5 Questions - Part 2

11/24/09 Mike Whitney answers Mike Odom

1. Better chance to be a quality starter at some point, Jason Campbell, Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, or Seneca Wallace?

Wow, tough question. Every single football scientist say Jason Campbell has what it takes. He’s had a raw deal in Washington. His receiver set was awful, as was his constant changing of coordinators (a la Alex Smith). Brady Quinn, in my opinion, doesn’t have the arm to succeed. Derek Anderson might need to get Lasik, but he was surrounded by great talent in his only good season. Seneca Wallace wants to win, does whatever it takes, and is loyal. He is a gamer, unlike the other 3. He even played receiver in the playoffs the last time Seattle was there. He is one of the highest paid backups for a reason. I believe if he was on the market he could start right now for the Buccaneers (even though I wouldn’t want him to, Freeman will be good), Raiders, Rams, Browns, Jets (see: Buccs), Redskins, and Dolphins, easily. He’s learned from some great coaches and continues to be a solid replacement for Seattle. The results don’t always show because of the supporting cast, but this guy can lead. That is one of the most important things for the position, and most likely a reason why you put him on this list.

2. Who is the fastest man in the NFL?

Let’s have DeAngelo Hall, Chris Johnson, and Devin Hester in a 100 yard dash. Not a 40. I’m going to say that Johnson wins it, and CJ only because he has insane stamina. But it would be close. Darkhorse candidate would be Desean Jackson, but I say he comes in 4^th.

3. Will Anquan Boldin be a Cardinal in 2010?

Yes, but no way he is there in 2011. Arizona’s window for a Superbowl is shrinking with every hit Warner takes. Warner is also going to retire a year from now. So why not load up for a Superbowl run, especially in a potential uncapped year. After that, he’s as good as gone. He will be slightly older, Breaston will need to be paid, and if Leinart isn’t the solution, Boldin won’t even be a thought, another top paid QB will.

4. Who is the most underrated defensive player in the league?

Oshiomogho Atogwe. The Rams best defender for the last few years is a tremendous safety, getting better each year. He is great with run support and great at reading coverage. He is a sure tackler and quite the ballhawk. His only problem is he sometimes tries for the big play too hard. But he’s a name that continues to go unnoticed. When he finally hits the market, and he signs a big contract, people will finally know the name.

5. Who is the defensive rookie of the year?

Brian Cushing. He’s a monster, 5^th in the league in tackles. 8+ tackles in 8 of 10 games. Multiple forced fumbles and interceptions as well as 1.5 sacks. As long as he remains healthy, he’s a force. With him, Ryans, Williams, and Okoye, the front 7 for Houston is starting to get very nice. No disrespect to Jairus Byrd, but I say his success doesn’t continue as well as it has. However, I wouldn’t be disappointed if he won.

5 Questions

Mike Odom answers Mike Whitney

1. What do we expect from Sidney Rice after Brett Favre retires?
Big things. While there is no question Rice has greatly benefited from Favre's arrival, he is clearly not just a byproduct of it. He was a second round pick, but not because of lack of talent. Having played only two seasons of college ball, Rice was very raw and unrefined. But he had size, speed, hands, and leaping ability. People forget this would have been his rookie season had he exhausted his full eligibility at South Carolina. The light has officially gone on for Rice, and that bulb won't burn out anytime soon.

2. What do you see from Glenn Dorsey in the next 2 years?
This all depends on if he stays in Kansas City or not. If he continues to be stuck in the 3-4 in KC, he will likely squander away his ability and end up a huge bust. A trade to a 4-3 would not only suit Dorsey better, it would relight the fire under him. Playing in a Cover 2 scheme, such as Tampa Bay or Indy might allow him to play to his strengths. My ceiling for Dorsey if all goes well is an 8 sack season by 2011.


