MIDSEASON MUSINGS
BRYAN PALMESE, NFLDB
The midway point of the 2007 season is upon us and it's time to check out some division by division observations. There are some obvious headliners to date not the least of which is the amazing performances put on in the AFC by the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts and their Conference rival New England Patriots. The two heavyweights will square off this coming weekend in a game that could affect home field advantage come December. Some other highlights have been the battle in the NFC Norris between Green Bay and Detroit, the disappointing efforts going on in Miami, St. Louis, Cincinnati and the Gang Green, and also the tight NFC East race. There's a nice distribution of playoff bound teams, middle-of-the-road teams, and bottom feeders that are looking to play spoiler. Technically, it's still too early to write off teams with eight games remaining. However, seeing some of these teams play every week and the glaring holes that get re-opened like an annoying scab with each passing game, one can feel comfortable in starting to look ahead to the 2008 draft. Here is a cumulative review and predictions of who comes out of each division going into the second half of the 2007 season.
Starting in the AFC East, the obvious bread winner is New England. The Patriots' brass have actually made Tom Brady into a more amazing quarterback this year by adding some serious punch to their receiving core. Randy Moss and Wes Welker have been huge this year in helping Brady log some phenomenal numbers. The two-time Super Bowl MVP has already eclipsed last season's touchdown total in half the time. Brady has a mind-boggling thirty touchdowns to two interceptions ratio. Another story in this conference has been of two teams that are a combined 1-15. These inmates of the dungenous cellar, the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins respectively, did not envision their 2007 campaigns to fare this way. The Jets decided this week to bench Chad Pennington and take a glimpse at what the future might hold in second year guy, Kellen Clemens. As for the Dolphins, their starting quarterback and running back are out indefinitely and their defense is showing their age. In a cluttered and strong AFC, these two teams would probably still be denied a post-season birth even if they went undefeated. Ouch.
The Grid's Playoff Representative - New England
The AFC North is a surprising conference that has some dominating defenses along with some explosive offenses, yet only one of these teams possesses both attributes. The front-running Pittsburgh Steelers and first year coach, Mike Timlin has been solid and consistent on both sides of the ball. A balanced running and passing attack along with a stout defense has the Steel City confident heading into the cold months of November and December. Big Ben has bounced back from a mediocre 2006 season and Willie Parker hasn't disappointed by running with the rock to the tune of 726 yards and two touchdowns. The Browns have been a pleasant surprise with the emergence of Derek Anderson at quarterback. After Charlie Frye was shipped out at the start of the season, Brady Quinn looked to be given the keys to the team. Not so fast. Anderson, a sixth-round pick in 2005, has seized the reins and doesn't look to be giving them up anytime soon. The ex-Oregon State Beaver has a quarterback rating of 95.5 and has thrown for over 1700 yards this season. The Bengals defense reminds many of Swiss cheese. The only way they can win games this year is by way of a shootout or the opposing team not showing up. Since the latter is as likely as a Cincinnati shutout, expect the Bengals to win a lot of games in the 38-35 range. Chad Johnson has been snippy all year and trade rumors have even begun swirling in the Queen City.
The Grid's Playoff Representative - Pittsburgh
A short ride down into the South brings us to arguably the most complete division in the league. The AFC South boasts the "other" 8-0 team hosted by Peyton Manning and company. Second year back Joseph Addai hasn't disappointed when he's been healthy and Dallas Clark has been one of Manning's favorite targets. Harrison has been hampered with injuries, but Reggie Wayne has rounded his game and emerged as one of the top receivers in the league. The Tennessee Titans have an impressive, yet quiet 5-2 record. Vince Young has been average, but not unexpected in his sophomore year. The ex-Longhorn quarterback has gotten the job done, and the running back-by-committee has helped shoulder the offensive load. Jacksonville is also 5-2 and equally as stealth-like in attaining their record. Byron Leftwich was shipped out to Atlanta and David Garrard has taken over without missing a step. The Houston Texans aren't anything to sneeze at either. Since joining the league, the Texans are usually viewed as a very winnable game by opposing teams and have lacked star power on either side of the ball. This is not the case for the 2007 Houston team. Out is David Carr and in is Matt Schaub. Former number one overall pick, Mario Williams, and former tenth overall picks Dunta Robinson and Omobi Okoye, have helped give the Texans' defense an identity.
