D's Sports Nuts

The Start of Free Agency

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:28:00 +0000

Will this duo be back together?

Today at 4 p.m. marks the official start to the NFL Free Agent signing period. There are some big names that many experts expect to change teams such as former Ram Steven Jackson, former Steeler Mike Wallace, and possibly (former) Patriot Wes Welker.

I don't truly care where Jackson and Wallace end up because it neither one has any effect on the Patriots. Jackson is a running back that will turn 30 in July, which is a bad omen for any running back. Wallace and his agent have reportedly told teams that he expects to make somewhere close to $13 million per year, a number that is absurd.

Welker is the only name that I care about from those three. The 5'9" slot receiver deserves to get a big contract because he is so productive and looks as though he would be able to continue at his current level for at least the next three seasons. How big of a contract he will command is the only question. Welker should be paid somewhere close to $10 million per season, and for three years, I would guess the Patriots would be fine with that or at least they should be. It's always hard to tell what Bill Belichick is thinking. We all now know that Patriots owner Robert Kraft wants Welker to be a "Patriot for life" but will the two sides come together?

How do I see this playing out? In my fan's heart, Welker will get a decent payday and return to the Patriots. In my cynical, everyone likes more money brain, Welker could be tempted to take the big money from another team such as Denver or Indianapolis. Think about that. Two AFC rivals, one with Peyton Manning and the other with Andrew Luck, both vying for Welker. The Patriots have trouble covering most players, but they will get torched by Welker and either quarterback. Welker and the Patriots SHOULD come to their senses and work out a deal.

If a deal with the Patriots does not work then the Patriots, not Welker, will feel that wrath of the fan base and media. The good thing is that unlike the Red Sox, the Patriots will not care and will not make a move to "save face." I implore them to sign a cheaper option and throw some money at the defense. Sign Aqib Talib and one of the safeties that is out there. Then, try to get Sebastian Vollmer under contract. Luckily, the cornerback and tackle markets have been flooded with players which will hopefully keep the costs down, helping the Patriots afford both of them.

All in all, Welker is a great Patriot that deserves to get paid well wherever he plays and for my (nonexistent) money it should be the Patriots that sign his checks.

Bradley, Green and Rondo could lead the Celtics into a new era?

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:34:00 +0000

Rondo and Bradley form a talented but undersized backcourt.

The title of this post might have you questioning my sanity, which might be justified, but hear me out. Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, and Jeff Green all play important positions in today's NBA which does not emphasize post play. They all have the ability to play the type of intense defense (even Rondo) that would make KG proud.

RAJON RONDO
As always Rondo would be the key to this triumvirate. His attitude when he returns at some point next season will be a gigantic point of emphasis. With this team, he could finally run an uptempo offense especially with Green and Bradley on the court. In a fast break heavy offense, his creativity with the ball and his speed will give the Celtics the best fast break point guard since Steve Nash was in his prime. Although this season Rondo's defense has been questioned, throughout his career his defense has been a strength. Since the 2008-2009 season, Rondo has been on the NBA All-Defensive team. In 2011-2012 some basketball analytics said Rondo was the defensive player of the year. This new team, led by a rejuvenated Rondo, would still be a defensive stalwart even with a declining and eventually retiring Kevin Garnett. Rondo gives more than a normal point guard even if he only averages about 14 points per game as he did before he hurt his knee. This season he averaged 5.6 rebounds per game which is a huge number for someone so small, and his field goal percentage was 48% even though he took more shots per game than any of his previous seasons. There is no way that the Celtics would be better off without him.

AVERY BRADLEY
Can Bradley make the jump from a shutdown defender to a superstar worthy of building a team around? I think that has already happened. Bradley is not a superstar by name yet, but watching him this season he could be on his way toward that as more people recognize his talent. Everyone knows he is a dominant perimeter defender, but what he has shown in flashes this year is his shooting touch. The Celtics don't usually run plays for him but when he does get his chance, he has been pretty solid. In March, he has shot nearly 49% from the field. Bradley has the athletic ability to run the floor and be a key player in a fast break offense or coming off screens. At this point in his career he will make his biggest mark on defense because he can guard the point and the off guard, which is rare. For all of the non-believers out there, don't forget that Bradley is on 22 years old. He has shown growth from his rookie year to this season, only his third. Bradley definitely has the talent to be an offensive star as well, and I take that from his ranking as ESPN's number 1 shooting guard recruit in 2009 when he signed with the University of Texas. In 2009 he was also a McDonald's All-American which normally means he was one of the top talents in the nation.

JEFF GREEN
If you are a Celtics fan or an observer of the Celtics then you either think Green is the future of the Celtics or you believe the future looks pretty bleak. There are two reasons to be down on Green. One, he was traded for the popular Kendrick Perkins, whom was a solid piece to the championship season. Second, Green did not play well when he got to the Celtics. Take a look at his numbers this season and you will see a player that is getting comfortable with his role. Green has played well especially lately. In his last 10 games, Green averaged over 14 points and 4 rebounds coming off the bench. Those are solid numbers and you can't argue that. So don't listen to people like 98.5 The Sports Hub's Michael Felger when he tells you the guy is junk. He can play and he is doing it this year after off season heart surgery. He has the talent to take the next step up to superstar too. Green is only 26 years old. He has never been the focal point of an offense, so how will he react when it is his turn? I can't answer that but he is athletic. He can drive, shoot the three, and does a great job on defense.

These three give the Celtics an impressive and young core to work with in the future. All three have decent contracts at this point even with the possibility of Bradley getting a substantial bump in pay. This will give the Celtics significant cap room to go after a max contract player when Pierce and Garnett are done. With the reports coming out of Minnesota, Kevin Love could be unhappy with their direction. Once he gets back on the court he could be a player the Celtics covet. That might be a pipe dream but their will be options for the C's. Don't forget the promising rookie year of Jared Sullinger, even though it was cut short. Sullinger is a big body with a soft touch around the rim who can rebound. The Celtics will have a tough time transitioning from the Big 3 but it will be easier than the last time a Big Three disbanded in the early 90's.

Ravens win gives Patriots great opportunity

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 05:47:00 +0000

With a win today, Tom Brady passes Joe Montana for most playoff wins by a quarterback

Houston Texans at New England Patriots

How things can change after one game. The Ravens double over time win against Peyton Manning and the Broncos makes the winner of this game the top seed in the AFC. Either way the AFC championship should be a solid game, even though it will not have the star power of a Brady vs. Manning duel.

The Texans now know they have a chance to host the AFC championship game and that, I think, adds to the pressure that they feel. These two teams are not very similar but they both have talent. The main difference that I see is the mental toughness that the Patriots seem to have compared to the Texans. The Patriots lost three tough games early in the season to the Cardinals, Ravens and the Seahawks, but they didn't fold their tent and go home. The Patriots at 3-3, won nine of their last 10 games, their lone misstep against a 49er team that just whipped the Packers yesterday. Even in that game the Patriots had the fortitude to fight back and almost win it. The Texans, however, lost two of their last three after the Patriots beat them down in Foxboro. Even their win last week against against the Bengals was shaky. A.J. Green of the Bengals had a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown but could not reel in the pass.

