Best and Worst of the NFL - Week 5

Let's call it Opposite Day!  It's easy to call the Lions and the Bills the worst teams in the league and it's easy to name the Saints, the Steelers, and the Packers the most talented, but what about the worst of the best and the best of the worst?  Now, that's fun!

BEST team with 1 win: Dallas Cowboys
The Vikings are a very close second here, but the Cowboys we all saw in the first two weeks won't show its face again.

WORST team with 3 wins: Chicago Bears
Even with Jay Cutler, the Bears have some major issues...and now they don't even have him.

BEST team without a win: San Francisco 49ers
Almost went with the Panthers here, but the 49ers just have too much talent to keep this losing streak - plus, they get to play every team in the NFC West...twice.

WORST team with 2 wins: Arizona Cardinals
Take your pick of first-place teams in the NFC West - Seattle, St. Louis, and Arizona all aren't getting it done, but the Cardinals have the most question marks.

BEST team with 2 wins: Indianapolis Colts
This one was easy.  Peyton Manning will bring this team back from their temporary lull.

Some notes on the upcoming games for the above teams:

• The Cardinals will have a very tough time with the Saints this weekend starting an undrafted rookie in Max Hall at quarterback.  This will definitely test the resolve of Arizona's struggling defense.
• Who would have thought that the Chiefs would be the undefeated of the two teams in the Colts-Chiefs matchup (and the Colts at just .500).  Incredible.
• Dallas-Tennessee should be a great matchup, but if the Titans aren't careful, I could see Romo ripping them up after beating a very good Houston team.
• The Bears are last in rushing and allowed double-digit sacks last week - not good when going up against an angry Panthers team that needs to play well as not to get booed out of their own stadium.
• The football Gods have taken pity on the 49ers by making Kevin Kolb the starter in this game.  Vick would have given them fits.  Instead, I think they come out the victors here.

Arizona Cardinals 2009 Red and White Practice LIVE

For the entire play-by-play transcript for the "Red and White" game and links to some other Cardinals training camp articles:
Arizona Cardinals Examiner

How the Arizona Cardinals match-up with: the Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 1 - @Jacksonville, Jacksonville Stadium
Sunday, Sept. 20th, 1:00 PM, FOX

All-time series: Jacksonville 2 - Arizona 0
Last 10 games: Jacksonville 2 - Arizona 0

Interesting Stat: In two games, Jacksonville has outscored Arizona 68-27

Quarterback
Jaguars - Let's just say that if David Garrard gets injured for any amount of time, the Jags are in big trouble. After releasing Cleo Lemon so they didn't have to pay a back-up quarterback $3 million a year to ride the pine, the Jaguars were left with, well, nothing. Todd Boeckman didn't even play that much in college, nonetheless the pros, and Todd Bouman is 106 years old. To make matters worse, Garrard's not even all that good.
Cardinals - If you ask me if I want Garrard or Warner, I pick Warner. If you ask me if I want Garrard or Leinart, I pick Leinart.
Edge: Cardinals, because their back-up is better than the Jags starter.

Running Back
Jaguars - Much like the quarterback position, the Jaguars are sparse at running back. This being the first year in a good while that the Jacksonville fans won't be able to see Fred Taylor on the field, Maurice Jones-Drew will have to become a 30-carry back for the first time as well. The question then becomes, "Can he do it?" I think he can, but as is the case with most shared-carry backs that move into the featured roll, I expect his production (per carry) to go down. If a solid back-up can be found in rookie Rashad Jennings, Alvin Pearman, or Chauncey Washington, there is a chance the run game won't suffer the loss of Taylor too much...but don't count on it.
Cardinals - "Lean" and "Mean," Tim Hightower and Chris "Beanie" Wells. have huge potential, but as you will hear me reiterate again and again before the season starts, they are wholly unproven. Potential in no way equals production and I cannot in good objective standards annoint them...yet.
Edge: Jaguars, if Maurice Jones-Drew stays healthy.

