Big Red Rant

Cardinals Cruise Past Seattle; Starts Preparing for Giants

Getting out to a fast start against the Seahawks was a must for the Arizona Cardinals.  Notoriously a bad road team, they needed to take the air out the stadium for one of the louder, more raucous crowds in the league.  

They not only got out to that fast start, they never looked back this week.  The Cardinals lead 14-0 before the Seahawks even touched the ball. 

The best play from scrimmage for the Seahawks was a fake punt pass, thrown to John Carlson for a 42 yard gain that set up the lone Seattle points for the day.

To say that the Seahawks were undermanned would be a gross understatement of the facts.  This is the NFL though, and those that lineup to play on Sunday, should be able to perform better than what the Seahawks did on offense.

The most important part of the game though, came in the fourth quarter, when with six minutes left in the game, Ken Whisenhunt threw the ball three straight times. 

Coach Whisenhunt was asked about it after the game "There were some schemes I wanted to look at," Whisenhunt said. "One of them is I wanted to run Larry (Fitzgerald) on a speed screen out there just to get a feel for that play."

Game planning for your next opponent while there is still six minutes left in the game is ballsy, but it shows that this Cardinals team understands the importance of the game coming up next Sunday night in New York.

"Oh, that game is huge," Fitzgerald said. "It's really going to be an opportunity to see where we're at."

Added Darnell Dockett: "We better start focusing on New York. I honestly feel they are a much better team -- no disrespect to Seattle."

I doubt that anyone is listening in Seattle right now Darnell. 

Sunday Night, October 25th has become not only a litmus test for the Cardinals, but a statement of where they are headed going forward the rest of the season.

New York was humbled and basically embarrassed in Sunday’s loss to the Saints, and let’s not think for one moment they won’t be out for blood come Sunday night.

It will be another Football Night in America and another chance for the Cardinals to show that they not only belong on Sunday nights, but belong on the same field as the premier teams in the NFC.

While a loss will not cause the Cardinals to fold the tents up and end the season, as we saw last year from the numerous drubbings the Cardinals took at the hands of the NFL “Elite”, it will put the Cardinals right back on the back burner in the NFC.

So is this a statement game?  Of course.

Is this a must win?  Not at all.

But going forward, if the Cardinals want to show they really belong, they need to have a significant win, and show they are still a threat in the NFC.

Cardinals Still Not Ready for Big Time

The Cardinals were embarrassed in front of the nation Sunday night.  They are continually showing that last year was the fluke that most experts and pundits said that it was.

They choked in pressure situations, failed to capitalize in the red zone... again and when they fell behind, the turnstiles, I mean tackles were shredded by the ferocious Colts pass rush.

They gained 24 yards on the ground against the 30th ranked rushing defense, and somehow after shutting down two of the top 7 running backs in the league gave up 100+ yards to a Colts running game that has been non-existent the first two weeks of the season.

Hats off to the Colts for showing just how truly dominant of a team they still are.  I know a lot of people doubted the Colts and their ability, but I saw it differently.  I believed that Peyton Manning was the man that pulled the strings and as great as Tony Dungy was, they would survive without him.

I hope one day the Cardinals can have a sustained run of success as the Colts have, but this game truly showed the distance the Cardinals still have to go.

Look at the Colts, they struggled against a aggressive and attacking defense early, but road that out and in the end, made the Cardinals defense look, well pathetic.

As for the Cardinals, two early red zone trips resulting in only 3 points is an unacceptable outcome for an "elite" offense.  It is especially unacceptable when you are playing a great team with an exceptional offense.  This needs be figured out and fast.

Also, I understand the fumbles are a concern, but Chris Wells needs to see some time especially in short yardage situations... They passed on some good football players that could be helping this team, especially along the offensive line to take Wells...

Something needs to be done and quick in order for the season to be salvaged by the Cardinals.  I was not thrilled with the bye week being so early this year, but it seems to be coming at the perfect time.

Some things I would like to see after the bye week:

• Brandon Keith getting a chance to play left tackle.  Mike Gandy has been terrible against any speed rusher in the league, if this continues; we may be looking towards the future at quarterback sooner rather than later.
• Levi Brown needs to figure it out and fast.  You cannot be a top 5 pick and the reason the Cardinals passed on Adrian Peterson and continually get beat game after game.  Worse than that, you cannot continually miss assignments, as was the case on at least three or four occasions last night.
• Rodgers-Cromartie needs to start playing football again.  Last year he was using his natural instincts to make plays and had the look of a shut down corner.  Then he started getting beat, not because of just getting beat, but again, failing to get to his assignments...
• Chris Wells get an extended look.  I know the fumbles are a concern, but Wells has homerun ability like no one else on the Cardinals roster, and they need him in there to be more effective.  I also remember some guy up in Minnesota that was having problems holding onto the ball when he came out of college.

The Cardinals have the ability to be a good team in this league, but they also have some competition in the division now.  This is not going to be like last year where they can sneak in by the skin of their teeth, they need to get it together and quick, or else it will be a long season.

Week 2 Power Rankings: It's Early Don't Get Too Excited

Power rankings are a funny thing, especially this early in the year.  We don’t really have a gage on how good the good teams are nor can we tell how bad the supposed good teams are.  So the way I break it down, still 1-32, is into categories for each team.  Not so much power groupings, but more of categories of what I think we can expect to see from each team as the year goes on. 

Also, I am taking this season thus far into account only.  So if you see some crazy stuff that you don’t agree with, remember we only have a small portion of the season to work with.

I will not make comments on every team, but I will give you one thing I want to see for every team.

