Sunday, February 27, 2011

2011 NCAA Tournament Projections

We are now heading into the final week of college basketball's regular season. Conference tournaments will be underway, and we are 1 week closer to Selection Sunday. The Jimmer lead BYU to another win over San Diego St. on Saturday and catapulted the Cougars up to a 1 seed. Here is a look at how the brackets may look if the season ended today.

East Regional - Newark

Cleveland
1 Ohio St. vs. 16 McNeese St./Texas Southern
8 Utah St. vs. 9 Old Dominion
Tampa
5 UConn vs. 12 Memphis/Clemson
4 Arizona vs. 13 Belmont
Washington, DC
6 Texas A&M vs. 11 Michigan St.
3 Syracuse vs. 14 Kent St.
Tucson
7 Temple vs. 10 St. Mary's
2 San Diego St. vs. 15 Bucknell

Southeast Regional - New Orleans

Charlotte
1 Duke vs. 16 Murray St.
8 Washington vs. 9 Cincinnati
Charlotte
5 Kentucky vs. 12 UAB
4 Georgetown vs. 13 Princeton
Denver
6 Missouri vs. 11 Marquette
3 Wisconsin vs. 14 College of Charleston
Cleveland
7 George Mason vs. 10 Georgia
2 Pittsburgh vs. 15 Long Beach St.

Southwest Regional - San Antonio

Tulsa
1 Kansas vs. 16 Northern Colorado/Bethune-Cookman
8 UNLV vs. 9 Tennessee
Tucson
5 Villanova vs. 12 Butler/Gonzaga
4 North Carolina vs. 13 Oakland
Chicago
6 Xavier vs. 11 Alabama
3 Notre Dame vs. 14 Vermont
Chicago
7 West Virginia vs. 10 Virginia Tech
2 Purdue vs. 15 Fairfield

West Regional - Anaheim

Denver
1 BYU vs. 16 Florida Atlantic
8 Kansas St. vs. 9 Florida St.
Washington, DC
5 Vanderbilt vs. 12 Missouri St.
4 Louisville vs. 13 Cleveland St.
Tampa
6 St. John's vs. 11 Richmond
3 Florida vs. 14 Coastal Carolina
Tulsa
7 UCLA vs. 10 Illinois
2 Texas vs. 15 Long Island

Thursday, February 24, 2011

2011 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

With the NFL Scouting Combine underway, I thought that it was finally time to put out the second version of my 2011 NFL Mock Draft. The first edition was a very, very rough draft. Back in December, the draft order was uncertain as were the early entries. Now things are a little clearer. Though plenty will change throughout the coming months, much of it will be dictated by what happens in Indianapolis over the next week. Wothout, further adieu here is my 2011 NFL Mock Draft 2.0. Be ont he lookout for many more editions to follow before April's draft.

1. Carolina - Nick Fairley DT/Auburn
2. Denver - Da’Quan Bowers DE/Clemson
3. Buffalo - Patrick Peterson CB/LSU
4. Cincinnati - AJ Green WR/Georgia
5. Arizona - Von Miller LB/Texas A&M
6. Cleveland - Marcel Dareus DT/Alabama
7. San Francisco - Prince Amukamara CB/Nebraska
8. Tennessee - Blaine Gabbert QB/Missouri
9. Dallas - Robert Quinn DE/North Carolina
10. Washington - Cam Newton QB/Auburn
11. Houston - Aldon Smith LB/Missouri
12. Minnesota - Jake Locker QB/Washington
13. Detroit - Nate Solder OT/Colorado
14. St. Louis - Julio Jones WR/Alabama
15. Miami - Mark Ingram RB/Alabama
16. Jacksonville - JJ Watt DE/Wisconsin
17. New England (from Oak) - Cameron Jordan DT/Cal
18. San Diego - Corey Liuget DT/Illinois
19. NY Giants - Akeem Ayers LB/UCLA
20. Tampa Bay - Brandon Harris CB/Miami
21. Kansas City - Justin Houston LB/Georgia
22. Indianapolis - Tyron Smith OT/USC
23. Philadelphia - Mike Pouncey G/Florida
24. New Orleans - Adrian Clayborn DE/Iowa
25. Seattle - Jimmy Smith CB/Colorado
26. Baltimore - Aaron Williams CB/Texas
27. Atlanta - Titus Young WR/Boise St.
28. New England - Gabe Carimi OT/Wisconsin
29. Chicago - Derek Sherrod OT/Mississippi St.
30. NY Jets - Rahim Moore FS/UCLA
31. Pittsburgh - Anthony Costanzo OT/Boston College
32. Green Bay - Stefan Wisniewski G/Penn St.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

