The Hot Read

Ravens Wide Receiver Woes

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Baltimore Ravens need a wide receiver. The team’s run-first philosphy has allowed them to be fairly successful with a series of re-treads and no-treads over the past several years. Now, if Derrick Mason decides to stay retired, the team finds itself in a familiar receiver-strapped position once again.

So here’s my solution. Go get Brandon Marshall from the Denver Broncos. Sure, Marshall is a head case, a basket case, and has had some skirmishes with legal cases. But Marshall is also physically gifted and supremely talented. He’s only 25 years old and is 6-feet, 4-inches and 230 pounds. He caught 104 passes for 1,265 yards and 6 touchdowns in 15 games last season. Plus, do you think he’d act up in a locker room with Ray Lewis? I doubt it.

So the Ravens should make a move to get Brandon Marshall (rumors are circulating that they are doing precisely that). And if that prevents Derrick Mason from coming back, so be it. Marshall is younger and more talented. For once, the Ravens have a quarterback (Joe Flacco) who isn’t a liability. Now, they need to give him weapons. Marshall would be a big one. They should go get him.

My Two Cents on Mike Vick

I have two thoughts on Mike Vick, one that has no chance of happening and another that should.

First, the crazy idea. In order to get back in the NFL, Mike Vick should have to fight a dog. Seriously. It should be aired on pay-per-view for $49.95 and the proceeds should go to humane societies across the country. Heck, people should be allowed to bet on it. I’d say the pit bull should go off as a 12-1 favorite. Vick would be  a giant underdog. Ha. Get it? Vick would get a taste of his own medicine and an eye-for-an-eye punishment that fits the crime. But that has no chance of ever happening. Roger Goodell isn’t going to transform into King Solomon anytime soon.

Which brings me to idea No. 2. Mike Vick should play in the upstart UFL. If I’m the commissioner of the new league, I’m rolling out the red carpet and backing up the Brinks truck to get Vick on one of the teams. Who cares if Vick can’t throw a football anywhere near his wide receivers? Vick’s presence would bring a tsunami of free publicity to the new league. Sure, most of it would be the bad kind, but you can’t pay for the amount of attention Vick would bring. The PETA protests at games, SportsCenter segments at his practices - all that publicity is precisely what the new league needs to survive. And I have a feeling the UFL already knows this. The Orlando franchise already has the rights to Vick if he decides to play in the new league.

And that would be good for the NFL too. The NFL doesn’t need any more attention. If Vick plays in the UFL for a year, it gives Vick a chance to sharpen his skills and show some remorse - but more importantly, it allows all those protests to run their course before he returns to the main stage.

So my guess is that when Roger Goodell makes his decision on Mike Vick, he’s going to ban him from the NFL for one more year. That will give Vick a chance to pay his debt to society and let all the shenanigans take place somewhere else. Vick will play for the UFL. And that’s about the best option for everyone involved - even if it’s not the most entertaining one.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Fantasy Football Preview

Quarterback:  Pittsburgh figures to be a run-first offense once again this season, but Ben Roethlisberger will still be a viable fantasy starter. He finished 13th among quarterbacks last year and should be around that mark again. Big Ben is reliable and durable and is usually drafted around round eight or later, allowing you to shore up other positions first. He’s not a bad option at QB if you have a talented team everywhere else.

Running Back: Pittsburgh’s position battle at RB is pushing both Steeler running backs down the draft boards. Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall seem destined for a platoon. It’s also not clear whom the Steelers intend to use near the goal-line. Someone will have value in Pittsburgh’s offensive attack, it’s just too early to tell whom that will be. Training camp might help to clear things up.

Tight end:  Heath Miller is a quality tight end that loses a little bit of value because the Steelers have so many weapons. He finished 15th in a point-per-catch league last year and it’s hard to imagine him doing too much better this year. The Steelers have plenty of targets in the passing game and Matt Spaeth will steal a couple of touchdowns as well this year. Miller is a fringe starter who will probably be steady but not spectacular.

Receivers:  Is this the year Santonio Holmes outscores Hines Ward? Maybe. Ward is not getting any quicker these days, but he still manages to produce fantasy points in bunches, especially in a PPR league. Holmes may surpass him this season, but expect Hines to once again haul in more touchdown receptions. That was one reason Ward was more than 50 points better than Holmes in total fantasy points last year in a PPR league. Pittsburgh’s wild card is Limas Sweed, who should fill Nate Washington’s role as a deep threat. Sweed is probably not worth drafting, but keep an eye on him early in the season as a potential free agent pickup.

