September 19, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Biggest Surprises From This NFL Season:
1. Mediocre Quarterback Play: This is solely directed at the "elite" quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Matt Stafford have a combined mark of 12 TD's and 11 INT's heading into week three. I'm guessing these guys will probably get it turned around at some point, but as of right now there's much to be desired.
2. C.J. Spiller: Two weeks into the season Fred Jackson's understudy has gained 364 yards from scrimmage and has an videogame-like 10.1 yard per carry. Chances are, he'll come down to earth somewhat, but as of today he is the NFL's top rusher. Who would have guessed it?
3. Cardinals are 2-0: What? Did Kurt Warner come out of retirement? Personally, I think this is a case of "It's better to be lucky than good." Seattle let week one's matchup with the Cardinals get away from them late and the Patriots were one missed kick away from getting the best of the Cards. Perhaps the buck will stop in week three's matchup against former division rival Philadelphia.
4. Saints are 0-2: I suppose we could have seen this coming considering how much the team went through in the offseason, but I still expected better from them. Both the Redskins and Panthers have scored on them with ease. Chances are, they get their first win this week against the lowly Chiefs.
5. Alex Smith Breaks Team Record: Smith's 216 straight passes without an interception thrown is remarkable when you consider how many great players have suited up at quarterback for the 49ers. He bested Steve Young's mark of 185 during week two's Sunday night game against the Detroit Lions. Side note - he still has to throw another 119 passes without an interception to match Tom Brady's NFL mark of 335 passes without a pick.
6. Replacement Officials: As I understand it, the money the league officials are asking for is a drop in the bucket when one considers how much revenue the NFL takes in every year. Why the quality and integrity of the game is being compromised is beyond my understanding. I guess I shouldn't be shocked by anything that happens when the NFL's top brass and greed are involved, but I really thought this would be resolved by now.
7. Chris Johnson Sucks Again: Seriously, how the hell did this guy run for 2,000 yards a few years ago? This season his stat line is as follows: 19 carries for 21 yards 0 TDs. That's 1.1 yards per carry. There are people watching the games at home who could run for 1.1 yards per carry over the course of two games. Heck, Steve McNair could probably still rush for 1.1 yards per carry. Oh, wait, too soon?
8. Clay Mathews is Lawrence Taylor: Two games, six sacks. Can someone block this guy? He's making sacks look as easy as you used to when using LT in Tecmo Super Bowl. Imagine if Mathews kept up this pace...48 sacks on the year. Of course, that won't happen, but Michael Strahan's single season mark of 22.5 is very much within reach and we're just two weeks into the 2012 season.
9. Akers Ties NFL FG Mark: Of all the players kicking in the NFL there's no way I could be convinced that Old Man Akers could boot a 63-yard Field Goal and tie an NFL mark for distance. Even Akers appeared completely stunned that he made the kick, which bounced off the bottom of the post and over just before the end of the half during the Niners' week one matchup against the Packers.
10. 20 Teams Are 1-1: Never before in NFL history have so many teams been 1-1 through two games of the season. I guess there really is something to be said for parity.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
September 4, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Predictions For The Indianapolis Colts 2012 Season:
1. Colts improve upon their 2-14 mark by going 7-9 on the year, good enough for 2nd in the division behind the Houston Texans.
2. Fourth year running back Donald Brown has his first 1,000 yard season.
3. Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck will score over 20 combined touchdowns and throw for over 3,500 passing yards.
4. Recently traded corner Vontae Davis will lead the team in interceptions with four.
5. Former Colt receiver Pierre Garcon will have more receiving yards for Washington than any member of the Colts.
6. For the second straight year, the Colts will fail to have a player voted to the Pro Bowl on offense.
7. The Colts will actually return a kick/punt for a touchdown. (Colts fans know this is a big stretch since our special teams unit is usually a disaster)
8. Rookie tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen will combine for a total of 10 touchdowns.
9. Robert Mathis will lead the team in sacks.
10. The Colts will split division series' with both the Titans and Jaguars but get swept by the Texans.
Greg's Top Ten Predictions For The Indianapolis Colts 2012 Season:
1. Colts improve upon their 2-14 mark by going 7-9 on the year, good enough for 2nd in the division behind the Houston Texans.