2011 NCAA Tournament Projections

There are just 3 weeks left until Selection Sunday. Teams like Nebraska, Butler, and Gonzaga are playing themselves on to the bubble. While teams such as Baylor, Richmond, and Clemson are inching closer to having their bubbles burst. A lot can change in 3 weeks, especially with conference tournaments getting ready to start. Here is how the NCAA Tournament field of 68 would look if it started today.

East Regional - Newark

Cleveland

1 Ohio St. vs. 16 McNeese St./Texas Southern
8 Washington vs. 9 Kansas St.
Tampa

5 Vanderbilt vs. 12 Boston College/Colorado St.
4 UConn vs. 13 Belmont
Chicago

6 Texas A&M vs. 11 UAB
3 Notre Dame vs. 14 Oakland
Denver

7 Temple vs. 10 Michigan St.
2 BYU vs. 15 Long Island

Southeast Regional - New Orleans

Tulsa

1 Texas vs. 16 Montana
8 Old Dominion vs. 9 Cincinnati
Tampa

5 Arizona vs. 12 Cleveland St.
4 Florida vs. 13 Coastal Carolina
Charlotte

6 Missouri vs. 11 Georgia
3 Georgetown vs. 14 Vermont
Tucson

7 West Virginia vs. 10 Illinois
2 San Diego St. vs. 15 Bucknell

Southwest Regional - San Antonio

Tulsa

1 Kansas vs. 16 Florida Atlantic/Bethune-Cookman
8 UNLV vs. 9 Florida St.
Tucson

5 Kentucky vs. 12 Memphis/Butler
4 Louisville vs. 13 Harvard
Washington, DC

6 Xavier vs. 11 Virginia Tech
3 Villanova vs. 14 Fairfield
Chicago

7 George Mason vs. 10 Alabama
2 Purdue vs. 15 Kent St.

West Regional - Anaheim

Charlotte

1 Duke vs. 16 Murray St.
8 Utah St. vs. 9 Tennessee
Denver

5 Syracuse vs. 12 Wichita St.
4 Wisconsin vs. 13 UTEP
Washington, DC

6 St. John's vs. 11 Minnesota
3 North Carolina vs. 14 College of Charleston
Cleveland

7 UCLA vs. 10 St. Mary's
2 Pittsburgh vs. 15 Long Beach St.

2011 NBA All-Star Game

Eastern Conference -2.5 vs. Western Conference

The best of the professional all-star games takes place under the lights in Los Angeles tonight. The Staples Center plays host to the 60th edition of the NBA All-Star Game. Stars will be abound both on the court as well as in the stands. The players will put on a show that's sure to please Hollywood's finest. Let's take a look at the rosters for each conference and the stats of every player named an All-Star for the 2010-2011 NBA season.

East Starters
G Derrick Rose (Chi) 24.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 8.2 APG
G Dwayne Wade (Mia) 25.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 4.3 APG
F LeBron James (Mia) 26.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.3 APG
F Amare Stoudamire (NY) 26.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.7 APG
C Dwight Howard (Orl) 22.8 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 1.2 APG
East Reserves
G Rajon Rondo (Bos) 10.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 12.2 APG
G Ray Allen (Bos) 17.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.9 APG
G Joe Johnson (Atl) 19.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.4 APG
F Paul Pierce (Bos) 18.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.2 APG
F Kevin Garnett (Bos) 14.9 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.4 APG
F Chris Bosh (Mia) 18.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.9 APG
C Al Horford (Atl) 16.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 3.6 APG

