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Football Notes
** NFL blog is below **
by Tommy Lawlor
- scoutsnotebook@gmail.com -
1-1-09
Notes on the guys who have declared so far:
CB Vontae Davis - Illinois --- Tough, physical CB. Loves to hit and tackle. Good cover guy. Should be 1st round pick.
RB Shonn Greene - Iowa --- Breakout season in '08. Ran for more than 100 yards in every game, including 121 in the bowl game. Physical runner. Stays behind his pads and really pounds on defenders. Could be a 2nd round pick. Did miss '07 due to academic issues.
CB DJ Moore - Vanderbilt --- Playmaker. Simple as that. Had 6 INTs. Caught 7 passes on offense. Averaged 20 yards per catch and had 2 TDs. Averaged 14.3 yards on his punt returns. Averaged 20 yards per KOR. Had a sack and a FF. Finished his career with 13 picks. Could be a 1st Rder.
QB Josh Freeman - Kansas State ---Very talented player. Has good size and athletic ability. Excellent arm. Makes some great throws. Got better every year at KSU, but never developed into a great QB. The lack of good Senior QBs could really help his value.
CB Captain Munnerlyn - South Carolina --- Complete corner. Can cover, hit, tackle, and blitz. Only goes about 5'9, 185. Not a big playmaker. Didn't have a pick in '08 and only broke up 5 passes. Not 1st round material, but a solid player.
LB Eric Norwood - South Carolina --- Interesting player. Eric was a playmaking DE last year. He moved to LB this season. Still proved to be a playmaker, but more as a pass rusher than a guy in space. Lists at 6'1, 253. Odd size. Had more than 40 TFLs and 20 sacks in college. Probably a mid-round guy.
OT Eben Britton - Arizona --- Good college LT. Goes about 6'6, 310. Played on the left side this year, but the right side in the past. Good, but not great prospect. I'm not sure he has the footwork for LT. Could be a good RT. Probably a 2nd rounder.
DT Ricky Jean-Francois - LSU --- Bad decision. He was projected to be a Glenn Dorsey kind of force at DT. Never happened. Missed most of 2007 due to injuries after a very good Freshman year. This year he had some injuries, but was just part of the collective LSU funk. Had only 3 sacks and never became the force he was expected to be.
DT Sen'Derrick Marks - Auburn --- Athletic guy who has experience at DE and DT. Goes about 6'1, 290. At his best as a 1-gap DT who attacks upfield. I didn't think he played all that great this year, but could sneak into the late 1st round if a team like the Colts is hot for a DT.
WR Kenny Britt - Rutgers --- Had a terrific year with 93 catches and 1371 yards. Only had 7 TDs, which is a potential concern. A guy with his size (6'4, 215) and ability you'd expect to have more. Mike Teel did throw for 25 scores. Britt is likely a 2nd round player. Good size/speed and looks natural as a receiver.
S Taylor Mays - USC --- Hasn't officially declared, but says he's leaning toward coming out. Great size/speed guy. Goes 6'3, 230 and runs very well. Impact hitter. Destroys guys, sometimes his own teammates who are helping on the tackle. The only thing keeping him from being a definite Top 10 pick is the fact he doesn't make more plays. Should go in the 10-15 range. Not a LB. Needs to play S.
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1-1-09
Happy New Year everyone.
* Vanderbilt CB DJ Moore says he will enter the Draft. He's a versatile playmaker that will have a shot at the 1st round.
* Missouri Junior LB Sean Weatherspoon played a great game in the Alamo Bowl. He finished with 8 solo tackles, 9 assists, 2 TFLs, half a sack, and a pass break up. He was all over the field. Weatherspoon looked good in coverage. He was physical against the run. He also showed the ability to blitz. A big performance like that in a bowl game could be enough to push him to come out early. Possible 1st round pick.
The announcers raved about Chase Daniel and the NFL. Listen, we all love Chase as a college player. He's gritty and tough and a leader. That doesn't make him an NFL player. Intangibles aren't enough at the next level. Chase has significant limitations.
* The Chick-Fil-A Bowl was a disaster. Ga Tech had no answers for LSU on offense or defense. There isn't a whole lot to report from that game.
