Bleacher Report - Articles by Riley Angel

SEC Football Predictions: Week Two

Riley Angel — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:56:06 -0400

Week Two begins the start of conference play for several SEC teams. The SEC had a good opening week, going 11-1, with the only loss being Georgia to No. 9 Oklahoma State. Here are the predictions for SEC teams in the season's second week.

Troy at Florida

Troy came into this season as a projected favorite of the Sun Belt Conference. After a surprising loss to Bowling Green, however, the team comes into Gainesville trying to regain its footing.

The Gators are coming off a romp of lowly Charleston Southern and look to keep their momentum and No. 1 ranking. The Trojans will give it a valiant effort, but Florida will run away with this early, with Myer only resting his starters in the second half to get ready to chew up the Volunteers for their next game.

Final Score: Florida 56, Troy 13

UCLA at Tennessee

The good news for the Vols? They just put up 63 points. The not-quite-bad-but-not-really-good news? Those points came up against Western Kentucky.

Tennessee did look good in its rout of the Hilltoppers, but the Volunteers will face a much tougher test in the Pac-10 Bruins, who are coming in after a win over San Diego State. This game will be a good indicator of how the Volunteers do this year.

Final Score: Tennessee 31, UCLA 20

Mississippi State at Auburn

Both of these teams are looking to score more in this years rematch of the now-infamous 3-2 game when Auburn beat Mississippi State on the road last season.

Both teams have new coaching staffs, with each hoping to display new-found offensive prowess. Malzahn leads the offensive staff for Auburn under head coach Gene Chizik, while new head coach Dan Mullen leads the Bulldogs. They both had wins over less than stellar competition and hope to use this game as a launching point for a successful season.

That being said, the name of the game in the SEC is defense, and this game will be no different. While there will be more than five points, fans will be left wondering if their programs made the right hire with a defensive struggle.

Final Score: Auburn 17, Mississippi State 6

FIU at Alabama

Alabama showed why it deserved its No. 5 ranking last week with a hard-fought win over Virginia Tech in a game that the Tide dominated statistically, but were trailing heading into the fourth quarter. Alabama hosts FIU, who will be playing their first game of the season.

Final Score: Alabama 42, FIU 0

Vanderbilt at LSU

After giving up over 475 yards of offense last week to a team that was considered to be the worst in the FBS last season, LSU fans should be wary of an upset loss to the Commodores this week.

Vandy had an impressive offensive showing against Western Carolina and wants to prove that going to a bowl last season was no fluke. If LSU can't fix its problems on defense, look for the Commodores to come out of Baton Rouge with possibly their most important win in school history.

Final Score: LSU 27, Vanderbilt 24

Upset Alert!: South Carolina at Georgia

Georgia comes into this game after a disappointing loss to Oklahoma State and will be hoping to have a relatively easy win with the Gamecocks rolling into town. South Carolina had a poor offensive showing in last week's 7-3 win over the Wolfpack of NC State. Spurrier will have his boys ready to take on the Bulldogs with one of the top defenses in the SEC and will shock the opposition in Athens this weekend.

Final Score: South Carolina 17, Georgia 14

Thoughts On the Green Bay Packers' First Preseason Game

Riley Angel — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:57:21 -0400

The Green Bay Packers defeated the Cleveland Browns 17-0 in their first preseason game of the year. While this is certainly not a sign that the Packers will go to the playoffs this season, there are several good things fans and coaches can take away from this game.

The offense looks primed. Other than the fact that every other pass Rodgers threw was going deep, the offense looked ready early, which was a problem for the Pack last year, getting shut out in the first quarter six times last year. Donald Driver shows no signs of wear, as his only catch was a 53 yard bomb from Rodgers.

Does Mason Crosby have a leg or what? Mason Crosby missed his first two field goals of the night. What is good about that? He took the attempts from 60 and 55 yards out, only missing the 60 yarder by hitting the left upright. This is a good sign for the Packer's kicking game as Crosby can kick it from nearly anywhere on the field.

Matt Flynn is really good. While he won't battle for the starting job, Flynn should put Packer fans at ease should Rodgers ever go down with his mobility and his will to push forward.

Without several costly penalties by the team, Flynn couldv'e led the Pack to several more scoring drives and make the game seem even more lopsided. If Flynn continues to improve, he could make excellent trade bait for the Packers at some point in the future.

Brian Brohm is awful. At one point, thought to be a top 10 pick in the NFL Draft, Brohm is showing Packer fans why he slipped into the second round. While he connected on five of his 10 passing attempts, two of those five completions where caught by the wrong team. Finishing 3/10 with two picks is no way to prove you were worth a second round pick.

If Brohm doesn't show significant improvement by next year, the Packers may decide to cut their losses, if they don't do so this season to keep an extra running back.

Speaking of running backs, the Packers will have a heated battle for third string running back between Kregg Lumpkin and Tyrell Sutton. Both running backs made the most of their opportunities by not going down at first contact and fighting for extra yardage.

With his performance, Sutton might be in the lead with his 91 yard performance on 16 carries, albeit with both teams using third stringers. This will be an interesting battle to watch all preseason.

Defense. With five possible starters not playing on Saturday, the Packers managed to shut out the Cleveland Browns. Granted, they are the Cleveland Browns, but there are both positives and negatives to be taken away from this. It seemed that the Packers managed to allow a 10-15 yard play every series but managed to stop them before they reached scoring position.

However, if this were a more potent offense they were facing, the Packers would not have looked nearly as good as they did. They did manage to pick off the Browns four times, mostly because of pressure on the quarterbacks. The run defense did a good job stopping the Browns and it will only get better when B.J. Raji gets some time at nose tackle.

Those are my thoughts on the game. I realize this was a preseason game against less than stellar competition but think there is reason to be optimistic this coming season.

Football In The Spring: An Idea For The NFL

Riley Angel — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:29:19 -0400

By the time spring rolls around, football fans are desperate for action. It has been months since they have seen real football and with the collapse of arena football, fans only have Canadian football starting in June to satiate their desires. The players haven't seen football action in months and coaches have no real way to test their backups. I have a solution for them.

Make a true developmental league in the spring time.

This league would consist of backup players and players going into the NFL Draft, as well as anyone else who thinks they could play, with the season going from April to June right through the draft; this could be a chance to showcase their talent in real game situations.

Players who don't get to see the field during the regular season could show other teams their potential. It would also show how rookies would play against players that, while not the best, would still be better than what they regularly faced in college.

The league would consist of eight to 10 teams, with each team playing each of the other teams in the league. There would be two divisions, with the top two teams in each division going to a four-team playoff.

The games themselves would be played with NFL rules with minor rule changes as to better protect the players for the actual NFL season and to add a change of pace from the NFL. The teams will be made up at random for the first season, but have a draft after each additional season.

The fans would enjoy it because it would be some real football during the spring, and while not completely satisfying, it should hold them over until the NFL preseason starts.

The players should like it because it gives them an opportunity for real playing time they might otherwise not get. The coaches might like it because it gives a portion of their team real playing time and motivation to stay in shape during the offseason.

This is all in fun and will probably never happen, but it is fun to think about having names that sit on the sidelines in the fall to have some real experience in the spring.

