College Football Week 3- 2011

In an early season matchup of potential National Championship Contenders we have Florida State hosting Oklahoma.  Oklahoma comes in to the game with one of the current front runners for the Heisman Trophy in their starting QB- Landry Jones.  Many people are picking Jones to have a huge day with over 300 passing yards and 2 TDs.  Here’s what to watch for:

                Florida State was embarrassed last year again OU and this season Jimbo and the boys are ready and looking to avenge their loss.  Watch for Florida State’s defense to be firing on all cylinders as they attack the ball carriers and get after every pass.  Look for OU to try and establish a well-balanced running game to help open up their passing game.  On the FSU side, EJ Manuel wants to prove he belongs on the field with Jones so watch for him to get open and find his playmakers down the field.  FSU will also want to establish a running game in hopes of keeping the OU defense at bay.

PREDICTION:      Jones throws for 225 yards 2 TDs, 2 INTs.  Manuel will come up big with 280 yards 2 TDs, 1 INT.  FSU defense will stifle the OU offense in Tallahassee picking off 2 passes, and causing one fumble.

                FSU 24

                OU  21

                In an unusual move, Ohio State will travel out of conference, go on the road, and play a big-conference school in Miami (FL).  Ohio State comes in ranked 16^th while Miami is unranked but the rankings won’t matter in this barnyard brawl.  Watch for a physical game, full of booster benefits, and high-dollar players.

                Ohio State is looking to prove they can win without the likes of Tressell and Pryor, and Miami is looking to show everyone they can play even in the face of scandals.  Miami will have Jacory Harris back at the helm of their offense and look for a huge day from the QB.  On the OSU side, they will be led by Joe Bauserman as they travel to southern Florida for this matchup. 

PREDICTION:      Ohio State is going to try and establish an offense that isn’t there.  With players still serving suspensions and other players eligibility still in question watch for Bauserman to struggle, throwing for 145 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.  The rushing game will be missing as well, as their backs combine for 92 yards with 1 rushing TDs.  On the Miami side watch for Harris to ring up the offense and deliver with 312 yards through the air 3 TDs, and Lamar Miller to deliver on the ground with 88 rushing yards and 32 out of the backfield receiving.

                Miami  32

                OSU     20

Other Notable Games:

Tennessee on the road to the Swamp.

Urban Meyer still gets calls for the Gators- even when he's not coaching them.

                Florida      28

                Tennessee  27

Texas plays UCLA after a scare last week with BYU.

Texas is ready this week.

                Texas    31

                UCLA   17

Notre Dame is looking to stop the slide against Michigan State

                Notre Dame   20

                Michigan State 15

The luck runs out for Auburn fans.

                Clemson    28

                Auburn       26

NFL Week 1- Projections and Thoughts

  WEEK 1: Projects and Thoughts

Starting with the buttercups:

Bengals and Browns- The Bungles will strike first, but the Browns will get the W.
   


                            Cleveland by 6.




Eagles and Rams- Mike Vick has reloaded on offense, got a new contract, and ready to show last season wasn't a fluke.
     



 Philly by 14

Lions and Buccaneers- Matt "China Doll" Stafford is back and ready to show he can stay healthy. Suh is ready to bring the hard hitting D.  Josh Freeman for the Bucs ready to show he's not a one-hit wonder.
     

 Lions by 5 in a high scoring, low defensive game.




Steelers and Ravens- In what's certain to be a hard hitting, very physical game in Baltimore, look for Baltimore to be ready on 9/11.
     


 Ravens by 2.



Lastly, Cowboys travel to NY to take on the Jets- The Cowboys are looking to show that last season was an oddity. The Jets are poised to make a playoff run and ready to show it.  On 9/11, NY won't be denied.

   




 Jets by 12.

Old Faces in New Places

"Chad, can you teach me to twitter?"

Hello New York, I'm back!

With the NFL training camps rushing to start, teams courting prospective players on the free agency market, and veteran players showing whether they still got it or not, fans can only sit back and enjoy.  I know I am personally waiting to see the Detroit Lions take the field, as I think they are the team this season to watch, but that’s another story.  So far there’s been a few notable changes of address that stand out and could be key- of those I am going to pick on the wide receivers; Chad Ochocinco, Plaxico Burress, and AJ Green.  Yes, I’m aware AJ Green is only a rookie, but for this discussion we’re including him.