West Starters
G Chris Paul (NO) 16.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 9.6 APG
G Kobe Bryant (LAL) 25.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.8 APG
F Carmelo Anthony (Den) 25.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.8 APG
F Kevin Durant (OKC) 28.9 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.8 APG
C Tim Duncan (SA) 13.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.9 APG
West Reserves
G Deron Williams (Utah) 21.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 9.7 APG
G Russell Westbrook (OKC) 22.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 8.6 APG
G Manu Ginobili (SA) 17.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.9 APG
F Dirk Nowitzki (Dall) 22.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.6 APG
F Blake Griffin (LAC) 22.8 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 3.5 APG
F Kevin Love (Minn) 21.1 PPG, 15.5 RPG, 2.4 APG
C Pau Gasol (LAL) 18.8 PPG, 10.4, 3.6 APG

When you are talking about an All-Star game there is obviously tons of talent on each side. From top to bottom I believe that the West has more firepower. The East only has 6 teams represented amongst its players, which means they will be able to play multiple lineups that are very familiar with each other. I'll take the West to win this one though. I think the best bet of the night could be under 272. Only 3 of the last 10 games produced a total higher than 272 and one of those took 2OT to do so.

Prediction - West 128 East 122

Saturday, February 19, 2011

All-Star Saturday Slam Dunk Contest

There will be a new slam dunk champion crowned tonight at the Staples Center. Nate Robinson's two-year run as champ is over. There will be four first-time participants in the competition in 2011. The big men have taken over this year. DeMar DeRozan will be the smallest man at 6'7 competing. Serge Ibaka, JaVale McGee, and the high-flying Blake Griffin complete the field. The competition has fizzled out in recent years. In an effort to bring back some sizzle, each player will be paired up with a dunking coach this time around. DeRozan will be coached by Darryl Dawkins, Serge Ibaka by Kevin Durant, JaVale McGee by Chris Webber, and Blake Griffin by Kenny Smith.

Blake Griffin (1 to 4)
DeMar DeRozan (4 to 1)
JaVale McGee (7.5 to 1)
Serge Ibaka (10 to 1)

And the winner is: The obvious choice is Blake Griffin. The rookie is simply sick with the things he can do in the air. He gets off the floor quicker and higher than anyone else in the field. But don't count out DeRozan. He was the runner-up last year and is probably a better bet due to his odds. Ultimately, I think the hype around Blake Griffin is too much for anyone to overcome when it comes to the judging. DeRozan is the only man that has a chance to steal this from him though.

All-Star Saturday 3-Point Contest

The title of world's best shooter is up for grabs tonight - at least for one night. Six of the NBA's premiere three-point shooters will look to etch their name in the record books. All-time great shooters like Larry Bird, Mark Price, Glen Rice, and Ray Allen are some of the past champions. There have been six men win this competition twice (Larry Bird, Craig Hodges, Mark Price, Jeff Hornacek, Peja Stojakovich, and Jason Kapono). Allen and his teammate, Paul Pierce, can join this group with a victory tonight. Kevin Durant, Daniel Gibson, James Jones, and Dorell Wright will all be gunning for the title as well.

Ray Allen (1.75 to 1)
- 2001 3-Point Shootout Champion
- 46% 3P
- 121 3PM

Kevin Durant (2.75 to 1)
- 34% 3P
- 91 3PM

Paul Pierce (4 to 1)
- 2010 3-Point Shootout Champion
- 39% 3P
- 75 3PM

Daniel Gibson (4.5 to 1)
- 44% 3P
- 86 3PM

James Jones (5.5 to 1)
- 42% 3P
- 93 3PM

Dorell Wright (5.5 to 1)
- 40% 3P
- 135 3PM

And the winner is: Dorell Wright. Ray Allen is without a question the best pure shooter in the NBA. He could possibly be the best pure shooter of all-time. But his legs are a little old for this competition. I like one of the younger guys to walk out on top. Plus at 5.5 to 1 compared to 1.75 to 1, you can get more bang for your buck by taking Wright. He has made living by shooting and making plenty of 3s. If he gets it going like I believe he will, watch out!

