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2017-03-11

Mid-Season Rookie Report: Round 1 Draft Picks (Week 13)

Above: Rookie RB Malik Strait receives the hand-off from Ryan Tannehill

The 2016 MLL draft class has settled into their new situations as the end of season nears. With rookie minicamps and OTAs in the rearview mirror and playoffs approaching, there’s been plenty time for rookies to make an impression on their new coaches and teammates. We have the mid-season rookie report for all 32 2016 first-round picks.

Whether positive or negative, the start of each player’s career is far from defining how the rest of their career will shape out. But a good rookie campaign can lead to a bigger role sooner than expected, or a poor season can create more pressure to perform the next season.

Let’s dive in and look at each first-round pick around the NFL. Don’t forget to leave your reaction in the local league chat!

Draft Pick (Player, Position)	Team	Grade
Eel Legal, QB	Cleveland Browns	A
After changing his name upon the election of President Donald Trump, Legal has turned the tide in Cleveland...seemingly. He has 22 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions, showing maturity in the pocket while under duress. Give the Browns another year or two and Legal may be leading them to the playoffs.
Demarcus Bullard, ROLB	San Francisco 49ers	A-
Bullard has been fantastic for the 49ers. He filled a big need as a pass rusher and he has delivered. With 41 total tackles and 9 tackles for loss he has shown an uncanny ability to get into the backfield. He also knows how to use his speed as he has a fumble returned for a 54 yard touchdown on the year. For a team that’s rebuilding, the 49ers found a great player in Bullard.
Watts Obi, CB	Indianapolis Colts	D
After a bad training camp, Obi seems to have disappeared in the Colts depth chart. Heralded as one of the top CBs, Obi was unable to beat out 3 other CBs on the Colts roster and has thus been relegated to backup duties. Rumors are that Obi struggled to learn the playbook, thus demoting him below the other players. Will he ever get his chance to show what he can do?
Lucky Davidson, QB	San Diego Chargers	C+
After being drafted in the top 5, San Diego was hoping they had struck gold. Thus far, Davidson hasn’t shown them that. He has a 10:17 TD:INT ratio while only able to complete 52% of his passes. After stealing the starting job from Phillip Rivers, Davidson has been unable to capitalize on his opportunity.
Houston Weatherspoon, ROLB	Buffalo Bills	B
Weatherspoon has been solid for the Bills. His ability to cover practically anywhere on the field while also put pressure on the QB has been used well by the coach. In this second half of the season, I’d like to see him notch more sacks and interceptions (3 sacks and 1 INT thus far).
Lorenzo Tiller, CB	Green Bay Packers	A
Tiller has been amazing as a starting CB for the Packers. His shutdown corner ability has resulted in 3 picks for him on the season. Additionally, Tiller is not one to be taken lightly as he has allowed on 2 catches on the season. When targeted, it’s unlikely you’ll be scoring against him.
Jarius Venable, LT	Seattle Seahawks	B
The Seahawks filled a big need going O-Line early on and it has paid off. The O-Line is a big reason the Seahawks are 10-1. They’ve been able to open up hole after hole for Thomas Rawls, allowing him to notch 965 yards rushing on the season thus far. The only worry with Venable is his pass blocking ability; he has allowed 6 sacks on the season so far. He’s gotta get that number down.
Patrick Barbieri, ROLB	Cincinnati Bengals	B
Coming out of college, Barbieri was infamous for his ability to get into the backfield and stop runners. Thus far he has shown flashes of the ability to get into the backfield but hasn’t been consistent. What he has been able to do is stop the runner once he’s past the line of scrimmage, evident by his 49 tackles on the year. As the year goes on, I look to see him get more tackles for loss (currently has 3).
Bruce Keenum, QB	Arizona Cardinals	A+
After winning the Super Bowl, the Cardinals surprisingly traded up to get the QB of their choice: Bruce Keenum. The move paid off. Keenum has had a phenomenal rookie season, throwing 34 touchdowns and only 16 interceptions. He is a big reason the Cardinals are currently 9-2. His passing ability has taken a huge load off of David Johnson’s shoulders and he looks to be continuing the strong play he showed in college at Florida.
Shalden Drayton, ROLB	Washington Redskins	C
After starting the season behind Preston Smith, Drayton took the starting job from him. For such a high draft pick, there are high expectations, and Drayton has been unable to meet those expectations thus far. With only 11 tackles on the season, Drayton has struggled to locate ball carriers and take them down. He has the skills, but seems unable to utilize them effectively.
Phillip Kaufman, RG	New York Giants	D+
Kaufman has been relegated to a backup role thus far, but for a lineman drafted so early, you’d think he’d be starting. He’s only played 9 downs this season and hasn’t allowed a sack in them but he’ll need to work harder if he wants to get the playing time he deserves.
James Burt, QB	Chicago Bears	B
Burt has had an alright season, but he’s struggled with interceptions. He’s completed 62% of his passes but he has to play better and take better care of the ball if the Bears are gonna win more games.
Ronnie Gary, SS	Denver Broncos	B
Coming out of Stanford, the Broncos knew Gary was a smart player with a high football IQ, and he has proved that this year. His ability to nullify passes on his side of the field has helped the Broncos boast the passing defense in the league while also allowing the least amount of points. He’s shown flashes of playmaker ability with his 3 INTs. Note to teams that play against him: don’t pass to his side of the field.
Zac Kathula, QB	Cincinnati Bengals	B-
In a surprising trade right before the trade deadline, Kathula found himself being shipped outta New England by Bill Belichick. Since arriving in Cincinnati, he has been quite average, with 10 TDs and 8 INTs. He has a bad habit of holding onto the ball too long, a big reason why he got sacked 6 times last week. I expect the Bengals coaches to work heavily with Kathula to help him become their franchise QB.
Conner Doss, QB	Kansas City Chiefs	C+
Doss has had an up and down season thus far. He has struggled immensely with turnovers throwing 23 interceptions thus far, with only 16 touchdowns. He did not look good at all against the Raiders where he threw 7 interceptions. He’ll need to cut down on the turnovers if the 6-5 Chiefs are to make the wild card.
Huston Steele, WR	Baltimore Ravens	B+
After electing to leave college early, the 21 year old has become one of Joe Flacco’s favorite targets. With 37 receptions for 507 yards he has shown poise and maturity, being the chain mover for the Ravens offense. I’d like to see him become more of a red-zone threat, as he only has 2 touchdowns on the season.
DaQuan Brinkley, MLB	New Orleans Saints	B
This season has been up and down for Brinkley. He has allowed 14 catches so far this season, but has somehow been able to force 3 fumbles, recovering one of them himself. He also has 48 tackles, 40 of those being solo. He needs to show more of an ability to get into the backfield and be a run stopper as he only has 2 tackles for loss.
Brandon Cherry, DT	Cleveland Browns	D
Lack of playing time gives Cherry a not so cheery grade. He was widely regarded as a very coachable player and at 22 he still has plenty of room to develop. If given more playing time, I think he can definitely have a big impact.
Demarcus Cudjo, WR	Tennessee Titans	A+
Cudjo has had an amazing rookie season thus far. He leads all rookie receivers in receiving yards with 671 yards on 32 receptions. His ability to stretch defenses downfield has been very useful for the Titans. His efforts have not gone unnoticed as he has notched 11 touchdowns in just 8 games, leading the NFL. He did have a bit of a scare mid-season when he dislocated a bone, but since returning he hasn’t seemed to slow down at all.
Dejuan Norwood, CB	Washington Redskins	A
After being projected as a 5th round draft pick, many pundits were surprised with the Redskins seemingly big reach. However, the reach paid off. Norwood has 3 INTs and 1 FF on the season to go along with his defensive touchdown. He also has shown the ability to get after the QB as is evident by his two sacks.
Tyler Sweed, WR	Minnesota Vikings	B+
This WR class was very deep. Sweed came into the draft as a crisp route runner and he has shown that ability. With 35 receptions for 497 yards, Sweed has shown an ability to get open at will and terrorize defenses with his incredible agility. Hopefully he can get more involved in the red-zone and catch more than just 2 touchdowns.
Austin Lester, QB	Pittsburgh Steelers	D-
Of rookie QBs to actually play this year, Lester has been the worst. After beginning the season as the starter, he returned Week 10 to continue his subpar play. He’s managed to passs 1094 yards this season, averaging 182 yards a game. He has thrown just 4 touchdowns on the season but has managed to throw a whopping 12 interceptions at a TD:INT ratio of 1:3. This pick is looking more and more like a bust.
Terrence Zuttah, SS	Carolina Panthers	B+
Zuttah has proved to be quite the ball-hawking SS, notching 3 INTs thus far. A little worrying is his inability to make plays in the backfield, he has 0 TFL and 0 sacks. He does have one defensive TD to his name however. Look for him to take the next step and become a ball-stopper AND a ball-hawker.
Malik Strait, HB	Miami Dolphins	A+
Malik Strait has had a fantastic year. As a rookie, he is third in the NFL in rushing yards, behind David Johnson (reigning MVP) and superstar Zeke Elliott. His 1002 rushing yards are a big reason why the Dolphins are seating at the top of their division with a 7-4 record. His combination of strength and speed, coupled with his catching ability, have been a problem for defenses all year, and he doesn’t look like he’s slowing down.
Wesley Colombo, CB	Kansas City Chiefs	B
Colombo slipped down many GMs draft boards after reports from Florida State came out about Colombo being a very uncoachable player, who would require more time than teammates to learn basic defensive schemes. Thus far, his sloth like development has not impacted his play as he has still managed to snag 2 interceptions on the season (1 he took to the house for a TD) to go along with his forced fumble. Being paired with Marcus Peters has turned the two into quite the shutdown combo.
Rainey McNeill, HB	Jacksonville Jaguars	C-
After the Jaguars oddly elected to draft a HB in the first round, many thought he would unceremoniously become their starter. This was not the case, as the Jags coach elected for a committee backfield...one that has proven unsuccessful. With 68 carries for only 215 yards (3.2 YPC) McNeill has been unable to show his quick one-cut ability that he used so well at Miami University.
Deontae Areceneaux, WR	Atlanta Falcons	A
After his monstrous combine in which he ran a 4.34, Arceneaux shot up draft boards and landed on the Atlanta Falcons. His combination of speed and agility cause even the best defenders to stumble. Arceneaux has been able to take the heat off of Julio Jones with his ability to stretch defenses and Matt Ryan has rewarded the youngster with 45 receptions for 563 yards. Hopefully he can get more involved in the red zone as he only has 4 touchdowns on the season.
Adrian Kuechly, TE	Dallas Cowboys	D+
Kuechly has struggled to get playing time this year but the times he WAS on the field he has underperformed. With only 9 receptions for 69 yards (1 TD), he hasn’t showed that same pass catching ability that he showed in college. A lot of the blame is on his route running which seems to have not improved at all since college. Couple his inability to get involved with his subpar blocking skills and you get a player that rides the bench for a few years. He’ll get his chance soon, as Witten can’t play forever. Or can he?
Norman Thigpen, LT	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	C+
Thigpen has had an alright season. His run blocking hasn’t been great, a big reason why Martin has only managed 532 yards on the ground. Additionally, he has struggled as a pass blocker, allowing 6 sacks thus far, a number that will likely increase as the season continues.
Randall Smiley, C	Jacksonville Jaguars	D
As many expected, Smiley was relegated to a backup role behind Brandon Linder. Hopefully, given a year or two, he can get more involved on the line.
Josh Gettis, MLB	Houston Texans	A-
Surprising many, Gettis beat veteran MLB Brian Cushing for the starting spot in the LB core. He has capitalized on that, using his deceptive speed to get into the backfield and stopping RBs. He is second on the Texans in tackles, already cementing his role as a crucial defensive player. He has one INT on the season, one he took back for 47 yards.
Ja’Quan Overton, RE	Chicago Bears	C
After graduating from Alabama with 2 national championships under his belt, Overton has the DNA of a winner. Alas, he hasn’t been given much of a chance to show that winning ability. After a disappointing training camp, Overton has struggled to get playing time, a big reason why he has only been able to notch 1 sack this season. Hopefully he can improve.

2017-01-04

MLL Power Rankings, Week 8: Cardinals Take First L

The mighty fall! The Cardinals record their first loss of the season after starting with 7 straight wins.

