So it's been more than a week, but I am finally posting my analysis of this year's top RBs. All of these players have good shot at becoming a very reliable RB in the NFL. The prospects are as follows: Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley, Tevin Coleman, Ameer Abdullah, & Duke Johnson.
Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin - RS Jr
6' 1" 207 lbs
Career Rushing Yards: 4915 yards
Highest Achievement: The Doak Walker Award (2014)
Most Impressive Game of 2014: Nov. 15 vs. Nebraska
Melvin Gordon has easily become the favorite to be the first RB chosen in this years draft. This year alone, Gordon had over 100 yards in 12 of the 14 games he played. Even more impressive, 6 of those games were over 200 yards. Granted, the teams he faced had less than decent defenses, Gordon still made sure that the Badgers won convincingly. He has the talent to just keep moving his legs and breaking tackles. Comparisons to Jamaal Charles would be appropriate here.
As for the draft, Gordon has been seen going to many teams, mostly in the second and first round. The only way I see Gordon getting drafted in the first round is if Dallas loses DeMarco Murray or Seattle loses Marshawn Lynch.
Projected Teams: Cowboys, Seahawks, Lions, Raiders
My Pick: 1st Round, 32nd Overall, Seattle Seahawks
Why: Marshawn is not staying in Seattle
Todd Gurley - Georgia - Jr
6' 1" 226 lbs
Career Rushing Yards: 3285 yards
Highest Achievement: Freshman All-American (2012)
Most Impressive Game: Aug. 30 vs Clemson
Gurley was supposed to be one of the faces we would see at the end of the year, possibly holding a Heisman Trophy. This would not be the case due to a 4 game suspension for selling signed merchandise. Worse for Gurley was that when he came back, he would tear his ACL against Auburn. Besides the off-field issues, Gurley was one of the best and most fear backs in the SEC. For being 226 lbs, he still moves as well as Marshawn Lynch. Gurley this year would only manage 123 carries for 911 yards. That is still an average of 7.4 yards a carry. Even with these issues, Gurley cannot be ignored.
As for drafting, teams should be wary of his newly formed ACL. It's not everyday we see a player like Adrian Peterson come out after an injure and tear up the field.
Projected Teams: Texans
My Pick: 2nd Round, 45th Overall, Minnesota Vikings.
Why: Asiata and McKinnon are not going to cut it with the Vikings and I don't think Peterson will be back with them any time soon.
Tevin Coleman - Indiana - Jr
6'1" 210 lbs.
Career Rushing Yards: 3219 yards
Highest Achievement: Unanimous All-American (2014)
Most Impressive Game of 2014: Nov. 22 vs Ohio State
In his first year of being the every down back for the Hoosiers, Coleman quietly worked his way into a decent spot to be drafted. To be among the company of former Heisman Candidates is reward enough for him. His ability to move is quite impressive due to his his size. Also, in the game against Ohio State, Tevin would put up more rushing yards than Oregon did on the Buckeyes (228 yards, 3 TDs).
When it comes to draft position, Coleman will easily fall to the second round. I believe he could be drafted ahead of Gurley due to his leg injury, but it's still unlikely.
Projected Teams: Falcons
My Pick: 2nd Round, 50th Overall, Buffalo Bills
Why: Bills have too many injured RBs and they are getting old. Time for new blood.
Ameer Abdullah - Nebraska - Sr
5' 8" 198 lbs
Career Rushing Yards: 4588 yards
Highest Achievement: Senior Bowl MVP (2014)
Most Impressive Game of 2014: Oct. 25th vs Rutgers
Abdullah is the smallest back in the top 20 draft-able RBs. But small size should not stop anyone. Look at Darren Sproles (5' 6"). Abdullah can find the smallest hole the offense gives him and he can take off. In his game against Rutgers, Abdullah only rushed the ball 19 times. His yardage? 225 in that game alone, accompanied by 3 touchdowns. In the draft, his size and speed will be where his value is at.
As for where he will be drafted, it is hard to say. Many teams could use a RB, especially with someone's skill set like Abdullah.
Projected Teams: Bills
My Pick: 2nd Round, 54th Overall, Detroit Lions
Why: An injury prone Bush and a mediocre Bell will not help the Lions make a legit playoff run.
Duke Johnson - Miami - Jr
5' 9" 216 lbs.
Career Rushing Yards: 3519 yards
Highest Achievement: First-Team All-ACC (2014)
Most Impressive Game of 2014: Oct. 23 vs Virginia Tech
Duke Johnson over the past 3 years has been a very reliable back during the game. That is, meaning he gets injured. In 2013 Johnson would miss almost half the season due to an ankle injury. This year, he would fail to finish some games due to injury as well. All that aside, his acceleration is what kills teams. If you let Johnson get into open field, just like if you let LeSean McCoy, you're going to have a bad time.
As for the draft, I have the same problem as Todd Gurley. But this is worse due to Johnson being a small back as it is.
Projected Teams: Giants
My Pick: 3rd Round, 75th Overall, New Orleans Saints
Why: With Pierre Thomas getting into his 30's, the Saints should look for a new RB to pass to on 3rd down.
Next Friday, I will analyze the top 5 WRs.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Monday, January 26, 2015
Heisman Winner 2.0
Ok, so last week, I made a list of players that were of Heisman caliber. To the knowledge of one of my friends, I missed a few people that should also be considered. Today, I will be looking at the 4 candidates that he suggested. Beware, this is a RB heavy list.
Trevone Boykin - QB - TCU - RS Sr.
TCU finally found a kid to replace their last "star," Andy Dalton. This guy almost got TCU to the College Football Playoff, barring a blowout in the Big 10 Championship. With 3,901 passing yards last year and 707 rushing yards, Boykin can make any defense stay on their toes, but still give up a big play. Now when looking at who Boykin will have for the 2015 season, the Big 12 better be scared. Of the players from that high scoring offense, TCU is only losing their 3rd leading rusher (still fewer yards than Boykin) and their 4th leading receiver. This basically means that this team is stronger due to having an entire season under their belts together. Also, in ESPN's Way Too Early Top 25, TCU is already ranked #1 due to this team being a more seasoned unit due to pre-existing chemistry between the key players. Look for not only Boykin to be one of the top prospects for the Heisman Trophy, but also for a first overall draft pick in the 2016 Draft.
Ezekiel Elliott - RB - OSU - JR
Did you watch the National Championship? This is the guy who made Oregon's defense truly look like they were ranked 103rd overall. With 1,878 yards on the ground last year, Elliott made it look like he took the weight of the team and put it on his shoulders after multiple QB injuries. Let's also not forget that against the mighty Alabama and Oregon, Elliott had 476 yards and 6 TDs combine. Elliott showed the world that he can not only hang with some of the best, but he can beat them too. Ohio State is already ranked 5th among next year's Top 25. This RB is the reason why. Remember that Elliot did not start until the 4th game of the year, rushing only 27 times in the first 3 games. Imagine next year, when he will get the majority of the carries behind whichever QB Urban Meyer decided to make the starter.
Derrick Henry - RB - Alabama - JR
Believe it or not, this guy actually had more yards this year than T.J. Yeldon. Even in a duel-back system, Henry this past year managed 990 yards in the regular season. Also, against one of the top defenses in Ohio State, Henry still managed 95 yards on 13 carries. If you've watch Henry play, it's like seeing Eddie Lacy 2.0. The man does not go down. At 6' 3" 241 lbs., Henry can run you over and keep going. With offensive stars from 2014 like RB T. J. Yeldon, QB Blake Sims, and Heisman candidate WR Amari Cooper gone, I would expect to see Henry get a few more carries this year and become the official starting back for Alabama. And with the way he runs, you can bet he will be looked at for consideration for the high honor of being a Heisman candidate.
