Showing posts with label Houston Texans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houston Texans. Show all posts

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Andre Johnson Wants Out of Houston

This past offseason, Andre Johnson informed the Houston Texans that he would be willing to work out with the team, as long as he was given a $1 million bonus by completing all of the work out sessions. When Johnson missed several sessions, he asked the franchise if he could add extra work outs to his schedule in hopes of still getting the money, but Houston said no; as a result, Johnson wants to no longer be a part of the Houston Texans. The star receiver has already expressed his doubts about being a part of team going through a rebuilding stage, seeing how the Texans went 2-14 last season. Four teams have already expressed interest in Johnson, but the Texans remain unwilling to trade the star receiver.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Jadeveon Clowney Has Surgery on Sports Hernia

Breaking News: Yesterday, Jadeveon Clowney underwent sport hernia surgery in Philadelphia. Sources assure that Clowney will be ready for the start of Texans training camp, but he will likely be sidelined until then, meaning the rookie will not be able to play in a mandatory, three-day minicamp. As the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, all eyes will be on Clowney from the very start of camp, which will begin in late July.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

2014 NFL Power Rankings: Post-Draft (32-21)

21. New York Giants: Even though the New York Giants lost their first 6 games of 2013, they were still in the race for the Division Title until the last few weeks of football. New York is a dangerous team, but Eli Manning needs to avoid throwing costly interception in order to have a consistent passing game. Hakeem Knicks has left for Indy, but receivers Victor Cruz and recently drafted Odell Beckham Jr. are able to provide Manning with plenty of weapons on offense. 

22. Dallas Cowboys: 2014 will bring another chapter in the Dallas Cowboys chronicles. For the second year in a row, Dallas was one win away in Week 17 from a spot in the postseason, yet was unsuccessful in converting. Dallas drafted Zack Martin, an offensive lineman out of Notre Dame, to help benefit the passing game led by quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant. The NFC East has been one of the weaker divisions as of late, so the Cowboys have the opportunity to earn a playoff spot in this upcoming season.

23. Houston Texans: With the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans decided to not select a quarterback, but rather boost their defensive line by drafting star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and defensive tackle Louis Nix III. The Texans' pass rush will be incredible next season as Clowney and Nix join JJ Watt and young pass rusher Whitney Mercilus. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had a notable rookie season, but in the event that Andre Johnson leaves Houston before the season opener, Ryan Fitzpatrick will likely struggle in 2014.

24. Buffalo Bills: Sammy Watkins, now a member of the Buffalo Bills, is the most talented player of the 2014 NFL Draft, and will join Mike Williams and Marquis Lee offensively to provide young quarterback EJ Manuel with many new weapons. Buffalo's pass rush ranked 2nd in the league last season, where three defensive passers had 10 sacks or more during the year, and it is also important to mention their incredibly talented rushing-duo of CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson. The Bills are a dark horse to do well in 2014.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers did plenty during this offseason to boost their offensive depth chart. Mike Evans, a 6'5"receiver out of Texas A&M, and Austin Seferian-Jenkins, a 6'6" tight end from Washington, will join Vincent Jackson (6'5") to create one of the tallest receiving corps in the league. Josh McCown proved he can win games when he took over in Chicago, so the Bucs may be competitive in the race for a spot in the Wild Card Round.

26. Tennessee Titans: 2014 is bound to be Jake Locker's last season if his game does not improve from last year, and Tennessee is doing their best to supply Locker with talented, yet relatively cheap, wide receivers. Nate Washington, Kendall Wright, Dexter McCluster, and Justin Hunter are all good offensive weapons, but not enough to bear the burden of this entire offense.

27. Minnesota Vikings: I am a huge fan of the Vikings selecting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with the 32nd overall pick. Bridgewater is a very talented passer who can take pressure off of Adrian Peterson, quite possibly the best player in the NFL today; on the other hand, if Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder continue to take the majority of the snaps in 2014, there is no way the Vikings will manage to crack .500. Anthony Barr was selected defensively in order to fill the pass rushing void left behind by All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen, another great selection for Minnesota.

28. Miami Dolphins: Miami managed to sign cornerback Cortland Finnegan and Randy Starks within the past few months, but apart from that, Miami had a relatively quiet offseason. Ryan Tannehill likely has one more year before he is on the hot seat, seeing how he managed to improve in 2013 from his rookie year. This lackluster franchise is unlikely to improve much in 2014.