Rank	Record	Rank Change	Week Result
Oakland Raiders	7-1	+3	W 26-24 @ Bucs
This Raiders team has been very consistent on the year. Derek Carr’s performance this game was outstanding, helping this team secure the W and the #1 ranking.
Miami Dolphins	6-1	––	BYE
Bye week, no change.
Dallas Cowboys	6-1	––	W 24-17 vs Eagles
Consistent. That is how I’d describe this team. Zeke had another big game so this team stays at #3. A win against a top 5 team will go along way to moving them into the top 2.
Carolina Panthers	6-1	+3	W 30-16 vs Cards
Huge win here by the Panthers. After having an extra week to gameplan (bye week), they were able to beat the Cardinals. Though they couldn’t stop DJ, they forced to make a lot of mistakes, leading them to this convincing win. Maybe they should be in a top 3 spot, but till those teams take an L, it's tough to shake these rankings up too much.
Arizona Cardinals	7-1	-4	L 16-30 @ Panthers
Their perfection is over. Palmer had a terrible game, leading the Cards head coach to announce that Garoppolo will be starting next week.
Atlanta Falcons	6-2	-1	W 49-25 vs Packers
They won convincingly, but drop simply because I still think the Cardinals are better. There’s not enough space in the top 5 after the Panthers big win. (Yes, I know this Falcons team beat the Panthers...but they beat the Cardinals!)
Washington Redskins	6-2	-1	W 26-19 @ Bengals
Similar reasons as above for this drop in rankings. Great performance by this team otherwise.
Denver Broncos	5-3	+1	W 37-10 vs Chargers
Convincing win by the Broncos. I liked Paxton’s decision making here, as he made taking care of the ball a priority.
Houston Texans	6-2	+1	W 59-6 vs Lions
Commanding performance in this game. Absolute blow-out. Not sure if the Texans really need another QB, Savage is doing just fine.
Tennessee Titans	5-3	+2	W 29-10 vs Jaguars
Big win against a top team helps the Titans jump into the top 10. Murray has gotten 20+ carries in his past 3 games (most volume of the season) and it has resulted in 3 wins.
Jacksonville Jaguars	4-3	-3	L 10-29 @ Titans
Jaguars drop after losing to the Titans. Poor performance all around on offense, and their defense couldn’t do a thing in the first half. This loss puts them on a 2 game slide.
Buffalo Bills	4-4	-2	L 35-38 vs Patriots
This loss came via sim, but a loss is a loss.
Kansas City Chiefs	5-2	+6	W 23-20 @ Colts
Important win by this team to put them back on track. If they keep the wins up, they’ll move back into top 10 contention.
New York Jets	4-3	+7	W 20-17 @ Browns (S)
Simmed win. Maybe the start of a win streak?
Philadelphia Eagles	4-3	-1	L 17-24 @ Cowboys
They kept in this game, so they don’t slide down too much. They’ve been a middle of the league team for most of the year. Let’s see them cook up a big win here soon to move higher up in the rankings.
Cincinnati Bengals	4-4	-4	L 19-26 vs Redskins
If this Bengals team can’t stop Geno Smith, who can they stop? AJ McCarron showed what he could do when called upon...and it wasn’t too bad. We’ll see what happens next time they hit the field.
New Orleans Saints	3-4	+1	W 34-22 vs Seahawks
They rise up by 1 simply because they Seahawks have not been playing good football this year.
Green Bay Packers	3-4	-3	L 25-49 @ Falcons
Not a good performance by the Packers. Anybody wanna play defense for them? I’m sure they’re hiring after being gutted for 238 on the ground.
Tampa Bay Bucs	3-4	-2	L 24-26 vs Raiders
Okay okay. They kept this one tight all game against the top team. They probably should be higher, but Winston has to take better care of the ball! And this defense has gotta stop the pass game of opposing teams.
Baltimore Ravens	3-4	––	BYE
20 suits them.
Detroit Lions	4-4	-5	L 6-59 @ Texans
The hiring of a new coach went absolutely terribly for this team. They got smacked in their coach’s first game and it’ll be interesting to see how he recovers.
Chicago Bears	3-5	––	L 21-45 vs Vikings
Don’t think they have a coach rn. Anyway, as we wait for their new head coach they don’t move in rankings.
New York Giants	2-5	+1	BYE
Move up just because of other teams underperforming.
Los Angeles Rams	3-4	+1	BYE
Move up just because of other teams underperforming.
New England Patriots	3-5	+1	W 38-35 @ Bills (S)
Patriots coach has been reported missing by the New England Police Department (NEPD) for the past week or so. OC Josh McDaniels stepped up into the interim head coach role and has led this team (so far) to their 3 wins on the season (all via sim).
Minnesota Vikings	2-5	+4	W 45-21 @ Bears
Playing a Bears team with no coach was always going to end up being a win. Let’s try and play users and see what happens for next time.
Indianapolis Colts	1-6-1	––	L 20-23 vs Chiefs
They lost but they kept it close so I saw no need to move them down.
San Diego Chargers	1-6-1	––	L 10-37 @ Broncos
Definitely some progress by this team. Rivers took care of the ball a bit better but their defense was non-existent.
Seattle Seahawks	1-6	-6	L 22-34 @ Saints
After keeping close with the Cardinals, the Seahawks put up a dud this game, falling to the Saints. We’ll need to see better play if they want to avoid the dreaded 30 ranking.
Pittsburgh Steelers	1-6	-1	BYE
There simply wasn’t anyone else who could take this #30 spot. Hopefully during the bye week, the coach focused on defense.
Cleveland Browns	0-8	––	L 17-20 vs Jets (S)
They just Browned around this game.
San Fran 49ers	0-7	––	BYE
During this bye the 49ers enjoyed the city of San Francisco rather than practicing. Sad.

2017-01-01

MLL Power Rankings, Week 7: Dolphins Reclaim #2 Spot

This week was the toughest to make rankings for. With many coaching changes occurring around the league and lots of upsets, there was a good amount of shake-up. The biggest jump was by the Packers and the biggest fall was the Chiefs, being coached by the new head coach.

Rank	Record	Rank Change	Week Result
Arizona Cardinals	7-0	––	W 17-10 vs Seahawks
The Cardinals escaped a close one here, securing a one possession win against the Seahawks. David Johnson struggled, a rare occurrence, and Palmer tossed two interceptions, showing that the passing attack of this may not be that great. On Palmer’s 93 passing attempts, he has thrown the 16th most interceptions, though he has thrown the least amount of passes out of all starting QBs in the NFL. Are the Cardinals too reliant on their run game?
Miami Dolphins	6-1	+2	W 16-13 vs Bills
Great win here by the Dolphins. The Bills were proving to be a formidable foe as the season wore on, but the Dolphins got the job done, thanks in part to Tannehill who passed for 222 yards and 1 TD on the game.
Dallas Cowboys	5-1	––	Bye
No change.
Oakland Raiders	6-1	+1	W 10-3 @ Jaguars
A defensive showcase here against the Jaguars, holding them to only 3 points. Murray struggled, managing only 3 yards on 11 carries so it will be interesting to see if this team shies away from the run and if they start relying more on the passing game.
Atlanta Falcons	5-2	+1	W 37-8 vs Chargers
This dominating win by the Falcons came by the hand of RB Tevin Coleman. He rushed for a season-high 163 yards (just his first time topping the century mark this season) on just 19 attempts. By controlling the tempo on offense, it forced Rivers to play panicked allowing the Falcons to intercept him 6 times in this game. Yeah, they had 6 interceptions.
Washington Redskins	5-2	+5	W 28-24 @ Lions
Important win for the Redskins. Geno Smith is having a great start to his tenure on this team and Devonta Freeman has capitalized on his opportunities. The defense played well enough to secure the win, but we’d like to see some improvement.
Carolina Panthers	5-1	+2	BYE
Though on their bye week the Panthers benefited from losses by top 10 teams.
Jacksonville Jaguars	5-2	-1	L 3-10 vs Raiders
Rough showing by this team. Anytime Denard Robinson starts taking snaps under center, it probably won’t end well. Surprisingly, it didn’t end up too bad but this offense couldn’t get anything going all game. The only bright spot was their run defense, which held Latavius Murray to 3 yards on 11 carries.
Denver Broncos	4-3	+6	W 14-10 vs Texans
Good win here, but not extraordinary play by the Broncos by any means. They struggled on the ground and Paxton Lynch played conservatively. Their defense won them this one.
Houston Texans	5-2	-2	L 10-14 @ Broncos
Best offense in the league total yardage wise, but they simply couldn’t get it done this week. It’s impressive what they have been able to do with their backup QB, so they stay high in my rankings.
Buffalo Bills	4-3	-1	L 13-16 @ Dolphins
The Bills lost a close divisional matchup here. McCoy struggled all day on the ground. Newly converted WR Matt Forte (wut) notched 4 catches for 46 yards, including a TD. This defense has to do better and simply could not stop Tannehill from driving down the field.
Tennessee Titans	4-3	+2	W 28-21 vs Colts
Important divisional win here for the Titans. After averaging just 9 carries through the first five games, Coach Drake decided they have to feed the rock to their star RB. This is the second straight game where Murray has had 22 carries, and the results show. With the Titans able to control the tempo of the game, it allows Mariota to play more as a game manager rather than a game savior, which proved to be the difference here.
Cincinnati Bengals	4-3	+4	W 35-7 vs Browns (S)
Simmed win.
Philadelphia Eagles	4-3	+6	W 23-13 vs Vikings
The Eagles rushing attack has been getting it done for them as of late. Their defense was phenomenal, as they held AP to just 31 yards, and allowed only 158 passing yards.
Green Bay Packers	3-3	+7	W 14-10 @ Bears
Rodgers played a smart game completing 20 of 28 passes for 202 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. But, in reality, this team’s defense won them the game. They forced 4 turnovers which ended up being the difference maker.
Detroit Lions	4-3	-3	L 24-28 vs Redskins
Tough loss here by Lions. To add to that, their head coach is stepping away from the team with a new head coach to be appointed during their next press conference. The defense of this team needs to improve so they can win close games like this in the future.
Tampa Bay Bucs	3-3	+1	W 34-28 @ 49ers (S)
Simmed win.
New Orleans Saints	2-4	+3	W 45-14 @ Chiefs
Big win here by the Saints. Drew Brees had one of his better games of the year and newly acquired RB Chris Johnson went on a huge run: a 75 yard touchdown. Great work by the defense to hold the Chiefs to only 14 points.
Kansas City Chiefs	5-2	-17	L 14-45 vs Saints
This team is struggling under their new head coach and he’ll need to start winning quickly if he wants to keep his job. Look for them to feed the ball to Charles more as he was the only thing working on this offense notching 115 yards on just 13 carries. Give the man the ball! They drop big because their new head coach got creamed in his first game.
Baltimore Ravens	3-4	+6	W 27-20 @ Jets
The Ravens won a big game here and their offense was rolling. Flacco had 3 TDs and no turnovers, while RB Kenneth Dixon ran for 111 yards on just 10 (!) carries, notching a TD along the way. The defense needs a little work as they let Driskel pass (278 yards) and run (114 yards) all over them before he got injured.
New York Jets	4-3	-9	L 20-27 vs Ravens
The Jets slide continues. Losing to a struggling Ravens team is never good, and losing your starting QB is also never good. After Driskel got hurt, this offense came to a standstill, and their defense simply wasn’t good enough to win them this game.
Chicago Bears	3-4	-8	L 10-14 @ Packers
Not a good game this week by the Bears. Brissett had a horrendous game, tossing 4 INTs with only 1 TD. Their defense played well, but couldn’t fix the damage caused by Brissett.
Seattle Seahawks	1-5	+2	L 10-17 @ Cardinals
This game was close from the get-go, and the Seahawks simply didn’t have enough in them to pull off the upset. RB Prosise managed the tempo reaching 107 yards on just 20 attempts. The run defense did an amazing job holding all star RB David Johnson to his season low of just 56 yards of 19 carries. This team turned the ball over twice however, and that ended being the difference maker.
New York Giants	2-5	+6	W 31-24 @ Rams
Wow a really close win here by the Giants, and a big one too. Eli Manning struggled with turnovers all game so it’s a surprise they pulled this win out. The run game didn’t work, but luckily their defense was able to score for their offense. A fumble recovery for a TD was key in this one, and their defense hung onto the game late in the 4th.
Los Angeles Rams	3-4	-6	L 24-31 vs Giants
Disappointing loss here, considering how close they were. Inside the five yard line and out of time outs the Rams watched the clock strike zero, sealing their fate. The run game isn’t working without their starter, but Jared Goff was able to do everything to keep them in this one. Alas, it wasn’t enough.
New England Patriots	2-5	+2	W 17-7 @ Steelers (S)
Simmed
Indianapolis Colts	1-5-1	+2	L 21-28 @ Titans
After slipping in the rankings last week, the Colts came in this week and almost pulled off a win. Luck played decent, but his two interceptions certainly did not help his team. Frank Gore bullied his way to 57 yards on 11 carries, but it simply wasn’t enough to stop the Titans who scored the game winning touchdown inside 1 minute.
San Diego Chargers	1-5-1	-1	L 8-37 @ Falcons
I don’t know what’s happened to Rivers as of late, but he’s playing the worst football of his career. After this week, in his past 3 games he has thrown 14 interceptions. He’s literally averaging 4 a game in his past 3. These coaches may have to rethink the direction this team goes in the draft, as their QB doesn’t look like he can carry a load anymore.
Pittsburgh Steelers	1-6	-6	L 7-17 vs Patriots (S)
Simmed
Minnesota Vikings	1-6	-6	L 13-23 @ Eagles
QB Tom Brady (actually Shaun Hill) tried to step up when the team needed him, but he just couldn’t get the job done. Adrian “All Day” Peterson didn’t have the juice today and only managed 31 yards on the ground. The rush defense of the Vikings did not help them out either as they allowed Ryan Mathews to trample them for 134 yards on the ground.
Cleveland Browns	0-7	––	L 7-35 @ Bengals (S)
Simmed
San Fran 49ers	0-7	––	L 28-34 vs Bucs (S)
Simmed

2016-12-30

MLL Power Rankings, Week 6: Chiefs Rise

This week saw a shake-up of some of the top teams. Mostly though, there was minimal change with the rankings with small jumps and small drops.

