Defense

I came upon a website today that breaks down every play of the NFL season and awards grades to each player accordingly: www.profootballfocus.com. What you get is an expansive database, with hard numerical data ranking player performance. While fans never get to break down the game film or know exactly how the coaches are grading out the players, this is a good resource with some really interesting stuff. I won't challenge their method or their football credentials, rather I looked at each player on the 2009 Patriots defense and found their season rankings. Here's the list from best to worst:Tully Banta Cain: 21.8Vince Wilfork: 9.6Leigh Bodden: 6.8Brandon Meriweather: 5.0Ty Warren: 3.9Rob Ninkovich: 3.4Patrick Chung: 1.8Shawn Springs: 1.7Junior Seau: .8James Sanders: -1.4Myron Pryor: -1.7Terrence Wheatley: -1.9Derrick Burgess: -2.2Gary Guyton: -2.2Mike Wright: -3.8Jerod Mayo: -3.5Ron Brace: -4.2Brandon McGowan: -4.4Darius Butler: -5.1Adalius Thomas: -8.5Jonathan Wilhite: -9.6Jarvis Green: -14.1

Continue reading "Pro Football Focus' Rankings of the ..."

So you can probably feel the universal glee from all those who cover the NFL and loathe the Patriots that SI's Team of the Decade is struggling right now. As impressive as the 2007 Patriots were it has set an unattainable precedent that will not (and should not) be met again.

Continue reading "Rumors of the Patriots Demise Run Rampant"

Continue reading "Donning the Hoodie: Patriots Defense ..."

    Kellen Clemens never saw him. When the young quarterback dropped back in the pocket with six minutes left in the second quarter, he thought he had Jerricho Cotchery open on an out route. With little hesitation, he gunned the ball in the direction of his top receiver and watched it go for six. Unfortunately, for Clemens and Jets fans, those six points belonged to the opposing team, the Dallas Cowboys. Cornerback Terence Newman easily undercut the route and used his world-class speed to return the pass 50 yards down the sideline for his first touchdown of the season. Broken and overmatched, the Jets would lose the contest 34-3.

Continue reading "PICKING ON THE BENGALS"

I have never claimed to be an expert when it comes to predicting outcomes of football games, although last year I nearly predicted the exact final score of the Super Bowl while hitting on seven of my nine prop bets. (My prediction was 26-17, the final was 29-17.) For whatever reason I had a very good feel for that game. This year's Super Bowl, however, remains a mystery to me. Part of the reason I am having trouble getting a good feel for this game is that I am a bitter Jets fan and I can't stand either team. I'm finding it difficult to put my personal feelings aside and look at the game objectively. I think right now I am as close to objectivity as I am going to get, and with that being said, here is my official Super Bowl XLII prediction.

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