How about some college football predictions? Today's bowl games are dominated by the start of the College Football Playoffs.
Today's games
Citrus Bowl
LSU vs Louisville
Pick: Louisville
I remember when Cal played in this big bowl game. That was a quarter century ago and it was a big bowl game for Cal. They took apart Clemson on that great day. As for this game, I'd like to see Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson play like the electric football player that won the Heisman. He and the Cardinals faded a bit down the stretch. It will be fun to see Jackson deal with a very good LSU defense.
Taxslayer Bowl
Georgia Tech vs Kentucky
Pick: Kentucky
Georgia Tech runs the ball a lot. Kentucky doesn't stop the run so well. That's not a good combination but the Wildcats have shown all season that they can handle a shootout.
Peach Bowl
Washington vs Alabama
Pick: Alabama
The first of today's two playoff games. Washington head coach Chris Peterson gave some top teams fits when he was at Boise State. Especially when he had a few weeks to prepare. It'll be fun to see what he does against this top team with the football talent that he has at Washington. And this is a very talented Huskies team. Alabama just has too much NFL-caliber talent but I think this game is closer than the two touchdown point spread.
Fiesta Bowl
Clemson vs Ohio State
Pick: Ohio State
The second of today's two playoff games. I keep going back and forth with this game. If the Tigers team that tangled with Alabama for the title last year shows up, Clemson wins. I haven't seen that team this year. Some argue that Ohio State was the third best team in the Big 10 this season. Ultimately, I see the Buckeyes as the most physically talented football team outside of Alabama. If that talent shows up today they should play Alabama for the title.
January 2 Games
Cotton Bowl
Western Michigan vs Wisconsin
Pick: Western Michigan
I'm going with the little guy.
Outback Bowl
Florida vs Iowa
Pick: Iowa
A coin flip. I'll go with the team that ended the regular season better.
Rose Bowl
USC vs Penn State
Pick: USC
If it weren't for a terrible start to the season, USC would be playing for the national title. They are one of the best four teams right now. Penn State has had a terrific season but the Trojans are rolling.
Sugar Bowl
Auburn vs Oklahoma
Pick: Oklahoma
This game could turn into a shootout and Oklahoma has more players that can take over a game.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
My Vikings Line
Everything fell apart for the Minnesota Vikings this season after an excellent 5-0 start. There were a few reasons for the fall but the biggest was the play of the offensive line. Injuries all along the line had a big, sad impact but they weren't playing all that great when everyone was healthy. The Vikings just have to get better at all five spots. That's tough to do in a single offseason but it has to happen. If I could swing it this is the offensive line that I'd put together. It's unfortunate that all five are under contract with other teams.
My Dream Vikings Line.
Left Tackle
Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans
Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith is widely considered the best left tackle in the game and I wouldn't complain at all if he was in Minnesota. There's just something about Lewan that appeals to me. There's a nastiness to his play that is often missing in the top left tackles. Plus, I think that Lewan is just scratching the surface of his potential.
Left Guard
Kelechi Osemele, Oakland Raiders
There was a rumor that the Vikings were involved in the free agency bidding with the Raiders for Osemele this past offseason. The Raiders had a ridiculous amount of cap room so the Vikings weren't in that bidding for long. They settled for a less expensive upgrade at guard in Alex Boone. Boone was okay. Osemele is arguably the best guard in the league.
Center
Alex Mack, Atlanta Falcons
At 31, Mack is the old man of this group. He's one of my favorite players to ever come out of Cal. Mack's a smart, hard-working, high character football player. The perfect player to lead this line. And he's a great center. He's a big reason for the Falcons offensive versatility this season.
Right Guard
Brandon Scherff, Washington Redskins
Some people were surprised when the Redskins grabbed Scherff with the fifth pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. It took less than two seasons for him to prove that he was the right pick. Scherff appeals to me in the same manner that Lewan appeals to me. He's tough and a little nasty. And, like Lewan, he's barely scratched the surface of his potential.