Rank	Record	Rank Change	Week Result
Arizona Cardinals	6-0	––	W 45-3 vs Jets
We all expected the Cardinals to win, but to win by this much? Crazy. David Johnson had a huge game, requiring Palmer to only have to pass 10 times. Their defense totally shut down the Jets offense this game too.
Kansas City Chiefs	4-1	+2	W 13-6 @ Raiders
The Chiefs pulled out the close win here in Oakland. Alex Smith struggled most of the game, but Jamaal Charles was able to find the holes with ease all game. The defense won them this game, shutting down Murray for only 19 yards and holding Derek Carr to 128 passing.
Dallas Cowboys	5-1	––	W 34-15 @ Packers
This Dallas defense shut down the Packers. They allowed only 54 passing yards to Aaron Rodgers and 36 to Eddie Lacy. This defense is ELITE. Elliott had a great game, rushing for 169, including a 95 yard TD run. This team is looking strong.
Miami Dolphins	5-1	+1	W 18-15 vs Steelers
A close win here for the Dolphins. Kenyan Drake struggled on the ground, but Tannehill had his way with the Steelers secondary throwing for 300+ yards and 2 TDs. Continue this play and they might make a push for top 3 again.
Oakland Raiders	5-1	-3	L 6-13 vs Chiefs
Not a good showing this week by the Raiders. Their lack of offense led to their demise this game. They played panicked most of the game, passing 31 times versus running only 10, even though the score was close. Expect them to bounce back next week.
Atlanta Falcons	4-2	+1	W 41-6 @ Seahawks
Absolutely dominating performance. While Ryan couldn’t top 200 through the air and Tevin Coleman could only manage 63 on the ground, the defense was able to force four turnovers this game. Their defensive touchdowns proved to make the score extremely lopsided.
Jacksonville Jaguars	4-2	+1	W 26-20 @ Bears
Close win for the Jags who maintain good position in their division. Ivory had his way on the ground while Bortles sliced and diced the Bears through the air. They really struggled to contain Jacoby Brissett...for whatever reason. Expect this team to spend the week focusing on stopping the pass.
Houston Texans	5-1	+1	W 37-7 vs Colts
Wow Tom Savage. 400+ yards passing, 4 TDs, and no INTs. That’s more than what you can ask your backup QB to do. Keith Marshall also rushed all over the Colts, 70 yards on just 6 rushes, including a 45 yard scamper. Defense played great, intercepting Luck 4 times and shutting down Frank Gore.
Carolina Panthers	5-1	+1	W 17-10 @ Saints
Close one for the Panthers. Divisional matchups tend to always be close ones and this was no exception. Newton struggled all day throwing 3 picks, yet this team still won, by virtue of their defensive play.
Buffalo Bills	4-2	+1	W 28-0 vs 49ers
Flat out domination. Romo came in and got the job done tossing for 250 yards and 3 TDs. Shady McCoy and Tre Mason got some action on the ground, both rushing for 65 or more yards (65 to Tre, 96 to McCoy). They shut Kaepernick down as well, holding him to 109 through the air.
Washington Redskins	4-2	+2	W 35-17 vs Eagles
Geno has stepped into the starting QB position with ease, starting his career with the Redskins off with three straight wins. He is yet to throw an INT on the year, while already tallying 4 TDs on the year. If he continues this hot play it’ll be interesting to see who the Redskins decide to start once Cousins is back.
New York Jets	4-2	-6	L 3-45 @ Cardinals
This loss marks the Jets second, and it wasn’t pretty. When the Jets lose, they lose badly. Driskel struggled, Percy Harvin struggled, everyone struggled. This team will need to step things up if they want to move back into the top 10.
Detroit Lions	4-2	+2	W 26-24 vs Rams
Very close win here, but it will help this team get back on track and sneak back into the top 10. Their RB duo dominated on the ground and Stafford played smartly, only throwing 1 INT though he threw 34 times.
Tennessee Titans	3-3	+3	W 41-10 vs Browns
A breakout game here for Demarco Murray who rushed for 208 yards and 2 TDs on 22 attempts. He hasn’t gotten that much volume all season, and as a result this team controlled the tempo. The defense only allowed 3 points, with the other 7 coming on a sack fumble of Mariota. Besides that, Mariota played well throwing 2 TDs while passing 8/9.
Chicago Bears	3-3	-3	L 20-26 vs Jaguars
Offensively, I liked what I saw. Well, I liked the passing game, not the running so much. They need to tighten up on defense to win games.
Denver Broncos	3-3	+3	W 19-14 @ Chargers
Pretty close win here against a struggling Chargers team. Paxton Lynch played a responsible game here throwing no INTs. CJ Anderson ran well this game too. The defense played phenomenal forcing 3 INTs, but they couldn’t stop Gordon.
Cincinnati Bengals	3-3	+3	W 30-24 @ Patriots
Solid performance by both Bernard and Dalton. Narrow win against a bottom of the league team here.
Tampa Bay Bucs	2-3	––	BYE
Bye week.
Los Angeles Rams	3-3	-3	L 24-26 @ Lions
This was a really close game and the Rams narrowly lost it, but they’ve now lost 3 straight games. The run game is just simply not working and Jared Goff is unable to limit turnovers.
Philadelphia Eagles	3-2	-6	L 17-35 @ Redskins
Maybe this team dropped more than most would think, but losing to a backup QB named Geno Smith? That never bodes well for your team. They need to step things up on the defensive end and limit turnovers (they let the Redskins take a fumble back for a TD!)
New Orleans Saints	1-4	+7	L 10-17 vs Panthers
They lost, but I still have them jumping 7 spots. Why? With the Saints under a new coach now, many expected him to take some time to turn this team around. However, holding the Panthers to 17 and keeping a game against a top 10 team as a one score game, shows that their new coach has the potential to make this team win.
Green Bay Packers	2-3	––	L 15-34 vs Cowboys
Not a good showing this week by the Packers. Rodgers threw 5 picks and this team couldn’t get 100 yards offensively. I don’t have them dropping because they’ve won 2 games already, but let’s hope they don’t play this bad again.
Pittsburgh Steelers	1-5	––	L 15-18 @ Dolphins
The Steelers kept this one close, hence no changing in the ranking. They stopped the Dolphins run game, but could NOT stop Tannehill. Offensively they struggled on the ground and turned the ball over too much through the air. They need to bolster this secondary ASAP. Maybe they shouldn’t have traded Artie Burns...
Minnesota Vikings	1-4	––	BYE
Bye week.
Seattle Seahawks	1-4	-4	L 6-41 vs Falcons
Not a good look for the Hawks here. Run game didn’t work, pass game didn’t work...it’s back to the drawing board for this team.
Baltimore Ravens	2-4	+4	W 30-8 @ Giants
Second win on the season came via a sim.
San Diego Chargers	1-4-1	-1	L 14-19 vs Broncos
I really think this game could have ended differently if they ran the ball more. You have to feed the tank! Rivers has struggled this season, so take the team off his back and let Gordon work!
New England Patriots	1-5	-1	L 24-30 vs Bengals
Brady played alright this game, but the defense simply couldn’t stop the Bengals down the stretch and allowed Bernard to run for a whopping 140 yards.
Indianapolis Colts	1-4-1	-4	L 7-37 @ Texans
Things aren’t looking too good for the Colts. Big loss here and Luck’s troubles are not helping this team at all. They need to turn the ball over less and buff up defensively.
New York Giants	1-5	-1	L 8-30 vs Ravens
simmed.
Cleveland Browns	0-6	––	L 10-41 @ Titans
The Browns are definitely one of the most unlucky teams in the MLL. They struggled all day to get something going on offense and it showed. Kessler threw 2 INTs and simply could not find open receivers. It’ll be interesting to see what position they target in the draft.
San Fran 49ers	0-6	––	L 0-28 @ Bills
Another tally in the L column here. Their QB woes continue and make it more and more likely for this team to target a QB come draft day.

2016-12-28

MLL Power Rankings, Week 5: Top 3 Remains Unchanged

With the holidays coming to an end, this week saw lots of players coming back after a short hiatus. Simmed games were many this week, and the Falcons made the biggest jump in this week’s rankings.

Rank	Record	Rank Change	Week Result
Arizona Cardinals	5-0	––	W 27-10 @ 49ers
David Johnson actually struggled this game, for once. He salvaged his day with an 80 yard run, but only managed 116 yards on 24 carries. Palmer had a rough outing, tossing 2 interceptions and this defense somehow gave up 10 points to the 49ers who, coming into this game, were averaging 2 points a game. Cards need to tighten up on the defensive end and limit turnovers.
Oakland Raiders	5-0	––	W 16-0 vs Chargers
This defense played incredible. They picked off the Philip Rivers a whopping 5 times. They need to work on limiting the ground game however as Gordon was able to get 74 rushing yards on just 11 attempts. Offensively, Murray balled out: 139 yards on just 17 carries. Look for this team to keep feeding him the rock.
Dallas Cowboys	4-1	––	W 31-17 vs Bengals
I liked what I saw out of the Cowboys offensively this week. They played smart, handing the ball to Elliott 19 times for 100+ yards. The offensive line played well (they allowed only 1 sack), well enough that Dak completed 83% of his 18 passes. They limited the rushing attack of the Bengals, but allowed Dalton to pass all over them for 306 yards. Expect them to tighten up the zones next week.
Kansas City Chiefs	3-1	––	BYE
Solid work by the team.
Miami Dolphins	4-1	+2	W 28-3 vs Titans
Honestly, this game was won the Dolphins defensive line. They were able to sack Mariota SEVEN times, giving him no sense of security forcing him to throw 4 picks and fumble twice in the pocket. Offensively, they couldn’t do much. Look for them to work on their ground game for next week.
New York Jets	4-1	––	W 16-14 @ Steelers
A narrow win here versus a bottom 10 team. The Jets will have to put up more convincing wins if they want to move up, or even stay in this position. The Jeff Driskel project worked out well at the start of the year...but now it seems like he is just sub-par.
Atlanta Falcons	3-2	+3	W 36-7 @ Broncos
Wow this team played amazing here. They played great D, holding CJ Anderson to his least amount of rushing yards all season and picked off Trevor Siemian FIVE times. Offensively, Coleman found the holes and Ryan found Julio Jones (for 143 yards and 2 TDs). Hopefully they can keep up this stellar play.
Jacksonville Jaguars	3-1	––	BYE
The Jaguars coach returned from his suspension to a bye week.
Houston Texans	4-1	+4	W 47-31 @ Vikings
The Texans bounced back this week with a big win. Their offense could seemingly no wrong (granted Tom Savage threw two interceptions) and their run game didn’t work at all...yeah, maybe this offense could use a lot of work. Defensively, they struggled against Adrian Peterson and the Vikings duo of QBs. I want to see this team develop a run game to maintain this ranking.
Carolina Panthers	4-1	+1	W 13-10 vs Bucs
Narrow win for the Panthers here. Cam couldn’t get much done thru the air, but their defense held the Bucs to only 10 points (attribute that to them intercepting Winston twice). This team needs to prove they can score with the best of them to stay in the top 10.
Buffalo Bills	3-2	+10	W 17-10 @ Rams
Last week I said I wanted a big win from this team so they can jump in the rankings...they delivered. They beat the previously ranked #5 team to jump up 10 spots. Newly acquired player Tony Romo played well passing for over 200 yards. Matt Forte was their saving grace, totaling 130 yards on the ground. It’s important to note the Rams, who are usually a run-heavy team, were without their starting RB Todd Gurley - a possible reason for this Bills win.
Chicago Bears	3-2	+2	W 31-28 @ Colts (S)
Not gonna write bout dis.
Washington Redskins	3-2	+5	W 31-10 @ Ravens (S)
Not gonna write bout dis.
Philadelphia Eagles	3-1	+3	W 37-30 @ Lions
Sure, they beat the previously ranked top 10 team, but this was against the CPU. This team’s two other wins were against the Steelers and Browns...who are ranked 23rd and 31st respectively. They need more convincing wins.
Detroit Lions	3-2	-6	L 30-37 vs Eagles
What can you expect this team to do without their coach? At some point, it has to effect them, but i fully expect them to jump back next week.
Los Angeles Rams	3-2	-11	L 10-17 vs Bills
Two straight losses spells trouble for this team. Without Todd Gurley, their offense was invisible. Jared Goff was forced to get more involved than the coach likely wanted, and two interceptions was the result. The Bills have an average defense, yet the Rams let them hold them to just 10. I expect better next week.
Tennessee Titans	2-3	-5	L 3-28 @ Dolphins
I find myself wondering if Mariota is the answer for this Titans team. The offensive line certainly isn’t. They allowed the Dolphins D-Line into the backfield at will. After every snap, Mariota was on the ground before the receivers even disengaged from the corners. The defense did what they could with the horrible field position their offense gave them. Not a good performance on both sides of the ball.
Tampa Bay Bucs	2-3	+1	L 10-13 @ Panthers
Yeah, they lost, but narrowly. In my book, that gives them a bit of a raise. Winston struggled early but this team has found a nice balance of run vs pass and their defense played uncharacteristically well this game. If their defense steps up like this more often, and their offense finds consistency, I see a playoff team in the making.
Denver Broncos	2-3	-4	L 7-36 vs Falcons
Not a good showing by this team. Sloppy QB play was their main demise. Also, isn’t this defense supposed to be amazing? How did they manage to allow 36 points? They have a lot of work to do in practice.
Cincinnati Bengals	2-3	-4	L 17-31 @ Cowboys
This team continues to slide in the rankings. Their rushing attack has given them nothing, forcing Dalton to put the team on his back...his back was not strong enough. He threw for 300+ yards but turned the ball over twice giving Elliott plenty of room to tear the Bengals D up for 100+ yards.
Seattle Seahawks	1-3	-1	BYE
This team was 1-3 entering their bye week. They dropped because of their shoddy play to this point. I expect them to do better for the remainder of the season.
Green Bay Packers	2-2	+3	W 31-26 vs Giants (S)
To this point they have beaten the #24 and #29 team. I need to see more out of this team.
Pittsburgh Steelers	1-4	-1	L 14-16 vs Jets
Finally! A hint of defense out of this team! They allowed just 204 yards this game (they average allowing 373 per game). Unfortunately, their offense totally underperformed. Big Ben could only complete 10 passes and threw 4 interceptions. They need to find a balance between offense and defense, not one or the other.
Minnesota Vikings	1-4	+2	L 31-47 vs Texans
The new Vikings head coach coached his first game and ended up losing. Yes, they lost, but they move up in the rankings in my eyes. This was a Vikings offense we hadn’t seen this season, and it can only be attributed to their new coach. I expect better things from this team as the season goes on.
Indianapolis Colts	1-3-1	-1	L 28-31 vs Bears (S)
Simmed
San Diego Chargers	1-3-1	-3	L 0-16 @ Raiders
Yikes getting shut out is never fun. Defensively this team played fairly well, holding the Raiders to only 16 points. Now, that doesn’t sound too impressive but coupling that with the fact that Phillip Rivers threw FIVE interceptions, and you see how well their defense was playing. If this team figures things out offensively, they could win more than just 1 game.
New England Patriots	1-4	+3	W 34-16 @ Browns (S)
First win via sim. Maybe this gets them back on track.
New Orleans Saints	1-3	––	BYE
“Bye bye bye bye bye.” - N’Sync
New York Giants	1-4	-2	L 26-31 @ Packers (S)
Simmed
Baltimore Ravens	1-4	-1	L 10-31 vsRedskins (S)
SIMMED. This team hella wack.
Cleveland Browns	0-5	––	L 16-34 vs Patriots (S)
0-16 in the making?
San Francisco 49ers	0-5	––	L 10-27 @ 49ers (S)
I really think I might be sleeping on this 49ers team, but thus far they haven’t given me a clearcut reason to move them up from being the bottom of the rankings. I saw flashes of good defensive play this week, as well as flashes of an offense, but I need more consistency to move them up.