I learned this move on "Dancing with the Stars"

                Since 2001 when he was drafted out of Oregon State University, we’ve only seen Chad Ochocino lace it up for the Cincinnati Bengals, at times making us all stand up and shout “Oh no he didn’t!”  From his stylish antics, his blonde hair, and his twitter lifestyle, we have come to either love or hate Ocho.  So, let’s take a look at him a little deeper- He’s only played 2 full seasons in the last 4 seasons, his best receiving year for yards being 4 years ago with 1440 yards.  His most touchdowns came in 2003 with 10, and last season only had 4 touchdowns and 831 yards in 14 games played.  Ocho is moving on to New England to play with the Patriots and superstar, Super Bowl MVP Quarterback Tom Brady.  Tom is known for his ability to extend the field and make the plays to help his team win.  Will the addition of Ocho help Tom to get back to the Super Bowl?  Will Ocho buy in to the Bill Belichick system and just play football?  Or, will we hear Ocho on tv saying “Kiss the baby?”

"I just want to say, Mark has better hair than Eli"

                Plaxico Burress, the one time hero of a Super Bowl.  Out of Michigan State and spreading his time between Pittsburgh and the Giants, Plax stays in the New York area but joining the charging Jets and their Hollywood model to be, QB, Mark Sanchez.  It might be some people’s opinion that Mark would rather run around in his Calvin Kleins posing for pictures rather than he would playing football.  Will the addition of Plaxico help the Jets to get over the hurdle and reach the Super Bowl?  Plaxico last played in 2008, where he played in 10 games pulling down 4 touchdowns.  Prior to that in 2007 he pulled in 12 touchdowns and 70 catches for 1025 yards.  In his final two years on the field Plaxico did not commit a single fumble either.  Plaxico is coming back from a two-year hiatus due to being in prison.  Will Plaxico come back with the same hunger and desire as Mike Vick?

Hey Andy, don't get me killed with your passes

                Lastly AJ Green will be replacing the above mentioned Ochocinco in Cincinnati.  AJ is joining a hurting Bengals team who is currently without their once Pro Bowl Quarterback Carson Palmer.  AJ will be pulling in passes from TCU Rookie Andy Dalton, and we’re just not sure how this will go as of yet, but one can speculate.  AJ Green missed four games in his final season at Georgia, but was able to pull in 57 catches for 848 yards and 9 touchdowns.  His second highest receiving total in college and most touchdowns.  AJ is without question one of the most exciting young wideouts in the game, but with a rookie quarterback, will his talents be enough to make Bengals fans glad to see Ocho not on the field?  In 2010, against rival SEC Schools, AJ Green pulled in 6 catches for 96 yards against Tennessee, 9 catches for 184 against would-be National Champion Auburn Tigers (and 2 touchdowns).

                Looking forward to the upcoming season one can only be excited to see these three wide receivers lined up on the field, digging the routes, and cutting to the goal line as they pull down amazing touch down grabs.  Here’s my predictions on how these three will perform this season:

1)      Chad Ochocinco – 14 games played, 88 receptions, 1082 yards, 14 touchdowns

2)      Plaxico Burress – 16 games played, 93 receptions, 1001 yards, 9 touchdowns

3)      AJ Green, 16 games played, 79 receptions, 884 yards, 10 touchdowns

The future of the Bengals rest on a couple of rookies.

Look Chad, I got my first twitter stalker

Ocho will have the luxury of Tom Brady throwing him perfect passes, Plax will have 2 years of rest to pull energy from, and AJ will show us the future looks bright in Cincinnati for fans.  In the end though, it’s all about Wins and Losses, so:

               

 PREDICTION: Plaxico Burress will be the Comeback Player of the Year, starting a trend for ex-cons, and following Mike Vick.

 New England -- 14-2 (First Round Bye in Playoffs)

 New York Jets – 12-4 (Home-field advantage in First Round of Playoffs)

 Cincinnati – 9-7 (misses the playoffs).

