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Teddy Bridgewater: Better Prospect Than Andrew Luck?

Mon, 06 May 2013 21:22:01 +0100

Nope. He isn't a better prospect than Luck, and never will be, but I think that he could have the better NFL career. When Luck played in college you knew that he just was great, and that he would just be great in the pros. But unfortunately for him, he had never flashed that 'thing' that 'it' factor that made me believe that he will win multiple championships in the NFL. Tom Brady has 'it' and he had it in college. Big Ben and Eli Manning have always had that 'thing,' which cannot be explained outside of their ability to just do 'it.' Unfortunately, Peyton Manning doesn't have 'it,' and I'm not sold that Luck has 'it' either.

I know that this is going to stir up a million different critical reviews about how Peyton Manning might be the best QB ever, but he is 9-11 in the playoffs while being one and done 2 out of every three playoff years. Brother Eli almost has as many playoffs wins despite starting in only 40% the number of years. Oh, and that Brady guy is 17-7 in the playoffs with only two one and done years (20% opposed to Peyton's 66%). You can mention team qualities and systems all you want, but Brady has more of 'it' than Peyton ever will.

So why does Bridgewater have it? Because of adversity. He wasn't handed the keys to a great and growing team like every Florida, Alabama, Texas and Ohio State QB has over the last ten years. He had to fight his way up the charts on a bad team, and was able to become the starter by the 4th game of his freshman year. He would help fight his team to an unexpected bowl birth, and better praises for the 2012 season.

2012 was nothing short of a great season for Bridgewater while carrying his team of young and raw players to a BCS birth and an 11-2 record and a huge win over a nasty Florida defense. He plays with great stamina in the pocket, and he doesn't make the mistakes that many other guys do. He doesn't throw interceptions (and didn't have a game with more INT than TD's last year). He can pick apart teams (only one game with a sub-60% completion rate last year, and three of them with 80+ percent). He can run, but he isn't a running quarterback, and he does nothing but fight for everything.

He isn't as polished as Luck was coming out, and he never will be, but he has a special set of intangibles that Luck doesn't have. He wins with whatever he has, he takes apart defenses, and he shows up in big games. He throws the ball into very tight spots, and he deserves to play in the NFL.

Why The Raiders Must Trade Down In The 2013 NFL Draft

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 04:34:08 +0100

The 2013 NFL draft is less than a week away, and it is becoming more and more clear that this draft is one of the hardest to predict ever. While we think we know who the first pick will be, there is no rhyme or reason as to who will come next. And quite possibly the hardest pick to predict is the 3rd pick by the Oakland Raiders who seem to need help at every position. In fact there are about ten different players that could end up wearing the silver and black, which is exactly why I think they HAVE to trade this pick.

First off, let's look at the motive of the trade. The Raiders have needs everywhere on their team, and it is safe to say that no position is safe on this team. These Raiders have so many needs that they may be willing to cash in on their 3rd overall pick to get extra picks in this draft. This Raiders team is also so strapped for cash, that the difference between the 3rd and the 7th pick could be monumental.

Don't believe me? Last year the difference between the 3rd pick ($5.1M per year) and the 7th ($3.6M per year) was $1.6 million. Oh, and the difference between the 3rd and the 12th is nearly $2.6 million. This Raiders team would love to cut the amount they have to pay. It is also cheaper to pay the 7th overall pick and a 2nd rounder compared to the 3rd overall.

The final motive is that the Raiders are in a bad spot at 3rd overall, because there are too many guys that would be a good value and an upgrade for them. If they were to trade back to let's say the 7-spot, then they would be in just as good as a spot than the 3rd overall. If they had the 7th pick, they would still be guaranteed to end up with one of these guys:

Sharrif Floyd

Ziggy Ansah

Star Lotulelei

Dee Milliner

Luke Joeckal

Dion Jordan

Eric Fisher

Even with the 12th pick they are left with a legitimate upgrade, as well as other value from the trade.

The Raiders have also been the quietest team picking in the top-3 in the history of the draft, and that scares me. Sure, it might be that GM Reggie McKenzie came from a Green Bay team that always is quiet in the draft, but I doubt the Packers would be this quiet if the roles were reversed. The only logical reason that the Raiders have been so quiet is that they already have a deal in place to trade down. Maybe a team like the Cardinals or Dolphins love a prospect like Eric Fisher enough to make these Raiders stay quiet.

The fact of the matter is that the Raiders HAVE to find a way to trade down to 7th overall. In terms of this draft, it is likely that the two offensive players on the list above would be gone. Whichever defensive player the Raiders would get would be one of the players that they would have considered with their 3rd pick. In fact, Sharrif Floyd (the player that most top analysts predict will go 3rd to the Raiders) will almost certainly fall to at least 7th overall if the Raiders don't take him.

These Raiders have to find a way to trade down. Even if they get a 'bad deal' (let's say a 4th rounder) to do so they would still benefit because they would be getting a player that they could have taken with their 3rd pick for a cheaper price while also getting another player later in the draft.

Seven Very Possible 2013 NFL Draft Trades

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 06:55:08 +0100

1) TEAM X TRADES UP FOR QB GENO SMITH

This is the trade that will most likely happen, but there is no true way of knowing who will pull the trigger until it happens. There are a few teams that could pull this trigger, and here are my odds for each of them:

Jags (2nd pick) trade up with the Chiefs (1st pick)

The Jags might fall in love with Geno Smith and decide that it is worth swapping some picks to guarantee that they land him. Last year (in a much stronger draft) the Browns traded three mid/late round picks to move up from 4th to 3rd. I think that this is about the value the Chiefs would demand, but they sure as heck would like to get a 2nd round pick back after trading one for Alex Smith.

Raiders (3rd pick) trade up with the Chiefs(1st) or Jags (2nd)

The Raiders might have to give the same as the Jags would to pull the trigger. The Chiefs likely would demand more value to let their division rivals get a new QB. But then again Andy Reid is unpredictable.

Eagles (4th pick), Browns (6th pick), Cardinals (7th pick), Bills (8th pick), or Jets (9th pick) trade up

Does Chip Kelly want a young athlete to groom behind Mike Vick? Do the Browns want to start fresh at QB after grabbing Brandon Weeden last year? Do the Cardinals think that they are a QB away from a title? Do the Bills think that Geno Smith is the playmaking QB that they have needed for awhile? And do the Jets want to start fresh at QB now to possibly secure Rex Ryan as coach for a few more years?

Maybe.

I think that the Eagles, Browns and Jets might hold off as they have other options that they could rely on. I do think that the Cardinals might be possibly willing to give up a first round next year if they truly think that they are a Geno Smith away from the playoffs. They do tend to prefer veterans though. The Bills also might not be willing to give up a 1st next year, but I could see them pull something off.