Why Michael Vick Could Become a Packer

Riley Angel — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:20:04 -0400

Green Bay General Manager Ted Thompson is not known for signing free agents. In fact, he is known for not signing free agents and instead chooses to focus on the draft. So, there is no way that he will sign Michael Vick, right?

Not so fast.

There are numerous reasons why Michael Vick could join the Packers this season. A player of his ability and experience is invaluable to a team that has been one of the youngest in the league the past few seasons.

He won't cause trouble.

Ted Thompson likes to have players who will keep their noses clean. Before his arrest for dogfighting, Vick had never been in any trouble and was adored by fans all around the United States.

While the charges he was sentenced to were horrible, there is little chance that Vick will step out of line again and he will not be a disturbance in the locker room. He will be a presence in the locker room and will be accepted by other players as a man trying to get his life back together.

He is talented.

Vick was one of the most recognizable faces in the league for a reason, he was absolutely electrifying with the ball in his hands. Whether he was running the ball or throwing it, Vick was always a danger and will continue to be as long as he can play football.

He is also more talented and more experienced than either of the backup quarterbacks on the Packer's roster and would be a great insurance policy in the event that Aaron Rodgers does go down with an injury.

He is experienced.

Michael Vick played in the league for six seasons before being thrown in prison. He has been to the playoffs before and won, including his famous defeat of the Packers at Lambeau Field. His teams haven't always been good, but he has been a leader and knows the difference in playing in the regular season and playing in the postseason.

He is cheap.

One of the main reasons Ted Thompson does not sign free agents is because of the ridiculous amounts they want to be paid. With Vick, that problem is eliminated. He is a talented player who will play for cheap because he needs to find a way back into the league.

Even though he has had his problems in the past, isn't Michael Vick worth a tryout if he can contribute to the team?

Brett Favre, I Apologize

Riley Angel — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:26:42 -0400

With Brett Favre announcing his decision to NOT play for the Minnesota Vikings, many Packer fans owe Brett a huge apology.

I will begin with mine.

Over the past few months, amid speculation that he was returning to play for the hated Minnesota Vikings, Favre has taken harsh criticism from Packer fans by being called a traitor and some vowing to reject him for life. I have been one of these people and am now ashamed of not having faith in him to do the right thing.

Brett has shown his true colors by making the right decision and showing many fans that they shouldn't make judgements before any decision is made.

I for one hope that I can learn from this and not make the same mistake again, and hope my fellow Packer fans will learn the same.

So, I leave with this.

I am sorry, Favre, for believing the media and believing you to be a turncoat to the Green and Gold. I am ashamed of myself and will never doubt you again.

Signed,

Riley James Angel

Fooling Your Friends: How To Sound Like an Intelligent College Football Fan

Riley Angel — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:04:22 -0400

I have them, you have them, we all have them. People we know who don't know anything about college football. You know who they are, when you are talking about a game, they stand back and don't speak up. When talking about why the BCS sucks, they say "what is it and why does it suck?" They are embarrassing to us all and this is to give them some pointers on how to sound somewhat intelligent in a college football conversation.

Begin Slideshow

Analyzing Alabama Part Two: The Defense

Riley Angel — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:48:11 -0400

Alabama is coming into 2009 with a strong and experienced defense from last year, returning nine starters, anchored by big man, Terrence "Mount" Cody, and led by the fiery young, outstanding, corner back and kick returner Javier Arenas, who's play on specials teams is sometimes so dazzling that we forget he plays on defense as well.

Defense is a unit that Alabama has depended on year-after-year, decade-after-decade, to get them through the tough times, and this upcoming season will be no different. It is a unit that was in the top ten last year and looks to challenge as the best in the land this upcoming season.

Alabama currently uses a 3-4 defense.

The defensive end position will lose Bobby Greenwood but is currently held by Lorenzo Washington, who will try to hold it against several incoming freshman this season. Playing opposite from him will be returning senior Brandon Deadrick, who will be returning as a starter barring any outstanding performances by those behind them.

Anchoring the nose-guard position will once again be fan favorite, Mount Cody, whose size and outstanding play has earned him recognition as one of the top defensive players in the country. This position is a solid one and will be an immovable object against offensive lines trying to gain some push.

The linebacker group returns all four starters from last year and is headed by Rolando McClain and Dont'a Hightower. The linebacker position is a deep one and will only be stronger this year with several incoming freshmen, most notably, five-star recruit Nico Johnson, who will get plenty of chances to see the playing field this fall.

The linebackers will be in the backfield early and often in games and will keep opposing quarterback on their backs or on the run and Alabama's defensive backfield very happy, as opposing quarterbacks will likely be making many mistakes.

Cornerback is a very solid position led by Javier Arenas, whose defensive prowess is often overlooked due to his incredible ability at the return game. Arenas will be teamed up with Kareem Jackson, another solid player on this tough defensive squad for Alabama.

The two will be looking to score touchdowns this season and should not disappoint. They will annoy wide receivers to no end and should shut down field.

Safety is a position that will feel the pain of graduation the most. The loss of Rashad Johnson to the NFL is a huge blow not only on the field, but also in the locker room. Johnson had a presence and the true grit of starting as a walk-on and finishing as a star. He was the epitome of the true Alabama player and will be missed.

However, Ali Sharief will be replacing Johnson and has drawn many comparisons to him by the coaches. He will be paired up with fellow senior Justin Woodall, who had an solid year last season and hopes to finish out his college career on a high note.

Out of all the positions on defense, this one is the most worrisome but is by no means a weak one, just not as strong as the rest.

Alabama's defense has a ton of experienced in addition to talent, and that makes for a deadly combination for opposing forces. There will be a lot of trouble when facing this squad and it shouldn't be a surprise if opponents find that the Crimson Tide defense scores more than their opponents offense.

Packer Fans, Now Is The Time To Start Uniting

Riley Angel — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:03:40 -0400

It is no secret that the Packer fan base has been divided over the issue of Brett Favre, but with the season just a few months away, it is time to cut it out. A divided fan base is no way for a team to succeed.

For those who thought management was wrong, and for those who thought Favre was wrong, both have brought up some very good points but now is the time to drop the issue and get behind the team.

Let's get behind the players and coaches who had nothing to do with the situation, and are just caught in the middle and who need you to rally behind them for them to get back on their feet.

So I say to you, those faithful to the Green and Gold, get your issues with the team out of your system over the next few weeks.

Write your heart out, yell your outrage in the streets, go to a bar and yell to anyone who will listen and just get it over with. Just get ready to prepare to support our team through the upcoming season, because with all of Packer Nation behind them, there is no way they can disappoint.

Go to the Vikings Brett, But Once You Do, It's Over Between Us

Riley Angel — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:21:28 -0400

I was one of those kids.

I never had to witness the horrors of growing up watching the Packers in the '70s and '80s.

It was the '90s, and with Favre, things were just sitting pretty.

We had two Super Bowl appearances, with one Super Bowl win, and winning season after winning season—all the while watching games with my dad, who was just happy he could watch the Packers games without feeling miserable.

We owed this to the wonderful and infallible Brett Favre.

