because they could acquire good role players at a needed positions without giving up anything the badly need. Even if they keep the pick, I wouldn't be all that surprised if the took D'Brickashaw, (as of now, I still have them taking Reggie).

I think the Colts made the right move by not franchising HB Edgerrin James. The move would've cost them over 11 million dollars next year, and they have to many other needs. Re-signing DL Larry Triplett, a 2nd rounder in '02 who had a breakout season last year, and LB David Thornton should be high priorities. According top G.M. Bill Polian, there's a 50-50 chance Edge will be back, but the team is prepared to move on without him.

2006-02-23T08:05:00.000-06:00

Ummm, hey, Mr. Thomas? Are you trying to duplicate the strategy of an NCAA team? Villanova perhaps? Oh, really. You think this trade will help your team in the future and now? That's an interesting take on this. What I see is a team with a G.M. that should've been gone awhile ago and a team that will miss the playoffs and never have any cap room to get better.

For those of you struggling to follow my fake dialogue, I'm speaking of the Knicks sending Hardaway and Ariza to Orlando for Stevie "gimme the damn ball" Francis. Oh, another memo to Isiah: THERE'S ONLY ONE BALL ON THE FLOOR! They now have three point guards capable of starting (Francis, Marbury and N-Rob) to go along with SG's Jamal Crawford(who can also handle the point) and Q-Rich. Don't forget about Qyntel Woods either, he's doing pretty damn good. If I were the guy that got this G.M. job after the season, I get rid of everyone but Robinson, Woods, PF Channing Frye and C Jerome James. That is by no means a bad line up. Go out and get a defensive SF and role-playing veterans off the bench. I realize it's easier said than done, but at this point, a monkey could put together a better plan than what Isiah is doing.

The Colts went out and gave Reggie Wayne the third highest contract for a WR (behind Moss and Harrison). I think this was a brilliant idea locking him up for 6 years, mainly because you know marvelous won't be around that long. They also got it done early enough that they can turn their attention to re-signing Edgerrin James, David Thornton and Raheem Brock.

I've made this point before and I'm going to make it again. The Florida Gators Mens Basketball is not good. At all. Well, at least not this year. Despite being 22-5, the only impressive teams they've beat are LSU and 'Cuse. They've lost to Tennesse and South Carolina twice and Arkansas once. Tennesse might have a shot at a 1 seed, but South Carolina and Arkansas likely won't make the tournament without a strong finish. This team is still young, but this year will not be their year.

NFL Mock Draft, version 2.0

2006-02-22T08:38:00.000-06:00

With rounds 1 and 2
Here is my second official mock draft. I'm not going to adjust the order according to projected trades. Maybe closer to the draft when theres more substance to the rumor. So Houston Texans, you are now on the clock.

Round 1
1. Houston Texans- Reggie Bush, HB, USC- Houston signing David Carr to a 3 year extension pretty much solidifies it, Bush is it. Even though I believe that Domanick Davis is a starting RB in the NFL, it won't be in Houston. That is assuming that there is no trade, however.
2. New Orleans Saints- Matt Leinart, QB, USC- A franchise QB for an offense that has almost everything else in place. Leinart has one of the highest floors of a top ranked QB that has come out in a while. With Payton at HC, McCallister in the backfield, Stallworth and possibly Horn at WR, this offense could be outstanding.
3. Tennessee Titans- Vince Young, QB, Texas- If Norm Chow had fun with Reggie, he's going to love Vince. Although one year on the bench wouldn't hurt him, McNair will likely miss some games with his injury history.
4. New York Jets- DeAngelo Williams, HB, Memphis- Even though the Jets have many needs, HB should be of their main concern. I would like to see them trade this pick for some depth at offensive line and maybe a 3rd rounder. Williams showed off great burst and vision at the Senior Bowl and should have a strong combine if he attends.
5. Green Bay Packers- A.J. Hawk, OLB, Ohio St.- There seems to be plenty mock drafts with Green Bay taking Mario Williams with pick. The problem is, they don't need a DE; they have KGB, Kampman, Kenny Peterson and rook Mike Montgomery (listed as a DT, but more fit for a 4-3 DE). The need at OLB is much greater than that at DE.
6. Oakland Raiders- Mario Williams, DE, N.C. St.- The Raiders need a DE to go opposite Derrick Burgess (57 tck, 16 sck) and complete the defensive line. Although they have many other needs, Williams is the best player available at any of the needed positions.
7. San Francisco 49ers- D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, VA- Even though D'Brickashaw dominated Kiwi at the Senior Bowl, there's still questions about him. San Fran won't care however, they need someone to protect Smith. They currently have a huge need at LT, and Ferguson can start right away there.
8. Buffalo Bills- Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon- Buffalo has plenty of needs, but the value here is the best with Ngata. Ngata can start immediately and even though he needs to work on using his hands to get to the passer, he's an effective tackle.
9. Detroit Lions- Michael Huff, S, Texas- Huff is already being advertised as the next Ronnie Lott by some people. While I don't agree with that, I do think he could be better than Sean Taylor was when he came out. Not to mention he doesn't come with a potential 46 years in prison.
10. Arizona Cardinals- Laurence Maroney, HB, Minn- With Kurt Warner signing a three year deal, that give them time to draft a QB later that has upside(Jacobs, Shockley, McNeal, Whitehurst, etc.) and develop him. Right now, Arizona needs a RB, and one that has decent hands, so White isn't an option. Maroney is a powerful runner that has a good second gear.
11. St. Louis Rams- Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland- I would like to see the rams go defensive with a corner or linebacker, but Linehan likes to use his TE's. Davis is pretty much a WR in a TE's body. He's fast, strong, and can get up, but he's also a solid blocker. He's a better TE prospect than K2 was.
12. Cleveland Browns- Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa- The Browns have so many holes on defense, this is a hard call. DE is a great need, but no one that's worth a top 15 pick can handle a 3-4. Greenway is the best player available at a needed position.
13. Baltimore Ravens- LenDale White, HB, USC- I'm pretty sure the days of the Ravens and Jamal Lewis are over. Chester Taylor might be re-signed, but he doesn't fit their physical style of play. White is a north-south runner who won't put the ball on the ground, just like Lewis was.
14. Philadelphia Eagles- Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio St.- The Eagles need help at alot of different positions, WR being one of them. Holmes and Reggie Brown would create a nice WR duo, but the Eagles would need to pick up size through FA.
15. Atlanta Falcons- Ko Simpson, FS, South Carolina- Simpson is an amazingly talented player and fills an immediate need for the Falcons D. With Simpson and Hall, that would give Atlanta two outstanding defensive playmakers to go along with their solid linebackers. They need a WR, but no one is worth the pick.
16. Miami Dolphins- Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt- Cutler has all the tools the NFL looks for in a QB. He's tall, strong and smart, has great leadership and is poised in the pocket. Miami needs a starting QB to compete with New England in the AFC East.
17. Minnesota Vikings- Max Jean-Gilles, G, Georgia- Minnesota needs a starting guard, and theres only two choices, Jean-Gilles or Lutui. Personally, I like Jean-Gilles, he is very powerful and had a great week at the Super Bowl.
18. Dallas Cowboys- Ernie Sims, OLB, FSU- Dallas could either use a WR, OLB, or DT. I think they go with Sims here though. Sims is a great fit for a 3-4 defense and should excel opposite DeMarcus Ware.
19. San Diego Chargers- Winston Justice, OT, USC- San Diego doesn't have much evidence of an offensive line, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them use two first day picks to help fix it. Justice can start immediately, and he can anchor a line.
20. Kansas City Chiefs- Jimmy Williams, DB, Va. Tech- Williams can play either a CB or FS in the NFL. Hes got size (6'3"), speed and he's a solid tackler. The Chiefs need some more help in the scondary, and Williams should be able to help right away.
21. New England Patriots- Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, BC- Kiwanuka is the pure pass rusher that New England needs. Even though they have good DE's, none of them excel at getting to the passer. New England also could use a corner, but they can wait until the second.
22. Denver Broncos (via Was)- Chad Jackson, WR, Florida- Questions about Smith's future and Lelie's lack of progression makes WR a focus for Shannahan. Jackson is a nice fit in Denver because he has the ability to block, which is rare for most college WR's.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn- The Bucs need to invest in a premier tackle and McNeill can be that guy. At 6'9", he's a big guy and helped pave the way for Cadillac at Auburn. Tampa also needs to get younger on defense, but that can be a later worry.
24. Cincinnati Bengals- Tamba Hali, DE, Penn St.- The Bengals offense is turning into a machine, so now its time to get defensive. Hali fits nicely in a 4-3 and can drop back into coverage if needed. They also need to look at a SS to replace Ohalete and a young OLB to eventually replace Simmons.
25. New York Giants- Bobby Carpenter, OLB, Ohio St.- I defy you to name one Giant LB down the stretch. Yeah, thought so. (Jackson, Greisen and Torbor). Carpenter composed the best linebacker core in the country with Hawk and Schlegel. The Giants also need a DT and a FS.
26. Chicago Bears- Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia- The Bears need a big target for Grossman to throw to next year, and at 6'7", Pope is a perfect fit. He also immediately becomes the TD weapon that the Bears need. An OLB also becomes a need if they don't re-sign FA Hillenmeyer.
27. Carolina Panthers- Dominique Byrd, TE, USC- The Panthers really haven't had much a recieving TE in their history, so Byrd is the guy to change that. He's big and quick with soft hands and really helped his stock in the Senior Bowl. Depth for the offensive line and a WR should be worried about in the later rounds.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars- Darnell Bing, S, USC- Even though offensive line is a concern, Deke Cooper isn't getting the job done at SS. Bing should be able to compete immediately for the starting job there. Like I said, offensive line will be a focus as well as a physical HB in later rounds.
29. Denver Broncos- Rodrique Wright, DT, Texas- Due to money issues, they won't be able to keep all the defensive line they imported from Cleveland. Either Myers or Warren likely won't be there next year, so Wright will fill an immediate need.
30. Indianapolis Colts- DeMeco Ryans, OLB, Alabama- Ryans led one of the top defenses in the country and has mad skills. He fits nicely into the Dungy Defense with his speed and athleticism. HB, WR and a SS will be focuses later in the draft for the Colts.
31. Seattle Seahwks- Thomas Howard, OLB, UTEP- The Jay Cutler of defense in this draft, Howard has all the skills but is still raw. Watching him in the Senior Bowl, any team will be happy to get him and the Seahawks will have a top LB core with him. WR and safety also needs to be focused on for the Seahawks.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers- Antonio Cromartie, CB, FSU- What a great gift for the Super Bowl champions, a corner that could've gone top 15 had he stayed healthy. If healthy, Cromartie has the potential to start immediately and develop into a shut down CB. Sinorice Moss is an option here if Randle El isn't re-signed.
Round 2
33. Houston Texans- Jonathan Scott, OT, Texas
34. New Orleans Saints- Manny Lawson, OLB, NC St.
35. Tennesse Titans- Abdul Hodge, ILB, Iowa
36. New York Jets- Tatusi Lutui, OL, USC
37. Green Bay Packers- Darryl Tapp, DE, VT
38. Oakland Raiders- Brodrick Bunkley, DT, FSU
39. San Francisco 49'ers- Ashton Youboty, CB, NC St.
40. Buffalo Bills- Nick Mangold, C, Ohio St.
41. Detroit Lions- Omar Jacobs, QB, Bowling Green
42. Arizona Cardinals- Greg Eslinger, C, Minnesota
43. St. Louis Rams- Tye Hill, CB, Clemson
44. Cleveland Browns- Stanley McClover, DE, Auburn
45. Baltimore Ravens- Claude Wroten, DT, LSU
46. Philadelphia Eagles- Kamerion Wimbley, OLB, FSU
47. Atlanta Falcons- Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami (Fl)
48. Miami Dolphins- Demario Minter, CB, Georgia
49. Minnesota Vikings- D'Qwell Jackson, ILB, Maryland
50. Dallas Cowboys- Gabe Watson, DT, Michigan
51. San Diego Chargers- Pat Watkins, S, FSU
52. Kansas City Chiefs- Jesse Mahelona, DT, Tenn
53. New England Patriots- Joseph Addai, HB, LSU
54. Washington Redskins- Derek Hagan, WR, Az St.
55. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Dee Webb, CB, Florida
56. Cincinnati Bengals- Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA
57. New York Giants- A.J. Nicholson, OLB, FSU
58. Chicago Bears- Orein Harris, DL, Miami (Fl)
59. Carolina Panthers- Jeremy Trueblood, OT, BC
60. Jacksonville Jaguars- Maurice Drew, HB, UCLA
61. Denver Broncos- Ryan O'Callaghan, OT, California
62. Indianapolis Colts- Kyle Williams, DT, LSU
63. Seattle Seahawks- Mike Hass, WR, Oregon St.
64. Pittsburgh Steelers- Brian Calhoun, HB, Wisconsin

