St Louis Rams the 30th best team in the NFL

When you look at the schedule for the St Louis Rams this upcoming year, you really don’t see a lot to be pleased about, especially when you see that they are facing the AFC South and the NFC North this season.  Let’s look at some of the main players in these teams:-

• Aaron Kampman – DE / LB Green Bay
• Jared Allen – DE Minnesota
• Tommie Harris – DT Chicago
• Mario Williams – DE Houston
• Dwight Freeney – DE Indianapolis
• Kyle Vanden Bosch – DE Tennessee 

 All of these gentlemen and a few more will be loving the fact they have a game versus the Rams and their dodgy offensive line.  This was the major problem with St Louis last year and although they did draft a quality lineman in Jason Smith he might not be enough to keep Marc Bulger healthy for the season.

 The Rams are yet another team to bring in a new coach, this time it is defensive guru Steve Spagnuolo from New York Giants.  This is probably the best coaching move by any team in the NFL this year but like Tom Cable, Josh McDaniels and Jim Schwartz, he is going to need at least 3 years to sort out this roster.  Although the Rams do have some nice players in Steven Jackson, Marc Bulger and Will Witherspoon they also have some really glaring holes in their roster.

 The Rams biggest problem is that they may be be 0 – 3 by the time they play the 49ers in week 3 with 2 of their first 3 games being on the road.  Then you add in the fact the first home game is against the Packers who might have actually worked out the 3 – 4 defense by then.  In fact if you actually study the Rams schedule they have a fair chance of being 0 – 8 by the time they hit their bye week in week 9, since they only have  3 games at home.  Though you do hope they beat the Lions in week 8.

 Overall this will be a tough season for St Louis and they will finish it 3 – 13 and will have the number 3 pick in the 2010 draft.

Oakland Raiders the 31st Best team in the NFL

Oakland, like a lot of teams down at the bottom of the NFL, have changed coach since the start of last year.  Gone is boy wonder Kiffin and in comes Tom Cable on a permanent basis.  Tom did get some caching time last season and was a respectable 4 – 8 during his 12 games in charge but I’m afraid that he won’t win that many games in 2009/10.  The main problem in Oakland is Al Davis and this has actually been the problem for a while now.  The man is slowly losing his marbles and spends way too much time interfering with game plans and his coaches.  The Al Davis syndrome is the reason that the Raiders have made so many strange draft picks over the last few years.  Right from the time he picked a kicker in the first round, Sebastian Janikowski in 2000, to him picking wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey last year Al Davis has done his best to ruin the Raiders.   

Like Matt Stafford at the LIons, I believe Heyward-Bey will be a decent player in the NFL the only problem being the fact that across the bay the best WR in the 2009 draft, Michael Crabtree, will have an outstanding year and career.  Experts can say what they want about Heyward-Bey but the only reason Al picked him was because of his speed and we all know how successfully picking the quickest guy at a position as been in the NFL.  In the Al Davis world Jerry Rice would never have gotten picked due to his lack of speed but someone like Troy Williamson would be a starter.  In fairness Al Davis isn’t the only owner, GM or coach that thinks this way but it still doesn’t help his team any.

JaMarcus Russell will be the starting QB for the Raiders this season and this is another reason they will only win a few games.  Again he could be a top player in the NFL but like David Carr if you are the wrong team your career tends to go belly up before any thing good happens.  Jeff Garcia should be the starter for Oakland and this would give them a much better chance of winning and staying in contention in what really is a very poor division.  There are now 3 teams in the AFC West that are in a transition period with new coaches and 1 team that should be a Superbowl contender.  

For the Raiders to do well this season Russell must control the football better than he did last year, 8 Ints doesn’t look that bad until you realise he only throw it 368 times, plus he only completed 53.1 percent of his throws which is about 20 percent down than it should be.  The other big name star in Oakland, Darren McFadden, will also need to seriously improve on his performance from last year.  Darren’s problem, like what Heyward-Bey’s problem will be, is he was outshone by players drafted much lower than him at the same position.  Chris Johnson, Felix Jones and Matt Forte are three names that jump to mind.

The only good thing in Oakland right now is the fact they have one of the best cornerbacks in the business, Nnamdi Asomugha, though how if the Raiders don’t improve I can’t see him staying beyond his 2 year of his contract.

The Oakland Raiders will go 3 -13 this up coming year and because of this they will have the second overall pick in the 2010 Draft that no doubt Al Davis will ruin.

