By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Prior to the start of the 2009 NFL season, most experts had the San Diego Chargers cruising to the division title in a relatively week AFC West. Many of the same experts thought that five weeks into the season, the Denver Broncos would be fighting to stay alive in the race for a spot in the post season.
Indeed that is the case in this weeks match up on Monday night, but the roles have been reversed. Instead it is the Broncos, the undefeated Broncos I might add, who appear to be ready to run away with the division, and the Chargers (2-2) who are fighting to keep their season alive.
Even more surprising than the fact that the Broncos are atop the AFC West, is how they are doing it. Rookie coach Josh McDaniels came to Denver with the reputation of being an offensive guru, but it has been the Broncos defense that has lead the way to a perfect start. No team has scored more than 17 points against the Denver defense this season. After struggling for most of the 2008 season, the Denver defense is now one of the the league's best.
The offense has been solid as well. Aside from Brandon Marshall, the offense does not really have a superstar, but that has not stopped this unit from contributing to the 5-0 start. Kyle Orton has surprised, throwing for over 1200 yards and 7TDs against only one pick so far this season. Plus the one pick Orton has thrown was to Randy Moss on a last second heave just before half time against the Patriots. Take that away, and Orton has not made a mistake yet this season.
A lot of credit mush also go to McDaniels. With the Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall soap operas during the off season, the first year coach appeared to be on the verge of losing his team before the season even started. Winning cures all however, and McDaniels has his players faith again, thanks to the perfect start.
Skeptics (including myself earlier this season) point to Denver's soft schedule as the key to their success, but last week's win against the Pats showed that the Broncos can compete all season. The schedule gets tougher from here, as after San Diego, the Broncos face off against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, two powers in the AFC. The Broncos will certainly now have more chances to prove that they are for real.
San Diego, on the other hand, has been a surprise for the wrong reason. Expected to be a contender in the AFC, the Chargers have struggled in the early part of the season, especially on defense. The Chargers have problems stopping the run, as opponents have averaged 151 yards on the ground against them . While Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson have formed a potent combination, they have had little help from the running game behind LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles. Plus when you are always playing from behind, thanks to a suspect defense, it is that much tougher to get a running game going.
To make matters worse for the Chargers, upper management expressed their frustration through the media, saying that the Chargers slow start was unacceptable. Things may be starting to get desperate in San Diego.
After praising Denver, and ripping San Diego, the likely thought is that I would be picking the Broncos in a rout, but there is one image that bugs me about Denver. After last week game against the Patriots, McDaniels and company were celebrating like they had just won the Super Bowl. Are the Broncos poised for a let down after last weeks big win? Are they beginning to get a little overconfident? Are they maybe losing their focus a bit? Plus add in a San Diego team that is desperate for a win, angry after management ripped them publicly, and coming off a bye week, the Broncos now look primed to be upset.
Prediction: Chargers 23 Broncos 20
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Week 6 Picks: Patriots Bounce Back
By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Much like the Patriots last week, I turned in another mediocre performance, going 9-5 with my picks for the second straight week. Much like the Patriots, plan on a big turnaround this week. Here are this weeks picks.
Patriots 31 Titans 13
The Titans are just what the Patriots need, a team that cannot defend the pass. Peyton Manning picked the Titans apart last week, and Brady will do the same this week. It's a safe bet that Randy Moss will get more than one catch.
Texans 27 Bengals 14
It's time for the Bengals to come back down to Earth. I know that Cincy did a great job shutting down Joe Flacco and the Ravens last week, but Baltimore does not have the weapons that Houston does. Talent wins out, and Houston has too much. It is time for Houston to start living up to its potential.
Packers 28 Lions 10
There is just too much going against the Lions in this one. The Pack is coming off a bye, plus the game is in Green Bay. Factor in injuries to Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, both are listed as questionable, and all signs point to an easy Packers win.
Vikings 21 Ravens 17
A few weeks back prior to the game against the Patriots, I said I was not sold on the Ravens. The last 2 weeks, which included losses to the Pats and Bengals, have certainly not made me feel any better about Baltimore. Now the Ravens head to Minnesota to take on Brett Favre and a surging Vikings team. Last week Cedric Benson ran all over the Ravens. Adrian Peterson should be able to do the same this week.
