NFL Week Five Previews And Predictions

October 4, 2008 by editor.

In week five, it is already desperation time for some teams, while others just try to stay on track. 

Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are coming off a physical game with the Steelers last week and they will not get a week off.  The Titans are as physical as they come.  Tennessee has one of the leagues best running attacks with Lendale White and Chris Johnson and make no mistake of what they want to do.  Joe Flacco will try to build on his performance against Pittsburgh and manage Ravens to victory. 

The Ravens defense is good enough to stuff the running game and force Kerry Collins to beat them.  The Titans are ripe for their first loss.

Ravens 17  Titans 16

Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles

The Redskins are coming off a huge win against Dallas, while the Eagles came up short against Chicago.  This is a classic let down game.  Brian Westbrook will be a key if he plays.  Donovan McNab will have to play big, because they are having problems running the ball, and the Redskins defense plays the run well.

The Eagles have to have this game, and will play like it.

Eagles 27  Redskins 21

San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins

Miami got their first win last weekend against the Patriots, but they will be playing a Charger team that finally got LaDainian Tomlinson on track.  Even though they will be traveling across the country their defense should be able to stymie Chad Pennington and company.  Especially if they stuff their running game.  That will be the key.

Chargers 17  Miami 13

Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers

This could be the perfect storm for the Falcons.  Aaron Rodgers may not play.  Green Bay’s defense is giving up over five yards per carry, and Atlanta prefers to live and die with Michael Turner running the ball a lot.  Matt Ryan has struggled on the road so far, so they would like to just pound the ball.

If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t play, this game is not only close, but the Falcons have a chance to win.  Green Bay’s secondary is not in great shape either.

Packers 20  Falcons 17

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions

Even though the Lions won both meetings last year, they are in disarray.  They are win-less in three games so far, and Jon Kitna has been ineffective as their starting quarterback.  The Bears would like to control the game by running it and making sure that Kyle Orton doesn’t have to win the game on his own.  The Bears should win a close one.

Bears 23  Lions 20

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

Desperation time for the Colts.  They have to have this game to get back in the hunt in their division.  The health of their offensive line is the key.  If they can create some space for Joseph Addai, and give Peyton Manning time to throw they will be in good shape.  Manning has been hit more this year than the past two years combined.

Colts 27  Texans 24

Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants

The Seahawks are coming off their bye week, but have to trave accross the country to play the Super Bowl champions.  Their struggles on the road when going east have been well chronicled.  Julius Jones has been suprisingly effective for them and they will need to run the ball against the Giants, but that is easier said than done.

Giants will get it done at home in spite of Plaxico Burress out due to his suspension.

Giants 27  Seahawks 17

Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers

Damon Huard has stabilized the Chiefs offense, and if their offensive line continues to improve they will be more and more competitive as the year goes on.  Carolina will want to exploit the suspect run defense of the Chiefs.  That will keep them honest so they don’t load up on Steve Smith.

The only way the Chiefs can win this game is for Larry Johnson to have a big game.  If the Chiefs become one dimensional they will be in trouble.

Panthers 31  Chiefs 24

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Denver Broncos

This game may come down to how well Brian Griese plays against the Bronco defense.  Griese has thrown six interceptions the last two weeks, but Denver’s defense hasn’t been effective stopping teams either.  The Broncos fortunes have rested on the arm of Jay Cutler, who has been great. 

Tampa Bay’s defense will not be easy to dissect, and if Denver insists on throwing a lot, they could be in for a long day.  A balanced attack would be more in order if they want to keep Cutler healthy.  Both teams are 3 - 1 so something has to give.

Denver 28  Buccaneers  20 

Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals

Arizona looked lost against the Jets last week and were blown out.  They are having the same issues that have plagued them in previous years.  They cannot run the ball with any consistency, and that puts pressure on Kurt Warner to make plays when the defenses know they have to pass.

