Bleacher Report - Articles by Owen Munro

Super Bowl 43: Aces Are in the Cards

Owen Munro — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:41:28 -0500

My, my, my, how the season has gone by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday that we were in a frenzy of 18-1, Peyton Manning’s knee injury, and a myriad of Super Bowl predictions.

Fast-forward to Jan. 31, and already we are on the eve of Super Bowl 43, taking place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida. More than 4000 reporters were at Media Day this year, and you can bet the stadium will be rocking all afternoon.

And although this years edition of the Super Bowl hasn’t created quite as much buzz as last year, it could be the most strategically played out game we’re ever going to witness in a game with the magnitude such as this one.

Breaking down the key match ups isn’t easy. Underlying story lines, key coverage match ups and defensive pressure are just three of the many breakdowns we can discuss. However, to keep it short, I’m going to breakdown two. Here they are.

Cardinals

Arizona has to rely on Kurt Warner’s playoff success and experience to take them to a victory.

With the Steelers likely to use their zone blitz heavy and often, Arizona will have to utilize a variety of screen and swing passes, dump offs to Edgerrin James, JJ Arrington, and Tim Hightower out of the backfield, and effectively use the underneath routes, where Steve Breaston and Anquan Boldin are nearly unstoppable.

Dick LeBeau is still one of the NFL’s greatest defensive coordinators, and you have to think he has recognized Breaston’s and Boldin’s success in the middle, and will likely keep inside linebackers James Farrior and Larry Foote from bringing the heat up the middle.

The wild card in the middle of the Steelers defense, is under-utilized pass rushing extraordinaire Lawrence Timmons, a former number one pick out of Florida State University. Foote has done a superb job holding off Timmons for the past two years, but that doesn’t mean LeBeau will continue to run with Foote, especially if Timmons gets in a groove, getting the better of center Lyle Seindlein and right guard Deuce Lutui.

Arizona’s offensive line is going to be key. Mike Gandy has emerged as a top ten left tackle this year, and Levi Brown has been solid and dependable, yet unspectacular throughout the year.

The two tackles are going to have to keep Pittsburgh’s two main weapons in the defensive repertoire, DPOY James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley from wreaking havoc in the Arizona backfield, and jarring Kurt Warner.

If Arizona can keep these two at bay for most of the game, it gives the Cardinals the best chance to win this football game.

Expect coach Ken Whisenhunt to go against the popular opinion of spreading the Steelers’ defense out, and play a lot of seven and eight man sets, with a lot of split back formations to keep Kurt Warner as healthy as possible, while letting Boldin, Fitzgerald, and Breaston man up with Ike Taylor and the Steelers’ underrated secondary.

If the Cardinals do beat these keys to a pulp, they will give Pittsburgh quite the game.

Steelers

We all know the saying “defense wins championships” and that applied for the New York Giants last year, and could very well likely apply for this years game as well.

Dick LeBeau’s renowned zone blitz defense has garnered a bucket full of attention throughout this year, with the Steelers holding opponents to an incredible13.9 points per game, and just 237 yards overall per game, both good for first in the National Football League.

However, some of the philosophies that have made Pittsburgh so famous this year could be left aside in order to cope with the heavy offensive attack expected from Todd Haley and the Arizona Cardinals explosive offense.

Some of those options may include toying with the defensive chemistry that have made the defense click this year, such as reducing the field Troy Polamalu is allowed to roam to prevent the big play, dropping James Farrior and Larry Foote back into coverage more often then not, and playing a lot more man to man coverage then the team is used to.

The big one, like previously mentioned, is Troy Polamalu. All year LeBeau has allowed Polamalu to roam free as a rover-like player, in order to make plays. Polamalu answered that call with a career-high seven interceptions, and 73 tackles, 54 coming solo. But don’t expect Polamalu to go off like he has all year.

Expect Polamalu to play a lot of deep cover-two safety, preventing the big play instead of producing it. However, don’t be surprised if, at some point, Polamalu does make a big play, either by laying some out on a crossing route, or taking away several of Kurt Warner’s deep balls. If Polamalu plays it safe, the Steelers have a great chance to win.

The big thing Pittsburgh cannot do is fall behind. If Arizona goes out quickly and catches the Steelers on their heels, going up by two or more scores, it would leave Pittsburgh in a very vulnerable position. And by Pittsburgh, I mean Ben Roethlisberger, as he has shown difficulty leading the Steelers to victory from behind.

Big Ben’s nasty habit of holding onto the ball too long has been duly noted by fans and analysts, and it has cost him before. It will likely happen again against a Cardinals pass rush that has suddenly found the “rush” in “pass rush” when the Playoffs had rolled around.

The hybrid defense Arizona deploys has given all three foes fits in the extra season, and it will likely give a weak Pittsburgh line the same kind of attention it’s given Atlanta, Carolina, and Philadelphia.

These keys have an impact on both sides of the ball, for both teams, and we could be in for quite the game if both teams successfully run wild with their game plans.

Key Matchups

Three key matchups to look for here on Super Sunday are:

- Heath Miller vs. the Arizona linebackers. Ben’s best friend today is going to be dependable tight end Heath Miller, who’ll likely be a safety valve on many plays when Roethlisberger needs one. Expect Arizona to play a lot of 4-3, and lining up the versatile Karlos Dansby against Miller throughout the game.

However, the Cards’ line backing core is more or less equipped to rush the passer, and Dansby could be a liability in coverage. After Brent Celek torched the Cardinals for 10 catches two weeks ago in Phoenix, expect Pittsburgh to employ a similar offensive game plan, allowing them to make use of Miller.

Look for Miller to rack up eight or so catches throughout the game, and be a key clog on 3rd-and-long situations.

- The Cardinals receiving corps vs. the Pittsburgh secondary. Larry Fitzgerald has made a mockery of every team in the Playoffs so far, destroying anything coordinators threw at him. In the Atlanta game he made a fool out of Lawyer Milloy and company, racking up 101 receiving yards and a touchdown, which seemingly kick started the Cardinals improbable run.

Carolina then tried to compensate their corners by playing a lot of two deep zone, but Fitzgerald also gave it fits, going off for 8 catches and 166 receiving yards and another touchdown.

Even Jim Johnson tried to center one of his illustrious defensive game plans around Fitzgerald. However Larry caught an incredible nine passes for 152 yards and three touchdown balls, leading the Cardinals en route to their first Super Bowl since the mid-1940’s.

Expect Anquan Boldin to have an MVP-like performance if Pittsburgh does indeed shut down number 11. Back to full strength, Boldin will likely be matched up in man with DeShea Townsend, who’ll try to coincide with Ryan Clark to shut down the All-Pro receiver.

- Todd Haley vs. Dick LeBeau. A lot of people comment on how Whisenhunt, Russ Grimm and Clancy Pendergast have a mental edge over the Steelers. I think that isn’t true, and that it is blown out proportion.

Yes, it’s true Ken Whisenhunt and Grimm have probably gone over some of the tendencies of the Steelers defense. And yes, it’s probably true that Clancy Pendergast has a book on Ben Roethlisberger’s tendencies and will likely attack the weaknesses in Roethlisberger‘s game.

However, since Tomlin has took over, Roethlisberger has also evolved into a more mature quarterback, which I think we’ll see showcased this afternoon.

I do not believe that Arizona has that big of a mental edge, and I do not believe Pittsburgh will lose based off of this.

Final Thoughts

The buzz around the Super Bowl wasn’t as great as it was last year, but then again, a lot of that so called buzz was around the New England Patriot’s perfect season.

Being the Cards fanatic I am, I obviously hold a lot of bias with Arizona, and I think this is a game that Kurt Warner and company can pull out in the end. That being said, I have two predictions.

If the game turns into a high-scoring affair, I lay a lot of trust in the Cardinals to eke out a win.