Today, the Patriots will also be healthier than they have in weeks. Rob Gronkowski will play unlike their last match up and cornerbacks Alfonzo Dennard and Aqib Talib should be healthier than they were two weeks ago. Yesterday, the Patriots were also given more motivation in the way of lack of respect from the Associated Press. Only big Vince Wilfork was voted as a first-team All Pro, with Logan Mankins being a second teamer. Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Jerod Mayo, Devin McCourty, and Sebastian Vollmer all received votes but they were left off the team. This is a minor oversight for the players but the coaches are always looking for an edge. Houston had three total.

The Patriots have too many weapons even for a defense of the caliber of the Texans. Welker, Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Lloyd, Stevan Ridley, and Danny Woodhead form a solid, if not spectacular, core of runners and receivers. Stopping Welker or Gronk can be done but can you stop Lloyd, Hernandez and the running game? That is the task that the Texans have to deal with.

The Texans do have a defense that has shown they can stop the run (7th in the NFL) but can give up some yards through the air if their pass rush is not cranking at full speed (16th in the NFL). The way the Texans win this game is the same way the Giants won both of their Super Bowls against the Patriots. Rush three or four guys and drop the rest to clog the field with defenders, while still getting pressure on Brady. The problem with that gameplan is that the Texans under defensive coordinator Wade Philips really enjoy blitzing. The exact thing that Brady and the Patriots have feasted on this year. The other problem with playing like the Giants did in the Super Bowl is that the Patriots now have a running game. How good is that running game you might ask, because it certainly is not as good as the Texans' rushing attack, right? Wrong. The Patriots were ranked 7th in the NFL and Houston was only 8th. So that would mean the Patriots not only throw the ball better than the Texans (4th to 11th), they also run better. That brings me to the Patriots defense.

Although the Patriots don't play well against the pass, they do have some strengths that make for a tough match up for the Texans. The Patriots are 9th in defensive points allowed (20.7 pts/gm) which is tied with Houston's much celebrated defense. Wilfork, Mayo, Brandon Spikes and the rest of the Pats also stop the run, which is Houston's strength. They excel at probably the most important aspect of any football game, they seldom turn the ball over and on defense they cause turnovers. They had 25 more takeaways than turnovers. In conclusion, the Patriots stop the run, don't let teams score, and force turnovers better than anyone in the NFL. Is the defense really that terrible? I think not.

Get ready Texans and their fans, tomorrow could be another long day. Patriots 41, Texans 27

Texans, Big Vince is on his way.

For your viewing pleasure

NFL Playoffs: Saturday's Divisional Round Prediction: Packers-49ers

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 01:04:00 +0000

Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers and Packers both have great championship traditions but only one can move onto the NFC Championship. The 49ers come into the game as the favorites and enjoy the home-field advantage, but also have to face the healthiest version of the Green Bay Packers since the first day of the season. Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, and Donald Driver should all be available for tonight's game which makes the Packers much more difficult to pass against and deeper on the other side of the ball.

Aaron Rodgers has not received the type of attention that he usually gets this week as most of the attention has been on rookie Colin Kaepernick and how he will deal with the playoff pressure. Kaepernick has come off the bench and has proven to be the catalyst that Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers need. The Packers have the talent on defense to slow down the 49ers running game with B.J. Raji, Matthews, and A.J. Hawk.

The Packers will face the 49ers dominating defense which during the regular season was fourth against the run and the pass. The 49ers have three first-team All-Pro in Navarro Bowman, Patrick Willis, and Dashon Goldson. The way the Packers will win the game is by attacking the cornerbacks by spreading the field and running an up-tempo attack to tire Aldon and Justin Smith. The Packers might be underdogs but they have the big game players that the 49ers lack. Packers 27, 49ers 19

Rodgers knows that only one team can advance

NFL Playoffs: Saturday's Divisional Round Prediction: Ravens-Broncos

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 21:11:00 +0000

Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos

The Broncos are the favorites in this one, not only because of their record but also because they have a decided advantage at home. The Broncos are 7-1 at home and the Ravens haven been mediocre on the road as their 4-4 record indicates. What is worse for the Ravens is that Joe Flacco's quarterback rating drops nearly 25 points when he is away from home and only has two more touchdowns than interceptions (7 to 5) on the road. On the flip side, Peyton Manning is every bit as good as you would think Peyton Manning to be at home. Manning completes 68 percent of his passes, has 19 more touchdown passes than interceptions (22 to 3).

Von Miller and Joe Flacco will be key contributors if their teams are to win.

Ray Lewis' last game will most likely be today and with his retirement, the Ravens reputation as a great defensive unit should be retired as well. The Ravens defense is 17th in total yards allowed and tied for 12th in points allowed per game. Those numbers are not exactly what people think of when they think of the Ravens defensively. The key to winning today in Denver will be constant pressure on Manning, while not gambling too much in the secondary. The Ravens need to force turnovers and Manning might not be willing to give them up. The Broncos just need to do what they do so well and that is put pressure on the quarterback. Flacco will see pressure from every angle as the Broncos led the lead with 52 sacks. Broncos 31, Ravens 23

Sunday's Wild Card Matchups

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 14:04:00 +0000

Is today, Ray Lewis' last game?

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens 1 p.m.

@ M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD

These two teams are on the opposite ends of the momentum spectrum. The Colts have won nine of their last eleven games and had head coach Chuck Pagano return last week after his cancer battle. The Ravens on the other hand have lost four of their last five games which included losses to the Broncos, Bengals, and Redskins. The question the Ravens need to answer is whether they are the team that beat the Patriots early in the season or are they the team that they have been the last quarter of the season. I think they are somewhere in between those two. Both of these teams have only beaten a handful of playoff teams combined (5), which is not that impressive. With that in mind, these two still belong in the playoffs and should be competitive to the last drive.

RAVEN TO WATCH

Although it could be the last game for Ray Lewis, he is not the Raven that will make the most impact today. Ray Rice is the most important Raven because he is their best offensive player. The Ravens offense has not been as dynamic as Ravens fans had hoped. Rice is a great receiver out of the backfield and of course, a game-breaker out of the backfield. Rice compiled over 1,600 yards rushing and receiving. If the Ravens win today, Rice will have to have a similar day to Arian Foster yesterday (over 100 yards rushing, 8 catches).

COLT TO WATCH

Andrew Luck is the most important Colt today because he has to be able to find all of his receiver's and deal with the scheme that the Ravens come up with. Although the Ravens' defense has not been as good as previous years, I'm sure that they have something special left in the tank for the playoffs. Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are still good players with great leadership skills that will have their guys ready to go. Luck must be able to make the right reads and get the ball to his playmakers, Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton.

Prediction. Colts 34, Ravens 27

The Colts will keep rolling and take advantage of the mediocre Raven defense. The Colts can throw the ball against anyone and with their ability to hit on the big play with T.Y. Hilton, could give the older Ravens some real trouble. The Colts-Manning matchup will happen.

Which one of these rookies will move on?

Seattle Seahawks at Washington Redskins 4:30 p.m.

