Perspective: Why the Steelers will win the Super Bowl

This year’s Super Bowl features a match up with one team possessing a high powered offense and the other team possessing a strong defense and when these to things come together, most anything can happen. Seeing this, this makes this year’s Super Bowl one of the most difficult to predict as both teams as these are two teams that are somewhat unpredictable.

The Steelers had the best defense in the NFL in 2008 and will face one of the more explosive offenses from the 2008 season with the Arizona Cardinals. The question is, can the Steelers defense stop the Cardinals high flying offense? Will the Cardinals be able to overcome the onslaught of defensive blitzes that they will surely see from the Steelers?

Pittsburgh will need to stop the Cardinal’s running game, which really didn’t get going until the start of the playoffs, if they want to control the tempo of this game as well as the ball and the clock. This should be fairly easy for the Steelers to do since it is well known that they are fully capable of stopping the run in most instances. If they can do that against the Cardinals, they have a good chance of winning this game.

But it’s not the Cardinal’s running that should worry the Steelers so much as the Cardinals passing game should. We all know, as do the Steelers, what Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin can do and so the Steelers will have their hands full defending against this potent passing game. The Steelers can defend against the pass however and they need to do this if they want to win.

Pittsburgh will need to get some pressure on Warner and force him to make mistakes which they will then need to take full advantage of and the Steelers are very good at taking advantage of another team’s mistakes as has been the case in the past (see Troy Polamalu). If the Cardinals make any mistakes, it could be very costly for the Cardinals.

The Steelers will win this game if they can keep consistent pressure on Warner, which they can do, and force him to make mistakes. They can easily get pressure on his with the defense that they currently have so that shouldn’t be an issue. Shutting down the Cardinals running game and forcing them to pass should also be high on their list of things to do as well.

On offense, the Steelers need to get their running game going. If they can utilize the talents of Willie Parker and keep the ball moving with him, on the ground, they will keep the ball out of Warner and Company’s hands and keep the score low. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has to keep control of the all and work the Steelers passing game well if the Cardinals manage to shut down the Steeler’s running game which may not be that difficult. The offensive line also needs to make sure that they give Roethlisberger enough protection to keep him upright and not get injured.
If the Steelers can keep the Cardinals to fewer than ten points or less, they will win this game. It would take a massive effort by the defense but nothing is impossible. If they allow the Cardinals to get ahead, it could be all over for their hopes another championship.

Prediction (for a Steelers victory) Pittsburgh 16 Arizona 10

By Bryan Dietzler

Perspective: Why the Cardinals will win the Super Bowl

The upcoming Super Bowl promises to be one of the best in history as it pits a team that has a strong defense against a team that has a powerful scoring offense. The Steelers will certainly have their hands full when it comes to defending against the Cardinals potent passing attack and will have to put pressure on quarterback Kurt Warner if they want to win this game.

However, just this past Sunday, we saw the Cardinals keep one of the best blitzing defenses at bay (the Eagles) and this allowed Warner and his wide receivers, in particular Larry Fitzgerald, to connect on several scoring passes. Will Arizona be able to withstand the onslaught of pressure that they will most surely get from the NFL’s best defense? The answer is maybe. The key is in their running game. In the playoffs, the Cardinals got their running game going and that helped them out immensely and was probably the difference in them winning out through the playoffs and losing their first game against the Atlanta Falcons. Adding this other dimension has really helped the Cardinals out.

Going against a defense like the Steelers isn’t going to be easy and Pittsburgh will more than likely shut down the Cardinals running game and force them to throw the ball which leaves them wide open for the various blitzes that the Steelers will throw at them. Arizona’s offensive line will have to be on the ball if they want to keep Pittsburgh’s pass rushers at bay and they have kept Warner pretty well protected during the playoffs but they haven’t faced a pass rush like this in the playoffs. It’s going to be hairy.

If any team gets up by more than two scores in this game, that team will probably win the game and the team with the most explosive offense will probably be the one to get ahead first and that explosive offense belongs to the Cardinals. Even if they can get a quick lead before the Steelers shut them down, Pittsburgh doesn’t have the tools to play catch up or win in a shootout and if the Cardinals pile on the points, Pittsburgh isn’t going to be matching them score for score.
Look for Arizona to jump out to a quick lead in this game, by 10 to 14 points, and then watch as the Steelers clamp down on them and slow things down a little bit. It should be a fast and furious first half with the second half being slow and arduous second half with little scoring. If the Cardinals get out to a sizeable lead, they should win this game.

For the Cardinals, I predict Arizona 24 Pittsburgh 13

Next Up: Why the Steelers will win the Super Bowl

by Bryan Dietzler

The Saga Continues: Warner Takes the Cardinals to the Super Bowl

As if Kurt Warner’s seemingly fairy tale career couldn’t get any better, he has managed to lead the Arizona Cardinals, once the “basement team” of the NFL, to a Super Bowl berth. This feat is truly amazing considering the Cardinals history and perhaps it took a special player like Warner to help bring them to this point.
You can’t give all of the credit for this to Warner however. He is just one part of a big puzzle that was put together by current head coach Ken Wisenhunt when he first came to the Cardinals just a few short years ago. Using players already drafted and brought to the team (through free agency) as well as a few newcomers, Wisenhunt put together the team that we see now poised to become world champions.

But he couldn’t have done it without having the kind of quarterback at the helm that he had in Warner. Someone had to take the reins of this high powered offense. Someone had to be able to hit the open receiver 20, 30 even 40 yards down the field. Someone had to be smart enough to see the play develop and find the open receiver for the big gain. They tried this with USC alum Matt Leinart but he just wasn’t able to get it right for some reason. So, they turned to a proven seasoned veteran to help them win games and hopefully, with a little bit of luck, they could quite possibly make the playoffs.

For Warner, this won’t be his first trip to the Super Bowl. Warner took the St. Louis Rams and their high flying “Greatest Show on Turf” offense to the Super Bowl back in the 1999-2000 season and won that game then took them back again, in a losing effort during the 2001-2002 season. He has been here before and knows what it takes to win. Granted, his counterpart Ben Roethlisberger has also been to the big game before as well but Warner has a certain flair about him and a style that inspires his teammates to do better and want to win. And he knows what it takes to win.

