Brett Farve: He misses Sterling Sharpe

I've said this countless times drunk, but just in case you missed it:

Brett Farve is one of the greatest QBs in NFL history despite the fact that he hasn't had a great WR to throw to since Sterling Sharpe.

You might say, "What about that dickhead who now plays for the Raiders? You know, the guy who got his ass kicked in Vegas or whatever." Yeah, you mean Javon Walker. That guy is junk. BP, for those who know him, once tried to convince me that Javon Walker was the greatest WR in the league. This was about the time the Broncos picked him up. He really panned out, didn't he? Just because there are a lot of great WRs in the league with head problems doesn't mean a guy with head problems is a great WR.

Other WRs who would be GREAT number two guys on most teams:

Donald Driver (he even sounds like a number 2 WR)
Greg Jennings (he might become a good one....hasn't yet)
Lavernious Coles (if he wasn't undersized, a poor blocker, and lazy....he would be....decent)

So, yeah, no good WRs for the Farve.

Top Twelve

Every year NFL fans like to sit around and speculate about who will win the Superbowl. Occassionally they will even make a chart that details who will make the playoffs, win the championship games, etc.

I'm beginning to think that a better question (at the start of the season) is, "What art the 12 best teams in the league?" Forget about division, conference, schedule...yadda, yadda, yadda. Just ask yourself who are the 12 best. Here's my list (in no order, because order doesn't matter at the moment):

New England Patriots
Indianapolis Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Dallas Cowboys
Minnesota Vikings
Green Bay Packers
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Seattle Seahawks
San Diego Chargers
Tennessee Titans

Okay, so that is my top twelve. Now next question, "Who just missed your top twelve?" Here's mine:

Philadelphia Eagles
Cleveland Browns
New York Jets
New York Giants

Alright, now we have a list. This list is helpful, I think, in several ways. First, it helps you identify surprise teams. A surprise team shouldn't make either list (the twelve or the "just outs"). Of course, you could use one of the "just outs" as a surprise Super Bowl team. It would be a surprise if the Eagles, Browns, Jets, or Giants (yes I said it) made the Super Bowl. The latter because they have basically lost their defensive line (which won them the Super Bowl last year). But it wouldn't be a surprise if they made the playoffs. So, NFL Live commentators need to stop saying that the Browns and Jets could be suprise playoff teams. Unlikely playoff teams...sure...but not a surprise.

JJ's surprise playoff teams: Buffalo Bills or Oakland Raiders (seriously).
JJ's surprise Super Bowl team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Second, the list is a nice way to see potential log jams. The Colts, Jaguars, and Titans all made my top twelve. Yeah, that is a log jam (something we noticed last year). And it clearly makes the AFC South the deepest conference in the NFL (even though the Texans are there and they are among the suckiest-suck in the league). Also, the AFC West is just garbage. Garbage I say. Hence my Oakland pick (see above).

Third, it appears that the NFL is built on defense at the moment. Most of those teams are known for their defense...with a few exceptions (i.e., Colts).

Anyway, that is my top 12.

What to make of the Baltimore Ravens?

I've been reading Vic Carucci lately. He recently wrote a thought-provoking article about the Baltimore Ravens.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsessionid=2F24F3CBA1AC9535C2DEFAC38262C1A6?id=09000d5d80855b93&template=with-video&confirm=true

His article got me thinking, "What sort of team will the Ravens be next season?"

I have to ponder this a bit more, but I wanted to toss this out for discussion. If you have any thoughts, let me know. I'll be posting mine soon enough.

Benson gets cut

The Bears released RB Cedric Benson recently because he keeps driving drunk.

I completely understand letting him go. Benson is an idiot.

But take note:

The Bears are hoping that their kick returner will develop into a starting wide receiver.

The Bears have a wicked QB battle heading into training camp: Rex Grossman vs. Kyle Orton.

The Bears are trying to decide which RB to start: J. Mckie, L. Polite, A. Peterson (not the one you are thinking of), or G. Wolfe.

Are you laughing yet?

P.S. I actually like Garrett Wolfe as a third down back. He was a nice pick-up out of Northern Illinois University a season ago. But he doesn't have the size to be an every down back.

Finally an Article about Derrick Brooks

Here is a nice article about Derrick Brooks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=yasinskas_pat&id=3434965&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

I confess that I've long been a fan of Brooks. It's good that Pat Yasinskas finally wrote something about him.

FYI: Here is Brooks personal website. That is the kind of football geek I am.

http://www.hit55.net/

Why Charles Haley is in the Top Ten

I know you've been thinking about it. Some of you have even emailed me in disgust. One email came in at 2 am.

What is keeping you up nights?

Charles Haley.

Or, more correctly, the fact that Charles Haley is on my "Ten Greatest NFL Players of All Time" list.

I'm sure some of you are cussing at this very moment.

But, before you ask for my head on a platter, I want you to consider Mr. Haley's case.

Charles Haley was born in Lynchburg, VA in 1964. He went on to play defensive end/linebacker at James Madison University. He was drafted by the 49ers in 1986 and played for that organization until he was traded to the Cowboys in 1992. He played for Dallas until his retirement (due to injury) in 1996. He came out of retirement for a few games in 1998 and 1999 (playing for the 49ers), but his injuries limited him to relief play. So, long story short, Haley only played 10 NFL seasons. Not a bad career, but significantly shorter than some of his contemporaries (e.g., Strahan played 15 seasons).

Concessions:

(1) Haley's career is hard to decipher because he had injury problems. Some of this had to do with his "hybrid" playing style. Haley was not big enough to play DE in the NFL and not "thick" enough to play LB. As a result, he had to rely on speed and skill to be effective. And that takes a toll on the body. But..on the positive side...Haley was one of the first hybrid DE/LBs that managed to be successful in the NFL as an every down player. In fact, it is no longer unusual to see hybrids like Haley (look at Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and New England).

