AFC East:

(1) New England Patriots – The Patriots, once again, drafted solidly. They’ve picked up some great talent (as you would expect with the amount of picks they had in the first 3 rounds!) and have also made some noise in free agency picking up the ever controversial number 85. With Brady coming off a great year and with more weapons at his disposal you can’t look past them for the AFC East crown. Stevan Ridley (3rd round pick) has looked sharp and quite a good talent so keep an eye out for him, although with Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis in front of him he’ll have quite a bit of work to do.

(2) New York Jets – The Jets have also been making some noise in free agency / trades. Letting Jericho Cotchery go, signing Derrick Mason, letting Braylon Edwards go, signing Plaxico Burress to name the more high profile cases, but they’ve also tied up some current talent with Eric Smith and Antonio Cromatie signing new deals. They haven’t weakened as such, but they don’t seem to have improved much either. I’d expect more of the same from the Jets, hard hitting football and a few bumps on the way.

(3) Miami Dolphins – What can be said about the Dolphins for this season? They’re currently going in with a Quarterback that doesn’t seem to have the support of the crowd or the back room staff, and they’ve lost the running tandem of Ronnie Brown (Eagles) and Ricky Williams (Ravens). They did draft pretty well in my opinion, but they’re still behind the Jets and the Pats in this division. Unless a few players have blitzing seasons then a third placed finish is the best they can hope for. Daniel Thomas (2nd round pick) looks a good prospect and with the two veteran running backs gone will have a big part to play in this offense, however with Reggie Bush looking to be the number 1 back he will most likely be sharing carries. Watch out for centre/guard Mike Pouncey (1st round pick) too, he could be a massive factor in how Thomas’ season goes.

(4) Buffalo Bills – The Bills are unfortunately, in my opinion, still propping up the AFC East table in 4th place. They’re improving no doubt, and I do think they could possibly pip a 3rd place finish in this division, but everything needs to click and go right for them and everything needs to go wrong for the Dolphins. With Lee Evans being traded for a 4th round pick to the Ravens they will be expecting big things of Steve Johnson and Fred Jackson, as well as expecting the younger corps of receivers to step up a gear. Marcell Dareus (1st round pick) will be thrown in at the deep end on that defensive line from what I can see, let’s hope he can make an impact.

Andrew Says – First division and already I disagree.

(1) – New England Patriots

(2) – New York Jets

(3) – Buffalo Bills

(4) – Miami Dolphins

You bet against the Pats at your own risk. Last year saw the Jets come close, but I think they’ve got weaker this off-season and don’t see them getting within a game of the division. The Bills will surprise us this year, as will the Dolphins. For opposite reasons.

I like the Jets for a wildcat spot.

AFC South:

(1) Indianapolis Colts – The Manning saga continues this off-season, and although he has just signed a mega deal which will keep him in Indianapolis until he retires his current health is in question. He hasn’t played this off-season and they don’t expect him to play in their last game either, hoping to get him fit for the season opener. His neck issue looks to be a serious one, however if he can play and play to his standards then despite the defensive issues on the team I can see the Colts winning the division once more. Without Manning I have serious questions about this team and if he doesn’t play then Houston will capitalise on this.

(2) Houston Texans – Houston have improved this off-season, defensively anyway. They’ve addressed what needed addressing (mainly the corner situation) and have brought in Johnathan Joseph from the Bengals which immediately gives them a weapon against the deep threats they will face, and they also picked up Brandon Harris in the draft this year, 2nd round. They have lost pro-bowler Vonta Leach to the Ravens, so you have to wonder how that will affect Foster’s production without that man mountain to block for him. Other than that they’re the same old Texans. AJ, Schaub and Foster are the backbone of the offense and are pretty much nailed on to put up big numbers again this year. Wade Phillips will be looking to get the defence up to speed and if they can perform better this year then the Texans will give the Colts a run for the division title.

(3) Tennessee Titans – Not only are Tennessee without Jeff Fisher this year, but they are also without Vince Young  after trading him to the Eagles and will line-up with Matt Hasselbeck under centre with new boy Jake Locker backing him up. CJ2K is still holding out over a new contract, but this is expected to be cleared up over the coming weeks so he should be ready for the season opener. Titan fans will be hoping that Kenny Britt will start the season as he finished after proving to them that he can be that big play receiver they need (he finished the season with 42 receptions, 775 yards, 9TDs, and this was only in 7 appearances). The defence last year were pretty bad, and were on the field more than any other team I believe, so this off season they’ve been bulking up and trying to get some playmakers on this side of the team. They drafted Akeem Ayers to play OLB and he seems to be a legit pass-rusher, and they’ve brought in the massive Shaun Smith to play defensive tackle. They could make a big splash in the South, however I still see the Colts and Texans as better all-round teams at the moment.

(4) Jacksonville Jaguars – Jacksonville, you don’t hear many people talking about them this year, and to be honest you can understand why. They’ve not been making much noise in the free agency market, their draft was… average. They didn’t address the fact they need a pass-rusher after finishing second last in sacks last year, they used their first round pick on a QB, who definitely has talent, but who most likely won’t be featuring this season unless David Garrard cannot play, and Garrard is locked up for another 3 years earning a considerable sum. Jones-Drew is coming off surgery but is looking pretty sharp in practice, and he put up solid numbers last season – although he needs to improve upon his touchdown talley; only reaching 5 rushing touchdowns last season, and you know the Jaguars rely on him to make some plays. Despite the bright spark that is MJD I feel the Jaguars are in for another season of disappointment at the bottom of the AFC South.

Andrew Says – I can get behind this!

