COACHING NEWS, CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS, WHO'S WHO IN EAST-WEST & COLT SEALS THE DEAL
It appears former Texas Tech defensive coordinator, Ruffin McNeil, after being dumped by new coach Tommy Tuberville, is going to get his shot after all. The East Carolina Pirates are expected to name Ruffin as their new head coach. The vacancy was created when Skip Holtz left to run the program at South Florida. Ruffin seems like a good guy,now we'll see if Tech missed the boat letting him go.
The Houston Cougars made a smart decision today, signing head coach Kevin Sumlin to a contract extension thru 2015. Dallas gave Wade Phillips a 2-year contract extension & the Chargers signed Norv Turner for 4 more years. The Turner extension puzzles me somewhat after watching him being totally out-coached last Sunday by Jets' rookie Rex Ryan.
It's only 2 more days until Championship Sunday & let's hope my analysis is more relevant than last weekend.
New York Jets at Indianapolis(-7 1/2 & 39 1/2)
I doubt I'll play this game & I'm going to rule out 2 of the possible 4 wagers available on this matchup. I'm not going to lay 7 1/2 with the Colts. I doubt the Colts can run ball Sunday & one-dimensional teams play into Rex Ryan's hands. I'm not going to take the over 39 1/2 either, the Colts proved last Saturday night they can shut down a team that has limited offensive capabilities, beating the Ravens 20-3. The Jets are 8-2 straight up & against the spread in their last 10 games. They have proven me wrong in each of their road victories in the playoffs. No rookie QB has ever won 3 straight playoff games, Sanchez has won two. Jets' cornerback Darrelle Revis is the consummate 'shutdown corner'. He has basically shutdown Randy Moss(twice), Andre Johnson, Terrell Owens, Steve Smith & Chad Ochocinco(twice) this season. He was super again last week vs. the Chargers. He can potentially hold Reggie Wayne's production down Sunday. But the Colts can still be effective throwing to Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie & Dallas Clark, if & this is the most important part of the game in my eyes, Indy can give Peyton Manning the time he needs to get the ball off accurately. A Jet bet is a possibility as well as the under, but we'll see come Saturday.
Minnesota at New Orleans(-3 1/2 & 53 1/2)
I'm going to hit you with all the facts & trends that could matter in this game, then I'll give you what I think could be the 2 most important things about this game. There have never been 2 dome teams in the Super Bowl, since 3 of the remaining 4 play in domes, this one could fall, depending on the Jets of course. The Vikings have won 8 of the last 9 vs. Nawlins & three straight in the Superdome, straight up & against the spread. The over in these 9 games is 7-1-1, so the 53 1/2 is in danger. The Vikings clobbered Tony Romo last weekend, recording 6 sacks & hitting him 8 more times. Drew Brees has only been sacked 9 times in 9 games at home. Adrian Peterson has fumbled 7 times in the last 9 games, it has really been a problem. He also been held under 100-yards in each of the last 8 games(tho he came close with 94 vs. Chicago & 97 vs. Cincy). Peterson is #1 of my two important factors in this game. The other is injuries to key Vikings. Percy Harvin has suffered from migraine headaches all season & he's having trouble this week, he hasn't practiced so far. Harvin is the Vikings' 2nd leading receiver with 60 catches & 6 touchdowns. He also has 2 kickoff returns for score. He is essential for Minnesota this Sunday evening. Defensive linemen Kevin Williams & Ray Edwards have both missed every practice this week with ailing knees. Edwards' injury appears to be more serious. Williams has 6 sacks from inside & Edwards has 11.5, certainly a lot to lose. If Edwards can play at full speed, he & Jared Allen(15.5 sacks) can be more than Saint tackles Jermon Bushrod & Jon Stinchcomb can handle. If they can't keep these two off Brees, that means they will have to use fullback Heath Evans & one of the tight ends in to help out in pass blocking. Is Jeremy Shockey's ankle healed? Big drop off from Shockey to backup David Thomas. I'm not too concerned about the quarterbacks, they'll be fine, it's the supporting cast that I'll keep an eye on right up until kickoff. If Harvin, Williams & Edwards can go at full speed, I like Minnesota +3 1/2. Any combination of these 3 not being able to play, I'm going to take a wait & see attitude towards the side. But if Williams & Edwards can't play, I like the over. For the first 12 weeks of the season these two teams were the NFC's very best. After not playing too well down the stretch, both rebounded with big wins last weekend. I will keep you posted as to my plays on this game.
The East-West Shrine Game will be played Saturday in Orlando. This game features a lot of potential lower round draft picks & undrafted free agents. I doubt there's anyone, other than Ole Miss's Greg Hardy, who will be drafted in the third round or higher in April's draft. That doesn't mean there aren't some players in this game. Patriot rookie of the year, offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, a guy I really touted last spring & Charger Louis Vasquez, installed as the starting right guard from day one. Two players who started for playoff teams & certainly would have looked good in Chiefs' uniforms. Here are a few players to keep an eye on if you watch this game Saturday afternoon.