There were many experts who didn’t think that Warner and the Cardinals would be able to withstand the onslaught that Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson would bring against Warner and the rest of the offense. If things had went the way that everyone had thought, we would be reading about how Eagles quarterback Donavan McNabb overcame a benching and sub par play to lead his team to the Super Bowl. But this was not the case. The Cardinals offense, one of the most explosive in the NFL yet one of the most underrated, got the best of one of the better playoff defenses in the NFL and helped to give way to the Cardinal’s first Super Bowl appearance.

They couldn’t have done this without Warner at the helm. His ability to play in the system as well as make big plays like he has been able to do since coming into the NFL. As we saw on Sunday, Warner was able to make those critical throws that helped them win the game and stay ahead of the Eagles. It is this kind of ability that will help the Cardinals gain their first world championship. Of course, the Steelers will have a lot to say about that but it’s clear, Warner and his team have the edge in this one.

NEXT UP: Who will win this game and why

Written by Bryan Dietzler

Championship Round Weekend Power Poll

Championship Round Weekend Power Poll

Conference championship games are set and there have been a lot of surprises in this year’s NFL playoffs. Only one home team won this weekend and all the top seeds in the playoffs lost except for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The matchups that did come out of this weekend’s games are all going to be very good and should be hard fought battles which will decide who will go the Super Bowl.

The following is a look the remaining playoff teams still in the hunt for the Super Bowl and where they rank in my weekly playoff power poll. There is also a prediction on who will win each game this weekend.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (LW 3)-The Steelers are the only top seed remaining in the playoffs now and have a tough road ahead of them in having to meet the Baltimore Ravens once again for the third time this season. It promises to be a bloody battle but the Steelers, with their stellar defense and ball control offense, should be able to win and move on ahead to the Super Bowl. As long as they can move the ball against a tough Raven’s defense, there shouldn’t be any problems with them winning this game.

2. Arizona Cardinals (LW 8)-Yes, believe it or not, the Cardinals, playing at home and playing the kind of offensive football that they are the Eagles might be overwhelmed by their ability to move the ball down the field quickly through the air. Arizona has also been playing pretty good defense and after shutting down the run against the Panthers, will have their hands full with the Eagle’s Brian Westbrook and Donavan McNabb but if they can play the way they did against Carolina, they should win this game.

3. Baltimore Ravens (LW 5)-With a few breaks and a tough defense, the Ravens were able to topple the AFC’s most powerful team and meet their arch rivals, the Steelers in the AFC Championship game. It promises to be a big defensive battle but the Steelers have the edge thanks to their tough defense. I think that this game will be won by the team that turns the ball over the least because both defenses are very opportunistic. Also, with the Raven’s offensive woes, they don’t have the kind of power offense that’s going to score points in bunches. If the Ravens get behind, they will probably stay behind.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (LW 6)-The Eagles played pretty well against their arch rivals and are poised to get into the Super Bowl with a win over the Cardinals. They have to travel to Arizona to play and the Cardinals are playing very well right now and may be too tough for the Eagles to stop. However, if they can force Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner into making mistakes, they could very easily win this game.

Predictions:

The Steelers defense will be too much for the Ravens to overcome and rookie quarterback Joe Flacco’s magical run will end: Pittsburgh 24 Baltimore 13

Arizona will be able to hang tough against the Eagles blitzes and move the ball down the field just fine passing it. Arizona should win this one: Arizona 27 Philadelphia 21

The 2008 NFL All-Pro Team and NFL awards

The 2008 NFL All-Pro Team and NFL awards

I thought that I would throw my hat in the ring and give out a few 2008 NFL season awards as well as show everyone who I think should be on the NFL’s All Pro Team.

Top Team

The Super Bowl winner may be the best team in the NFL but I think that the best team in the NFL this season was the Indianapolis Colts. Sure, the Colts started out a little bit rough as some injury issues caused the team some trouble but they finished the season strong and had they been able to get past the Chargers. If this team stays healthy next season, they could be Super Bowl trip in their future.

Most Disappointing Team

No, I am not going to say that the Detroit Lions are the most disappointing team because no one expected them to do well anyway. The Dallas Cowboys, with all of that talent and all of those expectations failed to make the playoffs this season raising some serious questions about their coaching and the talent on the team. There could be some changes in a lot of places during the offseason.

Top Head Coach

Sure, the Dolphin’s turn around was one of the best stories to come out of the NFL in a long time but I think that the top head coach in the NFL this season was the Atlanta Falcon’s Mike Smith. After seeing what he did with the Falcons after what happened to them last season, Smith is a near miracle worker and my clear cut winner for the top coach this season.

Comeback Player of the Year

Chad Pennington was cast off from the Jets after they acquired Brett Favre. He was quickly signed by the Dolphins and led them to the playoffs after a terrible 1-15 season the year before. It’s clear that without him, the Dolphins wouldn’t have gone anywhere.

Here are my All-NFL team awards:

Offense:

Quarterback-Drew Brees-New Orleans-While he may not have the wins that Peyton Manning had this season, no one means more their team than Brees does. And with the kind of numbers that he put up this year it’s hard not to give him this honor.

Running Back-DeAngelo Williams-Carolina-Williams was a monster running the ball this season and was the most reliable back in the NFL in 2008.

Fullback-Le’Ron McClain-Baltimore-If you look at his numbers and what he meant to the Ravens, he’s the best in the league.

Wide Receiver (1)-Andre Johnson-Houston-Johnson sits a little under radar despite the fact he put up some huge numbers on a consistent basis.

Wide Receiver (2)-Roddy White-Atlanta-Matt Ryan’s go to guy had a big season and meant a lot to the Falcons.

Tight End-Tony Gonzalez-Kansas City-Gonzalez was a great player on a very bad team this season. Too bad he plays on such a bad team.

Offensive Tackle (1)-Joe Thomas-Cleveland-Despite the fact his team was horrid, Thomas is playing like seasoned pro.

Offensive Tackle (2)-Jordan Gross-Carolina-Gross helped pave the way for the Panther’s awesome rushing attack and deserves a lot of credit.

