Author Archives: National Fanatic
NFL Head Coach Rankings – a personal opinion on bias media
Have you read this latest “LIST” or ranking of NFL Head Coaches on The Sporting News (link above)? The ranking is on a scale of 1 to 32 (as in 32 NFL teams) and who’s considered the TOP coach in the NFL, followed by the “who’s next”…
Like most “lists” they are 100% opinion based (which is a sports columnist or analyst job and point of view). There are considerable differences between subjective reporters, narrow-minded columnists and biased analysts, yet each are labeled in a category but all are in the sports media. Who do you believe most or whose opinion you think is more valid is your choice…
TOP 10, TOP 32 or TOP 100 lists seem to be very popular these days (like The Top 100 NFL Players of 2012). All lists are mostly done by individuals and every individual is bias is some way or another. The Top 100 NFL Players of 2012 is a little different though, as all “active players” VOTE who they “think” is the best NFL Player, but some lists can be created by one individual (like a reporter, communist or analyst – or even worse fan sites). Both of these democratic voting list or individual top lists involve people, and all people are bias (whether they like it or not).
Reporters are supposed to be objective and leave their opinions out of the news, interviews and stories, yet they still can sway, misreport or leave out information in story or interview. That “reporter” could’ve gone to Ohio State University, so they’ll avoid Tom Brady questions, stories or ratings… (as Tom Brady when to the University of Michigan, which is rival to Ohio State – See analyst Kirk Herbstreit from Ohio State, or reporter Adam Schefter from Michigan ). Same thing applies with voting active players in the NFL. Or even the NFL Network, which is owned by the NFL.
So I may as well make a list of my own top 100 Guitarists (that have been recorded), or top 100 Beers (that I’ve drank), or top 100 hottest models (that I’ve seen on TV and magazines), or top 100 Cheeses (that I prefer melted on bread, past 7pm). Sure, you’ll get MY opinion too, as most lists, but just to say, everything you read is 100% bias.
Let’s fix this top 32 NFL Coaching list, as I am very bias about the team I like (San Diego Chargers), bias towards division rivals and bias to teams that seem to regularly beat the Chargers in the playoffs. Norv Turner is the San Diego Chargers Head Coach, who is always in the HOT SEAT so there’s a list of coaches that I would NOT want in San Diego (that are listed higher than Norv Turner)?
The “NOT IN SAN DIEGO” List:
7.) John Fox, Denver: he was fired from Carolina in 2010 for failing, yet he had Jimmy Clausen at quarterback. Note, in 2011 Fox was .500 and is product of Tim Tebow. Why is he #7 @ .500 and 1 year removed from being fired in Carolina?
8.) Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles – He was good at one point in his tenure in Philly, but he needs to be removed as his ego, dream team stature and high team control are very outdated. He’s produced solid seasons, but no Super Bowl victories a decade of mediocrity and playoff failures. He’s like a KING in a democracy, and has too much control. Plus, He had a .500 season last year too, so why does he demand so much respect? He might be better than Norv Turner, but I wouldn’t want in in San Diego.
9.) Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears – He doesn’t even seem like a head coach to me. He seems very insecure and under spoken to be an NFL Head Coach. He’s like the Mayor of a tiny town that likes to focus on half the team (the defense, and that’s it). Half of a team is not a team… I can tell Chicago is focusing on the offence this year with a couple of new big wide receivers and a big armed quarterback, but that’s not on Lovie Smith. He’s too boring without a lot of wins too. He’s just a coach, and not head coach material.
10.) Jeff Fisher, St. Louis Rams – AVERAGE COACH, not a winner, not a loser, but always consistent. Key word here, NOT A LOSER, which goes a long way in the NFL. Yet, he’ll never get a ring with the teams he chooses to go to. I do like him though, but Norv is better.
11.) Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals – This guy is still riding this Super Bowl victory as the Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator 11 years ago. He’s a loyal guy and committed to Cincy, but if I were him, I’d try a different team. Although, The Bengals made it to the playoffs in 2011 and could be really good for a while. STILL, he’s a lop sided coach again (only focusing on a mediocre defense). He’s below average to me and should only be a Defensive Coordinator.
14.) Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals – Has done ZERO and still can’t find a quarterback. GROSS!
17.) Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions – Has done ZERO! (and got the Mr. Sensitive end-of-the-stick with the famous Harghbaugh “hand-shake”) – Better than Norv? You’re kidding me right? Norv vs. a bitch, Norv wins…
18.) Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans – Better than Norv? He’s my high school gym bowling coach.
