Cubicle QB - October 12, 2009

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda…
There wasn’t one thing that jumped out at me this week, so this edition of Cubicle QB will be a quick hitting version. We’ve got a lot to cover, so here we go…

We should just call the NFL MVP race off right now. Nobody is even close to touching Peyton Manning through five weeks of NFL action. No one player, coach, scheme, or string of good luck is as responsible for a team’s success as Peyton Manning is for the Indianapolis Colts right now. What’s even scarier is that he’s doing it with a Mormon and a French dude at WR.

I know it was against the Bucs, but could Donovan McNabb be bouncing back from a injury? Don’t look now, but the Eagles have a stable of playmakers in Westbrook, Jackson, Celek, and Maclin… Don’t look now, but the NFC East is a two horse race in the second week of October.

Brett Favre should go straight to hell. The Jets experiment was cute and all… but this Vikings crap has got to stop. I know Brett is upset at the Packer front office and that’s understandable. But not once has he made amends much less given Packer fans’ their due credit. Brett’s career hasn’t always been rosy. There have been several instances when he heaved the ball and his team’s playoff hopes 40 yards down field with nothing but a prayer. Regardless, Packer fan always came to his defense. Drug and alcohol addiction… They looked the other way. Retire, unretire, retire… Looked the other way. This is too much. Time to draw a line in the sand.

The “roughing the passer” and “defenseless receiver” penalties should stop… NOW! Playing football is not a right; it’s a choice. Football is a violent, dangerous game. No one promised anybody millions of dollars and a long happy retirement to go along with the joy of playing a game for a living. Football is special for a reason. It’s because not everybody can do it. If you don’t want to get hit in the face by a 300 lb defender, start a shitty blog called Cubicle QB. You’ll probably make less in a lifetime than a stud QB does in a season. But at least you’ll be safe.

The BCS title game should be moved to Atlanta and played the first weekend in December. I have no reason to believe that either Alabama or Florida will be tested by anybody coming out of the Big 12. Our only hope for excitement is a SEC Title Game rematch in January. Texas looks like a joke. Oklahoma doesn’t have the offensive line to stand a chance against a Bama or Gator defensive front. And as talented as USC is, would you trust your title hopes to a true freshman at QB?

Oh, while we’re at it… we should move the SEC Title Game outdoors. It’s not a track meet. I want to see slobbering noses, steaming heads, and a chilled turf for Alabama and Florida to fight over.

I should apologize to LSU; they are nowhere near the team I thought they would be by now. And Ole Miss fans should apologize to me and everybody else for wasting our time… Give me a break. And the Vols should apologize to Georgia – that was plain embarrassing.

Call of the Week When in doubt, stick to old faithful. Vintage Gus Johnson at the end of the Bengals-Ravens thriller. It’s important to note that Gus Johnson gets more excited than the radio announcers that are paid BY THE TEAM to call the game on a regular basis.

Monday Obits It’s been two weeks, so two teams have gotta go down:
Break out the chicken wings and 9mm… its VY time! The Titans just don’t have it this year. Even if you don’t want him as a franchise QB, better put Vince in and see if he can garner some trade value. RIP Tennessee Titans.
Let’s see… Unprepared head coach? Check. Purging Super Bowl-winning veterans? Check. Quarterback injury? Check. Flat lined playoff hopes? Check. RIP Tampa Buccaneers.

The Deceased: Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Debo’s Xs & Os If I hear another announcer tracing the roots of the Wildcat offense to Arkansas, or Miami, or anything before World War II, I’m going to puke. Take it from someone who created their first offensive playbook at age 13: The Wildcat is a dressed-up version of a decades old offense called the Single Wing. The Single Wing is run heavy offense that’s been used in pop warner, middle school, and high school football for decades.
The basics? A runningback or option quarterback takes the snap. Interior linemen pull across the formation as heavy duty lead blockers. Use misdirection and elaborate fakes to force defenders to stand tall, read, and find the football. If you don’t believe me check Wikipedia or this respected journalist.

The Weekend Menu #20 Oklahoma and #3 Texas clash in the Red River Shoot Out. Yet again, this one has national title implications. Since this is noon game, we’ll keep it simple. Start your football watching with a home made helping of Spicy Bean Salsa.

No salsa would be complete without an ice cold brew to cool you down. And since Oklahoma caps alcohol at 3.2% (WTF?), we turn to Texas and our old friend Shiner. This weekend grab Shiner Smokehaus – a refreshing Helles-style beer with a smoky flavor. It’s a pale malt that’s been smoked with native mesquite flavors. My mouth is watering already…

Don’t forget to send your comments, emails, and gripes. And enjoy your football and enjoy it often!

Power Playoff Wednesday - October 1, 2009

Believe it or not... I spent a lot of time thinking about these rankings. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for you), I don't have the time to tell you about them.

NCAA Power Rankings
1. Florida Gators
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Texas Longhorns
4. LSU Tigers
5. Boise State Broncos
6. Virginia Tech Hokies
7. USC Trojans
8. Ohio State Buckeyes
9. Oklahoma Sooners
10. Houston Cougars
11. Miami Hurricanes
12. Oklahoma State Cowboys
13. Cincinnati Bearcats
14. South Carolina Game Cocks

NFL Playoff Power Rankings

1. New York Giants
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. New Orleans Saints
4. New York Jets
5. Indianapolis Colts
6. Minnesota Vikings
7. New England Patriots
8. Cincinnati Bengals
9. Green Bay Packers
10. Atlanta Falcons
11. San Diego Chargers
12. San Francisco 49ers

Cubicle QB - September 29, 2009

Busy week... I’m a little under the weather… This Cubicle QB may be a little shorter than most, but don’t worry – I’ll make it up to you.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda…
Here a couple of things we know to be true:
1. It’s a long, long SEC season. All the hits a QB takes can certainly take their toll.
2. Florida always beats Kentucky. The past twenty-two times, as a matter of fact.

Knowing those two things, I’d imagine that Urban Meyer would like another crack at that third down call late in the third quarter Saturday night.
I don’t have a problem with running up the score. The pollsters, the computers, and the BCS system are asking for it. I don’t have a problem with Tebow being on the field late in the third quarter of a blowout. I don’t even have a problem with Tebow dropping back to pass late in the third quarter of a blowout. But you’d better give him adequate protection… even extra protection.
The Gators sent out five receivers near the goal line leaving only five linemen to protect their stud QB. This time it cost them… and may have cost them dearly.
The good news is that Tebow gets an extra week of rest since Florida is on a bye week before heading to LSU. But the simple fact is that Meyer could have run up the score without leaving Tebow vulnerable. The Gators strength season has been running the ball, and their receiving corps has been injury-ridden and disappointing. The smart play was to the run the ball and keep your Heisman QB upright.
I understand Meyer was probably hoping to gain valuable game-time reps for his offense, and he certainly thought he was doing the right thing. But didn’t your mom teach you not play with fire, Urban??

Call of the Week
Despite an upset riddled weekend, it was a bit of a dull week as far announcing goes. So as much as it pains me, I’m offering up Brett Favre and his magical game winning throw in… gulp… Minnesota.

Monday Obits
Kansas City Chiefs. Scott Pioli and Todd Haley are making many friends in KC these days. If you don’t believe me, read Jason Whitlock’s complete undressing of the dynamic duo from the Kansas City Star. Needless to say, the “Chefs” (remember that Snickers commercial) have no business competing with the Ravens, Jets, and Colts of the AFC.

The Deceased: Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs

Debo’s Xs & Os
I give up. Next week.

The Weekend Menu
Not surprisingly, the game of the week involves a certain veteran quarterback facing his team of yesteryear under a Minnesota dome. Brett Favre faces his old Packer teammates for the first time since the retirement drama spun wildly out of control 18 long months ago.
And since we’ve already enjoyed brats this fall, we’ll try a Minnesota pork chop recipe. To make this easier on both of us, I’ll just use a link this time. It’s a simple recipe, and it sounds pretty good… even if it is from Minnesota.