On to our rankings:

For You Diehards, It’s Still Early

32. Cleveland Browns- A bad start to the Mangenius’ tenure.  First, I didn’t think they would be this bad on defense, as I thought they had the personal to at least get stops, but when your offense is as bad as the Browns offense has been, it is hard to stay fresh.  I am most interested to see how long the Quinn era lasts before Mangini pulls the plug.  I have the over/under at 4.  I will take the under.
                One thing I would like to see is James Davis get healthy and get a chance to run the ball.  While I am not a Clemson fan, I think he has the ability to be a good back in this league.

31. Detroit Lions- I am not a fan of putting a rookie quarterback behind a bad offensive line, and that is exactly what is going on up in Detroit.  I am pretty sure we have seen this before, oh yeah the Joey Harrington era.  Looked good on the touchdown drive against the Vikings, and that is about all I can say so far this year. As both the defense and offense are at the bottom of the league.
                One thing I would like to see is Calvin Johnson get more balls thrown to him.  That guy is too good to just be getting 8 balls in two games.

30. St. Louis Rams-
              One thing I would like to see is Jason Smith get back and stay healthy.  A franchise left tackle was what got the Rams on the right track the last time.

29. Kansas City Chiefs-
            One thing I would like to see is Larry Johnson continue to run hard.  He has all the making of the next great back until he was run into the ground.  Hopefully he is healthy and is successful this year.

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- They didn’t just come out and say they were rebuilding, but they really didn’t need to.  The offense has been surprisingly effective lead by Byron Leftwich.  But the defense, the staple of the Bucs for about a decade, is abysmal. 
             One thing I would like to see is Derrick Brooks come back to the organization in some capacity.  He is has been a major player in Florida for more than 15 years and needs to be somewhere in that organization.

They Really Aren’t This Bad… Are They?

27. Carolina Panthers- Jake Delholmme looked better this week, and the pass defense is still dominate.  But they are giving up 168 rush yards per game, and need to find someone, anyone to help them stop the run.
            One thing I would like to see is the Williams/Stewart combo to get more yards rushing per game.  I realize they were down in the first game, but they need to own the time of possession with those two in the backfield.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars-
             One thing I would like to see is Maurice Jones-Drew continue to develop into one of the top running backs in the league.  He is amazingly electric with the ball is in his hands.

25. Miami Dolphins-
              One thing I would like to see is the wildcat run more often.  Did you see how dominate the Dolphins were when running this at the Colts? 

24. Tennessee- They definitely do not deserve to be this low right now, but they are 0-2 and even though one loss was to the Super Bowl Champs, they are atrocious against the pass right now. On the bright side their offense has looked great, and Chris Johnson continues to become a special player.
                One thing I would like to see is the defense get better against the pass.  I had hoped that Haynesworth’s departure would not affect the pass defense as much as it has.

A Bunch of Teams at 1-1

23. Oakland Raiders-
                One thing I would like to see is JaMarcus Russell become more consistent.  He has the arm strength and good footwork but seems to lack vision some times.

22. Buffalo Bills- I will be the first to say I have been pleasantly surprised by the Bills play.  That being said, I still do not buy into this team completely.  Fred Jackson, Trent Edwards and the rest of the offense have been good, but the defense… not so much.
                One thing I would like to see is Fred Jackson to continue to get ample carries even when Marshawn Lynch comes back.

21.  Houston Texans-  I am not sure what to make of the Texans.  They beat a good Titans team, and lost to what seems like a good Jets team.  Matt Schaub has looked dynamite, but Steve Slaton has left something to be desired. And the defense, oh the defense.  I think Chris Johnson is still running.
              One thing I would like to see is the running backs getting it going.  The offense is good and if the running game gets back to where it was last year, they will be tough to stop.

20.  Cincinnati Bengals-
               One thing I would like to see is Carson Palmer cutting down on the interceptions.  Both selfishly, he is one of my fantasy league quarterbacks and for the fact that they could be a good team if he can keep the turnovers down.

19.  Washington Redskins-
               One thing I would like to see is Jason Campbell and company score a touchdown on a long drive.  They have looked good on both sides of the ball, but only between the 20’s on offense.

18. Seattle Seahawks- Matt Hasselbeck’s injury plays a part in this low of a ranking, that and there is a lot of 1-1 teams out there.  If Hasselbeck can come back within a couple of weeks, I think the Seahawks can be ok, but we saw what happened last year.  Add in that they have a lot of injuries along the defensive side of the ball and this could get ugly again. 
              One thing I would like to see is a healthy Seahawks team.  As  a Cardinals fan I would like to see a team at full strength so if the Cards do win the division again, there are no excuses.

17.  Chicago Bears-
              One thing I would like to see is a WR step up and become a threat for Jay Cutler.  The Bears defense still has some life, even without their leader, but they will need a big boost from the offense and more specifically Matt Forte and a WR.

16. Arizona Cardinals- Looked better in week 2, but still have a propensity to give up the big play on defense.  Run defense has looked incredible against two of the better backs in the NFL, and the running game seems to be improving. 
               One thing I would like to see is Chris “Beanie” Wells hold onto the ball.  The kid has amazing natural talent, but if he continues to put the ball on the turf, he is useless.

15. Philadelphia Eagles-  The Eagles looked great in week 1, not so much in week 2.  They need McNabb to be effective against good teams, or they may need to look to Garcia, maybe even, GULP, Mike Vick.  The defense was lit up by the best offense in the NFL, so I will not read too much into that, but I will pay a little more attention.
                One thing I would like to see is McNabb back and healthy.  It is good for the NFL when all 4 teams in the NFC East are competitive, and I don’t know how competitive the Eagles can be without McNabb.

14.  Green Bay Packers-
                One thing I would like to see is BJ Raji get healthy.  He can be a dominate force on the inside of a 3-4 defense and really help his team get to the top.

