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Fantasy Report: Play’em or FOH

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

By Nairann Merceir

Week 2: Play’em or FOH

Ok, I’m man enough to admit I missed the boat on Joe Flacco as he torched the Steelers’ defense for 224 yards and 3 TDs, however in my defense, in the six pervious Steelers/Ravens matchups, Flacco has thrown a combined 6 touchdowns, so I guess he was due.  But enough small talk, here are my picks for “Play’em or FOH”, week 2.

 

Play’em

Quarterbacks

Michael Vick vs. Falcons – I know the Falcons are playing at home on Sunday night TV, in front of a national audience, and would like some redemption from their opening week blowout loss to the Bears, but let’s be real.  The Falcons’ secondary allowed Jay Cutler to throw for 312 yards and 2 TDs.  Mike Vick and the Eagles’ offensive weapons are far greater than the Bears’.  Look for a big night from Vick.

Matt Stafford vs. Chiefs – Stafford is coming off a 305 yard and 3 TD performance against the Bucs and his facing a Chiefs defense that allowed 4 passing TDs to Ryan Fitzpatrick.  This a no-brainer start.

Josh Freeman vs. Vikings – I still believe in Josh Freeman, even though he didn’t have his best game last week.  Look for him to bounce back in a big way against a mediocre Vikings secondary.

Tom Brady vs. Chargers – All I have to say is…look at last week’s stat line of 517 yards passing and 4 TDs.  START BRADY!

 

FOH

Quarterbacks

Donavan McNabb vs. Bucs – All I have to say is…look at McNabb’s stat line from last week; 7–15 for 39 yards.  Play McNabb if you want too, but I’m not guaranteeing you he’ll improve much.

Alex Smith vs. Cowboys – It’s Alex Smith.  Do I really need to give a reason?

Luke McCown vs. Jets – Look at the previous Alex Smith comment.

 

Play’em

Running Backs

Tim Hightower vs. Cardinals – I see a little payback here for Hightower, who was given his walking papers from the Cardinals.  Hightower is clearly the number 1 back in Washington, as evident by his 25 carries last week against a weak Giants defense.  Look for Hightower to have a good game.

Derrick McFadden vs. Bills – “RUN DMC” had a monster game in week one with 22 carries for 150 yards, and with an improved Raiders offensive line, look for McFadden to have a big game against the Bills.

Cedric Benson vs. Broncos – Denver’s defense allowed the Raiders to run for 190 yards on 39 carries, for an average of 4.9 yards per carry.  It’s a copy cat league so expect Benson to get a heavy workload against Broncos this week.

 

FOH

Running Backs

Fred Jackson vs. Raiders – Raiders’ defense only allowed the Denver Broncos to rush for 38 yards last week.  Look for Fred Jackson to find it difficult running against the middle of this Raiders defense, with a rejuvenated Richard Seymour anchoring it.

Chris Johnson vs. Ravens – Chris Johnson never got into a rhythm last week vs the Jaguars, and appears a little out of football shape this week.  Don’t look for him to have an impact this week against a very good Ravens defense.  He still is Chris Johnson and if you lack a better match-up, start him but don’t expect much.

Ryan Matthews vs. Patriots – As long as Matthews is in a carry share with Mike Tolbert, and with Tolbert getting the goal line plays, I say keep Matthews on your bench.

 

Play’em

Wide Receivers

Dez Bryant vs. 49ers – I just don’t see anyone in the 49ers secondary capable of guarding Bryant, who gave Reevis Island fits last week.  Look for another big game from Bryant.

Mike Wallace vs. Seahawks – Seahawks are another team that had difficulty with covering the opposing team’s receivers last week.  Look for Big Ben and Wallace to connect on a couple of big pass plays vs a porous Seahawks secondary.

Devery Henderson and Robert Meacham vs. Bears – With Colston out for 4 weeks and Lance Moore still hampered by the groin injury, look for Brees to look more to Henderson and Meacham in their absence.

 

FOH

Wide Receivers

Mike Thomas vs. Jets – Jaguars best receiver will have to pay a visit to Reevis Island. And at 5’8 and 160 pounds soak and wet, he lacks the physical attributes of a Dez Bryant.  Look for Thomas to have a hard time shaking Reevis.

Any Seahawks receiver vs. Steelers Defense – Two words…Tavaris Jackson.  Play at your own risk.

Any Vikings Receiver vs. Bucs – SMH, McNabb is under center.  Play these guys at your own risk.

 

Play’em

Tight end

Vernon Davis vs. Cowboys – Davis only had 5 catches for 47 yards last week and Alex Smith says he has to do a better job of getting the ball to him.  Look for him to do that against an improved Dallas defense that struggled to contain Dustin Keller last week.  Look for a big game from Davis.

 

FOH

Tight end

Brent Celek vs. Falcons – With Jason Peters questionable for the game, which possibly means King Dunlap will start against Falcons defensive ends John Abraham and Ray Edwards, look for Celek to remain in protection and help the offensive line, limiting his opportunities to make plays in the passing game.

 

Play’em

Defense

Packers Defense vs. Panthers – Cam Newton had a monstrous first start in his NFL debut, throwing for 422 yards and 2 TDs.  Look for him to have a difficult time repeating that performance against a solid Packers defense, lead by Clay Matthews Jr. and Charles Woodson.

 

FOH

Defense

Chargers Defense vs. Patriots – Tom Brady and the Patriots’ offense looked like a well-oiled machine, gaining 622 yards against what I thought was going to be a solid Dolphins Defense heading into the season.  While they might not repeat that performance, I still look for Brady & Co. to have a huge week vs an average Chargers defense.  This game has “shoot-out” written all over it.

Nairann Merceir, Fantasy Expert for War Room Sports

(For additional advice, hit me up on FB or Twitter.  I’m always available to talk fantasy football.  Click my signature at the top of the page for my Twitter page and click the signature directly above this message for my Facebook page.)

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Serena Williams Goes Off On The Line Judge!!!!!

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

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Fantasy Report: Play’em or FOH

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

By Nairann Merceir

Week 1: Play’em or FOH

Are you ready for Fantasy Football?  This is opening weekend in the NFL, and a chance to get your team off to a fast start.  While a loss doesn’t mean you won’t make the playoffs or even win your league championship, if you are like me (a person who dislikes losing), you want to win them all.  So hopefully I can provide you with some last-second fantasy advice to help you start your season off 1 and 0.  If you look at my predictions for Thursday night’s Saints/Packers game, you saw that my “play’em or tell them FOH” predictions were right on point, but enough talk, let’s get to it.