It was the 2000s, and Favre was still making us proud. He was throwing the ball around like he was a kid, and whenever the season ended, we would just pray that he would keep going for one more season.

In 2005 we had a miserable season but we just told ourselves it was the injuries, and we could see that Brett could still play his heart out, and it was for our team—he was loyal to us—and we worshipped him.

He proved to all of us that he still had it in 2007, taking the youngest team in the league to a 13-3 record, making us all proud, and we sung his praises. He lost in the NFC Championship game but it couldn't be his fault, as he was the one who brought us there. And surely he wouldn't retire because he was just too close to winning it all one last time.

But then he broke our hearts in a press conference, announcing his retirement with tears, bringing us to tears with him. I hated his decision but realized he had to finish eventually, and why not on the heels of the miracle season.

I even forgave him for wanting to come back in the summer, but realized the Packers had to move on with the next quarterback, as they had already made plans to move forward.

We had heard that he wanted his release so he could play for the Vikings, but I knew it couldn't be true, as our Brett was too loyal to us to make such a harsh move.

He went to the Jets, so we could cheer for him there, and it looked like he just might go all the way, but then was hurt at the end of the season. Now after his release, he is doing everything he can to get to the Vikings, and the curtain has fallen.

Before, he could do no wrong, but now he is voluntarily preparing to play for the enemy, as a turncoat. This is the one sin in all of football that cannot be forgiven.

Brett, I say to you, you have one chance to get out. You don't have to make an enemy of every Packer out there.

I know that nothing I can write—nothing I can do, nothing I can say—will make you change your mind if it is already made up.

I just put this question to you: Is it worth it? Is it worth alienating the people who worshipped the very ground you stood upon to get back at someone that you feel slighted you?

You can go to the Vikings Brett, but realize that this is one person who will never accept you back once you do.

And also realize that I am not alone.

Analyzing Alabama Part One: The Offense

Riley Angel — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:42:20 -0400

Alabama surprised everyone last year by taking apart a Clemson team that many had as a National Championship contender.

From there, they just kept rolling.

The Crimson Tide finished the regular season undefeated and with the top rank in the nation. Unfortunately for Alabama, with the suspension of Andre Smith over some suspect dealings with a possible agent, the Tide went on to lose the SEC Championship game against Florida and the forgettable Sugar Bowl against Utah.

Alabama looks to the new season hoping to continue the success they had in last year's regular season. However, with the graduation of several seniors on offense and the early departure of Andre Smith on the offensive line, Alabama looks to have big shoes on offense, including replacing three starters on the offensive line.

Despite this, reports, and the performance on the spring game, have shown that the offense is more than willing to step up to the task of playing as well if not better than last year.

Quarterback has been the main focus on the offense in the offseason with the graduation of John Parker Wilson. The Crimson faithful do have high hopes coming into the season as junior Greg McElroy is said to be more accurate on the long ball than Wilson was last year and looks to be the real deal, which is more than enough for a team that should be relying on it's defense and running game to make it through the games.

The running game should be a strong weapon this season, as it returns Mark Ingram and brings one of the top freshman running backs in the nation in Trent Richardson.

Richardson has not played in college, so there is some question to how he will do in college, but Mark Ingram did very well in a back-up role, where he was often brought in on short-yardage situations.

Much of the success of the running game will depend on the success of the reworked offensive line. Incoming freshman D.J. Fluker will look to replace Andre Smith on the line if he can beat out incoming junior college transfer James Carpenter. Common sense says that the line will have trouble adjusting but from what I have heard coming out is that they look to be coming out strong.

The success of the running game will be able to open the field for the wide receivers, namely Julio Jones and Marquis Maze. If you have been following college football in the last year then you already know who Julio Jones is and his impressive talent. What you might not have heard about is the impressive rise of Maze, someone who is poised to have a breakout season in 2009. Maze opened up a few eyes in the Alabama spring game and has only continued to build upon that game. Those two along with several four star wide receivers coming in look to make this position a real strength this upcoming season, which it hasn't really been in a long time.

With the graduation of Nick Walker and Travis McCall, Alabama looks to reload at Tight End with Brad Smelly and Colin Peek. There may be some drop off from last year but these guys should be ready to step up and play for the Tide.

Overall, Alabama has a few concerns going into the season on offense, but they should be put to rest fairly quickly, even against a very tough Virginia Tech defensive unit. With the new line and a promising young quarterback as the real questions on offense, the Tide look to field a very tough unit going into next season. Look for them to remain strong all throughout the year.

Jason Kendall Reaches Milestone With 2,000 Hit

Riley Angel — Tue, 19 May 2009 09:12:47 -0400

Jason Kendall reached the 2,000 hit milestone last night against the St. Louis Cardinals. Kendall is just the eighth catcher to reach this mark and he has done so very quietly compared to the prestige of the accomplishment. He reached this mark in his 1,868 game.

Game-By-Game Predictions For the Green Bay Packers

Riley Angel — Sat, 09 May 2009 20:01:04 -0400

The Packers had a tough season last year, and not all of it was on the field. Whether or not fans and team members will admit it, The Favre saga weighed heavily over them.

However, this would be no excuse for their performance on the field.

The offense played admirably last season even though injuries on defense and the inability to stop the run became to much of a shortfall to overcome.

However, this season the team has a chance to start fresh.

Rodgers proved that the move from Favre was the right one, with Rodgers throwing for over 4,000 yards with 28 TDs to 13 INTs.

The defense is switching to the 3-4 defense under Dom Capers and they got lucky with B.J. Raji at the all-important nose tackle position falling into their laps.

With the return of Ryan Pickett and Justin Harrell, the defense will look much better than it did last season, which could allow the Packers to win close games, like they were unable to do this past season.

Here are my game-by-game predictions for the Packers this season.

Sunday September 13: Chicago Bears. Lambeau Field 8:20 pm NBC

These two teams gear up for the NFL's oldest rivalry as the Sunday night marquee game on NBC. The Bears come into this game with their new quarterback Jay Cutler.

The Bears had more needs in the off-season than quarterback in the off-season, with a troubled offensive line. The Bears helped themselves by signing Orlando Pace and Kevin Shaffer as free agents.

The Packers come into to this game with a new 3-4 defense and B.J. Raji as the centerpiece of that defense. The Packers in the past few years have gotten a slow start to the running game, and with the probable departure of Mark Tauscher, it looks to be the case again this year.

This game will most likely be a low scoring game as the Packers will have problems with their running game, and the Bears will have problems with their offensive line, and both teams will be getting used to new systems.

The Bears' Jay Cutler will be getting used to the Bears playbook, and the Packers will be getting used to the new 3-4 defense.

However, installing the new defense will probably be harder than the Bears solving their offensive problems this early in the season. Rodgers will throw for 240 yards and 1 TD and 1 INT, and Ryan Grant will run for about 80 yards and a touchdown and Brandon Jackson will run for 37 yards but it won't be enough as the Bears will take down the Packers in the first game of the season.

Final Score: Bears 20 Packers 17

Sunday September 20: Cincinnati Bengals Lambeau Field 1:00 pm CBS

The Cincinnati Bengals were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, and it doesn't look like much is going to change this season. The Packers should have a fairly easy day and the running game will have a big day.

