NFL Combine- Part 3

So, I decided to condense the defense into one day. I know it isn't fair, but the storylines on D aren't as compelling as the deep WR core or the battle for who will be the 3rd and 4th QB taken. Here are my thoughts from the defensive line, linebackers, and secondary.

- Every combine there is one guy who unexpectadely puts on one hell of a show, launches himself into the first round, and somehow ends up on the Oakland Raiders. This year's candidate? Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis. He is 6'4, 345 lbs... And he ran a sub-5 second 40 yard dash. He was insane. He pressed 225 lbs 44 times. He has a 30 inch vertical jump. When your performance across the board is better than Haloti Ngata's, and you are being compared to him favorably, you win the Combine.

- I have strong rooting interests in two players at defensive end in this year's draft. The first is Chandler Jones from Syracuse. His two older brothers are Arthur Jones of the Ravens (and also of Syracuse), and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones. He is amazingly athletic, has a great motor, and could be comparable to Cuse alum and All-Pro Dwight Freeney. The other is UVA DE and former Gonzaga College High School player Cam Johnson. He put up very similar numbers to Jones at the Combine, and we Eagles always stick together. Jones is projected to go late-1st to early 2nd, and Cam Johnson shouldn't fall far behind.

- Vontaze Burfict might win the All-Name Award, but he certainly did not win the Combine. Instead, he ran very poorly, had slow and underachieving cone drills, and did nothing to ease concerns that his ability can outweigh his character and off the field issues. Dare we say it, but if he doesn't ace his pro day, his draft may be anything but burfict... See what I did there? You're welcome.

- Morris Claiborne of LSU has long been considered the #1 DB in the draft. He did nothing to make people re-evaluate him, as his solid numbers should have solidified a top 10 pick.



Now we head into the world of Pro Days. Rarely does anyone hurt his chances here, but certainly someone can vault up the boards if he puts up insane numbers. I'll try to keep you posted. Less than 2 months to draft day!

NFL Combine Thoughts- Part 2

Part 2 of the Combine review-

- Stephen Hill, the WR from Georgia Tech, is this year's Julio Jones, only without the resume. The Yellowjackets are an option team, so the tape on his receiving ability is pretty short. Still, at 6'4, running a 4.36 40-yard dash, and with a vert of 39.5, plus very solid receiving drills may have made himself a first round pick.

- Michael Floyd is the real deal. He is extremely impressive, and will be a solid #1 receiver in this league.

- Justin Blackmon did nothing to hurt his stock, but he just wasn't as impressive because he didn't do all of the workouts.

- LaMicheal James is fast. Like, really fast. And he can catch. We will be a good change of pace back, maybe like Darren Sproles, who could help a team with a bigger main RB.

- There are two backs that I would take if I was an NFL GM looking for a true every down back a la Adrian Peterson or Maurice Jones-Drew. Shockingly, neither of those men are named Trent Richardson. They are Isaiah Pead from Cincinnati and Doug Martin of Boise State. Pead carried the Bearcats his entire career, and can handle a ton of carries. Martin is strong, fast, can catch, and (most importantly) is the best pass protecting RB available in the draft. I'd take Martin first. Fell in love with him yesterday. Expect big things.

- Oh the quarterbacks. They were fun to watch. Two men didn't throw, but were still amazingly impressive. Andrew Luck put up all of the same combine numbers as Cam Newton, and had the pedigree and football knowledge that the scouts already love to go along with it. Robert Griffin III won the Combine. He measured in at 6'2 3/8" tall. He put up the fastest QB 40-time since 2006, at 4.41 seconds. He had a great high and broad jump. He blew me away in his interviews with Rich Eisen and the boys at NFL Network. I would love to have him as my QB. If I am the Rams, I am trading Sam Bradford to get RG3. You could still get two first rounders for Sam Bradford. It is going to take a lot more now for RG3. (Note: SportsCenter just announced the Rams WILL NOT trade Bradford, and will move the #2 pick. So, pony up the picks, boys).

- Here is how much I love RG3: I hope he doesn't come to the Redskins. I would love it if he were the QB here in DC. But I have watched the Skins my entire life. I know how, in the past 20 years, they have done nothing. They have ruined the careers of solid young players who thrive elsewhere. They have constant upheaval and controversy. There is no doubt in my mind that Kyle Shanahan would destroy this kid's career. So, Cleveland or Miami, make your move and save RG3 from the Snyder Curse.

- Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill didn't participate in the workouts, so no news on him. Arizona State QB Brock Osweiler (all 6'8 of him) didn't participate either. Tannehill is the presumptive 3rd QB in the class, and Osweiler has some good buzz. But here are the guys that helped their stock in my eyes: Kirk Cousins of Michigan State carried himself well, had good workout numbers, and could make every throw. LSU QB Jordan Jefferson displayed a huge arm to go along with his athleticism that could guarantee him at least a spot on a 52-man roster. San Diego State QB Ryan Lindley measured in as a prototype starter at 6'4, 230 lb, and threw extremely well. He is still a developmental talent, but he could be the diamond in the ruff of this draft.

- Which QBs hurt themselves? Nick Foles of Arizona. He missed a lot of throws. He ran slow. He could have been passed by at least Cousins. He is still a mid-round pick, but we could be seeing him in the 4th instead of the 2nd round now.

- There are three big wild card QBs in the draft this year. Boise State's Kellen Moore may be the smartest QB in the draft when it comes to knowing how to play his position. But at 6'0 and with an arm that is more like Chad Pennington's than Cam Newton's, he will have to show he can make that deep out pass effectively if he wants to have an impact in the NFL. Darron Thomas of Oregon through well, measured well, and comes from a high powered offense at Oregon. He needs to prove he isn't a system QB, and fine tune his mechanics for a quicker release. Russell Wilson of Wisconsin is a brilliant talent. He has the arm, the athleticism and the leadership. The problem is that he is 5'11. There is only one starting QB in the NFL that is 6'0 or below, and that is Michael Vick. If Wilson can prove he can throw out of the pocket (like 6'1 Drew Brees) and take the hits an NFL QB takes without getting hurt (unlike Vick), then he is a great addition to any team.


Coming tomorrow- the defensive lineman and linebackers.

NFL Combine Thoughts- Part 1

Here is my first installment of my impressions from the NFL Scouting Combine. Just some musings about the offensive line and tight end positions.

- Matt Kalil is far and away the best offensive lineman. A sub-5.00 40 yard dash, 30 reps on the 225 press. I don't know why people are trying to trade down when they have a chance to draft him. If he magically fell to the Redskins, who can't get Griffin, I want Kalil more than anyone else. He makes sense for the Rams and Vikings too. The Bills might be wise to trade up for him, though there is talent elsewhere.

- This OL draft class is very deep, and full of solid, athletic players. I could see Kalil, Riley Reiff and Johnathan Martin all being All-Pros for the next 10 years. After that, you have great future starters across the line. I was really impressed with how well they all moved.

- Doesn't it seem a bit strange that the offensive linemen have to run the 40? When was the last time any O-lineman ran 40 yards on one play?

- The tight ends were... alright. I was disappointed because I didn't get to see my Syracuse boy Nick Provo, who was out due to injury. He should be fine for Cuse's pro day on March 8th. He is not the best blocker, but was the best and most reliable receiver on the Orange last year. His best game came against West Virginia. He's not the biggest guy, but as a late round pick he could be productive.

- James Hanna from Oklahoma might rise up the boards thanks to his workout. Put up solid numbers in all the drills.

That's it for right now.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

So, baseball is almost back. Nationals Spring Training officially started today, not just pitchers and catchers. There is news from all around baseball that keeps flowing in. Here are some thoughts for this b-e-a-utiful day here in the Nation's Capital.

- The biggest storyline for my Nats heading into camp may be getting resolved soon. Bill Ladson of MLB.com is saying that the team and Gold Glove face of the franchise third baseman Ryan Zimmerman are close to a deal on an extension. I, obviously, would love this. He is the greatest player in Nationals history (I know, since 2005 isn't much of a sample size, but run with it), the fan favorite, the best defensive 3B in the game, and a career .288 hitter who is only 27. Even if the Nats decide that he should move to first in a few years to let Anthony Rendon play third, he is still needed in the franchise. Make it happen, Rizzo, and expect an update when it does happen.

- Ryan Braun won his appeal and will not be suspended for steroids. I am shocked. I am curious to know how this came about, because it is the first time any player has won an appeal for performance-enhancing drugs. The Brewers are pleased because their franchise player and MVP is back. The powers that be in MLB have already come out decrying the decision. It will be interesting to see how his numbers are for the next few seasons. If there is a dropoff, you have to assume the juice helped him.