13. Dallas Cowboys-  The disappointment from Sundays loss will be bitter.  That may not be a good thing for their next opponent, because this Cowboys team seems to be a little more level headed than previous ones.  Tony Romo needs to find a way to limit mistakes in big games and big moments.
                One thing I would like to see is the Cowboys defense step up and play up to what their offense is doing. 

12. San Diego Chargers-

                One thing I would like to see is the Chargers defense come back to life.  Having all those weapons on offense is no good if they are unable to stop anybody.

11. New England Patriots-  Where to even start with the Patriots?  They seem to be out of sync both offensively and defensively.  Tom Brady has faced unrelenting pressure since Super Bowl 42 and has not been the great Tom Brady of old… yet.  The defense is what really concerns me, as I am not sure what to expect.
              One thing I would like to see is the Patriots offense of old for just one or two games.  I don’t expect the dynamic offense of two years ago, but just show us something.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers-                

                One thing I would like to see is the Steelers form any semblance of a running game.  They have not looked good running the ball the first two games and the Steelers need to run the ball to be the Steelers.

It’s Only Two Games, so They Deserve This Spot… For Now

9.  Denver Broncos-

                One thing I would like to see is Brandon Marshall become a dominate WR again.  I don’t know what it is going to take, but I believe Marshall has the talent to be a top 10 maybe even top 5 WR in this league.

8.  San Francisco 49ers-  The Niners have looked great defensively in their first two games.  They have really taken to Mike Singletary’s approach and have come to ready to lay the wood.  Offensively, well Frank Gore had an amazing game on Sunday, but looked human week 1.  I think we can expect him to land somewhere in between. 
                 One thing I would like to see is Glen Coffee get a couple more carriers a game.  I know that Frank Gore is the man, but he needs a break too, or else he may not be effective much longer.

On The Cusp

7.  NY Jets-

                One thing I would like to see is me have the stones to actually make the pick I wanted to in my preview.  I love this Jets team, I like the way they are built on both sides of the ball and I think that Sanchez could be a legit star.  I wanted to say this team would be a Wild Card team, but I chickened out, so far, and it is only two games, they look to be for real.

6.  Atlanta Falcons-  Tony Gonzalez has added a new dimension to an already potent Falcons attack and I am excited to see where it takes them.  The defense has looked good and if these two units can continue to grow together, they should improve on last year’s finish.

                One thing I would like to see is Jerious Norwood healthy.  Turner has looked like he is a little worn down from last year, and Norwood would give the offense another piece and make them even more explosive.

The Fab Five

5.  Indianapolis Colts-

                One thing I would like to see is more of rookie Donald Brown.  He has looked good in his spot duty and should be worked into the offense a little more each week.

4.  Minnesota Vikings-  The Favre experiment has worked out nicely so far.  He is deferring well to the running game, and seems not to be forcing the ball too much.  Of course, he has yet to face any real competition and I want to see if old Favre comes out and starts flinging the ball around the field.
               One thing I would like to see is how they play against some good competition.  They had an easy opening two weeks and getting San Francisco at home is still not a huge test.  I am really looking forward to week four when they take on Green Bay.

3.  Baltimore Ravens-

                One thing I want to see is if this offense can keep it up all year.  They lit up a bad Chiefs defense and the Chargers defense has not looked good at all this year.  The defense looks to be there still, so if  Joe Flacco and others can keep it up, this team could be special.

2. New Orleans Saints-  Sure they pounded a horrible Lions team, but the dismantling of the Philly D, in Philly was more than impressive.  This offense is amazing and the defense seems to have the ability to make plays in order to give that offense even more time on the field.  This team has all the makings of doing something great.

                One thing I would like to see is the pass defense tighten up and more importantly see a significant pass rush.  The run defense has looked great, and they will be in a lot of shootouts with the offense they have, so improving the pass defense is a must.

1.New York Giants- I know it is early, and I know the scope of the season is small, but this is the team I believe is the best in the NFC.  On top of that they have all of the makings to make another run to the Super Bowl.
                One thing I would like to see is Brandon Jacobs get going again.  They need, much like the Steelers, to be able to run the ball as the season progresses in order to let their dominating defense have a chance to rest.

Cardinals Answer the Bell

What a difference a week makes. 

The morning started off well enough, with the Fox experts claiming stick a fork in Kurt Warner and the Cardinals, they were done.

I tended to agree due to the ineptness I saw from the offense, and the propensity to still give up the big play on defense.  That didn’t mean I was ready to stick the proverbial fork in them, but I did think this year was going to be tougher for the Redbirds especially with the tough three game schedule they had coming out of the gate.

After today’s absolutely dominating performance against the Jaguars, in Jacksonville, in the early game, I may need to re-exam that 1-2 start I predicted in preseason, and the now 0-3 start after the home loss in week one.

The Cards came out with a purpose, to show last week was an anomaly and not the norm.  Warner came out to show that he still had the ability to be an elite quarterback, and not the guy that looked like he should be calling the game from the press box and not under center.

Kurt Warner looked like he was on a mission this week.  15-15 to start the game, he did not throw and incompletion until there was 1:52 left in the second quarter.  He finished the game with the highest completion percentage in NFL history at 92.3%.  I can’t even put up numbers like that in Madden.

The defense continued to look stout against the run, really only allowing one big run, the first of the game, to lightning bug Maurice Jones-Drew.  After that 36 yard scamper on over pursuit by the Cardinals, the defense then limited MJD to 30 yards on 12 carries.

One concern that continues to rear its ugly head is the lack of a pass rush on third or fourth and long without blitzing.  The Cardinals need to find a pass rusher, of course that is what they drafted Cody Brown for, that can get pressure on the quarterback, but also rap him and take him down.  Too often the defense gets pressure and then whiffs on the quarterback leaving him free to make a play down field.