(1) – Indianapolis Colts

(2) – Houston Texans

(3) – Tennessee Titans

(4) – Jacksonville Jaguars

As much as I’d like to, I can’t pick the Texans over the Colts. Though they’re clearly not the same team without Peyton, but I still fancy them to win the South. I can see a heart-breaking tie-break keeping Houston out of the post-season. Again. I like what’s happening in Jacksonville, but probably not enough to be bold with them this year.

AFC North:

(1) Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens lost a lot of big name players this off-season. Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, Kelley Gregg to name a few, however they have made a few key signings themselves bringing in the massive Vonta Leach, Lee Evans and Bryant McKinnie (meaning Michael Oher will be moving over to right tackle – FINALLY!) If everyone can stay fit then with the schedule they have they will make a push for the division. One thing they need to do though, get over the Steeler hump. Expect to see Ray Rice hit 2000 yards from scrimmage this year, and Joe Flacco to finally reach the 4000 yard passing club

(1) Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steelers are pretty much the same club that they were last year, just a little older. They’ll have the same smash mouth defence and will be hard to run on, but they’ll still be weak down the sides as Rodgers proved in the Super Bowl. They will however have Big Ben from the start of the season this year which is a huge bonus to them. He is an elite Quarterback, no doubt, and he will be a massive factor in their success. With Wallace stretching the field, Mendenhall featuring in the backfield and a decent o-line they will be putting points on the board every week. Whoever wins the week 1 game with them and the Ravens will take the division

(3) Cleveland Browns – Cleveland have quietly been going about their pre-season this year, and they’ve looked half decent in the games I’ve seen. McCoy looks even more comfortable in the West Coast offense they’re running down there and he’s becoming more familiar with his targets down the field. Pro-Bowler Joe Thomas will be doing his duty and protecting McCoy on the left giving him time to spot these targets, he could have a quietly good season. Hillis is expected to have a fantastic season after his performances in 2010/11. Will teams see him coming and adjust to stop the run? Could do, and this in turn could help McCoy a lot. A solid run game is always good for the Quarterback. The defence is looking sharp also, I must say. The Browns could very well finish with an 8-8 record at the end of the season, which surely must be a target for Pat Shurmur and co.

(4) Cincinnati Bengals – Cincinnati could very well be looking at the number 1 pick in next years draft in my opinion. They’ve lost Carson Palmer (one way or the other), Ochocinco, Owens, Joseph… A lot of big name players, and veterans of the team. They’re standing with a rookie behind centre, rookies at receiver (talented, yes, but rookie non-the-less) and a shaky defence bar the odd one or two players who I rate. I’m being generous with them finishing with a 4-12 record. They’re rebuilding, that’s plain to see. In a few years they could well be challenging for the division (assuming the guys develop as they are expected to), but at the moment they are raw and unproven.

Andrew Says – Sorry Craig, I can’t see the Ravens topping the Steelers

(1) – Pittsburgh Steelers

(2) – Baltimore Ravens

(3) – Cleveland Browns

(4) – Cincinatti Bengals

This is a division of two leagues, as it were… I think the Browns will have a good year in parts but I can’t see them touching the Ravens or Steelers. The Bengals… well, let’s look again at them in a years time.

Ravens to take a wildcard spot.

AFC West:

(1) San Diego Chargers – The Chargers will have a good season, no question. Phillip Rivers is coming into his own and is the leader of this offense, hell, the team. He’s expecting a big year and he has the weapons to do it. Jackson will be available from the start, Floyd is still kicking about and the monster that is Gates is looking like he could play without an injury which can’t be bad. Defensively they’re as sharp as they can be – and to be honest the defence has been pretty good these last few years. The good news for the Chargers is the Special Teams change in kicking off from the 35yd line, I’ll bet Steve Crosby breathed a sigh of relief when that news was broke. A lot of people are saying this could be their year, I’m optimistic they’ll win their division but I don’t think they’ll win the AFC crown. Not whilst Baltimore still breathe

(2) Denver Broncos – The Broncos have been in the news A LOT lately, mainly over the boy-wonder Tim Tebow and his situation in Denver. I like Tebow, I’ll get this out of the way now. I think he’s a good guy and a good athlete, I don’t think he’ll become the next elite Quarterback but I think he has enough in his locker to be a starter for many years to come. The situation needs to be sorted really, it doesn’t seem like he is wanted in Denver and it’s causing some unrest in the camp, in my opinion. This could very well disrupt the season. It may not, but I can’t see Denver pushing for the title and I do think that the Chargers will win the division by 3 wins or more. I’m looking forward to seeing Von Miller perform though, I do think that the Broncos drafted well when they picked him up with the second pick. I also don’t think any of the receivers will breakout this year like Brandon Lloyd did in 2010, although it’s always nice when they do. Willis McGahee will be one to watch.

(3) Kansas City Chiefs – Yes, I know, I’ve got the Chiefs in 3rd place. Why you ask? Simple, this pre-season (and I know it’s not good to base predictions on this) they have just looked… disjointed. They’ve not shown any spark, they don’t look like the same team. I could be completely wrong – however you know teams are going to be marking Charles a lot, you know that Dwayne Bowe did enough last season to warrant double coverage every now and again, and frankly I do believe these are players who can be controlled by the right defensive schemes – and I’m not sold on the other targets surrounding Cassel. Brandon Flowers is a player that I really like, he can make plays and he is on his way to being a shut-down corner in my book, will people throw his way this year? Who knows, but if they do then they want to make sure the throw is accurate and the route is crisp. They also have another quality player in the backfield by the name of Eric Berry. Only his second year, but his rookie season was as good as he could have hoped, let’s see if his 2nd season is just as good.