Leonard Fournette - RB - LSU - Soph.
Last year's #1 recruit, Leonard Fournette, made his college debut, and it was a good one. With big shoes to fill, replacing RB Jeremy Hill (Now on the Bengals), Fournette would do just that this year. With 1,034 yards this year among a slue of RBs, Fournette still had the most yards and touches. Seriously, LSU had 5 RBs with 50+ touches this year, and 3 of them had over 100 carries! With LSU losing their 2 leading rushers behind Fournette, expect him to become the every down back soon. At 6' 1" 230 lbs., Fournette may be a carbon copy of Derrick Henry. Remember this too: LSU has more recruits go to the NFL and make it big more than any other school. Currently, there are 3 RBs in the NFL that worked under Les Miles: Steven Ridley (NE), Jeremy Hill (CIN [R]), and Alfred Blue (HOU [R]). These players have an immense amount of talent and Fournette is no exception. If Miles let's Fournette run, LSU can return back to the days when Nick Saban led them to their Championship. Look for his name as the season passes.
On Wednesday, I will be analyzing the top 5 RBs going into this years draft, leaving my analysis of this weekends Super Bowl to Friday. Don't worry, I will try to stay away from deflate-gate as much as possible.
Trevone Boykin - QB - TCU - RS Sr.
TCU finally found a kid to replace their last "star," Andy Dalton. This guy almost got TCU to the College Football Playoff, barring a blowout in the Big 10 Championship. With 3,901 passing yards last year and 707 rushing yards, Boykin can make any defense stay on their toes, but still give up a big play. Now when looking at who Boykin will have for the 2015 season, the Big 12 better be scared. Of the players from that high scoring offense, TCU is only losing their 3rd leading rusher (still fewer yards than Boykin) and their 4th leading receiver. This basically means that this team is stronger due to having an entire season under their belts together. Also, in ESPN's Way Too Early Top 25, TCU is already ranked #1 due to this team being a more seasoned unit due to pre-existing chemistry between the key players. Look for not only Boykin to be one of the top prospects for the Heisman Trophy, but also for a first overall draft pick in the 2016 Draft.
Ezekiel Elliott - RB - OSU - JR
Did you watch the National Championship? This is the guy who made Oregon's defense truly look like they were ranked 103rd overall. With 1,878 yards on the ground last year, Elliott made it look like he took the weight of the team and put it on his shoulders after multiple QB injuries. Let's also not forget that against the mighty Alabama and Oregon, Elliott had 476 yards and 6 TDs combine. Elliott showed the world that he can not only hang with some of the best, but he can beat them too. Ohio State is already ranked 5th among next year's Top 25. This RB is the reason why. Remember that Elliot did not start until the 4th game of the year, rushing only 27 times in the first 3 games. Imagine next year, when he will get the majority of the carries behind whichever QB Urban Meyer decided to make the starter.
Derrick Henry - RB - Alabama - JR
Believe it or not, this guy actually had more yards this year than T.J. Yeldon. Even in a duel-back system, Henry this past year managed 990 yards in the regular season. Also, against one of the top defenses in Ohio State, Henry still managed 95 yards on 13 carries. If you've watch Henry play, it's like seeing Eddie Lacy 2.0. The man does not go down. At 6' 3" 241 lbs., Henry can run you over and keep going. With offensive stars from 2014 like RB T. J. Yeldon, QB Blake Sims, and Heisman candidate WR Amari Cooper gone, I would expect to see Henry get a few more carries this year and become the official starting back for Alabama. And with the way he runs, you can bet he will be looked at for consideration for the high honor of being a Heisman candidate.
Leonard Fournette - RB - LSU - Soph.
Last year's #1 recruit, Leonard Fournette, made his college debut, and it was a good one. With big shoes to fill, replacing RB Jeremy Hill (Now on the Bengals), Fournette would do just that this year. With 1,034 yards this year among a slue of RBs, Fournette still had the most yards and touches. Seriously, LSU had 5 RBs with 50+ touches this year, and 3 of them had over 100 carries! With LSU losing their 2 leading rushers behind Fournette, expect him to become the every down back soon. At 6' 1" 230 lbs., Fournette may be a carbon copy of Derrick Henry. Remember this too: LSU has more recruits go to the NFL and make it big more than any other school. Currently, there are 3 RBs in the NFL that worked under Les Miles: Steven Ridley (NE), Jeremy Hill (CIN [R]), and Alfred Blue (HOU [R]). These players have an immense amount of talent and Fournette is no exception. If Miles let's Fournette run, LSU can return back to the days when Nick Saban led them to their Championship. Look for his name as the season passes.
On Wednesday, I will be analyzing the top 5 RBs going into this years draft, leaving my analysis of this weekends Super Bowl to Friday. Don't worry, I will try to stay away from deflate-gate as much as possible.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Heisman
Alright, last week, we talked about the Top 25. This week, it's my picks for the Heisman Trophy Winner. I know that the trophy was given out about a month ago, but we need to talk next year now that all eligible draftees have declared. These are my top 5 picks to win the Heisman Trophy come next December in no particular order:
#1: Samaje Perine - RB - University of Oklahoma - Soph.
At first, some of you may be like, "who?" Let's start with the fact that he is the official starter on Oklahoma. This 5' 11" RB doesn't even sound like a real player. Well let me refresh your memory. Remember how in week 12 of the regular season, Heisman candidate Melvin Gordon broke the single-game rushing record with 408 yards against Nebraska? And how the record got broken the following week? This is the guy that did that. Against Kansas, Perine had 427 rushing yards. Last year, for starting 8 games out of 13, Perine would rush for 1,713 yards and 21 TDs. Let's also remember this, he was a True Freshman in the Big 12 last year. Yes, there were other True Freshman running back standouts like Dalvin Cook (FSU), Leonard Fournette (LSU), and Royce Freeman (ORE). All of them had great years, but Perine can be something special that OU needs to return to their glory days of putting out some of the best RBs in the NCAA.
#2: Dak Prescott - QB - Mississippi State - RS SR
He was #1 at one point this past year, who's to say he can't do that again. Prescott had a decent year last season, having his team ranked at #1 for 5 weeks straight. With key games to put them over the top, including beating Auburn and Texas A&M, Mississippi State looked like they could go all the way this year. The Alabama game would put that idea to bed when they caused Prescott to throw 3 picks. This offseason, luckily for Dak, he is keeping his top 2 receivers and his top rusher. Also, let's not forget how competitive the SEC West was this season, though they were outed as less than good during bowl play going 2-5. Still, watch out for Dak Prescott. He can beat you with his arm and his legs, so expect another shot at the playoffs from a hungry Mississippi State next season.
#3 The Starter for Ohio State - QB - OSU - SR/RS FR/RS Soph.
This season has been quite the Cinderella Story for the Buckeyes. Starting the season with an injured Heisman front-runner and ending with a Nation Championship behind a 3rd-string QB. The biggest story this offseason will now be who will start the 2015 season. Each player has a case to start. Braxton Miller only lost the job due to injury and was still a great QB throughout the 2012-13 seasons, only suffering 2 losses. J.T. Barrett was thrown into the system with less than a week to prepare for their first opponent of the season and still lead OSU to a 11-1 record and breaking Big 10 records before getting injured against Michigan. Cardale Jones had to face 3 monsters in a month with little preparation or playing time under his belt, but still managed to dismantle Wisconsin, outplay Alabama, and out-speed Oregon. All of these QBs have a shot to be the starter and be the Heisman. Urban Meyer has a lot to think about this offseason, because he is basically picking who he wants as his Heisman.
#4 Nick Chubb - RB - University of Georgia - Soph.
