Tag Archive for San Francisco 49ers

Alex Smith to the Cleveland Browns?

January 17, 2013 Vincent Frank Featured, NFL, Vincent Frank
NFC Championship - New York Giants v San Francisco 49ers

Under the new ownership of Jimmy Haslam, the Cleveland Browns have made wholesale moves since the regular season came to an end a few weeks back.

The last day of 2012 brought pink slips for both head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert.

Haslam had the following to say after ousting both the GM and head coach…

We felt that these moves were in the best interests of the Cleveland Browns and our future

It isn’t abnormal to have these types of changes once a new ownership group takes control. For Haslam, it was all about redefining an organization that has existed in mediocrity for a long time now.

Cleveland then went out and hired former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski to be its new head coach. While this hiring wasn’t without turmoil, especially considering Chud’s lack of success with Carolina in 2012, it does bring some new blood to the organization. At the very least, Cleveland went against bringing in a retread head coach. A young team with a new owner needs to have a relatively young head coach to lead the way on the field.

Norv Turner was just recently announced as the Browns offensive coordinator on Thursday. That is one great hire for the organization. While Turner leaves a lot to be desired as it relates to being a head coach, he is a great offensive coordinator in the NFL. His presence will help whoever is under center in 2013.

It isn’t like the Browns are starting from ground zero. Instead, they have a solid nucleus upon which to build on both sides of the ball. Trent Richardson promises to be a Pro Bowl running back in the not so distant future. Meanwhile, rookie second-round pick (supplementary selection) Josh Gordon showed everyone why Cleveland made the then curious decision to exhaust a second-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft on him. Gordon tallied 805 yards on 50 receptions for a whopping 16.1 yards per reception. He will be a solid down field threat.

While Cleveland did finish 5-11, it lost five games by just one score and finished with a -4.4 average scoring differential. It’s important to note how competitive this team was all season with a anemic head coach.

Defensively, the Browns were pretty darn good. Joe Haden, Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard make up a pretty decent trio to build with on that side of the ball. While Cleveland will have to add more talent in the future to compete with offenses in Cincinnati and Baltimore, this is a good start.

Which leads me to my original point.

Cleveland needs to go out there and trade for quarterback Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers. He had a solid working relationship with Norv Turner and would be an immediate upgrade over Brandon Weeden under center.

Smith, who has been one of the most consistently good quarterbacks since the start of 2011, is going to be the odd-man out in San Francisco following the emergence of Colin Kaepernick.

The following are Smith’s stats over the course of his last 27 starts, postseason included:

63.8 completion percentage, 5,376 yards, 38 total touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 96.7 quarterback rating. 

Those are better than average starting quarterback stats in the NFL. Equally as important, Smith was 20-6-1 during that span and threw one interception per 72.1 pass attempts. For comparison’s sake, Weeden threw one interception per 30.4 attempts as a rookie in 2012.

And Smith is younger than the current Browns’ starting quarterback.

Smith does need to have weapons on the offensive side of the ball and a solid offensive line to protect him. If he doesn’t have those things, we could be looking at Smith reverting back to pre-2011 form.

Fortunately, Cleveland does possess a solid offensive line. Weeden was sacked just 28 times in 15 starts during the regular season. Mitchell Schwartz and Joe Thomas are an awesome tandem at the offensive tackle position, while Alex Mack has been nothing short of consistent at center throughout his career.

Richardson would also provide Smith with that Pro Bowl caliber running back that he became accustomed to in the form of Frank Gore in San Francisco.

Give him the deep threat that is Gordon, a decent slot receiver in Greg Little and add one of the top wide receivers in the draft (Keenan Allen?) and you are looking at a really good offense moving forward.

That said, Cleveland won’t be getting Smith for free if it decides to actually court the veteran quarterback. San Francisco knows all too well that Smith’s $10 million salary in 2013 is a bargain. It also knows that both the free agent and draft classes at the quarterback positions are mighty thin. In reality, the 49ers are working from a position of strength here.

It would probably cost Cleveland either a third-round pick or a combination of a fourth rounder and future considerations to nab Smith. On that note, San Francisco promises to have the most draft picks of any team in the NFL this upcoming April. It probably wouldn’t be against taking picks in 2014 in order to send Smith to the right situation and receive decent value in return.

Look for this to be discussed as March and the new league year nears. I, for one, think Smith would be a great addition to the Browns.

 

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NFL Quarterbacks Destined to Play Elsewhere in 2013

December 20, 2012 Vincent Frank Featured, NFL
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One thing is for sure as the 2012 NFL regular season draws to a close. There is going to be a great deal of quarterback movement in the offseason as some teams move on from the past and others attempt to actually find someone of substance at this all-important position.

As you might already know the free agent and draft classes at quarterback leaves a lot to be desired. Outside of Geno Smith, there really isn’t a single franchise-caliber starting quarterback in the draft.

Meanwhile, Jason Campbell is the only soon-to-be free agent even worth looking at as a stop gap starting quarterback option. Even then, he leaves a lot to be desired.

Instead, we are going to see quarterbacks released and traded, which adds to what is already going to be an intriguing offseason. On that note, I thought it made some sense to take a look at a few quarterbacks that will be changing teams in that manner following the season.

 

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

 

 

 

Philadelphia can get out from under Vick’s contract at a cost of just $4.5 million if it releases him prior to the start of the new league year. While the Eagles are definitely going to look in trading their oft-injured quarterback, no team in their right mind will pick up $70 million (non-guaranteed) remaining on his contract.

