Thursday, August 8, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
NFL Offseason Review: NFC North
We finish our tour of the NFC with a look at the North, which had 3 teams with 10 or more wins last season. Can the Lions bounce back from a down year? Will the Vikings three first round draft picks make a big difference? Will a CFL coach make an impact and get the Bears back to the Super Bowl? Or can the Green and Gold from the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field keep up their domination and be heading back to the Super Bowl?
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears biggest move this offseason wasn't the addition of Marc Trestman from the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. No, it was the addition of some key offensive linemen who will finally protect Jay Cutler. Oh ya, and letting go some middle linebacker who had been the face of the franchise. Let's get to Jay Cutler first though, and the celebration he must be having at finally having a solid offensive line to protect him with the signing of Jermon Bushrod from New Orleans and the drafting of Kyle Long in the first round. Both should improve this line from terrible to better then average. Cutler should have a big year because of this. In a contract year, expect him to light it up especially if All-Pro running back Matt Forte can stay healthy and bounce back this year. New coach Trestman will open this offense up and be an attacking style team. If you look at his work in the CFL, expect Forte to be heavily involved in catching the ball out of the back field. The receivers for Chicago will be led by another All-Pro in Brandon Marshall, who should continue to be on of the best wide outs in the game. The Bears have to hope Alshon Jeffery can step up and have a bigger role in the offense in his second year in the league. The tight end position should be fine with Martellus Bennett signed in free agency to be the starter. A good pass catcher and blocker, Martellus is a solid option at tight end.
The defense - even with the lost of Brian Urlacher - will still be solid. Having two All-Pros on your defensive line is a good place to start. Julius Peppers and Henry Melton are two of the best in the game at getting at the quarterback. Melton will be especially motivated this year after being franchise tagged, and a great season will just bring in the dollars in free agency - and this kid is worth every penny he is going to get. At line backer, D.J. Williams comes over from Denver to man the position Urlacher has been playing for over a decade and will be a solid replacement in the Cover 2 scheme the Bears use. Lance Briggs has still got it for an old man, and still will be counted on to be the new official leader of the defense and continue to come up with big plays. This secondary is a bit underrated I think. They don't get the national exposure of say Seattle or now Tampa Bay, but Tim Jennings and Charles "Peanut" Tillman are one of the best corner tandems in the game. Safety Chris Conte is underrated in my eyes. He's a solid tackler and the man makes plays. I think the Bears can win 9-10 games, but in this tough division and conference, that may not be enough to sneak into even a wildcard spot this year.
Detroit Lions
Coming off a 4-12 year, the Lions should be able to rebound to a better record - closer towards the 8-8 territory. Matthew Stafford, fresh off his new extension, should have another big year again. Now the Lions have a legit weapon in the back field in free agency signing Reggie Bush from Miami. The addition of Bush to the team gives the Lions a proven runner for the first time in a couple years. With his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, teams will have to account for a pass out to the flats and short yardage with the ability to bust it out. Making teams play back on their heels will certainly help Megatron - Calvin Johnson - have another big year. Maybe not record setting like last year, but certainly just as close. Ghe big question will be if another wide receiver like Nate Burleson or Ryan Broyles can step up and take heat off the big man and give Stafford another legit option on the outside. If not, the duo of Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler give a great 1-2 punch at tight end, both being pass catching threats, especially Scheffler down in the red zone. The offensive line will have to play better this year to help the offense out. The addition of big Larry Warford from Kansas in the third round will definitely help.
On the defense, there are big changes along the outside of the defensive line. Top draft pick Ezekiel Ansah joins Jason Jones - who is coming over from Seattle in free agency - to rebuild this line who lost Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch in the offseason. Both players should be an improvement on each man they are replacing, but only if Ansah can live up to his draft selection. In the middle, Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are two über-talented players who have to keep their emotions in check. If they can, this combination can be one of the premier defensive tackle duos in the league. The line backing core of the Lions is very underwhelming. The presence of Stephen Tulloch is the only thing keeping these guys from being one of the worst in the league. Tulloch is a missile on the field: very rangy and a great tackler. The secondary has the potential to be a decent group if second round pick Darius Slay can crack the starting line up and play well. Chris Houston is a solid starter, but is more of a guy you would feel more comfortable throwing on a teams number two wide out. Glover Quin coming over from Houston in the offseason will be a great pairing with Louis Delmas to give the Lions a solid combination at safety. The Lions just need Delmas to get over the injury bug and get an entire full season out of him for this secondary to succeed.
Green Bay Packers
In the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, the Packers should remain the top dogs in the division. I predict 11 wins, but they will have a tougher go this season to remain on top. Aaron Rodgers - another quarterback who got his money this offseason - is the clear leader of this team, and one of the top quarterbacks in the game. This offseason, the Packers finally went out and got him some potential legit running backs for the first time. With the drafting of Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin in this years NFL draft, the Packers have a nice 1-2 punch they can throw at rival teams. Lacy is the thunder to Franklin's a lightning. This duo should put other teams on notice that Green Bay can run it down your throats if they want to. They won't though because they still have one of the top passing attacks in the league, even without Greg Jennings. Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, and James Jones are just playmakers for Rodgers, especially Cobb who's elusiveness can bust out big plays at anytime. The Packers will need a better year out of Jermichael Finley, who struggled last year and fell out of favour as one of Rodgers go-to guys. The offensive line is going to need to shore up this year. Last year, they had Rodgers getting hit left and right. But with the addition of an actual running attack, teams will have to respect the run and not just send the dogs at Rodgers knowing a pass is coming.
The Packers defense comes back pretty much intact from last year, but with the addition of first round pick Datone Jones to play on the defensive line. Mostly known for rushing the passer, Jones should be able to hold up well in the 3-4 system the Packers play. B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett are solid 3-4 defensive linemen and space eaters. Those space eaters allow the line backers to get to the quarterback and, with outside linebacker Clay Matthews, that happens very often. Yhe line backers are a very good group, with former first round pick AJ Hawk and Nick Perry being solid players. other inside linebacker Brad Jones is serviceable next to those gentlemen. Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, and Casey Heyward make a very solid combination at corner, with Heyward being put into more of a slot role this year. With Shields coming back, look for even more big plays from Heyward. Safeties for the Packers are unspectacular, but the corners make up for their deficiencies.
Minnesota Vikings
This season for the Vikings and a return to the playoffs will not rest on All Day Adrian Peterson. It will rest on the arm of Christian Ponder and his ability to bring balance to the offense so Peterson can do his thing without nine people being in the box. He now has the weapons in former division-rival from Green Bay Greg Jennings coming over to the Vikings, and one of three first round picks Cordarrelle Patterson now manning the receiver position. So, he has his weapons on the outside. With his two solid pass catching tight ends in Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson, the excuses are gone. Ponder must produce or will be reduced to the bench or free agency, especially with a great class of quarterbacks coming out in this year's draft. The offensive line is anchored by Matt Kalil and is full of road graters who will open up massive holes for their All-World running back.