@ FedEx Field in Landover, MD

Robert Griffin III deserved all of the publicity he has received this year but Russell Wilson should have gotten more than he got. RG3 has been the better quarterback because he only threw five interceptions , broke the rookie rushing record for a quarterback, and breathed life into the Redskins. Wilson should be lauded for coming close to breaking the rookie TD record and leading the Seahawks to the playoffs. Seattle's defense has been even better than Wilson.

REDSKIN TO WATCH

While everyone is looking toward RG3 and with good reason, I think the key Redskin will be the other rookie in the backfield, Alfred Morris. Morris ran for over 1,600 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first season. Incredible numbers. He must have an impact today so the Redskins will be able to keep the Seahawks on their heels. Without him being a factor RG3 could have a tough day.

SEAHAWK TO WATCH

Same thing here with the Seahawks, all eyes are on Russell Wilson, I'm looking at Marshawn Lynch. The Beast has been exactly that, a beast. Lynch ran for 1,590 yards and 11 touchdowns this season and was the most important Seahawk all year. I don't see the Seahawks winning without his involvement in the offense. If he has a big game the Seahawks win.

Prediction. Redskins 24, Seahawks 21

Many folks out there are picking against RG3 because of his knee injury, but I think he will be healthy enough to make some great plays and the Seahawks will make some mistakes. I also think Pete Carroll will be too "pumped and jacked" in his words and do something dumb.

Saturday's Wild Card Matchups

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 15:16:00 +0000

Arian Foster could be the player with the most on his shoulders this weekend

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans 4:30 p.m.

@ Reliant Stadium in Houston

The Texans have been struggling as of late as their 1-3 record shows to end the season. In those four games, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub has one touchdown and three interceptions. That type of production in this playoff will spell doom for the team-to-beat just four weeks ago. The Bengals end of the season run of winning seven of their last eight games has to be a concern for the Texans. Normally, the team that is on a roll has a better chance of moving on. The Bengals should have some extra motivation after being crushed 31-10 last season by the Texans in the wild-card round.

TEXAN TO WATCH

If you get your sports information from other sources, you will most likely see that J.J. Watt is the player to watch in this game. While Watt will play an important role in stopping the Bengals offense, he is not the most important Texan in this game. Arian Foster, the All-Pro running back, is the Texan to watch because of the performance of Schaub the last four weeks. If Foster can get rolling early against a tough Bengals defense, the Texans will have a shot to get Schaub throwing after some effective play action. The Bengals defense was ranked 7th against the pass in the regular season and set a franchise record by amassing 51 sacks of opposing quarterbacks. That is why Foster will play such a big role, not only running the ball, but being an outlet for Schaub in the passing game. Foster had 40 receptions this year and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets close to 10 receptions today.

BENGAL TO WATCH

A.J. Green had a monster second season in the NFL with 97 receptions, 1.350 yards, and 11 touchdowns. He will be the key player for the Bengals because he is by far the best option for the Bengals in the passing game. Jermaine Gresham and Andrew Hawkins are decent options but they are not game-changers like Green can be. If Green can get open consistently early, the Bengals offense will get on a roll, which will help the confidence of Andy Dalton. Dalton had an up-and-down season and will be facing a tough test against the Texans defense, but Green can make his job easier. If Green gets rolling, then everything in the offense gets easier for the Bengals.

Prediction. Bengals 23, Houston 21

I'm not sure why but I feel like the Bengals are on a roll and want to be more than a team that makes the playoffs and loses in the first round every year. Houston's confidence has to be down, and being unsure of themselves now is not going to help them.

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers 8 p.m.

@ Lambeau Field in Green Bay

The Vikings won their last four games of the regular season including a 37-34 week 17 win over the Packers. The Packers have won nine of their last eleven games including a 23-14 win over the Vikings in week 13. Both of these teams have their weaknesses. The Vikings are 31st in passing offense, and 24th in passing defense. The Packers are 20th in run offense and 17th in run defense. The Vikings weakness in throwing the ball can be attributed to having Adrian Peterson in the backfield. Why would the Vikings throw as many times as say the Packers would if they stick to their strength. On the other hand why would the Packers run the ball as much as the Vikings if they have Aaron Rodgers. Both teams do have weaknesses in those areas but I wanted to make those points known before you listen to the announcers.

PACKER TO WATCH

It would be obvious to pick Aaron Rodgers as the Packers player to watch, but it would also be stupid not to pick him. Rodgers makes the Packers go and he will be the key today. Yes, the Packers run defense will be a big key, but if Rodgers gets the air attack cranking early and the Packers are up 14-0 how much can the Vikings really run? Rodgers is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL as most of you know and having a great quarterback in the playoffs is such an advantage. Rodgers has weapons and uses them well. In the regular season he threw 39 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions. That is the definition of an offensive weapon. In the two games against the Vikings, Rodgers threw for 651 yards, 5 touchdowns and 1 interception.

VIKING TO WATCH

Adrian Peterson being the Viking to watch is the same as Rodgers being the Packer to watch, it is obvious but it is a must. Peterson is the engine of the Vikings. Peterson ran for 2,097 yards in 16 games after busting up his knee last season as most football fans know. The most amazing part of the Peterson story is that his quarterback, Christian Ponder, is at best average, so he is not getting much help from the passing game. Even though he has been the one guy to stop for the Vikings he has excelled and that could not have been more true against the Packers. In their two games, Peterson ran for 409 yards. Let me repeat that. 409 yards against the Packers. Amazing work.

Prediction. Packers 31, Vikings 23

The Vikings and Peterson have been a great story but winning at Lambeau Field (it is 8 degrees there when I am writing this) will be too much, especially with Rodgers poised for a great game. Also, watch for the return of Charles Woodson. Big-time playmaker.

Patriots, Texans should be AFC Championship preview

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 05:30:00 +0000

The Texans have a lot of weapons but JJ Watt is the biggest and baddest of them all.

Houston Texans (11-1) @ New England Patriots (9-3)

The Texans have the best team in the NFL right now, especially with the Falcons loss today. The Texans have an offense filled with weapons, and a defense that can harass quarterbacks and stop the run. The Patriots are less balanced, because of their inconsistent defense, but they do not lack talent on either side of the ball. If these two teams ended up in the AFC Championship, I don't think anyone would be upset with the level of play.

Things to Watch this week:

JJ Watt as a disruptive force

Watt, above, has been an absolute beast coming off the edge, up the middle, and batting down passes that he has to be a guy that Tom Brady and the lineman find on every play. This is what Bill Belichick had to say about him:

“He’s the most disruptive player in the league, certainly that we’ve seen,” Belichick. “He’s really good at everything. He’s got great quickness, length and instincts. He’s got a high motor, a variety of moves and he’s hard to knock off his feet. He makes plays at the point of attack and from behind.

“Wade’s (Phillips) done a good job of putting him in positions where he can make plays. You don’t know exactly where he’s going to line up. He’s not the easiest guy to zero in on, and even when you do zero in on him, he’s still a hard guy to handle.” --Houston Chronicle

Belichick couldn't heap much more praise on a guy than he did when talking about Watt. Watt deserves all of the accolades because he has been incredible. So far in his second season Watt has 16.5 sacks and has knocked down an amazing 15 passes (by comparison, Devin McCourty has 11). Each lineman will be on the lookout for him, but Nate Solder should see him more than anyone else. Can the big tackle slow down the defensive player of the year candidate? The answer could lead to which team wins.