The Grid's Playoff Representative- Indianapolis and Tennessee
Confusion is the first word that comes to mind when viewing the AFC West. The Chargers were a lot of experts pick to go to the Super Bowl and the Denver Broncos were supposed to be heavy hitters this year as well. The former is 4-3 and the latter is 3-4. That's not too bad considering that the first place team, Kansas City, is also 4-3, which would mean that the Broncos are technically only one game out of first place. Another crazy statistic is that over the course of the season, Denver has been outscored 183-119, yet remains only one game out of the division lead. Oakland looked like a much improved team earlier this season, but has spiraled back down to mediocrity. This divisions' roster of stellar running backs have been slightly better than mediocre. Larry Johnson in Kansas City, LaDanian Tomlinson in San Diego and Travis Henry are having solid seasons but not on the level that most expected. Henry has been great in the Broncos backfield, and both Tomlinson and Johnson seem to have turned the corner and should be able to return to form during the second half of the year.
The Grid's Playoff Representative- San Diego and Denver
The Grid's AFC Champion - New England Patriots
Every season, the NFC East provides us with entertaining intra-division games. 2007 is no different and the Dallas Cowboys are at the head of the class. The 6-1 Cowboys are trying to pull away from the pack in the NFC, but the New York Giants are keeping pace and nipping at Dallas' heels. Tony Romo just inked a lucrative deal to be the signal caller for the foreseeable future and Terrell Owens is getting enough touches to keep him from throwing a tantrum thus far. The defense in New York is entertaining and has helped propel the Giants to a five game losing streak after stalling to a 0-2 start out of the gates. Washington is a roller coaster team that impresses you one week and deflates you the next. Jason Campbell looks like the real deal at quarterback and linebacker Rocky McIntosh is a sleeping giant on this young, opportunistic defense. Never count out the Eagles, but Donovan McNabb has yet to duplicate his 2006 season so far. Brian Westbrook has been solid, but the rest of the offense is searching for an identity.
The Grid's Playoff Representative - Dallas and New York
The 2006 NFC Champion Chicago Bears have spent the first half of the 2007 working off the Super Bowl hangover. Only the Rams have given up more points (219) than the Bears (181) and Chicago's defense has shown weaknesses that the Windy City is unaccustomed to seeing. Lovie Smith made a quarterback change from Rex Grossman to Brian Griese prior to their week four game. Cedrick Benson has not exploded onto the scene the way the front office had hoped when they shipped Thomas Jones to the Jets. Conversely, Green Bay has enjoyed a fruitful first half. The Packers young defense is exciting and is very disruptive to opposing offenses. Brett Favre is the feel-good story this year as he is enjoying a very accomplished season. This team is tied with Dallas for the best record at 6-1 and the cheese heads are hoping that Favre has one more Super Bowl run left in the tank. The Lions promised playoffs from the outset, and look like they may deliver on that promise. Sitting one game behind Green Bay with a 5-2 mark, the Lions have depended on Jon Kitna's arm and mistake-free football to keep them in games. A mediocre schedule has helped the Lions cause as well.
The Grid's Playoff Representative- Green Bay and Detroit
Carolina made a bold move when they released wide receiver, Keyshawn Johnson during the off-season. Rookie Dwayne Jarrett was supposed to be Johnson's replacement and give Jake Delhomme another big target to compliment the blazing highlight reel that is Steve Smith. Well, Delhomme is on the shelf for the season with an elbow injury and Jarrett has barely cracked the lineup. Luckily the running game has gotten back to form and the defense has risen to challenges in close games. Tampa Bay lost their stud running back, Carnell Williams in week four and if not for Jeff Garcia would be worse than their current 4-4 record. New Orleans started off terrible, but has won three straight. The offense is the story so far, but not for the right reasons. Drew Brees, Marques Colston and Reggie Bush have been unreliable and Deuce McAllister is out indefinitely to add injury to insult (pun intended). Atlanta made a deal for Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich, but Leftwich has been sidelined already after one start. I think most fans in Atlanta just want to put this awful season behind them and hope that the war room comes up big for them on draft day.
The Grid's Playoff Representative - Carolina
This column declared that the NFC West would be the most exciting and talented division in the NFL. Alas, it is not, and apologies are in order for the often boring football that they have produced in 2007. Seattle is the top team and their defense has been stubborn. Running back Shaun Alexander is showing his age, but Matt Hassleback is a good captain of this ship. San Francisco has battled the injury bug and Alex Smith is in need of a number one receiver next season. Frank Gore has been average, but he, along with Smith, Darrell Jackson, Vernon Davis and Manny Lawson has spent a lot of time with the medical staff. Then there's the St. Louis Rams. Marc Bulger should donate a percentage of his money to charities in the St. Louis community for not producing after his whopping six-year, $65 million contract this past July. Granted, the workhorse Steven Jackson has been sidelined for most of the season in addition to wide receiver Isaac Bruce. At this point, St. Louis is in a race with the Dolphins to see who can get a win first.