Friday, February 18, 2011

NBA at the All-Star Break

We have reached the All-Star Break of the NBA season. Which is more of the unofficial 2/3 mark of the regular season. At this point in the year, we usually begin to separate the pretenders from the contenders. The NBA is notorious for not having surprise teams emerge as legit title contenders. I'd say the closest thing we have to that this year is the Chicago Bulls appearing to be a year ahead of schedule. Nonetheless, here is how the remainder of the season projects based off of current standings and simulations of the remaining games.

Eastern Conference
1. Miami 62-20
2. Boston 60-22
3. Chicago 56-26
4. Orlando 52-30
5. Atlanta 50-32
6. New York 41-41
7. Philadelphia 38-44
8. Milwaukee 37-45         
9. Charlotte 36-46
10. Indiana 35-47
11. Detroit 27-55
12. New Jersey 26-56
13. Washington 25-57
14. Toronto 20-62
15. Cleveland 16-66

Western Conference
1. San Antonio 66-16
2. Dallas 57-25
3. LA Lakers 56-26
4. Oklahoma City 54-28
5. Portland 48-34
6. Utah 46-36
7. Denver 45-37
8. New Orleans 44-38        
9. Memphis 42-40
10. Phoenix 41-41
11. Houston 39-43
12. Golden St. 36-46
13. LA Clippers 33-49
14. Sacramento 22-60
15. Minnesota 19-63

East Quarters
1 Miami over 8 Milwaukee 4-0
4 Orlando over 5 Atlanta 4-2
3 Chicago over 6 New York 4-2
2 Boston over 7 Philadelphia 4-0

West Quarters
1 San Antonio over 8 New Orleans 4-1
4 Oklahoma City over 5 Portland 4-1
3 LA Lakers over 6 Utah 4-3
2 Dallas over 7 Denver 4-1

East Semis
1 Miami over 4 Orlando 4-3
2 Boston over 3 Chicago 4-1

West Semis
1 San Antonio over 4 Oklahoma City 4-1
2 Dallas over 3 LA Lakers 4-3

East Finals
2 Boston over 1 Miami 4-2

West Finals
1 San Antonio over 2 Dallas 4-3

NBA Finals
1 San Antonio over 2 Boston 4-2

I may be changing my thinking. I keep waiting for San Antonio to run out of gas and start losing more games, but they continue to win. With the Lakers looking very vulnerable, the NBA's worst nightmare could come true with a San Antonio-Boston Finals matchup.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

2011 NFL Season May Look Different

As today's CBA meeting between the owners and the Player's Union was cancelled, it left many of us to ponder life without football. There is one thing to remember though - it is just February. The Super Bowl just happened 4 days ago. The two sides have plenty of time to come together on an agreement. The NFL is at an all-time high right now. The league as a whole would be foolish not to get an agreement done. I am optimistic that something will get done and we will have a full 16-game schedule (I did say 16 not 18) in 2011.

We have learned in recent years that the playoff landscape changes every year. In each of the last 15 seasons, there has been no less than 5 new teams make the playoffs. Expect the same next year. Much will change between now and next season but here is a look at the team that is in the best shape in each division as we enter the offseason. As well as a team from each division that could be the most improved.

AFC East

Best: New England will most likely be the favorite next year. They still have Tom Brady and Bill Belechick which makes them the favorite just about every year. What the Patriots accomplished during the 2010 regular season was nothing short of remarkable. They have a pair of 1st Round draft choices this year to add even more talent to their squad.

Most Improved: Buffalo should be the most improved team in the AFC East. They made significant strides throughout this season. After an 0-8 start they rebounded to play .500 ball in the second half of the year. Chan Gailey feels confident that Ryan Fitzpatrick is their guy at QB. Look for them to get an immediate impact from whoever they decide to draft 3rd overall.

AFC North

Best: Don't expect a Super Bowl hangover from Pittsburgh. They endured many ups and downs in 2010 to reach their third Super Bowl in 6 years. Big Ben should be around for the entire season next time around. The Ravens are very talented but must prove they can beat the Steelers when it matters. Until then, Pittsburgh remains the favorite in this division.