When Todd Gurley was suspended for selling signed merchandise, Chubb had to step in. The one thing he did? Not disappoint. Chubb was on fire from the start of his first game against Missouri, where the Bulldogs shutout the Tigers 34-0. Chubb would have 38 carries for 143 yards and a TD that day. Since that start in Week 7, Chubb would have 219 carries for 1,547 yards and 14 TDs. Chubb is a hard player to defend due to being short (5'10") but also having power behind him (228 lbs.). Either way you slice it, Chubb has got what it takes to be a Heisman Candidate this upcoming fall.
#5 That Random Freshman that surprises everyone - ATH - Anywhere University - Student
Over the past few years, we have seen Freshmen show up some of the more seasoned players in College football. Within the last 4 years, we have had 2 Heisman winners who were Freshmen, Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston. They had great campaigns their first year at school and shock the world with their knowledge of the game or their ability to be cool under pressure or something. He becomes that underdog story that everyone roots for. The downside, when he wins, the media is all over him the following year. Manziel, nor Winston, could get a moment away from the national spotlight because they couldn't leave for the NFL. But you go random freshman!
Note: There will be no post this Friday as I will be at the March for Life in Washington D.C. I will post my analysis of the Top 5 RBs in the draft next Friday. Have a good week and God Bless.
#1: Samaje Perine - RB - University of Oklahoma - Soph.
At first, some of you may be like, "who?" Let's start with the fact that he is the official starter on Oklahoma. This 5' 11" RB doesn't even sound like a real player. Well let me refresh your memory. Remember how in week 12 of the regular season, Heisman candidate Melvin Gordon broke the single-game rushing record with 408 yards against Nebraska? And how the record got broken the following week? This is the guy that did that. Against Kansas, Perine had 427 rushing yards. Last year, for starting 8 games out of 13, Perine would rush for 1,713 yards and 21 TDs. Let's also remember this, he was a True Freshman in the Big 12 last year. Yes, there were other True Freshman running back standouts like Dalvin Cook (FSU), Leonard Fournette (LSU), and Royce Freeman (ORE). All of them had great years, but Perine can be something special that OU needs to return to their glory days of putting out some of the best RBs in the NCAA.
#2: Dak Prescott - QB - Mississippi State - RS SR
He was #1 at one point this past year, who's to say he can't do that again. Prescott had a decent year last season, having his team ranked at #1 for 5 weeks straight. With key games to put them over the top, including beating Auburn and Texas A&M, Mississippi State looked like they could go all the way this year. The Alabama game would put that idea to bed when they caused Prescott to throw 3 picks. This offseason, luckily for Dak, he is keeping his top 2 receivers and his top rusher. Also, let's not forget how competitive the SEC West was this season, though they were outed as less than good during bowl play going 2-5. Still, watch out for Dak Prescott. He can beat you with his arm and his legs, so expect another shot at the playoffs from a hungry Mississippi State next season.
#3 The Starter for Ohio State - QB - OSU - SR/RS FR/RS Soph.
This season has been quite the Cinderella Story for the Buckeyes. Starting the season with an injured Heisman front-runner and ending with a Nation Championship behind a 3rd-string QB. The biggest story this offseason will now be who will start the 2015 season. Each player has a case to start. Braxton Miller only lost the job due to injury and was still a great QB throughout the 2012-13 seasons, only suffering 2 losses. J.T. Barrett was thrown into the system with less than a week to prepare for their first opponent of the season and still lead OSU to a 11-1 record and breaking Big 10 records before getting injured against Michigan. Cardale Jones had to face 3 monsters in a month with little preparation or playing time under his belt, but still managed to dismantle Wisconsin, outplay Alabama, and out-speed Oregon. All of these QBs have a shot to be the starter and be the Heisman. Urban Meyer has a lot to think about this offseason, because he is basically picking who he wants as his Heisman.
#4 Nick Chubb - RB - University of Georgia - Soph.
When Todd Gurley was suspended for selling signed merchandise, Chubb had to step in. The one thing he did? Not disappoint. Chubb was on fire from the start of his first game against Missouri, where the Bulldogs shutout the Tigers 34-0. Chubb would have 38 carries for 143 yards and a TD that day. Since that start in Week 7, Chubb would have 219 carries for 1,547 yards and 14 TDs. Chubb is a hard player to defend due to being short (5'10") but also having power behind him (228 lbs.). Either way you slice it, Chubb has got what it takes to be a Heisman Candidate this upcoming fall.
#5 That Random Freshman that surprises everyone - ATH - Anywhere University - Student
Over the past few years, we have seen Freshmen show up some of the more seasoned players in College football. Within the last 4 years, we have had 2 Heisman winners who were Freshmen, Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston. They had great campaigns their first year at school and shock the world with their knowledge of the game or their ability to be cool under pressure or something. He becomes that underdog story that everyone roots for. The downside, when he wins, the media is all over him the following year. Manziel, nor Winston, could get a moment away from the national spotlight because they couldn't leave for the NFL. But you go random freshman!
Note: There will be no post this Friday as I will be at the March for Life in Washington D.C. I will post my analysis of the Top 5 RBs in the draft next Friday. Have a good week and God Bless.
NFL Coaching Switches
Sorry about the lateness of my this post, MLK day got away from me. But that means a double dose of articles!
I will save my analysis of the Super Bowl for next week. This week, we focus on one of the most important jobs in a football game: Coaching. Since the end of the regular season, we have seen many coaches fired and hired, even before the regular offseason started. Some of these coaches deserved to be fired. Others, they should have been given another chance. For now, we will stick with the head coaching position for each team.
Jim Harbaugh - San Fransisco 49ers
During week 17 of the regular season, we would see 4 year HC of the 49ers, Jim Harbaugh, agree with the team to mutually part ways. During his time in the bay area, Harbaugh would lead the 49ers to an overall record of 49-22-1, which includes a Super Bowl appearance and 3 straight NFC Championship appearances. Harbaugh would seem to have almost the perfect formula to be back in the playoffs every year, except this last one. During the season, there was speculation on how Harbaugh treated his players. According to some, the players felt "undermined" or "treated like children." These allegations were what brought former Tampa Bay HC Greg Schiano's NFL carrier to a halt. Towards the end of the season, the players looked to have changed their minds about their fearless leader. But, the 49er front office was already looking to the future. It was too late for Harbaugh to reconcile with his franchise and officially left after their week 17 win.
Where is he now? - Harbaugh has now secured a job for the next 7 years as a Head Coach at the University of Michigan, his alma mater.
New HC - Rumors say that the 49ers will promote defensive line coach, Jim Tomsula, to Head Coach later this offseason.
Rex Ryan - New York Jets
Everyone saw this coming from lightyears away. After a 5 year stay with the Jets, Ryan has not accomplished much in recent history. Rex started out his Jets HC campaign with two straight AFC Title appearances under the rookie QB Mark Sanchez. It would seem like nothing would go right after that second year. Ryan would have to deal with many set backs including the loss of key players like CB Antonio Cromartie, CB Darrelle Revis, WR Santonio Holmes, Tebowmania, no front office help in drafting at positions he needed, and a QB who thinks he could be in the pro bowl despite having some of the worst games of his life this season. Ryan needed to go. Not because of the Jets wanted him to, but because Ryan needed to find a new coaching job where he could make the team work they way he wanted.
Where is he now? - Ryan was the first HC fired and then hired this offseason. He would sign with the Buffalo Bills earlier last week.
New HC - The HC position of the Jets still remains open.
