Rondel Melendez, Justin Ernest, Gerald Sensabaugh, Kevin Kasper, Jeffrey Maehl, and Scott Starks. What do these names have in common? Or, the question you may really be thinking, who the hell are these people? For those of you who aren’t scholars of the history of the NFL Scouting Combine, these are the names of the men who hold at least a share of the record in each event at the NFL Draft’s most celebrated evaluation event. 

Now, in the days following the combine, some players will shoot up draft boards due to their otherworldly workouts in Indianapolis. Remember Vernon Gholston blowing up the event in 2008? A 6-foot 3-inch, 266-pound beast of a man couldn’t possibly put up 37 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, walk over and record a 41-inch vertical, then calmly saunter over run a scorching 4.6 40-yard dash. Those very measurables made Gholston a can’t-miss prospect, and the Jets felt lucky to pick up the next Lawrence Taylor with the sixth overall selection in the 2008 draft. Only after three fairly unproductive years, the Jets released Gholston after realizing he actually had to play football on Sundays, not just work out. 

(The site of the NFL combine in Indianapolis. http://prod.images.patriots.clubs.nflcdn.com/image-web/NFL/CDA/data/deployed/prod/PATRIOTS/assets/images/imported/NE/photos/clubimages/2013/02-February/tempfieldAP387300272641--nfl_mezz_1280_1024.jpg?width=620&height=465)

Gholston is just one example of players that got a huge boost from their performance in Indy. Matt Jones, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Mike Mamula are just a few more examples of players who didn’t quite turn into the players that their combine performance promised scouts they would be. At this point, it almost seems like scouts would be better off looking for these all-world performers and crossing them off their draft boards all together. 

But then this very thing does happen, and, of course, that player turns into an all-pro and no one can understand why so many teams passed on him. For every Vernon Gholston there is a Chris Johnson. Johnson, coming out of little East Carolina, was known for the holes he burned in his shoes with his blazing speed but projected to fall outside of the first round due to questions about his durability and just how much that speed would help him against other elite athletes in the NFL. Then he went out and ran a combine-record-tying 4.24 40. 

While cementing his spot in the first round, Johnson’s performance was still not enough to make him the first running back selected. In fact, he ended up being the fifth back selected, at number 24 overall, immediately after watching the Cowboys select Felix Jones and the Steelers opt for Rashard Mendenhall over him. If Gohlston could raise his linebacker stock so much by running, jumping, and lifting so well, how come Johnson’s sprinting ability couldn’t improve his value at a position where running is even in the name? 

This is the crazy part of the NFL combine, and why we must stop taking the results so seriously. This year, it was former Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin who awed the scouts with his Usain Bolt-like 4.27 40-yard dash. Surely he will now hear his name called far sooner in April’s draft than he ever expected before his trip to Indy. But his ability to run in a straight line really fast has not changed his ability to run a route, get free form a defender, catch a pass, and, you know, actually play football.

If these scouts really want to know how his speed will translate the NFL, here’s an idea: go watch the tape.

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I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman. 

Thanks for the support! 

With Finals just around the corner for many college students, I know most of you probably have less free time to spend reading my column (I know I have less time to write it). Thus, I will try (emphasis on the TRY) to give just a very brief review of each game and team so that you can read through real quick and get back to studying! (Or watching episodes of Breaking Bad on Netflix, whatever it is you may actually be doing) 

Jets 7, Cardinals 6

Quite possibly the worst game of the season (or the century, for that matter). Just looking at the score can give you a pretty good idea of how boring this game was, but that doesn’t even do it justice. The easiest way to sum up this game is naming the quarterbacks who finished the game for both teams: Greg McElroy vs. Ryan Lindley. When no quarterback from either team passes for more than 100 yards, that’s probably not a good sign. The NFL should really think of refunding every fan who had to sit through this abomination…

Patriots 23, Dolphins 16

The Dolphins always seem to play the Pats tough, but it wasn’t enough to pull the upset this time around. At this point in the season, I think we can safely say the top 3 teams in the AFC (Texans, Pats, and Broncos) aren’t losing to anyone else in the AFC when they’re fully healthy (the Ravens would be on the list if not for all their injuries). After a slow start, the Pats are back to running the AFC East, and the Dolphins look like they are still a year or two away from challenging them for that title.

Rams 16, 49ers 13 (OT)

What the hell?! Why can’t the ‘Niners beat the Rams this year? For a moment there, it looked like they might actually tie for the second time in a month’s span (how weird would THAT have been?). The ‘Niners can take down the Bears and Saints in back-to-back weeks like they are college teams, then get dominated by the Rams? I just don’t get it. I give up, the NFL is just way too confusing for me.

Chiefs 27, Panthers 21

After the tragedy that occurred this week, the Chiefs needed this win. The ‘Chuckstrong game’ for the Colts, the Saints’ Superdome reopener after Katrina, the Pats after 9/11, the list goes on and on… When a tragedy occurs, it seems like teams always find a way to rally around it and win. It almost never fails! It is awful that these things happen, but there is something wonderful in knowing the power of unity- that a group of men can come together around a common bond and become more than the sum of their parts.