However, if the Steelers are able to effectively use the blitz, and can properly protect Ben Roethlisberger, I can unfortunately say that the Steelers are the likely favorites to win Super Bowl 43.

Final Prediction: 19-14 Pittsburgh Steelers

Vancouver Canucks Season Preview: It All Starts In The Crease

Owen Munro — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:56:39 -0400

There is a saying in hockey that defence wins championships. Whether it be the New Jersey Devils of years past, or the Montreal Canadiens of the sixties, the reasoning behind the phrase has always been backed by the wins of teams with the stingiest players who want it more then anyone else.

Meanwhile, in Vancouver, that logic seems to be in full force. But, not entirely is it about the defence this year; it starts, like it has the last two seasons, inside the blue ice.

Roberto Luongo started the year out strong, and had people believing in another playoff appearance for Vancouver. Sadly, we were mistaken. And sadly, we fell out of the picture, mainly due to the fact that Luongo played about ten more games then he should’ve.

And, unfortunately, we all know how it goes from there.

I’m not saying Luongo was the only player in blame, because he clearly wasn’t. Even though he showed flashes of brilliance and resembled even a young Patrick Roy, Luongo took himself out of too many games with mental errors, and didn’t give the team enough chances to win on some nights.

Is it just on him to lead the team, or can we expect someone to step up, perhaps even in the crease, alongside number one? I can’t say that with a simple certainty, but I will say that you can expect Luongo to turn back to his play of two years ago to help the team climb back into the thick of things in the Western Conference.

But it isn’t just on Luongo to make the team click. We already know that Alain Vigneault will lighten the work load of the world class goaltender, so the only question is, who is going to be the back up?

Dave Nonis built up a healthy plethora of goaltenders and the team now is reaping the benefits of it. Cory Schneider looked brilliant tending the night in Camrose tonight, playing very well amongst a strong group of prospects that the Oilers present. Let us be reminded that one game doesn’t make a career, a season, or even a pre-season, but if anything is a good sign, it’s that.

As mentioned, one prospects game isn’t going to make or break the job that Curtis Sanford should have battened down. The veteran is still a great option in net and is good for fifteen to twenty consistent efforts tending the nets. He was very good and consistent in the games he had last year, and played well down the stretch, while his partner faltered a fir bit. He is a great goalie to have for relief situations, and fortunately for Sanford, I can’t see him losing his role as a dependable back up.

The Canucks are very deep here, and that can only ease the suffering if worse comes to worse and Roberto Luongo is either shipped out or splits from Vancouver.

Julien Ellis and Morgan Clark head the list after Schneider, and will fight for time with the Moose and Salmon Kings this season.

This has to be considered one of the Canucks strong suits, and the depth is there if injuries strike (knock on wood) or inconsistencies plague the team. Brief action and consistency at the college level suggests that Cory Schneider could be the man tending the nets by as close as next year, depending on the situations.

After all, what could be worse then what we witnessed down the stretch last year?

Week 1 Power Rankings: NFC East Flexes Muscles, While AFC Goes Through Phases

Owen Munro — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:26:59 -0400

1. Dallas Cowboys (1-0) (LW: NR) - There isn’t much to say about the Cowboys and what they did on Sunday, as they did exactly what everyone thought they would. The Browns’ pass rush was non-existent due to the amazing play along the offensive line. Tony Romo looked great, as did the running game. TO looked like TO, I could go on and on. No doubt they top my rankings this week.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) (LW: NR) - The proclaimed “sleepers” of the NFL were completely dominated in every aspect of the game by the Steelers. Willie Parker, amidst calls for Rashard Mendenhall along the goal line, punched in touchdowns from seven, thirteen, and four yards out, helping the Steelers to a 38-17 thrashing of the Houston Texans. Everything looked great on all aspects for the Steelers, an excellent sign.

3. Green Bay Packers (1-0) (LW: NR) - The fans who had proclaimed Aaron Rodgers a bust before a single start could eat a mouth full of crow today. Rodgers looked outstanding for Green Bay, throwing for 178 yards, rushing for a touchdown, and earning a 115.5 quarterback rating. Ryan Grant and the offence looks like they may need another week to get into it, but Green Bay looks like they are going to start from where they left off.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) (LW: NR) - The questions may still come firing out regarding Donovan McNabb, but if Sunday was any consolation, I think those questions can be put to rest rather easily. Passing for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns against an underrated Rams secondary is very impressive. Westbrook had some fumbling issues, but he had a nice game, and what can I say about Desean Jackson? Kids a beast. The Eagles looked damn good.

5. New York Giants (1-0) (LW: NR) - Say what you want, but the Giants looked like they had no problems with a sputtering Washington offence. On the other hand, the Giants weren’t the squeaky clean unit they were in the playoffs, either. For all the people wondering what Eli Manning will be like this year, you got a good idea; confident, looking good, but still making a few too many mental errors, which could put the G-Men away early against some top notch defensive teams.

6. New York Jets (1-0) (LW: NR) - “Broadway Brett” had a satisfying debut for most Jets fans. He controlled the pace of the game, and got it done when he needed too. Combine that with his bag of tricks and antics he pulled, he played very well. Cotchery looks like the next up and coming star, and the defence was able to stifle a game winning drive by Chad Pennington for the win.

7. New Orleans Saints (1-0) (LW: NR) - The Saints had a convincing win against a tough divisional opponent, which includes Joey Galloway, a man who had ripped apart their secondary the last five or six times the teams met. Sunday? Galloway was held to six receptions for 56 yards, a big improvement for a Saints team that revamped their defence for situations like this.

8. San Diego Chargers (0-1) (LW: NR) - Let’s hope people don’t take this the wrong way, but I think the Chargers ran into some unfortunate luck at the end of Sunday’s game with the Panthers. While Jake Delhomme carved up the secondary on the game winning drive, the Chargers looked particularly impressive on offence, especially Phillip Rivers, who was nearly flawless in the second half.

9. New England Patriots (1-0) (LW: NR) - Don’t let the quarterbacking situation in New England fool you. Matt Cassel is a long time backup quarterback, but if there is anyone who has picked up the little tidbits along the way and can put them to full use, it’s probably Matt Cassel. A veteran quarterback will be needed, but the Pats still have Matt Gutierrez and Kevin O’Connell for now.

10. Indianapolis Colts (0-1) (LW: NR) - I’ll give the Colts a mulligan here. The interaction between Peyton Manning and Jamey Richard was sub par at best, and the Bears gave the offence headaches all night. Oh, did I mention Kyle Orton played well? And that he’s 13-6 now as the Bears starter? Man, some real food for though there.

11. Buffalo Bills (1-0) (LW: NR) - Much like the Colts, I’m willing to give the Seahawks a mulligan. Matt Hasselbeck with his back problems, Julius Jones’ new start and the defence all lead to a pretty disappointing day. But on the other side of the field, the Bills looked in mid-season form, something you don’t often see from a team like Buffalo. The special teams was phenomenal (when is it not?) and the offence contributed very much. I really like the Bills this year.

12. Chicago Bears (1-0) (LW: NR) - The days of the team that turned the ball over three times, had trouble stopping the run (and the pass) and only had a certain return man going for them, are over. Kyle Orton looked particularly good, and held onto the ball far better then Sexy Rexy had done all of last year. The numbers that support Orton are astonishing compared to Grossman’s. The D looks like it’s back in full force as well. Could last year just be a done year?

13. Minnesota Vikings (0-1) (LW: NR) - While I was expecting more from Jared Allen, I guess I got what I wanted. He drew penalties, had a formidable pass rush going, and played the run game very well. You may not see it for the first few weeks, but once this defensive line is gelling, watch out. Adrian Peterson played well, and had a “truck stick” run that could in fact rival Brandon Jacob’s from Thursday night.

14. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) (LW: NR) - You can’t blame the Jack Del Rio. You can’t blame on David Garrard, or Fred Taylor, or Maurice Jones-Drew. And you certainly can’t lay the blame on that offensive line, who have taken more hits over the past few weeks then the Notorious B.I.G. Ok, maybe not, but the impact on this offensive line is going to have a strain on everyone.

15. Tennessee Titans (1-0) (LW: NR) - I can’t imagine what must be going through Vince Young’s mind right now, but the Titans won, and that could be all that matters right now. Kerry Collins looks like he’ll get the start next week. Yes, Kerry Collins. Enjoy it while it lasts, Titans fans, because if VY is out for an extended period of time, you could be in for a big dip from this spot.

16. Arizona Cardinals (1-0) (LW: NR) - It wasn’t picture perfect, but it wasn’t all that ugly. It was everything in between for the Cards, who already look like they have an upper hand on Seattle. Amidst his demand for a trade, Anquan Boldin played like his old self, catching eight balls for 82 yards and a touchdown. Tim Hightower looks like a good investment right now as well.

17. Carolina Panthers (1-0) (LW: NR) - I’ve never been high on the Carolina Panthers, or Jake Delhomme. But, it’s obvious he is the glue for the offence, and the display he put on in the final quarter against San Diego was great, and it gives the Panthers some hope for this season. One thing I did notice was DeAngelo Williams, who played aggressive and very well.

18. Denver Broncos (1-0) (LW: NR) - My sleeper at the beginning of the year, Denver certainly got off on the right foot. Jay Cutler played very well against a stacked secondary, and the run by committee approach took full flight last night. Andre Hall, Selvin Young and Michael Pittman all looked great in the ever so run friendly zone blocking scheme.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) (LW: NR) - Was this the game Jon Gruden was looking for from Jeff Garcia? Probably not, and Garcia probably knows he has to get his act together. Wait, isn’t he questionable for next weeks tilt with the Falcons? I wouldn’t look to much into it, but for the past three years, the previous division winner hasn’t repeated the following year.

20. Washington Redskins (0-1) (LW: NR) - The Redskins offence wasn’t all that well executed, and it showed against New York. Is Jason Campbell your guy for the West Coast Offence? It depends. He went 13-0 at Auburn playing the system, but he has been in a different system seven of the past eight years. Is it possible for someone to have it worse off then Alex Smith?

21. Baltimore Ravens (1-0) (LW: NR) - Fact: Since 1981, only one new coach and quarterback combination had won their opening week contest. On Sunday, there was two, in Atlanta and Baltimore. Joe Flacco was adequate, and played well when he needed to. Granted Flacco had his way with a defence has mediocre as Cincinnati, he looks like something special.

22. Cleveland Browns (0-1) (LW: NR) - The Browns’ pass rush was so non-existent against the Cowboys, Tony Romo had to run into a player to allow the Browns to total a sack. Derek Anderson played pretty iffy, and Braylon Edwards was more apart of the problem then not. We can probably all agree the Browns aren’t playoff bound with this schedule, but could it really be this bad, all year?

23. Seattle Seahawks (0-1) (LW: NR) - Well, there sure wasn’t any bright spots on Sunday for the Seahawks. And to top it off, Nate Burleson is the latest casualty to go down, as he went down for the year with a Torn ACL. Luckily the Seahawks get Deion Branch back, but they could be in deep trouble if they fall behind and Julius Jones looks terrible like he did on Sunday.

24. Houston Texans (0-1) (LW: NR) - There isn’t too much to say about the Texans’ performance on Sunday, other then they played amongst the worst of any team this week, and I think they really aren’t the team people are envisioning them to be. I could be wrong, and this could be Week 1, but eh, don’t color me enthused.

25. Miami Dolphins (0-1) (LW: NR) - If there is any consolation, Chris Berman thought they looked professional. Oh, and Anthony Fasano really is a beast. Oh, and Chad Pennington looks like he can take this offence somewhere. Too bad these three things don’t equate to much success this year. Bill Parcells still has a lot of work to do on the both sides of the ball.

26. Atlanta Falcons (1-0) (LW: NR) - My lowest ranked winning team, but with good reason. Michael Turner used his burners on his way to 220 yards, against the lowly pass defence of the Lions. Matt Ryan throws for a decent amount of yardage, and had a 60+ yard bomb on his first pass play of his NFL career. Again though, it was the Detroit Lions. Does this game really have any credibility?

27. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) (LW: NR) - And I thought the Bengals fans loved the situation they were in, with regards to their offensive line. Boy, was I wrong! The Bengals looked horrible in protecting Carson Palmer, who was like a rock (almost literally) in the pocket. They couldn’t help Kenny Watson or Chris Perry in the run game, and to top it off, Ray Rice and his “juicy thighs” ran all over the defence.

28. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) (LW: NR) - The Chiefs actually didn’t look half bad on Sunday. On defence, they were able to keep the Matt Cassel led Patriots out of the end zone, and were actually a throw away from sending the game to overtime. Immediately I realize I said they were able to keep Cassel & Co. out of the end zone, but any esteem I can give Chiefs fans has to be a plus, right?

29. Detroit Lions (0-1) (LW: NR) - Feel free to hate on me when I say even Ernie Sims couldn’t help this defence out. Feel free to praise me when I say the Lions have arguably the best 1-2 punch of receivers in the NFL. Calvin Johnson looked like he was maturing at the end of last year, and he looks like he’s taken his game to a whole new level now, as well. Roy Williams, in a contract year, could have a career year as well.

30. San Francisco 49ers (0-1) (LW: NR) - Any team with Mike Martz is going to know they have to throw the ball, but you can’t say Mike Martz was enthused with J.T. O’Sullivan, after an average day, which consisted of four sacks, an interception, and 195 yards passing. The whole team looked rather inconsistent, while the Cardinals had their way with an average line. Too bad average doesn’t get you anywhere in the NFL.

31. Oakland Raiders (0-1) (LW: NR) - “And biggest idiot goes toooooooo… DeAngelo Hall!” Whatever happened to this secondary, I’d like to know. Jay Cutler carved up a usually reliable defence, en route to 300 yards through the air, and two touchdown passes. Darren McFadden was very average in his debut, while Zach Fargas looked good. However, games are not won by who looks good, and Al Davis can approve of that.

32. St. Louis Rams (0-1) (LW: NR) - Bar none, there was no worse team then the St. Louis Rams. The defensive was unusually suspect, and Steven Jackson really couldn’t get anything going along the offensive line. Some tough breaks here and there, but overall, a disappointing effort from the Rams, disappointing indeed.

Germany-Spain: Previewing the Euro 2008 Final

Owen Munro — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:38:57 -0400

Tomorrow is the big day!

We will see the much-anticipated Euro 2008 final. This year, the participants are two of football's giants, Spain and Germany.

The Spaniards never were able to put it together, until now. After dispatching of every team in the group stages, Spain ridded themselves of the '06 World Cup champs, Italy, in penalties. They followed that by dispatching with upstart Russia, in a 3-0 triumph.

The road was a little tougher climb for Germany. After suffering a minor upset to Croatia, the Germans defeated Austria to move into the knockout stages, never a fun task. The Germans pounced on a lazy Portuguese side, and finally rid of them completely in a 3-2 triumph after 90 minutes.

In the semifinals, Germany found themselves in a surprisingly tough matchup with the under-manned Turkish side. It took a Phillip Lahm 90th minute strike to cultivate Germany into the finals.

So who holds the advantage? Let's investigate.

Goalkeeping: Spain

Jens Lehmann has looked very beatable all tournament, and he has really played a lackadaisical tournament. If Spain can rock Lehmann's ship early, the Germans will have far more work than they expected in order to win.

