Is It More Than Just Another Sport?
My wife absolutely and implicitly hates Football season. Its not that she doesn't like sports. She enjoys basketball and hockey, but she knows that when football season starts I might as well be an FBI agent working under cover. All of the plans go out the window if said plans fall on a Monday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday (especially Sunday).
My favorite sport is basketball. As far as sports to play on all levels, its basketball. I get into basketball heavy, as do I for baseball and even hockey to a lesser degree. Football, however, is an entirely different story. Basketball, baseball, and hockey are sports. To me football is on a whole different plane of existence. Maybe it's the fact that there is only one game a week for each respective team, maybe it's the various strategic dynamics involved, whatever it is it's infectious to me.
All of the sports mentioned, have the one vs one as it benefits or hinders the respective teams. There is a definable difference between offense and defense. Most of those sports have groups of positions. All of these are true, but for some reason its different in football. Guards, forwards, and centers beget point guards/shooting guards, small forwards/power forwards, true centers/converted power forwards. Similarly, pitchers, infielders, outfielders beget starting pitchers/middle relief pitchers/closers, catchers/1Bmen/2Bmen & shortstops/3Bmen, left/center/right fielders and so on. In football you could say the same is true, but there are far more of them. QB's stand alone, running backs have Full and Halfbacks. WR's have wide outs, slot receivers, and possession receivers (which can be interchangeable). O-Line is very specific LT, RT, C, RG, RT, yet skilled lineman could conceivably play any of the five. Tackles are the most coveted though. D-Line is not so simplistic. A 4-3 DT is not the same as a 3-4 NT. A 3-4 DE could possibly play 4-3 DT but not 3-4 NT. A 4-3 DE is generally converted to a 3-4 OLB. Are you confused yet? In a 4-3, OLB and ILB are separated almost exclusively by athleticism and speed. In a 3-4 the OLB and ILB are fundamentally different players. Most teams have one shut down CB, if they are lucky there #2 is not that far off. If both are formidable at their position, then the FS ans SS could be interchangeable. If not then the FS and SS must be completely different players. That is only the surface of the breakdown. Troy Polamalu could play CB, SS, FS, or even OLB in a 4-3. Jorge Posada couldn't play 2B equally as well as catcher if he were asked. Steve Nash couldn't effectively play center if he were asked to match up against Chris Kaman if need be (he would have an edge in quickness but that's it).
There is something to be said for the infrequency of games as well. It may sound like a knock but in fact I think it is a great selling point. Even if you are an avid baseball fan, you would have to admit that missing 9 games or approximately 6% of the season is not going leave you feeling empty or incomplete. More over if you missed twice that much, even consecutively, you really haven't missed much. So, then why is it that if an NFL football fan misses even one game, or 1/16th of the season, he or she is unaccepting of this travesty? The answer is because each game really means that much to that person. Hypothetically speaking, say I follow all three teams from the same market (if you try even a little you can gauge which market I am using). The baseball team wins 90 games (which is normally a lock for the playoffs and is only a 0.555 winning pct) and misses the playoffs, I am upset for about 2-3 days and get over it reasonably soon. The basketball team wins 50 games and is 2 seed in their conference parlaying that into an NBA championship series appearance which they go on to lose 0-4 in a sweep, I am upset for about 6 weeks. The football team is in a rebuilding stage (that they have been in for 8+ years) and all of the national media has them pegged as a 5-11 team. I go into the season with expectations of 8-8 and possibly a delusional 9-7. Regardless of if its a 9-7 season or a 6-10 season, I will be moderately upset for at least 2-4 months. On the low end, they had a S#@ty season and on the high end, with a little luck how much more could they have won and is it improbable that they were inches away from being a playoff team? After the mourning period for my baseball and basketball teams, I really pay them NO mind until I here something about the off season/free agency period. With football, it really is a 365 day a year deal. Did the basketball team sign a high profile free agent to help get to the promised land? Did the baseball team acquire prospects or established talent with a right handed power hitter? But football, its insane, who are we going to draft? Will it be a horse for the holes on the line offense or defense? Will it be a franchise cornerstone QB, RB, or WR? Then as the season progresses, are we installing a new offensive system? Can player A convert to position B to move from 3rd to 2nd on the depth chart at different positions? Is it really so far fetched that all of the focus, luck and potential come together in one season and they realize greatness overnight forcing the national media to appear like stunned infants with their thumbs up their @$$e$? Now if you are exclusively die hard on any of the 4 major sports inversely more so than any other maybe this is conversely true for you and your desired sport. Chances are, unless you are an apologist for or a believer solely in a different sport, that is not true.
