Gridiron Experts

Naturally, on the same day I have to do billing for work and am hampered with a day-long migraine, Hard Knocks is on. I apologize in advance for my flippancy, but it’s hard to invest in a show about football practices when your brain feels like it’s trying to escape through your temple (too graphic?). Anyways, let us get right to it.

10:02- Coaches sit around and do their best to make completely cliched commentary seem insightful. It doesn’t work.

10:06- The focus comes back around to Revis for the first time since the first episode, Tim Callishaw (Cowlishaw? Can’t remember from the last time I watched Around The Horn) gets name dropped a few times, and it seems like their front office has less access to Revis than an Around The Horn panelist. Maybe Tony Reali can renegotiate his next contract for them.

10:08- Rex Ryan’s concerned about Nick Mangold’s Taco Bell consumption, as we all are. It seems like everyone has more to say about Nick Mangold than Nick Mangold has to say about anything. Seriously, has he uttered a single word in conversation or to the camera?

10:10- Two left guards are battling for the starting possession. A guy from Haiti and a guy named Slauson. The narrator says the guy from Haiti is inexperienced, then they show us a few conversations between players and coaches expressing this sentiment. Hey, and hour’s a long time.

10:12- In fact, it’s so long we’re treated to watching Marc Sanchez stir coffee for a solid ten seconds  before he asks about someone’s binder. Occasionally, this documentary series can make Rubicon seem fast-paced (Though I enjoy the series, I probably give it more leeway than I should because it’s on AMC. I mean, that linked clip is literally a woman opening a box for two and a half minutes). …Continue reading New York Jets Hard Knocks Episode 4

5 Bold NFL Predictions for 2010 (Part 1)

Gridiron Experts team of writers is making some bold NFL predictions. Some are long shots that you may love, others are realistic guess’s that you’ll hate.

Chris Hall’s 5 Bold Predictions

5.The Texans make the playoffs.

I know, I know, the Texans have a studly fantasy offense with Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, and crew, but they have never, in their teams history, been to the playoffs. The team is way too good to keep losing close games, and I really think that the Kris Brown/Neil Rackers kicking rivalry will make for a few less blown game enders. There’s no reason that the Texans should’ve lost to the Colts and Titans in weeks 9 and 11.

4. Shonn Greene will go the way of Ronnie Brown.

I absolutely hate foretelling injuries to players, but I don’t think that Shonn Greene’s style of play translates into a full NFL season. He hurt his ribs last offseason and then in the playoffs, and is bound to hurt them again with his bruising style. Rex Ryan is already threatening to load him up with extra padding to prevent rib damage… sounds scary to me.

3. Steven Jackson will leave fantasy owners out of the playoffs.

Last time S-Jax topped 300 rushing attempts (’06-’07), he sputtered out the next season and ran for 1,002 yards and 5 TD’s. Last season he had 324 yards and had to have been demoralized by having 19 linebackers on him every play. I really don’t see the offense getting that much better this year with Sam Bradford, so once again he will be on everyones radar. Expect him to be tired… real tired. …Continue reading 5 Bold NFL Predictions for 2010 (Part 1)

The Miami Dolphins have a great one, two punch in the backfield with running backs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown.  The question however is not which running back will be the starter, but which running back should be drafted first in fantasy football.  Both backs have proven to be reliable fantasy options when healthy and given a fair share of opportunities.  I have participated in some mock drafts and have seen Brown going anywhere from the 4^th round down to the 6^th round.   This is followed by Williams generally being selected about two rounds later than his backfield counterpart.  Both players bring great attributes to the table, but both have negatives associated with their games.  Brown is generally regarded by many fantasy owners to be an injury risk and Williams desire to play could be a question mark. 

After all Brown missed seven games last season due to injury and Williams had been stated as saying that this could be his final season.  However, whenever either player has been given the majority of the carries that player has performed well above the running back norm.  To get a better understanding about each player’s abilities I have provided a chart of their statistics below.  The category of total touches is a combination of the player’s total rushing carries along with their total receptions.  Also, the player’s total yards from receptions and carries are combined, along with all touchdowns scored.

