Gridiron Experts

Has your team drafted this years rookie of the year on Offense or Defense?

BetUS.com has early odds on who they think will win, and believe it or not, Dez Bryant isn’t the early favorite. Rookie awards are a prop bet offered by BetUS.com, something that believe it or not, is a bet you can’t get in Las Vegas?

I know what you’re thinking…you can bet on anything in Las Vegas, but actually Casino’s can’t offer odds on something that has to be voted on.  Gridiron Experts is teaming up this year with BetUS.com to provide you with tons of cool prizes and special offers. In fact, starting SEPT 1. Gridiron Experts readers will get an exclusive 100% match offer on deposits (up to $500).

Offensive Rookie Player Odds

• Arrelious Benn 15 to 1
• Ben Tate 6 to 1
• Brandon LaFell 20 to 1
• CJ Spiller 8 to 1
• Dexter McCluster 10 to 1
• Dez Bryant 5 to 1
• Emmanuel Sanders 15 to 1 …Continue reading NFL Rookie Of The Year Odds

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

Gridiron Experts Power Rankings AUG. 2nd

32. Buffalo Bills
CJ Spiller has all the tools to be a playmaker in this league, well except for an offensive line in front of him, a quarterback to take the pressure off, and well you see where I’m going with this. The Bills are going to need a franchise quarterback before they move on this list.
31.St. Louis Rams
The Rams, in theory, should be a better team this year, but it’s still up in the air and truly depends on how NFL ready Sam Bradford is by the start of the season. Steven Jackson has always been the Rams workhorse, and that won’t change this year, expect another grand out of him in 2010.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are still rebuilding. This process can sometimes be long a frustrating, yet in the forseeable future they’ll find themselves on day on the outside looking in on any power rankings list. Every team must rebuild sooner or later but for this season ahead, the Buc’s will be leaning on too many young players and the inexperience will show.
29. Cleveland Browns
The Browns biggest flaw is their division, it’s just too hard to be competitive against perennial powerhouses like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. They did have a great draft and made some key off-season additions, with a revamped secondary expect them to move up this list in a year.
28. Detroit Lions
The Lions were the movers and shakers of the off-season, making some key additions. If only for the next few years, adding Jahvid Best to a backfield commandeered by Matt Stafford could be just what the Lions needed. Best will make plays and take some of the focus off of Calvin Johnson.
27. Oakland Raiders
For the first time in years, the Raiders impressed us all during the draft, adding a top-tier middle linebacker and shipping Kirk Morrison to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not to mention ditching JaMarcus Russell in favor of Jason Campbell, an automatic upgrade. Although for now, they’re still on the outside looking in.
26.Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have revamped their coaching staff and drafted (and paid) a play making safety in Eric Berry. Dexter McCluster will give add that x-factor to the offense and give Jamaal Charles some relief at the running back spot. Matt Cassell will get one more chance to show that he’s worth the money they’re paying him.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are a team that can never seem to get it together when it truly counts, their first rounder is considered a huge reach by the entire NFL community and if he doesn’t pan out, Jags fans can happily say goodbye to Jack Del Rio. Maurice Jones-Drew will set the pace for the offense once more. …Continue reading NFL Power Rankings

Chargers Camp

Tired of Hearing About Jackson and McNeill? So is Norv Turner Annually, San Diego Union-Tribune Charger beat writer Kevin Acee sits down the Chargers’ head coach Norv Turner and discusses the outlook on training camp, the season to come, and some of the issues that surround the team at this time of year. So here’s some of what Turner had to say…ChargersGab

• Philip Rivers showed up to Chargers training camp sporting a new, aerodynamic ‘do- Chargers Blue-Pic

• Charger Training Camp Links- Chargers Blue

• Pictures of a cool, cloudy day at Chargers Park greeted the 42 rookies, young veterans and players returning from injury Monday as training camp began.-blogchargers.com

Eagles Camp

Andy Reid opened camp today with his first press conference of the new season and unfortunately spent the majority of it fielding questions about Michael Vick. Most of these questions were ones we already knew answers to, but they were asked anyway.  I’m sure more Vick stories will increase page views and make national news, but there’s about a billion things…link

• Andy Reid defends “very nice person” Michael Vick- ProfootballTalk.com …Continue reading Training Camp News: Chargers Eagles, Ravens, Pat’s

The 2010 NFL Coaching Hot Seat

Jerry Glanville once told an NFL official that if he kept making calls against his Atlanta Falcons squad, that he’d be out of coaching and “selling groceries”. He never did have to apply at his local supermarket, but Glanville did lose his job. Every year numerous NFL coaches do.

The coaching “hot seat” is the term used for the Head Coaches that are perceived to be in a perilous situation entering the upcoming NFL season. Some will rally the troops and save their jobs, for the time being. Others will suffer the fate of another disappointing season, and the inevitable pink slip. Let’s take a look at some coaches on the hot seat in 2010…

Eric Mangini- Cleveland- Mangini made some terrible decisions in his first year in Cleveland: refusing to name a starting quarterback before the season, sticking with Derek Anderson for 7 starts despite a 44% completion percentage and a TD to INT ratio of 3 to 10, and under-using Jerome Harrison until the last month of the season. The only 2 reasons that Mangini is back is because of the season ending 4 game winning streak (powered by Harrison), and the hiring of former NFL coach Mike Holmgren, who seemingly sympathized with Mangini and kept him on board. The Browns actually seem to be worse heading into 2010…and when you analyze the current 4 game winning streak you see the final 3 wins were against Kansas City, Oakland, and Jacksonville…all bad teams. It will take one surprising turnaround this year to keep the “Man genius” in the Dawg Pound in 2011. …Continue reading The 2010 NFL Coaching Hot Seat

Every year we head into training camp with our eye on key positions and rookies who could add that extra push. Nobody cares who steps up, as long as the job gets done and the weak links are filled. Focusing on fantasy football, we are going to overlook some of the less important roster spots, and instead fire off questions and predictions for each team in the eyes of the fantasy football fan.