29. Washington Redskins: After their miraculous road to the postseason in 2012, Robert Griffin III clearly suffered from a sophomore slump, where even though RGIII had more attempts on offense, his statistics suffered. With 12 interceptions and a 20.2 point drop in his passer rating compared to the rookie season, many Washington fans were disappointed with their quarterback's performances week in and week out. The Redskins had to give up their second overall pick because of their decision to trade up for RGIII two years earlier, yet they did manage to get Trent Murphy in the draft, as well as wide receiver DeSean Jackson in the offseason. Still, things aren't looking good for Washington in 2014.

30. Oakland Raiders: The Raiders made several sneaky transactions during the offseason. Defensively, the Raiders took a step in the right direction by adding Justin Tuck, Charles Woodson, Antonio Smith, and Khalil Mack all within this past offseason. On offense, rookie quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver James Jones were both added to the depth chart; however, the inconsistencies of Matt Schaub at quarterback will hinder their progress next year. Looking forward, Raiders fans should remain hopeful.

31. Cleveland Browns: The biggest storyline coming out of the draft was clearly Johnny Manziel falling to the 22nd overall pick in the draft to Cleveland. Although this new selection gave Cleveland fans a glimmer of hope for next season, Josh Gordon faces a looming suspension due to substance abuses. Justin Gilbert at cornerback was a great selection in the draft, and  both Miles Austin and Nate Burleson will be two great weapons for Manziel, in the event that he wins the starting job.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars are hoping that rookie quarterback Blake Bortles will be able to send Jacksonville to the postseason for the first time since 2007. Unfortunately for the rookie quarterback, Jacksonville has an extreme lack of talent on their depth chart, so much so that not a single player was selected to play in the Pro Bowl last season. Jacksonville has many more years before they will be a competitive football team.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

2014 NFL Draft Live Blog

With the conclusion of the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, our live blog comes to a close. You can watch tomorrow night to see the second and third rounds of the draft, with several big names still left on the board. Thanks for reading!
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Update (11:47): The Minnesota Vikings have traded the Seattle Seahawks for the thirty-second pick. With the thirty-second pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select...Teddy Bridgewater!!!

Update (10:57): Twitter is going crazy over Manziel's selection as the twenty-second pick in the draft:

Update (10:50): With the twenty-second pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select, Johnny Manziel!!! Quite possibly the biggest storyline to emerge from the first round of the draft, Cleveland decides to select Manziel with their twenty second overall pick, after selectin Justin Gilbert at eighth




Update (10:00): With the seventeenth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select, C.J. Mosley!!!

Update (9:47): With the sixteenth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select, Zack Martin!!! Dallas Cowboys fans did not seem very happy with the pick, even though it was a very safe pick for America's Team

Update (9:52): The Dallas Cowboys' pick is in. Will jerry Jones decide to draft Texas native Johnny Manziel?

Update (9:47): With the fifteenth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select, Ryan Shazier!!! Meanwhile...
Update (9:44): With the fourteenth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select...Kyle Fuller!!!

Update (9:30): With the thirteenth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select...Aaron Donald!!!

Update (9:30): With the twelfth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select...Odell Beckham!!!

Update (9:23): NFL Draft on Twitter (thus far)
Update (9:13): With the eleventh pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select...Taylor Lewan!!!

Update (9:13): With the tenth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select...Eric Ebron!!! (announced by Barry Sanders) Ebron will now be spending next season alongside the best receiver in the game, Calvin Johnson, along with Golden Tate and Matthew Stafford
Update (9:11): With the ninth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select...Anthony Barr!!! And Manziel continues to wait...
Update (9:04): With the eighth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select...Justin Gilbert!!! Many people believed Cleveland was looking to select Gilbert, yet Johnny Football remains in the green room
Update (9:01): The Cleveland Browns have traded picks with Minnesota to jump from 9th overall to 8th overall
Update (9:00): With the seventh pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select...Mike Evans!!! Alongside wide receiver Mike Evans, this can be a receiving corp in Tampa Bay
Update (8:51): With the sixth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select...Jake Matthews!!!
Update (8:44): Twitter reacts to the Oakland Raiders selecting Khalil Mack
Update (8:43): With the fifth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select...Khalil Mack!!!