Saints 31 Giants 28
In the best match up of the week, the Saints will prove they are for real. Pierre Thomas has come back from injury and showed that he is an elite running back, plus Drew Brees is due for a big game. Eli Manning will taste defeat for the first time this season.
Steelers 35 Browns 0
Maybe Brady Quinn should take his home in Cleveland off the market, as he should be starting again soon. Derek Anderson had one of the worst games in NFL history last week, going 2 for 17 passing. Don't ask me how the Browns were able to win, but there will be no such mystery this week. A bad Browns offense against a solid Steelers defense? This one is a no-brainer.
Panthers 21 Buccaneers 13
The win streak continues for the Panthers. After picking up the win a week ago against the Redskins, the Panthers will make it two in a row this week in Tampa. The Bucs have been giving up some big plays this season. Look for Jake Delhomme to find Steve Smith for a pair of scores.
Chiefs 9 Redskins 3
The Lions and Panthers both picked up their first wins of the season against Washington. Now it is the Chiefs turn. I will give the Redskins some credit however. Carlos Rogers called out Dan Snyder this week for not being able to put a winning team on the field. It is about time the players revolt.
Jaguars 21 Rams 3
The Rams might not win a game this season, joining last years Lions as the only 0-16 teams in history. Marc Bulger is back, but it does not matter. Could Rush Limbaugh really do any worse if he owned the team?
Cardinals 35 Seahawks 24
Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin will be too much for the Seahawks. The Cardinals have been a disappointment on offense so far this year. They won't be this week.
Eagles 44 Raiders 7
Donovan McNabb looked great against the Bucs last Sunday, and will be even better against the Raiders this week. Micheal Vick will see a lot of action this week, as McNabb and most of the Eagles starters will be able to take the 2nd half off and watch from the sidelines. The Raiders have so many issues on and off the field, that it is hard to imagine them being competitive the rest of this season.
Jets 28 Bills 6
Rex Ryan was not happy with his defense after Monday's loss at the hands of the Miami Dolphins. Expect Ryan and the Jets defense to take out its frustrations on the Bills. Is this TO's last game in Buffalo?
Falcons 24 Bears 21
Matt Ryan gets the best of Jay Cutler in the Sunday night game. The Falcons simply have better talent on offense, and will build off of last weeks impressive showing in San Francisco.
Chargers 23 Broncos 20
The Chargers need this win to stay within shouting distance of the Broncos in the AFC West. San Diego's owner called out Norv Turner and his players during the bye week. The Chargers will respond by handing Josh McDaniels his first loss as head coach. Plus, I would like to see McDaniels humbled a bit after pumping his fist and acting like he just won the Superbowl after beating the Patriots last Sunday.
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Much like the Patriots last week, I turned in another mediocre performance, going 9-5 with my picks for the second straight week. Much like the Patriots, plan on a big turnaround this week. Here are this weeks picks.
Patriots 31 Titans 13
The Titans are just what the Patriots need, a team that cannot defend the pass. Peyton Manning picked the Titans apart last week, and Brady will do the same this week. It's a safe bet that Randy Moss will get more than one catch.
Texans 27 Bengals 14
It's time for the Bengals to come back down to Earth. I know that Cincy did a great job shutting down Joe Flacco and the Ravens last week, but Baltimore does not have the weapons that Houston does. Talent wins out, and Houston has too much. It is time for Houston to start living up to its potential.
Packers 28 Lions 10
There is just too much going against the Lions in this one. The Pack is coming off a bye, plus the game is in Green Bay. Factor in injuries to Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, both are listed as questionable, and all signs point to an easy Packers win.
Vikings 21 Ravens 17
A few weeks back prior to the game against the Patriots, I said I was not sold on the Ravens. The last 2 weeks, which included losses to the Pats and Bengals, have certainly not made me feel any better about Baltimore. Now the Ravens head to Minnesota to take on Brett Favre and a surging Vikings team. Last week Cedric Benson ran all over the Ravens. Adrian Peterson should be able to do the same this week.
Saints 31 Giants 28
In the best match up of the week, the Saints will prove they are for real. Pierre Thomas has come back from injury and showed that he is an elite running back, plus Drew Brees is due for a big game. Eli Manning will taste defeat for the first time this season.