(4) Oakland Raiders – We finish off with the Raiders, as many people probably expected. Jason Campbell has got the nod as the starting Quarterback and he’ll have Darren McFadden, the fantasy wonder, lining up next to him. McFadden will be looking to continue his great form from last season, and he could very well do that. He’s a great little athlete, no question. I’m just thinking that without a solid passing game a lot of defences could put their focus on Darren and basically stuff him out of the game. Campbell isn’t a bad Quarterback, but he won’t set the world on fire and the receivers they have aren’t big names who are renowned for their big play ability. They are relatively young, but they’re quick, Hue Jackson will be looking for everyone to contribute. The Oakland defence have been leaky this pre-season, and I know they were bottom of the league a few days ago because of it. I don’t see much changing for the coming season so they’ll be looking at Tyvon Branch to lead the way to a hopefully better performance.

Andrew Says – I agree about the Chargers, but then we disagree again.

(1) – San Diego Chargers

(2) – Oakland Raiders

(3) – Denver Broncos

(4) – Kansas City Chiefs

I think Oakland could have a good year. They’ve had a bit of stability and some steady development in key areas. Yes, there are still questions and the so-called skill positions but I think they’ve got enough. I can see the Chiefs struggling and Denver will improve on last year and push Oakland close. I can’t see anyone else but the Chargers taking command in the West though.

I know you’re as excited as we are

21 – Kansas City Chiefs: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

Easiest pick so far – the Chiefs need to address right tackle. They should really have addressed this last year, but with a selection of good tackles available they’ll take Carimi as the best of the lot and probably with the biggest upside too.

22 – Indianapolis Colts: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

Solder is a former tight end, so has good atheleticism for the tackle position. A bit raw, however he has the natural skills to succeed as a left tackle in the NFL. The Colts’ current LT, Charlie Johnson, is set to be a free agent, so they need to upgrade the OT position. DT was a possibility here, but the Colts franchise revolves around Peyton Manning, so protecting him is a must.

23 – Philadelphia Eagles: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado

The Eagles have a number of picks this year in the first 4 rounds and can address a few positions that need addressing I’d say quite comfortably. One of the main areas would be the tackle spot. I would have had them taking Carimi, Sherrod, Solder, Castonzo or Smith, but as they have all gone I think all first round tackles have now gone and they will need to look else where. He might have some character issues but I think Smith will sit nicely in the defence over at Philadelphia. He’ll have the king of controversy, Vick, to help him in his first season so although he might be a bit of a gamble he’ll be worth the risk. The Eagles defence last year was ranked near bottom on for big plays on the defence so some added skill at corner will hopefully help them improve upon that. He’s no Revis Island, but he has the potential to be a shut-down corner.

24 – New Orleans Saints: Cameron Heyward, DE/DT, Ohio State

The Saints are really tempted by Corey Liuget and there’s little doubt that they’ll upgrade the defensive line. Personally though, I think they’ll be better served in the best few years by signing an End. That said, Heyward gives them real flexibility and though he’ll start at End he remains a versatile option.

25 – Seattle Seahawks: Jake Locker, QB, Washington

Seattle need help at a few positions such as offensive tackle and defensive end, but Matt Hasselbeck is getting alot older, and the Charlie Whitehurst experiment didn’t go as planned. Locker will not start right away, but will sit behind Hasselbeck for a season learning the game, and may get some playing time if the old man gets injured.

26 – Baltimore Ravens: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland

Could be the deep threat that the Ravens so desperately need to stretch the field. Smith opens up all sorts of possibilities for the offence at Baltimore. Smith is currently being compared to Reggie Wayne, which speaks volumes about his ability. Having him in the line-up not only gives the Ravens a vertical threat, but it will also give Boldin and Mason that extra bit of room to create plays.

27 – Atlanta Falcons: Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona

Where do you improve a team that was a comfortable 13-3 and looked the class of the NFC for most of the season? I was tempted by Kyle Rudolph, and would have considered Torrey Smith if he was available. I also looked at the number of other quality DE/OLBs who are still available as well as the wealth of DTs still hanging about. In the end though, I like Reed to sit opposite Abraham but to also rush from further back and be good in coverage.

28 – New England Patriots: Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida

After having picked up a needed piece on the defensive side of the ball earlier in the draft, the Patriots turn their eyes to the offensive side of the ball. Running back is an option, as is offensive tackle, but the value isn’t there at this point. For that reason the Pats go with the best Guard available in the draft, Mike Pouncey. With questions over the future of Logan Mankins, the Patriots decide to solidify the long term future of the position by taking Pouncey. They have shown in the past that they aren’t afraid to take a Guard in the first round, like they did with Mankins, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them do it again

29 – Chicago Bears: Marcus Cannon, OT, TCU

Despite an improvement last year I feel the Bears offensive line still needs looking at. Cannon looks the part and plays the part, and the potential is definitely there. If the worst happens he’ll convert to guard, and more than likely excel there. Still, at 6-5 and 358lbs he’ll at least give Cutler a little more time to throw! They guy has been reported to have a great work ethic, and is pretty nimble for his size.

30 – New York Jets: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon St.

The Jets need to get over the “bump” of successive Championship losses. Two games that have been very close. They need to address the WR position but I think they’ll look to keep some of the guys they’ve got. But what they could really do with is a stalwart tackle who’ll be there for years to come. Whilst slightly undersized as a nose-tackle, this guy is strong. He’ll pack the middle of the line and will take on two guys all day long. (That sounded less gay in my mind). This is Ryan’s type of player and look for him to be let loose.