Trent Edwards is licking his chops after looking at how Brett Favre carved up the Cardinals secondary.  Turnovers will be what decides this game.  Arizona is not as bad as they looked last weekend, and Buffalo may get caught looking past this game.  I smell and upset.

Cardinals 27   Bills 24

New England Patriots at San Francisco 49ers

The Patriots look to get back on track after losing their first game of the year.  They will have to alter their approach offensively until Matt Cassel shows he can excel in their offense.  That means they will have to run the ball more and have Cassel manage the game.  The 49ers will continue to depend on Frank Gore.  The Patriots will have to take him away and force J.T. O’Sullivan to make plays.

The game will be close, but New England will make just enough plays to win it.

Patriots 20  49ers 10

Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys

The Bengals haven’t won this year and it will be interesting to see if Marvin Lewis can hold everything together for the rest of the year.  Carson Palmer’s injury hasn’t made it easier.  If he can’t go, Ryan Fitzgerald is the man, which means the Bengals will look to establish the run first, and pass second.  Dallas will look to balance their attack more this week, as they went pass happy and lost to the Redskins.

Dallas has been shaky on defense and the Bengals need to exploit it.  With Palmer that would not be to much to ask.  Without him it will be difficult.  The Cowboys will be on a mission after last week.

Cowboys 34  Bengals 14

Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags have had the Steelers number the last four times they have played.  Pittsburgh’s running backs have been decimated with injuries and Ben Rothlisberger is banged up and is not a lock to play either.  They may not want to play him based on the performance of their offensive line against the Ravens.  They want to keep him alive.

The Jaguars will look to pound the ball and set up David Gerrard to make plays down the field.  This will be another physical game, but look for the Jags to prevail again.  They have Pittsburgh’s number

Jaguars 24  Steelers 17

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

The Saints have injury problems, and the Vikings struggle to score points.  For Minnesota to win, they have to force turnovers by the Saints.  They will have to pressure Drew Brees into making bad decisions while putting him in a lot of third and long situations.  That can only happen if they stuff the run.

The Saints want this to be a shoot-out, because they don’t believe the Vikings can beat them at that game.  If the don’t turn the ball over, the Saints should prevail.

Saints 27  Vikings 20

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Which Sport Has The Best Athletes? Opinions Vary, But Football Leads The Way

June 22, 2008 by editor.

When we talk about which sport has the best athletes, we have to define what it means to be a good athlete.  The ability to sustain speed, strength,  and agility simultaneously in competition, displaying the skill to excel at more than one sport. 

Jim Thorpe comes to mind when we talk about men in the sports arena that were head and shoulders above everyone else.  He won gold medals in the pentathlon, and decathlon in the 1912 Olympic games in Sweden, and played professional football and baseball. 

His accomplishments landed him on the 1911 and 1912 All American football teams.  Thorpe was considered the greatest athlete of his time.  Who are the greatest athletes of our time?  Every sport boasts good athletes, but which sport has the best?

For one, we can eliminate baseball players.  While there are some studs that are in the major leagues, you don’t necessarily have to be in top physical shape to play.  There are quite a few pitchers that are overweight and sport oversize midriffs, but it doesn’t inhibit their ability to throw or hit the baseball. 

This doesn’t mean that they aren’t considered athletes, it just means that a lack of fitness doesn’t preclude them from doing their jobs.  Add to that the fact their game is not very fast, and if you are not pitching, catching, or hitting you are basically waiting around for something to happen.  For the most part they would not be good candidates for other sports like basketball and football. 

Let’s compare football players and basketball players.  Football players have to be in excellent shape to play.  Lineman, linebackers, defensive backs, running backs, all have to be in tip top shape to compete.  Their combination of strength, agility, and speed that is necessary to excel is unparalleled. 

You have defensive lineman that are 250 plus pounds running down quarterbacks and running backs who are supposed to be faster.  The players on a whole are much faster than they were in the 70’s and 80’s, and it is not uncommon any more for receivers, backs, and defensive backs to post forty yard dash times of 4.3 and below.