(The Chiefs got a much-needed victory Sunday, just days after the death of teammate Javon Belcher.
http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2012/12/02/chiefs-coach-AP234739101912_620x350.jpg)

Texans 24, Titans 10
The story remains the same for the Texans- week-in and week-out they take care of business, winning comfortably over teams they are better than, but without drawing too much attention. They are sort of the NFL equivalent to Notre Dame this year; they don’t earn a ton of style points, but they get it done when it counts. Don’t forget about them come playoff time, because the road to New Orleans will be going through Houston.

Packers 23, Vikings 14

This was a good bounce-back win for the Pack, after being embarrassed by the G-Men last weekend. The best sign: the defense stepped up and help an opponent to under 20 points. They aren’t the juggernaut they were last year, but then again flying under-the-radar may be a better path to the Super Bowl (let’s just hope they don’t have to play the damn Giants in the playoffs). As for the Vikings, it was a nice surprise season, but it now looks unlikely that they’ll make the playoffs. On the bright side, they still have Adrian Peterson, and he looks like he’s established his place as the best back of his era (and it’s not even remotely close).

Colts 35, Lions 33

What a comeback! Think the Colts regret letting go of that guy who talks to his car like it’s a freaking offensive line in every other commercial? Yea, me neither. Andrew Luck has proven, yet again, why he was the highest rated quarterback prospect since Elway. Getting a Colts team that struggled to win a game last year all the way to eight wins should be considered a minor miracle… and he still has four games left! As for the Lions, yikes. This game pretty much sums up their season, as it has slowly slipped away.

(Andrew Luck added to what is already one of the best seasons by a rookie quarterback ever, throwing the game-winning touchdown as time expired.
http://l.yimg.com/os/en/blogs/sptusnflexperts/uspw_6810658.jpg)

Seahawks 23, Bears 17 (OT) 
  

I don’t know if he’s just the luckiest guy ever, but Russell Wilson seems to pull more out of his a** than a busted drug smuggler. I don’t get it, all I know is I wouldn’t want to see him in a close playoff game. With him, it seems like anything can happen- he has an almost (dare I say it?) Tebow-like effect on this ‘Hawks team. The Bears, on the other hand, are stumbling at the wrong time. I once thought they were the scariest team in the NFC. Now, they might be the least threatening of the teams currently in the NFC playoff field. Can you name one good team they’ve beaten? Go ahead, I’ll wait…

Bills 34, Jaguars 18

We’ve seen this before, haven’t we? Bills blow out bad team, people think they’re good, get blown out by good team, people realize they’re not, repeat. The Bills are a middling team and need a couple more additions here and there to make them a serious playoff team. Unfortunately for the Jags, there isn’t one thing to point to- they suck. They need a lot of work through the draft and free agency the next couple of years to get back on track.

Broncos 31, Buccaneers 23

This game really wasn’t as close as the score- a late score by the Bucs made it a one score game, but the result was never in doubt. The Broncos are getting good, and I mean real good. Manning is back to his old form- finally getting comfortable with his neck after surgery and his new team. They are a scary team, as is any quarterbacked by Manning. This is a tough loss for the Bucs, but they still look like a very dangerous team. If they can sneak into the playoffs somehow, there isn’t a team out there that would want to see them.

Steelers 23, Ravens 20

Is it just me, or is Charlie Batch good for one replacement win a year for an injured ‘Big Ben’? He played just about as well as you can expect a 3rd stringer to (minus one errant throw to Mike Wallace, wipe open in the back of the endzone, that looked like it was intended for the Concessions vendor selling popcorn five rows up in the stands). Batch’s Annual Miracle kept the Steelers playoff hopes alive, but it also exposed the Ravens. If they don’t get healthy soon, they have no chance of doing any damage come playoff time. 

(Charlie Batch, seen embracing 'Big Ben' after the game, helped lead the Steelers to a big win over their division rival Ravens.
http://boringpittsburgh.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/charlie-batch-hugging-big-ben-roethlisberger-steelers.jpg)

Bengals 20, Chargers 13

The Bengals got a much needed win and kept themselves in decent shape to make a playoff run, even though it certainly wasn’t the dominant performance they would like. The Chargers are pretty bad, yet somehow always seem to lose close games. Maybe they aren’t as bad as we think, or the Bengals and Ravens are just worse than most thought. Right now, I’d lean towards that conclusion. Rivers is still a good quarterback, but he desperately needs a change of scenery. He looks like he simply doesn’t care in San Diego.

Browns 20, Raiders 17

This is one of those games where it might actually be better to lose. Neither has a hope of making the playoffs, and losing gives you a better spot in the draft. Obviously grown men playing for their jobs won’t lose on purpose, but this might be the best thing to happen to both teams. The Browns could use the confidence a few wins to end the season would give them, and the Raiders could really use a high draft pick.