31 – Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas

I was originally going to go OL here, but after a run on tackles, and with the only first round quality Guard already off the board, i had to go in a different direction. The Steelers have generally got by without anyone particularly outstanding at the CB position, however after the gashing the Steelers secondary took in the Superbowl against the Packers, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them take a DB. Williams has the ability to also play FS, so he could easily line up alongside Troy Polamalu. I was also considering DL, but i think DB is more of a need.

32 – Green Bay Packers: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

Where do you need to look when you’re Superbowl champions? It’s difficult, but obviously there are areas you need to improve. The only thing I think will happen is that the Packers will take the best player on the board with their first draft pick. Looking at picks we have made that would be Muhammad. They guy has received glowing reports leading up to the draft regarding his explosiveness, his work ethic and his general play. He would work well with the current defensive line-up at Green Bay, I’d especially love to see how Matthews and Wilkerson would play together.

That’s your lot. Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as we enjoyed going through it. There are probably a few surprises in the list itself, but then everyone’s list is different!

11 – Houston Texans: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

The Texans need secondary help, and if Prince is available come their pick I don’t doubt that they would take him. He seems to be the complete package. His size of strength, speed and size make him the perfect press-cover corner, he has a great read of the game and excellent closing speed. He would definitely help the Texans, who last year finished last in the pass defence rankings.

12 – Minnesota Vikings: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

The Vikings need a QB, but with Locker being a longer term project, Newton and Gabbert gone and Dalton, Ponder and probably Mallett not a 1st round pick, I don’t see them investing. They have urgent needs on the defensive line and Kerrigan fits the bill. I think they’ll look very closely at Bowers and also DT Corey Liuget. But with the ??s over Bowers’ knee, I see him falling (despite good showings since surgery) and the Vikes need a strong End rather than Tackle at this point.

13 – Detroit Lions: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College

The Lions’ biggest need is in the secondary, but with Peterson and Amukamara off the board there is no defensive back worth selecting this high in the draft. They were also hoping that Tyron Smith would fall, however they are happy to stay where they are and take the next best OT available. Matt Stafford needs protecting, especially after the amount of time he has spent injured. The Lions have little at tackle right now, so Castonzo should come in and start immediately.

14 – St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

The Rams made a big step up last year, and much of that could be down to how well Sam Bradford settled into his role as starting Quarterback. Whilst I do feel that the Rams need to invest in the defensive line-man and safety positions I believe that the draft this year is filled with prospects for those positions. Jones will bring something different to the Rams WR corps and add some competition for those coming back from injury. He’s also a good down field blocker and isn’t afraid to hit.

15 – Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Despite concerns about his knee, I think the Dolphins simply must take the best running back available this year. Though admittedly it’s far from being a stellar draft for backs, Ingram could be a solid starter immediately. Pouncey is a real possibility here too, as is a trade down.

16 – Jacksonville Jaguars: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

The Jaguars didn’t have anyone with over 5 sacks last season, and apart from Aaron Kampman who signed for the Jags last offseason, can you name a decent Jaguars defensive end? I’m not talking about now, I’m talking about ever! Bowers falls due to concerns about his knee, but if he can play and avoid injury he is a top 5 talent.

17 – New England Patriots: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

New England has six picks in the first 100 selections via trades from the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings. I would have picked Mark Ingram with this pick but Andrew already had the Dolphins taking him, and as I don’t see another RB being picked this high I’ll see them picking an outside linebacker, namely Akeem. He has shown he could have what it takes to make the step up and is extremely athletic for a big line-backer, and whilst he might lack that extra bit of pace to be an edge rusher he has superb gap discipline. He won’t be a guy who is going to run all over the field, but with some work he could prove to be a valuable ‘big-play’ line-backer.

18 – San Diego Chargers: J.J. Watt, DE/DT, Wisconsin

I’ve seen Watt mocked as high as 9. I think that’s a stretch for most teams, but his versatility, determination and drive will show through. He’s not the best pass rusher there, though that might come, but he’s a hard worker, can be coached and will not let anyone down. He’d be a great investment here at 18th.

19 – New York Gianst: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

The value at linebacker isn’t there, what with Akeem Ayers off the board, so the Giants fill another position of need. The OL needs some help, and Eli Manning definitely needs more protection. Sherrod should be able to contribute at a tackle spot in his first year, either at left or right depending on how William Beatty pans out.

20 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri

The Bucs have a young squad, and Morris seemed to get the best out of his players last year only just missing out on a play-off spot. Looking at the team they need some help on the secondary (which is becoming a somewhat standard this year for a lot of teams). The corner spot will probably be addressed in the latter rounds, so I have them taking Aldon Smith whilst he is still available. Smith has a knack of getting to the QB, and it’s something he has done all through College. Expect to see him as an explosive pass-rusher.

Next up, picks 21-32 to complete the 1st round.

1 – Carolina Panthers: Marcel Dareus, DT, Alabama

While the Panthers don’t have a great QB, I just have too many questions about the top QBs in the draft for them to warrant the No.1 overall pick. Newton is the consensus choice here, but Newton isn’t like Sam Bradford or Matt Ryan, he was never as good as a passer as them in college. Dareus will be a force inside from the get go, and while he won’t be as dominant as Suh, he is a quality player.
The Panthers used to have a dominant D Line, with Kris Jenkins, Mike Rucker and of course Julius Peppers, but these have now all left or retired. The current DT depth chart is headed by Nick Hayden and Derek Landri, and I believe Landri is a free agent. DT is position of big need for the Panthers, and Dareus can be a player to build around for the future.