Right Tackle
Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City Chiefs
Another Cal player. Schwartz is one of the most underrated offensive linemen in the league. Even the free agent deal that he signed with the Chiefs last March seems low for a player of his talent. And free agent contracts rarely seem low. He simply keeps his quarterback clean. It's hard to believe that the Cleveland Browns lost both Mack and Schwartz this past offseason. That's quite a hit.
With this offensive line the Vikings wouldn't have the worst run game in the league and their quarterback would have the time to throw anywhere on the field. That's a fine dream.
My Dream Vikings Line.
Left Tackle
Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans
Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith is widely considered the best left tackle in the game and I wouldn't complain at all if he was in Minnesota. There's just something about Lewan that appeals to me. There's a nastiness to his play that is often missing in the top left tackles. Plus, I think that Lewan is just scratching the surface of his potential.
Left Guard
Kelechi Osemele, Oakland Raiders
There was a rumor that the Vikings were involved in the free agency bidding with the Raiders for Osemele this past offseason. The Raiders had a ridiculous amount of cap room so the Vikings weren't in that bidding for long. They settled for a less expensive upgrade at guard in Alex Boone. Boone was okay. Osemele is arguably the best guard in the league.
Center
Alex Mack, Atlanta Falcons
At 31, Mack is the old man of this group. He's one of my favorite players to ever come out of Cal. Mack's a smart, hard-working, high character football player. The perfect player to lead this line. And he's a great center. He's a big reason for the Falcons offensive versatility this season.
Right Guard
Brandon Scherff, Washington Redskins
Some people were surprised when the Redskins grabbed Scherff with the fifth pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. It took less than two seasons for him to prove that he was the right pick. Scherff appeals to me in the same manner that Lewan appeals to me. He's tough and a little nasty. And, like Lewan, he's barely scratched the surface of his potential.
Right Tackle
Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City Chiefs
Another Cal player. Schwartz is one of the most underrated offensive linemen in the league. Even the free agent deal that he signed with the Chiefs last March seems low for a player of his talent. And free agent contracts rarely seem low. He simply keeps his quarterback clean. It's hard to believe that the Cleveland Browns lost both Mack and Schwartz this past offseason. That's quite a hit.
With this offensive line the Vikings wouldn't have the worst run game in the league and their quarterback would have the time to throw anywhere on the field. That's a fine dream.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Throwback Thursday: Another All-Time NFL Team
One more week remains in the 2016 NFL Season. When your team didn't make it to the postseason fun it's easier to look back than forward. So, here's a look back at some of the best football players to ever play the game. Besides, it's been over two months since I've done one of these things.
Quarterback
John Unitas
Running backs
Jim Brown
Walter Payton
Receiver
Jerry Rice
Cris Carter
Cris Carter
Tight end
Tony Gonzalez
Tackles
Roosevlet Brown
Art Shell
Guards
Larry Allen
Randall McDaniel
Center
Mel Hein
Defensive ends
Gino Marchetti
Reggie White
Defensive tackles
Alan Page
Bob Lilly
Linebackers
Jack Ham
Joe Schmidt
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Cornerbacks
Deion Sanders
Mike Haynes
Safeties
Ed Reed
Rod Woodson
Kicker
Adam Vinatieri
Punter
Ray Guy
Until the next one. There are too many great football players to do only one of these.
Until the next one. There are too many great football players to do only one of these.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Silly Media
In my dreamy little bubble each NFL team's beat writers would concentrate on reporting the stories of the teams that they cover rather than creating stories. It's a lovely bubble but it's far from reality.
Twice this season Minnesota Vikings beat writers jumped all over something, reported it as if it were fact, and then as things do these days it spread around the nation like a virus. In each case the story wasn't what was first reported but it was too late to take it back. The initial, inaccurate story was far more saucy than the truth. So, that's what most people remembered.
