Now after a long delay aka Lots of college work, its onto the Worst division in the NFL.
NFC WEST -
I'll start with the one good team of the West, and thats a stretch.
Arizona Cardinals - They are one of the offensive forces of the NFL with possibly the best WR tandem in the division with Larry Fitzgerald and the resiliant Anquan Boldin who came back from a horrifying injury at the start of the year. With Kurt Warner throwing the ball hard, long and accurately in good weather, they have big Touchdown totals and with the 3rd Receiver Steve Breaston getting lots of receptions as well. Running Back Tim Hightower has had the Touchdown carries with 10, but has averaged less than 3 yards per carry.
On to their awful defense, rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie leads the team with 3 interceptions including a 99yarder which he took the house. Bertrand Berry leads the team in sacks with 5 of his 16 tackles involving hits on the quarterback, 2 of which have forced fumbles. Karlos Dansby leads the team in tackles, has 3 sacks and a forced fumble and is probably the best player on their defense. They have already wrapped their division up, but when you look at the opposition reviewed below, you wont be all that surprised why.
Pro-bowl Candidates - Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin
Team MVP - Kurt Warner
San Francisco 49ers - What an odd team the San Francisco 49ers have proved to be this year. Almost jekyll and hyde like. But ever since the appointment of Mike Singletary, they have been a different team and his attitude has been instilled in them since them.
Their quarterback situation has changed throughout the season, but they have finally settled on Shaun Hill who has proved over the last few weeks that this was the correct decision. Running Back Frank Gore is the key to their offense, but an injury him has caused him to slow recently although he has a healthy ypc and has 6 TDs. Isaac Bruce has the majority of receptions with 6 Touchdowns as well. And ever since Vernon Davis had his ass kicked by Singletary he has been a completely different player but only has 27 receptions.
The defense has some key players. The main one being Patrick Willis who is in his second year yet leads in tackles, has a 86yd INT return, a sack and is on course for 140 tackles. Takeo Spikes is 3rd in the tackles list and has 3 interceptions which is joint with Walt Harris. Parys Haralson has 7 sacks out of his 32 tackles and has been a key pass rusher on the team.
Pro-bowl Candidates - (If anyone) Patrick Willis
Team MVP - Mike Singletary
Seattle Seahawks - The Seahawks were a highly rated team coming into the season that have had a lot of injuries and dont have a strong Wide Receivers corps. The key to the season has been that Seneca Wallace and Matt Hasselbeck have had to share the reps due to Hasselbecks injuries throughout the year. Wallace has had the better season of the two, but that really isn't saying much. Tightend John Carlson has had the majority of receptions and in the second half of the season has come into his own as both Hasselbeck and Wallaces main targets throughout the season. The kicker Olindo Mare has missed 2 Field Goals all season but is one of the top performers on the ST/Offensive side of the ball.
On the Defense, Julian Peterson has 5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles and is the team leader in both. Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill are the leaders in tackles while Josh Wilson has a 75yd int return as well as a 58yarder.
Pro-bowl candidates - John Carlson
Team MVP - John Carlson
St. Louis Rams - Injury problems have restricted the two key players which has affected the Rams as a whole. Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson both have high reputations which meant that the injuries affected the Wide Receivers as a whole although it could be of benefit to some when Jackson was out. Torry Holt and rookie Donnie Avery have carried the load, but neither have huge statlines for the season, which is understandable. When Jackson has played, he has 4ypc while his replacement Pittman had 3.7ypc.
On the defensive side of the ball, Oshiomogwe Atogwe has 4 interceptions, is 2nd in tackles and has 5 Forced Fumbles. Rookie Chris Long has 4 sacks but James Hall leads the team with 6 on an average defense.
Pro-bowl Candidates - Oshiomogwe Atogwe
Team MVP - Oshiomogwe Atogwe.
The next divisions to be completed will be the North divisions beginning with the AFC North.
patrioteagle
Thursday 18 December 2008
Sunday 14 December 2008
Players of the Year - Part One
As an exciting regular season comes towards it close, its time to look at the players who made big contributions to their teams and why they should be in the running for player of the year.
Today, I'll run through the two West Divisions from the AFC and NFC and look at their players. I'll then follow up with other teams as and when I feel like it :)
The two divisions I start with are possibly the poorest two divisions in the NFL with the lowest winning percentages outside their own division in the league.
This morning I start with the AFC West and the NFC West will be posted later.
AFC West:
Denver Broncos - Onto their 7th Running back of the season after Peyton Hillis succombed to the curse after a productive few weeks as the number one back. But they are a throwing team and have Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall picking up the majority of yards for the team. The rookie WR Eddie Royal has contributed more as the season has worn on and had a 93yd TD reception in one game. He has also returned Kicks and Punts including a 95yd return but was stopped at the 5. He is 7th/8th in Punt Return average of the consistent returners. Tony Scheffler provided another option for Cutler but his season has been affected by injuries but has been a consistent option when needed.