3. Who are the Raiders taking with their first round pick?
Despite looking like one of the worst teams in the league often, Oakland is headed towards a pick in the 7th to 10th overall range currently. There is a catch to this question. Oakland does not have a 1st round pick in 2011. So the player selected here will be a huge building block in the teams long term plans. Herein lies the dilemma. JaMarcus Russell is likely done as the Raiders quarterback. But taking another QB round 1 will signal the end for sure. Some QBs are being mentioned as potential first round picks, but they all have big question marks. Al Davis made a sensable pick in 2004 when he took left tackle Robert Gallery. I think Oakland will take Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung, and perhaps take a quarterback in round 2.

4. Will Matt Forte bounce back next season?
Yes and no. I don't think Forte will ever be a premiere running back like everyone predicted after 2008. He should be a quality starter though, unlike this years performance. Chicago's offense is clearly in a state of flux, and many talented players are struggling. Forte may be one of the types of running backs that needs a good amount of touches to get in stride. The team should be straightened out by 2010, and Forte will be back to about 1,500 total yards.

5. If Jacksonville makes the playoffs, do they still draft Tim Tebow?
Yes, but in the second round. I think Tebow will slide out of the first 32 picks, especially after extreme dissection from scouts. Jacksonville will likely be in the market for some type of quarterback project regardless of David Garrard's performance. Tebow could allow the Jags to create a unique running game with him and Maurice Jones-Drew, but more importantly he will draw fans to the game.

5 Questions Part 2

Mike Whitney answers Mike Odom

1. Disregarding production, who is the most talented RB duo in the NFL?
I’m going to go with the duo out of Carolina, and just this year, not last. They have emerged into a force. Both backs were highly touted coming out of college and both backs took until their second seasons to get fully acclimated to the speed of the NFL. But to put two fast players, one very elusive, and one a beast, is tremendous for any team. They have excelled hurt, and they have been phenomenal enough to get Delhomme productive again by getting him matchups. My condolences to the injured LenDale White and Chris Johnson, as well as Bradshaw and Jacobs.

2. Who is the most overrated player in the NFL?
I feel like I’m attacking him but I still might say Reggie Bush. I might say Vince Young as well. However, I think I’m going to go with Roy Williams. He’s had the biggest body of work out of all of them. I’m talking about the receiver. He was the 7th pick in the 2004 draft. 6 TDs a year average for his first 5 years. Follow that up with a high of 8. He’s only had one 1,000 season. He never reached more than 82 catches in a season. And it’s not because he was on the Lions because Calvin Johnson did that on a worse team. He’s on pace for 700 yards this year on a pretty decent Dallas team. The reason that makes him overrated is the fact people always made excuses for him in Detroit. People ignored his crazy prophecies about winning and he never delivered when he said he would. He was traded for a 1st, 3rd, and 6th, and then was awarded a top receiver contract. He was never worth that, and even though it was Jerry Jones who gave him it, it’s still overrated. The runner-up for this category would be DeAngelo Hall.

3. Which of these 5 teams is most likely to have a winning season first? (Lions, Rams, Chiefs, Raiders, Browns)
I’m going to go with the Rams. They are in the weakest division in terms of depth. They have one of the top 5 running backs, hell top 10 players in the league in Stephen Jackson. They are also coached very well on the defensive side. Those 2 things alone should be enough. If they can get a decent signal caller, you could put them ready to go. I’m not even saying the QB has to be a star, just a game manager will do. The Lions would be second. Stafford, Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson, and Brandon Pettrigrew are for real. So is Louis Delmas on the defensive side. However, they still need help on their line bad. And besides Delmas, they have no defense. The Browns put up 37 on them. Enough said. However, Schwartz was a great choice for coach. It’s just too heavy in their division to give them a shot. Just wait another year and Warner retires, where will the Cardinals be?

4. If Orton was healthy enough to play, why didn't he start?
I think after a 3 game losing streak, you try to see what other options you have. This was a tryout in disguise and Chris Simms failed. He showed no poise. It wasn’t even his stats. McDaniels didn’t get the jumpstart he needed from Simms. It may not even have been for Simms to take Orton’s job. I think McDaniels wanted Simms to excel to PUSH Orton to do better. Maybe he thought he was getting too complacent. It’s much easier for him to do that with Moreno, mixing Buckhalter in and out, but you can’t do that with quarterbacks. You also can’t do that without a veteran quarterback. Maybe if McDaniels tossed in a Doug Flutie or Jeff Garcia, it would have been a different story. Speaking of which, why isn’t Garcia taking this team to the playoffs?