The Grid's Playoff Representative - Seattle
The Grid's NFC Champion - Green Bay
SUPER BOWL --- NEW ENGLAND 41 GREEN BAY 24
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
The Kicking Tee
The Kicking Tee
By Bobby G
Week 9
We got our mid-season Super Bowl. The Patriots and Colts are undefeated half way through the season. The Colts have been here before and the Pats are looking like a team for the ages. The Patriots have looked so good that they will be the favorite on the road against a Colt team that is the reigning champ and going on 13 straight wins. They have also beaten the Pats 3 times running. The Hype on this game is in overdrive and I have had my fill already. Is Randy Moss really having a good season?
The squad that will be overlooked the most, if that will be possible, is Colts D. Bob Sanders is healthy and he is the cog that makes the machine run in Indy. Of course the Patriot offense will be their toughest test ever. They are not only a great team, but they are firing on all cylinders. No team is as good as they look on their best day, so we will see if Sanders et. al. can slow the tsunami. The game should be a shoot out with those top dollar QB’s looking to impress. In that environment it might be a defensive play that wins the game.
Brady has been as protected as any QB could dare to wish for. Dwight Freeney will have to earn his big contract. The New England passing game that has been all-world will come back to earth in a game where Brady is pressured and harried. Ron Meeks will have to pull out all the stops and devise a Defensive Game Plan that confuses and most importantly knocks Brady on his can. If not expect more of the same and Peyton Manning taking a swipe at stealing the game with 15 seconds left.
So do you take the Pats until they lose or do you go with a winner in Indy? Indy and New England both have winning pedigrees. The Colts are at home, getting points and have clipped Bill in their last three meetings. Bill looks like a man possessed after that embarrassing Spygate episode. Brady has to be chomping at the chance to take a big league in the best QB ever argument. He is well ahead of the pace on Peyton’s TD record. Peyton, I am sure, does not want to abdicate so easily. It this the year that somebody else takes a run at Miami and their champagne bottles? What a game!
Colts at home with the points put an end to this madness.
Is anybody else playing this week?
The Pack had a rousing win on Monday night and are 6 and 1. That has to be the most unlikely start to this season . Their running game is on their third rookie. Farve is, as Greg Jennings put it, 70. I, for one, am glad to see that a gunslinger can still get it done in the NFL. This week they get an almost as surprising Kansas City crew that is 4 and 3 and atop their division.
I was killing Herm at the start of this season and he has shut this naysayer up. They beat Cincy and Oakland and took a week off. The friction with Larry is long forgotten as he has run for over a hundred and a TD in the last two games. Dwayne Bowe has emerged as a receiving threat to go along side Tony G. The Chiefs are always better at home and Green Bay is the visiting club. The spread is 2 and a half for the Pack so you can get points with a 6 and 1 team in this game. This week is freak week, no doubt.
I am going to diversify my picks this week and lay these points. KC at home to put a bump in the Lambeau fairy tale road.
So the nightmare came true in New England. Worst Joe Gibbs loss ever. Press conferences about running it up and embarrassing a HOF coach. No Candy on Halloween for the Skins.
As far as the running up thing goes, Belichick did. But the QB sneak on 4th and almost 3 screams stop me. When a defense, and a good one, just folds, who is to blame? Al Saunders that is who. Even after that disaster the Skins are 12th in Total Defense. They are 28th in Total Offense. At 4 and 3 the good news is that they can make a move in the NFC. The bad news is the Al Saunders is still working for the team. If he can’t get it rolling against the 1 and 7 Jet squad then a change must be made. Gibbs deserves better then this, even if it is his fault. I am almost at the point that I want a loss just to turn up the flame on this administration. Problem is the Jets can’t win. And 5 and 3 is alive in this division. Come on Al. Make me eat my words.
Happy Halloween. Dress up like the 52X at grazianimal@columnist.com
By Bobby G
Week 9
We got our mid-season Super Bowl. The Patriots and Colts are undefeated half way through the season. The Colts have been here before and the Pats are looking like a team for the ages. The Patriots have looked so good that they will be the favorite on the road against a Colt team that is the reigning champ and going on 13 straight wins. They have also beaten the Pats 3 times running. The Hype on this game is in overdrive and I have had my fill already. Is Randy Moss really having a good season?
The squad that will be overlooked the most, if that will be possible, is Colts D. Bob Sanders is healthy and he is the cog that makes the machine run in Indy. Of course the Patriot offense will be their toughest test ever. They are not only a great team, but they are firing on all cylinders. No team is as good as they look on their best day, so we will see if Sanders et. al. can slow the tsunami. The game should be a shoot out with those top dollar QB’s looking to impress. In that environment it might be a defensive play that wins the game.
Brady has been as protected as any QB could dare to wish for. Dwight Freeney will have to earn his big contract. The New England passing game that has been all-world will come back to earth in a game where Brady is pressured and harried. Ron Meeks will have to pull out all the stops and devise a Defensive Game Plan that confuses and most importantly knocks Brady on his can. If not expect more of the same and Peyton Manning taking a swipe at stealing the game with 15 seconds left.