As you can see each player has put up great numbers when staying healthy throughout the season.  However, if either back were to get injured the value of the other player would skyrocket as is evidenced by Ricky Williams’s breakout last season after Ronnie Brown went down.  A big question mark that most owners may have with Williams is his age.  He is well past the 30 year mark where most running backs will be labeled as being bust worthy.

However, don’t forget that Ricky did take some “time off” a few years back so the extra wear and tear on his over 30 year old body is not where it likely should be.  My suggestion to any owner would be to take a shot on either one of these players if the opportunity presents itself, especially in the later rounds.  I personally would not want to spend any more than a 6^th rounder on Brown and possibly a 10^th rounder on Williams.  Just don’t forget to take a closer look at the numbers before draft day.  It is clear that the Dolphins like to run and if you were to combine both players total touches and total yards for either 2008 or 2009 it is clear that close to 2000 total yards and close to 20 touchdowns will clearly be produced by this backfield.  It is just a matter of which back will last the season and get the most opportunities.

Some technical issues precluded us from posting a running diary last week (traffic overload), but no such dilemmas today. Let’s do this thang.

10:02- Spirits are down after the preseason loss to the Giants, as it starts to set in that nothing much has changed with the NFL in jersey for the past 30 years.

10:04- Everyone keeps talking about how great the starters were in the preseason game, and just sort of ignore the Sanchez pick six, which, as displayed in the most recent Superbowl, can be pretty devastating in an NFL game. But people tell me he’s a STAR! So who am I to argue?

10:06- The montage music is great, but it could be a little more intense. I feel like I don’t quite grasp how serious this all is with such a mellow score.

10:08- It has finally dawned on everyone in the Jets organization that David Clowney, who the Jets have been relying on since the Pennington days, isn’t the next Jerry Rice. This is why they’re the Jets.

10:09- The special teams coach/cancer survivor likes to curse more than Rex Ryan and is quite inspirational. I don’t know, his diction tells me he’s a man but his chest is telling me otherwise.

10:11- Ryan tells his team, in so many words, that there practice was ineffectual, I’m assuming this is the backup practice that was promised after the Giants loss because the coaching staff has opted to make examples of all their players with no expectations. …Continue reading New York Jets Hard Knocks Episode 3

Preseason posturing

One week into the 2010 NFL preseason is in the history books. So what have we learned? Well history has taught us that it’s too early to get overly excited about a good, or poor performance.  We are, however, far enough along into the season that it is appropriate to start looking at players who value may be up, or down. Keeping your fantasy football draft list updated and accurate is the best way to stay ahead of the competition.

Value Up:

• Pierre Thomas/Reggie Bush RB New Orleans- Lynell Hamilton’s unfortunate season ending injury stand to benefit Thomas and Bush. If no other third runner emerges, Thomas and Bush stand to split the  remaining carries from a 3^rd and 4^th tailback spot that managed over 700 yards and 7 touchdowns last year. Don’t expect those kind of numbers, but as of now, Pierre and Reggie should both see their ADP rise.

• Arian Foster RB Houston- What looked to be a potentially crowded backfield cleared up in a hurry. 2^nd round pick Ben Tate is out for the year with a broken right ankle, and Steve Slaton surprised no one by fumbling on the goal line on lone short yardage attempt. Foster is now the featured runner on one of the NFL’s most potent offenses.

• C.J. Spiller RB Buffalo- The rookie is another runner who will benefit from injuries. Both Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson are expected to miss several weeks with injuries, opening the door for Spiller to get all first team reps in practice and in the remainder of the preseason. Buffalo’s inability to provide any threat of a passing game will assure plenty of opportunities.