Marc Trestman - Chicago Bears
Let's face it, it's gonna be hard to fill Lovie Smith's shoes. Trestman did not fit the bill. After 2 seasons and a 13-19 record with no playoffs, Chicago decided to cut the chord early with Marc. As a HC, you are responsible for both sides of the ball, and Trestman could not get it done on either. The Bears haven't been the same since the departure of LB Brian Urlacher (currently ranked 30th in total defense), but the second biggest problem was scoring for the Bears. The Bears had the 23 ranked scoring offense that includes a top RB in Matt Forte, a better than decent offensive line, and a host of WRs and TEs for Cutler to chose from. There was no excuse not to score more often. I know people say that Cutler is a bad QB, but he's not. He just had a bad year. Before this season with the Bears, Cutler threw for 101 TDs in 5 years and has a W-L record over .500. Therefore, the blame falls on Trestman.
Where is he now? - Trestman has not yet been hired by any team either professional or colligate.
New HC - John Fox was signed to a deal last week to become the new HC for Chicago.
John Fox - Denver Broncos
No one saw this coming. Only a few days after their loss to the Colts in the Divisional Round, Fox decided to part ways with the Broncos. After 4 seasons in Denver, Fox holds a 46-18 record in the regular season, and one of those seasons was behind QBs Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow. He has been to the playoffs every year with the Broncos since taking over. Though it has not been released as to why Fox left the Mile High City, some believe that he and VP John Elway were at odds with one another. It is the only reason that Fox would want to leave a team that is ready to win a Super Bowl with as much star talent as they have.
Where is he now? - Fox signed a deal with he Chicago Bears last week.
New HC - Gary Kubiak, OC for the Ravens, has been hired to be the new HC.
Mike Smith - Atlanta Falcons
This was the most silent of the teams to lose their HC. After 2 years of losing records, Smith was fired. This looks like for the same reason as Trestman's firing. Tons of offensive stars, and no defensive play. With what some people have called the best WR duo in football today, Julio Jones and Roddy White cannot seem to do anything in this offense. Defensively, the Falcons ranked dead last in total defense, even with the Thursday Night blowout win over the Bucs early in the season. Smith had the chance to save his job this year, but missed it in week 17 by failing to beat the Panthers to advance to the playoffs.
Where is he now? - Mike Smith has neither signing or been interviewed by any team as to public knowledge.
New HC - The Falcons have yet to hire a new HC for next year.
Doug Marrone - Buffalo Bills
This is one of the more interesting cases for HCs. Marrone would decide earlier in the month to not extend his contract with the Bills and leave. After 2 seasons and going 15-17, most people would think that he would be fired, but he walked away. This year, the Bills had the 4th best overall defense and had a shot at the playoffs with their first winning record since 2004. The Bills would also be impressive on offense as well with the recent edition of WR Sammy Watkins in last years draft. Marrone has not said why he left, and we may not know ever.
Where is he now? - On January 20, Marrone would be hired as the Assistant HC and Offensive Line coach for the Jaguars.
New HC - The Bills hired Rex Ryan as their HC more than a week ago.
I will save my analysis of the Super Bowl for next week. This week, we focus on one of the most important jobs in a football game: Coaching. Since the end of the regular season, we have seen many coaches fired and hired, even before the regular offseason started. Some of these coaches deserved to be fired. Others, they should have been given another chance. For now, we will stick with the head coaching position for each team.
Jim Harbaugh - San Fransisco 49ers
During week 17 of the regular season, we would see 4 year HC of the 49ers, Jim Harbaugh, agree with the team to mutually part ways. During his time in the bay area, Harbaugh would lead the 49ers to an overall record of 49-22-1, which includes a Super Bowl appearance and 3 straight NFC Championship appearances. Harbaugh would seem to have almost the perfect formula to be back in the playoffs every year, except this last one. During the season, there was speculation on how Harbaugh treated his players. According to some, the players felt "undermined" or "treated like children." These allegations were what brought former Tampa Bay HC Greg Schiano's NFL carrier to a halt. Towards the end of the season, the players looked to have changed their minds about their fearless leader. But, the 49er front office was already looking to the future. It was too late for Harbaugh to reconcile with his franchise and officially left after their week 17 win.
Where is he now? - Harbaugh has now secured a job for the next 7 years as a Head Coach at the University of Michigan, his alma mater.
New HC - Rumors say that the 49ers will promote defensive line coach, Jim Tomsula, to Head Coach later this offseason.
Rex Ryan - New York Jets
Everyone saw this coming from lightyears away. After a 5 year stay with the Jets, Ryan has not accomplished much in recent history. Rex started out his Jets HC campaign with two straight AFC Title appearances under the rookie QB Mark Sanchez. It would seem like nothing would go right after that second year. Ryan would have to deal with many set backs including the loss of key players like CB Antonio Cromartie, CB Darrelle Revis, WR Santonio Holmes, Tebowmania, no front office help in drafting at positions he needed, and a QB who thinks he could be in the pro bowl despite having some of the worst games of his life this season. Ryan needed to go. Not because of the Jets wanted him to, but because Ryan needed to find a new coaching job where he could make the team work they way he wanted.
Where is he now? - Ryan was the first HC fired and then hired this offseason. He would sign with the Buffalo Bills earlier last week.
New HC - The HC position of the Jets still remains open.
Marc Trestman - Chicago Bears
Let's face it, it's gonna be hard to fill Lovie Smith's shoes. Trestman did not fit the bill. After 2 seasons and a 13-19 record with no playoffs, Chicago decided to cut the chord early with Marc. As a HC, you are responsible for both sides of the ball, and Trestman could not get it done on either. The Bears haven't been the same since the departure of LB Brian Urlacher (currently ranked 30th in total defense), but the second biggest problem was scoring for the Bears. The Bears had the 23 ranked scoring offense that includes a top RB in Matt Forte, a better than decent offensive line, and a host of WRs and TEs for Cutler to chose from. There was no excuse not to score more often. I know people say that Cutler is a bad QB, but he's not. He just had a bad year. Before this season with the Bears, Cutler threw for 101 TDs in 5 years and has a W-L record over .500. Therefore, the blame falls on Trestman.
Where is he now? - Trestman has not yet been hired by any team either professional or colligate.
New HC - John Fox was signed to a deal last week to become the new HC for Chicago.
John Fox - Denver Broncos
No one saw this coming. Only a few days after their loss to the Colts in the Divisional Round, Fox decided to part ways with the Broncos. After 4 seasons in Denver, Fox holds a 46-18 record in the regular season, and one of those seasons was behind QBs Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow. He has been to the playoffs every year with the Broncos since taking over. Though it has not been released as to why Fox left the Mile High City, some believe that he and VP John Elway were at odds with one another. It is the only reason that Fox would want to leave a team that is ready to win a Super Bowl with as much star talent as they have.
Where is he now? - Fox signed a deal with he Chicago Bears last week.
New HC - Gary Kubiak, OC for the Ravens, has been hired to be the new HC.
Mike Smith - Atlanta Falcons
This was the most silent of the teams to lose their HC. After 2 years of losing records, Smith was fired. This looks like for the same reason as Trestman's firing. Tons of offensive stars, and no defensive play. With what some people have called the best WR duo in football today, Julio Jones and Roddy White cannot seem to do anything in this offense. Defensively, the Falcons ranked dead last in total defense, even with the Thursday Night blowout win over the Bucs early in the season. Smith had the chance to save his job this year, but missed it in week 17 by failing to beat the Panthers to advance to the playoffs.
Where is he now? - Mike Smith has neither signing or been interviewed by any team as to public knowledge.
New HC - The Falcons have yet to hire a new HC for next year.
Doug Marrone - Buffalo Bills
This is one of the more interesting cases for HCs. Marrone would decide earlier in the month to not extend his contract with the Bills and leave. After 2 seasons and going 15-17, most people would think that he would be fired, but he walked away. This year, the Bills had the 4th best overall defense and had a shot at the playoffs with their first winning record since 2004. The Bills would also be impressive on offense as well with the recent edition of WR Sammy Watkins in last years draft. Marrone has not said why he left, and we may not know ever.