So do you take the Pats until they lose or do you go with a winner in Indy? Indy and New England both have winning pedigrees. The Colts are at home, getting points and have clipped Bill in their last three meetings. Bill looks like a man possessed after that embarrassing Spygate episode. Brady has to be chomping at the chance to take a big league in the best QB ever argument. He is well ahead of the pace on Peyton’s TD record. Peyton, I am sure, does not want to abdicate so easily. It this the year that somebody else takes a run at Miami and their champagne bottles? What a game!
Colts at home with the points put an end to this madness.
Is anybody else playing this week?
The Pack had a rousing win on Monday night and are 6 and 1. That has to be the most unlikely start to this season . Their running game is on their third rookie. Farve is, as Greg Jennings put it, 70. I, for one, am glad to see that a gunslinger can still get it done in the NFL. This week they get an almost as surprising Kansas City crew that is 4 and 3 and atop their division.
I was killing Herm at the start of this season and he has shut this naysayer up. They beat Cincy and Oakland and took a week off. The friction with Larry is long forgotten as he has run for over a hundred and a TD in the last two games. Dwayne Bowe has emerged as a receiving threat to go along side Tony G. The Chiefs are always better at home and Green Bay is the visiting club. The spread is 2 and a half for the Pack so you can get points with a 6 and 1 team in this game. This week is freak week, no doubt.
I am going to diversify my picks this week and lay these points. KC at home to put a bump in the Lambeau fairy tale road.
So the nightmare came true in New England. Worst Joe Gibbs loss ever. Press conferences about running it up and embarrassing a HOF coach. No Candy on Halloween for the Skins.
As far as the running up thing goes, Belichick did. But the QB sneak on 4th and almost 3 screams stop me. When a defense, and a good one, just folds, who is to blame? Al Saunders that is who. Even after that disaster the Skins are 12th in Total Defense. They are 28th in Total Offense. At 4 and 3 the good news is that they can make a move in the NFC. The bad news is the Al Saunders is still working for the team. If he can’t get it rolling against the 1 and 7 Jet squad then a change must be made. Gibbs deserves better then this, even if it is his fault. I am almost at the point that I want a loss just to turn up the flame on this administration. Problem is the Jets can’t win. And 5 and 3 is alive in this division. Come on Al. Make me eat my words.
Happy Halloween. Dress up like the 52X at grazianimal@columnist.com
Sunday, October 28, 2007
THE GRID VOL. VIII
Bryan Palmese, 4th & Goal Columnist
For all of those fans out there that were curious as to who is going to win Rookie of the Year for this season, look no further then this weeks' installment of The Grid. In last week's column, we shook up the normal voting style for this award and tossed the thirty-two first round picks in the 2007 draft into brackets, March Madness style. This week, we pick up the tournament at the Sweet Sixteen and a winner will be crowned shortly. There were some blowouts and some nailbiters as well in the first round. Upsets sprung up too, including the number one seed JaMarcus Russell bowing out to the number thirty-one ranked Anthony Gonzalez. Russell was a holdout and missed all of training camp which meant that he was behind the eight-ball before the season even started. Gonzalez has been a solid addition to the Colts offense this season, thus the former Ohio State receiver moved on to the prestigious Sweet Sixteen.
Sixteen players will compete in this second round, with hopes of dancing on to the Elite Eight.
In our opening game, the upset story from Indianapolis, Anthony Gonzalez runs into another receiver in former Yellow Jacket Calvin Johnson. Johnson ousts Gonzalez with little trouble. The 6'5" Georgia Tech stud has 3 touchdowns on the season and is averaging 17.6 yards per reception. Gonzalez hasn't broken the two-hundred yard mark nor has he found the endzone. In the 2 o'clock game today, we see an offensive lineman and linebacker face off. Joe Thomas, ranked number three, is a franchise offensive tackle and he has failed to disappoint management and fans in Cleveland thus far. His opponent in this round is former University of Miami linebacker Jon Beason. Beason is a package of excitement bottled up and ready to explode every Sunday. In six games this year, the linebacker has notched forty-five tackles with a few assists as well. The twenty-fifth seed will be the shotcaller for this defense for the next decade and moves on to the Elite Eight after pulling away late in the game against the ex-Wisconsin Badger. The number four seed is defensive end Gaines Adams. The former Clemson Tiger is confident on moving onto the next round, but draws a difficult opponent in wideout Dwayne Bowe. The latter was JaMarcus Russell's favorite target at LSU and has assumed the same role this year in Kansas City. With just under five hundred yards receiving and three touchdowns, Bowe cuts through Adams with ease. Adams is an amazing specimen and will command double teams in the near future as he is tough in pursuit and at stuffing the run. As this game concludes we have our second upset in three games after Bowe defeats Adams. In the 9 o'clock late game, Levi Brown is trying to represent for the offensive linemen as he takes on cornerback Aaron Ross. Ross has been a delight for Giants fans and coaches this year. The former Longhorn defensive back has the skillset to be one of the top corners in this league for years to come. Twenty-one tackles and three interceptions are pretty dazzling numbers for only seven games under his belt. Brown has been as good as most rookie offensive linemen are and lacks the highlight status that Ross has shown. This game is over quickly as Ross defeats the former Penn State lineman with ease.