Additionally, the Eagles seem to have a competent young replacement in the form of rookie Nick Foles, who has impressed in limited action in 2012. If the Eagles do end up releasing Vick, a strong likely hood, two teams have already been mention:

The Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. Yes, the very same Jets who just recently indicated to a source that they are looking for “ball security” from the quarterback position. I guess Rex Ryan and company don’t have much tape on the 2011 and 2012 version of Vick.

Buffalo is a really intriguing option here. Ryan Fitzpatrick just isn’t getting the job done and seems to be regressing from a strong start to the season. While Buffalo just recently signed him to an extension, it can easily get out of the financial terms without having too much dead salary cap money. I see them as a solid possibility.

Pure conjecture, but the Arizona Cardinals also seem like a fit. Kevin Kolb is as good as gone, while Ryan Lindley and John Skelton have been nothing short of disastrous in 2012.

 

Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers

If San Francisco decides to trade or release Smith he will immediately become the most coveted quarterback on the market. It is becoming more and more like that will be the case due to the strong play of second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Smith is a really intriguing option. He was leading the NFL in completion percentage and second in the league in quarterback rating prior to being benched in lieu of Kaepernick. At 28, Smith also seems to be in the prime of his career and has never played better.

He is also set to earn just $19 million over the next two seasons, which is pennies on the dollar for a solid starting quarterback. Considering how weak the free agent and draft classes promise to be this offseason, San Francisco should be able to trade Smith for a decent bounty; most likely a mid-round pick and future considerations.

If the Jets are indeed serious about ball protection, Smith would seem like a great fit. After all, he has thrown one interception per 50 pass attempts over the course of the last three seasons. The Kansas City Chiefs, who are going to part ways with Matt Cassel, are another option.

 

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets

New York finally understands what the rest of us already knew about two years ago. Sanchez just isn’t a good NFL quarterback. In order for it to succeed moving forward it will have to part ways with the former top five pick.

Despite signing a three year, $40.5 million extension with New York back in March, I just don’t see a scenario where the franchise brings him back. It will, however, be on the hook for nearly $9 million should it be forced to release Sanchez.

Various reports indicate that the Jets are going to test the trade market for both Sanchez and Tim Tebow. That being said, there isn’t going to be much of a market for either of them as starters. Heck, there won’t be one.

A team like the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars or Kansas City Chiefs could bring Sanchez in, under a restructured deal, to be a backup for a young quarterback.

Meanwhile, Tebow isn’t going to get any play at all. He is a collegiate-level quarterback who would need an entire offensive philosophy changed in order to succeed. That’s not happening in the NFL.

 

Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders

$11 million of the nearly $40 million remaining on Palmer’s contract is guaranteed. This makes it incredibly hard for Reggie McKenzie to part with the disappointing veteran quarterback. His choice is either take a $11 million cap hit in 2013 in order to look to the future (Terrelle Pryor?) or be stuck with Palmer for another season.

That being said, keeping Palmer on next season would be delaying the inevitable. He is guaranteed nearly $8 million in both 2014 and 2015. I can easily envision a scenario where McKenzie decides to bite the bullet.

Palmer still has the talent and arm to be a somewhat reliable starting quarterback. His problems in Oakland seem to be that he doesn’t fit the scheme all too well and struggles with decision making. A team like Arizona could easily make a play for him as a stop gap for a rookie.

 

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If the NFL Playoffs Started Today…..

December 18, 2012 Vincent Frank Featured, NFL
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We are nearly through the initial 15 week of the 2012 NFL regular season and a lot has been decided. With that in mind, there is still a lot of drama ready to take place in the remaining two weeks of the season heading into the playoffs in January.

I decided that it made sense for us to take a look at the playoff matchups if the second season were to start today. Who would have the upper hand in each game? What the Super Bowl might look like? Of course this can all change within the blink of an eye.

 

NFC Wildcard

 

(5) Seattle Seahawks at (4) Washington Redskins

Russell Wilson taking on Robert Griffin III in an opening round playoff game. The NFL seriously couldn’t draw it up any better if this were to happen. These quarterbacks are playing at the highest levels we have seen for rookies in quite some time, it not ever. They have combined for 48 total touchdowns and just 13 interceptions, while leading their teams to playoff contention.

Washington currently sits in a three-way tie for first in the NFC East and Seattle has the inside shot for the first wildcard spot.

This game comes down to a couple different factors. Despite winning two consecutive road games, Seattle really isn’t that good away from the Pacific Northwest. It will be going into a hostile environment with a rookie quarterback making his first playoff start. That usually spells doom. However, Washington’s defense ranks among the worst in the entire NFL against the pass, which bodes well for Wilson.

In the end, I will take the rookie playing a home over the rookie making his first playoff start on the road in a hostile environment.

 

(6) Minnesota Vikings at (3) Green Bay Packers

On the surface, this game wouldn’t even be close. Aaron Rodgers and the NFC North Champions taking on a struggling Christian Ponder at home in January. There is no way Minnesota would even be able to keep this game close. Well, that’s just on the surface.

The Vikings have someone by the name of Adrian Peterson, who is putting together one of the most impressive seasons for a running back in NFL history. He is currently on pace to surpass the 2,000 yard rushing mark after tearing up his left knee less than a year ago. Just think about that for a second.

I still don’t see Minnesota being able to pull out what would be a surprising playoff win in Lambeau. While the Packers come away with the win, this game would be much closer than originally anticipated.

 

AFC Wildcard 

 

(5) Indianapolis Colts at (4) Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore has not lost three in a row, but was able to sneak into the playoffs after a bunch of other AFC teams laid eggs in Week 15. While the Ravens have yet to clinch the AFC North, it’s looking more and more like they’ll end up with the No. 4 seed.

