Curse or No Curse?
You be the Judge.
With the NFL season 13 days away, there are plenty of questions yet to answered. One of the most intriguing ones is how long will Drew Brees’ body hold up. Brees doesn’t have an alarming injury history but his likeness gracing the cover should be alarming for Saints fans. There have been 11 NFL players on the cover of the John Madden Football game since 2001, and 9 of them have been injured the corresponding season (Daunte Culpepper and Larry Fitzgerald were not).
First on the list is Eddie George in 2001. Eddie George was arguably the toughest running back in the NFL from 1996-2000. He had over 1000 yards in each of those seasons, and never averaged less than 3.7 yards per carry. Then he decided to grace the cover of Madden 2001! George started the 2001 season with a hampered foot as he was recovering from off-season toe surgery and furthered his ailments in week 4 with a high ankle sprain. George’s toe ailments eventually ballooned into full blown turf toe and led to the only full season of his career in which he didn’t reach the 1000 yard milestone. He was out of the league 3 years later.
The next victim of the Curse of the Madden Cover was QB Daunte Culpepper. While Culpepper did not get injured in 2002, it was by far his worst statistical season as a starter. Culpepper threw 23 interceptions to only 18 touchdowns that year, and threw for his worst completion percentage (60.7%).
After Culpepper, Marshall Faulk took his shot at the cover (2003) and drew basically the same results. Prior to 2003, Faulk was considered the most versatile offensive talent in the NFL. He was a great rusher who had the hands of a receiver and could also block in the passing game. However, 2003 began his rapid decline. Before 2003, Faulk had never failed to play in at least 13 games during a NFL season. In 2003 however, he was forced to miss 5 games due to an ankle injury which snapped his streak of 7 straight 1000 yard seasons. The next season, Faulk played 14 games but failed to crack the 1000 yard barrier again and after starting only 1 game in 2005, he was essentially out of the league by 2006.
Following Faulk was the electric and polarizing Michael Vick. In 2004 Vick was a young QB known for making plays with his legs that frequently earned him a place on Sportscenter. Capitalizing on this popularity, the minds at EA Sports (developers of Madden Football) picked him to grace the cover of Madden 2004. Vick promptly broke his leg in the preseason and didn’t see game action until week 13.
In 2005, the seemingly indestructible Ray Lewis graced the cover and he also bit the dust. Lewis missed 10 games of the 2005 season and had his lowest tackle (46) total of his otherwise stellar career.
In 2006 Donovan McNabb assumed the Madden mantle and not only injured his groin early in the season, but tore his ACL 10 games into the season.
2007 is perhaps the most telling case. In 2005-06, Shaun Alexander broke the NFL single season touchdown record by rushing for 27 TDs and was the NFL’s most valuable player. That stellar performance gained him the cover of Madden 2007. Prior to the start of the season, Alexander broke his foot and missed the first six games of the season and was never the same back. He retired after the 2008-09 season.
2008 was Vince Young’s turn. Young only missed one game in 08, but threw 17 interceptions to only 9 touchdowns.
2009 was supposed to be the year the curse was broken. Brett Favre was retired so how could it affect him. Then Brett decided to change his mind (AGAIN) and became the starter for the NY Jets. While Favre did not miss a game in 09, he did injure his bicep in week 12 and struggled mightily down the stretch ultimately costing the Jets a place in the playoffs.
As previously stated, Larry Fitzgerald did not succumb to the curse in 2010 but that was a dual cover with Troy Polamanu. Polamanu injured his MCL in the first game of the season and proceeded to injure his PCL upon his return in week 10.
Brees’ doesn’t appear to believe in the curse, but 10 consecutive coincidences seem to be unlikely. All I can say…is Good Luck!
My thoughts on the current world of sports from football to basketball and everything in between.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
SportsSpeak73: NFL Preview: Best of the Rest
SportsSpeak73: NFL Preview: Best of the Rest: "The Best of the Rest Chicago Bears- For the Bears, the arrival of Julius Peppers and the return of Brian Urlacher should bolster the defen..."
NFL Preview: Best of the Rest
The Best of the Rest
Chicago Bears- For the Bears, the arrival of Julius Peppers and the return of Brian Urlacher should bolster the defense to a Top 10 caliber. They are adequate in the secondary and LB Lance Briggs is every bit the beast Urlacher is. Look for rookie FS Major Wright to be productive in the secondary. On offense, Mike Martz attempts to do what no one has done before, get Jay Cutler to stop whining. Cutler is physically, the second most gifted QB in the league behind only Peyton Manning, but he hasn’t figured out how to be a QB yet and he’s still a thrower. If Martz can reel him in, the Bears could contend for the wild card.
New Orleans Saints- Normally, I’m not big on superstition or curses but when I look at the history behind being on the cover of Madden, it’s hard to argue its legitimacy. Drew Brees’ is an elite NFL QB but I can’t help wondering if he’ll make it halfway through the season before he goes down. If he’s healthy, the Saints are a Top 5 team, but I think that’s a BIG if and they can’t win running the ball 40 times a game. On defense, look for them to once again be opportunistic and talented at taking possession for the opposing offense. It all rides on Brees’ body! If he’s healthy, they win the division but if not…they’ll be drafting high this year.
