The Leaf

Well, things have changed. The course of the blog will never be the same. I have accepted a position on a newspaper called the Leaf to write two monthly articles and two weekly beats. Therefore, my time on the blog will be cut in half. So, as you predicted, I have to axe the team previews. However, I have already created my predicted standings, so you will still see every team's outcome. Then, I will go game by game in the playoffs, finally reaching the Super Bowl. At that point, I will guarantee the victor (not.) Then the season will kick off and who knows what will happen from there.

My apologies,

Brandon

Atlanta Falcons Team Preview: No More Fight Left in the Dog

Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
NFC South

Head Coach: Bobby Petrino

Experience: First Year Head Coach

Prior Experience:
1983: Carroll College (graduate assistant)

1984: Weber State University (graduate assistant)

1985-1986: Carroll College (offensive coordinator)

1987-1988: Weber State University (wide receivers &tight ends coach)

1989: University of Idaho (quarterbacks coach)

1990-1991: University of Idaho (offensive coordinator)

1992-1993: Arizona State University (quarterbacks coach)

1994: University of Nevada (offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach)

1995-1997: Utah State University (offensive coordinator)

1998: University of Louisville (offensive coordinator)

1999-2000: Jacksonville Jaguars (quarterbacks coach)

2001: Jacksonville Jaguars (offensive coordinator)

2002: Auburn University (offensive coordinator)

2003-2006: University of Louisville (head coach)

2007 Atlanta Falcons Schedule (SOS: 29)

HOME
AWAY

WK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)

1 Sun, Sep 9 at Minnesota 1:00 PM

2 Sun, Sep 16 at Jacksonville 1:00 PM

3 Sun, Sep 23 Carolina 4:15 PM

4 Sun, Sep 30 Houston 1:00 PM

5 Sun, Oct 7 at Tennessee 1:00 PM

6 Mon, Oct 15 NY Giants 8:30 PM

7 Sun, Oct 21 at New Orleans 1:00 PM

8 BYE WEEK

9 Sun, Nov 4 San Francisco 1:00 PM

10 Sun, Nov 11 at Carolina 1:00 PM

11 Sun, Nov 18 Tampa Bay 1:00 PM

12 Thu, Nov 22 Indianapolis 8:15 PM

13 Sun, Dec 2 at St. Louis 1:00 PM

14 Mon, Dec 10 New Orleans 8:30 PM

15 Sun, Dec 16 at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM

16 Sun, Dec 23 at Arizona 4:05 PM

17 Sun, Dec 30 Seattle 1:00 PM

There is no team in the league that Atlanta could beat every week, not even the Raiders. Why? Well not only can some NFL teams beat another team on any given Sunday, but the Falcons are without a doubt the worst team in the NFL let alone the NFC. Not only has Michael Vick ruined his entire career, blown all that money he earned with his overpaying contract, but Vick has also ruined the Falcons, and set them back several years. As if him not being the quarterback isn't enough, Vick also serves as a tremendous distraction. The Atlanta Falcons are in the news everyday, not because of their vast improvement on the football field, (though that hasn't happened) or their season ahead, but because of the off the field troubles facing their quarterback. The Falcons entire season is doomed all because of a horrendously stupid decision, by one guy who we all thought had enough. Thanks Mr. Vick, you have served as an excellent lesson to us all: money can buy you all the toys, but making good decisions and staying out of trouble can buy you a life of freedom.

