The new Alliance of American Football league is something that's been on my periphery for a while. I've known that it was a new spring football league and that it's starting soon but that's about it. Well, this week the AAF had a quarterback draft. The eight-team league held a four-round draft during which they selected only quarterbacks. Interesting.
Now is the time of a little background on the Alliance of American Football.
The Alliance of American Football is the creation of CEO Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian. Ebersol is the son on NBC executive Dick Ebersol and partner of Vince McMahon in the first iteration of the XFL. Everyone that's paid attention to the NFL for the last 30 years knows Bill Polian. He's the Hall of Fame architect of the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts. The presence of Ebersol and Polian feels like a fine start for a football startup. They've done a few other promising things. For one, the league will be a spring league. The AAF debut season kicks off a week after the Super Bowl LIII, February 9. The Championship game will be played the last weekend in April.
Some AAF twists to the game:
-No TV timeouts
-60% fewer commercials
-no kickoffs
-no onside kicks-instead trailing team receives the ball on their own 35-yard line facing 4th-and-10
-30 second play clock
-mandatory 2-point conversions after TDs
The first two twists are terrific perks to football fans hungry for some spring football. I also think that the NFL will be thrilled to see this onside kick idea played out in real games.
The AAF did a wise thing in limiting the league to eight teams. They didn't overextend themselves and they picked eight interesting locations. As important, the cast of coaches is impressive.
Atlanta Legends-Brad Childress (Offensive coordinator: Mike Vick)
Orlando Apollos-Steve Spurrier
San Diego Fleet-Mike Martz
San Antonio Commanders-Mike Riley
Memphis Express-Mike Singletary
Birmingham Iron-Tim Lewis
Salt Lake Stallions-Dennis Erickson
Arizona Hotshots-Rick Neuheisel
Tim Lewis is the only one of the eight without significant head coaching experience but he's been coaching since 1987, including seven years as an NFL defensive coordinator.
Maybe it's just me but the locations of the teams are a curiosity in that the teams are in areas of the country that the NFL wasn't when it started in the 1920s. That probably makes it the only national professional football league without a midwest or northeast presence.
The AAF also brought in Troy Polamalu to oversee the player side and JK McKay to oversee the team side of the league. There's a very USC-feel to those hires. That's a shaky move. Hines Ward, Justin Tuck, and Dick Ebersol have been enlisted as advisers.
As for the players, 661 had been signed across the league as of November 9. Some of those are household names.
Bishop Sankey, RB, San Diego Fleet
Tommy Armstrong, QB, Salt Lake Stallions
Edmond Robinson, LB, Arizona Hotshots
Will Sutton, DT, Arizona Hotshots
Jake Weineke, WR, Salt Lake Stallions
Stephen Hill, WR, Atlanta Legends
Trent Richardson, RB, Birmingham Iron
Trent Richardson!!!
And now for that quarterback draft that got this AAF attention started.
It should be noted that players were allocated based on some regional connection. That included the quarterback position. In the first round of the quarterback draft each team had the opportunity to protect a regionally connected quarterback. Four did so.
The AAF Quarterback Draft
Round 1
1. San Diego-Josh Johnson (protected), San Diego
2. Atlanta-Aaron Murray (protected), Georgia
3. Memphis-Troy Cook (protected), Tennessee-Martin
4. San Antonio-Dustin Vaughan (protected), West Texas A&M
5. Birmingham-Luis Perez, Texas A&M-Commerce
6. Arizona-Trevor Knight, Texas A&M
7. Orlando-Garrett Gilbert, SMU
8. Salt Lake-John Woodrum-Liberty
Round 2
1. San Diego-Mike Bercovici, Arizona State
2. Burmingham-Blake Sims, Alabama
3. Arizona-John Wolford, Wake Forest
4. Orlando-Stephen Morris, Miami
5. Atlanta-Matt Sims, Tennessee
6. Salt Lake-B.J. Daniels, South Florida
7. Memphis-Christian Hackenburg, Penn State
8. San Antonio-Marquise Williams, North Carolina
Round 3
1. San Antonio-Logan Woodside, Toledo
2. Memphis-Brandon Silvers, Troy
3. Salt Lake-Austin Allen, Arkansas
4. Atlanta-Peter Pujals, Holy Cross
5. Orlando-Austin Appleby, Florida
6. Arizona-Quinn McQueary, Montana Tech
7. Birmingham-Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin
8. San Diego-Philip Nelson, East Carolina
Round 4
1. San Antonio-Dalton Sturm, Texas-San Antonio
2. Memphis-Zach Mettenburg, LSU
3. Salt Lake-Matt Linehan, Idaho
4. Atlanta-Justin Holman, Central Florida
5. Orlando-Kevin Anderson, Fordham
6. Arizona-Jack Heneghan, Dartmouth
7. Birmingham-Alek Torgersen, Penn
8. San Diego-Alex Ross, Coastal Carolina
There's some familiar names among those 32 quarterbacks.
Mike Vick as the offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Legends might be the greatest curiosity of the AAF.
It'll be fun to see how the Alliance of American Football does. There are enough differences from the NFL and enough familiar names to draw a curious audience. I'm curious about the league after this brief look into it. Football is fun. More Football is fun.
Friday, November 30, 2018
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Throwback Thursday: Some Talking Football
There are so many great quotes from the football world. Here are a some of them:
"A good coach needs a patient wife, a loyal dog, and a great quarterback, but not necessarily in that order."
-Bud Grant
"I also worked as a ranger in Yellowstone Park until visitors began to mistake me for a bear."
-Merlin Olsen
"I tell myself that I'm faster than 95 percent of the people in the world. It's just that the other 5 percent happen to play cornerback."
-George Sauer Jr.
"I wish there was a Caribbean League in football like they have in baseball. Then I could play all year."
-John Unitas
Everyone has some fear. A man without fear belongs in a mental institution-or on special teams, either one."
-Walt Michaels
"Some of the players now-I'm not sure whether football is a vocation or an avocation with them. You know what football is to me? It's blood."
-Sid Gillman
"You can accomplish anything you want as long as you don't care who gets credit for it."
-Blanton Collier
"I have a spy in every city."
-Al Davis
"You show me a man who shoots a good game of golf and I'll bet he neglects his business, or someone does his work for him. I don't have time for golf."
-Weeb Ewbank
"Trading for a good quarterback is quite rare but not unusual."
-Joe Kuharich
A whole section could be devoted to the mind-bending comments that escaped from Kuharich:
"Every coach must view a player with three different eyes."
"We were three points behind but that's not the same as being even."
"The loss of momentum is acceleration."
"Lead us in a few words of silence."
Ok.
"He drinks papaya juice to calm his queasy stomach, and eats ice cream so he doesn't have to spend time chewing. It would take his mind off football."
-Henrietta Allen on husband George
"A coach just isn't treated that well. The respect is lacking, unless they do fantastically well, and only a small percentage of them really do. Some of the finest coaches in the country go through their whole careers unnoticed and unrecognized, just because they happen to be in the wrong place. A few of them even got hanged in effigy."
-Merlin Olsen
"When Weeb first came to New York, he gave us a playbook; we'd been without one for years. It's a sensible sort of thing for a professional football player to have."
-Larry Grantham
"I played football before they had headgear, and that's how I lost my mind."
-Casey Stengel
"A good coach needs a patient wife, a loyal dog, and a great quarterback, but not necessarily in that order."
-Bud Grant
"I also worked as a ranger in Yellowstone Park until visitors began to mistake me for a bear."
-Merlin Olsen
"I tell myself that I'm faster than 95 percent of the people in the world. It's just that the other 5 percent happen to play cornerback."
-George Sauer Jr.
"I wish there was a Caribbean League in football like they have in baseball. Then I could play all year."
-John Unitas
Everyone has some fear. A man without fear belongs in a mental institution-or on special teams, either one."
-Walt Michaels
"Some of the players now-I'm not sure whether football is a vocation or an avocation with them. You know what football is to me? It's blood."
-Sid Gillman
"You can accomplish anything you want as long as you don't care who gets credit for it."
-Blanton Collier
"I have a spy in every city."
-Al Davis
"You show me a man who shoots a good game of golf and I'll bet he neglects his business, or someone does his work for him. I don't have time for golf."
-Weeb Ewbank
"Trading for a good quarterback is quite rare but not unusual."
-Joe Kuharich
A whole section could be devoted to the mind-bending comments that escaped from Kuharich:
"Every coach must view a player with three different eyes."
"We were three points behind but that's not the same as being even."
"The loss of momentum is acceleration."
"Lead us in a few words of silence."
Ok.
"He drinks papaya juice to calm his queasy stomach, and eats ice cream so he doesn't have to spend time chewing. It would take his mind off football."
-Henrietta Allen on husband George
"A coach just isn't treated that well. The respect is lacking, unless they do fantastically well, and only a small percentage of them really do. Some of the finest coaches in the country go through their whole careers unnoticed and unrecognized, just because they happen to be in the wrong place. A few of them even got hanged in effigy."
-Merlin Olsen
"When Weeb first came to New York, he gave us a playbook; we'd been without one for years. It's a sensible sort of thing for a professional football player to have."
-Larry Grantham
"I played football before they had headgear, and that's how I lost my mind."
-Casey Stengel
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Minnesota Vikings Roster Revisited Again
An NFL roster is a fluid thing. Even during the season. The Minnesota Vikings had to tweak their roster again this week. This time it was due to injury as safety Andrew Sendejo was placed on injured reserve. He hasn't played since Week 5 due to a groin injury. That injury has now ended his season. Anthony Harris, George Iloka, and Jayron Kearse have all stepped in at safety to replace Sendejo. Harris appears to have settled in as the starter. Rookie cornerback Craig James was promoted from the practice squad to take Sendejo's spot on the 53-man roster. Cornerback Jalen Myrick was signed to take James' place on the practice squad.
The Vikings roster is at 53. The practice squad is at 10. And injured reserve is getting way too populated.