Houston Texans- It seems that every year the Texans are on the brink of being great. Last season they finally got over the hump of having a winning season and finished 9-7. Now they just have to improve on their abysmal conference record (1-5 in 2009). Look for QB Matt Schaub to force his name into the conversation of elite QBs in the league and for WR Andre Johnson to continue being considered the best WR in the league (Yes, I put him above Fitzgerald). On defense, DE Mario Williams has proven the Texan brass geniuses by outperforming Reggie Bush in every season of their careers thus far. LB Demeco Ryans is highly underrated and when Cushing returns from his suspension, they should have a stellar unit in Houston.
Washington Redskins- Well the Albert Haynesworth drama is officially over and I expect the Skins to finish second in the NFC East. New QB Donovan McNabb doesn’t have a plethora of options at receiver but WR Santana Moss is better than the options McNabb had for the majority of his career so he’ll be fine. If the O-Line holds up, I expect RB Clinton Portis will return to form in Coach Shanahan’s zone blocking system. Defensively, they Skins are excellent on the D-line and at Linebacker. If the Secondary shows up, they could have a Top 5 defense.
Arizona Cardinals- The Cardinals had one of the most perplexing off-seasons of any team in memory. The loss of QB Kurt Warner couldn’t be helped but to lose four (Karlos Dansby, Anquan Boldin, Antrell Rolle, Warner) of your best six players in one off-season is a tad ridiculous. WR Larry Fitzgerald must hope that new QB Matt Leinhart proves he can do the job or Fitzgerald may fade into the obscurity the Cards have mired in for so long. G Alan Faneca should improve the O-Line drastically allowing RB Beanie Wells to flourish. On Defense, I don’t really know what to say. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is an exceptional corner, and DT Darnell Dockett is exceptional as well but there isn’t much else there.
Denver Broncos- The Broncos are team in transition. In two years Coach Josh McDaniels has jettisoned his two best players in Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall. Who fills Marshall’s shoes from a production standpoint I don’t know. Rookie WR Demaryius Thomas isn’t polished enough to take on that responsibility. Kyle Orton did a respectable job managing the offense last season, but they have to take more chances to be truly successful. The loss of DE Elvis Dumervil for the season will hurt immensely and it’s doubtful their pass rush will recover.
Carolina Panthers- It’s hard to say that starting a new QB could actually make a team better, but when the old QB completes more passes to the opposition than his own receivers you can get away with it. QB Matt Moore will likely be looking over his shoulder all season with QB Jimmy Clausen waiting in the wings. However he does have RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart behind him to hand the ball off to so he should be safe. The O-Line is one of the best in the league and WR Steve Smith is still a stud. On defense, Coach John Fox has his work cut out for him. The loss of Julius Peppers will undoubtedly hurt I don’t see a quality replacement on their roster. The LB corps is a bright spot however as Jon Beason is the second only to Pat Willis when it comes to ranking the game’s best young LBs.
Tennessee Titans- Let’s put this to bed right now, Chris Johnson is the best RB in the NFL. PERIOD! Johnson will once again be the focal point of the Titan offense and if QB Vince Young emerges into a credible passing threat, the sky will be the limit of what Johnson accomplishes. WR Kenny Britt had a stellar rookie season and should only further his development this year. Many people wonder at the Titans defensive collapse last season, I for one am not one of them. During Albert Haynesworth tenure in Tennessee, the Titans had a losing record and were significantly more lax defensively in game Haynesworth did not play in. So it stands to reason the same will be true when he leaves town. Unfortunately for the Titans, they are now without LB Keith Bulluck who was a staple of that defense. The secondary is average at best and must regroup if the Titan have any playoff aspirations.
Philadelphia Eagles- The road to NFL purgatory is littered with backup QBs who had a few good games and got handed starting jobs (Rob Johnson, Scott Mitchell, Jake Delhomme to name a few). The Eagles are banking on that fate not befalling QB Kevin Kolb. I for one, think it will. For years Donovan McNabb performed miracle after miracle with no weapons to speak of and when the Eagles finally got weapons, they sent him to a division rival. Eagles fans may be reminded exactly why the terms “be careful what you wish for” and “the grass isn’t always greener” exist. RB appears to be a positive for the Eagles but unless Coach Andy Reid commits to the run, RB LeSean McCoy will be a disappointment. Defensively, the Eagles second year without legendary Jim Johnson at the helm may be a dismal one. The Eagles aren’t particularly good rushing the QB or defending the run so they may give up a lot of points. The Eagles draft was a perplexing one for me. A versatile safety is the linchpin of the Eagles’ defensive scheme and they traded up into a position to grab one and instead chose a DE who would’ve been available in their original position. For their sake, that DE (Brandon Graham) had better prove worth it.