His counterpart, Iker Casillas, has been rock solid in every game, and has done what has been needed to win. Isn't that all it is now? It doesn't matter if you win ugly anymore, as long as you get the results.

Fullbacks: Tied

Both defenses are hard to judge, mainly because of the inefficiencies the two have had. You can't make a solid prediction on what is to happen. Sergio Ramos has been the only dominating player out of both sides, and the Spaniards are more star-studded.

Germany, on the other hand, are much more offensive, and attack more often than not. Because of this, I can't give either team the nod here. It's a tie as far as I'm concerned.

Midfield: Germany

As much as I'd like to give this to Spain, because again, Spain is more star studded, the Germans have been much more physical, and much more on the attack all tournament long.

Michael Ballack is an intimidating force right up the gut, and I'm not sure if Spain knows how to exactly deal with it. I'll give a slight nod to Germany, which evens it up, matchup-wise.

Strikers: Germany

Another slight advantage to the Germans. Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose, and Bastian Schweinsteiger overall are much more dangerous then a David Villa, Daniel Guiza combination. Villa will need to be stopped, and if he can't, we could be in for a long night. It could go either way as well.

Overall: Spain wins on Penalties, 2-1!

I feel that if Spain can overcome the attack the Germans bring, and sneak a couple by Lehmann, they will be in great shape. I feel Jens will be on his game tomorrow, though, and I sense that the Germans will throw everything they have at Spain in order to avoid penalties.

Spain is very dangerous in spot kicks, and they showed it in downing the World Cup champs. Cesc Fabregas in the 57th minute off a cross, and Miroslav Klose in the 83rd minute with a strong left boot for the equalizer. Spain wins 3-1 on penalties.

NFL: The Top-50 Players

Owen Munro — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:14:28 -0400

Writers and admirers of the NFL often like to list their thoughts on the best players in the NFL today. It isn't common that you don't see a list of some sort, breaking down the best players, overall, or by position.

Many think they have the key to the door that unlocks many answers, but are batted down in mid-air. As I was sitting here tonight, I realized I had never done a breakdown of the top players, nor have I ever given my opinion.

Well, tonight, that changes. Here is my list of the "Top 50 Players in the NFL".

1. Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots: I feel Brady really proved himself last season. Breaking a variety of records is one thing. Another thing, is winning the big game, something that eluded the Patriots last season.

You have to think they’ll come back hungrier than ever, with Brady leading that pack. I don’t care how old these guys may be, it’ll be another year of smash-mouth football, something rarely seen.

2. LaDainian Tomlinson, Running Back, San Diego Chargers: People felt that LT had an off year last year, like he wasn’t himself. These people are either just realizing that Tomlinson may just be human, or feel he isn’t human, he is a superman, and they demand 1,800 yards on the ground every year. The scary thing is, he still carried for 1,474 yards on 33 less carries. Through the air? 475 yards, only 33-yards less than last year's total.

3. Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts: Is it really right to label Manning as a choker, for the second time, because he couldn’t beat the Chargers? Another guy who may have had a “down” year, but it was still exceptional.

If Marvin Harrison is able to return to full strength on the field, the Colts are a good bet for another division title, and possibly another Super Bowl appearance. The AFC really is turning into a juggernaut.

4. Champ Bailey, Cornerback, Denver Broncos: How is it that three of the top four players had so-called “down years”, but still fill up more than half of the top-five players? I think you have to look past stats, and look towards the impact they make, in some cases.

It’s spot on for Champ Bailey, in this case. Bailey is still the best cover corner in the NFL, and he still doesn’t get the respect I believe he deserves. Age may become a problem, though.

5. Randy Moss, Wide Receiver, New England Patriots: A year ago today, Randy Moss probably wouldn’t have cracked the top-50. His reputation looks to have been restored, and so has his love for the game. You can’t deny those 23 touchdowns either, can you?

6. Bob Sanders, Safety, Indianapolis Colts: Well, six players down, and we have yet to see an NFC player. Why is that? You really can’t be sure, especially when the casual fan looks at it, and then sees that an NFC team won the Super Bowl.

Well, anything can happen, I guess, and it looks like it has here. When Bob Sanders isn’t injured, he is arguably the best defensive player in the NFL, evident by his DPOY in ‘07.

7. Adrian Peterson, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings: “All-Day” is a threat every down of the football game. He really reminds me of a more explosive Eric Dickerson. Injury concerns have brought him down a drop or two, but I think he is good enough for this ranking, right now. Let’s hope he can continue that dominance he showed last year.

8. Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle, Minnesota Vikings: I’m going to downplay the hate I know I’m going to get here. Most people probably haven’t even heard of Kevin Williams; let alone whom he plays for. Well, here is a brief look on him. He’s strong, big, and can stop the run. He is a plug in the middle, along with Pat Williams. Oh yeah, he is fast enough to penetrate the interior line and get to the QB. Scary good.

9. Carson Palmer, Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals: He and T.J. Houshmandzadeh were really the only bright points last season, which saw a usually solid team in Cincinnati flounder. He is quite easily the third best quarterback in the league. Now, if he can only get some run support.

10. Mario Williams, Defensive End, Houston Texans: If “Super Mario” is the real deal, he’ll show it to us this year by matching, or bettering, an extremely strong 2007 season. He was the DPOY halfway through the year, but started to sputter a bit towards the end of the campaign.

11. Shawne Merriman & DeMarcus Ware, 3-4 OLBs, San Diego Chargers & Dallas Cowboys: These men are tied for the best 3-4 outside linebacker, in my opinion. Both possess badass speed off the edge, and are good enough to support the run defense. In order to be a dominant player like these two, you have to be able to be multi-dimensional, like these two.

12. Terrell Owens, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys: T.O. has always been one of my favorite players. When he is both healthy and not talking smack, or displaying his theatrical skills. He is big, strong, fast, and really everything you look for in a top wide out. He's never afraid of the middle, and he can tear it up with his speed.

13. Jared Allen, Defensive End, Minnesota Vikings: Let’s hope that Jared Allen’s worst days are behind him. Let’s hope that he will never resort to the man who repeatedly drove drunk and almost ruined his career. Let’s hope that he can be everything that we hoped for after an amazingly stellar year in ‘07. I never really noticed how jacked Minnesota’s D-line is now. Wow!

14. Albert Haynesworth, Defensive Tackle, Tennessee Titans: Haynesworth was a rock in the middle of the Titans' rock-solid defensive unit. When he isn’t involved in a head-stomping incident, or isn’t injured, he has the talent to take over a game, which is very hard to do these days in the NFL.

15. Brian Westbrook, Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles: Westbrook is my third running back for two reasons: the ability to explode and take over a game, and his dynamic ability to catch, run, hell, even pass. If injuries didn’t catch up to him, we could be talking about who’s better: Westbrook, or LT?

16. Walter Jones, Left Tackle, Seattle Seahawks: He is getting up there in age, but his ability to block so well when Matt Hasselbeck drops back, and his improving efforts to block for the glut of running backs the Seahawks now have, has him here as my top rated tackle.

17. Ed Reed, Safety, Baltimore Ravens: Don’t worry kids, I haven’t forgot about everyone’s favorite safety, Ed Reed. Also getting up there in age, Reed is still very, very good, fast, and rangy. The second-best safety for a few more years, I would say.

18. Dwight Freeney, Defensive End, Indianapolis Colts: I really don’t like the injury Freeney sustained, and I think it may be hard for him to overcome and ever become fully healthy. It could become a chronic problem.

If he doesn’t get that injury, he is probably sandwiched between Carson Palmer and Mario Williams at the cusp of double digits.

19. Steve Smith, Wide Receiver, Carolina Panthers: It never helps when you lose your top quarterback, have a late-drafted rookie come in, as well as no help on the other side of the field. Smith is constantly doubled, but his versatility and overall skill doesn’t go unnoticed to me.