Aaron Rodgers should have 2 TDs and 327 yards passing, Ryan Grant will run for 130 yards and 1 TD and Brandon Jackson will run for 54 yards. Also, Rodgers will run for an additional TD.

Final Score: Packers 30 Bengals 14

Sunday September 27: St. Louis Rams Edward Jones Dome 1:00 pm Fox

Before the Packers face the Vikings in the Monday night game in the following week, the Packers face another relatively easy opponent in the St. Louis Rams.

The Packers will come into this game with some much needed experience in the 3-4 defense. Aaron Rodgers will have another stellar game with 334 yards and 3 TDs and Ryan Grant will have 124 yards rushing.

Another TD will come from Brandon Jackson, who will have 78 yards rushing.

Final Score: Packers 33 Rams 10

Monday October 5: Minnesota Vikings Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 8:30 ESPN

The Vikings at the time this article was written, are deciding whether or not Favre will be playing for them this season. The only thing deciding whether or not he will play is whether his bicep will need major surgery or not.

For this article, I will assume that he will be playing for the Minnesota Vikings this season. If this is the case, this will be the most watched regular season game in history.

Favre will be playing against the team he played for for 16 years, and for the Packers most hated rival. If this game does feature Favre, it will be nearly impossible to get tickets for this game if you do not already have one.

The Packers will be coming into this game with plenty of practice with the 3-4 defense and will be playing with a vengeance against Favre. Whether or not the Packers realize it yet, they will be hating Favre for going against their hated rival and will be playing harder than they would ever have thought possible.

The Vikings are one good quarterback away from being a serious Super Bowl contender, and they believe that Favre is the last piece of the puzzle.

However, even if his arm doesn't need surgery, Farve will still be a 40 year old quarterback. His arm will be tired and he has to learn a new offensive playbook.

The Packers will play an outstanding game and Rodgers will throw for 290 yards with 2 TDs and 1 Int. Grant will run for 80 yards and 1 TD and Brandon Jackson will rund for 55 yards and 1 TD.

Final Score: Packers 34 Vikings 20

Sunday October 18: Detroit Lions Lambeau Field 1:00 pm Fox

The Lions were perhaps the worst team in NFL history last season. However, they did have a fairly good draft in drafting a franchise quarterback in Matthew Stafford and did draft to help on defense.

However, it will take more than one good offseason to fix the Lions problems on defense. The Packers should have a fairly easy day and should be resting their starters late in the fourth quarter.

Rodgers will pass for 250 yards and 1 TD, Grant will run for 120 yards and 2 TDs, and Brandon Jackson will run for 65 yards and 1 TD.

Final Score: Packers 28 Lions 7

Sunday October 25: Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00 pm Fox

The Cleveland Browns are another team on the Packers schedule that had a bad season last year. They benched starter Derek Anderson and started Brady Quinn, who immediatly became injured.

This season, they have a new coaching staff with Eric Mangini at the helm. The Browns problems won't be fixed in one season and the Packers will look to have a victory at the dog pound. Rodgers will throw for 280 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.

Grant will run for 112 yards with 1 TD, and Jackson will run for 52 yards, with one of the fullbacks getting an additional TD.

Final Score: Packers 23 Browns 13

Sunday November 1: Minnesota Vikings Lambeau Field 1:00 pm Fox

The Packers face the Vikings for the second time this season. The last game they played was emotional because they faced Brett Favre with their most hated rival. This game will be just as intense as they will be facing Favre and the Vikings at home.

The Vikings will make this game much closer than the last one. Peterson will be running through the Packers defense while Rodgers will be picking apart the secondary. The game will come down to the last few minutes of the first quarter, with the Packers winning late in the fourth quarter with a Mason Crosby field goal.

Rodgers will throw for 243 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs and Ryan Grant will run for 72 yards with 1 TD and Brandon Jackson will run for 83 yards. Brett Favre will throw for 200 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs.

Final Score: Packers 27 Vikings 24

Sunday November 8: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Lambeau Field 1:00 Fox

The Packers finish the first half of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. John Gruden is gone and so is his obsession of collecting quarterbacks. The Tampa Bay Bucs had a decent team last year but were unable to make the postseason.

They looked to be improved this season, and will give the Packers a tough time in Lambeau. Aaron Rodgers will throw for 237 yards and 1 Td and 1 INT, Ryan Grant will run for 87 yards and Jackson will run for 42 yards as the Packers fall to the Bucs at home.

Final Score: Buccaneers 24 Packers 13

First half recap

Stats for Quarterback and Top two running backs

Aaron Rodgers: 2,201 Yards Passing 13 TDs 6 INTs

Ryan Grant: 805 Yards Rushing 7 TDs

Brandon Jackson 455 Yards Rushing 3 TDs

The Packers were blessed by an easy schedule for the first half of the season with 6 of their first 8 opponents failing to make the postseason the past year. This is good for the Packers as it gives them the opportunity to get used to the 3-4 defense.

The Packers begin the season with a 6-2 record. The Packers stats are somewhat inflated as they play several teams with very bad defenses.

I also believe Brandon Jackson will have a breakout season. He won't be good enough to start yet, but he will be a great second back to compliment Ryan Grant.

Sunday November 15: Dallas Cowboys Lambeau Field 4:15 pm Fox

The Dallas Cowboys come to Lambeau field once again fielding a very talented team. The Cowboys are without Pacman Jones and Terrell Owens but that is no reason for the Packers to not field them.

They still have a very talented defense and Tony Romo is one of the great young quarterbacks in the league. The Cowboys have been a lot of trouble for the Packers in the past and this year will be no different.

Aaron Rodgers will throw for 260 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT, Ryan Grant will run for 99 yards and 1 TD, and Jackson will run for 72 yards and 1 TD but it won't be enough to get past the Cowboys.

Final Score: Cowboys 38 Packers 31

Sunday November 22: San Francisco 49ers Lambeau Field 1:00 pm Fox

The 49ers come into Lambeau hoping to improve from a 7-9 season. After Mike Nolan was fired and replaced with Mike Singletary as head coach, the 49ers went 5-4 and hope to continue their improvement under him.

This should be a tough game for the Packers but they should win it in the end. Rodgers will throw for 312 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT, Grant will run for 117 yards, and Jackson will run for 43 yards.

Final Score: Packers 27 49ers 21

Thursday November 26: Detroit Lions Ford Field 12:30 pm Fox

The Packers face the Detroit Lions once again on Thanksgiving Day, a day where the Lions are known for playing unusually well.

The Lions will give the Packers a good run but they are still a very bad team and the Packers will begin to pull away in the third quarter. Rodgers will throw for 330 yards with 3 TDs, Grant will run for 147 yards with 1 TD, and Jackson will run for 105 yards with 1 TD.

Final Score: Packers 38 Lions 28

Monday December 7: Baltimore Ravens Lambeau Field 8:30 pm ESPN

The Packers play on Monday Night against a very tough Ravens team with second year quarterback Joe Flacco. Joe Flacco was a rookie quarterback out of Delaware who came out and took the Ravens back to the playoffs, who had had a terrible season the year before.

