As the season closes it's time for the teams to revamp their teams with the addition of highly touted rookies from the NFL Draft. This year's draft class is extremely talented, and there is no reason for a team like the Vikings(picking at #22) to not get an instant impact player.
I made my own "Big Board" with the top 45 players I feel are available for this year's draft.
1. Eugene Monroe- LT, Virginia
2. Aaron Curry- OLB, Wake Forest
3. Mark Sanchez- QB, USC
4. Andre Smith- LT, Alabama
5. B.J. Raji- DT, Boston College
6. Malcolm Jenkins- CB, Ohio State
7. Rey Maualuga- ILB, USC
8. Matthew Stafford- QB, Georgia
9. Everette Brown- DE, Florida State
10. Michael Crabtree- WR, Texas Tech
11. Vontae Davis- CB, Illinois
12. Knowshon Moreno- RB, Georgia
13. Jason Smith- LT, Baylor
14. Chris Wells- RB, Ohio State
15. Brian Cushing- WLB- USC
16. Brian Orakpo- DE, Texas
17. Michael Oher- LT, Ole Miss
18. D.J. Moore- CB, Vanderbilt
19. Alex Mack- C, Cal
20. Percy Harvin- WR/KR/PR/RB, Florida
21. LeSean McCoy- RB, Pitt
22. Brandon Pettigrew- TE, Oklahoma State
23. Aaron Maybin- DE/3-4 Bookend, Penn St
24. Larry English- DE, Northern Illinois
25. Peria Jerry- DT, Ole Miss
26. Kenny Britt- WR, Rutgers
27. Tyson Jackson- DE, LSU
28. Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
29. Max Unger- C, Oregon
30. Brandon Gibson- WR, Washington State
31. Michael Johnson- DE, Georgia Tech
32. Rashad Johnson- SS, Alabama
33. Clint Sintim- DE/OLB, Virginia
34. Duke Robinson- G, Oklahoma
35. Phil Loadholt, RT, Oklahoma
36. Fila Moala- DT/3-4 DE, USC
37. James Davis- RB, Clemson
38. Kyle Moore- DE, USC
39. Jairus Byrd- CB, Oregon
40. Darrius Heyward-Bay- WR, Maryland
41. Victor Harris- CB, Virginia Tech
42. Chase Coffman- TE, Missouri
43. Jeremy Maclin- WR, Missouri
44. Josh Freeman- QB, Kansas State
45. Rhett Bomar- QB, Sam Houston State
With the use of ESPN 360 and You Tube I was able to watch games of every player on here. It was a long and grueling couple of days, but I think it will help me in getting pissed off at the Vikings for over valuing a player and reaching at some point in the first 2 rounds.
The Vikings don't have any glaring needs outside of the quarterback position, and if they choose to take a guy in this year's draft they are going to need someone in the top 10 willing to trade down. If they can somehow manage to move up to either #3 or #10 they should guarantee either Mark Sanchez or Matthew Stafford being available. My preference is Mark Sanchez because I feel he will be the better QB down the road, but Matthew Stafford would probably have a better shot at making a deep run in the playoffs based on his experience.
I could also see the Vikings trading the #22 pick to the Patriots in exchange for Matt Cassell. I'm not entirely sold on Cassell's overall ability. Cause let's face it, he was throwing to Randy Moss and Wes Welker last year, making his numbers seem better than they would have been with the playmakers the Vikings have. Bottom line though is that Cassell is better than any QB on the Vikings roster, and if we fail to trade up to land one of the Big 2 QBs in this draft I expect the #22 pick to be used as a trade piece for an experienced QB.
Other options at QB in free agency would be Kurt Warner and Jeff Garcia. I wouldn't mind signing Warner and drafting either Sanchez or Stafford, but if we failed to land a younger QB along with Warner I feel like we would just be getting a band aid for 1 season.