Where is he now? - On January 20, Marrone would be hired as the Assistant HC and Offensive Line coach for the Jaguars.
New HC - The Bills hired Rex Ryan as their HC more than a week ago.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Draft Day QBs
It's Friday readers, and that means it's time to talk NFL Draft. Every Friday, I will be analyzing the top 5 draft prospects at every position. After I have gone through every position, I will then release my Mock Draft for the first round. To chose the top 5, I will be using CBS Sports Draft Chart. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2015/QB
Well, it's the first week of this, so let's start with the most important position: Quarterback. The top 5 prospects before the combine are as follows: Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Brett Hundley, Bryce Petty, and Garrett Grayson.
1. Marcus Mariota - Oregon - RS Jr
6' 4" 215 lbs
Starting Record: 3 yrs 36-5
Highest Achievement - 2014 Heisman Winner
Most Impressive game of 2014 - Rose Bowl vs. #3 Florida State
If you've watched any SportsCenter within the last 5 months, you have heard of Mariota. He leads the quick Oregon offense in true fashion. With 4,454 yards passing, 770 yards rushing, and 57 touchdowns this year alone, the Ducks QB has shown why he can be a first round, if not first overall, pick in the 2015 NFL Draft on April 30. No one could keep up with him or his Ducks' offense. But this is why Mariota could have a hard time in the NFL. Mariota was a great "system" QB, relying on the speed of how his offense got to the line and would hike the ball, not the actual speed of the players. This type of offense would be hell for defenses to play. Except Ohio State. The Buckeyes were able to shut down Mariota in the second half of the championship, only being able to rush twice for a total of 15 yards. Also, Oregon got away from their fast pace offense, showing that without it, they are a very beatable team.
When it comes to where he will be drafted, he will most likely be dressed in Bucs Red or Titan Blue come next fall. But, with his skill set and his history with Head Coach Chip Kelly, I would not be surprised if we see the Eagles trade up to get Marcus. In my personal belief, Mariota will only succeed if he goes to Philly.
Projected Teams: Bucs, Titans, Jets, Eagles
My pick: 1st Round, 2nd Overall, Eagles via trade
2. Jameis Winston - FSU - RS Soph.
6' 4" 232 lbs
Starting Record: 2 yrs 27-1
Highest Achievement: 2013 BCS National Champion
Most Impressive Game of 2014: BCS National Championship vs. #2 Auburn
Winston to the media is a lightning rod for bad news. With so much surrounding the alleged rape case along with some juvenile and petty discrepancies, Winston could not seem to get out of his own way. Over his 2 years at FSU, Winston has thrown for 7,964 yards and 65 touchdowns, setting school and ACC records. He is also one of the most astute QBs in the league today, holding a 3.7 GPA in the Exercise Science major. Most people are very cautious about Winston and if his off-field issues have impacted his draft stock. There was another QB in recent history with a delinquent past and has not gotten in trouble since drafted: Cam Newton, the first overall pick by Carolina in 2011. Newton was also involved with some scandals and illegal selling of signed goods. But since being drafted, Newton has been an upstanding player and a QB that has led his team to 2 straight playoff appearances.
The biggest problem with Winston will be which team is willing to deal with his off field issues. Winston is not only a good QB to draft, but also has a more likely chance of being the franchise player that so many teams are looking for today. Currently on Mel Kiper's board, he has Winston going #1 overall to Tampa.
Projected Teams: Bucs, Titans, Jets, Cowboys
My pick: 1st Round, 1st Overall, Bucs
3. Brett Hundley - UCLA - RS Jr
6' 3" 227 lbs.
Starting Record: 3 yrs 29-11
Highest Achievement: Second-Team All-Pac-12 (2014)
Most Impressive Game of 2014: November 1 vs. #14 Arizona
Before the season started, Hundley was a strong pick to win the 2014 Heisman Trophy. After a few games, which included a very sloppy first game against Virginia, Hundley would fall in the rankings. In his 3 years of starting, Hundley has thrown over 3,000 yards in each year, resulting in a total of 75 TDs. This past season alone, Hundley also ran for 644 yards and 10 TDs. Nothing too flashy about this QB like the first 2, but still a solid set of skills that will give him a chance in the NFL.
The lower one looks on the Mock Draft board, the more scattered the picks seem to be. The picks are not usually in alignment with other Mock Drafts, but Hundley has been seen going to various teams in different drafts.
Projected Teams: Eagles, Titans, Jets
My Pick: 2nd Round, 59th overall, Broncos
4. Bryce Petty - Baylor - RS Sr
6' 3" 230 lbs.
Starting Record: 2 yrs 22-4
Highest Achievement: Big 12 OPOY (2013)
Most Impressive Game of 2014: October 11 vs. #9 TCU
Petty had some big shoes to fill at Baylor after RG3 left for Washington. He has done just that in the 2 seasons he has started at Baylor, throwing for 8,055 yards and 61 TDs. His biggest win was against TCU when the Bears were down by 21 with 10 minutes left in the 4th Quarter. Petty would lead the comeback and win in the last second with a field goal to put Baylor up 61-58. Petty would throw for 510 yards the game alone. Petty is not exactly a duel-threat QB, but he can scramble when he needs to get out of the pocket and is an incredibly accurate short passer with an average of 9.71 yards per pass.
For this draft, there is no set prediction on where Petty will fall. But with his stat-line, Petty will not fall below the 3rd Round.
Projected Teams: N/A
My Pick: 2nd Round, 41st Overall, Rams
5. Garrett Grayson - CSU - RS Sr
6' 2" 220 lbs.
Starting Record: 2 yrs 18-9
Highest Achievement: All- MWC 1st Team (2014)
Most Impressive Win of 2014: September 27 vs. Boston College
Grayson is the dark horse of the QB recruits much like Nick Foles was 2 years ago. In the past 2 seasons, Grayson has thrown for 7,702 yards and 55 TDs. Aside from him not being a duel-threat QB, Grayson can scramble when he needs to and can take the ball down field if he sees a hole. He can do well in the league if he works on his pocket awareness. This past year, Grayson was sacked 26 times.
In the Draft, Grayson could be a 2nd-3rd round pick for a team that needs depth at the QB position.
Projected Team: Browns
My Pick: 2nd Round, 39th Overall, Bears
Next week, I will be analyzing the Top 5 Running Backs, which will include 2 players that were almost finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Have a good football Sunday everyone!
Well, it's the first week of this, so let's start with the most important position: Quarterback. The top 5 prospects before the combine are as follows: Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Brett Hundley, Bryce Petty, and Garrett Grayson.
1. Marcus Mariota - Oregon - RS Jr
6' 4" 215 lbs
Starting Record: 3 yrs 36-5
Highest Achievement - 2014 Heisman Winner
Most Impressive game of 2014 - Rose Bowl vs. #3 Florida State
If you've watched any SportsCenter within the last 5 months, you have heard of Mariota. He leads the quick Oregon offense in true fashion. With 4,454 yards passing, 770 yards rushing, and 57 touchdowns this year alone, the Ducks QB has shown why he can be a first round, if not first overall, pick in the 2015 NFL Draft on April 30. No one could keep up with him or his Ducks' offense. But this is why Mariota could have a hard time in the NFL. Mariota was a great "system" QB, relying on the speed of how his offense got to the line and would hike the ball, not the actual speed of the players. This type of offense would be hell for defenses to play. Except Ohio State. The Buckeyes were able to shut down Mariota in the second half of the championship, only being able to rush twice for a total of 15 yards. Also, Oregon got away from their fast pace offense, showing that without it, they are a very beatable team.