The beauty is in ratings and believe it or not fantasy football. Fantasy sports were made popular by baseball, however, there are people how are not even true football fans who play fantasy football. The Superbowl is the single most watched television event in the world! Some may argue that on a single "regular season" event, NASCAR has higher ratings. The proof is in the championship game/race. If the points championship in NASCAR comes down to the final race, that race alone will not do a better rating than the Superbowl. That's the only sporting event even close. All games played in the World Series over the last decade added together probably wouldn't add up to one Superbowl. If the Spurs played the Pistons in 10 straight NBA Finals it wouldn't rival the Superbowl.
Maybe its the strategy, the controlled violence, the pretty boys separated from the trench players, the awkwardly skewed scoring scale, the multitude of mini battles adding up to them vs us, the spectacle of it, the fact that each game seems to be figurative life and death for a football fan, every snap counts, its a game that is separated by inches, whatever it is there is just something more intense and majestic about football. Regardless what your favorite sport is. Whether the traditionalist fans want to admit it or not, baseball might have been our nations pastime for over 100 years, but its not anymore. Baseball's fault or not, the torch has been passed. Like an Olympic relay runner, the torch has been passed and football is gaining separation with every passing second.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
I Couldn't Care Less
The Michael Vick Experience
A large number of stories surface within the world of sports
that the powers that be decide
are note worthy of our attention to a nauseous frequency. The
problem is, that for the most part most of us don't care. Case in
point: Barry Bonds. The most recent installment of stories that I
don't care about is the Michael Vick Dog Fighting Saga.
In a nutshell, I am not a Falcons fan, so if he is found innocent it
won't mean much to me. Like O.J., I will always have my own
opinion of what the truth really is. If he is found guilty or agrees
to a plea bargain, I like most people will say he is a disgusting human being, I hope he never plays football again, and I hope to see him serving my a burger at McDonald's some day. Unlike most people however, I have not passed judgment yet. I prefer to let things take its course (while I don't pay any attention to it) and wait until it is officially over. Again, take the O.J. Simpson case. I thoroughly enjoyed the white bronco chase, but after that moment, I didn't pay any attention to it until a friend of mine called me over to his car as we awaited the reading of the verdict on the radio. I am sure I will get some input from a multitude of non-professional "experts" (i.e. friends, family, and acquaintances). The information will be impossible to ignore. I can assure you of one thing, though. I will continue to change the channel every time ESPN reports on it, tune down the dial to another radio station when the previous radio station reports on it, etc. I will not waste my time listening to half assed analysis on a case where the reporters are not in the loop. I am exponentially more interested in Joey Freaking Harrington's performance in Vick's absence than I am the details of Vick's absence.
On a personal note, I do enjoy the company of pets. I have a cat that things we are guests in her home and am pricing a dog. I love my pets but would not deem myself an "animal lover". Recently, I found a 10 week old Shiba Inu. A phenomenal animal if you are also considering a dog. As, I am not a sappy individual, I enjoyed the animal for about 15 minutes and couldn't help thinking how sick of an S.O.B. Vick must be if all of this is true. Absolutely deplorable if it is true. As I am not an unconditional animal lover, its kind of like kids. I like kids, but I am sure I would enjoy my own much better than anyone else's. I still cannot fathom the idea of what has allegedly occurred at Vick's Virginia residence. These are still living, breathing animals that didn't ask to be treated the way they were. Without knowing all of the information, it is certain to say dogs were harmed whether Vick is involved or not.