OFFENSE

Without Vick under center, Head Coach Bobby Petrino and his staff have to turn to a guy that has two tags to his name: bust and failure. Joey Harrington has yet another opportunity to prove himself, yet another opportunity to rejuvenate his career. There is no better place to get that chance than in Atlanta. Bobby Petrino's offense fits Joey Harrington better than any before. The offense will allow him to throw the ball earlier, cutting down on his bad decision making possibilities. That's great, but seriously, who does Harrington get the ball to? Tight End Alge Crumpler has been Vick's favorite target over the years, but the Falcons continue to lack a big play receiver. The Falcons lost Ashley Lelie, but through free agency they acquired veteran Joe Horn. Horn, who has done diddly squat this off season, will look to give the Falcons offense a boost. He will start opposite Michael Jenkins, who could finally have his breakout season. Jenkings will be a big target in the end zone, as he will become a big time red zone threat with Petrino calling the plays. Now off the bench will come Roddy White, who was second on the team last year in receiving yards, behind Crumpler. Although he isn't a touchdown guy (zero last year) White averages a lot of yards per catch. Lining up behind Harrington could be one of two guys. It appears that the Falcons will, as many teams do, split up their carries between Jerious Norwood and veteran Warrick Dunn. The idea of the split carry is becoming very popular. As of now, it seems that Norwood will be the starter, with Dunn splitting the carries. Dunn, who has lost a step over the years, is still a small quick back. Norwood, also a small quick back, is much more explosive and has the potential to make big plays on the ground, and out of the backfield. As for the offensive line, well, they simply will get the job done. As important as run blocking is, the ability of the Falcons offensive line to run block is far less important than their ability to protect Harrington. Harrington needs time, so that he doesn't get rattled and make bad throws. The bottom line is that the Falcons have the right guy calling the plays, but their success relies on the play of Joey Harrington and his ability to protect the ball. Three words: execution, execution, execution.

GRADE: C-

DEFENSE

If the Falcons have anything going for them right now, it is their defense. With the offense being less than adequate, it will come down to the defense's ability to force turnovers and keep the opponents out of the end zone. It all starts on the defensive line for the Falcons. Former Pro Bowler Jon Abraham lines up on the right, while eighth overall pick Jamaal Anderson lines up on the left side. These two guys will have to focus on their pass rush, as the linebackers and secondary should take care of the ground game. In the middle, Grady Jackson and his 345 lbs. frame, along with Rod Coleman, will aim to clog up the middle and shut down the run. With two excellent pass rushers on the outside, shutting down the run game can be a primary goal. Steady Keith Brookings heads the linebacker corps, as he looks to top his 138 tackles from last year. He along with Demorrio Williams and Michael Boley, will keep the other team's running backs in check. In the secondary, speedy, lockdown corner Deangelo Hall will continue to do his thing, while Lawyer Milloy, even in his old age, will come in and bring down the ball carriers, as well as play as a ball hawking safety. Safety Chris Crocker and right cornerback Lewis Sanders man the secondary along with Milloy and Hall, making for a solid defensive backfield. Last year, the Falcons had just two defensive touchdowns. In order to score points, the Falcons will need to force plenty of turnovers, but will need to score off those, or put the Falcons in great position to score. If not, it will be a struggle for the Falcons, and the Falcons defensive unit will find themselves on the field early and often.

GRADE: B+

SPECIAL TEAMS

Special teams is always the most overlooked part of the game, but it is just as important as the other two phases of the game. The Falcons may find that they are punting a lot, so big footed Michael Koenen will get plenty of opportunities to show off his leg and will make the best of them. Not only is Koenen's average of 42 impressive, but even more impressive is that one third of all his punts land inside the 20. This means, that the Falcons could often times be winning the field position battle, a very vital part of the game. Koenen who can also be the kicker, will share kicks with veteran Billy Cundif. The way most see it, is that Cundiff will be the short guy, while Koenen takes all the long distance field goal attempts. Cundiff has never been an amazing kicker, but he gets it done, just as Morten Andersen did for the Falcons last season. As for kickoff returning, there are very few duos better than that of Allen Rossum and Jerious Norwood. Last year these two averaged 24 and 25 yards respectively, often times giving the Falcons a starting position around the 30 yard line, a more than satisfactory starting position. Rossum is also the punt returner, where his number are nothing special, but with his speed, who knows when he might finally find a hole and take one to the barn? Special teams is key for the Falcons. It may very well be the difference between winning and losing. The Falcons can afford to give up no points on special teams. They also must given the offense decent field position the entire game, in order to give Harrington a chance to engineer a drive, the shorter the better. The Falcons' success relies more than heavily on the success of the special teamers.

GRADE: B

COACHING

Bobby Petrino is in his first year in Atlanta, but if his prior success at Louisville is any indication of how he will do at the next level, all is good in Atlanta, well kind of. Petrino is no doubt going to change the ways of the Falcons, hopefully take them to the next level. When Petrino took this job, he had no idea what was in store for him. Lucky for him, the expectations of the Falcons this season are so low, that Petrino could easily raise the bar. There is no doubt Petrino will make good decisions on the field, lead the Falcons in an excellent manner, and keep their heads in the game, regardless of the Vick trial. Although this season is all but over, the future looks bright in Atlanta, mostly because of the potential of their new head coach.