20. Steve Hutchinson, Left Guard, Minnesota Vikings: There is a reason why Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor have open daylight all the time. The overall offensive line in Minnesota is simply outstanding, and it starts with Birk, McBride, and Hutchinson anchoring the left side.

21. Brian Urlacher, Linebacker, Chicago Bears: One thing I noticed this year about the Bears was the defense. In the past two or three years, the defense was always a top-three unit, and was always all over the opposition. This year, it really didn’t seem the same. That accounts to Urlacher having a down year. He is the heart and soul of Chicago.

22. Steven Jackson, Running Back, St. Louis Rams: Jackson is a banger, and although he had some injuries, and a relatively down year, he is still a top-five back in this league, and can provide a powerful home-run hitter. If he returns to ‘06 form, look out. Durability could be a concern though.

23. Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts: Wayne excelled as the go-to guy in the Indianapolis offense last year. He has moved into the upper echelon of receivers right now. He went up 200 yards from ‘06, and caught 104 balls.

24. Nnamdi Asomugha, Cornerback, Oakland Raiders: Asomugha is going to continue to be overlooked in the Raiders' pass defense. With most of the attention going to DeAngelo Hall, look for Asomugha to match or surpass his 2006 total of eight interceptions.

25. Antonio Gates, Tight End, San Diego Chargers: Gates is going to be continually ranked as my top tight end for what seems like the next four or five years. He plays like a wide receiver, and has proven to play through injury. I don’t think even Tony Gonzalez can compare.

26. Charles Woodson, Cornerback, Green Bay Packers: Woodson is getting up there in age (as is Al Harris), but he doesn’t seem to be losing too much talent. He is continually in the discussion of who is the best corner behind Champ Bailey.

27. Patrick Willis, Inside Linebacker, San Francisco 49ers: Willis may already be the best 3-4 inside linebacker in the game today, and he is only a rookie. He covers the field extremely well, and is a very hard tackler. He is a Merriman or Ware, except on the inside.

28. Drew Brees, Quarterback, New Orleans Saints: I think because the Saints cooled down as a team after a blazing hot season two years ago, Brees has been overlooked. But both years in New Orleans, Brees has put up Pro-Bowl quality numbers, and has done it with an average running attack.

29. Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans: Here is another example of a guy who would be a real force to be reckoned with, if he could stay healthy. Injuries again limited him, allowing Johnson to play just nine games last season. He still put up 851 yards.

30. Chad Johnson, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals: Let’s put aside the concerns of him holding out, or not playing for the Bengals. Johnson still has top-five receiver skills. It really all depends on if “Ocho Cinco” wants to put them to good use. He has all the weapons he needs.

31. Tommie Harris, Defensive Tackle, Chicago Bears: Harris was just extended another four years, which proves he was a main cog in the unit that was No. 1 for about three years. He has underrated quickness, and can still carry the defense on his back, especially against the pass. He's decent against the run.

32. Braylon Edwards, Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns: He and Kellen Winslow Jr. are beginning to make a mark on the NFL. A pair of up-and-comers on an up-and-coming team is never a bad thing. Look for Edwards to prove his worth as a top-10 receiver.

33. Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers: Roethlisberger still gets a lot of negative criticism for his accident two years ago, and that translates onto hate on the field, which I feel is unwarranted, considering his great year last year.

34. Aaron Kampman, Defensive End, Green Bay Packers: He isn’t the heaviest end we’ve seen in history, but he is very good at defending against the run and rushing the quarterback. He is light on his feet and has a lot of speed. The Packers are lucky to have a multi-purpose guy like this.

35. Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals: Both Fitzgerald and Boldin are big-bodied guys who are very tough to defend, and both command a lot of attention. I feel Boldin will be better in the long run, but right now, the nod goes to Fitz as Arizona’s top man.

36. Jason Witten, Tight End, Dallas Cowboys: Witten is a do-it-all kind of guy. He excels in both blocking and pass catching, and he demands double teams, thus opening up all kinds of lanes for the plethora of talent that Dallas possesses in the running and passing game.

37. Osi Umenyiora, Defensive End, New York Giants: I had a tough time deciding who was better, Umenyiora and Kampman. Ultimately, I feel Osi is unproven without Michael Strahan there to demand attention as well, whereas Kampman isn’t. I’d like to see Umenyiora play the solo card, then make another decision.

38. Ernie Sims, Linebacker, Detroit Lions: Sims is a traditional 4-3 outside linebacker, one of the first in my rankings so far. Very fast, and can cover sideline to sideline, and is often amongst the leaders in tackles. The three forced fumbles are nice as well, especially on an otherwise mediocre defense.

39. Marcus Trufant, Cornerback, Seattle Seahawks: Some people might have a hard time believing me when I say Trufant led the NFC last year in total interceptions with seven. He is a great corner who often goes unnoticed. He's one of the more underrated players in the game.

40. Antonio Cromartie, Cornerback, San Diego Chargers: Usually, I would like to see more production than one year before announcing them as a top-50 player, but I think Cromartie has done enough. Anyone who picks off Peyton Manning three times has to be doing something right.

41. Jason Peters, Left Tackle, Buffalo Bills: Should I have Jason Peters a little lower on this list? Maybe. The fact of the matter is that Peters does his job, and does it well, which is good enough for me. He's a solid all-around tackle.

42. Devin Hester, Cornerback/Special Teams, Chicago Bears: I have Hester on this list as a kick returner, in large part because teams feel they can contain him, when they really have no chance. If coaches think they can kick it to him like any normal player, they're dead wrong. Any guy who can change a game on one return is good enough to be on this list.

43. Lofa Tatupu, Linebacker, Seattle Seahawks: One of the main reasons the Seahawks possess such great talent on defense has to be because of Tatupu. He has a natural love of the game, and he is a tackling machine. He plays with his heart on his sleeve and always gives 100%. I have the benefit of watching him each week.

44. Asante Samuel, Cornerback, Philadelphia Eagles: People feel that Samuel is overrated, and he was just made to look good in New England. Others feel that Samuel is just hitting his prime now and is a top-five corner in the league. I don’t agree with the latter, but I also don't buy the first point either.

45. Vince Wilfork, Nose Tackle, New England Patriots: Wilfork is arguably the best 3-4 nose tackle in the league right now, and he is the perfect component to the system. He takes up tons of space, and commands double, and sometimes, triple teams. Enough said.

46. Kellen Winslow Jr., Tight End, Cleveland Browns: Winslow, like mentioned in my thoughts on Braylon Edwards, is an up-and-coming threat, but I don’t think he’ll ever match the production of his father. He possesses great skills to do so, though.

47. Anquan Boldin, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals: A lot of debate could be made on who should go here, should this be the last receiver I have on this list. I like Boldin’s size and speed, and his fearlessness of going over the middle. Not a classic possession receiver, but he plays like one.

48. Eli Manning, Quarterback, New York Giants: I hate the player. I really hate both Peyton and Eli, but I’ll put away my bias for long enough to give Manning a spot here. He did earn the Giants a Super Bowl ring, and he essentially was unstoppable when the playoffs rolled around.

49. Tony Gonzalez, Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs: Gonzalez is fading into the sunlight, into the distance, but not without still having outstanding years. He is another one of those players where, if he has a bad year, you could never tell it with his statistical output.

50. Terence Newman, Cornerback, Dallas Cowboys: “T-New” was given the big payday this offseason, but I don’t think that will take anything away from the way he plays. An aggressive player who can really play smash-mouth football. I have nothing but good things to say about Newman.

And of course, these are just some of the many that are well known, and can play football. I'm sure there are lots of variations of these types of lists, and I'd love to hear feedback from you guys, and your thoughts on the list. Cheers!