Cowboys 38, Eagles 33

Honestly, I’m shocked it was this close. Dez Bryant finally played to his potential, and if he continues to do so the Cowboys will have a good shot. The Eagles have essentially thrown in the towel this season and, as shocking as it sounds, the ‘Boys are only a game out of the lead in the East. It will be an interesting four weeks to see who can claim the title between the ‘Boys, ‘Skins, and G-Men. 

Monday Night Monster

Redskins 17, Giants 16

How did the Giants blow out the Packers then lose this one? I’m not sure, but it seems to fit their trend for both this season and the last couple. The Redskins have turned their franchise around quicker than almost anyone expected, largely thanks to RGIII. Will they be able to take the next step and unseat the reigning Super Bowl Champions from their throne atop the division? Only time will tell…

Thursday Night Rewind

Falcons 23, Saints 13

What happened here?! Maybe we were underrating the Falcons, because not only did they end Drew Brees’ streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass, they also picked him off five times! FIVE TIMES!! How many teams can claim to have their QB throw five picks in on game, then pick off the opposing QB five times in another game in one season? Oh, and they won both games! Don’t be distracted by the fact that they’ve lost early in the playoffs the last few years, this is a different team… and they’re damn good.

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I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman. 

Thanks for the support!

Ah, 2009. It was just over three short years ago and everything was going so smoothly, especially out in the desert of Arizona; gas prices were down, the country wasn’t divided over who to vote for (because the election just passed and everyone went back to not caring about politics for three and a half years at a time), and the Arizona Cardinals were coming off their first Super Bowl appearance… EVER! It didn’t matter that they lost a close game in which they completely outplayed their opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers, for the entire game except for the final minute of each half (to be fair, it wasn’t the Cardinals fault that James Harrison and Mike Wallace made two of the most memorable plays in recent Super Bowl history). To many franchise this could have been heartbreaking; to the Cardinals, it was just a minor speed bump, because they were finally RELEVANT again. And with young stars like Larry Fitzgerald, there was so much to look forward to that the past was insignificant. Since then, the desert has become a lonely place for the charismatic star with the flowing hair and bright future. His fellow wide receiver, who completed the most dynamic pass-catching duo in the league, Anquan Boldin bolted to Baltimore while his quarterback, Kurt Warner, decided it was time to hang up his spikes and move on with his life. Now, Fitz was all that was left of the once-vaunted Cardinals air-attack. He spent the last few years on losing teams with the likes of Matt Lienart, John Skelton, and Kevin Kolb as his quarterbacks. Yikes! Did the Arizona front office realize what they had done? They took a Maserati and stuffed a 1998 Volvo engine in it and hoped it would run just as well. 

(Just over three short years ago Fitzgerald was scoring a touchdown in the Super Bowl, and look how happy he was! Oh, how things have changed... http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/superbwlsm/sprbwl15.jpg)

This is the problem with the NFL (and football in general) when it comes to personnel decisions and talent evaluation: football is the ultimate team sport, in which each player’s success is completely dependent upon his teammates. When you have great players around you, it isn’t difficult to look like a good one. Take the quarterback position, for example (the most teammate-reliant position in all of sports). Alex Smith, of the San Francisco 49ers, spent the first five years of his career struggling through losing seasons on bad teams and being labeled a bust. Suddenly, within the last two years, his team got good (and I mean REALLY good) and he began to turn into not that bad of a quarterback. Just a year after many questioned the ‘Niners resigning of him, he outdueled Drew Brees in the playoffs as he led TWO go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter to beat the Saints. Smith is an example of how quick a quarterback can go from cast-off to hero thanks, mostly, to a change in the players around him (not to say he didn’t improve or his coaching didn’t get better, they both did, but a lot of it had to do with the rest of the team around him getting better). On the opposite end of this spectrum is the embattled Michael Vick. He, as much as any player in sports history, has had his share of ups and downs. However, this year many people are blaming Vick for the Eagles’ struggles and calling for his benching in favor of rookie Nick Foles. Once you closely watch the film of the Eagles’ games, you would have to be crazy to say Nick Foles would fair any better. Did Vick just suddenly get that much worse once he signed his contract extension? No! He is missing 60% of his starting linemen! Let me repeat that: 60 PERCENT! Most teams struggle when one of their starting linemen goes down (ask the Packers last year), now imagine losing three of them. The Saints game this past Monday perfectly summed up the Eagles’ problems: they can’t block anyone! The Saints defense is not just the league’s worst, they are on pace to become the NFL’s all-time worst defense. Yet, they held the Eagles to just 13 points. My point: it’s damn hard to do anything on offense when people get to tee-off on your quarterback. The play that sums up just how bad the Eagles’ line is came on the opening drive of the game. The Eagles were moving the ball just fine, got into Saints territory, and looked like they were going to move up and down the field at will. Then, the Saints decided to blitz two linebackers right up the middle in front of Vick. They didn’t even try to disguise it, both of the walked up to the line and stared right into Vick’s eyes, essentially saying ‘I’m coming to get you’. What happened? No one blocked one of them! How do you not block the guy standing right in front of you?! To show just how unfair it is to criticize Vick, he managed to spin away and elude the blitzer, only to get smacked right in the chin at the end of his spin by the defensive end, who simply threw the guy trying to block him out of the way. Fumble. Eagles recover, but lose 25 yards. Drive over. 