Meanwhile, Indianapolis is having one of the most surprising seasons in the entire NFL. It is 9-5 through 15 weeks and nearly assured of a playoff spot. What Andrew Luck has done as a rookie is nothing short of amazing.

This is a good matchup for the Colts as well. Baltimore ranks in the bottom 10 of the NFL against the pass, which indicates Luck would have a solid game. While the Colts secondary leaves a lot to be desired, I can easily see Indy pulling off a minor upset here.

 

(6) Cincinnati Bengals at (3) New England Patriots

New England lost a golden opportunity to earn a first-round bye when it fell to the San Francisco 49ers at home on Sunday. It is now probably going to have to take on the final AFC seed at home in the wildcard round.

Don’t fret.

The Patriots will not lose a home wildcard game against a team like Cincinnati. It just isn’t going to happen.

 

NFC Divisional Playoffs

 

(4) Washington Redskins at (1) Atlanta Falcons

Can Atlanta actually win its first playoff game under Matt Ryan? While the Falcons have been the best team (record-wise) in the NFC this season, there is a feeling that they’re vulnerable in the playoffs.

I just don’t envision Robert Griffin III being able to go into the Georgia Dome and coming away with a victory. Washington, no matter how great it has been playing recently, isn’t Super Bowl contenders at this point. Expect Atlanta to take care of business in a relatively easy manner.

 

(3) Green Bay Packers at (2) San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco already defeated Green Bay once this season. It went into Lambeau in the season opener and really dominated what is a great Packers team. The 49ers have an added dimension on the offensive side of the ball in the form of Colin Kaepernick, who was riding the pine behind Alex Smith in September’s game.

I wouldn’t expect this game to be too close. Aaron Rodgers can pick apart a secondary, but he won’t have an opportunity to going up against what is the most dominating front seven in the NFL. San Francisco wins by multiple scores here.

AFC Divisional Playoffs

 

(5) Indianapolis Colts at (1) Houston Texans

The Colts dream season comes crashing down in this one as the franchise realizes it isn’t ready to compete with the big boys on the biggest stage. Arian Foster will be able to exploit a weak Colts front seven and Houston will make it to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history.

 

 

 

 

 

(3) New England Patriots at (1) Denver Broncos 

This would be one hell of a game. Peyton Manning against Tom Brady, part…… Well, you get the point. There is a real chance that Denver will go into this game in the midst of a 11-game winning streak. By no means does that indicate that it will run all over the defending AFC Champions.

While I expect this game to be really close, Manning pulls it out in front of the home crowd in Denver and takes it to the conference championship.

 

NFC Championship Game

 

(2) San Francisco 49ers at (1) Atlanta Falcons

This is a really good matchup for San Francisco. Its defense has the ability to turn Atlanta into a one dimensional offense, which will not work out too well with the type of scheme the 49ers run. While Roddy White and Julio Jones do create a tremendous amount of mismatches at wide receiver, I fully expect Carlos Rogers, Chris Culliver and Tarell Brown to be up to the task.

If this game is left into the right hand of Matt Ryan, Atlanta will be in trouble. We have seen the 49ers defense make elite quarterbacks look average over the course of the last couple seasons. That won’t change it Atlanta is unable to generate a running game with Michael Turner.

On the other side of the ball, Atlanta also matches up well against San Francisco’s offense. John Abraham and the pass rush should be able to put ample pressure on Colin Kaepernick. The one thing that I see San Francisco being able to take advantage of is Kaepernick’s athletic ability and willingness to run the ball on his own. If Atlanta is forced to the box in order to prevent him from running, we could easily see Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis with one on one coverage.

In the end, San Francisco pulls off the mild upset and returns to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1994.

AFC Championship Game

 

(2) Denver Broncos at (1) Houston Texans

While Houston would be considered the “favorite” here, I just don’t see them being able to stop Peyton Manning and the Broncos passing game. The Texans have a wide array of issues in the defensive secondary and will struggle to keep with Demaryius Thomas and Erick Decker down the field.

On the other hand, Denver should have issues being able to stop both Arian Foster Andre Johnson in this one. Its front seven isn’t the greatest in the world and can be beaten off the line. If the Broncos give Foster any type of holes to run through, he will  eat them apart.

Expect a high-scoring game, but the road-tripping Broncos will take it and return to the Super Bowl for the first time since last millennium.

 

Super Bowl 

 

Denver Broncos vs San Francisco 49ers

John Elway will look to get his revenge against the franchise that embarrassed him in Super Bowl XXIV by the score of 55-10. The good news for Elway is that he won’t have to play against San Francisco’s dominating defense. The better news for Elway and company is that the 49ers don’t have Joe Montana to throw the ball to Jerry Rice in this one.

While many of us are probably pulling for a Patriots-49ers rematch, especially after how Sunday night’s game went, Denver will spoil the part.

Manning should be able to do what no quarterback in the NFL has done against San Francisco this season. That is, of course, being able to stand strong in the pocket and finding his receivers on the outside with a decent lane to throw to. Manning has been sacked the least amount of times in the NFL this season, and don’t expect San Francisco’s front seven to be able to put a whole lot of pressure on him.

On the other hand, Colin Kaepernick matches up well against Denver’s defense. He has the arm strength to get the ball deep against lackluster corners and can easily use his athletic ability to get out of the pocket and make something out of nothing.

This would be a really high-scoring Super Bowl with Denver coming out on top by something to the tune of 38-34.

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Roger Goodell Owes us More than an Apology

September 28, 2012 Vincent Frank Featured, NFL, Vincent Frank
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Roger Goodell and the National Football League released the following statement earlier today in an email to the media and fans alike.

