Sunday 13 May 2012

2012 Draft Review by EJ Elgin


Welcome to the 2012 draft review brought to you by my very good friend EJ. I am sure that you will all agree that EJ made a great impact on my blog last year with his challenging questions and insightful answers. In my eyes EJ has done such a great job I wanted him to have a whole episode to himself.

In this episode EJ will take you through the main winners and losers from the draft team wise, he also gives us his views on the Luck vs RG3 battle and finally his top 5 players to watch this year. With that said, that is all from me, I hope you enjoy EJ's take on the 2012 draft as much as I did!

Winners:

Pittsburgh Steelers - First 2 picks on good offensive linemen. The Steelers have had difficulty protecting their best player in Big Ben, and it is scary thinking of how good they can be if he is given time and be completely healthy all year.



Philadelphia Eagles - Majority of picks spent on defense. After not being able to stop offenses last year, this is exactly what they needed in drafting impact players.



Losers:

Cleveland Browns - Gave away 3 later round draft picks just to move up one spot to land Trent Richardson. Albeit, a dynamic RB and exactly what they needed, he would have been available as the 4th pick. Also, drafting Brandon Weeden and immediately declaring him the starter is risky even though he is a 28 year old rookie. Thought they should have drafted another playmaker as they lack these to help the QB.



Seattle Seahawks - Took a big gamble in drafting the defensive end as early as they did and the rest of their picks just lacked 'sense.' Not well known names and players that played their college ball in a not so big conference.



Robert Griffin III vs. Andrew Luck

I think they are both going to be elite QB's. My fear for RGIII is his durability. He doesn't have the frame of a Cam Newton, therefore I feel he won't be able to take too many hits. My fear for Andrew Luck is that he lacks any game breakers to help him out on offense.

However, the Colts did draft the best 2 tight ends in the draft, in hope of giving him someone to throw the ball to. It almost looks like the Patriots 2 headed TE monster has rubbed off with the division rivals Colts, and they are going to try and steal the formula from New England with Hernandez and the Gronk.

Griffin is an electric QB and Luck is Mr. Consistent. I feel Griffin will put up better numbers this year and have the better record, but feel the tables will flip flop as their careers progress.

Just want to apologise in advance for the language content in the Andrew Luck highlights, if your easily offended best watch with the volume off.

RG3 highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaLn5bm0CY4
Andrew Luck highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1m22VTAcBQ


Top 5 Players to Watch

5) Mark Barron - Safety (1st round - 7th pick) - Buccaneers: Dominant safety from the best college football division and college champs, Alabama. A ball hawk that also likes to hit. Will be a long term starter and someone who can build defense around. Want to say the next Ed Reed, but even likes to hit!



4) Doug Martin - Running Back (1st round - 31st pick) - Buccaneers: Crazy I know that I have picked 2 Bucs and they didn't make my top teams for 2012 draft. Doug Martin not a 'showy' RB, but solid and seems to always get an extra yard or two. Feel like he will fit in the system and will be the best RB the Bucs have had in a couple of years. What makes him good is he is a every down back in that he can run, block, and pass catch.



3) Isaiah Pead - Running Back (2nd round - 50th pick) - Rams: My sleeper pick! Finally Sam Bradford has an added weapon on offense. I see him playing a similar role to what Percy Harvin does for the Vikings in that he will be able to be an efficient running back but also a dynamic pass catcher either from the backfield or slot. Much needed relief to a very bad offense!



2) Quinton Coples - Defensive End (1st round - 16th pick) - Jets: My riskiest pick as he is someone that takes plays off and his motivation is questioned. I believe the best overall talent for defensive line and if anyone can get him going it may be Sexy Rex Ryan, the head coach for the Jets.



1) Justin Blackmon - Wide Receiver (1st round - 5th pick) - Jaguars: I believe will be an elite WR due to his work ethic and desire to be the best. He will never be questioned for his lack of desire and even though he wasn't the fastest, highest jumping, or quickest receiver in the draft he has hall of fame potential. Now only if they had a QB that could throw the ball accurately to him!