Defense, Kicker:  Pittsburgh’s defense is good and Jeff Reed is solid, but fill out the other positions first. Trust me on that one.

Fantasy Football Preview: Baltimore

Quarterback:  Joe Flacco should be a bit better in his second season, but the Ravens will still rely on the running game and have only limited weapons in the passing game. Derrick Mason isn’t getting any younger and the other receivers (Mark Clayton, tight end Todd Heap) aren’t all that impressive. Flacco finished 17th among QBs as a rookie, which is pretty good for a first-timer, but don’t expect any great leaps this season.

Running Back: If you can foretell who will get the bulk of the carries for the Ravens this season, you’ll be in great shape on draft day. The trouble is, that’s a pretty difficult proposition. Ray Rice is currently the No. 1 running back, but he’s a bit undersized. Leron MCClain was supposedly moved to fullback, but he might still be in line for late-game and valuable goal-line carries. And then there’s Willis McGahee, who is an effective runner when healthy, but too often is on the sidelines. This position provides the ultimate boom or bust proposition on draft day. Take the risk if you want, but consider yourself warned.

Receiver:  The Ravens didn’t make a move for Anquan Boldin so this group will be led by the veteran Mason. Mason finished 54th overall in point-per-reception leagues last season, which is pretty impressive considering he was drafted in the later rounds of most drafts. He could provide pretty good value again in PPR leagues again this year, just because he is not the flashy type who will excite fantasy owners with huge numbers. Thus, he will probably linger into the later rounds of drafts once again. Stay away from the other receivers, there isn’t much hope for Clayton or Demetrius Williams. Take a chance instead on other receivers in high-scoring or pass-heavy offenses.

Tight end:  There once was a time when Todd Heap was considered one of the premier tight ends in fantasy football. Sadly, those days are gone. Heap’s injuries and the Ravens abysmal quarterbacks have taken a toll. Heap finished 24th among tight ends last year. If he can ever stay healthy, there’s a chance for him to re-emerge in the top 15. If you expect him to finish any higher than that, you need to put down the purple Kool-Aid.

Defense, Kicker:  The Ravens are good on defense, but don’t waste a high draft pick on them or any other defense. The same goes for Matt Stover and the rest of the kickers.

McNair = Ideal QB

It’s time to forget. Forget that Steve McNair, like all of us, was an imperfect human being. Forget all of the unflattering details surfacing about him in the last few days. Forget that he was having a relationship with a much younger woman who wasn’t the mother of his kids. If you can, forget about all those things for a few seconds. Because I fear that the memory of Steve McNair as a quarterback will be lost amid the circus surrounding his death.

In his prime, McNair embodied everything you would want in a quarterback. He was tough, played hurt, shrugged off hard hits, and hardly ever avoided contact. He was great in the clutch, a quarterback who you trusted running the two-minute drill in the fourth quarter. He was all those terms that seemed to get tossed around two easily - a warrior, a leader, a hero.

And that’s what should be remembered. He certainly made some mistakes in his life, but it’s time to forget them. And remember what he did on the field.

Fantasy Football Preview: Philadelphia

It’s a tough time of year for sports fans. The Super Bowl seems like a distant memory. The NBA playoffs are over. Baseball’s biggest games are still a few months away. So we’re all left with a wasteland of televised sports:  tennis and golf and couch potatoes nearly killing themselves on ABC’s Wipeout. Believe it or not, things would even be worse without one of the greatest innovations of my lifetime - fantasy football.

For fantasy players, it’s the time of year to start gathering data like a Wall Street trader. Who is a good value this year? What players are worth the risk? And which ones are destined for failure? If it weren’t for fantasy football, many fans wouldn’t be able to survive these last few weeks before training camp opens. And to feed your fix, I’ll be providing a three-part series on the fantasy outlooks for each of our area NFL teams. Consider it a beacon of light amid the darkest days in sports.