2) The Dolphins obtain Brandon Albert

The Chiefs might not be able to get the value they want for the first overall pick, and they might love Luke Joeckal enough to not risk losing him. Like I said earlier, they really would like to get a 2nd round pick back since they traded one for Alex Smith, and the Dolphins might be willing to toss one out to get a left tackle.

3) The Buccaneers trade for Darrelle Revis

I don't think this trade scenario is gone. The Bucs need a corner and might be willing to trade their 13th overall pick this year to get him, and they might even be offering extra picks. I could also see them swap their 1st for the Jet's second this year while also giving a 1st in the 2014 draft. This gets the Jets some power in both drafts.

4) The Vikings trade up

This could end up being a very possible trade for the Vikings. They might really love a certain player that could 'change' them completely. Maybe the team can steal Dee Milliner from potentially the Lions? Maybe they want a playmaker like Tavon Austin to replace Percy Harvin? Maybe they can snag Star Lotulelei? The Vikings have not been scared to pull the trigger in the draft lately, and they might move around.

5) The 49ers trade up

The Seahawks and 49ers have gone tit-for-tat this offseason, and I wouldn't be surprised if they put together a mass of picks to grab a monster player. The 49ers have five of the first 93 picks, and three picks in the first two rounds. If Dee Milliner doesn't go to the Lions I could easily see the Browns trade back to let him go to the 49ers. Maybe the team loves safety Kenny Vaccaro? And just imagine if they could add a weapon like Star Lotulelei or Jarvis Jones wound up a 49er?

6) Those top-10 teams trade back into the first for a QB

A few of the teams will fall in love with Geno Smith, but I can almost guarantee that a team (or two) will like a different guy that they can get later on in the first. Maybe the Raiders love E.J Manual and are willing to give up something to get him? Maybe the Cardinals love Matt Barkley? And maybe the Bills love hometown-ish guy Ryan Nassib enough to gobble him up?

This has become a trend for a number of teams, and I think it could happen a few times in this draft. There are at least 7 teams in the top-10 that need a new QB, and one of them would love to give their 2nd and 3rd round picks up to get one in the late first. Sure the Raiders could trade a 2nd rounder to move up for Geno Smith, but getting a guy with huge potential like Ziggy Ansah and another QB they like (let's just say Manuel) might be the better option.

In a draft where you just don't love what you are getting, it makes so much more sense to get a stud defensive player and take a risk on a 2nd round quality QB. If that QB fails then the cost was very little.

7) The Patriots trade out of the draft

Ok, so they won't trade out of the draft completely, but don't expect them to pick in the top-50. They cashed their pick load in last year because it was a great draft, and they will be drooling over the potential to get value next year to get out of this crappy draft. I completely expect them to walk away with a 2014 1st round pick somehow, and I will guess that the Panthers pull the trigger on the deal to get another guy this year.

2012-13 Bowl Season Preview

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:44:06 +0100

New Mexico Bowl
Arizona v Nevada
Arizona Favored by 9.5

Who to watch for: Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona - NCAA leading YPG rusher with over 2,000 overall offensive yards this year

Who will win: Arizona should win this big. They lost to two BCS teams, two other top-25 teams, and to rival AZ State, while beating OK State and USC.

Who to bet for: Arizona gives a lot of points, but they should smoke the Wolf Pack if motivated.

Idaho Potato Bowl
Utah State v Toledo
UT State Favored by 9.5

**By the way, I hate bowls named solely off of brand names, etc. so I will be dissing each sponsor at least once per preview. If they don't like it then I would love them to pay me to advertise. I don't actually mind this bowl though because it essentially is a bowl for Idaho, in Idaho.

Who to watch for: Utah State's Defense which allowed 4+ touchdowns only once this year

Who will win: Utah State lost to BYU and Wisconsin by 5 total points, and that's it for the season. They can score points, and they don't let others do the same.

Who to bet for: Utah State. Don't bet your house on this one, because it seems like Toledo has a close score in every game they play in, but I think Utah State is good enough to win by 10.

Poinsettia Bowl
BYU v SD State
BYU Favored by 2.5

Who to watch for: The shutdown BYU defense led by LB Kyle Van Noy who averages a sack a game

Who will win: Ugh, BYU is favored and has a defense that is lethal, but there is just something that I don't trust in them here. I think BYU is a little overrated (especially on the road), but they can't blow out teams. I'm going SD State purely on guts.

Who to bet for: SD State (but very little confidence)

Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl
Central Florida v Ball State
UCF Favored by 7.5

**Beef 'O' Brady's.... Also known as the 45th best restaurant chain in the country***

Who to watch for: UCF's Latavius Murray who has run for a score in 8 straight games

Who will win: Ugh this one is closer that you may think. Both teams lost to teams they probably were supposed to, but UCF very easily could be in a better bowl game (and for a reason).

Who to bet for: Ball State. I'm not sold that they will win, but they had only one game that wasn't close (Clemson), and I like to pick heavy underdogs (7+ points) that I think could win the game.

New Orleans Bowl
LA Lafayette v ECU
LA Laff Favored by 5.5

Who to watch for: Rodney Gillis, Safety for LA Lafayette who is 9th in the country in interceptions. I hope he matches up a bit with ECU receiver Justin Hardy who averaged 7+ receptions a game.

Who will win: LA Lafayette will win this game. They are very weak against great offensive teams, but they have the firepower to keep up with most teams.

Who to bet for: ECU. Just like the Ball State game, I like ECU because I wouldn't be shocked if they won. I also think that they may be extra motivated to perform given the Big East acceptance.

Las Vegas Bowl
Boise State v Washington
Boise Favored by 5.5

Who to watch for: Boise State's passing defense which has allowed only three touchdowns all season. Oh, and they have the second best YPA also in the pass game.

Who will win: Ugh. Boise lost two games this year by six total points while Washington lost five games by a 3+ touchdown margin. Washington's offense can't move the ball against talented defenses, and they just didn't look good this year. But there is something about this game that just doesn't smell like a Boise win. All wisdom says it will be though.

Who to bet for: I wouldn't bet against Boise here because they could easily win by 40+ points, but they could also lose this game too. I'd bet Boise, but I wouldn't fell confident about it.

Hawaii Bowl
Fresno State v SMU
Fresno Favored by 11.5

Who to watch for: QB Derek Carr an Safety Phillip Thomas for Fresno State. Carr is the brother of David Carr who was drafted first overall about 10-year ago, and he had the 4th most TD's in college this season. Phillip Thomas led the country with eight interceptions (three for touchdowns). Oh, and he had four sacks as well. BTW another Fresno player (Derron Smith) had the 5th most picks in the country too with six).

Who will win: Outside of the fact that SMU coach June Jones knows the Hawaii Bowl way too well, I REALLY like Fresno here. They have one of the best QB's in college, and a defense that can back that thang up (or something like that). Fresno lost to Oregon (in Oregon's third worst performance marginally), Boise State, and by one point at 10-3 Tulsa. This team has a lot to love.