There isn't much to shout about on the Defensive side with 5 Interceptions all year. Jamie Winbourn leads the team in tackles, while Elvis Dumervil has 5 sacks to lead the team.
Pro-bowl Candidates - Cutler, Marshall.
Team MVP - Cutler.
San Diego Chargers - Their usual key players of Shawne Merriman and LaDainian Tomlinson have not contributed as well this year due to Merriman being on Injury Reserve and LT just having a bad season with few big games throughout. Tomlinson does lead the Chargers in Rushing yards and has 7 TDs on the ground and one receiving. But, on the floor he has averaged 3.7 YPC which is less than his rushing partner Darren Sproles, who average an extra yard with every carry. He has also provided 3 receiving Touchdowns, as well as a 103 yard KR touchdown. Philip Rivers has used all his options through the air and spread out the passes between his 3 key options. Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson and Tomlinson. Gates has been the key player for the Chargers with 46 receptions and 6 Touchdowns and is always there when the Receivers have been shut down, Jackson also has 6 Touchdowns from his 44 receptions.
On the defensive side as with the Broncos, the Chargers have a very bad defense especially on the passing side. The key point being that 4 of the top 5 tacklers on the team are in the Secondary with Eric Weddle leading, Quentin Jammer, Antonio Cromartie and rookie Antoine Cason. All of whom have at least one interception as well.
Shaun Phillips has 6 sacks and Jyles Tucker has 4 sacks, Jammer also has 3 Forced Fumbles to go with his 2 Interceptions and 2nd leading tackler.
Pro-bowl Candidates - Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates
Team MVP - Antonio Gates
Oakland Raiders - The less said about this teams offense the better really. Veteran Justin Fargas and Rookie Darren McFadden have carried the teams running load. After a bright start, McFadden had a toe injury which held him out for a few weeks and he has only just come back from that. Fargas has done well but with no threat through the air, teams are able to stop the, running relatively easily. The only Receiver with over 20 receptions is Tight-end Zach Miller who has been a popular option for JaMarcus Russell.
The only other 3 options to consider are all on the Special Teams side of the offense. Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler and Johnnie Lee Higgins are all close to being the best at their positions. Janikowski has the biggest leg in football which is needed with the Raiders unable to venture a long way into opposition territory the majority of the time. Lechler gives good field position on almost every punt and he has been needed a lot as well. Higgins has returned 2 Punts to the house.
I'm not going to pretend to know a lot about the Raiders defense despite them being on the field the majority of the time. Nnamdi Asomugha is one of the best Cornerbacks and the most underrated one in the NFL. He doesn't have many Interceptions or Tackles, this being as no Quarterback will throw at him unless they have to. He doesn't have the stats of a ProBowler but probably would deserve to be one. Kalimba Edwards leads the team in Sacks and Chris Johnson leads the team with 2 Interceptions. Kirk Morrison leads the team with tackles and also has 2 Forced Fumbles.
Pro-bowl Candidates - Janikowski, Lechler, Higgins, Asomugha
Team MVP - Who knows? I'll give it to Lechler.
Kansas City Chiefs - A team that started the season with 14 rookies starting I think. They threw in the towel early and have used 4 Quarterbacks, 2 of whom went on IR. They have found a Quarterback of the future in Tyler Thigpen who has shown he is athletic and capable. He also has a Receiving Touchdown out of their version of the Wildcat. Their top receivers are Tony Gonzalez who is the top Tightend in football right now and has a big game every week and Dwayne Bowe who has almost treble the receptions of the next Wide Receiver.
Larry Johnson has had off-field problems all year but has nice but unspectacular rushing stats for the season. Average Special Teams from the Kicking, Punting and Returning means that they havent had great field position either.
Like with the Raiders I don't know a whole lot about their defense. But the one player I know about for various reasons is Bernard Pollard who leads the team in Tackles, has an Interception and two Forced Fumbles.
Derrick Johnson has 4 Forced Fumbles and is the team leader, Jarred Page has 3 Interceptions, rookie Brandon Flowers has 2 including a 91yarder for a Touchdown.
Pro-bowl Candidates - Tony Gonzalez, Dwayne Bowe
Team MVP - Tony Gonzalez.
Thats all for now anyway.
patrioteagle
Today, I'll run through the two West Divisions from the AFC and NFC and look at their players. I'll then follow up with other teams as and when I feel like it :)
The two divisions I start with are possibly the poorest two divisions in the NFL with the lowest winning percentages outside their own division in the league.
This morning I start with the AFC West and the NFC West will be posted later.