Houston's shaky secondary

The Texans top cover corner, Jonathan Joseph, might not play on Monday and if he does he will not be at full strength. Last week the Texans D only surrendered 10 points to the Titans, but in the two week previous to that, the Texans allowed a total of 68 points. If the Texans can pressure Brady, then the secondary will have less to worry about, but if the pressure is negated by the Patriots, the Texans will be in trouble. Their 19th ranked pass defense will be put to the test much of the night even though the Patriots will be without Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman. If the Patriots face a lot of pressure watch the Patriots return to their effective screen game to take advantage of the aggressive Texans

Injury relief for Pats?

Could this be the week that Logan Mankins and Chandler Jones make it back on the field? That is exactly what the experts think. Mankins' return would mean the most for this game because of the prowess of the defensive line of the Texans. His biggest chance to make a difference could be his and the line's ability to open holes for the Pats backs. Mankins is also a leader and as many have talked about before, he brings a little bit of nasty to the team.

Jones' return could mean that the Patriots could have a little more of a pass rush when they need it most. Matt Schaub has a bunch of weapons especially All-World Andre Johnson, that he must be hurried and harassed all night. The rookie has provided 6 sacks and forced 3 fumbles from his end spot. Although the rumor is currently that these two guys will play, the Patriots have still listed them and 11 other players as questionable including Patrick Chung, Aaron Hernandez, and Wes Welker. Injury Report

Prediction

I have picked the Patriots to win every game this season and that trend will continue because I truly believe they will win this home game. The Patriots are great at home and are especially tough in December. The Texans have Arian Foster, Johnson, Schaub, Watt, etc. but they don't have a great secondary which will turn out to be their undoing. The Patriots are hitting their stride and should be able to win a close one at Gillette. Brady, Welker, and Hernandez will have huge games, but the most important aspect to the Patriots offense will be Stevan Ridley. Banging Ridley into the line could tire the defense and take a little off their ferocious pass rush. Most people are saying that the Patriots defense is poor, which they can be but lately they have had the ability to slow down other teams by causing turnovers. Patriots 34, Texans 27

ESPN MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL INTERVIEW

Week 14 NFL Picks

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 13:20:00 +0000

NFL Week 14

Denver Broncos over Oakland Raiders

St. Louis Rams over Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals over Dallas Cowboys

Cleveland Browns over Kansas City Chiefs

Indianapolis Colts over Tennessee Titans

Chicago Bears over Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers ove Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins over Baltimore Ravens

Atlanta Falcons over Carolina Panthers

Jacksonville Jaguars over New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers over San Diego Chargers

San Francisco 49ers over Miami Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks over Arizona Cardinals

New York Giants over New Orleans Saints

Green Bay Packers over Detroit Lions

Monday Night Football pick and preview will be posted tomorrow...

Broncos Thomas reaping the benefits of Manning

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 22:59:00 +0000

Denver Broncos (9-3) @ Oakland Raiders (3-9)

The Broncos are headed to the playoffs and compared to last season, this team is a legitimate Super Bowl threat. They have a defense that is good at getting after the opposing quarterback, and most importantly, they have one of the best quarterbacks taking snaps for them. Peyton Manning's play shows exactly what the Broncos lacked last season with the underwhelming throwing ability of Tim Tebow. Manning has facilitated the emergence of Eric Decker, and Demaryius Thomas. Thomas wasn't much more than a deep threat last season but this year he has flourished. Thomas was the 22nd pick in the 2010 draft. He was drafted by then-coach Josh McDaniels. Imagine if McDaniels had a capable passer on his roster. His fortunes in Denver might have been a lot different. The Broncos' resurgence as a true NFL power shows how important a star quarterback is in today's NFL. In his first two seasons, Thomas only grabbed 54 passes, but through 12 games this season he has 69 catches, over a thousand yards and 8 touchdowns. All of his numbers this season are better than his total career numbers before this season.

Manning and Thomas will have a big night against the Raiders porous defense. Carson Palmer will have a good night in a losing effort as well because he will be playing from behind all night. BRONCOS 34, Raiders 27

Patriots can clinch AFC East crown with win against rival Dolphins

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 14:47:00 +0000

With a win, the Patriots will have extended their reign of dominance over their division

New England Patriots (8-3) @ Miami Dolphins (5-6)

If the Patriots take care of the Dolphins today, the Patriots will wrap up their 10th AFC East championship in the past twelve years. The craziest part of that stat is that in the other two years, the Patriots lost the division on a tie-breaker. The Brady-Belichick Patriots have shown that to be successful, NFL teams should strive for stability at coach and quarterback. The Dolphins, Bills and Jets have had so many different quarterbacks and coaches that it is hard to count. Having a similar offensive scheme, a dominant quarterback, and a consistent message coming from the coach (and in the Patriots case, general manager too) is something that the other division rivals have not achieved. The Patriots have been on an incredible run that doesn't happen often and will end at some point. Patriots fans need to realize how good they have it.

When the Dolphins are on offense

The Dolphins offense goes as far as Reggie Bush takes them. As ESPNBoston's Field Yates pointed out, the Bush has averaged 77 yards rushing in the Dolphins five wins and in the six losses he has averaged just 46.5 yards per game. The Patriots can handle this in two ways. One, bottle him up at the line by committing to stopping the run, which could open up passing plays. Secondly, score a lot of points to make the Dolphins turn into a one-dimensional passing team. The first option will be tough because of injuries, but Kyle Love, Vince Wilfork and Brandon Deaderick should play as well as a full complement of starting linebackers.

The Dolphins starting quarterback is Ryan Tannehill, a rookie from Texas A&M. Tannehill has 7 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, so he isn't exactly lighting the world on fire. He does have decent targets in Brian Hartline and Devone Bess and has completed 59% of his passes. Let's face it, every quarterback the Patriots play has the potential to put up some big numbers, but I don't see him winning the game.

When the Dolphins are on defense

The Dolphins are 26th against the pass this year when take yards per game into account. They give up an average 261 yards per game, even though they have only faced three top passing offenses. This does not bode well for this game if you are a Dolphins fan. The Dolphins have a solid pass rush especially coming from defensive end Cameron Wake who has 9.5 sacks. The Patriots can negate part of their pass rush by running right at the smaller Wake and there by tiring him out. Also, if the Patriots just throw, throw, throw, then Wake will be able to pin his ears back and rush every play. A dangerous scenario for Tom Brady.

Against the rush, the Dolphins are 7th in yards per game. They let up less than 100 yards per game and their top tackler is Karlos Dansby. Getting to Dansby will allow the Patriots runners to get the Dolphins safeties and possibly break a long run. I don't think their defense can handle the Patriots in either aspect of the game.