2 – Denver Broncos: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

Having not had a top 10 pick since 1991 the Broncos must be rubbing their hands at the thought of having the 2nd pick. Personally I would have taken Marcel Dareus if he were still here, but as the Panthers took him with the first round of the draft the Broncos need to pick by player and not by position in my opinion. They need a DT, but with them also needing a pass rusher to compliment Elvis Dumervil I think Von Miller is too much of a good thing to pass on. Millers role at Texas was a simple one.. Go after the QB on every play, and it’s something he did exceptionally well. He is quick round the corner and seemed to mature into a leader of the team as the games went on. The guy has no off-field character issues and I think he would slot in well with the Denver team.

3 – Buffalo Bills: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

The Bills need help pretty much everywhere. And whilst I think they’ll probably get Von Miller in real life, if he’s not there (also Dareus for that matter) they can’t pass up one of the top two quarterbacks if they’re available at this position. This will start what will be a deep rebuilding process and I favour Gabbert over Newton as being more suited to a bigger project like the Bills have.

4 – Cincinnati Bengals: AJ Green, WR, Georgia

Cam Newton would have seemed like the ideal choice here, but with TO and Ochocino on their way out it leaves the Bengals very thin at the WR position. AJ Green is possibly the best offensive player in the draft, so i see the Bengals snatching up Green if he is there. I think the Bengals shy away from Newton due to comparisons to Akili Smith, even if they are unfair comparisons.

5 – Arizona Cardinals: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

Although I don’t see Cam falling this far in the real draft (Falling far.. it’s only the fourth pick!) I feel that Arizona just cannot pass on him. He’s touted by many to be the number 1 draft pick this year, and as Tom touched upon earlier although he isn’t a Sam Bradford or Matt Ryan, he is a talented QB and Arizona desperately need someone to fill that slot. Last year the Cardinals looked nothing like the Superbowl appearing team from the season before. With Warner gone they tried a number of stop gap Quarterbacks to fill his boots but non of them seemed to work out. Cam is someone who can come in, learn the system and hopefully work well with Larry Fitz to get him firing on all cylinders.

6 – Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

This was a really close decision between Patrick Peterson and Quinn and really, it could go either way. But at the end, the line needs more help than the secondary (just…) and as a great pass-rusher who can make a difference immediately Quinn takes some beating.

7 – San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

The Niners have holes in a few places, such as QB and pass rusher, but they also need help in the secondary where Nate Clements is nowhere near the player the Niners paid for in 2007. Although it could be seen that a team with a great pass rush makes the secondary look good, i can’t see the Niners passing on Peterson here. However, the only pass rusher worth consideration here is Da’Quan Bowers, and the knee issues means he is too big of a risk to take.

8 – Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn

The Titans have a number of places they should be looking at for what is effectively a pretty average team. Do they go for some QB protection and add a new centre or guard? Do they replace Vince Young with a QB like Jake Locker? Free agency will probably fill some of these spots, but for now I think the Titans need to look at Fairley to come in and fill the DT position. He is very quick, deceptively so. This is probably his main strength. He isn’t physically the strongest but he will add an edge to the defence and add some explosiveness that they are currently lacking.

9 – Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith, OT, USC

Although they really need help at CB, with Peterson gone and them not being sold on Prince Amukamara they’ll go for the best available upgrade of the offensive line. Pouncey comes in close, but I think there’s a bigger upside on Smith not just as a player but that the Cowboys need upgrade at tackle rather than guard.

10 – Washington Redskins: Cameron Jordan, DE, California

The Redskins could go lots of different directions here. However in most areas of need for the Redskins the need doesn’t match the value, except for DE. Cameron Jordan hasn’t had a bad word said against him in this entire build up to the draft, and he is a perfect 3-4 defensive end. The Skins are still transitioning over to a 3-4 defense, and Jordan will help that transition. I was going to go pass rusher here, but with Haynesworth likely on his way out of Washington, that leaves Adam Carriker as the only serviceable D-lineman for the Skins. There could be sexier picks on offense here, but the Redskins ranked 31st in yards allowed per game on defense last year.

I’ll follow up shortly with picks 11-20.

So the wildcard weekend has been and gone and we’re now left with 8 teams who are looking to make it all the way to the Superbowl. We’ve got some tasty matches to look forward to this weekend, and today I’ll be looking at one of them. It’s one of the most physical rivalries in the NFL and a contest which more often than not is pretty close in all aspects. On Saturday 15^th January the Baltimore Ravens travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Looking into this game there are literally hundreds of stats I could reel off. These 2 teams are well accustomed with each other and, playing in the same division, face off at least twice a season and have done since 1996 when the Ravens were established as a franchise. So there is a long history there, many games and many scores, many records and many talking points. So instead of waffling on I’ll just note some of the stats that I’ve seen about this lately.

This year, the Steelers finished with a 5-3 record at home and a 7-1 record on the road where-as the Ravens finished with the exact opposite record, a 5-3 away record and a 7-1 home record. Over the last 17 meetings between these 2 teams they have scored the exact same amount of points. In the regular season both teams finished with a 12-4 beating each other once each, the only separation between the two is the 5-1 to 4-2 divisional record in favour of the Steelers (which is why the Steelers won the division). In the era of John Harbaugh the Ravens are 0-5 against Ben Roethlisberger (both wins came with Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch at Quarterback). Judging by these stats I’ve seen the last couple of days its looks as though Big Ben is a huge factor in the way this game could swing.

