Frank Football

Not Another Boring Super Bowl Recap: 10 things to remember about the 2011 season

2012-02-08T05:14:29Z

Rather than rehash the Super Bowl, I thought I’d do what I did last year, and talk about 10 of the most interesting stories that took place during the 2011 season. Enjoy.

Victor Cruz proves scouting is still an inexact science.
- How many teams could use an explosive slot receiver who also plays on the outside? Salsa dance aside, Victor was the most electrifying player to emerge from nowhere to super star this season. Even Giants general manager Jerry Reese acknowledged that the Giants were very happy with Cruz and he exceeded all of their expectations. The fact that all 32 teams passed on Cruz during the draft shows that the best talent isn’t always at the biggest programs with the biggest television contracts. Who will be Victor Cruz in 2012? Whoever he is you probably haven’t seen him yet.
Tom Brady is new Peyton Manning.
- For years Brady had the luxury of playing with a solid defense and running game. Brady took full advantage by winning his first 10 postseason starts along with 3 Super Bowls. However in Brady’s last 12 playoff starts he is only 6 – 6 including two Super Bowl losses to the New York Giants. So what’s wrong with Brady? Absolutely nothing. He is still probably the best quarterback in the game but his supporting cast is not nearly what it used to be. What Brady did this season was remarkable for the fact the he lead a team with a last place defense and no game breaking wide receivers within a hail mary pass of winning a Super Bowl. Brady is just as good as he ever was, but unfortunately for him he is experiencing the cruel reality that often befell Peyton Manning in Indianapolis. Teams win titles, not individuals.
Cam Newton is in a class by himself.
- One thing that kills me is when people only compare Cam Newton to other African American QBs. Granted, there have been some great black quarterbacks in NFL history but to compare Newton to Randall Cunningham or Michael Vick because he is mobile is missing the point. Cam Newton not only broke the rushing touchdown record for rookies (with 14) but he also threw for the most passing yards (4,051) of any rookie (breaking Peyton Manning’s record) in NFL history. Cam Newton is what scouts have always wanted: a mobile, pass first QB who is just as good with his arm as he is with his legs. Right now Cam isn’t like anyone I’ve ever seen and so I think it will be interesting to see how he develops going into his second season.
The Lions are good again.
- Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson helped the Lions to their first playoff berth since 1999. Even though they lost to the Saints in the wild card round, Detroit fans can finally breathe easy knowing that the Lions have finally turned the corner.
Peyton Manning will play for the Cardinals next season.
- Despite several notions that Peyton will head to the 49ers or the Redskins, I see him ending up on the Cardinals. Why Arizona? Three reasons. The first reason is the Cardinals have a team that can contend right away with Peyton under center. Second they have the money to potentially bring in Peyton’s favorite target, Reggie Wayne. Lastly, Arizona has great weather and a retractable dome so he won’t have too many bad weather games playing in the NFC West.
The Texans are still kicking themselves.
- Sure it was a feel good story that the Texans finally made the playoffs and even won a playoff game. But with the way things played out the Texans have to feel like they had a chance to make to the Super Bowl if not for the injury to Matt Schaub. Houston had a championship caliber defense and running game but their inexperience at QB really prevented them from advancing further in the 2011 postseason.
Roughing the passer is still a joke.
- Protecting the QBs is vital to the game, but this is football, right? Too many times a flag is thrown when a QB is barely touched or has his helmet grazed after throwing a pass. I am ok with blatant late hit penalties or obvious blows to the head being called but the referees continue to error on the extreme side of caution.
Moving the kick off up 5 yards didn’t ruin kick off returns.
- Sure, there were more touch backs but there were plenty of long returns as well. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen as many 100 yard plus kick off returns in one season. I actually kind of liked the long returns myself. The main question is did the NFL see a reduction in the number of injuries on kick offs from previous seasons? If so good job, NFL.
Momentum is better than being good.
- The Giants of this year and 2007 along with the Packers of 2010 prove that getting hot means a lot more than being good during the regular season. However, it is a fine line to try to achieve the perfect balance of desperation to build up momentum while still avoiding getting knocked out of the playoffs. The key is for teams that do well during the regular season to keep that edge going into the playoffs. Easier said than done.
The 2012 season will be here before you know it.
- With no lockout looming, you can kick back and enjoy the off season knowing that the NFL will be back in September 2012. Ironically, the NFL benefited greatly from the threat of the game being taken away from the fans in the form of increased popularity that broke numerous television and merchandising records this season.