5. Bigger bust, Darrius Heyward-Bey or Vernon Gholston?
Both careers too short to tell. Gholston would be my choice. He can do it all himself. Heyward-Bey has to rely on consistency from his quarterback. We can revisit this in 2-3 years, but until then, lets wish them both well, and know that Gholston has far less chance at saving himself, as DHB at least has the speed to do something.

5 Questions

Mike Odom answers Mike Whitney

1. Why has Eddie Royal's and Tony Scheffler's numbers dropped significantly?
I sure wont say I saw this coming, but in hindsight, it makes sense. There are a few factors at play. Look at what you have here. New coach, new QB, new system. So lets build the target breakdown. Brandon Marshall is the biggest WR, and also the best. While some people may deny it, I can almost guarantee that any quarterback will go to the big target when in a pinch. Much like Eli Manning used to Plaxico Burress, I believe Orton looks to Marshall when under distress. The next WR isn't the best, but he is the smartest. At least as far as the system. Jabar Gaffney caught 36 and 38 passes in his past two seasons with Josh McDaniel in New England. He is on pace to exceed that total this year. Likely because he knows the system more than anyone else. So while everyone expected Eddie Royal to fill the Wes Welker role, perhaps McDaniels simply de-emphasized the position as opposed to forcing someone to fit it. Royal could still be looking for his niche. As far Scheffler, while he is projected to end up below his previous two years production, he is right on pace in some ways. In 2007, Ben Watson caught 36 passes for 389 yards and 6 touchdowns. He was down from that in 2008. Scheffler is on pace for 37 snags with 432 yards and 3 TDs. So this is what we should have predicted from Scheffler. I believe Royal will likely absorb Gaffney's role in 2010 and be much more potent.

2. Why has Jay Cutler struggled so badly this year?
I really do not think Mike Shanahan gets enough credit as a play caller and offensive guru. While you could attribute this to natural progression, John Elway lept from a 7-14 ratio in his rookie year without Shanahan to 18-15 his second with Shanahan as offensive coordinator. Shanahan threw for 20 plus TDs 6 times; only once did he do that in an offense not run by Shan. Steve Young won 2 MVPs in his 3 seasons with Shanahan as OC, and lead the league in TD passes all 3 of them. His peak was without a doubt during those 3 seasons. Shanahan also had two guys have their greatest season under him, Jake Plummer and Brian Griese. So while Cutler is clearly talented, he may need a great mind to lead him in the right direction. Ron Turner may not be the guy that can do that. Combine that with a step down in weapons and arguably more pressure, and you have the mistake prone Cutler we currently see.

3. Will Vince Young ever start an entire season?
Tough question. I can not predict the future, so I can not say for certain if Vince can stay healthy for 16 games. But I do think he can earn himself a starting job for a whole season. He has shown improvement in his current stint at QB, looks like a fit in the offense, and has the support of the owner. I would not be shocked if he starts 16 games in 2010.

4. Do either the Colts or Saints go 16-0 this regular season?
No way. After rolling over minimal competition early on, the Colts have eeked out 4 wins over better teams. While it is impressive they still find a way to win, they have only won by a total of 10 points in the last 3 games. I believe the Denver Broncos will take them down Week 14. That is, if they get past Tennessee unscathed. New Orleans looked sharp early on, but Drew Brees and company have showed a little leak. Before a systematic destruction of Tampa yesterday, the Saints had been in a tough game every week the previous four weeks. I believe the Saints fall to New England.

5. Will a Bears receiver get to 1000 yards this year or next?
Despite me slightly bashing this unit a few lines up, I believe the answer is yes. I called Devin Hester my most surprising player last week, and he is headed for becoming a true pass catching threat. I wouldn't be shocked if Chicago began to throw more in desperation here in the coming weeks, so Hester may actually break the milestone this season.