32nd Best team in the NFL

Last season was a first for the Lions losing all 16 games and I’m afraid that this up coming season isn’t really going to be that much better for what really is a very poor team.  During the 2009 Draft they had a chance to up grade the offensive line which was a real problem for them but instead decided to waste two first round picks on Matt Stafford (QB) and Brandon Pettigrew (TE).  Ok I do get the selection of Matt Stafford because this team needs a decent QB and a face of the franchise but I’m not convinced that Stafford is going to be that good.  If he is to blossom in the NFL then he needs to spend most of the season as a backup to Culpepper and learning the offense.  Though the chances of this happening are slim especially if they have only won 1 game by the time they have their bye week, which is week 7.

The new coach, Jim Schwartz, should help change the attitude of the club but he needs time to get the club going in the right direction and I’m afraid that this doesn’t mean they are going to do it in a year like Miami did.  For the 2010 season I predict that the Detroit Lions will win 2 games which is at least an improvement on 2008 but will still be good enough for them to get the number 1 pick again in next years draft.

Their schedule doesn’t really help them having to play the AFC North which just happens to have two of the best defenses in the league, Steelers and Ravens, plus all of their divisional rivals have improved or are going to improve.  Bears having gotten Cutler and the Vikings going to get Favre who happens to like playing the Lions.

For the Lions to have success of any kind they need to see a big improvement from wide receiver Calvin Johnson and from running back Kevin Smith both of whom have been high draft picks over the last few years.

Detroit Lions will go 2-14 and finish up as the worse team in the NFL for the second year running.

I’m back again

Having not written anything on this blog for about 3 months I thought I would give myself something to do during my summer holidays and do a profile for each team in the NFL as well as making comments about anything else that happens in the world.

I’m going to start this from Monday onwards but may add a few things between now and then.

On the sporting front the Ashes started today with some good play from both teams though Australia will be the happier team after taking two late wickets.

In the computing world Google have announced that they are going to produce a OS software for netbooks that should make Bill and all his friends at Microsoft slightly unhappy.

Free Agency Update

Jets continue to upgrade on defence

Ryan the Jets new coach has signed up another of the key defensive players from last years Baltimore defence. This time it is the underrated safety Leonhard.  I really like this pick since it allows him to build his new defence around two players who are used to his system and he knows he can trust.

Seattle have also spend big with the signing of T.J. Houshmandzadeh and I’m sure that everyone in Seattle is happy with this especially the QB Hasslebeck.

These are the two main signings lately that have impressed me but that is only because of all the trade talk about Cutler and the sad loss of two players in a fishing accident.  Hopefully word of the two missing players will come soon since their families have the right to know what has happened to them.

Free Agency so far

Washington back to their old ways

The Redskins seem to be back to their old ways of splashing huge amounts of money at free agents hoping that they can have another winning season.  This hasn’t worked in the past but they obviously feel that the addition of Albert Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall will boost an average defence from last year.  In truth they probably will but it is a lot of money to throw at a CB and a DT.  In other big moves so far Cassel has moved to the Chiefs along with Vrabel for the 34th pick.  Which appears a strange move by New England especially when they had a chance for a much higher pick if they had traded him to the Broncos.  This move by the Broncos to try and trade Cutler is very strange in my opinion since he is a much better QB than Cassel is.  The other surprising move is Dawkins moving to Denver.  The personnel the Eagles have lost so far could turn them into an average defence since their defence is complex and requires an intelligent safeties.

NFL Playoffs week 2

well it is the second week of teh NFL Playoffs and we have 4 really good games to look forward to.  In the AFC we have Titans versus Ravens and Steelers versus Chargers and in the NFC we have Giants versus Eagles and Panthers versus Cardinals.  So i’ll go through each game and give you my predictions.

Starting off in the NFC

Eagles at Giants
This is a nightmare game for the Giants since they are up against a team that knows them well and a team that they know can beat them.  I really fancy the Eagles to win this one not really sure since I still think that they aren’t really that good but something about the Eagles and McNabb’s play the last two weeks have me excited about them.  The Giants might be rusty after having a week off and plus they will be playing a top draw defence in Philly.  So my prediction is Eagles to beat the Giants by 6 points.

Cardinals at Panthers
I was watching NFL Total Access the other day and I heard crazy talk from Rod Woodson that the Cardinals will win this game if it turns into a shot out.  Not sure where this bit of wisdom has come from but personally I think the Cardinals ahve no chance of winning here.  They are a terrible road team and the Panthers are a great home team.  The Panthers can run the ball all day and the Cards can’t stop the run.  Prediction is Panthers to win by 14 or more.