With their tough defense and their timely offense, the Baltimore Ravens will look to overpower the Packers on Monday Night. Rodgers will throw for 215 yards with 1 INT, Grant will run for 52 yards, and Jackson will run for 83 Yards with 1 TD.

Final Score: Ravens 20 Packers 10

Sunday December 13: Chicago Bears Soldier Field 1:00 pm Fox

The Packers look to go to Soldier Field to avenge their early season loss against the Chicago Bears. The Packers by now will have had plenty of practice in the 3-4 defense and will be better prepared to stop quarterback Jay Cutler.

This should be another defensive game and with the gap being closed defensively, the Packers should be able to gain the edge in this second game. Rodgers will throw for 267 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT, Grant will run for 67 yards and 1 TD, and Jackson will run for 50 yards.

Final Score: Packers 24 Bears 21

Sunday December 20: Pittsburgh Steelers Heinz Field 1:00 pm Fox

The Packers face the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have a shutdown defense and a potent running game on offense. The Steelers will show the Packers in this game why they are the best team in the NFL.

Rodgers will throw for 235 yards with 2 INTs, Grant will run for 40 yards, and Jackson will run for 32 yards.

Final Score: Steelers 24 Packers 9

Sunday December 27: Seattle Seahawks Lambeau Field 1:00 pm Fox

The Packers face the Seattle Seahawks who are looking at a rebuilding season with the retirement of former Packers's Super Bowl winning head coach Mike Holmgren. The Seahawks went 4-12 last season and don't look to be getting much better this season.

The Packers should have a fairly easy game. Rodgers will throw for 320 yards with 2 TDs, Grant will run for 126 yards with 1 TD, and Jackson will run for 66 yards and 1 TD.

Final Score: Packers 34 Seahawks 17

Sunday January 3: Arizona Cardinals University of Phoenix Stadium 1:00 pm Fox

The Packers will be facing the defending NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals for their final game of the season. The Cardinal had a magical run in the playoffs with 37 year old Kurt Warner, who placed second in the MVP voting.

The Cardinals have disgruntled wide receiver Anquan Boldin looking to be traded. If Boldin is traded, the Cardinals will have a hard time against the Packers.

However, look for the Cardinals to follow up their 2008 season with another playoff berth this season, however, they will not be able to beat Green Bay in the season finale.

Rodgers will throw for 278 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT, Grant will run for 87 yards, and Jackson will run for 71 yards and 2 TDs.

Final Score: Packers 28 Cardinals 24

Second Half Recap

Stats for Quarterback and Top two running backs

Aaron Rodgers: 1,957 Yards Passing 13 TDs 7 INTs

Ryan Grant: 735 Yards Rushing 4 TDs

Brandon Jackson 522 Yards Rushing 6 TDs

The second half of the season is much harder than the first half of the season. However, the experience they get in the first half of the season will be extremely helpful in the second half of the season. The Packers will perform well, going 5-3 in the second half of the season.

Season Recap

Stats for Quarterback and Top two running backs

Aaron Rodgers: 4,164 Yards Passing 26 TDs 13 INTs

Ryan Grant: 1,540 Yards Rushing 11 TDs

Brandon Jackson 977 Yards Rushing 9 TD

Overall, the Packers should go 11-5 on the season, finishing first in the NFC North. Rodgers should do about as well as he did last season and the running game should improve dramatically now that Ryan Grant can use a full offseason to get ready without a holdout like the beginning of last season.

Jackson should have a breakout season and be a great complimentary back to Grant.

However, a few things could happen that could tank the season for the Packers. If Rodger or Raji become hurt for the season, that could become devastating for the offense and defense, respectably.

If the personnel for the Packers are unable to switch to the 3-4 without having problems, that could spell trouble for the Packers as well. Overall, I think the Packers will do fine and won't have to worry about any of that.

For the Packers to succeed these expectations, they will have to learn their new defense quickly. They will also have to excel in the new sytem in order to beat some of the better teams on their schedule.

However, I think that is unlikely as well. The Packers will return to the playoffs this season and it will be an exciting year for them.

Meet the Boston Red Sox's Middle Relievers: The Men Who Hold the Team Together

Riley Angel — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:26:27 -0400

The Boston Red Sox have in recent years been known for their outstanding pitching. The starters for the Red Sox are household names. Their closer is one of the great young pitchers in the league.

They have star hitters who grind out at-bats and make opposing pitchers go insane with frustration. This club is 18-11 because of these men.

However, what you don't hear much about are the men that hold down the fort between the starters and the closer.

These are the middle relievers who work in anonymity and without the glory the other guys get. However, these men are the grease that allow this team to function.

This article will detail how and why they are so important to the team and what their forecast could be for the season. I will also give them grades for how they've done this year.

Justin Masterson

Justin Masterson is a right-handed pitcher in his second year in the big leagues, both years with the Red Sox. He started the year as a reliever, but with the injury to Daisuke Matsuzaka, he has been pitching as a starter and has performed admirably given the situation he was put in.

Masterson throws a slider, a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a sinker, and a changeup.

In his starts, Masterson has shown that if his innings are limited, he performs brilliantly. If he has to extend himself past four or five innings, he wears out and begins giving up runs. This is partially due to the fact that he began the season as a reliever.

When Matsuzaka makes his return, Masterson should be a reliable long reliever who can go three to four innings when necessary and be very effective when the starters have a bad game.

Grade: B

I thought about giving him a C here, but he has pitched out of his element and hasn't done a bad job.

Ramon Ramirez

Ramon Ramirez is a fourth-year veteran, with this season being his first for the Red Sox. He is a right-handed pitcher acquired from the Kansas City Royals. He has been outstanding so far this season, pitching 15.1 innings and only giving up one run for a 0.59 ERA. He has struck out eight batters but walked five.

He's almost exclusively used a four-seam fastball in the low to mid-90s and a fairly good sinker in the first 10 games of the season. He has only limited use of his changeup but has developed and used it in the last several outings. He has good control of his pitches but needs to work on the walks.

At times, he will rely too much on his fastball. Overall, he has had a great season so far, and with the development of the changeup as his third pitch, he looks to be a great setup man for Jonathan Papelbon. His ERA should go up a little in the season, but overall he will be a great addition in the bullpen and shouldn't disappoint the pitching staff.

Grade: A

He has had a great season so far and could not have done much better. He is pitching above expectations at this point, and the future looks promising for this young pitcher.

Manny Delcarmen

Manny Delcarmen is a fifth-year veteran right-hander, all five seasons playing for the Red Sox. He has been phenomenal for the Red Sox this season, pitching 15.1 innings and only giving up one run for a 0.59 ERA. He has a four-seam fastball in the mid-90s, a good changeup, and a good curveball.

He can go multiple innings and can give the bullpen much-needed rest if they become overworked. He has struck out 13 batters and given up eight walks. With a career ERA of 3.26, it looks this young season is no anomaly for the young righty, as he has shown he is one hell of a pitcher.

He has shown no signs of slowing down and could be a powerful force on the mound for the Red Sox this season. He needs to work on giving up fewer walks but will be a major piece of the puzzle come October.

Grade: A

As with Ramirez above, Delcarmen has had an absolutely phenomenal year. He has pitched with command, confidence, and accuracy. He has taken up innings and been a great pitcher in this first month of the season.