* UNC WR Hakeem Nicks had a great game on Saturday. He caught 8 passes for 217 yards and 3 scores. One of the catches was unbelievable. He ran a crossing route and caught a pass behind him. He pinned the ball with one hand to his backside and reached with the other hand to grab it. Words don't do the catch justice. Go watch the highlight. Nicks has a thick, strong build. He's not a burner, but is fast enough. He's only a Junior, but I imagine he'll be coming out. Good workouts could put him in the mix to be the #3 WR prospect.
* Oregon WR Jaison Williams is a big, talented player but I would not take a chance on him. He drops too many passes and just isn't someone I trust.
Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew had a solid game in the Holiday Bowl. He caught 6 balls for 51 yards. He did a good job of blocking.
* Chase Clement had a huge game for Rice in their bowl victory. He threw for 3 TDs and more than 300 yards. I still don't see Chase as being a serious NFL prospect.
WR Jarrett Dillard had a terrific game. He caught 8 passes for 86 yards and a TD. He also threw a TD. I love his body control, vision, and hands. Jarrett is only about 5'11, 180 but he plays much bigger and stronger. My only question with him is speed. Is he fast enough to start in the NFL? I think he could be a terrific #3 WR at the least.
Western Michigan FS Louis Delmas is one of my favorite players. His team had a bad game, but he didn't disappoint. He led the Broncos with 10 tackles and flew around the field. He also played on offense and caught a 19 yard pass.
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12-29-08
New Mock
1. Detroit – Matthew Stafford, QB Georgia
The Lions need a QB to build the team around. Stafford is the answer, assuming they don't go for a veteran player.
2. St. Louis – Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
Holt is as good as gone. Crabtree joins forces with Donnie Avery to give the Rams another deadly duo at WR.
3. Kansas City – Andre Smith, OT Alabama
Smith is too good to pass up. He can play LT or RT. Branden Albert can also handle both sides.
4. Seattle – Beanie Wells, RB Ohio State
The Seahawks need a RB. Wells is the kind of guy who can carry an offense. They've lacked that presence since Shaun Alexander went downhill.
5. Cleveland – Malcolm Jenkins, CB Ohio State
The Browns need help on offense, but Jenkins is simply too good to pass up. He's the kind of DB you can build a secondary around.
6. Cincinnati – Everette Brown, DE Florida State
Cincy got little production from DE this year. That can't happen again and Brown is the best pass rusher in the Draft.
7. Oakland – Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri
JaMarcus Russell needs weapons. Maclin has the kind of size and speed to develop into an elite WR.
8. Jacksonville – B.J. Raji, DT Boston College
The Jags like DTs. Raji is the best available this year. John Henderson isn't getting any younger.
9. Green Bay – Aaron Curry, LB Wake Forest
A playmaking LB would be a welcome addition to the Packers defense. Curry has that kind of ability.
10. San Francisco – Taylor Mays, S USC
The SF secondary could use a strong presence in the middle. Mays has the kind of size and speed to make a difference for them.
11. Buffalo – Brian Orakpo, DE Texas
The Bills desperately need pass rush help. They may go for help in FA, but it wouldn't shock me to see them add a player in the Draft as well.
12. Denver – Brandon Spikes, MLB Florida
Spikes is the best MLB in the Draft. The Broncos need help on defense (all over the place).
13. Washington – Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia
Jon Jansen and Chris Samuels are aging. Washington could use a young OT to replace them.
14. New Orleans – William Moore, S Missouri
The Saints finished 23rd in pass defense and their Safeties did not have a good year. Moore can step in right away and play.
15. Houston – Michael Johnson, DE Georgia Tech
Mario Williams needs someone on the other side of him. Johnson has excellent ability.
16. San Diego – Brian Cushing, LB USC
Cushing can play ILB or OLB. 3-4 teams always need more LBs and his athleticism and versatility makes Brian a good fit.
17. N.Y. Jets – Rey Maualuga, ILB USC
The AFC East is full of good RBs. You can't have enough good ILBs. Maualuga and David Harris would be a terrific duo.
18. Chicago – Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Maryland
Kyle Orton needs weapons. Bey has the size and speed to become a star WR.
19. Tampa Bay – Peria Jerry, DT Ole Miss
The Bucs could use a stud DT. Jerry is made for the 3-technique, what Warren Sapp played for them. Tampa only had 29 sacks this year so a strong interior pass rusher would greatly help.
20. Detroit – Vontae Davis, CB Illinois
The Lions need all kinds of help. Their secondary has been atrocious at times. Davis at the very leasty will come in and hit and tackle.