Most Improved: The Cleveland Browns will take a step forward in 2011. Pat Shurmur was hired as Head Coach, but team President Mike Holmgren will be pulling all the strings. The Browns discovered some nice pieces this year that will help them build for the future. Colt McCoy, Peyton Hillis, Joe Haden, and TJ Ward all showed signs of being very good NFL players. There are still plenty of holes to fill, so a playoff run is not likely. But the future looks to be headed in the right direction for the first time in a long time in Cleveland.

AFC South

Best: Nobody wants to knock the Indianapolis Colts off of the pedestal. Until it happens, they will remain the best team in the division. Peyton Manning may be on the decline, and the offense didn't look as explosive as years past, but the other teams in the AFC South don't look prepared to make a run at the Colts yet. This could be the Colts' division as long as Peyton sticks around.

Most Improved: For what seems like the 10th year in a row, Houston could very likely be the choice for most improved team. They have talent, but have not been able to put it all together. The offense has plenty of firepower with Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, and Arian foster. There are pieces to build around on their defense, and this unit needs to step up foe the Texans to see the necessary improvement. Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, and Brian Cushing are some of the league's best at their respective positions. 2011 could finally be the year they get some help.

AFC West

Best: San Diego is without a doubt the best team out west. They must come out of the gates swinging into 2011. They showed this year that they can't have a lackluster start every year and still manage to win the division. Phillip Rivers is an elite QB, and they shouldn't have the distractions that they had with Marcus McNeill and Vincent Jackson last year. I think Norv Turner will get this team ready to play from the get-go and they will return to the top of the AFC West.

Most Improved: Oakland made a huge jump towards respectability in 2010. I expect them to continue this jump. They are left without a 1st Round draft choice, but they have some pieces in place. New Head Coach Hue Jackson helped improve this offense drastically. They focused on the ground game and it paid off with Darren McFadden having a breakout year. If the Raiders get consistent QB play and get solid play out of their D, they could sneak into the playoffs.

NFC East

Best: Micheal Vick exceeded every one's wildest expectation this year. He returned to the form of his former-self and lead Philadelphia to a division title. They ran into a buzzsaw in the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs, but that doesn't diminish their accomplishments. The Eagles entered the first year of the post-McNabb era with all kinds of uncertainty. The only thing that is certain now is that Philadelphia's future is bright. They have an abundance of young talent that should lead another era of football in Philly.

Most Improved: This has got to be Dallas right? The Cowboys came into 2010 with wild expectations of being the first team ever to host a Super Bowl. They fell flat on their face. A horrific start got worse when Tony Romo's season ended prematurely. Dallas still has loads of talent though. New coach Jason Garrett lit a fire under them as they finished 5-3. I expect to see more of the 2nd half Cowboys in 2011.

NFC North

Best: There is talk of a potential dynasty in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers has catapulted himself more in 1 season than I have ever seen. Rodgers is widely considered the heir apparent to Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as the league's top QB. There is young talent all over the field too. Clay Matthews has established himself as possibly the game's elite pass rusher, and BJ Raji is becoming a superstar. Mike McCarthy has many reasons to believe that the Pack can repeat as champs.

Most Improved: The Lions played fantastic football down the stretch in 2010. No that wasn't a misprint. Detroit fields two of the league's brightest young stars on each side of the ball. Calvin Johnson is almost impossible to cover, and Ndamakong Suh is an absolute beast. Jim Schwartz's squad will take a 4-game winning streak into next season. This should only be aided by a healthy Matthew Stafford. Look out for the Lions in 2011.

NFC South

Best: This was a toss-up but New Orleans still has the explosiveness to make them capable of doing great things. Drew Brees is one of the best and he has tons of weapons to help him out. The defense was not as good as they were during their Super Bowl run a season ago. Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams is determined to fix this. The Saints should rebound from their early playoff exit this year and emerge as the team to beat in the NFC South.

Most Improved: The Baby Bucs almost pulled off the unthinkable and reach the playoffs this year. Next season they should be primed to make another run. Josh Freeman proved to be an up and coming star. He discovered playmakers around him in Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn, and Kellen Winslow. If the defense continues to improve and LaGarrette Blount builds off of a solid rookie year, the Bucs will certainly challenge for the division crown.