As mentioned, the Steelers won the division giving them a bye-week in the playoff scenario.

People are in two minds over whether they are now at an advantage or a disadvantage. There are always differing opinions over this. Yes they have had a week off after a long season, this in turn has allowed players with those little niggles to get fit and be 100% for the Divisional game. On the flip side, they have lost any momentum they had at the end of the season. The Ravens played last week, and by all accounts they looked like genuine contenders for a ring. The offence clicked, the defence were everywhere, Flacco actually looked like an established Quarterback – picking all the right plays and managing the clock as well as I have seen it managed – he lead them on a 10 minute drive in the 4^th quarter resulting in a touchdown! I know who’s shoes I’d rather be in on Saturday, how about you?

All in all, there is a lot more I could say about this match-up, but you know what to expect anyway. It will be hard-hitting, it will be tight, and it will be scrappy. My final though… this game could be very well won by penalties. The referees will be a big factor in this meeting.

As expected, I’m going for a Ravens win… BABY!

Image Credit:
Pittsburgh Skyline – Zach McCormick
Ray Lewis – Keith Allison

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

All 5 Meetings:
2009 – Chiefs 24-38 Ravens
2006 – Ravens 20-10 Chiefs
2004 – Chiefs 27-24 Ravens
2003 – Chiefs 17-10 Ravens
1999 – Chiefs 35-8 Ravens

The Ravens and Chiefs have only met 5 times, Kansas leads the series 3-2. They have never met in the post-season.

With the regular season finished and the play-offs on the horizon we now know the teams who will be battling it out to reach the Holy Grail of American Football, the Super Bowl. There are two matches from the AFC this Sunday, and I’ll be taking a look at the Baltimore Ravens who travel to the Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Ravens finished the season with an impressive 12-4 record. I say impressive simply because they have been mediocre in my opinion, especially on offence. Baltimore are renowned for their hard-hitting and stubborn defence and their run first offence, I think that much is known around the NFL circles. This season has seen many changes, one being the improvement of the quality of wide receivers in the team. You’d think, having the kind of running game they have that these receivers would have done a lot more this season than they have done. Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, TJ Houshmandzadeh, all arguably number 1 receivers. Joe Flacco, a solid Quarterback who is growing each and every season has a plethora of targets to choose from and all of them are capable of getting 1000yards (Not one reached that milestone this season). No question. You also have Ray Rice, a very capable running back who is explosive coming out of the backfield either with the ball in his hand or running a route. So you have to ask yourself, how does a team with an offence, AND an offensive line such as Baltimore only rank 20th in the pass, 22nd in yards per game and 16th in points per game? Something just isn’t clicking somewhere. Is Flacco holding back from looking for that deep downfield ball to stretch the defence? Is he dumping off all too often to Ray Rice when no-one is open (Rice has 63 catches this season, 2nd highest in the team)? Is the lack of catches getting to the wide receivers causing some unrest (as we saw when Mason and Flacco had that argument on the sideline)? Who does it come down to at the end of the day? The Quarterback? The offensive coordinator (Play calling has been a little suspect)? The Coach? The Receivers? Who-ever is a fault they need to step it up a few gears now. The play-offs are harsh and one mistake ends your season. You need to be flawless. As this team proved against the Bengals last week, the offence is far from that.

Defensively has been more of the same. Great against the run (5th), not so much against the pass (21st), however the Ravens finished 3rd in points against and 10th in yards against so there isn’t much to fault there. They have been pretty consistent in their duties and have made plenty of plays resulting in turnovers (Ed Reed, I’m looking at you). I’d argue that they are still weakest at the corner position, despite the fact that Lardarius Webb came in and looked very good, Josh Wilson came in and did a great job, Fabian Washington looked solid most of the time and Chris Carr settled in when he played. They still need that one dependable playmaker that Quarterbacks are afraid to throw to. They have Lewis in the middle, Suggs coming off the edge and Reed in the middle, put someone on the side and it’s almost a complete package. Haloti Ngata is always a threat up front, and I’ve been impressed with Cory Redding when I’ve seen him play. Dannell Ellerbe has shown that he can be a factor in the middle of the pack and Jarrett Johnson has really stepped up this year. So yeah, it’s a great defence with a number of players who have that playmaking factor, but the offence cannot rely on them to win games like they have done. They need to put points on the board and take some of the pressure off these guys because lets’ face it, they have basically carried the team for the majority of the season (BOLD statement!)

Arrowhead Stadium

The Kansas City Chiefs, by all accounts, have performed exceptionally. They finished with a 10-6 record, a huge improvement over last seasons 4-12. They also finished top of the AFC West, something they have not done since 2003. A major reason for this is the effectiveness of the running game this season. They have the power of Thomas Jones and the explosiveness of Jamaal Charles, and both have performed to expectations. Charles himself has hit 1427 yards this season at an amazing 6.38 yards per carry. How has he managed this? In my opnion Thomas Jones’ hard work and continuous pounding of the defence has left Charles to come in and hit them when they’re vunerable. Credit goes to the offensive co-ordinator Charlie Weis for using this to a huge advantage. Due to the success of the running game this has allowed Matt Cassel to slowly go about this business, and this is something he has done to great effect. Matt has threw for a little over 3000 yards, which in itself isn’t a huge number, but it doesn’t need to be when you’re getting over 2000 yards from your running backs. Due to him only throwing when he see’s fit his turnover is quite impressive, totalling only 7 interceptions compared to his 27 touchdowns (15 of which to Dwayne Bowe!) The Baltimore defence will be in for a tough test against a well oiled offence this Sunday.