GRADE: B

The Sleeper

With Hue Jackson taking over as offensive coordinator, after coaching Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Chris Henry in Cincinnati as wide receivers coach, one must expect the Falcons receivers to take in the coaching skills Jackson has to offer. Especially, Michael Jenkins. Jenkins has a built similar to that of Bengals Wide Receiver Chris Henry. Jenkins 6'4" height and decent speed will allow him to thrive in the red zone. Thus making him an excellent fantasy sleeper, a guy many people don't see as an appealing pick. Henry had nine touchdowns last season for the Bengals, which is a number Jenkins could reach. Even though Joey Harrington is his signal caller, Jenkins' height makes him a serious threat inside the 20 yard line.

The Bust

Joe Horn. Not only is the guy over the hill, but he is joining an offense in which the ball is spread around so much, that the receivers rarely top 50 receptions. Horn is being taken in some drafts as a number two receiver, but with Jenkins the main target in the end zone, and Crumpler as the main target when moving the ball down the field, Horn could see a big drop in his receptions, affecting his yards and touchdowns. Also, the Falcons will run the ball much more than they throw, even lessening his touches. Horn will not put up numbers close to what he has before, making him the Falcons bust.

OVERALL

Overall the Falcons season is simply over. With all the off field distractions, Michael Vick is ultimately the one to blame for he has ruined the Falcons organization. Not just this year, but the years to come as well, as they will have to potentially draft a quarterback next year. With former third round pick and bust Joey Harrington the gun slinger behind center, that in itself makes winning games this season an adventure. The Falcons simply do not have the weapons on offense to beat any defense, putting a lot of pressure on their own defense to create turnovers and score points. All in all, the offseason occurrences for the Falcons are not the recipe for success. However, with new coach Bobby Petrino quickly improving the attitude in Atlanta, Falcons fans can say "there's always next year" with a positive spirit.

OVERALL TEAM GRADE: C-

RECORD PREDICTION: 3-13, no playoffs


Brandon

Arizona Cardinals Team Preview: "Ken" they finally do it?

Arizona Cardinals (5-11)
NFC West

Head Coach: Ken Whisenhunt
Experience: First Year Head Coach
Prior Experience:
1995-1996: Vanderbilt University (special teams & tight ends coach)

1997-1998: Baltimore Ravens (tight ends coach)

1999: Cleveland Browns (special teams coach)

2000: New York Jets (tight ends coach)

2001-2003: Pittsburgh Steelers (tight ends coach)

2004-2006: Pittsburgh Steelers (offensive coordinator)

2007 Arizona Cardinals Schedule (SOS:32)

HOME
AWAY
WK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)

1 Mon, Sep 10 at San Francisco 10:15 PM

2 Sun, Sep 16 Seattle 4:05 PM

3 Sun, Sep 23 at Baltimore 1:00 PM

4 Sun, Sep 30 Pittsburgh 4:15 PM

5 Sun, Oct 7 at St. Louis 1:00 PM

6 Sun, Oct 14 Carolina 4:05 PM

7 Sun, Oct 21 at Washington 1:00 PM

8 BYE WEEK

9 Sun, Nov 4 at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM

10 Sun, Nov 11 Detroit 4:15 PM

11 Sun, Nov 18 at Cincinnati 1:00 PM

12 Sun, Nov 25 San Francisco 4:05 PM

13 Sun, Dec 2 Cleveland 4:05 PM

14 Sun, Dec 9 at Seattle 4:05 PM

15 Sun, Dec 16 at New Orleans 1:00 PM

16 Sun, Dec 23 Atlanta 4:05 PM

17 Sun, Dec 30 St. Louis 4:15 PM


NFL fans, do not let the strength of schedule impact your feelings on the Arizona Cardinals. Firstly, strength of schedule is based solely on last year's record and winning percentage. Secondly, some teams that were awful last year have improved mightily over the off season. Thirdly, the Arizona Cardinals are still the Arizona Cardinals. Year after year, analyst after analyst predicts that the Cardinals will win the NFC West. Every year, the Cardinals disappoint and embarrass those analysts. However, once again the question arises, can this year be the year? Well, to find out, we will analyze the Cardinals in all three phases of the game: offense, defense, and special teams. Then, we will dissect their coach and determine whether or not the Arizona Cardinals can finally do something other than disappoint.


