Posts Tagged ‘championships’

Keys to Super Bowl XLVI

With less than a week till Super Bowl XLVI, it’s time we take a look at the keys to the game for both the Patriots and the Giants.

Gronk’s Health – This has been the biggest story for the last week and a half, and will continue to be the leading story until we see Gronkowski play on Sunday. With the recent report coming from his dad that he has a high ankle sprain, this is a major issue for the Patriots. Gronkowski has become the focal point of the offense, allowing others like Welker and Hernandez more room to run. If Gronk is unable to be effective during the game, the Giants won’t have to double him and can concentrate on taking away Brady’s other targets. If this is the reality, Deon Branch could be the key to the Patriots passing game. If Gronk is able to be effective, than the pressure is on the Giants’ mediocre core of linebackers to handle two stud TEs.

Giants Pass Rush – In Super Bowl XLII the Giants’ pass rush shocked the New England offensive line and overwhelmed Brady. The Patriots were to inept to handle the rush, or make game time adjustments to slow down Giants. However, the Giants don’t have the same type of D they had in ’07. While their front 4 are the best in the game, their linebackers are weak, and can’t be left alone in 1on1 pass coverage all game. The Patriots O-Line handled the Ravens front 7 and if they do the same to the Giants, Brady will carve their weak (but not as pathetic as the Patriots) secondary.

Turnover Battle – While this is a no brainer key to the game, the events in both the AFC and NFC Championship games, makes this even more important. In the AFC Championship, Brady and the Patriots almost blew their chance to be in the Super Bowl with turnover after turnover. Brady was surprisingly bad, throwing three INTs including an awful decision to take a shot down field after a Brandon Spikes‘ interception that could have sealed the game. After the Patriot escaped elimination after numerous turnovers, the Giants got their berth to the Super Bowl capitalizing on turnovers. Kyle Williams inability to hold onto the football, and the fact he thought he could fool the 700 angles of instant replay, allowed the Giants to sneak into the Super Bowl. The Patriots had similar issues with Danny WoodHead fumbling on a kickoff return. If the Giants are able to force multiple turnovers, this game could get out of hand. Look for the giants to try and fluster Brady and force him to make bad decisions.

Steven Jackson Has Groin Strain; Kenneth Darby An Option If Jackson Is Out

St Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson stained his groin in Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins.  If Jackson misses any time, backup RB Kenneth Darby should be a good option if you are looking for a RB option  for week 4, especially with bye weeks starting.  Darby finished the game with 14 rushes for 49 yards and one TD,  and one catch for 8 yards in relief.  He did share carries with Keith Toston, but Darby was the one with the most carries of the two as well as the score.

Mid-week QB changes mean more fantasy lineup changes than just the QB’s

This week, Mike Vick was announced as the new starting QB for the Eagles over Kevin Kolb.  Today, is was announced that Bruce Gradkowski will be the new starter for the Oakland Raiders over Jason Campbell.  Obviously, if you planned to start Kolb or Campbell this week, this will change your plans but there are more fantasy lineup implications to this than just those two. 

Gradkowski loved throwing the ball to Louis Murphy last season.  Gradkowski played 4 full games after getting the nod over Jamarcus Russell and before going down with an injury in week 14.  In those 4 games, Gradkowski threw 6 TD passes.  3 of those 6 were to Murphy.  Murphy without Gradkowski?  1 TD. 

Yardage wasn’t that much for Murphy even with Gradkowski, so I wouldn’t make him a starter at WR if you have better options until you see more yardage production.  But if you are looking for a flex play in a 12 team league or some extra depth at WR, Murphy is a good pickup if you can get him.  Grab him now if you want him.

As for the Eagles; Kolb owners (especially those who took him early in drafts) are not happy today.  I hope you had the sense to draft a quality backup if you drafted Kolb without knowing how good he’d be.  If you didn’t, try to grab Vick if he’s still availabe.  If not, see if you can get Vince Young, Josh Freeman, Alex Smith, or Chad Henne off of the waiver wire.  If not, make a trade.  You might get a guy like Joe Flacco cheap right now and relish in it when he finds his rhythm.