I do, however, have some knowledge of the dog fighting underworld. Not from a first person perspective of course. I grew up in the Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. area and have been very aware of the aforementioned dog fighting world seldom witnessed by the general public. I knew guys who had and trained dogs to do just what we are learning took place at Vick's residence. I have never witnessed this, nor will I ever. What I do know, is that like Elliot Ness cracking down on prohibition, Michael Vick may have brought a great deal of attention to a subject the masses involved thought they would never have to deal with. Most of these people truly love their animals and convince themselves that what they are doing is not inhumane or cruel. The other misconception is that the dogs are bread to be mean. That these dogs are somehow predisposed to be vicious. Sometimes that can be true, but more often than not they are merely working on instinct and feel trapped. Have you ever cornered a stray? Their instincts kick in and will do almost anything to escape even if your intentions are good. I have heard of scenarios similar to what most of us have heard of the Michael Vick's house setup. A circular "ring" with two entrances on opposite sides of one another. Picture this, two owners on opposing points of the circle. Each holding their respective animals. Now comes the beginning of the cruelty. Sometimes they use small yet annoying pain as motivation. Pinching a sensitive portion of skin. Continually flicking the nose. Yanking on the tail. Nothing the dog perceives to be fatal or detrimental but clearly annoying with the desire for it to stop. Then the worst of what I've heard. Smelling salts. If any of you have played football or hockey and have had the misfortune of experiencing smelling salts you know what I mean. With the dog firmly secured with one arm the owner places the salts reasonably close to the dogs nose. This need to escape becomes violently more urgent. They would do this repeatedly until the dog's sense of reality and sanity is all but gone. At this point the dog will do just about anything to escape the situation. From this point on, the dog should not be held responsible for its actions. Once the owner releases its grip, naturally the dog moves as quickly as possible away from its present location. Since the opposing dog is trying to do the same thing, they end up on a collision course for one another. When they meet each believes the other is just another obstacle. Naturally, the instincts kick in and anything in its way must be averted or dealt with. The "Dog Fight" ensues.
This has just been one example of what can happen from the owners own doing. It's disgusting, irresponsible, inhumane and any other adjective you can use to describe it. It is very wrong, but once again if Michael Vick wasn't Michael Vick it would just be some @$$hole who should do time. ESPN wouldn't cover it, FOX wouldn't cover it, CNN wouldn't cover it, etc. As Chris Rock once said, "If his name was Orentho the Bus Driving Murderer no one would care". Due to the fact that Vick is a pro athlete, the story is more note worthy? Poppycock. That's right I just dropped the obligatory "POPPYCOCK" mention. I recognize that its a terrble crime. But I do not acknowledge that it is any more important than the Jose Carranza story. In fact it is monumentally less important. Yet, if you allow the major sports media entities to dictate the news to you as if their words represent divine mandate, you would believe that the Michael Vick story is the most crucial and important story in American Sports History. The terrible fact of the matter is, that long after Vick's fate is realized there will be some other not so important story they will force feed us on an hourly basis.