Week 1: Play’em

Michael Vick vs. Rams: I believe Michael will carry on his momentum from last season and will have a monstrous opening day performance.  While I do believe the Rams have made great strides, I just believe the Eagles have too much firepower on offense.  Red Flag alert: this is the Eagles o-line’s first time playing together since the revamp.

DeSean Jackson vs. Rams: Recognize any of these names?: Ron Bartell? Bradley Fletcher? Justin King? Or maybe Al Harris?  Isn’t Al like 36 years old?  Start DeSean, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and Dez Bryant vs. Jets Pass D:  I believe the Cowboys will make plays against the Jets secondary.  “Revis Island” can’t cover everyone and will likely be matched up against Miles Austin most of the night.  If the Jets get an early lead, look for the Cowboys to chuck it around and for Romo to look to Witten and Bryant.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs Dolphins: in his career against the Dolphins Defense, “BGE” has averaged 80 yards and a TD per game, and I don’t see that changing this season.  Look for at least 100 yards and a TD for “BGE”.

Josh Freeman vs. Lions: I believe last season was no fluke.  Josh is ready to take next step into upper echelon QB in the NFL, plus the Lions pass D is poor.  Look for a big game from Josh.

MUST START ALERT: Lance Kendricks vs. Eagles D: if you watched the preseason, you know Sam Bradford loves this young tight end, and we all know the Eagles’ history of being unable to check tight ends, and with the corners the Eagles have, look for the Rams to use Lance to attack those young Eagles linebackers.

Other matchups I like:

Peyton Hills vs. Bengals

Beanie Wells vs. Panthers

Jarvis Best vs. Lions

Mike Williams and Blount vs. Lions

Kenny Britt vs. Jaguars

Texans D vs Colts: No faith in Kerry Collins

San Francisco D vs. Seahawks: Are the Seahawks really starting Tavaris Jackson?  49ers D is a must start.

 

Week 1: FOH

Joe Flacco vs. Steelers: I won’t start any QB not named Rodgers against the Steelers D.   While Flacco is a solid QB in 6 match-ups against the Steelers, he has only thrown 6 touchdown passes.  If you have a better option at QB, I say start them.

Felix Jones vs. Jets D: I believe Felix will find running room difficult to come by against a solid Jets run D.

Miles Austin: Two words…”Revis Island”

Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon: No Peyton Manning…and let me say that again… NO PEYTON MANNING!  While I believe Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne will be fine with Kerry Collins under center, the two players I believe will miss Peyton most are Collie and Garcon.

Brent Celek vs. Rams: Once again, with the uncertainty of the offensive line, look for Celek to once again remain on the line to help in pass blocking.

Giants D vs. Redskins: The Giants will be without CBs Terrell Thomas, Prince Amukamura, DE Osi Umenyiora, and LB Jonathan Goff, leaving them very thin on D, which wasn’t in the best shape to begin with.

My FOH of the week goes to (drum roll please)…

Kyle Orton vs. Raiders D: With Josh McDaniels and his dink and dunk offense now in Saint Louis, and John Fox a coach known for running the ball into the ground, look for Orton’s numbers to decrease dramatically, but on a positive note, the Broncos may win 1 or 2 more games this season.

Nairann Merceir, Fantasy Expert for War Room Sports

(For additional advice hit me up on FB or Twitter.  I’m always available to talk fantasy football.  Click my signature at the top of the page for my Twitter page and click the signature directly above this message for my Facebook page.)

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2011 NFL Season Preview

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

By Brandon Pemberton

Well, after a long offseason due to the lockout, the NFL is back and I can’t be any happier.  I went through each team’s individual schedule after watching them play in the preseason (first half and game 2 and the first three quarters of the third game) and predicted where I believe they will finish during this season. This is my second time doing this (http://brandononsports.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/2010-nfl-season-preview-and-predictions/) and as you can see last season, I picked the Packers to win it all and I was a bad play by Dawan Landry of the Ravens away from picking the exact Super Bowl teams. Well here goes, enjoy and feel free to comment here or hit me up on twitter https://twitter.com/Bashir28 and I will gladly talk and debate with you.  Thank you and enjoy the season.  Remember to check out www.brandononsports.wordpress.com during the season for more articles and blogs from me.

D-Division Winner

WC-Wild Card Team

 

National Football Conference

 

NFC East

Eagles 10-6 D

Cowboys 9-7 WC

Giants 9-7

Redskins 7-9

Outlook: In my eyes, the Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the division.  I still have questions about the middle of their offensive line.  They are starting 6th round draft pick Jason Kelce at center and 1st round draft pick Danny Watkins was supposed to start but he’s not ready, so newly acquired right guard Kyle DeVan.  Teams started to figure Mike Vick out towards the end of last season and he was having problems reading the blitz.  Not having a full offseason might have stunted the growth of Vick in the passing game and may very well stop the Eagles from being a SuperBowl winner.  They have nine new starters on defense and glaring holes at the linebacker and safety positions.

The Dallas Cowboys fired Head Coach Wade Phillips during the season and gave the job to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.  The team seemed to play harder and Garrett for some odd reason called the plays with more balance when he took over the job.  You can’t deny it; this team has a medley of offensive weapons to go along with a quarterback in Tony Romo who puts up big numbers during the regular season.  But can he get it done when it counts?  I doubt that it’s likely, but if Felix Jones can stay healthy for a whole 16 games, the Cowboys will be in contention for a wildcard spot.  With the addition of Rob Ryan as the defensive coordinator, expect a good season out of the defense.

The New York Giants are going to be their typical bipolar selves.  One week looking like a contender and then the next week killing themselves with penalties and turnovers.  I expect a breakout season from Hakeem Nicks with the departure of WR Steve Smith to the Eagles, but Eli will be Eli…a turnover machine.  The defense will still put pressure on the QB, but with the season-ending injury to their best Cornerback Terrell Thomas and Prince Amukamara breaking his foot and needing surgery, this team will struggle and miss the playoffs.

The Washington Redskins were a complete disaster last season (Its first under two time Super Bowl champion coach Mike Shanahan).  I expect a better season out of them in his second season, but I don’t like their Quarterback situation with Rex Grossman as the starter and John Beck as the backup. Shanahan has a trio of running backs: Ryan Torain, newly acquired Tim Hightower, and rookie Roy Helu from Nebraska.  I expect the Skins to be a run first and play-action pass type of offense.  Santana Moss is coming off of a 90-catch season and 2nd-year WR Anthony Armstrong is establishing himself as a legit deep threat and 2nd receiver.  The Defense was a complete disaster in its first year playing in a 3-4. Expect some improvement with the additions of Nose Tackle Barry Cofield, safety O.J. Atogwe, and 1st round draft pick Ryan Kerrigan at the outside linebacker opposite of Brian Orapko.  They still miss the playoffs though.