(2) Haley played for great teams. The 80s 49ers and the 90s Cowboys are two dynasties. That's the luck of the draw. Someone needs to hug Howie Long. And Junior Seau. Poor guys.

(3) Haley was only named to two All-Pro teams (1990 and 1994). However, he was a hybrid playing in an era of football when hybrids weren't respected at all. So, Haley was often ignored at both the DE and LB position...as he wasn't an exemplar of either.

(4) He hasn't been voted into the Hall of Fame yet (although he hasn't been eligible that long). However, shortly before his death, Bill Walsh made a passionate case for Haley being inducted. And he will be. He will be. (I sound like Yoda)

The case:

(1) Charles Haley is the only player in the history of the NFL to win 5 Super Bowls. Yeah, he played for two great frachises. Yeah, that is a team trophy. Yeah, that is a stat (and I said stats alone weren't enough). But 5 Super Bowls is 5 Super Bowls. And he won 2 with one team and 3 with another (i.e., consistency across teams). He's a bit like Robert Horry in this regard (Horry has won 8 NBA Championships with 3 different teams).

And there is something about winning again and again that denotes greatness. I mean, yes, Charles Haley was kind of a jerk-off. I know that. Everyone knows that. And, yes, there are several other DEs and LBs that put up more impressive stats. For example, Derrick Thomas was a superior player. Hell, Thomas had 7 sacks in a single game (in a losing effort against future hall of famer Dave Krieg and the Seattle Seahawks). But Thomas couldn't bring home the championship. Does that mean Thomas wasn't a great player? No. However, I think it is unfair to fault Haley simply because his individual stats aren't equal to those of other guys. We always say "winning before stats."

Well, Haley won.

A crapload.

(2) He was the best defensive player for all three Cowboys Super Bowl teams. He was the first or second best defensive player on both 49ers Super Bowl teams (a case can be made for Ronnie Lott). They say defenses win championships. Well, the 49ers and Cowboys won championships. And Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, and Emmit Smith didn't play defense (and several of those guys are on the top 10 list anyway).

(3) In 10 seasons, he had 100.5 sacks. Only 22 players have achieved this feat.

(4) He was named to 5 pro-bowls....impressive given injury and his hybrid nature.

Does Charles Haley have to be in the top 10? I think it is fair to say "no." But I also think it is fair to say that he is underrated. And that he deserves consideration.

Everyone wants to win Superbowl championships in the NFL. And, in that regard, no one faired better than Charles Lewis Haley.

3 Misconceptions?

This article was written by an avid Unsportsmanlike reader as well as a long-time Steelers fan: Judd.

Enjoy!

There are many great sports writers working in the field today who challenge their readers with new ideas to make NFL fans look at the game in a different light. Unfortunately, sometimes a writer creates a piece which just leaves the reader scratching his head. Such is the case of the recent article by Michael Lombardi.

Found here. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/michael_lombardi/05/14/nfl.myths/index.html

In the article he looks at what he considers three misconceptions of NFL football announcers and attempts to show why the evidence runs contrary to popular belief. Pretty standard fair except in this case his three “myths” look to be far stronger than the evidence he puts against them. I’ll play Devil’s advocate.

Myth #1: Establishing the Run. Lombardi’s main point is that many successful teams start the game going pass heavy to establish a lead and then turn to the run in the second half to secure victory. Solid logic thus far. Unfortunately Michael also attempts to support this theory by using the 2007 Raiders and Vikings as example teams that prove establishing the run doesn’t make for a winning team. This is clearly flawed logic since neither of these teams could do anything last year other than run the ball. Neither has a proven quarterback under center and both struggled terribly in the passing game. Let’s get something straight. Establishing the run doesn’t mean “only running” it means using the run to set up the rest of the offense. In recent years Bill Cowher and Marty Shottenheimer are probably the most famous for using this approach and it gave their teams plenty of opportunities to win. At least so long as Shottenheimer avoided the playoffs and Cowher stayed away from AFC championship games. The reality of the situation is that an offense needs balance and it needs to keep the defense honest. Any team that gets too run heavy or too pass heavy will put up amazing stats but struggle to win the Super Bowl.

Myth #2: Shut-down corners are the key to good pass defense. While Lombardi’s evidence attacking Myth #1 was a bit twisted, his evidence here flies in the face of reason. His main point is that a strong pass rush is just as important as solid corners. A plausible theory until he falls back on bad evidence to support it. In this case he attacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson for their inability to cover the Giant receivers in last year's championship game. And this would be fine logic, if the defining plays for the Giants weren’t almost all made by the extremely tall and talented Plaxico Burress playing the game of his life. Woodson and Harris were usually in great position, but they simply could not out jump or out fight Plaxico for the ball. His argument also fails to account for the great corners of history like Deion Sanders or Rod Woodson who were such dynamic threats most quarterbacks would stop throwing in their direction. Finally it doesn’t even mention the many teams who might have superb defensive lines (i.e., Houston) but have difficulty stopping opponents passing due to below average coverage.

Myth 3: The turnover Battle is the key to football. And finally we get to a point in the article where the reader begins to wonder if Lombardi has momentarily lost all sense. His main point is that missed field goals should be counted as turnovers as they are crucial for field position. Um… Michael… we need to talk. By this logic any bad punt or kick off is a turnover. And even if that were so it would only emphasize how absolutely crucial turnovers are in big games. Plus this thinking leads to my award for the Worst Logic of 2008:

“The Giants entered the playoffs with a minus-9 ratio in turnover/takeaway. Making the playoffs would be impossible with such a ratio, let alone winning the Super Bowl. But the Giants' opponents missed eight field goals last year, and even though New York missed four of its own, taking account of that stat still reduced their overall total to a minus-5.”