2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year

2011 NFL Comeback Player of the Year?

When is leading by example a positive action?

Retirement?

Answer:  When you are the historic Bungles- I mean, Bengals.

For years I’ve always said that when it comes down to it, players in professional sports are spoiled.  I have felt they forget sometimes that are in fact paid to live a flashy, elegant lifestyle, to play a kid’s game.  Do you remember the chilly Friday nights, crowded in the bleachers of your high school football field to cheer on your classmates?  You’re a junior, and the quarterback under center is the sophomore kid in your AP Biology class that doesn’t talk a lot?  Remember seeing him make that pump fake to draw the DB in just so he could throw over the top to the cutting wideout for the 62 yard touchdown pass to win the game?  We all have stories of the “good ole days” when football was just a game, a game we loved to watch, we loved to play, and at the end of the night when the lights were out, we didn’t get paid to play it.  Now, fast forward to today, we’re grown up and for most of us, we have a job where we count hours, record our time, and at the end of the month look at our pay checks and wonder where it all goes?  There are a few that are more fortunate than those of us, they are professional athletes- the men (and women) who are paid to play a game they we love.  Whether it’s Kobe Bryant from the Lakers, Albert Pujols from the Cardinals, or Peyton Manning from the Colts these athletes are the names we cheer for every time they are on the television.  These athletes who, truth be told, have never had to work a single day in their entire lives, get paid millions of dollars to work, err- play a game for what?  Football- 16 Sundays.  That’s 16 hours of work and they millions of dollar.  Basketball 82 games.  65.5 hours of work.  Wow- almost three full days out of a whole year.

Will we see Palmer throwing to AJ Green?

Seriously though, for years I’ve always wished someone would stand up to these prima donnas and put them in their places.  Does it ever happen?  No, cause at the end of the day it comes down to money for the owners as much as it does the players.  Well, enter Mike Brown, Owner and GM of the Cincinnati Bengals.  He grew up cutting his teeth on pro Football, son of the legendary Paul Brown.  He’s quickly becoming, what I like to call the outlaw, of the NFL.  Four years ago when Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson wanted to be traded and demanded it, he didn’t give in.  He simply said to the fans that Chad had a contract and would fulfill it.  Now, here we are again, familiar script with his once Pro Bowl Quarterback Carson Palmer- a QB I might add that I actually like to watch play.  Carson makes the demand to be traded or he will retire, forcing the hand of owner Mike Brown.  Well, we all know, any owner in his right mind would trade the QB rather than risk losing everything if he did in fact retire.  What does Mike Brown do?  Tells Carson to enjoy retirement!  How can you not applaud this?

Now, I understand- “IT’S A BUSINESS JOEY, AND THE PLAYERS ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THEMSELVES.”  Yeah?  You think so?  OK, go play in a pool of acid if you think that.  Carson is set to make 11.5 million dollars this season for 16 hours of work!  Tell me it’s about business now.  I’ll clean toilets for 11.5 million dollars.  Personally, I stand up and cheer for Mike Brown of the Bengals.  I understand that in the end, a team can cut a player who is under contract, voiding the contract and essentially leaving the player without a job.  SO?  How much money did that player make last season?  11.5 million dollars?  I’m sorry- I feel no sympathy for him.  I bust my tail, 40 hours a week getting up early and working long hours so be able to help support my family, while this spoiled superstar drives around in luxury cars, wearing designer clothes, and still has no idea what hard times are?  Forget it- I’ll never feel sorry for an athlete who loses their job when they whine and cry about things like this.  Won’t happen.  Let him get a real job, where he has to work 2080 hours a year, punching a time sheet.

Anyways, moving on- I think owners do need to start holding players to their contracts.  If a player wants more leverage, work an “early-out” clause in the contract.  Players are catered to so much anyways, that it’s crazy at the end of the day they get to hold out for more money, trades, or whatever else they want.  These guys needs to be grateful for the lavish lifestyle they have, and remember the game might be a “kid’s game,” but they don’t have to act like kids.

They say the Captain goes down with the ship?  Not this one.