OFFENSE

To the known world, Arizona's offense is just an offense. But to those who really pay attention to football, they know that Arizona's offense is more than just an offense. A more likely comparison would be to an infantry, one full of weapons. It all starts at wide receiver. Quarterback Matt Leinart has been blessed with the best wide receiver duo in the NFC, in standout wideouts Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. With a coach who has as brilliant an offensive mind as Ken Whisenhunt has, expect these two guys to go above and beyond what they have done in the past. Those two aren't Leinarts only weapons. The man in the backfield is out to prove himself once again. Last year, Edgerrin James didn't even reach 1200 yards rushing and had an average of 3.4 yards per carry. Now, we all know what the 'edge' is capable of, now it is up to him to make it happen. Along with Ken Whisenhunt, came his assistant coach and offensive line coach Russ Grimm. Grimm is the man behind the scenes that made Pittsburgh's running attack so deadly over the past couple years. There is no doubt that Grimm can return Edgerrin to where he was back in his Colts days, if not beyond that. How can one forget about second year tight end Leonard Pope. He's big, he's strong, but he can move and run solid routes, becoming another weapon in Leinart's artillery. Pope has a build similar to that of Antonio Gates, but not nearly the skills. Two questions remain that separate the Cardinals from having an elite offense. One, how good will the offense line be? With the departure of Leonard Davis, the Cardinals have somewhat of a weakness on the left side of the line. The Cardinals drafted right tackle Levi Brown, fifth overall, and he will start there. Other than that, the Cardinals have no recognizable names on the line. However, they don't need to be pro bowlers, they just need to give Matt Leinart enough time to get the ball to the playmakers. That leads us into our next question, how good will Matt Leinart be? In his rookie season last year, Leinart put up far from stellar numbers. After replacing Kurt Warner as the starting quarterback midway through last season, Leinart managed to achieve an unimpressive quarterback rating of 74. His 56.8 completing percentage was decent, but his 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions are nothing to get excited about. This year, should be a decent story. Fans, coaches, teammates, and the media are expecting big numbers out of the USC alum. So much so, that there is talk of him being a tier one fantasy player. Leinart has all the weapons to become a star, but the success of his team rides on his ability to be a leader and do just enough to send Arizona to the playoffs.

GRADE: B+

DEFENSE

For the Arizona Cardinals, defense has always been a main concern. This year, nothing changes. It is the play of the defense that will ultimately be the difference between a mediocre season and a playoff-type season. Outside of their physical, hard nosed, star strong safety Adrian Wilson, the Cardinals lack of playmakers could hurt them. Now, a stud could emerge sometime this season, but without a known force the Cardinals could struggle. On the defensive line, in the middle, are the big boys Darnell Dockett and Gabe Watson. These two guys have been steady. To the outsides are Bertrand Berry, a six sack man, and Antonio Smith. Second round pick Alan Branch, out of Michigan, will see a ton of playing time behind Smith, especially if he struggles. These guys will have to put more pressure on the quarterback, or else it will begin a ripple effect that will end up hurting the defensive backfield. At middle linebacker, is a guy not many people have heard of, but they should learn his name. Gerald Hayes recorded 93 tackles last year and also had three interceptions. Hayes is a very talented, young middle linebacker who will make plays for a defense short on playmakers. In the seconday, along with Adrian Wilson, is a young cornerback who's name says it all. Antrel Rolle is looking to have another spectacular year. Rolle brought down 87 opponents. Although he only had one interception, his sure tackling will be tremendous support for the run stopping defense. Don't forget his coverage skills as well. The bottom line for this defense is that they have to work together. The defensive line needs to put pressure on the quarterback, and not let the opposing quarterback have all day to throw. The linebackers need to help the defensive line cut down the running back. If the front seven plays well, the defensive backs will fit right in, and shut down the opposition. If the defense plays mediocre the entire year, that will be enough to let the Cardinals fly right into the playoffs.