Sharrif's Floyd slide from potential top 5 pick to 23rd overall is a blessing in disguise for this former Florida defensive tackle. Granted, he loses out in millions of dollars. But sliding in next to another stud tackle in Kevin Williams can do nothing but make this kid better. Floyd has plenty of pass rush ability and with Jared Allen on the outside, this line can be incredibly formidable. Look for Allen to take another run at the sack record this year. The line backers lead by Erin Henderson and Chad Greenway are a great group who are solid at the line, but struggle a bit in coverage. They will be joined by 4th round pick this year Gerald Hodges to make a solid group, making the front 7 a very strong group. The 3rd of the Vikings first round picks Xavier Rhodes will combine with Chris Cook and A.J. Jefferson to give them a bunch of young corners with a lot of potential. If they can live up to that, it will make the entire defense much much better. If they struggle, look for more pressure to be on the front 4 to get things done. Harrison Smith out of Notre Dame was one of the more pleasant surprises last year in the league, playing exceptionally well. He will be a Pro Bowl player one day in this league. I expect a 6 to 7 win season for the Vikings this year, and a new quarterback next year with them selecting one of the great quarterbacks coming out next year.
That is the end of the NFC. Now on to the AFC.
Up first will be the AFC West, where the Denver Broncos will hope to repeat at division champions and make another attempt to get Peyton another ring. Can the Kansas City Chiefs - a team with the worst record in the league last year - bounce back to sneak into a playoff spot? Will a new head coach get the San Diego Chargers back being Super and in to the playoffs? Can the Oakland Raiders make that next step from bottom of the division to even third?
I will let you know.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Chicago Bears
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| Jay Cutler (Photo from smokinjaycutler.tumblr.com) |
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| Julius Peppers (Photo from suntimes.com) |
Detroit Lions
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| Calvin Johnson (Photo from espn.com) |
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| Ndamukong Suh (Photo from espn.com) |
Green Bay Packers
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| Aaron Rodgers (Photo from profootballrosters.com) |
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| B.J. Raji (Photo from espn.com) |
Minnesota Vikings
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| Christian Ponder (Photo from twincities.com) |
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| Jared Allen (Photo from espn.com) |
That is the end of the NFC. Now on to the AFC.
Up first will be the AFC West, where the Denver Broncos will hope to repeat at division champions and make another attempt to get Peyton another ring. Can the Kansas City Chiefs - a team with the worst record in the league last year - bounce back to sneak into a playoff spot? Will a new head coach get the San Diego Chargers back being Super and in to the playoffs? Can the Oakland Raiders make that next step from bottom of the division to even third?
I will let you know.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Friday, July 26, 2013
NFL Offseason Review: NFC East
The NFC East - the bright lights of the NFL shine on this division much more than any other. Many of the NFL's glamour teams reside here: America's Team, a two-time Super Bowl champion in the last decade, an offensive genius coming from the college ranks, and the electric RG3. The NFC East has it all, and especially has a lot of questions about each and every team. So lets take a look.
Dallas Cowboys
Well, America's Team certainly had an interesting offseason. Between changing their defensive schemes to having a very interesting draft to say the least, let's see how Dallas measures up coming into this upcoming season. At quarterback, freshly-paid Tony Romo will have even more pressure thrown on top of him after signing a six-year, $108 million contract. Romo better lead the Cowboys back to the playoffs and win at least a game this year or the media will be all over the Cowboys and Jerry Jones for giving such a rich contract to someone who cannot win a big game come playoff time. Romo has to stop having his late season collapses to finally break his image as someone who cannot handle the pressure. Hopefully getting a full, healthy season out of running back DeMarco Murray this season will help. When healthy and on the field, Murray is a game changing back capable of taking a run to the house at any time. But, health is always an issue for Murray. The Cowboys do not have any great back-ups for Murray, so Murray better stay healthy or look for Romo to suffer the consequences. The receivers are a question mark for this team. They have talented - but pain in the neck - wideout Dez Bryant, and Miles Austin for Romo. Bryant is one of the best wideouts in the game if he is focused, but has constant outside distractions. Last year was his big break out season. I expect him to grow on that if he stays focused and in the game. Austin has to get back to his form from a couple years ago when he busted out because the depth behind them doesn't have very many proven players. Watch out for Cole Beasley. He's going to get a lot balls thrown his way this year. At tight end, the ageless wonder Jason Witten will have some assistance in this year's 2nd round pick Gavin Escobar. This duo will be a hard pair to cover and will cause many mismatches. Look for a great year from both. The offensive line should be better then last year with Tyron Smith getting another year of experience under his belt. With the addition of surprising first rounder Travis Frederick to anchor the line at center for Romo, they should not be as inconsistent as last years group who allowed 36 sacks, and couldn't get any push for any running back last year.
The biggest change with the Cowboys is switching from there 3-4 attacking defense to a Cover-2 4-3 defense under the master Monte Kiffin. The defensive line should be solid with DeMarcus Ware being moved to defensive end in the scheme, allowing him to solely focus on rushing the passer without having to drop into coverage. Anthony Spencer had a solid year last year and should be just as effective this year with Ware rushing the passer full time. Tackles Jay Ratliff and Jason Hatcher will be solid up the gut in the middle against the run, but they will need to get pressure up the middle to be successful in the Tampa 2 scheme. Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, and Justin Durant make a fantastic group for Dallas to build around. Lee and Carter are both built for this scheme: rangy, athletic, and have great ball skills to excel in the Tampa 2 defense. The secondary will have to step up this year playing in mostly zone coverage. Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr will have to play extremely effectively for this defense to stop anyone. Safeties Will Allen and Barry Church will have to play well this season for Kiffin's defense. The safeties need to be playmakers. The 'Boys will have it rough in the NFC East this season. I do not expect the Cowboys to play up to owner Jerry Jones' standards, and coach Jason Garrett to be let go. Six wins for America's team.
New York Giants
The Super Bowl Champions of two years ago are still fill steam ahead towards another Super Bowl run. But do the Giant's have enough to make it to another Lombardi trophy? The quarterback position for the Giants is all set with Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning at the head of the team. Solid, reliable, and efficient, Eli is the unquestioned leader of the Giants this year. The wide receiver position is set with the resigning of Victor Cruz, and the return to health of Hakeem Nicks. Keep an eye out for Rueben Randle to have a big year as well. The signing of Brandon Myers to play tight end was an under-the-radar pick up. Myers is a solid blocker and good in the passing game which should help Eli out tremendously. David Wilson had a break out last couple games in 2012 for the Giants, who are hoping that their first round pick from last year is going to break out like Doug Martin from Tampa Bay did last year. The depth chart behind him is a bit sketchy, but serviceable. The offensive line should be solid if not unspectacular. The addition of first round pick Justin Pugh should help with his versatility on the line if he does not win a starting job out of camp.