Philadelphia

Quarterback:  Donovan McNabb should benefit from some improved weapons this season. Rookies Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy and Cornelius Ingram should give the Eagles offense a little more firepower this season. Another year of experience for DeSean Jackson should also help the passing attack. McNabb finished among the top 10 quarterbacks in most leagues last season and should be able to at least equal that this year. Plus, he will probably be around later than some other QBs because of injury concerns. If he stays healthy, he could be a great draft pick this year.

Running Back:  Brian Westbrook, who was always considered one of the top players in fantasy football, has been dropped toward the end of round one on most draft boards because of his injury history and the presence of McCoy. I’d be happy to have Westbrook, especially in a point-per-catch league, but would probably want to grab McCoy as well or another RB with some upside as insurance. In a lot of ways, he’s similar to McNabb. If he stays healthy, he could be a great value pick this year.

Receivers:  DeSean Jackson should be drafted pretty early this year, but tread carefully. He finished outside the top 30 receivers (31st) in most leagues last year and McNabb always seems to spread the ball around. Jackson should improve and will probably finish among the top 25 this year, but he should not be your No. 1 receiver. Kevin Curtis will be back this year for the Eagles and if Maclin impresses, he will steal catches from Jackson as well. Consider Jackson as a second receiver with some upside.

Tight Ends:  I love Brent Celek as a sleeper, second tight end this year. In one league, L.J. Smith, who left via free agency, finished 26th and Celek finished 32nd among tight ends. If Celek gets the majority of the tight end receptions in Philly’s friendly offense, he should be in the top 20 this year. However, I still wouldn’t consider him as a starting tight end, especially with the rookie Ingram around. Consider him a solid No. 2 tight end who could make the leap to No. 1.

Defense, Kicker:  I won’t waste my time analyzing defenses or kickers. You can get by with one kicker and one defense on your roster in the early weeks, provided that you have good ones. Instead draft for depth and take a few chances on some late-round prospects with the potential to break out.

 

 

Mock Draft 2.0

1. Detroit Lions - Matt Stafford, QB

The Lions get their quarterback of the future. Trouble is, they need a lot for the present.

 2. St. Louis Rams - Jason Smith, OT

The Rams grab Orlando Pace’s successor.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Aaron Curry, LB

The Chiefs follow the Belichick mold by stockpiling linebackers.

4. Seattle Seahawks - Eugene Monroe, OT

I think coach Jim Mora will look to bolster the Seahawks running game.

5. Cleveland Browns - Michael Crabtree, WR

The Browns get a new wide receiver. Braylon Edwards, say Buh-Bye.

6. Cincinnati Bengals - Andre Smith, OT

Smith is drawing comparisons to Anthony Munoz, the Bengals’ only Hall of Famer. Plus, he’s got great man boobs.

7. Oakland Raiders - Jeremy Maclin, WR

The Raiders ignore their needs in the trenches and help out quarterback Jamarcus Russell.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - B.J. Raji, DT

The Jaguars go back to their roots by giving defensive tackle John Henderson an imposing partner.

9. Green Bay Packers - Brian Orakpo, DE

Green Bay gets a new edge rusher for the team’s transition to a 3-4 defense.

 10. San Francisco 49ers - Michael Oher, OT

This pick was made by former Dispatch staffer A.J. Fiore, who might be the only Niners fan in York. He says the 49ers need pass rushers and offensive linemen. And with Orakpo gone, Fiore likes the Ole Miss tackle.

 11. Buffalo Bills - Everette Brown, DE

The Bills would like to get Oher, the last of the elite tackles here, but he’s now gone. That leaves them to take Brown, who might help Buffalo harass Tom Brady and the other quarterbacks on the schedule.

 12. Denver Broncos - Mark Sanchez, QB

I’m not buying the Kyle Orton hype in Denver. The Broncos would be happy to get a fresh quarterback like Sanchez, who has a lot of potential and could be a good fit in Josh McDaniel’s offense.

13. Washington Redskins - Robert Ayers, DE

The Redskins could use a pass rusher in a division that features quarterbacks Donovan McNabb, Eli Manning and Tony Romo. Ayers fits the mold.

14. New Orleans Saints - Malcolm Jenkins, CB

The Saints need a cornerback. Jenkins was once considered a top 5 pick. He’s great value.

15. Houston Texans - Aaron Maybin, OLB

You catching a theme here? Pass rushers are important in the modern NFL. Maybin gives the Texans a force opposite Mario Williams. Watch out Peyton Manning.