Wide Receiver
Jaguars - Another trouble area for the Jaguars, although landing veteran Torry Holt does help matters at least. Without Holt, this write-up would be very easy: they're bad. However, there is a lot of youth here, and like the Cardinals run game, has a lot of potential. Reggie Williams is solid, but not mind-blowing (he didn't have over 55 yards in any game last year); Mike Thomas was a stud at the University of Arizona and should see playing time quickly if he pays attention in training camp; the other Mike, Mike Walker, had some games last year that looked promising, so he could easily become Garrard's second or third option; and the rest will be figured out in the pre-season, with the young receivers battling it out (all with a chance to play).
Cardinals - This comparison is kind of sad, really. I mean, c'mon, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston vs. Holt, Williams, and Thomas? Let's just say that if you add all the receiving yards of the wide receivers currently on the Jaguars roster (not counting Jones-Drew, a running back), it is less than Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin by themselves.
Edge: Cardinals, with no explanation needed.

(continued)

For the rest of the article, go to: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-15203-Arizona-Cardinals-Examiner~y2009m7d8-How-the-Arizona-Cardinals-matchup-with-the-Jacksonville-Jaguars

Krag Klages is the Arizona Cardinals Examiner

How do the Arizona Cardinals Matchup with: the San Francisco 49ers

Week 1 - @Arizona, University of Phoenix Stadium
Sunday, Sept. 13th, 4:15 PM, FOX

Week 14 - @San Francisco, Candlestick Park
Monday, Dec. 14th, 8:30 PM, ESPN *Monday Night Football

All-time series: San Francisco 19 - Arizona 16Last 10 games: Arizona 6 - San Francisco 4
Interesting Stat: 4 out of last 12 games have gone into overtime

Quarterback
49ers - Another quarterback battle is in store for a team that desperately needs a leader. It really comes down to the returning starter, Shaun Hill, and the 2005 number-one draft pick, Alex Smith. If history is any indication where this is going, Shaun Hill will come out of this thing the victor, expecially with Singletary's love for the blue-collar type quarterback.
Cardinals - No brainer, here. Apart from any injury set-backs (which is a possibility, even in the pre-season), Kurt Warner will be the starting quarterback for the Cardinals. Sorry, Leinart, you've got at least another year of waiting.
Edge: Cardinals, by a mile.

Running Back
49ers - Frank Gore is an outstanding back and the new rookies, Glen Coffee (Alabama) and Kory Sheets (Purdue), could be two great additions to what has been a one-man show. That said, if the offensive line doesn't create better opportunities, it doesn't matter who's behind them.
Cardinals - "Beanie" Wells dropping to #31 in the draft was just one more indication that the winds are changing for the Arizona Cardinals. They needed a big, bruising running back more than anything else and they think they've found it in Wells. Paired together with the speedy edge-rusher, Tim Hightower, the Cardinals could quite possibly have the next great tandem in the NFL. Tim Hightower and "Beanie" Wells - I shall from here on out call them "Lean" and "Mean," respectively.
Edge: 49ers, as the Cardinals are too young and unproven.

Wide Receiver
49ers - This receiving corps is a couple of veterans (Arnaz Battle and Isaac Bruce) followed by a bunch of babies, albeit a bunch of very talented babies. Whoever ends up at quarterback better be able to get rid of the ball fast and on target, because these guys can catch and these guys can run. Michael Crabtree needs to prove himself in the NFL before I start comparing him to Larry Fitzgerald like many other media pundits, but even I can admit that his potential is unmatched at his age.
Cardinals - It's too bad for the 49ers that the Cardinals have the best wide receiving corps in the country, because the 49ers are pretty solid themselves. But, alas, Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin make up the best one-two punch in football, hands-down.
Edge: Cardinals, but not by as much as you might think.

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To read the rest of this article, go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-15203-Arizona-Cardinals-Examiner~y2009m7d6-How-do-the-Arizona-Cardinals-matchup-with-the-San-Francisco-49ers

Krag Klages is the Arizona Cardinals Examiner

A Quick Look at the Arizona Cardinals 2009 NFL Draft Picks

Here’s a quick breakdown of the Cardinals’ eight 2009 Draft Picks and their possible impact:

RB Chris “Beanie” Wells – The big, bruising Ohio State running back has had some injury problems through college, but if stays healthy, he could be the next great back in the NFL.