This line is so contrary to recent history (i.e., what really, truly happened in 2007-08) that I’m almost struck mute. For starters the Giants were a below average team for half of last season, hence the horrendous turnover ratio. Fortunately, they improved drastically going into the playoffs and their defense played eight quarters of amazing football starting in the 4th quarter of the Dallas playoff game and ending with the 3rd quarter of the Super Bowl. The fact their opponents missed eight field goals throughout the season has absolutely nothing to do with their playoff run or their turnover ratio.

I can only assume Michael was watching different games than I was last year. For if 2007 taught me anything it was that being able to establish the run late in the season is enormous, having quality corners will give you a chance even against the best passing team and that a turnover can end not only a season but a career.

Myth’s Confirmed.

How many QBs does Tampa need?

Tampa Bay drafted a QB this year. That gives them 7. Yes, 7 QBs.

Jeff Garcia

Bruce Gradkowski

Brian Griese

Luke McCown

Jake Plummer (inacitve...semi retired)

Chris Simms

plus....

They drafted San Diego QB Josh Johnson.

I can (sort of) understand this pick...Johnson looks like a potential steal.

But QB is not a position where this much depth makes sense.

What is the thinking here?

Is John Gruden just screwing around?

UPDATE: The Bucs actually invited an 8th QB to their mini-camp: undrafted rookie QB Sam Keller (University of Nebraska-Lincoln).

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/05/01/bucs-add-yet-another-quarterback/

Of course, Gruden likes to do this...see this NYTimes article from last August. Sound familiar?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/13/sports/football/13bucs.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/G/Gruden,%20Jon

Dennis Dixon: Slash III or something new?

In an earlier post I noted that the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Oregon QB Dennis Dixon in the 5th round of the NFL draft. Dixon has blazing speed and very good instincts; a combination that should make him a playmaker at the next level.

But what position should Dixon play?

Dixon wants to be a QB, that much is clear. However, at present, he lacks NFL caliber accuracy and....he played in a spread offense in college (brooding music sounds).

Concerning the former, Dixon has an all too common problem: too much arm strength and no control. In college, he threw beautiful deep passes (great arm strength), but tended to put too much on the ball on routes less than 15 yards (no control). If he continues along this path, Dixon will throw a lot of picks in the NFL. Why? Because putting too much on the ball equates to passes that are off the mark, deflected easily, and hard to catch.

Unfortunately, QBs with this trait rarely pan out in the NFL. The only modern example I can think of is Brett Farve. Brett eventually overcame his "arm strenth problem" by improving his footwork and changing his delivery. QBs always say they will work on this, but few actually accomplish the task. Of course, Brett was still known (throughout his career) for throwing the ball way too hard...a fact that made catching Farve's passes a skill in and of itself. Dixon may work on his throwing mechanics, but I bet dollars to bettsies that he won't spend enough time on his footwork. Really mobile QBs never spend time on their footwork....they like to run too much.

Interesting side observation: Strong armed QBs often develop very bad habits. I think this stems from the fact that strong arm QBs often use their arm strength as a crutch. They start forcing passes because they have too much confidence in their arm.

Dixon also ran a spread offense in college. Few teams run a traditional spread offense in the NFL. For example, the Houston Oilers (aka, Tennessee Titans), Atlanta Falcons, and Detroit Lions have all tried to run some version of the spread (not an encouraging list). Some people incorrectly think that the Steelers and Patriots ran a spread offense during the 2007-2008 season (see the Wiki site on spread offenses), but they are mistaken. Just because you run a 4 or 5 WR set does not mean you are running a spread offense. Neither the Steelers nor Patriots have a QB who can run effectively with the ball....something that is pretty important in a traditional spread.

The spread offense is not well respected in the NFL. It is a way to put up big numbers and prey on weaker opponents. The spread offense basically turns the game into playground football. That usually doesn't work in the NFL. But defensive rule changes may make the spread offense a reality in the NFL....someday. For the time being, QBs who played the spread offense in college will typically be "graded" lower than their peers who played in pro-style offenses. The spread offense teaches bad habits, inflates numbers, and can disguises QB with incomplete passing abilities.

How strange is life? There is an entire website (fansite?) devoted to the spread offense (with "action" shots):

http://www.spreadoffense.com/

Anyway, Dixon doesn't seem to project as an NFL QB. He might be a successful slash type player though. The Steelers have had nice success converting college QBs into hybrid WRs. It started with University of Colorado QB Kordell Stewart (Slash) and continued with Indiana University QB Antwaan Randle El (Slash II). Dixon could be Slash III.

Want to know more about Dixon?
Here is an article written by Mark Kaboly of SteelCityInsider.com:
http://pit.scout.com/2/754139.html

Rookie Pool

Here is a nice breakdown of how the "rookie pool" works for signing NFL rookies. The author did a nice job keeping everything simple.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3385956

The article also made me think about all the teams that had tons of picks in this years draft. The Kansas City Chiefs have recieved a lot of attention for their draft, but no one has talked much about the overrall draft of several other teams that had a plethora of picks.

For example, beyond Matt Ryan, who did the Atlanta Falcons grab with their 11 picks?

The only thing anyone is saying about the Bears (and their 12 picks) is that they didn't draft a single QB.

Cincinnati, Buffalo, Washington, Philadelphia, and Indy also had relatively quiet drafts....for teams with so many picks.