The catch up ramblings

2006-02-14T07:48:00.000-06:00

In next Mondays polls, Villanova deserves to be #1. But don't count on it; Duke will probably get that spot. But why not Villanova? Their one of the top teams in the nation (#4 in AP and Coaches poll) and the just beat the consensus number 1 team. They have an outstanding squad, and although they may like size, that shouldn't knock them out of a number 1 spot. My top 10 rankings as of now are as followed:

Villanova
Duke
Memphis
UConn
Texas
Gonzaga
Tennesse
George Washington
Pittsburgh
Ohio State

Quin Snyder left Mizzou/ got fired, mid way through the season after saying he would finish it. Although there appears to be no clear front-runner, some names being thrown in to the ring are Texas A&M's Billy Gillipsie and Creighton's Dana Altman. I think Altman would be the best hire for Mizzou, but he might be to expensive for them. Mizzou hasn't claimed interest in Gillipsie, he is interested according to Texas A&M.

Shaun Alexander seems just a bit excited about the prospect of Free Agency, doesn't he? I think he realizes it is now his sole time in the spotlight that is long overdue. If he doesn't re-sign with Seattle, there will be plenty of teams wanting to go out and get him. He shouldn't jump the gun though, the Edge will also be out there, and some people, including myself, believe he is a more complete back. Although Alexander may fit better in to some teams offenses, I would much rather see Edge on my team.

This years Dunk Competition should be a fun one, not a great one, but fun to watch. First, you have returning champ Josh Smith of the Hawks. A 6'8" forward who is very athletic, we will likely see some very exciting dunks from him. Then we have Memphis' Hakim Warrick, who is alot like Smith with more power and possibly more known then Smith is. Then, at almost a foot shorter, come Nate Robinson. The Puny Knickerbocker PG will be looking to put on a Spud-esque performance to win the title. Last is Iggy, or Andre Iguodala, a G/F for the 76ers. He's got skills and he can get up, but I don't know if he's got the athleticism that Warrick or Smith have. My pick to win is Nate, followed by Smith, Warrick then Iggy. Robinson has top flight leaping ability and will be able to throw down some sweet jams.

My pick for the 3-point contest this year is for Q-Rich to repeat. His toughest competition will come from Ray Allen and Raja Bell. Other competitors are Nowitzki and Terry from Dallas and Billups from Detroit. Don't look for Q-Rich to 3-peat however, J.J. is going to be droppin' them next year.

That is all for now. Expect a new mock draft rather soon.

