NFL Power Rankings

We’re getting to the point where the NFL season goes into another gear. My top 20 teams. I didn't include any teams that I thought had no chance to get in to the playoffs.

1. NY Giants (10-1) – The defending Super Bowl Champs have been playing lights out since the playoffs last year. Amazing what confidence does to a team. Lose your best two defensive players during the offseason….no problem. The running trio of Jacobs, Ward, Bradshaw (AKA Earth, Wind, & Fire) have been unstoppable. Eli Manning has been playing efficient and steady for this team as well. They have their work cut out for them with games against Washington, Dallas, & Carolina in three of their next four weeks but it really hasn’t mattered who they have been playing lately.

2. Tennessee Titans (10-1) – A loss to the red hot Jets has brought the Titans back down to earth a bit. The formula to beat this team is stopping the run. Collins has shown he is an OK QB but he can’t put this team on his back. The Titans just don’t have enough talent in the passing game to win w/o running the ball against a good team. Collins may be able to make some plays but with the Titans defense playing less than dominant lately there is too much on his shoulders. The Titans have to get back to running the ball 35 times a game and playing defense. They are a team that wins ugly and I think they forgot their own identity. Sometimes a loss wakes you up. Sometimes a loss gives another team the formula to beat you though. Let’s see what the Titans do from here.

3. Pittsburg Steelers (8-3) – The Steelers are a model of how a franchise should be run. They have a great defense that is relentless. They have a tough big play QB. They run the ball with power and play with a nasty attitude. No one wants to play the Steelers at Heinz Field. If this team has any issues, it is in the offensive line because they tend to get their QB killed at times. But they have the right QB in there to take those shots and get right back up. Not a Steelers fan but this team is tough and plays gritty, tough, and entertaining football.

4. NY Jets (8-3) – The Jets are here because, well they have beaten the once unbeaten Titans. They are hot and playing great football. Favre is playing well and put on a clinic in the short passing game against the Titans. I am skeptical though. This team really has the making of the flavor of the month rather than a serious championship caliber team. I just don’t buy into all that Bret Favre stuff. This team is just on a high right now and I will come down a bit.

5. Dallas Cowboys (7-4) – The Cowboys are slowly but surely starting to build a little momentum. Romo is back and this team just can’t win w/o him. But how many teams can win w/o their superstar QB? Not many. All I have to say is don’t forget about this team. Too much talent and when they are rolling there isn’t much to stand in their way. They also have many combustible parts so anything is possible.

6. Indianapolis Colts (7-4) – Don’t look now but the Colts are starting to gain some traction. Team Peyton seems to have finally gotten into a groove offensively. Maybe this year, without trying to rest their starters, they might actually make some noise in the playoffs. The only Super Bowl ring Manning and Dungy have won was the year they got in as a wildcard team. Their schedule is pretty soft the rest of the way except for the last game of the season when the Titans are in town. The Colts could easily be 12-4 to finish the season.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-3) – Gotta give credit to Coach Gruden here. No one has done more with less than the Bucs’ coach. He has a top tier defense but offensively this team has very little talent, but somehow this team wins. I don’t think they will make much noise in the playoffs but again I gotta give credit for getting this team to 8 wins so far.

8. Carolina Panthers (8-3) – Carolina is another team that I was very skeptical about. I will say I was wrong. The RB tandem DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart has been exemplary. The passing game is also formidable with S. Smith and Muhammad out there catching balls from Jake Delhomme. The defense has been above average and this team comes to play on most weeks. I’m not sold this team has a playoff run but will say this team can’t be taken lightly.

9. New England Patriots (7-4) – There are some people floating the idea that Matt Cassell should be retained by the Patriots and trade away Tom Brady? What!? I thought I’ve heard it all before but this is just plain crazy. The Patriots are a good but not great team. As good as they can be one week is as beatable they can be in another. They have some talent and terrific coaching but they don’t have enough to beat some of top teams on this list in the playoffs.