Hideki Okajima

Hideki Okajima is a left-handed reliever who is in his third season with the Red Sox. He has pitched 13.2 innings and has given up six runs for a 3.95 ERA. He has a strange throwing motion, as he looks directly at the ground when he throws instead of at the opposing batter.

He throws a four-seam fastball in the mid-80s, a two-seam fastball in the low 80s, a curveball, and a changeup he uses every once in a while. He has been an important setup man in the past for Papelbon but is also able to put in a lot of innings.

His odd delivery is a good mask for what he is going to throw. Okajima has had a decent season so far and looks to be another reliable arm in this deep bullpen once again.

Grade: C+

Hideki Okajima has not played badly, but he has not pitched as well as he did the last couple years.

Takashi Saito

Takashi Saito is a fourth-year veteran in the league, this being his first year for the Red Sox. He is a right-handed pitcher, and he has pitched 11 innings, giving up five runs for a 4.09 ERA. He has struck out 11 batters and walked two. He throws a four-seam fastball and two-seam fastball in the upper 80s to low 90s, a slider, and a curveball.

He is a serviceable reliever and is good for the occasional inning. He won't wow you with his material but does bring a hardworking attitude and is a good addition to the bullpen. He is a reliable pitcher, and the pitching staff will always know what to expect from him.

Grade: C

He is a serviceable reliever but has not shown anything that makes him above average. He will be a useful asset for the Red Sox, but he will not be dominant

Hunter Jones

Hunter Jones is a rookie this season with the Red Sox. He is a much-needed left-handed pitcher who has been sharp early in the season. He hasn't seen much action this year. He has pitched in six games for a total of eight innings. He has given up three runs for a 3.38 ERA.

He has faced 19 batters this season, striking out six and walking none. He throws for strikes, and his fastball is in the mid to upper 80s. He starts out with the fastball and curveball and then eases into the slider. He has a good curveball and good slider. He may be young, but from what he has shown he has potential to be in the big leagues for a long time.

This young lefty could be a huge letdown for teams trying to score against the Red Sox. So far he has shown he has the stuff to be in the big leagues, but that might change once teams get a decent chance to look at him.

He does have a tendency to give up a home run every once in a while. He needs to work on utilizing his pitches more to set up batters. Overall this rookie has all you want in a pitcher and could be an innings eater, and if he can improve the speed of his fastball, he will become an important part of the rotation.

Grade: B

He is a great young pitcher who has plenty of room to improve. He throws for strikes and has the drive to want to beat the other opponent. He has looked good so far this season but hasn't pitched enough to give him an A grade.

Javier Lopez

Javier Lopez is a seven-year veteran in his fourth season with the Red Sox. He is a lefty with a sidearm delivery that can give batters fits due to its strange release. He has pitched in 9.2 innings and given up 12 runs for a 10.24 ERA. He has a four-seam fastball in the upper 80s, a changeup, a slider, and a curveball.

Lopez has had severe control and command issues. He cannot throw his usually good slider for strikes and has had hitters sitting on the fastball. He has walked eight batters while only striking out three. He is a situational pitcher who has plenty of pitches at his disposal but does not have control over any of them so far this season.

If he gets control of his pitches he could be a decent situational man, but if he can't, the Red Sox could decide to bring up one of their many young players waiting for a chance to play in AAA.

Grade: F

For such a stellar staff, Javier Lopez has been absolutely miserable this season. He has no confidence and no command of his pitches. If he continues like this, he will be replaced when Matsuzaka comes back from his injury.

Brewers Shaping Up After Rough Start

Riley Angel — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:21:51 -0400

After a rough start for the first two weeks of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers seem to be shaping up. Whether its from timely hitting or expert pitching, the Brewers seem to be finding a way win games in this young season. Could it be that the Brewers have an attitude of winning after making the postseason for the first time since 1982? Whatever it is, this young club has a different air about them than previous Brewers teams. In the past, it seemed to be that no matter how well they played, they would find a way to lose close or important games.

Even though the season is early and the Brewers have been known to get get off to hot starts and cool off at the end of the year, the fact that they did have a rough start and got back before they got into serious trouble says a lot about their character. I expect the Brewers to be in playoff contention by the end of the year even with the losses they suffered in the off season. If they can get another big signing by the All-Star Break, the Brewers can be a serious contender for the World Series.

Matt Stafford and the Detroit Lions: A Case Study in Insanity

Riley Angel — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:13:15 -0400

Matthew Stafford has just been given a six-year $78 million contract with $41 million guaranteed. By the Detroit Lions. Who have so many more pressing needs than a quarterback who will be spending more time on the ground than standing. Even worse, a player who has never taken a single snap in the NFL.

The NFL is desperately in need of rookie contracts, like in the NBA. Players who have never played a single down are getting payed more than proven veterans such as Brian Westbrook, who in 2008 signed a three year deal worth $21 million with $13 million guaranteed.

Westbrook, who is a star among true NFL fans for his low-key behavior and hard work ethic, us getting payed less than a third of what a rookie who has never and may never win a game in the NFL is getting. Stafford is unworthy of being a top paid player in the league.

The Lions were also insane in signing a quarterback after signing Daunte Culpepper to a two year contract, and who lost 30 lbs in the offseason. The Lions will regret not signing Aaron Curry from Wake Forest, who has shot up the draft charts and was reported to be willing to sign for $30 million dollars.

In order to be a winning team in the NFL, you have to be able to stop the other team, unlike the Lions who had the second-worst defense in the history in the NFL. The Lions have shown once again that although they have new management, they are still the Lions.

Stafford may end up being a good player. He may even up being a Hall of Fame player. Even so, he's the wrong player and will not help the Vikings.

The point of this is it is unreasonable to pay someone before they prove themselves. There have been too many cases of the first person in the draft to be a bust in order to justify such a high price.

Ryan Leaf and Alex Smith are just two of a number of cases that have set back their teams years in terms of quarterback play. While proven players get a fraction of what these guys get, while those guys are now sitting at home, living off the ridiculous contracts they are rewarded, they are actually out on the field working for teams that have rewarded them for actually playing.

It is an outrage and must be addressed.

Early Game-By-Game Predictions For Alabama Football

Riley Angel — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:28:16 -0400

Here are my game by game Previews and Predictions for Alabama in 2009

September 5 VS Virginia Tech. Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Alabama looks to challenge its new quarterback, possibly Greg McElroy, on a perennial ACC title contender Virginia Tech in what should be a match up of two top ten teams. The Hokies have high hopes for the season with Junior Tyrod Taylor.

They also bring in an elite defense that is as dangerous as an offense. Virginia Tech will try to test out Alabama's offensive line, which will be replacing three starters. Tech should get two to three sacks and might cause one interception.

However, with the talent the new line has, Alabama will run the ball to victory with the dual-threat combination of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. Look for Virginia Tech to score late and watch Alabama run out the clock on them with a long final drive.

Final Score: Alabama 21 Virginia Tech 17

September 12 VS Florida International. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Coming off the Virginia Tech game, Alabama looks to have a breather against bottom-feeder Florida International. Look for a passing attack early for McElroy to get easy experience in and the ground game to put it away in the second half.