Super Bowl XL: The Prediction

2006-02-02T08:29:00.000-06:00

When Pittsburgh Has the Ball
When They Run: Obviously Pittsburgh has one of the top running games in the league. They have Ying and Yang with Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis. To lead Parker and Bettis, they have top of the line fullback Dan Kreider. Don't forget about Verron Haynes either. He's their top recieving back with a good mix of power and speed. They're also very good at using the run in different situations. They do it when their behind or ahead, short or long yardage, and they do it well.
How Seattle can stop the run: The main part to stopping the run is tackling Bettis. This will fall mainly on Tatupus shoulders. He must read his keys well and make tackles in the thighs and below. Trufant isn't a great tackler, so on outside runs with Parker, OLB Hill or one of the safeties must get there quickly. Pittsburgh's powerful O-line should be able to handle Seattle's undersized D-line.
When They Pass: Pittsburgh has really unveiled their passing game potential as of late. We all new it was there, with Ward, Randle El and outstanding rookie TE Miller. Roethlisberger can solidify his greatness with a great game and a win. Ward, the top WR, has top flight hands and isn't afraid to go over the middle and take a hit, I actually thinks he likes it. Randle El is the speedy gamebreaker that gets the ball on screens, slants and deep bombs. Miller, the deceptively quick, tall and soft handed TE is a great TD threat and you have to watch him over the middle. Other factors will be Haynes on screens and Roethlisbergers ability to create with his feet.
How Seattle can stop the pass: Seattle isn't a blitzing team, but their quick and small line can get to the passer. Their favorite blitz is X, where Tatupu heads up the middle and knocks into the center. Hill follows through and makes a bee line at the QB, that's how he got his 7.5 sacks this year. Trufant has all the physical skills but is inconsistent and gets beat of the line when he tries to jam, he will likely get Randle El in man to man. Dyson is a good cover corner but will be playing on a hobbled ankle, he will likely be covering Ward. SS Boulware is a good tackler and likes to play near the line, so he isn't often a factor in pass coverage. FS Manual is physically limited but plays smart and recognizes plays well.
The Trick Plays: This is only in here for Pittsburgh. Some people believe they won't try trick plays and risk a major loss. Yeah, well, that's bull. Cowher will unveil atleast one new play to the team for this one, and if they get in the right situation, they'll use it. Also, expect some form of a reverse. With 2 former QBs at WR and Roethlisberger can scoot, a reverse, double reverse or a reverse pass are always options.
Pittsburgh's offensive gamebreaker: Willie Parker. Fast Willie, Quick Willie, Lil' Willie, whatever your nickname, he has gamebreaking potential. Parker will need to have atleast one big run, which is completely feasible with his blocking and his moves. He has potential to have a breakout game under the big lights and step into Bettis' shoes.
Seattle's defensive gamebreaker: LeRoy Hill. Hill will be the responsible party for getting to Roethlisberger. Even though the line can get to Roethlisberger, they can't catch him as quickly. Hill is faster than Big Ben and will have to make him get out of the pocket and throw on the run.
When Seattle Has the Ball
When they run: Seattle also has a top running game, with the MVP leading it. They enjoy running to the left, but who wouldn't with pro bowlers Hutchinson and Jones over there. The other side isn't bad, but they are better suited to pass blocking. They may not run the ball as often as the Steelers, but it is just as effective. Morris, the backup HB, is a solid backup even though he doesn't see much time since he runs like Alexander does. Pro Bowl FB Strong is a bullet through the hole and creates great lane. Pittsburgh doesn't necesarilly need to worry about any receiving threat from the backfield.
How Pittsburgh can stop the run: This will actually be simple. Joey Porter is on Seattles left side, Troy Polamalu is their as well. So that may not be hard to stop. Not even going to the right is a piece of cake, Smith, Haggans, and Farrior are all attacking linebackers/ends. Up the middle you say? Meet Casey Hampton, he's good, you just haven't heard of him. They also have solid tackling corners and Chris Hope at FS who can easily hit people.
When they pass: They're in the middle of the road in the passing game. Hasselbeck is a good, not great, QB, and he has solid WR. The lack of a gamebreaker from the slot really hurts them. #1 WR Darrell Jackson is a solid possession reciever with solid hands, but goes down quickly afer the catch. Bobby Engram, the #2, also has dependable hands, he's their biggest big-play threat at reciever with his speed. Their third reciever, Jurevicius, is also a solid possesion reciever that will go over the middle and make tough catches. Stevens, the TE, is a big body and a good option, but he loses concentration and drops the ball to often.
Seattles Offensive Gamebreaker: Shaun Alexander. Duh. Even though they are playing a tough run D, Alexander will have to break plays open at the second level. But then again, that's assuming he gets to the second level.
Pittsburghs Defensive Gamebreaker: Troy Polamalu. Polamalu will be in charge of leading the attack on Hasselbeck and his O-line. They aren't to good at pass protection, so Polamalu will be able to get to Hasselbeck alot.
Special Teams
Field Goal Kicking: Advantage Pittsburgh. Seattles Josh Brown doesn't have the experience or consistency that Jeff Reed. Reed has more big game experience and a stronger leg.
Punting: Advantage Pittsburgh. Seattles Rouen has an accurate leg, but it is much weaker than Gardocki's leg. Pittsburgh also has better punt coverage.
Punt Returns: Advantage Pittsburgh. There is no better punt returner in the game than Randle El. Warrick or Williams will be handling returns for Seattle, but both are subpar return men.
Kick Returns: Advantage Seattle. Backup HB Maurice Morris usually handles kickoff returns for Seattle, he may not be fast, but he's evasive and can break tackles. Ricardo Colcough, Pittsburghs main KR man, has fantastic speed and doesn't fuble often, but he can't break tackles like Mo. Seattle also has better protection on KR.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 27, Seattle 13
The Final Say: Pittsburgh will come out and dominate the first half by passing deep into Seattle's territory then running it in. Seattle will have a hard time adapting to Pittsburghs physical style and won't get much in the first half. In the second half, Pittsburgh will continually pound the ball with the lead. Seattle will start things rolling, but it will be to late.
Scoring by quarter:
.......1 2 3 4
PIT 7 10 3 7
SEA 0 3 3 7

Battle of the Unknowns

2006-02-02T08:11:00.000-06:00

No, I'm not calling Seattle unknown due to their location. No, I'm not calling the Steelers unknown due to the fact that casual fans only know Jerome. This is the battle of the unheralded head pounders, one of them is finally getting their long deserved attention. Can you guess who I'm talking about? You're right, fullbacks Dan Kreider and Mack Strong. Both Seattle and Pittsburgh wouldn't have as much success running the ball without them. They will even be more important in this game.

Typically, the fullbacks job is to go through the hole ahead of the HB, usually chipping a lineman and then blocking a linebacker. Both Seattle and Pittsburgh have fast, attacking linebackers that are good tacklers. It will be Kreider and Strongs job to block those linebackers for their respective backs. Kreider and Strong are major factors in their teams success. Making Super Bowl XL, The Battle of the Unknown.

The Terrible Towel and the 12th man

2006-01-31T08:41:00.000-06:00

First of all, Aggies, please shut up. I realize you do legally own the term "12th man", but you don't have to complain about Seattle using it. Not to mention, your suing an NFL team the week before it goes to the Super Bowl. Two things wrong with that:

No proffesional courtesy. Actually, screw professional courtesy, that's just not playing nice.
Say adios to recruiting in the Northwest. Your completely pissing off everyone of the "12th man" fan base in Seattle. This includes current and future prep stars and their parents.

So, smooth move Aggies, you may get the 12th man, but don't count on many recruits coming from there.

Are the Steelers America's new team? I'm starting to think so. Not only does America love to see the underdog succed, they love the Bus, they love the chin, they love the roethlisburger, they love the flyin' Hawaiian. True, the Steelers probably don't appeal to the rich and uppity as much as pretty boy Brady and his boys did, but Americas working class loves them. I live in Minnesota and I'm starting to see the terrible towel more than sex boat shirts. The Steelers are the rough n' tough team that blue-collar America can fall in love with. So sorry Seattle, love ya lots, but can't beat Steeltown.

Artest to the Kings, finally. The odd thing is Sacramento was willing to make this deal just a few days after Artest demanded a trade. The next odd thing, it took 45 some odd days to get the deal done. Wasn't there something coming out of Indiana's front office saying there'd be a deal within 10 days? Indiana screwed up their own season with this one. So even though some blame can be put on Artest, Indy's front office should be taking some heat.

