223 DAYS TO LONG!!!
I remember as a kid growing up, I would watch professional wrestling and was always fascinated by the characters. I always enjoyed watching "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. His entrance was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Lots of people had music and the bad guys came out and argued with the fans, the good guys slapped hands with all of the kids and had this fast paced music that the kids loved, but not me. I remember sitting there as the fog would begin to come out of seemingly nowhere, the soft music would begin to play and slowly get louder but never too loud, and after what seemed like an eternity, out stepped The Nature Boy. Well boys and girls, after 223 long days, I have returned to the blogospheric world that is known as "Just A Thought."
I know, you are sitting there now thinking what could have bought this on? It all started on August 14, 2011. ESPNU aired a special called "Blueprint for Change" which was a great hour of television. It involved a round table discussion by some of the most influential people in college sports. It had everything Current Coaches (Nick Saban & Bob Stoops), former coaches (Urban Meyer & Mike Belotti, analysts (Kirk Hirbstreit, Mark May, Robert Smith, & Jay Bilas), and a former Commissioner (Mike Tranghese). It was a very well done piece that brought out some great points from the participants involved (ESPNU will be showing this again on the 27th @ 11 am). However, there were a couple of things I am going to address from this special (not all today). As many of you could have guessed, the topic of how college football determines its champion was discussed and several things were said and I am going to offer my thoughts. Let me say, I know these people know more than I am and they are all smarter than I am, but some of the things that were said were just ridiculous.
Let me start with one of my favorite people in college football, Kirk Hirbstreit.
"Herbie" proposes a plus one. The plus one sounds great, however, A PLUS 1 FORMAT IS MORE UNFAIR THAN THE CURRENT SYSTEM. I will explain this in detail when I address Nick Saban's comments. Herbstreit did make a good point, the coaches have no business voting and being involved at all in the selection process. They are not watching the games and they have a natural bias for their conference and how it will effet their team.
Next is Mark May.
May made what may be the 2nd dumbest statement I have ever heard on the subject of a plus 1...only use it on the years that you need it. This is crazy. Should we have had to have used a plus 1 last year and not the year before? Of course not, it is all or nothing.
Now onto Nick Saban.
Let me just say, I have never been a Nick Saban fan, but I walked away from this special not only thinking he was smart, but he won me over and I would actually root for him to win. However, his thoughts on a plus 1 was not one of his finer moments. Saban commented and said "every year that there has been a controversy, a plus 1 would have solved each and every problem we have ever had. sometimes there are just 3 good teams or 4 good teams." Let me address the 3 or 4 good teams comment first. What about the years where there are just 5 good teams? Maybe we can expand it to an 8 team tournament, but that is not really fair to the 9th ranked team, so here is what I suggest, let's call everyone a National Champion. Now as for this solving the controversy every year, what controversy? Let's look at the years... 1998 - no controversy, 1999 - no controversy, 2000 - FSU v Oklahoma (this was controversy, Miami had 1 loss and beat FSU head to head, but how could they go in over 1 loss Washington who beat them? In fact, there were 4 one loss teams this year to go with undefeated Oklahoma. Call me old school but with all of the chaos and all on same level, FSU goes because they were the defending champs), 2001 - Miami v Nebraska (I know Nebraska did not win division, but they were the best team all year long and much like the year before, there were 4 one loss teams and 1 undefeated, and the BCS rewards and entire body of work when things are complete chaos). 2002 - no controversy, 2003 - Oklahoma v LSU (Yes, USC was ranked #1 in polls because Oklahoma lost its last game, but it was the 13th game of the season - a conference championship game that USC did not have to play. After 12 games, USC was 11 - 1 and Oklahoma was 12 - 0, so the way I see it, they both had the same # of losses, so you look at the big picture). 2004 - Auburn was undefeated and unfortunately got the shaft. It happens, sports are not always fair. There, I said it. Nobody is crying how unfair it was for undefeated Oklahoma and Miami to have to play teams who have already lost once. That is 2 times where teams with no losses risked getting the shaft to this once for Auburn, so shut up and get over it. 20005 - no controversy, 2006 - Boise State got left out for 1 loss Florida...NO CONTROVERSY!!! 2007 - LSU v Ohio State. (LSU got in with 2 losses, everyone had 2 losses, so the champion of the best conference got in, again no problem with this, there were 6 teams with 2 losses and 1 one loss team). 2008 - Oklahoma v Florida (Oklahoma got in over Texas who beat them. There were 6 teams with one loss, so you tell me which teams are not getting in. Before you make your case for Texas, remember 1 loss Texas tech beat Texas). 2009 - no controversy 2010 - no controversy. So I am sorry to say Mr. saban, but no a Plus 1 does nothing to help solve controversy, it will devalue the regular season, and create more controversy.