The details of the Vick story aside (as I said, I will worry about it when its over) the bigger issue here is, at some point we stopped watching the games and thinking for ourselves. At some point, we decided our "game time" could be spent picking out drapes or mowing the lawn, because after all we can find out all we need to know from the world in sports in the time it takes to make my Monday morning coffee. Look, everyone has different priorities. Not everyone can spend all of their free time watching and re-watching games and analyzing games and strategy. We should be able to bridge the gap a little, though. Whether its Barry Bonds, Michael Vick, Pacman Jones, the latest substance abuse policy violator, or who's a better starting QB for the Carolina Panthers, how effective is the zone defense in the NBA, or is inter league play really good or bad for the game...Don't let other so called experts tell you wants right, wrong or important. Think for yourselves. For instance, in the 2006 NFL Draft, so called draft expert mel kiper jr (I won't capitalize his name because he's a hack) was only right on 17% of the first round. I was 54% correct and my business partner Mr. Morris was 71% correct. Just an example, we ALL need to start thinking for ourselves. Whether it's about Michael Vick's fate or breaking down the X's and O's at your company water cooler on Mondays.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Emerging Talent-Young NFL Players to Look Out for This Season
Every year, as fans, we are awaiting the emergence of the next great player (or just an improvement from last year). Here I will give a number of examples of players you may or may not have expected to produce on a high or highER level. Some may seem very obvious, if that's the case, then you are one of "MY PEOPLE".
In no specific order
1. Laurence Maroney-Surprise, surprise right? Again it's the process not the final score. Laurence Maroney is a no joke player. Have you checked last years stats recently? 745 yards and only 6 touchdowns. It probably seems like more because its the Patriots. There is a particular media giant who push the Patriots as if God put together a football team, so no doubt you believe Maroney had a solid season. In '07, I believe extenuating circumstances will contribute to a better season. A season that mirrors the hype Patriot starters will receive unconditionally. Introducing balance, football is a game of balance. The best way to ensure that a running back will succeed, is to ensure that he is not facing 8 and 9 in the box on every down. Submit arguably the second best quarterback Tom Brady, arguably the most TALENTED wide receiver in the game if not ever (based on talent recognized or not) in Randy Moss. As well as great complimentary receiver core members: Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker, Chad Jackson, and Benjamin Watson. Any team who stacks the box, is asking Brady to destroy them with a simple audible at the line of scrimmage. If I were Belichek and his coaching staff, I would approach the game plan like Cedric the Entertainer in the Original Kings of Comedy, "I wish a
mother@#!&er would" stack the box!
2. Travis Henry-Bet you thought his career was done. There is a monacre that has surfaced since the mid 1990's. "Even you could rush for a hundred running behind Denver's O-Line". We will see how true that is. It is as simple as that. 1211 yards and 7 touchdowns for the freaking Titans! Now he goes to Denver? You have got be kidding me. To make things worse for opposing defenses, this is not the same team led by the over hyped Jake "the mistake" Plummer who only throws intermediate routes to Rod Smith and tight ends you've never heard of. Enter 2 other Broncos to this list, Jay Cutler and Javon Walker. Walker has already put up Pro Bowl numbers, but it has been quite some time since the glorious Favre to Walker connection. Believe me, since draft day 2006, Walker has been salivating over the potential passes from young Jay Cutler. If any NFL team really wants to contend their offense needs some kind of big 3. All of the recent SuperBowl champs have had it in some capacity. Great offensive line, 12oo yard rusher, prolific passing quarterback, and a prototype first option wide receiver sounds like a great equation for success.
3. Edgerrin James-This is more a story of an elite running back returning to grace. Believe it or not, 1159 yards rushing is a considerable down year. Albeit, the entire Cardinals offense could make this list. This is another story of extenuating circumstances. Leinart, Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Johnson are also still there, the difference is in first round draft pick Levi Brown, Offensive guru Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt and Offensive line coach Rus Grimm. It is conveniently popular to pick the Cardinals to contend. This time it makes considerably more sense. Any expert will say football teams are made in the trenches. Hopefully, for both Leinart and Edge's sake, let's hope they have appropriately begun to improve that area.