The Ravens, with 10 picks, made some noise (Go Ozzie!), but perhaps not as much as one would expect for a team loaded with picks.

Jake says: I could run the team better

Here are 6 teams that are an embarrasment. In my head, I think "I could run that team better."

(1) The Washington Redskins: Dan Snyder doesn't have the patience to run an NFL team. He keeps looking for a quick fix, but there isn't one. And he doesn't like to spend money on blue collar positions (e.g., offensive linemen). The Redskins do not have an offensive or defensive line. Until they do, they will not be a real threat in the NFL.

(2) The Houston Texans: The Texans had a terrible draft. They needed an OT (and ended up drafting the 6th best OT in the draft...with a first round pick...eek that is bad value). And bringing in Gary Kubiak only made this situation worse. Now the Texans think his crazy "Denver" blocking scheme can make up for quality line play.

(3) The Carolina Panthers: Ever since their super bowl appearance, the Panthers have been struggling with injuries and strange offseason moves. One season of injuries...hey, that's bad luck. But season after season...something is going on.

(4) The Chicago Bears: What are the Bears trying to do on offense? Do they have any plan at all? Ron Turner (formerly the head coach of the University of Illinois...when the Illini really sucked) is running the offense. He isn't known for great decision making. Not that he has anything to work with. Their line is...not good. RB situation....I hope that their rookie pans out (Forte). WRs? Nope. QB? Not quite.

(5) The St. Louis Rams: Hey, the Rams are rebuilding. I understand that. But what is the gameplan here? The moves seem pretty random at this point. Heck, they have even talked about bringing in Ricky Williams. That's a sign you need to step back and rethink your strategy.

(6) The Oakland Raiders: Hire new "young gun" coach. After one season, keep him in constant fear of being fired. I like Al Davis....but this is not a reasonable way to handle coaching. Plus, could we stop drafting DBs? Seriously, how many DBs can you draft? The Detroit Lions can't stop drafting WRs and the Raiders can't stop drafting DBs.

Vilma: Oh, they shall rue the day

Generally speaking, the Jets have been making decent organizational moves (over the last two years). They had the best draft in 2007 (D'Brickshaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold are two of the coolest names you will ever hear...and the cornerstones of what will become the best offensive line in the NFL) and they have acquired good talent on the open market (e.g., Thomas Jones).

But....they recently made a big mistake. Jonathan Vilma, a young gun LB for the J-E-T-S, was allowed to leave the team. He went to the New Orleans Saints.

Vilma was the defensive rookie of the year a couple seasons ago and he is a playmaker. Last year his numbers were down, but the Jets sucked. And, more importantly, the Jets didn't have a decent defensive line last year (and haven't had one since they lost their big DE to Atlanta). In that environment, Vilma was being bombarded by blockers. Everyone knows that a great LB needs a few quality defensive linemen to keep guards and fullbacks off of him.

Mark my words: the Jets will regret this move.

And mark this while your at it: the Saints have done a nice job of upgrading their defense this offseason. Vilma, Dan Morgan (LB from the Carolina Panthers), big DT tackle from USC, and a number 2 CB from Indiana. The Saints defense will be considerably better this year.

And expect big things from Vilma.

John Clayton hates the 70's

John Clayton recently had some interesting things to say about QBs. Personally, I don't think this is Clayton's best article. In fact, I am kind of surprised he wrote it. It doesn't sound like him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3375024

But I understand his basic point: You can't ignore the QB and just focus on the run game.

However, I disagree with the notion that a team "has" to have a franchise QB on their roster. Teams can improve quickly in the modern era, but we shouldn't get carried away with that idea. Good GMs build their team with patience. Burning draft picks just to say you have a franchise QB doesn't make sense. He seems to be suggesting that many teams needed to draft QBs in the 2008 NFL draft. For example, he criticizes the Dolphins. But wait...the Fins drafted a QB in the second round. Does he think they needed to draft Henne in the first round? I don't know why teams would draft QBs in the first round of this draft (which didn't have much talent at QB). Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco don't look like superstars to me.

His read of top ten rushing teams is also selective. He picks several teams that were exceptions to the rule (e.g., the Raiders).

Anyway, not his best work.

Nickel Backs

Q1: In a previous post you said that nickel backs should be undersized, fast, and able to tackle in the open field. What do you mean by that?

A1: A nickle back is a 3rd CB (5th DB..hence the "nickel") that comes into the game when you run a nickel defense (or a fourth CB when you run a dime/hybrid nickel defense). A defense typically uses a nickel set-up when their opponent is utilizing a three wide receiver set. Although, you also see some teams run nickel when their opponent has a running back with solid receiving skills (e.g., Marshall Faulk being the exemplar, Reggie Bush being the modern case).

CBs are not as heavy as NFL LBs, but they tend to be quicker, faster, and more agile. And, of course, they have considerably better cover skills (as that is the primary duty of their position). So, when you have more CBs on the field, then you are better preppared to defend against the pass.

Three receiver sets are increasingly common in the NFL (as are four or even five receiver sets). This is due, in large part, to rule changes that occured in the mid-9o's. Foremost among these rule changes was the death of "bump and run" coverage. The loss of bump and run coverage made it harder for DBs to defend, thus making it easier for WRs to score (which is why the NFL passed this rule, to increase scoring). In turn, most NFL teams have adopted a more developed passing attack to take advantage of the rule changes.

These rule changes also maximized the value of additional CBs (i.e., in addition to your two starting CBs). Nickel backs became key components to any defense because they allowed teams to play against the pass.

But how to draft a nickel back? You probably can't afford or find three elite CBs in this day and age. Especially since elite CBs make big bucks...now that the rules have made their job nearly impossible.