Like all good old school rivalries, this can not be solved in just 1 night. This is a battle that will have to be issued under best 2 out of 3 falls. Stay tuned for part 2 and comments by another guy I did not like going into this thing, Urban Meyer and Jay Bilas. Which one of these 2 made the DUMBEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD CONCERNING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE BCS. Part 3 will Include a real solution to ways to improve the BCS.
Until Next Time...
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Seattle @ Chicago
Seattle @ Chicago.
I have neither the time or the desire to break this game dow.
Chicago wins big 31 - 14.
Jets v Patriots breakfown coming later.
I have neither the time or the desire to break this game dow.
Chicago wins big 31 - 14.
Jets v Patriots breakfown coming later.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Green Bay @ Atlanta
Green Bay @ Atlanta
There has not been a number 1 seed that I can ever recall who has been more discounted that these Atlanta Falcons. They led the NFC with a 13 – 3 record including a victory over these Green Bay Packers in November. These two teams are led by 2 of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL in Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers. As I look at this game, there are a couple of things I can not understand. 1. Why is everyone convinced that the Packers have found a running game? I realize what they did last week in Philly, but this is the NFL and you don’t just show up out of nowhere in the playoffs and become a star. 2. Why is everyone in love with Aaron Rodgers? I heard Brian Billick say this morning that he would say it is a toss up on who you would want leading YOUR team this weekend between Rodgers and Brady. Rodgers won his first playoff game EVER last week, while Brady is 10 games over .500 and the favorite to win the Super Bowl. I love Aaron Rodgers and do not mean this as an insult, but he is the 2nd best quarterback in this game and the 4th best quarterback left in the playoffs. All Matt Ryan has done in his 3 seasons as a Falcon is save one of the worst franchises in the NFL. Remember, they had just lost their coach, who snuck out the back door like a coward, and their quarterback who was put in jail for 2 years for dog fighting. Ryan then proceeded to lead the team to 2 playoff berths, back to back winning seasons for the 1st time in Franchise history, and he has been lights out at home going 19 - 2 at home during his 3 year career. In the end, Matt Ryan does not make mistakes at home and this will be no different. He has too many weapons. I think this will be an extremely competitive game, but by the end of the night on Saturday, the Falcons will have put themselves in the drivers seat to Dallas. Falcons win a good game 34 - 27.
There has not been a number 1 seed that I can ever recall who has been more discounted that these Atlanta Falcons. They led the NFC with a 13 – 3 record including a victory over these Green Bay Packers in November. These two teams are led by 2 of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL in Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers. As I look at this game, there are a couple of things I can not understand. 1. Why is everyone convinced that the Packers have found a running game? I realize what they did last week in Philly, but this is the NFL and you don’t just show up out of nowhere in the playoffs and become a star. 2. Why is everyone in love with Aaron Rodgers? I heard Brian Billick say this morning that he would say it is a toss up on who you would want leading YOUR team this weekend between Rodgers and Brady. Rodgers won his first playoff game EVER last week, while Brady is 10 games over .500 and the favorite to win the Super Bowl. I love Aaron Rodgers and do not mean this as an insult, but he is the 2nd best quarterback in this game and the 4th best quarterback left in the playoffs. All Matt Ryan has done in his 3 seasons as a Falcon is save one of the worst franchises in the NFL. Remember, they had just lost their coach, who snuck out the back door like a coward, and their quarterback who was put in jail for 2 years for dog fighting. Ryan then proceeded to lead the team to 2 playoff berths, back to back winning seasons for the 1st time in Franchise history, and he has been lights out at home going 19 - 2 at home during his 3 year career. In the end, Matt Ryan does not make mistakes at home and this will be no different. He has too many weapons. I think this will be an extremely competitive game, but by the end of the night on Saturday, the Falcons will have put themselves in the drivers seat to Dallas. Falcons win a good game 34 - 27.