Offensive Guard (1)-Travelle Wharton-Carolina-Along with Gross and the rest of the Panther’s line helped to make their running game great.

Offensive Guard (2)-Steve Hutchinson-Minnesota-Hutchinson is a monster and helps lead a monster Vikings running game.

Center-Kevin Mawae-Tennessee-Although he may be nearing the end of his career, Mawae is a force on and off the field.

Defense

Defensive End (1)-Jared Allen-Minnesota-Allen was incredible this season and is, right now, the best defensive end in the NFL.

Defensive End (2)-Julius Peppers-Carolina-After a bad 2007 season, Peppers had a great season this year and showed just how much he means to the Panthers.

Defensive Tackle (1)-Kevin and Pat Williams-I am putting both of these guys on here because of their ability to shut down opponent’s running games.

Defensive Tackle (2)-Albert Haynesworth-Tennessee-Haynesworth is a force to be reckoned with and could be the best at his position right now in the NFL.

Outside Linebacker (1)-DeMarcus Ware-Dallas-You have to admit, this guy is good and is the heart and soul of the Dallas defense.

Outside Linebacker (2)-James Harrison-Pittsburgh-This guy is good and he got what he deserved, the Defensive Player of the Year honor.

Middle Linebacker-Ray Lewis-Baltimore-Perhaps there are other players that might be more deserving of this but he is the heart and soul of one of the best defenses in the NFL this season and is a future hall of famer.

Cornerback (1)-Nnamdi Asomugha-Oakland-One of the few true shut down corners in the NFL.

Cornerback (2)-Asante Samuel-Philadelphia-Moving to Philly didn’t hurt Samuel who has had a great season.

Strong Safety-Troy Polamalu-Pittsburgh-There is no one better at the position than Polamalu.

Free Safety-Ed Reed-Baltimore-Reed is a game changer and a future hall of famer.

Special Teams

Kicker-Robbie Gould-Chicago-No one does it better than Gould when it comes to kicking in harsh weather or winning a game in overtime.

Punter-Brad Maynard-Chicago-Maynard quietly had the best season that any punter had in the NFL.

Kick Returner-Leon Washington-New York Jets-Washington had a great season and deserves a lot of recognition.

Punt Returner-Jonnie Lee Higgins-Oakland-The numbers speak for themselves.

Division Round Weekend Power Poll

Wild card weekend is over and there were a couple of surprises this weekend as the Colts (number 2 last week) fell as did the Falcons who were picked by many to beat the Cardinals. Now, division playoff matchups are set and the top teams will be in action this weekend. Will there be additional surprises this weekend? It’s entirely possible.

The following is a look at how the remaining teams are ranked heading into this weekend’s divisional playoff round.

1. Tennessee Titans (LW 1)-Still the class of the playoffs, the Titans will have a very tough test going against the Baltimore Ravens who have played some of the toughest football of the season so far and this could be a match up for the ages. Both teams boast a strong defense and good ball control offenses with strong running games. The Titans could have the upper hand in this one though because of their week of rest and better running offense.

2. New York Giants (LW 3)-The Giants will face the toughest possible opponent that they could face in the playoffs in the Eagles. This will be their third meeting this season and the Eagles are playing very good football and have the momentum heading into this one. Being that these two teams have met twice already this season, it promises to be a good game with the winner possibly the one to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (LW 4)-The Steelers will host the Chargers in a game that promises to be one of best games of the weekend. With their stingy defense the Steelers should give the Chargers fits and the weather also promises to sit in Pittsburgh’s favor as well. On offense, the Steelers need to get their ground game going so that they can control the ball and the clock. The Steelers should come out victorious.

4. Carolina Panthers (LW 5)-Hosting the Cardinals should give the Panthers a great shot at getting into the NFC Championship game providing that they don’t give up too much to the Cardinals. Arizona has not done well on the East coast this season but the Panther’s defense hasn’t done too well during the latter half of the season but a good dose of their running game should cure all ills and make the Panthers a winner.

5. Baltimore Ravens (LW 6)-It was no surprise that the Ravens beat the Dolphins and ended up advancing in the playoffs. This team has a strong and opportunistic defense with a great ball control offense and this might be the formula that takes down the Titans this weekend. If they do win it’s possible this could be the team to represent the AFC in the playoffs.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (LW 10)-The Eagles move up a few spots due to their convincing win against a tough Minnesota team with a solid defense and now this team is poised to make a possible Cinderella run to the Super Bowl. Fans couldn’t have asked for a better match up (Giants versus the Eagles) and the Eagles, with the momentum that they have from their end of the season victories as well as their victory over the Vikings, this could be a team of destiny. Stay tuned as this team could be the one to go to the Super Bowl for the NFC this season.

7. San Diego Chargers (LW 9)-The Chargers pulled off a pretty good upset on Saturday night against the Colts and now have to face a tough Steelers defense. If LaDanlian Tomlinson is unable to go, they have Darren Sproles who has now proven himself to be a very capable replacement as well Phillip Rivers who has had a pretty good season despite the Charger’s record. Don’t be surprised if the Chargers hold their own against the Steelers but playing in Pittsburgh gives the Steelers a clear advantage.

8. Arizona Cardinals (LW 12)-It wasn’t too big of a surprise that the Cardinals outlasted the Falcons but it would be an even bigger surprise if they beat the Panthers. The Cardinals have the weapons on offense but don’t have them on defense and it’s pretty much certain that Carolina’s running game will rule the day in this one. This should be the Cardinal’s final playoff game.

By Bryan Dietzler

Sleepers for the 2009 NFL Draft

Senior Offensive Prospects to Watch For

By Daryl Breault

QB-

Tom Brandstater, Fresno St: Lacks polish and is a major developmental prospect but has been on scouts’ radar thanks to his size and arm strength. A three-year starter who has produced good numbers in a spread offense. Arm strength is king come draft time and Brandstater has that in spades. Improving in all facets of quarterbacking but has some ways to go yet.

Chase Clement, Rice: Must admit, I haven’t seen enough of him to make a full evaluation but so far, Clement is coming off as a sleeper. One of Rice’s all-time players as he holds all of the teams records in passing and total offense as well as 6 C-USA records. Extremely athletic but has average size and arm strength. Accuracy is decent but not elite. Has tools to work with but may have to take the long route to NFL success.