21. Arizona – Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia
Tim Hightower has struggled as the starting RB. Moreno would offer a top flight runner for the offense and let Hightower go back to being a good role player.
22. Philadelphia – Hakeem Nicks, WR UNC
Nicks would be the successor to Kevin Curtis at the X receiver. He brings size and a physical style of play to the offense.
23. Minnesota – Michael Oher, OT Ole Miss
Bryant McKinnie isn't getting any younger. Oher would give the Vikings a LT for the future (and possibly present).
24. New England – Tyson Jackson, DE LSU
Bill Belichick loves big DL. Jackson at 6'5, 292 could play DE in the 3-4 and give them strength as well as some pass rush ability.
25. Atlanta – Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma State
The Falcons absolutely need a TE and Pettigrew is the top rated TE in the Draft. He also fits their offense.
26. Miami - James Laurinaitis, ILB Ohio State
See the comments on the Jets pick.
27. Baltimore – Greg Hardy, DE Ole Miss
Terrell Suggs could easily leave in FA this year. The Ravens need another pass rusher. Hardy has some size and ability.
28. Philadelphia – Alex Mack, C Cal
Jamaal Jackson hasn't exactly played like a Pro Bowler this year. Mack is the top C available.
29. Indianapolis - Alphonso Smith, CB Wake Forest
The Colts have a solid set of CBs, but Smith is too perfect a fit to pass up. He's made for the Cover 2.
30. Pittsburgh – Jason Smith, OT Baylor
We don't think of Smith as a 1st Rd pick at this point, but the Steelers need help up front.
31. N.Y. Giants – Clint Sintim, SLB Virginia
The Giants like versatile defenders. Sintim can play LB and rush the passer. Is Osi healthy for 2009? Does Kiwi stay at DE?
32. Tennessee – Percy Harvin, WR Florida
Percy is a playmaker. The Titans offense needs all the help it can get, especially in the passing game.
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older notes are archived in the forums section
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Around the NFL
** Notes **
WEEK 17
* Justin Miller has been terrific for Oakland. He is a very good KOR. Miller averaged 25 yards per KOR and ran 2 back for TDs. He still isn't a good CB. That's okay in Oakland. He doesn't have to live up to draft expectations. The Raiders can be happy with him as a KOR and backup DB. The Jets needed him to come up big at both spots to justify picking him.
Sticking with Raiders returners...Johnnie Lee Higgins had 3 PR TDs this year. The NFL record is 4. Talk about having a great season under the radar.
* Duane Brown is looking better at LT for the Texans. He was up and down early in the year. He's playing with better technique and confidence. Looks like he'll turn out to be a solid pick for them.
*
JaMarcus Russell is an interesting player. He's finally starting to show signs of life. The Raiders won their final 2 games and 3 of the last 6. QBs have to show they can win.
As far as his performance...too up and down. He really struggles on 3rd downs. Russell throws a lot of check downs. You can't always throw 2 and 3 yard passes on 3rd and 5 +. The Raiders went more than 10 weeks without converting a 3rd/10 or more situation. That's mind boggling.
I do like the fact he's generally safe with the ball. They have a good enough running game and defense that it is smart to play conservatively. He does show a good feel for things. He used hard count
to get the Bucs offside on 3rd/4 and give his team a gift 1st down. He scans the field and looks for receivers. I think he's just hesitant about pulling the trigger because he doesn't fully trust his targets. The Raiders must get him weapons. There is no question about his physical skills. He has a great arm and can make very good throws. Give JaMarcus some help and he could become a pretty good QB.
* Michael Bush came alive in the season finale. He had season highs with 27 carries and 177 yards. He also ran for 2 TDs. He did a good job of being a downhill, power runner. Bush ran hard, whether between the tackles or off the edge. He never went down on first contact. He also did a great job of protecting the ball when he went into a crowd. Tampa defender were trying to pry the ball away, but couldn't. Bush proved that he needs to be part of the RB rotation next year. Great game.
*
Cadillac Williams started to look like his old self, unfortunately in more ways than one. He ran the ball really well vs OAK, but also re-injured his knee.
Williams ran hard, but also with vision and moves. He broke tackles and busted out good cutback runs. He had 115 total yards and scored a pair of TDs. His most impressive play of the day was also his last. He broke off a 27-yard run that started left and ended up going over to the right sideline. He went down funny and grabbed his knee, writhing in pain. I absolutely hated to see that.