Update (8:40): Twitter reacts to Buffalo selecting Sammy Watkins
Update (8:38): By trading the fourth overall pick, Cleveland will receive the 9th overall pick in this year's draft, as well as a first and fourth round pick in next year's draft

Update (8:37): With the fourth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select...Sammy Watkins!!!

Update (8:35): Twitter reacts to the Jacksonville Jaguars drafting Blake Bortles
Update (8:33): The Buffalo Bills have just struck a trade with the Cleveland Browns! Buffalo will most likely draft Khalil Mack, Sammy Watkins, or Jake Matthews.

Update (8:31): With the third pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select...Blake Bortles!!! The first quarterback taken in this draft is NOT Johnny Manziel, but rather, a quarterback from USF
Update (8:26): Twitter reacts to Greg Robinson being selected second overall
Update (8:24): With the second pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select...Greg Robinson!!!

Update (8:19): Twitter reacts to Jadeveon Clowney being selected first overall
Update (8:16): With the first pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select...Jadeveon Clowney!!! JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney on the same defensive line will be absolutely terrifying.

Update: (8:14): The pick is now in, just waiting for Goodell to walk on stage...

Update (8:05): The NFL Draft is now underway! The Houston Texans are now on the clock
Update (7:45 PM): NFL Draft on Twitter

Update (7:29 PM): The walk up songs for each player has now been released by the NFL. Below are the songs for some of college football's biggest stars:

QB Johnny Manziel: Draft Day - Drake
DE Jadeveon Clowney: The Man - Aloe Blacc
QB Blake Bortles: Blow Up - J. Cole
WR Sammy Watkins: Look What You've Done - Drake
LB Khalil Mack: Happy - Pharrell Williams
OT Greg Robinson: Happy - Pharrell Williams
OT Jordan Matthews: Through the Wire - Kanye West
See the full list here

Update (7:21 PM): Players now arriving at the red carpet. Forty minutes away!
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We are nearly one hour away from the 2014 NFL Draft, where some of the biggest names in college football will continue their football careers into the National Football League. Stars like Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins, and Johnny Manziel are set to take the stage tonight at 8:00 (eastern time). To view our most recent mock draft, click here. All of us here are looking forward to seeing the future stars of the National Football League. Stay tuned


Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Two Cents on Jadeveon Clowney's Draft Status

Jadeveon Clowney has been a household name (well, any household with cable and a passing interest in sports) for his three years at South Carolina, and now as the draft approaches for the swirl of questions and attention he has been receiving. ESPN has just published an article, in fact, where they seem to lend some credibility to all the talk about Clowney's work ethic, or lack thereof. NFL scouts apparently question him and are wary of drafting someone who undoubtedly, clearly took his foot off the gas in his last year on a competitive SEC team, probably in order to prepare for the NFL. Clowney will doubtless go top 5, regardless of all the talk, but it bears mentioning that there is definitely some legitimacy to issues about his draft status and what NFL teams really feel or suspect about this guy.
Firstly, anyone can see he is a ridiculous athlete, with raw talent the likes of which is rarely found. He apparently trains like an freak and obviously has the body type and combine numbers to succeed in the NFL.While everyone finds something to argue about concerning Clowney, one thing we can all agree on is that when he wants to (and yes, sometimes he may not) he can absolutely change a game on defense. This can be said about any great defensive end of course, but not every defensive end does this in a BCS bowl game. Remember January 1st, 2013?
A great moment