OLB Cody Brown – Brown is a solid outside pass rusher, which is exactly what the Cardinals were looking for with this pick. If he works on his mobility and getting around blocks, he could have an impact earlier than expected.

S Rashad Johnson – This Alabama Safety could definitely see playing time this year if he bulks up. His ability is unmatched at the position, but he needs to get bigger to compete with NFL wide receivers.

CB Gregory Toler – This little-known player out of tiny St. Paul’s College was overlooked by everyone in the draft, but his story is one of overcoming obstacles and he could end up being a great cornerback. Give Toler a year or two.

OG Herman Johnson – If Johnson keeps his weight in check (he is on record as the biggest player in LSU football history) and works on his mobility (I repeat, he is a BIG boy), he could be a very solid blocker for a sometimes-lacking Cardinals offensive line.

DE Will Davis – With the Cardinals' depth at this position, look for Davis to be more of a developmental project. Good upside, but needs work.

RB LaRod Stephens-Howling – The sleeper of the entire draft, the Cardinals love LaRod’s upside (and his speed) – look for him to make an immediate impact on special teams.

OG Trevor Canfield – A pick-and-pray draft pick, Canfield will be a total bust or an amazing value. Then again, the offensive line can use anyone at this point.

NCAA Graduation Success Rates by Sport

While reading an as-usual-funny article by ESPN's TMQ (Tuesday Morning Quarterback), I stumbled upon a link to the NCAA's athletic GSR's (Graduation Success Rates) . I thought, for fun, I'd publish the men's graduation rates here, from top sport to last:

Sport GSR
Lacrosse 88
Water Polo 87
Fencing 86
Gymnastics 86
Ice Hockey 83
Swimming 83
Tennis 83
Volleyball 83
Skiing 82
Rifle 80
Golf 79
Soccer 79
CC/Track 74
Wrestling 72
Baseball 68
Football(FBS) 67
Football(FCS) 65
Basketball 62

Not so surprisingly, Baseball, football, and basketball are dead last, I think mainly because so many of these athletes graduate early to go into the professional realms. What did surprise me was that the FCS colleges, formerly Division II, had such a low rate since most of these players do not go into the NFL. I would be curious to hear what people think of that anomaly.

A little surprising, on the positive side, was that the ice hockey GSR's were so high. Different from the powerhouse counterparts, hockey players obviously are staying in school longer. This may have something to do with the level of competition and how difficult it is to make it into the NHL.

Any other thoughts from people are certainly welcomed. And sorry I haven't posted in so long.

What Should the Super Bowl Cardinals Do Next?

Okay, so the Cardinals have signed Warner...Check. They have gotten a new shut-down cornerback in McFadden from the Steelers...Check. So what should happen next? What is the future of Boldin? Who should they go after in the draft?

Here's what they OUGHT to do:

1. The Kansas City Chiefs filled a HUGE need at quarterback by paying for Matt Cassel (smart move, KC), so the next logical step is to get Cassel a receiver to throw to.

Anquan Boldin enter stage right.

The Cardinals should trade the unhappy Boldin to the Chiefs for this year's first AND third round picks. Now, the Cardinals' first three rounds looks like this:

Round 1 - #3 Pick
Round 1 - #31 Pick
Round 2 - #63 Pick
Round 3 - #67 Pick
Round 3 - #95 Pick

2. They can get TWO huge needs in the first round instead of settling for later, less-worthy draft-picks. My suggestions would be to take Aaron Curry, DB from Wake Forest with the #3 pick and Donald Brown, RB from Connecticut with the #31 pick.

Get a not-so-bad tight-end with #63 or #67 and grab value-players with the other two. Done.