Prediction. Patriots 34, Dolphins 20

NFL Week 13 Picks: Thursday Night Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 03:11:00 +0000

Jimmy Graham (80) shredded the Falcons defense in week 10 to the tune of 7 catches, 146 yards and 2 touchdowns

New Orleans Saints (5-6) @ Atlanta Falcons (10-1)

One team is on top of the NFC and the other is fighting to get back to .500. Back in week 10, the roles were seemingly reversed when the Saints handed the Falcons their first loss on the backs of great performances by Jimmy Graham and Drew Brees. This week, however, the game is in Atlanta and it is easy to see that the Falcons will be keying on the Saints explosive tight end. So the question is, can the receivers make enough plays to win the game? I'm not so sure they can. Although the Saints won the week 10 matchup, Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns. The Saints pass defense is ranked 30th and will be exploited as it was in week 10. These teams are very similar in terms of offensive production because they rely solely on the passing game. The Falcons and Saints are 28th and 27th respectively in rushing, but boast top five passing attacks. This game will be a shootout and one worthy of carving some time out of your schedule to watch.

PREDICTION. Falcons 41, Saints 36

Week 12 NFL Picks

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 14:50:00 +0000

WEEK 12

Last week: 11-3

Season: 93-62

THURSDAY'S PICKS

Detroit Lions over Houston Texans

Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys

New England Patriots over New York Jets

SUNDAY'S PICKS

Chicago Bears over Minnesota Vikings

Cincinnati Bengals over Oakland Raiders

Cleveland Browns over Pittsburgh Steelers

Indianapolis Colts over Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos over Kansas City Chiefs

Seattle Seahawks over Miami Dolphins

Atlanta Falcons over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jacksonville Jaguars over Tennessee Titans

Baltimore Ravens over San Diego Chargers

Arizona Cardinals over St. Louis Rams

GAME OF THE WEEK

New Orleans Saints over San Francisco 49ers

Green Bay Packers over New York Giants

MONDAY'S PICK

Carolina Panthers over Philadelphia Eagles

The Jets are thankful they only play the Pats twice and my Turkey Day Picks

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:43:00 +0000

Without Gronk, Welker the receiver Brady is most thankful for this week.

New England Patriots (7-3) @ New York Jets (4-6)

Gronk and Red Zone Issues

After winning 29-26 in week 7, the Patriots know they can beat the Jets with less than a perfect effort and that is what they might have this week without Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots are one of the most efficient teams in the red zone and Gronk is a big reason why. Finding a new go-to receiver will be the key to the Patriots continuing their journey towards a top playoff seed. The Jets are 29th in rushing defense so Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen could be the answer in the red zone. Also, the possible return of Aaron Hernandez could have an impact depending on how healthy he is.

Pressuring Sanchez
Mark Sanchez has had a tough season for many reasons but one big reason is that he does not deal well with pressure like many quarterbacks. The Patriots will be without leading pass rusher, Chandler Jones, because of an ankle injury. Taking his place will most likely be Jermaine Cunningham, who has had a decent season in a reserve role. The best match up along the line today and possibly in the NFL, is Vince Wilfork going up against Nick Mangold. Both are All-Pro caliber players that anchor their respective teams. If you have any interest in line play, those two are a good place to start watching.

Run, Run, Run
As I said above, the Jets have a bad run defense and the Patriots have the line and weapons to take advantage of that. The Patriots rushed for over 130 yards in their last meeting and I expect the Patriots to have at least that many yards today. If Josh Mcdaniel is smart, Ridley should get a lot of action today. In my view he needs at least 20 carries today. He seems to be more effective as the game goes on.

Prediction. Patriots 37, Jets 14

Thanksgiving Picks

Detroit over Texans

Redskins over Cowboys

Colts, Patriots rivalry is not what is once was; My picks for Week 11

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 06:07:00 +0000

Indianapolis Colts (6-3) @ New England Patriots (6-3)

At one time, the Patriots-Colts and Tom Brady-Peyton Manning rivalry was the biggest game on either teams' schedule, but as the teams have changed that just is not so anymore. A lot of media people are trying to build this into a rivalry, but one important regular season does not make a rivalry. I understand it because Brady is at the top of his game as an older quarterback, while Andrew Luck is the new superstar in the league. This week is important because both teams could be in the playoffs and a win would help each team jockey for a better seed in the playoffs.

Both of these teams have flaws and most of them come on the defensive side of the ball. The Colts are ranked a respectable 15th in opponents passing yards per game, although they have only played two legitimate passing attacks this season. Their run defense is where they have struggled, allowing over 120 yards per game. The Patriots on the other hand, can't stop the pass and have dropped to 29th in yards allowed per game. The run defense is ranked 8th but last week against Buffalo they gave up a season-high 162 yards rushing.

On offense is where both of these teams truly excel. The Patriots offense is well-known and are 7th in passing and 5th in rushing, but the story for them will be how their key injuries are dealt with. Logan Mankins, and Aaron Hernandez will most likely not play this week and the Patriots have 15 others listed as questionable on the injury report, including Wes Welker, and Patrick Chung. The Colts can throw the ball with Luck and his biggest threat is a Patriot Killer. Reggie Wayne, has 69 catches, 931 yards and 3 TD's with seven games to go. The Patriots would be smart to slow him down if that is possible with the current state of the Patriots pass defense. After Wayne, the talent level at the skill positions really drops off.

Luck and the Colts have been a great story so far but they will not be able to keep up with the Patriots even with the Patriots struggles against the pass. A couple key players to watch would be Aqib Talib, Chandler Jones, and Devin McCourty. All three defensive players will need solid games to keep Luck from stealing this game from the AFC East leaders.

PREDICTION. Patriots 31, Colts 17

Week 11 NFL Picks

Last week: 9-5 Season: 82-59

Dolphins over Bills

Falcons over Cardinals

Cowboys over Browns

Packers over Lions

Bengals over Chiefs

Redskins over Eagles

Panthers over Buccaneers

Texans over Jaguars

Rams over Jets

Saints over Raiders

Broncos over Chargers

Ravens over Steelers

49ers over Bears

BYES: Titans, Vikings, Giants, Seahawks

NFL Week 11 Picks: Thursday Night Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 01:29:00 +0000

If the Bills and Dolphins are smart, these two should have the ball all night long

Miami Dolphins (4-5) @ Buffalo Bills (3-6)

The Bills and Dolphins are both looking up at the 6-3 Patriots at this point, because both teams have some serious issues. The Bills can't stop the run and the Dolphins can't stop the pass and both have a penchant for turning the ball over. Although those issues could keep them from the playoffs, these two teams could put on an interesting show because of the talent and types of offenses they run.

The Bills have the worst run defense in the NFL giving up over 163 yards per game. If the Dolphins are smart they should hand the ball off quite a bit. The Dolphins only handed the ball off 15 times last week because they were blown out 37-3 by the Titans. Reggie Bush only took four handoffs, which should at least be quadrupled this week. Bush should also be active in the passing game. One weakness the Dolphins have is that they don't use the talented Bush nearly enough.

Buffalo will be without one of their two talented running backs as Fred Jackson was knocked out of last week's game by Brandon Spikes of the Patriots. That could mean that C.J. Spiller will get to see the ball quite a bit. That could lead to huge numbers for him because coming into this game, Spiller leads the league in average yards per carry, which is over 7 yards a rush. Splller has 929 total yards from scrimmage, so he too should be a factor in the passing game.