Another route the Vikings could take at #22 is drafting a replacement for either Ben Leber or Pat Williams. I love Pat but let's face it, he's old. There aren't many great DT prospects in this year's class, but a guy like Fili Moala from USC would be a nice fit next to K-Will, and would give the Vikings another pass rushing threat along side Jared Allen. A replacement for Leber would be a much more viable option at pick 22, due to the abundence of quality at the OLB position. If Brian Cushing falls all the way to us we have to take him. He's simply too talented to pass over.
The only other route I could see the Vikings take is drafting a CB. Alphonso Smith, Vontae Davis, and DJ Moore are very talented guys who project as future #1 CB's in the NFL. By drafting one of these 3 would signal the end of Cedric Griffen's days as a #2 corner, and would probably push him to his more natural role of a nickelback.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Super Bowl Time
Well the long season is about to come to an end, and that means it's time for me to enhance my playoff prediction winning %. I haven't picked the Cardinals to win a game yet, and they continue to defy the odds and beat very good teams. I am going to pick against them again, but not for the same reasons as before. I believe Pittsburgh is a very very good team, but they lack playmakers on offense and consistency from Ben Roethlisberger. Arizona has the advantage at every offensive position, and I would also argue that the Cards' D-line is better than Pittsburgh's. So why am I picking the Steelers? Simply put, I want the Cards to win, and therefore I will pick against them like I have the previous 3 games.
Prediction: Steelers 27 Cardinals 17
Prediction: Steelers 27 Cardinals 17
Monday, January 12, 2009
NFL Conference Championship Game Predictions
Well Arizona keeps biting me in the arse, and the Pittsburgh Steelers keep lulling other teams to sleep with their boring style of play. No matter what way you skew it, both teams are one win away from the super bowl, and both head coaches have done tremendous jobs with limited talent.
NFC- Philidelphia vs. Arizona- I've picked against the Cardinials each of the last 2 weeks, and both weeks they've showed they are much more than a pass happy offense. Philly has somehow managed to run into 2 teams that can't complete a pass more than 10 yards down the field the past 2 weeks. As a result they have looked dominant against 1 dimensional offenses. If Arizona wants to win their going to need another super human effort from all world wideout Larry Fitzgearld, but I think that's too much to ask for against Philly's loaded secondary. So yes for the 3rd straight week I'm picking against the Cards- Philly 31 ARI- 21
AFC- Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh- zzzzzzz. zzzzzzz. Wow what a napper of a game. Neither team is competent on the offensive side, and it is likely both teams will shy away from the throwing it deep since each team's defense likes to blitz 9 guys on every play and dismantle the quarterback. I really hate Pittsburgh because of their smug attitudes and pieces of dirt players like Hines Ward, and it makes me happy knowing I'm going to pick against them.
I like Baltimore's D to lock down Pittsburgh in this one. BAL-20 PIT-13
NFC- Philidelphia vs. Arizona- I've picked against the Cardinials each of the last 2 weeks, and both weeks they've showed they are much more than a pass happy offense. Philly has somehow managed to run into 2 teams that can't complete a pass more than 10 yards down the field the past 2 weeks. As a result they have looked dominant against 1 dimensional offenses. If Arizona wants to win their going to need another super human effort from all world wideout Larry Fitzgearld, but I think that's too much to ask for against Philly's loaded secondary. So yes for the 3rd straight week I'm picking against the Cards- Philly 31 ARI- 21
AFC- Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh- zzzzzzz. zzzzzzz. Wow what a napper of a game. Neither team is competent on the offensive side, and it is likely both teams will shy away from the throwing it deep since each team's defense likes to blitz 9 guys on every play and dismantle the quarterback. I really hate Pittsburgh because of their smug attitudes and pieces of dirt players like Hines Ward, and it makes me happy knowing I'm going to pick against them.
I like Baltimore's D to lock down Pittsburgh in this one. BAL-20 PIT-13
Monday, January 5, 2009
NFL Playoffs- Divisional Round Predictions
Well round 1 was full of surprises and disappointments, and we learned 4 things from the Wild Card Games:1. Baltimore's Defense is really really really good.