2016-12-24

MLL Power Rankings, Week 4: Week of the Running Back

Week 4 was the Week of the Running Back. David Johnson absolutely dominated, setting single-game records to lead the Cardinals to their 4th straight victory - this time against a top 10 team. The biggest jump this week was the Atlanta Falcons divisional matchup against the Panthers. Let the controversy begin!

Rank	Record	Rank Change	Week Result
Arizona Cardinals	4-0	––	W 66-13 vs Rams
Another dominating performance by DJ. So dominant that he broke the single game rushing record, by a good margin. 334 yards on just 26 carries AND 6 TDs? Against the Rams amazing D-Line? Yeah, this team is playing out of their minds.
Oakland Raiders	4-0	+5	W 45-17 @ Ravens
This week was the week of the running back. The Raiders had TWO runners topple 100+ yards on the ground, with both RBs getting 2 TDs. Derek Carr tried to get in on the action but only mustered -2 yards. Sad. They were shutting out the Ravens quite comfortably till some last quarter touchdowns, but their defense was all over the Ravens, forcing 4 turnovers and 3 sacks.
Dallas Cowboys	3-1	+9	W 28-0 @ 49ers
Sure, they played an easy team, but they flat out dominated. I said it was the week of the running back, and this game backs up that claim. Elliott had 233 yards from scrimmage carrying on our trend. This defense shut down the 49ers, holding them to a 3rd down % of ZERO.
Kansas City Chiefs	3-1	+5	W 49-35 @ Steelers
Week. Of. The. Running back! Jamaal Charles: 21 carries for 241 yards and 4 TDs. Do I need to say anything else about this offense? Their defense did a great job forcing turnovers; 6 overall, intercepting Big Ben a whopping 5 times (3 coming from Derrick Johnson). They forced a lot of turnovers, but we’d like to see this team do better offensively on third down, as they had a conversion percentage of only 17%. They lost to Houston in week 2, but coupling their big win against the Jets with this, and you have your #4 ranked team.
Los Angeles Rams	3-1	-2	L 13-66 @ Cardinals
Yeesh, this was an ugly one. Anytime you let an NFL team score 66 against you, you aren’t winning. Anytime you let an opposing RB get 300+ yards on the ground, you aren’t winning. Anytime you let an opposing QB toss 3 touchdowns on just 5 completions, you likely aren’t winning. The Rams managed to do all of the above in their loss this week. Because they played the #1 team and have a habit of balling out, I only dropped them two spots, but I likely won’t be this lenient next week. Have to do better.
New York Jets	3-1	+5	W 13-10 vs Seahawks
The Jets moved back into the top 10 after their OT win vs the Seahawks. Remember how this was the week of the running back? Yea, newly converted RB Percy Harvin ran for 191 yards on 23 carries. Still, this game was relatively close, though the Jets defense did an excellent job shutting down the Seahawks offense. They’ll need more convincing wins to move into the top 5.
Miami Dolphins	3-1	-5	L 25-28 @ Bengals
While the Dolphins head coach was off an a sabbatical, his team had to fend for themselves. They did well, but not well enough to secure the win. This was a tight one, and provided their head coach is active, I believe they are a top 10 team.
Jacksonville Jaguars	3-1	-2	L 20-26 @ Colts
With their head coach suspended this game, we knew this game would be tight. The Jaguars simply couldn’t get it done. Several key injuries may hold this team back in the next few weeks, but provided their head coach stays out of trouble with the MLL, this is a top 10 team.
Detroit Lions	3-1	-4	L 13-23 @ Bears
The Lions head coach has missed 2 games in a row now, and his team just recorded their first loss without him. With their coach, this team is an offensive powerhouse. Expect them to rise in the rankings when he returns.
Atlanta Falcons	2-2	+11	W 30-20 vs Panthers
The Falcons won a decisive divisional matchup against the Panthers here. Matt Ryan had a great day, tossing 3 TDs, and Tevin Coleman kept the safeties honest all game. The secondary of this team is scary; they intercepted Cam Newton FIVE times. This team needs to improve on offense to turn those turnovers into points.
Carolina Panthers	3-1	-7	L 20-30 @ Falcons
Cam just had a terribly off day. Anytime you throw 5 picks, you won’t win and that is exactly what happened here. This defense was a top 5 passing defense, but simply couldn’t get the job done this week allowing Ryan to pierce their zones.
Tennessee Titans	2-2	+7	W 33-26 @ Texans
The Titans won a tight one in Houston this past week and jumped in the rankings. Mariota finally had the game we thought he could have, throwing the ball for 359 yards with only one pick. Murray was able to find the holes when he wanted to and this defense did an excellent job shutting down the passing attack of the Texans.
Houston Texans	3-1	-5	L 26-33 vs Texans
A tough one to lose, but not as tough as losing your starting QB for 7 weeks. Brock Osweiler went down early in the second quarter and Tom Savage just was not savage enough to secure the win for this team. Expect them to rethink their game plan and possibly utilize the run more with their backup QB at the helm.
Chicago Bears	2-2	+1	W 23-13 vs Lions
The Bears did beat the previously ranked #5 team, yes, but they did it when their head coach wasn’t present. I was still very impressed with this team’s win, but less so impressed with rookie Jacoby Brissett. 3 picks is simply unacceptable and had this game ended differently, he may have found himself in the dog house.
Denver Broncos	2-2	-5	L 10-27 @ Bucs (S)
After last week’s dominating performance, I expected the Broncos to deliver the same treatment to the Bucs. Sadly, the game wasn’t played. Rather, it was simmed on the famous Madden 17 game. The algorithms were not in favor of the Broncos.
Cincinnati Bengals	2-2	+1	W 28-25 vs Dolphins (S)
The Bengals beat a coach-less Dolphins team this week. Other analysts may have had this team jumping in the rankings after beating the #2 team, but they’ll be staying in the shadow of the Broncos for now.
Philadelphia Eagles	2-1	-4	Bye Week
So, maybe the Eagles aren’t as good as we all thought, which is why they dropped during their bye week. Their only wins on the season are to the Browns (lol) and the Steelers, who don’t seem to be that strong of a team this year. We’ll see if the Eagles move up in the rankings next week.
Washington Redskins	2-2	––	W 21-0 vs Browns
The Redskins pulled out the win and didn’t move in the rankings. Why? Because we expected this win! That, coupled with the other numerous moving pieces of the league and it’s tough to move them above the other teams. They lost to the subpar Steelers and have only managed to beat the struggling Giants and poopy Browns. Let’s see if they can get a big win soon.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2-2	+1	W 27-10 vs Broncos (S)
The Bucs benefitted from the sim here, and pulled out the win. They move up one spot, and the Bucs head coach praises the Madden gods.
Seattle Seahawks	1-3	-6	L 10-13 @ Jets
A nail-biter right to the last second. This one couldn’t be settled in regulation and had to go to OT, where the Jets kicker, Nick Folk, was the hero. This defense has to do better to win games; Percy Harvin tore them up for 150+ yards on the ground. That cannot happen.
Buffalo Bills	2-2	+1	W 31-23 @ Patriots
It was a win, but not a very convincing one versus a team that has struggled all season. To this point, their wins have been to two teams that have combined for 1 win. They need to win games against stiffer competition to move up higher.
Pittsburgh Steelers	1-3	-6	L 35-49 vs Chiefs
You know this offense is ranked third in most points per game? That’s crazy. But, did you know this defense is also ranked second to last in most points allowed? Yeah, you can have a good offense, but if your defense is letting the opposing team score more points than you, you aren’t winning any games. Tighten up the defense. Please. I might have to put that on a loop.
San Diego Chargers	1-2-1	+3	W 49-42 vs Saints (S)
Well the Chargers first win came by hand of the Madden gods. I’m not sure if the head coach made some offerings before the game began, but they certainly paid off. Philip Rivers went off. The defense played bad. Why am I writing about a computer game?
Indianapolis Colts	1-2-1	+4	W 26-20 @ Jaguars
Yes! The Colts first win came against the division rival Jaguars. With the Jags head coach suspended, the Colts knew they had to capitalize and they did. This overtime win was likely heart-breaking for the Jaguars. The game-winning touchdown showed the resilience of this team. Win more games and they might break the Top 15.
Green Bay Packers	1-2	––	Bye Week
The Packers almost lost a close one here. Eddie Lacy successful avoided the temptation of the 20 piece McNugget meal, to the delight of fans, coaches, and even Ronald McDonald. Good bye week lads.
Minnesota Vikings	1-3	+4	W 27-16 vs Giants (S)
I hate writing about simmed games. This Vikings team is now under new management though, so we’ll see if this win starts an upward trend.
New York Giants	1-3	-3	L 16-27 @ Vikings (S)
Their win from week 1 is looking more and more like a fluke, or just the Cowboys offensive rookies having nervous jitters. Their loss here to the Vikings moves them down, even though it was a sim.
New Orleans Saints	1-3	-5	L 42-49 @ Chargers (S)
Eek. Great offense. Shoddy defense. Head coach may soon be in the dog house, just a matter of time.
Baltimore Ravens	1-3	-1	L 17-45 vs Oakland
We finally saw a hint of an offense out of the Ravens in this game. However, it was their defense that was lacking. Allowing two rushers to eclipse 100+ yards never spells success for your team. And it didn’t, leading directly to the obliteration of the Ravens at home. Bright spot: WR Breshad Perriman had his second 100+ yard game of the season, keep an eye on him.
New England Patriots	0-4	-1	L 23-31 vs Bills
Umm. Am I dreaming? Or are the Patriots really 0-4? Even with Brady being available for the first 4 games, he seems...deflated. MLL regulations regarding ball inflation seem to not be working in Brady’s favor as he is second in the league in interceptions.
Cleveland Browns	0-4	––	L 0-21
I’m really happy to see the Browns sticking with the Kessler project. The kid can play, but he needs the experience. Pryor finally had his breakout game, proving he can play WR with the best of them. Yeah, he had 93 yards against Josh Norman, THE Josh Norman. The race for worst will take an interesting turn this week as the Browns play the Patriots.
San Francisco 49ers	0-4	––	L 0-28 vs Cowboys
LOL, the 49ers are averaging 2 points a game. That’s the coolest stat ever. They’re literally averaging a safety a game. Have they gotten one? No, but their defense manages to not be the worst. The lack of offensive pieces on this team likely mean they’ll look to splash big in the draft and secure some playmakers. Christian Ponder got some reps in this loss and proved he’s just as bad as Kaepernick. This team needs to look to the future. Feed Carlos Hyde, let the man get some more experience so he can develop. This coming week they face the Cardinals who just got done putting up 66 points against the Rams. Please pray for the 49ers.

2016-12-22

MLL Power Rankings, Week 3: Cardinals Hold Top Spot

Week 3 is when the Power Rankings really start to become tougher to create. This is when matchups really start to become a factor in determining rankings of teams. The biggest jump this week was by the Seattle Seahawks, who proved that they can be the team we all thought they could be.