Other quick observations from the game:

Do not be fooled by Matt Leinart’s mediocre stat line, 3/6 22 yards 0TD’s 0 INT’s.  He looked more than competent in the pocket, he was patient and went through his reads and did not look overwhelmed playing against first team defensive players.  Two of the incomplete passes were actually dropped balls, one by blocking tight end Anthony Becht, and one by sure handed Larry Fitzgerald.  Factor in the running game did absolutely nothing while he was in and you cannot blame Matt Leinart for the Jaguars getting back in the game.

Chris “Beanie” Wells has all the tools to be a special back; he just needs to hold onto the ball.  As I watched the game with my dad, we repeatedly talked about the fact that Wells just gets to and through the hole faster than any back the Cardinals have had since they have been here.  Obviously he needs to work on keeping the ball off of the turf.

Calais Campbell is going to be good.  I know, that is not saying much, but this is the second week in a row in which he has made plays all over the field, including blocking a field goal attempt that Antrel Rolle took to the house.  If he continues to progress and can become a Richard Seymour type defensive end that can hold up against the run, like he has, and get to the quarterback, like he can, he has a chance to be special.

Neil Rackers, I love your enthusiasm, but for the love of God stay out of the play. You are a safety valve and a good one, but the Cardinals cannot afford to lose you for any amount of time because you are overly anxious to get down and prove that you are not just a kicker.

Overall, this week not only made up for the lackluster week one performance, but actually should make Cardinals fans believe that their team has a shot next week against the mighty Indianapolis Colts, especially with the Colts coming off a short week.

This was a step in the right direction; let’s just hope it’s not one step forward, two steps back.  

AFC North and East Preview Plus Playoff Predictions

I like to think of this division as the black and blue division of the NFL.  Well, two of the four teams represent that, and those are the only two teams that I can see doing anything this year. 

 

AFC North-

4.  Cleveland Browns:
            Has Eric Mangini gone off of the deep end or is he showing his true colors of being a Bill Belichick disciple?  I am not sure, but what I do know is that the Browns season is going to be an interesting one.  Some Browns fans are already chirping about how Mangini is running the team.  There is some talent on offense, but the defense, well they are another story altogether.

            Who to Watch For- ? No, that is a joke, sort of.  The man to watch this year is the quarterback; unfortunately we just do not know which person it will be.  Brady Quinn will probably start game one against the Minnesota Vikings, but that doesn’t mean he will get all the snaps for the season.  In fact, unless Quinn gets off to a hot start, Anderson will probably get some playing time and sooner than most Quinn fans would want. 

Final Outlook and Analysis-
            The Browns are such a weird team to me.  They have players on offense, but the quarterback position seems to be one of the biggest questions, if not the biggest question on the offense.  I am excited to see what the running back situation ends up looking like, as I like both Jerome Harrison and James Davis behind Jamal Lewis.  The defense needs to find a way to get to the quarterback, as I don’t see where the pass rush is going to come from.  One thing you can count on from an Eric Mangini coached team is, there will be no shortage of drama throughout the year.

3.  Cincinnati Bengals:
            The Bengals have already had a rough start to the season.  Between the injuries to Carson Palmer, the holdout of first round pick Andre Smith, and then the subsequent injury to Smith, the season has not gotten off to the best start.  On the bright side, all reports out of Bengals camp is Chad Ochocinco is going to have a stellar comeback year and the defense has steadily improved.  Can they get back into contention and make a push for the playoffs?  Can they save Marvin Lewis’ job?

            Who to Watch For- Carson Palmer was emerging as one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, until injury and ineffectiveness set in.  Now he needs to get back to that level for the Bengals to have any chance of getting back to the playoffs again.  With a motivated Ochocinco and a running game that showed some life last year, the offense has the weapons to get the job done, but they will only go as far as Palmer takes them.

Final Outlook and Analysis-

            Bengals fans still have to pulling their hair out of what could have been.  The Bengals seemed primed to make a move and stay at or near the top of the AFC North, until that fateful day against the Steelers.  Now, they seem to be regressing instead of progressing.  Marvin Lewis has the defense playing better, but can he get enough out of them to keep his job?  I like the roster, I just don’t know with the schedule and in the division they play in if they can get into the playoffs. 

2.  Baltimore Ravens:
            Few expected Joe Flacco to be the steadying force on offense that the Ravens had lacked since the Trent Dilfer era.  With Flacco at the helm and Le’Ron McClain running the ball well, the Ravens made it deep into the playoffs.  The defense, well they are always good, and while they may be slowing down a little bit; there are maybe only two or three other defenses as good as theirs.  The question really is, can Flacco stay consistent, or will he suffer a sophomore slump?

            Who to Watch For- Willis McGahee and Ray Rice have to step up this year.  With McClain going back to fullback and not being identified as a primary ball carrier that means that McGahee and Rice will get the bulk of the carries.  They both have the ability to form a nice 1-2 punch in the running game, and with the ball control style offense the coach Harbaugh wants to run, these two have to be able to get chunks of yards at a time on first down and set up the offense for Joe Flacco.  If they can do that, they will have another successful season, because their defense will keep them in most games.  If the running game struggles, well it could be a long season.

Final Outlook and Analysis-

            The defense is so good, that they will be in games all year long.  That means the offense needs to produce just enough to keep Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and company on the sidelines to get some rest, and put up around 17 points a game.  Ball control is the name of the game for Baltimore, and if they win the battle for ball control, well most weeks that will mean they win the game.  Baltimore is headed in the right direction and with a couple more moves on the offensive side of the ball; they could be contender in the AFC for years to come.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers:

 More than anything, I think the Steelers want to prove that they can be a competitive team again after they win the Super Bowl, because I have to believe 2006 was one of the worst seasons in Bill Cowher’s career, just from the standpoint of missing the playoffs.  Now, it is Mike Tomlin’s turn to prepare his troops for the upcoming season as the reigning champs.  I see no reason, if for pride reasons only, that the Steelers don’t come out and win the AFC North and make another run in the playoffs.  Is a Super Bowl in their future?  Well we are not there yet, but I will let you know soon enough.