NBA Draft Grades: Backtracking on the 2008 Picks

Owen Munro — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:03:23 -0400

Well, another year of "D-Day" has come and gone, and it leaves us this year with a bang. Trades were made (and many of them, too), as well as players either moving up or falling down each team's draft boards.

A surprising trend seems to be emerging, as well: Buying players. Yes, you heard me, buying. For every selection you don’t have, you can cough up some of your extra salary cap to go out and get someone. For teams that are desperate for cap relief, this is a good way to operate. Though, it is living life in the fast lane. Often you will give up someone who could either be a solid rotation player, or a flat-out stud, depending on where you pick, of course.

But now that the draft is over for another year, here are my grades for the 2008 NBA Draft, with analysis for each team. Enjoy!

Atlanta Hawks

No selections made.

The Hawks were one of the most inactive teams on Draft Day, partly because they had no picks to begin with. Atlanta was slated to select 15th, but with this being the first year they don’t have a protected lottery pick, it went to the Suns in part of the Joe Johnson deal a few years back. The Suns selected defensive presence Robin Lopez, twin brother of 10th Overall Pick Brook Lopez. Will the Hawks lose any sleep knowing they missed Robin Lopez? I wouldn’t think so; not at this point, anyway.

Grade: Incomplete.

Boston Celtics

J.R. Giddens - 30th Overall
Bill Walker - 47th Overall
Semih Erden - 60th Overall

It wasn’t as much as it was last year, but Boston looks like it is restocking there shelves for the future, and did a good job of it, too. Picking up two exceptional athletes in Giddens and Walker at their respective spots in the draft was no small feat. Walker was being talked about as a lottery pick in the 2009 Draft, so to buy this pick for nothing but a little cash and cap space is really not a big deal at all. If Walker can overcome those knee injuries, he will be a bright light on the horizon. Giddens is an energetic kid, but if he cannot stay mature and out of trouble, there may not be a spot in the NBA for him for very long. Erden is a interesting 7-foot international prospect who will most likely stay in Turkey to work on his game.

Grade: B

Charlotte Bobcats

D.J. Augustin - 9th Overall
Alexis Ajinca - 20th Overall
Kyle Weaver - 38th Overall

Larry Brown and Michael Jordan have to be shopping Raymond Felton. At the time, the Augustin pick really didn’t make too much sense, but now I’m beginning to understand it, and I actually like it. He will be an eventual improvement over Raymond Felton, who, at this point, obviously hasn’t been the guy the Bobcats hoped he could be. Ajinca and Weaver are both interesting selections. Weaver can play both guard positions, and is an excellent defender. I was very high on Ajinca, based on his workouts, but stepping back and looking at him in a pro standpoint, the five points per game he averaged in France is a wild card. Overall, it could have been a much more powerful draft for Charlotte, and was a bit of a disappointment.

Grade: B-

Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose - 1st Overall
Omer Asik - 36th Overall

I can’t see anything wrong with the Rose pick. He’s a leader, which the Bulls need, and he can distribute the ball well, despite what his assist totals suggested in the NCAA. He’s a fighter, and is a guy who can really lead a team to victory. An all-around great pick for new coach Vinny Del Negro. Asik is one of the better European prospects, and has a high motor, which should provide the Bulls with some energy off the bench. Of course, Asik will not be over in the NBA for a few years, but when (and if) he is, watch out.

Grade: A-

Cleveland Cavaliers

J.J. Hickson - 19th Overall
Darnell Jackson - 52nd Overall
Sasha Kaun - 56th Overall

The Cavaliers played this draft safe, which is a good idea after their blockbuster with Chicago in the later part of last season, but it did, and should, work out well. The Cavaliers essentially got three sleepers, each with an extremely high ceiling, for an amazing draft. LeBron James really can’t complain about this. He gets one of the biggest sleepers in the entire draft in Hickson. Hickson has the ability to become a very good player, but he is raw. Jackson is another good pick who will be great off the bench as a sixth or seventh man in a few years. Kaun, while playing in Russia, should continue to develop his game, and could be an interesting prospect down the line. The Cavaliers found a few diamonds in the rough, but they’ll have to be patient.

Grade: A

Dallas Mavericks

Shan Foster - 51st Overall

The Mavericks took a step back this season, which isn’t the greatest thought, considering Jason Kidd is in his 30s, and the Mavs lost both Devin Harris and their first-round pick, which was good for the Nets to get Ryan Andersen, a great player out of California. Shan Foster is a decent shooter, but will be buried at the end of a deep bench, and is really nothing to write home about.

Grade: D

Denver Nuggets

Sonny Weems - 39th Overall

I haven’t seen too much of Sonny Weems, but he essentially seems like a poor man's J.R. Smith, and is that a good thing? I wouldn’t think too highly of it. The Nuggets did get some cash and cap relief for the 20th pick, and, with the players that were there, it looked like they didn’t make too much of a mistake. Although, a Darrell Arthur or a Mario Chalmers could’ve been nice at 20.

Grade: D

Detroit Pistons

Walter Sharpe - 32nd Overall
Trent Plaisted - 46th Overall
Deron Washington - 59th Overall

You have to feel that Joe Dumars and the Pistons had success in this draft. Dumars had his own edition of “wheeling and dealing” on draft night, and ended up with a trio of prospects. Dumars is a guy who will go out of his way and pick up a guy who could either be a great player, or a complete bust, and Sharpe is this year's edition. I haven’t studied Sharpe much for this draft, but he put up 14 points and seven rebounds per game, which are decent numbers for a player of his quality. I like this draft, so I’ll give them a solid B.

Grade: B

Golden State Warriors

Anthony Randolph - 14th Overall
Richard Hendrix - 49th Overall

I don’t understand the Warriors' draft from my perspective. Randolph is seemingly Brandan Wright with a higher ceiling and a weaker body. Was he the right pick at 14? In terms of "Best Player Available," yes, but when you already have a stronger, almost exact clone, it’s hard to see what is so great about this pick. Hendrix is a good get at No. 49, one of the better value picks, but is another power forward, who, for now, is just going to be buried and labeled as another guy who can’t get playing time in Don Nelson’s system.

Grade: C+

Houston Rockets

Donte Greene - 28th Overall
Joey Dorsey - 33rd Overall
Maarty Leunen - 54th Overall

I think Houston would’ve been better-served keeping Darrell Arthur, who could develop into a real beast in the future, but I understand why they like Greene. While I think Greene could’ve been better off in staying another year at Syracuse, he is a good project guy to work with, who has all the raw talents you look for. Dorsey will be the next Ben Wallace, in my opinion. He is rather limited in the offensive end, but plays very stingy "D," and is all-around very good at guarding big men.

Grade: A-

Indiana Pacers

Brandon Rush - 13th Overall
Roy Hibbert - 17th Overall

I love this draft for Indiana. For a franchise that has been really floundering the past couple of years, they seem to be moving in the right direction now. Rush was one of the most NBA-ready forwards, and he is reunited with brother Kareem Rush. Hibbert provides a presence down low. I don’t fully understand the Hibbert pick, as they just brought in Rush and T.J. Ford, two guys who really fit a fast-paced system, but I think Hibbert can turn up the athleticism, and, if he can reach his full potential, he will be a threat in years to come. One of the best drafts this year.

Grade: A

Los Angeles Clippers

Eric Gordon - 7th Overall
DeAndre Jordan - 35th Overall
Mike Taylor - 55th Overall

Let it be known that I don’t like Eric Gordon. I feel Gordon is just a one-dimensional player, and has just his shot to rely on. He is relatively small at the shooting guard position, at 6’4". To trade up to No. 4 and get him would be ludicrous to me, and, to be quite honest, I feel Gordon is going to bust up on the Clippers. A guy to watch here is Jordan. He is a project, and probably would be better fit if he stayed in school, but he will make the Clippers brass look very, very good, if he pans out into a Dwight Howard-like player, like some were speculating him to. Taylor is also a very good pick, and I feel he will be a solid NBA player.