When it comes to where he will be drafted, he will most likely be dressed in Bucs Red or Titan Blue come next fall. But, with his skill set and his history with Head Coach Chip Kelly, I would not be surprised if we see the Eagles trade up to get Marcus. In my personal belief, Mariota will only succeed if he goes to Philly.
Projected Teams: Bucs, Titans, Jets, Eagles
My pick: 1st Round, 2nd Overall, Eagles via trade
2. Jameis Winston - FSU - RS Soph.
6' 4" 232 lbs
Starting Record: 2 yrs 27-1
Highest Achievement: 2013 BCS National Champion
Most Impressive Game of 2014: BCS National Championship vs. #2 Auburn
Winston to the media is a lightning rod for bad news. With so much surrounding the alleged rape case along with some juvenile and petty discrepancies, Winston could not seem to get out of his own way. Over his 2 years at FSU, Winston has thrown for 7,964 yards and 65 touchdowns, setting school and ACC records. He is also one of the most astute QBs in the league today, holding a 3.7 GPA in the Exercise Science major. Most people are very cautious about Winston and if his off-field issues have impacted his draft stock. There was another QB in recent history with a delinquent past and has not gotten in trouble since drafted: Cam Newton, the first overall pick by Carolina in 2011. Newton was also involved with some scandals and illegal selling of signed goods. But since being drafted, Newton has been an upstanding player and a QB that has led his team to 2 straight playoff appearances.
The biggest problem with Winston will be which team is willing to deal with his off field issues. Winston is not only a good QB to draft, but also has a more likely chance of being the franchise player that so many teams are looking for today. Currently on Mel Kiper's board, he has Winston going #1 overall to Tampa.
Projected Teams: Bucs, Titans, Jets, Cowboys
My pick: 1st Round, 1st Overall, Bucs
3. Brett Hundley - UCLA - RS Jr
6' 3" 227 lbs.
Starting Record: 3 yrs 29-11
Highest Achievement: Second-Team All-Pac-12 (2014)
Most Impressive Game of 2014: November 1 vs. #14 Arizona
Before the season started, Hundley was a strong pick to win the 2014 Heisman Trophy. After a few games, which included a very sloppy first game against Virginia, Hundley would fall in the rankings. In his 3 years of starting, Hundley has thrown over 3,000 yards in each year, resulting in a total of 75 TDs. This past season alone, Hundley also ran for 644 yards and 10 TDs. Nothing too flashy about this QB like the first 2, but still a solid set of skills that will give him a chance in the NFL.
The lower one looks on the Mock Draft board, the more scattered the picks seem to be. The picks are not usually in alignment with other Mock Drafts, but Hundley has been seen going to various teams in different drafts.
Projected Teams: Eagles, Titans, Jets
My Pick: 2nd Round, 59th overall, Broncos
4. Bryce Petty - Baylor - RS Sr
6' 3" 230 lbs.
Starting Record: 2 yrs 22-4
Highest Achievement: Big 12 OPOY (2013)
Most Impressive Game of 2014: October 11 vs. #9 TCU
Petty had some big shoes to fill at Baylor after RG3 left for Washington. He has done just that in the 2 seasons he has started at Baylor, throwing for 8,055 yards and 61 TDs. His biggest win was against TCU when the Bears were down by 21 with 10 minutes left in the 4th Quarter. Petty would lead the comeback and win in the last second with a field goal to put Baylor up 61-58. Petty would throw for 510 yards the game alone. Petty is not exactly a duel-threat QB, but he can scramble when he needs to get out of the pocket and is an incredibly accurate short passer with an average of 9.71 yards per pass.
For this draft, there is no set prediction on where Petty will fall. But with his stat-line, Petty will not fall below the 3rd Round.
Projected Teams: N/A
My Pick: 2nd Round, 41st Overall, Rams
5. Garrett Grayson - CSU - RS Sr
6' 2" 220 lbs.
Starting Record: 2 yrs 18-9
Highest Achievement: All- MWC 1st Team (2014)
Most Impressive Win of 2014: September 27 vs. Boston College
Grayson is the dark horse of the QB recruits much like Nick Foles was 2 years ago. In the past 2 seasons, Grayson has thrown for 7,702 yards and 55 TDs. Aside from him not being a duel-threat QB, Grayson can scramble when he needs to and can take the ball down field if he sees a hole. He can do well in the league if he works on his pocket awareness. This past year, Grayson was sacked 26 times.
In the Draft, Grayson could be a 2nd-3rd round pick for a team that needs depth at the QB position.
Projected Team: Browns
My Pick: 2nd Round, 39th Overall, Bears
Next week, I will be analyzing the Top 5 Running Backs, which will include 2 players that were almost finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Have a good football Sunday everyone!
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
The WAY TOO EARLY Top 25
Well, the first season of the College Football Playoff is in the books. #2 Oregon fell to the underrated #4 Ohio State Buckeyes behind their 3rd-String QB Cardale Jones 42-20. This was overall, a very interesting season for the NCAA: FSU QB Jameis Winston is handed his first loss as a starting QB since 2011, Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon breaks the single game rushing record, only to have it broken again the following week, and West Virginia QB Clint Trickett was forced to retire from football due to having 5 concussions within the last 14 months.
As we move past this season, ESPN released their Way Too Early Top 25 for the 2015 season. After reading this, I see a few teams that shocked me where they were ranked, even before National Signing Day for their recruiting class.
#1 TCU: Admit it: the Hornfrogs got screwed this year. They were ranked 3rd and then dropped to 6th in one week, where they won their game, convincingly. The reason for their high ranking is due to TCU having 10 offensive starters and 6 defensive starters returning this upcoming year. Led by returning QB Tervone Boykin, who I believe has the best shot at being next year's Heisman winner, TCU dismantled Ole Miss in the Chick-fil-a bowl this year. The fact that they play in what is slowly becoming a weak Big 12, with the exception of Baylor (#3) and Oklahoma State (#24), means that other teams in the Top 10 can face harder teams and leap over TCU for their spot, the same thing that happened to the Seminoles this season. Teams like USC, Oregon, Ohio State, and even Michigan State all have strong schedules that include top ranked teams currently. Also, they do have the #36 recruiting class. Even though they have many returning starters on defense, can they fill the holes left by start defenders? The Hornfrogs are good, but can they make the playoffs convincingly this time? (Key Matchup: Nov 27 vs. #3 Baylor)
#4 USC: Now don't get me wrong, USC has a great program and history when it comes to being one of the top football teams in the NCAA. The problem is that the Trojans have not been ranked within the top 5 since week 3 of the 2012 season behind QB Matt Barkley (currently riding the bench in Philadelphia). But they are only losing 6 starters to the draft this year and are currently ranked 7th in recruiting with 21 players, including RB Ronald Jones II who committed at the Under Armour Bowl on January 2nd. QB Cody Kessler, Junior, will be back to play another season with the Trojans as well. He will be losing his WR1 to the draft, the rest of his receiving core is young freshmen and sophomores gearing up for a legitimate playoff run. (Key Matchup: Nov 21 at #5 Oregon)
#8 Georgia: The Bulldogs over the last few years have been so close to clinching either a spot in the National Championship or even a chance at the SEC Title. The reason they have fallen? This team over the past few years has been subject to many injuries on both sides of the ball, including Heisman candidate RB Todd Gurley. This is not why I am surprised why they are ranked so high.