Who to bet for: Eek. I hate having to give 11.5 points in a game like this. I'd avoid this game if I could, but I'd bet for Fresno here.

Little Caesars Bowl
Western Kentucky v Central Michigan
WKU Favored by 5.5

*Little Caesars... Have you tried their $5.00 Pizza made out of recycled cardboard and cheese made out of old plastic?

Who to watch for: Western Kentucky. It's their first ever bowl, they are a fun team that nobody has seen play, and they have some serious defensive talent. Quanterus Smith finished 4th in the country in sacks with 12.5, while corner Jonathon Dowling finished 5th in interceptions with six.

Who will win: I think Vegas is giving too much love to Cental Michigan for home team advantage here, because I think WKU should be a 14 point favorite. You know who CMU's best win this year was? A one point shocker over 4-8 Iowa.

Who to bet for: WKU. Central Mich could win the game, but WKU could win this game BIG.

Military Bowl
San Jose State v Bowling Green
SJST Favored by 7.5

Who to watch for: Defensive playmakers. Bowling Green defensive tackle finished with 12.5 sacks this season while San Jose's defensive end Travis Johnson found 12 of his own. I'm also excited to see corner Bene Bewikere (7 interceptions0 play for the Aztecs for the first time.

Who will win: It's hard to not go with San Jose here. They have the better offense, the better defense, and they lost to only Stanford (by 3) and Utah State.

Who to bet for: Go San Jose here. They had one bad game this year, and should control the game.

Belk Bowl
Cincinnati v Duke
Cincinnati Favored by 7.5

* Belk has stores in 16 states. That's great that the other 34 states who don't give a crap

Who to watch for: Duke. Their only real chance of winning is because they haven't been to a bowl in a really long time.

Who will win: Have to take Cinci here. Duke can score, but they can't defend

Who to bet for: I'd be safe with Cinci on this one. I really can't say that Duke has a good reason on why they will win this one.

Holiday Bowl
UCLA v Baylor
UCLA Favored by 1.5

Who to watch for: Anthony Barr led UCLA (and the NCAA) in sacks with 13.5 this season and he will really want to impress the scouts in one of the best bowls.

Who will win: Who knows. Baylor can score on anyone, but they can get scored on by anyone. I actually give a slight advantage to Baylor who has seemed hotter lately.

Who to bet for: I like Baylor because I think they win the game, but either one is a decent enough pick.

Independence Bowl
LA Monroe v Ohio
LA Monroe Favored by 6.5

Who to watch for: LA Monroe QB Kolton Browning has been a stud this year. He led the team in passing, and in rushing this last year, and he is a fun one to watch.

Who will win: LA Monroe started this season red hot, but they fell short near the end. Same goes for an Ohio team that many thought had BCS potential. I am actually going to pull the upset card here, but I'm not quite sure why outside of the talent around Ohio being actually pretty ok.

Who to bet for:I'd bet on an underrated Ohio squad.

Russell Athletic Bowl
Virginia Tech v Rutgers
Virginia Tech Favored by 2.5

*That's right Russell Athletic. Because who wouldn't want to be sponsored by the 4th best producer of football equipment?

Who to watch for: Logan Thomas the QB for Virginia Tech. He has the potential to be electrifying, and it potentially could be his last college football game (although it'd be dumb).

Who will win: Beamer Ball collapsed this year and lost a lot of games they shouldn't have. But there is a reason why they are favored despite losing three more games this year. I'm going with Tech here, but Rutgers does have one heck of a potential.

Who to bet for: Go safe and go Beamer Ball who will be looking to get one solid win out of the bowl season.

Meineke Car Care Bowl
Texas Tech v Minnesota
Texas Tech Favored by 12.5

* This one bothers me a lot. It would be awful if it was the Meineke Bowl, but adding 'Car Care' to it ruins it even more.

Who to watch for: Seth Doege, QB, Tech. Doege has 56 touchdowns in the last two seasons and he has what it takes to lead a team to a high scoring matchup.

Who will win: Tech is a heavy favorite for a reason. They don't have a great defense, but their offense is lethal. Minnesota got to a bowl, but they didn't beat anyone at all. Their defense is also ok, but their offense likely won't be enough to keep up.

Who to bet for: I'd go Tech here. I don't see Minnesota pulling the upset off, and I just don't think their defense will keep up.

Armed Forces Bowl
Air Force v Rice
Air Force Favored by 1.5

Who to watch for: Cody Getz (AF rusher) has rushed for only 73-yards less than the entire team has passed for.

Who will win: I am torn here because there just isn't much to REALLY love or hate about either team. I am going to give it to Rice because it is essentially a home game for them, and Air Force only won a single road game this year. I also think that AF will struggle more to come back if it were to happen.

Who to bet for: Rice is a much safer bet, especially if you get some points.

Pinstripe Bowl
West Virginia v Syracuse
WV Favored by 3.5

Who to watch for: Geno Smith. Duh. Smith still has an outside chance to be the first overall pick, and he can make up some huge points in this game.

I am also REALLY excited to see a final game from Tavon Austin. I think Austin has top-20 potential in the draft, and a huge bowl game could put him there.

Who will win: West Virginia. This game seems so easy for me to pick which is what scares me the most.

Who to bet for: It REALLY scares me that this is only a 3.5 point game in Vegas which often times means that they know something. I'm taking WV, but I am really scared to do so.

Kraft Bowl
Arizona State v Navy
(No Spread Out Yet)

*Kraft... Because who wouldn't want to pour orange 'cheese' powder on their noodles to make it edible?

Who to watch for: AZ State playmakers. Safety Keelan Johnson finished 9th in interceptions this year. But he might not be even the second biggest playmaker on the team. The team has two different guys with 10+ sacks this year (DT Will Sutton and LB Carl Bradford).

Who will win: Navy's rushing attack will pack some heat, but look for that Sun Devil defense.

Who to bet for: I really like Arizona State here. They won only seven games this year for a reason, but this defense really is good enough to hold Navy back.

Alamo Bowl
Oregon State v Texas
OSU Favored by 2.5

Who to watch for: OSU playmakers on both sides. Corner Jordan Poyer was 2nd in the country with seven interceptions last year. The team also had two different 1,000-yard receivers including Markus Wheaton who also notched 11 scores.

Also keep an eye out for 16-touchdown stud Longhorn rusher Joe Bergeron who scores once ever 7.5 touches.

Who will win: I am lost on this one. I think both teams could win it easily, but I have a feeling for Oregon State on this one. Texas will get a little extra support because of popularity, and because of a home crowd, but OSU has faced a little bit more dynamic talent this year. I also think that they will be more excited about being in the Alamo Bowl with Texas than Texas would be facing OSU.