Super Bowl XLVI – Who wins the Giants – Patriots rematch?

2012-02-03T13:06:26Z

How the Patriots Win:

This was lot easier to figure before Gronkowski got hurt. Now I am not sure how the Patriots will compensate for the loss of their best playmaker. One thing is for sure though, Bill Belichick knows he must slow down the Giants pass rush and because of that look for a lot more running plays than usual from the Patriots. I know people are clamoring for Ochocinco to make an impact but I wouldn’t count on that happening at this point. I expect a lot of short passes and screens to both Green-Ellis and Ridley to make up for the loss of Gronk. Of course, Welker and Hernandez will have to step up as well.

When the Pats are on defense I think they try to mix up the looks they give Eli Manning. Staying with one particular look will get them carved to shreds so look for Belichick to mix up some sneaky blitzes backed by some complex zones schemes. The Patriots best defensive game plan is to tackle well and limit yards after catch because the Giants receivers (Nicks, Cruz, Manningham) are very explosive after the catch. Wilfork is also a huge factor and must play well in order to slow down the Giants run game.

How the Giants Win:

Eli Manning has to continue to play well. He has been the glue that has kept this team going when nothing else was working and so the team will feed off of his play. Look for the Giants to throw on early downs to see where the best match ups. If Julian Edelman is on the field the Giants will likely go after him but, I also look for the Giants to run the ball a lot as well. Brandon Jacobs could end up being a huge x-factor as his punishing running style could provide dividends for the Giants as the game wears on.

On defense it’s kind of simple, the Giants know they have to get to Brady. The Giants seemingly catch a break in that Gronkowski won’t be 100% so look for New York to single cover him for the most part. Corey Webster is also a huge x-factor for the Giants defense. He has played well all season and will need to continue to do so as he will probably be alone on the outside against Deion Branch or Chad Ochocinco.

And the Super Bowl XLVI Winner is…

When it is all said and done Eli proves he is truly elite (again) and out duels Brady for his second and the Giants (4th) Super Bowl Title.

Giants 28 – Patriots 20

Last Week: 2 - 0 (1 - 1 vs spread)

2011 Playoffs: 9 - 1 (5 - 5 vs spread)

2011 Season: 41 - 27 (36 - 28 - 4 vs spread)

Peyton to the Texans? – A look at 15 teams where the current Colt QB may land

2012-01-31T02:28:31Z

Yes, that 800 lb gorilla in the backdrop of the Super Bowl is the impending fate of Peyton Manning.

It appears his days with the Colts are numbered but if Peyton decides to keep playing we might as well rank the best destinations for the future hall of famer.

Enjoy the Peyton Manning Power Rankings.

Rank	Team	Comment
1	49ers	Alex Smith might be playing better than he ever has, but Peyton Manning would make this team a Super Bowl favorite instantly.
2	Redskins	The Redskins have been looking for a franchise QB since Theismann and Manning would certainly fit the bill, if only for a few seasons.
3	Jets	Getting Manning would be a bold move since it would signal giving up on Sanchez but winning trumps all in today's NFL.
4	Dolphins	They have a good enough team to contend with a difference maker like Peyton under center.
5	Chiefs	Romeo Crennel would focus on the defense and let Peyton run the offense.
6	Broncos	Tim Tebow might be the future but, if he has enough patience, sitting behind Manning for a couple of seasons wouldn't hurt his development.
7	Seahawks	In an division that's winnable Peyton would turn the Seahawks into instant contenders.
8	Raiders	The Raiders gave up a lot for Carson Palmer so taking a flyer on Peyton would only be fitting.
9	Titans	CJ2K would be happy to see Peyton Manning under center.
10	Bills	Sure they just committed big money to Ryan Fitzpatrick but Peyton Manning is a difference maker that would make them contenders in a tough division.
11	Cowboys	Romo would fetch major trade bait and help the Cowboys fill some of their holes on defense.
12	Cardinals	John Skelton, Kevin Kolb, or Peyton Manning? Just saying.
13	Texans	Schaub can't stay healthy and Peyton would love to stick it to the Colts twice a year.
14	Browns	Colt McCoy hasn't convinced any one he's the franchise QB of the future just yet.
15	Buccaneers	Josh Freeman is a great young talent but the lure of Peyton could be tempting to new head coach Greg Schiano.