Here's the current Vikings roster. Hopefully, it stays as is for a while.
Offense
Quarterback
8 Kirk Cousins
3 Trevor Siemian
1 Kyle Sloter
Halfback
33 Dalvin Cook
25 Latavius Murray
31 Ameer Abdullah
44 Mike Boone
Fullback
30 C.J. Ham
Wide Receiver
14 Stefon Diggs
19 Adam Thielen
11 Laquon Treadwell
17 Aldrick Robinson
15 Brandon Zylstra
12 Chad Beebe
Tight end
82 Kyle Rudolph
89 David Morgan
83 Tyler Conklin
Offensive Line
71 Riley Reiff
79 Tom Compton
65 Pat Elflein
74 Mike Remmers
69 Rashod Hill
61 Brett Jones
75 Brian O'Neill
63 Danny Isidora
Defense
Defensive Line
97 Everson Griffen
93 Sheldon Richardson
98 Linval Joseph
99 Danielle Hunter
91 Stephen Weatherly
96 Tom Johnson
94 Jaleel Johnson
92 Jalyn Holmes
90 Tashawn Bower
Linebacker
55 Anthony Barr
54 Eric Kendricks
42 Ben Gedeon
50 Eric Wilson
57 Devante Downs
40 Kentrell Brothers
Cornerback
29 Xavier Rhodes
26 Trae Waynes
20 Mackensie Alexander
24 Holton Hill
35 Marcus Sherels
36 Craig James
Safety
22 Harrison Smith
41 Anthony Harris
23 George Iloka
27 Jayron Kearse
Special Teams
Kicker
5 Dan Bailey
Punter
6 Matt Wile
Long snapper
The Vikings roster is at 53. The practice squad is at 10. And injured reserve is getting way too populated.
Here's the current Vikings roster. Hopefully, it stays as is for a while.
Offense
Quarterback
8 Kirk Cousins
3 Trevor Siemian
1 Kyle Sloter
Halfback
33 Dalvin Cook
25 Latavius Murray
31 Ameer Abdullah
44 Mike Boone
Fullback
30 C.J. Ham
Wide Receiver
14 Stefon Diggs
19 Adam Thielen
11 Laquon Treadwell
17 Aldrick Robinson
15 Brandon Zylstra
12 Chad Beebe
82 Kyle Rudolph
89 David Morgan
83 Tyler Conklin
Offensive Line
71 Riley Reiff
79 Tom Compton
65 Pat Elflein
74 Mike Remmers
69 Rashod Hill
61 Brett Jones
75 Brian O'Neill
63 Danny Isidora
Defense
Defensive Line
97 Everson Griffen
93 Sheldon Richardson
98 Linval Joseph
99 Danielle Hunter
91 Stephen Weatherly
96 Tom Johnson
94 Jaleel Johnson
92 Jalyn Holmes
90 Tashawn Bower
Linebacker
55 Anthony Barr
54 Eric Kendricks
42 Ben Gedeon
50 Eric Wilson
57 Devante Downs
40 Kentrell Brothers
Cornerback
29 Xavier Rhodes
26 Trae Waynes
20 Mackensie Alexander
24 Holton Hill
35 Marcus Sherels
36 Craig James
Safety
22 Harrison Smith
41 Anthony Harris
23 George Iloka
27 Jayron Kearse
Special Teams
Kicker
5 Dan Bailey
Punter
6 Matt Wile
Long snapper
47 Kevin McDermott
***
Injured Reserve
61 Ade Aruna, DE
76 Aviante Collins, OT
62 Nick Easton, G
21 Mike Hughes, CB
68 Cedrick Lang, OT
62 Nick Easton, G
21 Mike Hughes, CB
68 Cedrick Lang, OT
51 Hercules Mata'afa, DL
87 Josiah Price, TE
34 Andrew Sendejo
87 Josiah Price, TE
34 Andrew Sendejo
48 Johnny Stanton, FB
Practice Squad
85 Jeff Badet, WR
78 Adam Bisnowaty
78 Adam Bisnowaty
43 Reshard Cliett, LB
66 Curtis Cothran, DT
67 Cornelius Edison, C
83 Cole Hkutini, TE
72 Storm Norton, OT
83 Cole Hkutini, TE
72 Storm Norton, OT
37 Jalen Myrick
95 Ifeadi Odenigbo, DL
32 Roc Thomas, RB
95 Ifeadi Odenigbo, DL
32 Roc Thomas, RB
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Flea Flicker Week 12 Power Rankings
Here's one look at how the 32 NFL teams rank after twelve weeks of the season.
1. New Orleans Saints (10-1)
2. Los Angeles Rams (10-1)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
4. New England Patriots (8-3)
5. Chicago Bears (8-3)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-3)
7. Houston Texans (8-3)
8. Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1)
10. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)
11. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
12. Dallas Cowboys (6-5)
13. Carolina Panthers (6-5)
14. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)
15. Tennessee Titans (5-6)
16. Philadelphia Eagles (5-6)
17. Washington Redskins (6-5)
18. Green Bay Packers (4-6-1)
19 Cleveland Browns (4-6-1)
20. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)
21. Miami Dolphins (5-6)
22. Atlanta Falcons (4-7)
23. Denver Broncos (5-6)
24. Detroit Lions (4-7)
25. New York Giants (3-8)
26. Buffalo Bills (4-7)
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8)
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)
29. New York Jets (3-8)
30. Arizona Cardinals (2-9)
31. San Francisco 49ers (2-9)
32. Oakland Raiders (2-9)
1. New Orleans Saints (10-1)
2. Los Angeles Rams (10-1)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
4. New England Patriots (8-3)
5. Chicago Bears (8-3)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-3)
7. Houston Texans (8-3)
8. Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1)
10. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)
11. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
12. Dallas Cowboys (6-5)
13. Carolina Panthers (6-5)
14. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)
15. Tennessee Titans (5-6)
16. Philadelphia Eagles (5-6)
17. Washington Redskins (6-5)
18. Green Bay Packers (4-6-1)
19 Cleveland Browns (4-6-1)
20. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)
21. Miami Dolphins (5-6)
22. Atlanta Falcons (4-7)
23. Denver Broncos (5-6)
24. Detroit Lions (4-7)
25. New York Giants (3-8)
26. Buffalo Bills (4-7)
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8)
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)
29. New York Jets (3-8)
30. Arizona Cardinals (2-9)
31. San Francisco 49ers (2-9)
32. Oakland Raiders (2-9)
Until next week.
Monday, November 26, 2018
Packers-Vikings
Every game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers is a must win game for both teams. It's a division game and a nearly sixty year border rivalry. One of the two has won the division title for the last several years. Last night's game in Minnesota was a little more of a must-win for both teams than most. Each team was teetering on the edge of the playoff picture with six games to go. The Vikings took over the game in the second half and held on for a 24-17 win. The importance of the game can be seen in the current playoff percentages (if one is to believe in such a thing) of both teams. With the win, the Vikings now have a 73% chance of making the playoffs. With the loss, the Packers now have a 3% chance of making the playoffs. The Vikings basically control their path to the postseason. A whole lot of things have to go right for the Packers over the next month if they are to play in January. Personally, I don't ever think that my team is out of the playoffs until they are. The "impossible" happens in sports as a matter of routine.
Each team had a sputtering start to the game. The Vikings went three-and-out on their first two possessions. The Packers did the same on their first possession. Three total possessions. Three total yards. Then the game looked like it was going to turn into a Chiefs-Rams game. Four consecutive touchdowns. Two for each team. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made things look easy and running back Aaron Jones gained yards in chunks on the ground. The Packers scored consecutive, efficient touchdowns. The Vikings answered each with touchdowns of their own. 14-14. Then the Vikings took over the game.
Packers possessions after the Vikings tied the game at 14-14 with 11:00 to play in the first half:
1. Punt-3 plays, 4 yards
2. Punt-3 plays, 21 yards
3. Punt-7 plays, 28 yards
4. Downs-4 plays, 9 yards
5. Punt-3 plays, -12 yards
6. Punt-3 plays, 12 yards
7. Field Goal-9 plays, 73 yards
On six possessions between scores (about half of the game) the Packers ran 23 offensive plays for 62 yards. That was the difference in the game.
With his prime time record and leading an inconsistent offense, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins entered the game swimming in criticism. He played great. His numbers spell part of the story.
29 completions
38 attempts
76.3%
342 yards
3 TDs
He was the better quarterback on the field last night.
Other than sputtering starts to both halves, the Vikings offense moved the ball throughout the game.
416 total yards
325 passing yards
91 rushing yards
34:37 time of possession
The Vikings pass catchers did their thing.
Adam Thielen: 8 catches, 125 yards, 1 TD
Stefon Diggs: 8 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD
Kyle Rudolph: 7 catches, 63 yards
Dalvin Cook: 3 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD
It was great to see Rudolph so involved in the passing game.
The only real issues with the Vikings offense were their those sputtering starts to the halves and the points that they left on the field. There were two missed field goals and a turnover on downs at the Packers seven-yard line. In a game in which the Vikings had to recover an onside kick to secure the win they could've used some of those missed points.
Running the football continues to be a struggle for the Vikings (3.1 yards/carry). This game was a little better in that they gained some critical yards, moved the chains, and ate some time at the end of the game. So there's some hope that the running game is moving in the right direction but it isn't pretty. Running backs Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray are getting hit in the backfield way too often.
The Vikings offensive line did a better job of protecting Cousins. He was sacked twice and hit a few times but far more often than not he had a clean pocket. This might have been the offensive line's best game.
Other than the Packers' two efficient touchdown drives, the Vikings defense was great.
254 total yards
172 passing yards
82 rushing yards
4 sacks
A Rodgers-led offense with only 172 yards.
It was very much a team-led defense but one player that deserves to be singled out here is defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. He was the significant offseason addition that wasn't a quarterback. He's played well all season without putting up showy (sacks) statistics. So, he wasn't playing very much under the radar. Richardson put up showy statistics last night with two sacks and seven tackles. His first sack (late in the third quarter) felt like the point at which the Vikings, in particular the defense, took over the game.