For beer, nothing goes better with Minnesota than good American Miller Brewing Co beer. In this case, treat yourself to the Champagne of Beers, Miller High Life.

Don’t forget to send your comments, emails, and gripes. And enjoy your football and enjoy it often!

Power Playoff Wednesday - September 24, 2009

NCAA Power Rankings
A big week with a lot of action: highly ranked teams crumbling in stupefying upsets, invincible squads looking rather mortal, and teams splashing unto the national spotlight. I had thoughts of hitting the reset button and making these rankings as if there were preseason expectations. In the end, I decided it’s a long season and looking great in week three doesn’t win anybody a national title.
A couple of notes…. You might have noticed a few trends. While I don’t punish right away for weak scheduling, the axe is looming should a team stumble (Penn St, Ole Miss). Additionally, I try to emphasize what teams have done… not what I think they’ll do. For example, if LSU played Boise State tomorrow, I’m picking the Tigers. But Boise has done more to merit a ranking than LSU. LSU still has its chance to prove its mettle with a SEC conference schedule. If they’re a better team than Boise, they’ll certainly have an opportunity to show it.
1. Florida Gators, 3-0, [LW – 1]
Now, Urban and Lane are bickering over whether the Vols tried to win the game or just keep it close. I this is a very heated rivalry, but this is getting a little silly children. And besides, we’ve got more football to play.
2. Texas Longhorns, 3-0, [LW – 2]
If I hear crap about one more football player "braving the swine flu," I’m gonna puke. Honestly, what college student doesn’t have the flu? The next time I strike out with a cute girl at the bar, I’m coming back with, "Well, I’ve got a touch of the flu, so I’m doing good just be out here."
3. Alabama Crimson Tide, 3-0 [LW – 3]
Finally, actual football is actually being played. Bama and Arkansas will meet this weekend in what should be an interesting test for Bama’s defense and Ryan Mallett’s arm.
4. Miami Hurricanes, 2-0, [LW – NR]
Another big game for young Jacory Harris. A chance for Tyrod Taylor to live up to the hype for a change. I think the ‘Canes will roll, setting up a colossal showdown with the Sooners.
5. California Bears, 3-0, [LW – 8]
The Bears make a trip to Oregon before they have a chance at a knock-out punch against USC. Everyone expects Jahvid Best to run wild on a down and out Oregon team. What’s that I smell? A TRAP GAME you say!?
6. Boise State Broncos, 3-0, [LW – 6]
The Broncos keep muddling along through a powder puff schedule. Even the slightest misstep could cause BCS disaster for Boise.
7. Ole Miss Rebels, 2-0, [LW – 7]
A primetime match-up + SEC opponent + big opportunity = big pressure. Will the Rebs come out firing? Or is it time to bust a Nutt afterall? Eitherway, this game will mean big movement for Rebels on this humble blog.
8. Penn State Nittany Lions, 3-0, [LW – 8]
Revenge game in Happy Valley. JoePa has another chance to run up the score. But this time its against the team that cost him a national title shot in 2008.
9. LSU Tigers, 3-0, [LW – 9]
I really can’t figure these guys out. That road win against Washington looks better and better. But they let Vandy hang around. I know this team is young and will develop more as we get closer to November, but the clock is ticking. After a trip to Miss State, the Tigers are looking at games @ Georgia, vs. Florida, and vs. Auburn. Gulp…
10. USC Trojans, 2-1, [LW – 5]
Matt Barkley is healthy again. Pete Carroll said he pinky swears. Well, he better be right. Now I understand why a true freshman got the preseason nod over Aaron Corp.
11. Ohio State Buckeyes, 2-1, [LW – 10]
If Ohio State has any hopes of a national title run, they’ll have to run the table and do it with style. They start off with a pesky Illinois team that can make their season, by defending their home field against the Buckeyes.
12. Oklahoma Sooners 2-1, [LW – 13]
The Sooners get a week off before traveling to Miami. Is it at all possible for Sam Bradford to make the trip next week? Please?
13. Virginia Tech Hokies 2-1, [LW – 12]
Who am I kidding? Did you watch the Nebraska game last week? There’s no way the ‘Canes let T-Mobile run around, make a sandwich, and then throw a game winner. The Hokies are gonna get creamed.
14. Cincinnati Bearcats, 3-0, [LW – NR]
The Bearcats are putting up some astronomical offensive numbers in Brian Kelly’s hurry-up no huddle. And I guess I have to at least one Big East team… right?

NFL Power Playoff Rankings
1. New York Giants – NFC East, [LW – 2]
Did Eli go to Peyton’s QB camp this year? He looked completely at ease moving the ball, milking the clock and setting up the game winner.
2. New Orleans Saints – NFC South, [LW – 4]
Watching the Saints offense is like seeing Godzilla taking on Tokyo. If their D can be more than a wet paper bag, watch out.
3. Baltimore Ravens – AFC North, [LW – 9]
The Ravens look very impressive. Even more impressive than the Steelers look when they win.
4. New York Jets – AFC East, [LW – NR]
Rex Ryan has the locker room drinking the Kool-Aid. The Jets sound like they can be anybody… and they played like it to.
5. Pittsburg Steelers – AFC Wild Card, [LW – 1]
Are the Steelers just an ugly football team? Ala the Giants of 2007? They muck up the game, turn it into a slugfest, and hope Big Ben has enough in the tank at the end. Seems dicey to me.
6. Atlanta Falcons – NFC Wild Card, [LW – NR]
I didn’t believe in the Falcons a month ago. Well, I’m a believer now.
7. Minnesota Vikings – NFC North, [LW – 7]
This makes me want to throw up. The Vikings have their first real test against the Niners this weekend. And then, Green Bay comes to town for Monday Night Football.
8. Green Bay Packers – NFC Wild Card, [LW – 3]
The Pack looked absolutely atrocious Sunday. But I must admit. It’s nice to have the artist formerly known as Chad Johnson back up to his old tricks.
9. San Francisco 49ers – NFC West, [LW – NR]
Frank Gore looks like he has that old school, retard strength. I wouldn’t want him doing my taxes, but toting the rock? Sounds good to me.
10. Indianapolis Colts – AFC South, [LW – 8]
I can’t decide if the Monday comeback is impressive or depressing. I know Peyton may not want to, but he’d better thank his defense for surviving a long Miami night.
11. Tennessee Titans – AFC Wild Card, [LW – 6]
The Titans need answers fast. Playing the Jets in an 0-2 hole is not one of them.
12. San Diego Chargers – AFC West, [LW – 11]
Somebody has to win the AFC West, right? If the Chargers don’t want to, the Broncos may be the team to do it. San Diego is just too banged up to beat anybody. And the Broncos may have so much karma on their side from the Cutler debacle it may not matter. Look out SD, you’re on notice.

Cubicle QB - September 23, 2009

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda…
While watching the Tennessee-Florida game this weekend, I sent a text to a close friend: “It must be hard calling plays with Crompton at the helm.” And he replied, “Seriously, you have to throw at least half the passing plays out of the playbook.”
Over the course of the next couple of days, I did some thinking and looked back over my game notes. We couldn’t have been more right. Check this out: The Vols called a whopping 22 passing plays Saturday. Crompton threw the ball 19 times, six of those on Tennessee’s last ditch effort to score. Take a look at the break down:

Play.................Frequency...........Total Result
Sack..........................1.........................-2 yards
Scramble.....................2........................8 yards
Incompletion...............6........................0 yards
WR Completion.............3........................32 yards
RB/TE Completion.........8........................61 yards
Throws of 20+ yards.....2........................Interception

Outside of the last drive, Crompton had one completion to a WR for 17 yards. One. What does this tell us? The Vols should start using Bryce Brown and Montario Hardesty in the passing game even more.
Use a base set with Hardesty, Brown, one WR, one TE, and one FB. The Vols can line up three wide, four wide, tight end wing, three RB backfields, shotgun wing, shotgun spread, pro-set, etc, etc. All with the same personnel. And Kiffin should start using Brown and Hardesty in the slot, as a wing, as a out wide. Run WR screens, jailbreak screens, play action screens all using the two runningbacks.
It was obvious Saturday that Brown and Hardesty are the two playmakers for this team. But without a legitimate passing attack, defenses will continue to crowd and overcrowd the box further shrinking running lanes. Crompton can complete the short passes. Brown and Hardesty can do some damage in the open field. Using them in the short passing game will spread out the defense, open running lanes, and give the Vols’ playmakers more touches all at the same time.