Oakland Raiders- The Raiders look to be returning to respectability with the acquisition of QB Jason Campbell. Last season, two of Al Davis’ latest draft disasters had terrible seasons as expected. Darrius Heyward-Bey did not display the talent of a No. 7 pick, but that’s mostly because he doesn’t have the talent of a No. 7 pick. Heyward-Bey is the speedster every QB dreams of, with the hands every WR has nightmares about. If he can somehow turn it around and become a decent target, Campbell’s life will be easier. As for Campbell, in his sleep he’s an upgrade over disaster #2 JaMarcus Russell. While he may not be prolific, Campbell rarely makes the big mistake of say Jay Cutler. RB Darren McFadden may be the flashier choice, but Michael Bush is a sleeper who could surprise people. Defensively the Raiders should be much improved if for no other reason than they don’t have to worry about Russell throwing an INT every 22 passing attempts. That kind of worry couldn’t have been good for their psyche and the security of being competitive on offense should help them immensely.
Chicago Bears- For the Bears, the arrival of Julius Peppers and the return of Brian Urlacher should bolster the defense to a Top 10 caliber. They are adequate in the secondary and LB Lance Briggs is every bit the beast Urlacher is. Look for rookie FS Major Wright to be productive in the secondary. On offense, Mike Martz attempts to do what no one has done before, get Jay Cutler to stop whining. Cutler is physically, the second most gifted QB in the league behind only Peyton Manning, but he hasn’t figured out how to be a QB yet and he’s still a thrower. If Martz can reel him in, the Bears could contend for the wild card.
New Orleans Saints- Normally, I’m not big on superstition or curses but when I look at the history behind being on the cover of Madden, it’s hard to argue its legitimacy. Drew Brees’ is an elite NFL QB but I can’t help wondering if he’ll make it halfway through the season before he goes down. If he’s healthy, the Saints are a Top 5 team, but I think that’s a BIG if and they can’t win running the ball 40 times a game. On defense, look for them to once again be opportunistic and talented at taking possession for the opposing offense. It all rides on Brees’ body! If he’s healthy, they win the division but if not…they’ll be drafting high this year.
Houston Texans- It seems that every year the Texans are on the brink of being great. Last season they finally got over the hump of having a winning season and finished 9-7. Now they just have to improve on their abysmal conference record (1-5 in 2009). Look for QB Matt Schaub to force his name into the conversation of elite QBs in the league and for WR Andre Johnson to continue being considered the best WR in the league (Yes, I put him above Fitzgerald). On defense, DE Mario Williams has proven the Texan brass geniuses by outperforming Reggie Bush in every season of their careers thus far. LB Demeco Ryans is highly underrated and when Cushing returns from his suspension, they should have a stellar unit in Houston.
Washington Redskins- Well the Albert Haynesworth drama is officially over and I expect the Skins to finish second in the NFC East. New QB Donovan McNabb doesn’t have a plethora of options at receiver but WR Santana Moss is better than the options McNabb had for the majority of his career so he’ll be fine. If the O-Line holds up, I expect RB Clinton Portis will return to form in Coach Shanahan’s zone blocking system. Defensively, they Skins are excellent on the D-line and at Linebacker. If the Secondary shows up, they could have a Top 5 defense.
Arizona Cardinals- The Cardinals had one of the most perplexing off-seasons of any team in memory. The loss of QB Kurt Warner couldn’t be helped but to lose four (Karlos Dansby, Anquan Boldin, Antrell Rolle, Warner) of your best six players in one off-season is a tad ridiculous. WR Larry Fitzgerald must hope that new QB Matt Leinhart proves he can do the job or Fitzgerald may fade into the obscurity the Cards have mired in for so long. G Alan Faneca should improve the O-Line drastically allowing RB Beanie Wells to flourish. On Defense, I don’t really know what to say. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is an exceptional corner, and DT Darnell Dockett is exceptional as well but there isn’t much else there.
Denver Broncos- The Broncos are team in transition. In two years Coach Josh McDaniels has jettisoned his two best players in Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall. Who fills Marshall’s shoes from a production standpoint I don’t know. Rookie WR Demaryius Thomas isn’t polished enough to take on that responsibility. Kyle Orton did a respectable job managing the offense last season, but they have to take more chances to be truly successful. The loss of DE Elvis Dumervil for the season will hurt immensely and it’s doubtful their pass rush will recover.
Carolina Panthers- It’s hard to say that starting a new QB could actually make a team better, but when the old QB completes more passes to the opposition than his own receivers you can get away with it. QB Matt Moore will likely be looking over his shoulder all season with QB Jimmy Clausen waiting in the wings. However he does have RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart behind him to hand the ball off to so he should be safe. The O-Line is one of the best in the league and WR Steve Smith is still a stud. On defense, Coach John Fox has his work cut out for him. The loss of Julius Peppers will undoubtedly hurt I don’t see a quality replacement on their roster. The LB corps is a bright spot however as Jon Beason is the second only to Pat Willis when it comes to ranking the game’s best young LBs.