A couple Packer players that can't be ignored.
Running back Aaron Jones.
He's a fun player to watch. It isn't fun watching him run against the Vikings but he's a terrific football player. The Packers seemed to lose some of their offensive momentum when he was given a breather late in the first half. Jamaal Williams got a series of work and there wasn't the same presence on the field. The Packers never got it back the rest of the game.
Cornerback Jaire Alexander.
I really liked Alexander in last spring's draft. I had high NFL expectations for him and he's exceeded them in his rookie season. He put a quick end to the Vikings second possession when he blew up a screen pass to Diggs. Thielen was blocking for Diggs but Alexander had none of it. He slammed into Thielen so hard that he was knocked into Diggs and sent Diggs to the ground. It ended up being a ten-yard loss. It was an incredible defensive play. Describing it does it no justice.
The Vikings are now 6-4-1 and very much in the thick of the playoff chase. The Packers are 4-6-1 and on the outside looking in.
Each team had a sputtering start to the game. The Vikings went three-and-out on their first two possessions. The Packers did the same on their first possession. Three total possessions. Three total yards. Then the game looked like it was going to turn into a Chiefs-Rams game. Four consecutive touchdowns. Two for each team. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made things look easy and running back Aaron Jones gained yards in chunks on the ground. The Packers scored consecutive, efficient touchdowns. The Vikings answered each with touchdowns of their own. 14-14. Then the Vikings took over the game.
Packers possessions after the Vikings tied the game at 14-14 with 11:00 to play in the first half:
1. Punt-3 plays, 4 yards
2. Punt-3 plays, 21 yards
3. Punt-7 plays, 28 yards
4. Downs-4 plays, 9 yards
5. Punt-3 plays, -12 yards
6. Punt-3 plays, 12 yards
7. Field Goal-9 plays, 73 yards
On six possessions between scores (about half of the game) the Packers ran 23 offensive plays for 62 yards. That was the difference in the game.
With his prime time record and leading an inconsistent offense, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins entered the game swimming in criticism. He played great. His numbers spell part of the story.
29 completions
38 attempts
76.3%
342 yards
3 TDs
He was the better quarterback on the field last night.
Other than sputtering starts to both halves, the Vikings offense moved the ball throughout the game.
416 total yards
325 passing yards
91 rushing yards
34:37 time of possession
The Vikings pass catchers did their thing.
Adam Thielen: 8 catches, 125 yards, 1 TD
Stefon Diggs: 8 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD
Kyle Rudolph: 7 catches, 63 yards
Dalvin Cook: 3 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD
It was great to see Rudolph so involved in the passing game.
The only real issues with the Vikings offense were their those sputtering starts to the halves and the points that they left on the field. There were two missed field goals and a turnover on downs at the Packers seven-yard line. In a game in which the Vikings had to recover an onside kick to secure the win they could've used some of those missed points.
Running the football continues to be a struggle for the Vikings (3.1 yards/carry). This game was a little better in that they gained some critical yards, moved the chains, and ate some time at the end of the game. So there's some hope that the running game is moving in the right direction but it isn't pretty. Running backs Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray are getting hit in the backfield way too often.
The Vikings offensive line did a better job of protecting Cousins. He was sacked twice and hit a few times but far more often than not he had a clean pocket. This might have been the offensive line's best game.
Other than the Packers' two efficient touchdown drives, the Vikings defense was great.
254 total yards
172 passing yards
82 rushing yards
4 sacks
A Rodgers-led offense with only 172 yards.
It was very much a team-led defense but one player that deserves to be singled out here is defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. He was the significant offseason addition that wasn't a quarterback. He's played well all season without putting up showy (sacks) statistics. So, he wasn't playing very much under the radar. Richardson put up showy statistics last night with two sacks and seven tackles. His first sack (late in the third quarter) felt like the point at which the Vikings, in particular the defense, took over the game.
A couple Packer players that can't be ignored.
Running back Aaron Jones.
He's a fun player to watch. It isn't fun watching him run against the Vikings but he's a terrific football player. The Packers seemed to lose some of their offensive momentum when he was given a breather late in the first half. Jamaal Williams got a series of work and there wasn't the same presence on the field. The Packers never got it back the rest of the game.
Cornerback Jaire Alexander.
I really liked Alexander in last spring's draft. I had high NFL expectations for him and he's exceeded them in his rookie season. He put a quick end to the Vikings second possession when he blew up a screen pass to Diggs. Thielen was blocking for Diggs but Alexander had none of it. He slammed into Thielen so hard that he was knocked into Diggs and sent Diggs to the ground. It ended up being a ten-yard loss. It was an incredible defensive play. Describing it does it no justice.
The Vikings are now 6-4-1 and very much in the thick of the playoff chase. The Packers are 4-6-1 and on the outside looking in.
I can't believe that there are only five games left in the regular season.
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Flea Flicker Week 12 Predictions
Here's a stab at the Week 12 games.
Byes: Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams
This is the last week of byes. That's a good thing. Seeing as a lot of people want to see a repeat of last week's Chiefs-Rams shootout in Super Bowl LIII it seems fair, and oddly convenient, that the pair are the last two teams with a bye.
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Vikings
The Vikings playoff run starts here.
Oakland Raiders @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Ravens
It's real hard to pick the Raiders in any game.
San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: Buccaneers
Just going with the home team.
New England Patriots @ New York Jets
Pick: Patriots
Not much thought went into this pick.
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Giants
Before the season, both teams probably thought this game would be a battle for the NFC East lead. Nothing has gone right for either team. It's hard to pick the Eagles team that I watched play last week against the Saints.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Jaguars
Even the Jaguars playing like they are should beat the Bills playing like they are.
Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Panthers
It's tough to imagine this Panthers team losing three games in a row.
Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Bengals
Part of me feels like the Browns will put on a show. If Baker Mayfield wakes up feeling dangerous. I just can't pick a team coached by Gregg Williams.
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: Chargers
Not much thought was needed for this pick.
Miami Dolphins @ Indianapolis Colts
Pick: Colts
The Colts are flying. With Andrew Luck playing like he is behind a line blocking like they are the Colts can keep pace with any of the high-flying offenses in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos
Pick: Steelers
Can the Broncos knock off a top team in consecutive weeks. I don't see it.
Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans
Pick: Texans
This could be a fun game as long as Marcus Mariota plays in it.
Byes: Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams
This is the last week of byes. That's a good thing. Seeing as a lot of people want to see a repeat of last week's Chiefs-Rams shootout in Super Bowl LIII it seems fair, and oddly convenient, that the pair are the last two teams with a bye.
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Vikings
The Vikings playoff run starts here.
Oakland Raiders @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Ravens
It's real hard to pick the Raiders in any game.
San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: Buccaneers
Just going with the home team.
New England Patriots @ New York Jets
Pick: Patriots
Not much thought went into this pick.
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Giants
Before the season, both teams probably thought this game would be a battle for the NFC East lead. Nothing has gone right for either team. It's hard to pick the Eagles team that I watched play last week against the Saints.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Jaguars
Even the Jaguars playing like they are should beat the Bills playing like they are.
Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Panthers
It's tough to imagine this Panthers team losing three games in a row.
Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Bengals
Part of me feels like the Browns will put on a show. If Baker Mayfield wakes up feeling dangerous. I just can't pick a team coached by Gregg Williams.
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: Chargers
Not much thought was needed for this pick.
Miami Dolphins @ Indianapolis Colts
Pick: Colts
The Colts are flying. With Andrew Luck playing like he is behind a line blocking like they are the Colts can keep pace with any of the high-flying offenses in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos
Pick: Steelers
Can the Broncos knock off a top team in consecutive weeks. I don't see it.
Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans
Pick: Texans
This could be a fun game as long as Marcus Mariota plays in it.
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Some Of My Favorite Things
With Thanksgiving still in mind I'm thankful for some of my favorite things.
Stefon Diggs running routes.
Adam Thielen too.
Aaron Donald doing Aaron Donald things.
Drew Brees.
Andrew Luck back on the football field.
Adam Thielen catching a football.
Stefon Diggs too.
Khalil Mack.
I'm not thankful for Mack getting traded into the NFC North.
Von Miller rounding the edge.
Patrick Mahomes throwing the football.
Aaron Rodgers too.
Danielle Hunter rushing the passer.
Tyreek Hill running.
Marshon Lattimore in coverage.
Quenton Nelson blocking.
The Vikings Donut Club.
Cordarrelle Patterson running with the football.
Todd Gurley and Kareem Hunt.
Baker Mayfield waking up feeling dangerous.
Larry Fitzgerald doing Larry Fitzgerald things.
Philip Rivers' mechanics.
Keenan Allen catching passes.
Cameron Jordan.
Justin Wilcox bringing defense back to Berkeley.
Peter King's FMIA column.
Linval Joseph in the trenches.
Julio Jones.
Mike Zimmer Coaching.
Football on Sundays.
Harrison Smith.
A Football Life.
NFL Films.
Football.
Stefon Diggs running routes.
Adam Thielen too.
Aaron Donald doing Aaron Donald things.
Drew Brees.
Andrew Luck back on the football field.
Adam Thielen catching a football.
Stefon Diggs too.
Khalil Mack.
I'm not thankful for Mack getting traded into the NFC North.
Von Miller rounding the edge.
Patrick Mahomes throwing the football.
Aaron Rodgers too.
Danielle Hunter rushing the passer.
Tyreek Hill running.
Marshon Lattimore in coverage.
Quenton Nelson blocking.
The Vikings Donut Club.
Cordarrelle Patterson running with the football.
Todd Gurley and Kareem Hunt.
Baker Mayfield waking up feeling dangerous.
Larry Fitzgerald doing Larry Fitzgerald things.
Philip Rivers' mechanics.
Keenan Allen catching passes.