5 Questions - Part 2

11/20/09

Mike Whitney answering Mike Odom

Today I answer his defensive themed questions.

Where will Julius Peppers be in 2010?

This is a 2 part question. If there is an uncapped year next year, no doubt he stays in Carolina. If there isn’t, I’m saying he still gets the franchise tag. His value is still really high, but I do think his time in Carolina is limited. However, his value is higher in Carolina because of his college days and the draw that comes with it. If he gets traded, it will be either to the Patriots, or to the Raiders. Pats because Belicheck loves him as a player and tried to get him last year. The Raiders are another spot because Al Davis loves to spend and loves importing disgruntled talent.

Saints high interception total in 2009; fluke or for real?

The total is probably higher than it truly is, but it is high. Sharper has always been a ball hawk, but the rest of the team is benefitting from an offense that forces opposing teams to have to pass to keep up. Gregg Williams also deserves a lot of credit. However, I’m not convinced their INT total will make or break their season. They might give up a few TDs trying to get them.

Better cornerback, Nnamdi Asomugha or Darrelle Revis?

Overall, Asomugha. They are both tremendous in coverage. Revis is much more aggressive as well. Both are top 2 at their game. However, Asomugha is taller and has much longer arms, this would be the difference in being able to deflect more passes, and get a hand in on the ball quicker. But I’d take either on my team.

Who is the best 4-3 defense in the league?

Haha, not enough good teams running a 4-3. Baltimore has its sets, but aren’t primarily a 4-3. I’m going with the obvious choice… Minnesota. They lead the league in sacks; they are #2 in stopping the opponent on 3^rd down %. They allow less than 100 yards rushing a game, and all of this with their top corner injured for an extended period. I have to give credit where it’s due.

Will the Colts release Bob Sanders? And if so, where will he end up?

If its an uncapped year, no. If they can trade him, no. If he does get released, I’d think he’d end up on a team like the Bears. Just a gut feeling. Especially if he’s healthy and can come cheap. I don’t see him signing with any of the larger contenders. Maybe you could get the Texans to roll the dice, or maybe the Jaguars.

5 Questions

Mike Odom answers Mike Whitney

Where does Ricky Williams end up next year?
Before Ronnie Brown's injury, I would have thought he was perhaps going to be a cap casualty. But I can not see Miami going into next season with Ronnie Brown coming back from a foot injury and no insurance policy. Ricky knows the Wildcat offense and this team is very reliant on the run, so they need consistency. At this point, I wouldn't be shocked if he retired a Dolphin.

What does New Orleans do about their running game next year?
Pierre Thomas will be the feature back next year. He is a restricted free agent, and New Orleans will likely offer him the highest tender possible. The real question here is who shares the load. Mike Bell is a free agent. Reggie Bush carries a 13.5 million dollar cap figure in 2010. The sleeper here is Lynell Hamilton, who the team likes. He will not be an RFA until 2011. Bell and Bush would both be wise to find a way to stay in New Orleans, as it is an ideal fit for both players. I predict one will depart for one reason or another and Hamilton will see an increased role in the offense.

Is Kevin Boss the future at Tight End for New York, or do they miss what they had in Shockey and could have had in Shiancoe?
A complex answer. Is he the future? No, but he is a part of the future. I think the Giants will likely stick with a platoon of Boss and Travis Beckum, at least through 2010. Eli Manning seems to trust Boss more than he ever trusted Shockey. The Giants aren't big spenders in free agency, and I doubt they would squash the potential of Boss and Beckum by signing an Owen Daniels or Tony Scheffler.

Does a Vincent Jackson get away from the Chargers with all their other contracts to address?
I am not sure how they are going to do it, but some how, some way, they will retain V-Jax's services. A.J. Smith has long looked for a big play receiver, and he finally found one. The NFL is becoming a passing league, and Philip Rivers will likely want a talented tandem of receivers in Jackson and Antonio Gates over a dominant running game. LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles, and Shawne Merriman may all be gone by 2010, but Jackson will still be catching passes in San Diego.