He puts together a great highlight reel obviously, and with plays like that it's little wonder some call him a "once in a generation player." But while I previously disregarded everything about Clowney that was a bit critical, now I am forced to admit that there is something to this. There are apparently plenty of NFL scouts saying flatly that they see the drop in his numbers as a warning sign. Here is another thing we can agree on. Clowney after 2012 would have absolutely gone first overall in the draft, coming off a season where he established without doubt that he was the best defensive player in college football. Some said he was the best defensive player since Lawrence Taylor. But 2013 came and he went from 13 sacks to just 3, 54 tackles to 35, and skipped a couple of games with vague injuries or health issues. That's a terrible progression, or regression in fact. He started the season as a Heisman runner up but faded rapidly, causing what we now have to be a very interesting and kinda awkward situation. We all saw the player he was in 2012, which is probably the player he can be, but what do we make of a mediocre and tumultuous last season, where he struggled with coaches (Steve Spurrier), teammates, and health?
With May 8th fast approaching, many raise legitimate concerns about Clowney's status as an immediately elite player in the NFL, due to the drop in numbers and the issues with health. But I still hold that Clowney is a truly elite player, and I would take Clowney first overall in a heartbeat. I think the Texans will do this, and they will be happy they did soon after the season starts. Ultimately no draft pick is without his risks, but with Clowney there is an astonishing upside. That's what it boils down to: There is definitely a range of how he will perform, as applies to any athlete, but just think for a moment if we see 2012 Clowney on the field. Though he seems like different player after last season, we saw what he can do, and the Texans can only hope (with a good amount of confidence) that he will bring it again in the NFL.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

College Football-NFL Comparisons: Teddy Bridgewater

        Teddy Bridgewater has been on everyone's minds for two full seasons now, as a couple of years ago he went on a tear and rose to national prominence. Since then, people expected a Heisman out of him (not really close) and definitely a high draft pick, perhaps even first overall (much closer). Bridgewater's is a slight frame by NFL standards, at a combine 6'2" and 214 lbs. Other than this however, (a weakness easily remedied by an NFL strength program which could probably add 10 or 15 solid pounds to his collegiate frame) Bridgewater does not have many things going against him. While there is no stand out quarterback in this draft, Bridgewater is widely accepted to come closest to an Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin type player this year. He is by no means at their level, but he is closest. He, for one, believes that "I'm the best quarterback in the NFL draft."  He won't go first overall in all probability, but he will likely be taken top 5. Potential suitors definitely include the Jaguars who are looking for a quarterback and are intrigued by the former Cardinal. Obviously Houston at the top of the draft could spring for him as well, but most agree that in a relatively bad quarterback year the Texans might wait on that position. 

        I have seen one intriguing comparison this year, and it is certainly generous to a fault, but NFL.com holds that Bridgewater reminds us of an Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was picked late in the first round, and is 6'2" 225 lbs. Beyond similar size, when he is at the top of his game Bridgewater absolutely reminds me of an elite quarterback. Like a Rodgers, he has an impressive ability to move up in the pocket and extend plays with his feet, keeping his eyes downfield. He throws a great long ball, (sometimes it is nothing short of stunning) and his accuracy, especially into tight windows on quick plays, is excellent. Bridgewater also limits his picks very effectively, with a grand total of 4 last season. Not only does Bridgewater make for a great highlight reel, but he has a consistently high level of play and manages games well. All this is not to say that Bridgewater will enjoy the NFL success of Aaron Rodgers, but rather that that is his ceiling. He promises to be an exciting NFL player, at the least. 

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

College Football-NFL Comparisons: Blake Bortles

        Some are saying Bortles will now go second overall, if the Browns trade up for the pick. Houston is another likely suitor, and with all the permutations there are even mock drafts where he goes first overall. This is a quarterback coming off one hell of a season, in which he took a mid major (read: mediocre) program to a BCS bowl game, and there stunned the 5 ranked Bears in the Tostitos Fiesta bowl. A great end to a great career for Bortles, and since then (and really the whole stellar season he had, with well north of 3,500 passing yards) everyone has realized that he may well become pretty important pretty quickly in the NFL. That said, a comparison I recently saw drawn with Andrew Luck is one of the silliest symptoms of draft hype I have seen in recent memory. Blake Bortles does not have the athleticism (a 4.93 40, vs a 4.6 from Luck), passing ability, composure in the pocket, or big game experience of Andrew Luck. That list could easily go on for a paragraph. Of course, Luck sets a shockingly high bar, as he has already proved to be a Pro-Bowl caliber player at his age. Luck played on a vastly superior team outside of Palo Alto and simply had much more to his résumé going into the draft. He may be an all time great; That can't be said at all about Bortles.