After the Week 6 bye, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer brought some stuffed cats to the team's facility with an ultimate destination of a Toys for Tots charity. In the meantime he used these stuffed kitties as a motivational tool for his then 5-0 team to not come back from their break like "fat cats." A bit silly, but innocent. Someone, other than Zimmer, got hold of these poor kitties and staged something of a slaughter of them. Perhaps involving some red paint. Who really knows at this point? Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune ran with the story of Zimmer's murderous ways without bothering to check to see if it had even happened. It hadn't. Vensel's story spread around the nation. USA Today, Deadspin, Pro Football Talk, and other news giants were all over the strange happenings in Minnesota. The Mike Zimmer Foundation, run by his daughters, had to start the correct narrative. The coach had nothing to do with the supposed slaughter of the stuffed kitties. Zimmer, himself, furthered the truth by addressing it at his weekly press conference. The last thing that an NFL head coach wants to address at these inane press conferences is a stupid, inaccurate story such as this. It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that Vensel wasn't at that press conference. A few news outlets mentioned Zimmer's innocence but that story wasn't as much fun as the incorrect one. Two months later, I still hear some talking heads mention Zimmer's odd motivational tools. Accepting the truth isn't as much fun as perpetuating an attention-grabbing lie.
The second instance of Vikings beat writers jumping on and running with a story before they even know if there really is a story took place this past weekend. That's the supposed defensive back mutiny during the Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers. At first it was reported that the defensive backs ignored the game plan and went rogue with their coverage of Packers receiver Jordy Nelson for the entire first half. Over the next couple of days the mutiny was scaled back to part of the first half. Then it became only the first series. The initial story was the only story that seemed to matter. Even if it was gathered by pasting together sound bites from a pissed off player and an annoyed head coach that were clearly frustrated with a playoff-eliminating loss to a division rival. Sports reporters are way too interested in creating drama than accuracy. A band of rogue players defying their coach is far more interesting than a momentary deviation from the game plan. We often see coaches yelling at players during a game. More often than not it's because the player didn't do what he was supposed to do. On a single play, on several plays, or on an entire drive. It happens in every game. It's not a mutiny. It's a football team, players and coaches, not being on the same page for an entire game. It's football. It happens. When reporters have to scramble to adjust their story as they move forward it's a great indication that they didn't get it right to start.
Sports reporters should concentrate on reporting. Getting things right. Most aren't good enough writers to dabble in fiction.
One of the biggest problems with the Vikings beat writers, and probably with most team's beat writers, is that they don't really know football. Over the past two offseasons, Zimmer has given the Vikings beat writers a little football tutorial. He's brought them into the team's offices for a day and gone through game film with them. Breaking down film, grading players, creating a game plan, etc. If I were a Vikings beat writer I'd be thrilled with the opportunity. These writers were suspicious. Instead of appreciating Zimmer's football generosity they asked him "why" he did it. "I thought that you'd find it interesting," was his answer. They should find it interesting because they don't know enough about the sport that they cover. They could all use some football tutoring. They run with stories that aren't. They create stories when they shouldn't. They write about aspects of football that they don't understand. They really should appreciate and take advantage of the opportunity rather than question it.
Twice this season Minnesota Vikings beat writers jumped all over something, reported it as if it were fact, and then as things do these days it spread around the nation like a virus. In each case the story wasn't what was first reported but it was too late to take it back. The initial, inaccurate story was far more saucy than the truth. So, that's what most people remembered.
After the Week 6 bye, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer brought some stuffed cats to the team's facility with an ultimate destination of a Toys for Tots charity. In the meantime he used these stuffed kitties as a motivational tool for his then 5-0 team to not come back from their break like "fat cats." A bit silly, but innocent. Someone, other than Zimmer, got hold of these poor kitties and staged something of a slaughter of them. Perhaps involving some red paint. Who really knows at this point? Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune ran with the story of Zimmer's murderous ways without bothering to check to see if it had even happened. It hadn't. Vensel's story spread around the nation. USA Today, Deadspin, Pro Football Talk, and other news giants were all over the strange happenings in Minnesota. The Mike Zimmer Foundation, run by his daughters, had to start the correct narrative. The coach had nothing to do with the supposed slaughter of the stuffed kitties. Zimmer, himself, furthered the truth by addressing it at his weekly press conference. The last thing that an NFL head coach wants to address at these inane press conferences is a stupid, inaccurate story such as this. It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that Vensel wasn't at that press conference. A few news outlets mentioned Zimmer's innocence but that story wasn't as much fun as the incorrect one. Two months later, I still hear some talking heads mention Zimmer's odd motivational tools. Accepting the truth isn't as much fun as perpetuating an attention-grabbing lie.