Does Brett Favre come back for another season?
Tough question. I was pondering this just the other day. This is an absolute toss up. While part of me says Favre would likely retire if he wins the Super Bowl, I do not think that is why he came back. He may just truely love playing the game, or at least being in the national spotlight. My answer is, barring an injury, yes. Brett Favre will return for 2010.

5 Questions Part 2

Mike Whitney answers Mike Odom

Who has been the bigger bust, Reggie Bush or Matt Leinart?
Inconclusive to be honest. But if I had to answer, I’d say Reggie Bush. He was drafted 8 spots higher for one. It was a huge controversy that he wasn’t drafted #1. It cost a GM his job. He was so hyped he petitioned to allow #5 to be used for him as a running back. He also was drafted #2 only because of his financial demands. Bush was also given the starting role and ample packages and opportunities, and it resulted in failed results as a running back. 3.9 yards/carry for his career only helped by his higher average in less carries this year. 30 career touchdowns in 3 seasons and 9 games. Never more than 600 yards in a season rushing, that is awful for any running back, let alone drafted #2. Maurice Jones-Drew who was splitting time with Fred Taylor for 3 years has compiled 52 touchdowns in the same amount of time. He was drafted way after Bush.
Leinart hasn’t proved much, but he has been locked into the Cardinals and their misery to begin his career. Then you get a 2 time MVP in front of him. Not calling him the next Steve Young, but he’s basically in the same situation Young was at the beginning of his career. We know he lacks arm strength, but that isn’t new. Also, drafting Quarterbacks is a product of team need. The Saints had Deuce and didn’t need Reggie, the Cardinals needed Leinart, and so his true value wasn’t shown. Leinart probably would have been a late first round pick on talent and measurable alone, but that isn’t how the NFL works.

Who will be the first QB taken in the 2010 draft?
Going with recent trends, I see Jake Locker. He’s going to wow at the combine, and he’s a leader who can move and who can make all the throws. He’ll get an edge because scouts know he had success with subpar receivers and supporting cast. The only fallback he has is that he’s already signed a deal with the LA Angels as a fall-back option. Bradford has the shoulder and McCoy still doesn’t wow me. I think a better throwing, less athletic Vince Young. They both played out of the same offense, though.

With seemingly another rebuilding project coming in Buffalo, who is their best player currently?
I’m going to go with Lee Evans here. He’s a tremendous talent who can’t reach his potential as Trent Edwards is nothing but a stop-gap solution at quarterback. It didn’t help that his line suffered losses in free agency and injury, and weren’t that good to begin with. You could argue Fred Jackson or Jairus Byrd, but neither of them is proven over multiple seasons. That being said, I don’t see Evans sticking around for the whole rebuilding project, as he’ll end up being shipped out with his high price tag.

Bigger loss to their respective team, Michael Turner or Ronnie Brown?
Interesting, Turner means more than Brown does, but his loss is for much less time. However, its critical that the Falcons put up some wins. Matty Ice hit his sophomore slump in stride with more targets than he had last year. Now it will be even harder. It doesn’t help that the defensive secondary is a mess, either. The Dolphins are out of the playoff race this year, and Rickey Williams is a better backup than Stecker or Snelling. So I’ll go with Turner’s loss.

More impressive, Calvin Johnson's 2008 season or Steven Jackson's 2009?
Steven Jackson. He’s #1 in the NFL for RBs when it comes to DYAR and DVOA. He’s run tremendously with a terrible, terrible team. 5 100-yard games is tremendous. Only twice has he touched the ball more than 25 times in a game, too.
Calvin Johnson in 2008 was impressive, but 78 catches in 151 targets is bad. He got a lot of touchdowns on a god-awful team, but he’s had more than ample opportunities. He’s also the only target on that team. If they score, it has to go through him.