It’s not just all about the speed.  Agility and quickness is evident at almost every position.  Many defensive lineman (especially defensive ends) over match their counterparts by being too quick off the edge, or shooting the gaps.  Offensive lineman may be the most un-athletic of the bunch, but the better ones are strong and quick, with good feet.

Bo Jackson and Deon Sanders come to mind.  Both excelled at football and played professional baseball.  Jackson stared with the Oakland Raiders and played baseball for the Kansas City Royals, and Sanders won super bowls with the 49ers and Dallas in the NFL, and played in a world series with the Atlanta Braves.  They were football players first, baseball players second.

You don’t see baseball players transitioning to football, but we have seen football players play baseball.  Many college football players have played on their school’s basketball teams as well.  Regardless of their size their athleticism translated over well to the hardwood. 

Charlie Ward of the Florida State Seminoles won a Heisman Trophy playing football, and was the starting point guard for their basketball team.  He elected to play professional basketball and was a serviceable point guard for New York.  His athleticism allowed him to choose between the two.

Outside linebackers may be the most athletic bunch of all, because they have to be strong enough to shed blockers and offensive lineman, fast enough to cover and run down backs and receivers, as well as quick and agile enough to get after the quarterback.

Looking at basketball players, their athleticism can’t be denied.  They have to have more body control than the other athletes in the major sports because so much of their time is spent in the air.  Having jumping ability is one thing, but being creative and agile while in the air is something totally different. 

We have become used to watching the exploits of Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, Dominique Wilkins, Julius Erving, and many others as they have defied gravity and done the unimaginable with no tera-firma to support them.  No other sport requires as much in-the-air time as basketball.

What makes them special is the fact that they are very vulnerable while in that position,  but have to focus on scoring, shooting, blocking a shot, and executing dunks.  From a strength standpoint there are quite a few players coming in the NBA now that are not physically mature due to their age.  You can get away with it if you are very talented (see Kevin Durant), but you can’t get away with it in the NFL.

Hakeem Olajuwon is a good example of a professional basketball player that was an exceptional athlete.  His nickname was the dream, because there was no one you could compare him to with his cat like quickness, assortment of low post moves, and rare physical ability.  At six feet and ten inches tall, he was constantly among the league leaders in steals, which was unheard of for a center.

Originally from Nigeria he excelled in soccer and played collegiately with Clyde Drexler at Houston (Phi Slama Jama).  Olajuwon didn’t play basketball until he was seventeen years old but loved it immediately and realized that was the sport for him.  He is generally regarded as one of the best to ever play his position.

Soccer professionals are good athletes, but we have not seen a professional soccer player cross over to another sport successfully.  You have to use your hands well when it comes to the major American sports, and soccer players don’t use their hands.

Hockey pros are known for their skating skill and speed on the ice, in addition to their fighting.  Their creative abilities on the ice are excellent, but don’t necessarily mean they are naturally athletic.  The primary abilities needed in hockey are not needed in other sports, so they really stand alone as a sport.

Raphael Nadel is probably the most athletic of all the tennis players, with all due respect to Roger Federer.  He shows his strength, speed and agility every time he plays, especially on clay.  The women’s game boasts some good athletes as well, but the percentage is not that high if you look at tennis players as a group. 

There are great athletes in all sports and we applaud them, but I believe football players for the most part are the best athletes in the world.  It is a close call, but our gridiron professionals exhibit all the necessary attributes to make that claim.  Their speed, strength and agility is demonstrated more on the football field then any other arena. 

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NFL Football: The Most Difficult Sport To Officiate

May 24, 2008 by editor.

Officiating professional sports has always been a controversial subject because a fair outcome of the game depends on them doing a good job and enforcing the rules.  The point of the officials being there is to make sure that the players themselves decide the outcomes, not them.