In our early game on the second day of the Sweet Sixteen, LaRon Landry tangles with Leon Hall in a battle of defensive backs. This match-up is a battle from the start and keeps the fans excited throughout. Landry is a hard hitter with a nose for the ball. He has notched thirty-five tackles and half a sack roaming the Redskins' secondary. The ex-LSU Tiger hits like a tank and is extremely athletic. Leon Hall has been a ray of sunshine in a Bengals defense that is overcast and dreary. Hall combines speed and poise at the corner position and has recorded a forced fumble and two interceptions on this young season. This game is decided at the buzzer as Hall bounces Landry and moves into the third round. Adrian Peterson has made top play after top play all season long. An injury to Chester Taylor enabled the former Oklahoma Sooner to put his talent on the primetime stage. He is one of the most complete backs to come out in the last five years. Peterson can catch out of the backfield, block, run north and south, as well as east and west by utilizing the cutback. He is a threat to take the rock the distance on any touch and is an phenomenal athlete too. The seventh ranked running back takes on the seventeenth ranked Jarvis Moss and has no problems with the defensive end. Moss is lanky and very athletic. He could be a down lineman just as easily as a stand-up linebacker for the Broncos. Moss' time is not here yet though and Peterson slam dunks this match and advances to the next round.
Two more slots are left to fill, which also means that two players are going home empty-handed. Ted Ginn, Jr puts his number nine ranking on the line against the fourteen seeded cornerback, Darrelle Revis. Ginn has only been a blip on the radar at wide receiver this year notching six catches in seven games. He will turn heads on special teams until he grasps the Dolphins offense better. Revis has already turned heads in the Jets secondary. Often matched against the opposing teams' top receiver, Revis has faired well and he has taken his lumps. Overall though, the ex- Pitt Panther has forty-eight tackles and an interception through his freshman campaign in New York. Ginn keeps it close early on, but Revis comes out in the second half and punches his ticket to the Elite Eight. In the final match of the weekend, the eleventh seeded Patrick Willis takes on the twelve seed, Marshawn Lynch. Willis embodies everything you look for in a linebacker. When watching a 49ers game, you see number fifty-two all over the field making plays. Willis uses his speed in coverage as well as going sideline-to-sideline against the run. Through six games, the former Mississippi linebacker has tallied sixty-three tackles and has forced a fumble. Marshawn Lynch has been the sparkplug to an anemic Bills offense. Lynch has put up 457 yards on the ground including four touchdowns during his rookie campaign. The University of California back is elusive, explosive and is a dual threat both running and receiving. He and Peterson will be compared together for years to come as the great running backs of the 2007 class. This battle between Willis and Lynch is too close to call. Just when Lynch appears to pull away, Willis goes on a run to tie it up. A last second turnover by Lynch gives Willis the breathing room he needs to conjure up one last play for the win. Willis squeaks into the Elite Eight with a tight victory over Marshawn Lynch. Two rounds down and three to go.
The first game of the Great Eight involves the number two seed Calvin Johnson versus Jon Beason and his number twenty-five seed. There isn't anything Calvin Johnson can't do for the Lions. In time, he will take over games and wreak havoc for opposing defensive coordinators. Jon Beason has already shown a knack for changing games on the defensive side of the ball for the Carolina Panthers. His motor never stops and the standout linebacker has filled in beautifully for another ex-Hurricane, Dan Morgan. This match is a dogfight and there are several lead changes as these two competitors both want to make it to the final four. After this slugfest is over and the dust clears, Beason comes out on top in a narrow win. In the marquee matchup of this round, running back sensation Adrian Peterson hooks up with flanker, Dwayne Bowe and fireworks ensue. These two competitors are the cream of the offensive crop this year and have added another dimension to their respective teams. This is another classic hardwood battle and though Bowe put up a great fight, Peterson outduels Bowe in a double overtime instant classic. In a defensive grudge match, linebacker Patrick Willis meets up with cornerback Aaron Ross. Ross looks for the upset here but Willis doesn't give an inch. Final four thoughts are abound in both of these players heads, but only one will come out on top. Once again Willis finds a way to move on as he beats the Giants cornerback with grit and determination and awaits his next competition in the Final Four. In the last game of this round, two shutdown cornerbacks duke it out. Darrelle Revis of the Jets versus the Bengals' Leon Hall. These two corners were the first off the board in the 2007 draft and bring similar skills to the board. Similar heights of 5'11'' and style of play make this a tight battle that characterizes Elite Eight games. Hall has more interceptions but Revis has forty-eight tackles and a forced fumble this year compared to Hall's eighteen tackles and forced fumble. The Elite Eight concludes with the Jets sending their first round gem to the next round.