Call of the Week
I’m adding a new section! I don’t know how well this will work, but after listening to Gus Johnson explode after the Stokely miracle last week, this seems like it could be fun. Each week, I’ll scour the games for the most exciting announcer of the week and include a link to that play. This week? Sean McDonough pulls his best Gus Johnson impersonation in VaTech’s improbable comeback against the Black Shirts of Nebraska.

Monday Obits
Cleveland Browns. The Brownies look to be in complete disarray right now. Some Clevelanders are already calling for Brady Quinn’s head. Scoring only 26 points in two games while giving up over 60 can lead to these kind of problems. After Adrian Peterson embarrassed the Browns in week one, the Broncos continued the party, keeping the Browns scoreless for the final three quarters Sunday. If the Browns keep this up, the dog pound will be full… but not with rabid fans.

The Deceased: Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns

Debo’s Xs & Os
While discussing the Vols woeful offense, I mentioned “jailbreak screens.” And if you caught the end of the Colts-Fins’ Monday night thriller, you saw rookie speedster Pierre Garcon run one to perfection for the winning score. The jailbreak is a favorite play of mine, and you can see its success at almost any level of football – from middle school to the NFL. And it’s our focus in this week’s Xs & Os.
The jailbreak screen is a bit of a hybrid. It is a wide receiver screen; but as in running back screens, linemen move downfield to create a convoy of blockers for the ball carrier. The basic formation used is twins opposite a tightend or split end.
Here’s another tidbit that will make this explanation easier for both of us. A flanker (or slot) is a receiver that lines up “off the ball,’ or one yard behind the line of scrimmage, and is conventionally deemed the Z receiver. A split end (or wide out) is a receiver that lines up “on the ball,” or even with the line of scrimmage, and is deemed the X receiver.
Here, you see the Z (inside) receiver block the DB covering X. X takes a false step forward and then retreats directly back to the QB. The QB will fade back inviting defensive linemen to chase him and deliver the ball to X.
Menawhile the linemen, will chip (block and then release) the interior defensive linemen and release downfield. Once X catches the ball, he should run up and to the middle of the field. As linemen make their blocks, he may need to cross the field entirely or bend back to the play side numbers. If blocked correctly, there should be daylight for X to find.
A key to breaking the big one is often blocking the backside safety; it can mean the difference between first down and touchdown. This is often the backside receiver or tight end. In this diagram, the backside slot should release to the inside and go headhunting for the safety.
We call it a jailbreak screen because the ball carrier runs back into the teeth of the defense and follows his blockers to daylight – often resembling a frenzied jailbreak.

The Weekend Menu
Watch out for Miami streaking up those power rankings! Over the next two weeks, they have a BIG chance to impress – going to VaTech and then hosting a resurgent Oklahoma. If they keep this up, they may enjoy back-to-back appearances on the Weekend Menu. But this week our focus is the upset minded Hokies. Wedding Crashers had it all wrong: CRABCAKES and football! That’s what Virginia does!!

Virginia Crab Cakes and Red Pepper Sauce
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon seafood seasoning
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Dash pepper
• 1 pound lump crabmeat, cartilage removed
• 4 French bread, crust removed
• RED PEPPER SAUCE:
• 1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons minced shallots
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Lemon wedges
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients; stir in crab. In a food processor or blender, process bread slices, a few at a time, until fine crumbs form (total volume should be 2-1/2 cups). Add 1 cup to the crab mixture; mix well.
2. Shape 1/4 cupfuls of crab mixture into patties. Coat both sides of patties with remaining bread crumbs, pressing to adhere. Place on a baking sheet; cover and refrigerate for up to 6 hours.
3. Meanwhile, for sauce, in a blender of food processor, combine the red pepper, onions, mustard, mayonnaise, shallots, parsley, honey, lemon juice, salt and pepper; cover and process until finely chopped. Refrigerate until serving.
4. In a large skillet, melt half of butter and half of oil. Place half of the crab cakes in skillet. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes on each side or until lightly browned (carefully turn the delicate cakes over). Repeat with remaining butter, oil and crab cakes. Serve with sauce and lemon wedges.

Finding a beer for crab cakes wasn’t as easy as BBQ, but I’ve got the perfect pairing: Spaten Premium Lager. With a golden color and a well-balanced hop-flavor, Spaten has a great crisp finish to polish off any crab cake. Let’s hope Jacory Harris and Tyrod Taylor and match this meal with a QB pairing of their own.
Don’t forget to send your comments, emails, and gripes. And enjoy your football and enjoy it often!

Power Playoff Wednesday - September 17, 2009

NCAA Power Rankings
1. Florida Gators, 2-0 [LW – 1]
Can Tim Tebow hang half a hundred on Rocky Top? Not if Eric Berry has anything to say about it. A 28 ½ point spread to open the week… Wow. The Tennessee-Western Kentucky spread was only 30 at kickoff. Oh, there’s already a quarterback controversy on Rock Top. Look out, Smokey.
2. Texas Longhorns, 2-0 [LW – 2]
Texas had shaky first half in Wyoming. I don’t think Taylor Potts and Texas Tech will give them that luxury. The Red Raiders are a high scoring offense facing a 17 ½ spread. Now, I’m not calling for an outright upset, but you gotta figure Tech will score thirty. Can Texas really put up a fifty spot?
3. Alabama Crimson Tide, 2-0 [LW – 4]
Northern Texas!? Yawn, is it time for conference play yet?
4. USC Trojans, 2-0 [LW – 4]
I know, I know. No bump for beating a top ten opponent? Well, it was Ohio State, and the Trojans looked pretty shaky at times. Bama looked better when they beat top ten VaTech.
5. BYU Cougars, 2-0 [LW – 5]
The Cougars managed to show up despite the obviously “after upset letdown” potential. Now they can prepare for another match with the big boys: Florida State. If Florida State remembers to pack their offense, we could have an interesting football game.
6. Boise State Broncos, 2-0 [LW – 7]
Boise State didn’t look so dominant the week after Oregon. They have a light schedule by all accounts and will have to impress to keep their BCS hopes alive. Next up: Pat Hill and feisty Fresno State.
7. Ole Miss Rebels, 1-0 [LW – 8]
A week off came a great time. Dexter McCluster had the flu. Greg Hardy was still little beat up. And the Rebs seemed to have slipped out of the national spot light. I think that’s a good thing: it never hurts to have a little distance between Houston Nutt and hype.
8. California Bears, 2-0 [LW – 9]
I seriously thought shuffling the Cal and Penn St, but neither team has played anybody yet and we really don’t know anything. So I figured what the hey… why miss out on a chance to piss off the Big Ten!?
9. Penn State Nittany Lions, 2-0 [LW – 10]
All joking aside, the JoePa’s boys looked absolutely dominant playing the Duke basketball B-team.
10. LSU Tigers, 2-0 [LW – 11]
LSU beat Vandy by two touchdowns. But it felt a lot closer… especially for a night game in Death Valley. The Tigers look light years away from the SEC elite.
11. Ohio State, 1-1 [LW – 12]
Woah! The Buckeyes lose… at home… and STILL move up!? To be honest, they looked good against what many consider to be one of the three most talented teams in the country. They looked better than the next three teams on this list, too.
12. Virginia Tech, 1-1 [LW – 13]
The Hokies bounced back strong by pummeling Marshall. I wish Marshall would make a cold medicine or a hangover cure. “Had a long night, but I took a couple of Marshalls and I’m back on my feet!”
13. Oklahoma Sooners, 1-1 [LW – 14]
Looks like the offense still works. The Sooner proved that Idaho St is no BYU with a 64-0 beat down.
14. Georgia Tech, 2-0 [LW – NR]
Maybe a primetime thriller was just what Tech needed to get on everybody’s radar. Watch out for this team. They could make a slow and steady rise in these rankings.