RB-

Devin Moore, Wyoming- Moore is small (5’9, 190lbs) by all measure of the word but few senior backs will match his elite speed. Moore answered questions about his ability to handle a full workload by rushing for 1,301 yards as Wyoming’s featured back. Took to a leadership role in 08. Returns kicks and punts and has decent hands out of the backfield with a good understanding of the route tree. Versatile, home-run hitter.

Shannon Woods, Texas Tech: Bounced back from a tough 2007 season with an All-Big 12 2nd Team selection in 08. Will need to explain his 2007 benching and dismissal prior to Gator Bowl. Has a nose for the end zone and can catch passes out of the backfield. Not a tough inside runner, lacks size (5’11, 195) and speed is questionable. Has to test well but has potential to develop into a player in the NFL.

Darrell Mack, Utah: A bruiser with great size at 5’11, 220lbs. Rushed for 1,204 yards as featured back in 2007 but split time in 2008 with shiftier Matt Asiata and took on more of a blocking role. Handled quasi-full back duties very well. Not a true fullback but could survive in that role. Lacks great acceleration but has enough top end speed to be a RB. The unselfish type who could succeed strictly on character and carve out a long career.

FB-

Fui Vakapuna, BYU: A very intriguing prospect with an interesting history. Spent two years on a church mission in Carlsbad, California before returning to football. Has potential as a short yardage back and scored 8 rushing TD in 2006. Injuries have limited his effectiveness over the last two seasons and he has taken on more of a FB role. Enjoys contact is a true FB prospect.

WR-

Brian Robiskie, Ohio St: Tough, smooth athlete with great hands and body control. Has prototype size, build and wingspan. Will high-point the ball and make plays across the middle. Has deceptive speed but lacks elite burst and quickness. Inconsistent throughout career and had a down senior year.

Sammi Stroughter, Oregon St: Resilient player who has overcome a lot of off-field adversity in his life. Tough with good speed and quickness. Started off his college career in spectacular fashion, culminating in a Pac-10 2nd team selection in 2006. Short and lacks bulk and has suffered major injuries in past. Has bounced back from tough 07 with Pac-10 1st team selection. Currently very underrated after injury and problems of 07.

Greg Carr, Florida St: Incredible wing span, arms look like Stretch Armstrong doll arms. Tall (6’6”) and lanky (215) but has good definition and is a TD machine. Overlooked as a prospect. Speed is questionable and not a great route runner but is a sleeper thanks his basketball style frame and ability to out jump opponents. Should be dangerous on fade routes and jump balls.

Dicky Lyons Jr., Kentucky: Hurt knee in Oct 08 but flashed big play potential in 06 and 07. Tough kid who fights for everything and expects nothing. Small at 5’11, 185lbs but is shifty and has great open field moves, burst and acceleration. An exciting player to watch because of his determination.

Eron Riley, Duke: 2008 preseason arrest hurts stock as does playing for a basketball school. On the field, Riley has been the Blue Devils best prospect for some time and has been productive despite poor production from Duke passers. Has been the teams MVP and the player opponents key on. Has good size (6’3, 205) but lacks speed and polish. Good developmental prospect with a history of success.

TE

Dan Gronkowski, Maryland: Not a factor in the passing game outside of dump offs but a great, physical blocker. Three-year starter who had a breakout 2008 campaign with 29 catches for 287 yards and 3 TD. Imposing at 6’6, 260lbs and can add another 5-10 pounds to his frame.

OT-

Garrett Reynolds, North Carolina: OT is loaded this year but there are still a few guys flying under the radar, Reynolds being one of them. The main reason being that he is a right tackle for the Tar Heels and that, well, he plays for the Tar Heels. Stands 6’7, 310lbs with room to carry more weight. Needs to add strength and improve his punch but he’s tenacious, a three-year starter and consistently was the Tar Heels best lineman.

OG-

Roland Martin, Michigan St: With 34 career starts under his belt, Roland Martin is a lunch pail prospect who brings great size (6’5, 330) to the RG position. He possesses decent athleticism for his size and works hard but he doesn’t play with enough intensity every play.

Jeff Niedermier, Buffalo: Doesn’t get much pub playing for Buffalo but Niedermayer is one of the most consistent and intense lineman in college football. Has great athleticism and is good at getting to the second level of a defense. Doesn’t have the size or strength you would hope for but could have a future as a zone blocker.

C-

Juan Garcia, Washington: Under the radar due to a serious foot injury suffered in April 2008 but recovered sufficiently enough to earn All-Pac 10 Honorable Mention. Injuries also nearly ruined his career and caused him to miss the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons. Looking past the injuries, Garcia has great size at 6’3”, 310lbs and is quite intelligent. Potential to be a serious player if he proves injuries are behind him.

K-

Ryan Succop, South Carolina: Succop didn’t have the greatest 2008 as he battled an abdominal injury but he has LB size at 6’2” 220lbs and can hit from 50+. Accurate from 40-49 yards and can boom kick-offs. Also has experience as a punter for SC. Needs to speed up his motions as he has had problems with blocked kicks in the past.

Michael Crabtree

If NFL teams are looking for a big, physical receiver with all the tools, they cannot look past Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree. Crabtree (6' 3" 224 lbs) is one of the nation’s top wide receivers who not only puts crazy numbers but can also be relied upon to make the big play. He is talented in many different ways and is one of the premier players in college football.

Crabtree has benefited from the type of system that Tech runs but that’s shouldn’t be something to be held against him. Sure, in the Red Raiders system the passing game is king and wide receivers are bound to get a lot of yards and a lot of touchdowns but Crabtree is not a product of the Red Raiders system. He is much more than that.

First and foremost, Crabtree is big, physical receiver who can out-jump defenders for the ball and muscle his way in to make the catch. And if you are looking for speed, Crabtree has plenty of it and he can get past most cornerbacks for the long touchdown play. However, he lacks the ideal quickness that you see in some receivers but more than makes up for it with his speed.

If you have seen him play at all, you will notice that he rarely drops passes and has some of the surest hands in college football. Crabtree has large hands and uses them to catch the ball away from his body which is ideal. This trait is highly valued in the NFL.