Bucs fans also felt his pain. They had control of the game when he was playing, but completely fell apart when he went out. That was part of the reason they lost and missed the playoffs.
* Devin Hester is developing as a WR. He finished the season with 51 catches, but 30 of them came over the 2nd half of the season. He started to get better at running routes and catching the ball. I know his return game fell off this year, but he made great strides as a positional player. That could pay off big time down the road. The Bears still need weapons.
* The talk in Dallas is about the scheme and playcalling of Jason Garrett. Go re-watch the game. Tony Romo played scared. He threw off his back foot a lot of the game. That led to incompletions and his INT. He had several other balls that should have been picked off. Tony has got to stand tall in the pocket and throw the ball. He cannot fade away as he's throwing the ball downfield.
If Jerry Jones has a lick of sense, he'll get rid of guys like Tank Johnson and Pac Man Jones. Go get good role players. You know all you need to about Dallas with this revelation...ILB Zach Thomas is going to opt out of his contract and wants to leave. When a quality guy like him wants out, that tells you the team has some serious issues.
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WEEK 16
* The Dolphins got laughed at for passing on Brady Quinn and taking Ted Ginn. Circumstances have changed since then and now Ginn is starting to pay dividends. He has 54 catches this year and has the longest pass play of any of the WRs. They've used him on End Arounds and he has 5 runs for 73 yards and 2 TDs. He hasn't posted great return numbers this year, but did have a PR TD last season. I'm still not sure he was worth the pick, but he fits in well with the way the team is currently built. A power running game needs a receiver who can stretch the defense.
Miami is winning for several reasons, but a big one is that they protect the ball. They are on pace to have the fewest turnovers ever in a 16-game season. They have 11 on the year. That is amazing.
* The fact that Pittsburgh was in the hunt for the #1 seed in the AFC is no surprise. The fact they are there with Willie Parker struggling is. That team is built on running the ball and Parker has struggled for most of the year. He has 4 rushing TDs and averages 3.6 ypc. 3 of those TDs came in the season opener. Willie has only had 2 really strong games all year, the opener against the Texans and Week 11 against the Chargers. In the last 3 weeks Parker has 44 carries for 101 yards. What in the name of Tim Worley is going on? Parker is a speed guy. He needs his legs at full strength in order to be special. Injuries have hurt him all year and he lacks that extra gear that allows him to break off the long runs.
* Monte Kiffin is one of the greatest Defensive Coordinators in the history of the NFL. He's produced amazing results in his time at Tampa. He'll put several players in the Hall of Fame. Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, and Ronde Barber all deserve to go. John Lynch is a strong possibility. Booger McFarland didn't play his way in, but that name is pretty freakin' special.
Kiffin is leaving Tampa after the season to go coach at the University of Tennessee with his son Lane. Normally that would be a good thing and this would be a very happy story.
Unfortunately the Bucs defense has spiraled downward in recent weeks. I don't think it has anything to do with Kiffin's looming departure, but the timing is awful. Tampa allowed almost 300 yards rushing to Carolina on a Monday night game. They lost. Tampa allowed 175 yards rushing to Atlanta the next week. They lost. Last Sunday the Bucs gave up 34 points and 370 yards. They lost. That is a brutal 3-week stretch for Kiffin. I'm sure his pride is really hurting at this point. He hates a bad half, let alone a bad game. 3 weeks of disastrous defense with the playoffs on the line has got to be eating him alive.
The biggest culprit has been tackling. The Bucs rally to the ball and tackle as well as anyone in the league. That hasn't happened recently. I'm not sure how you go into a tackling slump, but that is what's happened.
CB Philip Buchanon got brutally picked on by the Chargers on Sunday. They threw on him left and right, short and long, in the middle and outside. He was burned by WRs and TEs.
One note from that game in regard to both sides...neither team could rush the passer. QBs had way too much time when they dropped back. Each team is tied for 18th in the league with 28 sacks. That must change next year.
* Red Hickey must be a happy man. He's credited with inventing the shotgun and that formation is in vogue right now. The interesting thing is that teams are running out of it more and more. The shotgun draw is a staple of several teams. Dallas, Philadelphia, Arizona, and even the Giants use it quite a bit. There are plenty of others, I just happened to see those teams do it last weekend. Do yourself a favor and read up on Red. He was a head coach, assistant coach, and scout.