NFL Power Playoff Rankings
1. Pittsburgh Steelers – AFC North
Big overtime win for the Steel City. But another suspect performance from that offensive line. The Steelers haven’t been a running team for two years now.
2. New York Giants – NFC East
The Giants looked like the same physical team from late 2007 and early 2008. Can they stay upright for twenty more weeks? With the depth they have at every line position, it looks possible.
3. Green Bay Packers – NFC North
It was nice to see the Pack close a game for a change. The defensive scheme seems to be working… just ask Gay Cutler (not a typo). But this team still needs to grow in order satisfy cheesehead expectations.
4. New Orleans Saints – NFC South
Drew Brees + Lions = FANTASY!! Sheesh… Brees embarrassed the entire state of Michigan. But let’s see that defense play an all male football team.
5. New England Patriots - AFC East
The Pats sucked the life out of Buffalo with vintage Brady fourth quarter comeback, to be sure. But that defense looks lost without Jerrod Mayo. And Brady looked absolutely terrified to test that knee.
6. Tennessee Titans – AFC South
Tough, tough loss. Not sure why the Titans D called off the dogs late in the fourth quarter. You have wonder whether the Titans would have crumbled in Three Rivers if Jim Schwartz is still their defensive coordinator.
7. Minnesota Vikings – NFC Wild Card
The Vikings looked strong on opening weekend, flexing their muscles with AP and rookie Percy Harvin. But they were still playing the Browns. And we’ve yet to see how Favre will fare with the game on the line.
8. Indianapolis Colts – AFC Wild Card
Just another day in the life of a Colt. Injuries, close game, Peyton Manning pulls out yet another close win.
9. Baltimore Ravens – AFC Wild Card
Great come-from-behind win… but against the Chiefs without newly minted franchise quarterback Matt Cassel? Ooof. The Ravens defense has a little work to do before they look like the terrifying unit we’ve come to know.
10. Philadelphia Eagles – NFC Wild Card
Surprise, surprise… Donovan is questionable with a cracked rib. And so a quarterback controversy looms in the future. But not for the number one spot. If Kolb struggles and Garcia comes in to clean up, who loses their roster spot?
11. San Diego Chargers – AFC West
Before we all get too surprised to see the Chargers struggle against the bottom-feeding Raiders, remember their 4-8 start from last year. Remember that it takes another year to fully recover from a knee injury like Shawn Merriman suffered. Oh, and their coach? That’s right, it’s still Norv Turner.
12. Seattle Seahawks – NFC West
Beating up on the Rams is becoming a labor of love for this down and out division.

Cubicle QB - September 14, 2009

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda…
John Fox shoulda known better. And he should be calling Jeff Garcia right now. I can’t believe he staked the Panthers’ playoff hopes on the right arm of Jake Delhomme. I haven’t heard one person (and especially not Carolina fans) that had any confidence Jake the Snake could bounce back from crapping the bed against Arizona in the playoffs. Look at it this way:

Imagine you’re college. You know a girl who’s pretty attractive and a whole of fun. But she caught her boyfriend making out with another girl at a bar last spring. She snapped. She caused a scene – cursing, throwing things, threatening bodily harm, and eventually getting thrown out.

Now, she’s back for the fall semester. She’s still got her summer tan, she’s lost some weight, and hasn’t mentioned her ex once. She looks good, and you had a great time at big party a few years ago. You wanna ask her out, but you don’t wanna be the first guy to take back to that bar again – especially if you run into her ex.

And you damn sure don’t wanna stake your semester of parties and casual make-outs on her alone. You’d better keep that party girl in your back pocket: you know the one that’s always up for fun, but has pretty much been to a formal with everyone else already (Jeff Garcia)… or even that six year senior who used to be the homecoming queen (Brett Favre)… or why not take a chance on a cute freshman that nobody else has discovered yet (a third round draft pick). Anything’s better than staking your senior year to someone who could be a headcase waiting to explode. You can spend your fall hoping she doesn’t crack, or you can find a back up plan… soon.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda… Part II
If I’m CBS, Gus Johnson works every big game… no matter what. Jim Nance can stick to golf and his Augusta National poetry. Did you catch the end of the Denver-Cincinnati game? Gus Johnson may very well have had a near coronary on Brandon Stokely’s miracle touchdown. If you missed it check it out. Now that’s what football is supposed to sound like!!

Monday Obits
Another one bites the dust. It’s not rocket science, but Detroit is not close to being playoff ready. The Lions will get more wins than last year, but too many more. Their playoff hopes are dead.

The Deceased: Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions

Debo’s Xs & Os
Michigan’s spread option. It’s actually very simple, as evidenced by Tate Forcier’s quick mastery of it. Here, we’ll focus on their base set and most commonly used play. It goes by many names: the stretch option, the spread read, the read option, the zone option, etc, etc.

The basic formation is shotgun ace (single back, set to either side of the QB, with twin WR each side). In this play, the defensive end is left unblocked for the QB to read. The QB begins the play sticking the ball in the RB’s gut for a handoff. If the end runs up the field at all, the QB should hand the ball off. If the end collapses on the runningback, he pulls the ball to run it himself. The line will block at the point of attack exactly the same regardless of where the ball ends up. Essentially, each lineman has rules that determine who he should block based on how the defense lines up. Each lineman is responsible for a “zone” and blocks whoever lines up in that zone.

Rich Rod has added an extra wrinkle at West Virginia and Michigan. The read-side (the same side as the read defensive end) receivers are available for a quick screen on each play. The inside receiver will block the corner lined up over the outside receiver and the outside receiver will step toward the QB ready to catch a quick screen. In this case, if the QB keeps the ball, he can run it or throw a quick pass to his WR. Because the screen happens so quickly, linemen don’t have an opportunity to get down field before the ball is thrown (avoiding a penalty).

Ideally, the offense forces defenders to make decisions, and the QB always has an open option if he makes the correct read.

The Weekend Menu
This weekend’s game is rematch of last year’s thrilling upset in Lubbock. This time the Red Raiders will travel to Austin to meet the Longhorns. Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree may be gone, but Mike Leach has reloaded his offense, and it’s running on all cylinders. Texas Tech QB Taylor Potts went off seven touchdowns against Rice last week. Colt McCoy still has Heisman and BCS title game hopes. This should be a true Texas shoot out!

For this match up, we’re serving up Texas BBQ spare ribs:

4 lb spare ribs, cut
1 cup brown sugar
¼ cup catsup
¼ soy sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
½ cup chili sauce
¼ cup dark rum
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, crushed
Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and marinate ribs for 1 hour. Remove ribs from marinade and grill over medium coals for 30-40 minutes turning and basting occasionally.

These spare ribs go great with baked beans, mac n’ cheese, or your favorite BBQ side dish. And you can wash it down with Texas’ own Shiner Blonde. Blonde is made with the same original recipe that began the Shiner brewery. With a distinctive taste and a smooth, crisp finish, an ice cold Blonde is the right lager wash down this in-state battle.

Don’t forget to send your comments, emails, and gripes. And enjoy your football and enjoy it often!

Power Playoff Wednesday - September 10, 2009

NCAA Power Rankings
One weekend in the books, two huge upsets, and a few close scares. Let’s see how the college boys stack up.