The Giants' defense is going to have to rely on their front four to carry the weight this year, because the line backers are unproven and the secondary has talent but needs to step up and show maturity and play up to potential. Losing Osi Umenyiora in the off season hurts the depth of the defensive line, but if Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck can get back to playing to their ceilings, the line will be fine. JPP especially needs a bounce back after his down season last year. I fully expect both defensive ends to get into the 10+ sack territory. The tackles should be solid, especially with drafting Jon Hankins in the 2nd round this year. They have depth and talent at the position. It won't be a worry for the team. The line backers are lead by... well, no one really. There is no stand out talent in the line backing core, just a bunch of average fellas who won't scare anyone. Secondary outlook for the Giants is they have young talent in Prince Amukamara and a veteran presence in Corey Webster, which should be a solid pairing if Prince can live up to his first round pick in 2011. He has the talent and the size, but has yet to put together a solid showing. The safeties, lead by Antrel Rolle, are solid but unspectacular. As long as they are not being beat by the big play, the safety position will be fine. I see an eight win season ahead for the New York Football Giants.
Philadelphia Eagles
I am having a real hard time deciding how the Eagles are going to end up this year with so many questions about the team. Chip Kelly becoming head coach and bringing his uptempo offense to the NFL, Mike Vick being healthy and in a QB competition with Nick Foles, and the defensive switch to the 3-4 brings up a lot of interesting questions. Let's start off at quarterback with Vick and Foles. I fully believe Vick will be the starter coming out of camp, but with his history of injuries, watch for Foles to close out the season. If healthy, in this offense, Vick will be an extremely dangerous man with the option and the weapons he has around him. With LeSean McCoy being back and healthy, if the option is going to be used, look for the Eagles to possibly even out pace the 49ers with the running game this year. This offense could be scary, but until they get on the field no one knows. Bryce Brown will be a solid back-up to McCoy this year, as long as he can get his fumbling under control. The receivers and tight ends will be solid with Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson on the outside, and new pick up from Tampa Bay Arrelious Benn in the slot. Zack Ertz and Brent Celek will be a fantastic duo of tight ends for Vick. Both are big athletic targets who will be dangerous in the end zone. With the return of Jason Peters to health and selection of Lane Johnson with their first round pick this year, this offensive line should be one of the top lines in the year.
The Eagles are switching from a traditional 4-3 to a 3-4 this year, and I believe that they will have a fantastic front seven to anchor the team. Up front on the defensive line, Fletcher Cox, Clifton Geathers, and free agent signing Isaac Sopoaga will be a good front three to hold the line with plenty of depth behind them. The line backers are the bright spot of the defense, with another free agent signee Conner Barwin brought in to rush the passer alongside converted defensive end Trent Cole. they should make a formidable duo on the outside. DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks in the middle are a fantastic athletic pairing who should excel this season with running backs being funnelled their way. Both are good in coverage as well. The secondary will be the big question, with the entire starting secondary being overhauled. Until training camp begins, I can't really give to many predictions about how they will perform together. But nothing can be worse then last year, so expect a better showing this year with a big bounce back year from Patrick Chung. I see a seven to eight win season out of the Eagles. They are a solid team that might need another year to contend for playoff spot under Chip Kelly.
Washington Redskins
Here is the team I am fully expecting to run away with this division this year - Robert Griffin or not. RG3 should be fine coming back from ACL surgery since he's already back on the field practicing with his team. When healthy, we all know he is a dynamic player who is a game changer. But if he can't get on the field, Kurt Cousins will be a fantastic replacement. I believe Cousins will be a starter very soon in this league. So if RG3 goes down, the Redskins will barely miss a beat. Alfred Morris had a breakout year last year in his rookie season, coming from nowhere to be the next in a long line of Mike Shanahan running backs to be the man. The depth behind Morris is solid with Roy Hulu and Evan Royster. The receivers for the Skins are solid veterans with the ability to create big plays. Santana Moss is ageless. Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan are big play guys. Fred Davis is a great all around tight end who is a great pass catcher and blocker. I expect him to bust out this year and put up close to elite tight end numbers. The offensive line is solid with Trent Williams protecting the left tackle position. The rest of the line is just ok. As long as they can hold up and protect RG3, they are the position that will decide how RG3 plays and if he gets injured.
The front seven of the Redskins is great. Barry Cofield, Stephen Bowen, and Jarvis Jenkins are a solid big front three who are space eaters, and good against the run. The line backers are the stars of this team, with All-Pro Brian Orakpo returning from injury and Ryan Kerrigan gaining another year of experience. These two make a deadly pairing rushing the quarterback. The quarterbacks of the NFC East should be shaking at Orakpo's return. The ageless wonder London Fletcher is back and is manning the middle again for the Skins. He has always been underrated and I think he's a future hall of famer. Fletcher is a tackling machine and with another solid tackler Perry Riley beside him, this line backing core is a favourite of mine with every member of the squad being solid. The weak part of the defense is the secondary with DeAngelo Hall being the star of the secondary. Josh Wilson is a solid starter beside him at the corner position, with Brandon Meriweather and Reed Doughty being average starters at safeties. Both are unspectacular with their play, but solid all around players. I expect the Redskins to win 11 and easily win this division.
Three NFC divisions down, one more to go. Up next another storied division, including the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, the Monsters of the Midway, the reigning NFL MVP, and ... a bankrupt city. Last but not least, it's the NFC North next time.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Dallas Cowboys
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| Tony Romo (Photo from espn.com) |
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| DeMarcus Ware (Photo from Dallas Observer) |
New York Giants
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| Eli Manning (Photo from Village Voice) |
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| Justin Tuck (left) and Jason Pierre-Paul (right) (Photo from nj.com) |
Philadelphia Eagles
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| Chip Kelly (Photo from emory.edu) |
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| DeMeco Ryans (Photo from philly.com) |
Washington Redskins
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| Robert Griffin III (Photo from espn.com) |
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| Brian Orakpo (Photo from blog.redskins.com) |
Three NFC divisions down, one more to go. Up next another storied division, including the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, the Monsters of the Midway, the reigning NFL MVP, and ... a bankrupt city. Last but not least, it's the NFC North next time.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Sports by Schmucks Podcast: Episode 3
We've got a YouTube channel now where we'll be posting our podcasts and other videos. Make sure to leave a like and subscribe to know when we post. Enjoy this podcast about MLB at the midseason, why I can't keep up with my fantasy teams, and the offseasons in the NHL and NBA.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
A King's Ransom?