These are just two examples of players whose relative worth have been defined, mostly, by the players surrounding them. Now, can you really expect Larry Fitzgerald to stay at that elite level when you downgrade from Kurt Warner to John Skelton? How do you expect him to catch bounce passes and alley-op lobs over the middle with head-hunting and ball-hawking safeties roaming around there? It’s like when you tell your little brother to go deep and then lead him right into a pole; except Fitz isn’t your little bro, he’s one of the best receivers this league has ever had. Now why do you want to see him get creamed every time the ball doesn’t one-hop to him? And the absolute worst part about the whole situation is that Fitz is possibly the best teammate out there. He never complains, never blames anyone else, he just does his job. Did you see him during the Cardinals four-game winning streak to start the season? Every time there was a big play, Fitz was the first player racing down to congratulate his teammate. Watch the defense’s fumble return for a touchdown at the end of the first half against the Eagles earlier this year. You’ll see Fitz sprinting full-speed down the sideline as his teammates run down the field. At one point, it almost looks like he’s going to run onto the field with them to help escort the guy with the ball into the endzone. So, if you’re the Cardinals’ general manager and you have this guy who is one of the best at what he does, never complains, and genuinely enjoys playing, wouldn’t you want to give him a decent chance at winning so he doesn’t waste his whole career on terrible teams? Oh, and it’s not like he’s a quarterback, who you need to surround with talent at all positions, he just needs a half-decent player to throw the ball to him! You can make the argument that they tried by trading for Kevin Kolb, but that was an awful decision. Why would you place the future of your franchise in the hands of a career back-up who started just one game before getting injured? All it would take to get Fitzgerald’s career back on track towards all-time great status would be spending a first round pick on a quarterback. Now, I understand that drafting a quarterback can be risky business and they actually did so when they took Matt Leinart (and that didn’t exactly pan out for them). But think about this, the Redskins traded quite a bit to get RGIII and that looks like it was worth it after just half a season. Couldn’t the Cardinals do something similar? Better yet, why not break the trend of not trading players in the NFL? Wouldn’t they be able to get a player like Philip Rivers or even Jason Campbell for pennies on the dollar? And wouldn’t either of those guys be heads and shoulders better than Kolb or Skelton? Oh please, for Larry’s sake, make this happen Cards!

Fitzgerald is just one of the many players at all levels of football whose talent is being hidden due to the players around him; he just happens to be the best example because his situation seems so easy to fix. Football is the ultimate team game- you hear that all the time from current players, former players, coaches, and anyone else involved with football who knows what they’re talking about. Still, so often talent-evaluators refuse to take this into account; and it is difficult to understand why general managers can’t grasp this simple concept yet. Hopefully, your team won’t be the next team to make this disastrous mistake and leave you with the next Larry Fitzgerald- the best guy in the worst situation. 

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I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman. 

Thanks for the support! 

With the NFL completing week nine tonight down in New Orleans, every team will have played at least 8 games (or half the season). This should give a good enough sample size to allow us to start making accurate assumptions of the true quality of every team.

Broncos 31, Bengals 23

What a roller coaster that was. At this point in the season, can we expect anything less from the Broncos? After mounting enormous comebacks early in the season (some that fell short and some that were successful), the Broncos looked like they were finally going to dominate from the beginning of the game (taking a 14-point lead on Trindon Holliday’s franchise-record 105 yard TD-return to start the third quarter). That was, until the Bengals rallied back, scoring 17 unanswered points of their own. But like we’ve seen so many times before, Peyton Manning led the Broncos to two more scores in the fourth quarter to recapture the lead for good. With the come-from-behind win, Manning set the NFL record for most 4th quarter comebacks- and the Broncos moved to 5-3 on the season. The Broncos are clearly the best team in the AFC West- but that isn’t saying much. Their real challenge won’t come until the playoffs roll around. As for the Bengals, they have some good young players (A.J. Green is quickly becoming one of the top receivers in the game today), but seem to be missing that ‘it’ factor that could propel them into the playoffs.

(Peyton set the NFL record for most 4th quarter comebacks Sunday. Is he the best quarterback of all time?http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2012/09/09/Manning-walks-off-winner-in-Broncos-debut-9P28DQVQ-x-large.jpg)

Ravens 25, Browns 15

Give Ray Rice the ball, win games- seems like a pretty simple formula, doesn’t it? Especially with the defense depleted, the Ravens need Rice more than ever. In their last game before their bye against Houston, Rice had just 9 carries in a blowout loss. I understand wanting to give Flacco more control of the offense; however, when you have a player of Ray Rice’s caliber he needs to be the focus of your game plan every week. The Browns actually hung around in this game for a lot longer than many may have expected. They have been playing surprisingly well as of late, being in games even when they aren’t quite able to pull out the W. I would say they have a bright future, but that’s hard to say when your quarterback is a 28-year-old rookie (seriously, what were they thinking? Did they realize he’s actually OLDER than Aaron Rodgers- the league’s reigning MVP?).