Tennessee Titans- Let’s put this to bed right now, Chris Johnson is the best RB in the NFL. PERIOD! Johnson will once again be the focal point of the Titan offense and if QB Vince Young emerges into a credible passing threat, the sky will be the limit of what Johnson accomplishes. WR Kenny Britt had a stellar rookie season and should only further his development this year. Many people wonder at the Titans defensive collapse last season, I for one am not one of them. During Albert Haynesworth tenure in Tennessee, the Titans had a losing record and were significantly more lax defensively in game Haynesworth did not play in. So it stands to reason the same will be true when he leaves town. Unfortunately for the Titans, they are now without LB Keith Bulluck who was a staple of that defense. The secondary is average at best and must regroup if the Titan have any playoff aspirations.
Philadelphia Eagles- The road to NFL purgatory is littered with backup QBs who had a few good games and got handed starting jobs (Rob Johnson, Scott Mitchell, Jake Delhomme to name a few). The Eagles are banking on that fate not befalling QB Kevin Kolb. I for one, think it will. For years Donovan McNabb performed miracle after miracle with no weapons to speak of and when the Eagles finally got weapons, they sent him to a division rival. Eagles fans may be reminded exactly why the terms “be careful what you wish for” and “the grass isn’t always greener” exist. RB appears to be a positive for the Eagles but unless Coach Andy Reid commits to the run, RB LeSean McCoy will be a disappointment. Defensively, the Eagles second year without legendary Jim Johnson at the helm may be a dismal one. The Eagles aren’t particularly good rushing the QB or defending the run so they may give up a lot of points. The Eagles draft was a perplexing one for me. A versatile safety is the linchpin of the Eagles’ defensive scheme and they traded up into a position to grab one and instead chose a DE who would’ve been available in their original position. For their sake, that DE (Brandon Graham) had better prove worth it.
Oakland Raiders- The Raiders look to be returning to respectability with the acquisition of QB Jason Campbell. Last season, two of Al Davis’ latest draft disasters had terrible seasons as expected. Darrius Heyward-Bey did not display the talent of a No. 7 pick, but that’s mostly because he doesn’t have the talent of a No. 7 pick. Heyward-Bey is the speedster every QB dreams of, with the hands every WR has nightmares about. If he can somehow turn it around and become a decent target, Campbell’s life will be easier. As for Campbell, in his sleep he’s an upgrade over disaster #2 JaMarcus Russell. While he may not be prolific, Campbell rarely makes the big mistake of say Jay Cutler. RB Darren McFadden may be the flashier choice, but Michael Bush is a sleeper who could surprise people. Defensively the Raiders should be much improved if for no other reason than they don’t have to worry about Russell throwing an INT every 22 passing attempts. That kind of worry couldn’t have been good for their psyche and the security of being competitive on offense should help them immensely.
Division Races Abound.
Much like the weather of late, it appears the divisional races in Major League Baseball are really heating up. Of baseball’s six divisions, five have leaders who are 2.5 games or less ahead of the second place team. This late in the season, only the AL West appears to be out of reach as the Rangers have a 7.5 game lead with 48 left to play. That division aside, this season looks to be leading up to one of the most memorable closing months in recent memory.
The X-Factor in two of these races (AL East and AL Central) will be…the BALTIMORE ORIOLES. The Orioles have long been one of the worst teams in baseball but their recent resurgence under new manager Buck Showalter has the O’s 8-1 since his insertion on Aug 3, 2010. The O’s can affect the AL Central race because they have a three game series against the White Sox which could help the Twins should this improvement in the O’s play continue. As for the AL East, the O’s have 6 games remaining against each of the three contenders for the AL East crown. As I said before, this should be one of the most memorable endings to a season in a very long time.
- The AL East is in my opinion once again the most competitive division in baseball. While the division title is thought to be a two horse race (Yankees lead the Rays by 1.5 games), the Red Sox are not out of contention. While the Sox are 5 games back, they have 6 games remaining against both the Yankees and Rays putting them in a position to control their own destiny. Couple that with 18 games against lackluster competition, (6 vs Seattle, 6 vs Baltimore 3 vs Oakland) and the Sox could possibly garner a wild card berth. On the other hand, to do that they would need to defeat the Rays and Yankees which has been a struggle for them this season as they have a record of 24-23 in the division. The Rays will likely falter in their quest to win the division but should win the wild card. They have neither the bats nor arms necessary to catch the Yankees, but should be able to hold off the Red Sox as they have a record of 13-5 against them this season. However, if they Rays remain only 1.5 games behind the Yankees heading into October, the chances of them stealing the division lead increase significantly. While the Yankees will be battling perennial rival Boston in Boston the final weekend of the season, the Rays will be facing the abysmal Royals at home which is definitely a matchup in the Rays favor. Ultimately however, I expect the Yankees to be the division champs. CC Sabathia (14-5) is yet again performing at a high level late in the season and has a 3.34 ERA over his last 5 starts. Andy Pettite (11-2) is still old reliable was the Yankees 2nd best pitcher (2.88 ERA) until going on the DL July 19 and should be back in the rotation by the start of September. The Yankees also have a plethora of talented hitters with no perceptible weak spot in their lineup. As such, they should be able to wrap up the division and head into the ALDS with confidence.