GRADE: C+

SPECIAL TEAMS

To compliment a high flying offense and an above average defense, the Arizona Cardinals have put together a very satisfactory special teams unit. As for punting, it doesn't get much better than Scott Player and his 45 yard per punt average and 18 punts inside the 20 are tremendous. However, the punt coverage wasn't as stellar. That is something that must be improved upon, because field position will be key for the Cardinals defense. Neil Rackers followed up his pro bowl season with what, to many, would be considered a very mediocre season. However, venture into the numbers and you will see that Rackers' 28/37 field goals last year wasn't all that bad. Rackers was money in the bank from inside the 40, going 20/20. But from the 40 and beyond, Rackers was a dreadful 8/17, including just 1/7 from beyond fifty. We all know that Rackers has the leg, but even dating back to his years in Cincinnati, accuracy was always an issue. A field goal percentage of 76 will not cut it this year. As for kickoff returning, joining J.J. Arrington back to return kicks this year will most likely be Marcel Shipp. Although Shipp did not return a kickoff last season, Arrington had plenty of action. Arrington had an unimpressive 23 yard kickoff return average, but did have a long of 99 yards, which went for a score. The Cardinals would love to see more than 23 yards per kickoff return, as they would love to have to go just 40 yards to get into field goal range. When Steve Breaston was drafted by the Cardinals his role was immediately known: punt returning. He was a successful punt returner at the University of Michigan, and he hopes to continue that success for the Cardinals this season. He hopes to improve on Troy Walters' 10.4 yards per return last season. Special teams plays a key role in games for all teams. The Cardinals have the potential to win the field position battle every week, but it is imperative that every special teamer executes on every down.

GRADE: B

COACHING

A new regime has arrived in Arizona, it was a change that was needed greatly, after the years of failure under former Head Coach Denny Green. Whisenhunt was a highly sought after coach this past off season, and it is no mystery as to why. Not only has he been a hot candidate for coaching jobs over the past year or two, but his creative offensive mind made him a very valuable coach, especially to a team with as great a potential on offense as the Cardinals do. Although Whisenhunt is in his first year as a Head Coach, he has had experience coaching in big games, including calling all the plays for the Steelers as they won the Superbowl two years ago. Not only does he have big game experience, but he has learned from one of the most highly respected coaches in all of the game, Bill Cowher. All signs coming from Arizona are that Whisenhunt has gained the respect of his team, and is on his way to making this team better than they have been in a very long time. With Whisenhunt now on the sideline, calling all the plays, I think the world can finally expect big things from the Arizona Cardinals.

GRADE: B

The Sleeper

Although he isn't much of a sleeper, Edgerrin James will have a season unlike any he has had before. This year, many people were hesitant to draft James in their fantasy drafts, due to one bad season. However, with Ken Whisenhunt now calling the plays, and expert offensive line coach Russ Grimm installing his blocking style, Edgerrin James will be able to explode through holes all game, even with a mediocre offensive line. Expect James to return back to his stardom and play like he is back in a Colts uniform.

The Bust

No one is saying he won't put up tremendous numbers again, but it appears that coach Ken Whisenhunt is making Anquan Boldin his 'Hines Ward'. What this means, is lots of quick routes and catches, that will allow Boldin to get plenty of yards after the catch. Whisenhunt really wants to utilize Boldin a ton in his offense, which will definitely hurt our bust Larry Fitzgerald. He will still have a Fitzgerald type season, but he may feel the effects of Boldin becoming the number one guy. Expect Larry to still have a great year, but Anquan Boldin to put up better numbers.

OVERALL

Overall, the Arizona Cardinals seem to be on their way to making a playoff push. Whether Whisenhunt can engineer that turnaround this year, or if it takes him until next year, the Arizona Cardinals are not a team to sleep on. They, just like the 49ers last year, be in the playoff race until the end of the season. Even if eliminated early, the Cardinals could very likely play spoiler in the NFC West. Watch out for the Cardinals, because before you know it, they could be flying right by you.

OVERALL TEAM GRADE: B-

RECORD PREDICTION: 8-8, no playoffs

Brandon

Team Previews

The summer is over. With the preseason at the forefront, starting tomorrow, a new segment will come to the land of the Gurus. It will be called from here on out simply, "A Preview A Day." Everyday, sometimes two or three a day, sometimes none, I will shoot out a team preview of every NFL team, going in alphabetical order starting with Arizona. Some things covered will be as follows:

• Coaches resume
• Previous season's record
• 2007 Schedule
• Preview of offense
• Preview of defense
• Preview of special teams
• Grades for offense, defense, special teams, and coaching
• Season prediction
• Team Sleeper
• Team Bust
• Overall team grade

A lot of work will be going into these, so they may run just before the season starts. It will be a close deadline to make, but I will give it my all.