Right onto the AFC

Chargers at Steelers
This is the second most interesting game of the weekend, Ravens @ Titans is number 1 in my book.  This is also the second game that I think the visiting team will win.  These two teams are much more closer than people think and the Chargers have the better QB and offence line which in the end will win them the game.  Don’t look for many points in this game but I just have feeling San Diego will win.  Prediction is Chargers by 2 points.

Ravens at Titans
Like the Giants I think the Titans would have preferred to play any of the other 2 teams left than face the Ravens.  This is a team that is playing really well, looking after the ball and playing killer defence.  The are also my Superbowl prediction at the start of the playoffs so I have to stick with them.  The Titans have done well this year but I like the Ravens defence to stop the running game and to force Collins to beat them.  Something I don’t think he is capable of doing.  if this does happen look for Rolle and Reed to be searching for more picks.  Prediction: Ravens by 3.

If my predictions are right then we’ll have the Chargers hosting the Ravens for the right to represent the AFC and the Panthers hosting the Eagles to represent the NFC.  So my Superbowl prediction is Panthers versus Baltimore.

Play off Review

Well since I am back at work I can get back to updating my blog. 

The wildcard weekend is over and I manage dot get a lousy 50% of my scores correct.  Was very shocked at the performances of the Chargers and Cardinals even though they were at home.  The Ravens and Eagles games went pretty much as expected in my view.  The Ravens in paticular were great on defence and have a real chance of upsetting the Titans next week.

The Giants must be upset to be getting the Eagles in the next round since I’m pretty sure they would have much rather played anybody except Philly and that inlcudes Carolina.  The Eagles have managed to put a couple of good games together but you shouldn’t forget that they also collasped versus the Redskins in week 16.

The Vikings and Falcons  should be proud of they way they have played this week and Atlanta especially have a real chance to get backinto the play offs next year.

NFL Playoffs

Well after missing a few weeks of predictions I have decided to have another go.

Atlanta to beat Arizona
Baltimore to beat Miami
Indy to beat San Deigo
Philly to beat Vikings

It is an interesting playoff this year since I fancy all 4 away teams to win which would be highly strange.

In other NFL news you have to worry why some teams aren’t changing coaches, Bills and Cowboys for instance.

Week 16 Preview

Big week in the NFL with two outstanding games should help decide the Superbowl teams.  Home field advantage is important, just look at the Panthers.  If they get home field for the playoffs I can see them going all the way.  Pittsburgh is another team that look much better at Heinz Field than they do on the road.

 

So here are my predictions for the two big games and everything else that is happening this week.

 

Titans to beat the Steelers – Yes Pittsburgh defence are scary but I think the Titans would like to prove a point and show that they are a real threat into the post season.  Look for Tennessee to play hard in the trenches since they know Collins isn’t good enough to beat this team by himself.

 

Giants to beat the Panthers – Like I have already said Carolina are a much better team at home.  So since this game is in New Jersey then a home win is more likely. New York are another team that would like to stop this run of 2 defeats.

 

Here are the rest of the games.

 

Colts to beat the Jags – Please it is the Jags they are playing.

Ravens to beat the Cowboys – Baltimore defence is nearly as good as the Steelers.

Browns to beat the Bengals – No idea really so I’m going with the home team.

Saints to beat the Lions – 0 -16 is still on!

Pats to beat the Cardinals – Arizona can’t travel.

49ers to beat the Rams – Does anyone even care about this game?

Chiefs to beat the Dolphins – The Chiefs must finish at least one game this season strongly.

Bucs to beat the Chargers – Tampa finally finish off San Diego’s playoff dream. Bet this team is happy they sacked Marty now.

Broncos to beat the Bills – Too poor teams but somehow the Broncos are a divisional winner.

Seahawks to beat the Jets – Jets have been looking poorer each week and losing this game might lose them the division.

Texans to beat the Raiders – Houston are playing the Raiders mind.

Falcons to beat the Vikings – Should be a good running game so I’m taking the better backing my opinion, Michael Turner.  Plus I have a soft spot for Atlanta at the moment.

Eagles to beat the Redskins – The Redskins are that bad now.  Did they really beat the Cowboys and Eagles away two weeks in a row?

Bears to beat the Packers – Packers D is just that bad.