Who to bet for: I'd go with Texas actually on a bet though. I am nowhere close to confident in OSU in this game, and Texas is getting points at home.

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
TCU v Michigan State
TCU Favored by 2.5

*Buffalo Wild Wings. 'Wings, Beers, Sports...' It should be called that bar with no good beer specials, ok wings, and a snobby sports attitude. Come on, get real drink specials!

Who to watch for: I hate the name of the game, but I like the game. Both teams actually have some ok playmakers, but there I am more excited to see the two different styles take each other on.

Who will win: This is another game that I am confused with. Both teams could win, and I could see both lose. I think that TCU will see this game as a fine first step into the Big-12 while Michigan State will see this game as one last punishment for their awful season.

Who to bet for: Take TCU here. Don't bet too much, but take'em

Music City Bowl
Vanderbilt v NC State
Vandy Favored by 6.5

Who to watch for: David Amerson against the Vanderbilt Jordans. David Amerson has the potential to be a top-10 pick in the draft at corner, and he finished 9th in interceptions. He is a stud that will taking on 1,200-yard junior receiver Jordan Matthews. It will of course also be VERY fun to see Jordan Rodgers (brother of Aaron) who I have been raving about in terms of potential for over a year and a half.

Who will win: This could end up being a fun game to watch. You have Mike Glennon's last game at NC State after starting for the last 14 years matching up against a very good Vanderbilt defense. You also get to see some potentially great offense from Vandy's side as well.

Who to bet for: I could see NC State winning, but I don't think they would ever blow out Vanderbilt. I could however see Vanderbilt blow out NC State, especially without their coach. I like Vandy, but I also know that I am putting myself into hot water for doing so.

Sun Bowl
USC v Georgia Tech
USC Favored by 9.5

Who to watch for: USC's defense against the Triple option. I actually am excited to see how USC will fair with the dynamic rushing attack. We know what Oregon did to them on the ground.

Also, this is Matt Barkley's last chance to salvage a 'can't miss' hype in the preseason draft rankings.

Who will win: Ugh, if this were the first game of the season I think that a motivated USC team would win by 30-points, but I just am not sure if I trust a preseason number one that lost five games to perform. I'm going USC though because I think Lane Kiffin needs the pick-me-up.

Who to bet for: I'd bet Georgia Tech here. They get ten points, and I'm not sold on USC's motivation. USC could win it easily, but I just don't know if I trust it.

Liberty Bowl
Iowa State v Tulsa
ISU Favored by 1.5

Who to watch for: Jared St. John, DE, Tulsa. He had 11.5 sacks this season good for 11th in the country.

Who will win: Tulsa won four more games, are more dynamic on both sides of the field, and are really hot right now. But Vegas has Iowa State as a favorite for some unknown reason.

Who to bet for: I'm going ISU. If Vegas picks a team that makes no sense as a favorite, then a lot of the time there is something that you don't know.

Chick-Fil-A (Peach) Bowl
LSU v Clemson
LSU Favored by 4.5

** This is the worst. I hated it when it was called the 'Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl' and it is so much worse without the Peach. It also doesn't help that Chick-Fil-A is awfu too. I don't understand the love for soggy fried chicken and microwaved tasting waffle fries. Oh, don't forget that it costs twice as much too because it is 'special' chicken. Luckily they are closed Sundays which means that 50-days a year nobody has to eat their crap food.

Who to watch for: Tajh Boyd's offense: Tajh Boyd is electrifying, but it also helps that he has a number of elite playmakers around him including Sammy Watkins who has had a very tough last six months.

Who will win: This is really tough for me. I think that LSU could be less motivated by the fact that they might be the best team in the country, but not playing in a BCS bowl. I also think that it might not matter because of talent (See Clemson v South Carolina and FSU this year).

Who to bet for: I'm taking LSU here. They are 14 points better in terms of talent, and 4.5 isn't enough for me to pull the upset trigger.

Gator Bowl
Mississippi State v Northwestern
Miss State Favored by 2.5

Who to watch for: Kain Colter, ATH, Northwestern. Colter is officially a QB for the team, but he has rushed almost as much as he has passed (around 800-yards each) and has 12 rushing scores to 8 passing. Oh, and he has 60 career receptions for the Wildcats too.

Who will win: If there is one SEC 'upset' that people love it is this game, and it makes sense. NW lost to three of the best Big-Ten teams this year, they have a presence that matches well with the SEC (see their win against Vanderbilt this year), and Pat Fitzgerald does the most with the least in the country. I'm not sold that it happens, but Northwestern has a lot to like.

Who to bet for: Betters should take Northwestern in this game because they have a slight advantage while also getting points. It really could go either way.

Heart of Dallas Bowl
OK State v Purdue
OK State Favored by 16.5

Who to watch for: Joseph Randle (OK State rusher) had 14 touchdowns this season. Problem is that he had 24 last year. If Purdue cannot stop them, then they will be crushed.

Who will win: It is easy to pick the 16.5 point favorite in this game, but Purdue actually does have a chance to win this game. This is not an SEC team against a C-USA team, it is Big-10 and Big-12. Both teams can score points (OK State is better), and both have shown that they both can't always defend well. Both teams also only had losses against teams in bowl games. I like OK State, but don't sugar coat this as an easy win.

Who to bet for: Bet for Purdue. 16.5 points is a lot of points to give, and Purdue could actually keep it close. It is also a lot easier for a team like Purdue to get garbage points at the end.

Outback Bowl
South Carolina v Michigan
South Carolina Favored by 5.5

Who to watch for: Jadeveon Clowney (DE for So. Car) is a beast. He was 2nd in the nation in sacks this year as a sophomore, and I am disappointed in him because he could be so much more. I want more 2+ sack games. I want him to get his hands up and deflect more passes, and I want a signature game.

Who will win: Michigan's offense is great, but it was great in the Big-10 where the speed and recognition just isn't SEC ready. Remember the Alabama game to start the season?

Who to bet for: Michigan could win this game easily, but I just don't know if they will make the style adjustments to do so. I'm going with South Carolina here.

Capital One Bowl
Georgia v Nebraska
Georgia Favored by 9.5

** Capital One... I can't wait for 326 commercials with unfunny barbarians, stupid Baldwins, and mascot contests that NOBODY LIKES! Nobody votes for mascot of the year, it means nothing, and it is a New Years waste of time.

Who to watch for: Jarvis Jones. He was 4th in sacks this year despite missing some playing time this year. I love him in the draft world, and I want to see him against an offense he can handle.

Who will win: If motivated still, Georgia. It's as easy as that, since they have one of the two most talented teams.

Who to bet for: This is tough. Do you think they will care about this game after missing out on the title game and the BCS? If they want to win this game then they will win by 20.