Earlier this afternoon, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings agreed on a trade sending Jonathan Bernier to the Leafs in exchange for Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens, and a second round pick in either 2014 or '15. Let's break it down.
In Jonathan Bernier, the Leafs get a goaltender with tremendous upside and a very strong hockey pedigree. He's won a QMJHL Championship with the Lewiston MAINEiacs, World Junior Gold Medal for Canada, and Stanley Cup (as a back-up) last year with the Kings. In the juniors, he won the playoff MVP during the MAINEiacs' championship run. In 2009-10, Bernier won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award for outstanding AHL goalie. Oh yeah, he was also the 11th overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
While all of that sounds nice on paper, he's also put up some respectable numbers so far during his short time in the NHL. Bernier has only had a goals-against average of more than 2.40 once in his career: his first four games in his rookie season in the NHL, winning one of them.
The main question is how he will respond to potentially being the starting goalie for a full season. In two full seasons in the AHL, Bernier posted GAAs of 2.40 and 2.03 and 53 total wins. How will that translate to the NHL? It will take some time to tell, but he's had success at every level he's played.
For the Leafs, it will give a lot of flexibility in net. They must hope that James Reimer and Bernier will push each other for the starting spot. If Reimer responds well, then the team has two quality, young goalies. If he doesn't, he becomes a trade asset for the team. Either way, it's a win-win situation.
As for the Kings, Bernier wasn't going to get any playing time behind former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick. With Bernier's impending restricted free agent status, it made sense to get a quality and inexpensive back-up goalie. According to CapGeek.com, the Kings will be $2 million under the cap next season, without having restricted free agent Kyle Clifford and unrestricted free agent Rob Scuderi signed.
Ben Scrivens will be a nice fit for the Kings to back up Quick. He's making just over $600,000 next season, has NHL experience, and led the Toronto Marlies to the Calder Cup in the 2011-12 AHL campaign. Scrivens has shown some promise for the Leafs, but he couldn't challenge James Reimer for the starting job. However, he'll be a great fit for the Kings in their defensive system.
Matt Frattin has been a very inconsistent pro. He was very hot for the Leafs at the beginning of the year, but fizzled out by the end. Frattin is still probably recovering from a knee injury suffered in the final game of the AHL Conference Finals, but what is his ceiling? Personally, I see him ending up as a third liner, nothing more.
So, who do I think won the trade? Well, if you couldn't tell by now, it was the Leafs. They added a potential franchise goalie for a back-up and third line forward. It makes sense for LA based on cap situation, but I feel like they could've held out for more. There were multiple teams interested in the services of the former first round selection.
What are your thoughts us in the trade? Let us know in the comment section or on Twitter.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
In Jonathan Bernier, the Leafs get a goaltender with tremendous upside and a very strong hockey pedigree. He's won a QMJHL Championship with the Lewiston MAINEiacs, World Junior Gold Medal for Canada, and Stanley Cup (as a back-up) last year with the Kings. In the juniors, he won the playoff MVP during the MAINEiacs' championship run. In 2009-10, Bernier won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award for outstanding AHL goalie. Oh yeah, he was also the 11th overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
While all of that sounds nice on paper, he's also put up some respectable numbers so far during his short time in the NHL. Bernier has only had a goals-against average of more than 2.40 once in his career: his first four games in his rookie season in the NHL, winning one of them.
The main question is how he will respond to potentially being the starting goalie for a full season. In two full seasons in the AHL, Bernier posted GAAs of 2.40 and 2.03 and 53 total wins. How will that translate to the NHL? It will take some time to tell, but he's had success at every level he's played.
For the Leafs, it will give a lot of flexibility in net. They must hope that James Reimer and Bernier will push each other for the starting spot. If Reimer responds well, then the team has two quality, young goalies. If he doesn't, he becomes a trade asset for the team. Either way, it's a win-win situation.
As for the Kings, Bernier wasn't going to get any playing time behind former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick. With Bernier's impending restricted free agent status, it made sense to get a quality and inexpensive back-up goalie. According to CapGeek.com, the Kings will be $2 million under the cap next season, without having restricted free agent Kyle Clifford and unrestricted free agent Rob Scuderi signed.
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| Photo from cbc.ca |
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| Photo from ourhometown.ca |
So, who do I think won the trade? Well, if you couldn't tell by now, it was the Leafs. They added a potential franchise goalie for a back-up and third line forward. It makes sense for LA based on cap situation, but I feel like they could've held out for more. There were multiple teams interested in the services of the former first round selection.
What are your thoughts us in the trade? Let us know in the comment section or on Twitter.
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
NFL Offseason Review: NFC South
With my look at the NFC West in the books (or on the blog), it's time we turn our attention to the dirty south... that is the NFC South. This division has a lot of interesting storylines going into the season: Sean Peytons return in New Orleans, Cam Newton and if can he bounce back from an average season last year, can Atlanta finally get over the hump and make a Super Bowl push, or can the upstart Buccaneers get back to the playoffs and beyond with their two All-Pro additions this year.
Atlanta Falcons
As I just said in the paragraph above, the Falcons are all but set as a team but they have yet to push over that hump to make the Super Bowl. They are a year older and the window is starting to close a little more. Let's see if the Falcons made enough moves to break through. The Falcons did nothing to improve on offense really. Getting Tony Gonzalez back was a big coop for them, but really this will likely be his last year and he is a major part of this offense. They signed away Steven Jackson from the St. Louis Rams, who will take over for Michael Turner. In a way it's just a slight upgrade, but don't expect Jackson from 5 years ago. He will be a capable back with Rodgers assisting him in backfield. The wide receivers are set and form the best pairing in the NFL. The offensive line is where the questions of this team lay. Resigning Sam Baker was a smart move, but they extremely overpaid for him. He got All-Pro money for a fringe Pro Bowl caliber player. Releasing Tyson Clabo is going to hurt too. Hopefully the next man up can protect Matt Ryan, or Matty Ice is going be taking a lot of ice baths this year.