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh
This has become one of the best rivalries in the league. These teams have so much in common that they are almost carbon copies of each other. They are led stingy, hard hitting defenses with great safeties. They have 2 of the best young coaches in the league in Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh. Both teams have good quarterbacks, Roethlisberger is marching towards a 3rd Super Bowl ring and maybe putting him in the discussion with the elite qbs in the league (I do not know how he gets left out, but he is not in many peoples top 5 list despite his 2 rings), and Joe Flacco is looking to become the winningest quarterback in playoff road wins (that’s in the entire history of the NFL). The key to this game is going to be which team can control the game on the ground and which defense is going to get the key turnover. I know that Flacco is tied for the most road playoff wins, but he is not playing an overmatched Chiefs team this week, he gets the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Fact of the matter is, despite his record Joe Flacco has not played well in the playoffs. Prior to last week (when he was very impressive going 25 – 34 with 265 yards and 2 touchdowns), he was completing 47% of his passes for 132 yards per game and a 6 – 1 interception to touchdown ratio. There is no way that the Ravens can win if he plays like that. In big games, I always like a team with a better quarterback and in this game the Steelers have him. Roethlisberger is 8 – 2 in the playoffs and plays just well enough for his team to win. Look for Ben and company to do just enough at home to advance to the AFC Championship game. Steelers 16 – 13.
This has become one of the best rivalries in the league. These teams have so much in common that they are almost carbon copies of each other. They are led stingy, hard hitting defenses with great safeties. They have 2 of the best young coaches in the league in Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh. Both teams have good quarterbacks, Roethlisberger is marching towards a 3rd Super Bowl ring and maybe putting him in the discussion with the elite qbs in the league (I do not know how he gets left out, but he is not in many peoples top 5 list despite his 2 rings), and Joe Flacco is looking to become the winningest quarterback in playoff road wins (that’s in the entire history of the NFL). The key to this game is going to be which team can control the game on the ground and which defense is going to get the key turnover. I know that Flacco is tied for the most road playoff wins, but he is not playing an overmatched Chiefs team this week, he gets the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Fact of the matter is, despite his record Joe Flacco has not played well in the playoffs. Prior to last week (when he was very impressive going 25 – 34 with 265 yards and 2 touchdowns), he was completing 47% of his passes for 132 yards per game and a 6 – 1 interception to touchdown ratio. There is no way that the Ravens can win if he plays like that. In big games, I always like a team with a better quarterback and in this game the Steelers have him. Roethlisberger is 8 – 2 in the playoffs and plays just well enough for his team to win. Look for Ben and company to do just enough at home to advance to the AFC Championship game. Steelers 16 – 13.
Monday, January 10, 2011
OREGON v. AUBURN...WHO YOU GOT?
OREGON v. AUBURN...WHO YOU GOT?
So here we go. The greatest regular season in sports has led us to this night in Glendale, Arizona. I don't know about you, but I personally am not surprised about anything that has happened this season, I for one knew that Oregon v. Auburn would be the game that we would see tonight (ok, I had Alabama v. Ohio State in this game, but let me dream about being right). I think we will see a very entertaining game.
Auburn comes in ranked #1 and representing a conference who has won the last4 BCS National Championships. The SEC has never lost a BCS Title game and is the standard by which all other conferences are measured. When you look at the resume that has gotten Auburn to Arizona, there is nobody in the country who has a resume comparable to the Tigers (or is it War Eagles, it would be nice if someone at Auburn would figure out what their mascot is). The Tigers boasts the 4th toughest schedule in the country, compared to the 76th ranked schedule for Oregon. The Tigers come in having been battled tested time and time again. They trailed by double digits in the second half of games 5 times this season. However the fact that many people do not realize is that Oregon trailed in the second half of games on 7 occasions this season. So, I do not expect to see either team panic if they are trailing and for those of us who will be watching, I think it is safe to say, do not turn this game off until the game clock reads 00:00 in the 4th quarter.
Auburn comes in with a high powered offense and they have been tested in every possible scenario. They have been involved in shootouts, been down at home, been down on the road, been picked to lose, been picked to win. The tigers are obviously led by their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton. Newton accounted for almost 4000 yards this season and 49 touchdowns. Make no mistake about it, this Auburn offense is no 1 trick pony, Auburn has plenty of backs who look to see how they will do against the undersized Ducks defense. I expect to see the Ducks sell out to stop Newton and therefore Auburn will need Michael Dwyer to step up and have a good game. Auburn does not throw the ball that often, they had the fewest passing attempts in the SEC and only 4 teams in the country had less pass attempts that Auburn (they all run the triple option) on the season. However, Newton is very successful throwing the ball completing over 67% of his passes for 2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns. The Ducks secondary will need to be very careful looking into the backfield because Newton has a huge arm and if the Ducks secondary spends too much time looking into the backfield Newton will be more than happy to throw the ball down the field. The Auburn passing game against the Oregon pass defense will be a very interesting matchup, Oregon only allows opposing qb’s to complete 53.5% of their passes and the Oregon defense is very opportunistic creating 35 takeaways (20 interceptions).