EAST TEAM
Greg Hardy--DE--Ole Miss--Began the season as a first round prospect but injuries & lack of production started a slide in his draft status.
O'Brien Schofield--OLB--Wisconsin--Former defensive end with the Badgers who was a very good pass rusher & run defender. His size & quickness dictates he will have to move to outside linebacker. He's had a very good week in spite of learning a new position.
Javaris James--RB--Miami--Good size, good quickness & a feel for the cutback lane. James is most likely a backup, but he shows enough flash that he might surprise.
Blair White--WR--Michigan State--This kid was a monster in the Alamo Bowl. He's an academic All-American who was a walk-on at East Lansing. This future dentist might find a home in the NFL as a possession receiver if he will stop letting the ball get into his body, when he catches it clean, he looks the part of an NFL player. Not fast, but very sudden in & out of his breaks.
WEST TEAM
Emmanuel Sanders--WR--SMU--Very quick & tough getting off the jam at the line. If you saw the Mustangs in the Hawaii Bowl, Sanders would have impressed you. The reports out of this week's practices say Sanders has been one of the most coachable players on either roster.
Martin Tevaseu--NT--UNLV--This mountain needs to lose 20 pounds or his endurance could be a real problem. He is very tough to move out of the way one on one, just what you want to see in a nose tackle prospect. Very powerful hands too, another attribute for a NT.
Jaron Baston--DT/NT--Missouri--Bastin has been another very coachable player this week. He has consistently gotten a big push up the middle when rushing the passer, something he didn't do consistently at Mizzou. Has a good swim move & goes hard to the whistle every snap.
Larry Assante--S--Nebraska--Very physical safety who played better as the season went progressed. His peddle & cover skills still need refinement, but he's a monster in run support.
Kerry Meier--WR--Kansas--Big, tall ex-quarterback who catches the ball well. Not quick or fast, Meier might be a tough slot receiver with his size & knowledge of how to get open against any coverage.
David Reed--WR--Utah--Superior hands & very tough. Not fast or sudden, but does a good job getting off the jam & quickness out of his break. Vary productive career with the Utes.
Jon Estes--C--Hawaii--Squatty, strong, smart & a very good hand fighter. Shows a superior punch for a college center. I've always liked this kid & J.D. Walton of Baylor as prospective centers for the Chiefs.
Tevaseu, Baston & Estes do not have an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine next month, there are just a few of them left for seniors, it's vitally important this trio makes an impact both in practice & in the game.
So the other day, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy told his longtime girlfriend, Rachel Glandorf, he wanted to go walk the field at Darrell Royal Memorial Stadium one last time before he left the campus to begin work for the NFL combine. They walked all around the field & finally at midfield McCoy dropped to one knee & asked her to marry him. The scoreboard lit up, she said yes & it looked like this:
Yeah! Hook 'em Horns!!
The Houston Cougars made a smart decision today, signing head coach Kevin Sumlin to a contract extension thru 2015. Dallas gave Wade Phillips a 2-year contract extension & the Chargers signed Norv Turner for 4 more years. The Turner extension puzzles me somewhat after watching him being totally out-coached last Sunday by Jets' rookie Rex Ryan.
It's only 2 more days until Championship Sunday & let's hope my analysis is more relevant than last weekend.
New York Jets at Indianapolis(-7 1/2 & 39 1/2)
I doubt I'll play this game & I'm going to rule out 2 of the possible 4 wagers available on this matchup. I'm not going to lay 7 1/2 with the Colts. I doubt the Colts can run ball Sunday & one-dimensional teams play into Rex Ryan's hands. I'm not going to take the over 39 1/2 either, the Colts proved last Saturday night they can shut down a team that has limited offensive capabilities, beating the Ravens 20-3. The Jets are 8-2 straight up & against the spread in their last 10 games. They have proven me wrong in each of their road victories in the playoffs. No rookie QB has ever won 3 straight playoff games, Sanchez has won two. Jets' cornerback Darrelle Revis is the consummate 'shutdown corner'. He has basically shutdown Randy Moss(twice), Andre Johnson, Terrell Owens, Steve Smith & Chad Ochocinco(twice) this season. He was super again last week vs. the Chargers. He can potentially hold Reggie Wayne's production down Sunday. But the Colts can still be effective throwing to Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie & Dallas Clark, if & this is the most important part of the game in my eyes, Indy can give Peyton Manning the time he needs to get the ball off accurately. A Jet bet is a possibility as well as the under, but we'll see come Saturday.