- No one wants Roy Oswalt. Look, I know I didn't want him on the Nats. But there are plenty of teams with awful, and I mean awful, pitching staffs that could use him. Example 1- The Baltimore Orioles. I bet Roy wouldn't want to go play for Peter Angelos' joke of a franchise, but they have NO PITCHING. None at all. If Roy just wants to play, not necessarily for a contender, then he can head to Charm City.

- The Angels managed to upset Albert Pujols already. Make him happy, he is your franchise.

- The A's are trying to field a team entirely of outfielders! What is more likely: Manny makes an impact this summer or Brad Pitt wins the Oscar for playing Billy Beane?

- What will be the more interesting Manager/Team storyline this season- Bobby V in Boston or Ozzie in Miami?

- I can't stand Jim Bowden working for ESPN.com. He is an idiot.

- Tony Gwynn had cancer surgery again. Hope he gets well soon.


That's it for now. Almost Opening Day!

Is Randy Moss Done?

One of the best wide receivers of the past 15 years may be making a comeback. Well, he is at least trying to make a comeback. Now everyone is arguing over whether or not he is done, and should a team take a chance on him. Could a 35 year old receiver, who no longer runs a 4.3 like he used to, really contribute to a NFL franchise?

I think he could, and here is why.





Randy Moss sounds like he is committed to the game again. He seems adamant that he would come back and be a good guy, keep his mouth shut, and play hard all the time. As we saw in New England, when he puts his mind to something, he is amazing at it. So, perhaps foolishly, lets say he will stay focused all year. That sounds good to me if I am a QB on a team with sub-par receivers.

That's the next point. There are a ton of teams with awful wideouts. The Redskins, Panthers, 49ers, Bears, Vikings, Seahawks, Rams, Browns, Broncos and Jags could all list wide receiver as one of their Top 3 needs. I think it is more than likely one of those teams says, "You know... Randy Moss for the veteran minimum might look pretty nice". I would eliminate the Vikings from that list, since he has been there twice now.

Third? Randy Moss is 6'4 with some of the best hands in NFL history. Even if he has lost a step, he still runs at least a 4.5 40. That makes offensive coordinators salivate. If he was able to adapt his game to a more possession receiver role, running crisp routes and moving the chains by exploiting his size over his speed, then he could fit on any team.

So, what is the ideal situation for Moss? Well, if there is a team with a solid QB who is firmly entrenched as the starter, a viable deep threat to take pressure and coverage off of Randy, then he can thrive. Where is that? Carolina. You think Cam Newton wouldn't want to throw to Moss? Steve Smith acts as the #1 and deep threat, and they have solid tight ends and Brandon LaFell as weapons too.

Yes, the Panthers are the perfect team for Randy Moss, and should take a chance on him for a season.

What is the worst thing that can happen?

The Redskins Draft- With Peyton Manning

The rumors have been growing, the demand is there, and it almost seems like an inevitable fit: Peyton Manning to the Redskins. Bring him in to provide some kind of credibility and stability to the Redskins roster, assuming he is even 80% of the QB he was before this lost season. So, how would the Skins entire draft focus change if #18 suits up in burgundy and gold next year? That is what I am interested in. Can this organization effectively build through the draft to give Peyton the weapons he needs to become an instant contender? Can the defense get deeper and more talented? This is what I would do, if I were in charge of the Redskins. This assumes no trading up or down, simply drafting in slot.

Round 1: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa. If he is there, he is the pick. Why? Because the wideout class is deep. Justin Blackmon, while good, isn't worth a #6 pick. Great WRs can be found in later rounds. Riley Reiff is big, nasty, and exactly what the Skins need on that offensive line. He can play either left or right tackle, and would protect Peyton better than anyone on the line now, including Trent Williams.

Round 2: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers. The WR class is deep, and this is where the Redskins need to address it. Picking this early in the 2nd Round, they could find a talented receiver that has fallen out of the first round, like Michael Floyd or Alshon Jeffery. Odds are they will be gone, and Sanu is projected to around this spot. He'd be a good fit, and at 6'2 would give the Skins another tall receiver to balance out the diminutive Santana Moss.

Round 3: Nick Foles, QB, Arizona. Peyton is in place, but an heir needs to be named. Foles has good size, at 6'5 240. He put up good numbers at Arizona, and should be able to learn from Manning for a few years before taking the reigns. A QB like Brock Osweiler from Arizona State might be a good pick here also, or a CB. Rumor has it the Skins spent a lot of time with Russell Wilson of Wisconsin at the Senior Bowl, so he could be the pick as well.