4. Thomas Jones-It always astonishes me when a championship caliber team unloads important pieces following a championship game/series appearance. The Bears did just that with Thomas Jones. Granted, they have Cedric Benson waiting in the wind. Even though, Benson was a top 5 draft pick, he still to this point is clearly unproven. Luckily for Jones, the New York Jets were ecstatic to unload trade pieces to aquire Jones. I say luckily because with the Jets there will be no Rex Grossman experiment. We all know what Chad Pennington can do. Lavereous Coles, and Jerricho Cotchery are what they are-namely not elite wide receivers. Thomas Jones will get more carries and they will lean on him often. 1210 yards and 6 touchdowns should be the lighter side of Jones' '07 production.
5. The Browns Offense (minus QB)-This may be perceived as just another homer pick on my part, but we will revisit this one 19 weeks from now. In 2006, Cleveland's overall offensive rank was 31st out of 32 teams. They only averaged 14.9 points per game, from the perspective of someone who watches them religiously-the vast majority of those 14 points came off of FG's not TD's. QB's sacks 54 times which was good for 2nd highest or ranking 31st of 32 in pass protection. An absolutely deplorable 32nd in yards per reception of ONLY 3.84. Can you believe that one? To top that off only 83 rushing yards per game. Most teams have one guy who averages 83 or more per game, our starting running back, backup running backs, trick plays, quarterback bootlegs, etc don't add up to 100 yards a game. Last season, this team had a starting QB who hadn't completed 16 games as a pro, a RB who was a converted FB to RB who succeed in the previously mentioned Denver offensive line, a playmaking TE who played 60% of the season on one leg, a diva minded number one WR with a propensity to drop anything in traffic, arguably the best possession receiver they never threw to, and a Div. 2 worthy offensive line-and that's before they got injured. Now the QB troubles seem to be similar in nature, Jamal Lewis looks better, stronger, faster, and tougher than he has since 2003. Our playmaking TE is about to steal the crown from Antonio Gates and Browns apologists are not the only one's saying that. Our diva Wide Receiver seems to have shed that persona-verbally, physically, and financially. Our possession receiver has been noticed thanks to the new system implements by former Charger offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. Finally, the Offensive Line, the Offensive Line. Good Googa Mooga! For those that don't know-from left to right Kevin Shaffer, Joe Andruzzi, Hank Fraley, Cosey Coleman, Ryan Tucker. Only 2 of those finished the season in their respective positions. Only one, Hank Fraley, will start '07 in his respective spot. Add Joe Thomas (best Off. Tackle in years to enter the draft), Eric Steinbach (young fringe pro bowler), Hank Fraley, Seth McKinney (would start on over half the teams in the NFL), and Kevin Shaffer (who was a successful blocker on the league's best rushing team 2 years ago-one problem. It was Atlanta and Michael Vick is left handed which makes Shaffer a tackle blocking the strong side not the weak side as he did last season. So at least now he won' t be playing out of position). Hoping that Brady Quinn takes over at some point in this season, since Frye and Anderson are second rate to be polite, we could be looking at a team who was forceably the worst or second worst in most offensive categories. Then to see them render statistics of a Running back over 1,400 yards, a Wide Receiver over 1,000 yards, and a Tight End over 1,000 yards all on the same team. Football is a game of balance, and in the construction of said team, GM Phil Savage has indeed begun to build a team the right way. With cornerstones and foundation pieces not a sexy 25th story penthouse on quicksand nestled over top of a fault line. Oh, and did I forget Eric Wright, THE BEST CORNERBACK IN THE DRAFT, PERIOD! Just for quick reference
QB Brady Quinn-QB of the future, b/w better than average and great
RB Jamal Lewis-Will be in the top 8 of rushing yds by seasons end
LT Joe Thomas-Best LT prospect since Bryant McKinney
LG Eric Steinbach-Pro Bowl LG
C Hank Fraley-Solid Center
RG Seth McKinney-Good RG
RT Kevin Shaffer-Decent RT playing his correct position
TE Kellen Winslow-Best TE in football
WR Braylon Edwards-Top 12 WR based on yardage by seasons end
WR Joe Jurevicious-Best possession WR in football
WR Joshua Cribbs-A progressing slot reciever with hybrid potential
DE Robaire Smith-A 4-3 DT with good 3-4 DE skills
NT Ted Washington-6'8" 365lbs enough said
DE Shawn Smith-A quality NT with 3-4 DE run stuffing potential
OLB Kamerion Wimbley-A flat out stud pass rusher. 12 sacks with constant double teams
ILB D'Qwell Jackson-A poor man's Jonathan Vilma in the making
ILB Leon Williams-Freakish ability and solid ILB instincts
OLB Antwan Peek-A forgotted stud in the 3-4 since his previous team switched to a 4-3
SS Sean Jones-Roy Williams/Ed Reed potential
FS Brodney Pool-Token FS with cover skills good enough to play nickel corner
CB Leigh Bodden-A legitimate big play stopper. Ask Chad Johnson
CB Eric Wright-The best cover corner in the draft and an instant starter
Of course this is the rosy side of potential meets opportunity.