Super Repeat – 7 Things About Championship Sunday

2012-01-24T01:50:18Z

Here goes the run down for Championship Sunday:

Special Teams are anything but.
- Billy Cundiff and Kyle Williams both had games to forget in their respective conference championship games. Cundiff will have an entire off season to relive his shanked 32 yard field goal that could have sent the game to overtime. As for Kyle Williams his circumstance is even tougher to swallow as he mishandled two punts filling in for the injured Tedd Ginn, Jr. The Giants capitalized on the two Kyle Williams fumbles and turned in them into the go ahead touchdown in 4th quarter and the game winner in overtime. It’s sad when a team’s season ends with such a clear scape goat. I don’t think it’s fair but it’s part of the business. Here’s to a strong comeback for Kyle Williams and Billy Cundiff in 2012.
Flacco goes Wacko.
- You hear that? That silence is the sound of Joe Flacco’s critics after his stellar performance against the Patriots in Sunday’s Championship game. Flacco delivered balls on target for most of the game and outplayed his counterpart Tom Brady in his own backyard. Certainly, the Ravens don’t have anything to show for Flacco’s effort but I don’t think there will be any controversy going forward as to whether he can lead this team to a title.
The 49ers defense is mean.
- The 49ers defense put on one of the best shows I can remember in Championship game history. The 49ers pass rush harassed Eli Manning all day by sacking him six times and hitting him on 20 of his 58 pass attempts. They also held the Giants to only 85 yards rushing. Without the two gift turnovers from Kyle Williams I think we could very well be looking at a 49ers vs Patriots Superbowl.
Whither Alex Smith?
- After playing great in the 4th quarter against the Saints a week ago, Alex Smith looked a lot like, well Alex Smith. The Giants played great defense but the fact that Smith only completed one pass to a wide receiver for three yards is quite concerning. Smith has earned the right to lead the team in 2012 but he still needs to prove he can deliver in pressure spots consistently.
Eli survives the 49ers onslaught.
- Eli showed a lot of toughness against a 49ers front that intent on beating him to a pulp. Eli stayed down the barrel of many a 49er blitz to deliver first downs and touchdowns when the Giants needed it most. He said he was a top 5 QB when the season began and he has certainly delivered on his word so far. Next up Brady and the Patriots.
Brady gets a chance to be the greatest.
- Four years ago in Arizona, Brady took the field in what many thought would be the coronation to a perfect season and potentially being named the greatest QB of all time with the victory. Of course, you know how that one turned out. Now four years later Brady has a chance to get his fourth ring against the team that denied him before. Can Brady and the Pats get revenge on Big Blue?
Two weeks of hype sucks.
- As exciting as both of yesterday’s game were it’s kind of a buzz kill that we have to wait 2 weeks for the big game. How many times do we have to hear about Brady’s legacy, Eli’s elite play, Coughlin’s revival, etc.
  As much I am looking forward to Super Bowl XLVI there is not enough relevant information to span two weeks of dead space.

Championship Sunday Game Picks

2012-01-20T02:12:23Z

Patriots (-7) over Ravens

There's been a lot of talk about Joe Flacco and his underwhelming performance against the Texans. Flacco has certainly had his problems with consistency but I like him to get on track against the Pats woeful secondary in this one.

In fact, I think the Ravens will be questioning their defense when this game is all said and done. I like the Gronk and Hernandez against any one the Ravens throw out there and I think Brady is able to make enough big plays to get the Pats back to the Super Bowl.

Giants(+2.5) over 49ers

This is another tough game to pick. The 49ers defense has been outstanding but I couldn't help but notice they gave up 32 points to the Saints last week, even though they forced five turnovers. I don't think they'll be able to force five turnovers against the Giants and so I think New York will be able to make some big plays in the passing game.

On the other side of the ball Alex Smith had success throwing against single coverage when they faced the blitz crazy Saints. The Giants rarely blitz so Smith will find the passing windows are a little smaller than they were last week. With that in mind I like the Giants to win in a close game and represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLVI.

Last Week: 4 - 0 (2 - 2 vs spread)

2011 Playoffs: Last Week: 7 - 1 (4 - 4 vs spread)

2011 Season: 41 - 27 (36 - 28 - 4 vs spread)

See last week's picks right here.