1. Florida Gators, 1-0
Not much has changed. There were no surprises in Florida’s romp over the vaunted Buccaneers of the Big South Conference.
2. Texas Longhorns, 1-0
Like Florida, the Longhorns battled… er, walloped a preseason match up with Louisiana-Monroe.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide, 1-0
Ah, a real football game. Despite the relatively close score, Bama dominated upfront in the annual ACC Shamefest.
4. USC Trojans, 1-0
While they were playing San Jose State, USC showed a powerful running game and a true freshman quarterback they can count on. Oh, and the defense was bad either, giving up only 3 points.
5. BYU Cougars, 1-0
Making a debut in the power rankings at #5 is your reward for toppling a top ranked team with national title aspirations.
6. Oklahoma State Cowboys, 1-0
It looks like I may have been wrong about these Cowboys. After an impressive showing against a talented but inexperienced Georgia squad, OSU can look forward to a shoot out in Houston.
7. Boise State Broncos, 1-0
The Bronco absolutely embarrassed Oregon in the game Thursday. Apparently, Mr. Blount hadn’t had enough and proceeded to embarrass himself immediately after the game.
8. Ole Miss Rebels, 1-0
Beating Memphis is no super human feat, but it is a good start. Now, get ready for real football in the SEC.
9. California Bears, 1-0
After stomping Maryland, Cal has a chance at déjà vu as they meet Eastern Washington.
10. Penn State Nittany Lions, 1-0
Penn State looked absolutely filthy pounding Akron, but I’d still like to see something against a real football team.
11. LSU Tigers, 1-0
LSU logged a nice victory on a long road trip at Washington, but giving up 477 yards of total offense is a bit frightening.
12. Ohio State Buckeyes, 1-0
After six months of preparation, the Buckeyes could still only barely stop Navy’s triple option threat.
13. Virginia Tech Hokies, 0-1
Losing to Alabama is nothing to be ashamed of. Just don’t let anything like that happen against an ACC foe.
14. Oklahoma Sooners, 0-1
Yes, they took an ugly upset and huge blow to their national title hopes. But the Big 12 title is still in sight.

NFL Playoff Predictions
Since there have been no games played, there are no changes to the NFL rankings.

1. Pittsburg Steelers – AFC North
2. New England Patriots – AFC East
3. Green Bay Packers – NFC North
4. New Orleans Saints – NFC South
5. Philadelphia Eagles – NFC East
6. Baltimore Ravens – AFC Wild Card
7. San Diego Chargers – AFC West
8. Minnesota Vikings – NFC Wild Card
9. Tennessee Titans – AFC South
10. New York Giants – NFC Wild Card
11. Indianapolis Colts – AFC Wild Card
12. Arizona Cardinals – NFC West

Cubicle QB - September 10, 2009

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda
If I were a Division I head coach, I would spend at least 60 percent of my recruiting efforts on landing top tier offensive and defensive linemen. After watching the first weekend of college football, that seems to be the glaring difference between the BCS elite and the also-rans… regardless of conference. Take a look at these examples:
- Ole Miss vs. Memphis – Don’t let the final score fool you. Memphis was in this football game up until the last half of the fourth quarter. And it was at that late stage of the game, when you could see the difference between SEC talent and C-USA scrubs. Memphis has the skill players, both on offense and in the defensive backfield, to compete with Ole Miss for sixty minutes. But they don’t have the depth in their defensive front to stuff Dexter McCluster and pressure Jevan Snead late in a game. That was the difference in Sunday’s Dixieland debacle.
- Alabama vs. Va Tech – All of Bama’s questions regarding the 2009 season revolved around whether the offense could score just enough points to give the Tide’s vaunted defense breathing room. Well, it certainly seems they can with a punishing running attack and an absolutely huge offensive line. Again, Va Tech was able to hang around, but not for a full sixty minutes. And here’s why: Bama will rotate up to nine guys in their defensive front, slamming wave after wave of bodies against opponents’ offensive lines. Teams like Va Tech may only have six or seven players rotating in the D-line. Those extra few players are the difference. In the fourth quarter, Bama began to dominate the running game while the Hokies caved in.
- Oklahoma vs. BYU – Forget the Sam Bradford injury. BYU played with confidence even with him in the game. They brought a varied, almost erratic, blitzing attack that confused and flustered a young offensive line. Oklahoma lost four starters from their O-line, but they still have talent filling those holes. What they don’t have is the ability to make adjustments and pick up blitzes like an cohesive, experienced unit (read BYU’s offensive line).

What can we learn from these games? Recruit offensive and defensive linemen, recruit them often, and place a high priority coaching and continuity. The opening weekend shined a bright, bright light on the big, often-ignored hog-wallies.

Monday Obits
We’ll wait for a week of actual football before we kill off more dreams.

Debo’s Xs & Os
In honor of the Titans-Steelers matchup on Thursday, we’ll discus the details of Dick LeBeau’s “Zone Blitz.” Most conventional blitzes leave corners and safeties in man coverage. As the name implies, a zone blitz brings at least five pass rushers and leave the remaining six defenders in zone coverage. Why is this advantageous?
First, when corners and safeties are man coverage behind a blitz, they are often forced into press coverage. Press coverage disrupts routes at the line of scrimmage and prevents QBs from taking advantage of hot routes, but it puts defenders at risk of getting beat deep. Using zone coverage allows defenders to give cushion to receivers and prevent the big play. Also, zone defenders are all watching the ball and can gang tackle hot routes. Man-to-man coverage limits gang-tackling because each defender is focused on his individual man.
Second, zone coverage tends to hold receivers in coverage longer, giving pass rushers more time to get to the ball. The rule of thumb is that man coverage can always be beat if receivers have the time to use picks to shed their cover men.
Pittsburgh was the first team to regularly use defensive linemen in coverage. Typically, a defensive end or nose guard will drop into underneath coverage and linebackers will blitz. The ideal zone blitz will drop a linemen in coverage; instead of having a backer blitz where the lineman would have been, the backer/backers will overload a single gap or side of the line – essentially placing more blitzers at the point of attack than can possibly be blocked. Additionally, since zone coverage can hold a smidge longer, it allows blitzers to twist and bring delayed pressure.
So there you have it, drop a lineman into the flat, twist your backers over the opposite tackle, hold zone coverage for a couple of seconds, and enjoy a third down sack.

The Weekend Menu
A new section of Cubicle QB! Here I’ll highlight a game of the week with a recipe and beverage of choice. This week: Chicago at Green Bay. It’s time renew an age old rivalry with an exciting battle of young quarterbacks. And what else to pair with this prime time battle, but a great Wisconsin brat!?
Grab your favorite brat of choice. I prefer Johnsonville beer brats. Grill slowly over medium heat, turning often (and carefully).

For a topping, I love a great beer sauce:
2-14.5 ounce cans diced stewed tomatoes
2 bottles or cans beer
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon brown sugar

Combine ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. You can also keep the brats warm in the sauce until ready to serve. Serve your brat on a toasted wheat hoagie topped with a generous portion of your beer sauce and hand-shredded pepper jack or provolone cheese.

A piping hot brat goes great with ice cold Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is a traditional, balanced lager with a hint of caramel.

Don’t forget to send your comments, emails, and gripes. Enjoy kick-off weekend!

Power Playoff Wednesday - September 3, 2009

What’s a Power Playoff, you say? It’s what I call college football power rankings and NFL playoff predictions rolled into one wonderful column! But wait it's Thursday!? I know, I know. Grandma and Grandpa came to town, and I took them out to eat last night. That's right... grandparents are more important than football even for me!