NFC West

Rams 9-7 D

Cardinals 7-9

49ers 5-11

Seahawks 4-12

Outlook: This is clearly the weakest division in all of football and in my eyes the Rams are the clear cut favorite.  Sam Bradford played pretty damn well in his rookie season and I expect better play from him this year.  Josh McDaniels is the new offensive coordinator and he loves to spread defenses out and pass the ball.  Hopefully he won’t forget about the abilities of running back Steven Jackson.  The Rams had the 12th ranked scoring defense last season and added a group of veterans, including Linebackers Ben Leber and Brady Poppinga, along with former Eagles safety Quintin Mikell.

The Arizona Cardinals saved their franchise by trading for QB Kevin Kolb, which obviously made franchise player Larry Fitzgerald happy, as he signed an 8 year, $120 million extension to remain in Arizona.  In my eyes, the book is still out on Kolb and we will see how good or bad he really is.  It would help him if running back Beanie Wells could provide some sort of presence in the running game.  The defense was average at best last season and they had problems getting to the quarterback.  I see seven wins for the Cardinals.

Jim Harbaugh was hired by the San Francisco 49ers as head coach, after reviving a dead Stanford football program.  He ran a pro-style offense in college, played QB in the NFL, and coaching football is in his DNA.  But the fact of the matter is that Alex Smith is still the starting quarterback for this team and he flat out stinks.  The team has all the weapons offensively; franchise running back Frank Gore, an elite tight end in Vernon Davis, and wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Braylon Edwards.  But the situation at QB is going to kill them all season long.

The Seattle Seahawks made the playoffs last season with a 7-9 record, winning the division and shocking then defending SuperBowl champs New Orleans Saints in the first round.  Well this offseason, they allowed quaterback Matt Hasslebeck to leave via free agency and decided to go with the former Viking, Tavaris Jackson as the starter.  They also signed wide receiver Sidney Rice to a huge free agent contract as well, even though he is coming off a season where he missed a bunch of time due to a serious hip injury.  Add the inconsistent play of running back Marshawn Lnych and you have a 4-12 season.  Their defense, outside of Aaron Curry and Earl Thomas, isn’t much to speak about, so I expect them to be in the running for Stanford QB Andrew Luck.

NFC North

Packers 13-3 D

Vikings 8-8

Bears 8-8

Lions 7-9

Outlook: The Packers won the SuperBowl last season, even though they lost keys players like Ryan Grant, Atari Bigby, and veteran leader Nick Barnett for the season to injuries.  As I predicted prior to last season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers would place himself amongst the top 5 QB’s in the league and win the big game.  He did BOTH!  The Packers bring back pretty much the same team offensively and the return of their running back to the fold.  Greg Jennings, in my eyes, is one of the more underrated wide receivers in football and will have a monster season.  The 3-4 defense lead by Clay Matthews, B.J. Raji, and Charles Woodson are back in full effect.  The Packers also sport one of the best corner tandems in football with Tramon Williams and Sam Shields.  I see no reason why they aren’t playing on the last Sunday of the season again.

The Chicago Bears are going into year two of running offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s pass-heavy offense, an offense that hasn’t won anything since the St. Louis Rams “Greatest Show on Turf”.  Jay Cutler is the perfect fit for the offense, but he is also a turnover machine and cost the Bears games with his bad decisions and carelessness throwing the ball.  The one-two punch of Matt Forte and newly acquired running back Marion Barber should be formidable.  Knowing that the offensive line is an issue, you would think Martz would run the ball a bit more, but like Andy Reid, Martz is a stubborn coach. Defensively, we know what the Bears are.  They are running the Tampa Cover 2 and linebacker Brian Urlacher is the leader of this group.  All-Pro weakside linebacker Lance Briggs is unhappy in Chicago and is asking for a trade.  This is not the type of distraction the Bears need the week before the season starts.  I predict eight wins from this team, missing the playoffs.

The Minnesota Vikings received quarterback Donavan McNabb in a trade from the Washington Redskins.  One thing I can say is, the Vikings have a strong running game with Adrian Peterson for McNabb to depend on and unlike his former boss, the Vikes don’t have a problem running the rock. While losing wide receiver Sidney Rice to free agency, the Vikings still have Visanthe Shiancoe, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph as targets in the passing game.  Defensively, they have seen their better years pass by and they have lost starters Ben Leber, Ray Edwards, and Pat Williams, while an aging Antoine Winfield is still hanging on.  Jared Allen will see more double-teams with the departure of Ray Edwards, rendering the team less effective on passing downs.  McNabb will have some sort of a bounce-back year, but not good enough for them to make the playoffs.

Everyone is on the Detroit Lions’ bandwagon, as they were last season prior to the injury to franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford.  I see progress from this team.  I like the pieces they have added defensively in linebacker Stephen Tulloch and the drafting of defensive tackle Nick Fairley out of Auburn. If Stafford can stay healthy I see them winning 7, maybe 8 games.

NFC South

Falcons 11-5 D

Buccaneers 10-6 WC

Saints 8-8

Panthers 4-12

Outlook: The Atlanta Falcons on paper seem to be loaded and set to finally make that run to the NFC Championship Game and possibly to the Super Bowl.  I like Matt Ryan as a quarterback, just not as much as others (like 97.5 The Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli in Philadelphia).  If he is as good as people think he is, a trip to the Super Bowl would solidify his fans opinions.  This offense is solid in all phases: running, passing, and most importantly, line play.  Defensively, they are pretty simple, not too much pressure from blitzers, they like to rely on their front-four to get to the QB.  The addition of defensive end Ray Edwards in free agency from the Vikings opposite of John Abraham should boost the Falcons’ pass rush. The wildcard for this team is rookie receiver Julio Jones from Alabama.  If he can provide a legit target, it would open up more field for Roddy White and make the Falcons a legit contender.  Falcons win the division.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Head Coach Raheem Morris shocked all of the football world by winning 10 games last season and barely missing the playoffs.  Quarterback Josh Freeman was pretty damn good last season, especially driving his offense downfield at the end of games to tie or take leads.  Rookie wide receiver Mike Williams showed the talent and promise he had at Syracuse and running back LaGarrette Blount proved why he was considered a first to second round pick prior to the punching incident against Boise St.  Losing leader Barrett Ruud on defense was a big blow, but the Bucs believe Mason Foster is a more than capable replacement.  The Bucs had problems getting to the quarterback last season and they addressed the need by drafting Adrian Clayborne from Iowa and Da’Quan Bowers from Clemson.  Coming into the 2010 College Football season, Bowers was the number one NFL prospect in the country.  But issues with his knee and the possible belief that he will soon need microfracture surgery dropped him out of the first round and he was drafted with the 51st pick in the second round.  If healthy, Bowers could provide the legit pass rushing ability the Bucs need to take their defense to the next level.  They make the playoffs this season as a wild card team.