- The AL Central may not have as many teams in contention as the AL East, but its divisional race is just as intense. Currently, the division lead is held by both the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins. Like years past, the final month of the season will be played with the utmost urgency and the team who loses will likely miss the playoffs. Picking a winner in this division is more complex as no team is clearly more talented than the other. The Twins play exceptional defense and have the highest fielding percentage in baseball, however the White Sox are more than adequate and are ranked 10th in fielding efficiency. The team’s batting averages are an exact mirror of the fielding stats with the Twins leading baseball with at .281 and the White Sox 10th at .262. The Twins do seem to outscore the White Sox however as they have 565 runs to the Sox’s 524. The White Sox however put the ball into play more than the Twins and have only struck out 597 times to the Twins 660. The White Sox also steal more bases (107) than the Twins (44), as well as hit more homers (131-105 respectively). On the mound, the teams are nearly identical as the Sox sport a 3.87 ERA and the Twins a 3.95. Who wins this division will likely come down to who they play the remainder of the season. If it indeed comes down to quality of competition, look for the twins to win this slugfest. The of the Twins 48 remaining games, 21 are against inferior opponents such as the Royals, Mariners, and Athletics while the White Sox have 18 against the equally inferior Royals, Indians and Orioles. That’s a three more games the Twins should win with no question so I give the edge to them.
- In the NL West, numerically the Giants still have a shot at catching the Padres as they are only 2.5 games back. However, from watching the teams play this season I am fairly confident the Padres will walk right into the playoffs. On the mound, the Padres sport two double digit win hurlers (Garland & Latos) while the Giants only have one (Lincecum). The Padres also convert a slightly higher percentage of their save opportunities (76%) than the Giants (74%). The teams fielding percentages are nearly identical (Padres .989, Giants .990) so defensively there is no gap, but at the plate the Giants are simply better. They outrank the Padres in runs, homers, batting average, and RBI’s. Unfortunately for them, baseball in the NL tends to be about small ball and the Padres dwarf the Giants when it comes to stolen bases with 94 to the Giants 45. The Giants have a shot, but I think the Padres will carry this one. It just seems to be their year and I’m sure they fans there as well as 1B Adrian Gonzalez are saying it’s about time.
- The NL Central is another close one. The Cardinals of St. Louis lead the Cincinnati Reds by only one game. However, that lead is in place because the Cards recently swept the Reds in a three game series. Despite trailing the Reds in the standings for much of the season, the Cards have actually owned the Reds this season beating them 10 times in 15 games. With six games remaining against the most pedestrian team in baseball (Pittsburgh Pirates) and two Cy Young caliber starting pitchers (Wainwright & Carpenter) don’t look for the Cardinals to relinquish this lead anytime soon.
- The race I have the most personal interest in is the NL East. As sports fanatics, we often admire and respect individuals who are associated with our favorite ball clubs and are saddened when those figures leave the game. Such are my feelings toward Braves skipper Bobby Cox. I’ve been a Braves fan since the young guns era of Smoltz, Glavine, and Avery and this year’s return to prominence has excited me not only because my team is once again a quality club, but because it allows Mr. Cox to go out in the ever elusive blaze of glory. Trying to derail that possibility is the absolutely loaded Philadelphia Phillies. With the recent addition of Roy Oswalt, the Phillies are not only better than the Braves at the plate, but on the mound. In a three game series, opposing hitters now have to face Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels and that’s a scary thought. The Phillies have been chipping away at the Braves lead since early June but have not been able to close within two games as of yet. Look for the three game series starting September 20 in Philly to decide this one. The teams also close the season out in a three game series in October, though I think the race will be decided by that point.
The X-Factor in two of these races (AL East and AL Central) will be…the BALTIMORE ORIOLES. The Orioles have long been one of the worst teams in baseball but their recent resurgence under new manager Buck Showalter has the O’s 8-1 since his insertion on Aug 3, 2010. The O’s can affect the AL Central race because they have a three game series against the White Sox which could help the Twins should this improvement in the O’s play continue. As for the AL East, the O’s have 6 games remaining against each of the three contenders for the AL East crown. As I said before, this should be one of the most memorable endings to a season in a very long time.