The answer: draft CBs that have traits which make them undesirable as every down players.

For example, many otherwise solid CBs are undersized. That is, they are too short to match up against large WRs (increasingly common in the NFL). So, teams do not like to pay for CBs that can't cover big WRs on the edge (of the field). But undersized CBs are valuable against three + WR sets, because few NFL teams can field 3-4 tall WRs (that are any good). That means the "undersized" CB(s) can be matched up against shorter WRs to maximize their effectiveness.

My other criteria, speed and a good open field tackler, are less complicated. Speed is essential when it comes to modern NFL CB play. Especially recovery speed (since you can't really touch WRs any more...you have to be able to react better in open space). Nickel backs also need to be able to tackle. Perhaps more so than other CBs. Why? Because if your nickel back can't tackle (and they are undersized), then your opponent will use three receiver sets to run against you. In other words, they will run at your nickel back. Remember, when you have an additional CB on the field that means you have one less LB or DT. So, you have fewer men "in the box." If your nickel back is undersized, then he is a great person to run at. This is also why RBs who can catch out of the backfield and power over people (Reggie Bush) are so tough to match up against. You force your opponent to either play nickel all the time or cover your RB with a LB. Neither is a great option for any defense.

Why "Mean" Joe Green is Number One

Yes, I was bold enough to post a "10 greatest NFL players of all time" list. I have moxy. You have to give me that.

I will slowly defend the list over time.

Today? I will defend "Mean" Joe Greene as number one.

But first, some of my criteria.

(1) Stats are not the defining characteristic of "greatness." A player can be statistically "worse" than another player but still deserve more recognition.

(2) Great football players should exhibit toughness. Football is a tough game and I confess that "soft" players don't get far with me.

(3) I am not considering players from pre-1960. I will at another point in time, but comparison across that gap (i.e., when athletes played both sides of the ball) requires more thought.

Okay, so "Mean" Joe Greene.

Joe was the best player (he was the first Steeler from that era voted into the hall of fame) on the best defense of all time (i.e., the Steel Curtain). If you don't agree that the Steel Curtain is the greatest defense of all time, then you need to consider that in their prime they sent 8 of 11 players to the pro bowl. 10 of their 11 starters would eventually make the pro bowl at some point in their career. With less talent on offense than most people will admit, the Steel Curtain managed to win 4 Super Bowls. This, in an era when several dynasties were at the top of their game (the Dolphins, the Raiders, and the emerging Redskins).

1. Defensive rookie of the year in 1969.


2. Pro bowl as a rookie


3. 10 time pro bowl player


4. 2 time Defensive palyer of the year (1972 and 1974)


5. Led Pittsburgh to the playoffs for the first time ever (in 1972) by managing 5 sacks in a must win game against Houston (and a fumble recovery). Note: The Steelers were the worst team in the NFL prior to Joe's arrival


6. Basically won Super Bowl IX single handedly (NFL MVP Frank Tarkenton and the number one ranked Vikings offense did not score). This is the only time in Super Bowl history that an offense has not scored


7. Developed new techniques that forced the NFL to eventually change the rules (the neutral zone became a topic of discussion as a way to stop players like Greene). The move was called the "pinch" by Greene.


8. Terry Bradshaw was lost for the season in 1976, but Greene and the defense still kept the Steelers in the playoffs with the single greatest defensive performance of all time. Over a nine game winning streak, the Steeler's opponents only managed 28 points total.


9. Played in 91 straight games without leaving for injury (181 of 190 games overall)


10. Once played an entire playoff game with several broken ribs, fingers, and a sprained wrist (all acquired during the game)


11. In the most famous NFL commercial of all time (Joe Greene's Coke commercial)


12. He was triple-teamed through most of his career. And still couldn't be stopped


13. The Steelers do not retire jerseys. However, no player has been allowed to wear 75 ever since Greene retired.


14. In 1979, the NFL awarded Greene the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (for community service and charity work). It was called the NFL Man of the Year Award back then


15. He starred in Smokey and the Bandit II (as himself)


16. You can't say Joe Greene. You can only say "Mean" Joe Greene. That says something.

For more info, here is his pro football hall of fame page:

http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=80

He is also a member of the college football hall of fame:

http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=60014

2008 Draft: What John Clayton Thought of Day One

I am a big fan of John Clayton. I know many of you are too.

Anyway, here are his thoughts on day one of the 2008 NFL Draft

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3369696

2008 NFL Draft: Winners

I need to start talking about the draft as a whole.

However, before I forget: You should really read this article by Mike Sando. He does a great job breaking down first round picks over the last few years. Yeah, this is a "fun with numbers" article. But some interesting stuff.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?columnist=sando_mike&id=3356729

Several NFL teams had excellent drafts.

(1) The Kansas City Chiefs: I hate the Chiefs. There is nothing to like about them. Well, okay, their former owner (who passed away last year) seemed like a decent guy. And they used to have some LB with the last name "Thomas" who seemed like he could play. But other than that, there is nothing to like about the Chiefs. Just a dirty, dirty team.

That said, the Chiefs had one hell of a draft. Glen Dorsey looks like a real beast and, assuming his leg does not become a ningling injury, he may be a future pro-bowl DT (oh so valuable). And they managed to nab him at the 5th pick, a real steal. Sure, his contract will still be huge, but not nearly as devestating as a top three.

Anyway, Dorsey was a great pick. The chiefs followed that up with Brandon Albert. For those who don't know, Albert was a vogue top ten pick in the weeks leading up to the draft. Mel Kyper was screeching like a sharptail grouse about this guy. Why? Because he is a switch lineman. That's right. He is one of those special lineman who can play OG or OT. He played OG in college, but has the physical skills to cover either position. An incredibly valuable guy for any team. The Chiefs lucked out and nabbed him at pick 15 in the first round. Not only a great pick, but a value pick. And for those of you who have read Sando's article (see above) you know that DTs and OGs tend to pan out in the first round. Them's good picking.