Their defence this year has been solid, not excelling in any particular area but not appearing weak either. They are allowing on average 20 points a game, but averaging 22 points scored which is why they have gone on to get a 10-6 record. The offensive line has done well to protect the running backs and allowed them to find the gaps and get the yards, at the same time they have allowed 32 sacks on Matt Cassel. Compared to Chicago (who allowed 56) you won’t grumble at this number, but compared to say the Giants (who allowed 16) you might raise your eyebrow slightly. The Chiefs defence themselves have managed to get 38 sacks which puts them joint 12th in the league. A lot higher than the Ravens are in this area.

All in all I think this game has everything in place to be a good one, and one I look forward to watching. They appear to be a good match in all areas, and it is definitely tough to choose the outcome of this game, however, being a Ravens fan I’m going to have to go with Baltimore win.

Image Credits:
Arrowhead Stadium – B. Baltimore Brown
Joe Flacco – Keith Allison

Week 12 has rolled around and a new set of fixtures are there to be predicted! So let’s do what we do best, well… what we do kind of well, and that’s take a look at a game a piece in slightly more detail that just saying ‘Detroit win’. This week I’ve landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are playing at the M & T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens.

M & T Bank Stadium, Baltimore

The Buccaneers, by their standards, are having a pretty good year. They are currently sitting VERY pretty at 7-3, which is an unbelievable turn around from last years 3-13. Josh Freeman has settled in nicely as the starting quarterback and has already made a connection with Mike Williams that rivals the Manning / Wayne, Rivers / Gates and Ryan / White combinations. This is a definite reason for the dramatic turn around in Tampa Bays’ fortunes, but you also have to look at the way Freeman himself is playing. Last year he had thrown a massive 18 interceptions in only 10 games. Compare that to the 5 this year and it’s obvious why they are 7-3.

Josh Freeman's Career Stats (so far!)

The quarterback is protecting the football which in return minimises the damage the opposition defence can do. Tampa’s offensive line is trying to keep Freeman safe, they are trying to give him time to make plays, but they have still allowed 20 sacks and 46 hits. Freeman can be blamed for a few, as can most quarterbacks, but they still need to tighten up just a little. Not only is the passing game clicking, but the addition of LeGarrette Blount in the running game makes it so the defence won’t always be looking for the pass. They have a solid little package which is doing the trick making them difficult to defend against.

Defensively there isn’t much to say. They’re pretty average as defences go. Good games and bad games. Their passing defence is a lot better than their rushing defence, no doubt. 15 interceptions on the season is nothing to snuff at. Neither is a 200 passing yard per game average. Unfortunately on the other side of the coin the rushing defence is ranked 29th and allowing 136 yards per game average. They are pretty good at defending the red zone though, so Ray Rice and Willis McGahee could be in for a physical game. Overall the defence has scored 3 touchdowns, amassed a disappointing 14 sacks and caused 10 forced fumbles (only 6 recovered and non for a TD).

The Ravens are also sitting on a 7-3 record recording losses against the Bengals, the Falcons and the Patriots. Joe Flacco has come of age this year and hascemented himself as the number 1 guy in Baltimore. Many questions were asked at the start of the season regarding Flacco and his ability to run an offence. I’d like to think that he has answered those questions with his plays and the decisions he has been making in games. He has 3 arguably number 1-calibre receivers to keep happy, he has a running back duo that love to get their hands on the ball, he has a fantastic Tight End in Todd Heap and he has a young and capable offensive line to protect him. Every NFL quarterback playing at the moment would give anything to be in his position. He is developing well and I expect him to finish strong the back end of the season, and hopefully into the playoffs. Funnily enough the offense is performing better than the defence this year, which is seemingly surprising considering we’re talking about Baltimore.

The defence started out very well this year. They didn’t let a touchdown through the air or on the ground until week 3 against the Browns. Since that game the opposition doesn’t appear to be afraid of them. Even the Bills managed to put up 34 points in week 7. There isn’t really that much different with the team from last year. Ngata, Suggs, Reed (eventually), and Lewis are all still there. Cory Redding has been added, McClain and Cody are all getting involved… there just seems to be a few mistakes that are costing the games, or referee calls in some instances. The corners are still a problem and they don’t really have one outstanding guy they can count on. Webb is showing glimpses of being that man but he has not been 100% so far this year. Up until Ed Reed came back in week 7 the Ravens turnover ratio was abysmal. Since week 7 Reed himself has 4 interceptions and 1 of them was lateralled for a touchdown. Another thing they need to do more is get to the Quarterback, currently the Ravens are tied 21st in the league for sacks. All in all there are many places they can improve, maybe as the season continues and gets back into sync with Ed Reed things will slot into place? We’ll see…

If you’re skimming my waffle: Ravens to win

Image Credits
M & T Stadium Gameday – Lauren Swiecicki
Joe Flacco – Keith Allison

This week I’ll be taking a look at two teams who have impressed me so far this season, but might not have the records to show it. Yes, I’m talking about the 2-6 Detroit Lions who are taking on the 0-8 Buffalo Bills.