Kurt Warner Has Outlasted the AFL

Here's an interesting timeline:

1971 - Kurt Warner is born
1987 - The AFL begins
1995 - The Iowa Barnstormers are added to the AFL
1995 - Kurt Warner signs a contract with the Iowa Barnstormers
1997 - Kurt Warner makes AFL history as one of the best AFL quarterbacks to date
1998 - Kurt Warner signs a contract with the St. Louis Rams
1999 - Kurt Warner achieves NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and a Super Bowl Ring
2001 - Kurt Warner is named NFL MVP
2009 - AFL season cancelled
2009 - Kurt Warner plays in NFC Championship game (and possibly the Super Bowl)

Kurt Warner has officially outlasted the AFL.

Ksquared's Picks for the Next Round of the NFL Postseason

I have decided that this will be short and sweet so I don't embarrass myself too much...There is so much parity in the NFL anymore, any one of these teams could win the whole darn thing. Here goes nothin'...

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans - Saturday, January 10th - 4:30 pm ET
Tennessee 13 - Baltimore 10

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers - Sunday, January 11th - 4:45 pm ET
Pittsburgh 20 - San Diego 17

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers - Saturday, January 10th - 8:15 pm ET
Arizona 32 - Carolina 28

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants - Sunday, January 11th - 1:00 pm ET
New York 24 - Philadelphia 17

Arizona is my only true upset, but it is a biggy...

Why I picked how I did:
I like Tennessee because of the amount of time to prepare.
I like Pittsburgh because of the immense home field advantage.
I like the Cardinals because they are more motivated than any team in the playoffs.
I like New York because nobody should pick against Tom Coughlin in the postseason.

And done!

Ksquared's Sports Quote of the Day

Vince Lombardi is one of the greatest coaches of all time, and though he had a lot of great sayings, some of them very well-known, this one is probably my favorite. It opitimizes his arrogance, competitiveness, optimism, and general outlook on coaching.

"The Green Bay Packers never lost a football game. They just ran out of time."
- Vince Lombardi (1913-1970)

Are The 9-0 Tennessee Titans For Real?

I'm going to break this down very simply. Usually, I like to give an opinion one way or another on this team or that, but this time will be different. This time, the facts will tell the story for me.

Let's start with the "weakness" - Offense:
Points/game - 10th
Rush Yards/game - 6th

Now, the fun begins - let's do Special Teams and Intangibles:
Penalty Yards - 12th
Kick Touchbacks - T-5th
Punts inside 20 - T-1st
Avg. Kick Return - 1st

And the clincher - Defense:
Rush Yards/game - 8th
Sacks - 7th
Total Yards/game - 5th
Interceptions - T-2nd
Points/game - 1st

I think we're done here...

Buckeyes Suspend Player, Father Answers With Unbelievable Immaturity - Like Father Like Son?

I usually don't get opinionated past who I think will win a game and why, but this article sort of got my blood boiling. Here's the article...take a look: Ray Small Suspended and Father Responds.
First of all, Ken Small's accusation that the coaching staff of the Buckeyes are "intentionally blowing his whole career" is just ludicrous. How could Ohio State possibly benefit from doing that? Nothing in Tressel or his coaching staff's history would even hint at something so vicious. And to make an accusation with such enormity, you better have proof to back that up.

Ken, just because you moved from Cleveland to Columbus to be closer to your meal-ticket, I mean, your son, by no means gives you the right to intervene any time you don't think your son is treated fairly, which brings me to my second point.

Part of growing up in this country is gaining autonomy from your parents and making mistakes and learning from them - on your own. Sure, some kids make more mistakes than others and there are times when a child might need to lean on his parents for advice and sometimes financial help, but by becoming involved in the everyday dealings of his son, Ken Small is hindering an important period of Ray's growth.

So here's my bottom-line: Ken Small's irresponsible and offhanded comments are hurting the university because of negative press. Ken Small's comments are hurting the Buckeye football program by becoming a distraction and a nuisance. And finally, and most importantly, Ken Small's comments are hurting his son's growth both as a person and a football player. As a person, Ken is not allowing Ray to take responsibility for his own actions, an important part of growing up, and as a football player, by making this a National storyline, Ken has just given every NFL team a good look at what the Small family is all about and, right or wrong, will reflect badly on Ray's NFL draft resume filed under "character issues."