In no specific order
1. Laurence Maroney-Surprise, surprise right? Again it's the process not the final score. Laurence Maroney is a no joke player. Have you checked last years stats recently? 745 yards and only 6 touchdowns. It probably seems like more because its the Patriots. There is a particular media giant who push the Patriots as if God put together a football team, so no doubt you believe Maroney had a solid season. In '07, I believe extenuating circumstances will contribute to a better season. A season that mirrors the hype Patriot starters will receive unconditionally. Introducing balance, football is a game of balance. The best way to ensure that a running back will succeed, is to ensure that he is not facing 8 and 9 in the box on every down. Submit arguably the second best quarterback Tom Brady, arguably the most TALENTED wide receiver in the game if not ever (based on talent recognized or not) in Randy Moss. As well as great complimentary receiver core members: Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker, Chad Jackson, and Benjamin Watson. Any team who stacks the box, is asking Brady to destroy them with a simple audible at the line of scrimmage. If I were Belichek and his coaching staff, I would approach the game plan like Cedric the Entertainer in the Original Kings of Comedy, "I wish a
mother@#!&er would" stack the box!
2. Travis Henry-Bet you thought his career was done. There is a monacre that has surfaced since the mid 1990's. "Even you could rush for a hundred running behind Denver's O-Line". We will see how true that is. It is as simple as that. 1211 yards and 7 touchdowns for the freaking Titans! Now he goes to Denver? You have got be kidding me. To make things worse for opposing defenses, this is not the same team led by the over hyped Jake "the mistake" Plummer who only throws intermediate routes to Rod Smith and tight ends you've never heard of. Enter 2 other Broncos to this list, Jay Cutler and Javon Walker. Walker has already put up Pro Bowl numbers, but it has been quite some time since the glorious Favre to Walker connection. Believe me, since draft day 2006, Walker has been salivating over the potential passes from young Jay Cutler. If any NFL team really wants to contend their offense needs some kind of big 3. All of the recent SuperBowl champs have had it in some capacity. Great offensive line, 12oo yard rusher, prolific passing quarterback, and a prototype first option wide receiver sounds like a great equation for success.
3. Edgerrin James-This is more a story of an elite running back returning to grace. Believe it or not, 1159 yards rushing is a considerable down year. Albeit, the entire Cardinals offense could make this list. This is another story of extenuating circumstances. Leinart, Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Johnson are also still there, the difference is in first round draft pick Levi Brown, Offensive guru Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt and Offensive line coach Rus Grimm. It is conveniently popular to pick the Cardinals to contend. This time it makes considerably more sense. Any expert will say football teams are made in the trenches. Hopefully, for both Leinart and Edge's sake, let's hope they have appropriately begun to improve that area.