            Who to Watch For- Ben Roethlisberger has had another interesting offseason, to say the least.  From an outsiders view, Big Ben seems to be one of those guys that gets on the field and puts his personal life out of sight and out of mind for 4 hours a week.  Can he improve on his pedestrian regular season numbers from last year?  Does it matter?  Ben seems to rise to the occasion, and already has a career worth of post season wins to prove that all of those mediocre regular season numbers mean nothing.  But, can he make the jump and get the respect of the casual fan, and not just hardcore football fans and Steelers fan?  Again, does it really matter?

Final Outlook and Analysis-

            The Madden Curse is the only thing I see stopping the Steelers from repeating as AFC North Champs and making another nice playoff run.  They have a nice balance on offense, and still have the best defense in the NFL.  This season is about nothing more than pride for the Steelers, as they do not want another let down after a Super Bowl win.  With Troy Polamalu, James Harrison and the rest of the Steelers defense back and healthy they are in for another nice season, at least.

 

AFC East-

I don’t have many days left before the kick off of the Titans-Steelers matchup, so I am going to continue our trek through the AFC and give you my thoughts on the Patriots division, I mean AFC East, as well as my playoff predictions, AFC MVP, AFC Defensive Player of the Year, AFC Rookie of the Year and AFC Coach of the Year.

4. Buffalo Bills:

            A tough season in a tough division is not what Dick Jauron needed.  The Bills coach has seemingly been on the hot seat, for what seems like forever.   They made the bold move of adding Terrell Owens to a offense that is pretty good in the first place. The main concern, as we will see in a little bit has to be the offensive line and the defense seems to always have injury issues that hamper what should be a top 12 unit in the league.

            Who to Watch For- The offensive line has to come together for the Bills to have any chance this season.  They are starting rookies at both guard positions, and traded away their Pro Bowl left tackle, even though he has struggled in the preseason for the Eagles.  They will be without their best running back for their first four games of the season, and their back up Fred Jackson is banged up.  The offensive line must find some cohesiveness and fast, or this could be a long and painful season for the Bills backfield.

Final Outlook and Analysis- 

            I had some slight hope for the Bills when they brought in another weapon for Trent Edwards in the off season, but the struggles of the offensive line in the preseason now outweighs any good feelings I had for this team.  I really like what they have on the defensive side of the ball, I just don’t know if they will get enough rest in order to stay healthy and productive through the season.  I am marking it down right now, Dick Jauron is the first coach fired in the 2009 NFL season.

3. New York Jets       

            Call me crazy, but I love the Jets this season for some unfathomable reason.  I really had to talk myself into putting them at three in the AFC East, since I can confidently say I see them getting to 10-6 and making a run at the playoffs this year.  All of that said, I went with my head instead of my gut, since I have no rooting interest for the Jets and put them as the third place team in the East.  The only reason why is because I want to see Rex Ryan coach a game or two before I put them in the playoffs.

            Who to Watch For- I hope Mark Sanchez has Eli Manning’s phone number and can give Eli a call and ask about the pressure’s of playing in a rabid city like New York.  Sanchez is the key piece to the Jets playoff hopes, as we saw last year with this team, they were a quarterback away from getting into the playoffs.  Now, they think believe they have a quarterback who can not only get them into the playoffs, but can be the face of the franchise for years to come.  Pretty heavy stuff for a kid who started one year in college football, and has had injury concerns throughout his playing career.  But, for some reason, I believe in him and think he will be a good one for years to come.

Final Outlook and Analysis-

            As I said earlier, I went with my head and put this team third in the division, but I would not be shocked to see them finish in second and push for a Wild Card berth.  Of course I am having this faith without their quarterback or head coach having done anything yet in the NFL.  I guess it is the fact that between their offensive line, running backs, including Shonne Greene, and potentially dominant defense I just like the makeup of their team.  We will see, but I would not be shocked if they went 10-6 or 6-10, that is the kind of year Jets fans have to look forward too. 

2.  Miami Dolphins:

            Last years out of nowhere team is getting a lot of love this season and I even am buying in a little bit.  I love the way that Bill Parcells has constructed this team, and Chad Pennington has proven to be a winner in his career.  Add in one of the better 1-2 punches in the league at running back and I could see this team again making a run to the playoffs. 

            Who to Watch For- The wide receivers for the Miami Dolphins flat out scare me.  You have a return specialist trying to find out how to be a receiver in the NFL in Ted Ginn Jr. and an undrafted free agent who is somehow not only on a roster, but will be starting for a playoff contender.  I love the offensive line and running back situation in Miami, but those guys at wide receiver scare me, but hey it worked out ok last year.

Final Outlook and Analysis-

            This is a team that overachieves, but does so because their coach and General Manager know how to play to their strengths and hide their weaknesses.  The defense is solid and the offense has the ability to move the ball up and down the field effectively.  Do they have enough at wide receiver to open up the running lanes for Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams?  Does Chad Pennington have another solid year left in him?  I think so, and I expect this team to battle for a playoff spot till the end of the year.

1.      New England Patriots

Not much needs to be said.  Quite simply they are one of, if not the best teams in the league.  They have their franchise quarterback healthy and ready to go.  They have added a little more to the running game as well as another good receiver in Joey Galloway.  The season seems to be a formality if everyone stays healthy and I see no reason other than another major injury, that they will not win this division and make the playoffs.