Brandon

My First Fantasy Draft of the Season

As a follow up to an earlier article about my fantasy dilemma, I will tell you how that draft went. As noted, I had the fourth overall pick. The draft was good. It was a six team draft with my lovely brothers and sister. They are very knowledgeable, partly because they used Gridiron Gurus rankings. Anyway, to my draft.

As I predicted, the first three to go were Tomlinson, Jackson, and Johnson, leaving me with endless possibilities. After debating, I felt that if I drafted Willie Parker, I would get great value, but also set myself up to get either Brian Westbrook or Rudi Johnson in the second round. I figured that Addai, Alexander, and Gore would go, and after the wrap around, I would get either Westbrook or Rudi Johnson. With my family being entirely Bengals fans, Rudi was taken second round, leaving me with a second round choice, number nine overall, Brian Westbrook. In the third round, I went with hometown favorite Chad Johnson, as the first wide receiver taken in the draft, at number 16 overall. After the 2 hours plus of drafting, covering 21 rounds, here is my first depth chart of the season:

Position Player (Round)

Quarterback: Tom Brady (4)
Running Back: Willie Parker (1)
Running Back: Brian Westbrook (2)
Running Back: Travis Henry (5)
WR/RB: Deuce McAllister (6)
Wide Receiver: Chad Johnson (3)
Wide Receiver: Marques Colston (7)
Wide Receiver: Anquan Boldin (8)
Tight End: Vernon Davis (12)
Defense/ST: Denver Broncos (13)
Kicker: Olindo Mare (21)

Bench: Adrian Peterson (Min, 9)
Bench: Marshawn Lynch (10)
Bench: Jerious Norwood (11)
Bench: Braylon Edwards (14)
Bench: Deion Branch (15)
Bench: Jon Kitna (16)
Bench: Minnesota Vikings D/ST (17)
Bench: Vernand Morency (18)
Bench: Jason Witten (19)
Bench: Wes Welker (20)

So, what's the feedback? Good team? Bad team? Who should stay who should go? Remember, this was a six team league, so some great players remain undrafted, I could have missed someone. This is family bragging rights on the line, this is win at all costs. Some things to notice about this draft are that I drafted a kicker last, knowing that I would still get a top kicker. I also took a guy like Wes Welker, even though there were better receivers available, all preseason and training camp this guy has been a big target for Tom Brady. Also note that my backup quarterback Jon Kitna was drafted, due to the fact he is playing a weak Arizona team on Brady's bye. Finally, the Vikings defense may only see one week of action, but that week, the Vikings play the Bears, see how that works? Anyway, all suggestions and comments are welcome.

Brandon

Fantasy Football Tip

Here is something to think about. Imagine, just like I have in one of my leagues, you receive the fourth overall pick. With this pick, your options will almost certainly be: Shaun Alexander and Frank Gore. Two great running backs, who have emerged has stars. However, with LaDainian Tomlinson, Steven Jackson, and Larry Johnson most likely off the board, why am I hesitant to take either of the two aforementioned available players?

Shaun Alexander played all 16 games in 6 straight years heading into last season. After emerging two years ago as the best running back in the game, or so we thought, Alexander broke his foot, and played in just 10 games. In the years before that, Alexander never had any injury issues at all. All of a sudden, however, Alexander seems to have become a guy we really can't count on anymore. His 27 touchdown season in 2005 seems like a very long time ago. When given the fourth pick in your draft, consider other options that may seem...more reliable.

Frank Gore's first season as a starter was a big time accomplishment for him last year. He surprised everybody, on a team that surprised everybody, due in part to his success on the ground. Gore rushed for 1695 yards, on 312 carries, both career highs. Gore averaged 5.4 yards per carry, a very high mark. This year, Gore will get the ball even more. Expect his yardage to increase, but his yards per carry to decrease. Even if Gore has an identical season to that of this year, his eight rushing touchdowns are unimpressive to say the least. If I don't want Shaun Alexander due to his lack of reliability, why take Gore who is even less reliable? Personally, at pick number four, I want a guy who has been steady his entire career.

Let's move our eyes a little down the draft board, where we see the four next top dogs: Joseph Addai, Willie Parker, Brian Westbrook, and Rudi Johnson. We can immediately toss Addai out of this. Despite his success and that of his predecessor, Addai remains a question mark as to what he will accomplish on the football field. And then there were three.