In another NBA trade that actually happened, sweet-shooter Szczerbiak went to Boston for the high-flying Ricky Davis. Neither team really got a good deal out of this one. Boston and Minnesota both needed a shake-up, and they did the trade just for the hell of it. A couple other players and picks were exchange, including PG Marcus Banks to the Wolves and a future first rounder to the Celts.

The Northern Iowa Panthers are in the top 25. Yeah, that's right, there actually is a Northern Iowa, I kind of though it was just a giant cornfield. Currently, they are 19-3 with the 14th RPI and leading the Missouri Valley conference. Here's another new thing, The Missouri Valley conference seems to have figured out this RPI thing, 3 teams are in the top 25 and 5 in the top 50. Can you say 3 to 5 bids for a mid-major conference?

More Ramblings from a Sunday Night

2006-01-22T22:50:00.000-06:00

1-1 on the day, not great, but not bad, just average, as teh .500 would suggest. Seattle's secondary really surprised me, they were 23rd in the league this year, yet the held Smith to 33 yds. Pittsburgh came out firing once again, riding the Broncos into the sunset. As of now, I'm pickingg Pittsburgh, but we'll see throughout the week. Look for Pittsburgh to come out firing on the first drive, and then start pounding on the 2nd to throw off Seattle. Remember, Pittsburgh is no longer a one-dimensional offense, Roethlisberger has shown off one heck of an arm, and an underrated recieving core (including TE's), have really stepped up.

Hey Marv, a little tip on the new job, don't hire somebody that Matt Millen wouldn't even hire. Dick Jauron is an absolutely horrible hire in Buffalo. What is the obsession with NFL teams and recycling failing head coaches. Please, somebody bring in Pat Hill or Kirk LaFrentz, even Pete Carrol may dash for some cash. How about some solid, proven coordinators? Calling Ron Rivera. Where was Haslett at in all of this? He even has Buffalo ties and his system fits the Bills very nicely. The different between Haslett and Jauron is that every time Jauron has failed, it was his fault. The single time Haslett failed, there were obvious outstanding circumstances.

No more undefeated teams in the college ball ranks. Except for that one D3 team, but I'm not getting into that. Duke didn't look champion calibur vs. Gerogetown, where no one cared to show up but Reddick. Pittsburgh just can't win in New York. Ever. Which is to bad since the Big East tourney ends up in Madison Square Garden again this year. Florida finally gets a decent challenge against Tennesse, up till then, they hadn't impressed me. Still haven't, and they have some tougher games coming up in the underrated SEC.

The Hula and Shriners games proved successful for four key playmakers, QB Reggie McNeal, WR's Mike Hass and Brandon Marshall, and S Dwayne Slay. Right now, McNeal stands as a day two pick with a high ceiling. Hass, the Biletnikoff award winner, could go anywhere from late round 1 to round 2 with lack of depth at WR. Marshall currently stands at a 2nd rounder also, but with his amazing size (6'6"), he could impress scouts in work outs and move up to late 1st over Hass. Slay is probably in the top 5 for safeties on most teams boards, coming in behind Huff, Simpson, Bing and maybe Miami's Greg Threat.

2006 NFL Draft Extravaganza

2006-01-20T08:43:00.000-06:00

In my first NFL Draft Extravaganza, I will cover almost everything or next to nothing, your choice. I'll do a mock draft, the Tatupu Profiles, and individual position rankings. Other than that, I just might slip something in.

2006 Round 1 Mock Draft
Don't you just love the season of way to early mock drafts? After all, we still have all of Febuarary, March and April to do these. This time includes combines, interviews, individual workouts, even contract talks. So I'm going to do my part to add to the madness. I may not have the credentials that Mel Kiper's hair does, but I'll take a whack at it.

1. Houston Texans-Reggie Bush, HB, USC- They've already came out and said they'd take Bush here. The people they brought in to evaluate Carr say he's good enough, which I agree with. Even though they'll catch some heat from the locals, Bush is so electrifying, the locals will forget about Young. (yeah, I laughed at what I just said to)
2. New Orleans Saints-Matt Leinart, QB, USC- He already said he would go to New Orleans, so everything here fits. New HC Payton is good with QB's and will make this offense a successful one next year.
3. Tennesee Titans- Vince Young, QB, UT- This fits perfect for the Titans. An Air McNair type QB, and the best part is Steve will be there to tutor the young QB. If Vince is here and they don't take him, I would be shocked.
4. New York Jets- DeAngelo Williams, HB, Memphis- With no top QB's left, the Jets go with the number two runner. DeAngelo will work great, learning behind the ever-lasting Curtis Martin. Another possibility at this pick is Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson.
5. Green Bay Packers- A.J. Hawk, LB, OSU- Think of this LB core with Hawk, Barnett and Diggs. Hawk is the top defensive senior in this draft and the top LB. Another Possibility is NC States DE, Mario Williams.
6. Oakland Raiders- Mario Williams, DE, NC St.- You probably didn't hear about Derrick Burgess last year, so for your information, he was one of the best DE in the league. Put Super Mario on the other side of the line and you've got yourself a replica of the Strahan-Umenyiora combo. If the Pack take Mario, the Raiders will take Hawk.
7. San Francisco 49'ers- D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virg.- A franchise offensive lineman to protect Alex Smith makes perfect sense. Ferguson is the top O-Line prospect in the field, he's an all-around great blocker who can anchor a line. Bama's LB, DeMeco Ryans, is also an option here.
8. Buffalo Bills- Tamba Hali, DE, Penn St.- Schobel was a standout at DE last year for them, so Hali makes perfect sense considering lack of talent on the other side. This pick could also be Ryans, VT's CB Williams (if they lose Clements), or Iowa's LB, Chad Greenway.
9. Detroit Lions- Michael Huff, DB, UT- The Lions have so many needs, this is a tough call. They take Huff to anchor the defense and to make plays. They have many needs, so CB Williams or LB Greenway and QB Jay Cutler could be taken, but that's a stretch.
10. Arizona Cardinals- LenDale White, HB, USC- If they keep Kurt Warner at QB, they're going to need a HB. Arrington didn't turn out as they had hoped, so they turn to the bruising White at HB. Ngata, Cutler and OT Winston Justice is also a choice here.
11. St. Louis Rams- Jimmy Williams, DB, VT- The Rams need defensive help, and they need it now. Williams is a DB that is NFL ready, a premier corner that wasn't even thrown near in college. Ngata and Ryans are also possibilities as the Rams look to beef up that defense.
12. Cleveland Browns- Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon- The Browns don't have a NT, period. Romeo Crennel knows the importance of a brick of wieght in the middle. DE Mathias Kiwanuka or any DB is also a chance here.
13. Baltimore Ravens- Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa- This guy just exudes Ravens. He's fast, aggressive and a born leader. Winston Justice or even maybe Cutler are options here.
14. Philadelphia Eagles- Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio St.- This is one of the most agreed upon picks. I don't think I've seen one draft without the Eagles taking Holmes. Justice, Kiwanuka or DT Claude Wroten will be looked at here.
15. Atlanta Falcons- Ko Simpson, DB, SC- Who else would you want to put in a secondary with DeAngelo Hall but the amazingly gifted Ko Simpson? If you haven't seen him play, you've missed out, he's just to good to be true. WR Chad Jackson, CB Youboty and WR Hagan are other choices here.
16. Miami Dolphins- Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt- They need a QB. Now. Cutler has everything the NFL looks for in a QB, and he fits fine in to Miami's offense. Youbouty and OT's Justice and McNeil are other options here.
17. Minnesota Vikings- Laurence Maroney, HB, Minn- Maroney is a Minnesota favorite who would do well in a west coast O. Even though I believe that Mewelde Moore can handle the tailback spot, I have a feeling the Vikes will take Maroney. LB's Ryans, Carpenter and Sims could also fit in here.
18. Dallas Cowboys- DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama- Scott Fujita should not be a starter in a 3-4 D. But you know who should? Ryans. The perfect player in Dallas' D and would compose an outstanding OLB lineup along with DeMarcus Ware. A FS type player like Watkins or Zemantis might be taken here as well.
19. San Diego- Winston Justice, OT, USC- San Diego really struggled on the O-Line this year, but Justice is the man that can change that. He is a road-grader type guy that can also pass protect. Any WR is also an option here.
20. Kansas City- Ashton Youboty, DB, OSU- Youboty is a very good cover corner, which works nice, because safeties Knight and Wesley love to hit people. KC continues to look to get younger on D by bringing in Youboty to get Surtain or Warfield to the nickel. Like San Diego, any WR could also be taken here.
21. Tampa Bay- Chad Jackson, WR, Florida- Tampa looks to get a WR that can go up for it in Jackson. Galloway might not have much gas in the tank, and the young Simms needs a go-to WR when Galloway is done. An OT like Marcus McNeil, Eric Winston or Jeremy Trueblood could be an option.
22. Cincinnati Bengals- Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland- Coach Lewis will want to take a defensive player, but they need a standout at TE more. No Bengals TE had over 200 yds, over 1 TD or over 20 catches last year. A safety or a DT will also be looked at here.
23. N.Y. Giants- Bobby Carpenter, LB, OSU- Did their linebackers even care to show up for the last month or so? They need quick help at LB if they ever want to stop the run. They will also look at WR's and DT's with this pick.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars- Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami- Word around Jacksonville is that Jimmy Smith won't be back. They already lack a good burner at WR, and losing Smith won't help that. They have great depth at the position, but bringing in Moss will give them a deep threat. Don't be surprised if they try to trade up to get Holmes or Jackson, (remember, they have Garrard).
25. New England- Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, BC- Kiwanuka fits nicely into the 3-4 and can be the pass-rushing end that NE needs. Seymour and Warren are top notch, but neither of them excel at getting to the QB. WR's and DB's will be looked at here.
26. Denver Broncos(via WAS)- Claude Wroten, DT, LSU- Wroten is a load to move, freeing up those fast LB's to make plays. He would be replacing Myers on the line, which would be one of the top in the league with this pick. They want to bring in a MLB to back up Wilson, but nobody is worth the pick right now.
27. Chicago Bears- Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia- At 6'7", Pope will be the target of almost every Rex Grossman TD toss. Grossman's completion percentage as well as productivity will raise with a physically dominating TE. They might be thinking an OLB like Sims here, but Hillenmeyer is fine.
28. Indianapolis Colts- Ernie Sims, LB, FSU- Sims fits perfectly into Dungy's Cover 2 defense. He's a fast and athletic LB that makes plays in the backfield. His aggresiveness will only energize this D even more. Any WR or HB to possibly replace Wayne or James, (both FA's) or a corner will be looked at here.
29. Carolina Panthers- Mercedes Lewis, TE, UCLA- The lack of a go-to TE is hurting the Panthers. Like the Bengals, the need a dominating TE on offense and a real red zone threat. Any worthy WR or LB will be looked at here.
30. Denver Broncos- Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn- Denver will be looking for a WR here, but value doesn't meet need. McNeil is a big fellow that will beef up the Denver line in a hurry. Like I said, a WR will be looked at here, and depending on workouts, Mike Hass, Derek Hagan, Johnathan Orr or Brandon Marshall are options here.
31. Seattle Seahawks- Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP- Hill and Tatupu are in place, but someone needs to play at LOLB. Howard is a perfect fit in the 4-3. S Bing and any WR will be looked at here.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers- Antonio Cromartie, CB, FSU- Pittsburgh gets the shutdown CB they need in Cromartie. He is a bit raw, but is physically gifted and will develop into a top corner. A bruising HB will also be looked at here, but there is no one worth the pick.