This year will be a mixed bag on defense. Their defensive line took a hit, losing solid pass rushing specialist John Abraham. Replacing him with Osi Umenyiora is pretty much a wash, minus the leadership Abraham already had on the team. The corners on the team are going to be the big question in the ATL. Letting their two of their three starters from last year go and replacing them with rookies Desmond Trufant (who has the pedigree of his brothers),and Robert Alford from Southeastern Louisiana. These rookies will be tested quickly in the pass happy NFC South. Expect this defense to go as far as the rookies go. My expectations for the Falcons are a little murky. They have all the talent to push for a playoff spot and a deep run in the playoffs, or they have the chance to be knocked off the top of the NFC South. The Buccaneers, Panthers, and Saints should all be a lot better this year. I expect 9-10 wins, but who knows if that will be enough to make the playoffs out of the NFC South.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers will only go as far as Superman (aka Cam Newton) and their running game can take them. Last year the sophomore semi slump hit Newton. He had numbers comparable to his rookie year, but the fumbles killed him. If he can limit the turnovers and get some help from any wide receiver not name Steve Smith, he should have a year that tops his rookie season. The Panthers really only addressed the depth of their receiving core in the offseason signing Domenik Hixon and Ted Ginn Jr. They added depth, but did not give them any other solid weapons other than Smith and Greg Olsen. They must hope for Brandon Lafell to make large gains in production to help Cam out. If not, it will be The Cam Newton Show again. I haven't even spoken to the mess of the Panthers quadrillion dollar backfield yet, who couldn't have produced any less they did last year. Jon Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will need bounce back years in the worse way. If one of them struggles in mini camp this offseason expect one to be cut, with Mike Tolbert picking up that guy's slack.
Carolina's front 7 on defense is one of the most solid units in all of the game after the offseason. The draft was kind to them, letting Star Lotulelei drop to them and double dipping on the athletic Kawann Short in Round 2 to solidify their defensive line. Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson are a solid duo on the outside, fantastic pass rushers and solid against the run. The real strength (when healthy) is the linebacking corps lead by... well I can't choose who I think is better. So, Luke Kuechly and Jon Beason will both be mentioned as the unquestioned leaders of this defense. Those two men are a scary combination and there are very few teams with 2 better linebackers. Only the 49ers come to mind. If Thomas Davis can also finally stay healthy, that front 7 will be dominate. The linebackers are very rangy and solid against run. The BIG - and I can't underestimate that enough - problem that the Panthers have is in their secondary who - outside of Captain Munnerlyn who is really a number 2 corner - have nothing at safety or corner. Carolina better hope their front 7 is good enough to mask the back end, or teams will eat their secondary alive. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the division they are in will eat them alive in the passing game. I see a 4-6 win season coming.
New Orleans Saints
Sean Peyton's return to the sidelines in New Orleans will get a ton of headlines this year, but the focus should be on the retooled defense. That will be the key for the Saints to get back to the playoffs this year. The offense will still keep chugging along as long as Drew Brees is the man slinging the football. The running situation is a volatile one, with no one man taking the bulk of the carries. Look for the Saints to try and get Mark Ingram to finally be the man in New Orleans. If not, it's running back by committee again with the explosive Darren Sproles doing a little bit of everything for the offense. They added a little more receiving depth with the drafting of Kenny Stills out of Oklahoma, an absolute burner who will help their vertical game. But expect Brees to pretty much still sling the ball to whoever is open and just march up the field. Tight end Jimmy Graham is top 3 in the game. He is a threat all defensive coordinators must account for and, with the addition of Ben Watson, gives the Saints that look most teams are going for now: two big athletic tight ends to catch the ball making Brees that much scarier. Losing Jermon Bushrod at tackle is going to hurt, but the selection of the raw, but talented Terron Armstead will lessen the blow. Maybe not so much this year, but in years to come.
The big news on defensive side of the ball is the complete change in scheme from 4-3 to 3-4 that Rob Ryan will bring with him. The Saints will have a solid front 3 in Cam Jordan, Akiem Hicks, and draftee (and big mountain of a man) John Jenkins from Georgia. For making the switch only this year, this front is a solid start and good base to work from in the 3-4. The big question is if the line backers can make the switch. Most of the team's line backers are more suited for the 4-3 scheme, or in Will Smith's case, the defensive line. Losing Victor Butler already to an injury is going to hurt. Expect early struggles, but to be a fine unit for the team later in the season. The secondary, which was a big problem, shouldn't be as bad this year with the drafting of Kenny Vacarro, and the signing of Keenan Lewis from Pittsburgh. Don't expect an elite unit back there, but they have some play makers and won't be as bad as last year. Like Atlanta, being stuck in this ultra competitive division will limit wins and make every game late in season a must-win to sneak into playoffs. I am looking at a 9-10 win season for Saints as well. This division will be a dog fight all the way until the end.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The most difficult team in this division to peg are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have all the potential/ talent in the world to be contenders for a Super Bowl berth, or have the potential to have a high draft pick next year. It all starts with signal caller Josh Freeman. He has all the gifts in the world: a strong arm, mobility, and durable. But he makes terrible decisions when pressured, and can throw a turnover in the blink of an eye. Freeman needs to be more stable this year for the Buccaneers to move forward. If need be, he can hand the ball off to the Muscle Hamster, Doug Martin. He had a remarkable breakout season in his rookie campaign. One of the better runners in the league, Martin can do it all. The problem is the depth in the backfield. If something were to happen to Doug, the cupboard is bare for a runner to take his carries. The Buccaneers need depth in the worst way. Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson are one of the better 1-2 punches at receiver in the league, but once again behind them there is a lot of questions. Tampa has a lot of young bodies and need some to step up and show something. The tight ends in Tampa are questionable at best. Luke Stocker needs to mature and show something or might be buried on the depth chart. Free agent signing Tom Crabtree will need to show off what he can do coming from Green Bay. The offensive line is healthy. Expect Davin Joesph to come back hungry after being injured all of last season and the same for Carl Nicks. These are two road graders who could propel Doug Martin into the stratosphere.
Even more maddening is the defense who has the talent to be a top 10 defensive unit in the league, but needs its young players to mature and produce. First and second round picks from 2011 Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers will need to live up to their draft statuses. They have shown flashes off being Pro-Bowl caliber players when healthy. Up the middle, Gerald McCoy finally had his break out season and no longer is under the shadow of Ndamukong Suh from Detroit. The question is who will start next to him coming out of camp, where there is a bunch of middle of the pack veterans and late-round draft pick Akeem Spence fighting for a spot next to McCoy. The line backers for Tampa are solid, and led by underrated potential break out player Lavonte David who was a heat seeking missile last year tackling everything that moved. Mason Foster in the middle of the defense does a solid job, but the other line backer spot will be a fight once again for a lot of players who all have a chance to slide in the spot for the Buccaneers. Now, here is where things get interesting. Last year, the Buccaneers were first against the run and last against the pass. Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson were both brought on board in the offseason to remedy that. Along with the drafting of John Banks in the second round, and another year of maturity out of Mark Barron, the secondary has the chance to become one of the elite units in the NFL, propelling the Buccaneers forward. Here is another hard prediction to make. The Buccaneers have the chance to be really really good or really really bad. I expect either a 6-7 win team if they don't live up to their potential; if they do, a 9-11 win team. It really could go either way sorry to say.