The Chiefs did not end there. They picked up Brandon Flowers (a DB out of Virginia Tech) in the second round (pick 35). Flowers was projected as a bottom round 1 guy by both Kyper and McShay. How did they get him? He fell to them because of the deep run on OTs in the first round. If you didn't watch, OTs were a hot commodity in round one of the draft. Everyone was trying to get one and people started losing their minds (see: Houston Texans...egads they draft poorly). That run pushed several solid players into the second round. The silly old Chiefs grabbed another first round talent. Keeping track? That is THREE first round grades for the red and white.

Other nice pick ups: A nice project RB (Jamaal Charles out of Texas), two big bruiser TEs who should allow the Chiefs to run double TE running plays, a possible nickel corner (Brandon Carr out of Grand Valley State), a project OT (probably slotted as a back-up Right Tackle), a saftey who will play well on special teams (DaJuan Morgan out of North Carolina State), a DE who might contribute on special teams or as a project LB (Brian Johnston out of Gardner Webb), and two WRs (one fast and one possesion). Whew!

(2) The Miami Dolphins: Yeah, the Dolphins were terrible last year. That guy with the last name "Lemon" started at QB for most of the year. Even Raiders fans felt sorry for them.

But they got rid of their terrible first year coach (Have you heard me complain about that guy? Ask me the next time you see me drunk.) and brought in Bill Parcells to run the organization. Personally, I don't think Parcells is much of a coach. He never could run an offense and his idea of defense is "give the steroid junkies more coccaine." Anyway, not a fan of Parcells the coach.

But he knows talent. And he can build a team from the ground up.

This draft was a perfect example of what Parcells does well. First, they locked up Jake Long (OT out of Michigan). Yeah, he probably wasn't the top pick in the draft. The Fins were stuck picking at this spot though. Why? Because everyone planned to take Jake Long if they moved down. Only two teams in the top 10 could let him slide (the Vikings and the Patriots). To switch to either of those spots would have guaranteed "no Jake Long." The Rams would have to take him. The Falcons might have passed (maybe). The Raiders, at the 4, would have picked him against their own desires (to protect their second year QB). The Chiefs? Yeah, Larry Johnson hasn't been doing so well without that probowl line in front of him. And so on. Which means, the Fins had to stay because Long was on everyone's "we have to pick this guy unless we want to destroy our franchise" list.

Let's simplify this though. The Fins are in a full rebuild. Basic Draft Order dictates an OT. Long only gave up one sack through four years in college. At Michigan. Yep, you draft him.

Bottom of the 1st round, the Fins managed to steal Phillip Merling (DE out of Clemson). I hate Merling's name. That is "old boy's club southern inbread" if I ever heard it. But still, the guy looks likes a solid DE who can rush the passer and stop the run (i.e., an every down DE). Jason Taylor is likely gone from Miami...although I have yet to see a real suitor for him...so you had to replace your losses. Basic Draft Order also supports a DE here.

Then they went out and landed Chad Henne (QB out of Michigan) in the second round. Clearly, the Fins need someone to put behind center. I don't mean a superstar. Just someone who at least has the possibility of not sucking. Lemon isn't that guy. McCown isn't either. But Henne has the skills to be an NFL QB. Sure, he didn't deliver much at Michigan. However, Lloyd Carr (the Michigan coach) was a talent man, not a coach. That's what Parcells is thinking at least. Plus, now your top pick OT (Long) can enjoy camp with his ole college buddy (Henne). And nice value.

Other pick ups: Kendall Langford (DE out of Hampton) has the potential to be an outside LB in a 3-4 scheme. Or at least a special teams/situational guy. Shawn Murphy (OG out of Utah State) could be a starting LG. And I think Donald Thomas (OG out of Connecticut) projects as a starting RG. Nice grab in round 6.

(3) The Pittsburgh Steelers: A different draft for the black and gold. They usually draft defense and line...and do both quite well. But this draft saw an offense explosion from the Ketchup city.

It all started with (a) the run on OTs in round one followed by (b) the Dallas Cowboys forgetting what round they were in (and drafting a backup running back in round one; see more on this in an earlier post). Pittsburgh suddenly found Rashard Mendenhall (RB out of Illinois) still available at pick 23. Mendenhall likes to run up the middle. Pittsburgh considers the middle of the field their home. So, Mendenhall and the Steelers are a perfect marriage. With Willy Parker and Rashard Mendenhall, the Steel City will be able to run inside all day long.

Big Ben wanted a big WR. And Texas standout Limas Sweed is just that. Sweed gives Ben three WRs (with Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes) who can all catch and all work the field in different ways. The Steelers haven't had a big WR since Plaxico Burress left, so this should give them another dimension to their offense. Although...I am always concerned about drafting WRs. Sweed also has that "I am going to be a total headache" or "a total bust" smell. Admit it. You know what I'm talking about. Still, this looks like a solid pick for the Steelers. And they are not building, so I can see the desire to try and grab a potential difference maker.

Bruce Davis (OLB out of UCLA) should fit nicely into the Steelers 3-4. Tony Hills might have a ningling leg injury (OT out of Texas). If not, then he gives the Steelers depth at the Tackle position (or a starter at RT).