Minnesota at New Orleans(-3 1/2 & 53 1/2)
I'm going to hit you with all the facts & trends that could matter in this game, then I'll give you what I think could be the 2 most important things about this game. There have never been 2 dome teams in the Super Bowl, since 3 of the remaining 4 play in domes, this one could fall, depending on the Jets of course. The Vikings have won 8 of the last 9 vs. Nawlins & three straight in the Superdome, straight up & against the spread. The over in these 9 games is 7-1-1, so the 53 1/2 is in danger. The Vikings clobbered Tony Romo last weekend, recording 6 sacks & hitting him 8 more times. Drew Brees has only been sacked 9 times in 9 games at home. Adrian Peterson has fumbled 7 times in the last 9 games, it has really been a problem. He also been held under 100-yards in each of the last 8 games(tho he came close with 94 vs. Chicago & 97 vs. Cincy). Peterson is #1 of my two important factors in this game. The other is injuries to key Vikings. Percy Harvin has suffered from migraine headaches all season & he's having trouble this week, he hasn't practiced so far. Harvin is the Vikings' 2nd leading receiver with 60 catches & 6 touchdowns. He also has 2 kickoff returns for score. He is essential for Minnesota this Sunday evening. Defensive linemen Kevin Williams & Ray Edwards have both missed every practice this week with ailing knees. Edwards' injury appears to be more serious. Williams has 6 sacks from inside & Edwards has 11.5, certainly a lot to lose. If Edwards can play at full speed, he & Jared Allen(15.5 sacks) can be more than Saint tackles Jermon Bushrod & Jon Stinchcomb can handle. If they can't keep these two off Brees, that means they will have to use fullback Heath Evans & one of the tight ends in to help out in pass blocking. Is Jeremy Shockey's ankle healed? Big drop off from Shockey to backup David Thomas. I'm not too concerned about the quarterbacks, they'll be fine, it's the supporting cast that I'll keep an eye on right up until kickoff. If Harvin, Williams & Edwards can go at full speed, I like Minnesota +3 1/2. Any combination of these 3 not being able to play, I'm going to take a wait & see attitude towards the side. But if Williams & Edwards can't play, I like the over. For the first 12 weeks of the season these two teams were the NFC's very best. After not playing too well down the stretch, both rebounded with big wins last weekend. I will keep you posted as to my plays on this game.
The East-West Shrine Game will be played Saturday in Orlando. This game features a lot of potential lower round draft picks & undrafted free agents. I doubt there's anyone, other than Ole Miss's Greg Hardy, who will be drafted in the third round or higher in April's draft. That doesn't mean there aren't some players in this game. Patriot rookie of the year, offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, a guy I really touted last spring & Charger Louis Vasquez, installed as the starting right guard from day one. Two players who started for playoff teams & certainly would have looked good in Chiefs' uniforms. Here are a few players to keep an eye on if you watch this game Saturday afternoon.
EAST TEAM
Greg Hardy--DE--Ole Miss--Began the season as a first round prospect but injuries & lack of production started a slide in his draft status.
O'Brien Schofield--OLB--Wisconsin--Former defensive end with the Badgers who was a very good pass rusher & run defender. His size & quickness dictates he will have to move to outside linebacker. He's had a very good week in spite of learning a new position.
Javaris James--RB--Miami--Good size, good quickness & a feel for the cutback lane. James is most likely a backup, but he shows enough flash that he might surprise.
Blair White--WR--Michigan State--This kid was a monster in the Alamo Bowl. He's an academic All-American who was a walk-on at East Lansing. This future dentist might find a home in the NFL as a possession receiver if he will stop letting the ball get into his body, when he catches it clean, he looks the part of an NFL player. Not fast, but very sudden in & out of his breaks.
WEST TEAM
Emmanuel Sanders--WR--SMU--Very quick & tough getting off the jam at the line. If you saw the Mustangs in the Hawaii Bowl, Sanders would have impressed you. The reports out of this week's practices say Sanders has been one of the most coachable players on either roster.
Martin Tevaseu--NT--UNLV--This mountain needs to lose 20 pounds or his endurance could be a real problem. He is very tough to move out of the way one on one, just what you want to see in a nose tackle prospect. Very powerful hands too, another attribute for a NT.
Jaron Baston--DT/NT--Missouri--Bastin has been another very coachable player this week. He has consistently gotten a big push up the middle when rushing the passer, something he didn't do consistently at Mizzou. Has a good swim move & goes hard to the whistle every snap.
Larry Assante--S--Nebraska--Very physical safety who played better as the season went progressed. His peddle & cover skills still need refinement, but he's a monster in run support.
Kerry Meier--WR--Kansas--Big, tall ex-quarterback who catches the ball well. Not quick or fast, Meier might be a tough slot receiver with his size & knowledge of how to get open against any coverage.
David Reed--WR--Utah--Superior hands & very tough. Not fast or sudden, but does a good job getting off the jam & quickness out of his break. Vary productive career with the Utes.
Jon Estes--C--Hawaii--Squatty, strong, smart & a very good hand fighter. Shows a superior punch for a college center. I've always liked this kid & J.D. Walton of Baylor as prospective centers for the Chiefs.
Tevaseu, Baston & Estes do not have an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine next month, there are just a few of them left for seniors, it's vitally important this trio makes an impact both in practice & in the game.
So the other day, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy told his longtime girlfriend, Rachel Glandorf, he wanted to go walk the field at Darrell Royal Memorial Stadium one last time before he left the campus to begin work for the NFL combine. They walked all around the field & finally at midfield McCoy dropped to one knee & asked her to marry him. The scoreboard lit up, she said yes & it looked like this:
Yeah! Hook 'em Horns!!
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