10. Arizona Cardinals (7-4) – If the Cardinals had home field advantage I’d be all over this team for an upset special run. But they don’t. This team finally lost their first game at home to the Giants this past week. I’d have to say if it were me voting, the MVP of the season thus far is Kurt Warner. Brees and the Saints are just so Jekyll and Hyde and don’t come to play every week. Don’t forget that Warner is also on a pace to beat Dan Marino’s single season yardage mark as well as Brees. Brees may have the better numbers but it isn’t by that much. The Cardinals will give anyone they play in the playoffs fits.

11. Baltimore Ravens (7-4) – This is another team that is oh so dangerous. I don’t think this team is consistent enough to put the string of games it takes to go to the Super Bowl, having said that, this team can beat ANYONE in a one game playoff. Whoever draws this team in round 1 is in for a fight. I still think they are trying to find their identity on offense but make no mistake the Flacco kid can play. But the playoffs are a different animal for a rookie QB.

12. Washington Redskins (7-4) – The NFC East is so strong that it is conceivable that the Redskins could finish with a 10-6 record and still miss the playoffs. The Giants will win the division but the Redskins will have to pound it out with the Cowboys and could very well be on the outside looking in. Lots of football has to be played to decide the wildcard mess in the NFC.

13. Atlanta Falcons (7-4) – This team is light years ahead of where they should be. I don’t think this team makes the playoffs but they are in the mix. I felt they needed to be acknowledged for their accomplishments after the disaster year they had last year. They are building a nice team in Atlanta with Matt Ryan leading the ship.

14. New Orleans Saints (6-5) – It’s time for us to call the Saints what they are. They are under achievers. As fun as their offense is to watch this team doesn’t know how to win. There is too much talent on this offense to be sitting at 6-5. But here we are again and another year where the Saints are more than likely out of the playoffs. Nothing this team has done over the past 3 years gives me any hope this team has a strong run in them.

15. Miami Dolphins (6-5) - Hey if I can include the Saints in this I have to include the Fins. They are the opposite of the Saints. They have far less talent on this team but have done much more. Probably not enough to get into the playoffs but they have a soft enough schedule where there is an outside possibility. As bad as Sean Payton has done with his good talent with the Saints Sparano has done the opposite with utilizing his questionable talent with the Dolphins.

16. Chicago, 17. Minnesota, & 18. GB (Who Cares) – None of these teams will do anything in the playoffs but one of these teams will win the NFC North. It will be a one and done scenario so I won’t waste my time or yours.

19. Denver & 20. San Diego (Who Cares)- See 16, 17, & 18.

The New Head Pumpkin for UT

This may be way off but I am going with a gut feeling that current UNC head coach Butch Davis will be the coach of the Tennessee Volunteers next season. Butch has said publically that he was staying at UNC but I don’t believe him.

This is the worst possible thing that can happen. I absolutely hate the Vols. Butch Davis is exactly what the Vols need. Perfect match if you ask me. Davis is no fool. He will either parlay this into a huge contract extension with a huge raise or he will be the new orange pumpkin on the UT sidelines.

Why do I think this will happen? Well for one thing Davis, like Nick Saban, has no loyalties. To Saban’s credit, he left the Dolphins because he was given the highest power and the best contract possible to go back to his true love, which is coaching college football. Davis uses every contract he gets as a stepping stone. He left the Canes, after he swore he was not interested, to go to the Cleveland Browns. Now he has an opportunity to go to the best conference in college football, the SEC. He will get a contract offer from UT on par with Saban’s. He will join a program with a big following and football atmosphere, none of which are available at UNC.

Don’t ever discount a coach’s ego. The ego of Butch Davis + the $$$$ will equal Butch saying so long to UNC and hello to Tennessee. Trust me, it will happen. And the Vols will be back to the nation’s elite teams in less than 3 years. No one is a better recruiter than Butch Davis. No one is better at finding talent than Butch. He not only signs the big time talent he also finds the diamonds in the rough that are under the radar. He did it with the Canes. He is doing it with the UNC and will be doing it with the Vols. As a Vol hater this idea makes me sick.

Running Up the Score

Every week in college football there seems to be a debate on some team running up the score on their opponent. It’s a legitimate debate. On one hand should you show sportsmanship and pull the rains back when you are up 35-0 in the second half? Or should you ease up and run the ball 3 times in a row and punt?