            Who to Watch For-  While everyone wants to see if Tom Brady is back and healthy, I really could care less.  I want to see if this defense can stop anyone from scoring.  If they can’t here is a friendly tip, always bet the over in the Patriots games this year.  The trading of Richard Seymour makes these concerns even more magnified to me, but I don’t see it being a problem in the regular season.

Final Outlook and Analysis-

            This team is stacked on offense, and while I don’t see record setting numbers like they had two years ago, I see no reason that this team does not roll through the regular season and into the playoffs with one of the top seeds in the AFC.

 

AFC Playoff Predictions:

Division Winners

1.      New England Patriots

2.      San Diego Chargers

3.      Pittsburgh Steelers

4.      Indianapolis Colts

Wild Cards

Tennessee Titans

Baltimore Ravens

Playoffs Week 1 Games:

Pittsburgh over Tennessee

Indy over Baltimore

2^nd Round

New England over Indianapolis

Pittsburgh over San Diego

AFC Championship Game

New England over Pittsburgh

AFC MVP- Tom Brady

AFC Defensive Player of the Year- Mario Williams

AFC Rookie of the Year- Mark Sanchez

AFC Coach of the Year- John Harbaugh

 

 

 

AFC South Preview

New season same results…  At least that is what I see coming out of the AFC South this year.  The top two teams remain the same.  The bottom two teams follow suit from last year, and it may just cost their coaches their jobs.

AFC South-

4.  Jacksonville Jaguars:
            The Jack Del Rio era is coming to an end sooner rather than later.  Unless the Jaguars put together an amazing run and go at least to the second round of the playoffs, this should be the last year under JDR.  On the bright side, the Jaguars have put together some nice pieces on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, the problem being there are not enough pieces to get into the playoffs this year.

            Who to Watch For- This is an easy one here, Maurice Jones-Drew has a lot to prove.  He has been a great 1 or 2 in the Fred Taylor MJD 1-2 punch over the last couple of years.  He is electric and took advantage of all the touches he got.  Now he has all the touches to himself and will have to prove that he can stay healthy for the entire season while still producing.

Final Outlook and Analysis- 7-9
          David Garrard has been nothing spectacular, but has definitely been effective.  He is a great ball control, game managing quarterback, but he will not win you many games.  MJD is a bolt of lightning, and can score from anywhere on the field.  Yet both of those players have more questions right now than answers.  Can MJD and Garrard answer the questions on offense and save Del Rio’s job?  Can the defense get any pressure on the quarterback?  So many questions, so little answers, right now.

3.  Houston Texans:
            Every year the “experts” proclaim this is the year the Texans make the playoffs.  Every year, they come up short.  I see no reason this season will be any different.  They have one of the top three receivers in football.  They possess an effective running game.  The defense has shown flashes of being dominant.  Yet, they never seem to put it all together, whether that is because of injuries, ineffectiveness or drafting another defensive lineman that doesn’t pan out this year will be no different from the Texans.

            Who to Watch For- You could go with the old standby answer of Matt Schaub, but I think the defense is more important for the success of the Texans than Schaub is.  Can they stop the Colts passing attack?  Can they stop the Titans running game?  That is why Antonio Smith is the player to watch this season.  He signed a big deal to move over to Houston to play alongside the best defensive end in the game in Mario Williams.  Now will that be the help Super Mario needs in order to lead his team to the playoffs?  Can Smith build on his strong playoff performance from a year ago, and become an impact player?

Final Outlook and Analysis- 8-8

          Will this be the year that the Texans finally put it all together?  I don’t know, simply because of the division they play in.  Having to face the Colts, Titans and even the Jags twice a year is a tough task.  Add in that they have New England and Seattle at home, and go on the road to Miami and Arizona and they have a tough road to get to where they want to be, over .500 and even more, in the playoffs.

2.  Tennessee Titans:

            A year ago at this time, no one was picking the Titans to have the great season that they ended up having.  Now, they are looked at as one of the top teams in all of the AFC.  Personally, I see them somewhere in the middle.  Are they a good team?  Of course, but are they one of the top teams in the AFC, I don’t buy that.  They lack some of the key components necessary to win, and even though Chris Johnson, LenDale White, and Nate Washington are all great weapons to complement the savvy Kerry Collins, I worry about something else.

            Who to Watch For- This is easy, Tony Brown, Jason Jones, Jovan Haye, Kevin Vickerson, Sen’Derrick Marks and any other DT trying to replace the monster in the middle Albert Haynesworth.  This is the key to the season for the Titans, if they can get consistent play out of the DT spot, meaning clogging up running lanes, keeping the O-Line off of the linebackers, and getting a decent pass rush up the middle, then they can not only be contenders, they can be real players.  If they are unable to get anything out of these guys, it could be a tough season.

            Final Outlook and Analysis- 11-5

            The Titans have a great roster, and a more than capable offense to compete.  The problem, they may not be completely reloaded on the defensive side of the ball, especially against the run.  I expect big years from Johnson and White, and the passing game should get a boost with the addition of Washington, but will they be able to compete with the balanced offenses in the AFC?  Will they be able to continue to dominate on defense? 

1.      Indianapolis Colts:

This is not always a popular team to pick as number one.  The Colts get a lot of
crap for being regular season wonders and never taking it into the playoffs.  Unfortunately for the haters, they still have Peyton Manning, and he still knows how to win, during the regular season.  Will they be able to continue to win without Tony Dungy?  Is Peyton Manning the real key to the Colts success?

            Who to Watch For- Another coach makes the list here.  The Colts have had a ton of success under the guidance of Tony Dungy, few can argue that fact.  What is now the question is, was it Dungy, or was it Manning.  That will be easily answered this season.  If Jim Caldwell is able to come in and continue the Colts winning ways, then you have to believe it was more Manning than Dungy.  If the Colts struggle and are unable to continue their run of regular season success, then we know who the real mastermind was.