* Albert Haynesworth is the best DL in the NFL. Unfortunately he's hurt and won't be back until the playoffs. When someone like him goes down a teammate has to step up. The Titans had a pair of players do just that on Sunday against PIT. Rookie Jason Jones had 5 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3 FFs. Re-read that to make sure you took it in. Not bad for a DE/DT tweener? Tony Brown is a regular starter at DT. He had 3 tackles, half a sack, and a TFL. Those guys got penetration and made plays all game long. That is the kind of effort you see from a championship team. Very impressive showing.
* Washington FS LaRon Landry had a great game against the Eagles. His stats weren't anything special (5 tackles, 2 PBUs), but he owned the middle of the field. He knocked the crap out of DeSean Jackson and Jason Avant a few times. He hasn't made the big plays that Nick Collins of GB has, but Landry is the best FS in the NFC from what I've seen.
* How far has Jason Garrett's stock fallen? Last year team's couldn't wait to get a shot at him. This year I don't know how people feel. Dallas' offense is still productive, but not in the same way that it was last year. They don't run the ball enough. The passing game is very streaky. They traded for Roy Williams, but have had a hard time mixing him in. Roy has 1 TD and less than 200 yards in his 9 games in Dallas.
I was troubled on Saturday night by the fact that Dallas could not adjust to a simple delay blitz. Ray Lewis would wait 2 seconds then come flying up the middle. I'm not sure Dallas ever solved that. BAL does a lot of elaborate things. That was simple, though.
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WEEK 15
* Andre Johnson is the best WR in NFL right now. He had a great game in the Texans upset of Tennessee on Sunday. Andre caught 11 passes for 207 yards and a TD. Rarely does a WR deserve to be called "dominant", but that is how Johnson played.
Johnson is the complete package. He's got size, speed, hands, and is a skilled WR. He showed great hands on a catch over
middle where he extended for ball. He's got the speed to be a good vertical receiver. He caught a 65-yd pass on Sunday. He got open with good route, then used a burst to separate from the DB. His TD came when he out-muscled CB for the ball on a fade route.
* Cadillac Williams has now played in 4 games this year. You can't see how healthy he is or if he'll ever get back what he had. I do like the fact he's not hesitating. I watched him running hard on inside plays. That's a good start. Some guys are very tentative when coming off injury. His numbers aren't good right now, but that somewhat to be expected. He's only averaging 3 yards per carry.
* This hasn't been a great last couple of months for Buffalo fans. One player who has been solid is MLB Paul Posluzny. He picked off his first NFL pass on Sunday. Paul leads the team in tackles. He needs to be more of a playmaker, but he looks like a good player.
* I watched a bit of Jevon Kearse on Sunday to see how he's doing for the Titans this year. He's playing okay for them at LDE. Kearse no longer has the ability to cleanly beat OTs around the edge with any consistency. He's got 3.5 sacks this year. I do like him as a run defender. HOU ran at him a couple of times and Kearse handled them well. He does have 6 TFLs and 3 FFs on the year. He'll never get back to what he was, but he will still make some plays. Also seems like a good teammate.
* This year has been a nightmare for the Bengals. One thing you hope to get out of an injury-plagued year is to find some young players or depth. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has proven to be a good backup. They need Carson Palmer back next year to be "the man", but Ryan has shown that he can play and win a game. He doesn't throw the ball well enough to be a good starter, but I like his mind and athletic ability. He ran effectively vs WAS on Sunday. He called an audible in the Red Zone and then threw a TD to Chris Henry. I think Cincy can now say they are 2-deep at QB.
Cedric Benson did some nice things in the game. He ran downhill quite a bit and looked good. They threw him a screen pass and he turned that into a gain of 79 yards. I don't trust him enough to make him a starter in the future, but he could be good as part of a rotation and occasional starter.
* Bills QB JP Losman is a free agent this year. I'm sure he hoped his chance to start would help his value. He'd better hope Ray Charles is the guy scouting him. Losman has been awful in his starts. He's painful to watch. His fumble against the Jets was absolutely horrible. How does a veteran player not know to throw the ball away or protect it? I wouldn't touch him.
* Trivia time. Who leads Houston in TFLs? *pause to think* Give yourself a cookie if you knew the answer was DT Deljuan Robinson with 6. Everyone knows about Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye, but Robinson has quietly developed into a good player. He caught my eye a couple of times agaisnt TEN. He's stout in the middle, but has some athletic ability and can make plays in the backfield.