2. The officiating in the Colts Chargers game was god awful. The Colts were whistled for penalties for any positive play late in the game. The Chargers were not, and are not the better football team.
3. The Arizona Cardinals were a pissed off team with something to prove. Atlanta is stronger at most positions on the field, but Arizona played like everybody was picking against them.
4. Neither Tarvaris Jackson or Brad Childress should be in Minnesota next season. What a god awful coaching effort by Chilly, and T-Jack is just a horrible football player.
Divisional Round Predictions:
AFC- Baltimore at Tennessee- Tennessee won the first matchup 13-10 earlier this year, but that was only Joe Flacco's 5th Start. Now he's got 17 games under his belt, and I don't expect him to play like a rookie again. Tennessee will run the ball 90% of the time, and so wil Baltimore. Whichever D scores or blocks a kick will win. My Prediction: Baltimore 17 Tennessee 9
San Diego at Pittsburgh- By far my least favorite game of the playoffs. I hate Phillip Rivers for being an over hyped hick who doesn't throw the ball more than 5 yards down the field, and I hate Ben Roethlisberger for only throwing 5 passes a game. Both defenses have been playing well lately, but in the end Phillip Rivers' failure to speak fluently will cost them the game.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 24 San Diego 17
NFC- Arizona at Carolina- My favorite game to watch so far, because it features a great offense versus a great defense. Arizona looked like a team on a mission in last weekend's game, and if they can carry that momentum over to this weekend they should have a shot to win. I really like Carolina's ability to run the ball and hit the deep ball to Steve Smith. Prediction: Carolina 27, Arizona 20
Philadelphia at NYG- Should be a great game between 2 hated teams. The Giants are stronger at every position on the field, but the equalizer might be the absence of Plaxico Burres for the G Men. Prediction: NYG 24 PHI 21
2. The officiating in the Colts Chargers game was god awful. The Colts were whistled for penalties for any positive play late in the game. The Chargers were not, and are not the better football team.
3. The Arizona Cardinals were a pissed off team with something to prove. Atlanta is stronger at most positions on the field, but Arizona played like everybody was picking against them.
4. Neither Tarvaris Jackson or Brad Childress should be in Minnesota next season. What a god awful coaching effort by Chilly, and T-Jack is just a horrible football player.
Divisional Round Predictions:
AFC- Baltimore at Tennessee- Tennessee won the first matchup 13-10 earlier this year, but that was only Joe Flacco's 5th Start. Now he's got 17 games under his belt, and I don't expect him to play like a rookie again. Tennessee will run the ball 90% of the time, and so wil Baltimore. Whichever D scores or blocks a kick will win. My Prediction: Baltimore 17 Tennessee 9
San Diego at Pittsburgh- By far my least favorite game of the playoffs. I hate Phillip Rivers for being an over hyped hick who doesn't throw the ball more than 5 yards down the field, and I hate Ben Roethlisberger for only throwing 5 passes a game. Both defenses have been playing well lately, but in the end Phillip Rivers' failure to speak fluently will cost them the game.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 24 San Diego 17
NFC- Arizona at Carolina- My favorite game to watch so far, because it features a great offense versus a great defense. Arizona looked like a team on a mission in last weekend's game, and if they can carry that momentum over to this weekend they should have a shot to win. I really like Carolina's ability to run the ball and hit the deep ball to Steve Smith. Prediction: Carolina 27, Arizona 20
Philadelphia at NYG- Should be a great game between 2 hated teams. The Giants are stronger at every position on the field, but the equalizer might be the absence of Plaxico Burres for the G Men. Prediction: NYG 24 PHI 21
Sunday, January 4, 2009
College Football- The BCS BS
Well as another bowl season comes to a close, USC looks to be the best team in the country for the 7th year in a row. The only problem with that statement is that it is meaningless because the media and a computer determine who the national champion will be each year. USC dismantled another Big 10 team in the Rose Bowl, throwing for over 400 yards and 5 TDs was the future 1st Round Pick Mark Sanchez. USC's only loss came to a very good Oregon State squad that ended up winning 9 games and missing a trip to the Rose Bowl by 1 game. The media determined almost 2 months ago that the winners of the Big 12 and SEC would meet for the title game, despite what the stats clearly stated. The SEC was waaaaaaaaay down this year, and the Big 12 is an absolute joke. The Big 12 might be the worst defensive conference in America, highlighted by teams such as Missouri, Texas Tech, Kansas St., Nebraska and Iowa St. Yes its nice to watch gimmick spread offenses putting up 50pts from time to time, but in all honesty, the quarterbacks for those teams are essentially crippled in terms of their pro prospects in the future. Save Sam Bradford, I don't see any of the other Big 12 QBs(Harrell, McCoy, Freeman, Daniels) having any success in the NFL.