The second instance of Vikings beat writers jumping on and running with a story before they even know if there really is a story took place this past weekend. That's the supposed defensive back mutiny during the Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers. At first it was reported that the defensive backs ignored the game plan and went rogue with their coverage of Packers receiver Jordy Nelson for the entire first half. Over the next couple of days the mutiny was scaled back to part of the first half. Then it became only the first series. The initial story was the only story that seemed to matter. Even if it was gathered by pasting together sound bites from a pissed off player and an annoyed head coach that were clearly frustrated with a playoff-eliminating loss to a division rival. Sports reporters are way too interested in creating drama than accuracy. A band of rogue players defying their coach is far more interesting than a momentary deviation from the game plan. We often see coaches yelling at players during a game. More often than not it's because the player didn't do what he was supposed to do. On a single play, on several plays, or on an entire drive. It happens in every game. It's not a mutiny. It's a football team, players and coaches, not being on the same page for an entire game. It's football. It happens. When reporters have to scramble to adjust their story as they move forward it's a great indication that they didn't get it right to start.
Sports reporters should concentrate on reporting. Getting things right. Most aren't good enough writers to dabble in fiction.
One of the biggest problems with the Vikings beat writers, and probably with most team's beat writers, is that they don't really know football. Over the past two offseasons, Zimmer has given the Vikings beat writers a little football tutorial. He's brought them into the team's offices for a day and gone through game film with them. Breaking down film, grading players, creating a game plan, etc. If I were a Vikings beat writer I'd be thrilled with the opportunity. These writers were suspicious. Instead of appreciating Zimmer's football generosity they asked him "why" he did it. "I thought that you'd find it interesting," was his answer. They should find it interesting because they don't know enough about the sport that they cover. They could all use some football tutoring. They run with stories that aren't. They create stories when they shouldn't. They write about aspects of football that they don't understand. They really should appreciate and take advantage of the opportunity rather than question it.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
The Standings
Here's the NFL Standings with a single week to play.
National Football Conference
American Football Conference
The six AFC playoff teams are set. Only the seeding can change. Currently the AFC looks like this:
1. Patriots
2. Raiders
3. Steelers
4. Texans
5. Chiefs
6. Dolphins
The seeding in the AFC can change in so many ways based on the outcome of the Week 17 games.
Four of the six NFC spots are taken. The Cowboys have clinched the top seed and resulting home field throughout the playoffs. The Falcons and Seahawks have clinched their divisions. The Giants have claimed one of the wildcard spots. The NFC North will be settled with the Packers-Lions Sunday night game. It's the final game of the season. The winner takes the division. The loser may or may not be part of the postseason fun. They will know which by game time. Currently the NFC seeding looks like this:
1. Cowboys
2. Falcons
3. Seahawks
4. Packers
5. Giants
6. Lions
7. Redskins
8. Buccaneers
Assuming that there are no more ties this season, the Redskins are in with a win over the Giants on Sunday.
At a glance, the Cowboys and Dolphins are the only teams with playoff dreams without much to play for in Week 17. The Cowboys #1 NFC seed is set. The Dolphins can't do better than the #6 AFC seed that they currently hold. They can foul things up for the Patriots if they defeat them in the season finale. That's a perk.
This should be a wide-open playoffs. There are no dominant teams. The Cowboys and Patriots have dominant records but they've both been vulnerable at times. These playoffs should be fun.