AFC West:
Denver Broncos - Onto their 7th Running back of the season after Peyton Hillis succombed to the curse after a productive few weeks as the number one back. But they are a throwing team and have Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall picking up the majority of yards for the team. The rookie WR Eddie Royal has contributed more as the season has worn on and had a 93yd TD reception in one game. He has also returned Kicks and Punts including a 95yd return but was stopped at the 5. He is 7th/8th in Punt Return average of the consistent returners. Tony Scheffler provided another option for Cutler but his season has been affected by injuries but has been a consistent option when needed.
There isn't much to shout about on the Defensive side with 5 Interceptions all year. Jamie Winbourn leads the team in tackles, while Elvis Dumervil has 5 sacks to lead the team.
Pro-bowl Candidates - Cutler, Marshall.
Team MVP - Cutler.
San Diego Chargers - Their usual key players of Shawne Merriman and LaDainian Tomlinson have not contributed as well this year due to Merriman being on Injury Reserve and LT just having a bad season with few big games throughout. Tomlinson does lead the Chargers in Rushing yards and has 7 TDs on the ground and one receiving. But, on the floor he has averaged 3.7 YPC which is less than his rushing partner Darren Sproles, who average an extra yard with every carry. He has also provided 3 receiving Touchdowns, as well as a 103 yard KR touchdown. Philip Rivers has used all his options through the air and spread out the passes between his 3 key options. Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson and Tomlinson. Gates has been the key player for the Chargers with 46 receptions and 6 Touchdowns and is always there when the Receivers have been shut down, Jackson also has 6 Touchdowns from his 44 receptions.
On the defensive side as with the Broncos, the Chargers have a very bad defense especially on the passing side. The key point being that 4 of the top 5 tacklers on the team are in the Secondary with Eric Weddle leading, Quentin Jammer, Antonio Cromartie and rookie Antoine Cason. All of whom have at least one interception as well.
Shaun Phillips has 6 sacks and Jyles Tucker has 4 sacks, Jammer also has 3 Forced Fumbles to go with his 2 Interceptions and 2nd leading tackler.
Pro-bowl Candidates - Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates
Team MVP - Antonio Gates
Oakland Raiders - The less said about this teams offense the better really. Veteran Justin Fargas and Rookie Darren McFadden have carried the teams running load. After a bright start, McFadden had a toe injury which held him out for a few weeks and he has only just come back from that. Fargas has done well but with no threat through the air, teams are able to stop the, running relatively easily. The only Receiver with over 20 receptions is Tight-end Zach Miller who has been a popular option for JaMarcus Russell.
The only other 3 options to consider are all on the Special Teams side of the offense. Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler and Johnnie Lee Higgins are all close to being the best at their positions. Janikowski has the biggest leg in football which is needed with the Raiders unable to venture a long way into opposition territory the majority of the time. Lechler gives good field position on almost every punt and he has been needed a lot as well. Higgins has returned 2 Punts to the house.
I'm not going to pretend to know a lot about the Raiders defense despite them being on the field the majority of the time. Nnamdi Asomugha is one of the best Cornerbacks and the most underrated one in the NFL. He doesn't have many Interceptions or Tackles, this being as no Quarterback will throw at him unless they have to. He doesn't have the stats of a ProBowler but probably would deserve to be one. Kalimba Edwards leads the team in Sacks and Chris Johnson leads the team with 2 Interceptions. Kirk Morrison leads the team with tackles and also has 2 Forced Fumbles.
Pro-bowl Candidates - Janikowski, Lechler, Higgins, Asomugha
Team MVP - Who knows? I'll give it to Lechler.
Kansas City Chiefs - A team that started the season with 14 rookies starting I think. They threw in the towel early and have used 4 Quarterbacks, 2 of whom went on IR. They have found a Quarterback of the future in Tyler Thigpen who has shown he is athletic and capable. He also has a Receiving Touchdown out of their version of the Wildcat. Their top receivers are Tony Gonzalez who is the top Tightend in football right now and has a big game every week and Dwayne Bowe who has almost treble the receptions of the next Wide Receiver.
Larry Johnson has had off-field problems all year but has nice but unspectacular rushing stats for the season. Average Special Teams from the Kicking, Punting and Returning means that they havent had great field position either.
Like with the Raiders I don't know a whole lot about their defense. But the one player I know about for various reasons is Bernard Pollard who leads the team in Tackles, has an Interception and two Forced Fumbles.
Derrick Johnson has 4 Forced Fumbles and is the team leader, Jarred Page has 3 Interceptions, rookie Brandon Flowers has 2 including a 91yarder for a Touchdown.
Pro-bowl Candidates - Tony Gonzalez, Dwayne Bowe
Team MVP - Tony Gonzalez.
Thats all for now anyway.
patrioteagle
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