The Tatupu Profiles
Now I'll just quick go through some players that will be taken later in day 1 but may have a huge impact next year. Thus the name of Tatupu Profiles.

Round 2
A.J. Nicholson, OLB, FSU- Nicholson is a bit undersized but extremely quick and a good ballhawk. Look for a team like STL, Buffalo, Cleveland or San Francisco to take him.
Tye Hill, CB, Clemson- Hill could be immediate help as a nickel on any team needing a DB. He could be starting mid way through the season.
Brodrick Bunkley, DT, FSU- Bunkley is a quick and small DT, only 6'2" and 295 lbs. He won't work for a 3-4 team, but he would be a nice fit in a 4-3 as he can get after the passer.
Abdul Hodge, ILB, Iowa- Hodge would fit a 3-4 nicely. He's got good size and is a stop gap on defense. Look for Dallas to take him in round 2.
Round 3
Devin Hester, WR/CB/KR/PR, Miami- He'll be taken in round 3 based on his extreme talent level. As his team works to find a position for him, he'll become a premier returner. Expect him to end up at corner eventually.
Will Blackmon, WR/CB/KR/PR, Boston College- Blackmon is in the same boat as Hester, but I believe he'll end up at WR. While he gets accustomed to the position, he can be used as an electrifying returner and a "nose for the ball" type guy on defense.
Frostee Rucker, DE, USC- Rucker has size and speed, so he should be succesful in the NFL. He would fit good into any system, especially a stunting one like Jacksonville.
Omar Jacobs, QB, Bowling Green- After a sensational sophmore season, (40 tds, 4 ints), he took a step back last year. If a team like Detroit, Baltimore, Jets or Raiders take him, he might have a shot at starting.

Position Rankings
I'll rank a good amount of players at each position, and then I'll give a sleeper for each spot. I'll also tack notes on the end of some of the players. Enjoy.

Quarterback
1. Matt Leinart, USC
2. Vince Young, Texas
3. Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt- His Senior Bowl performance was less than impressive, but he had a nice practice week.
4. Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green
5. Brodie Croyle, Alabama- He had a solid Senior Bowl performance, but he's going to need strong individual workouts to move to a second rounder.
Sleeper- Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M
- Darrell Hackney, UAB

Running Back
1. Reggie Bush, USC
2. DeAngelo Williams, Memphis- DeAngelo might very well be the best back, Bush just has the superstar factor going for him. DeAngelo showed great burst and fantastic vision in the Senior Bowl.
3a. LenDale White, USC
3b. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota
4. Joseph Addai, LSU
5. Maurice Drew, UCLA
Sleeper- Jerome Harrison, Washington St
- De'Arrius Howard, Arkansas

Wide Reciever
1. Santonio Holmes, OSU
2. Chad Jackson, Florida
3. Mike Hass, Oregon St.
4. Sinorice Moss, Miami- A great game and week of practice at the Senior Bowl moved him up. He will be a good WR.
5. Derek Hagan, Az St.- Had to many drops last week to be a possesion reciever.
6. Hank Baskett, New Mexico
Sleeper- Greg Lee, Pitt
-Brandon Marshall, UCF

Tight End
1. Vernon Davis, Maryland
2. Marcedes Lewis, UCLA
3. Leonard Pope, Georgia
4. Garret Mills, Tulsa- Looked alright at FB during the Senior Bowl
5. Anthony Fasano, Notre Dame
Sleeper- Joe Klopfstein, Colorado- Joe had a huge gameday in the Senior Bowl, he improved his stock as a reciever with his outstanding physical abilities.