Steelers 35 Browns 0
Maybe Brady Quinn should take his home in Cleveland off the market, as he should be starting again soon. Derek Anderson had one of the worst games in NFL history last week, going 2 for 17 passing. Don't ask me how the Browns were able to win, but there will be no such mystery this week. A bad Browns offense against a solid Steelers defense? This one is a no-brainer.
Panthers 21 Buccaneers 13
The win streak continues for the Panthers. After picking up the win a week ago against the Redskins, the Panthers will make it two in a row this week in Tampa. The Bucs have been giving up some big plays this season. Look for Jake Delhomme to find Steve Smith for a pair of scores.
Chiefs 9 Redskins 3
The Lions and Panthers both picked up their first wins of the season against Washington. Now it is the Chiefs turn. I will give the Redskins some credit however. Carlos Rogers called out Dan Snyder this week for not being able to put a winning team on the field. It is about time the players revolt.
Jaguars 21 Rams 3
The Rams might not win a game this season, joining last years Lions as the only 0-16 teams in history. Marc Bulger is back, but it does not matter. Could Rush Limbaugh really do any worse if he owned the team?
Cardinals 35 Seahawks 24
Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin will be too much for the Seahawks. The Cardinals have been a disappointment on offense so far this year. They won't be this week.
Eagles 44 Raiders 7
Donovan McNabb looked great against the Bucs last Sunday, and will be even better against the Raiders this week. Micheal Vick will see a lot of action this week, as McNabb and most of the Eagles starters will be able to take the 2nd half off and watch from the sidelines. The Raiders have so many issues on and off the field, that it is hard to imagine them being competitive the rest of this season.
Jets 28 Bills 6
Rex Ryan was not happy with his defense after Monday's loss at the hands of the Miami Dolphins. Expect Ryan and the Jets defense to take out its frustrations on the Bills. Is this TO's last game in Buffalo?
Falcons 24 Bears 21
Matt Ryan gets the best of Jay Cutler in the Sunday night game. The Falcons simply have better talent on offense, and will build off of last weeks impressive showing in San Francisco.
Chargers 23 Broncos 20
The Chargers need this win to stay within shouting distance of the Broncos in the AFC West. San Diego's owner called out Norv Turner and his players during the bye week. The Chargers will respond by handing Josh McDaniels his first loss as head coach. Plus, I would like to see McDaniels humbled a bit after pumping his fist and acting like he just won the Superbowl after beating the Patriots last Sunday.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Patriots set to roll against Titans
By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
It's been fairly obvious that Tom Brady and the rest of the New England offense has not been firing on all cylinders. They head into the game tomorrow sporting a very mediocre 3-2 record. They've been involved in tight games for every game so far except the 26-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons in week 3. By most accounts, you would be getting ready for another barn burner when you originally looked at the schedule and see that they're playing the Tennessee Titans, but you'd be wrong. The New England Patriots, along with Tom Brady and the rest of the offense, will finally bust out of their shell and put up great offensive numbers.
Tennessee Titans:
The Titans enter the game 0-5 and fully deserve that record. While the Titans may be middle of the pack, 17th overall, in offensive yards per game, they are nearly at the bottom, 24th overall, for points scored with 16.8 per game. Chris Johnson is having a very good sophomore season rushing for 468 yards for 6 yards per carry. What hasn't been great are the meager two rushing touchdowns so far. Rushing the ball isn't the problem on offense. They're putting the ball in Kerry Collins hands far to much as he's already thrown 7 interceptions and an awful 67.4 passer rating. He's been so bad, many people are already looking to bench Collins and put Vince Young back in as starter.
What's been killing the Titans the most is their defense. They rank 23rd overall in team defense. They rank next to last, 31st overall, in pass defense allowing a whopping 287.6 yards per game through the air. They have zero pass rush, thanks in part to the departures of Albert Hayensworth and former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. They've also been hit hard by the injury bug. Already they've had Nick Harper, Courtland Finnegan, Michael Griffin, Jevon Kearse, Jason Jones & Vincent Fuller miss time. Courtland Finnegan, the Pro Bowl corner back, and Michael Griffin, the Pro Bowl safety, may both miss the game against the Patriots. If that's the case, and Brady is allowed the time in the pocket every other QB taking on the Titans has had, then watch out. Brady could easily top 400 yards and 3 touchdown passes.