* A couple of Bengals defenders stood out to me. Safety Chris Crocker has been in Cincy for 5 games. He has 29 tackles, an INT, 1.5 sacks, a TFL, and a FF. I can't say he's got ideal cover skills, but he is very good around the LOS. He had 10 tackles against WAS. He blitzed off the edge on one play and chased the QB down as he started to scramble. He also tackled the RB right at the line.
SLB Rashad Jeanty is 2nd on the team in tackles. He made a couple of terrific plays on a goal line stand. He unloaded on FB Mike Sellers on one run.
Give that unit back some pass rushers and Keith Rivers and they might be pretty good.
ROOKIES
* Aqib Talib picked off ball by endzone on deep throw. He has 4 INTs now. Good hands. Not an easy pick.
* Bills WR Steve Johnson had a TD reception on a slant pass. He also caught a pass on 3rd down in 4th Qtr. Both plays show the coaches trust him in clutch situations.
* Cincy DT Pat Sims got pressure on a 3rd/goal pass play. Forced INCL.
* Cincy LT Anthony Collins is not so impressive. He doesn't move his feet. He plants and reaches. That will get the QB killed against a good DE.
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WEEK 14
* Jonathan Vilma has been a good addition to the Saints D. He leads the team in tackles and has been a playmaker. He added speed to the middle of the defense. Vilma had a real nasty injury last year and only played half the year for the Jets. He's happy just to be on the field. The fact that he's back playing MLB in a 4-3 defense and doing so for a winning team is icing on the cake.
The unit still needs work. The defensive line has racked up only 19 sacks. The Saints allow just over 230 passing yards a game. Opposing QBs have a rating of almost 85. They have to pressure and cover better to really take the next step.
CB Jason David is playing better the last month. He has 3 INTs in the last 3 games and 4 on the year. He seems to be playing with more confidence.
The Saints offense is still a lot of fun to watch. Reggie Bush had a good game in the win over ATL. He carried 10 times for 80 yards. He caught 3 passes, one of them for a TD. Pierre Thomas had his best game of the year. He ran 16 times for 102 yards and caught a TD pass. Thomas is a more physical runner than Bush. He's still no Deuce McAllister. The Saints have a good pair in Reggie and Pierre.
* I have to talk some more about Matt Ryan. I hope everyone takes the time to watch an Atlanta game this year, whether live or on NFL Replay. That young man is special. He is the best rookie QB I've ever seen. I know some people think that Michael Turner is the key to that situation, but no way. Ryan is special. He's doing things that veteran QBs don't always do. He makes great reads. He buys time in and around the pocket. Ryan will throw the ball into really tight spaces. He's not dumb, just aggressive. I love the way he's willing to throw the ball up, down, or wide in order to give his receiver a chance to make a play. He can "throw guys open" as they say.
* The Steelers defense is having an amazing season. I know a lot of people will focus on the incredible production of LBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. Deservedly so. The duo that I'm not sure is appreciated enough is the Safeties, Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark.
I've sung the praises of Ryan Clark since his days at LSU. He lacked size and athletic ability, but always got the job done. He's not making many plays this year, but is 3rd on the team in tackles. He is excellent in run support. His steady play allows Troy to be used creatively.
Polamalu is all over the friggin field. He will line up in the A-gap just before the snap then bail into deep coverage as the QB is dropping back. Not many players have that kind of ability. You have to take Troy seriously when he is up around the LOS. He doesn't have a sack this year, but does have 5 TFLs. He is a good blitzer. He's also a playmaker in coverage. Troy has 7 picks this season. He made an incredible diving INT against the Eagles early in the year. These aren't all gimmes due to pressure.
* I don't know what to make of Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. I've been a doubter of that team for much of the year. I appreciate the talent they have, but I question the cohesion and ability to come up big in tight situations. As I watched the Steelers/Cowboys game on Sunday I thought Dallas had finally turned the corner and was proving me wrong. I was gaining a lot of respect for them. And then the final 10 minutes unfolded like a nightmare.
I'm sure some people will say "Hey, they played good for 50 minutes. Don't forget that." Okay, I guess. The point is that they normally struggle at this time of the year and in clutch situations. No one ever said the team couldn't hang in a game or play well for 3 quarters of a big game. Dallas is too talented to get blown out. The problem is that they disappear at winning time. And that is exactly what happened on Sunday.