I believe in accountability, not excuses. And I regret we were not able to secure an agreement sooner in the process and avoid the unfortunate distractions to the game. You deserve better.

Of course the figurehead of the league office in Park Avenue, New York, had to release something following the disastrous turn of events on Monday night between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. While the NFLRA and NFL have come to a Collective Bargaining Agreement and regular officials were on the field last night, the lockout that lasted into the third week of the season could have some long-term ramifications.

If you ask anyone who didn’t have a rooting interest in the Seattle/Green Bay game, they will tell you that the road-tripping Packers were denied a victory by one of the most obscene and ridiculous officiating mistakes in the modern history of professional sports.

There are some that will want to sweep this under the rug because regular officials are back. That would be a major mistake. The legitimacy of the 2012 NFL season might have already been thrown out the window.

What happens if Green Bay misses the postseason by one game? What about Seattle in the NFC West? What happens if they grab the division title from either the San Francisco 49ers or Arizona Cardinals because of that one “win?”

More importantly, all three teams in the NFC West play Green Bay this season. What happens if the division tie-breaker comes down to record against like opponents? Both San Francisco and Seattle have now “beaten” Green Bay.

These are questions I am pretty sure the league office is asking itself right now. These are also scenarios that I can guarantee they are praying don’t pan out.

I am pretty sure that the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions aren’t complaining internally about Monday’s game. But, I highly doubt any of them want to win the division under this type of scenario.

With all this in mind, a likely scenario remains that Monday’s game will not have an impact on the postseason race moving forward. Still, Goodell and company owe us answers.

Whether it is the $300 we pay for Sunday Ticket, the $60 for NFL Game Rewind, or the thousands we put out in NFL game tickets, fans expect the best possible product on the football field. We don’t deserve officials that have been fired by the Lingerie Football League. We deserve nothing but the best in terms of play and officiating. Billionaire power elites in Park Avenue have no right, through the guise of “bettering the product,” to field anything less than the best on a weekly basis.

Now we as fans, journalists and even the players have had to suffer through nearly one-quarter of the season with disastrous officiating the world over. We deserve a refund, a rebate or something to that effect. It is owed to us, we are entitled to it…And Goodell needs to get his head out of his ass and pony up something for the lack of respect the NFL has shown to those who make the league thrive.

If not, the commish simply needs to call it quits and resign following the season. This was a joke, he acted as nothing more than a figurehead for a small group of individuals that have their economic bottom line, not the health of the league, in the forefront of their minds.

We will obviously be hearing more about his role moving forward if the 2013 NFL Playoffs are tainted due to Monday night’s disastrous officiating performance. After all, a few million isn’t worth the legitimacy of the National Football League and Goodell needs to be held accountable.

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The Pistol Offense and Zone Reads: A Trend to the Future

August 16, 2012 Vincent Frank Featured, NFL, Vincent Frank
Demps

Watching Colin Kaepernick’s 78 yard touchdown run against the Minnesota Vikings last Friday got me thinking. It seems that the San Francisco 49ers intelligently designed that play in order for LaMichael James to be in the backfield at the same time.

Whether you are looking at a pistol design or a zone-read, which was the case with Kaepernick, this could be the new package that teams with an excess of athleticism run.

Think about it for a second.

Kaepernick and James combined for over 9,000 rushing yards in college. For those of us who are not math savants, that equates to about five miles of running. Simply amazing. Defenses will not be able to hone in on the quarterback in this situation because James has the ability to break the long run on the outside should the ball be handed to him. They’re not going to be able to hone in on the running back because the quarterback possesses the same capability.

Pistol Offense

In short, it confuses the hell out of the defense and can lead to a long gain. I am not talking about an entire offensive scheme catered to this. Rather, a play or two per game.

This isn’t just limited to the 49ers, though they showed success with it in their preseason opener.

The Oakland Raiders could run the same type of “gadget play” with Terrelle Pryor and Taiwan Jones in the backfield. Just think about that for a second. Two players that run a sub 4.5 40-yard dash in the backfield at the same time. It remains to be seen if Oakland is going to attempt to try to run this play in their remaining preseason games.

Let’s say the New York Jets sign former Florida running back Jeff Demps to a rookie free agent contract. The idea of Tim Tebow and the talented young running back in the same backfield running a zone read or pistol play would be cause for alarm for opposing teams.

This story can be repeated over and over again with teams that have an athletic quarterback on the roster. Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, Michael Vick, Brad Smith and even Aaron Rodgers would all have the capabilities to do it.

Move over wildcat, this could be the new gimmick of the modern National Football League. I for one am intrigued.

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2012 NFL Power Rankings: Version 1.0

August 15, 2012 Vincent Frank Featured, NFL, Vincent Frank
Pro Football Nuts

 

It might be too early to take a look at where most teams stand in the National Football League. After all, we are just coming off of one week of preseason football. Talk about jumping the gun.

With that it mind, I am fully prepared to run towards the cliff with a blow-horn and blurt out random names to see if they stick come January. These power rankings will be updated every week.

 

32. Cleveland Browns (AFC Rank: 16)

The Browns ineptitude on the offensive side of the ball is going to be their undoing. Brandon Weeden is nowhere near being a starter caliber quarterback in the NFL and they don’t have the weapons on the outside to succeed.

31. Minnesota Vikings (NFC Rank: 16)

They looked really bad Friday night against the San Francisco 49ers. I understand it was just the first preseason game, but this team is lacking talent across the board on both sides of the ball.