19.) Romeo Crennel, Kansas City Chiefs – He was the head coach for the final 3 games of 2011. Sure, the Chiefs beat the undefeated Packers, good job Romeo, but the Chiefs still finished 8-8 on the season, and he’s better than NORV? I’m not going to even comment on this selection because he coached THREE GAMES! The Chiefs were actually worse than what their record states.
…and Norv is number 20. What a lame list…
Be Smart
The human brain, our intellect (or lack of), with “guesstimation decision-making” can dictate a personality. Stupidity, ignorance, charisma and social normalcy can vary within that personalty making someone believable or a somewhat of a joke. I guess whichever of these things controls you most, that makes you; YOU! Yet one fluctuation of these traits can make you look like a complete idiot regardless of how smart you really are…
POINT IS: BE SMART, shut up and listen!
Hero Logo
A logo can mean so much. It can be a first impression. A statement. A History. A Gut Feeling. Quick Wit, Immediate Response. A Focal Point. A League. A Team. A Bond. Principles & Demand. An Interest. A favorite. A PASSION. A Loyalty.
…or just oppostite…
A logo can mean SO much in the human brain, and so fast and immediate too. In an instant, at an inital GLANCE of a logo, it can say 1 billion feelings in a second…
Logos are light-speed…
So lets get this right. Lets PICK a good one, a great logo that’s forever. The Logo that represnts YOU. Lets choose something that represents: your family, your team, your children, their Dad, your Dan and their common bond, plus backbone and commitment… YOU!
A logo can create hate, and can create passion, if only at a glance…
If if I’m a logo, in the NFL, a team: I’m a San Diego CHARGERS. A lighting bolt and a charging stallion. A War Cry, . I’m Electricity, Power and Sharp Strength. I’m quick, fast, and a weapon. I”m a tool of the gods, a scientific anomaly, and I’m a warning sign. You see me, and you think twice…
So,,,
If you had to pick an existing NFL teams logo, that represented YOU and what YOU LIKE and what YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, which logo, which team would that be? Which would make your statement OF YOU?
And I know you can have immediate feelings for our hated opponents logos. Trigger reactions of hated rivals and arch enemy’s are just as quick. The good guys vs. the bad guys. What are some of those instant hates?
What does a horned-hat, or the Raider Black with eye-patch mean to you? What does a spread wing mean, or a cuddley Miami Fin, or a trow-back Patriot Center (ball in hand), or single colored letter mean to you? How does swine or dog and a numbered person stand for something not even noted on a team name exactly correlate? …A metropolitan wild animal, or something BIGGER than big or an ethnic slur – that is really just opposite in nature, or only to you… What do these mean to you?
What are your feelings of these logos that have been around for fifty to a hundred years, and all our lives.
Junior Seau Died yesterday, by his own hands…
Junior Seau was a great “MR. SAN DIEGO” amazing football player & one of San Diego’s Biggest Superstars Ever!
I’ve seen him play several live games and nearly all of his San Diego Chargers games. I’ve seen him at his restaurant in San Diego a couple of times too. He was always very friendly, smiling or rolling sushi, and he sure LOVED his fans. Watching him play linebacker in his prime was amazing… He’s a hall of famer, and one of my favorite football players of all time.
Some people say: “Don’t rule out MURDER” Would it be weird if I said “I hope so?” …just because suicide is such a let down. And I remember when he drove off a 100′ cliff a couple of years ago, after a fight with his girlfriend. He said he feel asleep at the wheel, which I didn’t buy. Either way, it sucks… but I wasn’t as shocked as I should’ve been.
I felt the same way when Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Layne Staley (Alice in Chains & Bradley Nowell (Sublime) died. So much to live for, died too young and died way to early… I don’t want to be like them and I could never do that to my children and family. You are missed Junior Seau!!
I feel remorse for your family and your mother / your father and kids. We all wish we all could only help you (as I’m angry and sad at the same time). My feelings are jumbled…
2012 NFL Mock Draft “POINT” game
By James Fedewa 5/1/12
This is a mock-draft GAME played by “PROFESSIONAL DRAFNIK” sports writers with their respected 2012 mock drafts, giving POINTS to where you projected players/team to PICK NUMBER and what number that player actually was drafted (with NO baring of trades). So we can TOTAL up any mock draft, based on these given points to grade your predictions.