Oregon is led by their own Heisman candidate in LaMichael James. He is going to lead a Ducks offense that will want to get the ball snapped every 10 – 12 seconds, this will be terrible for Auburn if they are successful, because Auburn is going to be able to sub the bigger defenders to avoid them wearing down in the 3rd and 4th quarter. If Oregon is able to move the ball and force those big defenders to chase the smaller ducks around the field, it could be a long day for Auburn fans. One of the major factors in determining the outcome of this game will be the play of Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas. His ability to read and control the Auburn defense will be very important for the Ducks to have a chance. Another player who will need to have a good game for the Ducks if Jeff Maehl. He has great hands, makes the tough catches and will need to make a couple of plays over the middle to help prevent the Auburn defensive backs from getting to close to the line of scrimmage. If Thomas, James, and co. is able to run their offense, Nick Fairley and co will be in for a long day. They have had a 36 day layoff and I know that the Ducks have had the same layoff, but there is one thing that anyone who knows anything will tell you is that you can’t coach speed and there is no way to prepare for the tempo that Auburn will see tonight in Glendale.
At the end of the day, I think Oregon is too fast and they will wear down the bigger Auburn defense (when is the last time we talked about an SEC school not being fast enough to keep up with their opponents?). I think this could be the most entertaining BCS Title game since 2006, and when the game clock does finally read 00:00 in the 4th quarter, I think Oregon is going to come out on top 45 – 41.
What do you think? Give me your thoughts.
Until Next Time…
So here we go. The greatest regular season in sports has led us to this night in Glendale, Arizona. I don't know about you, but I personally am not surprised about anything that has happened this season, I for one knew that Oregon v. Auburn would be the game that we would see tonight (ok, I had Alabama v. Ohio State in this game, but let me dream about being right). I think we will see a very entertaining game.
Auburn comes in ranked #1 and representing a conference who has won the last4 BCS National Championships. The SEC has never lost a BCS Title game and is the standard by which all other conferences are measured. When you look at the resume that has gotten Auburn to Arizona, there is nobody in the country who has a resume comparable to the Tigers (or is it War Eagles, it would be nice if someone at Auburn would figure out what their mascot is). The Tigers boasts the 4th toughest schedule in the country, compared to the 76th ranked schedule for Oregon. The Tigers come in having been battled tested time and time again. They trailed by double digits in the second half of games 5 times this season. However the fact that many people do not realize is that Oregon trailed in the second half of games on 7 occasions this season. So, I do not expect to see either team panic if they are trailing and for those of us who will be watching, I think it is safe to say, do not turn this game off until the game clock reads 00:00 in the 4th quarter.
Auburn comes in with a high powered offense and they have been tested in every possible scenario. They have been involved in shootouts, been down at home, been down on the road, been picked to lose, been picked to win. The tigers are obviously led by their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton. Newton accounted for almost 4000 yards this season and 49 touchdowns. Make no mistake about it, this Auburn offense is no 1 trick pony, Auburn has plenty of backs who look to see how they will do against the undersized Ducks defense. I expect to see the Ducks sell out to stop Newton and therefore Auburn will need Michael Dwyer to step up and have a good game. Auburn does not throw the ball that often, they had the fewest passing attempts in the SEC and only 4 teams in the country had less pass attempts that Auburn (they all run the triple option) on the season. However, Newton is very successful throwing the ball completing over 67% of his passes for 2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns. The Ducks secondary will need to be very careful looking into the backfield because Newton has a huge arm and if the Ducks secondary spends too much time looking into the backfield Newton will be more than happy to throw the ball down the field. The Auburn passing game against the Oregon pass defense will be a very interesting matchup, Oregon only allows opposing qb’s to complete 53.5% of their passes and the Oregon defense is very opportunistic creating 35 takeaways (20 interceptions).
Oregon is led by their own Heisman candidate in LaMichael James. He is going to lead a Ducks offense that will want to get the ball snapped every 10 – 12 seconds, this will be terrible for Auburn if they are successful, because Auburn is going to be able to sub the bigger defenders to avoid them wearing down in the 3rd and 4th quarter. If Oregon is able to move the ball and force those big defenders to chase the smaller ducks around the field, it could be a long day for Auburn fans. One of the major factors in determining the outcome of this game will be the play of Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas. His ability to read and control the Auburn defense will be very important for the Ducks to have a chance. Another player who will need to have a good game for the Ducks if Jeff Maehl. He has great hands, makes the tough catches and will need to make a couple of plays over the middle to help prevent the Auburn defensive backs from getting to close to the line of scrimmage. If Thomas, James, and co. is able to run their offense, Nick Fairley and co will be in for a long day. They have had a 36 day layoff and I know that the Ducks have had the same layoff, but there is one thing that anyone who knows anything will tell you is that you can’t coach speed and there is no way to prepare for the tempo that Auburn will see tonight in Glendale.