Ahhhh, take a breath. The Final Four is upon us with four stellar athletes set to take off the gloves and go toe-to-toe. In the early game, fans get a great show when seventh ranked, Adrian Peterson steps onto the field against fourteenth seeded Darrelle Revis. Revis opens the game with a quick run and forces Peterson to grab a timeout to re-group. Revis is physical at the line of scrimmage and likes to jam players to let them know he's there. His hips are fluid and he is never out of position which helps against the shifty Vikings running back. That being said, Peterson is no slouch of an athlete either. His frame allows him to break away from the initial hit or three, yet is athletic enough to run counter and cutback plays east and west. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield along with returning kicks is turning this Oklahoma product into one of the most exciting players in the league. Flashes of Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith and Jim Brown come to mind when watching this bolt of lightning running back. Revis tries to hang in there, but as the game wears on, we see that Peterson is just in another class of players. Adrian Peterson, congratulations on being the first player in the championship game. In the second of our two Final Four games, we see a battle of linebackers. The eleven seed, Patrick Willis of the University of Mississippi against the twenty-five seed cinderella story Jon Beason. Willis is everything Beason is and more. The former is a little faster, a little stronger, a little more of an agitator to opposing offenses and just a shade better all around. Beason will be calling the shots for the Panthers defense for the next decade and adds more speed to an already swift Carolina defense. If Dan Morgan does come back to play next year, the trio of he, Beason and third-year backer, Thomas Davis will give Carolina an amazing corps of linebackers. Willis has already assumed the responsibility as vocal leader on the defensive side of the ball in San Francisco with his sixty-two tackles. This game is equally as entertaining as the first match as Willis beats out Beason to punch his ticket to the championship game against Adrian Peterson.
Championship Monday is here and it's offense versus defense for all the marbles. The well-rounded running back selected seventh overall out of the University of Oklahoma against the gifted linebacker taken eleventh overall out of Ole Miss. Willis has gameplanned as well as he does for any other game against the fireball tailback. Peterson sees what lies ahead of him when viewing the cannonball linebacker. Both players explode in this game and fans get quite a show. It's a grind-it-out classic game that is won in the trenches. Peterson knows he's going to have to touch the ball at least twenty times both on the ground and through the air. Willis can't overpursue and must use his extreme athleticism and strength to overpower the back. Plays and counter-plays are drawn up trying to give one of these athletes the edge they need to break the game open. It's a deadlock tie at halftime and no player is showing any signs of weakness or vulnerablity in this championship game. Midway through the second half, the ex-Sooner blazes out of the backfield, finds a window of opportunity, and seizes it. This proves to be the turning point of the match and Willis is stunned. The former Rebel standout tries to gain some momentum and shift the game back to his favor, but the Vikings star won't give in. It's been a long run and Peterson knows what it takes to win it all. He holds his ground, digs in and stages off one last gasp effort by the stud linebacker. Both players are drained and meet at midfield to congratulate one another on an exciting championship game. The winner of The Grids Rookie of the Year is Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
Thirty-two players started out with a dream of being the Rookie of the Year and after the battlefield was reduced to rubble, one man was left standing. He came, he saw, he conquered. Congratulations Adrian Peterson for putting on quite a show for this October Madness.
For all of those fans out there that were curious as to who is going to win Rookie of the Year for this season, look no further then this weeks' installment of The Grid. In last week's column, we shook up the normal voting style for this award and tossed the thirty-two first round picks in the 2007 draft into brackets, March Madness style. This week, we pick up the tournament at the Sweet Sixteen and a winner will be crowned shortly. There were some blowouts and some nailbiters as well in the first round. Upsets sprung up too, including the number one seed JaMarcus Russell bowing out to the number thirty-one ranked Anthony Gonzalez. Russell was a holdout and missed all of training camp which meant that he was behind the eight-ball before the season even started. Gonzalez has been a solid addition to the Colts offense this season, thus the former Ohio State receiver moved on to the prestigious Sweet Sixteen.
Sixteen players will compete in this second round, with hopes of dancing on to the Elite Eight.