NCAA Power Rankings
I’ll limit my rankings only to the top 14 since that’s the threshold for BCS Bowl eligibility.
1. Florida Gators
Surprise!! As much as it pains me to admit it, Florida is far and away the most talented, deepest, and most experienced team in college football this year. They won’t go undefeated, however. Not even Jesus… uh, I mean Superman… er, Tim Tebow can escape the SEC unscathed.
2. Texas Longhorns
Colt McCoy has an ax to grind. He missed out on both the Heisman and national title because of a tie-breaker. Something tells me he won’t leave either to chance in 2009. He brought the Longhorns to the brink last year without much help on offense. Imagine what he’ll do with a running game in 2009.
3. USC Trojans
A true freshman QB leading a preseason top five team? You betcha. These Trojans may not be as familiar as Carson, Matt, and Reggie; but they certainly have the Trojan talent of their predecessors. And check out the schedule: Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Cal make up USC’s toughest tests… Do you honestly think that scares anybody in SoCal, even the true freshmen?
4. Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners have loads of talent at the skill positions, but only one returning starter at offensive line. That’s just enough for them to slip to the bottom of the top tier of these rankings.
5. LSU Tigers
This is where things get a little interesting. Since this is the preseason, even the power rankings are a little predictive. I’ve got LSU coming out of the SEC West, and I expect Bama to edge a banged up VaTech squad in Atlanta this weekend. I can’t stomach putting a one or two loss Ohio State team above a one or two loss SEC team. So while I’m not wild about it, Les Miles wins the five spot by default.
6. Alabama Crimson Tide
In my eyes, the most interesting race in college football is the second SEC BCS bowl slot. If Florida holds their end of the bargain and goes to the championship game, we may see a free-for-all for Sugar Bowl tickets. Bama, LSU, Ole Miss, and Georgia all have a shot.
7. Ohio State Buckeyes
While the Buckeyes will lose to USC this year, they won’t be throttled… At least not until their Rose Bowl rematch. Penn St is getting some preseason hype, but they’re too young and are still a year away. The Buckeyes are getting closer to the rest of the Big Ten pack, but they’ll enjoy one more year on top of the pile.
8. Ole Miss Rebels
Locally, Ole Miss fans are calling anything short of a trip to Atlanta a disappointment. I’m calling their ideas of reality a disappointment.
9. Virginia Tech Hokies
Losing your lead runningback before the first kickoff hurts, but it doesn’t change the hogs that were blocking for him in the first place. The Hokies will lose something along with their leading rusher, but someone will fill that void before October. Now if Tyrod can just play like a real quarterback….
10. Georgia Bulldogs
Call me an SEC homer, but the league is deep. And the Bulldogs have dark horse written all over them. If you don’t believe me, check out how they fared with an unproven QB and deep, deep roster in 2005.
11. Oklahoma State
This weekend’s match-up in Stillwater is that close. And I don’t know if I can really hurt either team if they lose a well played game. But we’ll only know the answer to that question next week.
12. California Bears
The Bears are on the outside looking in on most preseason polls, but bettor beware. They get USC at home early in the year. A close game or even an upset will put them in great position to run the table.
13. Penn State Nittany Lions
I don’t think JoePa will catch the spark he did last year, but his Lions won’t be all that bad. Scary for the Big Ten, but you could argue this is a rebuilding year.
14. Boise State Broncos
Boise State’s season is on the line before Labor Day as they welcome Oregon and their metro-sexual uniforms. But don’t worry, Oregon is vastly over-rated and the Broncos can coast to another BCS-busting romp in the Fiesta Bowl. (We hope.)

NFL Playoff Predictions
Here you’ll get my playoff predictions in a power rankings form. WTF!? You’ll see what I mean. But I’ll give you more details next week. It’s a college weekend.

1. Pittsburg Steelers – AFC North
2. New England Patriots – AFC East
3. Green Bay Packers – NFC North
4. New Orleans Saints – NFC South
5. Philadelphia Eagles – NFC East
6. Baltimore Ravens – AFC Wild Card
7. San Diego Chargers – AFC West
8. Minnesota Vikings – NFC Wild Card
9. Tennessee Titans – AFC South
10. New York Giants – NFC Wild Card
11. Indianapolis Colts – AFC Wild Card
12. Arizona Cardinals – NFC West

Cubicle QB - August 31, 2009

I’m back baby! After a short hiatus, the dawn of a new football season shines on the horizon, breaking the shackles of the sports doldrums of late summer. I can’t promise anything, but I’m rededicating myself for the fall with several weekly features. And please remember, this is all a work in progress. Send in your comments, ideas, requests… This is all for you – the ever faithful reader.
This is the inaugural edition of Cubicle QB. Each week, I’ll give you my take on the weekend that was. I’ll try to include a quick breakdown of one of the bigger games of the week (either college or pro) and several weekly elements. So without further ado…

Game of the Week
Let’s be honest: it’s the preseason. I don’t want to break down a preseason game and you don’t want to read about one. Let’s just move on.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda…
Each week in this section, I’ll take a “what if” look at something happening in the world of football. This week I’ll start with the New York Giants and injuries.
Tom Coughlin has always held a physical training camp, believing it would better prepare his team for the rigors of the 20-week-plus marathon that is the NFL season. This year it may have handicapped his team before the leaves start to turn. A quick look at the Giants’ injury list should help explain:
Antonio Pierce
David Diehl
Kenny Phillips
Aaron Ross
Danny Ware
David Tyree
Chris Canty
Guy Whimper
Brandon Jacobs
Andrew Carnahan

Wow… And I’m probably missing a few. Coughlin has a veteran squad that knows what it takes to win. In fact, I believe they put together a nice Super Bowl run not too long ago. The Giants have a roster of studs at offensive and defensive line... Solid linebacking corp… Leadership at QB… Depth at runningback. Not to mention, few battles for playing time outside of the receiver position.
Point being, there’s no reason to force these players to physical exhaustion in August. It seemed the Giants had rid themselves of a couple of bad apples in Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress. There’s no reason to upset the locker room chemistry with overly physical practices.
Well, it seems Coughlin and new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan have done just that. Defensive leader and sack specialist Osi Umenyiora has reportedly gone AWOL – leaving practice Monday without warning or reason. I think you could make an argument that Coughlin would like a few of those hard-hitting practices back.

Monday Obits
There are 32 NFL teams. Only 12 will make the postseason. That means 20 teams will see their play off hopes die between now and week 17. Each week, I’ll point out teams that are DOA.
It should be no surprise that the first team on the chopping block is none other than Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders.
You may have noticed the preseason shellacking the Raiders received at the hands of the Saints this weekend. And what’s worse, is that Tom Cable considers Sean Peyton a close friend. God help them when teams start playing for keeps.
Without their top two RB, the Saints rushed for over 230 yards. And while Drew Brees was tabbed to play into the third quarter, he took a seat 16 minutes into the game. Yikes… Sorry Raiders fans. On the bright side, you can look forward to reaching for another WR in the top ten of next year’s draft.

Debo’s Xs and Os
Here I’ll take an old school chalk board look at a team, a specific scheme, or an individual play in football.
This season two teams will incorporate the two TE, singleback formation into their offense. The Dallas Cowboys (with Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett) and the Baltimore Ravens (with Todd Heap and LJ Smith). Both teams lack depth at the WR position, but feature strong runningbacks and exceptional TEs.
Here I’ll focus on the scheme and ignore personnel. Using a double TE formation has two appealing advantages.
1. Flexibility: A capable TE is a blocking and receiving threat rolled into one. In a double TE set, a team can pass the ball, run the ball, and work play action without tipping their hand with personal changes or formation shifts. The formations are typically symmetrical and therefore force the defense to typically set the strong side based on the wide side of the field. But as narrow as the hash marks are in the NFL, that’s not much of an indicator. Nearly every blitz (whether run or pass) hinges on putting more bodies at the point of attack than an offense can reasonably block. A balanced formation only makes this more difficult.
2. Spreading the line: Adding a TE to each side of the offensive line forces pass rushers further away from your franchise QB and edge setters (run stuffing ends) away from the tackle-to-tackle gaps of interior rushing lanes. This is the same tactic employed by college football’s popular spread offense. Force the defense to spread the field and cover more ground to make plays. Now just get the ball in the hands of your play-makers and allow them to take advantage of that extra space.

So now you can impress your friends and explain why the ‘Boys double TE set is about more than keeping the ball out of Patrick Crayton’s not so sure hands.