Giants looking Super again – 5 Things about the Divisional Playoff Round

2012-01-17T00:07:20Z

Here goes the run down for the Divisional Playoffs:

Giants dominate the Packers.
- I won’t say that I am shocked about the outcome of the Giants Packers game seeing as I picked the New York to pull the upset earlier in the week. But I was shocked at how much the Giants dominated the Packers and how the officials were the Packers biggest source of offense. I’ll get to that in more detail down below. The Giants looked like the better team in every way and the Packers looked like a team that had already peaked and was out of sync after a couple of weeks off. With the Packers loss that marks the 4th time in 5 years that the NFC’s #1 seed fell in their first playoff game. Coincidence? I think not. Being hot matters more than a great body of work.
Don’t bring Tebow to a gun fight.
- The Patriots dismantled the Broncos and won their first playoff game since 2007 in the process. Brady was vintage Brady throwing for six touchdowns in the 45 – 10 win. I think what we learned from this game is that Tebow and the Broncos offense is extremely limited and cannot survive against teams that can score a ton of points. Sounds obvious, but many people had suspended their disbelief in lieu of Tebow and the Bronco’s late game heroics. The Patriots took care of that by making sure the game was over by halftime. The Patriots looked great on offense, no surprise, but the defense looked much better than they had in the past. However, while I was impressed with their defensive effort I need to see a repeat performance against the Ravens before I am a believer.
49ers stop the Saints march.
- What a great game this was. I haven’t seen a better playoff game in quite sometime. Hats off to the 49ers defense which played as physical a game as I have seen all season. Donte Witner deserves a gold star for the hit he put on Pierre Thomas. It caused an early Saints turnover which turned the tide in the 49ers favor. Give the Saints credit for rallying to retake the lead late in the 4th, but Alex Smith was having none of it. Alex Smith lead two touchdown drives to regain the lead and finally showed the world why the 49ers thought he was worthy of a #1 pick in 2005. Kudos to Jim Harbaugh and the coaching staff for sticking with Smith when many thought they should go in a different direction.
Ravens hang on against the Texans.
- Of all the winning teams over the weekend the Ravens victory was the least impressive. The Texans will look back at this game as an opportunity lost as they committed four turnovers. To the Ravens credit they took advantage of the Texans mistakes and turned them into enough points to secure the victory. Joe Flacco will have to play better against the Patriots because the Patriots will likely focus their defensive attention on Ray Rice and the running game. Ed Reed’s health is also a question mark and will play a huge factor in next week’s game. For now the Ravens survive for another week but they will need to improve all phases for a victory in Foxboro.
Officially challenged.
- There were some horrendous calls in the games this weekend. Several of them of taking placing in the Packers Giants game. You can read about all the blown calls here. I guess my main thought is what is the point of the replay system if everyone but the referees can interpret the outcome correctly? My second thought is roughing the passer is a joke. I think they’d be better off by telling defensive players you can only tackle a quarterback if he clearly has the ball in his possession. In the end, I am glad those calls didn’t affect the outcome of any of the games, but if they had…

Divisional Round NFL Game Picks

2012-01-12T02:56:35Z

49ers (+3.5) over Saints

The Saints are hottest team in the NFC indoors. Last time I checked the 49ers played outside.

Patriots over Broncos (+13.5)

The Broncos will give it the old Tebow try, but too much Gronkowski and Brady will leave the Pats on top.

Ravens(-7.5) over Texans

This could be Ray Lewis's last home playoff game. He's not going out a loser.

Giants(+7.5) over Packers

They did it 4 years ago, so why not again on Sunday?

Last Week: 3 - 1 (2 - 2 vs spread)

2011 Playoffs: Last Week: 3 - 1 (2 - 2 vs spread)

2011 Season: 41 - 27 (36 - 28 - 4 vs spread)

See last week's picks right here.

8 Teams From Glory – NFL Divisional Playoff Rankings

2012-01-11T01:53:18Z

There are only 8 teams left in the playoffs. See how all 8 stack up going into the divisional round this weekend.