4. Thomas Jones-It always astonishes me when a championship caliber team unloads important pieces following a championship game/series appearance. The Bears did just that with Thomas Jones. Granted, they have Cedric Benson waiting in the wind. Even though, Benson was a top 5 draft pick, he still to this point is clearly unproven. Luckily for Jones, the New York Jets were ecstatic to unload trade pieces to aquire Jones. I say luckily because with the Jets there will be no Rex Grossman experiment. We all know what Chad Pennington can do. Lavereous Coles, and Jerricho Cotchery are what they are-namely not elite wide receivers. Thomas Jones will get more carries and they will lean on him often. 1210 yards and 6 touchdowns should be the lighter side of Jones' '07 production.
5. The Browns Offense (minus QB)-This may be perceived as just another homer pick on my part, but we will revisit this one 19 weeks from now. In 2006, Cleveland's overall offensive rank was 31st out of 32 teams. They only averaged 14.9 points per game, from the perspective of someone who watches them religiously-the vast majority of those 14 points came off of FG's not TD's. QB's sacks 54 times which was good for 2nd highest or ranking 31st of 32 in pass protection. An absolutely deplorable 32nd in yards per reception of ONLY 3.84. Can you believe that one? To top that off only 83 rushing yards per game. Most teams have one guy who averages 83 or more per game, our starting running back, backup running backs, trick plays, quarterback bootlegs, etc don't add up to 100 yards a game. Last season, this team had a starting QB who hadn't completed 16 games as a pro, a RB who was a converted FB to RB who succeed in the previously mentioned Denver offensive line, a playmaking TE who played 60% of the season on one leg, a diva minded number one WR with a propensity to drop anything in traffic, arguably the best possession receiver they never threw to, and a Div. 2 worthy offensive line-and that's before they got injured. Now the QB troubles seem to be similar in nature, Jamal Lewis looks better, stronger, faster, and tougher than he has since 2003. Our playmaking TE is about to steal the crown from Antonio Gates and Browns apologists are not the only one's saying that. Our diva Wide Receiver seems to have shed that persona-verbally, physically, and financially. Our possession receiver has been noticed thanks to the new system implements by former Charger offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. Finally, the Offensive Line, the Offensive Line. Good Googa Mooga! For those that don't know-from left to right Kevin Shaffer, Joe Andruzzi, Hank Fraley, Cosey Coleman, Ryan Tucker. Only 2 of those finished the season in their respective positions. Only one, Hank Fraley, will start '07 in his respective spot. Add Joe Thomas (best Off. Tackle in years to enter the draft), Eric Steinbach (young fringe pro bowler), Hank Fraley, Seth McKinney (would start on over half the teams in the NFL), and Kevin Shaffer (who was a successful blocker on the league's best rushing team 2 years ago-one problem. It was Atlanta and Michael Vick is left handed which makes Shaffer a tackle blocking the strong side not the weak side as he did last season. So at least now he won' t be playing out of position). Hoping that Brady Quinn takes over at some point in this season, since Frye and Anderson are second rate to be polite, we could be looking at a team who was forceably the worst or second worst in most offensive categories. Then to see them render statistics of a Running back over 1,400 yards, a Wide Receiver over 1,000 yards, and a Tight End over 1,000 yards all on the same team. Football is a game of balance, and in the construction of said team, GM Phil Savage has indeed begun to build a team the right way. With cornerstones and foundation pieces not a sexy 25th story penthouse on quicksand nestled over top of a fault line. Oh, and did I forget Eric Wright, THE BEST CORNERBACK IN THE DRAFT, PERIOD! Just for quick reference
QB Brady Quinn-QB of the future, b/w better than average and great
RB Jamal Lewis-Will be in the top 8 of rushing yds by seasons end
LT Joe Thomas-Best LT prospect since Bryant McKinney
LG Eric Steinbach-Pro Bowl LG
C Hank Fraley-Solid Center
RG Seth McKinney-Good RG
RT Kevin Shaffer-Decent RT playing his correct position
TE Kellen Winslow-Best TE in football
WR Braylon Edwards-Top 12 WR based on yardage by seasons end
WR Joe Jurevicious-Best possession WR in football
WR Joshua Cribbs-A progressing slot reciever with hybrid potential
DE Robaire Smith-A 4-3 DT with good 3-4 DE skills
NT Ted Washington-6'8" 365lbs enough said
DE Shawn Smith-A quality NT with 3-4 DE run stuffing potential
OLB Kamerion Wimbley-A flat out stud pass rusher. 12 sacks with constant double teams
ILB D'Qwell Jackson-A poor man's Jonathan Vilma in the making
ILB Leon Williams-Freakish ability and solid ILB instincts
OLB Antwan Peek-A forgotted stud in the 3-4 since his previous team switched to a 4-3
SS Sean Jones-Roy Williams/Ed Reed potential
FS Brodney Pool-Token FS with cover skills good enough to play nickel corner
CB Leigh Bodden-A legitimate big play stopper. Ask Chad Johnson
CB Eric Wright-The best cover corner in the draft and an instant starter
Of course this is the rosy side of potential meets opportunity.