When it comes to running routes Crabtree is very good at this. He runs clean and crisp routes and makes his cuts and breaks well. He should be able to pick up an NFL system quickly meaning that he won’t need a lot of time to adjust to the NFL although, like any college player making their transition to the NFL, there will definitely be a learning curve.

With NFL physique and NFL ready skills, Crabtree could easily be a top ten pick in the NFL draft and could step in and start on any NFL team right away. If he chooses to come out (he is draft eligible sophomre) he will be one of the most sought after players in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Scouting Report by Bryan Dietzler

Quarterbacks for the 2009 NFL Draft

The 2009 NFL Draft should be an interesting one for quarterbacks. Unfortunately, many fine, experienced senior quarterbacks will be overlooked in favor of stellar juniors. Here are my NFL Draft Rankings of the top senior quarterbacks in projected draft order.

2009 College Football Senior Quarterbacks In Projected Draft Order
The 2009 NFL Draft should be an interesting one for quarterbacks. Unfortunately, many fine, experienced senior quarterbacks will be overlooked in favor of stellar juniors. Here are my top senior quarterbacks in projected draft order.

1. Cullen Harper, Clemson
Projected Round: 1
Cullen Harper, despite playing on a over-rated Clemson team, is a phenomenal quarterback. In his first season as a starter, Harper posted 27 touchdowns next to only six picks, which is fantastic when you consider his opponents, including Virginia Tech and Boston College. Oh yeah, and to cap it off, he threw for over 2,700 yards. He is definitely first round caliber, and if no high-caliber juniors come out early, he will have an edge over Hunter Cantwell to be the first QB taken.

2. Hunter Cantwell, Louisville
Projected Round: 1-2
For a few years now, Hunter Cantwell has been the best back-up in the country. A pro-style pocket passer, he’s ready made for the NFL, just as Brian Brohm should have been. He has a strong, accurate arm; and his only negative is inexperience, which is really a little misleading because every time Brohm went down, Cantwell played more than admirably, posting a completion percentage of 64.3%. That’s fantastic for a college QB. If he is pushed to the second round it will be due talented junior quarterbacks.

3. Curtis Painter, Purdue
Projected Round: 2
Curtis Painter, arguably the most prolific passer in Purdue history, has shown improvement over his two full seasons. He passed for fewer yards last year, but went up in touchdowns to twenty-nine, and down in interceptions to eleven. He is not immobile but he is a pocket passer, as his 40 time shows. Painter, however, plays in the Big Ten, which means that he won’t be drafted as high due to the misconception that Big Ten competition is somehow lesser than say, SEC opponents. The only other knock on Painter is his tendency to have his worst games against top opponents, like Ohio State and Wisconsin.

4. Rudy Carpenter, Arizona State
Projected Round: 3
Rudy Carpenter is one tough mother, well, you get it. He was sacked 54 times last year; that’s right, 54 times. When he wasn’t busy being sacked, he was completing 62% of his passes and tossing 25 touchdowns; with only 10 interceptions. Carpenter would make an excellent game manager in the NFL, but his upside might be more limited than say, Curtis Painter. A pocket passer, Carpenter deserves a shot right around round 3 or even 4.

5. Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
Projected Round: 3-4
Why is every body so down on Todd Boeckman? The NFL likes: tall quarterbacks, big arms, and diplomas from major BCS-conference schools. So what’s wrong with Mr. Boeckman? Two names: Beanie Wells and Tyrell Pryor. They steal his thunder and his numbers. But I’m not worried; whoever takes Boeckman here will have a big time, NFL ready quarterback and some early round weapons for him to hurl it to. By the way, he’s not immobile either; he has been clocked in the 40 at 4.74, which is really pretty good at his size. Threw 25 touchdowns and 14 picks in his junior year.

6. Pat White, West Virginia
Projected Round: 4
That’s right, Pat White. It’s too bad no one in the NFL will let him play quarterback. He can really throw and he is a full 6-2, he’s not “6-0” like Chase Daniel. This is where I would draft Pat. If this team doesn’t want to play him at QB, well, he can REALLY run, so HB or WR would be options as well. As long as he put on some muscle, he could play many other positions at the next level.

7. Nathan Brown, Central Arkansas
Projected Round: 4-5
I haven’t seen too much of Nathan Brown, but what I have seen, I like. Unfortunately, he plays at a small school, and normally that does not bode well for NFL prospects. He threw 26 touchdowns and 10 picks as a junior.
8. Tom Brandstater Fresno State
Projected Round: 4-5

Impressive guy at a smaller school. Playing in the WAC is probably his biggest knock, especially when you consider that he plays on a team that needs to run the ball. But he can throw it. He threw 15 touchdowns and only 5 picks in 2007, and e needs to raise that to warrant higher draft consideration.

9. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
Projected Round: 5
Another Texas Tech guy, huh? Hopefully Graham Harrell won’t end up in the Arena League like Sonny Cumbie, although, from what I’ve seen, the AFL is on the rise. But that’s neither here nor there. Graham Harrell has decent height for a quarterback at the next level, and he has shown touch and arm strength none of his predecessors possessed. If someone takes a shot on this guy, in 2 or 3 years he could develop into a fine, pro-style quarterback. He threw 48 touchdowns in 2007.

10. Chase Daniel, Missouri
Projected Round: 5-6
Chase Daniel is awesome. He makes plays on the run and he can fit the ball into windows not often reached by college quarterbacks. His is very athletic and he deserves a shot. He is, however, pretty short for his position. I’m doubtful that he is actually 6-0, he’s likely closer to 5-10. To most this is not that big of a deal, but to NFL teams height means a lot. There have been great NFL quarterbacks under 6-0, Doug Flutie, to name one. I hope that some team gives him a chance to play, as he is very exciting, not to mention productive. Over two years, he has not had a game with a completion percent under 50%.

11. Brian Hoyer, Michigan State
Projected Round: 6
Another middle-of-the-road Michigan State QB. Seems like they never produce top Quarterbacks. He did, however, throw for 20 touchdowns in the Big Ten and he warrants consideration, possibly as a back-up because his upside is limited.
12. Chase Holbrook New Mexico State
Projected Round: 6-7
A bigger version of Colt Brennan. He’s a big guy with a good arm, but he plays in the spread, so that can be misleading. He went down from 34 touchdowns to 28 in 2007, but a good senior year will lead to hearing his name on draft day.