        A much more reasonable comparison to make would be with Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. This is generous, certainly, but both players are slow, fairly accurate, and struggle with the long ball. Ryan wins games, and Bortles has proven he can do that, even on a team like UCF. Game management matters, and that I am happy to give to Bortles. Both quarterbacks excel in the quick, short game, and are just athletic enough to occasionally extend plays with their feet, but surprise everyone when they do so. In sum Bortles is a good player, in fact he may have won the best quarterback of the draft status, but most have rightly pointed out that we can by no means call him elite. He will go very high in the draft, and likely have a solid career as a starter in the NFL. Wherever he goes, he will almost definitely be starting as soon as he arrives, so we don't have long to wait to see how a good college season (and player) translates into the NFL.

(His girlfriend, I will give elite status. A ludicrous amount of hits on google.)

Sunday, March 2, 2014

College Football-NFL Comparisons: Jadeveon Clowney

         What will Jadeveon Clowney be able to do at the next level? Most people expect great things of him, but there are those who, in hushed tones, speak of potential to be the greatest defensive end, ever. "The Andrew Luck of defenders" nicely describes the hype, while "the best ever" is over the top. The reports range, but I simply can't agree with the crazy speculation of all time great, seeing as he is not in the league yet. Such talk speaks to the excitement surrounding Clowney though. This is a guy who at the combine ran a 4.53 40. People won't stop talking about that for a long time. Let's look at other fast dashes in the combine. Marquise Lee, one of the top receivers in the draft from USC posted a 4.52. Mike Evans, probably the second receiver to be drafted from Texas A&M, ran a 4.53. DeAnthony Thomas, for Pete's sake, ran a 4.50! These are guys who are getting drafted to be the fastest players on the field. Receivers and backs who are renowned for their speed, (Thomas' speed in Oregon has at times seemed the stuff of legend.) and they will be some of the fastest players on the field. We have now learned that if Clowney is on the field as well, they won't be alone. He is, of course, a small defensive end, at 250 lbs, but he can be that size if he proves to be as explosive as he looks at times. He is a game changer on defense, recording 24 sacks in 3 years at South Carolina. I, like many observers out there, have to think he's going to bring that in the NFL. Potential suitors include the Texans or the Falcons. I can only imagine J.J. Watt and Clowney on the same defense…

       I have heard comparisons with Julius Peppers (Clowney is a "meaner, nastier version") but what stands out to me is a comparison with Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller. The 24 year old two time pro-bowler played defensive end in college, and at his combine he posted, wait for it, a 4.53 40 yard dash and did 21 reps at the bench press. These are the only two defensive players to post numbers like that in the combine in quite a while, stunning performances. But beyond uncannily similar body types, both these players have some doubts about maturity or off the field issues (Miller way more than Clowney, but still) and have frankly elite potential (a potential which Miller has in some part already fulfilled, regardless of a bad 2013 season.) Clowney and Miller are part of a select few of elite defensive players who absolutely change a football game. They need to be game-planned around, and at the NFL level that says something. Many people are saying different things about Clowney, from "the best pro prospect in the draft by far" to "not ready to make an impact yet." For me, the answer obviously lies somewhere in the middle. Though I can't see Clowney having a phenomenal freshman season I can see him having what might be deemed a phenomenal career. Whether he does or not remains to be seen. 

Saturday, August 24, 2013

2014 NFL Predictions (AFC)

1. Denver Broncos (12-4): Denver has the easiest schedule in the NFL, one that is very pass friendly. Peyton Manning has all the tools around him that he needs on offense, but the defense lost two great pass rushers in Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil. The loss of these two players (Von Miller suspended for 6 games) will have more of an impact on the Broncos than people may think.

2. Houston Texans (12-4): Similar to the Denver Broncos, Houston will face little competition in their division, and with such an easy schedule, they should be able to lock up the number two seed. Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt will only become more dominant with time, which is absolutely horrifying if you were a quarterback in the AFC South. The passing game should see an improvement after the drafting of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

3. New England Patriots (11-5): Though it was only a preseason game, the blowout that took place against the Detroit Lions (40-9 lost) may be a horrible sign of things to come for this offense. Down near the goal line, one of the fill-ins for Rob Gronkowski fumbled the ball, costing Tom Brady and the Patriots a shot at a touchdown. We know Tom Brady is capable of winning games, but the talent that surrounds him at wide receiver is not enough for Brady to win his fourth Super Bowl.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (11-5): Andy Dalton and AJ Green resurrected Cincinnati's offense, where as the defense is becoming a dangerous force in the National Football League. All-Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins is the leader of a fearsome defensive line, and it would not come as a surprise if Cincinnati won the division title in 2013.

5. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): The Super Bowl champions lost many key veterans on defense, including linebacker Ray Lewis and Paul Kruger, as well as safety Ed Reed; however, quarterback Joe Flacco is capable of leading this offense in make-or-break situations, as seen in the 2012 playoffs. The offensive weapons that surround him make the Ravens a team to be reckoned with when it's time for the playoffs.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6): The Kansas City Chiefs win our made-up award for the best offseason of 2012. New head coach Andy Reid surrounded himself with an incredible coaching staff, as he will have Alex Smith at quarterback. This team is just too talented to miss out on the playoffs.


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

NFL Report Update: Ed Reed

Breaking News: According to multiple reports, safety Ed Reed will be playing for the Houston Texans next season. Reed's eleven years in Baltimore ended when the Ravens beat the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. A deal has yet to be settled between the two sides, but Reed has said he wishes for the same $7.2 million annual salary that he earned in 2012. With Ed Reed leaving Baltimore, the reigning champs will be in a huge rebuilding state after so many key losses in free agency.


Monday, September 10, 2012

Playoff Predictions: Super Bowl


49ers over Texans: In this low scoring Super Bowl showdown, tempers are flaring, and the two defenses are succeeding in keeping the score low. It may not be the most exciting Super Bowl, but the game will be close until the very end. Alex Smith and the 49ers offense will be shaken early by this Houston defense, but soon find their groove in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the 49ers defense gave up an early lead, but are able to get in Schaub's head. By the time the dust settles, the San Francisco 49ers are Super Bowl champs once again, and John Harbaugh earns his first championship in the NFL.
Final Score: 49ers over Texans 20-14


Sunday, September 9, 2012

Playoff Predictions: AFC Championship


Texans over Patriots: This preseason showed just how weak the Patriots offensive line looks without last year's starters. Both Logan Menkins and Sebastion Vollmer are coping with injuries, where as Matt Light (and possibly Brian Waters) has retired from the game. The Texans defense has an infamous pass rush, and will prevent Brady from forming a rhythm all game. Brady does not enjoy scrambling in the pocket, and has always loved the ability to stay in one place. Meanwhile, Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson will be constantly connecting downfield, where as Arian Foster racks up a hundred yards or so with several touchdowns. A relatively high scoring game that results in a Houston victory.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Playoff Predictions: Divisional Round


AFC:

Texans over Ravens: A rematch of the 2011 divisional round, this time the Texans come out on top. The Ravens defense is aging quickly, and the Texans offense will take advantage. Meanwhile, the Texans defense is young and talented, and Ray Rice will have to bear too much of the burden.

Patriots over Bengals: Cincinnati's lack of experience hurts when playing a team like the New England Patriots, one of the best playoff contenders within the past 10 years. Brady has new weapons to throw to, while Gronk and Welker remain his top targets.

NFC:

Packers over Lions: The Packers offense is quite possibly the best in the league, especially with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. The Packers organization now has a chip on their shoulder after losing to New York in the Conference Finals. Detroit is not yet stable enough to conquer the Packers in such an important game.

49ers over Eagles: This defense will no doubt bang around Michael Vick, who has never been labeled as "clutch" in the playoffs. Justin Smith and Patrick Willis are both freaks of nature, and will be the stars of this Divisional Round game. Alex Smith proves he can win big games, and therefore lead San Francisco back into the Conference finals.

Playoff Predictions: Wild Card



AFC:
Texans over Chargers: Unfortunately for the Houston Texans, Matt Schaub was not able to play in the playoffs due to injury, the main reason why they didn't defeat Baltimore in the divisional round. His health is vital, but Arian Foster and Andre Johnson would be able to pick up the slack in 2012. San Diego is not quite as well rounded as the Houston Texans, and therefore will not be able to beat them on the road.

Bengals over Chiefs: Both teams are extremely inexperienced, but the Bengals are more talented on offense and defense. AJ Green is entering his sophomore season in the NFL, and has great chemistry with Andy Dalton. The defense did well in 2011, and drafted corner back Dre Kirkpatrick to enhance their pass defense. This battle of inexperience will be a good one, but Cincinnati will defeat the Chiefs on the road.