It’s a tough thing. You don’t want to embarrass the other team and their players, but in today’s world where you have one loss teams trying to impress the pollsters to climb over other one loss teams you can’t blame a coach for trying to do what's best for his school. Truth is no matter how much pollsters deny it style points matter.

I’ve been on rooting ends of both sides as a fan. I’ve seen my team fighting for position in a national championship race and whip a team by 50 points and I’ve also been on the receiving end of one of those same beat downs. It makes you mad and embarrasses you as a fan. You want to reach your hands through the TV and choke the opposing coach. You wish for their starting players to break something so you can yell “that’s what you get!”

I think there is a fine line there. The way I look at it is this. It’s all fair game until the team that is getting their brains beat down accepts that it’s not their day. If you have your starters in there trying your best to score, its fair game that I have my players in there trying to stop you. Look, if you want me to stop you have to stop. That’s the mentality you should have.

Coaches can’t have it both ways. If you feel the game is over and you are on offense, take out your starters or run the ball and punt. It shows you admit that you have lost the game. It’s a gesture to the other sideline that says "you win". "Good game and good luck next week". You can’t expect the other team to stop trying if you’re not willing to stop.

You can argue that the team that’s getting blown out needs to work on their offense and correct their mistakes or gain some momentum for next week and that’s why they should keep their starters in there and keep fighting. To me that’s a poor argument. How is your team, that’s getting beat 56-0, improving itself if you are expecting the other team to lay down for you while you try and score? Bottom line is if you’re in there punching me I have the right to punch back. That should be the unwritten rule in sports. It will end the debate once and for all. At least it would in my eyes. When a coach cries foul, all he has to do is look in the mirror.

Recruiting News

I'm getting ahead of myself but it's never too soon to talk about future star running backs. First 2010. I introduce to you Baby Gore....

Jakhari Gore could follow in Frank's footsteps
Class of 2010 ESPNU 150 Watch List running back Jakhari Gore, cousin of former Cane and current San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore, isn't ready to announce yet, but Miami is the leader for his signature.
He told ESPN affiliate Web site InsideTheU.com, "Right now, I am just keeping everything open, but if I was ready to commit I would commit to them (UM). But I talk to my mom everyday about it, to my coach, everyday, we sit down and talk. They tell me to stay focused. I got a whole another year. Keep everything open."


But let's not forget about next year...The number 2 RB in the country has verbally committed to The U. Bryce Brown is 6ft 215 pounds. Watch both of these highlights because he's incredible. Makes me think if he's number 2, who the heck is number 1??

Soph Year


Junior Year




The number 1 recruit at RB is non other than Trent Richards who plays about 40 miles from Pensacola. I had no idea he was in my back yard, wow. Guess I may have to see him play a game. Anyway, he's going to Bama.

Singletary

Last night, I decided to watch the San Francisco 49ers take on the Arizona Cardinals. It was a pretty good game but I wanted to watch the game for two reasons. One was for stupid fantasy football reasons but the other was I wanted to see first hand what difference, if any, Mike Singletary was having on this lackluster football team. During my observation I had a few other thoughts as well.

I have no doubt that the 49ers were somewhat responding to their new coach. They played pretty hard. Let's be real about one thing though. This team has two wanna be QBs (3 if you count Alex Smith). QB play is everything in this league. It separates winners from losers. Talent wise this SF team is no worse than your average NFL team but they lose like some of the worst teams in the league. JT O' Sullivan and Shawn Hill are too inconsistent and too turnover prone to be legit QBs. Look at what the Atlanta Falcons have done in one year with Matt Ryan. The Falcons cleaned house last year. They made two key additions to that team. They got themselves a legit RB and a star in the making at QB. Other than that they really deducted some talent from this roster. But rebuilding the 49ers is not my point here. Just stating a flaw that needs to be addressed.