Camp Questions: NFC North

NFC North:
Chicago Bears – Is Jay Cutler a savior or a “p-word”?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone bitch his way out of one town only to be hailed as a conquering hero in another so quickly. I’ll be the first to admit it – I pegged Jay Cutler as a future franchise QB after he left Vandy, but I’m starting to have second thoughts. Now there are rumblings in the Bears’ locker room regarding Cutler and his manhood. Obviously, this will be a distant memory by October, but it could also be a pebble in a mountain of trouble if Cutler can’t make playmakers out of Chicago’s suspect receiving corp.

Detroit Lions – Where is the bottom in rock bottom?
Look, the Lions will be a better football team in 2009. There’s no doubting that. But what will it take to become a respectable franchise again? Was 2008 just another bump in an ugly tumble down a long hill or was it the valley for a very dark period. There’s no doubt that the lions can only go up in 2009, but they’ll have to look farther out on the horizon to solve the real issues. Culture changes take a long, long time – just ask the Cardinals.

Green Bay Packers – How long will Dom Capers need to install his 3-4 defense?
I know Aaron Rodgers is the sexy headline, but he had a very solid 2009 (especially considering is dramatic ascension to franchise QB). Rodgers is not 2009’s question mark. A completely revamped defensive scheme is. The Packers are fortunate, Capers has done great work with other defenses all over the league and he is widely considered the 3-4 guru of choice. The Packers are also lucky from a personnel stand point. They have a deep and versatile linebacking corps. Add in a talented secondary and defensive line and you have all the makings of a top tier defense. Now, if they can just master the techniques, assignments, line calls, checks, coverages, blitz packages, alignments, position changes…. I think you get the idea.

Minnesota Vikings – And your starting quarterback is who?
The Packers’ front office must have quietly chuckled when they heard the latest on Brett Favre’s retirement. They know that game all too well. Now, it seems the Vikings are in an even tougher spot that Green Bay was. Tavaris Jackson is hurt which leaves the QB battle all but decided and Sage Rosenfels a starter. I don’t care how talented your defense is and I don’t care who your running back is – when your QB is named Sage, he won’t be holding a Super Bowl trophy in February. I promise.

The Morning Blitz

Training camps are officially off and running... Football is in the air... And I'm stuck behind a desk... Links!!

- Here's a good tool to check out some quick hits for all NFL training camps. Make sure you look at the most recent Titans' entry.
- Two more Red Sox test positive...kind of.
- Ortiz, and others, knew as early as 2004 of their positive test.
- Rivals.com asks, "How will Memphis fare under Josh Pastner?"
- "Tremors" strike Mongolia. They don't stand a chance without Kevin Bacon.

Camp Questions: NFC South

NCF South:
Atlanta Falcons – Can the Falcons thin offensive line duplicate 2008’s performance?
The key to keeping QB Matt Ryan from suffering a sophomore slump will be keeping him off his back. The Falcons plan to return their strong running attack featuring Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood, and that will help. But by all accounts Atlanta’s line overachieved in 2008. The 2009 bunch has talent but is thin and can’t afford even a single injury.

Carolina Panthers – Can John Fox finally put together back-to-back winning seasons?
The Panthers return 21 of 22 starters from a squad that finished 12-4 squad, but a glaringly ugly loss to the Cardinals left them with an early playoff exit and a bad taste in their mouths. The Panthers certainly have the talent to take this division again, but it always seems that injuries, complacency, or both prevent them from sustaining that kind of success. If John Fox can’t find the prescription for that fever, he’ll find himself on the hot seat once again.

New Orleans Saints – Can Gregg Williams install his defense in the Bayou?
The Saints put together a remarkable year in 2008 considering they had no defense, no running backs, and an injury report the size of the Super Dome. Their offense has proven it can thrive without a between-the-tackles threat, but this team won’t see January football without a strong defense. Minicamps have shown signs of the defense coming together and being more aggressive, but how will they fair in November when there’s no running game to eat the clock and give the D a rest?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Can I see a roster, please?
This might be the most exciting camp to watch. There are position battles all over as Raheem Morris remakes the Bucs into a younger, faster team. Derrick Brooks, Joey Galloway, Jeff Garcia, Warrick Dunn, et al are long gone. That leaves position battles at QB, LB, 2nd RB, WR, OL… and I’m probably missing a few. I like the direction the Bucs are going, but they released many of those vets without getting anything back in return. Remember that the Bucs traded almost four years of draft picks for stealing Chucky from the Raiders not too long ago. Will shedding those vets for nothing look silly before Thanksgiving?

Camp Questions: AFC East

AFC East:
Buffalo Bills – How will this TO circus end?
Terrell Owens is running out franchises that will give him a chance. After destroying seasons for San Fran and Philly and leaving Dallas less than impressed, TO has landed in the NFL’s artic northeast. If he can’t put together a successful and uneventful two years in Buffalo, he may have to call Al Davis for a job.

Miami Dolphins – Can the Fins continue 2008’s mirage as a playoff contender?
Bill Parcells may need a new nickname: The Magician. History has proven that when Parcells has control over personnel, he can get more from less than anybody in football. But can he pull another rabbit out of his hat in 2009? Sure, the Dolphins bounced back in a BIG way after a one win season. But you can’t honestly consider them among the NFL’s most talented teams?

New England Patriots – How old are the Patriots really?
Unless you’ve been living in another galaxy you know that Tom Brady is expected to return to training camp healthy. But I think this season hinges on age. Tom Brady can return from his season ending injury, but he won’t be a young man any more and we know NFL elders can struggle with staying healthy. The Patriots defense has been hard to criticize over the last decade, but father time has to catch up eventually. Not to mention, Randy Moss, Vince Wilfork, and Kevin Faulk are all reaching the twilight of their careers.

New York Jets – Can Mark Sanchez break the ugly USC quarterback trend?
I love what new head coach Rex Ryan has done this offseason: promised all the right things (hard hitting, powerful running attack, aggressive defense, etc.), added young talent, and acquired valuable veteran leadership. But it will be all for nothing if Mark Sanchez ends up like his USC brothren – underwhelming. Carson Palmer has long been considered on the cusp of the NFL elite, but hasn’t done anything to lead Cinncy from the bottom of the AFC North. Matt Lienart has struggled to stay out of US Weekly and get off the bench. Jets fans hope Mark Sanchez has more to offer.

The Morning Blitz

Happy Friday! AFC West rundown is below, and here are some links:

- Odom and the Lakers make up with a four year deal.
- Big Pappi confirms positive steriod test.
- Gatti's death ruled a suicide.
- George Sherrill packs his bags for LA.
- NBA to allow ads on practice jerseys this season.
- The Titans need Kenny Britt in camp.
- Chipper didn't like an umpire's fist bump after a loss on Tuesday.

Camp Questions: AFC West

32 Camp Questions
I’ve taken a look at each of the league’s teams and come up with questions that must be answered before the season kicks off September 10th. And we’ll be looking at them one division at a time.

AFC West:
Denver Broncos – Is Kyle Orton who we thought he was?
If Kyle Orton is the same guy that suited up for the Bears he simply doesn’t look like a franchise quarterback. The Broncos are definitely entering a rebuilding stage with a young coach, a young defense, and a young (but talented) offensive core. Head coach Josh McDaniels dumped Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton and rumors are already flying about this first year coach struggling to keep his locker room intact. Dumping the homecoming queen for the vice president of the chemistry club won’t be a good start.

Kansas City Chiefs – How much is Matt Cassel worth, really?
QB Matt Cassel just inked a contract worth $40 million in guaranteed money, and he’d better prove his worth quickly. The Chiefs are another team in a rebuilding stage, but Cassel couldn’t lead one of the best run organizations and most talented teams to playoffs in 2008. How will he fair with an under-talented and inexperienced group in KC?

Oakland Raiders – Can anybody pull Al Davis away from the ledge?
Where to start? Tom Cable is good at a press conference, but can he really lead the NFL’s most dysfunctional family to respectability? Can the Raiders make NFL players of their inexplicable draft choices? And perhaps most importantly, can Darren McFadden stay healthy for more than four weeks in a row? If not, Davis will own the true laughing stock of the NFL.