30. St. Louis Rams (NFC Rank: 15)

That was an embarrassing way to start the Jeff Fisher era in St. Louis. While it is hard to take stock of a team after one preseason game, the Rams have a great deal of work to do in order to compete on a consistent basis on Sunday’s.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC Rank: 15)

Even with Maurice Jones-Drew in the fold, this team wasn’t going to win more than five games. Take him out of the mix and you have the second worst offense in the NFL behind Cleveland. Wont win you many games.

28. Indianapolis Colts (AFC Rank: 14)

Andrew Luck and Co. where might impressive on Sunday against the Rams. Though this should be taken with a grain of salt, you have to be happy about the way this young team looked with the rookie quarterback leading the charge.

27. Arizona Cardinals (NFC Rank: 14)

Kevin Kolb or John Skelton, does it really matter? The Cardinals are so inept at the quarterback position that it makes them look like a Pop Warner team at times. Arizona’s two top quarterbacks have combined for a 19.2 quarterback rating in two preseason games.

26. Miami Dolphins (AFC Rank: 13)

Ryan Tannehill was might impressive, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. He has a tremendous amount of work to do. Miami’s best shot at contention is with either David Garrard or Matt Moore under center. Either way, the lack of talent at wide receiver is going to hurt.

25. Oakland Raiders (AFC Rank: 12)

Even by preseason standards, the Raiders loss to Dallas on Monday night was horrendous. This team couldn’t do anything right, struggling in nearly every aspect of the game. I guess their defense looked good, holding the Cowboys to three points. Something to take out of the performance. It’s going to take some time for this team to gel.

24. New York Jets (AFC Rank: 11)

This team is lacking chemistry and talent across the board, none more than at the quarterback position. Neither Mark Sanchez nor Tim Tebow appear to be the answer. They don’t have the receivers to make plays and lack young talent on defense. Get primed for a down season in New York with the Jets.

23. Washington Redskins (NFC Rank: 13)

Robert Griffin III definitely impressed in his preseason debut and I would love to put the Skin’s higher, but I just don’t see it. They’re schedule is going to be brutal in 2012, which indicates another losing season in the capital. For Washington, it is all about progression from the youngsters, RGIII included.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC Rank: 12)

It does seem that Greg Schiano is planning on running an offense that fits their talents much better than what we saw last season. The additions of Carl Nicks, Vincent Jackson and Doug Martin will help on the offensive side of the ball. The division they play in coupled with a bad defense leads me to believe this team finishes in the cellar once again.

21. Carolina Panthers (NFC Rank: 11)

Can Cam Newton take the next step? If he does, will the Panthers make the postseason? While I am happy with what Carolina did in the draft and to an extent in free agency, they seem to be a year or so away from contention.

20. Dallas Cowboys (NFC Rank: 10)

Let’s not read too much into the Cowboys lack of offensive performance Monday night against the Oakland Raiders. They didn’t have a couple healthy bodies on the offensive line and it just didn’t seem like the team was connecting. That being said, Dallas needs to get it together relatively quickly.

19. Tennessee Titans (AFC Rank: 10)

Jake Locker appears to be the favorite to win Tennessee’s starting quarterback job. It really doesn’t matter, both will be able to lead the Titans to postseason contention. It is all about moving forward with the young quarterback at the helm.

18. San Diego Chargers (AFC Rank: 9)

One of the most disappointing teams in recent NFL history, the pressure is definitely on Norv Turner and Co. this season. They need to win double-digit games and make a postseason run. If history serves as an indicator, fans in Southern California will be disappointed once again.

17. Buffalo Bills (AFC Rank: 8)

The Bills will be right in the mix for a postseason spot when all is said and done. Despite a rough preseason debut, this is a team that has talent clear across the board. The additions of Mario Williams and Stephon Gilmore were huge. There success will depend a great deal on the play of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

16. Detroit Lions (NFC Rank: 9)

I will probably receive some flack for having the Lions so low on this list, but let me explain. They’re going to find it difficult to win on a consistent basis without a ground game on offense and lackluster play in the secondary. Couple that with playing in a tough division and this could be a disappointing season in the Motor City.

15. Seattle Seahawks (NFC Rank: 8)

Yet another team that should be in the race for the duration of the 2012 season. Seattle looked mighty impressive in their preseason opener as it seems their quarterback competition has been dwindled down to Matt Flynn and Russell Wilson. Solid play at this position could get Seattle into the second season.

14. Denver Broncos (AFC Rank: 7)

I am not going to buy into the Peyton Manning hype until the future Hall of Fame quarterback proves he can stay healthy during the regular season. If this happens, Denver might end up favorites in the AFC West.

13. New Orleans Saints (NFC Rank: 7)

Again, I will probably get some flack for having the Saints so low. It really is hard to underscore just how much the loss of head coach Sean Payton will hurt New Orleans. You need solid coaching to win consistently in the NFL and without him the Saints just don’t have that.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC Rank: 6)

Pittsburgh has a few different issues to address if they’re going to return to the postseason in 2012. David DeCastro and Mike Adams, both rookies, are going to have to step up along the o-line to keep Big Ben upright. They are also going to have to find someone to be a consistent threat on the ground in the running game.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (AFC Rank: 5)

You can definitely expect Cincinnati to take a step forward in 2012. Both Andy Dalton and A.J. Green has a year of seasoning under their belt. This is going to make a huge difference. Additionally, Cincinnati addressed defensive concerns along the defensive line and in the secondary. Definitely a team on the upswing.