If you can't tell, I think the winner of this game will depend on which running back has the better game and which turnover-prone quarterback holds onto the ball. Dolphins 31, Bills 27

Patriots try to continue their trek to the playoffs against the Bills

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 04:57:00 +0000

Devin McCourty picking off one of his two passes against the Bills in Week 4

Buffalo Bills (3-5) @ New England Patriots (5-3)

In week 4, the Patriots beat the Bills 52-28, which sounds like (and eventually was) a sound beating but in the the 3rd quarter the Bills led 21-7 before the Patriots tore off 6 straight scoring drives. The Patriots gave up 438 yards of total offense but balanced that out by forcing six turnovers. The key to today's game for the Patriots is to start playing right from the opening kickoff.

The defense will have to be the most ready to go if the Patriots are not planning on needing a big comeback. Dating back to January 1st of last season, Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown four interceptions against the Patriots in two straight games. In each of those two games though, Fitzpatrick has also thrown for over 300 yards. The Bills offense is talented and when it is not turning the ball over can be difficult to stop. In the first meeting this season, the Bills running back duo of Fred Jackson (218 yards, 1 TD on the season) and C.J. Spiller (562 yards, 4 TD) were coming off injuries and were questionable to play. Today the duo should be the center of attention for the defense.

The Patriots defense should be up to the task of stopping the Bills when they run but Spiller and Jackson are effective in the passing game which could be a weakness the Bills could exploit. Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes and Dont'a Hightower have some speed (Spikes is at least a step slower) but in the open field could lose the Bills running backs. The Patriots defensive backfield will not have the services of its newest member, Aqib Talib, because of his suspension. The most interesting question back there will be where Devin McCourty lines up. McCourty has been more effective at safety but who will play opposite Kyle Arrington? The defense could be without safeties Patrick Chung and Steve Gregory again.

Offensively, the Patriots have not had many problems this year. The one problem they have had is injuries, but this week the Patriots could get Logan Mankins back. Aaron Hernandez though, has been ruled out again even though he practiced most of the week. The Patriots have the top offense in the league and have a decided advantage when they run the ball because the Bills rank 31st in stopping the run. In week 4, the Pats racked up 247 yards rushing with Brandon Bolden and Stevan Ridley both surpassing 100 yards. There will not be a repeat performance because Bolden test positive for performance enhancing drugs and will be suspended for the next four games. It will be interesting to see if the Bills much-hyped pass rush will actually show up this week, as it did not in week 4, only sacking Tom Brady once. As with any game, Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski should be targeted early and often.

Prediction. Patriots 37, Bills 20

NFL Week 10 Picks

Last week: 8-6 Season: 73-54

Colts over Jaguars

Giants over Bengals

Dolphins over Titans

Lions over Vikings

Saints over Falcons

Chargers over Buccaneers

Broncos over Panthers

Ravens over Raiders

Seahawks over Jets

Cowboys over Eagles

49ers over Rams

Bears over Texans

Steelers over Chiefs

Luck, Colts seek revenge against Jaguars

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:27:00 +0000

The Jaguars secondary should be scared of the young gun

Indianapolis Colts (5-3) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7) 8:20 p.m.

Not many people would have thought the Colts would be playoff contenders after saying goodbye to Peyton Manning and welcoming rookie Andrew Luck to be the franchise quarterback. But that is right where the Colts are right now, fighting for a playoff spot. Luck has played every part of the franchise quarterback role in his first season. To this point, Luck has four 300-yard games which ties some guy that used to wear number 18 for the Colts not too long ago for the rookie record.

The Colts offense has played quite well so far. 33 year old Reggie Wayne is averaging over 100 yards receiving per game and on the season has 61 catches for 835 yards. An impressive display so far by a receiver who many consider to be on the downside of his career. The defense has been suspect against the run (25th ranked) but have played well against the pass (11th ranked).

In week 3, the Jaguars won the first contest of the AFC South rivals, 22-17. Jacksonville has been very disappointing this season, especially on offense. The Jaguars rank 32nd in passing yards and 28th in rushing yards. Second year quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, has improved from his rookies season but he still has not played well enough for the Jaguars to win especially with the injury to Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew will be out tonight, adding even more pressure to Gabbert and his unheralded receiving corps. The leading receiver for Jacksonville is Cecil Shorts this season which is curious because the team spent the fifth pick of last year's draft on Justin Blackmon. Blackmon has been a major disappointment so far with only 23 catches on 54 targets, a terrible ratio. The Jaguars defense has not been all-world either. They currently rank 25th in opponent passing yards and 27th in opponent rushing yards.

PREDICTION: Luck will get another 300-yard game, and in doing so breaks Peyton Manning's rookie record. Colts 34, Jags 24

Is Aqib Talib the answer for the Patriots?

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:07:00 +0000

This is probably how Talib reacted when he was told he was now a Patriot.

The Patriots needed help in the secondary and got it during their bye week by trading for Aqib Talib. The question everyone is asking is he worth a fourth round pick especially with his history of legal transgressions. Talib will be worth the risks.

Talib's Troubles

First off, Talib has made some very poor choices. Click the previous sentence to see a timeline of his trouble's since entering the NFL put together by the Tampa Bay Times. The first two issues are fights that occurred with teammates in 2008 and 2009. On these two occasions, Talib has said that he needs to work on his temper. I would also toss into the mix his maturity level.

The next issue in which Talib physically assaulted a cab driver while the cab was on the highway. This is one is just plain dumb and Talib's fault. This is one reason why he has a bad reputation because this idiotic story. He deserves this one. The next transgression is an altercation with an NFL official after a tough loss. His coach at the time, Raheem Morris, said Talib did nothing wrong.

The worst issue upon first glance was this one:

March 2011: Talib and his mother, Okolo, are charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after an altercation with the live-in boyfriend of Talib’s sister. Talib is accused of firing shots during an argument on a residential street. TAMPA BAY TIMES

But those charges were dropped because the witness was not credible. The boyfriend of Talib's sister was allegedly two-time sex offender and in the weeks before this incident had been arrested for domestic abuse of the sister (WEEI's Dennis and Callahan). So this goes down as another terrible decision but he was sticking up for his sister.

Talib's head coach at Kansas, Mark Mangino had this to say about Talib in the Boston Herald:

“I just think if you look at it from the outside, you’ll say, ‘Boy, this guy is a real problem,’ ” Mangino said. “If you get to know him, you get to coach him, you get to be around him every day, you get to interact with him, you’ll say, ‘Hey, this guy isn’t who I thought he was.’ People that think he’s a bad person, after they meet him, they say, ‘Well, he’s an awesome guy.’
“I’m confident. I have my utmost confidence in him that he is going to do some fantastic things in New England, and it’s going to be a good marriage.”