Cotton Bowl
Texas A&M v Oklahoma
TAMU Favored by 4.5

Who to watch for: Potential awesomeness. This game has a lot of potential

Who will win: This is tough. Both teams lost two games to top-10 talents, and both teams are worthy of BCS bids. I give a small advantage to the balance that Texas A&M holds.

Who to bet for: This game looks a little bit like the Texas v Oregon State game. Oklahoma has the talent to beat anyone (including a team they know how to play), and I like getting points with it.

BBVA Compass Bowl
Ole Miss v Pittsburgh
Ole Miss Favored by 3.5

* I was going to make fun of BBVA Compass, but this bowl game is a big enough joke

Who to watch for: QB Tino Sunseri who looked like an actual QB this season (was arguably the worst QB in college last year)

Who will win: I love Ole Miss here. People will rave about the star power from Pitt's Tino Sunseri and Ray Graham, but statistically Ole Miss had a better offense in almost every aspect despite playing in the SEC. Pitts beat two bowl teams this year, but got crushed by Youngstown State.

Who to bet for: I really like Ole Miss here. Pittsburgh had one good game this year (a 3OT loss to Notre Dame), and I think they are getting too much credit for that.

GoDaddy.com Bowl
Arkansas State v Kent State
Arkansas St. Favored by 3.5

* I should be nice since Go Daddy is my web host, but I can't be that nice. Their commercials are so bad that I might skip this bowl game just to miss them.

Who to watch for: Arkansas State QB Ryan Aplin has been great this year. He didn't take on many scary teams, but he did actually have a solid game at Oregon to start the season, and has 23 passing scores to only 4 picks.

Who will win: This is tough. A lot of people love Kent State, but I just think Arkansas State is the better squad on the field.

Who to bet for: With games this uninteresting you have to take your pick. This is one of those games you toss in a parlay with the over/under because there is no true science to it.

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BCS BOWLS
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THE ROSE BOWL
Stanford v Wisconsin
Stanford Favored by 6.5

Who to watch for: Rushers Stefan Taylor and Montee Ball who have combined for nearly 3,500 offensive yards and 35 scores this year.

Who will win: Nothing like watching the 5th best Big Ten team taking on the 2nd best Pac 12 team. Both teams have similar styles of play, and both teams match up with any team to possibly complete. But looking at the entire picture I do like Stanford in this game, however watch out for Wisconsin.

Who to bet for: Go with Wisconsin on this one. This could be Barry Alvarez's actual last game, or maybe it is the start of his second round of Badger coaching. The teams do match up well together, and mentally the Badgers will have more to prove while wanting to recruit a top new coach.

THE ORANGE BOWL
Florida State v Northern Illinois
FSU Favored by 13.5

Who to watch for on FSU: The defense: FSU's defense is arguably the most talented one in the country, and their ability to

Who to watch for on NIU: QB Jordan Lynch: 3,000 yards passing with 24 scores and only 5 picks. Oh, and don't forget his 1,800 rushing yards and 19 rushing scores. He is the key to victory.

Who will win: This comes down to motivation. FSU does not want to take on the team that scummed into the BCS. Players are not going to care as much primarily because they know that they should easily win this game. I'm going FSU because I think a lazy defense of this caliber still might be good enough to control NIU.

Who to bet for: Honestly I wouldn't bet on this game. Vegas's spread is a 2 score favorite for FSU, but they would win by 35-points in they come in caring.

THE SUGAR BOWL
Florida v Louisville
Florida Favored by 13.5

Who to watch for on Louisville: QB Teddy Bridgewater. I have been a huge fan of Charlie Strong's Louisville since the start, and I have become fascinated with Bridgewater. He has a pocket presence that is awesome, and he plays smart football. He is a 70% completion guy with a 3-1 TD to INT ratio, and he just looks legit. He is already my top-QB for the 2014 draft, but a good game against Florida could help solidify him up there.

Who to watch for on Florida: The defense. It is kind of a scum out answer, but the defense is so special that it only seems right.

Who will win: Do you want to know why I hate preseason rankings? Because it may have screwed a team like Florida out of the championship game. They didn't have the high ranking benefit that Alabama did, and therefore their ranking is lower. Don't get me wrong, FU didn't win their conference so they shouldn't be in anyways.

For the game this (just like the Orange Bowl) comes down to motivation. I love Teddy Bridgewater, but he can't beat Florida by himself.

Who to bet for: I feel bad for this game. Louisville is actually a pretty good team, with some starpower on both sides, and a great coach. There is a special dynamic because Charlie Strong was the defensive coordinator for the Gators three years ago. But Louisville just isn't ready. They are a very young team that cannot matchup well with Florida (unless FU doesn't care).

THE FIESTA BOWL
Oregon v Kansas State
Oregon Favored by 8.5

This game has some huge intrigue. The two were supposed to meet at the start of the season, but they cancelled it. Both fan bases think that the other team was scared. A month ago these teams were then supposed to face each other in the championship game, but that lasted only a week before both teams lost. And now they face each other in the Fiesta Bowl.

Who will win: Unfortunately though, Kansas State doesn't have a chance. They don't have an offense that can score like Oregon's can, and they don't have a defense that can contain Oregon. Oregon has two weaknesses. Themselves, and the road. So being away from Autzen might give K-State that little chance. But if Kansas State wants to win they had better hope that these Ducks don't care since they are out of the Championship game. I think though that given their need to always keep recruiting strong, and the fact that Chip Kelly will be interviewing in the game I see them playing tough.

Who to bet for: Bet Oregon. I think Vegas is completely wrong with this pick. They were a 2-3 TOUCHDOWN favorite when they took on Stanford.

THE BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Alabama v Notre Dame
Alabama Favored by 9.5

Who to watch for on Alabama: T.J Yeldon and Eddie Lacy: They have combined for 2,200 yards rushing (each with 1,000+) and 27 touchdowns. They average about 6.5 YPC, and they are a fierce two headed monster that will be taking on a NASTY Notre Dame rush defense.

Who to watch for on Notre Dame: Manti Te'o: College football's true Heisman winner has one last college game to prove why he could be a top-5 pick.

Why Notre Dame will win: Defense. Statistically they have a rush defense that can take Alabama's greatest weapon away from them. If they make it a passing game then they have a HUGE chance to win this game.

Why Alabama will win: Because they are Alabama. They are defending champs from the SEC, they have a rushing game that can really challenge Notre Dame.

Who will win: I love the Notre Dame story, I love Te'o, and I love watching them. But I can't go against Alabama here. Alabama doesn't have 3OT wins against Pittsburgh. They don't have 3-point wins against Purdue, and they didn't beat Michigan by only a score.

Who to bet for: This is where it gets tough. Every time a 10+ point favorite plays in the championship game they seem to lose. I also wouldn't be shocked if Notre Dame won. So go with Notre Dame with that many points.