Ralph Wilson Stadium

The Detroit Lions were abysmal 2 years ago. Let’s not sugar coat it, they played some bad football. They went 0-16 because of it. It was at this point that the powers that be hired Jim Schwartz to take the reigns and lead the club out of this embarrassing slump. 2 years on and the record doesn’t look much better, but they are playing some excellent football. You can see the turn around in the team since Schwartz came in and he’s making all the right moves. His first pick as the Lions Head Coach in the 2009 draft was Matthew Stafford, and he is looking every bit as good as he was touted to be. Injuries have hampered him this season (and the end of last season), but when he is healthy he is a game changer. Unfortunately we won’t see him again this season so the QB job goes to Shaun Hill once more – and he’s non too shabby himself. When he has played he has played well. The Lions are very unlucky to not have a winning record this year. At the very least they should be on 3-5 if not for a dubious decision that disallowed a touchdown late in the game against the Chicago Bears. That would have improved their record, and also added another touchdown to Calvin Johnson’s tally (currently 8 for the season). He really is the shining light in this offence at the moment.

Defensively the Lions rank 25^th overall. They are hitting hard and making plays all over the field. 12 forced fumbles (10 recovered) and 9 interceptions so far for the season is nothing to grumble at. They’ve also recorded 24 sacks which works out to 3 per game. 7 of those sacks (for a total 38 yards lost) belong to Ndamukong Suh who in his rookie year is playing like a veteran of the sport. Add to his tally 25 solo tackles (30 overall) and an interception for a TD and you’ve got to be impressed by his ability. He even wants to take the Field Goals! Where the Lions are falling short is carrying this momentum through all game. They are averaging 23.5 points against this season, and they are having trouble stopping the run on those short yardage situations. They’re basically being outscored. They either need to tighten up the front line and stop the opposition, or score more points – but they are already doing their bit in my opinion.

The Buffalo Bills are in the same boat. You could say they are playing well offensively, yet they are just being outscored due to the terrible defensive play. Ryan Fitzpatrick is slowly and quietly making a name for himself with his steady and consistent performances. He might not have the best receiving core in the business, and he might not have the biggest name in the NFL – but he is putting points on the board week in and week out. Steve Johnson is stepping up and showing himself to be a reliable target, already reeling in 41 receptions for 554 yards and 6 touchdowns (Anquan Boldin for example has 596 yards and 6 touchdowns – Johnson is playing at a high level). The running game could maybe do with being better. They got rid of Marshawn Lynch leaving Fred Jackson to be the number 1 back, however his 313 yards rushing is pitiful to say the least. Unfortunately CJ Spiller isn’t much better, getting rid of Lynch in my opinion was a bad move (as was taking Spiller in the draft).

Not much can be said for their defensive prowess, or lack thereof. They have the worst rush defence in the NFL and rank just 1 place below the Lions overall. This should definitely be an area that Chan Gailey should be looking at. He is known for his stirling offensive work and we can see why, now he needs to flip the coin to the otherside and work on getting his defence, you know, stopping people. There has been some improvement since switching back to the 4-3 defence so you never know what could happen. They will be looking for Posluszny and Ayodele to step up and create some plays in the middle of the  park.

This game could very well be a high scoring affair, with the victor obviously being the one who can score the most. One big defensive play could chang this game in either direction, so I’m looking forward to catching this on NFL Game Pass.

Prediction: Detroit Lions win.

Image Credit: Scott Kinmartin

This week sees me heading to Wembley along with Andrew and Graham for what should be a great game of football between the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers. That won’t stop me from taking a look at other games however, and this week I’ll be focusing on the Green Bay Packers at the New York Jets.

Mark Sanchez

Brandon Jackson has now had time to settle into the Packers offence and show us what he is made of. I do commend him and he has done a decent enough job. Sure he’s not the feature back that Ryan Grant is, but considering his lack of playing time previously he can be proud. I do think that the Packers are desperately missing the presence of Jermichael Finley, Aaron Rodgers more than anyone else. He was a focal point in their passing game and to be honest that has looked a little stale since he has been out. They really need to try and utilise Greg Jennings more than they have done, because when he has had the ball thrown at him he has made some good plays and showed everyone why he can be the number 1 receiver at Green Bay. He has already beaten his touchdown total from last year in half the time, but his yardage is suffering and at the moment he isn’t even close to breaking 100 yards.

I would like to say that the defence has been stout and tough to break down, but it really hasn’t. The only standout player is, as previously mentioned on Mac, Clay Matthews. He can’t do it all himself, but he had a monster 9 sacks in 6 games and they have really missed his imposing playmaking ability these past 2 games. I hear he is back and healthy this week, so Mark Sanchez will need to be on his toes and hope that his offensive line can protect him.

The Jets are coming fresh off of a bye week after a great first half to the season. After suffering a loss at home to Baltimore in week one they have gone on from strength to strength with an all-round good game. LT has been doing what he does best, and Sanchez is maturing into a franchise quarterback showing how well he has come on from his rookie season. He has a star studded list of receivers to choose from, all of which are doing a grand job – and to top it all off he now has Superbowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes back from suspension (already with 7 catches and 88 yards in 2 games). To top it off Dustin Keller has proven himself to be a reliable target and is really showing this season he has what it takes to be a top receiving tight end.

Darrelle Revis seems fully recovered from his hamstring problem so I assume he’ll be slotting back in at corner looking to shut down Donald Driver for the game leaving Greg Jennings to go up against the stop/start Antonio Cromatie. The Green Bay offensive line has much improved this year, allowing only 30 hits on Rodgers (compare it with the 52 allowed on Jay Cutler), and 14 sacks. That’s 2 a game so far. The Jets defence has gotten to quarterbacks 13 times this season, again averaging at around 2 a game. All in all the defence needs to assert its dominance over the offensive line and then pressure Rodgers into some throws. We all know how lethal Aaron can be when he is given time to throw.

All in all I think we’ll see a close, hard fought game… but a thoroughly entertaining one.

Prediction: New York Jets win.

Image Credits: Mark Sanchez – Ed Yourdon