NFC:
Lions over Falcons: Historically, the Lions have won just one playoff game in their 50-year history, but this is Detroit's year. However, it all depends on whether or not Stafford can stay healthy. Calvin Johnson is un defend able, especially when Stafford is throwing to him. Atlanta never crosses my mind as a team who can make it all the way to the Super Bowl. The biggest upset for the first round of the playoffs.

Eagles over Bears: Philadelphia's Dream Team is bound to succeed in 2012, and home field advantage gives them the upper hand over Chicago. Michael Vick is injury prone, and he is the difference maker in these playoffs. Jay Cutler does not have the clutch factor necessary to succeed in the post season.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

AFC Final Predictions

1. New England Patriots (14-2): Talented players added to an already talented roster makes New England a serious threat to win back-to-back AFC titles.

2. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): The injury to Terrell Suggs is a catastrophic loss, but they are still an AFC powerhouse.

3. Houston Texans (11-5): Even though they are without their star linebacker Mario Williams, players like Arian Foster, Matt Schaub, and Andre Johnson will lead the Texans back into the playoffs.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6): Injuries kept Kansas City out of the postseason, but now that they have their stars back, the Chiefs will dethrone Denver for the number one spot in the AFC West.

5. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): A roster loaded with youth sets up a hit-or-miss situation, depending heavily on the offensive duo between quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver AJ Green.

6. San Diego Chargers (10-6): In a conference dominated by offense, it will be even more important for quarterback Philip Rivers and his young running back in Ryan Mathews to stay healthy in 2012.



Thursday, August 23, 2012

2012 NFL Predictions (AFC South)

1. Houston Texans (11-5): Even though the Texans lost linebacker Mario Williams to free agency, they proved in 2011 that they can succeed without their pro-bowl defender. Brian Cushing and JJ Watts are the two stars up front, where as corner back Jonathon Joseph will shut down any team's number one wide receiver. Matt Schaub will return to this offense, restoring his great chemistry with wide receiver Andre Johnson. Once again, Houston will dominate the AFC South.

Brian Cushing (Doug Benc/Getty Images)
Week 1: Dolphins @ Texans W
Week 2: Texans @ Jaguars W
Week 3: Texans @ Broncos L
Week 4: Titans @ Texans W
Week 5: Texans @ Jets W
Week 6: Packers @ Texans L
Week 7: Ravens @ Texans L
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Bills @ Texans W
Week 10: Texans @ Bears L
Week 11: Jaguars @ Texans W
Week 12: Texans @ Lions L
Week 13: Texans @ Titans W
Week 14: Texans @ Patriots W
Week 15: Colts @ Texans W
Week 16: Vikings @ Texans W
Week 17: Texans @ Colts W




2. Indianapolis Colts (6-10): The new face of Indianapolis has high expectations when entering the 2012 season. Andrew Luck was selected first overall by a team who lost their star quarterback in Peyton Manning. In order to make Luck feel slightly more comfortable, Indianapolis drafted Coby Fleener, a tight end who also attended Stanford. Veteran Reggie Wayne could still be lethal, and will be the number one deep threat for this rookie quarterback. The main problem is defense for Indianapolis, something the Colts struggled to put together in 2011. the organization did not do much to fix their struggling defense, so the offense will be expected to pick up the slack.

Andrew Luck (Michael Conroy/AP)
Week 1: Colts @ Bears L
Week 2: Vikings @ Colts W
Week 3: Jaguars @ Colts W
Week 4: BYE
Week 5: Packers @ Colts L
Week 6: Colts @ Jets L
Week 7: Browns @ Colts W
Week 8: Colts @ Titans L
Week 9: Dolphins @ Colts W
Week 10: Colts @ Jaguars W
Week 11: Colts @ Patriots L
Week 12: Bills @ Colts W
Week 13: Colts @ Lions L
Week 14: Titans @ Colts L
Week 15: Colts @ Texans L
Week 16: Colts @ Chiefs L
Week 17: Texans @ Colts L




3. Tennessee Titans (5-11): Jake Locker has been named starter of the Tennessee Titans over Matt Hasselbeck, a decision I don't necessarily agree with. The season starts off with four extremely difficult games, where a veteran quarterback needs to step in and lead his team to victory. By the time the dust settles in Tennessee, the Titans will find themselves in a hole, and unable to find their way out. Chis Johnson says he gained 10 pounds over the off season, and I believe he has another chance at 2,000 rushing yards. Otherwise, the Titans are out of luck, and will struggle to keep their heads above water.