A Fresh Perspective
Water Cooler Rants is a member of the Dynamic Fantasy Draft Help (FDH) family of Blogs and other new media outlets. We first and foremost started out as Fantasy Sports experts/analysts. Fantasy Sports is a great conduit to locating the truth and reason for everything in real sports. We take that approach in bring you the information that we do. Deep rooted analysis, researched information, crunched numbers arriving us all a conclusion that is Correct, whether it is popular or not.
Most sports fans seek perspective. Most fans do not have the time nor the inclination to do the heavy lifting to assertain said perspective. When choosing a career, I chose one that depended on my ability to do the heavy lifting. I provide perspective to those seeking it. What I have found over the years, is that most people defer to the "Media Powerhouses" for their information. Generally, this is not a problem. Except when the Powerhouses of Media do not do the analysis they should. They have a responsibility to their public to do or say what is right as opposed to what's popular. This indeed is not always the case. Major sports markets get the bulk of the run in heavy rotation. Just like in the music industry, the powers that be decide what you should care about. Ever wonder why no baseball team other than the Yankees get top billing? Why are the New England Patriots perceved to be America's team? Is it really hockey's fault no body is watching? These are some of the questions people should be asking.
It is very convenient for the people with the influence to say what is in their best interest. In this blog, we will entertain other aspects. Deal with topics major media does not believe is important to you. Because it's not in THEIR best interest. The bottom line is important. Things like box scores, averages, wins and losses. What I believe is more important is the process by which we arrive at said conclusions. We will probe all of this. If you want the news, you know where to get it. If you want background information, the cause of, the result of, the real reason for; then this is where you come to get it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy bringing it to the foreground.
-Jason Jones
Most sports fans seek perspective. Most fans do not have the time nor the inclination to do the heavy lifting to assertain said perspective. When choosing a career, I chose one that depended on my ability to do the heavy lifting. I provide perspective to those seeking it. What I have found over the years, is that most people defer to the "Media Powerhouses" for their information. Generally, this is not a problem. Except when the Powerhouses of Media do not do the analysis they should. They have a responsibility to their public to do or say what is right as opposed to what's popular. This indeed is not always the case. Major sports markets get the bulk of the run in heavy rotation. Just like in the music industry, the powers that be decide what you should care about. Ever wonder why no baseball team other than the Yankees get top billing? Why are the New England Patriots perceved to be America's team? Is it really hockey's fault no body is watching? These are some of the questions people should be asking.
It is very convenient for the people with the influence to say what is in their best interest. In this blog, we will entertain other aspects. Deal with topics major media does not believe is important to you. Because it's not in THEIR best interest. The bottom line is important. Things like box scores, averages, wins and losses. What I believe is more important is the process by which we arrive at said conclusions. We will probe all of this. If you want the news, you know where to get it. If you want background information, the cause of, the result of, the real reason for; then this is where you come to get it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy bringing it to the foreground.
-Jason Jones
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