Rank	Record	Ranking Change
Arizona Cardinals	3-0	––
We all knew David Johnson was going to have a big year, but this big? He balled out for 170+ yards on the ground, and helped lead the Cardinals to their 3rd straight victory. The defense shut down Tyrod Taylor and clogged the running holes all game. If David Johnson continues this tear, I’m not sure anyone will be able to topple this team.
Miami Dolphins	3-0	––
The Dolphins seemed to play down this week to the Cleveland Browns. They secured the win by only 6 points. Tannehill managed only 120 yards passing and Ajayi struggled on the ground all game. Their defense saved them this game, intercepting the rookie Kessler for 2 interceptions. Expect better play if they want to hold this number 2 spot.
Los Angeles Rams	3-0	+1
Will somebody stop this rushing attack of the Rams! Todd Gurley has been on a tear to start this season, and Tre Mason got to share in the glory this game too! This offense is quickly asserting itself as one of the top offenses in the league, nay, they HAVE asserted themselves as a top offense.
Carolina Panthers	3-0	+2
Cam Newton had a great day through the air but still somehow managed to throw 2 picks. They need to cut down on the turnovers to keep this momentum going.
Detroit Lions	3-0	––
Well. Even the CPU Lions are a great team. Without their head coach this team still secured the win against the Packers.
Jacksonville Jaguars	3-0	+4
The Jaguars had their way with the Ravens in this one, with the offense refusing to turn the ball over. They could run and pass all game…did I mention they shut out the Ravens? With the Jaguars head coach suspended next week, it’ll be interesting how the team does in his absence.
Oakland Raiders	3-0	+2
Latavius Murray had a great game for the Raiders. 85 yards on thee ground and 22 through the air. But what really won the Raiders the game was their defense. A fumble recovery for a touchdown and their two INTs of Mariota were the the plays that ended up winning them this game.
Houston Texans	3-0	––
Texans secured another win versus the struggling Patriots team.
Kansas City Chiefs	2-1	+2
The Chiefs bounced back after last week’s loss in a big way, topping the Jets 31-6. Charles was able to find the holes in the offensive line all game and Smith croaked his way to 200 yards passing off of a big 75 yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill. The defense played great all game, forcing two turnovers, and it paid off. If the Chiefs keep this up, they’ll be tough to stop.
Denver Broncos	2-1	+10
The Broncos piled up another dub in a big way here in Cincinnati. Siemian had one of his best games, tossing 3 TDs with no turnovers and CJ Anderson continued his amazing year, piling on his 2nd 100+ yards rushing game of the year. The defense allowed 345 passing yards to Andy Dalton, but held the team to only 12 points. Look for the team to continue this stellar play next week against the Bucs.
New York Jets	2-1	-8
The Jets offense was manhandled in this game. Driskel could only manage 105 passing yards and newly converted RB Percy Harvin managed 35 yards on the ground. After a disappointing performance, it looks like the move to send Matt Forte away is looking bad for this team. Harvin simply does not look like the 3 down back the Jets hoped he would be.
Dallas Cowboys	2-1	+1
Minus a 50 yard rush near the end of the game, Elliott and the Cowboys struggled to move the ball on the ground. Their saving grace was the play of Dak Prescott, who completed 77% of his passes. This Cowboys defense needs to up their pass coverage game as they allowed the rookie Brissett to pierce their zones for 2 touchdowns. But, a win is a win.
Philadelphia Eagles	2-1	+3
Ryan Mathews had a huge game here. 124 yards on the ground with two touchdowns to go along with it (fantasy owners will be pleased). Carson Wentz had his way thru the air and this defense was able to hold the Steelers to only 24 points, their lowest on the season.
Seattle Seahawks	1-2	+16
This was the Seahawks team we expected to see. They beat up on the 49ers, offensively and defensively. Offensively Wilson pierced the struggling Niners defense en route to 250 yards passing and 3 TDs. While they couldn’t establish the run game, it didn’t matter much. The defense performed extremely well, allowing only 3 points in this crucial win. What helps put the Hawks so high, is the fact that their two losses are to the #2 and #3 teams.
Chicago Bears	1-2	-3
The Bears recent trade for Jacoby Brissett resulted in an instant start for the rookie, and he delivered…everything but the win. He had a good day passing the football but his team was unable to hold on to the football all game losing 2 costly fumbles.
Pittsburgh Steelers	1-2	-1
This high-powered offense seemed to sputter a bit against the Eagles. Antonio Brown had another big day, but Big Ben struggled, throwing two interceptions. Those turnovers ended up costing the team as the Eagles were able to run and pass at will against this struggling defense.
Cincinnati Bengals	1-2	-3
Sure, they beat the Steelers who are above them, but not very convincingly. And their performance this week showed they are a weaker team. One week removed from their close win against the Steelers and the Bengals get absolutely manhandled by the Denver Broncos. The Bengals defense was dominated all game by CJ Anderson and Trevor Siemian and their offense simply couldn’t match. Finding themselves in a hole early, Dalton had to pass 44 times, something that is never a winning recipe.
Washington Redskins	1-2	+6
This season may be in the dust, pending further analysis of Kirk Cousins injury. Colt McCoy stepped up in a big way in this game, sealing the win for the Redskins. Newly arrived Devonta Freeman struggled to find the holes all game, but with the way McCoy was throwing, it wasn’t an issue. Josh Norman stepped up in a big way, locking down superstar Odell Beckham for 7 yards receiving. Yes, I said 7. Even if Cousins is out for an extended period of time, McCoy has shown that he could possibly lead this team to victory.
Tennessee Titans	1-2	-2
The Titans kept this one tight till the end but the turnover prone Mariota all but sealed his team’s fate. A costly fumble and interception in the 4th lead to their demise. With the Titans unable to establish a proper run game, and Mariota looking panicked in the pocket, expect Coach Drake to think long and hard about what direction this team should go in.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1-2	-1
The Bucs kept this one tight, but in the end, their defense couldn’t stop the Rams. The costly interceptions thrown by Winston certainly didn’t help them. Look for them to lessen turnovers if they want to win more games.
Atlanta Falcons	1-2	+5
Looks like it might be Matt Ryan time. 345 yards and 2 touchdowns? Not too shabby. The defense played well too, limiting the ground game of the Saints and securing the W.
Buffalo Bills	1-2	––
Yeah, they lost, but when playing the #1 team, you expect a team like the Bills to get destroyed. The Bills put up a good fight, but a win was not their destiny. After LeSean McCoy went down, the newly acquired Matt Forte stepped in and didn’t do much. Bills have to improve defensively to win more games.
New Orleans Saints	1-2	-5
This offense struggled a lot in this loss. Brees threw for a whopping 280 yards yet this team still couldn’t seem to topple the Falcons. Chalk it up to shoddy defense, that allowed the Falcons to score 35 points.
New York Giants	1-2	-17
This Giants team has entered into somewhat of a slump from since week 1. Their biggest issue? Not getting the ball to their stars. OBJ NEEDS to get more touches for this team to succeed. Vereen isn’t getting the job done on the ground, so it’s time to look for other options offensively. Their bright spot has been Sterling Shepard but it won’t be long till defenses learn to stop the 3 WR sets of the Giants.
Green Bay Packers	1-2	-4
Rodgers has to limit turnovers. Eddie “Fat Boy” Lacy had a great game on the ground, totaling 99 yards and a TD. Look for this team to limit turnovers if they want to excel against stronger competition.
San Diego Chargers	0-2-1	+1
Looking at the stats of this game for the Chargers, it’s tough to see how this game ended in a tie. Philip Rivers passed for 297 yards and 2 TDs and the defense played phenomenal, forcing 3 turnovers. The Chargers inability to string together a proper drive consistently, led this game to end in a tie.
Baltimore Ravens	1-2	-4
It’s crazy to put a 1-2 team after a team that hasn’t even won a game but this Ravens team played absolutely atrocious this past week. They have the second worst offense in the entire league and the only team they beat is the Browns, who are not good by any stretch. At least when the Chargers played the Jaguars they didn’t get shut out! 76 yards passing, and 19 yards rushing…all game. That’s right, the Ravens could not eclipse 100 yards total. This team needs to improve both offensively and defensively, as Bortles tore them up for 293 yards.
Indianapolis Colts	0-2-1	––
Amazingly, the Colts somehow stayed in this game long enough to force the tie. Luck had another sloppy game, throwing 3 interceptions, with his consolation being his 382 yards. Frank Gore found the holes all game but, really, this team didn’t deserve the tie with the way the offense was turning the ball over. Props to the defense for keeping the Colts in this one.
New England Patriots	0-3	––
I don’t know what’s going on with this team. This team is playing like the Looney Toons vs the Monstars, just waiting for the MLL version of Michael Jordan to come save them. They need to do better. They have had a very tough schedule so far, as they have played the #1, #2, and #8 teams, if that is any consolation.
Minnesota Vikings	0-3	-5
Man this team has really lost their way. Offensively they played very well but failed to establish a passing game. Peterson had his way with the Panthers run defense, piling 97 yards on the ground. Defensively, this team struggled: they allowed a whopping 377 yards through the air. They need to buckle down defensively to win games.
Cleveland Browns	0-3	––
Yeah, they’re 0-3 but a lot of their games have been quite close. The Browns have been putting up fights with their main struggle being their offense. Unable to establish their run game, they turned to rookie Cody Kessler - just the third different QB to start in their first 3 games - for answers. He answered the call throwing for 292 yards (139 to fellow rookie Corey Coleman) but threw 2 interceptions, all but sealing this team’s fate. This team needs to choose a QB and stick with them for the season for sake of continuity on offense.
San Francisco 49ers	0-3	––
At this point, I’m fairly confident the team is looking to make a big splash in FA and the draft. They have great pieces, but lack a QB that can bring their team together. Thus far, Kaepernick hasn’t been able to do much. If they want to win, they’ll need a much more capable QB at the helm. I hope this team can prove me wrong, though and they start showing their winning mentality that led them to the Super Bowl a few years back.

2016-12-18

MLL Power Rankings, Week 2: Shake up in the Rankings

This week saw quite a few upsets, in terms of teams that we projected to win. Both the Seahawks and Patriots are struggling this season, and have found themselves in very unfamiliar territory. The Cincinnati Bengals ended up with the biggest jump in this week’s power rankings.

Rank	Record	Ranking Change
Arizona Cardinals	2-0	-
Their offense was perfection. David Johnson went on a tear in this game, while Carson Palmer had his troubles. But the defense. The defense was gutted for 154 yards on the ground and 240 through the air. They got 3 INTs, sure, but they have to clamp down on the defensive end if they want to hold this number 1 spot.
Miami Dolphins	2-0	-
The Dolphins came into Foxborough and unleashed their balanced offense onto the Patriots with Tannehill having a near perfect game, along with Ajayi racking up yard after yard on the ground. The defense was able to get into the backfield at will allowing the Dolphins to come out on top in this crucial divisional matchup.
New York Jets	2-0	-
The Jets had their share of offensive struggles here in this game, but their defense aided them heavily, shutting out the Bills here in an important divisional matchup. The offensive line allowed 6 sacks in this game, leading to the rookie Driskel to throw 2 INTs. The win looks good on the scoreboard, but it wasn’t too pretty.
Los Angeles Ram	2-0	+1
The Rams are well on their way to claiming a spot in the top 3. Gurley has been able to run at will on defenses, including the Seahawks great D. Goff was able to tear through the Legion of Boom en route to 3 touchdown passes. The Rams defense gave Wilson plenty of trouble. If the Rams keep playing like this, they’ll be a tough team to stop.
Detroit Lions	2-0	+1
The Lions dominated early in this matchup against the Titans, but a late scare almost let the Titans pull away. This offense is a powerhouse, and the defense was able to force turnover at will. Provided their defense can tighten up and give up less points, this team will be great. Let’s see if they can keep this momentum going next week.
Carolina Panthers	2-0	-2
Yes, the Panthers are 2-0, but after a lackluster performance against a team at the bottom of our power rankings, they should have expected a drop. Their defense is still top of the line, but they have to move the ball better on the ground and capitalize on forced turnovers to maintain a top spot.
New York Giants	1-1	-
Game was simmed, so no change in power rankings. Yes, it is controversial to leave them here, @ me.
Houston Texans	2-0	+6
The Brocket Launcher. Two games into the season and he has 597 passing yards and 5 TDs. The only downside to this offense is their heavy reliance on the passing game. This defense needs to make more stops to keep winning games.
Oakland Raiders	2-0	+7
In the Raiders’ coach first game, we saw him focus his efforts on the run game. Carr was able to pass the ball when it was required of him, and did so with no turnovers. Defensively, they shut down the run, but could not stop the passing attack of Matt Ryan. I’d like to see this team force more turnovers on the defensive end, if they want to make a jump in the rankings.
Jacksonville Jaguars	2-0	+3
Make that two games the Jags have won. The firing of Gus Bradley seems to be paying dividends for this team. Both Ivory and Bortles are finding the holes in the defense, and capitalizing. Winning both these games by only 1 possession does spell some worry, however.
Kansas City Chiefs	1-1	-
The Chiefs had a rough time in this one. Charles was able to find the holes in this game, and Smith was able to throw the ball with relative ease all game (barring the 2 interceptions). Their defense, however, was unable to stop the vertical onslaught of Osweiler and the Texans. Braxton Miller absolutely tore up this team, look for them to focus their efforts on stopping the pass.
Chicago Bears	1-1	+11
Howard continues to have a good start to this season. The defense was able to completely shut down the rushing attack of the Eagles forcing rookie Carson Went to try and win the game with his arm. Alas, it wasn’t to be, though Sproles 15 receptions this game seem to indicate a try-hard mentality of the Eagles. Jay Cutler played smart in this game and led this offense to their first win of the year.
Dallas Cowboys	1-1	+6
Another close game here. After Elliott’s quiet first game, he bounced back here with 135 yards and 3 touchdowns. Prescott sat composed in the pocket and let the game come to him. When it came down to it, this defense was able to make the stops when they needed to.
Cincinnati Bengals	1-1	+16
Wow what a game. The Bengals pulled off this last second thriller of a game versus division rival Pittsburgh. Dalton recovered from his lackluster Week 1 performance and kept each drive alive all game. They established the run game and were able to hold Le’veon Bell to 6 yards. Look for them to focus more on stopping the pass.
Pittsburgh Steelers	1-1	-5
I could copy and paste what I said from last week’s rankings. This offense is incredible. The defense? Not so much. Antonio Brown is otherworldly, but if this team can’t stop the Bengals at home, how will they be able to win the competitive AFC North?
Philadelphia Eagles	1-1	-7
The Eagles were unable to build any momentum all game. With no rushing attack, Carson Wentz found himself throwing… a lot. The Bears played great lock down defense on the outside, requiring Wentz to pass to Sproles 15 - yes, 15 - times. For this team to win, they’ll need to establish the run, involve their WRs, and buckle down on defense.
Tennessee Titans	1-1	-9
Not a good performance by the Titans against the Lions. Mariota put this team in a big early hole with two straight INTs to start off this game. The team mounted a late comeback in the 4th quarter, narrowing the gap to 3 points, but they simply could not stop the air and ground attack of the Lions.
New Orleans Saints	1-1	-
Game was simmed so no change in rankings.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1-1	-4
Doug. Martin. This man put the offense on his back after Winston turned the ball over and over. Totaling 150+ yards on the ground and two touchdowns, he was the sole bright spot of the offense. This defense was absolutely gutted on the ground however. For them to win games, they need to be able to stop their opponent’s rushing attack and give Martin the opportunity to ball out!
Denver Broncos	1-1	+6
The Broncos came out and got it done at home. CJ Anderson had another big game, and this time the offense was clicking. Siemian was smart with the ball and didn’t turn the ball over. The defense played a pivotal role in this win, holding the Colts to 13 points after they scored 24 last week. Provided they can keep up this effort, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
Green Bay Packers	1-1	-
First win of the season was via Sim-a-Win. No change in ranking.
Buffalo Bills	1-1	-10
After a week 1 win against the Ravens, the Bills were hoping to add another tally to the win column. They just couldn’t get the job done. Tyrod Taylor, who’s on a $11.5M salary, threw a whopping 4 interceptions and LeSean McCoy could get nothing on the ground. If rumors hold true, the Bills will be paying both Taylor and Tony Romo big bucks at the QB position. We’ll see if it pays off.
Baltimore Ravens	1-1	-1
It was a win, but an ugly one at that. Like last year, this team is struggling to find a groove offensively. Defensively, they were able to shut down the struggling Browns offense. This team needs to learn how to move the ball offensively before they can hope to topple the Steelers in the AFC North.
Washington Redskins	0-2	-4
It’s interesting, this game could have gone either way and I actually contemplated placing them above the Ravens. The Redskins have a great aerial attack with Kirk Cousins but he has to limit the turnovers. The defense was unable to stop Elliott from carving them up for 135 yards. While they limited Dak through the air, they couldn’t stop him on the several clutch 3rd down conversions that ultimately led to the Redskins demise.
Minnesota Vikings	0-2	-
Sim-a-Win...err, loss.
Atlanta Falcons	0-2	-9
Atlanta certainly struggled in this one, but this was a game they could have won. They were unable to establish the run, but were able to pass at will. They held the Raiders passing attack to only 152 yards, yet allowed Murray to run all over them. If this team can figure out things on the defensive end, they’ll start piling on the wins.
San Diego Chargers	0-2	-2
The defense struggled all game to contain Marquise Lee and Bortles. This team couldn’t seem to gain any momentum on offensive and though the score seems close, the Chargers will need to establish the run more effectively to move up in the rankings.
Indianapolis Colts	0-2	-1
This team struggled all game and their defense just couldn’t seem to stop the ground attack of the Broncos. Luck will have to cut down on the turnovers for this team to be win games.
New England Patriots	0-2	-
It’s looking more and more like it is time for Tom Brady to hang up the cleats and call it a career. I can’t remember the last time Brady had two bad games in a row! He’s turnover prone this year, and the Patriots cannot afford to struggle on offense with their leaky defense. With the Patriots agreeing on a trade to send Garoppolo away, it’ll be interesting to see where the future of this team is headed.
Seattle Seahawks	0-2	-2
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Wilson has struggled at the start of this season, with a touchdown yet to come, but four interceptions thrown. A bright spot for this team is rookie Thomas Rawls who has been able to find the hole fairly well this season. This defense allowed the young Rams offense to tally 38 points against, including 3 TDs from rookie Jared Goff. Legion of Whom?
Cleveland Browns	0-2	-
I’m loving the consistency in this year’s Browns team. Both games so far they’ve scored 3 points. Soon as their defense starts making some more stops, they might force a shut out and actually win a game! Jokes aside this defense is ready to win, but the offense has to catch up. The coach will take answers anywhere he can find them; evidence of this is him benching Josh McCown after Week 1 and electing to start rookie Cody Kessler. The Browns held the Ravens to 149 total yards all game, a huge accomplishment. Once this offense starts clicking and scoring, this team could be a serious contender. Okay, they might be able to string together 1 or 2 wins.
San Francisco 49ers	0-2	-
The 49ers were surprisingly able to hold the Panthers to only 10 points, but even then, they allowed Cam Newton to pile up 239 yards through the air. Their offensive woes continued in this game as Kaepernick struggled all game. Their only touchdown came from backup Blaine Gabbert. Maybe a shake-up at the QB position next week will get this team back on track.