In our opening game, the upset story from Indianapolis, Anthony Gonzalez runs into another receiver in former Yellow Jacket Calvin Johnson. Johnson ousts Gonzalez with little trouble. The 6'5" Georgia Tech stud has 3 touchdowns on the season and is averaging 17.6 yards per reception. Gonzalez hasn't broken the two-hundred yard mark nor has he found the endzone. In the 2 o'clock game today, we see an offensive lineman and linebacker face off. Joe Thomas, ranked number three, is a franchise offensive tackle and he has failed to disappoint management and fans in Cleveland thus far. His opponent in this round is former University of Miami linebacker Jon Beason. Beason is a package of excitement bottled up and ready to explode every Sunday. In six games this year, the linebacker has notched forty-five tackles with a few assists as well. The twenty-fifth seed will be the shotcaller for this defense for the next decade and moves on to the Elite Eight after pulling away late in the game against the ex-Wisconsin Badger. The number four seed is defensive end Gaines Adams. The former Clemson Tiger is confident on moving onto the next round, but draws a difficult opponent in wideout Dwayne Bowe. The latter was JaMarcus Russell's favorite target at LSU and has assumed the same role this year in Kansas City. With just under five hundred yards receiving and three touchdowns, Bowe cuts through Adams with ease. Adams is an amazing specimen and will command double teams in the near future as he is tough in pursuit and at stuffing the run. As this game concludes we have our second upset in three games after Bowe defeats Adams. In the 9 o'clock late game, Levi Brown is trying to represent for the offensive linemen as he takes on cornerback Aaron Ross. Ross has been a delight for Giants fans and coaches this year. The former Longhorn defensive back has the skillset to be one of the top corners in this league for years to come. Twenty-one tackles and three interceptions are pretty dazzling numbers for only seven games under his belt. Brown has been as good as most rookie offensive linemen are and lacks the highlight status that Ross has shown. This game is over quickly as Ross defeats the former Penn State lineman with ease.
In our early game on the second day of the Sweet Sixteen, LaRon Landry tangles with Leon Hall in a battle of defensive backs. This match-up is a battle from the start and keeps the fans excited throughout. Landry is a hard hitter with a nose for the ball. He has notched thirty-five tackles and half a sack roaming the Redskins' secondary. The ex-LSU Tiger hits like a tank and is extremely athletic. Leon Hall has been a ray of sunshine in a Bengals defense that is overcast and dreary. Hall combines speed and poise at the corner position and has recorded a forced fumble and two interceptions on this young season. This game is decided at the buzzer as Hall bounces Landry and moves into the third round. Adrian Peterson has made top play after top play all season long. An injury to Chester Taylor enabled the former Oklahoma Sooner to put his talent on the primetime stage. He is one of the most complete backs to come out in the last five years. Peterson can catch out of the backfield, block, run north and south, as well as east and west by utilizing the cutback. He is a threat to take the rock the distance on any touch and is an phenomenal athlete too. The seventh ranked running back takes on the seventeenth ranked Jarvis Moss and has no problems with the defensive end. Moss is lanky and very athletic. He could be a down lineman just as easily as a stand-up linebacker for the Broncos. Moss' time is not here yet though and Peterson slam dunks this match and advances to the next round.
Two more slots are left to fill, which also means that two players are going home empty-handed. Ted Ginn, Jr puts his number nine ranking on the line against the fourteen seeded cornerback, Darrelle Revis. Ginn has only been a blip on the radar at wide receiver this year notching six catches in seven games. He will turn heads on special teams until he grasps the Dolphins offense better. Revis has already turned heads in the Jets secondary. Often matched against the opposing teams' top receiver, Revis has faired well and he has taken his lumps. Overall though, the ex- Pitt Panther has forty-eight tackles and an interception through his freshman campaign in New York. Ginn keeps it close early on, but Revis comes out in the second half and punches his ticket to the Elite Eight. In the final match of the weekend, the eleventh seeded Patrick Willis takes on the twelve seed, Marshawn Lynch. Willis embodies everything you look for in a linebacker. When watching a 49ers game, you see number fifty-two all over the field making plays. Willis uses his speed in coverage as well as going sideline-to-sideline against the run. Through six games, the former Mississippi linebacker has tallied sixty-three tackles and has forced a fumble. Marshawn Lynch has been the sparkplug to an anemic Bills offense. Lynch has put up 457 yards on the ground including four touchdowns during his rookie campaign. The University of California back is elusive, explosive and is a dual threat both running and receiving. He and Peterson will be compared together for years to come as the great running backs of the 2007 class. This battle between Willis and Lynch is too close to call. Just when Lynch appears to pull away, Willis goes on a run to tie it up. A last second turnover by Lynch gives Willis the breathing room he needs to conjure up one last play for the win. Willis squeaks into the Elite Eight with a tight victory over Marshawn Lynch. Two rounds down and three to go.