Carson Palmer, shut up and play football.  Honor your contract or enjoy the retired life.  Kudos to Mr. Mike Brown for showing us that there still needs to be a little honor in your word.

Super Slugfest, Super Bowl Style

Can Clay Matthews stop the Steelers?

In every sport there are those teams that everyone dreads to play, they know are the more physical teams, the more prepared, the most seasoned, or the most versatile team.  This year, the NFL is bringing two of these titans to the table for the Super Bowl.  In what could shape up to be one of the best Super Bowls in recent years, there will be two teams taking the field that are both very strong on offense, but both are defense orientated teams.  Pittsburgh brings in an “old school” style defense that will hit you, hit you, and hit you again.  Right when you think the hits are going to stop, you get hit again.  Their defense is known around the league for how hard they hit, how they hit, and the ferociousness of their hits.  Green Bay brings in the “working man’s” defense, led behind last year’s NFL defensive player of the year, Charles Woodson, the Packers are no slack on defense either.  All-Pro Clay Matthews is one of the league’s best at stopping the ball, whether it’s a runner, receiver, or the quarterback.

Will the Steelers add number 7?

Pittsburgh is not in unfamiliar waters with the Super Bowl, having won 2 in the last six years already, and having several guys who are going for their third ring together.  This is the same team that before the season started were told they couldn’t win without Ben Roethlisberger, and went on to prove critics wrong.  With a season filled of news surrounding James Harrison and his bone rattling hits, the Steelers have managed to run through the playoffs enroute to a date with the Packers.

The Packers come in as the team with no experience, nothing to pull from other than history, and yet, no one is doubting their right to be there.  Green Bay comes in, being led by a gunslinging quarterback who silences every team in his way- no, it’s not Brett Favre, it’s Aaron Rodgers.  Displaying his borrowed signature championship belt move, Rodgers is firing on all cylinders as he leads the Packers in to Dallas for their date with history.

Green Bay once had cheerleaders

Things you won’t see in this game…. Jerome Bettis busting through the line or Brett Favre running down the field with his finger held high.  You also will not see any cheerleaders on the sidelines, as these two teams neither have cheerleaders, giving us the first Super Bowl in the 45 year history to put two teams without cheerleaders on the field.

The long forgotten Steelerettes

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: 

The Packers need to get to Big Ben

For Green Bay to be successful on defense, they will have to keep Ben Roethlisberger in the pocket and not let him get out and run.  The Steelers are going to look to find Mike Wallace deep down field, so the Packers will have to be able to match up one on one with their defense keeping guys like AJ Hawk and Matthews free to spying on the Big Ben.  On offense, Rodgers has been deadly lately, connecting on almost every pass he throws, and keeping them in places where only his guys can catch them.  Rodgers can beat you with his legs too, if you let him.  Look for him to get out and run when needed, and watch for his pin point passing has he drops passes in places where the defense can’t get them.  Don’t expect to Rodgers force many passes, instead he’ll find the open man, or he’ll throw it away.

Can Ben join the list of QBs to win 3 Super Bowls?

On Pittsburgh’s side of the ball, watch for Roethlisberger to use the running game from Mendenhall to set up passes down the field.  Big Ben will scramble as needed to help get free, which is when he is at his best.  Green Bay will bring different looks to try and force him to make mistakes, but Roethlisberger is poised in the pocket and will be patient.  On defense, watch for the Steelers to mix up their calls and show disguises to Rodgers since he’s one of the best at picking up defenses on the line.  Watch for Harrison to get lose and unload on Rodgers in the backfield if he’s not blocked at all times, and if Rodgers doesn’t pick him up at the line on every play.

The game will come down to the play of the quarterbacks and their ability to read the defenses.  Roethlisberger has been saved a few games this season by his defense, but in this game, that won’t be enough.  Watch for a slug fest out the gate, as each team battles for field position before they punt.  It will be a low scoring first half of football, which will favor the Steelers going in to the second half.  In the third quarters Aaron Rodgers will take the game by the reigns and settle in to a groove, leading the Packers in to the lead and win.

Aaron Rodgers has been flying high as of late,
watch for him to continue in the Super Bowl.

Green Bay           24

Pittsburgh            20