Kendall Wright
Week 1: Patriots @ Titans L
Week 2: Titans @ Chargers L
Week 3: Lions @ Titans L
Week 4: Titans @ Texans L
Week 5: Titans @ Vikings W
Week 6: Steelers @ Titans L
Week 7: Titans @ Bills L
Week 8: Colts @ Titans W
Week 9: Bears @ Titans L
Week 10: Titans @ Dolphins L
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Titans @ Jaguars W
Week 13: Texans @ Titans L
Week 14: Titans @ Colts W
Week 15: Jets @ Titans L
Week 16: Titans @ Packers L
Week 17: Jaguars @ Titans W




4. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15): The Blaine Gabbert experiment in Jacksonville is not likely to succeed, even with targets such as Marcedes Lewis and rookie Justin Blackmon. The worst news of all is Maurice Jones-Drew's holdout, which is currently unfolding. In fact, MJD has made it clear to the media that he is looking for trade options. If Jacksonville were to lose their one and only star of the team, the Jaguars would be many years away from earning a spot in the playoffs.

Maurice Jones Drew (Getty Images)
Week 1: Jaguars @ Vikings W
Week 2: Texans @ Jaguars L
Week 3: Jaguars @ Colts L
Week 4: Bengals @ Jaguars L
Week 5: Bears @ Jaguars L
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Jaguars @ Raiders L
Week 8: Jaguars @ Packers L
Week 9: Lions @ Jaguars L
Week 10: Colts @ Jaguars L
Week 11: Jaguars @ Texans L
Week 12: Titans @ Jaguars L
Week 13: Jaguars @ Bills L
Week 14: Jets @ Jaguars L
Week 15: Jaguars @ Dolphins L
Week 16: Patriots @ Jaguars L
Week 17: Jaguars @ Titans L

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Preseason: Players to Watch (AFC South)


Houston Texans: QB Matt Schaub: For the first time since November of 2011, Matt Schaub will put on a helmet in tonight's game against the Carolina Panthers. Schaub suffered an injury to his right foot in a Week 10 game, and missed the remainder of the season. He was on track to throw for 3,966 yards with 24 touchdowns. Sadly, the Texans starting quarterback has two sides when it comes to his play quality. For example, in 2009, Schaub led the league in passing yards with 4,770, but, like I said before, did not have the start he would have liked in 2011. Worst of all, Schaub has difficulty staying healthy for all 16 games, with just two complete seasons under his belt. Hopefully, this upcoming preseason game will give us an idea on what type of Matt Schaub will show up to play in 2012.

Jake Locker (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck: Who else would occupy this slot? Andrew Luck most likely will have the highest expectations of any rookie since Peyton Manning, and rightfully so. The Colts struggled enormously last season, and drafted the best prospect in the nation. Now, we will see if the first overall pick can live up to the hype, and lead the Colts back to the Super Bowl within his 10-15 year career. His first game Sunday night will be in front of a jam-packed stadium, which is strange considering it is a Colts-Rams game. Alongside fellow rookie Coby Fleener (a tight end out of Stanford), Luck will take the stage in an attempt to "woo" the audience.

Tennessee Titans: QB Jake Locker: It appears that at the moment, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has the lead over youngster Jake Locker due to an increased number of snaps. Jake Locker will have to prove he is worthy of the starting job within the next four preseason games. A passer rating of 99.4% last season in only five games gives him the opportunity to win the starting job. What he needs is to amaze his coaches and managers, whereas veteran Matt Hasselbeck will have to play some of the worst football of his career.

Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Rashean Mathis: Similar to Leon Hall, Rashean Mathis is an ex-Pro Bowler who had recently suffered an injury (torn ACL). Mathis will be 32 by the time opening kickoff takes place on September 9th, old for any player in the National Football League. Jacksonville's most valuable corner back in franchise history was recently signed to a one year, $5 million contract, for he owns four of the organization's defensive records. All may change, however, now that he has suffered an injury, and the preseason shall do a good job of showing his condition.