Westbrook always seems to be a reliable fantasy player. A guy who no one wants to take in the first round, but prays he is there in the second. Last year was the first year he gained over 1000 yards rushing, due to his 80 carry increase to 240. He also caught 77 passes, a career high, for 699 yards. All total, Westbrook had 11 touchdowns. However, with Donovan McNabb back under center, the Eagles offense will go back to that gun slinging, throw the ball 75% of the time, offense. This cuts deeply into Westbrook's carries, therefore his yards and rushing touchdowns will suffer. The Eagles also added more weapons on offense, with a guy like Kevin Curtis, who will take away some of Westbrook's receptions. The bottom line is Westbrook will do well, but not a guy to take at number four.

Now, it is down to Rudi Johnson and Willie Parker. What everyone loves about Rudi Johnson is his consistency. In 2004, Rudi rushed for 1454 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2005, Rudi rushed for 1458 yards and 12 touchdowns. Last year, he dropped up a little bit, but still managed to gain 1309 yards and 12 touchdowns, despite a 3.8 yards per carry. Notice a level of consistency there? A dozen touchdowns each of the last three seasons. If you want steady, find me a guy who has had the same amount of touchdowns each of the last three years and make the number respectable. Rudi always seems to get his carries, but is in an offense that would much rather love to throw the ball down the field. The Bengals offensive line will be depleted going into the beginning of the year, which could cause all sorts of trouble for Rudi. However, you know what you will get from Rudi. First round picks aren't used for gambles. Even if people criticize you for taking Rudi at number four, why not take a guy that you know exactly what you're going to get. If there is any guys numbers in this league you can predict, they are Rudi Johnson's.

That leaves us with Willie Parker. Parker is going into his third season as a full time starter. Two years ago, in 2005, Parker emerged as the speedster that he is. Last year, Parker really strived with the Steelers, gaining nearly 1500 yards. He also ran for 13 touchdowns, which is more than any of the other guys ran for all of last season. What separates Parker from the rest of the crew, is the offense he is in. The Steelers have always believed in a smash mouth type game. They love to control the clock and pound the ball down the defense's throat. This is what makes Parker the best choice at number four. That is, if you want someone you are 100% sure will put up numbers if he is healthy.

Any of the last two guys would be looked at as solid picks. They will rack up the yards, score touchdowns, and be as steady as any of the top three picks. It may be difficult gathering the courage to draft a guy who doesn't have the flash to him, but all in all, he will do his job. With Alexander and Gore you run risks, with Addai you just don't know, with Westbrook, you don't trust his workload, but with Rudi and "Fast" Willie, the word "don't know" will not apply. Be safe, be smart, and have fun! Fantasy Football is the best!

Brandon

Internet Problems

As of late, the blog has been unavailable to me. Hence the lack of posting. This is one of the few times I have been able to log on. I have been working on team previews, but without Internet, gathering team information has been difficult. I have made the format for these previews, but have yet to start working on them. Sometimes in life, things are out of your hands. I'm doing my best to get the Internet working once more. Until then, I will just have to wait it out. Sorry.

Brandon

Preseason Power Rankings: The TENacious 10

Training camp is in the rear view mirror. NFL's preseason is just underway, while the regular season looms off ahead in the distance. What starts now is the predictions. NFL analysts all across the country will start taking their best guess at who will win their division, who will win various awards, and who will win it all, this among other things. Here at Gridiron Gurus, we will start with our preseason edition of the "Guru Rankings." Every week, these power rankings will be updated (Also to 32 teams), based on many factors, most of which is whether the team wins or loses during that specific week. Without further ado, the first ever edition of the "Guru Rankings."



1 New England Patriots: Not only are they the New England Patriots, but they are a revamped squad. With the big additions of Adalius Thomas and Randy Moss, the Patriots immediately improved. After all, regardless of who's on the team, the coaching staff is still led by Bill Belichick.


2 Indianapolis Colts: The defending super bowl champions are back and ready to rumble. Even if the Patriots added to their artillery, the Colts still have the best weapons, with Manning, Addai, Harrison, and Wayne. What separates the Colts from the Patriots is defense, because, yeah, defense is kind of important.