Why then, are there always questions about rule interpretations, strike zones, fouls, penalties, and the like?  Simply because it is not that easy to officiate the sports we love.  The rules are intricate and many times the same rule is interpreted differently from game to game, and official to official.

Which sport is the most difficult to officiate?  It has to be professional football.  To understand why you have to understand all the moving parts that go into keeping control of a game.

First of all, you need a team of seven individuals to work the game, and they each have different functions:

Referee- he gives the signal for all fouls and makes all the penalty calls.  He is responsible for all the rule interpretations that occur in the game, and keeps track of what happens to the quarterback on pass plays as well as the legality of the snap.  He is normally about ten yards behind the line of scrimmage and checks for illegal motion, and on plays involving kickers, he determines whether illegal contact has been made.  Think that is a lot?  There is more.

Umpire - watches the offensive and defensive lines for false starts, legal contact, and also ensures that lineman don’t move down the field early on pass plays and that receivers  are not illegally held up on screen plays.  The Umpire also assists on legal and illegal pass receptions.

Head Linesman - works with the Referee to make sure down is correct, and that the chain crew effectively does their duties.  The Head Linesman also watches for illegal contact with receivers on his side of the field after the five yard limit, and has full responsibility for ruling on out of bounds plays on his side.  He has to rule on forward progress, pass interference, and any action involving any receiver on his side, in addition to watching for possible scrimmage line infractions.  Not exactly a walk in the park with the amount of pass happy teams in the NFL.

Line Judge - he straddles the line of scrimmage opposite the Lineman, and keeps the time on the field as a back-up.  Along with the Linesman he is responsible for offsides, encroachment, and other infractions on the scrimmage line prior to the snap.  He also has to make sure the passer is not beyond the line of scrimmage on pass plays, and has to rule whether a pass is a lateral or forward pass.  On punts, the Line Judge has to make sure the end men go down-field until the kick has been made.

Field Judge - Operates on same side of field as Line Judge, twenty yards deep. Keys on wide receiver on his side. Concentrates on path of end or back, observing legality of his potential block(s) or of actions taken against him. Will call holding or illegal use of hands by end or back or on defensive infractions committed by player guarding him. Has primary responsibility to make decisions involving the sideline on his side of field, such as inbounds/out of bounds calls.

The Field judge also rules on catches, recoveries, and illegal touching of the ball.

Side Judge - operates on the same side of the field as the Linesman twenty yards deep, and keys on the receiver on his side.  He will rule on blocking irregularities by the receiver and actions taken against him such as illegal use of hands, and holding, and pass interference.  The Side Judge also assists in covering actions by a runner with the football and blocks by teammates.  He has direct responsibility  for out of bounds plays on his side.

Back Judge - he is positioned twenty five yards down-field and for the most part keys on the tight end and follows his path.  The Back Judge will watch for holding and other illegal acts by the tight end as well as infractions against them in the passing game.  In addition he will rule on fair catch infractions, clipping on kick returns, and together with the Field Judge, whether or not field goals and extra points are good.

The Back Judge will also time the interval between plays, and keep track of the time between the two periods of each half.

Not only does each official have to remember their responsibilities, but they all have to work together as a team.  It has to be a coordinated effort, even though some of their responsibilities overlap. The game itself has gotten faster which necessitated the need for instant replay, but there is no doubt that it is the most difficult. 

There are almost too many things happening on every play.  You can have illegal motion, an illegal forward pass, pass interference, a personal foul, a hold, and a touchdown on the same play.  If you compare the other major sports there are not as many moving parts to keep track of.

Take baseball, for instance.  The home-plate umpire for most of the game is focused on calling balls and strikes.  Bang-bang plays at the plate and fly balls headed toward the foul pole don’t occur very often, so most of the time the home-plate umpire is dealing with the ball and strikes, and the other umpires are standing around. 

