We've all heard the buzz. Andrew Luck is the going to be the next Peyton Manning. He can throw a football a quarter-mile. Mel Kiper probably has a picture of him hanging over his head when he sleeps. It's totally unanimous that he is the best player coming out in next year's draft, and odds are he is going to go first overall. There hasn't really been this much excitement around the league about any player coming out of college since Peyton Manning (we're going to pretend Tim Tebow doesn't exist right now). Hype like this can get people to do some really crazy things, like making Dolphins fans think its totally fine for their team to play this awful. I have to say though, it's a pretty unique thing that being the worst team in the league can pay off huge dividends in the long run.
The simple idea that a bad team might decide to tank an entire season because it puts them in better position to draft a prospect just baffles me. I understand if a team is not in a good position halfway through the season, and not having what it takes to make a playoff run, decides to take the franchise in a new direction. This happens every year, the hot seats really heat up as the depth chart does it's annual shuffle, but it's not every year that all of the cellar-dweller has the same thing in their crosshairs. Luck's group of potential suitors are an interesting couple of teams, each of them bringing their own sad little storylines.
3. St. Louis Rams:
All the fans who had hoped to see some sort of bright spots start to develop this year might have to hold tight for another year. The tools are there: Steven Jackson is an absolute horse, Sam Bradford is a young quarterback that has large amounts of potential and a lot of room to grow, and Steve Spagnuolo is not nearly as bad of a coach as he looks like right now. There is a pretty big possibility that these guys dont produce the way they should in the coming years and St. Louis has to start over (again), but I don't think that it's quite time to abandon ship, not yet at least. It would be an interesting scenario if the Rams finish up the 2011-2012 season with the worst record and are faced with the daunting task of deciding what to do with the 1st overall pick. If I were put in that situation, I would do everything in my power to trade down and get Bradford a weapon, maybe Justin Blackmon. This would not only show Bradford that the team is 100% behind him, but it would also give him a receiver that could create mismatches in favor of the offense for once. The Rams need to keep pushing and develop an identity behind Sam Bradford, and things will turn around soon enough.
2. Indianapolis Colts:
Without Peyton Manning, this team looks lost and has no chance of winning. The Indianapolis front office has already assured head coach Jim Caldwell that his job is not in jeopardy, because its totally irrational to think that the Colts have any chance to compete without the centerpiece of their team. The bigger problem lies ahead of this season, as Manning's health is a concern that puts the teams future in danger. Manning is 35 years old, and serious injuries that come at this time in a players career often spell doom. As much of an iron man as Manning has been throughout his career, this neck injury has to inspire doubt about his level of play in the years to come. If Manning returns to form next year like the Colts are hoping for, then the quarterback position isn't an emergency. However, if this injury has a lasting effect and Peyton comes back as a shell of himself (if he returns at all), then it will be time for the organization to move on. If the second situation is what ends up happening, and the first overall pick falls to the Colts, things will get really interesting. Given the oppurtunity, I would take Luck and if Peyton cannot return to form, he can mentor the NFL-ready rookie from behind the scenes. I think the last thing anybody wants to see (except maybe some sadistic AFC South fans) is Peyton Manning's Hall of Fame career come to a close due to injury, but if that were the case, I could find no better player to take the reigns from him than Andrew Luck.
1. Miami Dolphins:
The Miami Dolphins have been struggling as of late. And by "as of late", I mean since the Dave Wannstedt era. One playoff appearance in ten years is nothing to be proud of. The 'Fins need to turn things around and I think that without a doubt, Andrew Luck can do that for them. There is no quarterback controversy in Miami, it's far less appealing than that. More or less, it's somebody lining up under center like they're keeping the seat warm for whoever comes in next. Theres not a doubt in my mind that if they have the oppurtunity to draft Luck, they will snatch him up like he's a beer in the Boston clubhouse. This franchise needs to wipe the slate clean and start over, because they've gone stale. The only bright spot on offense is Brandon Marshall, but it's pretty difficult to throw the ball downfield without a quarterback . The defense is dreadful, and Tony Sparano already sold his house. It's no longer a debate whether or not fans are hoping they "Suck For Luck", the only question is: Did they already start?
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Free Agency: Use Effectively
Free Agency is exciting. When you hear news about your team signing a big name player in the offseason, it's like finding twenty dollars on the sidewalk. You get all pumped up and tell all your friends, because that kind of thing doesn't happen too often. Its a little icing on the cake of your day, but if that's all that happened to you today its nothing really to brag about. Icing, like free agents, isn't something you want to build around. You want to have some kind of substance in place, otherwise you're just eating frosting, and although that is undeniably delicious, it isnt fulfilling.
For the most part, the players that are signed during free agency are flawed in some way, shape, or form. It's very rare when you come across a player like Nnamdi Asomugha, who is among the top three at his position and is not a potential problem for the team to deal with. Oftentimes you see guys like Antonio Cromartie pop up in free agency, extremely talented and productive, yet hard to handle and not the type of player coaches like to have. There are also guys like Jonathan Joseph who are wonderful to have when they are on the field but injury is a constant concern. Signing these drugstore diamonds can definitely bolster a teams roster, but theres a reason they are available.