Monday, August 09, 2010
NFL Preview: Middle of the Pack
Middle Of the Pack
11) San Francisco 49ers- Coach Mike Singletary has seemingly transformed the 49ers into a hard nosed, smash mouth football team in the mold of the Bears teams he played on in the 80’s. With a more than effective running game, developing passing game, and blistering defense, the 49ers have the make up of a playoff team. Running back Frank Gore is, in my opinion, the most underrated backs in the league. Gorehas finished each of the past four seasons with more than 1,000 yards and rushed for 10 TDs last season. He has also shown he is a complete back by averaging 52 receptions since becoming the 49ers feature back in 2006. Throwing passes to Gore this year will be resurrected QB Alex Smith. Smith was largely considered a bust after losing his starting job to Shaun Hill two seasons ago, but last season he seemed to turn a corner in his development. Smith posted career bests in TDs (18), passer rating (81.5), and completion percentage (60.5%). If Smith’s improvement continues, look for TE Vernon Davis and second year WR Micheal Crabtree to be the primary benefactors. With 48 receptions last year, Crabtree had a fairly successful rookie season. Look for his production to increase in 2010 due to the fact that he’ll have 11 games and this years training camp under his belt come week 1. As for Davis, 2009 appeared to be validate the praise heaped on him coming out of college. With 78 catches and 13 TDs, Davis was one of the NFL’s most prolific TEs last season. If Smith takes another step in his development, look for those numbers to increase as well.
On defense, the 49ers possess the personality of their coach. They’re a hard hitting, in your face, no nonsense unit that takes pride in shutting the other team down. The leader of the unit and the player who most resembles Singletary is Pat Willis. Willis is an unadulterated monster who does nothing but make plays. Willis has 467 tackles, 6 forced fumbles, and 23 pass deflections in 3 seasons which makes him one of the most productive ILBs in the league. While Willis is considered the only stud on the 49ers defense, they have a plethora of quality players. While OLB Manny Lawson may not be the caliber of his NC State teammate Mario Williams, he did tally 6.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles last season. The 49ers are also lucky to have the services of DE Justin Smith. Smith is a persistent rusher who has averaged more than 6 sacks per season over his career. Newcomer Taylor Mays adds another intimidator to the defense, but he must become a better coverage safety to be an efficient player in the league.
12) Miami Dolphins- The Dolphins are quite possibly the most interesting team heading into this season. Front office guru Bill Parcells appears to have turned around yet another NFL franchise and which should only get better this season. At times, QB Chad Henne appeared to achieve the clarity need to be a successful NFL QB. Other times however, he struggled mightily. Look for the successes to far outweigh the struggles this season now that he’ll have another year of experience reading NFL defenses under his belt. Another reason Henne may take a significant leap in his development this season is the arrival of elite receiver Brandon Marshall. While Marshall’s humility may be in question at times, his talent never has been. Marshall has grabbed more than 100 catches in every season following his rookie one in 2006, and accounted for at least 6 TDs in every season in the same span. Miami has lacked a receive threat of this caliber since seemingly forever, so Marshall’s presence will be more than welcome. The Dolphins’ season ultimately hinges on the health of RB Ronnie Brown. When healthy, Brown is arguably one of the top 5 backs in the league and his presence will keep defenses honest enough for Marshal to flourish on the outside.
For Miami to have a successful season, their defense must develop into a more efficient unit. Last season the Dolphins were ranked 22nd in total defense as teams decimated them both on the ground (114.7 ypg) and in the air (234.6 ypg). The arrival of impressive LB Karlos Dansby should shore up the run defense and the maturation of young CBs Sean Smith and Vontae Davis should help improve the passing defense. Dansby has been a run stopper for the better part of a decade and is equally adept at roaming free and shedding blockers which will prove useful in the Dolphins’ 3-4 alignment. Davis and Smith should benefit from Marshall’s presence in practice as it will allow them to gain a wealth of experience defending top flight receivers. The Dolphins are without question a team on the rise. The only problem is that they play the Jets (also on the rise) and Patriots (steadily stellar) in divisional play which could temper their success in terms of their record.
13) Atlanta Falcons- While the Falcons finished last season with a record of 9-7, they were undoubtedly disappointed that they did not reach the playoffs for a second consecutive season. QB Matt Ryan threw for 22 TDs in 2009 as opposed to 16 in 2008 which would lead one to think that he was better in 2009 than in 2008. However, that stat is misleading as Ryan actually took a step back in his sophomore season. Ryan amassed 524 fewer yards in 2009 and his passer rating dropped from 87.7 (2008) to 80.9 (2009). Ryan must return to form or improve upon it for the Falcons to win the division this season. Ryan’s struggles in 2009 can be partially attributed to the struggles of RB Micheal Turner. While the Falcons lost 7 games last year, Turner was only active for 3 of them. In those games, Turner only surpassed the century mark once (151 yds against New Orleans). In the other two, Turner ran for 106 yards TOTAL (53 ypg) which is unacceptable for a premier running back. Turner also carried the ball 198 fewer times in 200(178 carries) than 2008 (376 carries) due to injury and fatigue problems. However, reports indicate that Turner has returned to his 2008 playing weight which should alleviate some of the issues he encountered last season.