Cameron Jordan.
Justin Wilcox bringing defense back to Berkeley.
Peter King's FMIA column.
Linval Joseph in the trenches.
Julio Jones.
Mike Zimmer Coaching.
Football on Sundays.
Harrison Smith.
A Football Life.
NFL Films.
Football.
Friday, November 23, 2018
Some College Recruiting Stuff
The current football recruiting situation attracted my curiosity. So, here's some recruiting stuff. All of it taken from the 247Sports college recruiting website.
247 Spots Top 25
It looks like Oregon has returned as a preferred destination for high school football players.
Clemson and Notre Dame might not have commitments from the any players in the current Top 25 but they have recruited enough top talent to rank among the Top 10 in team rankings.
247 Spots Top 25
| Rank | Player | High School | Pos | Ht/Wt |
| 1 | Nolan Smith | IMG Academy (Savanah, GA) | DE | 6-3/232 |
| 2 | Kayvon Thibodeaux | Oaks Christian (Thousand Oaks, CA) | DE | 6-0.5/239 |
| 3 | Derek Stingley | Dunham School (Baton Rouge, LA) | CB | 6-0.5/188 |
| 4 | Jadon Haselwood | Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, GA) | WR | 6-2.5/196 |
| 5 | Zach Harrison | Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center, OH) | DE | 6-5.5/243 |
| 6 | Trey Sanders | IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) | RB | 6-0/214 |
| 7 | Ishmael Sophser | Amite (Amite, LA) | DT | 6-3.5/334 |
| 8 | Bru McCoy | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) | ATH | 6-2.5/212 |
| 9 | Wanya Morris | Grayson (Loganville, GA) | OT | 6-5.5/311 |
| 10 | Daxton Hill | Booker T Washington (Tulsa, OK) | S | 6-0.5/186 |
| 11 | Darnell Wright | Huntington (Huntington, WV) | OT | 6-6/320 |
| 12 | Owen Pappoe | Grayson (Loganville, GA) | OLB | 6-0/210 |
| 13 | Kenyon Green | Atascocita (Humble, TX) | OT | 6-4/330 |
| 14 | Logan Brown | East Kenwood (Grand Rapids, MI) | OT | 6-6/285 |
| 15 | Nakobe Dean | Horn Lake (Horn Lake, MS) | ILB | 6-0/220 |
| 16 | Garrett Wilson | Lake Travis (Austin, TX) | WR | 6-0.5/181 |
| 17 | Zacch Pickens | T L Hanna (Anderson, SC) | DE | 6-4.5/268 |
| 18 | Theo Wease | Allen (Allen, TX) | WR | 6-3/202 |
| 19 | Clay Webb | Oxford (Oxford, AL) | C | 6-3/295 |
| 20 | Spencer Rattler | Pinnacle (Phoenix, AZ) | QB | 6-1/181 |
| 21 | John Emery Jr. | Destrehan (Destrehan, LA) | RB | 5-11/206 |
| 22 | Devontae Dobbs | Belleville (Belleville, MI) | G | 6-4/304 |
| 23 | Travon Walker | Upson-Lee (Thomaston, GA) | DT | 6-5/272 |
| 24 | Brandon Smith | Louisa County (Mineral, VA) | ILB | 6-4/228 |
| 25 | Evan Neal | IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) | OT | 6-7.5/360 |
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this Top 25 is the presence of a single QB.
Current Commitments
| Rank | Player | Currnet Commitment |
| 1 | Nolan Smith | Georgia |
| 2 | Kayvon Thibodeaux | Oregon/USC |
| 3 | Derek Stingley | LSU |
| 4 | Jadon Haselwood | Miami/Georgia |
| 5 | Zach Harrison | Michigan/Ohio State |
| 6 | Trey Sanders | Alabama/Florida |
| 7 | Ishmael Sophser | LSU/Alabama |
| 8 | Bru McCoy | USC/Texas |
| 9 | Wanya Morris | Tennessee |
| 10 | Daxton Hill | Michigan |
| 11 | Darnell Wright | Tennessee/Ohio State |
| 12 | Owen Pappoe | Auburn |
| 13 | Kenyon Green | Texas A&M |
| 14 | Logan Brown | Wisconsin |
| 15 | Nakobe Dean | Georgia/Mississippi |
| 16 | Garrett Wilson | Ohio State |
| 17 | Zacch Pickens | South Carolina |
| 18 | Theo Wease | Oklahoma |
| 19 | Clay Webb | Alabama/Georgia |
| 20 | Spencer Rattler | Oklahoma |
| 21 | John Emery Jr. | LSU |
| 22 | Devontae Dobbs | Michigan State |
| 23 | Travon Walker | Georgia |
| 24 | Brandon Smith | Penn State |
| 25 | Evan Neal | Alabama/Miami |
It's the usual cast of colleges. The top 10-12 football programs usually attract all of the top-ranked players. The biggest surprise among the Top 25 commitments (so far) is that Clemson, Notre Dame and Florida State aren't among them.
Team Rankings
|
It looks like Oregon has returned as a preferred destination for high school football players.
Clemson and Notre Dame might not have commitments from the any players in the current Top 25 but they have recruited enough top talent to rank among the Top 10 in team rankings.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Throwback Thursday: Thanksgiving 1962
The Detroit Lions have struggled for most of the past fifty years. Those struggles have made it difficult to imagine a time when they were great. And, there really was a time when they were pretty great. The Lions were one of the dominant teams of the 1950s. They played in four NFL Championship games in the decade, winning three of them in 1952, '53, and '57. The Lions nearly carried that success of the 1950s into the 1960s.
In the 1960s, Vince Lombardi built the Green Bay Packers into one of the greatest teams in NFL history. From 1961-67, the Packers won five NFL titles. The Packers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1960 NFL Championship game. In the locker room after the game, Lombardi promised his team that they would never again lose a postseason game. They never did. This was a great football team. 12 Hall of Fame players. One Hall of Fame coach. The Packers of the 1960s were so great that it's easy to forget about the other teams in the league. The Packers greatest challenge in the first three years of their dynasty came from within their own conference. In particular, it came from the Detroit Lions. In 1960, the Packers won the Western Conference with an 8-4 record. The Lions were second at 7-5. In 1961, the Packers won the Western Conference with an 11-3-1 record. The Lions were second at 8-5-1. In 1962, the Packers won the Western Conference with a 13-1 record. The Lions were second at 11-3. In each of those seasons, the Packers and Lions split their season series. Some consider the 1962 Green Bay Packers the best of Lomabardi's great teams. On October 7, the Packers defeated the Lions 9-7 in Green Bay. This was a game that the Lions strongly felt should have been theirs. So much so that the team was about to explode when the Packers came to Detroit for the Thanksgiving Day rematch. The Packers entered that game with an 18-game winning streak. They had won 11 straight league games, a championship game, and six exhibition games. The Packers were 10-0 on the season. The Lions were 8-2. The Lions defense swarmed all over the Packers runners, passers, and blockers on that Thanksgiving Day. The Lions led 23-0 at the half with the defense scoring a touchdown and a safety. The 26-14 final score made the game seem much closer than it was. Packers quarterback Bart Starr was sacked 11 times in the game. The Packers offense was physically beaten in this game. A beating so thorough that receiver Max McGee asked of Starr in the Packers huddle, "Why don't you throw an incomplete pass and nobody will get hurt." His battered teammates were left laughing in the huddle. It was all that they could do. This was one of the few times during the Lombardi years that the Packers failed to match the intensity of their opponent. The beatdown by the Lions didn't keep the Packers down for long. They won the rest of their regular season games and defeated the New York Giants for their second straight championship. The Lions had to settle for another second place finish in the conference.
The Detroit Lions of the early 1960s were a very good team that happened to play in the long shadow of a truly great team. From 1960-62, they might have been the only team to give Lombardi's team a tough time on a consistent basis. The two teams split their games during that time. If not for those Packers teams, the Detroit Lions might have followed a great 1950s with an excellent start to the 1960s.
In the 1960s, Vince Lombardi built the Green Bay Packers into one of the greatest teams in NFL history. From 1961-67, the Packers won five NFL titles. The Packers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1960 NFL Championship game. In the locker room after the game, Lombardi promised his team that they would never again lose a postseason game. They never did. This was a great football team. 12 Hall of Fame players. One Hall of Fame coach. The Packers of the 1960s were so great that it's easy to forget about the other teams in the league. The Packers greatest challenge in the first three years of their dynasty came from within their own conference. In particular, it came from the Detroit Lions. In 1960, the Packers won the Western Conference with an 8-4 record. The Lions were second at 7-5. In 1961, the Packers won the Western Conference with an 11-3-1 record. The Lions were second at 8-5-1. In 1962, the Packers won the Western Conference with a 13-1 record. The Lions were second at 11-3. In each of those seasons, the Packers and Lions split their season series. Some consider the 1962 Green Bay Packers the best of Lomabardi's great teams. On October 7, the Packers defeated the Lions 9-7 in Green Bay. This was a game that the Lions strongly felt should have been theirs. So much so that the team was about to explode when the Packers came to Detroit for the Thanksgiving Day rematch. The Packers entered that game with an 18-game winning streak. They had won 11 straight league games, a championship game, and six exhibition games. The Packers were 10-0 on the season. The Lions were 8-2. The Lions defense swarmed all over the Packers runners, passers, and blockers on that Thanksgiving Day. The Lions led 23-0 at the half with the defense scoring a touchdown and a safety. The 26-14 final score made the game seem much closer than it was. Packers quarterback Bart Starr was sacked 11 times in the game. The Packers offense was physically beaten in this game. A beating so thorough that receiver Max McGee asked of Starr in the Packers huddle, "Why don't you throw an incomplete pass and nobody will get hurt." His battered teammates were left laughing in the huddle. It was all that they could do. This was one of the few times during the Lombardi years that the Packers failed to match the intensity of their opponent. The beatdown by the Lions didn't keep the Packers down for long. They won the rest of their regular season games and defeated the New York Giants for their second straight championship. The Lions had to settle for another second place finish in the conference.