Hey Ken, who wins here? Real smart. Like father, like son.

Fantasy Football Sleepers - Week 8

My Mewelde Moore and Wes Welker picks should have gotten you some big points (if you had listened). This week, I've got some dandies for y'all:

1. Deuce McCallister, RB, New Orleans - With Reggie Bush out, McCallister should get close to 20 carries and in effect, should put up some solid points as a #3 running back. Start him if you have an opening. I'm guessing he won't be on the waiver wires (although, many people who had drafted him at the beginning of the season might have let him go by now), but if you have him, this is the week to use him. *see my comment post

2. Brad Johnson, QB, Dallas - Another sleeper by default...Without Tony Romo, Johnson is the guy and there's no way an offense like Dallas, regardless of the quarterback, won't put points on the board. A warning, however, that he is a last resort and only if you have no other choice.

3. BenJarvis Green-Ellis, RB, New England - This is my pick-of-the week. Most leagues should still have this undrafted rookie on the wire and with Morris out again, he should rack up some good yardage and could get some short-yardage TD's. After New England's passing display last week, look for the St. Louis' secondary to be backed-up in zone coverage most of the game, making for some nice holes in-between the tackle-box.

4. Lance Moore, WR, New Orleans - Every wide receiver on this New Orleans offense should get some catches against a pretty soft San Diego secondary, so expect Moore to gain you some nice points. I include him here because he should still be available on waiver wire, but like Johnson, only pick him up if you are in dire need of a #2 or #3 wide receiver.

5. New York Jets ST/D - This is my second favorite pick of the week. The Jets defense has not played very well as of yet this season, but they will be hungry to get after a sputtering Kansas City offense that will playing it's third-string quarterback and most likely will be without Larry Johnson again. This is the only week I would suggest starting the Jets, but it is a good one to do so.

There you have it. As stated, Green-Ellis and the Jets D are my "Best Picks," and both are probably available to pick up right away. And JP, if you're reading this, Coles and Cotchery should both definitely start this week against a horrible Kansas City team. They aren't sleepers by any means, but I thought I'd throw it in for good measure.

Fantasy Football Sleepers - Week 7

Quickly, here's who to grab off the waivers if they're still available:

1. Sammy Morris, New England, RB - At this point, the most consistent back for New England. If you need a #2 or #3 RB because of bye weeks, he could be a nice replacement.

2. Wes Welker, New England, WR - Another New Englander, this time because Moss is going to be covered all day by Champ Bailey and Welker is due for a breakout game.

3. Mewelde Moore, Pittsburgh, RB - With Willie Parker out, Moore is going to see the carries and will be racking up the points. Pick him up as a #2 or #3 back.

4. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City, RB - Another backup playing a full game this week, with Larry Johnson out, Charles could be a nice replacement. Careful here, however, because the Chiefs are going against a stout Titans defense. I would go with Moore or Morris before Charles.

5. Kevin Walter, Houston, WR - Houston is playing Detroit...Enough said.

I admit, my Le'Ron McClain pick last week was a VERY bad one, but Jackson AND Frerotte ended up being pretty solid scorers. I really like Moore and Walter this week.

Fantasy Football Sleepers - Week 6

Per request, these are my Top 5 Fantasy Football sleepers for this week. Now, understand that I am defining a FFS in which you might own this player as a #3 or #4, but this week, for some reason, he looks good to put up some points.

1. Gus Frerotte, QB - If you have him, start him. If you don't have him, pick him up from the waiver wire if he's available (my guess is he will be). I wouldn't normally start him over an Aaron Rodgers or Kurt Warner, but this week, he is playing the Lions. It is easy to find the first FFS most weeks by just looking at the players going up against the Lions. I wouldn't be surprised if Gus puts up 25-30 points this week.