Next up we take a look at NFC East. Just as many questions as the South, but with a lot more exposure. Is RG3 healthy? How will Chip Kelly adjust to the NFL? How will Tony Romo respond to his massive exposure? Will the Giants get their two wideouts locked up?
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Atlanta Falcons
As I just said in the paragraph above, the Falcons are all but set as a team but they have yet to push over that hump to make the Super Bowl. They are a year older and the window is starting to close a little more. Let's see if the Falcons made enough moves to break through. The Falcons did nothing to improve on offense really. Getting Tony Gonzalez back was a big coop for them, but really this will likely be his last year and he is a major part of this offense. They signed away Steven Jackson from the St. Louis Rams, who will take over for Michael Turner. In a way it's just a slight upgrade, but don't expect Jackson from 5 years ago. He will be a capable back with Rodgers assisting him in backfield. The wide receivers are set and form the best pairing in the NFL. The offensive line is where the questions of this team lay. Resigning Sam Baker was a smart move, but they extremely overpaid for him. He got All-Pro money for a fringe Pro Bowl caliber player. Releasing Tyson Clabo is going to hurt too. Hopefully the next man up can protect Matt Ryan, or Matty Ice is going be taking a lot of ice baths this year.
This year will be a mixed bag on defense. Their defensive line took a hit, losing solid pass rushing specialist John Abraham. Replacing him with Osi Umenyiora is pretty much a wash, minus the leadership Abraham already had on the team. The corners on the team are going to be the big question in the ATL. Letting their two of their three starters from last year go and replacing them with rookies Desmond Trufant (who has the pedigree of his brothers),and Robert Alford from Southeastern Louisiana. These rookies will be tested quickly in the pass happy NFC South. Expect this defense to go as far as the rookies go. My expectations for the Falcons are a little murky. They have all the talent to push for a playoff spot and a deep run in the playoffs, or they have the chance to be knocked off the top of the NFC South. The Buccaneers, Panthers, and Saints should all be a lot better this year. I expect 9-10 wins, but who knows if that will be enough to make the playoffs out of the NFC South.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers will only go as far as Superman (aka Cam Newton) and their running game can take them. Last year the sophomore semi slump hit Newton. He had numbers comparable to his rookie year, but the fumbles killed him. If he can limit the turnovers and get some help from any wide receiver not name Steve Smith, he should have a year that tops his rookie season. The Panthers really only addressed the depth of their receiving core in the offseason signing Domenik Hixon and Ted Ginn Jr. They added depth, but did not give them any other solid weapons other than Smith and Greg Olsen. They must hope for Brandon Lafell to make large gains in production to help Cam out. If not, it will be The Cam Newton Show again. I haven't even spoken to the mess of the Panthers quadrillion dollar backfield yet, who couldn't have produced any less they did last year. Jon Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will need bounce back years in the worse way. If one of them struggles in mini camp this offseason expect one to be cut, with Mike Tolbert picking up that guy's slack.
Carolina's front 7 on defense is one of the most solid units in all of the game after the offseason. The draft was kind to them, letting Star Lotulelei drop to them and double dipping on the athletic Kawann Short in Round 2 to solidify their defensive line. Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson are a solid duo on the outside, fantastic pass rushers and solid against the run. The real strength (when healthy) is the linebacking corps lead by... well I can't choose who I think is better. So, Luke Kuechly and Jon Beason will both be mentioned as the unquestioned leaders of this defense. Those two men are a scary combination and there are very few teams with 2 better linebackers. Only the 49ers come to mind. If Thomas Davis can also finally stay healthy, that front 7 will be dominate. The linebackers are very rangy and solid against run. The BIG - and I can't underestimate that enough - problem that the Panthers have is in their secondary who - outside of Captain Munnerlyn who is really a number 2 corner - have nothing at safety or corner. Carolina better hope their front 7 is good enough to mask the back end, or teams will eat their secondary alive. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the division they are in will eat them alive in the passing game. I see a 4-6 win season coming.
New Orleans Saints
Sean Peyton's return to the sidelines in New Orleans will get a ton of headlines this year, but the focus should be on the retooled defense. That will be the key for the Saints to get back to the playoffs this year. The offense will still keep chugging along as long as Drew Brees is the man slinging the football. The running situation is a volatile one, with no one man taking the bulk of the carries. Look for the Saints to try and get Mark Ingram to finally be the man in New Orleans. If not, it's running back by committee again with the explosive Darren Sproles doing a little bit of everything for the offense. They added a little more receiving depth with the drafting of Kenny Stills out of Oklahoma, an absolute burner who will help their vertical game. But expect Brees to pretty much still sling the ball to whoever is open and just march up the field. Tight end Jimmy Graham is top 3 in the game. He is a threat all defensive coordinators must account for and, with the addition of Ben Watson, gives the Saints that look most teams are going for now: two big athletic tight ends to catch the ball making Brees that much scarier. Losing Jermon Bushrod at tackle is going to hurt, but the selection of the raw, but talented Terron Armstead will lessen the blow. Maybe not so much this year, but in years to come.
The big news on defensive side of the ball is the complete change in scheme from 4-3 to 3-4 that Rob Ryan will bring with him. The Saints will have a solid front 3 in Cam Jordan, Akiem Hicks, and draftee (and big mountain of a man) John Jenkins from Georgia. For making the switch only this year, this front is a solid start and good base to work from in the 3-4. The big question is if the line backers can make the switch. Most of the team's line backers are more suited for the 4-3 scheme, or in Will Smith's case, the defensive line. Losing Victor Butler already to an injury is going to hurt. Expect early struggles, but to be a fine unit for the team later in the season. The secondary, which was a big problem, shouldn't be as bad this year with the drafting of Kenny Vacarro, and the signing of Keenan Lewis from Pittsburgh. Don't expect an elite unit back there, but they have some play makers and won't be as bad as last year. Like Atlanta, being stuck in this ultra competitive division will limit wins and make every game late in season a must-win to sneak into playoffs. I am looking at a 9-10 win season for Saints as well. This division will be a dog fight all the way until the end.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The most difficult team in this division to peg are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have all the potential/ talent in the world to be contenders for a Super Bowl berth, or have the potential to have a high draft pick next year. It all starts with signal caller Josh Freeman. He has all the gifts in the world: a strong arm, mobility, and durable. But he makes terrible decisions when pressured, and can throw a turnover in the blink of an eye. Freeman needs to be more stable this year for the Buccaneers to move forward. If need be, he can hand the ball off to the Muscle Hamster, Doug Martin. He had a remarkable breakout season in his rookie campaign. One of the better runners in the league, Martin can do it all. The problem is the depth in the backfield. If something were to happen to Doug, the cupboard is bare for a runner to take his carries. The Buccaneers need depth in the worst way. Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson are one of the better 1-2 punches at receiver in the league, but once again behind them there is a lot of questions. Tampa has a lot of young bodies and need some to step up and show something. The tight ends in Tampa are questionable at best. Luke Stocker needs to mature and show something or might be buried on the depth chart. Free agent signing Tom Crabtree will need to show off what he can do coming from Green Bay. The offensive line is healthy. Expect Davin Joesph to come back hungry after being injured all of last season and the same for Carl Nicks. These are two road graders who could propel Doug Martin into the stratosphere.