Offensive Linemen
1. OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, VA- A good practice week led up to not a great game, but he retains the top O-Line spot.
2. OT Winston Justice, USC
3. OT Marcus McNeill, Auburn- Didn't measure in as big as advertised, but he got the job done all week.
4. OT Jonathan Scott, UT
5. C Greg Eslinger, Minnesota
6. OT Jeremy Trueblood, BC- It takes alot to be kicked out of a all-star game, but Trueblood did, temporarily. He showed the nastiness NFL teams want in an O-line.
7. G Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia- Max had a great week at the Senior Bowl, proving to be an effective drive blocker and solid in pass protection.
Sleeper- G Taitusi Lutui, USC

Defensive End
1. Mario Williams, NC St.
2. Tamba Hali, Penn St.- Hali solidified his number 2 spot at DE. However, teams are now talking about him being an OLB in a 3-4.
3. Mathias Kiwanuka, BC- Not a good practice week, then injured and didn't play in the game. Also didn't measure in as big as advertised, but he is still the 3rd DE.
4. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
5. Daryl Tapp, VT
6. Ray Edwards, Purdue
Sleeper- Frostee Rucker, USC

Defensive Tackle
1. Haloti Ngata, Oregon
2. Brodrick Bunkley, FSU
3. Claude Wroten, LSU
4. Orien Harris, Miami (Fl)
5. Rodrigue Wright, UT
6. Gabe Watson, Michigan- Watson had a great practice week and a pretty good game. He improved his stock as a run stopper.
7. Jesse Mahelona, Tenn.
Sleeper- Jesse McCargo, NC St.

Outside Linebacker
1. A.J. Hawk, OSU
2. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama- Ryans didn't seem to show up on gameday. He looked slow and out of it. Then again, it could be that he hadn't played in about a month.
3. Chad Greenway, Iowa
4. Ernie Sims, FSU
5. Bobby Carpenter, OSU
6. Thomas Howard, UTEP- Proved that he can use his amazing talent against top flight competition. He has teams drooling over his potential.
Sleeper- Stanley McGlover, Auburn

Inside Linebacker
1. Abdul Hodge, Iowa
2. Freddie Roach, Alabama- Had a great week at the Senior Bowl and improved his stock by having a fantastic game.
3. D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland
4. Kai Parham, VA

Cornerback
1. Jimmy Williams, VT
2. Ashton Youboty, OSU
3. Tye Hill, Clemson- Even though he did not have a great game, he did have a good practice week. He solidified his ranking above Minter in my mind.
4. Demario Minter, Georgia
5. Antonio Cromartie, FSU
6. Dee Webb, FSU
Sleeper- Devin Hester, Miami

Safety
1. Michael Huff, UT
2. Ko Simpson, South Carolina
3. Darnell Bing, USC
4. Pat Watkins, FSU- Watkins had a good game and a good practice week leading up to that. He is the number 2 FS behind Ko as of now.
5. Alan Zamaitis PSU
6. Greg Blue, Georgia
Sleeper- Dwayne Slay, TTU

Well, that's the end of the first NFL Draft Extravaganza. There will likely be one monthly from here on out. Occasionally, I'll drop a bone if something changes in my rankings.

The Ramblings

2006-01-20T08:01:00.000-06:00

#16 George Washington has a good chance of going into the tournament with one loss. They've already played the 2 ranked teams on their schedule, only losing N.C. State, and Xavier is the only obstacle left. Can people really deal with the chance of an A10 team getting a 1 or 2 seed. I think I could, but they should've challenged themselves with better non-conference opponents.

Congratulations to Pat Summitt on her 900th win. 900 wins is 900 wins no matter where you play, and with 6 national titles to go along with that, I'd say she's a damn good coach.

I think the Rams made a smart move in hiring Miami's OC Scott Linehan. He's a smart coach who has been around alot of football and knows how to run a team. He will run the ball with Jackson, but he knows he still has Bulger and Holt to get through the air with. If the Rams have any sign of a defense this year, they could get back to a .500 team.

Rod Marinelli, Tampa's former D-Line and AC is now the head coach in Detroit. Even though he has never been a head coach before, I think Millen actually might've made a decent hire. Sadly though, Marinelli will only be coach for one or two years before Millen is fired and the new guy brings in his own guy to coach.

The Washington Redskins made a brilliant move in nabbing Al Saunders before he could get a HC job elesewhere. Saunders could've easily been a HC, but Joe Gibbs flew out to talk him in to coming to Washington. I applaud Washinton on this move of all moves and I'm looking for them to win the East next year

I believe that the Knicks Antonio Davis did the right thing in going up in the stands to protect his wife. But I also believe he should have to face the consequences. I think anyone in his situation would've done it, even Stern said he would, but players can't keep going into the stands. Davis is a poised player and an NBA role model, but it would've taken one thrown cup of beer, and it would've been the brawl at Auburn Hills all over again.

The count right now is 48 underclassmen declared for the NFL Draft. If you look at most of the names, they are all extremely talented players. In fact, we could see the most juniors ever drafted in the first round this year, my estimate right now is around10-15. If you take a count of probable first-rounders, here are the names:
Reggie Bush, HB, USC
Vince Young, QB, Texas
LenDale White, HB, USC
Darnell Bing, S, USC
Winston Justice, OT, USC
Mario Williams, DE, NC St.
Laurence Maroney, HB, MN
Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
Ashton Youboty, DB, Ohio State
A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State
Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon
Chad Jackson, WR, Florida
Ernie Sims, LB, FSU
Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland
Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia
Other first round possibilites (depending on combine, workouts and team needs):
Antonio Cromartie, CB, FSU
Ko Simpson, CB, SC
Fred Matua, G, USC
Anthony Fasano, TE, ND
Maurice Drew, RB, UCLA
Brian Calhoun, RB, Wisc.
Omar Jacobs, QB, Bowl. Gr.
The last few are just some names being thrown into the pool. Most of them are second rounders that could improve their standing over the next few months. Expect the top 15, however, to go in the first.

NFC Championship Pick

2006-01-19T08:10:00.000-06:00

Carolina Panthers @ Seattle Seahawks
Final Score: Carolina 31, Seattle 17
Passing Attack: Advantage Carolina. Both teams have strong passing games, but how can you go against Steve Smith. Seattles passing game is solid, but they have no gamebreakers. It also helps that Delhomme has the best playoff QB rating of all time.
Rushing Attack: Advantage Seattle. They get this by default since Carolina doesn't have their top 2 backs. Even though I don't predict Alexander having a huge game, atleast he is a big time back. Nick Goings is fine, but he's no Foster or Davis.
Battle in the Trenches: Advantage Panthers. Given that Seattle has one of the best O-lines in the league, this is a hard choice. But when you see that they're going against arguably the best D-Line, you choose Carolina. Their O-Line is also vastly improved as shown in the victory over the Bears.
Offensive X-Factor: Nick Goings. He may be a back up fullback, but he can pound the rock. Remember last year when he started 8 games, ran for 821 yds and recieved for another 394 yds? He can get it done, the only question is if he can shake off the rust.
Rush Defense: Advantage Panthers. Do I really have to go over this one? Didn't think so. But I will say why it's not Seattle. Although they have a stout run D led by rookie 'backers Hill and Tatupu, it can't compare to Carolina's. It doesn't help that Ken Hamlin isn't playing and the corners aren't great tacklers.
Pass Defense: Advantage Panthers. With Dyson hobbled, Seattle's pass D is weak on the right side. The Panthers, however, have two premier, young corners in Gamble and Lucas, and a good safety core with Mcree, Minter and Thomas Davis. At this point, I think that the Seahawks are kicking themselves over letting Lucas leave.
Defensive X-Factor: Julius Peppers. Wheter he plays or not is the first question, but when he's on the field, watch out. When a D-Lineman is the fastest guy on the defense, you know he's a game changer that you have to watch out for.
Special Teams: Advantage Panthers. Seattle's Josh Brown is only a 72% kicker, they don't have dangerous return men and their kick coverage is horrid. And the way Carolina returns kicks with Robertson and Smith on punts, this matches up well for Carolina.

My Final Say: Seattle has yet to see a defense like this. Everything in this game matches up well for Carolina, so as long as they get a good running attack going, look for a blowout

Pittsburgh and Carolina, welcome to Detroit, where they haven't seen good football since Barry Sanders left.