The New Orleans Saints still have Drew Brees at the helm of their high powered offense.  It’s pretty much a given that this team will not have a problem scoring points.  The departure of Reggie Bush, who was a big key in their passing game, was made up for with the drafting of running back Mark Ingram from Alabama.  The Saints had serious issues last season on defense.  In their Super Bowl season in 2009, the defense was one of the best in the league at forcing turnovers and it made up for some other glaring holes.  Last season they didn’t force turnovers and was gashed against the run on a weekly basis, and it was also the reason why they were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Seahawks.  They brought in veteran run-stuffing defensive tackle Shaun Rogers along with Aubrayo Franklin to attempt to address the issues on defense.  Jonathan Vilma is a more effective Mike linebacker when he has less offensive lineman to shed and space to run and make tackles.  Due to a less than average defensive unit, the Saints win eight games and miss the playoffs.

The Carolina Panthers are in true rebuilding form, as they selected quarterback Cam Newton with the first overall draft pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.  He has the potent running back tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to lean on as he takes his lumps and learns the NFL game.  Time will tell if he can become an accurate passer, learn to read pro defenses, and a winner.  The Panthers have an ok defensive unit led by defensive end Charles Johnson and his new $72 million contract.  New Head Coach Ron Rivera has had success as a defensive coordinator running a cover 2 and 3-4 with the Bears and the Chargers.  They will be a winning team in the future, just not this year.  I give them 4 or 5 wins.

NFC Championship: Packers over Falcons

 

American Football Conference

 

AFC East

Patriots 11-5 D

Jets 9-7 WC

Dolphins 6-10

Bills 4-12

Outlook: I expect the Patriots to win the division as they have the best quarterback (Tom Brady) and coach.  You know what you are getting offensively from the Pats.  They will spread you out and allow Tom Brady to pick you apart passing the ball.  Add in some occasional runs from Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis and they put up points in bunches.  Chad Ochocinco was added to the core of receivers by trade from the Bengals and if he stays healthy, I can see him having a great season.  The Patriots addressed their defensive issues by adding a bunch of veteran lineman: Albert Haynesworth, Andre Carter, and Shaun Ellis.  While Haynesworth wanted no parts of playing in the 3-4 with the Redskins, the Pats use multiple fronts and defenses.  I expect a great season from Haynesworth.  The Patriots haven’t won the Super Bowl since the whole “Spygate” fiasco, but they are a legit contender this season and I would not be surprised to see them playing in Indy in February.

I like Rex Ryan as a coach, I love the defense, I love Darrelle Revis…I just don’t like Mark Sanchez.  He is one of the most overrated athletes in all four major sports.  Until he is able to be depended on making plays downfield in the passing game, the Jets won’t take the next step and play in the Super Bowl. They get a wild card spot and lose in the second round of the playoffs, taking a step back.

The Dolphins allowed Ronnie Brown to leave town via free agency and signed Reggie Bush and drafted running back Daniel Thomas out of Kansas State to take his place.  The Dolphins have a good trio of receivers in Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline, and Davone Bess, but Chad Henne has yet to prove that he can be depended on as a starting quarterback.  How he plays this season will determine what direction this team goes draft-wise.  The defense was stingy as far as giving up points last year and often was hung out to dry by short drives and turnovers from the offense.  I see 5 or 6 wins from this team.

The Buffalo Bills are in a rebuilding stage, and had some flashes last year from Stevie Johnson.  He had a breakout season and proved to be a true playmaker in the NFL.  I’m not sold on Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson is ok, but lacks the explosiveness of a true number one back.  I’m looking forward to see if 2nd year running back C.J. Spiller is an every down back or a situational player.  Hopefully for their sake and where he was picked, he is.  Years and years of bad early draft picks is the reason why this defense flat out stinks.  Four wins for this team.  If I were Andrew Luck, I would be praying that the Bills don’t have the worst record in football.

AFC West

Chargers 10-6 D

Chiefs 8-8

Raiders 7-9

Broncos 6-10

Outlook: Last season the Chargers had the number one ranked offense and defense but missed the playoffs somehow.  Special teams blunders, turnovers, player holdouts, and Antonio Gates missing six games were all reasons why this team didn’t make it.  Phillip Rivers had an MVP type season, throwing for over 4700 yards and 30 TD’s.  He has really come into his own and is one of the top 5 to 7 QB’s in football.  The Chargers having Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates together from day one is a plus and if they can get some sort of running game from Ryan Matthews and Mike Tolbert, they will be even more dangerous than they were last season.  Defensively, they cause havoc running a 3-4 base led by outside linebacker Shaun Phillips and safety Eric Weddle.  The wildcard for this team is free agent signing Bob Sanders.  If he can stay healthy for a full 16 games, he will obviously be a difference maker for the Chargers.  They win 10, maybe 11 games and win the division.

The Chiefs won the division last year, even though they were too swept by the Raiders.  The offense was a well-balanced machine, relying heavily on the running back combo of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, and Matt Cassel having a great season passing the ball.  Tony Moeaki had a good rookie season last year, controlling the middle of the field, opening up the outside for stud wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.  But Moeaki was lost to a knee injury playing in the final preseason game and last year’s offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis, left to take the same position with the Florida Gators.  On defense, they were pretty solid as they have some good pieces for the 3-4 defense they run.  Tamba Hali came into his own ever since the Chiefs switched to the 3-4 defense and is coming off a season in which he recorded 14.5 sacks.  They also sport one of the best young defensive backfields in football with Brandon Flowers at cornerback and 2nd year Eric Berry who is set for a Pro Bowl season in my eyes.  Even still, I think they come back down to earth and miss the playoffs this season.

The Raiders dominated the division, sweeping its way through, going 6-0.  But then were 2-8 outside of the AFC West and were very inconsistent offensively.  They have arguably one of the best running games in all of the NFL with the combo of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.  Third round Pick Jared Veldheer from Hillside College was a pleasant surprise, starting at the left tackle spot and playing pretty well for a rookie out of a small school.  But the loss of Zach Miller at tight end and Nnamdi Asomugha are big for this team.  I see them taking a step back, winning seven games.

The Denver Broncos hired John Fox as head coach and he has a complete mess to fix.  Former coach Josh McDaniels completely destroyed this franchise after taking over for Mike Shanahan.  While most football fans wanted Tim Tebow to be the starter, the Broncos and John Fox made the right decision in going with the proven veteran Kyle Orton.  Expect more of a balanced attack under Fox’s regime and Knowshon Moreno will have the chance to have a big season if he can stay healthy and protect the ball.  Brandon Lloyd had a breakout all-pro season after all of those years being an underachiever.  The Broncos had one of the worse defenses I have seen last season, horrible against the run and put no pressure on the QB.  They drafted linebacker/defensive end Von Miller with the second overall pick and I expect big things from him this season.  Champ Bailey has had a hall of fame career and is still performing at a high level.  With all this being said, it’s going to be a rebuilding year and I see at the most, six wins for the Broncos.