Packers 31, Cardinals 17

Even with Greg Jennings still sidelined with a groin injury and Jordy Nelson going down early in this one, the Packers air assault kept on humming. James Jones has developed into a premier target- something he showed flashes of in between drops earlier in his career- and Randall Cobb is one of the most versatile players in the league (sort of a Darren Sproles-type, only more of a receiver than running back). The two of them have been carrying the load with Rodger’s top two targets out, making this team even more dangerous when they return. They aren’t the team that almost reached perfection just a year ago, but they do resemble the championship team of 2011. Once they get everyone healthy, the Pack will be dangerous. The Cardinals, on the other hand, need to figure out what has happened. After a 4-0 start they’ve now dropped 5 straight. Could it be that they actually miss Kevin Kolb? Whatever it is, they better fix it ASAP if they want to make the playoffs in the tough NFC.

(Making big plays as a receiver, runner, and return man, Randall Cobb has quickly become one of the most electrifying players in the league- as well as a fan favorite.) http://cdn3.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2219939/154528806.0_standard_352.0.jpg

Bears 51, Titans 20

The Bears completely dominated this game, and it wasn’t even as close as the score indicated. Their defense is one of the best in the league, and they showed why yesterday- forcing five turnovers. Once they get the ball in their hands, they’re also great at getting into the endzone- as Brain Urlacher ran his pick back for just the second touchdown of his career. Offensively, they aren’t too shabby either. Matt Forte might be the most underrated player in the league and the Cutler to Marshall connection has been deadly effective (Marshall caught 3 TDs in the game). The Titans shouldn’t be too disappointed, as the Bears have made many teams look bad so far this year. At least Chris Johnson was able to get over 100 yards on the ground, a huge improvement from his numbers to start the season- although 80 of his 141 yards came on a break away touchdown late, once the game was essentially over. 

Colts 23, Dolphins 20

Can you believe that this game was a battle for the last playoff spot in the AFC (yes, the AFC is that bad this year)? In a closely contested game throughout, both rookie QBs played extremely well. Many may have expected so from Andrew Luck, but Ryan Tannehill has quietly been putting together a very strong rookie campaign. However, this day belonged to Luck- as he set the NFL rookie record with 433 passing yards, surpassing the mark set by Cam Newton last year (by the way, where has THAT Cam been this year? More on that later). Luck did so by placing balls in the perfect spots for his receivers for most of the day, and getting a little Luck-y on a great play by receiver T.Y. Hilton- another rookie- on a jump ball (a play where he literally took the ball away from two Dolphin defenders). The Colts are now in the driver’s seat for that last wild-card birth, but this race is far from over. Expect these two teams to battle it out until the final week of the season. 

(Side note: if you haven’t seen Colts coach Chuck Pagano’s speech to his team you NEED to. Even during his own battle with leukemia, he is still able to be incredibly inspirational)


(Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, battling leukemia, gave one of the best and most inspirational speeches I've ever heard. If you don't get fired up after hearing that, someone needs to check your pulse.
http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/chuck-pagano-inspirationa-speech-following-colts-victory.jpg)


Panthers 21, Redskins 13

In the much-anticipated battle of the last two Heisman Trophy winners, it was Cam that looked like the one getting all of the hype the last few weeks, not RGIII. Griffin may have thrown for more yards at the end of the day (215 to 201), but Newton was far more efficient and was able to get his team touchdowns in the redzone instead of settling for field goals (something that came back to haunt the ‘Skins). While Griffin got off to a blistering start, he’s seemed to cool down the last two weeks. I blame this more on teams making adjustments to the Redskins unique offense and the inability of the coaches to adjust more so than on Griffin’s skill set, but it is still something to keep an eye on. For the Panthers, they aren’t going to make the playoffs (like some of their team members would like to think) but game’s like this are the ones they need to win if they want to make the playoffs anytime soon. 

Lions 31, Jaguars 14

The Lions finally got their running game going! This is a revelation, because if they get decent contributions from their running backs their offense will be one of the most dynamic in the league. Stafford still threw for 285, but (unfortunately for all of his fantasy owners) had no touchdowns as Mikel Leshoure hawked most of them once they got near the goal line. I’m sure Stafford will gladly trade those touchdowns for the victory, which brings them to 4-4 for the season and (don’t look now) just a half game back of Seattle and Minnesota for the final wild card spot in the NFC (and they already have a win over Seattle this season and a chance to even the season series with Minnesota next week). On the other side of the ledger, the Jags fell to an abysmal 1-7 and are now serious contenders for the top pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. They may want to seriously consider keeping MJD out as long as possible (regardless of when he recovers from his injury) in order to clinch the worst record, because he has been their only semblance of an offense all season long.