AFC Championship Pick

2006-01-18T08:41:00.000-06:00

Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Final Score: Pittsburgh 24, Denver 21
Passing Attack: Advantage Denver. Although I'm very impressed by Pittsburghs passing vs. the Colts, it's not a proven threat yet. Everyone knows Denver can pass, and Jake Plummer is one of the top passers in the game. Even if the Steelers front seven penetrate the Broncos O-Line, Plummer is the best QB in the league at throwing on the run.
Rushing Attack: Split. How can you say which team is better at rushing when they have the exact same compnents to their rushing game. Mike Anderson and Jerome Bettis are the rumblin', tumblin', and bumblin' backs while Tatum Bell and Willie Parker are the speed threats between the 20's.
Battle in the Trenches: Advantage Pittsburgh. Even though the defensive front fours are alot alike, I know that Pitt's O-line can stop the blitzes from Ian Gold and John Lynch. On the other end, I'm not sure how Denver's O-Line will hold up in pass rush against that fast and attacking defense.
Offensive X-Factor: Ben Roethlisberger. He is vastly underrated as a passer from the pocket. The key for him is to not get rattled early, he must stay calm and make smart plays down the stretch.
Rush Defense: Advantage Pittsburgh. Once again, both teams are stellar rushing defense teams. Pittsburgh just has a bit more size and their defensive backs can tackle better. However, I wouldn't be surprised to go either way.
Pass Defense: Advantage Denver. They have first team All-Pro Champ Bailey, accompanied with top notch head knocker John Lynch. Pittsburgh isn't lagging by any means, but they don't have a premier shut down corner to stop the physically astonishing Ashley Lelie.
Defensive X-Factor: Joint factor between Polamalu and Lynch. You've got the old guard and new guard of premier safeties. Lynch must get into Big Ben's head, and he should feel free to knock around rookie Heath Miller. Polamalu must make sure Lelie doesn't get behind the defense, but he also has to make sharp tackles on Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell.
Special Teams: Advantage Pittsburgh. Who is a bigger playmaker on the return than Randle El? That's right, no one this year, not even Dante.

My Final Say: This has potential to be one of the greatest championship games of all time. It's an extremely hard game to pick, but I'm choosing Pittsburgh barely. However, Denver can make a big play to turn it around.

p.s. It's finals week, so my NFC pick might not come until Saturday. but I'll try to get it on soon.

The Best/Worst Week Ever

2006-01-17T08:52:00.000-06:00

Best Week Ever
1. Pittsburgh Steelers/Denver Broncos- Now one of these 2 teams will likely be on the other side of this list next week, but as of now, their on cloud 9. Each beat the AFC unbeatables this weekend and did it in grand fashion. Not only did Pittsburgh win, they're starting to find the offense. Their passing attack looked top notch, which could be dangerous for Denver, not knowing what to plan for.

2. World Baseball Classic- Preliminary 60-man roster were announced this week to much avail. The U.S. actually looks as if it stands a chance. Although Cuba is technically not a part of it, it's looking more and more as if they will be.

Worst Week Ever
1. The NBA Media- Looks as if there will be no more Kobe vs. Shaq ego battles. The two stars hugged and made up this week. The Orlando Magic also ended Stevies exile, so no more trade talk out of Orlando. Oh yeah, and what happened with bad boy Ron Artest? Nothing out of him for a while now, although it's looking as though he's headed towards Golden State.

2. Pete Morelli- You may not know the name, but you know the person. Morelli is the NFL Referee that overturned the Polamalu interception. The NFL rarely comes public with replays, so you know that Morelli's ass is grass at this point.

Tonights NFL Games

2006-01-14T22:43:00.000-06:00

2-0 on the picks so far, so it's looking good. Seattle proved that it can survive against a top defense even without Alexander. Hasselbeck also had a fantastic game, using his #1 wideout, Darrell Jackson, for 143 yds and a TD. As for Denver, Jake proved he's ready to be an top tier NFL QB, he made a few mistakes, but he didn't let anything rattle him. And now, the 3 teams left in the AFC, whichever ends up with home field advantage next week, will win. Sorry Steelers, but unless you crush the Colts, your done.

Quick Thoughts, NFL Coaches version

2006-01-13T15:16:00.000-06:00

Initially, I wasn't sure what to think of Mularky resigning. But now that I think about it, it wasn't a bad move. He can go back to being a top OC and give it another try with a new team in a couple of years. He was unlucky with the Bills, inheriting the team on the way down instead of starting to build it back up. He will definently get another chance at a HC job.

As for the open Buffalo job now, it's really to early to call. Levy looks like a good choice, and so does current DC Jerry Gray. Jim Haslett has ties to the Bills, he played LB there for six years. Other coaches rumored to be in the hunt are Chicagos DC Ron Rivera and Detroits interim HC Dick Jauron. If I'm Buffalo though, I go with either Gray or Levy, both know the franchise, know the system and know the players.

Mike McCarthy, the new Packers HC, is a great hire. He is an outstanding offensive mind, and with DC Jim Bates in place, this team has a chance at a .500 season. McCarthy might also be able to bring Favre back, he was his quarterbacks coach during 1999. McCarthy is a no-nonsense kind of guy who will put anyone in there place. Even though OC's of a 4-12 team don't usually get HC jobs, give credit to Ted Thompson in looking outside the box for this one.

I believe Mike Martz would be successful in New Orleans. That offense is a QB away from being a super power, and Martz would be the guy to put it together. He would come into a situation almost i dentical to the one he came in with the Rams, post-Vermiel, and we know what he did with that.

Well, if your not watching the end of the 76ers vs. Celts right now, your nuts. It's been a fantastic game, 76ers win 125-124 in 3OT.

Playoff Predictions

2006-01-11T17:35:00.000-06:00

Washington Redskins vs. Seattle Seahawks
Score: Seattle 24, Washington 13
Seattle's Offensive Gameplan: Pound the rock with MVP Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris, who's as good as they come for backups. For the Redskins, defense is there team, but they allow 105.4 rushing ypg.
Washington's Offensive Gameplan: Really, it's about not giving them good field position. They haven't done much on offense lately, but as long as they can generate a couple and leave Seattle deep in their territory, they have a chance. But otherwise, give it to Clinton and go at the rookie LB's.
Seattle's Defensive Gameplan: Don't give up the big play to Santana Moss. Make them run the ball with Portis, and use a safety in the box to stop him. But always keep one back to watch the long ball.
Washington's Defensive Gameplan: Start LaVar Arrington, play him all game. LaVar has the best chance of anyone to stop Alexander. He is a fast, aggressive player that can bust up plays in the backfield. Past that, watch for some play actions to Bobby Engram down field.

Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears
Score: Carolina 15, Chicago 13
Carolina's Offensive Gameplan: Use little known and underrated DeShaun Foster to your advantage. He's a big back, but also very quick and he hits holes hard. Once the run is established, get the ball to playmaker Steve Smith.
Chicago's Offensive Gameplan: Give the ball to Thomas Jones. The Bears average more yards on the ground per game then they do through the air. But they also have fast WR's, so once the run is established, go deep to Berrian or throw it up for Gage.
Carolina's Defensive Gameplan: CB's Ken Lucas and Chris Gamble are good enough to play man against Muhammad and Gage. Use LB/SS Thomas Davis in the box to get after Thomas Jones and contain him. If they make Chicago throw the ball, they will win.
Chicago's Defensive Gameplan: CB's Tillman and Vasher are very good, but no one has been able to stop Steve Smith alone. Use Safeties Mike Brown or Chris Harris to double him all game. The front seven should be able to handle Foster by themselves, so focus on Smith.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Indianapolis Colts
Final Score: Pittsburgh 31, Indianapolis 24
Indianapolis' Offensive Gameplan: Ummmm, Peyton Manning?
Pittsburgh's Offensive Gameplan: Uhhhh, run the ball?
Indianapolis' Defensive Gameplan: This is where the Cover 2 becomes problematic. It's hard to constantly put a Safety (Bob Sanders) in the box with a Cover 2 defense. But on the other hand, you can't leave those young CB's on an island with Ward or Randle El. The plan should be to shut down the run early and make Big Ben win the game for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh's Defensive Gameplan: Blitz Manning with Joey Porter. You saw what Merriman and that Charger's D did to him. They need to watch that game over and over again and do everything exactly like that. Remember, the Colts haven't played a real game in about a month, so blitz early and often.