New England Patriots:
The weather in Foxboro is supposed to be pretty nasty for the 4:15 start tomorrow, which could mean a heavy dose of the ground game. I fully expect Sammy Morris to get the bulk of the action while Kevin Faulk & Lawrence Maroney get more playing time in the absence of Fred Taylor. I still expect the Pats to come out throwing, regardless of the weather because of the Titans deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball. That should mean good games for Moss, Welker and Ben Watson. The most interesting development for tomorrow's game is the play of rookie tackle Sebastian Vollmer. The beast will be starting at left tackle in place of the injured Matt Light. If you know me, then you know I've been looking for a replacement for Matt Light for some time now. I've never been a fan of Light and feel like him being named to Pro Bowl is just as bad as Derek Jeter winning a gold glove. It's just something that should never happen.
The Patriots defense should be a good play if you have them in fantasy. Don't be surprised to see the Pats stack the box with 8 men and dare Kerry Collins to be them through the air. Chris Johnson is the only offensive weapon the Pats need to worry about, so why not take him out of the game. This should be a good game to start working Junior Seau back into football shape as he'll be able to get some garbage time in the second half.
Prediction:
Patriots win 38-17
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Fantasy Football Friday: Week 6
Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Can you believe we're already 6 weeks into the NFL season? It might be hard to believe, but at least we are now entering the part of the season where teams, and players, begin to solidify what they're going to be for the year. With that being said, let's start looking at week 6, but first here are the teams on a bye this week: Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins & 49ers.
Week 6 Best Match ups:
1. Titans @ Patriots: Just like I said above, this is the week the real Patriots offense show itself. I fully expect Tom Brady, Randy Moss & Wes Welker to have big weeks. The team has made an effort to talk about not completing a single pass of 40 yards or longer, so watch out for at least two of those completed on Sunday. Ben Watson has 3 touchdowns in the past 5 games. The Titans pass defense is 31st in the league giving up an average of 287 yards per game.
2. Cardinals @ Seahawks: This is going to be a fantasy shootout in my opinion. The Seahawks pass defense may be better than you think, giving up on 208 per game, but it will not matter this weekend. The Cardinals looked much better last week, so I would suggest starting the obvious Warner, Fitzgerald & Boldin. Tim Hightower is a start as well. I fully expect Matt Hasselback to have another solid game as well making Nate Bureleson, TJ Houshmandzedah and John Carlson all fantasy starters this week. It helps that the Cardinals have the worst pass defense in the NFL.
3. Rams @ Jaguars: I am of the opinion that I would start any defense that is going up against the Rams this season. The St. Louis offense is just abysmal, with the exception of Steven Jackson. I am going to suggest starting David Garrard for the 2nd week in a row as well as Mike Sims-Walker, provided he's active. Watch out for Torry Holt this weekend. I predict he goes for 8 catches, 110 yards and a TD this weekend as he takes on his former team. The other obvious start for this game is Maurice Jones-Drew.
Make em' ride the bench:
QB - Eli Manning, Mark Sanchez & Brett Favre
Eli is going against a Saints defense that already has 13 interceptions on the season. Mark Sanchez is going against a defense that is better than you think and Brett Favre is facing the Ravens.
RB - Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson & LaDainian Tomlinson
The Bills offense is awful, and both Lynch and Jackson had poor games against the Browns last week. The last time I checked, the Jets defense is much better than the Browns. I just don't trust LT, especially against the Broncos defense.
WR - Calvin Johnson, Percy Harvin, Mario Manningham
Megatron is banged up, may not play, and going against the Packers. If you have another wideout to use, go with him. I like Percy Harvin, but it seems like he's not in the game any time the Vikings really need to pass the ball. Manningham has been relatively quiet lately and now he's banged up.
TE - Sean Ryan, Bo Scaife
Despite the fact Sean Ryan seems to be a favorite target of Matt Cassel, it's going to be tough for him to get the ball to Ryan against the Redskins. Same thing for Scaife against the Patriots.