ILB Bradie James had a great game for the 'Boys. He's played well all year. James leads the team in tackles. He's also got 5 sacks, 2 FFs, and 4 pass break ups. That's outstanding production from a 3-4 ILB.
RB Tashard Choice had a good game. I was happy to see him take advantage of his chance to play. Choice was terrific for Ga Tech last year and I loved watching him play. He sorta got lost in the talk about rookie RBs because he's stuck behind Marion Barber. Choice showed on Sunday that he can produce, even against a great defense.
* Akeem Jordan got the WLB job in Philly after the last Giants game. Omar Gaither had it, but struggled against NY FB Madison Hedgecock. Jordan won the battle with Hedgecock on Sunday, and the Eagles won the game.
* Carolina destroyed Tampa on Monday night. That was the worst tackling I've seen from a Bucs defense since 2006. They were horrible. Ronde Barber, one of the best tacklers in the league in the last decade, missed several tackles out in space. You have no chance to win if a guy like Ronde is having an off night. Safeties Jermaine Phillips and Sabby Piscatelli missed several tackles as well.
Panthers RB Deangelo Williams is having an MVP type year. I hope after Monday's game that people appreciate that he is more than just a speed guy. He runs hard and will break a lot of tackles because he stays low, runs with power, and runs with attitude.
Bucs WR Antonio Bryant had a great, great game. He made an unbelievable TD catch. Go watch the highlights if you haven't seen it. Bryant never lacked ability. He's just been a major league jerk for a lot of his football career.
QUICK HITS
* The Bills use a zone blitz where DE Ryan Denney drops in coverage. I've seen this play a few times in the last few games and he's been burned for big plays at least twice. Lose that play.
* ATL LG Jonathan Blalock has developed into a solid player. He had a nice pull/block on run up middle.
* Ryan and Drew Brees are both great at home, but have pedestrian numbers on the road. QB ratings are over 100 at home vs in the 70s on the road. Weird.
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WEEK 13
* Derek Anderson has had a strange 12 months. He began 2007 as a backup, but played his way into a big deal. He looked like the AFC version of Tony Romo. All that came to a crashing halt this year. Anderson has struggled and so has the team.
He was benched in favor of Brady Quinn, but got his job back when Brady hurt a finger. That didn't last long. Anderson suffered an injury and he's out for the year. What the heck is in his future?
Anderson is still a talented passer. You don't throw away what he accomplished last year. I was really impressed by what I saw in 2007. He threw the ball very well. He made smart reads and was accurate. Anderson was confident and aggressive. This season I see a tentative QB. That's never good. The OL hasn't played as well. His receivers have been hurt and Braylon Edwards has dropped far too many passes.
Anderson should be a starting QB in the NFL. He needs to be surrounded by good skill players. He's not the kind of QB who can carry a team. He needs the right people around him. I could see the Vikings being a good fit. He'd have a strong running game to rely on. He'd have a good WR in Bernard Berrian. Put him on a team like Tampa Bay and I think he'd be in trouble.
* Texans DE Mario Williams had gone 3 games without a sack prior to last night's game. He beat the Jags for 3 QB takedowns. Very impressive showing. Williams used both athletic ability and technique to get to David Garrard. He now has 11 sacks on the season. Mario is on the verge of becoming a dominant player. He needs to be more consistent, but the physical ability is all there and he is showing more in the way of moves and technique.
* Panthers LG Travelle Wharton had a terrific game against Green Bay. I'll get to his blocking in a moment, but his biggest contribution came via hustle. A Packer defender stripped RB Jonathan Stewart after a 43-yard run. The ball was loose on the ground. A couple of players tried to get the ball, but it was Wharton who got down and secured it. You know things are going well when the LG is 40 yards downfield and aware enough to get on a fumble. Great hustle. He did a very good job of blocking, whether straight ahead or pulling and getting on LBs and DBs. He had an excellent block to give Deangelo Williams an easy outside path to the endzone.
As for Williams, he's having a great year. Deangelo has had to split carries with rookie Jonathan Stewart, but he still has been productive. Deangelo has 955 yards rushing, 11 TDs on the ground, and is averaging almost 5 yards a carry. He makes a lot of highlight shows with his long runs and speed. The thing that impresses me the most is the fact he is being more physical. Williams isn't a big guy, but he breaks tackles. He's running hard this year and defenders who don't square up and really get on him will not make the play.