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
Score: Denver 27, Patriots 17
Denver's Offensive Gameplan: Go after New Englands secondary. If you can get the LB's to back off by throwing the ball, Tatum Bell can get loose in the middle for some big gains. Other than that, let us hope "No Mistake" Jake stays that way.
New England's Offensive Gameplan: Well, Denver can stop the run with the best of 'em. Which is good, because NE hasn't been able to run the ball. Tom Brady is a key factor to this game, more than he usually is. He needs to make big plays and not make turnovers.
Denver's Defensive Gameplan: Blitz Brady with those fast LB's. Brady is at his best when you give him time to sit back and digest, so Denver needs to get after him. And if I'm S John Lynch, I'm making sure those WR's hear footsteps all game.
New England's Defensive Gameplan: Leave Jake Plummer alone. Confuse him with different pass coverages instead of blitzing. Force him to digest the defense. Also, watch out for Tatum Bell on the draw; Denver runs it better than anybody.

Quick Thoughts

2006-01-10T08:29:00.000-06:00

Corey Patterson, once expected to be the next big star for the Cubbies, has been traded. The struggling CF was sent to the Orioles for two minor leaguers. Patterson, who was the third overall pick in the '98 amateur draft, had a .215 avg. with only 13 home runs last season. He was on his way to a breakout year in 2003 before a knee injury sidelined him. Patterson is still young, 26 years old, but this will likely be his last chance at a starting job for a while.

Two things I neglected to comment on earlier, Vince Young and Devin Hester. Even though I'm excited to see Vince Young enter the draft, it saddens me to see such a great guy leave college football. To those that don't watch college football, the players are percieved as thugs, who use popularity to their advantage. College football needs more guys like Vince Young, Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart around. Now to Devin Hester. I'm really not sure what to think about this one. I understand he's doing it for a good reason, but had he stayed and Urban Meyer found a way to use him, he could've been a guarenteed first rounder. Right now, where he goes depends on his individual workouts and how he does at the combine.

Sean Taylor should be ashamed of himself. Not only did he make a fool of himself, he could've cost his team the game. Edell Shepards near touchdown catch likely would'nt have been thrown if Taylor was the deep cover guy. If you want to talk trash with another guy, go ahead, but the second you spit in his face, you've really crossed the line between banter in the heat of the battle, and being a fool.

I think Herman Edwards is the right man for the job in KC. He has worked with Vermiel so he knows his ways already, plus Edwards knows how to run the ball successfully. If KC can get a top CB in the offeseason, they will likely be my 2nd ranked team in the AFC next season.

If I'm an assistant coach looking to get a new job right now, I'm looking at Houston. This team isn't very far from being a respectable, even very good team. Plus they have the 1st pick in this years draft, a brand new stadium, and a solid fan base. This team can only go up, and with the right coach, it will.

Congrats to Bruce Sutter, being the 4th relief pitcher ever inducted into the Hall of Fame. I think it's time more relievers get in, they play such a big part of baseball. There are even some great setup men that never get recognition for their dirty work in the 7th and 8th. If it was up to me, every two years, a closer and a middle relief would go to the hall. This could be just me, since I like to close in ball, but they deserve more respect. Now how about Smith and Goosage, and Andre Dawson, how has he not made it.

I'm glad Chris Leak is staying in Florida for his senior season. I'm not sure where he would go in the draft, but at the rate he's going, he'll be a first rounder next year. His arm is still developing and he's not there mentally, but he's showing great progression and will be ready next year.

Quick Thoughts

2006-01-09T08:32:00.000-06:00

The Bengals are saying they believe Carson Palmer will be ready for training camp. I find this very hard to believe because this is usually a six to nine month injury, and a year before your 100%. Also, add in the fact that Palmer has never dealt with a serious injury before and has no clue how hard the road ahead of him is. They also might just be saying this so they don't have to give Jon Kitna a lot of money to stay and be a place-holder until Carson is healthy.

The Panthers dismantling of the Giants at the meadowlands showed us alot of things. First and foremost, the panthers can be an extremely scary team as a 5 seed. Second of all, the Giants aren't ready for the playoffs. As soon as the Panthers shut down Tiki (season low 41 yds.) it was up to Eli (4 turnovers) to live up to all the hype and the trade demand (which he didn't). Their patchwork linebackers couldn't do anything all day and despite being the best WR in the league this year, Steve Smith continually got open. So, although the Giants have some offseason work to do, expect next year to be an even better battle between them, the Redskins and the Cowboys for NFC East dominance.

I'm glad to see Miguel Tejada come to his senses and recind his trade demand. Jeromy Burnitz and Ramon Hernandez were big additions that will help in the long run. And after missing out on premier pitchers, there was really no use in overpaying for mediocrity. The Orioles are better off waiting until next year to make a strong push at pitching.

Michigan State isn't looking like such a good national champ pick anymore. They are now 12-4 and likely won't win the Big Ten, maybe not even place second. They've only beat two impressive opponents (Boston College and Arizona), but both were so close, they could've gone either way. They have the talent in guards Ager and Brown. They have Preseason All American C Paul Davis, along with PG Drew Neitzel. You really have to start wondering if Izzo's magic is wearing off. But then again, this is a team known for their postseason push, so we'll see.

Brad Childress, Head Coach, Minnesota Vikings

2006-01-06T20:57:00.000-06:00

Okay, the only areas on earth that think this was a successful hire are Chicago, Green Bay and Detroit. I thought Tice was the last idiot on the Vikings, guess not. I do agree with the firing of Tice however. Although he put together a nice string of victories, he didn't reach the playoffs and his players don't respect him. When Zygi Wilf initially fired Tice, he came straight out and said that the hiring process would be done quickly. I do believe in getting the job done promptly, but signing a coach immediately just so your rival won't get there hands on him, that's just dumb. Nothing against Childress, but the Vikings sure should've looked at other options.

First of all, a former Head Coach would've been good. Players respect a guy whose been there before and knows how it's done. A real take charge, disciplinarian kind of guy, someone like the Giants Tom Coughlin comes to mind.
A successful college coach should have been looked at. Guys like OSU's Jim Tressell, Michigans Lloyd Carr, Iowa's Kirk LaFrentz or even Fresno States Pat Hill. They know how to deal with the young guys, and the have great personalities.
Not Brad Childress. Usually, teams hire assistant coaches coming off successful seasons. Albeit Childress had helped his team to 4 straight NFC championships and a Super Bowl, his team is coming off a 6-10 season. They were 17th in ppg(19.4), 28th in rush ypg (89.5) and 8th in passing ypg (229.8) while being 3rd in attempts and T11 in sacks. Not only that, but Reid called most of the plays and made the offensive gameplan. Childress is one of the good, young offensive minds in this game, but he's not quite ready for a head coaching job yet.

End of point, Wilf and the Vikings organization dropped the ball on this one. They are starting to look alot like the pre-disastrous Lions, lots of talent, but nobody to pull it together

The Initial Blog

2006-01-06T20:39:00.000-06:00

Well first off, my name is Colby. I am a Junior in High School and take mostly english courses. The plan is to go to the J-School at Mizzou and major in convergance or broadcast journalism. I'm comparable to Jim Rome, thus the display name. I will mainly cover MLB and NFL, and whatever hot topic pops up, and I'll try to do it daily.

Being that I'm from Minnesota, as soon as i get done typing this, I'll write on the Childress hiring. The predicted following topics are as listed:

Saturday( or friday night, damn work)- Initial rankings on the NFL draft
Saturday(yea, you get it)- The Manny Ramirez trade
Sunday- NFL coaching vacancies
Monday- NFL playoff review
Tuesday- don't know, tell me if you wanna see my view on something