The Falcons defense was nothing short of abysmal in 2009. They were the 21st ranked defense and were particularly impotent in regards to their passing defense as they finished the season at No. 28 (241 ypg). Former pro bowler John Abraham must improve drastically from the 5.5 sacks he posted in 2009. While 5.5 may be an adequate number for many players, they are deplorable for a player who is known as a pass rush specialist. Before last season, Abraham had never failed to post at least triple digit sacks in any season in which he played at least 13 games so 5.5 sacks in 15 starts isn’t going to cut it. MLB Curtis Lofton was one of the few bright spots for the Falcon defense last year. He amassed 133 tackles with 105 of those being solo stops.
14) New York Giants- The New York Giants were arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL last season. Many projected them to win their division and possibly even represent the NFC in the Super Bowl before a rash of injuries to the defense and horrid running game on offense derailed those ambitions. The injuries on the defensive side of the ball have healed for the most part. Safety Kenny Phillips will return this year after suffering a serious knee injury in 2009 which should bolster the Giants’ 15th ranked pass defense. Also imperative to that effort will the introduction of Antrell Rolle to the Giants’ defense. Rolle, is one of the better safeties and leagues and has a knack for making big plays which will undoubtedly be a welcome sight to Coach Coughlin. Unfortunately for the Giants and football in general, former LB Antonio Pierce will not be making a return to the gridiron. Pierce’s neck injury has led to his retirement and he will be sorely missed my teammates and fans alike.
While the Giants’ offense finished the season ranked No. 8 in the league last year, they didn’t match the identity the Giants like to project. Coach Coughlin would like for his troops to be a power football team driven by a strong running game and last year that was simply not the case. While QB Eli Manning had his best statistical season to date, that can be mostly attributed to the Giants’ inability to run the football as well as the fact that they frequently played from behind forcing Manning to throw more than usual. The Giants averaged 114 ypg on the ground which was 43 ypg worse than their 2008 average. If RB Brandon Jacobs doesn’t return to the form he showed in 2008 the Giants will likely struggle yet again. However, a more open offense may not be as terrible as the Giants think due to the young receivers they have stockpiled. WR Steve Smith is quickly becoming one of the better possession receivers in the league and WR Hakeem Nicks had a more than respectable rookie season (47 receptions, 6 TDs).
Sorry about the delay but I've been having some computer issues as well as being busy with work. I should be able to get the rest of this list knocked out this week though. Thanks for reading!!!
11) San Francisco 49ers- Coach Mike Singletary has seemingly transformed the 49ers into a hard nosed, smash mouth football team in the mold of the Bears teams he played on in the 80’s. With a more than effective running game, developing passing game, and blistering defense, the 49ers have the make up of a playoff team. Running back Frank Gore is, in my opinion, the most underrated backs in the league. Gorehas finished each of the past four seasons with more than 1,000 yards and rushed for 10 TDs last season. He has also shown he is a complete back by averaging 52 receptions since becoming the 49ers feature back in 2006. Throwing passes to Gore this year will be resurrected QB Alex Smith. Smith was largely considered a bust after losing his starting job to Shaun Hill two seasons ago, but last season he seemed to turn a corner in his development. Smith posted career bests in TDs (18), passer rating (81.5), and completion percentage (60.5%). If Smith’s improvement continues, look for TE Vernon Davis and second year WR Micheal Crabtree to be the primary benefactors. With 48 receptions last year, Crabtree had a fairly successful rookie season. Look for his production to increase in 2010 due to the fact that he’ll have 11 games and this years training camp under his belt come week 1. As for Davis, 2009 appeared to be validate the praise heaped on him coming out of college. With 78 catches and 13 TDs, Davis was one of the NFL’s most prolific TEs last season. If Smith takes another step in his development, look for those numbers to increase as well.
On defense, the 49ers possess the personality of their coach. They’re a hard hitting, in your face, no nonsense unit that takes pride in shutting the other team down. The leader of the unit and the player who most resembles Singletary is Pat Willis. Willis is an unadulterated monster who does nothing but make plays. Willis has 467 tackles, 6 forced fumbles, and 23 pass deflections in 3 seasons which makes him one of the most productive ILBs in the league. While Willis is considered the only stud on the 49ers defense, they have a plethora of quality players. While OLB Manny Lawson may not be the caliber of his NC State teammate Mario Williams, he did tally 6.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles last season. The 49ers are also lucky to have the services of DE Justin Smith. Smith is a persistent rusher who has averaged more than 6 sacks per season over his career. Newcomer Taylor Mays adds another intimidator to the defense, but he must become a better coverage safety to be an efficient player in the league.