Texans 21, Bills 9

The Texans had one bad loss at home that made people seem to forget about them, but that can happen to anyone when Rodgers and the Pack get on a roll. In their other seven games, the Texans have been dominant. In a depleted AFC, this may be their year to break through- as long as hey can stay healthy. They weren’t flashy against the Bills, but they did what they had to do to come out with the victory without much tension late in the game (which is what we’ve come to expect from them). The Bills actually didn’t play poorly, and against many other teams they may have had a chance. Unfortunately for them, the Texans were simply the better team- and there was no way they were letting Mario Williams win in his return to Houston. 

Buccaneers 42, Raiders 32

In a rematch of the 2002 defense-dominated Super Bowl, these two played a defense-optional game out in the Bay. Doug Martin may be just that good, as this was not his first break-out game of the season, but there were way too many missed tackles and bad angles from the Raiders. Carson Palmer finally played like the Heisman Trophy winner he was at USC, but it took all he had just to keep the game close. You don’t win games when you let a rookie running back dominate you like that. The Raiders have talent, but they need to find an identity if they are to be better than a mediocre franchise. As for their opponents, the Bucs (just like the Lions) have quietly crept within a half game of the final playoff spot. They’ve looked really good and really bad at times this year, but if they can ride Martin over the second half of the season they could find themselves back in the playoffs. 

(Doug Martin, slightly unheard of coming out of Boise State, is putting together one of the best season by a rookie running back since Adrian Peterson.
 http://sinfl.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/doug-martin.jpg)

Seahawks 30, Vikings 20

Both teams are solid playoff contenders that have one thing in common- they are much better at home. The Seahawks have yet to drop a home contest while the Vikings have only won one game outside of the Metrodome. That being said, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the ‘Hawks came out on top in this one- especially when you add in the fact that the Vikings managed just 63 yards passing in the game! There is simply no way you can win in the modern NFL with that little production from the quarterback position. Luckily for them they have one of the best running backs in recent history in Adrian Peterson (who defied all logic just by being on the field to start the season, not to mention that he’s been playing at an elite level still). Did you see that jump cut on his long run on the second play of the game? If not you missed out- he split two defenders like Chris Paul coming off a double team as they crashed into each other and he took off towards the endzone. If Ponder can give their offense any sort of balance, they will be a scary team to play down the stretch. For the Seahawks, that kind of balance is what Russell Wilson is finally providing for Marshawn Lynch and look what it’s doing for them! Wilson threw for 173 and 3 scores, by no means eye-popping numbers, but enough to make their offense dynamic and keep defenses on their toes. Just a few weeks ago many were calling for Matt Flynn in Seattle, but Wilson has silenced those critics and brought the ‘Hawks back into a tie for the final playoff spot. If he keeps up his play, they should be able to secure that spot by January. 

Steelers 24, Giants 20

After the Giants got off to a hot start following their opening night loss and the Steelers struggled out of the gates, at the midpoint of the season they seem to be going in different directions. Eli Manning has cooled down for the G-Men, looking more like the guy who led the league in interceptions a few years back than the Super Bowl champion. Meanwhile, the last quarterback taken at the top of that draft class, Big Ben, has been playing very well and his speedy receivers have been making big plays once he gets the ball in their hands. With Isaac Redman adding 147 yards on the ground, the Steelers are finding a balance on offense that makes them a scary team to play. Both teams look like they’ll make the playoffs comfortably, but right now the Steelers look like the team that could get on a roll and make a run to the title- something the Giants have made a living doing this decade. 

Falcons 19, Cowboys 13

Tony Romo played great, the defense stepped up, yet it still wasn’t enough for the ‘Boys. So close- that could very well be the motto of this year’s Cowboys team. There always seems to be something keeping them from getting over that hump. This is a very good Falcons team and they played with them for much of the game. Unfortunately for Cowboy fans, the loss dropped them to 3-5 and in the tough NFC nothing worse than 9-7 has even a chance of making the playoffs. That means they’ll need to go at least 6-2 over the second half of the season if they want a shot at the playoffs. Are they up for the challenge? I guess we’ll find out soon. As for the undefeated Atlanta Falcons, many seem to think that none of their remaining regular season games matter because they must prove themselves in the playoffs for any of it to mean anything. To that, I say bullsh**. Making sure they lock up the top seed is first and foremost on their checklist, as they are much better with that home field advantage- and they’ll need it against whomever they see in their first playoff game, since it will likely be either the Packers, Bears, Giants, or Niners. Losing to one of those teams should not been seen as an automatic failure of a season, however. They have built something in Atlanta that is sustainable. If they can be a playoff contender each year, they’ll get a shot to make a run eventually- regardless of what happens this year. In games between teams of that caliber, it often comes down to one or two breaks here or there. If they can consistently make it to those games, they’ll have plenty of chances to get those breaks.