Rank	Team	Record	Comment
1	Packers	15 - 1	Despite the Giants new found bravado the Packers have only lost one game this season and haven't lost at home. This is a focused team that knows how to win big games.
2	Saints	14 - 3	This might be the game that if they don't win they'll second guess that fluky loss to the Rams that cost them a chance to take on the 49ers in the Super Dome.
3	Ravens	12 - 4	Ray Rice is the key. As long the Ravens remember to feed him the rock and not get too pass happy the Ravens will find themselves one win from the Super Bowl.
4	Patriots	13 - 3	The Brady and Belichick battery have dropped three straight postseason games. I got a feeling that streak ends on Saturday night.
5	49ers	13 - 3	They have a tough draw against the Saints but the 49ers have imposed their will on great offenses all year. With Patrick Willis back in the line up and healthy I don't doubt that they can do it against an explosive Saints offense.
6	Giants	10 - 7	The Giants are one of the most dangerous teams left in the playoffs due to their championship experience and stellar play at the QB position. Can this year end like 2007?
7	Broncos	9 - 8	Give the Broncos mad credit. They beat a Steelers team no one thought they could and now they face even longer odds against the Pats. I don't think they get the win, but then again if there's any team that can do the improbable...
8	Texans	11 - 6	It could be curtains for the Texans. T.J. Yates hasn't showed me anything that says he's capable of beating the Ravens on the road and Baltimore will be sure to bottle up Arian Foster.

Tebow Preys on the Steelers Defense – 5 Things About Wild Card Weekend

2012-01-10T02:45:37Z

Here goes the run down for Wild Card Weekend:

Tim Tebow is real.
- I won’t say that I picked the Bronco’s to pull the upset although, I did acknowledge it was possible last week. With that being said Tim Tebow is at a point where few athletes have ever been. He’s able to lift his team somehow to perform in instances where it seems like they’re out manned and seemingly out classed. Denver’s defense deserves a lot of credit also as they harassed Big Ben and forced him into several bad throws including an interception in the first half. And who can forget Demaryius Thomas, who had over 200 yards receiving including the 80 yard touchdown to win in OT. Heading into their divisional match up it seems like the Patriots should win on paper, but how can you keep betting against the Broncos and Tim Tebow?
That’s Mr. Jacobs to you, sir.
- Brandon Jacobs put on his big boy pads for the first time this season and the Falcons were the unfortunate victims. Jacobs ran for 92 yards on 14 carries, but more importantly turned the tide in the Giants favor when the Falcons were leading 2 – 0. Certainly Jacobs hasn’t been the bruising back the Giants have expected him to be for much of the season but heading into Green Bay he appears to be hitting his stride. That’s great news for the Giants going forward.
Fostering a positive environment.
- Arian Foster rushed for over 100 yards and found a way to keep the Texans playoff dream rolling despite a pretty pedestrian outing from rookie T.J. Yates. It’ll be much tougher sledding for Foster as the Texans face the Ravens in Baltimore, but the Texans have been a resilient team all season and they haven’t used injuries as an excuse not to perform. If the Texans offensive line can open holes for Foster and Tate against the Ravens it could be quite a game.
Bay Area Saints.
- The Saints meet up with an old NFC West Rival (I’m dating myself with that reference) in the 49ers on Saturday. The Saints were magnificent as they put up 35 of their 45 points against the Lions in the second half of their 45 – 28 victory. It’s hard to imagine the 49ers being able to slow down Brees and the Saints prolific offense, but I think San Francisco is up to the task. It’ll be interesting to see how well Alex Smith plays against an aggressive Saints defense that is willing to take chances to create turnovers.
No place like home.
- For the first time since 2006 all four home teams won during Wild Card Weekend. I think that’s worth noting as we look towards the divisional round. The four home teams (Packers, 49ers, Ravens, Patriots) could certainly prevail again this weekend. Road upsets are a lot harder to come by in the divisional round simply because a big advantage goes to the rested home teams. Of course, if we’ve learned anything this season it’s that things will not go according to plan. In the end, that’s why we watch and love this game.

NFL Wildcard Game Picks

2012-01-06T02:30:11Z

Texans (-3) over Bengals

Tough to pick this one. The Texans have dropped three straight but I think they are still going to force young Andy Dalton into enough mistakes to win the game.

Saints over Lions (+10.5)

It'll be closer than last time but I think the Saints continue their winning ways at home. (8 - 0 during the regular season)

Giants(-3) over Falcons

Eli's never won a home playoff game and Matt Ryan has never won a playoff game. Interesting, right?

Steelers(-9) over Broncos

Steelers have some injury issues but the Broncos don't have the ability to take full advantage of the situation.

Last Week: 2 - 2 (3 - 1 vs spread)

2011 Season: 41 - 27 (36 - 28 - 4 vs spread)

See last week's picks right here.