If you pay attention to the teams that consistently make the playoffs and contend for titles, you see that they are built from the ground up. They get their core group of guys from the draft, and for good reason. It's not just coincidence when you see a rookies draft stock fall when they get in trouble for off the field issues or less than charming personalities, General Managers and Coaches don't want to build a team on a shaky foundation. You can pick and choose what kind of guys you want on your football team, in terms of playing style and personality rather than having to settle for someone who won't fit in quite right.
Keep this in mind, Eagles fans. It does look like you won the Offseason Super Bowl, but nothing is guaranteed once its gametime. There are no promises that a team who is very free agent heavy will have the same kind of chemistry as group of guys who has played together for years. Last year's Green Bay Packers was a perfect example of this. With homegrown players like Aaron Rodgers, A.J. Hawk, and Greg Jennings that have been together a while, everything just runs a little smoother. The players come in to training camp to sharpen their timing and refresh the things they already knew rather than coming into camp to learn everyones name.
Free agents should be utilized like tune-up or replacement parts on a car: only useful when you have somewhere to plug them in, because otherwise all they are is a bunch of extra parts. Yet there are still teams who seem to be oblivious to this. I'm talking about clubs like the Redskins with signings like Albert "Work Ethic" Haynesworth and even the Cowboys in recent years. Hey Philly fans, remember Terrell Owens? There are a handful of teams who dont draft well and try to make it all better by bringing in an aging star or a talented underachiever. Free agency is a very useful tool for GMs, but it's only one tool in a toolbox that should be filled with many.
For the most part, the players that are signed during free agency are flawed in some way, shape, or form. It's very rare when you come across a player like Nnamdi Asomugha, who is among the top three at his position and is not a potential problem for the team to deal with. Oftentimes you see guys like Antonio Cromartie pop up in free agency, extremely talented and productive, yet hard to handle and not the type of player coaches like to have. There are also guys like Jonathan Joseph who are wonderful to have when they are on the field but injury is a constant concern. Signing these drugstore diamonds can definitely bolster a teams roster, but theres a reason they are available.
If you pay attention to the teams that consistently make the playoffs and contend for titles, you see that they are built from the ground up. They get their core group of guys from the draft, and for good reason. It's not just coincidence when you see a rookies draft stock fall when they get in trouble for off the field issues or less than charming personalities, General Managers and Coaches don't want to build a team on a shaky foundation. You can pick and choose what kind of guys you want on your football team, in terms of playing style and personality rather than having to settle for someone who won't fit in quite right.
Keep this in mind, Eagles fans. It does look like you won the Offseason Super Bowl, but nothing is guaranteed once its gametime. There are no promises that a team who is very free agent heavy will have the same kind of chemistry as group of guys who has played together for years. Last year's Green Bay Packers was a perfect example of this. With homegrown players like Aaron Rodgers, A.J. Hawk, and Greg Jennings that have been together a while, everything just runs a little smoother. The players come in to training camp to sharpen their timing and refresh the things they already knew rather than coming into camp to learn everyones name.
Free agents should be utilized like tune-up or replacement parts on a car: only useful when you have somewhere to plug them in, because otherwise all they are is a bunch of extra parts. Yet there are still teams who seem to be oblivious to this. I'm talking about clubs like the Redskins with signings like Albert "Work Ethic" Haynesworth and even the Cowboys in recent years. Hey Philly fans, remember Terrell Owens? There are a handful of teams who dont draft well and try to make it all better by bringing in an aging star or a talented underachiever. Free agency is a very useful tool for GMs, but it's only one tool in a toolbox that should be filled with many.
Friday, August 12, 2011
3 up 3 down: Taking off the Training Wheels
When I'm in a conversation about my team's quarterback, I talk about them like they're my girlfriend. When it's good, it couldn't be better; when its bad, it's like a Nicholas Cage movie. Nothing really represents how well your team is doing more than the guy taking the snaps. Quarterbacking is the NFL's gold standard , and there is no way to hide it if you don't have one. Its one of the biggest investments in sports, and because the team has so much riding on it, its no surprise why the teams who draft a quarterback try to ween them in and protect that investment. By choosing a quarterback in the first round, the team turns a page in its history and brings in what they hope to be a posterchild for the franchise in the years to come. The player becomes "the future" for their team. There comes a point in time though when that player must make the transition from being "good for a rookie" or "good at limiting mistakes" to just plain "good". These are some guys who should be "all grown up" in terms of playing ability and they need to go from game manager to field general. Its time to make the switch from pull-ups to big boy pants. Here are three guys who are at a pivotal point in their career where they either prove they can put the team on their back or they fall flat on their face trying to do so. I'll list them off in order of how I think they'll be ranked when it's all said and done.
3. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions:
It's been two years since the Lions picked Stafford number one overall, and so far I'm not quite sure what to think. He has battled injury his first two seasons, but the games he has played he's shown some pretty bright spots. Thrown right into the heat of battle his rookie year, he attempted 377 passes in only 10 games. This stat shows how obvious it is that the Lions are banking on him to pan out. The biggest red flag for Stafford has to be how prone he's been to injury in his first two years. This is definitely cause for concern, because one of his biggest assets, and a major reason he was drafted so high in the first place is his arm strength. If he can't throw the ball as well as we all initially thought he could, its probably appropriate for people in Detroit to stop putting their hope in a football team and go find a job. I don't think Stafford will be another one of the infamous QB busts, but looking back on the draft , he'll be the third best quarterback. That doesn't mean he'll be a disappointment, he just wont be Peyton Manning. I'm predicting something along the lines of a Jay Cutler.
2. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets:
Even though Stafford was the first overall pick of the 2009 draft, it certainly feels like more weight is put on Sanchez's shoulders. This is mostly because the Jets haven't had a quarterback that has made New York proud since Joe Namath; and if you say Vinny Testaverde, then you are just lowering your standards like Jets fans have been known to do. I'm not predicting Sanchez to fall on his face like so many QBs taken in the first round have, I just don't know if he'll turn into the game changing quarterback that is expected from such a high draft pick. He has all the tools an elite quarterback should have: high intelligence, a good enough arm to get the ball where it needs to go, and great instincts. But then again, the same can be said about other first-round flops like Alex Smith and Ryan Leaf. I think if he can finally start showing some of that moxy that was apparent at USC, and find a way to translate his remarkable skill set to the NFL like those listed above failed to do, we could be looking at an absolute stud at Quarterback. That's a pretty big "if" though, and one that the Jets have bet their future on. I'm siding on the Jets on this one and saying that they have a winner here.
1. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
When the Bucs took Freeman 17th overall, I think they were expecting him to become the face of the franchise and probably crossing their fingers that he'd become an elite quarterback somewhere down the road. Right about now, its looking like they made a damn good decision. Freeman has grown substantially throughout each of his first two years, looking more and more comfortable with each passing game (no pun intended). At the end of last season, he was trying to lead his team to the playoffs, rather than tagging along for the ride. Watching him play, you couldnt tell that this guy was 23 and still wet behind the years in terms of NFL experience. A true leader that also happens to be a good learner, Freeman is worth all the stock that the Bucs put in him and then some. He is only going to get better with more playing time, and his 2010 is a hell of a season to build off of. Looking back on this group, I have a feeling that Freeman will be the most successful of the three.
3. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions:
It's been two years since the Lions picked Stafford number one overall, and so far I'm not quite sure what to think. He has battled injury his first two seasons, but the games he has played he's shown some pretty bright spots. Thrown right into the heat of battle his rookie year, he attempted 377 passes in only 10 games. This stat shows how obvious it is that the Lions are banking on him to pan out. The biggest red flag for Stafford has to be how prone he's been to injury in his first two years. This is definitely cause for concern, because one of his biggest assets, and a major reason he was drafted so high in the first place is his arm strength. If he can't throw the ball as well as we all initially thought he could, its probably appropriate for people in Detroit to stop putting their hope in a football team and go find a job. I don't think Stafford will be another one of the infamous QB busts, but looking back on the draft , he'll be the third best quarterback. That doesn't mean he'll be a disappointment, he just wont be Peyton Manning. I'm predicting something along the lines of a Jay Cutler.
2. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets:
Even though Stafford was the first overall pick of the 2009 draft, it certainly feels like more weight is put on Sanchez's shoulders. This is mostly because the Jets haven't had a quarterback that has made New York proud since Joe Namath; and if you say Vinny Testaverde, then you are just lowering your standards like Jets fans have been known to do. I'm not predicting Sanchez to fall on his face like so many QBs taken in the first round have, I just don't know if he'll turn into the game changing quarterback that is expected from such a high draft pick. He has all the tools an elite quarterback should have: high intelligence, a good enough arm to get the ball where it needs to go, and great instincts. But then again, the same can be said about other first-round flops like Alex Smith and Ryan Leaf. I think if he can finally start showing some of that moxy that was apparent at USC, and find a way to translate his remarkable skill set to the NFL like those listed above failed to do, we could be looking at an absolute stud at Quarterback. That's a pretty big "if" though, and one that the Jets have bet their future on. I'm siding on the Jets on this one and saying that they have a winner here.
1. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
When the Bucs took Freeman 17th overall, I think they were expecting him to become the face of the franchise and probably crossing their fingers that he'd become an elite quarterback somewhere down the road. Right about now, its looking like they made a damn good decision. Freeman has grown substantially throughout each of his first two years, looking more and more comfortable with each passing game (no pun intended). At the end of last season, he was trying to lead his team to the playoffs, rather than tagging along for the ride. Watching him play, you couldnt tell that this guy was 23 and still wet behind the years in terms of NFL experience. A true leader that also happens to be a good learner, Freeman is worth all the stock that the Bucs put in him and then some. He is only going to get better with more playing time, and his 2010 is a hell of a season to build off of. Looking back on this group, I have a feeling that Freeman will be the most successful of the three.
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