16. San Diego Chargers - Knowshown Moreno, RB

Darren Sproles is playing under the franchise tag and LaDanian Tomlinson’s days might be numbered. Moreno would be a good fit for Norv Turner’s offense.

17. New York Jets - Tyson Jackson, DE

Common logic says the Jets will take a playmaker for their offense, but I think new coach Rex Ryan will stack his defense even more with Jackson, who is supposedly moving quickly up the draft boards.

18. Chicago Bears - Percy Harvin, WR

The Bears want weapons for new quarterback Jay Cutler. Harvin is explosive, even if he has some character flaws.

19. Tampa Bay Buccanneers - Rey Maualuga, LB

New coach Raheem Morris resists the urge to draft quarterback Josh Freeman and instead opts for a defensive playmaker.

20. Detroit Lions - Peria Jerry, DT

Coach Jim Schwartz had pretty good luck with a defensive tackle named Albert Haynesworth. He hopes Jerry can give him something similar.

21. Philadelphia Eagles - Beanie Wells, RB

Wells isn’t exactly in the mold of speedy running back Brian Westbrook, but Philly can’t resist him here.

22. Minnesota Vikings - Brandon Pettigrew, TE

The Vikings would happy to get Pettigrew here, a weapon that could enliven Sage Rosenfels and the passing game.

23. New England Patriots - Clay Matthews, LB

Bill Belichick has always loved linebackers and can’t resist passing one up with an NFL pedigree. Consider him Mike Vrabel 2.0.

24. Atlanta Falcons - James Laurinaitis, LB

The run on linebacker begins with a Buckeye heading south to strengthen the Falcons defense.

25. Miami Dolphins - Brian Cushing, LB

The Dolphins could use another playmaker on offense or maybe a cornerback, but Bill Parcells instead opts for a safe pick from a solid program.

26. Baltimore Ravens - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR

Baltimore typically drafts well and a wide receiver or a cornerback makes a lot of sense here. Heyward-Bey is a nice complement to Joe Flacco’s big arm.

27. Indianapolis Colts - Vontae Davis, CB

Indianapolis ignores an aging offense and chooses to help out its secondary instead.

28. Buffalo - Eben Britton, OT

The Bills use their pick from the Eagles and attempt to replace the departed Jason Peters.

29. New York Giants - Darius Butler, CB

The Giants are content to trade for Browns wideout Braylon Edwards so they skip the receiver and select Butler.

30. Tennessee Titans - Hakeem Nicks, WR

Coach Jeff Fisher likes physical football players, but his offense needs more help.

31. Arizona Cardinals - Larry English, OLB

English is a smaller-school player who will have to adjust, but the Cards could use more of a pass rush after seeing the Super Bowl stolen from their hands.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Max Unger, OC

The Steelers need depth on the offensive line and Unger has experience playing both center and tackle. The Steelers are lucky to find a player who matches their needs perfectly.

 

 

 

1) Week 1 vs. Tennessee – Win 

Tough week one matchup, but the crowd is jacked up after hoisting a Super Bowl banner and Pittsburgh finds a way to win.  2) Week 2 at Chicago – Win Pittsburgh benefits from a longer week of practice and wins again 3) Week 3 at Cincinnati – Win Pittsburgh’s dominance in the Queen City continues  4) Week 4 vs. San Diego – Loss  The Chargers finally get a win at Heinz Field  5) Week 5 at Detroit – Win

 The Steelers return to the site of Super Bowl XL and win again 

6) Week 6 at Cleveland – Win

Pittsburgh runs over a rebuilding Browns team  7) Week 7 vs. Minnesota – Win

Adrian Peterson has trouble finding holes against Pittsburgh’s defense

BYE 

9) Week 9 at Denver - Win  The bye week gives the Steelers some much needed rest

10) Week 10 vs. Cincinnati - Win

Pittsburgh overcomes an improved Bengals team

11) Week 11 at Kansas City – Win  The Steelers win a close one in a tough place to play  12) Week 12 at Baltimore – Win

The Steelers make it seven in a row with a huge win in the Charm City

13) Week 13 vs. Oakland – Win

Oakland ends a long road trip with a bad loss  14) Week 14 at Cleveland – Win

Cleveland spends another season in the basement of the AFC North 

15) Week 15 vs. Green Bay – Win

The Packers new 3-4 defense isn’t as good as the Steelers

16) Week 16 vs. Baltimore – Win

The Steelers clinch the AFC North and a playoff berth with a big win

17) Week 17 at Miami – Win

The rebuilt Dolphins give the Steelers a tough game, but Pittsburgh prevails. Bad news is, I have the Steelers at 15-1, which equates to a kiss of death. Plus, I have a feeling Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t make it through 16 games behind an underwhelming offensive line. Perhaps 15-1 was a bit much.    