The Detroit Lions of the early 1960s were a very good team that happened to play in the long shadow of a truly great team. From 1960-62, they might have been the only team to give Lombardi's team a tough time on a consistent basis. The two teams split their games during that time. If not for those Packers teams, the Detroit Lions might have followed a great 1950s with an excellent start to the 1960s.
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Pro Football Hall Of Fame Semifinalists
The Modern-era Semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019 were announced yesterday. Among the 25 are three in their first year of eligibility-cornerback Champ Bailey, tight end Tony Gonzalez, and safety Ed Reed. Two others-coach Tom Flores and linebacker Zach Thomas-have been eligible for a while but are semifinalists for the first time. The remaining 20 have been semifinalists in previous years.
The 25 Modern-era Semifinalists
The next step of the selection process takes place on January 3 when the 25 semifinalists are whittled down to 15 finalists. Contributor finalists Pat Bowlen (Broncos Owner) and Gil Brandt (Cowboys scout) and Senior finalist Johnny Robinson (Chiefs safety) boost the finalist number to 18. The Selection Committee will then meet on February 2 in Atlanta to vote on the finalists. Each finalist must receive an 80% positive vote to make the Hall. The 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class will be announced that evening during the NFL Honors, the league's 2-hour prime time awards show on Super Bowl Eve. The 2019 Class will be formally enshrined into the Hall of Fame August 3 in Canton.
My 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class would look something like this.
Ed Reed
Tony Gonzalez
Kevin Mawae
Steve Hutchinson
Don Coryell
Johnny Robinson
Pat Bowlen
Gil Brandt
This is a tough one. Ed Reed and Tony Gonzalez are the only automatics among the Modern-era Semifinalists. I'm fairly set on Kevin Mawae. After that I can see just about any combination of Steve Hutchinson, Don Coryell, Champ Bailey, Steve Atwater, Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, Ty Law, and LeRoy Butler filling the final two spots. My picks change by the day. Maybe by the hour.
These are tough choices. Sometimes I want to be a part of the voting process. Sometimes I don't.
The 25 Modern-era Semifinalists
- Steve Atwater, S – 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2012-19)
- Champ Bailey, CB – 1999-2003 Washington Redskins, 2004-2013 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2019)
- Ronde Barber, CB/S – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2018-19)
- Tony Boselli, T – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve) | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2016-19)
- Isaac Bruce, WR – 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015-19)
- LeRoy Butler, S – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2018-19)
- Don Coryell, Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 11 – 2005, 2010-19)
- Alan Faneca, G – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2016-19)
- Tom Flores, Coach – 1979-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-94 Seattle Seahawks | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2019)
- Tony Gonzalez, TE – 1997-2008 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009-2013 Atlanta Falcons | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2019)
- Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015-19)
- Steve Hutchinson, G – 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2018-19)
- Edgerrin James, RB – 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015-19)
- Jimmy Johnson, Coach – 1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-99 Miami Dolphins | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2014-19)
- Ty Law, CB – 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015-19)
- John Lynch, FS – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 7 – 2013-19)
- Clay Matthews, LB – 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2012, 2017, 2019)
- Kevin Mawae, C/G – 1994-97 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-09 Tennessee Titans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015-19)
- Karl Mecklenburg, LB – 1983-1994 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2012-19)
- Sam Mills, LB – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2016, 2019)
- Ed Reed, FS – 2002-2012 Baltimore Ravens, 2013 New York Jets, 2013 Houston Texans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2019)
- Richard Seymour, DE/DT – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2018-2019)
- Zach Thomas, LB – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2019)
- Hines Ward, WR – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2017-19)
- Darren Woodson, S – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2015, 2017, 2019)
- Defense - 13
- 1 defensive lineman
- 4 linebackers
- 8 defensive backs
- Offense - 9
- 1 running back
- 3 wide receivers
- 1 tight end
- 4 offensive linemen
- Coaches - 3
My 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class would look something like this.
Ed Reed
Tony Gonzalez
Kevin Mawae
Steve Hutchinson
Don Coryell
Johnny Robinson
Pat Bowlen
Gil Brandt
This is a tough one. Ed Reed and Tony Gonzalez are the only automatics among the Modern-era Semifinalists. I'm fairly set on Kevin Mawae. After that I can see just about any combination of Steve Hutchinson, Don Coryell, Champ Bailey, Steve Atwater, Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, Ty Law, and LeRoy Butler filling the final two spots. My picks change by the day. Maybe by the hour.
These are tough choices. Sometimes I want to be a part of the voting process. Sometimes I don't.
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Flea Flicker Week 11 Power Rankings
Here's one look at how the 32 NFL teams rank after eleven weeks of the season.
1. New Orleans Saints (9-1)
2. Los Angeles Rams (10-1)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2-1)
5. New England Patriots (7-3)
6. Chicago Bears (7-3)
7. Houston Texans (7-3)
8. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
9. Minnesota Vikings (5-4-1)
10. Carolina Panthers (6-4)
11. Indianapolis Colts (5-5)
12. Seattle Seahawks (5-5)
13. Dallas Cowboys (5-5)
14. Tennessee Titans (5-5)
15. Green Bay Packers (4-5-1)
16. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5)
17. Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
18. Atlanta Falcons (4-6)
19 Cincinnati Bengals (5-5)
20. Washington Redskins (6-4)
21. Miami Dolphins (5-5)
22. Detroit Lions (4-6)
23. Denver Broncos (4-6)
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
25. Cleveland Browns (3-6-1)
26. New York Giants (3-7)
27. Buffalo Bills (3-7)
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-7)
29. Arizona Cardinals (2-8)
30. San Francisco 49ers (2-8)
31. New York Jets (3-7)
32. Oakland Raiders (2-8)
1. New Orleans Saints (9-1)
2. Los Angeles Rams (10-1)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2-1)
5. New England Patriots (7-3)
6. Chicago Bears (7-3)
7. Houston Texans (7-3)
8. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
9. Minnesota Vikings (5-4-1)
10. Carolina Panthers (6-4)
11. Indianapolis Colts (5-5)
12. Seattle Seahawks (5-5)
13. Dallas Cowboys (5-5)
14. Tennessee Titans (5-5)
15. Green Bay Packers (4-5-1)
16. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5)
17. Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
18. Atlanta Falcons (4-6)
19 Cincinnati Bengals (5-5)
20. Washington Redskins (6-4)
21. Miami Dolphins (5-5)
22. Detroit Lions (4-6)
23. Denver Broncos (4-6)
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
25. Cleveland Browns (3-6-1)
26. New York Giants (3-7)
27. Buffalo Bills (3-7)
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-7)
29. Arizona Cardinals (2-8)
30. San Francisco 49ers (2-8)
31. New York Jets (3-7)
32. Oakland Raiders (2-8)
Until next week.
Monday, November 19, 2018
Vikings-Bears
Well, that was disappointing.
The Chicago Bears hosted the Minnesota Vikings last night in a battle for the NFC North lead. After the 25-20 win, the Bears (7-3) have a 1.5 game lead over the Vikings (5-4-1). The good thing for the Vikings is that there are still six games to play and they host the Bears in Week 17. The bad thing for the Vikings is that they have to figure out a way to protect quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Bears pass rush (and every team's pass rush) and they have to figure out a way to run against the Bears defense. The Bears defense was great last night.
But as great as the Bears defense played it was still a one score game.
Everyone seemed to forget that it was a one-score game. Everyone being Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels in the booth. The fawning started just before the Bears kicked a field goal to open the scoring with about six minutes to play in the first quarter. It ramped up when the Bears scored their only offensive touchdown of the game with about six minutes to play in the first half. The Bear love continued without restraint throughout the second half as the Vikings finally started to score. If one wasn't paying much attention to the game one would think that a single team was on the field. It wasn't just Cris and Al that showered one team with so much affection. In their recap of the game, ESPN.com stated that "The Bears suffocated the Vikings in total yards (308-268)" A 40 yard advantage in total yardage doesn't seem too suffocating. The only points that the Bears offense put on the board in the second half came on a field goal at the two-minute warning. Until that late field goal, the Bears second half possessions ended in two punts and two turnovers. They didn't take an offensive snap on the Vikings side of the field until midway through the fourth quarter. That suffocating Bears offense had nearly as many turnovers (2) as points (3) over the final 30 minutes.
As a Vikings fan, I suppose that I'm a little sensitive to a general dismissal of Minnesota throughout a game that wasn't decided until the Bears recovered an onside kick at the end of the game. The Bears did control the game as a 10-minute edge in time of possession clearly shows. The Vikings were chasing the Bears throughout. But there were two teams on that field. And both had opportunities to win the game. It was the Bears that took better advantage of those opportunities.
Unfortunately, the Vikings couldn't take proper advantage of the the two second half takeaways by their defense. Despite getting excellent field position on both, the offense only managed a pair of field goals. A team that wins big games scores touchdowns in those situations. They don't leave 8 points on the field in those situations. The Vikings left another 3-7 points on the field in the first half with a fumble in the red zone. That's way too many missed points.
The Vikings biggest mistake came with 8:30 to play in the game. After the defense forced a Bears punt, the Vikings offense took over at their own 11. Down 14-6, they had an opportunity to march down the field and tie the game. Instead, Kirk Cousins threw an interception on the first play that Bears safety Eddie Jackson returned for a touchdown.
The Vikings offense did score two touchdowns over the final eight minutes but that defensive score and the late field goal were too much to overcome.
Some yardage numbers:
Total Yards
Vikings: 268
Bears: 308
Passing Yards
Vikings: 246
Bears: 160
Rushing Yards
Vikings: 22
Bears: 148
You don't have to look too hard to see the problem in the Vikings game. They couldn't run the ball. That put the Vikings behind the sticks on most possessions. The lack of a running threat allowed the Bears to rush Cousins without restraint. That made thinks easy for Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd and friends. Those guys don't need things made easier for them.