My point is that Singletary's management skills, or lack there of, can't be disguised. Not when you cost your team a chance to win. Then he throws Martz (offensive coordiantor) under the bus in his press conference by saying he called the play. That made me angry. He is the head coach. Own up to it publically. Yell at Martz in the office but not in the press. When you are preaching "loyalty" and saying you want to keep the locker room "scared" you can't do that.

Singletary's tactics are quickly becoming old. He is using motivational tactics that work in the college game but not in the pros. He is treating this team like kids and NFL players don't usually respond to such tactics. He gets the benefit of being a well respected hard nosed former player. But that honeymoon period is quickly coming to an end. When you do those things and you still lose, players don't want to hear that stuff. Players start thinking "yeah, yeah, blah blah". It also shows what happens when an untested position coach moves all the way up to head coach. It's a different world being THE MAN. Singletary is proving he isn't ready to be there. He is not only losing the goodwill of this team but he may be on his way to losing a chance to coach on any team, even as a positional coach. He had better wake up but I think it's already too late. This team will quit on him at the first sign of trouble.

The BS Poll

With the annual “I hate the BCS” talk around college football I figured it was time for me to rank my own top 8. Why 8? Well because that is the number of teams that need to be playing in a playoff system. The following list is based solely on who I think is the best teams, regardless of record. Just plain ole who is the best football team in MY opinion….

1. USC- I know this is controversial, but to me, this is the best team in the country. Line up any team against this team when it counts and they will win. They did have their annual hiccup to a lesser team but that's out of the way now.

2. Florida- I dislike Tim Tebow and their pompous coach Urban Meyer but this team is good. Yes they have only 4 plays that work but they do those 4 plays really well. Option 1, Tim Tebow up the middle (AKA Fat Boy up the middle). Option 2, lineup WR Percy Harvin in the backfield and hand him the ball. Option 3, Lineup Harvin at WR and run a reverse. Option 4, Pass the ball to Harvin. You would think the defenses could cover 4 plays but they can’t.

3. Alabama- I cringe to put them this high because I don’t believe they are this good yet. But Saban can coach and though I dislike him personally, I have a lot of respect for his coaching ability. His team is playing a year ahead of schedule and to me this is the second best team in the SEC.

4. Texas Tech- This team is offensively almost unstoppable. If they didn’t play in the weak, no defense playing Big 12, I might have more respect for them as a true national title contender. I don't believe they can beat a physical team though.

5. Texas- Texas would be a lot higher if the LB for Texas didn’t drop that sure INT to put Texas Tech away with 1:30 left in the game. I’ve never seen an easier ball dropped in a big situation like that.

6. Penn State- Yes this team is undefeated but they play in a joke for a conference in the (little) Big Ten. It’s not their fault they play nobody but I believe every team ahead of them on this list would give them a beat down. Yeah they beat Ohio State when they were number 9 but no one can tell me Ohio State is top 10 good.

7. Oklahoma- I haven’t seen them play yet this year so they make the list by default.

8. Oklahoma State- I also haven’t seen them play either, but their coach is 40 and is a man so I give them a nod for that.

Others that may cry about not getting into my BS poll: Utah & Boise St. I don’t believe either of these schools could hang with the 8 schools listed ahead of them.

This is so true about Fantasy Football

A paragraph out of ESPN’s Bill Simmons latest article:

“My big epiphany: Really, the fantasy football season isn't fun. Winning is OK; losing is agonizing. You constantly feel awful about your choices and your bad luck; it's the only exercise that causes arguments with friends you normally never would argue with; and you spend roughly a kazillion hours managing your team for the 10 percent chance that you might win your league. There's just not a ton of upside. It's almost like smoking cigarettes -- it started out with good intentions, and it's something to do, and it can be fun in the right moments, but ultimately, there are an inordinate amount of moments when you find yourself leaning out a window in 20-degree weather to puff out a quick cig as your nose gets frostbitten, or bumming a cig from a group of horrible girls and then feeling obligated to talk to them, or waking up in the morning and coughing up your right lung. Really, it's more harm than fun. And yet, we continue to do it. And love it. This entire paragraph made me want to smoke.”

I've never smoked but man I totally agree with every point Bill makes about Fantasy Football. Fantasy Football, I wish I could quit you.