Bump up DeSean Jackson in value, as well as Jeremy Maclin now that Vick is in.  Brent Celek may be valued lower, as Vick doesn’t usually go to the Tight End as much as Kolb or McNabb.  So grab a good backup TE if you don’t have one. 

As always, ask questions if you like, and I will answer them as I see them.  Look for Start ‘Em and Bench ‘Em for week 3 in the next couple of days.

5 WHO ARE FALLING FAST!

As off-season camps start wrapping up and the pre-season just around the corner, fantasy drafts everywhere are getting ready to take place. I am here to offer 5 players who’s stock is falling in fantasy drafts. These are in no particular order, and I’m not saying not to draft these players, I’m saying be careful where you draft them.

1. Kenny Britt WR (Titans): Britt was in my 5 fantasy players on the rise just over a month ago, as his promise was evident late last season. Word from Titans camp that he has been dealing with numerous small injuries and is having a pretty bad camp, however lands him on this list today. I’d stay away from Britt until at least the 7th or 8th round.

2. Rashard Mendenhall RB (Steelers): T Willie Colon is out for the season with a torn achilles and that spells trouble for an already uncertain offensive line. The Steelers hope that rookie C/G Maurkice Pouncey can become the player they need him to be – and fast! With the O-Line’s best player out of the fold and an uncertainty in the passing game while Ben Roethlisberger is out, that means less and smaller holes for Mendenhall. The Steelers RB is going in rounds 2-3 in most mock drafts and I’m telling you that is much too high. Take a pass on him unless you get him at a great bargain.

3. LeSean McCoy RB (Eagles): Brian Westbrook he is not and he didn’t show much last year to suggest that he can handle the starter role. Perhaps more importantly is the Eagles’ penchant for using too many RB’s, especially near the goal line. This offseason, the Eagles signed RB Mike Bell who played with the Saints last year and vultured many a TD from Pierre Thomas.

He figures to do the same this season as reports are saying that Bell has the #2 RB spot locked up. He’ll steal touches and TD’s from McCoy, especially at the goal line, and the Eagles also employed FB Leonard Weaver last season at RB many times who also took some TD’s. With such a committee in the Eagles’ offensive system, McCoy will be lucky to have 800 yds and 6 TD’s. Respectable, but not what you’d want from a #1 or #2 RB in a 10 team league.

4. Kevin Walter WR (Texans): Not that he was going to be a top 100 guy anyway after doing nothing last year, but Walter is also being pressed hard for his #2 WR spot on the team thanks to Jacoby Jones showing flashes of being a very good receiver last season. Walter had a very good season in 2008, but those days are gone.

5. Kyle Orton QB (Broncos): WR Brandon Marshall is gone, leaving Orton with Eddie Royal, Jabbar Gaffney, or Demaryius Thomas as the #1 WR, and Brandon Stokely and Brandon Lloyd on the bench. Orton was a repectable QB last season for the Broncos, but the seemingly schizophrenic coach Josh McDaniels is coy when asked about his QB situation after drafting Tim Tebow in the 1st round and trading for Brady Quinn. McDaniels won’t even say who the starter will be when the season opens, and with this type of situation, even if Orton starts the first few weeks, if he performs in a manner that is less than stellar, McDaniels may yank him for one of his shiny new football throwing toys.

Favre has surgery and plays with kids. His annual signal that he’ll be back.

As if we didn’t know this already, Brett Favre is coming back. No, he hasn’t announced it yet. But he has announced it if you speak Favre-glish.  It’s the language that only Favre knows how to speak since – after all- it is his language.  And he doesn’t need to say a word. 

If you do listen to what he speaks, you’d believe that this is a man in limbo pondering his future.  All he will say is that he is considering it and talking it over with his family.  That’s Favre-glish for “I’m pretending to be undecided until maybe the last 2 weeks of training camp, maybe later to avoid going through ‘two a days’.”