DEF - Bears & Seahawks
I just don't like the Bears against a well rested Falcons offense. I know the Seahawks have played great defense at home, but I see Warner throwing the ball a lot on Sunday
Put em' in the game:
QB - Kyle Orton, Matt Hasselback, Jason Campbell
Kyle Orton has been very solid all season, and should continue that against a very suspect Chargers pass defense. Hasselback & Campbell take on the two worst pass defenses in the NFL.
RB - Cedric Benson, Sammy Morris, Cadillac Williams
Benson is now a must start every week. Sammy will get a lot of touches at the end of the game after the Pats jump out big, and Cadillac takes on a horrendous rush defense against the Panthers
WR - Torry Holt, Eddie Royal & Santana Moss
Like I mentioned above, Torry Holt will go off against his former team. Royal finally looked like he did last season as his chemistry with Orton is better, and I expect Santana Moss to get 10 catches this weekend against the Chiefs.
TE - Jeremy Shockey, JerMichael, Finley, Brandon Pettigrew
Like Holt, Shockey takes on his former team, and he hates the Giants. Expect him to be fired up and ready for a big game. Both Finely, and Pettigrew, are becoming large parts of their offense. Look for them to continue their progress and become fantasy starters as the year goes on.
DEF - Eagles, Redskins & Jaguars
All three of these teams are taking on terrible offenses.
Good luck!
Believe it or not, Saturday is a big test for USC, too
By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Ok, I'll be the first to admit that probably at least part of the reason Notre Dame is ranked in the Top-25 this week after being left out a week earlier is precisely to garner more excitement for this weekend's game between the Irish and USC. A lot of people at these universities, in the media and in the NCAA stand to make a lot of money from a "marquis matchup" between two Top-25 teams as opposed to a perceived powerhouse getting ready to pummel another unranked team.
That said, Notre Dame does have the potential to give USC, and most specifically its defense, its biggest test of the season.
USC is ranked fourth in the nation with an mere 8.6 points allowed per game. They're among the leaders in sacks. They haven't allowed a passing touchdown all season. Of course, those numbers have come against San Jose State (115th in scoring offense), Ohio State (46th), Washington (64th), Washington State (117th), California (41st) and Arizona (58th). This is not to take anything away from USC. Defensively, they are still one of the most talented groups in college football and despite their youth at several positions after graduating pretty much their entire front seven, the Trojans have been as good as advertised.
It all starts with the most veteran part of the defense, which is the secondary and it all starts in the secondary with safety Taylor Mays. At at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Mays is a beast with future NFL superstar written all over him. Both physically and emotionally, he is the catalyst.
But you can't dismiss the fact that if you look at the teams USC has faced, the Irish offense is by far the most explosive and they may be the most explosive the Trojans face until bowl season. The Irish rank 10th in total offense and 27th in scoring offense. The passing game averages 322 yards per game, good for eighth nationally, despite being without their primary deep threat. Jimmy Clausen has had just one game where he passed for less than 300 yards - the one against Purdue where he sat most of the second half until leading the team to a last-minute comback victory. Golden Tate is fourth in the nation in receiving. With all this being said, it looks as if Notre Dame's offensive strengths play right into the Trojans' strengths defensively. And if the Irish featured the same running game they did last year, that probably would be the case.
But the Irish, thanks in part to a much-improved offensive line and in part to the running backs' commitment in the offseason to get better at not going down after the first hit, are more multi-faceted on offense than they have been in years. Not since Darius Walker graduated has Notre Dame had a really potent running game. This season the Irish don't have a dynamic running attack, but it is something defenses need to think about. They improved from a paltry 3.3 yards per carry last season to a more respectable 4.1 yards per carry as a team this year. And that came with starting tailback Armando Allen being hurt for the equivilent of two games. Allen and his 5.1 yards per carry will be completely recovered from an ankle injury. Robert Hughes is a bruising backup and Jonas Gray provides big play ability both with his speed and his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. On top of that, lead blocker James Aldridge, who has been out since injuring his shoulder against Nevada, will be back. Long story short, the Trojans can't just sit back and wait for Jimmy Clausen. There is the very real possibility that Notre Dame will try to attack the young and banged up USC front four. It will keep the Trojans linebackers from focusing on blitzing and quarterback pursuit and could require the Trojans to pull their safeties closer to the line of scrimmage.