Using their “rules” my score was 81! Not too bad! (which could have been 10 points HIGHER if I didn’t change my mind at the last second and move Tannehill later in the mock)…
Here is the LINK and the rules:
http://backupquarterbackblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/grading-mock-drafters-peter-king-is.html
Last Monday’s post looked at 7 mock drafts published at the time. Most mock drafters change their picks as often as The Bachelorette, so the picks we saw three days before the draft only slightly resemble most of these drafters’ “final” mock drafts. But we happened to capture them at a point in time, and it’s that point in time that we’ll use in grading them.
As a reminder, we used 7 mock drafters: ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay, Peter King of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports, Rob Rang of CBSSports.com, Evan Silva of ProFootballTalk.com, Charley Casserly of NFL Network, and some dude named Kash Money from MockingTheDraft.com. And we considered only the first 11 draft picks.
After the jump, our final rankings and where the mock drafters hit and missed. Also, you can see our ranking of how the teams drafted, 1 through 32, here.
First of all, there were so many trades this draft that we don’t even consider teams swapping spots. For these purposes, we only care about whether the drafter got the correct player in a given spot or, if he didn’t, whether his selection for that spot was close to where that player actually went.
A drafter got 10 points if his pick for a given slot was correct. If it wasn’t, he got 9 points if that player went 1 spot before or after, 8 points if he went 2 spots before or after, etc., etc., with a floor of 0 points if the player went 10 or more spots before or after the given pick. For example, Rob Rang had Fletcher Cox going sixth overall. Cox went 12th, so since Rang was 6 picks off, his score for that pick is 10-6 = 4.
Backup Quarterback Blog Mock Draft Rankings (based on mock drafts on 4/23/2012)
1. Peter King, 95 points
2. Evan Silva, 89 points
3. Rob Rang, 83 points
4. Mel Kiper, Jr., 82 points
T-5. Todd McShay, 81 points
T-5. Charley Casserly, 81 points
7. KashMoney, 80 pointsAs we discussed last week, there was a lot of commonality in the picks. Everyone nailed Luck (1), RG3 (2), and Tannehill (8), and everyone was one spot off on each of Trent Richardson, Matt Kalil, and Morris Claiborne.
Each of King’s remaining picks were within 3 spots of where the player actually went:
– Justin Blackmon (King picked him 6th, he went 5th)
– Stephon Gilmore (King picked him 7th, he went 10th)
– Fletcher Cox (King picked him 9th, he went 12th)
– Michael Floyd (King picked him 10th, he went 13th)
– Luke Kuechly, (King picked him 11th, he went 9th)Only Silva was remotely close to King, with each of his picks within 7 spots of the actual pick.
Kiper, McShay, Casserly, KashMoney, and Rang tied for worst pick of the mock drafts; the first 4 each had Riley Reiff going 10th to the Bills (Reiff went 23rd to the Lions), and Rang had David DeCastro going 11th to the Chiefs (DeCastro went 24th to the Steelers).
| # | MOCK PLAYER | MY POINTS | ACTUAL PICK | ||
| 1 | Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford | 10 | Colts | Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford | QB |
| 2 | Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor | 10 | Redskins | Robert Griffin III | QB |
| 3 | Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama | 10 | Browns | Trent Richardson | RB |
| 4 | Matt Kalil, OT, USC | 10 | Vikings | Matt Kalil | OT |
| 5 | Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU | 9 | Jaguars | Justin Blackmon | WR |
| 6 | Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St. | 9 | Cowboys | Morris Claiborne | CB |
| 7 | Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina | 7 | Buccaneers | Mark Barron | SS |
| 8 | Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. | 6 | Dolphins | Ryan Tannehill | QB |
| 9 | Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina | 1 | Panthers | Luke Kuechly | ILB |
| 10 | Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College | 9 | Bills | Stephon Gilmore | CB |
| 11 | Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa | 0 | Chiefs | Dontari Poe | D |
| 81 |
SD Chargers 2nd Round PIck: Kendall Reyes, DT, UCONN (#49 overall)
By James Fedewa
Kendall Reyes: Nice explosion & burst. Quick for big man with great strength. Distruptive penetrating DT with interior pass rushing ability. He will demand a lot of double team. Reyes will play DE in San Diego’s 3-4 base defense (but can possibly add more weight/bulk to play NT if necessary). He’s currently listed at 300 lbs., but usually plays HIGHER than that. Plus, he could play pass rushing DE or DT in the Nickel & Dime Sub Packages, so he can play 3 different positions immediately (and is very versatile).