13. John Parker Wilson, Alabama
Projected Round: 7
A guy who knows how to lead. I compare him to Matt Flynn, who just beat out Brian Brohm to be Green Bay’s second quarterback. He plays in the SEC and still put up good numbers, and had his best games in 2007 against Arkansas and LSU, with 3 and 2 touchdowns, respectively. He figures to be a back-up, but you never know. No one thought Tom Brady would make it, either.
14. Stephen McGee Texas A&M
Projected Round: 7-FA
Played well as a sophomore, but his claim to fame was his low pick total, and it went up from 3 to 8 in one campaign. A good senior year gets him drafted, but a serious recent shoulder injury could curtail his draft hopes.

By Russell Webster II

Arena Football: Why not?

I had a chance to go to an Arena 2 football game recently after several weeks of wonder what it was all about and if it was really worth going to a game. The local team, the Iowa Barnstormers, appeared to not be one of the best teams in Arena 2 so I wasn’t sure what I would be getting for my ticket price. However, football is football so I thought that I would go and check it out.

The game I saw pitted the Iowa Barnstorms against the Quad City Steamwheelers. The game was to be played inside the Des Moines Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Arena here in Des Moines Iowa. The location for the game was perfect as it was just a few short miles from where I lived and it was fairly easy to get to. My girlfriend accompanied me on this new adventure to my first Arena football game not knowing what to expect either and we were both in for a treat.

At first it didn’t appear as if there were going to be too many people at the game but I had to remind myself that we got there a little bit early so we would have time to find our seats, get something to eat and drink and see what the stadium was like. We had some great seats and I felt that we would be able to see all the action down on the field. However, and most unfortunately, as we would come to find out, some of the tallest people in the building! It was hard to see at times.

The crowd that night ended up to be a record for the season to date (with one more game left to go). It was also “black out” night that night as everyone was asked to wear black to support the Barnstormers that night. I wore black and my girlfriend wore red in honor of the Barnstormers colors.

The game itself was very exciting as it appears that most Arena Football games are. There is always a lot of scoring taking place due to the fact that they are playing on a short field and the rules are fairly relaxed when compared to those of NFL Football. The game was fun too because of the players and the fans. One player in particular, Daniel McLemore, was the on the field cheerleader dancing often during breaks in the action to the music playing overhead. He provided quite a bit of entertainment for myself and my girlfriend as well as the entire crowd. You don’t see that anymore during an NFL game!

The game was pretty close for a little while but thanks to some solid quarterback play and some lucky breaks, the Barnstormers were able win by a score of 76-53. The Barnstormers 73 points were the most that they had scored during the season in a single game and we got to see it all that night.

After the game, the fans were allowed to go down on the field and meet the players. We did not stay around for this and perhaps we missed out on something special but we were clearly satisfied with the game, the fans and the team. It was quite an experience.

At the game, the row that my girlfriend and I were sitting in was selected, along with another row in the stadium, to play a game called pass the box. Our row had to pass a small pizza box down the row and back, racing another row, in hopes of winning a free meal at the sponsoring restaurant. As luck would have it, our row won and we won a free dinner at the restaurant where the Barnstormers hold their family night activities.

Family night was Monday night and so we decided to use our free meal passes and go eat dinner with the Barnstormers. We managed to get a seat right by the defensive squad and got to hear them talking about their game that Saturday and their upcoming game against the Lexington Horsemen. One thing that I did notice (and I had picked this up from the game the other night) was that their defensive coordinator, a former wide receiver for the Washington Redskins, Phoenix Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals) and the Kansas City Chiefs J.T. Smith was there. I had remembered Smith from his playing days way back when I in high school and I remembered that I had several football cards of his as well.

It took a lot of nerve on my behalf but I got up and talked to Smith before leaving the restaurant. I told him that I remembered him from back in his playing days when I was younger and he said, jokingly “Are you calling me old”? I managed to get my picture taken with him, something that I will certainly always treasure. This, along with other things that I have observed about the Barnstormers, has lead me to believe that they are very community oriented and thankful for their fans.
This is the Barnstormers first season back after being gone for a few years. They did have a rich history prior to their leaving Iowa for a while and they bring that history back with them. Perhaps some of you will remember when a not so well known (at the time) quarterback who took the Arena 2 league by storm, Kurt Warner. Warner went on to become a two time NFL MVP and a Super Bowl winner.

You just never know who might end up being a star!

By Bryan Dietzler

2008 NFL Draft Grades

Which teams got the best value out of there picks? Who improved the most? Who wasted their opportunity to improve?What is the difference between drafting smart and overvaluing a player and reaching? We won't know those answers for sure for at least three years, that's how long it takes to fully evaluate a draft, but we can evaluate draft quality and value based off of team needs and players rankings.

It's easy to get excited when your team trades up for some really well known, seemingly highly talented player, but giving up future draft picks and mortgaging your future rarely pays off in the long run. Many times the team overpays for a player they could have had half a round or even a full round later. If you are not a team just a couple of players away from the superbowl, it's better to build your team with patience. I am talking to you Jacksonville and Carolina. The Jags traded away a lot of picks to move way up and reach for DE Derrick Harvey and the Panthers gave up next years first round draft pick to the Eagles to get OT Jeff Otah.

Below I have listed this years draft winners and losers and my grades for each team.