2016-12-16

MLL Power Rankings, Week 1: Cardinals Start Strong; Browns are the Browns

In the first week of La Liga, we saw top teams tumble and underdogs come out on top. It’s much too early to

begin predicting playoff teams, but this first week set the groundwork for the rest of the season.

Rank	Record	Ranking Change
Arizona Cardinals	1-0	N/A
This Sunday night matchup against the Patriots was supposed to be a great game...till it started. The Cardinals wasted no time in this one, piling point after point all the while playing great pass defense netting 3 interceptions against Tom Brady. David Johnson had a great game, totaling 3 TDs and 75 yards on 21 carries. This team is one to be feared, provided David Johnson finds the holes and their defense continues their ball hawking tendencies.
Miami Dolphins	1-0	N/A
Led by a stifling defense and game-manager Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins had their way with a sluggish and uninspired Seahawks team. 12th man who?
New York Jets	1-0	N/A
Looks like Jeff Driskel had something to say about the Bengals cutting him, and let his play on the field do the talking with three touchdowns. Despite this aerial assault, the Jets seemed incapable of using Matt Forte in the offense and--after investing $12 million into him--Dri Archer bizarrely got the bulk of the carries. But hey, no one questions the management as long as they stock the win column and this team did just that.
Carolina Panthers	1-0	N/A
The Panthers got their revenge from February against Trevor Siemian and the new-look Denver Broncos, securing three interceptions and shutting out an offense full of playmakers.
Los Angeles Rams	1-0	N/A
After placing nearly their entire offense on the trade block, many thought the Rams offense would be uninspired on the field. This was not the case, however, as they won 34-0 behind Todd Gurley’s monster game. Though many expected this team to be higher in the rankings, the iffy QB play of Jared Goff drives them down a bit further. The defense of this team is one to be feared as they allowed 6 rushing yards to Carlos Hyde as well sacking Kaepernick a whopping 6 times. Watch out for the Rams D-Line.
Detroit Lions	1-0	N/A
Is Theo Riddick a WR, or a RB? After this game, he now leads the league in receiving, not rushing, yards. After paying Marvin Jones 40 million, you’d think they’d look to use what they bought but in this game Stafford seemed to have tunnel vision for his running backs. This offense is likely going to continue to roll and score points, but the defense has to tighten up more if they want to beat more experienced teams.
New York Giants	1-0	N/A
Eli Manning didn’t take much time to get acquainted with new rookie receiver Sterling Shepard resulting in 125 yards and a TD. Odell was strangely quiet for most of the afternoon, however, something he was very vocal about at the post-game press conference. With Victor Cruz also returning with a strong game, expect a deadly offense the rest of the way
Tennessee Titans	1-0	N/A
Titans came away with a win, but that was anything but a sure result on Sunday. First round tackles, Conklin and Lewan were turn-stiles on the outside and Mariota had little time to throw, resulting in 2 interceptions. New addition, Rishard Matthews had a field day against a surprisingly leaky Vikings pass defense which was the difference. Last word: Murray has GOT to find more holes, otherwise he may find himself jobless with lurking second rounder Derrick Henry.
Philadelphia Eagles	1-0	N/A
And so begins the era of Carson Wentz: 290 yards and 3 TDs. He was sharp and surgical for much of the day, peppered all his receivers with passes as the Eagles went up big, giving Philly something to cheer. Darren Sproles seems to have carved himself out a HUGE role, with Ryan Matthews sitting the bench after his one-and-only carry. Fantasy be damned.
Pittsburgh Steelers	1-0	N/A
Wow. Antonio Brown had a game. 165 yards and 2 TDs. If this offense continues to roll like this, I’m not sure any defense can stop them. On the defensive side they need to work more on stopping the pass. Yeah, Cousins threw two picks, but he threw for a whopping 305 yards against the Steelers defense. For the Steelers to compete in the AFC North they have to tighten up that defense.
Kansas City Chiefs	1-0	N/A
An AFC West matchup started the season for the Chiefs and they pulled out the W. Behind Alex Smith’s cannon arm the offense scored 19 points. Charles struggled on the ground mustering 2.0 YPC. Defensively the team held the Chargers to only 9 points. Charles will have to find the holes if this team wants to make a deep playoff run.
Buffalo Bills	1-0	N/A
Benefitted by an uncharacteristically poor game by Justin Tucker, but in the NFL you take a win any way you can get it. This pne wasn’t pretty by any means and they are gonna need larger contributions from Lesean McCoy if they hope to make the playoffs this year.
Jacksonville Jaguars	1-0	N/A
The Jaguars won a nail biter here. Chris Ivory balled out for his new team tallying 92 yards on 15 carries. Blake Bortles seemed confident, yet rattled at times. Though the offensive line played well, Bortles still threw 3 INTs. For the Jaguars to win, they’re going to have to limit turnovers. Their defense played very well, holding the elite Aaron Rodgers to under 200 passing yards and got an INT as a result of their linebacker blitzes (I’m looking at you, Paul Posluszny).
Houston Texans	1-0	N/A
The Texans pulled out the ugly win against the fairly weak Bears. Brock Osweiler, the young gunslinger, threw a whopping 49 times for his team, 2 of those going for TDs while 3 went for INTs. Lamar Miller ran well for them, totaling 39 yards and a TD on 10 carries. Look for the Texans to try and establish the run more. Going with a pass heavy offense may work against the Bears, but certainly won’t work against stronger teams.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1-0	N/A
Though this game was simmed by both parties, the CPUs both put up a decent fight.
Oakland Raiders	1-0	N/A
Not much to say here. The MLL awarded the Raiders the win here via the Sim-a-Win rule.
Atlanta Falcons	0-1	N/A
CPU put up a good fight.
New Orleans Saints	0-1	N/A
The Saints stood no chance against the Raiders Sim-a-Win feature.
Dallas Cowboys	0-1	N/A
With rookies starting at RB and QB, expectations should have always been tempered. The story of the afternoon was Dak Prescott, standing with poise in the pocket and delivering strikes all over the field. He seems to already have good chemistry with Cole Beasley, but it will be his relationship with Dez Bryant that will be heavily scrutinized as he only connected with him twice for 19 yards. Zeke Elliot looked awful in the backfield, running for 13 yards on 11 carries outside of an early 14 yard rush.
Washington Redskins	0-1	N/A
Impressively, the Redskins were able to keep up with the high-powered Steelers offense. This team will likely continue to be carried by the big arm of Kirk Cousins. Doctson had an unexpectedly huge game to rival Antonio Brown, gaining 112 yards with 2 TDs. After paying Josh Norman heavily this off season, the Redskins will want him to do his job and shut down opposing team’s top receivers for the future.
Green Bay Packers	0-1	N/A
Blake Martinez and the Packers defense tried to keep this close, but a breakout game from second-year USC receiver Marqise Lee all but doomed them. Still, it was good to see that the Rodgers-Nelson connection is still going strong.
Baltimore Ravens	0-1	N/A
Ravens will expect more from Justin Tucker after making him the highest player in the league this offseason. Their defense played well for most of the game, but some costly missed tackles on an 81-yard scamper from Charles Clay led to another fourth quarter loss, bringing back shades of the 2015 season.
Chicago Bears	0-1	N/A
Jordan Howard is something special. After taking the starting job from Langford he had a solid outing here, but defense couldn’t stop Osweiler and his outrageous 49 passing attempts. Look for them to try and slow down the tempo for future games so that opposing QBs can’t throw all over them.
Minnesota Vikings	0-1	N/A
The Vikings first drive set the tone for the remainder of the game. On Bridgewater’s first pass of the year he threw an INT. From that point on, he played relatively cautious and the team was unable to ride any sort of momentum. Defensively the team was able to nab two interceptions, yet they were thrown all over. Look for the Vikings to try and feed the ball more the AP and take more shots deep.
San Diego Chargers	0-1	N/A
The run defense played okay in this game. They couldn’t seem to stop the aerial attack at all and those issues start with the pass rush. Rivers needs to play better for this team to win games.
Denver Broncos	0-1	N/A
After Peyton Manning retired, we knew there would be some sort of talent drop-off, but certainly not one this big. Siemian had a terrible first game and it’s one he’ll have to quickly forget about. Look for the Broncos to rely more on their run game, as the O-Line was able to create holes at will for Anderson. The defense played extremely well allowing 131 total offensive yards (91 pass, 40 rush). It doesn’t help the D much that everytime they got onto the field, the Panthers were already in FG range.
Indianapolis Colts	0-1	N/A
The Colt’s defense was a leaky faucet allowing point after point to drip through their clutches. The firing of Jim Caldwell seems to be having a negative effect with the team unable to tackle...at all. The defense allowed Theo Riddick to absolutely wreak havoc in the passing game. Luck was not on Andrew Luck’s side as he struggled throughout this game. For this team to have playoff hopes, they have to buckle down on defense. Cover those flats!
Seattle Seahawks	0-1	N/A
After several (5) questionable 4th down attempts, the Seahawks find themselves in unfamiliar territory: 0-1 after a home loss to start the season. The passing attack for this team needs a lot of work as Wilson only threw for 68 yards. Rawls had a monster game, tallying 122 yards on 17 carries, yet this team couldn’t find the endzone, or the middle of the goalposts for that matter. The Legion of Boom shut Tannehill down for only 145 yards, but that was all he needed to hand the Hawks the L.
New England Patriots	0-1	N/A
Despite Tom Brady peppering Gronkowski on seemingly every offensive play (to the tune of 12 catches for 146 yards), they were blown out by an opportunistic Cardinals squad. They say a good QB has a short memory, but--in his old age--it seems Brady’s memory is a bit TOO short, leading to three interceptions as he continually tried to force the ball to the Gronk. Maybe it’s finally time for Old Man Brady to put down the cleats and give Jimmy Garopollo a chance at the reins?
Cincinnati Bengals	0-1	N/A
Looks like Playoff Dalton is rearing his ugly (red)head in the regular season now. They have got to get AJ Green more involved if they hope to keep pace with the Steelers in a very competitive AFC North.
Cleveland Browns	0-1	N/A
After signed RGIII this offseason, he was heavily speculated to get a shot at the starting job. Not so in week 1, with Josh McCown getting the start, and somewhat predictively laying an egg. The biggest disappointment, however, was Corey Coleman’s sole catch for negative yards. The Browns justifiably will be expect more from him in the coming weeks.
San Francisco 49ers	0-1	N/A
Kaepernick may as well have continued kneeling throughout every offensive snap. It would have saved him being abused by the Rams pass rush for 6 sacks and likely led to the same box score. Crazy to think this team was in the Super Bowl 4 short years ago. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team join the 2008 Lions as the only teams to go 0-16.

2014-06-08

ALL-NFL Team (Week 6 Edition)

QB: Brock Osweiler, Baltimore Ravens

While being ranked 5th in QB yardage, Osweiler has had arguably one of the best seasons thus far. While only throwing for 200 less yards than the league leader, he has thrown for 18 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. Osweiler struggled his sophomore season with interceptions (throwing a tantamount 45) and has had a proven track record for being the best quarterback in the league. (50 touchdowns his rookie season and 42 his sophomore).

Honorable Mention: Pete Thomas, Chicago Tigers

HB: Adrian Peterson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Peterson has always been regarded as one the most explosive running backs in the league. He currently leads the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. His past two seasons, he has accumulated over 4400 yards and with his 1411 yards this season, he has surpassed 5000 yards in 3 seasons.

Honorable Mention: Jamaal Charles, Washington Redskins

WR1: T.Y. Hilton, London Black Knights

Since entering the league, Hilton has been on an absolute tear. He currently leads the league in receiving yardage with 879 yards and has also caught 8 touchdown passes. The past 2 seasons have proved that Hilton has a reputation of being an elite receiver and his speed is unmatched by any corner of the league.