Mack was a beast. His stat line: a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery. His most startling play garnered no stats. On a pass rush in the second half, with one arm, he shot-putted Vikings left tackle Riley Reiff. It was a ridiculous display of power.
As great as Mack was, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks might have been even more impressive. His stat line: 6 tackles, a sack, and 5 TFLs. Five tackles for loss! Are you kidding me?
The Vikings really missed tight end David Morgan. He injured his knee against the Detroit Lions in Week 9. His blocking is so critical to the run game. HIs blocking might've gotten running backs Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray past the line of scrimmage. If Morgan is out for an extended time I'm curious if the Vikings coaches might consider bringing in reserve tackle Rashod Hill and bumping right tackle Brian O'Neill to an end position. They might even throw to O'Neill on an occasion or two just to keep the defense concerned about the possibility. When he was at Pitt he was offense used as an offensive playmaker on occasion. The Vikings have to figure out a way to run the football.
This was a very disappointing game. The Bears have control of the NFC North but there's still six games to play. Everything is still in front of them but they have to stack some wins. Perhaps six of them. It starts with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday night.
The Chicago Bears hosted the Minnesota Vikings last night in a battle for the NFC North lead. After the 25-20 win, the Bears (7-3) have a 1.5 game lead over the Vikings (5-4-1). The good thing for the Vikings is that there are still six games to play and they host the Bears in Week 17. The bad thing for the Vikings is that they have to figure out a way to protect quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Bears pass rush (and every team's pass rush) and they have to figure out a way to run against the Bears defense. The Bears defense was great last night.
But as great as the Bears defense played it was still a one score game.
Everyone seemed to forget that it was a one-score game. Everyone being Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels in the booth. The fawning started just before the Bears kicked a field goal to open the scoring with about six minutes to play in the first quarter. It ramped up when the Bears scored their only offensive touchdown of the game with about six minutes to play in the first half. The Bear love continued without restraint throughout the second half as the Vikings finally started to score. If one wasn't paying much attention to the game one would think that a single team was on the field. It wasn't just Cris and Al that showered one team with so much affection. In their recap of the game, ESPN.com stated that "The Bears suffocated the Vikings in total yards (308-268)" A 40 yard advantage in total yardage doesn't seem too suffocating. The only points that the Bears offense put on the board in the second half came on a field goal at the two-minute warning. Until that late field goal, the Bears second half possessions ended in two punts and two turnovers. They didn't take an offensive snap on the Vikings side of the field until midway through the fourth quarter. That suffocating Bears offense had nearly as many turnovers (2) as points (3) over the final 30 minutes.
As a Vikings fan, I suppose that I'm a little sensitive to a general dismissal of Minnesota throughout a game that wasn't decided until the Bears recovered an onside kick at the end of the game. The Bears did control the game as a 10-minute edge in time of possession clearly shows. The Vikings were chasing the Bears throughout. But there were two teams on that field. And both had opportunities to win the game. It was the Bears that took better advantage of those opportunities.
Unfortunately, the Vikings couldn't take proper advantage of the the two second half takeaways by their defense. Despite getting excellent field position on both, the offense only managed a pair of field goals. A team that wins big games scores touchdowns in those situations. They don't leave 8 points on the field in those situations. The Vikings left another 3-7 points on the field in the first half with a fumble in the red zone. That's way too many missed points.
The Vikings biggest mistake came with 8:30 to play in the game. After the defense forced a Bears punt, the Vikings offense took over at their own 11. Down 14-6, they had an opportunity to march down the field and tie the game. Instead, Kirk Cousins threw an interception on the first play that Bears safety Eddie Jackson returned for a touchdown.
The Vikings offense did score two touchdowns over the final eight minutes but that defensive score and the late field goal were too much to overcome.
Some yardage numbers:
Total Yards
Vikings: 268
Bears: 308
Passing Yards
Vikings: 246
Bears: 160
Rushing Yards
Vikings: 22
Bears: 148
You don't have to look too hard to see the problem in the Vikings game. They couldn't run the ball. That put the Vikings behind the sticks on most possessions. The lack of a running threat allowed the Bears to rush Cousins without restraint. That made thinks easy for Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd and friends. Those guys don't need things made easier for them.
Mack was a beast. His stat line: a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery. His most startling play garnered no stats. On a pass rush in the second half, with one arm, he shot-putted Vikings left tackle Riley Reiff. It was a ridiculous display of power.
As great as Mack was, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks might have been even more impressive. His stat line: 6 tackles, a sack, and 5 TFLs. Five tackles for loss! Are you kidding me?
The Vikings really missed tight end David Morgan. He injured his knee against the Detroit Lions in Week 9. His blocking is so critical to the run game. HIs blocking might've gotten running backs Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray past the line of scrimmage. If Morgan is out for an extended time I'm curious if the Vikings coaches might consider bringing in reserve tackle Rashod Hill and bumping right tackle Brian O'Neill to an end position. They might even throw to O'Neill on an occasion or two just to keep the defense concerned about the possibility. When he was at Pitt he was offense used as an offensive playmaker on occasion. The Vikings have to figure out a way to run the football.
This was a very disappointing game. The Bears have control of the NFC North but there's still six games to play. Everything is still in front of them but they have to stack some wins. Perhaps six of them. It starts with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday night.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Flea Flicker Week 11 Predictions
Here's a stab at the Week 11 games.
Byes: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Ne England Patriots, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers
Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Vikings
The Vikings can't let an opportunity to take control of the NFC North slip away.
Dallas Cowboys @ Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Falcons
Which Cowboys teams shows up in Atlanta?
Carolina Panthers @ Detroit Lions
Pick: Panthers
It looked like the Lions had given up on the season when they dealt Golden Tate. Their play the last two weeks kinda confirms it.
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts
Pick: Colts
The AFC South might be the most interesting division in the league. All but the Jaguars are playing well.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Steelers
With the LeVeon Bell soap opera finally over maybe the surging Steelers can finally focus on football.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New York Giants
Pick: Giants
Will the Giants have a winning streak going?
Houston Texans @ Washington Redskins
Pick: Redskins
The Texans have somehow managed to win six straight. I think that streak ends at six.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Bengals
The Ravens looked like one of the league's best teams in September. Then they lost four of five.
Oakland Raiders @ Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Cardinals
The Raiders are a mess. The Cardinals threw a scare into the Kansas City Chiefs last week.
Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: Chargers
The Chargers are one of the best teams in the league. And they might be getting Joey Bosa back.
Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints
Pick: Eagles
Just a hunch.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Los Angeles Rams
Pick:: Chiefs
The game that was supposed to be played in Mexico returns to the states. The Chiefs have been playing better than the Rams of late. This game could/should be a blast.
Byes: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Ne England Patriots, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers
Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Vikings
The Vikings can't let an opportunity to take control of the NFC North slip away.
Dallas Cowboys @ Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Falcons
Which Cowboys teams shows up in Atlanta?
Carolina Panthers @ Detroit Lions
Pick: Panthers
It looked like the Lions had given up on the season when they dealt Golden Tate. Their play the last two weeks kinda confirms it.
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts
Pick: Colts
The AFC South might be the most interesting division in the league. All but the Jaguars are playing well.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Steelers
With the LeVeon Bell soap opera finally over maybe the surging Steelers can finally focus on football.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New York Giants
Pick: Giants
Will the Giants have a winning streak going?
Houston Texans @ Washington Redskins
Pick: Redskins
The Texans have somehow managed to win six straight. I think that streak ends at six.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Bengals
The Ravens looked like one of the league's best teams in September. Then they lost four of five.
Oakland Raiders @ Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Cardinals
The Raiders are a mess. The Cardinals threw a scare into the Kansas City Chiefs last week.
Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: Chargers
The Chargers are one of the best teams in the league. And they might be getting Joey Bosa back.
Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints
Pick: Eagles
Just a hunch.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Los Angeles Rams
Pick:: Chiefs
The game that was supposed to be played in Mexico returns to the states. The Chiefs have been playing better than the Rams of late. This game could/should be a blast.
Saturday, November 17, 2018
All-Time Golden Bears
The 121st Big Game was supposed to be played today. It's not being played today because of poor air quality as a result of the horrible wildfires at either end of the state. The Big Game will now be played on December 1st. That's a day after the Pac-12 Championship. In my book, the Big Game is the Championship Game. My book isn't read much. Anyway, with no Big Game I was thinking about all of the terrific Cal football players that I've witnessed over the years. So, I decided to pick an All-Time Golden Bears football team. The only requirement to be on this team is that I had to have seen the player at Cal's beautiful Memorial Stadium. The site of the 121st Big Game. Now, scheduled to be played on December 1st.
Offense
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers
For sentimental reasons I'd love to have Joe Roth on this team but Rodgers was the best. Even if it was for less than two years.
Running Backs
Chuck Muncie
Marshawn Lynch
Wide Receivers
Wesley Walker
Keenan Allen
Tight End
Tony Gonzalez
Gonzalez was the focal point of Cal's offense for most of his three years and he still felt under-utilized.
Tackles
Ted Albrecht
Todd Steussie
Guards
Dave Zawatson
John Welbourn
Center
Alex Mack
Defense
Defensive Ends
Reagan Upshaw
Andre Carter
Defensive Tackles
Brandon Mebane
Lorenzo Alexander
Alexander was an offense-wrecking interior lineman at Cal. So it's a little surprising that he's crafted an NFL career as a special teams ace and more recently as a pass rushing linebacker.
Linebackers
Ken Harvey
Hardy Nickerson
Jerrott Willard
Cornerbacks
Deltha O'Neal
Syd'Quan Thompson
O'Neal's performance in the 1999 Big Game might've been the greatest I've ever seen. He was simply incredible that day. Cal wasn't. But he sure was.
Safeties
Eric Zomalt
Nnambi Asomugha
Special Teams
Kicker
Ryan Longwell
Punter
Bryan Anger
Long Snapper
David Binn
Normally, I wouldn't pick a long snapper but Cal is Long Snapper U.