NFC West

Best: Is this a trick? Am I going to get suckered into calling one these teams the best? While none of them are very good, I think the best of the bunch is San Francisco. From top to bottom they have the most talent. I don't think they would sniff a division title in any other division, but in this one the presence of Frank Gore on offense and Patrick Willis on defense gives them the nod as the best team heading into the offseason.

Most Improved: Saint Louis will continue to improve. The schedule should stiffen up a bit this year though. If Sam Bradford can avoid the sophomore jinx, they could very easily find themselves in the playoffs. Bradford needs to help establish some playmakers on the outside. Steve Spagnuolo has done a great job, and he needs to continue molding this defense into what he once had as Defensive Coordinator with the Giants.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Super Bowl XLV - Recap

Green Bay 31 Pittsburgh 25

The 2010 NFL season officially came to an end Sunday night with the Lombardi Trophy returning to its rightful home. The Green Bay Packers honored their legendary former coach by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 and bringing the trophy named after him back to Green Bay for the first time in 14 years.

Aaron Rodgers completed a historic playoff run, making the Packers Super Bowl champions. Rodgers won MVP honors - something that his prdecessor Brett Favre never did - by throwing for 304 yards and 3 TD against a vanted Steelers D. He received plenty of help from his own vaunted D. Green Bay picked off 2-time Super Bowl champ Ben Roethlisberger twice on the night. Nick Collins returned one of them 37 yards for a TD to give the Pack an early 14-0 advantage. Later in the game, with momentum shifting dramatically and Pittsburgh driving to take their first lead, Clay Matthews forced a Rashard Mendenhall fumble. Green Bay recovered and possibly changed the outcome of the game.

The Packers lead 21-3 with just over 2 minutes to go in the 1st Half. Big Ben lead Pittsburgh all the way back to within 28-25 with 7 minutes left in the game. After a Mason Crosby field goal gave Green Bay a 31-25 lead with 2 minutes left, the stage looked to be perfectly set for another Roethlisberger miracle. But Pittsburgh's luck finally ran out. There was no magic left in Ben's hat, and his season of redemption fell short of a 3rd Super Bowl title in 6 years. Roethlisberger threw incomplete to Mike Wallace on 4th and 5 and the Green Bay Packers were the new world champions.

Aaron Rodgers sky-rocketed himself into elite QB status. Mike McCarthy etched his name in Packer coaching lore and may have earned himself a street name in the quaint Wisconsin town. Charles Woodson and Donald Driver earned a long-awaited Super Bowl ring. The stories were abound. One thing was certain, this night belonged to the Cheeseheads, and the Packers will return to Titletown with the title of World Champions!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Super Bowl XLV - Prediction

Green Bay -3 vs. Pittsburgh

This is what we have all been waiting for. All of the hype and anticipation is just about over. Two of the most storied franchises in the history of the NFL are about to meet in Super Bowl XLV. To the surprise of many Green Bay enters the game as a 3 point favorite. The Packers have staved off five consecutive weeks of possible elimination. While Pittsburgh has been playing your typical Steeler football. These teams match up very tightly. This one is bound to come down to the final seconds.

Green Bay enters the Super Bowl on one hell of a streak. For five consecutive weeks, they have won a must-win game. Can they do it once again? Aaron Rodgers will be running into his toughest test to date.  He will need to spread the ball around the field and throw for large chunks of yardage to join Brett Favre and Bart Starr in Packer lore. Rodgers needs to have an MVP-type game for the Packers to win. He is eager to break out of Favre's shadow once and for all and deliver another title to Titletown. He didn't play all that well in the NFC Championship and is trying to redeem himself. He has the chance to build his own legacy on Sunday.  Rodgers will also need a strong showing from his D. Green Bay's D has continued to improve all year and has become one of the league's best. Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson are the heart and soul, and are very capable of leading the Pack to victory.