Grade: B+

Los Angeles Lakers

Joe Crawford - 58th Overall

I read the Sports Illustrated NBA Draft Preview last week, and there was a section where the SI reporters and writers gave their thoughts on players that could be steals in the second Round. Crawford was among them, but not a whole lot of good was said about him. SI said that Crawford could not create his own shot well, as well as not set up others for shots, but would be a crafty scorer of the bench. I agree with this assessment. It really sounds like D-League material to me. The Pau Gasol trade was the main centerpiece of the Lakers season, though, and it was such a steal, that an A is in order, just for it alone.

Grade: A

Memphis Grizzlies

O.J. Mayo - 3rd Overall
Darrell Arthur - 27th Overall

The Grizzlies had a productive draft, which saw them pick up a possible gem in the late first round in Kansas power forward Darrell Arthur. Arthur apparently has kidney and heart problems: never good for a team that is going to spend a first-round pick on him. But the kid has top-15 talent, and will make a lot of GMs look bad if he progresses fine, and turns into a productive player. Mayo is reportedly already on the move, possibly in a deal with Miami, where Michael Beasley would be sent back. If this happens, Chris Wallace will go from donkey to genius.

Grade: B+

Miami Heat

Michael Beasley - 2nd Overall
Mario Chalmers - 34th Overall

The Heat had the best draft—far and away the best draft. They picked up a crafty, powerful scorer in Beasley, and a great guy to start at point guard in Mario Chalmers. Chalmers is a typical Pat Riley player, who can steal the ball and play stingy defence, then turn around and dish the ball to either Dwayne Wade, Shawn Marion, or Michael Beasley—all day. But, if the grumblings of a Beasley/Mayo swap are true, the Heat may have made a bad choice. Now, I’m not saying it based on the talent of Mayo, but on the lack of common sense by Pat Riley. If he doesn’t like Beasley, fine, he doesn’t like the kid. But to trade for something you know you could’ve had? Nonsense.

Grade: A

Milwaukee Bucks

Joe Alexander - 8th Overall
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute - 37th Overall

The Bucks didn’t have a flashy draft. They played it safe this year, but also made a great deal, as well. Picking up Richard Jefferson for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons is a plus, as Milwaukee no longer has to really deal with the baggage Yi came with. Jefferson provides a veteran spark, and tough defender, something Milwaukee sorely needed last year. Joe Alexander could learn well under the tutelage of Jefferson, and could become one of the league's most hard-nosed players if he comes through. A solid, safe draft.

Grade: B+

Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin Love - 5th Overall
Nikola Pekovic - 31st Overall

Kevin McHale actually did quite a solid job this time. I personally see many connections between Love and McHale, and both Kevins actually see the same thing as most do. Love has many old school-type moves down low, and can shoot the ball, as well. He is powerful in and around the basket, but, like DeAndre Jordan, Love could’ve probably used another year in college. Pekovic was one of my favorite prospects, and, although he’ll stay in Europe for a few more years, he has done many things already. Bringing in Mike Miller is great, as well.

Grade: A-

New Jersey Nets

Brook Lopez - 10th Overall
Ryan Anderson - 21st Overall
Chris Douglas-Roberts - 39th Overall

I’m not a fan of Lopez; I think he is going to be somewhat exposed in the NBA, especially in the first few years. But he was great value at 10, especially since there were reports of him going at No. 4 to Seattle. He needs a few more post moves, and could toughen up a bit, but he has the skill-set to survive. The addition of Yi makes the already soft Nets even softer down low, and Ryan Anderson doesn’t exactly fix it. Anderson faces the basket a lot, and also needs to toughen up. Chris Douglas-Roberts is going to be a great pickup from the second round. He presented good value, and filled a need left by Richard Jefferson. The Nets are going to miss Jefferson's defense more than they think.

Grade: A-

New Orleans Hornets

No selections made.

The Hornets “sold” their 27th overall pick to Portland in exchange for cash considerations and, without having to pay a first-rounder, the freeing up of cap room. It left them with no picks in the draft.

Grade: Incomplete

New York Knicks

Danilo Gallinari - 6th Overall

I like the pick of Gallinari, but I feel he is going to be another kid who may be exposed a bit early on in his career as he gets used to the North American style of game. His defense needs to improve, which is surprising, as his father was a “defensive specialist” in Europe. But this was a good start to an eventual rebuilding process for Mike D’Antoni and his team. If they can dangle David Lee to Charlotte for Ray Felton, this team could be very competitive this year, and could definitely surprise people.

Grade: A-

Orlando Magic

Courtney Lee - 22nd Overall

I feel Lee was a need pick for the Magic, and someone who could contribute right away. He has a great pass off the dribble, and can shoot fairly well. But there was better talent on the board, I felt, that could have helped Orlando more, including Darrell Arthur. The Magic had reportedly promised Lee the 22nd overall pick, and he should do well off the bench for Hedo Turkoglu.

Grade: B-

Philadelphia 76ers

Marreese Speights - 16th Overall

In my opinion, this was the best fit for Speights, out of any team. He is a bruiser down low and can rebound exceptionally well, both areas in which Philly needed improvement. If the 76ers can lure a high-profile free agent like Elton Brand, the they are going to excel in an improving Eastern Conference.

Grade: A

Phoenix Suns

Robin Lopez - 15th Overall
Goran Dragic - 42nd Overall

This draft signifies the end of the high-tempo offense in Phoenix. The D’Antoni days are behind them, and, with the pick of Lopez, it only makes sure of it. Lopez was brought in to do exactly what the Suns need; play defense and bring energy to the squad. He gets extra marks for the way his hat fit onto his bed of hair. Dragic could eventually become another energy player of the deep bench, but that remains to be seen.

Grade: B

Portland Trail Blazers

Jerryd Bayless - 11th Overall
Nicolas Batum - 25th Overall

It’s time to really watch out for Portland. They originally added Brandon Rush at 13, but made a swap with Indiana, which took Bayless at 11, in exchange for Rush, Josh McRoberts, and Jarrett Jack. It gives the Blazers the point guard they have been looking for for some time. Moving up for Batum could turn out to be a move that everybody envies, and that’s the type of thing you're going to get from Kevin Pritchard, who is always getting the better of deals, and making moves to better the franchise. Portland is going to be flat-out scary in two or three years.

Grade: A

Sacramento Kings

Jason Thompson - 12th Overall
Sean Singletary - 42nd Overall
Patrick Ewing Jr. - 43rd Overall

This was another ugly draft by the Sacramento Kings. All three times (yes, count it, all three times) the Kings could’ve selected a better player. The selection of Jason Thompson was arguably the ugliest one in the draft. I feel like the Kings could’ve either bought a late-round pick for him, or traded up with their two second-rounders. Maybe that’s the way things go, though. I feel Patrick Ewing Jr. was drafted based on name, and not on skill. He really doesn’t even have a set position. I just don’t know about this draft.

Grade: D-

San Antonio Spurs

George Hill - 26th Overall
Malik Hairston - 48th Overall
James Gist - 57th Overall

San Antonio is usually spot-on with its picks, and usually has an international blend to it. Neither happened this year. I feel there will be a lot of questioning with the pick of Hill, especially when Mario Chalmers was on the board. Hairston is a threat all-around. Good defender, good shot, and can drive. Very nice pickup at No. 48. Gist is a guy who could surprise, especially where he was picked up, but I don’t think he can make the veteran-laden Spurs; not yet. Some D-League ball could do him some good.