Kicker Returner
Russell White
Punt Returner
DeSean Jackson
Go Bears!
My thoughts and prayers to all those dealing with the wildfires. We need the weather here that most of the rest of the country is getting routinely.
Offense
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers
For sentimental reasons I'd love to have Joe Roth on this team but Rodgers was the best. Even if it was for less than two years.
Running Backs
Chuck Muncie
Marshawn Lynch
Wide Receivers
Wesley Walker
Keenan Allen
Tight End
Tony Gonzalez
Gonzalez was the focal point of Cal's offense for most of his three years and he still felt under-utilized.
Tackles
Ted Albrecht
Todd Steussie
Guards
Dave Zawatson
John Welbourn
Center
Alex Mack
Defense
Defensive Ends
Reagan Upshaw
Andre Carter
Defensive Tackles
Brandon Mebane
Lorenzo Alexander
Alexander was an offense-wrecking interior lineman at Cal. So it's a little surprising that he's crafted an NFL career as a special teams ace and more recently as a pass rushing linebacker.
Linebackers
Ken Harvey
Hardy Nickerson
Jerrott Willard
Cornerbacks
Deltha O'Neal
Syd'Quan Thompson
O'Neal's performance in the 1999 Big Game might've been the greatest I've ever seen. He was simply incredible that day. Cal wasn't. But he sure was.
Safeties
Eric Zomalt
Nnambi Asomugha
Special Teams
Kicker
Ryan Longwell
Punter
Bryan Anger
Long Snapper
David Binn
Normally, I wouldn't pick a long snapper but Cal is Long Snapper U.
Kicker Returner
Russell White
Punt Returner
DeSean Jackson
Go Bears!
My thoughts and prayers to all those dealing with the wildfires. We need the weather here that most of the rest of the country is getting routinely.
Friday, November 16, 2018
MMQB's Big Board
The fans of a few NFL teams have sadly turned their attention from real football games and toward the 2019 NFL Draft. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated's MMQB has apparently sensed this as he posted his first Big Board yesterday. It's so early in the draft process but it's always fun to see how the top prospects stack up. With the help of some veteran talent evaluators, here's the MMQB's first big board.
1. NICK BOSA, DE, OHIO STATE
Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 265 pounds
The true junior was the best player in America through three weeks of this season before shutting it down. Assuming he checks out physically coming off his core muscle surgery, he’s the leader in the clubhouse to be the No. 1 prospect going into pre-draft process.
The true junior was the best player in America through three weeks of this season before shutting it down. Assuming he checks out physically coming off his core muscle surgery, he’s the leader in the clubhouse to be the No. 1 prospect going into pre-draft process.
2. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, DL, ALABAMA
Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 295 pounds
Williams didn’t start for the Tide in 2017. A year later, he has a shot to go in the Top 5, which is a good example of how the Nick Saban Machine rolls. And while it may seem a little off to see him ranked higher than Ed Oliver, the disruptive Williams is more scheme versatile than his more ballyhooed counterpart.
Williams didn’t start for the Tide in 2017. A year later, he has a shot to go in the Top 5, which is a good example of how the Nick Saban Machine rolls. And while it may seem a little off to see him ranked higher than Ed Oliver, the disruptive Williams is more scheme versatile than his more ballyhooed counterpart.
3. ED OLIVER, DT, HOUSTON
Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 290 pounds
Oliver has missed the last three weeks after taking an illegal low hit to the knee against Navy, and his status is up in the air for tomorrow’s home finale against Tulane. That said, he’s still the guy who was drawing comparisons to John Randle over the summer. And while not every team loves him (will he come in at 280 or 300 pounds?), for some, he projects as a foundational type player.
Oliver has missed the last three weeks after taking an illegal low hit to the knee against Navy, and his status is up in the air for tomorrow’s home finale against Tulane. That said, he’s still the guy who was drawing comparisons to John Randle over the summer. And while not every team loves him (will he come in at 280 or 300 pounds?), for some, he projects as a foundational type player.
4. DEVIN WHITE, STACK LB, LSU
Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 240 pounds
Positional value being what it is, I doubt White—an off-the-ball linebacker—goes this high. But he’s a very good player who could be the nerve center for an NFL defense for a lot of years. He’s a better athlete than last year’s top inside ’backer, Roquan Smith, but isn’t quite as instinctive or productive as the Bears rookie was at Georgia.
Positional value being what it is, I doubt White—an off-the-ball linebacker—goes this high. But he’s a very good player who could be the nerve center for an NFL defense for a lot of years. He’s a better athlete than last year’s top inside ’backer, Roquan Smith, but isn’t quite as instinctive or productive as the Bears rookie was at Georgia.
5. RASHAN GARY, DL, MICHIGAN
Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 280 pounds
The crazy thing about Gary is that he’s still seen as being pretty raw with a lot of room to grow. And at 280 or so pounds, the buzz is that he’ll run a 40-yard dash in the 4.7s. He may not be the best of the defensive linemen in this class as a rookie, but has the potential to be a monster long-term.
The crazy thing about Gary is that he’s still seen as being pretty raw with a lot of room to grow. And at 280 or so pounds, the buzz is that he’ll run a 40-yard dash in the 4.7s. He may not be the best of the defensive linemen in this class as a rookie, but has the potential to be a monster long-term.
6. CLELIN FERRELL, DE, CLEMSON
Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 265 pounds
Ferrell has picked up where he left off last year. He has 17 sacks in his last 19 games, and is very natural as a pass rusher, both in his build and how he plays.
Ferrell has picked up where he left off last year. He has 17 sacks in his last 19 games, and is very natural as a pass rusher, both in his build and how he plays.
7. JOSH ALLEN, OLB/DE, KENTUCKY
Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 255 pounds
The biggest question on Allen is how an NFL team will wind up using him. Like Minnesota’s Anthony Barr and Buffalo’s Tremaine Edmunds, he can play on the line or off, and can do a lot of things well. He’s been productive this year, with 11 sacks, 15.5 tackles for losses, five forced fumbles and four pass breakups.
The biggest question on Allen is how an NFL team will wind up using him. Like Minnesota’s Anthony Barr and Buffalo’s Tremaine Edmunds, he can play on the line or off, and can do a lot of things well. He’s been productive this year, with 11 sacks, 15.5 tackles for losses, five forced fumbles and four pass breakups.
8. JEFFREY SIMMONS, DT, MISSISSIPPI STATE
Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 300 pounds
His background will be a topic of discussion in February and March; as a high schooler he pleaded no contest to simple assault after striking a woman several times during a fight. Conversely, those in Starkville have vouched to NFL teams for the kind of person Simmons has been over his three years on campus. On the field, he’s capable of ruining games from the interior.
His background will be a topic of discussion in February and March; as a high schooler he pleaded no contest to simple assault after striking a woman several times during a fight. Conversely, those in Starkville have vouched to NFL teams for the kind of person Simmons has been over his three years on campus. On the field, he’s capable of ruining games from the interior.
9. GREEDY WILLIAMS, CB, LSU
Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 185 pounds
He’s tall and skinny, and isn’t perfect for everyone. But the Seattle-style Cover-3 defense teams will love him, and, of course, he comes from a school with great lineage at his position.
He’s tall and skinny, and isn’t perfect for everyone. But the Seattle-style Cover-3 defense teams will love him, and, of course, he comes from a school with great lineage at his position.
10. DEANDRE BAKER, CB, GEORGIA
Height: 5' 11" | Weight: 185 pounds
Scouts will tell you that Baker is probably a better cover guy than Williams. The problem? He’s about four inches or so shorter than Williams.
Scouts will tell you that Baker is probably a better cover guy than Williams. The problem? He’s about four inches or so shorter than Williams.
11. CHRISTIAN WILKINS, DT, CLEMSON
Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 315 pounds
Wilkins is a freakish athlete who some project to contribute a little on offense in the NFL too, with his natural bend, change-of-direction ability, body control and ball skills. The question will be, as an attacking, upfield type, where he finds his home on defense in the NFL.
Wilkins is a freakish athlete who some project to contribute a little on offense in the NFL too, with his natural bend, change-of-direction ability, body control and ball skills. The question will be, as an attacking, upfield type, where he finds his home on defense in the NFL.
12. DEXTER LAWRENCE, DT, CLEMSON
Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 350 pounds
Lawrence is a little antithetical to Wilkins—just a massive body with strength and athleticism to clog up the middle for a defense. The Tigers defense deploys him aggressively, but in the NFL he’ll likely find his value as a brick wall of a run defender.
Lawrence is a little antithetical to Wilkins—just a massive body with strength and athleticism to clog up the middle for a defense. The Tigers defense deploys him aggressively, but in the NFL he’ll likely find his value as a brick wall of a run defender.
13. JUSTIN HERBERT, QB, OREGON
Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 230 pounds
Lots of scouts will tell you he’s staying in school, and that he wants to play with his younger brother, who arrives on campus next year. As naturally gifted as Herbert is, he could use a little work—his accuracy has leveled off after a hot start to the season. All that said, given the position he plays, and how it’s drafted, staying in school would probably be a pretty serious gamble.
Lots of scouts will tell you he’s staying in school, and that he wants to play with his younger brother, who arrives on campus next year. As naturally gifted as Herbert is, he could use a little work—his accuracy has leveled off after a hot start to the season. All that said, given the position he plays, and how it’s drafted, staying in school would probably be a pretty serious gamble.
14. JONAH WILLIAMS, OT, ALABAMA
Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 300 pounds
Williams started at right tackle as a true freshman in 2016—not an easy trick to pull off—before flipping to play the left side last year. He’s in the running for all the postseason honors a lineman can contend for. The question in the pros will be whether he has the traits to play left tackle, or if he’d be better suited to play on the right side or inside.
Williams started at right tackle as a true freshman in 2016—not an easy trick to pull off—before flipping to play the left side last year. He’s in the running for all the postseason honors a lineman can contend for. The question in the pros will be whether he has the traits to play left tackle, or if he’d be better suited to play on the right side or inside.