* Does Ronde Barber ever get tired of making plays? I mean, what a jerk. The OL blocks correctly. The WR gets open. The QB makes a good throw. All that work is undone by one man as Ronde gets a hand on the ball to deflect it into being an incompletion or interception. Where's his sense of community? Certainly Warrick Dunn can't approve...
Ronde had a great game against the Saints. He had 7 tackles, a TFL, and broke up 3 passes. One of the deflections was picked off. His deflections prevented at least one TD. I'm not sure the average fan appreciates how good Barber is. He absolutely deserves to go to the Hall of Fame when he retires...if he retires.
* Watching Adrian Peterson on Sunday night was a treat. He is just fun to watch. As much as I love his power, speed, and running style, the most impressive aspect to me is his body control. Eddie George was a big back with some speed and power. He took hits and gave them. He delivered some big plays early on in his career, but wore down.
Peterson is different. He is able to contort his body to fit through and around tight spaces. It also makes him tough to hit. There was an outside run play against the Bears where Adrian looked like dead meat. The Bears D had guys running to where he was going to be. They were going to pop him. Instead Adrian pulls up and "gets skinny". The defender went flying by and Peterson got additional yardage. You just don't see big backs make moves like that. He is special.
* Anquan Boldin is one of my favorite players in the league, but he played the worst that I've ever seen from him on Thanksgiving night. He dropped at least 2 passes and fumbled a ball after a short catch. He just looked completely out of it. I hope he didn't get some of Andy Reid's famous Exlax gravy.
ROOKIES / YOUNG PLAYERS
* WR Jason Hill is starting to show signs of life in SF. He now has 18 catches on the year.
* 2nd year RB Brandon Jackson had some good runs for the Packers. He's got some power and speed.
* Jeff Otah gave up a sack to Aaron Kampman. Otah sold out to protect the edge, and Aaron beat him with an inside move.
* Devin Thomas scored his first NFL TD. He ran an End Around for a short score.
* Jon Beason is developing into one of the best MLBs in the league. He had 11 tackles and the game clinching INT against the Packers.
* Peyton Hillis ran for 129 yards against the Jets.
* Steve Slaton went for over 100 against the Jags on MNF.
* C Ryan Kalil had a good game for the Panthers. He had some really good blocks on running plays.
* WR Jordy Nelson had 2 catches for 28 yards. One of them was a clutch grab on 3rd/long that moved the chains.
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WEEK 12
* Rookie LT Sam Baker has been solid for the Falcons this year. I had serious doubts about Baker as a LT. He is able to be effective in part because of their system. The Falcons run the ball quite a bit. Baker is a very good run blocker. He is excellent at getting on LBs and sustaining blocks.
* Jarrett Johnson is the SAM LB for the Ravens. He came out of Alabama as a DE. Jarrett didn't have the quick burst to fly off the edge and be pass rushing force. The Ravens developed him into a LB over several years. Jarrett has quietly become one of the best SAMs in the league. He does a great job of setting the edge on run plays. He's solid in coverage. He can also rush off the edge. I love the way the Ravens develop players like him. They did the same thing with Bart Scott and Adalius Thomas.
* Sticking with the Ravens...DT Haloti Ngata has become one of the best interior DL in the league. He's quick off the ball. He is very strong and tough to block one-on-one. The most impressive thing about Ngata is his awareness. He's very good at reading screens and disrupting them. Ngata could become a dominant player in very short order.
* RB Leon Washington of the Jets has become an excellent role player. He averages 5.5 yards per carry. He's caught 31 passes and has a couple of receiving TDs. Leon is also an excellent return man. He averages 29 yards per KOR and over 12 per PR. He broke off a 61-yd TD run last week in the upset of the Titans.
* The Cardinals version of the Wildcat formation has Anquan Boldin at QB. That's interesting because he played QB in high school and even some at Florida State. They didn't have luck running it in the game I watched, but there is a lot of potential. The big problem is sloppy blocking. All the creativity in the world is no good if the guys up front can't get some push.
* WR Malcolm Floyd continues to be a good backup receiver for the Chargers. He's only got 16 catches this year, but averages 20 yards per grab and has 3 TDs. I really like the way he catches the ball up high, taking advantage of his height.
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