The NFL Guru

1. Indianapolis Colts: What is stopping the Colts from a perfect regular-season record? Baltimore? Denver? Not likely. Seeing the immaculacy of Peyton Manning come alive in the clutch against New England, skepticists finally saw that this team is the real deal. Peyton certainly has the ability to carry his team through the season, he has proven that the past 3 or 4 years and their defence has risen to the occasion leading the league in points against (15.8). So the next time you start to doubt that Manning and the colts can pull off what New England did 2 years ago, just say to yourself, “why not?”

2. New England Patriots: Discard the 6-3 start, now look at the numbers. Their overall statistics make it seem like their up there with New Orleans and Indianapolis being that they are 3rd in the league in points against and 3rd in the league in points for. Unfortunately NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has chosen that the points for : points against ratio is not the deciding factor of who gets into the playoffs, therefore the Patriots have no chance of achieving home-field advantage and little chance of achieving a 1st round bye.

3. New Orleans Saints: Through the past few years, the New Orleans Saints have underachieved due to their lack of talent on defence. Now, they are able to manipulate their air-it-out style offence starring Drew Brees, and the Saints defence is stepping up as well. The Saints aren’t exactly on fire though, in fact some could suggest that they are slumping despite their 9-0. They started the season off with a bang while scoring 46.5 per game setting records left, right, and centre, then they started to simmer down as their scoring difference begin to be closer and closer, at this point of season, they have fought through 4 straight close games, 3 of 4 were divisional games and sooner or later they won’t be as fortunate. I will look forward to their Week 12 Monday Night Football match-up against the Patriots.

4. Minnesota Vikings: Whether it is Brett Favre or Adrian Peterson, you are going to get beat. Some could suggest that the Vikings aren’t one of the elite teams is the league, tell that the their 9-1 record. Lately, the Vikes have been flying under the radar the past few weeks but the chances of Clinching the NFC home-field advantage is anything but decided with Minnesota breathing down the Saints neck. If only these two NFC powerhouses met at some point this season, which would probably decide who would be the more Superbowl-ready team.

5. Dallas Cowboys: I don’t know, one week they are playing as if they are the best team in the NFL, two weeks, their offence is completely disabled. Hype is killing these Cowboys and the last thing I think they are years from a Superbowl title. This isn’t their year, perhaps next year Tony Romo and the Cowboys will regain their consistency. On the other hand, the Cowboys are far from out with a 7-3 record mid-season with the NFC East Divisional title a few wins away but overall, they don’t have enough poise and consistency to win their first playoff game since 1995.

6. Arizona Cardinals: Maybe their fans put too much pressure on them, maybe the expectations of them playing at home are too high, maybe they feed off disappointment, maybe its just a coincidence . Who knows, but for some reason, they 5-0 on the road and 2-3 at home. Anquan Boldin is back and Warner and Fitzgerald are excited, with a fairly easy schedule ahead of them and a 6-1 record in their past 7 games , there is no reason to count them out of the Superbowl race.

7. San Diego Chargers: Throughout the years, this team came from an offence owned by the running game, leaned more and more towards the pass and presently Ladainian Tomlinson averages 3.3 yards per rush and the Chargers are last in the league rushing the ball, but don’t worry, Phillip Rivers has got it all under control leading his team to a 7-3 start the the season. Though San Diego’s passing success is not all due to Rivers, with the most underrated Wide Receiver in the game in Vincent Jackson and the best Tight End in the NFL in Antonio gates, its pretty hard not to be able to put up his numbers.

8. Cincinnati Bengals: Fans are getting mixed messages by the Bengals. First they go and push around two of the toughest teams in the league to push around by sweeping both the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers 2-0, then they go and lose the following game to the Oakland Raiders 20-17 scoring just 3 second-half points while fumbling 5 times. Carson Palmer thought he had the game won with a 14-0 coming into halftime but started to get sloppy in the second half and the Raiders rallied back to win the game, but Cincinnati should be able to take advantage of a weak schedule of play Oakland, then Cleveland, then Detroit.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers: Pittsburgh should have been able to capitalize on Cincinnati losing an almost automatic win but while that game was being played, Pittsburgh did the same, losing an easy one to Kansas City. Just like the Bengals, Ben Roethlisberger thought he had the game won with a 17-7 coming into halftime but started to get sloppy in the second half and the Chiefs rallied back to win the game in overtime. Neither team played well at all, but it was a worse loss for the Steelers because they are now in a spot where they likely won’t win the Divisional Title and they are now in a tight race with the Jaguars, the Broncos and many others for the 2  AFC wildcard spots.