5 Questions

Mike Odom answers Mike Whitney

Who has been a bigger disappointment, the Giants offensive line or defensive line?
Both units have struggled to live up to the hype, but the D-line has left the back 7 hanging high and dry often this season. Individually, the talent is abundant for the front four. But Osi has struggled to come back from his knee injury, Justin Tuck is hampered by nagging injuries again, and Mathias Kiwanuka has been inconsistent. Big signing Chris Canty has only played in one game. The lack of a pass rush is astounding, and many Giants fans are left scratching their heads with this underachieving group.

If one team was going to make the playoffs, who would it be and why? Choices are Jaguars, Texans, or Ravens.
I would have to say Baltimore. I can't see Houston rebounding from that heartwrenching loss against Indy. Their schedule seems weak on paper, but this team has never shown the backbone to finish a season strong. Steve Slaton and Ryan Moats have failed to give the team a consistent running game and both players have showed a tendency to put the ball on the ground. Jacksonville can dominate one week, and get blown out the next. David Garrard is regressing from his wonderful 2007 season and the passing offense is stagnant. Maurice Jones-Drew is having a wonderful season, but can one man do it all? Probably not. The team's leading sacker has 1.5. The Jags simply can not make enough plays to contend. Baltimore has been here before. Their D is struggling this year, but I still have more faith in them than the other two defenses in question. The schedule is tough, but so is this team.

Will Tim Tebow get on the field in an NFL regular season game next year at any position?
Yes, but not because of his talent. Rookies play often in the modern day NFL, and Tebow is coming in with a variety of abilities. He will likely get some redzone packages for the team that drafts him.

Matt Cassel's year, disappointment or product of his team?
Statistically, his 2009 has been nothing to write home about. He missed some games with a knee injury, which is my biggest concern thus far. But he has done a great job protecting the football and is showing good poise and control in a chaotic situation in Kansas City. Tom Brady he is not, but if Todd Haley continues to surround Cassel with talent he could win a good amount of ball games in the coming years.

Who wins the NFC East?
All three of the contenders have a tough stretch to end the season, including games against each other. I am going to stick with the New York Giants. I do not trust Wade Phillips or Tony Romo down the stretch, and while this may be the most talented team they consistently blow up and meltdown. The Eagles simply fail to show up some weeks, and that will keep them from winning the crown. New York was in desperate need of a bye week and should get back to their winning formula to finish the year.

5 Questions - Part 2

Mike Whitney answers Mike Odom

Which team is more impressive, the Colts or the Saints?

I’m going to have to go with the Saints here. To begin with, their running game is more impressive than the Colts. New Orleans is 5^th and the Colts are 29^th. New Orleans has almost double their yardage. 16 TDs to 9. Not to mention, if need be, Brees can score on the ground, this is not even close to the same as with Peyton Manning. When it comes to special teams, the Colts are bottom of the league in return yardage, including dead last in kick return average yards. I also feel that New Orleans has some more trusted options in the passing attack. Both teams are awash in a lot of categories, however, the Colts were closer to 2 losses than were the Saints. Finally, when it comes to the postseason and making quick decisions, I’m going to have to trust Sean Peyton over Caldwell.

Who does Peyton Manning need more, Reggie Wayne or Dallas Clark?

Reggie Wayne. I looked at this from all angles, and while Dallas Clark has a higher DVOA (Defensive Value Over Average) for his position, Wayne still ranks right with him. The fact that Wayne is drawing double teams constantly, and is still producing is one of the main reasons why Manning has been putting up monster numbers this year. He’s had 5 more 20+ yard plays than Clark, he’s had 9 more first down resulting plays on top of 5 more touchdown resulting plays. Wayne also has a league high 98 targets, which means that Peyton is relying on him more than anyone. Dallas Clark’s abilities won’t ever result in single coverage for Garcon or Collie.

Reggie Wayne. No doubt about this.

Who has been the most underachieving player in the NFL in 2009?