10. Kansas City Chiefs (AFC Rank: 4)

Tell me that the Baltimore Ravens would have succeeded last season if they were without Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Ed Reed for a majority of the season. This is the situation that Kansas City found themselves in last year. With a fully healthy roster, they are the clear cut favorites to win what promises to be a competitive division.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (NFC Rank: 6)

Again, I am not going to buy into the hype here. Though Philadelphia has one of the most talented rosters in the league, they need to start putting it together on the football field. Additionally, Michael Vick is going to have to show he can stay healthy for an entire season if the Eagles are going to win the NFC East.

8. Chicago Bears (NFC Rank: 5)

One major concern as it relates to the Bears is pass protection. They didn’t do much to address this issue in the offseason and saw their quarterbacks sacked six times in the preseason opener. The weapons are there on the offensive side of the ball with Michael Bush, Brandon Marshal and Alshon Jeffery. It is all about putting it together and keeping Jay Cutler upright.

7. Baltimore Ravens (AFC Rank: 3)

The loss of Terrell Suggs for what promises to be the majority of the 2012 season is going to hurt a great deal. You don’t lose the reigning Defensive Player of the Year without taking somewhat of a step back. Baltimore needs Joe Flacco to step his game up if they’re going to be serious contenders for the conference championship.

6. Atlanta Falcons (NFC Rank: 4)

Boy, the Falcons first-team was impressive in their preseason opener against the aforementioned Ravens. No, this isn’t the reason why I have Atlanta rated higher. Instead, it seems they are going to have one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL this season. Couple that with an improved defense and you have the makings for a possible Super Bowl run. It is all about winning in January, something Matt Ryan has been unable to do.

5. Houston Texans (AFC Rank: 2)

Houston didn’t really have a great offseason. The losses of Eric Winston, Mike Brisiel and Mario Williams is definitely going to hurt. That being said, this team has the talent on both sides of the ball to compete for the AFC Championship. Again, we are looking at injuries. They need Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson to play the duration of the season for this to become a reality.

4. Green Bay Packers (NFC Rank: 3)

How can a team that won 15 regular season games the year before not be in the top three? Well, if that team is the Packers extended expectations are not needed. Green Bay laid an egg in their first postseason game and finished as one of the two worst defensive teams in the league. We all know about Aaron Rodgers and Co. on offense, but youngsters need to step up on the other side of the ball is this team is going to win the NFC.

3. New England Patriots (AFC Rank: 1)

They did a great job adding players at need positions on both sides of the ball. Brandon Lloyd is going to play the part of a serious receiving threat on the outside. He teams up with Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Deion Branch to form an elite passing game for Tom Brady. Chandler Jones, who was impressive in his NFL debut against the New Orleans Saints last week, should help the defensive out a great deal. Definitely the frontrunners for another trip to the Super Bowl out of the AFC.

2. San Francisco 49ers (NFC Rank: 2)

This team is absolutely stacked. Trent Baalke and Co. did an amazing job adding talent where it needed to be added in the offseason. Their offense promises to be vastly improved from a pedestrian 2011 campaign, while Alex Smith seems like he is ready to take that next step. San Francisco also returns all 11 starters from one of the most dominating defenses in the league. I wouldn’t be surprised if the 49ers brought home their sixth Super Bowl Championship in New Orleans in February. In fact, they should be considered favorites to do so.

1. New York Giants (NFC Rank: 1)

Do I believe the Giants are the best team in the NFL? No. In fact, I think it is going to be hard for them to even make the postseason in the tough NFC. That being said, the defending Super Bowl Champions need to be ranked No. 1 until they lose a football game. This is my philosophy and I will NEVER change it.

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San Francisco 49ers: Evaluating New-Look Offensive Line

July 2, 2012 Joey Levitt Featured, NFL
Courtesy of Bleacher Report

The cacophony of fans and analysts alike clamoring for help on the offensive line for the San Francisco 49ers was fairly aggressive after last season.

For a 13-3 team that had few deficiencies in 2011, this was one area of the team that actually deserved scrutiny.

Opposing defenses sacked quarterback Alex Smith 44 times, good (or bad) for 25th in the league. Great blocking for Frank Gore and his brethren, but not always for the man handing the ball off.

Clearly susceptible to the pass rush, what are the implications heading into 2012?

How will Alex Boone fare in his newfound starting role at right guard? Will Jonathan Goodwin (center) remain healthy for the majority of the year? Can the talented Anthony Davis capitalize on his skill set and prove his worth at the right outside edge?

Mere speculation at this point—that’s for sure. However, for the purposes of this article, it’s worth investigating into the inner workings of the most unheralded position set on the field.

Joe Staley (LT): Mr. Staley earned his first nod for the Pro Bowl this past season. Unless he succumbs to former injury tendencies of 2009-2010, he’ll continue his progression as one of the better blind-side protectors in the NFL.

Mike Iupati (LG): The argument of “one of the better” does not apply here. The resident Samoan is a pure mauler in every sense of the word. Athleticism, man strength, high football IQ—watch for Iupati to enter the discussion of the best in the NFL.

Jonathan Goodwin (C): As reliable as he was for the most part of last season, Goodwin allowed the most sacks (5) out of any center. The quarterback of this offensive line is a fluid run-blocker and solid overall player, but will surely be a focal point of potential derision. Backup Daniel Kilgore is the future at this position.

Alex Boone (RG): This position will be the most scrutinized out of any along the Red and Gold’s front line. Boone is the tentative starter at this point after Adam Snyder signed with the Cardinals as a free agent (reason for the italics). He looks every part of an offensive tackle (6’8”, 300 lbs), but will operate the interior in 2012. Developing chemistry with his fellow linemen is the greatest necessity at this point. If Boone succeeds, so will the rest of Niners O-line.