The first game of the Great Eight involves the number two seed Calvin Johnson versus Jon Beason and his number twenty-five seed. There isn't anything Calvin Johnson can't do for the Lions. In time, he will take over games and wreak havoc for opposing defensive coordinators. Jon Beason has already shown a knack for changing games on the defensive side of the ball for the Carolina Panthers. His motor never stops and the standout linebacker has filled in beautifully for another ex-Hurricane, Dan Morgan. This match is a dogfight and there are several lead changes as these two competitors both want to make it to the final four. After this slugfest is over and the dust clears, Beason comes out on top in a narrow win. In the marquee matchup of this round, running back sensation Adrian Peterson hooks up with flanker, Dwayne Bowe and fireworks ensue. These two competitors are the cream of the offensive crop this year and have added another dimension to their respective teams. This is another classic hardwood battle and though Bowe put up a great fight, Peterson outduels Bowe in a double overtime instant classic. In a defensive grudge match, linebacker Patrick Willis meets up with cornerback Aaron Ross. Ross looks for the upset here but Willis doesn't give an inch. Final four thoughts are abound in both of these players heads, but only one will come out on top. Once again Willis finds a way to move on as he beats the Giants cornerback with grit and determination and awaits his next competition in the Final Four. In the last game of this round, two shutdown cornerbacks duke it out. Darrelle Revis of the Jets versus the Bengals' Leon Hall. These two corners were the first off the board in the 2007 draft and bring similar skills to the board. Similar heights of 5'11'' and style of play make this a tight battle that characterizes Elite Eight games. Hall has more interceptions but Revis has forty-eight tackles and a forced fumble this year compared to Hall's eighteen tackles and forced fumble. The Elite Eight concludes with the Jets sending their first round gem to the next round.
Ahhhh, take a breath. The Final Four is upon us with four stellar athletes set to take off the gloves and go toe-to-toe. In the early game, fans get a great show when seventh ranked, Adrian Peterson steps onto the field against fourteenth seeded Darrelle Revis. Revis opens the game with a quick run and forces Peterson to grab a timeout to re-group. Revis is physical at the line of scrimmage and likes to jam players to let them know he's there. His hips are fluid and he is never out of position which helps against the shifty Vikings running back. That being said, Peterson is no slouch of an athlete either. His frame allows him to break away from the initial hit or three, yet is athletic enough to run counter and cutback plays east and west. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield along with returning kicks is turning this Oklahoma product into one of the most exciting players in the league. Flashes of Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith and Jim Brown come to mind when watching this bolt of lightning running back. Revis tries to hang in there, but as the game wears on, we see that Peterson is just in another class of players. Adrian Peterson, congratulations on being the first player in the championship game. In the second of our two Final Four games, we see a battle of linebackers. The eleven seed, Patrick Willis of the University of Mississippi against the twenty-five seed cinderella story Jon Beason. Willis is everything Beason is and more. The former is a little faster, a little stronger, a little more of an agitator to opposing offenses and just a shade better all around. Beason will be calling the shots for the Panthers defense for the next decade and adds more speed to an already swift Carolina defense. If Dan Morgan does come back to play next year, the trio of he, Beason and third-year backer, Thomas Davis will give Carolina an amazing corps of linebackers. Willis has already assumed the responsibility as vocal leader on the defensive side of the ball in San Francisco with his sixty-two tackles. This game is equally as entertaining as the first match as Willis beats out Beason to punch his ticket to the championship game against Adrian Peterson.
Championship Monday is here and it's offense versus defense for all the marbles. The well-rounded running back selected seventh overall out of the University of Oklahoma against the gifted linebacker taken eleventh overall out of Ole Miss. Willis has gameplanned as well as he does for any other game against the fireball tailback. Peterson sees what lies ahead of him when viewing the cannonball linebacker. Both players explode in this game and fans get quite a show. It's a grind-it-out classic game that is won in the trenches. Peterson knows he's going to have to touch the ball at least twenty times both on the ground and through the air. Willis can't overpursue and must use his extreme athleticism and strength to overpower the back. Plays and counter-plays are drawn up trying to give one of these athletes the edge they need to break the game open. It's a deadlock tie at halftime and no player is showing any signs of weakness or vulnerablity in this championship game. Midway through the second half, the ex-Sooner blazes out of the backfield, finds a window of opportunity, and seizes it. This proves to be the turning point of the match and Willis is stunned. The former Rebel standout tries to gain some momentum and shift the game back to his favor, but the Vikings star won't give in. It's been a long run and Peterson knows what it takes to win it all. He holds his ground, digs in and stages off one last gasp effort by the stud linebacker. Both players are drained and meet at midfield to congratulate one another on an exciting championship game. The winner of The Grids Rookie of the Year is Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
Thirty-two players started out with a dream of being the Rookie of the Year and after the battlefield was reduced to rubble, one man was left standing. He came, he saw, he conquered. Congratulations Adrian Peterson for putting on quite a show for this October Madness.
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