At the end of the day, I think Oregon is too fast and they will wear down the bigger Auburn defense (when is the last time we talked about an SEC school not being fast enough to keep up with their opponents?). I think this could be the most entertaining BCS Title game since 2006, and when the game clock does finally read 00:00 in the 4th quarter, I think Oregon is going to come out on top 45 – 41.
What do you think? Give me your thoughts.
Until Next Time…
Friday, January 7, 2011
DID YOU MISS ME?
DID YOU MISS ME?
October 16, 2010! That is 82 days since the last time you have heard from me. There are so many things that have occurred in the last 82 days. The Giants won a World Series (don’t worry, nobody realized it either), Cam Newton was ruled ineligible and then eligible without anyone knowing, Somehow, Ohio State had 5 players ruled to have broken rules bad enough to be suspended for half of the season, but they were allowed to play in a bowl game., and then you have the NFL season coming to an end. This weekend we will get the madness that is Wild Card Weekend, and there are sure to be some questions that will be answered. However, if there is anything that we know about the NFL playoffs, that is the fact that to be successful, you must get good play from your quarterback. With that in mind, I am going to rank the playoff quarterbacks and help you to prepare for these upcoming playoffs.
Before I start let me just say that I am not here to baby anyone or to worry about hurting your feelings. This is not about some alleged vendetta against Peyton Manning, however, if you are one of the Manning guys who think he should be 1 just because his name is Peyton Manning then you probably will not want to continue reading (or read and then FIND SOME FACTS to prove me wrong…just remember “YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!!!”---you got to love Herm Edwards), because the facts are the facts and they suggest that there are other playoff quarterbacks that will put their team in a position to win. So without anymore stalling, let me rank the quarterbacks of the 12 teams who are in the NFL Playoffs.
12. Matt Hasselbeck
This was probably the easiest of all of the picks (okay, the 2nd easiest pick). The Seahawks are the worst team in the playoffs and Hasselbeck is coming off of an injury and likely won’t be 100% and that does nothing to give anyone hope against the defending Super Bowl Champions.
PLAYOFF STATS: 9 Games (4 – 5); 58.2% Comp %; 245 YPG; 11 TD; 8 INT
11. Jay Cutler
It is odd to have the quarterback of the #2 seed ranked this low, however when you consider season numbers, lack of weapons, and the fact that Jay Cutler had never had a winning season prior to this year, you have to not feel strongly about him. There is no reason to believe that Cutler is going to thrive against the best team’s week in and week out. He is a gunslinger who can not be trusted to with the game on the line.
PLAYOFF STATS: No Playoff Games
10. Mark Sanchez
I have no idea what we will see from Mark Sanchez on Saturday night in Indianapolis. I do know that he could not have found a better team to match up with in the AFC. The Colts are a defense with lots of wholes and should struggle to matchup with the weapons that the Jets possess. The problem is Sanchez throws nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns, has seen his running game digress as the season has gone on, and has to deal with a coach who loves to hear himself talk almost as much as he likes to eat.
PLAYOFF STATS: 3 Games (2 – 1); 60.3% Comp %; 179 YPG; 4 TD; 2 INT
9. Matt Cassell
Matt Cassell is a guy who gets no respect at all. He is viewed largely as a game manager. The thing that makes Cassell scary is the fact that he has done what is asked of him from his team as well as anyone in these playoffs. He is a smart guy who is not going to beat you with the turnover; he has thrown 27 touchdowns to only 7 picks. This is someone who has a chance to be dangerous because his defense will keep them in the game and with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, Cassell may not have to carry a huge load to pick up a couple of playoff wins.
PLAYOFF STATS: No Playoff Games
8. Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco comes in just a little behind Aaron Rodgers. They both have a 2.5 – 1 touchdown to interception ratio, however, Flacco has more weapons and has the benefit of the short passing game to Ray Rice who is a major difference in the short passing game. As a 3 year veteran, the playoffs are becoming common for Flacco as he will be making his 6th playoff start of his young career. The problem is Flacco has played extremely poor in his previous playoff games, and will have to turn that around this year to have a shot at being successful. This could be the year.