Still, as good as the offense may be, the real x-factor is the Irish defense and to this point it has not been outstanding. Three goal-line stands against Washington aside, the team has been pretty mediocre against everyone it has faced. Joe McKnight, not Matt Barkley will be called upon to carry the Trojans to a win. He's averaging 7.1 yards per carry and has by far been the most potent part of the Trojans' offense this season. There's little reason to think he can't have a big game against the Irish. The Irish do have the advantage of not having to worry about the kind of running threat at quarterback that guys like Jake Locker, Tate Forcier and Colin Kaepernick pose and those are the teams that have provided the most difficulty for the defense, but the bottom line is the Irish rank 68th in rushing defense.
Prediction: It will be an entertaining game, but USC just has a higher level of talent, especially defensively. USC 38, Notre Dame 29
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Ok, I'll be the first to admit that probably at least part of the reason Notre Dame is ranked in the Top-25 this week after being left out a week earlier is precisely to garner more excitement for this weekend's game between the Irish and USC. A lot of people at these universities, in the media and in the NCAA stand to make a lot of money from a "marquis matchup" between two Top-25 teams as opposed to a perceived powerhouse getting ready to pummel another unranked team.
That said, Notre Dame does have the potential to give USC, and most specifically its defense, its biggest test of the season.
USC is ranked fourth in the nation with an mere 8.6 points allowed per game. They're among the leaders in sacks. They haven't allowed a passing touchdown all season. Of course, those numbers have come against San Jose State (115th in scoring offense), Ohio State (46th), Washington (64th), Washington State (117th), California (41st) and Arizona (58th). This is not to take anything away from USC. Defensively, they are still one of the most talented groups in college football and despite their youth at several positions after graduating pretty much their entire front seven, the Trojans have been as good as advertised.
It all starts with the most veteran part of the defense, which is the secondary and it all starts in the secondary with safety Taylor Mays. At at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Mays is a beast with future NFL superstar written all over him. Both physically and emotionally, he is the catalyst.
But you can't dismiss the fact that if you look at the teams USC has faced, the Irish offense is by far the most explosive and they may be the most explosive the Trojans face until bowl season. The Irish rank 10th in total offense and 27th in scoring offense. The passing game averages 322 yards per game, good for eighth nationally, despite being without their primary deep threat. Jimmy Clausen has had just one game where he passed for less than 300 yards - the one against Purdue where he sat most of the second half until leading the team to a last-minute comback victory. Golden Tate is fourth in the nation in receiving. With all this being said, it looks as if Notre Dame's offensive strengths play right into the Trojans' strengths defensively. And if the Irish featured the same running game they did last year, that probably would be the case.
But the Irish, thanks in part to a much-improved offensive line and in part to the running backs' commitment in the offseason to get better at not going down after the first hit, are more multi-faceted on offense than they have been in years. Not since Darius Walker graduated has Notre Dame had a really potent running game. This season the Irish don't have a dynamic running attack, but it is something defenses need to think about. They improved from a paltry 3.3 yards per carry last season to a more respectable 4.1 yards per carry as a team this year. And that came with starting tailback Armando Allen being hurt for the equivilent of two games. Allen and his 5.1 yards per carry will be completely recovered from an ankle injury. Robert Hughes is a bruising backup and Jonas Gray provides big play ability both with his speed and his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. On top of that, lead blocker James Aldridge, who has been out since injuring his shoulder against Nevada, will be back. Long story short, the Trojans can't just sit back and wait for Jimmy Clausen. There is the very real possibility that Notre Dame will try to attack the young and banged up USC front four. It will keep the Trojans linebackers from focusing on blitzing and quarterback pursuit and could require the Trojans to pull their safeties closer to the line of scrimmage.
Still, as good as the offense may be, the real x-factor is the Irish defense and to this point it has not been outstanding. Three goal-line stands against Washington aside, the team has been pretty mediocre against everyone it has faced. Joe McKnight, not Matt Barkley will be called upon to carry the Trojans to a win. He's averaging 7.1 yards per carry and has by far been the most potent part of the Trojans' offense this season. There's little reason to think he can't have a big game against the Irish. The Irish do have the advantage of not having to worry about the kind of running threat at quarterback that guys like Jake Locker, Tate Forcier and Colin Kaepernick pose and those are the teams that have provided the most difficulty for the defense, but the bottom line is the Irish rank 68th in rushing defense.