3 San Diego Chargers: Overall, the Chargers could be the most talented team in the league. However, a peculiar offseason and a coaching change that still has people scratching their heads, could cause problems for the Chargers. But, then again, LaDanian Tomlinson can solve just about every problem the Bolts encounter.



4 New Orleans Saints: The offense was already the best in the league. The best got better with the drafting of Robert Meacham, who already has performed early this preseason. The Saints also made moves to strengthen their defensive backfield, but their success this season hinders on the heels of their run stopping defense, which remains weak.


5 Denver Broncos: Don't throw on them. With the best secondary in the league, the only thing keeping the Broncos from having the best defense is their not-so-good run defense. Jay Cutler has the pieces in place to be a star, now he just has to do his job. Plus, even if he isn't spectacular, when was the last time a Broncos run game was anything short of amazing?


6 Baltimore Ravens: Steve McNair and Ray Lewis aren't getting any younger, which means the guys leading the squad on their respective sides of the ball could be over the hill. McNair has battled injury in the past, making the Ravens a risky pick. Their defense remains solid, despite the loss of Adalius Thomas. The Ravens will remain steady, but they are just an injury or two away from being mediocre.



7 Chicago Bears: Thomas Jones is gone, Cedric Benson is in. Benson is unproven, but he will get his chance. The Bears defense remains the strongest defense, led by the man in the middle Brian Urlacher. Lance Briggs is now happy with his new contract, so the threat of a holdout has been quenched. What does this mean? Well, it doesn't really matter, because Rex Grossman is still the quarterback.



8 Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles' success this season rides on the health of franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb. McNabb, who is seemingly unhappy and worried that the Eagles drafted Kevin Kolb, rookie quarterback from Houston, has what may be one final chance to prove his worth. But seriously, why should McNabb be worried about a rookie quarterback?



9 Cincinnati Bengals: Coach Marvin Lewis led his Bengals to their third 8-8 season in four years, this one being the biggest disappointment of them all. Last year, beyond the tough schedule, a bad defense and inconsistent offense were to blame. In the offseason the Bengals made no moves to make their defense better, other than going mostly defense in the draft. With the loaded offense and a presumably new attitude on defense, anything short of a playoff appearance would be yet another disappointing season in the Queen City, maybe the last under Lewis.


10 Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys are happier under new coach Wade Phillips than they were under Parcells, but they won't be so happy if they don't win like last year. The main question in Dallas is how good will Tony Romo be? Early on he showed signs of being a star, but as teams began to figure him out, he began to struggle. If Tony Romo plays well, the tenacious Dallas defense could carry the 'Boys a long way.


There you have our first ever edition of the "Guru Rankings!" Stay tuned for more updates as the preseason comes to a close. I'd love to hear your comments (Or statements telling me how terribly done the rankings are.) Until then, enjoy the preseason. Team previews are in the works, all sorts of predictions are being made. Busy times in the life of one Brandon the blogger, but all that information will be spit out at you at a later date.

Brandon

Birthdays in the NFL

Bertrand Berry 08/15/1975

Ken Walter 08/15/1972

Brandon

Birthdays in the NFL

Derrick Burgess, 08/12/1978

Plaxico Burress, 08/12/1977

Chris Chambers, 08/12/1978

Donovin Darius, 08/12/1975

Adam Goldberg, 08/12/1980

Greg Spires, 08/12/1974

Delanie Walker, 08/12/1984

Brandon

Birthdays in the NFL

Cooper Carlisle 08/11/1977

Robert Geathers 08/11/1983

Andy Lee 08/11/1982

Lee Suggs 08/11/1980

Demetrin Veal 08/11/1981

Brandon

Im Back!

Ladies and gentleman, the vacation is over! The constant blogging seen just a month is ago is back and coming with even more fire. So much is going on right now, it is unbelievable! I am so glad to be back!

Training camp is over! The preseason began just nights ago. What does this mean? It means that the real blogging we have been waiting for, not just the offseason garbage, it about to begin. Some cool things planned for the upcoming weeks before the season starts, so get ready for some awesome team previews and predictions.

More important than all of this is what comes out in just hours! Madden '08, the greatest video game series this world will ever see, is set to come out on August 14th. The countdown is on!

Friends, guru fans, it is great to be back. I missed the blog, the blog missed me, but through it all, I am back for some more. Enjoy!

Brandon