12) Miami Dolphins- The Dolphins are quite possibly the most interesting team heading into this season. Front office guru Bill Parcells appears to have turned around yet another NFL franchise and which should only get better this season. At times, QB Chad Henne appeared to achieve the clarity need to be a successful NFL QB. Other times however, he struggled mightily. Look for the successes to far outweigh the struggles this season now that he’ll have another year of experience reading NFL defenses under his belt. Another reason Henne may take a significant leap in his development this season is the arrival of elite receiver Brandon Marshall. While Marshall’s humility may be in question at times, his talent never has been. Marshall has grabbed more than 100 catches in every season following his rookie one in 2006, and accounted for at least 6 TDs in every season in the same span. Miami has lacked a receive threat of this caliber since seemingly forever, so Marshall’s presence will be more than welcome. The Dolphins’ season ultimately hinges on the health of RB Ronnie Brown. When healthy, Brown is arguably one of the top 5 backs in the league and his presence will keep defenses honest enough for Marshal to flourish on the outside.
For Miami to have a successful season, their defense must develop into a more efficient unit. Last season the Dolphins were ranked 22nd in total defense as teams decimated them both on the ground (114.7 ypg) and in the air (234.6 ypg). The arrival of impressive LB Karlos Dansby should shore up the run defense and the maturation of young CBs Sean Smith and Vontae Davis should help improve the passing defense. Dansby has been a run stopper for the better part of a decade and is equally adept at roaming free and shedding blockers which will prove useful in the Dolphins’ 3-4 alignment. Davis and Smith should benefit from Marshall’s presence in practice as it will allow them to gain a wealth of experience defending top flight receivers. The Dolphins are without question a team on the rise. The only problem is that they play the Jets (also on the rise) and Patriots (steadily stellar) in divisional play which could temper their success in terms of their record.
13) Atlanta Falcons- While the Falcons finished last season with a record of 9-7, they were undoubtedly disappointed that they did not reach the playoffs for a second consecutive season. QB Matt Ryan threw for 22 TDs in 2009 as opposed to 16 in 2008 which would lead one to think that he was better in 2009 than in 2008. However, that stat is misleading as Ryan actually took a step back in his sophomore season. Ryan amassed 524 fewer yards in 2009 and his passer rating dropped from 87.7 (2008) to 80.9 (2009). Ryan must return to form or improve upon it for the Falcons to win the division this season. Ryan’s struggles in 2009 can be partially attributed to the struggles of RB Micheal Turner. While the Falcons lost 7 games last year, Turner was only active for 3 of them. In those games, Turner only surpassed the century mark once (151 yds against New Orleans). In the other two, Turner ran for 106 yards TOTAL (53 ypg) which is unacceptable for a premier running back. Turner also carried the ball 198 fewer times in 200(178 carries) than 2008 (376 carries) due to injury and fatigue problems. However, reports indicate that Turner has returned to his 2008 playing weight which should alleviate some of the issues he encountered last season.
The Falcons defense was nothing short of abysmal in 2009. They were the 21st ranked defense and were particularly impotent in regards to their passing defense as they finished the season at No. 28 (241 ypg). Former pro bowler John Abraham must improve drastically from the 5.5 sacks he posted in 2009. While 5.5 may be an adequate number for many players, they are deplorable for a player who is known as a pass rush specialist. Before last season, Abraham had never failed to post at least triple digit sacks in any season in which he played at least 13 games so 5.5 sacks in 15 starts isn’t going to cut it. MLB Curtis Lofton was one of the few bright spots for the Falcon defense last year. He amassed 133 tackles with 105 of those being solo stops.
14) New York Giants- The New York Giants were arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL last season. Many projected them to win their division and possibly even represent the NFC in the Super Bowl before a rash of injuries to the defense and horrid running game on offense derailed those ambitions. The injuries on the defensive side of the ball have healed for the most part. Safety Kenny Phillips will return this year after suffering a serious knee injury in 2009 which should bolster the Giants’ 15th ranked pass defense. Also imperative to that effort will the introduction of Antrell Rolle to the Giants’ defense. Rolle, is one of the better safeties and leagues and has a knack for making big plays which will undoubtedly be a welcome sight to Coach Coughlin. Unfortunately for the Giants and football in general, former LB Antonio Pierce will not be making a return to the gridiron. Pierce’s neck injury has led to his retirement and he will be sorely missed my teammates and fans alike.
While the Giants’ offense finished the season ranked No. 8 in the league last year, they didn’t match the identity the Giants like to project. Coach Coughlin would like for his troops to be a power football team driven by a strong running game and last year that was simply not the case. While QB Eli Manning had his best statistical season to date, that can be mostly attributed to the Giants’ inability to run the football as well as the fact that they frequently played from behind forcing Manning to throw more than usual. The Giants averaged 114 ypg on the ground which was 43 ypg worse than their 2008 average. If RB Brandon Jacobs doesn’t return to the form he showed in 2008 the Giants will likely struggle yet again. However, a more open offense may not be as terrible as the Giants think due to the young receivers they have stockpiled. WR Steve Smith is quickly becoming one of the better possession receivers in the league and WR Hakeem Nicks had a more than respectable rookie season (47 receptions, 6 TDs).
Sorry about the delay but I've been having some computer issues as well as being busy with work. I should be able to get the rest of this list knocked out this week though. Thanks for reading!!!
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