Thank you EJ, as always this was outstanding work and I look forward to our chats and blog for this coming season. We will be the new Dave Dameshek and Adam Rank lol!

As always my fellow football fans 'Thanks for Stopping By'

Wednesday 9 May 2012

2011 Season Review


Well what a season it was for 2011 - 2012, so much to cover I don't know where to start.

I think best to start by apologising for taking so long to write my review, these last three months since the Superbowl have been crazy busy for me trying to get my journalism career off the ground. As we are just getting used to the draft news, be sure to check out EJ's draft round up later this week.

OK so on with the show. When I think about this season and look back over my previous editions I am reminded of a few things but be warned, my mind doesn't work in chronological order!

So here we go with the first of my highlights, it comes from week 7 where one of the hits of the week was made by none other than kicker Neil Rackers. Check out this hit and other nutty moments from week 7 http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-countdowns/09000d5d8236c82e/Week-7-Nuttiest-Moments-of-the-Week

Every time I see that hit it makes me smile and chant 'Tackled by the Kicker' lol. So onto another of my early season highlights and that would be Cobb's kick off return against the Saints in the first game of the season. Not only was it his début but he ties an NFL record for the longest kick off return.  I'm sure you are all familiar with it by now but here it is again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmc1yVmuXxk

I think it's the fact he gets kept on his feet by Kuhn, such a heads up play on his part, just brilliant!  On the subject of returns I can't not include the all time record of 109.88YDS by Cromartie even though it was not this season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdWsp8WAzgM&feature=related

Oh yes and who can forget my Bills breaking the 7 year losing streak against the Patriots. I was so happy we managed to beat them I booked a ticket for the return match at Gillette Stadium. Alas the rematch wasn't quite as planned but hey there is always next year!

I have to say that possibly one of my favourite if not most favourite moment of the season was Jerome Simpsons TD. I'm sure you will all remember this one for years to come.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdWsp8WAzgM&feature=related

It seems fitting that in such a high scoring season that we had so many individual records broken this year. First up has to be that 3 QB's threw for over 5000YDS this year which is simply amazing and shows how the game has evolved in the last decade. There were more 5000YD passers in 2011 than there had been in the history of the NFL!  Can you name the 3 without the aid of google etc?

On the subject of QB's, how about Drew Brees breaking Dan Marino's long standing passing yds in a season record with 5476.  At the start of the season if anyone was going to do it, I had it to be Brady.  The scary thing is that even Brady broke Marino's record this year with 5235YDS but that wasn’t good enough.  Here is Drew Brees's happy moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi10t1KtKrE&feature=related

Also I have to mention Cam Newton's record breaking rookie season with 4051YDS passing and 21TD's not to mention the 706 rushing YDS and 14TD's. Very impressive numbers but what if things went differently in last years draft, check out this edition of the N if L by Dave Dameshek http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d828699c6/N-if-L-What-if-

It wasn't just QB's breaking records last year, who can forget the Gronk with his record breaking season for a TE 90 receptions for 1327YDS and 17TD's, man a receiver would be proud of those stats. That's enough of the numbers I feel, let's move on to a little bit of fun. Myself and EJ have put together our top moments / players of the season and we get the ball rolling with our Top 5 Suprising Players:-

Adri - No.5 The rejuvenation of Steve Smith down in Carolina. We all knew he was a great player but I know quite a lot of us didn't expecttoo much from him this season mainly due to the uncertainty of having a rookie qb slinging him the ball. This season he racked up 1394yds and 7td's. I think he would have had more touchdowns but the amount Newton ran in himself!

EJ - No.5 Patrick Peterson's 4 NFL punt returns for TD's (tying NFL record in a season) -- usually all at critical times in the game including the walk-off 99 yard return against the Rams in overtime:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35toarWkFDg

Adri - No.4 Brian Cushing. This may seem like a strange pick for some but my reasoning is this. Before the start of the season I had no idea who he was but by the end of the season I knew he was the lynch pin in the Houston Defence and one of the main reasons they managed to as well as they did when both there starting QB's went down. An unsung hero who for me was definitely worth a mention.