Defense should have a stellar game with at least two turnovers, possibly one or more returned for touchdown.

Final Score: Alabama 42 Florida International 0

September 19 VS North Texas. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Alabama gets another easy game before they reach their SEC Schedule facing the Mean Green of North Texas, who one one game last year. Offense should get rolling and defense should score as well.

Final Score: Alabama 52 North Texas 0

September 26 VS Arkansas. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Alabama faces their first SEC Game against what should be a much improved Razorback team. Arkansas will give the Tide trouble in the first half but will be put away by the second half. Look for another stellar game by the running backs.

Final Score: Alabama 27 Arkansas 10

October 3 VS Kentucky. Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky

Kentucky was a team that had a tough year last year losing six games. However, of those six games, four of them were within seven points, including a three point loss to then undefeated Alabama. Kentucky may not have the talent of the Crimson Tide, but that is no reason for Alabama to overlook the Wildcats.

It should be a great defensive game with both teams playing their hearts out. This game will come down to the last play. Look for Alabama to win with a late touchdown.

Final Score: Alabama 20 Kentucky 14

October 10 VS Ole Miss. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford Mississippi

This is the game that could end up being the game of the season for the SEC. It could also decide who wins the SEC West. Both teams should be coming into this game undefeated.

Ole Miss is a team that has frustrated Alabama for the last couple of years, even before Houston Nutt turned them around last season, and look for this year to be no different. This should be a high scoring game that will come down to the last minute.

If ever there was a game for Alabama to lose this season, this would be it. That being said, look for Alabama to win with a last minute field goal.

Final Score: Alabama 31 Ole Miss 30

October 17 VS South Carolina. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

South Carolina should be coming in with a tough defense, but the offense of Steve Spurrier as struggled ever since he arrived to South Carolina. It should be a hard fought game across the line but Alabama should pull away in the second half.

Final Score: Alabama 24 South Carolina 6

October 24 VS Tennessee. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

In a game that should be played a week earlier, Alabama plays rival Tennessee and should be playing with a vengeance.

After a claim by a former Alabama staff member that Memphis would be locked up, Alabama immediately received a commitment from Keiwone Malone, a top recruit from the Memphis area. Alabama will look to embarrass the Volunteers for the third straight year, excelling in all phases.

Final Score: Alabama 38 Tennessee 17

November 7 VS LSU. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Alabama comes off a much needed by week before facing the LSU Tigers. LSU is looking to rebound from a tough year last year and should be ranked high coming into this game. A combination of hatred and talent will keep Alabama's hands full in this game.

If that wasn't enough, they have the Mad Hatter Les Miles calling the came. This game will come down to to the wire. Look for Alabama to scrape by with a close finish.

Final Score: Alabama 24 LSU 23

November 14 VS Mississippi St. Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Mississippi

Another team that has given Alabama fits for the last several years, Mississippi State comes in this season with a new coaching staff. Despite this, they should still have their site set on Alabama and will come ready. Look for the Bulldogs to give Alabama a good scare into the fourth quarter.

Final score: Alabama 28 Mississippi State 20

November 21 VS Tennessee-Chattanooga. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Alabama gets a much needed break before Auburn in Tennessee-Chattanooga. Alabama should have an easy day and put the starters in mid-way through the third quarter to rest up for the Iron Bowl. Look for big yardage from the quarterback and running backs and a defensive touchdown.

Final Score: Alabama 49 Tennessee-Chattanooga 3

November 28 VS Auburn. Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama

The Iron Bowl. The mother of all rivalries will not disappoint this year. Auburn may be coming in off a bad year with a new coaching regime but that will not stop them this year. Auburn will be the surprise team, in my opinion at 9-2. They will be looking to spoil the Tide's bid for the SEC Championship and the National Championship.

Auburn will be coming in with a top ten defense, an improved offense, and a fury of the like not seen in years. This will turn into the Tide's most mind challenging game of the year, but with their strong running game and key passing attempts, will pull it out in the end. It will be a low scoring game and will be decided with the final field goal.

Final Score: Alabama 10 Auburn 9

Final Regular Season Record: 12-0 SEC West Champions

Riley Angel's Packer Draft Contest Picks

Riley Angel — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:34:27 -0400

The first player selected by the Packers in the 2009 NFL draft will be: B.J. Raji, NT Boston College.

Reasons and explanation:

The Packers have a variety of reasons for selecting Raji here. One reason is that Raji should be the best player available at this point in the draft. Another reason is that the Packers are switching to a 3-4 defense and Raji has experience in that system.

The second player selected by the Packers in the 2009 NFL draft will be: Larry English, DE/OLB Northern Illinois

Reasons and explanation:

If Larry English is available here, the Packers should pick him up immediately for several reasons. He would be both the best player available and he would fit a need for the Packers. With the switch to the 3-4 defense, the Packers need someone to get to the quarterback across from Aaron Kampman.

Tiebreaker questions:

Will the Packers make a draft day trade involving their first round No. 9 pick? (yes/no) No.
Will the Packers third selection be an offensive or defensive player? (off/def) Defensive Player.
Will the Packers use any of their draft choices (day one or two) to take a punter? (yes/no) No.

Additional comments:

Packers need to focus this draft on defense considering the problems they had last year. Look for the offense side of the picks to be focused on a running back and offensive lineman.

20 Ways You Know You Are a Minnesota Vikings Fan

Riley Angel — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:42:22 -0400

Here is a list of 20 ways you know you're a Minnesota Vikings Fan.

1. You thought Daunte Culpepper was a franchise quarterback.

2. You hate your quarterback.

3. Your team has signed big time free agents the last couple of years and still didn't do very well.

4. You were excited when Gus Ferrotte replaced your old quarterback.

5. Your running back could be a better quarterback than your actual quarterback.

6. You look at other teams running backs and laugh.

7. Other teams look at your quarterback and laugh.

8. You give thanks every day that Brett Favre left the Packers.

9. You wonder why the hell Tavaris Jackson is still quarterbacking your team.

10. You used to think Randy Moss was a nice guy.

11. You think every other team in the league is crap.

12. Fran Tarkenton today would be an upgrade over your quarterback.

13. You constantly steal players from the Packers.

14. You don't know whether Tavaris Jackson is a really good quarterback or a really bad quarterback.

15. Whenever you see someone wearing green you try to run them over with your car.

16. You bought a Purple Favre Jersey because you thought he was going to your team last year.

17. Your team can hand the ball off to the running back 40 times a game and still win handily.

18. If you're team throws the ball more than 20 times a game you know they'll lose.

19. You go to church to purge yourself after setting foot in Wisconsin.

20. You get scared whenever you hear that your players are going out on a yacht.

20 Ways You Know You Are a Detroit Lions Fan

Riley Angel — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:12:08 -0400

20 Ways you Know you are a Detroit Lions Fan

1. Your team constantly picks in the top 10 of the draft.

2. You know your team is going to take a wide receiver with its first pick.

3. Your team's players always watch the playoffs from home.

4. You glad your team went 0-16 because at least now people are talking about them.

5. You hate Ford for not firing Matt Millen sooner.

6. You want Barry Sanders to suit up and play.

7. You know five to ten people who could make the team but don't want to try, out of embarrassment of playing for the Lions.