So to those of you who think the Pac 10 sucks, think again. They just went 5-0 during the bowl season, beating 5 quality opponents(Miami, Pittsburgh, BYU, Penn St, Oklahoma St). Once you take into consideration the impact on the BCS of these quality wins, USC would actually move up to #3 in the BCS and a possibility to move to #2 with a Florida Loss. I hate the BCS, because even if a team goes undefeated for the 2nd time in 4 years, it may not have a shot to be called "National Champions".
Utah went 14-0 with a *** stomping of Alabama on Friday night. This marks the 2nd time in school history that the Utes have finished a year undefeated with a BCS bowl win and also managed to gain a share of the BCS title.
How about implementing a playoff system that would feature such match-ups as:
1. Oklahoma vs. 8. Ohio State
2. Florida vs. 7. Texas Tech
3. USC vs. 6. Utah
4. Texas vs. 5. Penn St.
Do the college presidents really want to make the argument that this playoff system wouldn't make the same amount(if not more) money than does the current BCS system. Give me a break. Oklahoma and Texas could rematch in the Semis, and USC and Florida would duke it out in a game of for the ages. Then we would either see a 2005 Nat'l Title rematch of Trojans and Longhorns, or USC vs. Oklahoma(2004 National Title Rematch), or Florida vs. Texas, or the 2008 "National Championship" Florida vs. Oklahoma.
No matter which match-ups were to arise from this playoff, there would be a clearer picture of who the true champion would be.
So to those of you who think the Pac 10 sucks, think again. They just went 5-0 during the bowl season, beating 5 quality opponents(Miami, Pittsburgh, BYU, Penn St, Oklahoma St). Once you take into consideration the impact on the BCS of these quality wins, USC would actually move up to #3 in the BCS and a possibility to move to #2 with a Florida Loss. I hate the BCS, because even if a team goes undefeated for the 2nd time in 4 years, it may not have a shot to be called "National Champions".
Utah went 14-0 with a *** stomping of Alabama on Friday night. This marks the 2nd time in school history that the Utes have finished a year undefeated with a BCS bowl win and also managed to gain a share of the BCS title.
How about implementing a playoff system that would feature such match-ups as:
1. Oklahoma vs. 8. Ohio State
2. Florida vs. 7. Texas Tech
3. USC vs. 6. Utah
4. Texas vs. 5. Penn St.
Do the college presidents really want to make the argument that this playoff system wouldn't make the same amount(if not more) money than does the current BCS system. Give me a break. Oklahoma and Texas could rematch in the Semis, and USC and Florida would duke it out in a game of for the ages. Then we would either see a 2005 Nat'l Title rematch of Trojans and Longhorns, or USC vs. Oklahoma(2004 National Title Rematch), or Florida vs. Texas, or the 2008 "National Championship" Florida vs. Oklahoma.
No matter which match-ups were to arise from this playoff, there would be a clearer picture of who the true champion would be.
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