Favre has given his sign for the year (as if we needed one) that he will indeed be back for a 20th NFL season.  He first had surgery on his left ankle to clean up some scar tissue and bone spurs.  Now, he’s back to practicing football with high school kids at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Favre will continue to ‘decide’ for at least the next 2 weeks.  After that, he will officially announce to all people who do not understand Favre-glish that he will be returning.

Brad Childress and the Minnesota Vikings, myself, and every other NFL writer out there have known this for months.

ESPN: Jackson suspended for 3 games

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Chargers WR Vincent Jackson will be suspended for 3 games in 2010 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Jackson pleaded guilty in February to driving while intoxicated. This is Jackson’s second conviction for the same charge.

No word on whether or not he will appeal.

Panthers WR Steve Smith breaks arm; will miss start of training camp

By Bob Metz

WR Steve Smith, Carolina branch (Panthers) has a broken arm he suffered in a flag football game according to Mike Cranston, AP sports writer.

Smith had surgery Sunday night on the same arm he broke against the New York Giants last season, though not in the same place. The team does not have a timetable for his return.

However, all may not be lost, fantasy owners because though Smith will miss the start of training camp for certain, the reports at this early stage sound optimistic about Smith possibly being able to play by week 1 of the regular season.

Either way, I wouldn’t count on Smith being a top notch WR this season.

ATTENTION TITANS: PAY CHRIS JOHNSON NOW!

By Bob Metz

Sometimes we all wonder what people are thinking. Here are some examples: Why did George W. Bush attach Iraq after we were attacked by terrorists from Afghanistan? Why do most people only care about a charity after it affects them personally, when the problem for others has been there all along? Why is abortion legal, but assisted suicide illegal?

Thankfully, what I am talking about today isn’t that heavy a subject. I’m wondering why owner Bud Adams and the Titans’ suits aren’t re-doing Chris Johnson’s contract. What are they thinking? While the Titans aren’t known for paying players more than they’re worth (see: Albert Haynesworth, Steve McNair, and Kyle Vanden bosch) they cannot actually think that a talent like Chris Johnson, in only his third season as a pro would be a bad investment. Sure, running backs wear down and some might have one injury and never play the same again, but Johnson became the 6th player in NFL history to get over 2,000 yds in a season last year.

Now he’s not in camp because he’s scheduled to make a base salary of only $550,000 this season, per his rookie contract. I know some are thinking ‘I’d sure like to have his problem’. Yes, I get it. I feel the same way. I’d love to make that kind of money. But this is the NFL today, and in the NFL that is a very low salary for someone of Johnson’s accomplishments especially given his speed, age, and talent. Not since Barry Sanders have we seen someone with so much talent and potetial.

Let’s look at Johnson’s peers. Reggie Bush, a role player who doesn’t even start will make a reported $13.5 million in base salary this season. Larry Johnson signed a deal with the Redskins that will give the 30 year old RB who isn’t expected to start a base of $3.9 million. Looking at these numbers, it really makes us scratch our collective heads. Why would the Titans want to mess up a good thing when they’ve got it?

VY was finally clicking last year, the Titans finished strong, Johnson was a record breaker and a money maker for the Titans, and there is optimism for the upcoming season. TITANS: PAY THE MAN NOW! If something doesn’t happen soon to get Johnson into camp and get the Titans ready for the season, this could be another very disappointing seson for the Tennessee Titans.

2010 NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL MOCK DRAFT UPDATED!

By Bob Metz

Click for an updated version of my 2010 fantasy mock draft!

http://nfldraftmock.com/2010-nfl-fantasy-football-mock-draft/

The 5 Deadly Sins Of Fantasy Drafting

By Bob Metz

As your fantasy football expert, I am here with a warning.  Do not commit these common fantsy draft mistakes.  If you do, you’ll likely miss your playoffs and wish you had heeded these 5 deadly sins of fantasy drafting:

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