PLAYOFF STATS: 5 Games (3 – 2); 47.5% Comp %; 132 YPG; 1 TD; 6 INT
7. Mike Vick
This may be the greatest comeback story since the Saints went marching in. No player flew higher and fell harder than the fall the Vick took from his $100 million contract and all of the endorsements. He served his time, paid his debt to society, waited for the door to open in Philly and then he took over a very talented team who is the perfect fit for his skill set. His mobility is a matchup nightmare for any team. He has the weapons to throw the ball down the field deep or take off and run. He has struggled a little down the stretch and against fast athletic defenses like Green Bay, he may struggle a little.
PLAYOFF STATS: 5 Games (2 – 3); 56.2% Comp %;137 YPG; 4 TD;3 INT; 239 RUSH YDS;
6. Aaron Rodgers
This is where the group starts to get interesting. Any of these guys from this position and up are capable of guiding their team to playoff success. Rodgers played in one of the wildest playoff games of my lifetime last year in Arizona. He threw 4 touchdown passes in the final 23 minutes of regulation only to lose the game on a fumble in overtime that was recovered and returned for a touchdown. Rodgers has gotten little support in terms of a running game, but of all of the quarterbacks, he may be the one who the running game is least important.
PLAYOFF STATS: 1 Game (0 – 1); 66.7% Comp %; 423 YPG; 4 TD; 1 INT
5. Matt Ryan
Think Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz for both Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, because there truly is no place like home for this team. Matt Ryan is 19 – 2 as a starter in the Georgia Dome, and they will not have to leave the safety of the dome except for a Super Bowl Trip. When you look at Ryan, he has all of the weapons with Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and a really solid running game. He played ok in his only other playoff appearance, completing 65% of his passes while throwing a couple of td’s and picks. I expect Ryan to be much better this year and would not be that surprised by them representing the NFC in Dallas.
PLAYOFF STATS: 1 Game (0 – 1); 65% Comp %; 199 YPG; 2 TD; 2 INT
4. Peyton Manning
The final 4 begins with everyone’s darling, Peyton Manning. He gets more free passes than anyone not named Favre. This may have been the best season of his career. He lost most all of his offensive weapons at some point throughout the season and Manning still held the offense together and found a way to secure a 9th straight playoff appearance. I understand his REGULAR SEASON GREATNESS, but his playoff numbers speak for themselves (truthfully, he should probably be lower on this list, but this is Peyton we are talking about). Please don’t take my word for it, let me give you his numbers: he is 9 – 9 in the playoffs (prior to last year, he was 7 - 8), with 28 touchdowns to 19 picks (1.47 – 1 ratio). These are hardly the numbers of a great quarterback. I know that every time I write something and Manning’s lack of playoff success is mentioned, all of you people get upset, but the facts are the facts!
PLAYOFF STATS: 18 Games (9 – 9); 62.9% Comp %; 286 YPG; 28 TD; 19 INT
3. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben is making his 5th trip to the playoffs and is looking for his 3rd Super Bowl ring. He has complied an 8 – 2 record through 10 playoff games. He is cool under pressure, he already has 19 comeback wins (the most ever by a qb through his first 7 seasons), including possibly the single greatest throw in Super Bowl history. He has a great supporting cast and does a good job allowing the playmakers to make plays.
PLAYOFF STATS: 10 Games (8 – 2); 61.9% Comp %; 224 YPG; 15 TD; 12 INT
2. Drew Brees
Not only is Drew Brees the best quarterback in the NFC going into these playoffs, but the Saints may be the most dangerous team in the NFC. The defense is starting to look like the defense from last years Super Bowl team. Brees is 4 – 2 in the playoffs during his career, although he has played great completing 66% of his passes while averaging over 270 yards and throwing 13 touch downs to only 2 interceptions. Even though he has lost his top 2 rushers on the season, he has a ton of receivers who he can look to and Reggie Bush continues to be a match up nightmares for opponents.
PLAYOFF STATS: 6 Games (4 – 2); 66.7% Comp %; 275 YPG; 13 TD; 2 INT
1. Tom Brady
Yes, I love Tom Brady, there is nobody I would rather leading my team into the playoffs in NFL history. I have gone back and forth on this between Brady and Montana, but Brady seems to be at his best when the talent around him is at its worst. He is winning with a guy who disappeared in Seattle for a few years (Deion Branch), 2 rookies (Rob Gronkowski & Aaron Hernandez), and a guy who could not make the Jets practice squad (Danny Woodhead). He is 14 – 4 in the playoffs, completes 62%of his passes, averages 228 yards, and has almost a 2 – 1 touch down to interception ratio. His numbers have been flat out incredible this year and the defense has played better than anyone expected. Brady has his Patriots playing at a level that has them picked by many to win his 4th Super Bowl ring.