National Football Conference
#
|
NFC East
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
PCT
|
PF
|
PA
|
HOME
|
ROAD
|
STRK
| |
1
|
13
|
2
|
0
|
.867
|
408
|
279
|
7-1-0
|
6-1-0
|
W2
| ||
2
|
10
|
5
|
0
|
.667
|
291
|
274
|
7-1-0
|
3-4-0
|
L1
| ||
3
|
8
|
6
|
1
|
.567
|
386
|
364
|
4-3-0
|
4-3-1
|
W1
| ||
4
|
6
|
9
|
0
|
.400
|
340
|
318
|
5-2-0
|
1-7-0
|
W1
| ||
#
|
NFC West
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
PCT
|
PF
|
PA
|
HOME
|
ROAD
|
STRK
| |
1
|
9
|
5
|
1
|
.633
|
329
|
269
|
7-1-0
|
2-4-1
|
L1
| ||
2
|
6
|
8
|
1
|
.433
|
374
|
356
|
4-3-1
|
2-5-0
|
W1
| ||
3
|
4
|
11
|
0
|
.267
|
218
|
350
|
1-6-0
|
3-5-0
|
L6
| ||
4
|
2
|
13
|
0
|
.133
|
286
|
455
|
1-6-0
|
1-7-0
|
W1
| ||
#
|
NFC North
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
PCT
|
PF
|
PA
|
HOME
|
ROAD
|
STRK
| |
1
|
9
|
6
|
0
|
.600
|
401
|
364
|
6-2-0
|
3-4-0
|
W5
| ||
2
|
9
|
6
|
0
|
.600
|
322
|
327
|
6-1-0
|
3-5-0
|
L2
| ||
3
|
7
|
8
|
0
|
.467
|
289
|
297
|
4-3-0
|
3-5-0
|
L2
| ||
4
|
3
|
12
|
0
|
.200
|
269
|
361
|
3-5-0
|
0-7-0
|
L3
| ||
#
|
NFC South
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
PCT
|
PF
|
PA
|
HOME
|
ROAD
|
STRK
| |
1
|
10
|
5
|
0
|
.667
|
502
|
374
|
4-3-0
|
6-2-0
|
W3
| ||
2
|
8
|
7
|
0
|
.533
|
337
|
353
|
3-4-0
|
5-3-0
|
L2
| ||
3
|
7
|
8
|
0
|
.467
|
437
|
416
|
4-4-0
|
3-4-0
|
W2
| ||
4
|
6
|
9
|
0
|
.400
|
353
|
385
|
4-4-0
|
2-5-0
|
L1
| ||
American Football Conference
#
|
AFC East
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
PCT
|
PF
|
PA
|
HOME
|
ROAD
|
STRK
| |
1
|
13
|
2
|
0
|
.867
|
406
|
236
|
6-2-0
|
7-0-0
|
W6
| ||
2
|
10
|
5
|
0
|
.667
|
349
|
345
|
6-1-0
|
4-4-0
|
W3
| ||
3
|
7
|
8
|
0
|
.467
|
389
|
348
|
4-4-0
|
3-4-0
|
L1
| ||
4
|
4
|
11
|
0
|
.267
|
245
|
399
|
1-6-0
|
3-5-0
|
L2
| ||
The six AFC playoff teams are set. Only the seeding can change. Currently the AFC looks like this:
1. Patriots
2. Raiders
3. Steelers
4. Texans
5. Chiefs
6. Dolphins
The seeding in the AFC can change in so many ways based on the outcome of the Week 17 games.
Four of the six NFC spots are taken. The Cowboys have clinched the top seed and resulting home field throughout the playoffs. The Falcons and Seahawks have clinched their divisions. The Giants have claimed one of the wildcard spots. The NFC North will be settled with the Packers-Lions Sunday night game. It's the final game of the season. The winner takes the division. The loser may or may not be part of the postseason fun. They will know which by game time. Currently the NFC seeding looks like this:
1. Cowboys
2. Falcons
3. Seahawks
4. Packers
5. Giants
6. Lions
7. Redskins
8. Buccaneers
Assuming that there are no more ties this season, the Redskins are in with a win over the Giants on Sunday.
At a glance, the Cowboys and Dolphins are the only teams with playoff dreams without much to play for in Week 17. The Cowboys #1 NFC seed is set. The Dolphins can't do better than the #6 AFC seed that they currently hold. They can foul things up for the Patriots if they defeat them in the season finale. That's a perk.
This should be a wide-open playoffs. There are no dominant teams. The Cowboys and Patriots have dominant records but they've both been vulnerable at times. These playoffs should be fun.
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