2012 College Coaching Carousel

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:02:37 +0100

Whether you are a coach on the rise, or a coach on the hot seat, we are getting very close to the college offseason which will bring some big changes. Which coaches are bound to move to more prestigious (or NFL) jobs, and which coaches will be on the cast of 'The Experts' next year?

The Hot Seat

Gene Chizik, Auburn FIRED

It is hard to imagine a coach who won a title two years ago getting fired, but he won that title with another guy's players. If you take out that one great year he has two 8-5 seasons and a 2-8 season (currently). He could be on his way out.

Some people think this was unwarranted, but you can't win only three games with that much talent around you. Of course I'm a fan of Charlie Strong and Mark Stoops as candidates here defensively, but it would be hard to not see Gus Malzahn come back to a team he won a title with very recently. A very slight dark horse would be to bring back Tommy Tuberville as well.

HIRED: Gus Malzahn (former Arkansas State coach)

No shocker here. Auburn hired the guy that actually won a championship for the Tigers a few years ago. It isn't a sexy big name coach, but I think the team will have a very easy transition going forward.

John L. Smith, Arkansas FIRED

John L. Smith has been a coaching name for awhile, but he really wasn't able to do anything special with a very talented Arkansas team. He would need a solid finish or a lack of coaching talent to remain the coach.

No shocker here. Typical candidates swirl around, plus some randoms like Jon Gruden and Chris Peterson, but the one that REALLY intrigues me would Jimmie Johnson. It won't happen, but he is an Arkansas guy with a history of winning about everywhere he went. The other one that REALLY intrigues me would be a guy like Mike Belloti who set Oregon up really well before handing it to Chip Kelly.

HIRED: Brett Bielema (former Wisconsin coach)

Wow, I did not see that one happening. Bielema goes from a strong situation in Wisconsin where he can compete for a Big Ten Title every season to having to find a way to beat the best teams in the country. I like the hire from a coaching quality aspect, and it might even be a good enough hire to win titles, but something just doesn't feel right. It almost feels like Mario Batali opening up a Korean restaurant.

Joker Phillips, Kentucky FIRED

Joker Phillips just has not been able to get anything going, and unfortunately he might be outed as coach. It won't be easy to get rid of a guy that has held about every single coaching spot on this Kentucky team, but they might have to pull the trigger.

Kentucky really should go out and get a big name guy, but I just don't see it. Keep an eye on Willie Taggart who has done well with Western Kentucky or Sonny Dykes from Louisiana Tech. Also don't be scared to see an oddball like Ralph Friedgen.

HIRED: Mark Stoops (former Florida State defensive coordinator)

I thought that there would be a good chance that Mark Stoops would get hired somewhere, but I think he settled a bit too early for a Kentucky team that just won't have the same talent pool as FSU. He will coach them up well, but I see this hire turning out about as well as his brother's (Mike Stoops) tenure at Arizona. Awesome hire for Kentucky, but I just don't know if Mark will be successful.

Derek Dooley, Tennessee FIRED

Dooley is a guy that will need a lot of help to keep his job. He has been able to put together a pretty competitive offense in the SEC, but he just doesn't have the defensive talent to win games.

My early speculation for candidates would be Charlie Strong from Louisville who might move to a bigger name location. He has SEC ties, and has been a great coach. Don't leave out Kirby Smart from Arkansas and David Cutliffe (former UT OC) from Duke. Oh and maybe they go really hard for Jon Gruden who has ties there, or for Bobby Petrino who just wins.

What about Dabo Swinney? He is a recruiting master who brings nasty talent to a top-3 team in the ACC. Imagine what he could do with SEC ties? Finally look for the biggest dark horse to be Tee Martin. He is a UT grad who is a very good WR (and QB obviously) coach. I'm not sold that he will end up the head coach, but don't be shocked if he is an offensive coordinator very soon.

HIRED: Butch Davis, former Cincinnati coach

I'm ok with the decision, but I really don't think it is the right one. But I guess when you have to settle for your 14th pick you can't complain. Butch Jones is a fine coach, but I do wish I could see him win a conference championship (and with guys that he has recruited).

HIRED: Tommy Tuberville, Texas Tech

This is weird. Tuberville took a step back in terms of team prestige, but he really never liked it at Texas Tech. Maybe he knows that Cincinnati has cranked out the Notre Dame and the Tennessee jobs in the last few years.

Jeff Tedford, California FIRED

In a conference that is on the rise Tedford's Bears are on the decline. If medals were handed out for creating NFL studs on offense then Tedford would have a lot of gold, but he just hasn't been relevant in the Pac-12 for awhile. It is hard to think that he would be on his way out, but watch out.

I told you to watch out. Tedford will either work his way back up or he will retire, but his contributions to talent were amazing. I've heard Willie Taggart's name here, but don't love it. I've heard Ron Rivera (although I doubt it times out ok) and both of the UOregon coordinators. Chris Peterson would be a dream, but he's not leaving Boise to build a team.

I like three guys here. Possibly Hue Jackson who has H.C experience and Cal ties. I wouldn't count out Mike Belloti (formally from UOregon) for any Pac-12 gig, and possibly Jack Del Rio.

HIRED: Sonny Dykes, LA Tech coach

I actually like this pick a lot. Dykes did a ton with very little for his former team, and he knows how to build a team. He also is surprisingly well kept up with recruits in the West (remember that LA Tech is in the WAC). It's going to be tough to win the Pac-12, but I think he could build a team with the ability to compete.

HIRED: LA Tech quickly hired Skip Holtz after he was fired from USF. I really like Holtz as a coach, and look for him to build a contending team.

Danny Hope, Purdue FIRED

Hope is a guy that is a tremendous coach, but that just hasn't translated into wins yet for the Boilermakers.

I really do like Hope as a coach. He can lead a team very well, but he just isn't good enough to rally a team from football's rock bottom. Purdue has to be more patient unless they want to pay Big-Ten coach cash. I think Dave Doeren is the a near shoe-in for the gig after leading NIU to an 11-1 season. Look for other good MAC coaches out there too.

HIRED: Darrell Hazell (fomer Kent State coach)

Purdue hired a pretty darn good MAC coach in Hazell. I don't quite know if Hazell will have what it takes to turn around a terrible Purdue team that should have kept Hope after getting a bowl bid, but Hazell has a lot of potential.

WISCONSIN:

Who will Wisconsin hire? They missed on Doeren and Paul Chryst is staying at Pitt. They could go with Alvarez's coaching tree, or with any of the hot commodities on the lists. Don't count out other randoms either like Mike Stoops, Jim Tressel or Pat Fitzgerald. But my two candidates? Bill Callahan and Brad Childress. Both are in the Alvarez coaching tree, and both could leave their NFL coordinator gigs to become the Badger head coach.

OTHERS FIRED

Frank Spaziani, BC

-> I see a coordinator here that will come cheap enough. Possibly Bob Dianco from Notre Dame.