2. Tim Hightower, RB - I guess by this point, some might not consider him a sleeper, but in my book, any backup running back is a tough Fantasy starter, especially if you are backup to Edgerrin James. If you have James, still start him, because Wisenhunt loves to pound the ball and you'll get 15 points just on yards alone, but I would put Hightower in there this week as well seeing as he will grab the touchdowns at the goalline. I do have some reservations because they are playing Dallas, but as we've seen in past games, the Dallas defense is not too intimidating.

3. Vincent Jackson, WR - This would never have been a "sleeper" last year, but he has been stuck behind Chris Chambers as the #3 wide receiver this season and his numbers reflect it. With Chambers most likely sidelined with an injury, Jackson becomes the #2 and against a New England secondary that has suffered lately, I expect him to give you a solid 15 or more points. Start him as a #2 in most leagues.

4. Redskins D/ST - This might scare a lot of you, as the Redskins haven't put up more than 7 points in a game yet this season. However, consider this: they have not been negative the entire season and they are playing the Rams this weekend. I expect Bulger's return to be more of the same for St. Louis, with a stout Redskins running defense stuffing them early. This will force Bulger to put it in the air and, at least this year, could turn into turnovers. Don't start the Redskins if you own the Vikings, Giants, or Eagles, but past that, go for it.

5. Le'Ron McClain, RB - If you've been following Fantasy Football at all, you know this isn't really a sleeper, as he has put up gaudy numbers, but just in case you've been walking around in fantasy land with your eyes closed (and the rest of your league has too), pick this guy up! He is the Ravens goalline back and is putting up almost as much yardage as McGahee in some games. Against Indianapolis this week, I expect another solid game. This is a great #2 or #3 back behind your #1. Consistency is key.

If you have any of your own sleepers or thoughts on mine, let me know. The only way I can improve this blog is with your help. Thanks especially to J.P. for the request and for being my MOST loyal follower!

Why the Big Ten can't compete with the SEC and Big 12...yet

Look, it's not Rocket Science that the SEC and Big 12 are the two best conferences in the country, but what is a little more confusing is WHY that is the case. After all, Pennsylvania and Ohio are two of the biggest recruiting pipelines in the country. Why does it seem like the SEC and Big 12 keep on beating up on the "slow" Big ten? I'm going to answer this question with some Fact vs. Fiction statements. Read on...

Fact: The SEC and Big 12 have recruited better all-around athletes in the last 5-8 years.
Fiction: The Big Ten is slow.
Reasoning: Look, the Big Ten is NOT slow. You don't have success like the Big Ten has had (regardless of the National Championships) without having speed. Whoever started this ridiculous rumor should be fired...and anyone continuing to spread this rumor should be fired and then hidden from the public.

That said, there is a difference between the conferences, but it is not as simple as speed vs. no-speed...It is overall athleticism. A talented athlete has more than just speed and the SEC and Big 12 have had better success recruiting this kind of talent.

Fact: The Big Ten has as many NFL prospects as the SEC and Big 12
Fiction: The Big Ten has just as much talent as the SEC and Big 12
Reasoning: Sure, the Big Ten has a ton of NFL prospects, sometimes more than the SEC and Big 12 in the last few years, but it is because the Big Ten has up until recently been recruiting "position" players. These types of players fulfill their role perfectly, but can't necessarily make big things happen on their own. In college, big-play type players can directly affect the outcome of a game, hence the success of the SEC and Big 12 (Tim Tebow and Vince Young, anyone?). In the NFL, however, things change.

In the NFL, your position is your job and because everyone's doing their job well, you have to too. It is the reason players like Graham Harrell are projected higher than Tim Tebow going to the NFL and why Vince Young has struggled mightily at the next level. Everyone in College football would rather have Tebow than Harrell because of his big-play ability, but in the NFL, that's simply not enough.

Bottomline: If I'm an NFL scout, I go to just as many Big Ten games as the SEC and Big 12, but when it comes to building a football team at the NCAA level, I am on the recruiting trail looking for athletes with big-play ability. The Big Ten is starting to figure out what the SEC and Big 12 already knew, but it's going to be a couple of years before the results begin to show. Terelle Pryor is definitely a step in the right direction.