8. You could trade your players for the USC Trojans and it would be an upgrade.

9. Five games into the season, you realize your team isn't going anywhere so you turn your focus to college football.

10. Watching golf is less painful than watching your team's feeble attempt at winning.

11. You envied the Bengals last year.

12. If someone talks smack to you, you can't bring up a single point on how your team is better than theirs.

13. You've thought of trying to bribe the refs, but realize that still wouldn't help them win.

14. You've spent Sundays reading a book.

15. You can name one starter on the Lions offhand not named Calvin Johnson.

16. You've been to a sports bar on game day and it was empty.

17. You've been to a Lions game without a bag over your head.

18. You've been to a Lions game willingly.

19. You can't wait for basketball season to start so you can be proud of something.

20. You believe the Lions can make the playoffs this year.

20 Ways You Know You Are a Chicago Bears Fan

Riley Angel — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:31:19 -0400

20 Ways you know you're a Chicago Bears Fan

1. You think Mike Ditka is God.

2. You think Jay Cutler is the second coming of Jesus.

3. Your team traded away their first round picks because they know they don't use them on anyone good anyways

4. You constantly have to apologize to Georgia Bulldogs fans because you thought their G was green.

5. You laugh when someone says its cold no matter what the temperature is.

6.You hated That '70s Show because everyone in it liked the Packers.

7. You know that there are two Adrian Petersons.

8. You scream for any quarterback who had a half-way decent season.

9. You love the Bears because they ease your pain from the failures of the Cubs.

10. When your special teams score more than your offense it comes as no surprise.

11.You refuse to admit Brett Favre is a good quarterback.

12. Your leading receiver is a running back.

13. You wonder why your best wide receiver scored more touchdowns as a kick returner.

14. You have ever owned a Rex Grossman jersey.

15. You don't own anything green.

16. Star wide receivers became average when they play for your team.

17. You have ever disowned family members for being packers fans.

18. You haven't been able to brag about your quarterback in 20 years.

19. You hate the Super Bowl restrictions on temperature.

20. You know the Super Bowl shuffle by heart.

20 Ways You Know You're A Packer Fan

Riley Angel — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:46:50 -0400

20 ways you know you are a Green Bay Packer Fan:

1. You are more interested in brats and beer than the game.

2. You love Stephen Colbert for his hatred of Bears.

3. You think 40 degree weather is warm. There is no such thing as cold.

4. You go into attack-mode when you see the color purple.

5. You think any quarterback who has ever missed a start, is not worth having.

6. If you saw Brett Favre come back to play in ten years, you would welcome him with open arms.

7. You believe Miller is the best beer in the world.

8. You've spent 60 years on the waiting list for season tickets.

9. You believe that Donald Driver is the best receiver in the NFL.

10. You pray every day that Vince Lombardi will return from the grave.

11. You believe every player on the Packers is the greatest player in the league.

12. You dream of what it would be like to sign a free agent.

13. You yell at the tv on draft day because your team keeps trading down for picks.

14. You hated football in the 70s and 80s.

15. You compare every quarterback to Brett Favre.

16. You think Ryan Grant is a top 10 running back.

17. You hate Denver for trading Jay Cutler.

18. You hate Aaron Rodgers for not playing defense.

19. You love Tavaris Jackson.

20. You miss Rex Grossman.

Ways SEC Football Teams Can Implode in 2009

Riley Angel — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:39:40 -0400

I recently wrote an article about ways the SEC could improve in 2009. After some constructive criticism, I am doing a slide show for how the opposite could happen for each team in 2009. The SEC has in recent years has been viewed as the dominant conference in recent years. With the last three National Champions and constantly having multiple teams finish in the top ten it is easy to see why this is. This year the SEC is once again being touted as being the toughest conference in the land with as many as five national championship hopefuls.Unfortunately, falling short of expectations is much easier than exceeding them. In this slide show, I hope to show you how easily the SEC can go from the most dominating conference ever seen to the worst BCS conference in the span of one year.

Begin Slideshow

Ways SEC Football Can Improve in 2009

Riley Angel — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:06:42 -0400

The SEC has been widely regarded as the best conference in football for the last several years. Despite this conception, the league can be improved if several things happen.

One of the problems the SEC faced last year was the implosion at Auburn. At the start of the year, Auburn had high expectations coming in with a ferocious defense, a new offensive system, and a head coach who had beaten their hated in-state rival six times in a row.

Unfortunately, the spread offense of Tony Franklin failed miserably, as seen by the now infamous 3-2 win vs Mississippi State.

This offensive futility would end Tubberville's and Franklin's tenures at Auburn, bringing in Gene Chizik and his staff, including Gus Malzhan, the man beind the highest scoring offense in the nation as the offensive coordinator at Tulsa.

There is no doubt that Auburn has the talent to compete in the SEC but the question is can Chizik mold the offense into a high end unit without stressing one of the most elite defenses in the country. If he can, he will enjoy success this season and could have a long career in Auburn.

Lane Kiffin has been one of the most controversial figures this off-season. At Tennessee, Kiffin is relieving one of Tennesse's greatest coaches in Phillip Fulmer, who won the first BCS title game.

Tennessee has taken a back seat and been whooped by rivals Alabama and Florida and that was one of the reason's for Fulmer's firing. Kiffin was announced as head coach after Fulmer's final game. As soon as he got into office. he shot off his mouth at the two toughest schools in the conference, who also happen to be Tennesse's biggest rivals.

Calling out Florida for cheating really put a bulls-eye on the Volunteer's back, which was made even worse when Florida was cleared of his charge. However, If Kiffin can can be competitive against both Florida and Alabama, he will be going a long way to restore prestige to the Volunteer program.

Ole Miss proved last year with hot new coach Houston Nutt that they had the talent to beat anyone in the nation by beating eventual national champion Florida.

Despite this, they lost several close games early that they easily could of one and closed out the season with six straight wins including a bowl win against No. 8 Texas Tech, who had only lost one game to the National Champion Runner-Up Oklahoma.

If they get it together early, they should be in the national championship conversation at the end of the year.

Last season, LSU was coming off a National Championship. Things seemed to be in place to make another big run. Then the season started. LSU couldn't put up a fight against Florida in their fifth game of the season. It only got worse from there.

Their quarterback seemed to be throwing more touchdown passes to the other players than his own team. The defense fell apart and put up mediocre stats, which is enough to kill a team in the SEC.

Near the end, they ended up starting Jordan Jefferson who preformed well despite being an inexperience freshman. They looked good in their bowl game with a win against Georgia Tech and with the No. 2 recruiting class this year they look primed to make a comeback.

If they stay focused and Les Miles keeps taking his risks, they should be at the top of the west at the end of the year.

Georgia seems to get by every year on their talent alone. Last year, the Bulldogs had two Heisman trophy contenders in Stafford and Moreno and put up a 10-3 record that included embarrassing poundings by Alabama and Florida, plus a late season loss to in-state rival Georgia Tech.

If Mark Richt finally becomes hard on his players, they could pull together for a title run, or at least put a scare into Alabama and Florida.

These teams along with the continued success of Florida and Alabama should strengthen and already dominating conference.