            Final Outlook and Analysis- 12-4

This is a huge year for the Colts and their fans, as it is the first year without Dungy in a while, and the first look into the future.  Will the offense continue to flourish?  Will the defense step up and drive the Colts to long playoff run?  Can Joseph Addai stay healthy, or will Donald Brown take over?  Can Anthony Gonzalez be the next great Colts receiver?  So many questions, yet when it all comes down to it, the Colts season will go as Manning goes.  Or so we may think.

           

           

AFC West Preview

Well as the preseason comes to an end and the season begins I will be breaking down each division and have my picks in for the playoffs, NFC and AFC Championship Games, as well as the 2010 Super Bowl Champion.

First though, we need to take a look through each division and that, well that, may be all done tonight, or over the next couple of days.

Here we go:

AFC West-

I figure I should start with the worst division in football, as it should take the shortest amount of time to pick the winner.

4.  Kansas City Chiefs:
            I hope I am wrong here, for more than one reason. I love Todd Haley as a coach, and think he has a bright future as a head coach in the NFL.  Secondly, I would like to see Matt Cassel be successful and earn that money that they paid him.  I just don’t see that happening this year, especially with the schedule they have.

            Who to Watch For- Has to be Matt Cassel.  This team will only go as far as their new franchise quarterback takes them.  The offensive line is rebuilding, and has some nice pieces, especially on the left side, but they must stay healthy and turn into a cohesive unit to keep Cassel upright for the entire season.

Final Outlook and Analysis- 3-13 
           How does a team that went 2-14 end up with such a hard schedule?  I know it is the AFC West’s year to play the NFC East and AFC North, but come on.  They have some pieces on the offense with Cassel, Dwayne Bowe and Larry Johnson looking for one more payday.  The defense is transitioning to a 3-4, and they have some nice pieces for that defense, but it will be a work in progress.

3. Denver Broncos:
            Well, I am sure this is not what Josh McDaniels envisioned when he took over a Broncos team that was one win away from the playoffs last year.  Factor in the injuries that are already piling up and the questionable decision making by a rookie head coach and you have a recipe for disaster.

            Who to Watch For- Knowshon Moreno, Kyle Orton, when and where will Brandon Marshall end up playing?  Those are all intriguing questions, but Josh McDaniels is who I am interested in following this year.  Is he truly a Belichick disciple, or is he just a hot shot that ran off the team’s future at quarterback?  Truly will be an intriguing season in the Mile High City.

Final Outlook and Analysis- 5-11
          This is definitely a different Broncos team from past years.  They have a new head coach for the first time in 14 seasons, and he has already put his stamp, good or bad on this team.  They made some… interesting draft picks, but Moreno could be a star.  Can McDaniels turn Orton into the next great quarterback?  Will they find anyone to help Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins and D.J Williams on defense?  So many questions for a team that was so close last year.

2. Oakland Raiders:
            Call me crazy, but I think the Raiders finish the season in second place in this division.  Now, that being said, they will in no way challenge for a playoff spot, or anything like that, but I expect them to continue to move forward.  I love their running backs, I love the way they are piecing their defense together, but I do not like their quarterback situation with Russell in there, in fact I think they could play a little better with Garcia.

            Who to Watch For- JaMarcus Russell is entering his third season, and second full season as the starter.  He has to show improvements this year and continue to grow as a quarterback.  If he does that then the Raiders future might be a little brighter than even they expected. 

Final Outlook and Analysis- 5-11
            The Raiders have a nice nucleus of players, but I worry about Russell going forward.  Can he truly lead a team and be a franchise quarterback?  I haven’t seen that yet and that makes me hesitate.  Look for Darren McFadden to have a big year both running and catching, as the Raiders still lack a true number one receiver.  Zack Miller should also continue his ascent to becoming one of the better tight ends in the NFL.  Hopefully Nnamdi Asomugha can get back and healthy, as he is truly a joy to watch play CB, unless he is playing your team.

1.San Diego Chargers:
           The best player, the best quarterback, the best defense in the division.  Oh and maybe the worst coach in all of football.  Honestly, how Norv Turner continues to be employed is amazing, and is truly the only reason I would be worried about the season if I was a Chargers fan.  Sure LaDainian Tomlinson is another year older, but he is still one of the best ever at the position.  Can the Chargers overcome their biggest hindrance and make a deep playoff run?

Who to Watch For-  LT has a lot of questions to answer and a lot of doubters to prove wrong, but he is not the key to the season, as the Chargers proved they can win even if he is not the LT of old, but rather an old LT.  No, what matter is the defense.  Can the defensive unit as a whole get back to the defense that used to terrorize the league and was one of the best units in football?  Can the addition of a healthy Shawne Merriman put this team over the top?  That is what is the most important part of the season for the Chargers really is.

Final Outlook and Analysis- 11-5
      The Chargers have one of the most talented rosters top to bottom in the entire NFL.  Can they finally put it all together, and get healthy and productive seasons from LT, Rivers, Merriman and Gates all in the same season?  Can they finally shed the label of regular season wonders and make a run to the Super Bowl in the ultra competitive AFC?

Cards-Packers: What to Watch For

 

What are some of the key areas to watch tonight in the Cardinals Packers game?

1.    Welcome to the league Beanie.

Beanie Wells should see his first action of his career tonight.  While he is facing a transitioning defense, this is still the first real test of his career.

Can he show any of that explosiveness that made him such a dynamic running back in college?  Will he be able to make it through his first real game of his NFL career, or were 30 other NFL teams right for passing him up?

I am well aware of the fact that this is just a preseason game and it will have no bearing on the rest of his NFL career, but I think all Cardinals fans would agree that they need to see something from what they hope will become the Cardinals franchise running back.