THURSDAY NIGHT REWIND

Chargers 31, Chiefs 13

Did anyone outside of San Diego and Kansas City bother to turn this one on? In fact, with the way their teams have been playing, did anyone in those cities tune in either? The Chargers record is respectable and makes it look like they are in playoff contention, but anyone who has watched them play this year knows they are not nearly as good as their .500 record. Even though they won this game, I still think the Norv Turner-era in San Diego should be coming to a close by season’s end. It could be worse for Charger fans, though. They could be Chiefs fans. The Chiefs are awful, which is sad considering they have some really good playmakers on this team (Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe to name a few). They may lose Bowe this offseason, but Charles should stick around. They are 1-7 and on their way to a very high draft pick, where they hope to land a franchise quarterback (a position that is a complete disaster for them right now). Unfortunately for them, I don’t see a real franchise-changing quarterback in this year’s class. USC’s Matt Barkley got the most hype coming into the season but, while I defended him after his so-so Freshman year, I don’t see him having that high of a ceiling as a pro. He puts up strong numbers at USC, but throws more interceptions than a top pick should and benefits enormously from having two of the nation’s best at wide receiver in Robert Woods and Marquis Lee. With them, he gets tons of yards just from their YAC and incredible play-making abilities. West Virginia’s Geno Smith has cooled off after his blazing start, and the other top prospects (like Oklahoma’s Landry Jones and Arkansas's Tyler Wilson) all have glaring holes in their game. If I ran the Chiefs, I’d try to work out a way to get someone like Seattle’s Matt Flynn rather than rely on a rookie from this year’s class.

(College quarterbacks Matt Barkley, Geno Smith, and Tyler Wilson are among the top prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft, but are any of them good enough to change a franchise? Let us know what you think!)
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Looking Ahead to Monday Night

Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints

While neither of these teams are in playoff contention at the moment, this game still has tons of interest surrounding it. While the Eagles offense has not looked very explosive so far this season, if there’s one team that could bring out their explosiveness it is the Saints and their terrible defense. Any game the Saints play in turns into a shootout, and I expect nothing less tonight. The Saints are playing for pride at this point, but Drew Brees and the rest of their veterans have a lot of pride to fight for. The Eagles, through all the questions surrounding them, can pull within a half game of the playoffs with a win. Wait, what?! Isn’t this the team that already fired their defensive coordinator and is on the brink of doing the same to their quarterback and head coach? All it takes is one game to turn a season around and the Eagles are hoping this is it. The Eagles have too many weapons between Vick, McCoy, Jackson, and Macklin for them to not put up ridiculous numbers tonight. But, will they be able to slow down the Saints enough to get the win? Without their secret weapon Darren Sproles in the lineup for the Saints, it will be a little bit easier. 

The Eagles just need this win more than the Saints (who have the suspension of their coach as an excuse for this season) and I think they’ll get it thanks to the dynamic play of Michael Vick, who will return to his old form and put up over 350 yards of total offense. Eagles over the Saints, 34-28. 

Last Week’s Pick

I had the ‘Niners beating the Cardinals in last week’s Monday Night game by a score of 20-10. The ‘Niners played a little better than I expected, led by Alex Smith’s nearly flawless performance (and really, how could I have seen that coming from him?), as they routed the Cards 24-3. Still, the Cardinals came within a yard of adding a garbage time touchdown that would have made my prediction damn close to reality. Oh well, there’s always this week!

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I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman. 

Thanks for the support! 

Every week following the Sunday slate of NFL games, I will put out my recap and reactions. Briefly analyzing the game and looking at what it means for both teams going forward.


Bears 23, Panthers 22

Said a lot about both teams, but nothing to change the perception of them. The Panthers have been pedestrian for most of the year, although they have showed signs of potential brilliance. As goes Cam, so goes the team. In games he’s showed sign of excellence (last-minute losses to the undefeated Falcons and one-loss Bears and shootout win over the high-powered Saints) they’ve played at elite levels. When he’s been mediocre (blowout loss to the Giants and three other losses scoring 14 points or under), they’ve looked like the disaster of a team they were before Cam got there. The Bears, on the other hand, showed that their defense is good enough to beat poor competition even when their offense takes most of the game off. They’ll need to develop more consistency on that side of the ball if they want to make it to New Orleans in February, and that starts with the play of ‘Smoking Jay’ Cutler.

(One last side note: as well as the Bears’ defense has been playing it hasn’t really mattered, but doesn’t it feel like they’re due for a game-changing return by Hester?)

Browns 7, Chargers 6

Did we really think this Chargers team had a shot at the playoffs? After a primetime collapse last Monday Night against Denver, they turn around and forget to wake up on time in Cleveland against the lowly Browns. (Sad fact about the AFC West: they’re still just a game back). The Browns, on the other hand, have been sneakily better than most expected; being in one-score games in four of the six losses and being in the game into the fourth quarter in the other two. The jury is still out on Brandon ‘Older than the MVP but still somehow a rookie’ Weeden, but fellow frosh Trent Richardson looks like he may be the ‘real deal’. Pair him with a defense that shows signs of promise and they may be onto a 49er-like style of play the AFC North used to be known for. Cleveland fans can take solace in that glimmer of hope, because this year is still not going to be the season they’ve been yearning for. 