At first look, I say Jay Cutler. 10 seconds of thought later, I change my mind, as he hasn’t been much different than when on the Broncos, just has worse receivers. I’m going to go with Brandon Jacobs. While he’s still in at over 4 yards a carry, and while he keeps defenses bruised for Bradshaw, he’s not done what he’s known for. He hasn’t gotten many touchdowns (2), or first downs (28). Picture this, this season he’s had 151 carries for 617 yards, last year while battling injuries he had 219 carries for 1089 yards. He has to average 6.95 yards a carry to get back to that. He also has to get 13 more touchdowns in 7 games. I understand the lack of Plaxico, but he’s not as bad as he is playing. He also needs to step up as a leader. All he has done has been making excuses to the media--Just upsetting. Especially since he hasn’t missed a game, and has been near 100% all year.

Are the Broncos a fluke?

I don’t think they are. That being said, I think they are what their schedule is. They are a 9-10 win team at best. They just won a few extra games to the start the season. Next year you will see the real results. I don’t have faith in Orton, as he’s alienating Royal and Scheffler, but besides that, if Moreno grows up and can hold onto the ball, they have a line that can make this offense top 10. Their defense under Mike Nolan, assuming they can keep him there for the foreseeable future, has done a tremendous turnaround. Their special teams unit is solid. I think they need to start to prepare for life after Bailey, although they aren’t in a rush, and they need to get Marshall happy. If they can build on what they have, they’ll compete with the Chargers for the next couple years. They play in a tough conference, and won’t even shine as a #1 or #2 seed, but they can make enough noise to be impressed with.

To be honest, I think a lot of it was luck in terms of how they got their talent, but Nolan and McDaniels have done a tremendous job getting the most out of it. Almost the polar opposite of what Mangini has done.

Who is the worst team in the league?

The Browns are. Starting top to bottom. The GM no longer exists. The coach lost his players from day 1. Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson should have been traded, as should Josh Cribbs. I know that Cribbs is really cheap and under contract for a long while, however he won’t be around when the team is done rebuilding. Why not sell high, teams would jump all over that player/contract. The whole importing of Jets castoffs was a disgrace. Which one of them worked out? Letting Bodden go was a mess, even though he’s only a #2, he’s still better than what’s in that defensive backfield (minus Wright). James Davis should have never practiced without pads.

As far as talent, they traded their top receiver, had their 2^nd receiver go to jail. They didn’t seem to take advantage of Massaquoi. There is no consistency; no chemistry is going to be developed. Quinn is not the answer, either. He constantly throws behind receivers and has no arm. Their defense is the only somewhat surprise. They play with a lot of consistency. They aren’t very good, but they get consistent results that are better than some realize. The glaring hole is their defensive line. Besides Rodgers, no one can stop the run or force pressure on the QB.

To sum them up in 2 sentences: They are 32^nd in team offense and defense. Watching the last play of the MNF game against the Ravens shows how they are coached.

5 Questions

Mike Odom answers Mike Whitney

Who is the most improved player so far?
I had a lot of candidates here, including Sidney Rice, Ray Rice, and Darrelle Revis, but I am going with a player who has improved and not just fulfilled potential. Devin Hester was a return specialist coming out of college with some work at cornerback. He struggled to catch the ball at Miami and showed no signs of being a pro wide receiver. After a electrifying start to his career returning the ball, Chicago made the controversial move to focus his talents at wide receiver. After some early rough patches, Hester now looks like a legit pass catcher. While he is still raw and learning, his playmaking ability should be more prevelant once he becomes a seasoned pro.

Will Chris Johnson reach 2000 yards rushing?
I don't want to answer this question. At all. I believe in jinxs. But I will begrudgingly say yes. 2000 yards is no small feat. And a few things are working against CJ. All five of the guys to previously run for 2000 yards were on a winning team. Tennessee would have to finish 6-1 from here on out to achieve that. But Chris Johnson is having a season like no other. He managed to run for 128 yards in a 59-0 blowout loss. He has 16 plays over 25 yards, and 40 plays over 10 yards. I haven't seen a running back like him since Barry Sanders. He could have a 25 yard rushing day and seemingly kill all chances of 2000, then break off a 250 yard game with 3 big runs the following week. Don't bet against him.