Prediction: It will be an entertaining game, but USC just has a higher level of talent, especially defensively. USC 38, Notre Dame 29
Dodgers better equiped for NLCS rematch
By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Tonight marks game 1 of the National League Championship Series, and brings us a rematch from last season. Last year, the Phillies easily took care of the Dodgers in 5 games on their way to a World Series title. The 2009 NLCS should have a much better feel for the Dodgers than last year. Why is that you ask? Well, let me run through my reasons:
1. The Dodgers are simply a better offensive team this year than last. I know Manny Ramirez has struggled, except for game three of the division series, but the lineup is has more balance, and is not nearly as dependent on Manny. Andre Ethier has been clutch all season, and continued that with a solid performance against the Cardinals in the division series.
2. The Dodgers starting rotation. The front end of this rotation is better suited to go against the left handed heavy Phillies lineup. Clayton Kershaw and Randy Wolf will start games 1 & 2 to go against the likes of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez.
3. Cliff Lee will be making his first start in this series in game 3. As you'll see in my prediction at the end of this article, Cliff Lee will only pitch once in this series. Just that alone is a huge boost for the Dodgers.
4. The Dodgers bullpen. I'll take Hong-Chih Kuo, George Sherrill & Jonathon Broxton over anyone the Phillies can put up against them. the lefty duo of Kuo & Sherrill go back to my argument the starting rotation is better suited to handling to big, left handed bats of the Phillies.
Now don't get me wrong. The Phillies are still a very good baseball team. In fact, I think their lineup and rotation is better this season than last. I just think the Dodgers are a much improved team over last year as well. They have good enough pitching, solid defense up the middle, and have had timely hitting all season.
My prediction: Dodgers over Phillies in 6 games
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
What we learned this week in college football: Week 6
By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Apologies for being late this week. Busy weekend. But no excuses. I'm going to play like a champion late in the game.
Anyway, Week 6 was not exactly the week for marquis matchups in the top 25. Florida at LSU was the big game of the week, and let's face it, who outside of the bayou thought that LSU had a chance of winning that game? Even with a very good defense capable of shutting down the Gators, LSU's offense continues to lack any kind of identity and while Tim Tebow gets all of the attention when it comes to Florida, it's the defense that could make a more legitimate claim of being the best in the nation than Tebow. Sure enough, the defense was the difference. The Gators sacked Jordan Jefferson five times and held LSU to 162 yards of total offense. And while we're on the subject of the Gators, let's move on to what we learned this week
Urban Meyer doesn't care about what happens to his players beyond what they can do for him at Florida.
Wow. I can understand wanting to have Tim Tebow play in what probably is the biggest game of your season, but you would also think that Meyer's play calling would involve trying to protect a 22-year-old who suffered a fairly serious brain injury. Florida's offense is based on threat of the quarterback running with the football, which is what made it hard to believe the Gators would be able to work as well with John Brantley, who is more of a pocket passer. I can understand using Tebow in the running game to accentuate the threat of him moving the football with his legs, but utilizing him as the team's leading rusher? Meyer had Tebow run the ball like he had never been injured having him carry the ball 17 times, one more than actual runner Jeffery Demps. So for all the talk Meyer mouthed about doing what's best for Tebow, he proved it was all empty words.
Michigan hasn't arrived quite yet, but Iowa is here to stay
Iowa is the only undefeated team remaining in the Big 10 and has experienced a meteoric rise though the ranking to No. 11. But after beating Penn State, the Buckeyes almost faltered against Arkansas State, pulling out a 24-21 victory. Even though Michigan isn't the Big 10 power it once was, the Wolverines are a team that has been giving opponents fits all year. They beat Notre Dame in the final seconds of the game, then lost their next two games by a combined eight points. Michigan is a legitimate conference opponent and Iowa proving they can come out on top of a close one adds even more credibility to their ranking.