Anthony Davis (RT): Davis did not produce a very noteworthy campaign last year. Pro Football Focus graded him the 57th-ranked offensive tackle. His proficency in pass protection was not commensurate with his performance as a run blocker on the move. He surrendered eight sacks and gave up another 30 QB hurries. Davis must fulfill his first-round talent to ensure that Alex Smith has the neccessary time to hit all the new 49er receivers.

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The NFL Must Save Terrell Owens

July 1, 2012 JonesKwame Featured, NFL
Terrell Owens

In the end Terrell Owens gave everything he had to the NFL and the NFL profited mightily from his hard work. Now that Owens needs the NFL they are not looking his way.

From 2001 to 2007 Owens was the best football player in the game. No other player dominated his position like Owens in that time frame. On the field Owens was money and off it he was box office. The wide receiver was the topic of every barbershop or beauty salon and drove the NFL’s ratings through the roof.

He made the San Francisco 49ers relevant once Jerry Rice retired, helped the Philadelphia Eagles reach the Super Bowl, and made the Dallas Cowboys must see T.V. No.81 was the NFL and the league soaked it up, to the tune of a new national televised station and a billion dollar television contract. Everyone benefited from Owens’ play AND his antics, except the player.

Owens’ appearance on Dr. Phil showed us the man behind the fame

Unfortunately, while a player’s career can vary based on production, location, and desire it seems to many player’s careers are ending the exact same. These very endings have become predictable and tragically pathetic, which brings us to one Terrell Eldorado Owens.

On Tuesday May 29th, Owens was released from the Allen Wranglers, who are an indoor football team. The official report was the indoor football team released Owens for not adhering to his contract. Regardless, of their reason the Hall-of-Fame receiver had absolutely no business playing in an Indoor Football League for weekend warriors.

Therein lies the problem, Owens is in desperate need of help. During his playing days many people found the time to criticize and capitalize on the receiver publicly, yet now in what has escalated from a simple cry for help to a boisterous yell is willing to extend a hand ……..publicly.

For all his fiasco Owens was splendor and production as well as. That achievement now leaves him just 35 catches shy of third all-time in NFL history in receptions. Yet the wide receiver remains unemployed, partly because he is high maintenance “allegedly”.

More issues with the Eagles may have had black-ball effect on Owens around the NFL

However, since when is the NFL a league of docile and emotionally fragile, last we check the league was for Gladiators not Glee fans. No one cared when Owens ruffled feathers, as long as the checks got cut and ESPN was parked outside. Today, the wide receiver that roared would be a valuable piece to a championship puzzle, but no one wants to see if he fits.

The thought that a player can have career-threatening neck surgery and a still be a viable option for some teams. While a player who did nothing more than talk constantly is regarded as a risk is baffling.

Let us all be realistic, Owens was not only the best player in the league at one point he was the face of the league for better or worse at one point. The NFL relished in it and their pockets were rewarded for his antics, the very same antics that they now point to for justification of his exile.

A warrior’s actions in battle should never be judged against him in life. Yes Owens was extreme and yes he alienated, agitated, and irritated when he was at the top of his game, but he never gave you anything short then 100% on the field.

That should be reciprocated to him in his time of need. Let us be clear Owens can still play in the NFL, the question is if the NFL will allow him to play.

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2012 NFL Predictions: Top Contenders for Offensive Rookie of the Year

June 30, 2012 Vincent Frank NFL
AndrewLuckColtsStadium

Here we are, less than six weeks before the start of the 2012 NFL preseason. No matter how meaningless those games are, it is still FOOTBALL. Yes, real football. Not the Arena League, or Terrell Owens playing in some Texas semi-pro league. Real football.

At this point in the offseason it has become pretty clear what rookies are going to make an impact and what rookies are going to be held further down on the depth chart heading into the 2012 season.

This article is going to focus on contenders for Offensive Rookie of the Year and give you a final prediction as to who is going to win the “coveted” award.

 

Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts

It goes without saying that the No. 1 overall pick that just so happens to be a quarterback would be on this list. Just take a look at what Cam Newton did last year for the Carolina Panthers.

That being said, Andrew Luck is going into a much different situation with the Indianapolis Colts heading into the 2012 season. His new team added two dynamic play-makers early in the draft in the form of Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen. These two tight ends are going to do wonders for Luck. They will act as safety valves between the hashes and help take pressure off the talented young signal-caller.

T.Y. Hilton from Florida International late in the third round was also an amazing pick. He can stretch the field and should work well with the strong arm that Luck possesses.

Indianapolis also has veteran receiver and future Hall of Fame inductee Reggie Wayne returning to the fold. There really isn’t a great reason to believe that Luck will struggle out of the gate. Rather, you can expect him to throw for over 3,500 yards and accumulate more touchdowns than interceptions.

 

Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

Courtesy of the Washington Redskins

This is another extremely interesting situation. The Redskins were able to add a couple nice pieces to their passing game before the drafted the reigning Heisman Trophy Award Winner. Despite over-paying for Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, these two should give him consistent weapons in the passing game. Morgan will especially come in handy as the slot guy, a position that seems to fit him extremely well.

Don’t sleep on Fred Davis either. The talented young tight end can be the best friend of RGIII during the ladders initial NFL campaign.

In reality, it does seem that RGIII is in a better situation to succeed than Luck. He has a much more experiences and talented offensive line working the trenches. You really cannot discount the importance of that.

 

Trent Richardson, Running Back, Cleveland Browns

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

I am not ready to denote the former Alabama standout as the odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year. In fact, he has a long road ahead of himself as a rookie in 2012. This has absolutely nothing to do with the talent that Richardson possesses. Rather, it is all about the situation that he is heading into as a rookie for the Cleveland Browns. Their offense literally has no consistent receiving weapons on the outside and will be throwing out a rookie quarterback to the proverbial wolves.