Will Tom Cable be fired after this season?
Is there any doubt? Cable will likely be seeing his walking papers come January, and JaMarcus Russell will be following him out the door.

Who will be the first to get a job, Mike Holmgren or Mike Shanahan?
Two part answer. Holmgren will likely be hired first, but not as a head coach. I truely think Holmgren is done coaching, at least for a few years. He bowed out on his own terms. Shanahan, on the other hand, was shockingly fired and was suddenly out of the spotlight. I think Shanahan is a wise man and will not rush into a coaching job just for the sake of working. He will bide his time and wait for the right fit.

Which team currently in the playoffs has the weakest secondary?
I reviewed the playoff team's secondaries and boy was I unimpressed. Undrafted rookies, first round flameouts, and aging veterans litter the roster of these times shockingly. Atlanta is the worst of the contenders as far as pass coverage. Chris Houston and Thomas DeCoud are the most talented members of the secondary but are unproven. Brian Williams was a veteran presence but tore his ACL. Rams bust Tye Hill is playing a key role here. That should say enough.

MVP Race - Week 10 (updated)

Back again with your Week 10 rankings, again. This time, I broke down my formula and tinkered with it again. Still a tad off on my receiver evaluation, but here it is.

Again, an apology for last week's rankings as the QB rankings were a bit out of wack. However, all fixed. Here they are. And Chris Johnson is making his push, despite his team's lack of success.

1 M. Jones-Drew 106.44

2 B. Favre 105.55

3 R. Wayne 105.50

4 A. Rodgers 105.04

5 C. Johnson 103.56

6 P. Manning 102.22

7 R. Moss 101.90

8 T. Brady 101.87

9 D. Brees 99.97

10 P. Rivers 94.01

11 V. Jackson 92.87

12 L. Fitzgerald 91.73

13 A. Peterson 90.92

14 R. Rice 88.14

15 T. Romo 87.43

16 B. Roethlisberger 87.01

17 D. McNabb 86.24

18 K. Orton 84.00

19 C. Benson 83.13

20 C. Palmer 83.12

MVP Race - Week 9

Some notes:

-Chris Johnson jumps from out of the picture week 7, to #19 week 8, to #9 this week. Coincidentally, the Titans win 2 straight.

-Drew Brees has been #2 for the 3rd straight week.

-Vincent Jackson has risen from #15 to #9 to #3, and the Chargers have won 3 straight.

-Kyle Orton went from #12 to #12 to unranked. During that span the Broncos lost 2 straight.

Here we are, same #1:

1 M. Jones-Drew 106.59

2 D. Brees 104.17

3 V. Jackson 103.30

4 A. Rodgers 101.46

5 B. Favre 100.95

6 T. Brady 100.72

7 P. Manning 99.73

8 R. Wayne 97.55

9 C. Johnson 96.66

10 A. Peterson 95.21

11 L. Fitzgerald 93.85

12 B. Roethlisberger 93.50

13 T. Romo 91.52

14 R. Moss 91.47

15 P. Rivers 89.37

16 C. Benson 88.77

17 A. Johnson 88.73

18 D. Jackson 87.36

19 R. Rice 86.76

20 R. Brown 85.64

MVP Race - Week 8

We have a new #1, here's what the computers say:

1 M. Jones-Drew 105.49

2 D. Brees 104.46

3 A. Rodgers 104.32

4 R. Wayne 103.57

5 B. Favre 102.52

6 A. Peterson 102.23

7 T. Brady 101.36

8 P. Manning 99.55

9 V. Jackson 97.15

10 D. McNabb 92.11

11 T. Romo 91.34

12 K. Orton 91.26

13 M. Colston 90.51

14 P. Rivers 89.91

15 B. Roethlisberger 89.51

16 A. Johnson 89.29

17 R. Brown 88.81

18 T. Jones 87.16

19 C. Johnson 86.65

20 R. Rice 85.46