AFC North

Steelers 13-3 D

Ravens 11-5 WC

Browns 5-11

Bengals 4-12

Outlook: The Pittsburgh Steelers return this season the Super Bowl runner-ups with pretty much the same team from the prior season, returning all its starters on defense and besides some changes on the offensive line, the offense is in tack as well.  The Steelers looked good in the preseason and are going to play their brand of football and I expect them right back in the running for a return to the Super Bowl and possibly winning it.

The Baltimore Ravens were one bad mistake away from playing in the Super Bowl last season.  Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are getting up there in age and I wonder when time will catch up to them.  Offensively, they rely on the legs of running back Ray Rice, but Joe Flacco needs to step his game up and make more plays in the passing game and in clutch situations.  The Ravens are still a good defensive team, but not the unbreakable crew from past seasons.  They have glaring weaknesses at cornerback that were exposed last season during the playoffs.  They drafted cornerback Jimmy Smith from Colorado to address the weakness.  The Ravens make the playoffs as a wild card team.

The Cleveland Browns are obviously rebuilding its team and it has two solid pieces right now: running back Peyton Hillis and 2nd year quarterback Colt McCoy.  Hillis gives the young McCoy a legit running game to rely on while he continues to develop as a passer in the NFL.  Defensively, I really like Joe Haden at cornerback and the drafting of Phil Taylor, the defensive tackle out of Baylor as well.  They still lack the explosive plays from receivers on the outside.  I see five wins for the Browns.

The Bengals are simply one of the worse run franchises in all of pro sports and the fact that team management refused to trade away quarterback Carson Palmer and receive something of quality in return for him, speaks volumes.  This is one of the reasons why Chad Ochocinco wanted out of there a long time ago.  I still don’t know how Head Coach Marvin Lewis has lasted this long.  They are starting rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, who for some reason, which I don’t know, everyone thinks he is going to be a good NFL player.  He’s just another guy.  This team wins 4 games and are in the running for Andrew Luck.

 

AFC South

Texans 10-6 D

Colts 9-7

Titans 8-8

Jaguars 5-11

Outlook: The Houston Texans are explosive on offense and have brought in Wade Phillips to try to get the defense up to par.  I still don’t like the idea of having the 6’7′ 290lb Mario Williams playing a position similar to what a player like James Harrison plays in Pittsburgh.  He was in his element as a defensive end in the 4-3 defense, but I do like the group of linebackers though.  With Peyton Manning’s health in question, this is the perfect chance for the Texans to win the division and finally make the playoffs.

There is not one team that depends on one player more than the Colts.  Peyton Manning had surgery on his neck during the off season (and a second procedure THIS MORNING) and it’s clear he’s not healthy, and I have the belief that he will miss at least half the season, if not all of it.  The Colts’ whole offense is based around the ability of Manning and although they signed veteran Kerry Collins, he isn’t used to running this offense.  The Colts take a step back this season and miss the playoffs.  It would be wise of them to draft a quarterback to replace Manning.  There’s no telling how much time he has left, if any.

The Titans spent most of the preseason dealing with the holdout of franchise running back Chris Johnson, after hiring Mike Munchak as their new head coach.  They brought in veteran QB Matt Hasslebeck to serve as the stop-gap for first round draft pick Jake Locker out of Washington.  The Titans still have one of the best offensive lines in football and will be able to run the ball.  The question is how the passing game will do.  Kenny Britt is talented but often in trouble off of the field.  Defensively, they are average on paper; the only player who stands out to me is cornerback Courtland Finnegan.  I see eight wins for the Titans.  Also, look for a breakout season from tight end Jared Cook.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ franchise is confusing me as of right now.  They cut veteran quarterback David Garrard this week, less than seven days from game one of the season.  Talk about a deflating move, I wonder how the veteran players feel, along with head coach Jack Del Rio, who was told anything short of a playoff berth and his ass would be canned.  I guess he should work on selling his home because this team has no chance in hell of making the playoffs.  Outside of Maurice Jones-Drew and Mercedes Lewis, the Jags have no weapons offensively and the defense is subpar.  I see five wins at the most for the Jags.  At least halfway, look for first round draft pick Blaine Gabbert to see some action and the team will see if he can actually play.

AFC Championship: Chargers over Steelers

 

Super Bowl: Chargers over the Packers

Offensive MVP: Phillip Rivers

Defensive MVP: Lamar Woodley 

Offensive rookie of the year: A.J. Green, Bengals

Defensive rookie of the year: Von Miller, Broncos

By Brandon Pemberton of Brandon on Sports, for War Room Sports

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Fantasy Report: Play’em or FOH

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

By Nairann Merceir

Saints vs. Packers

Weekly, I will provide you with fantasy advice on who to play and who to tell FOH on your fantasy football rosters.  Tonight’s NFL opening matchup features the last two Superbowl winners and two of the highest scoring offenses over the last three seasons in the NFL.

Packers Play’em

Aaron Rodgers – last season numbers, 3922 yards and 28 TDs.  What’s not to like about Mr. Rodgers?  Although the Saints pass D only allowed an average of 194 yards per game in the air last season, good for 4th best in the league, they have some new faces in the secondary and Mr. Rodgers is just too good to sit.

Greg Jennings – 76 catches, 1295 yards, and 12 TDs.  Mr. Rodgers’ favorite target and with the way Green Bay moves him around in formations, it will be hard for the Saints to key on him.  Look for a big night from Jennings.

Jordy Nelson – is now solidly entrenched in the number 3 role in this explosive Green Bay offense, and after his excellent play in last year’s Superbowl run, look for Mr. Rodgers to look his way more often this season.

Packers FOH

Ryan Grant vs. James Starks – are expected to have a 50/50 carry split in tonight’s game, with the hot hand getting a bulk of carries in the second half. Too risky for my blood, but if you have to play one, I say Grant, who has been given a majority of goal-line carries in Pre-season.

Donald Driver and James Jones – I foresee a majority of the targets going to the direction of Jennings, Finley and Nelson, with Driver and Jones getting in where they fit in.  If you have no option but to play one, I say Driver, who has been a consistent favorite of Rodgers on 3rd down over the years.

Green Bay Defense – normally I would say starting the Packers D is a no brainer, but with the limited off-season, trying to work injured players from last season back into the mix, and facing a high-powered Saints attack, I think it’s best to leave the Packers D on bench for this week and play them against better match-ups in the future.