Dennis Dixon (QB out of Oregon) continues a Steeler's tradition: Drafting QBs that will convert to WRs/gadget players. Dixon runs like a gazelle and, assuming his knee holds up, will provide some offensive spark. He's no NFL QB (even though he still talks the talk). But he could enjoy a nice 5-6 year career as a 4th WR/backup QB/gadget man. Don't fight it Dennis. Don't fight it.

The Steelers 6th round picks are probably nothing more than special teamers. Still, a great draft for Pittsburgh.

Other teams worth mentioning:

(4) The Minnesota Vikings: Tyrell Johnson (Saftey out of Arkansas State) and John David Booty (QB out of USC) were both nice pick ups. Johnson, taken in the second round with a first round grade (because of the OT run in round one), will eventually start for the Vikings. Booty, taken in the fifth round, can run a west coast offense, makes good decisions with the ball, and knows how to win big games against elite competition. As a fifth round pick, Booty is an amazing value for the purple people eaters. This pick has a "Tom Brady" feel to it. By that I mean that he is a decent QB coming into a very good situation. He might be able to help this Vikings team to the next level. Also notice that they grabbed John Sullivan (Center out of Notre Dame) in round 6. Sullivan was one of the highest graded centers in the draft. The Vikings didn't have many picks this year (five total), but they used them well.

(5) The New Orleans Saints: They really needed a top tier DT. Sedrick Ellis (DT out of USC) was the second best DT in the draft. And healthier than Dorsey (the top graded DT). Pluse they grabbed a good CB in the second round (Tracy Porter out of Indiana). Porter might not be a shut down guy, but he is likely a good number 2 CB.

Run DMC: Good Pick?

I plan to review the entire draft over the next few days, but I wanted to address an issue that my friends have been asking me.

Q1: Do you think the Oakland Raiders were right to draft Darren McFadden?
A1: Yes, I do.

The Raiders are notoriously bad in the draft. That is because their basic draft philosophy is screwed. Oakland drafts athletic guys regardless of (a) experience and/or (b) personality. That is a great way to draft busts, btw.

However, over the last few years the Raiders have attempted to put together a decent draft. Sadly, they lack talent scounts (see Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa). We really need Ozzie Newsome.

With no line, a second year QB, a depleted WR core, and little to no defensive line...the "basic draft order" does not support drafting a game breaking RB. The guy will rack up injuries faster than you can build.

But Oakland has been terrible over the last 5 seasons. Just painfully bad. And bad draft picks are undermining their attempts to build.

So, they went out and grabbed the best guy they could. Who also happens to be the best player in the draft. Oakland fans will at least have something to watch this season.

Oakland = good pick
Oakland fans = good pick
Darren McFadden = should be concerned. He is about to take a beating.

Two articles I think you should read

I'm not a professional sports journalist.

If you get a chance, then I would recommend reading these two articles:

Jeffri Chadiha makes an excellent point about the greatest single seasons ever. I have been whining about this for some time, especially when someone tells me that another NFL record has fallen.

I am about to go off on a rant.

Before I do, read this article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/columns/story?columnist=chadiha_jeff&id=3186324

And then one from ESPN's page 2 (about nicknames):

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/footnickname/010614.html

How to Draft

You must have a draft philosophy. Even if you don't like the draft. Somewhere, deep down inside, you have a draft philosophy.

Here's mine:

(1) Draft the best player available.

If you don't want to draft the best player avaible, then trade down.

Sometimes teams will claim they "couldn't" trade down because they couldn't find a trade partner. This is a lie. There are always teams willing to trade, but the team in question just didn't like the trade offers. Teams tend to get greedy when they try to trade down (bad idea).

At the end of the day, you have to trade down if you don't want the best player available. Why? Because you must....

(2) Always think about value. Players cost money. The higher the pick, the more money. And some positions (e.g., QB, DT, DE) cost more than others. Never draft a player that you don't want to pay. And never draft a player that isn't worthy of the pick. Trade down.

A bad contract can cripple your team. For the love of all things holy, TRADE DOWN.

(3) Don't draft a player who (a) can't tackle, (b) has ningling health issues, and/or (c) was a back-up in college.

Concerning the latter, it has become a "fad" to draft guys who "translate" to positions they didn't play in college (e.g., OG to OT, QB to WR). An extension of this fad is drafting a guy who "didn't start" but has the potential to be a "back-up in the NFL." It is true that some guys are better suited to play a different position in the pros, but if you can't start in college...then you can't play in the NFL. Mel Kyper and Todd McShay have tried to make this idea sound plausible. Ignore this BS. The Dallas Cowboys got caught up in all the hoopla this year and ended up drafting Felix Jones (Running Back-Arkansas) in the first round. Felix Jones backed up Darren McFadden in Arkansas and Dallas is hopeful that he will back-up Marion Barber. Yep, drafting a back-up to be a back-up. In the first round of the draft. Nice.

(4) Ignore team victories in college, but take note of guys that won high school championships. College recruitment is lop-sided, meaning that a small number of teams hoard all the talent. So, it doesn't mean much to win in college (sorry college sports fans).

But a truly great player can almost single-handedly deliver championships in high school. Or at least get the team close (runner-up, semi-finals). For example, Darren McFadden led his high school team to the state title game in Arkansas (they lost). He averaged a mind-boggling 9.9 yards/attempt that season. Forget about the idiotic guy who must have coached McFadden's team (how do you lose with a back averaging first downs?) and focus on the real issue: Darren McFadden destroyed his high school competition. Sometimes you see first round NFL picks who never made the playoffs in high school. Can that happen? Yes. Does it happen often? No.

"How to draft" step-by-step:
Imagine that your teams sucks and needs to rebuild (this is easy for an Oakland Raiders fan). How should you go about that?

An idea that I've touted for some time is what I loosely call the "basic draft order." The name isn't fancy. But it works.