EJ – No.4 Jason Pierre-Paul who now I think is the most athletic freak in the NFL. He had 16.5 sacks, deflected passes, and blocked field goals. Not bad for only a 2nd year player out of South Florida. He is one of the reasons why the Giants made it to the playoffs by blocking the Cowboys FG attempt late in the season. His season highlights found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw_PgeE6u0k

Adri - No.3 This pick of mine is slightly biased to say the least as its Fred Jackson. I think it is fair to say that until this season only the Buffalo faithful were signing his praises. Until he got injured in week 11 he was one of the top 3 rushers in the league with 934yds and 6td's, he also had 442yds receiving. He has really showed the league what he is capable off and is sure to get a lot more attention this coming year!

EJ – No.3 Rob Gronkowski. Only 2nd season setting TE records for receiving yards 1327 and 17 TD's. Gronk -- enough said! Here is one of his best showing how tough he is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Rzvn2hnPU

Adri - No.2 For my number 2 I am going to be cheeky and combine two receivers that came from nowhere this season and they are Jordy Nelson and Victor Cruz. Both started the season as back ups in my eyes and ended the season as household names. They will both be 1st or 2nd choice fantasy receivers next year for sure as they finished the season with 1263YD's and 15TD's and 1536YD's and 90TD's respectively!

EJ – No.2 Cam Newton. Who would have thought he would have been so successful as a rookie? Setting a rookie record in passing yards 4,051 and combining for a total of 35 TD's! I love Cam because he plays for the Panthers, the town I reside and I have completely fallen for his passion and skill for the game of football -- here is his rookie season's highlights (heads up--bad language used so if at work make sure to have volume turned down low, but he is a beast!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4uXmU2T0Yc

Adri - No.1 For my number one I am going with Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford. If you would have asked me at the start of the season name three QB's who will throw for over 5000YD's this year, Stafford wouldn't even have been in my thought process let alone my list. Of course he has been helped with Calvin 'Megatron' Johnson who catches the ball in triple coverage! For me he has also lead the offence utilising the talents of Pettigrew and Burleson. Taking Detroit to the playoffs in no easy feet, I take my hat off to you Mr Stafford.

EJ – No.1 Tim Tebow. Have you ever seen anyone get so much media attention for such average performances? You have to admit, you would want him on your team with his will and desire to win in the 4th quarter. He elevates his teammates game and helped turn the Broncos season around including a first round playoff win over the favored Pittsburgh Steelers with a very memorable first play of overtime to win the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zuUIhv8z3M&feature=related

So many players had great seasons this year but we could only do a top 5, so as they say if yours names not down, better luck next year!

We all know there was also so much that happened off the field last year as well and here my good friend EJ breakdown his Top 5 story lines of the 2011 season!

Top 5 Story Lines of 2011-2012 Season:

5) Handshake Gate: Lets just say the Lions and 49ers coaches didn't like each other too much after the conclusion of their game. Surprised no blows were exchanged.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzfTC1XW_yQ

4) Keeping on the topic of the Lions -- who can forget the famous stomp from Suh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXDmCVSnn1U

3) Harbaugh Brother Dominance. Taking the Ravens and 49ers to their conference championship game, pretty impressive -- definitely a house made of football minds for that family!

2) Peyton Manning's injured neck. There was even talk of him winning the MVP as the Colts stunk without him. Still a big debate whether or not he will be returning to play and if so, if it will be with the Colts considering they are likely to draft Andrew Luck the QB out of Stanford with their first pick.

1) The Year of the QB. 3 5,000 yard passers in Brees, Brady, and Stafford. Turning the league from a rushing perspective into an aerial attack.  2011 for me will certainly go down as one of the greatest seasons of recent history and I look forward to the 2012 story unfolding.

Thank you EJ as always, I love reading your opinions and in your words 'spitting ball' with you.  Here's to our efforts next season!

With that said, always leave them wanting more is my moto and so that's all from myself and EJ for now but keep an eye out for the aforementioned draft review from the great EJ!

As always folks 'Thanks for Stopping By'