He will join a very deep San Diego Chargers defensive line rotation with Luigit (last years first round pick), Castillo (2005 first round pick), Garay, V.Martin and C.Thomas. He has a very bright future in the NFL and is a great defensive prospect in San Diego.
BLACKMON goes to the Jags.
I like Justin Blackmon, but I like Michael Floyd a little better, but Floyd has off-field issues (LOTSO BOOZE!). But, I can’t compare Blackmon to ANYONE in the NFL. He’s 6′ nada, not amazingly fast, he has good ball stills, OK hands, runs HARD (like A.Peterson) – but WHO IS HE? Someone compared Blackmon to a short T.Owens (that just seems funny to me – like midget pole vaulting – not that he’s SMALL). He is really good though…
FINAL 2012 NFL MOCK DRAFT (FIRST 50) – 4/26/12
| 2012 NFL MOCK Draft | ||
| 4/26/2012 | ||
| Round 1 | ||
| 1 | Indianapolis | Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford |
| 2 | Washington (from STL) | Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor |
| 3 | Cleveland (from MIN) | Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama |
| 4 | Minnesota (from CLE) | Matt Kalil, OT, USC |
| 5 | Tampa Bay | Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU |
| 6 | St. Louis (from WAS) | Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St. |
| 7 | Jacksonville | Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina |
| 8 | Miami | Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. |
| 9 | Carolina | Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina |
| 10 | Buffalo | Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College |
| 11 | Kansas City | Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa |
| 12 | Seattle | Quentin Coples, DE, North Carolina |
| 13 | Arizona | Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia |
| 14 | Dallas | Michael Brockers, DT, LSU |
| 15 | Philadelphia | Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan St. |
| 16 | New York Jets | Courtney Upshaw, DE/LB, Alabama |
| 17 | Cincinnati (from OAK) | David DeCastro, OG, Stanford |
| 18 | San Diego | Mark Barron, S, Alabama |
| 19 | Chicago | Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse |
| 20 | Tennessee | Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama |
| 21 | Cincinnati | Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame |
| 22 | Cleveland (from ATL) | Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas AM |
| 23 | Detroit | Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois |
| 24 | Pittsburgh | Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis |
| 25 | Denver | Devon Still, DT, Penn St. |
| 26 | Houston | Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor |
| 27 | New England (from NO) | Shea Mcclellin, OLB, Boise State |
| 28 | Green Bay | Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford |
| 29 | Baltimore | Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin |
| 30 | San Francisco | Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech |
| 31 | New England | Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame |
| 32 | New York Giants | Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford |
| Round 2 | ||
| 33 | St. Louis | Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama |
| 34 | Indianapolis | Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina |
| 35 | Minnesota | Rueben Randle, WR, LSU |
| 36 | Tampa Bay | Doug Martin, RB, Boise State |
| 37 | Cleveland | Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina |
| 38 | Jacksonville | Nick Perry, DE, USC |
| 39 | St. Louis (from WAS) | Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut |
| 40 | Carolina | Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma |
| 41 | Buffalo | Mike Adams, OT, Ohio St. |
| 42 | Miami | Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State |
| 43 | Seattle | David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech |
| 44 | Kansas City | Janoris Jenkins, CB, N. Alabama |
| 45 | Dallas | Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern State |
| 46 | Philadelphia | Andre Branch, DE, Clemson |
| 47 | New York Jets | Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers |
| 48 | New England (from OAK) | Bobby Massie*, OT, Ole Miss |
| 49 | San Diego | Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin |
| 50 | Chicago | Mitchell Schwartz, OT, CAL |
Draft 1st Round OLB vs. 2012 scheduled Left Tackles
If San Diego does go OLB in the first round, that rookie OLB MUST match up well against the Chargers 2012 opponents Left Tackle (Weak Side OLB).
SD is loaded with strong side OLB’s (Phillips, J.Johnson, even D.Gamble). These SSOLB’s match up well against most RIGHT TACKLES.
Weak side OLB L.English (when healthy) and A.Barns can do very well against typical left tackles too, so I don’t see any OLB as a 1st round top priority.