Round 4: Two picks! The biggest needs? A corner and a middle linebacker. At this point in the draft, you don't know many of the names. I know some, but not enough to make an accurate guess. The defense needs depth everywhere, but CB/S and an heir to London Fletcher are the most pressing defensive needs.

Round 5: A tight end. Fred Davis might get suspended again, and Chris Cooley may not be healthy.

Round 6: More depth along a line, either offensive or defensive.

Round 7: A kicker. Graham Gano is not the answer.


All of this of course depends on the Skins getting Peyton Manning. It could work for Matt Flynn also. If they trade up for RG3? Well, that is a different story...

The Day After: Super Bowl XLVI Thoughts

The biggest game of the year is all over. The Giants are World Champions. Eli is in Disney World. Here are some thoughts on the game and on the aftermath (discussions of legacies, Hall of Fame, and of course Giselle).

- First off, congrats to the Giants. While they might not have been the best team all year, they are the best team at the end. That is all anyone will remember, and that is all that matters.



- I thought the refs did a pretty good job. They missed some pass interference calls, but they got the big one right. That was intentional grounding. The ball was still in the air over the 35, and the closest Patriot was on the sideline. The Giants knew it right away, and the refs did their job, talked about it, and got the call right. Nice job, Zebras.

- Who is the goat of the game? Sadly, I think it has to be Wes Welker. He knew it too. In the post game, he was holding back tears. That pass with 4 minutes left would have probably taken the clock down the the two minute warning, and put the Pats in field goal range. While it wasn't the best throw, it still hit his hands, and he always catches those. The disappointment on the sidelines, from the entire defensive line as seen on worldwide TV, won't soon be forgotten.

- To build on that, there were a bunch of drops throughout the game for the Patriots. Aaron Hernandez and Deion Branch came up small in the biggest moments of the game. After the game, some Giants fans were heckling Mrs. Tom Brady, Giselle Bundchen. She defending him, saying (to paraphrase) that it is impossible for him to throw the ball and catch the ball, and that there were too many drops. It's true. QBs can't catch the balls they throw down the field. That isn't their job. Only one man in history can, and he was Perfect.




- Giselle is also right about the drops. The wideouts and tight ends are paid to catch the ball. They simply didn't down the stretch. I am sure Gronkowski being hurt didn't help the team's game plan at all, but someone needed to step up and make a play at the end. It didn't happen.

- I know that some people are going to yell about Giselle calling people out. But she said it to her friends and it was caught on camera by some random person. But she is right, and is right to say what she did. Her husband just lost the biggest game of the year. Every man should be so lucky to have a woman who defends his honor and boosts his pride like Giselle did for Tom last night. So, here's to you Giselle.




The aftermath questions revolve around Eli vs Brady, Eli vs Peyton, and the Hall of Fame candidacy of Eli and Tom Coughlin. Here are my thoughts on those:

- Let me start with the HoF question. The answer is yes. Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin should both be in the Hall of Fame now. It is not easy to win a Super Bowl. They now have two together. Coughlin also has the added resume of making the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars a competitve playoff team, and turning Mark Brunell into a Pro Bowler. We forget that for some reason. He might not be first ballot, but within the first 3 or 4, he deserves to be in. Another Orangeman in the Hall!

- Eli is also worthy. We can assume that, barring career ending injury, he will play at least 5 more seasons at a fairly high level. He has two Super Bowls and two SB MVPs. He is the best QB to play for a New York team. Forget about Broadway Joe. Empire Eli is the New York QB.

- Now, I am not ready to say that Eli Manning is a better QB, career-wise, than Tom Brady. Not yet, at least. Tom still has 3 rings, and 5 Super Bowl appearances. He has a regular season MVP and two SB MVPs. So the edge still goes to Tom. In head to head match-ups? Eli owns him. OWNS. You half expect Brady to pull a Pedro Martinez. "I just have to tip my hat, and call Eli my daddy."

- The question we will hear the most over the next few days is that of Manning vs Manning. Does a second Super Bowl push Eli past Peyton. I can't say yes. It makes him a better post-season QB, for sure. Eli is one of the best ever with his record. But Peyton Manning is the greatest QB I have ever seen play. And I have watched Montana, Aikman, Young, Elway, Favre, Marino, Brady, Brees and Rodgers. Peyton Manning changed the way quarterbacks play. His ability to call his own plays at the line of scrimmage, in this day and age, is ridiculous. But he always pulled it off. The Colts went a decade without winning less than 10 games! No other QB is history can say that. Does he have a good postseason record? Nope. 9-10 is not good. But it also means he has played 19 playoff games! And he won a Super Bowl. He is so good that he got a new stadium built for his franchise on his own play. He is so good and so valuable that a division champion became the laughing stock of the league without him. Now, that doesn't say the Eli can't surpass him. If he continues to play at a high level, he will. And that extra Super Bowl title will be the driving force behind that.