Georgia is also the highest ranked SEC team on this Top 25, with Alabama a little farther behind at #10. The reason I am cautious about their high ranking is due to their losses in the draft. The Bulldogs are losing their QB1, their top 2 WR, their star RB, and a Center. The first offensive player being recruited by Georgia, WR Jayson Stanley, ranks just outside of the Top 150 recruits of this class. Frankly, I see too many question marks on Georgia's offense to rank them so high. (Key Matchup: Oct 3 vs. #10 Alabama)
#19 Florida State: (I will do my best not to sound bias when writing this column, but I do feel disrespected we were ranked so low) FSU has just come off their second perfect regular season this year before losing their first game in over 2 years to the Oregon Ducks. With only 4 offensive starters returning (2WR, 1 RB, 1LG), it is easy to see that they could be in for a rough year. Especially since they are losing Heisman Trophy Winner QB Jameis Winston. I know that this contradicts what I stated in my analysis of Georgia, but this is different by one key fact: the recuits. FSU is currently ranked #2 in recruiting class, headlined by the #1 DE Josh Sweat. FSU currently has 10 recruits ranked in ESPN's Top 100, and most of them are #1-5 at their respective position. Under HC Jimbo Fisher, FSU has done an amazing job at recruiting. The Seminoles will have to work very hard this year with a very young team to return to the playoffs and avenge their loss. (Key Matchup: vs. #9 Clemson)
More questions will arise this year: Who will replace Marcus Mariota in Oregon? Can FSU replace Winston? Can the Big 10 return to it's former glory after OSU won the title? I think the most important question is this: Are you in?
As we move past this season, ESPN released their Way Too Early Top 25 for the 2015 season. After reading this, I see a few teams that shocked me where they were ranked, even before National Signing Day for their recruiting class.
#1 TCU: Admit it: the Hornfrogs got screwed this year. They were ranked 3rd and then dropped to 6th in one week, where they won their game, convincingly. The reason for their high ranking is due to TCU having 10 offensive starters and 6 defensive starters returning this upcoming year. Led by returning QB Tervone Boykin, who I believe has the best shot at being next year's Heisman winner, TCU dismantled Ole Miss in the Chick-fil-a bowl this year. The fact that they play in what is slowly becoming a weak Big 12, with the exception of Baylor (#3) and Oklahoma State (#24), means that other teams in the Top 10 can face harder teams and leap over TCU for their spot, the same thing that happened to the Seminoles this season. Teams like USC, Oregon, Ohio State, and even Michigan State all have strong schedules that include top ranked teams currently. Also, they do have the #36 recruiting class. Even though they have many returning starters on defense, can they fill the holes left by start defenders? The Hornfrogs are good, but can they make the playoffs convincingly this time? (Key Matchup: Nov 27 vs. #3 Baylor)
#4 USC: Now don't get me wrong, USC has a great program and history when it comes to being one of the top football teams in the NCAA. The problem is that the Trojans have not been ranked within the top 5 since week 3 of the 2012 season behind QB Matt Barkley (currently riding the bench in Philadelphia). But they are only losing 6 starters to the draft this year and are currently ranked 7th in recruiting with 21 players, including RB Ronald Jones II who committed at the Under Armour Bowl on January 2nd. QB Cody Kessler, Junior, will be back to play another season with the Trojans as well. He will be losing his WR1 to the draft, the rest of his receiving core is young freshmen and sophomores gearing up for a legitimate playoff run. (Key Matchup: Nov 21 at #5 Oregon)
#8 Georgia: The Bulldogs over the last few years have been so close to clinching either a spot in the National Championship or even a chance at the SEC Title. The reason they have fallen? This team over the past few years has been subject to many injuries on both sides of the ball, including Heisman candidate RB Todd Gurley. This is not why I am surprised why they are ranked so high.
Georgia is also the highest ranked SEC team on this Top 25, with Alabama a little farther behind at #10. The reason I am cautious about their high ranking is due to their losses in the draft. The Bulldogs are losing their QB1, their top 2 WR, their star RB, and a Center. The first offensive player being recruited by Georgia, WR Jayson Stanley, ranks just outside of the Top 150 recruits of this class. Frankly, I see too many question marks on Georgia's offense to rank them so high. (Key Matchup: Oct 3 vs. #10 Alabama)
#19 Florida State: (I will do my best not to sound bias when writing this column, but I do feel disrespected we were ranked so low) FSU has just come off their second perfect regular season this year before losing their first game in over 2 years to the Oregon Ducks. With only 4 offensive starters returning (2WR, 1 RB, 1LG), it is easy to see that they could be in for a rough year. Especially since they are losing Heisman Trophy Winner QB Jameis Winston. I know that this contradicts what I stated in my analysis of Georgia, but this is different by one key fact: the recuits. FSU is currently ranked #2 in recruiting class, headlined by the #1 DE Josh Sweat. FSU currently has 10 recruits ranked in ESPN's Top 100, and most of them are #1-5 at their respective position. Under HC Jimbo Fisher, FSU has done an amazing job at recruiting. The Seminoles will have to work very hard this year with a very young team to return to the playoffs and avenge their loss. (Key Matchup: vs. #9 Clemson)
More questions will arise this year: Who will replace Marcus Mariota in Oregon? Can FSU replace Winston? Can the Big 10 return to it's former glory after OSU won the title? I think the most important question is this: Are you in?
Monday, January 12, 2015
NFL Divisional Round Game Changing Plays
We now know the AFC and NFC teams that will battle for not only their respective championships, but for their spot in Super Bowl XLIX in Arizona. Each of these teams has proven that they are elite in some fashion, whether that be strong play throughout their last matchup, or a game defining play that changed the momentum of a team leading them to victory.
Ravens at Patriots: Final Score Patriots 35-31
This game was an all out battle for their spot in the AFC Title game. There is no love loss between these two teams considering most of their games have major playoff implications either in the regular season or in the postseason. Over the past 4 years, the two teams have played each other twice in the postseason, resulting in one of them representing the AFC in that years Super Bowl. There were many plays that could be considered for changing the game, including the Patriots interception in the end zone at the end of the game. The game changing play for me was the Tom Brady lateral to WR Julian Edelman, who would then throw a 51 yard touchdown to WR Danny Amendola. Until that play happened, not many people knew that in college, Edelman actually played QB at Kent State for 3 years. This pass near the end of the 3rd Quarter would tie the Pats with the Ravens at 28. With momentum on their side to start the 4th Quarter, the Patriots would only give up a field goal to their touchdown at the end of the game, sealing their win.
Panthers at Seahawks: Final Score Seahawks 31-17
Let's face it, the Panthers were lucky to be hear in the first place. Even though Carolina was only the second team in NFL history to enter the playoffs with a losing record (the other being the 2010 Seahawks), they would put up a fight until the very end. What stopped Carolina was the not only the Legion of Boom, but one member of the secondary, Kam Chancellor. With less than 6 minutes left in the 4th Quarter, Carolina QB Cam Newton would make a play that would seal the Panthers playoff fate. Newton would target TE Greg Olson on a slant route in the red zone. Chancellor would see the play and jump the route, not only intercepting the ball on the SEA 10, but take it back 90 yards for the Seahawks touchdown. This is the reason why the Seattle defense is ranked #1 for the second straight year.
Cowboys at Packers: Final Score Packers 26-21
This was arguably the best game of the weekend. Both teams showed up to play in the frigid cold and had exceptional performances on both sides of the ball, despite neither team being known for their defense. This game is known for the controversial call on Dallas WR Dez Bryant on a Dallas 4th and 2 play. QB Tony Romo would hike the ball and throw it to Bryant on a fly route in single coverage against Green Bay CB Sam Shields. Bryant would make what seemed to be a spectacular catch on the play, showing off why he is a top 5 receiver, leaping above Shields to get 2 hands on the ball. At first glance, this looked like a catch and would give Dallas 1st and Goal on the GB 1. Green Bay HC Mike McCarthy would use his second challenge of the half, despite having gone 0 for 6 on challenges all year, including one earlier in this game. That would not be the case on this call. On the replay, the refs would see that Bryant would go to the ground without maintaining possession and see the ball hit the ground, popping out of Bryant's hands before rolling into the end zone, catching it once again. People would argue that Bryant did maintain possession and get 2 feet down prior to the ball hitting the ground, but the refs would call that Bryant never had possession of the ball, therefore, making the valiant effort an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs.