Saints Play’em

Drew Brees – 4620 yards and 33TDs, however 22 interceptions, as Brees found himself forcing passes because of the lack of a consistent running game.  But with the return of Pierre Thomas and the additions of Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles, look for the Saints to return to a balanced attack, allowing Brees to work play action and take shots down field to his big play wideouts.

Devery Henderson and Robert Meacham – with Lance Moore out of tonight’s game with a groin injury and Colston still not 100% following multiple off-season knee surgeries, look for both Henderson and Meacham to see more targets.  Plus I believe Green Bay will be up on the scoreboard, so the Saints will be chucking the ball up all night.

Jimmy Graham – 31 catches, 356 yards, and 5tds last season.  This is my major sleeper for this game.  The Green Bay Defense gave up the 4th most points last season in fantasy football to opposing tight ends and with the same group of linebackers and safeties returning for the Packers, look for Graham to have a big night (5 to 6 catches, around 70 yards and a TD).  Not bad production for your tight end.

Saints FOH

Mark Ingram – I know many people have Mark Ingram as a sleeper for this season.  So do I but not for this first game.  He’s currently listed on depth chart as second behind Pierre Thomas, however Sproles will handle 3rd down duty, so it’s more like Ingram is the 3rd back.  Also, Sean Payton has been known to play the hot hand with his running backs, so any Saints back is a risky play.  Ingram’s time will come, just not tonight.  Be patient with him.

Marques Colston and Lance Moore – Marques is coming off multiple off-season surgeries to his knees.  While he has looked good in the preseason in limited time, he still isn’t 100 %, and even if healthy, going against that tough Packers Pass D and Charles Woodson is a tough assignment for any wideout.  Lance is still battling that groin injury and is out for the game.

Saints Defense – home opener for Green Bay and the fact that the Saints have added so many new faces on D, I won’t risk a play here.  Plus I believe this game is going to be played in the 40’s, with Green Bay winning 49 to 42 LOL.

Nairann Merceir, Fantasy Sports Expert, for War Room Sports

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Happy For Mike Vick the Man, Disappointed in the Philadelphia Eagles

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

By Bradley Anderson

I am happy for Michael Vick.  Everyone loves a “Redemption Song”.  From a limited vantage point, he seems humbled, joyful, reinvigorated, and most importantly, eager to really LEARN the game of football, as opposed to depending on his RAW, UNBELIEVABLE athleticism to wow spectators, make games exciting, endanger his career, livelihood, and life. 

I think Andy [Reid]; having endured the heartache and pain of watching his own sons reap some of the same ills Vick did from sowing bad decisions into the most fertile soil of bad intentions, saw the potential in him.  He knew it was worth the risk to put him in a nurturing environment which would grow him amongst a brotherhood of men.  And now, we get to the fork in the road…a bad managerial decision that could potentially negatively impact the Eagles.  But Vick himself, I hope above all, Michael Vick the man is ready for the return to financial excess.  I hope he can manage the excess to create wealth for his grandkids’ grandkids. 

But more than that, here are the obstacles and the reasons this contract isn’t the wisest decision for the Philadelphia Eagles:

1) Currently, the Eagles’ offensive line is in need of a SERIOUS upgrade.  I think we’d all agree that Vick is in the top 5 or 10 athletes to EVER play the game.  And even at 31, having lost a half step, he’s still elite speed, athleticism, and talent personified.  And if HE can’t avoid getting PUMMELED in the pocket, you need to invest SERIOUS $$$ in your fat guys, otherwise you risk sledge hammers and boulders smashing up the pretty race car you paid all the money for.

2) Besides the eagles O-line being in shambles, Vick’s style of play is “balls to the wall”, “hell or high water”, “win or die”, and oftentimes outside of that pocket, Vick is engaged in near-death experiences.  Because he is able to get on the edge and extend plays and make plays with his legs, the risk of injury is raised exponentially.  Vick is RARELY (if ever) going to be able to complete a full season, and at what point do the aches and pains become permanent injuries that don’t heal?  At 31, playing as a fleet-footed athlete puts your career in jeopardy more and more with every play.  So, as management, ask yourself if you’re going to get enough out of him to get you SB wins?

3) Has he developed enough over the last 2 seasons to warrant top 3-5 QB money?  This is open to debate, but for me I’d say absolutely not.  a) He is 10x’s better with reading defenses, understanding coverage, and going through his progressions, instead of scampering like a scared deer or a neutered cheetah.  However, he isn’t ELITE at these things after only one season of improvement.  He still holds the ball too long, he still forces things a little (I know, who doesn’t?), but most alarming…MOST ALARMING…and the biggest issue I have; b) He cannot identify the blitzes.  When blitzed from the right, into his left, he folds like a deck of cards with a picture of Donovan in the Superbowl on them.  GREAT…even just GOOD QBs LOVE the blitz.  They want you to blitz.  They identify it pre-snap and even when they don’t, they can quickly see it coming, adjust, and either hit the hot read, or they are in sync with their slot guy, who also sees the coverage and the blitz, runs the appropriate option route, and the QB hits them instantly.  The Eagles don’t run option routes with their slot men (to my knowledge) and while we [the Eagles] have “hot” routes, Vick is wrapped up in thinking about the pressure rather than seeing it and making the quick read and throw.  During the last 3 or 4 games of the 2010/2011 season, Vick was EXPOSED…not as a fraud, but as a 2nd tier QB.  He is and always will be a tier 1 athlete, a tier 1 talent, and a tier 1 FOOTBALL PLAYER.  But he is NOT a tier 1, $100 Million ($40 Million guaranteed) QB…yet (If? When? Maybe? Could he? Will He?). 

I’m sure the Black protectionist, fans, and “stans” will be hounding me for not celebrating my Philadelphia Eagles for frivolously and prematurely throwing Manning & Brady money at Vick.  But forgive me.  I want to see more.  I’m a fan and supporter.  I have to be.  But I haven’t seen enough, and the difference between you and I, is that I know if you don’t spend your money on the O-line and D-Line (which we did…but just not enough), it doesn’t matter how many great skill players you have.

Bradley “B. Austin” Anderson of The War Room, for War Room Sports

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What If Brett Favre Were Black?

Friday, August 26th, 2011

By Jimmy Williams

He would be Aaron Brooks……..

Jimmy Williams 

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Breaking Down Eagles Free Agency 2011

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

by Nairann Merceir

With a new CBA signed and in place, it’s time to start looking at possible free agent moves for the Philadelphia Eagles. First I will look at the Eagles own free agents and than explore the possible free agents to fill the Eagles various needs.