Talib on the Field

					Def Interceptions				Fumbles		Tackles
Year	Age	Tm	G	GS	Int	Yds	TD	PD	FF	FR	Tkl	Ast
2008	22	TAM	15	2	4	32	0	9			14	6
2009	23	TAM	15	15	5	99	0	14	0	1	56	8
2010	24	TAM	11	11	6	91	1	11			38	1
2011	25	TAM	13	13	2	55	2	11	1	0	31	4
2012	26	TAM	4	4	1	0	0	7			20	1
Career			58	45	18	277	3	52	1	1	159	20

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table

Generated 11/4/2012.

The NFL Network's Michael Lombardi told WEEI's Dennis and Callahan that when Talib shows up after his suspension is over, he will be the best cover corner on the roster.

Talib is tall, athletic and has the rare ability (at least on the Patriots roster) to turn for the ball. Although he has only played four games this season he would be second on the Patriots with seven pass breakups. Last season, Talib played 13 games and he picked off two passes and returned both for touchdowns. Take a look at his career numbers above. He is a playmaker and right now the Patriots need that more than anything else.

The biggest plus for this move is that Devin McCourty will most likely stay at safety. If you listen to sports talk radio or read about the Patriots, fans are down on McCourty but this move will be a positive one. I like McCourty's talent and he will be used best as a free safety. He has ball skills and he can tackle. His athleticism will make a difference defending the deep ball that has beat the Patriots so often this season.

Give this move some time to come together but it is obvious that Bill Belichick and the Patriots want to win right now and getting a corner that has a chance to cover the big-time receivers one-on-one is a huge deal. The Colts game takes on an even more interesting spin. Talib will get his chance at helping to shut down Andrew Luck, who looks like a star.

Week 9 NFL Picks

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 17:56:00 +0000

Week 9 NFL Picks

Last week: 8-5 Season: 65-49

Chiefs over Chargers

Broncos over Bengals

Ravens over Browns

Packers over Cardinals

Bears over Titans

Dolphins over Colts

Redskins over Panthers

Lions over Jaguars

Texans over Bills

Vikings over Seahawks

Raiders over Buccaneers

Giants over Steelers

Falcons over Cowboys

Saints over Eagles

Week 9 Picks: Thursday Night Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:14:00 +0000

Rivers has led a disappointing offense and it starts with him.

Kansas City Chiefs (1-6) @ San Diego Chargers (3-4)

Historically, the Chiefs and Chargers have been rivals since 1960. The their series is knotted at 52-52-1. Why does this matter? Well, it doesn't matter at all, but it shows how equal these teams have been throughout the years. The Chiefs and Chargers are very similar this season as well.

Both starting quarterbacks, Philip Rivers and Matt Cassell, have both struggled this season for various reasons. Rivers has struggled with interceptions and some of that is because of a lack of a deep threat and a running game that is ranked 21st. Cassell has been a train wreck so far this season. He has been so bad that he would not be starting this game if not for a concussion to Brady Quinn. That's right, the Chiefs would choose to start Quinn of all people in front of Cassell. Cassell has thrown 10 interceptions on the season. One would think having Jamal Charles and the 4th ranked rushing offense would open up the field a little for Cassell but that has not been the case. The Chiefs rank 27th in passing offense. The Chargers are only one notch better at 26th.

Common Factors

- Both are on losing streaks. Chiefs have lost the last four and the Chargers the last three.

- Both coaches are on the hot seat. The Chiefs' Romeo Crennell is only 3-7 since taking over for the last three games last season. Norv Turner is perpetually on the hot seat, but this season could be his undoing unless the Chargers make one of their patented late-season charges

Prediction: The Chiefs are at their best when they can run the ball. The Chargers are ranked 2nd in the NFL in rush defense. Who will give in this matchup? The Chiefs have Jamal Charles, so he could rush for 200 yards or 20 yards. Tough Call. The Chargers will be without Eddie Royal and Robert Meachem at receiver. The Chargers will also be going against Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, two pass rushers that can beat up the Chargers line. Also, add in safety Eric Berry and Rivers penchant to throw into coverage, the Chiefs pull this one out in San Diego. Chiefs 24, Chargers18

A quick Boston Celtics Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 01:18:00 +0000

2012-2013 Celtics Preview

To add another banner, the Green will have to dethrone King James and the Heat

Tonight is opening night for the NBA and the Boston Celtics. Make sure to tune in a little late if watching the Lebron, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh raising a championship banner makes you want to throwup as it does for me. Although watching this ceremony will be unbearable, I hope the Celtics get a little extra motivation from watching a rival raise a banner. That goes double when it is this Heat team.

The defending champs will be just as tough to beat this season, especially when the Celtics are a little bit older. The 2012-2013 Celtics will be a deeper team with more quality options coming off the bench. The loss of Ray Allen will turn out to be more of an emotional loss than an actual on-court loss. Ray Allen is a turnstile on defense and is a one-trick pony on offense at this point, even if that one trick is still great. The additions of Jason Terry (left), Courtney Lee, and Leandro Barbosa will be important during the regular season where they will play quality minutes and key minutes in the playoffs will be up for grabs.

The Big Three of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will still be a great triumvirate but two of the three will have their minutes managed if not reduced. Rondo will take even more of the burden, but he should enjoy running with the new guys.

Jeff Green's return will be an upgrade on the bench and occasionally as a starter as the season goes on. Green seems to have built a rapport with Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge, when both of them were supportive while dealing with the player's heart ailment. I think this will allow Green to feel more comfortable with the team. He definitely didn't seem to find a comfort zone with the C's when he was out there.

Brandon Bass will start for most of the season and provide the type of production that he did last season which was 12.5 points per game, over six rebounds and almost one block a game. Just a solid player. You can't ask for much more than that.

The rookies will have varying levels of impact this season. Jared Sullinger, the big man from Ohio State, should be the immediate impact with his wide body, ability to rebound and score down low. Sullinger fell to the Celtics because of his injury history wich could still be a factor, but has performed well in the preseason. Fab Melo, the other big man from Syracuse, will be more of a developmental player. He has not played much basketball but has the talent to be something if he has any work ethic, which has been questioned in college.

The other guys that will make an impact will be: Avery Bradley, who may start when he returns from his shoulder injury; Chris Wilcox, who will provide some bulk if he is healthy after his own heart-related issue; Darko Milicic, who could play some minutes at center and provide some offensive punch from a player that will be low in the rotation.

The rest of the roster: Kris Joseph, Jason Collins

The Celtics goal is to make the playoffs and get home-court advantage in the first series, so a top-four seed in the playoffs. Once the playoffs start, the kid gloves will come off from KG, The Truth, and Jason Terry. Will they have enough to get by the Heat? It could be closer than you think.

Patriots and Rams visit jolly old England

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 04:10:00 +0000

What does this city have to do with football? Ask the NFL, because I have no idea

New England Patriots (4-3) @ St. Louis Rams (3-4) in London

If you listen to sports talk radio in Boston or have watched anything about the Patriots this season, you have definitely heard about how porous their pass defense has been. The defense has been so bad that just about every quarterback they have faced (besides Arizona's Kevin Kolb) has looked like a future hall of famer. Just look at the passing yards they have given up in the past five weeks: Mark Sanchez, 328 yards; Russell Wilson, 293 yards; Peyton Manning, 337 yards; Ryan Fitzpatrick, 350 yards; Joe Flacco, 382 yards.