Honorable Mention: A.J. Green, Minnesota Vikings

WR2: Torrey Smith, Chicago Tigers

Smith has had a great season for the Tigers, already surpassing his 2014 numbers (in terms of yardage and touchdown numbers). Smith is a speed demon on the field and his skill set is very complimentary of Hilton who will both be able to stretch the field and leave the TEs open for receptions.

Honrorable Mention: Cordarrelle Patterson, Portland Snowhawks

TE: Jace Amaro, San Diego Chargers

The 6'7" giant out of Texas Tech has had an outstanding rookie season. He is the largest and most reliable redzone target in the NFL currently. He has had 12 touchdown receptions with the majority being in the redzone.

Honrable Mention: Rob Gronkowski, Denver Broncos

LOLB: Justin Houston, Toronto Mounties

The 2-4 Mounties have had a rough season but Houston has been one of the bright spots. Racking up 20 tackles in 6 he has accumulated 5 sacks and 1 forced fumble. For comparison, in 2014 he had 6 sacks, and in 2013 he had 8. We are not even halfway through the season and he looking to shatter his personal record!

Honorable Mention: Alec Ogletree, Chicago Tigers

MLB1: Takeo Spikes, Philadelphia Eagles

The 38 year old veteran is looking at his last few years in the NFL, yet has been able to stay as one of the best MLBs in the league. He currently is leading the league in tackles at 63 tackles, averaging 10 a game. He also has a sack.

Honorable Mention: DJ Williams, Chicago Bears

MLB2: Patrick Willis, Los Angeles Aftershocks

Though the Aftershocks are having an underwhelming season, Willis has impacted the teams minimal success. He is third in the league in tackles and also has 2 forces fumbles along with an interception.

Honorable Mention: Sean Lee, Brooklyn Beats

ROLB: Barkevius Mingo, Chicago Tigers

Mingo has been one of the most impactful LBs in the league. He is wellrounded; efficient at getting tackles, sacks, and picks. Through 7 games, he has racked up 35 tackles, 3 sacks, and a whopping 5 ints!

Honorable Mention: Brian Orakpo, Jacksonville Jaguars

CB1: Patrick Peterson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Peterson has been the highlight of the Buccaneers for several years now. In 2013 and 2014 he had 7 interceptions. Not even halfway through the 2015 season, he already has 7 interceptions - a league high. Couple his unmatchable speed and his outstanding man coverage ability and you have a true lock down corner of the NFL. If you paired him against T.Y. Hilton, you would be pitting two true speed demons against each other.

Honorable Mention: Jason McCourty, Detroit Lions

CB2: Brandon Browner, Jacksonville Jaguars

Throughout his stay with the Jaguars, Browner has proved that he is a capable corner. In 2013 he had 8 interceptions, yet dropped to only 4 interceptions in 2014 (he did increase his amount of tackles by 18 however). Many believe that Browner's speed is what holds him back and many a times he is outmatched by the speed of the young NFL WRs who pride on speed. However, Brandon Browner's size is what sets him apart. A 6'4" giant, he is able to reach higher than most receivers, especially with his exquisite jumping ability. Pair that with the hands of high school wide receiver (his team's number one receiver) and you have a deadly lock down corner.

Honorable Mention: Ras-I Dowling, New York Giants

FS: Antoine Bethea, Detroit Lions

Bethea has been an exciting player for the Lions. He is the perfect balance of a ballhawker but also a run stopper. Evidence for both can be found in his past statistics. In 2013 he had 86 tackles. In 2015, in just 5 games, he has racked up four interceptions. A defensive veteran, Bethea always seems to come up with big plays for the Lions, as is evident by his 2 forced fumbles on the season.

Honorable Mention: Dashon Goldson, Tennessee Titans

SS: Louis Delmas, Carolina Panthers

Generally, the SS is more of a run stopper, but Delmas proves that he can be a ballhawker as well. In 2014 he accumulated 86 tackes and 5 interceptions. Thus far in 2015 he has gotten 4 interceptions. The W. Michigan recruit has 1 year left on his contract and he is looking to cash in big on his next contract. If he keeps up the work this season, the Panthers will be needing to dish out the big bucks to keep him.

Honorable Mention: Marcus Gilchrist, Houstan Texans

NO LOVE FOR LINEMEN

2014-06-08

Top 3 Rookies and Sophomores of 2015 (Week 6)

Ravishing Rookies

Pete Thomas igniting the Raiders
Jakhari Gore stuns the NFL
TJ Yeldon surprises Cardinals

Sophomore Slumps?

Logan Thomas proves the haters wrong
Tajh Boyd off to a Slow Start
De'Anthony Thomas coming into his own

With week 7 of the NFL season approaching, we take a look at some of the high profile rookies and sophomores who are making an impression on the league so far.

Ravishing Rookies

Pete Thomas, QB, Oakland Raiders

Thomas, out of N.C. State, was drafted in the 1st round by the Oakland Raiders and many wondered if he would be the answer to a Raiders team looking to make the playoffs again. In need of a QB, the Raiders grabbed Thomas. Thus far, Thomas has had a pragmatic impact on the Raiders, helping them to a 3-3 record in the always competitive AFC West.

"When you're competing with great franchises like the Broncs and Chargers and Chiefs you know there's never going to be a definite number 1. I think all four teams are good enough to make it to the playoffs and really compete. It's just about who wins inside the division though," said Thomas. Thomas has thrown for over 1500 yards in just 6 games and has thrown 16 touchdowns along with 7 interceptions. This includes his breakout Week 5 matchup against the Bengals in which he completed 12 of 16 passes for 369 yards, and 4 touchdowns.

"I just gotta stay humble. I mean, we aren't into the playoffs yet. As long as the boys and myself keep working hard, we'll get there," said Thomas.

Jakhari Gore, HB, Denver Broncos

Gore was a 3rd round draft pick out of jail who has absolutely stunned the NFL with his impeccable running ability. Racking over 800 yards in just 76 carries, he has helped carry the Broncos to a 5-1 record in the AFC West. "Ya know when I was inside the bars I just knew that when I got out I would play in the NFL. I kept working, even started bench pressing some of the other inmates for fun. Free my homie T-Bone!" exclaimed Gore.

Gore was jailed for robbery and released from his college's program. Returning back to the gridiron has helped him overcome the ordeal.

"Playing for a great organization like the Broncos is no joke bruh. I needed to check myself and get myself back on my grind. Last year we lost to the Jags but this year we gon' beat 'em," says Gore, "I hope we do at least."

TJ Yeldon, HB, Toronto Mounties

Yeldon was drafted in the second round by the Toronto Mounties, a team that lacked a true running back. Many thought Yeldon would take the backup role and Blount would star as the team's primary muscle back. But the Mounties coach was impressed with Yeldon's speed in training camp and was granted the starting job.

He has thus far delivered.

Rushing for 281 yards in just 40 carries while splitting carries with Blount is no easy task. But Yeldon has proved the critics wrong. The Alabama product had a breakout game in week 2, where he rushed for 138 yards in just 8 carries.

"We are certainly a more a pass heavy team but that doesn't mean our run game is bad by any means. We play to our strengths but we don't have any weaknesses. It's just how we do it," says Yeldon.

The Mounties may need to change something however, as they have taken the backseat with a 2-4 record that pits them 3rd in the NFC West, a division with the Snowhawks and the 49ers.

"We'll get there. It's a rebuilding process. It'll take time," said Yeldon.

Sophomore Slumps?

Logan Thomas, QB, Memphis Hounds

Thomas had a fairly good season for the Hounds in 2014 but has been absolutely stellar here in 2015. Through 5 games, he has thrown for 1111 yards and has thrown an outstanding 14 touchdowns with just 1 interception on the season!

"I pick my spots, you know? I don't try to force anything. I stay within my limits to help this team," said Thomas. Thomas had a breakout game in the season opener where he completed 19 of 24 passes for 373 yards while throwing 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Since then, he has not turned the ball over.

Thomas laughed when asked if he considers himself an "elite" quarterback of the league. "That's something you analysts can argue over. All I can say is that the team is playing well and our 4-1 record certainly makes us an elite team of the league."

Tajh Boyd, QB, Washington Redskins

Tajh Boyd, the quarterback out of Clemson, has had a slow start to the season, due to a Week 3 injury that has left him sidelined (till Week 7). In 2014, he was a backup. This year on a roster with Andy Dalton and Tyrod Taylor, many thought he would a backup once more. However, this proved to not be the case as the Redskins offensive scheme is more suited for a scrambling quarterback. He beat out Tyrod Taylor who, in Boyd's absence, has taken the starting job.

"I'm just waiting till I heal up and I get back out there. It's not about the stats, it's about helping the team," says Boyd.

Boyd will return to the field in Week 7 against the 2-4 Mounties. Boyd is looking to add onto his 3 game season which boasts 611 yards and 6 touchdowns and 6 interceptions along with 22 rushing attempts for 143 yards.

De'Anthony Thomas, HB, Memphis Hounds

On a roster containing Chris Johnson many thought the 5'9" Oregon running back would get limited, if any, oppurtunities to shine. But the Hounds have taken a liking towards Thomas as he has gotten 67 carries to Johnson's 60. He has accumulated 444 yards and 5 touchdowns at 6.6 yards a carry. Coming off a year where he get absolutely no oppurtunities on the field, this is a huge improvement for Thomas.

"I just gotta keep playing how I play. Johnson has been a great mentor for me and we've gotten along really well. I'm excited for how the rest of the seaSon goes," says Thomas.

Thomas had a breakout game in Week 6 where he rushed only 10 times for 210 yards including a long 88 yard touchdown run. Thomas had caught the attention of many scouts prior to his rookie season when he ran a 4.34 at the combine. He is a speedy back who uses his quick acceleration to get into open field. It'll be interesting to see how his speed will continue to help him gain yards once teams figure out to stop the outside lanes and force him inside, where he immediately becomes uneasy against the much larger linemen and linebackers.

"I've been getting into the weight room. I've upped my weight by 5 pounds in this past month. It's a little, but every ounce of muscle will help me in the long run," finalized Thomas.

All these rookies and sophomores have found someway to help their team in 2015. But will each of these become the franchise players of their respective organizations? Only time will tell (and their stats).

2014-02-07

Jaguars Draft Review

The Jaguars came into the 2014 draft with plans to add depth to various positions of the team, as well as drafting WRs. They came away with 3 WRs, 3 CBs, a MLB, a HB, and a LE. Each player looks to bring their own set of skills to a Jaguars' team looking to win it all.

Corey Brown Selected 30th Overall (1st Round)

Corey "Philly" Brown, out of Ohio State University is a dynamic WR, with speed and quickness at every part of the field. He made the 2013 second-big ten team after posting a 60 reception, 669 yard season. Where Brown really shines, however, is special teams. He led the Big Ten and was ranked 16th nationally in punt returns, averagin 12.3 per return. He had two huge punt returns for touchdowns for which he was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.

After running a 4.38 at the combine, the Jaguars prioritized him as a speed receiver. While he lacks the ability to make plays with his hands, he makes up for it with his great ability on the ground.

"We are really excited to have such a playmaker like Brown on the team. We were worried our receiving corps may lack with the loss of 3 of them, but the potential Brown has is captivating," said Jerry Sullivan, the Jaguars' wide receivers coach.

The Jaguars' may end up using both Brown and Titus Ryan as their special teams players as both have immense speed and talent when back receiving kicks.

Aaron Colvin Selected 60th Overall (2nd Round)

Aaron Colvin, a cornerback out of Oklahoma, is a pure athlete who has NFL smarts already. In 36 starts for the Sooners, Colvin had 5 interceptions and 234 total tackles. His sophomore year he started as a strong safety but was moved back to corner the season after. This transition gave him a safety's intelligence, allowing him to know exactly where the safeties zones will be which in turn allows him to jump routes more.

During a Senior Bowl practice, Colvin tore his ACL. He will be facing some more rehab time which may slow him down into entering the NFL, but the Jaguars' are a patient organization. From their sights of him during the season they saw a speedy corner with a great leaping ability and the smartness to knock passes away.

After his injury, many thought he would go undrafted and being picked so high in the draft is certainly surprising. The Jaguars' must have seen something we hadn't.

T.J. Jones Selected 62nd Overall (2nd Round)

T.J. Jones out of Notre Dame made the FBS All-Independent First Team in his senior year, grabbing the attention of many NFL teams. He is just the 7th WR out of Notre Dame to post 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. His senior year, he had a 65 reception, 1,042 yards and 9 touchdowns.

At 5'11" Jones is on the shorter side and did not post a very good result for the vertical jump at the NFL Combine. While he isn't the most agile runner, with only a 4.54 40 time, Jones is a captivating rookie, and, provided he gets proper guidance, could turn into a great slot receiver in the NFL.

Scott Chrichton Selected 123rd Overall (3rd Round)

Crichton will be joining fellow Oregon born Defensive End Dion Jordan in Jacksonville. Crichton was a steal in the 3rd round by the Jaguars. He has the strength and atheleticism to be used as both a 4-3 defensive end and a 3-4 outside linebacker. With the Jaguars' lacking backup OLBs, Crichton can fill that hole while also filling in on the defensive line.

Chrichton made the First-Team Freshman All-American in 2011 and was a first-team Pac-12 All-Conference player as well last season. In his first 2 years, he compiled 15 sacks and 32 tackles for losses.

Crichton boasts an explosive first-step and has good acceleration. Given a path to the ball-carrier, Chrichton has great pursuit and is generally able to get to them before they pass the line of scrimmage.

At 6'3" 264 pounds, Chrichton is a perfect compliment to Dion Jordan and the two of them together could wreak havoc in teams backfields and in the passing game, as they both retain the ability to drop back into coverage.

Kaneakua Friel Selected 126th Overall (3rd Round)

Friel, out of BYU is a large TE with a fair amount of speed. Running a 4.83 at pro day, he caught the Jaguars' GM's eyes when combined with his 6'4" 263 LB frame. The Jaguars lack a blocking TE and Friel is large enough and smart enough to come in and block. He has good hands, but lacks explosiveness of the line.