Eagles top 5 free agents are:

MLB Stewart Bradley – while the oft-injured Bradley has shown promise over the course of his short career, his inability to stay healthy over the course of a 16 game schedule is troublesome.  However, with no clear replacement on the roster, Jamar Chaney still has a lot to learn.  Re-signing Bradley is a must.

SS Quintin Mikell – I like Mikell a lot but he was obviously exposed the last two seasons not playing next to B. Dawk, and with the drafting of Temple safety Jarrett in the second round it looked like the writing was on the wall for Mikell.  However with last years second round pick Nate Allen returning from a knee injury and with little experience on the roster besides Kurt Coleman, the Eagles will be wise to re-sign Mikell to have veteran leadership to the back part of their secondary.

G/C Nick Cole – Nick has been a variable sub and spot-starter for the Eagles the last few seasons, and what he lacks in ideal size for the position he makes up with heart and effort.  However I think it’s time for the Eagles to start looking in a new direction, unless Cole is willing to return at a reasonable salary.

RB Jerome Harrison- During his time in Cleveland, Harrison has shown flashes of being a featured back and with McCoy clearly the no.1 here in Philly; I look for Harrison to explore his free agent options with the chances of battling for a starting spot on another team.

CB Ellis Hobbs – I doubt if Ellis will return as an Eagle next season. With the team using that money to sign an upgrade at the position.

Filling team needs:

Priority #1: Cornerback

All the rumor mills point to the Eagles trading Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick.  However, if the Eagles are unable to acquire Rodgers-Cromartie or any other cornerback in a trade involving Kevin Kolb, I feel there are a few quality free agents still available for the Eagles to choose from.  The Eagles could make waves this free agency and sign Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha, likely at a $17 million-a-season pop, but other options are available and at a more affordable price.  The Bengals Jonathan Joseph is the best of the rest in my opinion, and would fit nicely into the Eagles defense, having played a similar style with the Bengals.  However, Cincinnati has cap space to keep the 27-year-old Joseph.  Antonio Cromartie has ideal size, 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, but the N.Y. Jets aren’t likely to let him walk without a fight, as he has proved to be a nice complement to Revis.  The same could be said for the Falcons’ Brent Grimes, a local kid who played at Northeast High, and the Chiefs’ Brandon Carr.  This leaves the Eagles with choosing from Pittsburgh’s Ike Taylor and Washington’s Carlos Rogers as the next best options, however both are in their 30s.

Priority # 2 Defensive end:

Under the reign of Head coach Andy Reid, the Eagles have always placed a high value on end.  Since 2007, the Eagles have drafted four defensive ends in the first three rounds.  The reason the Eagles need to address defensive end during free agency is because they haven’t drafted the position well.  Brandon Graham’s (last years #1 pick) knee concerns make it all but certain the Eagles will sign a defensive end this free agency period.  Minnesota’s Ray Edwards and Carolina’s Charles Johnson are at the top of the defensive end class and would likely be options for the Eagles because of their sack totals and age (both are 26).  However, the Panthers are expected to re-sign Johnson but the Vikings more than likely won’t be able to afford Edwards.  Cliff Avril of the Lions and Mathias Kiwanuka of the Giants are also options at defensive end, if they reach free agency and aren’t resigned by their current teams.  Another hot name is former Eagle Jason Babin, who has been gaining buzz because of his success last season in Tennessee under the direction of new Eagles defensive line coach Jim Washburn.  He’s 31 and probably looking to cash in, so the price tag may be too high for the Eagles.

Priority #3 Defensive tackle:

Seattle’s Brandon Mebane is probably the best defensive tackle available this free agency period.  Mebane is 26 and the kind of gap-plugger the Eagles covet, however word is that new defensive coordinator Juan Castillo is supposedly looking for pass rushers inside.  The Bears’ Tommie Harris used to fit the mold Castillo is looking for but his numbers have steadily decreased over the last few seasons.  Albert Haynesworth isn’t a free agent yet, however many believe the Redskins will release the former all-pro, another of Washburn’s success stories, so that is also an option for the Eagles.

Priority #4 Linebacker:

This all depends on whether or not the Eagles choose or want to keep Stewart Bradley.  If the Eagles choose to say farewell to their middle linebacker or are outbid for his services by another team, I feel there are few options out there for the Birds.  First is Buffalo’s Paul Posluszny, followed by Tennessee’s Stephen Tulloch, Tampa Bay’s Barrett Ruud, or Jacksonville’s Kirk Morrison.  Posluszny is interesting because he played outside at Penn State until his senior season and could also play outside in the Eagles scheme, allowing second year man Jamar Chaney to stay inside.

Priority #5 Running Back:

Personally I feel the easiest way for the Eagles to address their backup tailback need is to keep Jerome Harrison.  However that’s easier said than done.  Talks out of the Nova Care Center at the end of the season was that Harrison wants an opportunity to start.  He won’t get that chance here with LeSean McCoy clearly in place as the number one back.  Other options include Darren Sproles of the Chargers, who appears to be a match for the Eagles offense.  He can run and catch and has never been the featured back.  Ronnie Brown did a lot of the Wildcat in Miami and would give Andy a new toy for that formation.  Also, Bucs tailback Cadillac Williams may be willing to play back-up after losing his starting job in Tampa.

Others:

Of course if Kevin Kolb is moved, a back up to Vick has to be found among a list of candidates.  I’m not thrilled by Mark Bulger, Brett Farve, Matt Hassellback, Troy Smith, Trent Edwards, etc.  Like I said in an earlier blog, that a deal to acquire Vince Young makes sense.  Also, the state of Winston Justice’s knee could make right tackle a priority for the Eagles, just as Nate Allen’s ruptured patellar tendon could lead to a safety acquisition.  The Eagles are stocked at wide receiver, but every armchair general manager has Plaxico Burress in midnight green, so that is also another free agent signing possibility.

Only time will tell.

Nairann Merceir, Philly Sports Correspondent for War Room Sports

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The State of The Philadelphia Eagles

Monday, July 25th, 2011

by Brandon Pemberton

Starting today , NFL teams will be able to re-sign their own free agents and talk to other free agents.  The Philadelphia Eagles have plenty of issues at different positions they need to address, mostly on the defensive side of the ball, in my eyes.  They already have a Super Bowl contender’s offense in my opinion, and while some believe picking up Plaxico Burress and or Reggie Bush are top priorites, the Eagles defense stunk last year in the red zone, they are weak at linebacker (as usual), they have one legit, healthy starter in the defensive backfield, and outside of Trent Cole, the defensive line can all go.  If I were the General Manager of this team, here is what I would be thinking about and doing:

Defensive Line: It’s time to either break up the defensive tackle combination of Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson or get rid of them both.  The two of them have been big disappointments since being drafted in the first round of the draft in back to back years (2005 and 2006) and I’m tired of seeing them getting blown off of the ball and never making a play in the backfield.  The two of them aren’t playmakers and have no impact on this team.  I said it last year and I will say it again right here: Antonio Dixon should get a chance to be a starter on this team.  He has great size (6’3”, 322 lbs), is strong at the point of attack, and makes plays in the backfield.  He brings a different type of game and size compared to the other two.