Remember the rules I outlined in my philosophy above. That means you trade down if the best player available is not the type of player you want. I don't cover what to do in rounds 4 - 7, because the answer is simple: in those rounds you draft players that can make a roster. Most guys drafted in those rounds don't make NFL teams. You can also grab good kickers and Full backs in rounds 4 - 7. Sometimes a decent Offensive Guard can be found there too.

So, here goes:

Year 1:
1st round: Offensive Tackle

2nd round: Defensive End/Corner Back

3rd round: Quarter Back (3rd round QBs are cheap and, statistically, about as likely to "pan out" as round 1 and 2 guys. Plus, this is your QB that will basically serve as a tackle dummy until your ready for the real franchise guy. If he works, then great. If not, his mangled body will eventually serve as trade bait.)

Year 2:
1st round: DE/CB (whatever you didn't get last year)

2nd round: OT/OG (a bonus would be to find a guy that can play both; switch linemen are rare, but they give you lots of options when linemen get injured. Keep in mind: You need two solid tackles to win in the NFL.)

3rd round: Running Back (look for a between the tackles guy, a bruiser. You'll need someone to carry the load while you continue losing)

Year 3:
1st round: Defensive Tackle (good DTs are rare. Plus, you can't get them in later rounds. If you want one, then you have to get one in round one. They don't last long though...weight issues get most, hence the reason you draft year 3).

2nd round: Linebacker (Generally speaking, linebackers don't vary that much in talent. Either they have it or they don't. Grab a guy here to lead your defense).

3rd round: CB/Safety

Year 4:
1st round: QB (your franchise guy; your team is ready now)

2nd round: OT/OG (looking for another switch linemen...because you have to keep your skilled players healthy. That means your O-line must be rock solid. And have depth. When in doubt, draft O-line. Write that down)

3rd round: Tight End (draft franchise QBs and Tight Ends together. You can get a quality TE in the 3rd round..and at a good price. When you bring in QBs and TEs together than they develope a bond. That is good. Plus, TEs serve as security blankets for young QBs. Note: This should be a receiving TE, not a blocking TE. If he can do both, great. But he won't.)

Year 5:
1st round: Running Back (You are looking for a game-breaker. Why not draft a quality RB sooner than year 5? Keep in mind that running backs have a very short shelf life in the NFL. For example, Larry Johnson is getting ready to retire. That dude has only been in the NFL a few years. Also, you should now have a line for him to run behind...to stay healthy longer)

2nd round: DE/DT (yep, you need another one)

3rd round: CB (looking for a nickel back; i.e., undersized guy with good speed that can tackle in the open-field)

Year 6:
Begin the cycle again.

Common questions:

Q1: Why don't you recommend drafting wide receivers?
A1: Draft a wide receiver? Seriously? WR almost never work out. And they usually take longer to develope than their initial contract. Which means you will have to resign your WR before you know whether they are a sure bust or not. Yeah, I don't recommend that. Get your wide receivers in free agency. Look to nab guys at their second or third contract. You'll at least have NFL tape on them (i.e., increase likelihood of getting a quality guy).

Note: The picture above is of Charles Rogers. Charles was drafted in the first round by the infamous Detroit Lions (they drafted a WR in the first round....three years in a row). Charles was heralded by draft buffs as a "sure fire" pro-bowler.

Update: Charles Rogers was an epic bust. This isn't an unusual story.

The only WR in recent history that was worth a pick: Larry Fitzgerald. Larry has better than 20-20 vision. And he can write with both hands. If you don't like Larry Fitzgerald then you can go to hell.

Q2: Why so much focus on the line?
A2: Name a championship team that didn't have a solid line.

Q3: You say draft the best player available...but then give a blow by blow account of specific positions to draft. That doesn't match up.
A3: That isn't a question, jerky. But I'll answer it anyway. This is a template for how you should draft if the players fall your way. They won't always fall your way, so you will trade down (and grab more picks). When you grab more picks, then you search for OG, pass rushing DEs, LBs, and RBs. So, trading down at key moments will enhance your build.

Q4: Name a team that follows a model even close to this?
A4: None. And that is why they fail. Just kidding. The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers consistently draft along these basic lines. I always say, "When in doubt, try to find out what Ozzie Newsome (of the Ravens) is doing." Ozzie is the best talent scount in the league. About half of his first round picks end up making the pro bowl. Ozzie Newsome is pictured below...sort of ironic that he played for the Browns (i.e., a team not known for handling the draft well)

Favorite Player in the 2008 NFL Draft

You probably didn't watch the whole draft. No worries, I did.

My favorite player: Owen Schmitt (Fullback-West Virginia)

Seattle nabbed Owen in the 5th round. This guy is completely crazy. And I don't mean "he's crazy" as in "he's amazingly talented." No, I mean that Owen is certifiably insane. The only clip NFL Network or ESPN had of Schmitt showed the "steriod junky" banging his own helmet (which he had gripped in both hands) into his skull. Repeatedly. Just beating the helmet into his melon.

ESPN had this to say of Schmitt:

"Although Schmitt doesn't always play with great leverage, he's tough, has good size and possesses the lower-body strength to drive linebackers back once he gets in position. He doesn't have great speed but he is an effective short-yardage runner."

But that description doesn't capture the guy. Check out his photo. Yep. Now your starting to see what I like about this guy. That is one crazy SOB.

In all seriousness, I think Schmitt is a throw-back type player ("mohawk aside"). A guy that will smash people in the face. And, from the look of things, I don't think he's afraid to take a punch to the face either.

I think Seattle may have drafted a potential pro-bowl FB in Schmitt. A great pick-up in the 5th round.