PLAYOFF STATS: 18 Games (14 – 4); 62% Comp %; 228 YPG; 28 TD; 15 INT
There you have it, my ranking of all 12 playoff quarter backs. What do you think? How would you rank them?
October 16, 2010! That is 82 days since the last time you have heard from me. There are so many things that have occurred in the last 82 days. The Giants won a World Series (don’t worry, nobody realized it either), Cam Newton was ruled ineligible and then eligible without anyone knowing, Somehow, Ohio State had 5 players ruled to have broken rules bad enough to be suspended for half of the season, but they were allowed to play in a bowl game., and then you have the NFL season coming to an end. This weekend we will get the madness that is Wild Card Weekend, and there are sure to be some questions that will be answered. However, if there is anything that we know about the NFL playoffs, that is the fact that to be successful, you must get good play from your quarterback. With that in mind, I am going to rank the playoff quarterbacks and help you to prepare for these upcoming playoffs.
Before I start let me just say that I am not here to baby anyone or to worry about hurting your feelings. This is not about some alleged vendetta against Peyton Manning, however, if you are one of the Manning guys who think he should be 1 just because his name is Peyton Manning then you probably will not want to continue reading (or read and then FIND SOME FACTS to prove me wrong…just remember “YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!!!”---you got to love Herm Edwards), because the facts are the facts and they suggest that there are other playoff quarterbacks that will put their team in a position to win. So without anymore stalling, let me rank the quarterbacks of the 12 teams who are in the NFL Playoffs.
12. Matt Hasselbeck
This was probably the easiest of all of the picks (okay, the 2nd easiest pick). The Seahawks are the worst team in the playoffs and Hasselbeck is coming off of an injury and likely won’t be 100% and that does nothing to give anyone hope against the defending Super Bowl Champions.
PLAYOFF STATS: 9 Games (4 – 5); 58.2% Comp %; 245 YPG; 11 TD; 8 INT
11. Jay Cutler
It is odd to have the quarterback of the #2 seed ranked this low, however when you consider season numbers, lack of weapons, and the fact that Jay Cutler had never had a winning season prior to this year, you have to not feel strongly about him. There is no reason to believe that Cutler is going to thrive against the best team’s week in and week out. He is a gunslinger who can not be trusted to with the game on the line.
PLAYOFF STATS: No Playoff Games
10. Mark Sanchez
I have no idea what we will see from Mark Sanchez on Saturday night in Indianapolis. I do know that he could not have found a better team to match up with in the AFC. The Colts are a defense with lots of wholes and should struggle to matchup with the weapons that the Jets possess. The problem is Sanchez throws nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns, has seen his running game digress as the season has gone on, and has to deal with a coach who loves to hear himself talk almost as much as he likes to eat.
PLAYOFF STATS: 3 Games (2 – 1); 60.3% Comp %; 179 YPG; 4 TD; 2 INT
9. Matt Cassell
Matt Cassell is a guy who gets no respect at all. He is viewed largely as a game manager. The thing that makes Cassell scary is the fact that he has done what is asked of him from his team as well as anyone in these playoffs. He is a smart guy who is not going to beat you with the turnover; he has thrown 27 touchdowns to only 7 picks. This is someone who has a chance to be dangerous because his defense will keep them in the game and with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, Cassell may not have to carry a huge load to pick up a couple of playoff wins.
PLAYOFF STATS: No Playoff Games
8. Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco comes in just a little behind Aaron Rodgers. They both have a 2.5 – 1 touchdown to interception ratio, however, Flacco has more weapons and has the benefit of the short passing game to Ray Rice who is a major difference in the short passing game. As a 3 year veteran, the playoffs are becoming common for Flacco as he will be making his 6th playoff start of his young career. The problem is Flacco has played extremely poor in his previous playoff games, and will have to turn that around this year to have a shot at being successful. This could be the year.
PLAYOFF STATS: 5 Games (3 – 2); 47.5% Comp %; 132 YPG; 1 TD; 6 INT
7. Mike Vick
This may be the greatest comeback story since the Saints went marching in. No player flew higher and fell harder than the fall the Vick took from his $100 million contract and all of the endorsements. He served his time, paid his debt to society, waited for the door to open in Philly and then he took over a very talented team who is the perfect fit for his skill set. His mobility is a matchup nightmare for any team. He has the weapons to throw the ball down the field deep or take off and run. He has struggled a little down the stretch and against fast athletic defenses like Green Bay, he may struggle a little.