Grade: C

Seattle SuperSonics

Russell Westbrook - 4th Overall
Serge Ibaka - 24th Overall
D.J. White - 29th Overall
DeVon Hardin - 50th Overall

I feel Seattle had one of the most productive drafts. They picked up one of the top defenders in this class in Russell Westbrook. He will man the point and will garner a lot of attention, even with Kevin Durant on the floor. I feel he was the right choice at No. 4 now, and, looking over the comparisons of Westbrook and Bayless, I’m confident Sam Presti made the right decision. Serge Ibaka is another international power forward who is another project. How many more does Seattle need? Johan Petro, Saer Sene and Serge Ibaka seem like more than enough to me. D.J. White and DeVon Hardin are both solid pickups, too.

Grade: A

Toronto Raptors

Nathan Jawai - 41st Overall

Based on the deal the Raptors made to pick up some more star talent, and the pickup of Jawai, I feel Toronto is going in the right direction. The Raps needed another big presence, and definitely got it here with the big man from Australia. The deal with Indiana went down as T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, and Roy Hibbert for Jermaine O’Neal. I think Raps fans can live with that.

Grade: B

Utah Jazz

Kosta Koufos - 23rd Overall
Ante Tomic - 44th Overall
Tadija Dragicevic - 53rd Overall

The Jazz went with a certain international flair here. Although American, Koufos definitely has a Greek name, and has Greek parents. The Jazz got a steal with Koufos, who is much like Mehmet Okur. The need was there, as the Jazz needed some big men coming into the draft. Tomic is a guy who will take his time developing in Europe. Dragicevic has a lot of work to do to make it in the NBA.

Grade: B

Washington Wizards

JaVale McGee - 18th Overall

McGee is an interesting player. He has potential, and a lot of upside, but he is fairly raw, and should’ve stayed in school. He and DeAndre Jordan can relate together. I don’t see much of an NBA career from McGee if he isn’t brought along correctly. If the Wizards take their time with him, they could have an interesting prospect on their hands.

Grade: C+

This draft was fairly entertaining, with a lot of star power being moved and a great deal of international flair working its way into the league. I feel that most teams are going to find that at least one player makes it on their bench from this draft. The draft was fairly deep, and had a lot of talent at the top. Here are my thoughts on some personal picks this year.

The gem of the draft in the near future is going to be Cleveland’s Darnell Jackson. He could replace Joe Smith even at the start of camp, and provides a lot of energy and offense to the team. Minnesota’s Nikola Pekovic is my pick to shine in the next four to five years. I really like Pekovic as a prospect, and he will flourish when given the chance in Minnesota.

My bust pick is Eric Gordon. Bias aside, I just don’t think this kid has what it takes to be depended on in the NBA. He seems like a kid who will play only when he wants to, and has just his shot to rely on. People may bring up the fact that he got to the line in college, but the NBA is head and shoulders over the college ranks in terms of defense, and Gordon will soon find that out.

My Rookie of the Year is Greg Oden. I know he wasn’t drafted this year, but he is ROY eligible, as he has not played an NBA game yet. If I had to choose someone from this class, it would be O.J. Mayo right now. If he is traded to Miami, like reports say, I would then have to say Brandon Rush and Michael Beasley would be frontrunners.

I hope people enjoyed the draft as much as I did, and I can’t wait till the next one.

NFL Audibles: Taking a Look at the AFC East

Owen Munro — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:02:32 -0400

Every year around this time, critics try to really break down the NFL. Who won in the offseason? Who failed miserably at the Draft? Which teams will bounce back from defeat a year ago?

Some are easier said then done.

The Patriots weren't expected to run the table all the way up into the Super Bowl. 13-3 would be considered a successful regular season.

And how 'bout dem Jets? Yes, the J-E-T-S. Who saw through the smokescreen of a ridiculously easy schedule a year before? I didn't at the time, but halfway in, it became apparent that some changes needed to be made in the Big Apple, and boy was there ever change.

The same could be said about the Dolphins. The 'Fins floundered their way to a 1-15 season, whom some would considered the worst ever. If it weren't for a flashy over the top pass from Cleo Lemon against a depleted Ravens' defense, we could be sitting here discussing why the Dolphins have gone both undefeated and winless. Scary.

Buffalo see-sawed their way through a decent season, certainly an improvement over the 2006 campaign. Marshawn Lynch didn't looked like a reach, he carried most of the Bills' rushing attack, and it took some heat off of Lee Evans, who was subpar all year. The Bills made a few good moves at the Draft, and made a couple decent signings as well.

So what does this year bring? Can "The Big Tuna" bring the 'Fins out of the basement of the NFL? Will the Bills elevate their game and bring them into the upper echelon of the AFC? Who wins the starting job in New York, an relatively untested Kellen Clemens, or injury-riddled veteran Chad Pennington?

So many questions, and the answers are right around the corner. So what do I think of the AFC East this year?

1. New England Patriots—13-3

I think there is a little more gas left in the tank for Bill Belichick and his Patriots. I don't think Spygate will affect them, it's in the back of their minds. Can Randy Moss and Tom Brady duplicate their amazing success they had last year? I'm leaning towards doubtful.

I fully believe they can put up Pro-Bowl numbers still, but with teams in the NFL learning that you need three corners to survive against the pass-happy Patriots (or any team, for that matter), and with teams learning how to really stop Moss, there's really little doubt in my mind that Randy Moss will not put up another season of record-smashing numbers.

Where do I see this team? A tougher schedule, all three teams in the East got stronger one way or another. The Colts will visit Foxboro, and so will another division where all three teams significantly improved. 13-3 should be a good pace setter for the playoffs.

2. Buffalo Bills—10-6

The Bills narrowly missed the playoffs last year. The team was in it untill I believe the final three weeks. The rushing attack got scary over the course of the year, and you have to believe that James Hardy (father beating aside) will provide the perfect compliment to Lee Evans, who will surely bounce back.

Paul Posluszny is like giving the Bills another pick in this draft, and he will revitalize a somewhat boring defense. No. 1 pick Leodis McKelvin will surely shore up the pass defence, and the addition of Marcus Stroud makes the run defense a lot more dangerous. I like the direction the Bills' are headed. Too bad they aren't coming to western Canada to play some ball.

3. New York Jets—7-9

It could be either another dismal year, or a bounce back year and possibly a playoff appearance. Okay, maybe I am taking it a little too far, but some of the moves the Jets made to get better should make the fans happy, and let them know they are at least trying to win.

Alan Faneca could be just what the doctor ordered for Nick Mangold and D'Brickshaw Ferguson. Tony Richardson could prove vital for the blocking as well. A big question mark is the receiving corps. Is Jerricho Cotchery ready to step into the No. 1 role ahead of Lavernaus Coles, at the end or near the end of the year? Coles isn't getting any younger, and looks to be declining fast. It seems like a classic case of "So many questions, so little answers".

4. Miami Dolphins—5-11

I don't think there is any possible way a Parcells' lead team could do any worse than the sad-sack team did last year. Many new faces were brought in, and not just on the field.

Let's see how Tony Sparano does in his first head-coaching job. For being a rebuilding franchise, a 5-11 mark isn't bad, not bad at all. This should be a transition year for the team, but they do have some talent.

Who starts? Do you give John Beck a few more chances to prove himself, or does Chad Henne get the job right out of Michigan? How have Hagan and Ginn Jr. developed over the offseason?

I have little faith in the secondary too, outside of Will Allen, there really is no presence of an elite player. The loss of Zach Thomas is going to sting a lot more than people think as well. The Dolphins could challenge the Jets for the cellar of the East, but it's not likely.

It may not be a competitive division, but in the next few seasons, I think you're going to see a changing of the guard. The Patriots, I think, are going to start seeing their talent decline as the team gets older and older. The Bills should keep building, and will challenge for the Wild Card. The Jets and Dolphins could challenge for the Wild Card, or could challenge for the No. 1 overall pick. Lots of question will be answered in the upcoming year.