HIRED: BC grabbed up a Big East coach here... In former Temple coach Steve Addazio

Jon Embree, Colorado

-> I would highly expect Mike Belloti here to be a candidate. I could also see Jeff Tedford take the F-U approach by going here too, but the team might take a cheaper option too.

HIRED: The team grabbed Mike McIntyre who completely rebuilt a San Jose State team very quickly.

Tom O'Brien, NC State

-> NC State wants James Franklin from Vandy, but why would he leave a developing SEC team to go to a top-5 ACC team? The guy to actually look for here is Chad Morris who has developed an interesting offense for Clemson.

HIRED: Dave Doeren (Former NIU coach)

Want a lesson in time management? Sometimes you have to watch your time and wait for your time to strike. The game of football isn't about scoring the easy points, and you must always weigh your options. What does this have to do with anything? Well it took about Dave Doeren three seconds to accept the NC State gig just hours after getting a terrible BCS bid. But soon after Wisconsin had their job open up which would have been the dream job for the former Badger defensive coordinator.

Skip Holtz, USF

I actually like Skip Holtz because of what he did for ECU a few years ago, but he just couldn't put it together for USF. I think he could be a great coach with the right program though.

HIRED: Willie Taggart got gobbled up out of Western Kentucky where he did wonders. I love this hire a lot.

HIRED: Bobby Petrino was hired to Western Kentucky which will be his stop gap school until a bigger college calls.

Hot Commodities

Charlie Strong, Louisville RE-SIGNED WITH LOUISVILLE FOR 8-YEARS

I have been raving about Strong for awhile now, and it is great to see what he has done for this Louisville program. He is a top notch recruiter, and a great developer of talent. A major program (Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn) might be calling.

Bill O'Brien, Penn State

I don't think he will leave the school, but he has done such a good job with the Nittany Lions that he might gets some attention nationally.

Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern

Fitzgerald hasn't had an elite season with the Wildcats, but he has done a ton with little talent on his side. Eventually he may look for a major program job.

Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

There is no way in hell that Brian Kelly leaves for another college gig, but I could see an NFL team go for him hard this offseason.

Bill Blankenship, Tulsa

It is hard to imagine Blankenship leaving the team that he played for, but he might end up being a very hot commodity sooner than later.

Dave Doeren, Northern Illinois (HIRED TO NC STATE)

Doeren is going to soon be a huge commodity. He is 20-4 as the head coach, and is on his way to a possible conference championship.

--> NIU hired their offensive coordinator Rod Carey to coach about three seconds after Doeren left.

Chip Kelly, Oregon

Chip Kelly is another guy that won't go anywhere else in college, but he was almost pulled to the pros last year. If a team offers enough money, and if they give him full control of the offense then he might move forward.

OTHER

1) Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

Ferentz is a strange situation. He is constantly rumored to go to the NFL or to a major college program, and his biggest supporters of him leaving Iowa are his fans. He is the 6th highest paid coach in football, and has an average of a 7-5 season for his career. He has two BCS appearances, and four 10+ win seasons, which are great for someone making half his salary. But after the 4-8 season fans are finally calling for his head. Unfortunately though, the team owes him too much money to get rid of him, and fans are hoping for him to grab an NFL gig.

2) Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

What's kind of funny is that Stoops was actually the first pick to take the Iowa job before he went to Oklahoma. Fans don't want to see him go, and he doesn't really want to leave, but he has gotten to the point where a 10-win season just isn't good enough. He might take an NFL gig if it were thrown his way.

2012 Late Season Heisman Watch

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 22:54:42 +0100

We are rounding out the college football season, and it is about time for us to talk about the final Heisman watch standings. If you've read my site before, you would know that recent history favors the QB's playing in the National Championship game, and that may end up being the case this year. This year is a strange one however, because it just doesn't feel like we have that elite gamechanger on offense. There is no Cam Newton, RG3, Mark Ingram, or Tim Tebows, but we do have some guys that could win the trophy.

If you look at the most important (and best) players on a team then you would have to like a few other guys, but here are the current rankings:

1) Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State

This is a hard one for me to fall in love with. Sure he has a lot of traits that rival Tim Tebow's, but he just doesn't look the part. He has led Kansas State to a 10-0 record, but he really doesn't have many signature wins over close & competitve teams. He hasn't had to throw the ball to win the game, and he just doesn't look like a QB that could win when he really needed to. He might win it, but It's hard to put him in the hall of greats when he hasn't had 20+ completions in a game.

2) Johnny Manziel, QB, TAMU

Manziel does pass the look test, and he has done more than any Freshman should, but it is hard to think that voters are going to put a Freshman into the winners seat. Manziel does a little bit of everything, and he does have signature wins though, so he may be able to pull it off.

3) Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State

If Ohio State hadn't been blacklisted from the BCS this year, they would be ranked in the top-4 of the BCS. They also might have the Heisman front runner in Miller who has done a ton this season. He passes the looks test, he has some great talent, and it is hard to believe that his team would be as successful without him.

4) Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

If the Heisman weren't set up for offensive beasts to win, then Te'o likely would be the front runner. He controls a very talented defense, and he has a knack for being in every play. He is the best player on a very talented team which usually does wonders for Heisman voters.

5) Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

This won't happen. Not because Mariota hasn't been every part of spectacular, but he it isn't going to happen. We don't even know if Mariota is the third most important asset on this Oregon offense behind Kenjon Barner and DeAnthony Thomas. If LaMichael James didn't win a Heisman, then it is going to be hard to have a freshman QB win one.

Struggling? How To Turn Your Fantasy Football Season Around

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:59:44 +0100

As we get ready for Week 7 in the NFL, most fantasy leagues are at about the halfway point of their regular season. This is around the time that owners start to assess their team and make the necessary tweaks. So what do you do if your team is really struggling? Here are three ways to get back on track and try to sneak into the playoffs.

1. Stick with it

Everyone loves fantasy football at the beginning of the NFL season. By Week 6 or 7, only the owners who are having success seems to care. Instead of just writing off the season, stick with things and try to improve your team. Once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen. Getting that chance is the key.

Another common reaction to a bad start is to begin cutting and trading all of your players. Sure, moves do in fact need to be made, but don’t just cut or trade for no reason.

2. Become Friends With The Waiver Wire

A lot of success in the NFL is dependent on opportunities. After all, no one could have predicted that a sixth round running back pick for the Washington Redskins would dominate the NFL right from the beginning of the season. Many owners can recover from a bad draft by keeping an eye on the best players floating around on the waiver wire.

In most leagues, players such as Jahvid Best, Kevin Kolb, Brian Hartline and Rashard Mendenhall were all out there recently. There will always be talent on the waiver wire, but it takes watching the games and a little bit of luck to make the right moves during the year.