Pass Rush IS a draft priority, which can be found at other potions, but looking at the left tackles San Diego faces this year, I’m thinking SD is 100% fine:
Division Opponent Left Tackles:
Denver: R. Clady
Oakland: J. Veldheer
KC: B. Albert
Other Left Tackle’s on the 2012 Chargers Schedule
Tenn: Michael Roos
ATL: Sam Baker
NO: Jermon Bushrod
CLE: Joe Thomas
TAM: Donald Penn
BAL: Bryant McKinnie
CIN: Andrew Whitworth
PIT: Marcus Gilbert
CAR: Jordan Gross
NYJ: D’Brickashaw Ferguson
So if pass rushing OLB prospects Mercilus, C.Jones, Branch, Perry, Upshaw, Ingram or Mcclellin get drafted by San Diego in the first round, who do you think is the best Weak Side OLB (vs. left tackle)? Because I don’t think they beat out English or Barns.
2012 NFL MUCK DRAFT (by JAMFED)
Mock Drafts are nothing more than a roll of the dice or a “weather predicting device”. NO ONE IS GOOD AT IT, but eveyone’s a so-called “expert.” It’s more of a muck than a mock, and it’s not an art or science…
I’ve been making my MOCK (muck) drafts for 15+ years and I’m usually VERY wrong ( and with a lot of preparation, film study and analysis too). I’m no better or worse than any PRO (like Todd McShay, Mike Mayock or my favorite Mel Kiper Jr.), but it’s a lot of fun guessing/predicting and seeing who’s going to be the new rookie on your favorite team…
Trades can usually screw up a mock draft board, same with odd mis-picks (like 2nd or 3rd round talent being picked way too early).
…anyways, here’s my version of this years 2012 “muck” MOCK DRAFT (first FIFTY) …and “face down in the muck!” (to quote a famous movie) – TBL
| 2012 NFL MOCK Draft | ||
| 4/23/2012 | ||
| Round 1 | ||
| 1 | Indianapolis | Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford |
| 2 | Washington (from STL) | Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor |
| 3 | Minnesota | Matt Kalil, OT, USC |
| 4 | Cleveland | Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama |
| 5 | Tampa Bay | Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU |
| 6 | St. Louis (from WAS) | Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St. |
| 7 | Jacksonville | Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame |
| 8 | Miami | Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas AM |
| 9 | Carolina | Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. |
| 10 | Buffalo | Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College |
| 11 | Kansas City | Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina |
| 12 | Seattle | Quentin Coples, DE, North Carolina |
| 13 | Arizona | Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina |
| 14 | Dallas | Mark Barron, S, Alabama |
| 15 | Philadelphia | Michael Brockers, DT, LSU |
| 16 | New York Jets | Courtney Upshaw, DE/LB, Alabama |
| 17 | Cincinnati (from OAK) | David DeCastro, OG, Stanford |
| 18 | San Diego | Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa |
| 19 | Chicago | Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse |
| 20 | Tennessee | Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama |
| 21 | Cincinnati | Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis |
| 22 | Cleveland (from ATL) | Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia |
| 23 | Detroit | Janoris Jenkins, CB, N. Alabama |
| 24 | Pittsburgh | Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford |
| 25 | Denver | Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan St. |
| 26 | Houston | Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech |
| 27 | New England (from NO) | Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois |
| 28 | Green Bay | Shea Mcclellin, OLB, Boise State |
| 29 | Baltimore | Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin |
| 30 | San Francisco | Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor |
| 31 | New England | Devon Still, DT, Penn St. |
| 32 | New York Giants | Doug Martin, RB, Boise State |
| Round 2 | ||
| 33 | St. Louis | Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama |
| 34 | Indianapolis | Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford |
| 35 | Minnesota | Andre Branch, DE, Clemson |
| 36 | Tampa Bay | David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech |
| 37 | Cleveland | Kirk Cousins, QB Michigan State |
| 38 | Jacksonville | Nick Perry, DE, USC |
| 39 | St. Louis (from WAS) | Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut |
| 40 | Carolina | Rueben Randle, WR, LSU |
| 41 | Buffalo | Mike Adams, OT, Ohio St. |
| 42 | Miami | Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina |
| 43 | Seattle | Lamar Miller, RB, Miami |
| 44 | Kansas City | Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin |
| 45 | Dallas | Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson |
| 46 | Philadelphia | Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina |
| 47 | New York Jets | Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers |
| 48 | New England (from OAK) | Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska |
| 49 | San Diego | Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame |
| 50 | Chicago | Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern State |
National Fanatic 