San Diego Chargers – Can the Chargers’ stars bounce back from their injuries?
Shawne Merriman, Antonio Cromartie, and LaDainian Tomlinson all suffered and played with serious injuries in 2008. The Chargers have all the talent they could ask for and should take advantage of a weak division. But with three of their five most talented players coming back from the trainer’s room, the Bolts have a lot to prove and a lot to lose in 2009.

The Morning Blitz

That's a lot of SEC football below, make sure you check it out.

- Urlacher says Cutler is a little "p-word".
- SEC Media Days = over 900 credentialed media reps. C-USA Media Days = a video conference.
- Plax begs for mercy.
- Kobe appears on "All That" in 1998.
- Cowboys TE Martellus Bennett's Twitter, explained.

SEC West Preview: Part I

Well, it took me long enough, but here she is: my SEC West preview. Chock full of insight, tidbits, and BS. While we’ve watched several three-way cage matches in the East over the years (Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee), the West will showcase one of their own featuring Bama, LSU, and Ole Miss. Only one team can punch its ticket for Atlanta, and this year’s battle will not lack excitement.

#1 LSU Tigers

I know Ole Miss is the popular pick, but we’ll get to them soon enough. While Houston Nutt and the Rebs have been touring the media as a sex upstart, Les Miles has been assembling another deep and talented roster… Tiger fans have been thinking about a late season loss in Death Valley… And the Tigers themselves have embraced a new offensive leader in Jordan Jefferson. Add those ingredients and you’ve got the perfect recipe for Cajun Upset Stew. Jefferson showed flashes in the Chick-fil-a against Georgia Tech while earning offensive MVP honors. Now he has the chance to prove himself against a full SEC slate. In Miles’ typically dramatic fashion, this LSU team will feature upsets, disappointments, and drama for fourteen long weeks.

The Schedule: LSU faces a typical SEC gauntlet hosting Florida and traveling to Ole Miss and Georgia. Even though they play four games in September, the Tigers’ season doesn’t really start until they meet Georgia and Florida in consecutive October Saturdays. November is no kinder with road trips to Bama and Oxford. If the Tigers can survive this schedule with one loss or less, they’ll get the BCS title game they deserve.
The Result: 11-1

This Tigers’ squad is all about revenge and they won’t forget a 30 pointing thrashing at the hands of the Gators in 2008. Florida will face LSU in Death Valley (most definitely at night, where the Tigers are 21 of their last 22) and LSU fans will have their revenge toppling a #1 rank rival. However, while this young team is flying high they’ll lose a heartbreaker to Bama on the road. And with a title shot on the line, they revenge an ugly 2008 loss to Ole Miss.

The Postseason: While the Tigers get revenge during the regular season, the Gators will get the last laugh in this year’s SEC Championship Game and the Tigers will make the short but familiar trip to the Sugar Bowl.

#2 Alabama Crimson Tide

In Nick Saban’s third year at the helm, he’ll have this Bama team looking like a signature Saban squad. A tenacious defense will provide the back bone for this team while a strong running game and a few big plays by standout WR Julio Jones help an inexperienced QB. While Saban won’t lead this team to the promise land, he will give fans a lot to look forward to in 2010.

The Schedule: Even though they’ll face two top ten teams on the raod, Bama’s schedule isn’t too bad. But that will not be enough to allow an unproven QB to survive the rugged SEC unscathed. Their defense will certainly keep them in games, but won’y be able to win them all for a QB with 11 career attempts. While I don’t usually bet against Saban with this much time to prepare, he can’t protect his young QB against a loaded VaTech defense in his first career start.

The Result: 10-2

As I mentioned, Bama won’t slip past Va Tech in the season opener, and they don’t have the talent to get wins against both Ole Miss and LSU. They’ll take a loss as they’re still learning against Ole Miss and pull out a tough late season win against LSU at home.

The Postseason: Bama will finish a rocky year with a solid record and take high hopes into the Outback Bowl.

#3 Ole Miss Rebels

As a chic top ten pick, Houston Nutt and the Rebels are riding high in Oxford right now. Jevan Snead has dark horse Heisman hopes after a strong Cotton Bowl upset of Texas Tech. But I’ve seen too many late season collapses at the hands of Houston Nutt. While the Rebs do have a favorable schedule (ranked 77th), they’ll spend many weeks with a bulls eye on their back. Can they stand the pressure? Snead’s completion percentage was only 56% with 13 INT to boot in 2008. He’ll have to show more poise in 2009 to fulfill his Heisman chatter.

The Schedule: Like many other teams, Ole Miss won’t be tested until October when they host Bama. Other than that they only need to worry about LSU in November. But it may just be the team that they don’t worry about (Tennessee) that ruins their title aspirations. Remember I’m calling for UT to walk into Oxford and play spoiler in a shocking upset.

The Result: 10-2

Ole Miss’ losses will prove costly as they’ll end up taking one too many conference defeats and lose a tie-breaker to rival Bama. A successful season for any Rebels team, but it will prove disappointing considering their high expectations.

The Postseason: After spending so many weeks in the national spotlight, the Rebs will accept an eager invitation from the Capital One Bowl.

SEC West Preview: Part II

#4 Arkansas Razorbacks

A brutal schedule is all that is keeping Arkansas from becoming a surprise contender in the West. They face the top five SEC teams from either division and that alone will dig the Hogs a hole to climb out of. But with Ryan Mallett and a host of able backs, Arkansas fans can expect to see improvement from 2008.

The Schedule: The Hogs’ are blessed with the 6th toughest slate in the country featuring tests against Georgia, Bama, Florida, Ole Miss and LSU. Those five schools can ruin any season and will certainly add five losses to Arkansas’.

The Result: 6-6

The Hogs will take their lumps against the SEC elite and will lose a tough game against a South Carolina team desperately looking for wins.
The Postseason: Claiming a bowl bid with this schedule must be considered a success for Bobby Petrino and Hog boosters.

#5 Auburn Tigers

Auburn (perhaps begrudgingly) welcomes a new coach in Gene Chizik with a typically talented defense and an offense looking for leaders. Working without a honeymoon won’t make things any easier on Chizik. Considering that offense has plagued the Tigers for several years and that defense is Chizik’s specialty, I don’t see this marriage starting off very well.

The Schedule: Much like Arkansas, Auburn has a tough fall ahead facing four of the SEC’s top five in the second half of the season. Gene Chizik will have the War Eagle flying after a quick 4-0 start, but the Tigers will soon fall to Earth and by December the Auburn boosters will wondering what happened to Mr. Tuberville. Special ACC note: Mr. Tuberville will be packing his bags for Miami after Randy Shannon struggles to right the ship. The Canes will warmly welcome one of their own with a resume to prove it.

The Result: 6-6

Good ol Gene will soon learn that a lower level bowl bid isn’t enough to keep the fans, media, and boosters from beating down his door. After losing against the SEC’s best, the Tigers will also slip against Tennessee and Arkansas.

The Postseason: It may not be enough for Auburn, but a bowl bid with this first year schedule is not a bad day at the office.

#6 Mississippi State Bulldogs

Urban Meyer said it best: If Dan Mullen can find great players, he’ll win. If not, expect struggles for Starksville. While Miss State has added depth, its still lacks the elite playmakers required to survive in the SEC. I hope State fans are willing to give Mullen time to reload because this roster doesn’t have the talent to fire many bullets. The bottom of the SEC is no fun for a first year coach, but that’s where Dan Mullen will be by Thanksgiving. With only ten returning starters, the Bulldogs will be looking up most of the season. They’ll also be looking for playmakers, and Mullen had better find some fast if likes living in Mississippi.


The Schedule: After facing Auburn, Vandy, LSU, and Georgia Tech in the first five weeks, the Dogs will be in a 1-4 hole. Two quick wins against Houston and MTSU will only be a memory after they close the season with five straight losses.

The Result: 3-9
The Postseason: Mullen may be better served hitting the recruiting trail in early November this year. Game planning may not be necessary.