3. Worry About Your Team

At the end of the day, the most you can do to improve your fantasy football team is to simply focus on how to make your team better. Set the rosters your way, take risks and hope for the best. Fantasy football is not rocket science. As much as people like to claim they are great at it, chances are a lot of it comes down to luck.

Many people are so worried about making trades during the season because they fear they will make other teams better. That type of thinking will get you nowhere when trying to climb out of the hole you are in. Make trades you are confident about without thinking about it too much.

The above guest post has been sent to Draft Maven by the football guys at FanDuel.com. To draft a new line-up every week and play fantasy football for money this is the place to go.

Should The Panthers Worry About Cam Newton?

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:06:31 +0100

There have been a lot of speculations and worries about the Panthers this season after a brutal 1-4 start. There were a lot of expectations for Cam Newton to take the next step at quarterback and for the team to potentially become a contender after a relevant 6-10 season last year. And why wouldn't they? The team is one year older, and one year wiser which should translate to wins right? Coach Ron Rivera is a defensive genius that should have this team looking like the Chargers did a few years ago, right?

Wrong.

In a world where we aren't patient and willing to wait for development, you have to understand that this team will take time. Cam Newton burst onto the scene last year and did nothing but shock people with his offensive firepower, but you could tell by the end of the season that team had figured him out possibly a little bit. One year later Newton is a year wiser, and he has learned a bigger chunk of a playbook that will continue to grow as he does.

You also have to realize that the Newton's Panthers started 2-8 in 2011, and they didn't really start to win games until they bonded together and the defense tightened up a little bit. The season isn't over after a 1-4 start, especially if you consider the fact that they have only four teams with a winning record (right now) left on their schedule. Oh, and that 1-4 start is overshadowed by the fact that the Falcons stole a win after a Roddy White Hail Mary catch a few weeks ago. The team has also has had three of their four losses by an average of just four points, which means that they were in the game until the very end.

What about Ron Rivera? Many point out that he did wonders to a defense in San Diego that consistently was one of the best defenses statistically in the NFL. But there are problems with that theory. First off, he statistically had one of the best defenses in the league because 40% of his games were against the Raiders, Chiefs and Broncos. In ten years nobody will point out the 2010 Chargers as an elite defense, because they weren't when you compare them to the Ravens and Steelers. You just can't point out the stats to define why this Panthers team is poor.

You want a prediction for the offseason? The Panthers will switch to the 3-4 defense. It has to happen. The team has some good edge rushers in Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson, and they may not be perfect fits, but this team just does not translate as a 4-3 that well. The team could slide Kuechly inside where he fits a bit better to create a nasty tandem with Beason. Then develop some real edge rushing linebackers while blocking the holes with big bodies. Either way though, this team needs to find players everywhere to play on this team. The backfield is sloppy, and the defensive tackles aren't cutting it. But they are blend of bad and young that nobody could win with.

Finally the team needs to get younger/better on offense. Steve Smith might have something left in the tank, but the team needs one or even two other receivers that can steal away the double team from him. Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams are a one-two punch of injury prone unimpressive rushers, and that needs to be fixed. The Chargers pass game (remember that Rivera has a lot of similarities in offense style) was able to succeed without an elite receiver core because they had guys like Tomlinson, Sproles and Turner who could rush the ball while opening the field up for receivers.

While it is easy to think that Cam Newton is having a 'Sophomore Slump' that is causing his team to fail, you have to truly realize that this is a team with few real weapons around him. The defense does need to get better, and the offense needs more weapons to open up. Give it time, because Newton's Panthers do have the potential to be a real & true contender.

And The 2012 Mr. Irrelevant Is....

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:06:16 +0100

Chris Greenwood, Cornerback, Albion

Two months ago I would have pegged Chris Greenwood the guy, but not now. He has caught on because he is an athletic freak that produces, and too many teams have brought him in for him to last.

Gino Gradkowski, OG/C, Delaware

Gradkowski is another guy that could have once been the guy, but I think too many people will like his last name too much to let him last.

Shawn Loiseau, LB, Merrimack

This is my guy.There is something that I really like about Loiseau. It's not the fact that he was an all-conference stud that did nothing but produce and get to the ball. It's not the fact that he has a mean streak that reminds me of some of the best linebackers in football. It's not the fact that he is a Criminology major that was charged with assault with a deadly weapon when he was 17 after he got into a fight. Oh... that deadly weapon was the ground.

What I love about this guy is his last name. It has every single vowel in the alphabet. It has Seau in it. And you know it would be awesome to have the original Mr. Irrelevant, 85 year old Paul Salata try to announce it properly on draft day.

Five 2012 Draft Sleepers

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:32:57 +0100

1) Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma

I have loved Travis Lewis forever. One of my first posts on this site was actually about him. He came as a surprise into the Big 12 as a Freshman and looked like one of the most dominate players in football, but he looked just above average the rest of his career. All I know is that he has the potential to be a top-10 outside linebacker in the draft, and I love his potential.

2) Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor

Ganaway is a name that you probably heard a lot in college because he played for Baylor, and he is a guy that I really like. He won't go early because he can't do it all, but he is a guy that I think you will see a lot early in the NFL. I have developed a formula called the DMScore (which is an elevated version of a similar formula, except that I incorporate height, weight and speed) that has helped to predict NFL talent. Last year the formula liked DeMarco Murray who was a sensation before getting hurt. In 2010 the top guy was LaGarrette Blount, with James Starks in second place and then Ryan Mathews.

Well Terrance Ganaway had the top score this year, which tells me that his body will be ready to produce in the NFL like many of the recent greats. (By the way Trent Richardson is 2nd place, Lamar Miller is 3rd, and Bernard Pierce is a strong 4th).

3) Chris Owusu, WR, Stanford

I have two receivers on this list, and the first one is Chris Owusu. Owusu is a guy that has good size, great speed, and great potential which are some things that I love in late round receivers. Owusu didn't have the production that he could have in college, mostly due to some injuries. But if he can stay healthy, then he has starting caliber potential.

4) Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa

Ok, so there is a chance that McNutt could go in the 3rd round, but he also could be bumped into the 5th round too. McNutt has good height (6-3), good speed (4.54), and amazing production (82 receptions, 1,315 yards, 12 scores last year). What you don't love that production? Well you have to factor in the fact that he played Iowa where those stats helped him to break the team's record in receptions, yards and scores in a single year. Oh, he also became the career leader in receiving yards and touchdowns too. His potential is there.

5) Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State

Ok, so if you have checked out this site during the 2011 season, then you would know that I love Kellen Moore. In terms of the draft he is the best leader, the smartest quarterback, the most accurate, and the best decision maker. Oh, and did I mention that he was 50-3 in college with two losses coming from field goal misses after leading his team down the field? He isn't a high prospect because of his height, size and arm strength (which is actually better than most give him), but if you give him a chance he will tear you apart.