Winners:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
John Gruden must have some secret knowledge no other NFL coach has. He came into this years draft and found himself a list of steals. Gruden said he wanted to add playmakers to his team and with following picks he definitely did so. In the first round Tampa took Corner Aqib Talib from Kansas. Talib is easily one of the top five corners in this years draft and fits perfectly in the tampa two scheme. Second Round pick Dexter Jackson was a slight reach based on his projection but for a player who could very easily be the next Devin Hester with better hands it was well worth it. Jackson runs a 4.3 forty yard dash and has surprisingly good hands. His size may limit him in the NFL at 5'10" 182 pounds but he will at least be very dangerous from the slot and a threat to take kicks and punts all the way. In the third Gruden picked Rutgers offensive guard Jeremy Zuttah. A four year starter at Rutgers Zuttah is very technically sound blocking and could be a good starter in a couple of years. Dre Moore from Maryland went to Tampa in the fourth adding depth on the defensive line. In the fifth round Gruden got his quarterback of the future Josh Johnson. Gruden had been scouting Johnson for some time and was very high on him. Josh is the biggest steal of this years draft. He is a very smart quarterback with a good arm and incredible athletic ability. He could be the new starter within the next two years. Sixth round pick Geno Hayes from Florida State could a very good special teams player and backup. Running Back Cory Boyd from South Carolina Gruden's final pick has the quickness and balance to be a potential starter and a complete steal.In only seven picks Tampa likely added at least three starters you can't really ask for more from one draft.

Draft Grade A+

Cincinnati Bengals:
We all know how high powered the offense is in Cincinnati, but we also know how thin their linebacker corps and defensive line are. Cinci came into this years draft looking for playmakers to help their struggling defense. Their First pick (number nine overall) was linebacker Keith Rivers. Rivers is an extremely gifted athlete with a nose for the football. He seems to always be around the play and helping make big plays happen for the defense. He will definitely help the Bengals pass rush and run defense improve. Second round pick Jerome Simpson has all the tools to a great wide receiver. With Chad Johnson throwing fits and asking to be traded the Bengals had no choice but to look for insurance in the event he was to hold out or leave. Simpson doesn’t have blazing speed but he has great hands and good size and will fight for every jump ball. Third round pick Pat Sims adds much needed talent to cinci's defensive line. Wide receiver Andre Caldwell is a nice depth pick and could be a very good special teams player. Offensive tackle Anthony Collins is a very underrated and talented young lineman bringing starter ability to the table. Defensive linemen Jason Shirley and Deangelo Craig are very good depth picks and both have good talent and starter potential. Safety Corey Lynch could be a real steal late he has great ball instincts and is a very good tackler. He has all the tools to be a good starting strong safety at the least he will a pro bowl caliber special teams player. Wide Receiver Mario Uruttia has tremendous size and good speed and could be a dangerous red zone threat. New Orleans out maneavered them for DT Sedrick Ellis or this rating would have been an A+.

Draft Grade A

St Louis Rams:
The Rams may be one of the most improved teams of this years draft. The obvious need for upgrades at several positions had to come through the draft. With their first pick St Louis took defensive end Chris Long. The son of NFL hall of famer Howie Long, Chris is probably one of the best defensive players to come out of a draft since Mario Williams. He was the clear team leader of the Virginia defense in college. As the second round began Scott Linehan looked at the board and his eyes must have lit up. WR Donnie Avery sat there for the taking. Avery is a very undervalued wide out who had a tremendous career at Houston, but it's questionable that he was the top wideout in this draft. He is a good solid pick although Hardy might have been a better choice. In the third round offensive tackle John Greco was the pick. Greco has good quick feet to handle the outside rush and is also very strong. Orlando Pace is aging rapidly and can't seem to stay healthy. Greco might very easily be the Rams starter at left tackle this year or next. Cornerback Justin King brings incredible ball skills and blazing speed to a secondary that needs both badly. Offensive guard Roy Scheuning was a steal in the fifth round and a very capable starter. Keenan Burton is a absolute steal this late and could very easily end up being the successor to Issac Bruce. Cornerback Chris Chamberlain has good speed and could make a very good nickel corner. Linehan and the Rams did a tremendous job of getting value and filling needs.

Draft Grade A

Carolina Panthers:
The Panthers entered this years draft looking to upgrade the running back position and add depth. In the first round alone they filled team needs at running back and offensive tackle. RB Jonathan Stewart is arguably one of the top three backs in his draft class, but coming off of turf toe surgery, RB Reshard Mendenhall might have been the safer pick. Jeff Otah is a powerful mauling right tackle who can open massive holes for any running back, but the Panthers gave up 2009's first round pick for him, they might regret that lost pick next year, especialy if they have a bad season, which means, obviously, that that pick would be higher than justified. Cornerback Charles Godfrey has good ball skills and could be a huge steal in the third. Third round pick linebacker Dan Connor is a complete steal who has first round talent. Defensive tackle Nick Hayden is a very solid player who adds much needed depth and starter potential.Geoff Schwartz is a solid late offensive line pick that could start. Late round pick Tyler Hilee will most likely be a special teams contributor.

Draft Grade B+

Honorable Mention: Pittsburgh, NY Giants, Chicago

The Losers:

Not every team gets great value for their picks. Some reach for a player they really want or give up too much in a draft day trade. The following teams spent both draft days reaching or giving up too much or not filling needs.

Miami Dolphins:
OT Jake Long was a great pick. He is a cornerstone to build the offensive line around. Unfortunately after that the picks went downhill. Chad Henne was a decent pick my guess is this might be Beck's last year as starter. In The Second Philip Merling was a good pick. He was a bit of a steal most expected him to go in the late first round. Kendal Langford was a good pick the dolphins can use plenty of help on the defensive line. Shawn Murphy wasn’t even on some draft boards and the dolphins took him in the fourth round. He was projected to be a likely seventh rounder. Hopefully they know something everyone else missed out on. Jalen Parmele was definitely a solid pick adds depth at running back in case Ronnie Brown gets hurt again or Ricky Williams finally gets kicked out of the NFL for good. The later picks were good players but other than Donald Thomas they didn’t fill needs drafting only three offensive linemen in one of the deepest classes ever was probably not a great Idea especially when you took two running backs. A wide receiver could have been taken another offensive lineman or maybe a cornerback. Another late defensive end pick made me wonder but at least John Beck got some help at running back now if only he had a line or receivers. In the end the dolphins made some solid picks but drafted too many of the same position and didn’t even address certain needs or holes in the team at all.