This all adds up to about eight defenders being thrown into the box against the run. Even the best running backs in the National Football League would have a hard time succeeding in this situation.

Once the Browns are able to find some resemblance is a consistent passing game you can expect Richardson to contend for the rushing title. Until that happens, he is going to struggle.

 

Doug Martin, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Here is a running back that should be able to make a strong impact rather early in his career. The Buccaneers traded up for Martin towards the back end of the first round and received great value. I had the Boise State product as the second best running back in the draft class behind the aforementioned Trent Richardson.

That being said, Martin finds himself in a much better situation. Tampa Bay has a much more talented and seasoned quarterback in the form of Josh Freeman, they possess sold receiving options on the outside and have one of the most talented run-blocking offensive lines in the National Football League.

I can easily envision a scenario where Martin rushes for over 1,300 yards and catches about 50 passes.

 

Brian Quick, Wide Receiver, St. Louis Rams

Courtesy of SB Nation

Many people concluded that I was purely insane by predicting that Brian Quick would and should get some first-round play. Once it became clear that the Rams were going to select Quick with the initial pick of the second round, these predictions seemed pretty good.

The former Appalachian State product has the build and physical ability to be a truly dominating No. 1 wide receiver in the National Football League. Despite playing against less than stellar competition and running a limited route-tree in college, Quick should make an immediate impact. This is only magnified by the fact that St. Louis is in dire need of a receiver stepping up and being a consistent target for Sam Bradford. A total of 1,000 yards isn’t out of the realm of possibility for Quick as a rookie in 2012.

 

LaMichael James, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers

This might be a surprising addition to the list simply because the 49ers appeared to be stacked at the running back position. That is just on the surface. San Francisco didn’t select James to be an every-down ‘back in the National Football League. Instead, he was brought in to play a Darren Sproles or Reggie Bush type role. This means that James will be playing in obvious passing situations, will have an impact as a returner on special teams and will catch a nice amount of passes.

The Oregon product was one of the most dynamic and electrifying running backs in the modern history of college football. Despite rumors to the contrary, he has no issue going up the middle and taking on tacklers between the hashes. Moreover, James seems to relish red-zone opportunities.

If James is able to accumulate 2,500 yards all-purpose yards in 2012, there is a chance that he may upset the award shows in this category. The primary issue is actually being able to get him on the field with Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and Brandon Jacobs haring backfield duties in San Francisco.

 

Prediction: Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Washington Redskins

I seriously contemplated going with Doug Martin here because the situation that the young running back finds himself in with Tampa Bay. That being said, I just couldn’t pass up on one of the two top quarterbacks in the draft.

Simply put, RGIII is in a better situation to succeed as a rookie than Andrew Luck. He has a much more consistent running game, strong forces in the receiving game and above-average protection along the offensive line.

By no means does this mean that RGIII will end up being the better long-term quarterback of the two. In fact, I am working under the theory that Luck is going to be a Super Bowl winning Pro Bowl quarterback.

It is all about logistics and talent at this point and RGIII has more of that with the Redskins than Luck has with the Colts.

 

 

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PFN Friday Afternoon NFL Links and Chatter

June 29, 2012 Vincent Frank Featured, NFL
10112-the-chatter

There are literally only six weekends remaining in the NFL offseason before the New Orleans Saints take on the Arizona Cardinals in the 2012 Hall of Fame Game.

That is something to look forward to. From now up until then there is going to be some pretty big news around the National Football League. In short, the “slow time” of the year is over. Holdouts, player being released, training camp battles….are all going to take center stage.

So, let’s take a look at some the biggest news around the league.

Adam Schefter is reporting that David Garrard is ahead of both Matt Moore and Ryan Tannehill in the competition for the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback job. The NFL insider had the following to say about this situation.

The more you hear, the more it sounds like David Garrard has really taken this opportunity to emerge as the favorite to be the starting quarterback down in Miami,” said Schefter. “Very impressive, adept, good footwork. Matt Moore’s been good, Ryan Tannehill’s been good, but David Garrard has looked the most comfortable of any of the quarterbacks.

The bigger news here is that Garrard hasn’t taking over the lead by default. It does seem that all three quarterbacks have been pretty impressive in camp with the rookie Tannehill making tremendous strides for rookie minicamp in the Spring.

Remember, Garrard is just a couple seasons removed from a Pro Bowl appearance with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Matt Maiocco over at Comcast Sports Net Bay Area that Aldon Smith, who is set to take over the San Francisco 49ers’ starting right outside linebacker position, won’t see his roles change a great deal. According to the 49ers’ insider “don’t expect to see Smith in coverage.” This makes a great deal of sense considering that the young pass-rusher was among the league’s best in that category last year. He should play more of a DeMarcus Ware role, as indicated by ESPN.

Despite stellar play from Roy Helu Jr as a rookie last season for the Washington Redskins, it appears that their starting running back job is going to go to veteran Tim Hightower.

While I do understand the thinking of Mike Shanahan by inserting a seasoned player in the backfield with Robert Griffin III, Helu is going to be incredibly difficult to keep off the field. He is a duel threat running back, as is Hightower, which means catching the ball out of the backfield figures prominently into his game. Either way, the Skins’ running back situation could be pretty solid in 2012. This would help out the young quarterback a great deal while he gains experience and continues to improve throughout the season.

Veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb has “three teams on his radar.” ESPN is reporting that those teams could be the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. It remains to be seen if any of those teams are interested in the “old” quarterback. I would hedge my bets against any interest to be honest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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