And so closes the 2011-2012 NFL Season. It was a dandy, in my opinion. A nice bounce back from the lock out. But football isn't all done. It is draft season now. Indianapolis Colts, you are on the clock. Andrew Luck is waiting. And so is Eli's brother.

Who You Takin In The Friggin SUPER BOWL!?

Well it is here. The biggest game of the season. One team cements their legacy, one team is stuck in Indianapolis for a night, wondering what could have been. In 2008, the Patriots and Giants played an epic Super Bowl, and Eli outdueled Tom to take home the title. What will happen this year? Well, first, lets look at some advantages each team has.

- The QB matchup is almost a push. Almost. Eli Manning has easily become an elite QB, and since he already has a ring, it is difficult to argue against him. But Tom Brady has 3 rings. He did not play well in Baltimore, but with two weeks to prepare, I give him the edge. Advantage Patriots.

- The wide receiving matchup doesn't really compare. Wes Welker is fantastic, but the combination of Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, and Mario Manningham will cause matchup nightmare for that porous Pats secondary. Advantage Giants.

- As one sided as the WR match up is for the Giants, that's how imbalanced the tight end position is in favor of the Patriots. Gronk might not be 100%, but he will still find a way to be effective. I expect Aaron Hernandez to have a fairly big game, both running and receiving. Advantage Patriots.

- The Pats' running game is very streaky. Same can be said for the Giants. I love Ahmad Bradshaw, but I can't say either is better right now. Push.

- The Giants' defensive line is the X factor in this game. If they can be as dominant as their talent and potential allows them to, they could end the game early. Tom needs to watch out. Advantage Giants.

- The Patriots' secondary has given up the most passing yards in NFL History! The Giants' hasn't. Advantage Giants.

- Lawrence Tynes and Stephen Gostkowski are both solid kickers. Tynes has been in the big game before, and has made huge kicks in his career. Advantage Giants.

- Both coaches have rings. Belichick has more. Coughlin has beaten Belichick. Slight Advantage Patriots.



There are a few wild cards in my rooting interest:

As many of you know, I have been a Michigan fan since I was 5. They were the Wolverines, I liked X-Men, a love affair was born. So, in my closet, I have a Tom Brady Michigan jersey. I also had a Brady Patriots jersey custom made before he won his first Super Bowl. I like Tom. I don't care if he is kind of metrosexual. I don't care that he complains sometimes and gets too many calls in his favor. I love watching him play football. He is an all-time great, and every fan would want him on their team. Especially the Jets fans.

Next, there is something I call YBS, or Younger Brother Syndrome. If you are a younger brother, you have it. I have it. Eli Manning has it. To be able to outshine your older brother is a nice thing sometimes. For Eli, he has always been Peyton's little brother. If he wins today, he will be a sure fire Hall of Fame QB, and will have one more ring than his older brother. I'd like to see that.

I don't really like Bill Belichick, though I appreciate his humorous interviews this week. I just think he has gotten too much credit for winning when he has a top 10 all time QB.

Tom Coughlin is a proud graduate of Syracuse University. I have to root for a fellow Orangeman. Fun fact: Hall of Fame basketball coach Jim Boeheim was Coughlin's RA.

The Giants lost twice to the Redskins. Last time they did that and made the Super Bowl, they won. Almost identical scores. At the same time, no team that loses to the Redskins twice should be a Champion.

Robert Kraft helped save the football season, lost his wife, and seems like an amazing guy. Hard to root against him.

I kind of feel bad for Chad Ochocinco. I would like to see him score a touchdown and win a ring.

The Patriots shouldn't be in the game. All Lee Evans had to do was hold on to the ball.

Both New Englanders and New Yorkers are annoying. Thank God this isn't baseball season.


So... After all of that... Who am I rooting for?

I don't know. I didn't root for anyone in 2008. I am torn, clearly. I just hope for an excellent game.

Now, that being said, who am I taking in the friggin Super Bowl? Everything in my mind is pointing to the Giants winning. Ergo-

Give me the New England Patriots 27-24.

Enjoy the game. Avoid the halftime show. Let's send off the 2011-2012 NFL Season with a bang!