Draft Grade C-

Tennessee Titans:
The Titans have real depth issues at wide receiver but didn't even draft one until the fifth round. If Justin Gage is starting you have serious needs for a upgrade. First round pick RB Chris Johnson has great speed (4.24) and could be a good starting or situational back. The problem with this pick is Chris wasn’t projected to be drafted till the middle of the second round and the Titans don’t really need a running back as they already have a good starting back in Lendale White. Unless they are going to try to teach Johnson to play wide out this pick is a waste on a complimentary player that they will overpay first round money to. If Johnson was that big of a want they should have traded out of the first round with a team that wanted an extra first round pick into the early second round and taken him there. When the Titans took Johnson there were at least two backs still graded above him. Second round pick Jason Jones from Eastern Michigan is an extremely talented edge rusher and is the best pick out of their draft. Craig Stevens and William Hayes are decent picks. Lavelle Hawkins is a good receiver and good value at the spot where he was taken. He is somewhat of steal that late. He could be a good slot receiver and special teams player. The Titans draft was bad at best. They reached horribly on their first pick and never addressed needs at wide receiver and offensive line depth.

Draft Grade C-

Detroit Lions:
Lions fans must be the most patient people ever. Every year it seems that Matt Millen gets worse at drafting. Offensive tackle Gosher Cherilous is a good young right tackle. He is second round value taken in the first round but because a run on tackles had started I will give the pick the benefit of the doubt. Linebacker Jordan Dizon is a good young player but he was listed as a fourth rounder on almost every draft board yet the Lions took him in the second. Running back Kevin Smith is a exciting young back and the best pick of Detroit’s draft. Cliff Avril could be a solid situation pass rusher but was a reach also. Jerome Felton and Caleb Campbell highlight the later rounds unfortunately by then almost every pick was a reach or better players were passed over. Not only did the team fail to get value for several of its picks but with a need at linebacker they passed over one of the best in the draft Dan Conner in two straight rounds.

Draft Grade D+

Honorable Mention: Atlanta

By Jason Baudendistel

Marshal Yanda, Iowa Hawkeyes

2007-nfl-draft

Marshal Yanda, 6’ 4” 305 lbs. Iowa

Sticking to the offensive line theme, I want to highlight an excellent NFL Prospect for the 2007 NFL Draft from Iowa named Marshal Yanda. He is a good sized, well coached prospect with excellent mobility and athletic ability. Yanda is still learning and improving, so he will be a little bit of a project, but he has good upside because he has improved so much in so short of a time, there is every reason to think he can continue improving. Yanda played just two years of Division I Football, his first two collegian years he played Junior College Football with Northern Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. He has started every game for the Hawks since his transfer, and in his first year (2005) he started at left guard and won the Hawkeye Hustle Award. Last season (2006), he moved to right tackle and performed brilliantly; he was a pre-season second team all-Big Ten selection by The Sporting News and was named 18th best tackle in the nation by The Sporting News. Mel Kiper loves this kid; he was even on his infamous big board for a while. I mentioned earlier that he was well coached, well his former head coach was a former NFL offensive line coach (Kirk Ferentz), and he was also tutored this season by former Nebraska assistant coach Dave Gillespie. Most “draft gurus” have him listed as a tackle, but in my opinion his position in the NFL will be guard. I project him to be a quality late-second to early-third round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He does look a little soft to me though. He will need to get in the weight room and start doing some serious power lifting to be a force in the NFL, but one good off-season in an NFL strength and conditioning program should do the trick. Check out an excellent highlight video of Yanda here: Marshal Yanda Video

In the Trenches

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In the trenches is where most football games are won or lost. Most teams hesitate on using a high draft pick for the hogs in the trenches, so I want to highlight a couple NFL Prospects that should be available in rounds 3-5 in the 2007 NFL Draft. The first prospect is a very talented offensive guard from Akron: Andy Alleman, is a 6’ 4” 305 pound mauler that is exceptionally quick and as strong as a bear. He transferred from Pittsburgh prior to the 2004 season where he played defensive line for two years. Alleman moved to offensive line in the spring of 2005 and is considered to be one of the strongest players on the team, holding numerous lifting records. He was named by ESPN.com in the spring as one of the nation’s “workout freaks”. Alleman was named most valuable lineman and weight lifter of the year in the annual post season awards banquet. Alleman is very under rated prospect, he didn’t even win any All-Conference awards in the MAC, but he has been invited to participate in the 2007 NFL Combine where I predict he will emerge as a top NFL Draft Prospect.

The second prospect is much better known, but has fallen off the radar screen since he was suspended early in the season for missing classes. Kyle Young from Fresno State is one of the biggest centers to enter the NFL Draft in recent memory. At 6’ 5” 330 pounds, he is a man mountain. Young was considered to even be a possible first round draft pick in the 2006 Pre-season, he started at Fresno State at center in the beginning of his freshman year in 2003, and started 47 consecutive games before his suspension. He was on the Rimington Watch list as the nation's top center in his first three years and a consensus pre-season All-WAC awardee. Due to his suspension, his draft stock has dropped, and character issues have surfaced. NFL scouts probably feel if the senior All-American center decided to skip class, his dedication and commitment could be in question. Interestingly, he was a surprise omission for the 2007 NFL Combine, so he will have to have a good “Pro Day” workout. Young did show up at the Shrine game and played the entire second half. He did a decent job, but isn't real mobile, he looked a little heavy and wore two huge knee braces on both knees. Some think he might project to guard at the next level. Regardless, if he stays (gets) committed to football and keeps his weight down, he could be a late round steal in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Salary Cap Numbers for NFL Teams

Current salary Cap Numbers as released by the NFL:

(in millions of dollars)

San Francisco - $37.6
Tennessee - $37.3
Buffalo - $33.2
Arizona – $32.1
New England - $26.6
Cleveland - $26.6
Green Bay - $24.8
St. Louis - $22.9
New Orleans - $21.7
Jacksonville - $21.6
NY Jets - $21.1
San Diego - $20.9
Cincinnati - $18.2
Dallas - $17.2
Seattle - $17.2
Chicago - $17
Houston - $16.5
Detroit - $15.6
Tampa Bay - $15.1
Miami - $13.1
Minnesota - $12.4
NY Giants - $9.4
Oakland - $6.2
Kansas City - $5.1
Washington - $4.3
Atlanta - $3.9
Baltimore - $3.6
Philadelphia - $3.5
Pittsburgh - $3.3
Denver - $2.6
Carolina - $1.8
Indianapolis - $.6