Friel "lazily" bursts in his breaks and shows fairly average speed for a TE in the open field. He had 30 receptions for 308 yards in only 13 games for BYU two seasons ago. The Jaguars' offense needs some sort of blocking TE, although Friel may not be the best choice

Kevin Norwood Selected 185th Overall (5th Round)

Kevin Norwood out of Alabama is a tall WR, stepping in at 6'2". Through college, Norwood showed burst in his routes and had precise cuts from which he reached open field. He played through a turf toe injury his junior, showing a willingness to not back down.

That may have been what attracted Norwood to the Jaguars' as his stats don't put him apart from any other WR. He isn't the fastest, clocking in at 4.58 on his 40 time, and he certainly doesn't have the leaping ability expected of many WRs in the NFL currently. The Jaguars' are looking for a young, agile slot receiver, but Norwood may fit the role of an outside receiver more.

Lache Seastrunk Selected 190th Overall (5th Round)

Seastrunk is a speed demon out of Baylor University. At 5'9" Seastrunk is a small, burly HB who wasa a five star recruit out of high school. Being on the same team as LaMichael James and De'Anthony, Seastrunk saw limited oppurtunies, but when given an oppurtunity, delivered.

On 131 attempts in 2012, Seastrunk turned in 1,021 yards and 7 touchdowns. Being so small, Seastrunk maintains balance very well on cuts and is extremely quick and agile when bursting through holes. When playing for Baylor, he would often race to the corner and pass defenders on his way to the endzone. What is intriguing about Seastrunk is his High Motor that never seems to quit. During a game against Oklahoma State, Seastrunk injured his hamstring at the 50 but was still able to break tackles and make his way into the endzone.

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Seastrunk will most likely sit behind Hunter and Richardson but may see some oppurtunities on special teams.

Bene Benwikere Selected 222 Overall (6th Round)

Bene "BB" Benwikere out of San Jose State lacks the background that the other players in the draft had, but has statistics that the others didn't. BB ranks among national leaders with 5 interceptions and 16 defended passes on the year.

BB is generally considered to have the build of a safety and is more of a run stopping corner than a man to man corner that the Jags pride themselves on. He has a slightly off form tackling technique that leaves a lot to be desired by the Jaguars. Instead of wrapping up ball carriers, Benwikere prefers to throw his shoulder while looking away, reminiscent of Ed Reed, which causes him to slid off targets or simply miss.

Benwikere is a fairly quick corner, surprisingly, but lacks proper press coverage and man coverage technique, consistently allowing receivers to get behind him. However, Benwikere has the smarts of a safety and excels in zone coverage.

Benwikere is a project, no doubt, that the Jaguars' seem determined to take on.

Jack Tyler Selected 224th Overall (7th Round)

Tyler, out of Virginia Tech, attracted Jacksonville's attention after posting a 4.74 40 yard dash at the combine. Considered by many to be one of the hardest hitting MLBs in college football, Tyler slipped under the radar and fell all the way to the 7th round.

This is somewhat surprising. Tyler is the leading tackler on the Hokies, who have the 3rd ranked defense in the nation. With 93 tackles on the season and 10.5 going for a loss, Tyler leaves a lot to be desired as far as his coverage is concerned. Tyler excels at getting to the QB, but fails at falling into man and zone coverage.

Against any NFL TE, Tyler will surely get beat which leaves the Jaguars' needing reliable OLBs. With no backup OLBs and Tyler clearly not qualified to play the position (to cover), the Jaguars' will target someone in FA to help out.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Through the draft, the Jaguars were able to fulfill many of their needs but failed to fulfill their needs at the LB position. Gus Bradley reassured us, "Chrichton will be able to double as both a backup DE and a backup OLB, until we find backups for those respective positions. Depending on how practice goes, you could see a lot of these players getting lots of playing time. I'm excited."

The Jaguars will begin the regular season against the Falcons, who were the second worst team last year. However, some offseason transactions could make the Falcons a contender. All we can do is wait.

-

Staff Writer

2014-02-05

Jaguars Rebuilding Team Through FA and Draft

With the Free Agency over and the draft approaching we take an in-depth look at what the Jaguars need to become a Super Bowl Caliber team. The team will have a first-round pick, 2 second-round picks (one from the Browns), 2 third-round picks (one from the Ravens), 2 fifth-round picks, and a 6th and 7th.

In recent transactions the team released Jason Babin, Albert McClennan, and Karl Klug while losing key players to the free agency.

Quarterback

The Negatives

The Jaguars lost backup Josh Johnson after he decided to not resign with the team. Johnson was a huge part of the Jags wildcat offense and even had 2 rushing touchdowns, including 98 yard touchdown rush during the regular season.

The Positives

The Jaguars still have Matt Flynn but lack a speedy backup QB who can run the wildcat. The Jaguars will most likely get a mobile QB later in the draft.

Wide-Receivers

The Negatives

The Jaguars attempted to resign Terrance Williams who led the team in receptions last year (28) but were unable to get him.
The Jaguars sought Michael Crabtree from the FA, but were outbid by the 49ers who paid a 60M/5 Year to bring him back to San Francisco.
The Jaguars lost 3 (including Williams) WRs, with Jerrel Jernigan and LaVon Brazil rejecting offers from the team.

The Postives

The Jaguars signed Ben Obamanu, a 30 year old veteran, who was a critical part of the Ravens' passing attack last year. He had 48 receptions and 10 touchdowns. The 30 year old veteran looks to bring maturity and explosiveness to a passing offense that was ranked 30th last year. The Jaguars got him cheap, with Obamanu signing a 1 year contract for 500k.
The Jaguars still have Justin Blackmon, Antonio Brown, and Stedman Bailey. They also resigned Titus Ryan, who led the league last year in kick off return touchdowns with 15+. Ryan looks to break into the offense as an explosvie weapon.
The Jaguars have 3 draft picks within the first 2 rounds. You have to think they'll be able to grab at least one high-caliber receiver then.

Defensive End

The Negatives

The Jaguars lost Malliciah Bennett who was coming off his rookie season. They traded him to the Browns for a second round pick.
The Jaguars decided to release veteran Jason Babin who was coming off an 11 tackle, 2 sack season.

The Positives

Again, the Jaguars have plenty of draft picks with which they can make up for the hits they took at DE.

Secondary (CB and S)

The Negatives

The Jaguars lost Don Jones, their backup SS who played a keyrole on special teams and 3rd and long situations. He had one pick on the season and a kickoff return for a touchdown (after a Titus Ryan pitch inside the 30).

The Positives

The Jaguars acquired Johnathan Joseph during the FA period. The 8 year veteran brings speed and a ball-hawking ability to the corner position. He is coming off a 4 INT season for the Rams.
The Jaguars will have one of the most dominant secondary, with Joseph, Brandon Browner(8 INTs), and the young Chris Culliver (2 INTs) rounding out the corner position and Earl Thomas (60 tackles and 9 INTs) and LaRon Landry (team-high 72 tackles and 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and one pick) commanding the safety positions.

Linebacker

The Negatives

The Jaguars have lost both backup OLBs in addition to Albert McClellan, their backup MLB.

The Positives

The Jaguars already have one the best LB core with Brian Orakpo, James Laurinaitis, Demario Davis, and Zach Brown. If they take any injuries at these positions it could prove fatal. The Jaguars should target backups in the later rounds of the draft.

2014-01-26

Jaguars to Sit Offensive Starters in Week 17

In an expected move by the Jaguars coaching staff, the team has decided to sit all of its offensive starters in Week 17 against the Indianapolis Colts (3-11). The move comes after a season in which the Jaguars have not been plagued with injuries and where they have sustained an 8 game win streak - an AFC high.

"We decided to sit our starters to avoid injuries after we saw our backups perform in practice. Kendall Hunter has done extremely well as a backup throughout the season and the past few games, Daryl Richardson has been getting snaps and we've seen nothing but production out of both of them," coach Gus Bradley stated.

Hunter has excelled as a backup to Adrian Peteron rushing for 544 yards on just 30 carries with an insane 18.1 YPR average, including a 150 yard breakout game against the Titans in Week 10.

Daryl Richardson has also been getting a few more snaps, but clearly not enough production to warrant any more than 2-3 these past 2 games, netting 38 yards on 4 attempts on the season.

Quarterback EJ Manuel will be sitting the bench with Matt Flynn getting the start. After an outstanding preseason, Flynn has had a fairly mediocre season, due to his limited chances. On the season, he's completed one pass for 24 yards.

In addition to the QB and HB change, WRs Terrance Williams and Stedman Bailey will be starting at the one and twos and Jerrel Jernigan will be playing the slot.

"It's great to be getting this oppurtunity to become a more critical part of this offense. I really can't wait," Jernigan stated.

Jernigan has no receptions on the year on 2 targets. He has however excelled as a punt returner with 1 PR TD on the year.

Dion Sims will also be getting the start at TE over Jordan Cameron - Cameron has 26 receptions on the year for 557 yards and 9 touchdowns. Sims only has 2 receptions on the year.

"As far as defense goes, we've decided to go with all of our starters. Every player on our defense plays and we have a durable defense with stars backing up stars," Bradley said.

Bradley declined to acknowledge the start of Everett Dawkins - acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens (10-5) - over Shariff Floyd as injury related.

"That start is purely strategy. I think Dawkins will be able to attack the Colts' center in the places Floyd wouldn't be able to," Bradley emphasized.

The Jaguars defense is one of the best in the league, where they fail to stop the opposing team from gaining yardage, they excel at causing turnovers, ranking 2nd in the league in interceptions led by LOLB Zach Brown (11 INTs) ranked 2nd in the NFL in INTs and FS Earl Thomas (9) ranked 4th.

After attending the Ravens I can certainly state there will be a dropoff in the already mediocre passing game of the Jaguars, who are ranked 29th in passing offense. Matt Flynn seemed to struggle connecting with receivers on option routes and breaks in zones.

"I had a rough practice, yeah, whatever. It's practice. I'll listen to you criticize me after we beat the Colts and I throw for 3 touchdowns. What will you say then?" Flynn boldly boasted after being hit with questions which were critical of his ability as a quarterback.

There you have it Jaguars' fans. Flynn is aiming for 3 touchdowns and division win against the Colts to lock up the 1st seed which nets a 1st round bye and homefield advantage in the playoffs. Is this the year the Jaguars proceed to and win the Super Bowl?

- Staff Writer

2014-01-20

Jags Hand On in Thriller; Thomas Seals Game

In a thriller, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated an admirable Buffalo Bills squad. After a new owner for the Bills was announced mere days ago, the Bills players were seeking to prove themselves to the new owner. While they didn't come away with a victory, they definitely made a mark on the new owner, who was able to witness one of the most heartbreaking losses of the season.

The game began with the Jags deferring to the second half. The Bills quickly marched downfield, and capped off their drive with a 4 yard rush by Pierre Thomas after a deep ball on a blown assignment by Earl Thomas. "I saw the man going underneath but wasn't watching my back and he snuck behind me," Thomas said about the drive.

The Jaguars quickly responded as Titus Ryan returned the following kickoff 106 yards for a touchdown, just his (12th?) of the season, a league-high. "You know, when you're back there returning kicks lots of people overlook your role. I really feel I've turned into a big difference maker on this team, though," Ryan stated regarding his NFL record (12?) kick returns.

On the following drive, the Bills again drove downfield after Earl Thomas, attempting to tackle Kyle Rudolf, took out his own player as Rudolf marched downfield for the 40 yard receiving touchdown.

The Jags could not respond and had a quick 3-and-out. Following the punt, the Bills could not get any momentum and were held to a 25 yard field goal, which Matt Bryant converted.

Down 17-7, The Jaguars came out passing. On 3rd and 18, EJ Manuel, sensing pressure, fired a deep ball into double coverage. The pass sailed over the safety and corner and straight into Terrance Williams hands, who took the pass 82 yards for the touchdown. "It was kinda like the play with Auburn, I had no idea how the ball ended up in my hands!" Williams said after the game.

With the score now 17-14, the Jaguars were right back in it. On the next drive Laron Landry intercepted the ball on 3rd and 8 and, tiptoeing down the sidelines, ran it in for a touchdown.

The game entered halftime with the Jaguars leading 17-21.

The second half was much different from the first, scoring was at a minimum. The 3rd quarter was highlighted by a 51 yard field by Bryant to make the score 20-21 and a 63 yard miss just below the bottom bar by David Buehler, a recent free agency acquisition.

The teams went back and forth punting the ball till Colin Kaepernick threw a 14 yard pass to Jacoby Jones. They converted the 2pt attempt. The Jags could not respond however, got another defensive stop and got the ball. After a long drive down field, they capped the drive off with an 8 yard TD pass to Antonio Brown to level the scores at 28 with 1:58 left.

After a great defensive stop, the Bills punted the ball with 1:18 left in the game. Starting the drive at the 50, the Jaguars had great field position to score. On just the third play of the drive, EJ Manuel ran a designed run play straight up the middle and passed the secondary for a 47 yard TD. The Bills would have 38 seconds left to drive downfield.

After a kneeled kickoff, the Bills began their drive. After a sack, they were quickly put onto their heels on a 3rd and 19. Sensing pressure, Kaepernick tossed it up to Fitzgerald who made the improbable catch over Chris Culliver. Following this, the Bills completed a short pass over the middle to get them to the 22 with 16 seconds left and a timeout. On first and 10, Kaep escaped the pressure and was looking to scramble but was forced to throw it away as Earl Thomas had come back for the contain.

Now faced with 2nd and 10, needing a touchdown, the Bills looked to their reliable TE. The pass went deep into the endzone, straight into Earl Thomas' zone. Thomas made the interception and crushed the Bills' hearts, sealing the game.

"I had a pretty bad game the first quarter, missed my zones, didn't read the plays right. But I really made up for it later," Thomas said. Thomas had a game-high 7 tackles and 2 INTs to go along with it.

The Jaguars are currently 12-2, a record on track with the franchise best 14-2.

"It's great to see this team performing so well. We've got our sights set high, and with the 1st seed in our hands, we are in a great position to do so," Khan, the team GM stated.

The Jaguars beat the Browns two weeks ago to effectively take the lead in the AFC. As long as they win the final two games of the season, they will clinch the number 1 seed.

- Staff Writer

humza.khan.35574

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Jags Hand On in Thriller; Thomas Seals Game