Mississippi wasn't the only overrated team coming out of the SEC
Sure, we can talk about the embarrassing way Ole Miss lost to Alabama, but I think at this point we all know that Ole Miss was not the team the pollsters thought it was. Georgia, on the other hand, has been a bit of a surprise. Dropping games to Oklahoma State and LSU could at least be considered understandable, considering the quality of the opponent. But getting blown out by Tennessee is not acceptable. And with Florida coming up in two weeks, it's very possible the Bulldogs will be a four-loss team heading into the stretch run. This is assuming they can beat Vanderbilt. Quite the fall for a team ranked 13th at the beginning of the season.
Boston College's defense is truly overrated
The Eagles went into Week 6 with a defense that was ranked high in team defense. They had given up over 900 yards in their previous two games, but there was still reason to be impressed with the unit. In those two games they held two fairly decent offenses to 21 points or less through three quarters. But against a good offense, Boston College crumbled. They gave up yards, as they had in the past, but Virginia Tech turned those yards into points and a lot of them. What was possibly most surprising was the fact that the secondary was the most victimized, giving up 17.1 yards per pass play. Just plain ugly.
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Apologies for being late this week. Busy weekend. But no excuses. I'm going to play like a champion late in the game.
Anyway, Week 6 was not exactly the week for marquis matchups in the top 25. Florida at LSU was the big game of the week, and let's face it, who outside of the bayou thought that LSU had a chance of winning that game? Even with a very good defense capable of shutting down the Gators, LSU's offense continues to lack any kind of identity and while Tim Tebow gets all of the attention when it comes to Florida, it's the defense that could make a more legitimate claim of being the best in the nation than Tebow. Sure enough, the defense was the difference. The Gators sacked Jordan Jefferson five times and held LSU to 162 yards of total offense. And while we're on the subject of the Gators, let's move on to what we learned this week
Urban Meyer doesn't care about what happens to his players beyond what they can do for him at Florida.
Wow. I can understand wanting to have Tim Tebow play in what probably is the biggest game of your season, but you would also think that Meyer's play calling would involve trying to protect a 22-year-old who suffered a fairly serious brain injury. Florida's offense is based on threat of the quarterback running with the football, which is what made it hard to believe the Gators would be able to work as well with John Brantley, who is more of a pocket passer. I can understand using Tebow in the running game to accentuate the threat of him moving the football with his legs, but utilizing him as the team's leading rusher? Meyer had Tebow run the ball like he had never been injured having him carry the ball 17 times, one more than actual runner Jeffery Demps. So for all the talk Meyer mouthed about doing what's best for Tebow, he proved it was all empty words.
Michigan hasn't arrived quite yet, but Iowa is here to stay
Iowa is the only undefeated team remaining in the Big 10 and has experienced a meteoric rise though the ranking to No. 11. But after beating Penn State, the Buckeyes almost faltered against Arkansas State, pulling out a 24-21 victory. Even though Michigan isn't the Big 10 power it once was, the Wolverines are a team that has been giving opponents fits all year. They beat Notre Dame in the final seconds of the game, then lost their next two games by a combined eight points. Michigan is a legitimate conference opponent and Iowa proving they can come out on top of a close one adds even more credibility to their ranking.
Mississippi wasn't the only overrated team coming out of the SEC
Sure, we can talk about the embarrassing way Ole Miss lost to Alabama, but I think at this point we all know that Ole Miss was not the team the pollsters thought it was. Georgia, on the other hand, has been a bit of a surprise. Dropping games to Oklahoma State and LSU could at least be considered understandable, considering the quality of the opponent. But getting blown out by Tennessee is not acceptable. And with Florida coming up in two weeks, it's very possible the Bulldogs will be a four-loss team heading into the stretch run. This is assuming they can beat Vanderbilt. Quite the fall for a team ranked 13th at the beginning of the season.
Boston College's defense is truly overrated
The Eagles went into Week 6 with a defense that was ranked high in team defense. They had given up over 900 yards in their previous two games, but there was still reason to be impressed with the unit. In those two games they held two fairly decent offenses to 21 points or less through three quarters. But against a good offense, Boston College crumbled. They gave up yards, as they had in the past, but Virginia Tech turned those yards into points and a lot of them. What was possibly most surprising was the fact that the secondary was the most victimized, giving up 17.1 yards per pass play. Just plain ugly.
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