15. DERRICK BROWN, DT, AUBURN
Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 325 pounds
He’s a little like Lawrence—athletic enough to have third-down potential, but mostly just a gigantic dude who will be a problem for opponents in the run game. He’s listed at 325 pounds, and at 20 years old, he’s got room to grow.
He’s a little like Lawrence—athletic enough to have third-down potential, but mostly just a gigantic dude who will be a problem for opponents in the run game. He’s listed at 325 pounds, and at 20 years old, he’s got room to grow.
16. MONTEZ SWEAT, DE/OLB, MISSISSIPPI STATE
Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 250 pounds
Another pass-rusher in a class full of them, Sweat is a tall and angular pressure player who will probably go just behind his teammate Simmons.
Another pass-rusher in a class full of them, Sweat is a tall and angular pressure player who will probably go just behind his teammate Simmons.
17. RAEKWON DAVIS, DL, ALABAMA
Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 315 pounds
Davis is different than his teammate Quinnen Williams—much more the big, strong, hold-the-fort type who’d fit right in as a 5-technique in a 3-4 front. And he does have a longer tracker record than Williams too, which does say something since the two were competing for playing time.
Davis is different than his teammate Quinnen Williams—much more the big, strong, hold-the-fort type who’d fit right in as a 5-technique in a 3-4 front. And he does have a longer tracker record than Williams too, which does say something since the two were competing for playing time.
18. DRE’MONT JONES, DT, OHIO STATE
Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 290 pounds
Another product from the pipeline of Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, Jones is scratching the surface of his athletic potential, and has size and burst as a disruptive interior rush man.
Another product from the pipeline of Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, Jones is scratching the surface of his athletic potential, and has size and burst as a disruptive interior rush man.
19. DEIONTE THOMPSON, S, ALABAMA
Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 195 pounds
Thompson, like Williams, has emerged with increased playing time, and proven to be an instinctive and quick centerfielder of a safety. The big issue with him scouts have – he’s pretty skinny.
Thompson, like Williams, has emerged with increased playing time, and proven to be an instinctive and quick centerfielder of a safety. The big issue with him scouts have – he’s pretty skinny.
20. DEVIN BUSH, STACK LB, MICHIGAN
Height: 5' 11" | Weight: 230 pounds
What Bush lacks in size he makes up for in instincts, speed and intensity. One of the best defensive playmakers in the country, and a linebacker who will need the right fit schematically to thrive in the NFL.
What Bush lacks in size he makes up for in instincts, speed and intensity. One of the best defensive playmakers in the country, and a linebacker who will need the right fit schematically to thrive in the NFL.
***
As Breer notes, the 2019 NFL Draft looks to be light on skill position players and extremely well stocked with defensive linemen. Especially interior defensive linemen. This aspect of the draft strikes up comparisons to the 2003 NFL Draft. A third of the first twelve picks in that draft were defensive tackles. The 2019 group is better in quantity and quality. Actually, it'll be a few years before we know anything about how these players will perform in the NFL.We do know that only one of the four defensive tackles that were selected in the top 12 in 2003 had something close to the NFL career that was expected of him. Kevin Williams exceeded the expectations that the supposed experts had for him. He was selected with the ninth pick and was a dynamite football player for the Minnesota Vikings for 11 seasons. It'll be interesting to see how the nine interior defensive linemen that populate the MMQB's first Big Board progress through the draft process. It's still so early. There's still football games to play. College and pro.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Throwback Thursday: Seven-Year Bitch Must End
On Saturday, the University of California Golden Bears and Stanford Cardinal/Tree/whatever compete in football for the 121st time. It's the Big Game. Stanford leads the series 63-46-11 and are sitting on an eight-game win streak. That (too) long win streak got me thinking about Stanford's last (too) long win streak. Seven games, from 1995-2001. That Stanford streak prompted then Sports Illustrated writer, current NFL Network analyst, former Daily Cal writer, and forever Golden Bear Mike Silver to pen this article for the school's paper in advance of the. It's as appropriate than as it is now.
Friday, November 22, 2002
Category: Sports
There's only one Mike Silver. Go Bears!
Seven-Year Bitch Must End
Mike Silver wrote for the Daily Cal from 1984-88. He now works for Sports Illustrated as a senior writer.Friday, November 22, 2002
Category: Sports
None of my Stanford friends (I know, that sounds like an oxymoron) will be at this year's Big Game, and that shitty little certainty-more than the wretched Tree, the pompous gloating, the criminally feeble fans or the fact that once welcomed onto that sterile golf course of a campus, it is physically impossible to flunk out-is the most compelling reason to detest Satan's school.
This seven-year bitch has got to stop, if only to remind the good people of the Cal community just how psyched we are to be us. Seriously, after you spent a day on this glorious campus, weren't you eternally grateful that you didn't get admitted to that sterile, hand-holding institute of bland? Yet Stanfordites, like my buddy Andy-who, by the way, will be supporting his team during Saturday's Big Game by sitting on a beach in paradise-are convinced that we all have inferiority complexes.
Yeah, and when I'm spooning my wife in bed tonight, I'll secretly be wishing she were Monica Lewinsky.
(Sorry for the tired Clinton-era reference, but, you see, Monica did things to the father of a young lady who attended a certain university, amid much hoopla, and anything I can do to stomp on Stanford's buzz...)
The fact that so many Cardinal (athletic) supporters, and I use that term lightly, are staying away from this year's game tells you all you need to know about what kind of people they are. Like the Stanford rugby team, they're perfectly happy to compete-unless they don't think they have a good chance of winning, at which point they'll take their ball and go home. We in the business of covering big-time sports have a term for such individuals, so allow me to share the benefit of my professional expertise.
It starts with a "P," and it rhymes with "wussies."
Think about it: Stanford people are the ones who walk into a party, slither over to the side of the room, survey the scene and pass judgment on the behavior of others. Cal folks are the party. We unabashedly barge into the joint and take over-loud, proud and unbowed.
Cue the music: It's getting hot in herre. So take off all your clothes...
As a thirtysomething writer for Sports Illustrated, I can tell y'all a few things about what goes down after college, in the so-called real world. Thanks to a massive, prolonged assault on my brain-cell supply, I am not nearly as smart as you, but I am wiser, and one thing I've learned is that the creative, spontaneous originals among us live richer lives than our safe, boring contemporaries.
Let me put it more succinctly: After college, Cal kicks Stanford's ass.
We are doctors who cure diseases and dot-com ziillionaires who've actually contributed more to society than orchestrating IPOs. We're workaday bacon-providers who exude passion and stay-at-home parents who party like rock stars. For that matter, we are rock stars, and denim-empire creators, and matchmakers on the grandest of scales.
How come my boss at the Daily Cal went on to dominate reality TV, creating 'The Bachelor' and the delightfully twisted 'Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?' while the guy who ran the Stanford Daily at the time became Bill Simon's speechwriter? (OK, on that last point, I'm just talking out of my ass, but you have to admit it SOUNDS plausible.)
Do you think something as wonderfully unique and unfathomable as The Play could have happened the other way around? I was at Memorial Stadium on that crisp, sunny afternoon 20 years ago, and, since many of you weren't born yet, this is the one thing you need to realize about that kickoff return: A few seconds after Mark Harmon's 35-yard field goal gave Stanford a 20-19 lead with four seconds to go, the entire Cal student section rose as one, defiantly, and summoned a sustained and fierce pre-kickoff cheer. I watched it from across the stadium as a high school senior, and I'll never forget the strange sensation: These people are fucking insane.
Then The Play happened, and it all made perfect sense. We are the BEARS. We have fought too hard for this. We are NOT losing this game.
Let me tell you about one other act of defiance, this one coming up on its 10-year anniversary. As Cal was getting spanked in the 1992 Big Game at Memorial, Stanford fans, elated over their 5-0-1 stretch in the once-balanced rivalry, actually showed a pulse and began a taunting chant. The Tree ventured closer and closer to the Cal student section, gyrating in its insipid outfit, until a Cal rugby player named Mark Bingham could stand it no longer. Bingham jumped from the stands, made a beeline for the Plant from Purgatory and chopped its sorry ass to the ground, reminding everyone in attendance that there are some things that simply can't be tolerated. And while I would never advocate such a renegade display of violence, I sincerely hope that if such a gesture ever were to take place again, the culprit would honor his predecessor by pointing a finger to the sky.
That's because 14 months ago Bingham was one of the Flight 93 passengers who fought back against the Sept. 11 terrorists and made the ultimate sacrifice. And though I'm in no way comparing the magnitude of events and circumstances, I will say this: That is a California Golden Bear.
Now, it takes more than passionate fans and overall institutional superiority to win a football game, and for so many of the last 16 years, our players have been less prepared and less focused than their Stanford counterparts. That almost certainly won't be the case in this or future years: After last season, our new athletic administrators went out and hired a good coach, and, sweet mother of the Jesus, Notre Dame confiscated the best college coach in the country.
On Saturday, finally, we can expect our players to be up to the magnitude of the task at hand-and make no mistake, this game is everything. Screw not being bowl-eligible; there is only one Bowl, anyway, and we haven't been to it since 1959. This is much, much bigger than playing in the Hyundai Pimp-Slap Bowl. It's a program-defining moment, a chance to return the Bay Area's mojo to its rightful owners, to take a dump in the Sears Cup and shoot our ridiculously backed-up wads for the first time in forever.
I have no worries. I know you'll be more charged than a Rachael Klein beat-off column by kickoff, and I sincerely pray you'll get the Cal performance you, as unabashed Golden Bear-backers, so richly deserve.
If so, I'll see you on the 50-yard line when it's all over, and the world is once again safe for democracy. Feel free to say hello-I'll be the guy with the cell phone, using what's left of my wretched voice to fuck up someone's Hawaiian vacation.�
***
There's only one Mike Silver. Go Bears!
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