2. Fourth year running back Donald Brown has his first 1,000 yard season.
3. Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck will score over 20 combined touchdowns and throw for over 3,500 passing yards.
4. Recently traded corner Vontae Davis will lead the team in interceptions with four.
5. Former Colt receiver Pierre Garcon will have more receiving yards for Washington than any member of the Colts.
6. For the second straight year, the Colts will fail to have a player voted to the Pro Bowl on offense.
7. The Colts will actually return a kick/punt for a touchdown. (Colts fans know this is a big stretch since our special teams unit is usually a disaster)
8. Rookie tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen will combine for a total of 10 touchdowns.
9. Robert Mathis will lead the team in sacks.
10. The Colts will split division series' with both the Titans and Jaguars but get swept by the Texans.
September 1, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Current Players I Will NOT Be Drafting this Weekend:
1. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, QB: Drank this juice last year and there's no way in hell I'm going to drink it again after the indigestion it caused me. Every single time Vick took the field, when he took the field, I feared for
his safety. It's almost like there's a cult of dogs somewhere poking needles into a Michael Vick voodoo doll. When you scramble out of the pocket and use your legs to gain yards, learn how to slide, Michael.
2. Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins, RB: It's not that I don't like Reggie Bush, it's more about the team he plays for that bothers me. If there was ever a team in line for the Matt Barkley sweepstakes, it's the Miami Dolphins. I can't imagine Reggie Bush will emerge as a powerhouse rusher with so little talent surrounding him.
3. Randy Moss, San Francisco 49ers, WR: I'm just not buying it. In fact, I'm a bit surprised he didn't get cut this past week considering how little he did during the preseason. Of course, I'm sure coach Jim Harbaugh doesn't want to tip his hand in the preseason, but I still wouldn't draft him when I consider his quarterback is a far cry from Tom Brady, Randall Cunningham or Daunte Culpepper in his prime.
4. Any Oakland Raiders Offensive Player: I'm not hating. Not in the least. In fact, I almost always find myself rooting for the Raiders when they're on television - which is almost never since selling out Raider games is about as common as Kim Kardashian displaying humility. Ok, now I'm hating. Seriously, there is nobody on the Raiders I can imagine myself drafting. Their wide receivers are inconsistent, Carson Palmer is the posterboy for mediocrity, they forgot how to use the TE position and don't even get me started on Darren McInjured.
5. Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts, WR: Collie probably ranks as one of my favorite Colts of all-time. He's guts personified. Unfortunately, he's also concussions personified. Collie has suffered four serious concussions over the past 21 months which is a serious headache for fantasy owners. Chances are, he won't even get drafted in any of the fantasy leagues I'm in due to the perception that the Colts offense will struggle with a rookie quarterback. Still, I'd take my chances elsewhere.
6. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills, RB: Quick. Guess how old Fred Jackson is? Would you have guessed 32 years old this Feburary? In running back years that's freaking ancient. In fact, most rushers get put down before their 30th birthday. The argument for Jackson is that "he doesn't have a lot of miles" on his legs since he's only been playing in the NFL since 2006. Well, that may be true, but he was playing professional football for three years before taking snaps with Buffalo. The way I look at it, 32 year-old legs are still old and I'm not taking my chances on a guy who has far less football ahead of him than behind him.
7. Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers, RB: His third year in the NFL and he still hasn't been able to shake the injury bug. In fact, one carry into his 2012 preseason he busted his collarbone. Fragile much? Considering the guy is still being drafted somewhere in the first three rounds of most drafts, there's no way in hell I'm taking an injury prone rusher who has never once had an elite season as early as he's been going.
8. Rashad Jennings or Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars, RB: Holdouts rarely end well for fantasy running backs. Remember last season when Chris Johnson held out up until the very start of the 2011 season? That's usually how holdouts work for rushers. You hold out, miss valuable time in camp, get a bit lethargic and fail to get into a rhythm. While Rashad Jennings might be starting now, he won't be once MJD comes back and he WILL come back at some point. When he does, Jennings will be rendered useless. I'll let some other fantasy owner deal with that headache.
9. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles, WR: Another Eagle makes the list and again it's one that I used to own and got burned by in 2011. In a contract year figured Jackson would light the sky with touchdowns in 2011. To say he failed to meet expectations would be an understatement. Jackson finished the year with 961 receiving yards and a measly four touchdowns. Thanks for nothing. Jackson is like a poor man's version of Michael Irvin. Flashy and at times very dynamic but a far cry from a superstar like Irvin.
10. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears, RB: Two words...Michael Bush.
Greg's Top Ten Current Players I Will NOT Be Drafting this Weekend:
1. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, QB: Drank this juice last year and there's no way in hell I'm going to drink it again after the indigestion it caused me. Every single time Vick took the field, when he took the field, I feared for
his safety. It's almost like there's a cult of dogs somewhere poking needles into a Michael Vick voodoo doll. When you scramble out of the pocket and use your legs to gain yards, learn how to slide, Michael.
2. Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins, RB: It's not that I don't like Reggie Bush, it's more about the team he plays for that bothers me. If there was ever a team in line for the Matt Barkley sweepstakes, it's the Miami Dolphins. I can't imagine Reggie Bush will emerge as a powerhouse rusher with so little talent surrounding him.
3. Randy Moss, San Francisco 49ers, WR: I'm just not buying it. In fact, I'm a bit surprised he didn't get cut this past week considering how little he did during the preseason. Of course, I'm sure coach Jim Harbaugh doesn't want to tip his hand in the preseason, but I still wouldn't draft him when I consider his quarterback is a far cry from Tom Brady, Randall Cunningham or Daunte Culpepper in his prime.
4. Any Oakland Raiders Offensive Player: I'm not hating. Not in the least. In fact, I almost always find myself rooting for the Raiders when they're on television - which is almost never since selling out Raider games is about as common as Kim Kardashian displaying humility. Ok, now I'm hating. Seriously, there is nobody on the Raiders I can imagine myself drafting. Their wide receivers are inconsistent, Carson Palmer is the posterboy for mediocrity, they forgot how to use the TE position and don't even get me started on Darren McInjured.
5. Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts, WR: Collie probably ranks as one of my favorite Colts of all-time. He's guts personified. Unfortunately, he's also concussions personified. Collie has suffered four serious concussions over the past 21 months which is a serious headache for fantasy owners. Chances are, he won't even get drafted in any of the fantasy leagues I'm in due to the perception that the Colts offense will struggle with a rookie quarterback. Still, I'd take my chances elsewhere.
6. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills, RB: Quick. Guess how old Fred Jackson is? Would you have guessed 32 years old this Feburary? In running back years that's freaking ancient. In fact, most rushers get put down before their 30th birthday. The argument for Jackson is that "he doesn't have a lot of miles" on his legs since he's only been playing in the NFL since 2006. Well, that may be true, but he was playing professional football for three years before taking snaps with Buffalo. The way I look at it, 32 year-old legs are still old and I'm not taking my chances on a guy who has far less football ahead of him than behind him.
7. Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers, RB: His third year in the NFL and he still hasn't been able to shake the injury bug. In fact, one carry into his 2012 preseason he busted his collarbone. Fragile much? Considering the guy is still being drafted somewhere in the first three rounds of most drafts, there's no way in hell I'm taking an injury prone rusher who has never once had an elite season as early as he's been going.
8. Rashad Jennings or Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars, RB: Holdouts rarely end well for fantasy running backs. Remember last season when Chris Johnson held out up until the very start of the 2011 season? That's usually how holdouts work for rushers. You hold out, miss valuable time in camp, get a bit lethargic and fail to get into a rhythm. While Rashad Jennings might be starting now, he won't be once MJD comes back and he WILL come back at some point. When he does, Jennings will be rendered useless. I'll let some other fantasy owner deal with that headache.
9. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles, WR: Another Eagle makes the list and again it's one that I used to own and got burned by in 2011. In a contract year figured Jackson would light the sky with touchdowns in 2011. To say he failed to meet expectations would be an understatement. Jackson finished the year with 961 receiving yards and a measly four touchdowns. Thanks for nothing. Jackson is like a poor man's version of Michael Irvin. Flashy and at times very dynamic but a far cry from a superstar like Irvin.
10. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears, RB: Two words...Michael Bush.
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