Colts at Broncos: Final Score Colts 24-13
No one saw this coming. Going into the weekend, the teams that had a bye week were all favorites to win, but this was the only game where that prediction did not come true. This is also the only game that does not have a clear point where the game was decided or momentum shifted between teams. If it could be narrowed down to anything, I would be Denver QB Payton Manning not being effective on 3rd Down through the second half. Manning would go 3/8 on 3rd down passing and get 2 first downs out of these passes. The downside is that those 2 first downs would be for a combine 39 yards within the last minute of play. With the Colts having a 2 score lead, Manning could not make the a big play happen for his Broncos, crushing any hope of avenging last years slaughter in the Super Bowl.
Each losing team fought hard for the right to play in the Championship games, but alas, there can only be 4. So these questions: Can Andrew Luck lead his Colts to their 3rd Super Bowl appearance in the last 10 years? Will Aaron Rogers' calf hold up and keep him from going 0-3 against the Seahawks in the Russell Wilson era? Can Tom Brady get his 4th ring? Can the Legion of Boom hold the Packers top ranked offense to possibly be the first repeat champions since 2004?
Ravens at Patriots: Final Score Patriots 35-31
This game was an all out battle for their spot in the AFC Title game. There is no love loss between these two teams considering most of their games have major playoff implications either in the regular season or in the postseason. Over the past 4 years, the two teams have played each other twice in the postseason, resulting in one of them representing the AFC in that years Super Bowl. There were many plays that could be considered for changing the game, including the Patriots interception in the end zone at the end of the game. The game changing play for me was the Tom Brady lateral to WR Julian Edelman, who would then throw a 51 yard touchdown to WR Danny Amendola. Until that play happened, not many people knew that in college, Edelman actually played QB at Kent State for 3 years. This pass near the end of the 3rd Quarter would tie the Pats with the Ravens at 28. With momentum on their side to start the 4th Quarter, the Patriots would only give up a field goal to their touchdown at the end of the game, sealing their win.
Panthers at Seahawks: Final Score Seahawks 31-17
Let's face it, the Panthers were lucky to be hear in the first place. Even though Carolina was only the second team in NFL history to enter the playoffs with a losing record (the other being the 2010 Seahawks), they would put up a fight until the very end. What stopped Carolina was the not only the Legion of Boom, but one member of the secondary, Kam Chancellor. With less than 6 minutes left in the 4th Quarter, Carolina QB Cam Newton would make a play that would seal the Panthers playoff fate. Newton would target TE Greg Olson on a slant route in the red zone. Chancellor would see the play and jump the route, not only intercepting the ball on the SEA 10, but take it back 90 yards for the Seahawks touchdown. This is the reason why the Seattle defense is ranked #1 for the second straight year.
Cowboys at Packers: Final Score Packers 26-21
This was arguably the best game of the weekend. Both teams showed up to play in the frigid cold and had exceptional performances on both sides of the ball, despite neither team being known for their defense. This game is known for the controversial call on Dallas WR Dez Bryant on a Dallas 4th and 2 play. QB Tony Romo would hike the ball and throw it to Bryant on a fly route in single coverage against Green Bay CB Sam Shields. Bryant would make what seemed to be a spectacular catch on the play, showing off why he is a top 5 receiver, leaping above Shields to get 2 hands on the ball. At first glance, this looked like a catch and would give Dallas 1st and Goal on the GB 1. Green Bay HC Mike McCarthy would use his second challenge of the half, despite having gone 0 for 6 on challenges all year, including one earlier in this game. That would not be the case on this call. On the replay, the refs would see that Bryant would go to the ground without maintaining possession and see the ball hit the ground, popping out of Bryant's hands before rolling into the end zone, catching it once again. People would argue that Bryant did maintain possession and get 2 feet down prior to the ball hitting the ground, but the refs would call that Bryant never had possession of the ball, therefore, making the valiant effort an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs.
Colts at Broncos: Final Score Colts 24-13
No one saw this coming. Going into the weekend, the teams that had a bye week were all favorites to win, but this was the only game where that prediction did not come true. This is also the only game that does not have a clear point where the game was decided or momentum shifted between teams. If it could be narrowed down to anything, I would be Denver QB Payton Manning not being effective on 3rd Down through the second half. Manning would go 3/8 on 3rd down passing and get 2 first downs out of these passes. The downside is that those 2 first downs would be for a combine 39 yards within the last minute of play. With the Colts having a 2 score lead, Manning could not make the a big play happen for his Broncos, crushing any hope of avenging last years slaughter in the Super Bowl.
Each losing team fought hard for the right to play in the Championship games, but alas, there can only be 4. So these questions: Can Andrew Luck lead his Colts to their 3rd Super Bowl appearance in the last 10 years? Will Aaron Rogers' calf hold up and keep him from going 0-3 against the Seahawks in the Russell Wilson era? Can Tom Brady get his 4th ring? Can the Legion of Boom hold the Packers top ranked offense to possibly be the first repeat champions since 2004?
Friday, January 9, 2015
College Football Playoff Expansion
With the
first ever College Football finals taking place in a few days, there has been
some talk as to expanding the playoffs. People seem to think that an 8 team
playoff will be more fair than a 4 team. There is a good case to be made for
this to happen:
1.
The Big 12: At the end of the year, many
Hornfrogs were upset that they would not be in the playoff, despite being
ranked 3rd in the polls the previous week. Baylor was also not happy
being ranked below a team they not only beat, but a team they beat in one of
the most amazing comeback wins this year (and this is coming from an FSU
student). Without a championship game, the Bears and Hornfrogs would split the
Big 12 title, creating no real champion. At the end of the year, both were ranked
at 5 and 6 respectively. The only reason neither were in the playoffs was due
to an astonishing Big 10 championship game led by Ohio State’s 3rd-String
QB Cardale Jones. TCU would fire back in their bowl game, dismantling Ole Miss,
making a case for them being in the playoff. Baylor would attempt to do the
same against Michigan State, but would taste defeat similar to the way they defeated
TCU.
2.
First 2 Out: Lets face it, no matter how many
teams the playoffs hold, the first 2 teams out will have some case for being in
the playoffs. We beat Oregon, we only lost that game by 3, our starting QB
wasn’t playing in our loss. This year, the first 2 out could have easily won
their game in the 8 team playoff format. Going under the system where the lower
seeds play the higher, we would have seen TCU play FSU and Baylor would play
Ohio State. These games could have gone either way. TCU and Baylor showed all
year that they deserved to be ranked in the top 5, and they were snubbed out
due to a blow out win by Ohio State.
3.
Anyone can be beaten: If we have seen anything
this year, it’s that anyone can lose on any given day. Alabama lost to Ole Miss
and narrowly won their game against Arkansas. FSU had too many close calls to
count, but were finally beaten. Even Oregon lost to Arizona, but they were the
only team to be able to get a second chance in the same season as their loss.
It just takes that one game to screw up a teams run to the championship. Does
that seem fair? The answer is no. I understand that the committee’s job is to
find the true best of college football, but does that happen in every sport? Do
we honestly think that the 2007 Giants, or 2013 UConn, or even any championship
year for the Yankees, were ever the best team that year? The point of the
playoff is that they earn their spot to compete for the title.
When expanded the playoffs would
like this in 2014-15:
Alabama
vs. Michigan State
Oregon
vs. Mississippi State
Florida
State vs. TCU
Ohio
State vs. Baylor
Now that sounds like a good
playoff.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)