10. Denver Broncos: Don’t count them out just because they are slumping, I believe that the climax of their slump is over. They will be up and running just like the early-season Broncos by the end of next week, which is when Kyle Orton will be fully recovered from his ankle injury 3 weeks ago. The last thing that the Broncos want is to have to start Chris Simms next Sunday when they need a win to have a chance to get into the playoffs.

11. Buffalo Bills- The Bills, during last off-season acquired some important players that are now high on the depth chart. But their pass rush needed improvement (Bills sacks this season= 24 which is 4th last in NFL). On April 25th, 2009, that slightly changed. With the 11th overall pick, the Bills chose Aaron Maybin, right end from Penn State, weighing 249 and who bress pressed 22 times at the combine. A solid pick to shore up the pass rush which was formerly lacking.

GRADE= B+

12. Denver Broncos- Ever since 2004 when the Broncos traded Running Back Clinton Portis to the ‘Skins, Denver has had the most difficulty in the NFL finding a 16-week, full-time RB. So Denver drafted Knowshon Moreno, former SEC Rookie Of The Year and teammate of Matt Stafford. Knowshon is a great back and can help compensate for the loss of Jay Cutler. They targeted their man, and got him and how can you fault them for that.

GRADE= B+

13. Washington Redskins- Was the top defensive lineman in the game in Albert Haynesworth enough for the Redskins? Apparently not. After signing Haynesworth, they used their 13th pick on DE from Texas, Brian Orakpo. Not that Brian isn’t a threat to the opposing QB because he can really get off the ball and pressure the QB but I would not have gone there. My choice would have been middle linebacker, Brian Cushing due to their aging linebacking core.

GRADE= B-

14. New Orleans Saints- The Saints chose Cornerback from Ohio State, Malcolm Jenkins. Michael won the state title in the 400-meter dash as a junior. With this addition the Saints are a lot closer to fixing the gaping hole in their defensive backfield from last season. Good pick for both value and position.

GRADE= A-

15. Houston Texans- The Texans drafted Brian Cushing, the first of 4 USC linebackers chosen in the first two rounds. Cushing did incredibly at the combine, showing his amazing balance between speed (40 yard dash= 4.64) and strength (bench press score= 30). Brian is one of the most athletic players drafted this year. Cushing also was named the Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl Game. He helps an already solid Texans defense.

GRADE= A-

16. San Diego Chargers- The Chargers went with an unexpected choice in Outside Linebacker, Larry English who had 31.5 career sacks and won the Mid-American Conference MVP award, and fourth team All-American. San Diego’s first choice was Brian Cushing until Houston chose him one pick earlier. He will help rush the passer along with Shawn Merriman next season and into the future.

GRADE= C

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jeff Garcia isn’t getting any younger. And with an aging team, drafts are very important. The Bucs drafted Kansas State Quarterback Josh Freeman 17th overall as the third quarterback chosen. Josh is an amazing prospect and I believe that he will get his get his fair share of starts, but probably not immediately. After all, at 6’6, 250 and a career passer rating of 124.8, the sky is the limit. This is a heavy developmental pick though.

GRADE= B-

18. Denver Broncos- As the Bronco’s second pick in the 09’ draft, they selected the Tennessee defensive end and linebacker, Robert Ayers. Robert is solid in all aspects of his game with good speed, good strength, and good college body of work. Though a steady pick, may not have enormous upside of other similar players in his class like Orakpo and Maybin.

GRADE= B

19. Philadelphia Eagles- Coming out of College early, Jeremy Maclin is the perfect wideout for the Eagles. Maclin runs a 4.43 40yd dash and is 6’6. This provides the speed and the target the Eagles need opposite DeSean Jackson. I would much rather him than the comparable Percy Harvin. This was an incredible draft for them. Watch out NFC East.

GRADE= A+

20. Detroit Lions- This was a very productive draft for the Lions. They got a solid Quarterback in Stafford and Brandon Pettigrew, a Tight End to throw to. Brandon is an outstanding blocker too. Good value at 20 for a player with his ability and character.

GRADE= A-