2.    Keep at it Calais.

Can Calais Campbell continue to become a dominate force along the Cardinals defensive line?  He has shown ability the first two preseason games, and yes they are just preseason games, to get to the QB as well as play hard against the run.

Going against a Packers offense that has been on fire during the preseason will be a great test for not only Campbell, but the entire Cardinals first team defense that has looked very good during the first two preseason games.

3.    Fight to make the team.

There are a lot of open positions available, but one of the biggest surprises of the preseason has to be the development of LaRod Stephens-Howling as a legitimate threat on the NFL field.  He showed a lot in returning kick offs last week and this week he should have even more of an opportunity on special teams.

Who will be the fifth and sixth receiver on the roster?

Will it be Onrea Jones, who has looked good working against other team’s 3^rd and 4^th teams options?

How about Lance Long, who seems to have become everyone’s favorite Cardinal during the preseason and training camp.

Or will Early Doucet finally rise to the occasion and become the viable receiving option that he was supposed to be when he came out of LSU last year.

The battle for last two spots at the receiver position is probably the most intriguing position battle left to watch this preseason. So who is going to step up and continue to make plays in order to make the team?

Who is going to show the most in this game since they should all have the opportunity to run with the first team offense with Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston both nursing injuries?

 The third preseason game is the most important of the preseason for many reasons.  One the starters get the most playing time of any of the previous games so you get to see the first team play about a half of football.

Two, the coaches open up the playbook more and put a little more out there, not so much for opponents to see, but to see what works against the other team’s first teamers.

Lastly, it is the last gear up game, as players like Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Wilson and more will maybe get one series next week.

Staying healthy and being productive is important in today’s game, and if the Cardinals can do that, then the preseason will be a success.

 

 

Big Blow for the Big Red

Is it an injury that will impact the season, no.  Is it an injury that will impact the future, that is a resounding yes.  For Cardinals fans that don't know, rookie Cody Brown was lost for the season due to a dislocated wrist in Saturday nights second pre season game against the San Diego Chargers.

First, how do you dislocate your wrist.  It is not one solid bone, in fact it is 8 bones held together by ligaments.  For example a normal wrist looks like this .  Cody Brown's wrist probably looked something like this .  Now I am no doctor, but that does not look good.

Back to the story, Cody Brown was not expected to make an impact this year, if he did, it only would have been an added bonus.  No, Cody Brown was expected to learn the game and more importantly, learn the speed of the NFL game.

No amount of film watching or walk thrus can make up for actual game time.  That being said, this will not make a huge dent in the Cardinals plan of repeating as NFC West champions. 

The butterfly effect that it will have comes down the line.  Bert Berry is not getting any younger.  Chike Okeafor is not getting any healthier.  Neither of these guys have been healthy for a full season in I don't know how long and expecting them to stay healthy this year AND next year is asking a lot from guys that have not proven able too.

No, Brown's injury matters in the 2010 season and beyond.  The Cardinals stole another play out of the Steelers team building handbook and went after and undersized, yet athletic defensive end to convert to a 3-4 outside linebacker.

Brown was supposed to be the Cardinals version of Lamar Woodley, and he still may be.  Right now, he is just another body on the injured reserve list, and that is something the Cardinals need to avoid in order to accomplish their goals of reaching another Super Bowl.

Pre Season Game 1 Analysis

Admittedly, you cannot take a lot out of game 1 of the pre-season.  That being said, there were some things that stuck out about last night’s game, and more specifically certain questions that I asked, that I believe were partially answered.

How does the running game look?

This is one of the most important questions coming into the season.  Can the Cardinals shed that dreaded 1 dimensional tag that plagued them last regular season?  We all saw what this team is capable of with any semblance of a running game.

So last night was the first step in the right direction.  Going against one of the best defenses in the NFL, they were able to run the ball effectively. Even more importantly they did it with part of their two headed monster missing.  Using the same back for their two offensive series and getting 6 effective runs for 24 yards from Tim Hightower was a start in the right direction.

A word on Tim Hightower real quick.  I have been a fan since he arrived, especially how hard he runs with the ball, but last night was the first I have seen him this year and he looks like a man possessed.

I do not know if Hightower will ever be an effective 25 carry a game guy in this league, but I know that he will give you everything he has got for every carry he gets. He runs hard and he runs with some anger behind him, and that is a joy to watch in this sport.

Back to the effectiveness of the running game. Larod Stephens-Howling also stood out to me.  He is going to find a place in this league once he learns to make one move and then head north and south.

Making some of the Steelers 3rd and 4th teamers miss like he did shows he has the moves, it is just a matter of taking those moves and getting something positive out of them.

Next game will again have a big focus placed on the running game, as this should be the unveiling of the Cardinals new running attack, who I am still trying to find an effective nickname for.

Can Matt Leinart really be a QB in this league?

After last night’s game, I would say yes.  He has grown in his ability to read defenses and get rid of the ball.  Something his competition, Brian St. Pierre could not do.

He looked a little quicker, which was probably more a byproduct of reading through the defense with greater efficiency, but he looked like he belonged out there.

Meanwhile, Brian St. Pierre looked a little doe eyed.  He was ineffective in his reads and did not make good decisions with the ball, including taking a couple of sacks.

If Leinart continues to grow, I will feel fine in the next two years whenever he takes over the offense.

 

Where will the pass rush come from?

The last part in this three question series is still a bit of a worry to me.  Calais Campbell looks to have the pure abilities to get to the passer, but needs to learn what to do when he gets there.

Cody Brown looked good in spurts, but playing at UConn did not prepare him for the NFL.

Getting to the quarterback is still a concern in my book and until they are able to consistently without bringing more the 4 or 5 guys, they will continue to open themselves up to big plays.