• Jamal Charles RB Kansas City- While Thomas Jones is listed as the starter, he did nothing in the Chiefs game before leaving with a minor …Continue reading NFL Pre-season Posturing

8 MAN MOCK DRAFT; BEST PICKS RDs 3-8

A little while back the writers from Gridiron Experts decided to do a mock draft.  I was recently looking over the round by round selections of my fellow writers and decided to do an evaluation of these rounds by selecting which writer made the best pick in each round.  I will look at the value of the round the player was selected in along with the player’s potential upside.  I decided to exclude the first two rounds from this analysis as these rounds seem to usually go as planned.  This article will contain rounds 3 through 8 and a subsequent article will follow with rounds 9 through 15.

Round 3 – Shonn Greene (NYJ) – Greene provides great value in this round as he is being projected by some to be a possible first round pick or at the very least a second rounder.  Now that Thomas Jones is out of town Greene is the RB that is going to benefit from Jones’ departure.  Although the aging Tomlinson could factor in with some goal line carries, Greene is the Jets running back to own and should provide a positive season for his owners.

Round 4- Ryan Grant (GNB) – Much like Greene, Grant has a lot of upside.  Especially, since he is the featured back in a high scoring offense.  With the Packers having a pass happy system it should only open up more holes for Grant to run through.

Round 5 –Steve Smith (NYG) – Smith was very productive last season as Eli Manning’s top target.  I expect Smith to once again get plenty of looks from his quarterback and to have another solid season.  In most drafts that I have seen Steve Smith of the Giants is being taken as early as the third round …Continue reading 8 Man Mock Draft; Best Picks RDs 3-8

During the regular season, Gridiron Experts will be bringing you a unique fantasy football article called Fantasy Coin Flip, pitting two solid options against each other to help you decide your fantasy starting lineup each week.

To properly prepare you (and ourselves) for the season, we’re starting this article off with a bang and helping you decide between certain players you might be having a hard time picking between in your fantasy football drafts.

Injury vs Age

Wes Welker, WR, Patriots vs. Terrell Owens, WR, Bengals

Can Terrell Owens still play at 36, in a new system, while sharing targets (and the spotlight) with Chad Ochocinco? Yes, he can, but that’s still a lot of variables fantasy owners need to consider.

And for Welker, can he make it back from a serious knee injury in time for Week One, just six months after sustaining it? This writer thinks so, although fantasy owners also have to keep in mind that, even if Welker returns, he may fall short of his usual production as he works his way back to 100%.

However, just a mere glance at both player’s recent production suggests that a Wes Welker at even 75% would be a better selection than a 100% Terrell Owens in a new offense.

I’m sure Owens will perform well and should definitely be an upgrade from the 2009 T.O., but Welker is riding three-straight 112+ reception seasons, and you simply can’t ignore the massive role he has in New England, regardless of his current status. …Continue reading Fantasy Coin Flip: NFL Draft Version

Fred Jackson Hurt

What do you do with 3 running backs in the NFL? the answer: wait for one to get hurt.

Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson suffered a hand injury in the first half of the Skins/Bills first pre-season game and will now miss up to a month.“Fred hurt his hand and we hope to be able to get him back for the first game,” said Chan Gailey. “We’re not sure.”

Ty Warren Done in 2010

New England Patroits Ty Warren is out for the 2010 season with a hip injury. Ty Warren knew that if played in 2010 with a labral tear in his hip, he wasn’t just risking performance, he was risking long-term mobility. Read More

Haynesworth is starting to like 3-4 defense

The big man wasn’t very popluar a couple weeks back, but on Friday night he lead the Skins on to the field and looked very much apart of the team. Of course, he is easing back into the depth chart and played with the second team defense against the Bills Friday night.

Haynesworth says he likes the defense now because he realizes the Redskins will allow him to rush the passer, “which is really important to me.” -Read more

WTF? Glen Coffee Retires

Second-year backup running back Glen Coffee was nowhere to be seen at Thursday afternoon’s practice, and was missing again on Friday morning.  Usually, that means an injury, but it turns out Coffee is bitter. ProFootballTalk.com leans in on reasons why (Link)