You can make a case for the first base umpire being busy because of the plays at first, but most games move along without any major intervention from the umpires.

With professional football, you know holding goes on every play, but the rules say if the lineman’s hands are inside, then they are fine.  The interpretation of a lineman’s hands being inside could vary from crew to crew.  Every play in the NFL has to be scrutinized by the whole crew, whether there are penalty’s or not.  Things happen underneath piles that have to be sorted out, in addition to the spot of the ball being so important.

For the NBA, it is easier to keep track of ten players on a basketball court than it is to keep track of 22 players on a football field.  I am not saying the NBA, and the NHL are easy, just easier than the NFL.   

As far as having the most influence over a game, that has to be the home plate umpire.  If they give a pitcher like Tom Glavine, or Greg Maddox the outside part of the plate (really off the plate) then that will make the difference between them being effective and being almost unhittable, or being ineffective and giving up five plus runs.

Most of the game of baseball is about the pitchers and the batters, which involves the umpire calling the balls and strikes.  If they are calling a bad game with a wide strike zone, hitters will swing at pitches they normally wouldn’t swing at.  If they are calling a tight strike zone, the hitters have the advantage.

However you slice it, the umpire behind the plate has a lot of influence over the game, but as far as difficulty goes, there is no doubt that NFL football is the most difficult.  Sometimes they get it wrong, most of the time they get it right, but it is not easy (see the Motor City Miracle, Troy Polamalou interception in Colts vs. Steelers playoff game, Patriots vs. Raiders ”Tuck Rule” playoff game). 

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Favre Decides To Retire. Good Or Bad For The Pack?

March 5, 2008 by editor.

Much to the chagrin of the Packer faithful, Brett Favre will no longer be under center when they open up the 2008 season.  We all know Brett can still play, and he is respected and loved by his teammates and many of the other players in the league.  He played many times when he was hurt and probably shouldn’t have and never gave up on a play.  There were times he should have given up, but that wasn’t in him.  It wasn’t a part of his game.  One of the great things about Favre was that he never played scared and I think that translated over to the rest of his teammates.  He has a Super Bowl, MVP trophies, and every passing record that means something.  Every time he laced up his cleats he laid it on the line.  Even when Brett was wrong, no one wanted to call him out on it because he is loved that much.  Loved by his city, his state, and pretty much the whole sporting world.  He deserves all the accolades and honors due to a player of his stature.

Let’s look at the flip side of this.  How long has Green Bay wanted to move on to life without Favre in the last 5 years?  How long have they wanted to know whether Aaron Rodgers can handle being the new franchise quarterback?  It has been exacerbated by the fact that Favre had 2 very sub par seasons in 2005 and 2006, and held his team hostage while he made up his mind about whether he was going to come back or not - 29 interceptions in 2005 and 18 more in 2006 (only 18 TD’s that year), as he made bad throw after bad throw, and bad read after bad read.  He didn’t have a lot of talent around him, but he wasn’t helping matters any as well.  I can’t help but think management, especially the ones who decided to draft Rodgers, is happy Brett is retiring so they can turn the page and get their team ready for life without him.  If management had the guts to ask Brett to step aside for the good of the team a couple of years ago, then Rodgers would have had those years to develop and be right on time to excel when Green Bay turned the corner in 2007.  I don’t blame Favre for wanting to continue his career.  It’s management’s fault for letting Favre call his own shots at the expense of the team.  Don’t get me wrong.  Favre has done a lot for the franchise, but management can’t let everyone’s emotions cloud their business judgement and get in the way of what is best for the organization going forward.  Remember, Favre’s agent said that Green Bay didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for him to play in 2008.

Congratulations to Brett Favre for a great career and a very meaningful and exciting 2007 season, but it is time to step aside and retire.  It is written, To every thing there is a season and a time to every prupose under the heaven.  A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to keep and a time to cast away.  And that is the Last Word!

Stay Tuned For Mock Draft!

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