Also, Albert Haynesworth will most likely be available after spending a season in D.C. with the Redskins, but he also might be facing a possible suspension from the NFL after his incident in the restaurant with the waitress in which he was charged with misdemeanor sexual assault.  Eagles hired defensive line coach Jim Washburn and he has gotten the best out of Albert during his career in the NFL.  When playing with motivation and something to prove, Haynesworth can be the most disruptive force on the interior line in all of football.  Another player that is available is DE Charles Johnson from the Carolina Panthers, who had a breakout season after Julius Peppers left for Chicago, and I also like Ray Edwards from Minnesota as well.  Bottom line is the Eagles need to help Trent Cole as far as rushing the passer is concerned.  Brandon Graham is coming off of a bad knee injury and most likely will not be ready for the start of the season.

Linebackers: The Eagles have refused to put any stock in having tough, hard nosed, playmakers at the linebacker position over the years and it has killed them.  Ernie Sims stinks and is comparable to a stray bullet.  He has no idea who and what he’s going to and suppose to hit.  It was a reason why a team like the Detroit Lions were ready to let him go and it’s time for him to receive his walking papers from the Eagles.  Chad Greenway might become available depending on the agreement on years concerning free agency in the CBA and he is the kind of player the Birds need at linebacker.  He has the speed, size, instincts, and tenacity that the Eagles have lacked at that position for years.  At middle linebacker, Jamar Chaney came on at the end of the season, starting the last two regular season games as well as the playoff game against the Packers.  He showed good instincts, speed, coverage ability, and sound tackling.  Played well enough that the Eagles are giving him the chance to be the starter this season.

Stewart Bradley has been injured on and off the last two seasons and even when he was healthy and on the field, he was overrated and exposed in pass coverage against tight ends and making plays in open space.  Moise Fokou saw time at all three linebacker positions and made no impact while on the field.  That leaves the Eagles with another weak linebacker core that needs to be upgraded.  There have been talks of playing Bradley at the “Sam” Linebacker, which was the position he played in college at Nebraska. 

Defensive Backs: Besides Asante Samuel at the left corner, they have question marks at the three other positions in their defensive backfield.  Offenses picked on the corner opposite of Samuel at an alarming rate last season.  There have been talks heating up about the Eagles trading QB Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and possibly a 2nd or 3rd round pick.  This would instantly upgrade the Cornerback position and force more passes to the other side of the field.  Nate Allen is coming off of a serious knee injury(ruptured right patella tendon) and was having an up and down rookie season before the injury.  Quintin Mikell is a free agent, who has been exposed for the fraud he has always been as a player and it’s time for him to walk as well.

The Eagles drafted Temple safety Jaiquawan Jarrett in the second round, a selection that was a bit of a stretch in my eyes.  I thought he would be available in the 3rd round or maybe fourth.  While he is a big hitter and sound tackler, and is always in the right spots, he is sort of a tweener as a NFL saftey.  He doesn’t have the top end speed and range to play free safety and isn’t big enough to play in the box constantly as a strong safety.  The Eagles should look for help at safety from the likes of Roman Harper (Saints), Atari Bigby (Packers), or maybe Eric Weddle (Chargers).

The Eagles say they are all in and ready to win it all.  If that’s the case, then fixing the defense and giving first year defensive coordinator Juan Castillo talent to work with will be key.  Free agency will be moving fast, so we will see.

Brandon Pemberton of Brandon on Sports, for War Room Sports

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If Kevin Kolb is Traded, Vince Young Makes Sense as Vick’s Backup

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

By Nairann Merceir

As a die-hard Eagles fan, I would love to see nothing more than Kevin Kolb traded once the lock-out is officially lifted, to the Arizona Cardinals for Rodgers-Cromartie (immediate upgrade at right corner) and a second round pick.  However, once Kolb is traded, that leaves the Eagles with a huge void at back-up QB, leaving only second year man Mike Kafka as Michael Vick’s primary back-up.  I don’t know about you, but I’m not comfortable with Mike Kafka having to start two to three games.  Hence the reason the Eagles must seek out a veteran back-up to Vick.  I’ve heard rumors of Brett Farve, Mark Bulger, etc. coming to Philly but I want Vince Young, and here is my argument now.

First, the offense that Andy Reid and the Eagles have installed for Vick fits the skill set of Vince Young.  Plus we know Andy has a proven track record of developing QBs who were labeled as underachieving passers, such as McNabb and Vick, so why couldn’t he do the same for Young?  Now let’s look at Vince Young the player.  Last season, Young appeared in 9 games (8 starts), and had the 4th best third down passer rating in the league, only trailing Brady, Roethlisberger, and Kitna.  At times in his short career, he has done pretty well, he’s had several come from behind victories, and he’s been effective in the short and long passing game.  According to NFL Films, last season Vince was the most accurate passer of balls that were thrown in the air beyond 35 yards and we know how that plays into Desean Jackson’s game.

Looking at Young’s first 4 seasons in the NFL, 2006 through 2009, he has amassed a regular season record of 26-13 as a starter.  That’s a .67 winning percentage for you math guys.  He’s lead 11 come from behind victories in his career, including 9 come from behind or tied performances in 2009.  That season, he started the final 10 games and led the Titans to an 8-2 record after they began season 0-6.  So the leadership skills are there.  He also made the Pro Bowl that season but we know that’s a bogus award/recognition.  

His career numbers through the first 5 years of his career are: 54 games played, 8,098 yards passing, 42 tds and 42 ints, with a 57.9 percent completion rate, 264 rushes for 1,380 yds and 12 tds.  If you compared that to Vick’s first 5 seasons, Mike played 58 games, threw for 9,031 yards, 51 tds and 39 ints, with a 52 percent completion rate.  There’s no need to even add rushing numbers, as they are not even comparable. However, as a passer, Vince Young is on par with Michael Vick through the first 5 years of their respective careers, with Vince actually being a more accurate passer.  So there is definitely something for the Eagles to develop here, and let’s not forget this guy was a top 3 talent when he came out of Texas in 2006.  If anyone has a better option out there to back up Michael Vick for this Eagles season, who may be called upon to start two to three weeks in case Vick goes down, I would love to hear it.

Nairann Merceir, Philly Sports Correspondent, for War Room Sports

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