Even more maddening is the defense who has the talent to be a top 10 defensive unit in the league, but needs its young players to mature and produce. First and second round picks from 2011 Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers will need to live up to their draft statuses. They have shown flashes off being Pro-Bowl caliber players when healthy. Up the middle, Gerald McCoy finally had his break out season and no longer is under the shadow of Ndamukong Suh from Detroit. The question is who will start next to him coming out of camp, where there is a bunch of middle of the pack veterans and late-round draft pick Akeem Spence fighting for a spot next to McCoy. The line backers for Tampa are solid, and led by underrated potential break out player Lavonte David who was a heat seeking missile last year tackling everything that moved. Mason Foster in the middle of the defense does a solid job, but the other line backer spot will be a fight once again for a lot of players who all have a chance to slide in the spot for the Buccaneers. Now, here is where things get interesting. Last year, the Buccaneers were first against the run and last against the pass. Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson were both brought on board in the offseason to remedy that. Along with the drafting of John Banks in the second round, and another year of maturity out of Mark Barron, the secondary has the chance to become one of the elite units in the NFL, propelling the Buccaneers forward. Here is another hard prediction to make. The Buccaneers have the chance to be really really good or really really bad. I expect either a 6-7 win team if they don't live up to their potential; if they do, a 9-11 win team. It really could go either way sorry to say.
Next up we take a look at NFC East. Just as many questions as the South, but with a lot more exposure. Is RG3 healthy? How will Chip Kelly adjust to the NFL? How will Tony Romo respond to his massive exposure? Will the Giants get their two wideouts locked up?
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Monday, June 17, 2013
NFL Offseason Review: NFC West
With training camp about to start in the NFL, let's take a look at the offseason for each and every team and their potential outlook for the upcoming NFL season.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals made a big splash this offseason by trading for Carson Palmer from the Oakland Raiders. This will be a big upgrade from the spare junk quarterbacks they were putting on the field last year to throw to Larry Fitzgerald. New head coach Bruce Arians - coming over from the Colts in the offseason after turning the lowly Colts from the league worst record last year in 2011 to playoff contender in 2012 with head coach Chuck Pagano being out because of his cancer situation - will bring a methodical offense over to help out the Cards and let that incredibly underrated defense do it's thing.
The defense lost a couple key contributors in Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes, but traded for Javier Arenas from Kansas City, signed Antoine Cason away from San Diego, and signed Yeremiah Bell to help out their already solid defense. The return of Karlos Dansby to help anchor the linebackers, and a very underrated draft by the Cards will help them push the other teams in the NFC West. I believe they hit on every single one of their picks, grabbing Jonathan Cooper in the first to solidify their line, Kevin Minter in the second to add depth to linebacker, and Tyrann Mathieu - if he can keep his head on straight - will be a steal in the 3rd. Overall, look for Arizona to have a good year, around 6-8 wins can easily be done.
San Francisco 49ers
The NFC Champs from last year did nothing to make anyone doubt they will be making a repeat trip to the Super Bowl this year. The loss of Michael Crabtree to injury will definitely hurt the champs, but the addition of Anquan Boldin and A.J. Jenkins stepping up will be more then enough to make that not a factor. Another year of Colin Kaepernick maturing and playing the full year will help. Hopefully his running style will not lead him to get injured like RG3. The running back position for the 49ers will get a nice boost with Marcus Lattimore coming in from the draft leaving that position stocked to the max.
One of the best defenses in the league only got better this offseason. True, the loss of Dashon Goldson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is going to hurt. But replacing him with Eric Reid in the draft should lessen the hit. Also signing Nnamdi Asomugha away from the Eagles should help the secondary. I do believe he is much better then what he showed with Philly. The linebacking core is still intact and it's the strength of the team, with every starter being a Pro Bowl caliber player. The defensive line should be solid as long as Justin Smith can stay healthy. The additions of Glenn Dorsey from Kansas City, drafting Tank Carradine, and former track and field star Lawrence Okoye should help lessen the loss of Issac Sopoaga in free agency. I full expect the 49ers to be there at the end of the season, playing for the NFC Championship or even taking aim at the Super Bowl again.
Seattle Seahawks
Let me start out by saying I believe the Seahawks overpaid to get Percy Harvin, but man will he just make this offensive that much more explosive. So, in the end, it might be worth it especially if they go deep into playoffs. Other than that, the Seahawks offense remains pretty much intact from last year: Russell Wilson doing his thing, the offensive line being solid, and beast mode Marshawn Lynch running over people not smart enough to get out of the way. The Seahawks had a weak draft in my opinion, taking Christine Michael with their 2nd pick was drafting for luxury at a position where they're already stacked. The rest of their picks were more depth moves. No real splash players there.
The 'Hawks lost a couple big defensive linemen in the offseason in Alan Branch - who for being a mountain of a man is quite agile - to the Buffalo Bills, and Jason Jones, an extremely underrated piece of that defensive line to the Lions. They gained 2 good pass rushers in free agency in Cliff Avril from the Lions (making it pretty much a trade of Jones for Avril a deal I think Seattle won). Also Michael Bennett from the Buccaneers, who is solid against the run and a good pass rusher, gives them another 2 ends to go with their already solid combo of Bruce Irvin and Chris Clemons. The secondary for the Seahawks remains the strength of the team, and signing aging wonder Antoine Winfield can only help. The linebackers are an underrated group, lead by Bobby Wagner. He and KJ Wright make a fantastic combo for the Seahawks. Like the 49ers, they could be the team representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. I fully expect the Seahawks and Niners to be battling for that Super Bowl spot.
St. Louis Rams
The Rams have finally given Quarterback Sam Bradford some legit weapons on the outside in the form of West Virginia wide receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. These 2 quick-as-lightning versatile wide outs should help stretch defenses out and force the safeties to play deep to stop big plays. This will lead to big plays from free agent tight end acquisition Jared Cook, who himself is a big athletic threat to take it deep as well. Expect Bradford to get back to the numbers he put up in his rookie season. To keep the former number 1 overall pick upright, the Rams signed Jake Long to protect Bradford's blind side. This signing should solidify the o-line making them a solid overall. The drafting of Barrett Jones from Alabama should help as well. His versatility along the inside of the line will give them depth. The big question in the Lou will be at running back. Gone is Steven Jackson, who will be a Hall of Famer when he decides to hang the cleats up. Two 2nd year backs will carry the load for the Rams; Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson will be relied on to pick up the slack. Expect them both to split the carries pretty evenly. Don't expect their combined numbers to be anywhere near the numbers Steven Jackson did in his hey day.