Arizona Cardinals
Spotlight Is On: Matt Leinart- A former first round pick who lost his job and found a comfortable spot on the bench is all of a sudden getting his second chance. The NFL usually chews you up and spits you out, so for Leinart a do-over is a real gift. Frankly, we see more attention spent on the running game this season to relieve some of the pressure. Regardless, this second chance could be the last chance for number 7. Can the shoes be filled? Or is Matt about to trip?
Camp Sleeper: Steve Breaston
Star-Brewing: Chris Wells

Atlanta Falcons
What’s the Deal with Michael Turner? A power running back who was a yard shy of 1700 yards two seasons ago just fell off the map in 2009. A high ankle sprain left fantasy owners angry and kicking furniture over, with his vanilla type numbers. Is he back? Can we move him up the fantasy boards? What’s the deal?
Camp Sleeper: Harry Douglas

Baltimore Ravens
Is there Bonding Going on Here? The Anquan Boldin and Joe Flacco combo is one we’re all not sure of. Flacco has needed a player who can stretch the field for some time, as Mason is more of tough possession wide receiver. The running game is counting on some sort of passing attack, and so are keeper league owners of the recently traded Cardinal.
Camp Sleeper:  TE Ed Dickson
Take a Seat: Todd Heap

Buffalo Bills
So You Have 3 Running Backs…Really? Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and C.J. Spiller are apparently going to be used in a very creative offense that we can already predict to be a failure. There are a million questions with this team, but for now let’s just try to figure out who’s going to be the guy at RB. All the other fantasy options shouldn’t be a concern to you right now, or at all this season.
Camp Sleeper: Brain Brohm- our vote to win the $10 beauty contest.

Carolina Panthers
Moore or Clausen to lead? After booting Delhomme to the curb, Matt Moore stepped in and looked very much the part…or at least that’s what he thought. The Panthers found a fallen gem in the draft and couldn’t help themselves with one of this years highest ranked QB rookies. Jimmy Clausen should do his best to overthrow Moore’s spot.
Gimme the Ball- DeAngelo Williams is in a contract year and will be pressing.
WR Numero dos- Our early guess is Brandon LaFell from LSU.

Chicago Bears
Who’s Cutler Going to Ask to the Big Dance? With a slew of average at best wide receivers, and a master-mind commander calling the plays from the sidelines, Jay Cutler is going to pick and choose his targets carefully. Who will best suit this new offense in Chicago? We will have eyes in training camp all summer.
So Who Does What? -After a breakout rookie season, Matt Forte now has an on the field roommate to share his carries. Chester Taylor wasn’t brought in to get coffee, so the percentage of carries will be watched carefully as well.
Sleeper Brewing In Martz’s System- Johnny Knox …Continue reading NFL Training Camp Fantasy Questions (All 32 Teams)

The San Diego Chargers Current Odds
(as of July 8th)

Projected Games Won : 10.5
( over -145 | under +115)
5 to 1 : Win AFC Conference
9 to 1 : Win Super Bowl XLV

The Chargers are one of the few teams that regularly make post season hotel room reservations without a second thought. Division champions is a familiar t-shirt or hat in San Diego mainly due to a poor AFC West that hands them a yearly free ticket. But despite the 4 year streak of playoff visits, the Super Bowl has been out of reach for the Chargers for some time, and yet they are always heavy favorites.

This year it came to my surprise that San Diego was ranked as high as they are in top sports betting sites. I almost wonder if maybe, people are just used to seeing them in the post season and just overlooked their recent off-season.

Saying goodbye to Ladainian Tomlinson, (a move that was probably a year late) is understandable. The star was burning out and he had to go, but realistically there is no proven RB waiting in the wings  just yet. Sproles and rookie Ryan Matthews will man the fort for now, but for such a deep passing team blitz pick-up was an underrated trait that LT did in his sleep, and teams may send more heat Rivers way than in years past.

Jamal Williams was a center piece for the Bolts at nose tackle over most of the last decade, but after an early season injury he was sent packing for youth. Normally this is something we all know and except in the business of the NFL, but the fact that the division rival Broncos snatched him up might become interesting twice a year. Also, the losses of “what have you done for me lately”Antonio Cromartie seems harmless after his poor season, but the replacement is an open …Continue reading Chargers 2010 Forecast: Overly Confident

The Washington Redskins are notorious for making boat-loads of deals in the off-season, and as it seems the trend continues. Only a couple of weeks after making a pretty good upgrade to the offensive line, rumors are now circulating that Chargers Vincnet Jackson is the man of interest. According to ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan is a “big” fan of Vincent Jackson.

And why wouldn’t he be a big fan, playing in San Diego the ex-Bronco coach has probably watched a lot game tape on the kid. Trade rumors start-up all the time, but rarely pan out. Although, in this case the Chargers have “made it known” that unsigned restricted free agent Vincent Jackson will remain available for trade, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The Redskins are very aggressive and will take their best shot in acquiring the big threat wide receiver. But what could this mean for fantasy owners if such a trade was to take place? …Continue reading Are The Redskins Really After Vincent Jackson?