PLAYOFF STATS: 5 Games (2 – 3); 56.2% Comp %;137 YPG; 4 TD;3 INT; 239 RUSH YDS;
6. Aaron Rodgers
This is where the group starts to get interesting. Any of these guys from this position and up are capable of guiding their team to playoff success. Rodgers played in one of the wildest playoff games of my lifetime last year in Arizona. He threw 4 touchdown passes in the final 23 minutes of regulation only to lose the game on a fumble in overtime that was recovered and returned for a touchdown. Rodgers has gotten little support in terms of a running game, but of all of the quarterbacks, he may be the one who the running game is least important.
PLAYOFF STATS: 1 Game (0 – 1); 66.7% Comp %; 423 YPG; 4 TD; 1 INT
5. Matt Ryan
Think Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz for both Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, because there truly is no place like home for this team. Matt Ryan is 19 – 2 as a starter in the Georgia Dome, and they will not have to leave the safety of the dome except for a Super Bowl Trip. When you look at Ryan, he has all of the weapons with Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and a really solid running game. He played ok in his only other playoff appearance, completing 65% of his passes while throwing a couple of td’s and picks. I expect Ryan to be much better this year and would not be that surprised by them representing the NFC in Dallas.
PLAYOFF STATS: 1 Game (0 – 1); 65% Comp %; 199 YPG; 2 TD; 2 INT
4. Peyton Manning
The final 4 begins with everyone’s darling, Peyton Manning. He gets more free passes than anyone not named Favre. This may have been the best season of his career. He lost most all of his offensive weapons at some point throughout the season and Manning still held the offense together and found a way to secure a 9th straight playoff appearance. I understand his REGULAR SEASON GREATNESS, but his playoff numbers speak for themselves (truthfully, he should probably be lower on this list, but this is Peyton we are talking about). Please don’t take my word for it, let me give you his numbers: he is 9 – 9 in the playoffs (prior to last year, he was 7 - 8), with 28 touchdowns to 19 picks (1.47 – 1 ratio). These are hardly the numbers of a great quarterback. I know that every time I write something and Manning’s lack of playoff success is mentioned, all of you people get upset, but the facts are the facts!
PLAYOFF STATS: 18 Games (9 – 9); 62.9% Comp %; 286 YPG; 28 TD; 19 INT
3. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben is making his 5th trip to the playoffs and is looking for his 3rd Super Bowl ring. He has complied an 8 – 2 record through 10 playoff games. He is cool under pressure, he already has 19 comeback wins (the most ever by a qb through his first 7 seasons), including possibly the single greatest throw in Super Bowl history. He has a great supporting cast and does a good job allowing the playmakers to make plays.
PLAYOFF STATS: 10 Games (8 – 2); 61.9% Comp %; 224 YPG; 15 TD; 12 INT
2. Drew Brees
Not only is Drew Brees the best quarterback in the NFC going into these playoffs, but the Saints may be the most dangerous team in the NFC. The defense is starting to look like the defense from last years Super Bowl team. Brees is 4 – 2 in the playoffs during his career, although he has played great completing 66% of his passes while averaging over 270 yards and throwing 13 touch downs to only 2 interceptions. Even though he has lost his top 2 rushers on the season, he has a ton of receivers who he can look to and Reggie Bush continues to be a match up nightmares for opponents.
PLAYOFF STATS: 6 Games (4 – 2); 66.7% Comp %; 275 YPG; 13 TD; 2 INT
1. Tom Brady
Yes, I love Tom Brady, there is nobody I would rather leading my team into the playoffs in NFL history. I have gone back and forth on this between Brady and Montana, but Brady seems to be at his best when the talent around him is at its worst. He is winning with a guy who disappeared in Seattle for a few years (Deion Branch), 2 rookies (Rob Gronkowski & Aaron Hernandez), and a guy who could not make the Jets practice squad (Danny Woodhead). He is 14 – 4 in the playoffs, completes 62%of his passes, averages 228 yards, and has almost a 2 – 1 touch down to interception ratio. His numbers have been flat out incredible this year and the defense has played better than anyone expected. Brady has his Patriots playing at a level that has them picked by many to win his 4th Super Bowl ring.
PLAYOFF STATS: 18 Games (14 – 4); 62% Comp %; 228 YPG; 28 TD; 15 INT
There you have it, my ranking of all 12 playoff quarter backs. What do you think? How would you rank them?
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