St. Louis will have a solid defense this year. Their front 4 is as solid as any in the league. Chris Long and Robert Quinn will both have double digit sacks, in my opinion. The linebacking core got a big upgrade in the selection of Alex Ogletree with their second pick of the first round. He will pair up nicely with James Laurinaitis, especially in the nickel packages. Both are rangy and can play the run and the pass. The Rams are solid at corner with Finnegan and Jenkins starting, and have much more depth behind them. The worry is going to be at safety. Both 3rd round selection TJ Mcdonald and whoever wins the job out of camp are going to be exposed back there. Watch out for that Rams fans. In the tough NFC West the Rams are going to put up a heck of a fight up to get into the playoffs, but I see them coming up short this year. Look for 8-9 wins and just coming up short for a playoff spot.
That's it for my look at the NFC West stay tuned for my look at the NFC South next!
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals made a big splash this offseason by trading for Carson Palmer from the Oakland Raiders. This will be a big upgrade from the spare junk quarterbacks they were putting on the field last year to throw to Larry Fitzgerald. New head coach Bruce Arians - coming over from the Colts in the offseason after turning the lowly Colts from the league worst record last year in 2011 to playoff contender in 2012 with head coach Chuck Pagano being out because of his cancer situation - will bring a methodical offense over to help out the Cards and let that incredibly underrated defense do it's thing.
The defense lost a couple key contributors in Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes, but traded for Javier Arenas from Kansas City, signed Antoine Cason away from San Diego, and signed Yeremiah Bell to help out their already solid defense. The return of Karlos Dansby to help anchor the linebackers, and a very underrated draft by the Cards will help them push the other teams in the NFC West. I believe they hit on every single one of their picks, grabbing Jonathan Cooper in the first to solidify their line, Kevin Minter in the second to add depth to linebacker, and Tyrann Mathieu - if he can keep his head on straight - will be a steal in the 3rd. Overall, look for Arizona to have a good year, around 6-8 wins can easily be done.
San Francisco 49ers
The NFC Champs from last year did nothing to make anyone doubt they will be making a repeat trip to the Super Bowl this year. The loss of Michael Crabtree to injury will definitely hurt the champs, but the addition of Anquan Boldin and A.J. Jenkins stepping up will be more then enough to make that not a factor. Another year of Colin Kaepernick maturing and playing the full year will help. Hopefully his running style will not lead him to get injured like RG3. The running back position for the 49ers will get a nice boost with Marcus Lattimore coming in from the draft leaving that position stocked to the max.
One of the best defenses in the league only got better this offseason. True, the loss of Dashon Goldson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is going to hurt. But replacing him with Eric Reid in the draft should lessen the hit. Also signing Nnamdi Asomugha away from the Eagles should help the secondary. I do believe he is much better then what he showed with Philly. The linebacking core is still intact and it's the strength of the team, with every starter being a Pro Bowl caliber player. The defensive line should be solid as long as Justin Smith can stay healthy. The additions of Glenn Dorsey from Kansas City, drafting Tank Carradine, and former track and field star Lawrence Okoye should help lessen the loss of Issac Sopoaga in free agency. I full expect the 49ers to be there at the end of the season, playing for the NFC Championship or even taking aim at the Super Bowl again.
Seattle Seahawks
Let me start out by saying I believe the Seahawks overpaid to get Percy Harvin, but man will he just make this offensive that much more explosive. So, in the end, it might be worth it especially if they go deep into playoffs. Other than that, the Seahawks offense remains pretty much intact from last year: Russell Wilson doing his thing, the offensive line being solid, and beast mode Marshawn Lynch running over people not smart enough to get out of the way. The Seahawks had a weak draft in my opinion, taking Christine Michael with their 2nd pick was drafting for luxury at a position where they're already stacked. The rest of their picks were more depth moves. No real splash players there.
The 'Hawks lost a couple big defensive linemen in the offseason in Alan Branch - who for being a mountain of a man is quite agile - to the Buffalo Bills, and Jason Jones, an extremely underrated piece of that defensive line to the Lions. They gained 2 good pass rushers in free agency in Cliff Avril from the Lions (making it pretty much a trade of Jones for Avril a deal I think Seattle won). Also Michael Bennett from the Buccaneers, who is solid against the run and a good pass rusher, gives them another 2 ends to go with their already solid combo of Bruce Irvin and Chris Clemons. The secondary for the Seahawks remains the strength of the team, and signing aging wonder Antoine Winfield can only help. The linebackers are an underrated group, lead by Bobby Wagner. He and KJ Wright make a fantastic combo for the Seahawks. Like the 49ers, they could be the team representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. I fully expect the Seahawks and Niners to be battling for that Super Bowl spot.
St. Louis Rams
The Rams have finally given Quarterback Sam Bradford some legit weapons on the outside in the form of West Virginia wide receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. These 2 quick-as-lightning versatile wide outs should help stretch defenses out and force the safeties to play deep to stop big plays. This will lead to big plays from free agent tight end acquisition Jared Cook, who himself is a big athletic threat to take it deep as well. Expect Bradford to get back to the numbers he put up in his rookie season. To keep the former number 1 overall pick upright, the Rams signed Jake Long to protect Bradford's blind side. This signing should solidify the o-line making them a solid overall. The drafting of Barrett Jones from Alabama should help as well. His versatility along the inside of the line will give them depth. The big question in the Lou will be at running back. Gone is Steven Jackson, who will be a Hall of Famer when he decides to hang the cleats up. Two 2nd year backs will carry the load for the Rams; Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson will be relied on to pick up the slack. Expect them both to split the carries pretty evenly. Don't expect their combined numbers to be anywhere near the numbers Steven Jackson did in his hey day.
St. Louis will have a solid defense this year. Their front 4 is as solid as any in the league. Chris Long and Robert Quinn will both have double digit sacks, in my opinion. The linebacking core got a big upgrade in the selection of Alex Ogletree with their second pick of the first round. He will pair up nicely with James Laurinaitis, especially in the nickel packages. Both are rangy and can play the run and the pass. The Rams are solid at corner with Finnegan and Jenkins starting, and have much more depth behind them. The worry is going to be at safety. Both 3rd round selection TJ Mcdonald and whoever wins the job out of camp are going to be exposed back there. Watch out for that Rams fans. In the tough NFC West the Rams are going to put up a heck of a fight up to get into the playoffs, but I see them coming up short this year. Look for 8-9 wins and just coming up short for a playoff spot.
That's it for my look at the NFC West stay tuned for my look at the NFC South next!
Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.
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