This isn't the Steelers first rodeo. They have been here before and strut in with yet another dominant defense. Their defense, combined with a proven winner in Ben Roethlisberger makes Pittsburgh as formidable as ever. They are on the verge of joining the 70s Steel Curtain as another dynasty in Steelers history. Pittsburgh is in search of their third title in six years. Big Ben can join all-time greats Terry Bradsaw, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, and Tom Brady as the only QBs ever to win 3 Super Bowls. This game doesn't fall on Ben's shoulders though. Pittsburgh will need their secondary to step up and guard against a lethal Green Bay passing game. Offensively, they will need to get solid play from a patchwork O-Line and control the clock with Rashard Mendenall.

There are plenty of reasons to pick either one of these teams. Ultimately, Green Bay may be more talented. But Pittsburgh has been here before and that counts for plenty. They have proven time and again that they have the mental fortitude to win on this type of stage. I have picked against Pittsburgh too many times to do it again. Green Bay is an up and coming team and will have to be reckoned with for years to come. The Steelers win this time around though. Give Pittsburgh their 3rd title in 6 years.

Prediction - Pittsburgh 24 Green Bay 16

Ringer's Playoff Record
ATS: 6-4
SU: 5-5

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Super Bowl XLV - Coaching

Green Bay - Mike McCarthy, Joe Philbin, Dom Capers
Pittsburgh - Mike Tomlin, Bruce Arians, Dick LeBeau

There are currently five active coaches in the NFL that have won a Super Bowl. Mike Tomlin is one of them. Mike McCarthy is not. In just his fourth season at the helm for the Steelers, Mike Tomlin is appearing in his second Super Bowl at the young age of 38. McCarthy is not an old man himself. He will be making his first Super Bowl appearance at age 47. Both of these men have made the most of their first head coaching gigs in the NFL. Tomlin is looking to become the youngest coach in NFL history to win two Super Bowls. McCarthy looks to join Packer coaching greats Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as the only coaches to lead this franchise to the promise land.

Mike McCarthy is in his fifth season as Head Coach for the Green Bay Packers. He has brought a fantastic offensive mind that has helped mold Aaron Rodgers and this young offense into one of the league's best. Since McCarthy took over the reigns in Green Bay, the Packers are one of only two teams to finish in the top ten in offense each of the last five years. McCarthy generally calls the plays but is aided by another great offensive mind in Joe Philbin. On the defensive side, Green Bay is lead by one of the best coaches around In Dom Capers. Capers gained notoriety in the 90s for incorporating a zone-blitzing scheme while head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Since he took over as Defensive Coordinator, the Packers have blossomed into a dominant force on that side of the ball as well. This coaching staff will mix things up on both sides and look to keep the Steelers off balance.

For Pittsburgh, they just continue to make the right call when choosing head coaches. Mike Tomlin is the third coach the franchise has had in the last 41 years. He has followed in the foot steps of the legendary Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher just fine. He is in the midst of building quite a legacy himself. Tomlin brings a ferocious attitude to the table that his team feeds into. He has great assistants too. Bruce Arians controls the offense. He has changed the philosophy in the last couple years. While the Steelers are still capable of running the ball and relying on their defense to win games, their offense can win games too. They are more explosive and pass-happy than ever. Defensively, you could not ask for a better Coordinator than Dick LeBeau. LeBeau is possibly the greatest Defensive Coordinator ever. He has been a staple in Pittsburgh and one of the primary reasons that the Steelers D is one of the best every year.

The Steelers have the undoubted advantage in this category. They have all been here before. They know how to approach this game. McCarthy will have his troops ready, but you can't go against the experience of Pittsburgh's coaching staff. As weird as it is to use "experience" with a 38-year-old, it is true. Tomlin and his coaches will prepare their team just as they did two short seasons ago.

Advantage - Pittsburgh

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Super Bowl XLV - Special Teams

Green Bay - Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Sam Shields, Tramon Williams
Pittsburgh - Shaun Suisham, Jeremy Kapinos, Antonio Brown

Special Teams is a very important aspect in every game. Particularly close games. As we have taken a look at each position, it appears that this game is headed towards being close. Which means that special teams should play a role in the outcome. Super Bowl XLV could be decided by field position. And what dictates field position more than special teams?