By looking at those numbers it is amazing that the Patriots were 3-2 during that span. By anyone's account the Patriots have been terrible against the pass. At this time, it doesn't seem like there is a way to improve on that besides hoping that the younger players will start to make plays.

Not only has the defense been bad, but the Patriots have been extremely unlucky in the injury department. Just look at Friday's injury report from patriots.com. Seven players are out completely including Patrick Chung and Steve Gregory, both starting safeties. The offense could suffer as well without Aaron Hernandez but with the bye coming up next week, two weeks off could help him later in the season. The ELEVEN questionable players is huge but nine of them have significant roles. This could be a very difficult game, not to mention that the game takes place over 3,000 miles from home.

OUT
Player	Position	Injury
Brandon Bolden	RB	Knee
Patrick Chung	S	Shoulder
Ras-I Dowling	CB	Thigh
Steve Gregory	S	Hip
Aaron Hernandez	TE	Ankle
Trevor Scott	DE	Hamstring
Tracy White	LB	Foot

DOUBTFUL
Player	Position	Injury
No Players Listed

QUESTIONABLE
Player	Position	Injury
Ron Brace	DT	Back
Julian Edelman	WR	Hand
Rob Gronkowski	TE	Hip
Dont'a Hightower	LB	Hamstring
Brandon Lloyd	WR	Knee
Logan Mankins	G	Calf/Hip
Jerod Mayo	LB	Illness/Elbow
Nick McDonald	OL	Shoulder
Sterling Moore	CB	Knee
Sebastian Vollmer	OT	Back/Knee
Wes Welker	WR	Ankle

PROBABLE
Player	Position	Injury
Kyle Love	DT	Knee

The Patriots are still my pick to win this game even with their injuries because most of the questionables will make it on the field because they have to at this point. Sam Bradford, the Rams' quarterback, was a number one pick and has the talent to go along with that. He has not always had the talent at receiver to do anything substantial, but with the Patriots pass D, this could be a break out week.

The Rams defense is 14th in pass yards allowed but do have a solid defense that could give the banged up offensive line some trouble. Chris Long and Robert Quinn have combined for 11 sacks this season and free agent pickup Cortland Finnegan has solidified the defensive backs with three interceptions and feisty play.

Although I have picked the Patriots every week, and that trend will continue this week, I was very close to picking the Rams because of the inconsistency of the Patriots. Patriots 34, Rams 27

NFL WEEK 8

Last week: 10-3 Season: 57-44

Vikings over Buccaneers
Browns over Chargers

Bears over Panthers

Lions over Seahawks

Jets over Dolphins

Falcons over Eagles

Redskins over Steelers

Packers over Jaguars

Titans over Colts

Raiders over Chiefs

Giants over Cowboys

Broncos over Saints

49ers over Cardinals

BYES: Bills, Bengals, Texans, Ravens

Week 8 Picks: Thursday Night Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:27:00 +0000

Peterson and Harvin are the top two reasons why the Vikings will win at home tonight.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

The Vikings come into tonight's game at 5-2 and because the NFC is so tough this year, they are currently the number five seed in their conference. The Buccaneers have seen how tough the NFC has been so far. In their conference, the Bucs are only 1-4.

The Vikings have three key advantages over the Buccaneers. First, Adrian Peterson is running unbelievably well after tearing his ACL last season. So far this season he has rushed for 652 yards which ranks third in the NFL. Even more importantly, the Vikings are 5-0 when Peterson rushes for at least 80 yards. Tampa has the third ranked rushing defense in the NFL only giving up an average of 77 yards per game. Will it come down to which team wins this battle?

Secondly, Percy Harvin has been as amazing as he was in college at Florida. Harvin leads the NFL in all-purpose yards with 1,142 and is second in the league with 53 receptions. He only needs 34 catches to top his career high. The Buccaneers will have to watch where he lines up because he can be in the slot, the backfield, and out wide.

Finally, the Vikings have a defense that will harass quarterback Josh Freeman and the Buccaneers offense. The Vikings are currently ranked 6th in scoring defense, while the Bucs are 15th. Keep an eye on Jared Allen. He has a five-game sack streak and has 6 overall. I expect that trend to continue if Freeman holds the ball.

The Buccaneers are not without talented players especially Vincent Jackson. The Bucs leading receiver has 586 yards on only 27 catches. Jackson is catching less than half of the balls thrown to him but when he does get the ball, the Vikings better watch out. Jackson had 216 yards last week and averages over 21 yards per catch.

The Vikings will win this one because of Peterson, Harvin, and their defense as well as the Buccaneers lack of pass coverage skills (28th in opp. passing yards). Vikings 34, Buccaneers 21

Unlike most rivalry weeks, Jets keep mouths shut

noreply@blogger.com (Derek Rose) — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 06:40:00 +0000

These two get a lot of coverage, but play on field will make the difference

New York Jets (3-3) @ New England Patriots (3-3) 4:25 p.m.

It seems as though the New York Jets are trying a new tactic in the lead up to games against the Patriots. They are being complimentary and keeping the bulletin board material to a minimum. It doesn't seem right and worries me a little. Could the Jets actually sneak up on the Patriots?

The Jets have been in the news for only a couple reasons this year: Rex Ryan's weight loss, Tim Tebow and the team's poor play. All season the Jets have been talked about as a walking dead team that should just pack it in and start Tebow. The only thing wrong with that is the fact that they have the same record as the other teams in their division. Less hype in this case could be a negative for the Patriots.

Overall, the Patriots have more talent than the Jets especially with their injuries to key players. But I have said that same thing about the Cardinals and Seahawks. Hopefully, the Patriots can see that this game is incredibly important in winning the division and getting a decent seed in the playoffs.

The Patriots seem to be set up to have a big win against their division rival. The Patriots have decided advantages when the Patriots run as the Pats are ranked 4th in rushing yards and the Jets are ranked 28th in opponents' rushing yardage. Secondly, the Patriots rank 5th in opponents' rushing yardage, while the Jets are ranked 15th in rushing. The Patriots should be able to have a good pass-run balance this week. Stevan Ridley could end up having a big game.

The Patriots pass defensive is dismal as we all know but so is the Jets pass offense. It currently ranks 30th in the NFL. One of the keys that I see for this week is keeping an eye on Tim Tebow. He could line up anywhere on the field. There has been a lot of talk of having him play running back this week. My key concern would be trick plays, and wildcat situations. The Jets offense doesn't have the weapons to throw deep on the weak Patriots secondary like other teams have done.

On paper, the Patriots should win this game going away. I still see this game being won by the Patriots but it will be a 10-point margin of victory. Patriots 31, Jets 21

NFL Week 7

Last week: 4-8 Season: 47-41

49ers over Seahawks

Bills over Titans

Giants over Redskins

Saints over Buccaneers

Cowboys over Panthers

Texans over Ravens

Colts over Browns

Packers over Rams

Vikings over Cardinals

Raiders over Jaguars

Bengals over Steelers

Lions over Bears

BYES: Falcons, Broncos, Chiefs, Dolphins, Eagles, Chargers