Baltimore Ravens: 2009 Schedule and Predictions

1) Week 1 vs. Kansas City – Win
The NFL serves Baltimore a cupcake with a rookie head coach to start the season
 

2) Week 2 at San Diego – Loss
The return of Chargers LB Shawne Merriman causes problems for the Raven
 

3) Week 3 vs. Cleveland – Win
Cleveland’s new coach gets a rough welcome to the AFC North
 

4) Week 4 at New England – Loss
Brady and Belichick confuse Flacco and company
 

5) Week 5 vs. Cincinnati – Win
Cincinnati can’t match Baltimore’s toughness in the trenches
 

6) Week 6 at Minnesota – Win
Neither Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson is the answer for the Vikings
BYE
8) Week 7 vs. Denver – Win
Denver is suddenly in a rebuilding mode
 

9) Week 9 at Cincinnati – Loss
Cincinnati edges Baltimore in the second meeting
 

10) Week 10 at Cleveland – Win
With apologies to Drew Carey, Cleveland stinks
 

11) Week 11 vs. Indianapolis – Win
The home crowd and a physical defense prevail in cold weather
 

12) Week 12 vs. Pittsburgh – Loss
Pittsburgh edges Baltimore in another close one
 
13) Week 13 at Green Bay – Loss
The Lambeau Field magic helps the Packers steal one
 

14) Week 14 vs. Detroit - Win
The Lions start to turn things around, but not just yet
 

15) Week 15 vs. Chicago – Win
The Ravens win a battle of old teams with closing windows
 

16) Week 16 at Pittsburgh – Loss
Heinz Field in December = automatic loss
 

17) Week 17 at Oakland – Win
This could be a trap game for the Ravens, but they find a way to win. Book your playoff tickets Baltimore, the Ravens end the season 10-6.

Philadelphia Eagles: 2009 Schedule and Predictions

1) Week 1 at Carolina – Win Carolina continues its search for a new quarterback. 

2) Week 2 vs. New Orleans – Win 

The Saints play better indoors. 

3) Week 3 vs. Kansas City – Win   Eagles go to 3-0 with a win over the rebuilding Chiefs. 

BYE

5) Week 5 vs. Tampa Bay – Win The Eagles get an early bye week and a third straight home game. Let the playoff talk begin. 

6) Week 6 at Oakland – Win 

A favorable early schedule should put the Eagles at 5-0 after another win against offense-starved Oakland. 

7) Week 7 at Washington – Loss The ‘Skins hand their divisional rival their first loss of the season. 

8) Week 8 vs. New York Giants – Loss 

The Eagles lose to the Giants who are sporting a new receiver. Braylon Edwards maybe? 

9) Week 9 vs. Dallas – Win The home crowd helps deliver a big win for the Eagles. 

10) Week 10 at San Diego – Loss 

A long road trip ends with another loss. 

11) Week 11 at Chicago – Loss Donovan McNabb loses in a return home. Fans in Philly begin to press the panic button. 

12) Week 12 vs. Washington – Win 

A big win in the division brings hope for another late-season run. 

13) Week 13 at Atlanta – Loss The Eagles help to prove Atlanta’s playoff berth last season was a fluke. 

14) Week 14 at New York Giants – Loss 

The Eagles fall to 0-2 against the Giants this season. 

15) Week 15 vs. San Francisco – Win A huge win for the Eagles that lets many fans fall asleep in the fourth quarter. 

16) Week 16 vs. Denver – Win 

Right about now Denver would kill for Jay Cutler. 

17) Week 17 at Dallas – Loss 

The Cowboys reverse roles from last year and beat Philly to end the season. Will Philly make the playoffs at 10-6? Looks like we’ll have to wait for the season to find out.