The downfall of the Packers could be a poor return game and poor kick coverage. Green Bay ranked 26th in kick return average and 22nd in punt return average. They ranked 13th in kickoff coverage and 24th in punt coverage. In only one area did they finish in the top half of the league. However, when your punter is as masterful as Tim Masthay was in the NFC Championship, you don't need coverage. Masthay did not allow Devin Hester a chance to beat them as he pinned Chicago inside their own 20 on five of his eight punts. The Steelers return game is not nearly as lethal, but the Packers could use a similar performance from their punter this week. If the game does come down to a field goal, Mason Crosby has a booming leg. His accuracy was a bit off this year, missing 6 field goals, but Mike McCarthy has plenty of confidence in him to kick under pressure.

Pittsburgh's special teams are not amazing either. They were 13th in kick return average and dead last in punt return average. In coverage, the Steelers ranked 5th against kickoff returns and 18th against punt returns. These aren't the same players that were expected to lead the charge at the beginning of the season. After cutting Jeff Reed in midseason, Pittsburgh signed journeymen Shaun Suisham. Despite being wildly erratic throughout his career, Suisham made 14 of 15 field goal attempts during the regular season. He has never kicked under playoff pressure and missed one against Baltimore int he Divisional round. Punter Jeremy Kapinos is 7 yards worse in net punting than Daniel Sepulveda was when healthy. Antonio Brown has injected some life into the return game, but he doesn't strike too much fear into opponents.

It could be a special teams lapse that sways this game one way or another. Neither one of these teams are tremendous in this aspect of the game. This is yet another position that Green Bay and Pittsburgh are very evenly matched. I will give Green Bay a slight edge. I don't expect either team to come up with huge returns. I trust the combination of Mason Crosby and Tim Masthay more than that of Shaun Suisham and Jeremy Kapinos.

Advantage - Green Bay

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Super Bowl XLV - Secondary

Green Bay - Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Nick Collins, C. Peprah
Pittsburgh - Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, William Gay, Ryan Clark, Troy Polamalu

The last two NFL Defensive Players of the Year reside in the Green Bay and Pittsburgh secondaries respectively. Traditionally this award tends to go to linebackers and defensive ends, but Troy Polamalu and Charles Woodson have been two of the best defensive players in the league for years, regardless of position. These men make everyone around them better. They can cover large portions of the field and are also strong in the running game as well as coming off the edge in blitz packages. As great as the QBs in this game are, they will be looking to avoid Polamalu and Woodson.

Green Bay's secondary makes it very difficult to throw the ball. They cover the entire field well. They have two shut down corners in Woodson and Tramon Williams, and safeties Nick Collins and Charlie Peprah are very effective pass defenders as well. This unit leaves virtually no passing lanes for opposing QBs to throw. This will make life more difficult for Ben Roethlisberger than he is accustomed to. Woodson does it all for Green Bay. He can play any type of coverage and is not afraid to come up and stick a running back or come on a nickle blitz. Tramon Williams can get physical at the line with speedy Mike Wallace and has the speed himself to keep up with him should Wallace get off the line. This secondary is one of the primary reasons that the Pack is back in the Super Bowl.

Troy Polamalu is what makes Pittsburgh's entire defense click, especially the secondary. The evidence is in their 6-7 record without Polamalu over the last two seasons. They are 15-4 with him. The players lining up with him in the secondary feel that they don't get the respect they deserve. Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, and Ryan Clark have all been here before. All of them contributed on the 2008 Super Bowl championship team. Taylor can certainly hold his own, but McFadden has been susceptible to allowing too many completions. Ryan Clark is a perfect compliment to Polamalu, and can lay the hammer when the opportunity presents itself. Polamalu's teammates should get to prove their worth this Sunday. Green Bay will probably look to spread the Steelers out and attack any one on one options Aaron Rodgers may get.

It is very difficult to go against the newly crowned NFL Defensive Player of the Year in this matchup, but remember Charles Woodson won this award last season. I think that Polamalu is without a doubt the single most disruptive player in the NFL. But the rest of the Steelers secondary is not as strong as Green Bay's. The Packers secondary blankets receivers. Roethlisberger will have to thread the needle repeatedly to move the ball through the air. As long as Rodgers can avoid Polamalu, he should be able to find some openings elsewhere. As a group Green Bay's secondary gets the nod here.

Advantage - Green Bay