Lions 28, Seahawks 24

Did this game take place last year and just now get broadcast? Detroit finally showed the explosive offense that broke their playoff drought last year, and against the top-ranked Seattle defense as well! Boise State-alum Titus Young, getting more playing time with Nate Burleson sidelined, played probably his best game as a pro against the tough Seahawks secondary.  Meanwhile, the ‘Hawks have fallen back to earth, now sitting at an even 4-4 (needing the aid of a replacement ref gift-wrapped victory to keep them from a losing record) and looking more and more like the .500 team it has been the last couple years. On the bright side, Russell Wilson has been starting to play well enough to merit keeping him in the starting lineup over Matt Flynn and Marshawn Lynch is still stuck in ‘Beast Mode’, raking up another 100 yards on the ground. Somebody get this man more Skittles!
(For those unfamiliar with his exploits, last year it was discovered that Marshawn Lynch enjoyed eating Skittles, his candy of choice, during games. Once that little tidbit of information was exposed on national t.v., fans quickly jumped at the chance to be a part of the trend: throwing Skittles onto the field in Lynch's direction whenever he scored a touchdown at home in Seattle. Needless to say, this was a little silly and, frankly, a bit dangerous. But hey, when you get a chance to have some fun in Rodger Goodell's No Fun League you have to take advantage of it!)

http://instntrply.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Skittles1.gif


Packers 24, Jaguars 15

Being a life-long Packer fan, I want to blame the offense’s ineptitude on a lack of rhythm without stud receivers Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. I want to site the absence of Charles Woodson as the reason for the defense’s less-than-stellar play. Unfortunately, I’m coming to gripes with the fact that the Packers may just be the league’s most erratic team; looking like the buzzsaw we saw during last year’s regular season in dominant performances on the road against the previously unbeaten Texans and so-so Rams, then looking extremely average at home against a struggling Jaguars team. But in the end, a win is a win and in a strong NFC, every win may really matter when it comes playoff time. The Jaguars, however, showed signs of life even without their star running back, MJD. Remember last year when everyone had written off Blaine Gabbert as a bust? Well he’s proving this year that it still takes time for some quarterbacks to adjust to the pro game. Not every rook can come in and set the league on fire like Cam or RGIII. Regardless of talent, he showed some admirable toughness playing with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder; even continuing to hang in the pocket after taking multiple shots to the shoulder that left him in visible pain. That kind of toughness should earn him a lot of respect in the locker room, if nothing else.


Colts 19, Titans 13

This game was tough to watch for stretches, but may have been most revealing of the Colts season, and that of their top pick. While the Titans, who looked like the league’s worst team early in the year, have played three straight games in which they won or held a lead late, this game was all about Andrew Luck. Fellow rookie QB Robert Griffin III has stolen the headlines through his highlight-reel play, but Luck has (somehow) quietly looked every bit like the prospect who earned the highest ratings for a QB coming out of college since John Elway. Four go-ahead touchdown drives in the last minute or overtime are not a bad way to start a career. Somehow, he even has the Colts tied for a wild-card spot, although in the admittedly weak AFC. 

Patriots 45. Rams 7

Haven’t we been down this road before? The Patriots drop a couple games they probably shouldn’t, then proceed to run off a stretch reminding everyone why they are always talked about as Super Bowl contenders. Don’t mistake my respect for admiration; I hate the Patriot as much as any other non-bandwagon fan, but don’t they remind anyone else of another team with veteran leadership from stars that seem to always hang around an elite level and a great coach that probably doesn’t get quite the attention he deserves due to his subdued personality? (I’m talking about you, Tim Duncan and Greg Popavich! You won’t fool me into writing you off as too old again THIS year). They still have the ability to turn it on seemingly whenever they want, this time at the expense of the fading Rams. Maybe everyone jumped on the NFC West bandwagon a little too quickly. The Cardinals, Seahawks, and Rams have all cooled off significantly since their hot starts, as they all seem to be different teams at home than when on the road. Meanwhile, the class of the division in San Francisco has seemed a bit more mortal since their first couple games. 


(Another side note: Why does the NFL play these games in London? Did any casual fans even realize this game was being played in a different country? Shouldn’t events like this be a bigger deal?)

Do you agree with Pats owner Robert Craft’s comments that England is ready for their own professional team in the NFL?


http://stadiumvibe.com/new-wembley-stadium/wembley-stadium-5/

Dolphins 30, Jets 9

So after forcing overtime against the powerful Patriots, the Jets get blown out at home against the surprisingly solid Dolphins. Even with back-up Matt Moore coming in for the injured rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has been quietly and surprisingly putting together a strong rookie campaign, the Dolphins did enough on offense to get the victory, backed up by strong games from their defense and special teams. Don’t look now, but they are tied with the Colts and Steelers for the two wild card spots. On the other sideline, the Jets fell to 3-5 this year while looking anemic at times. I’m still not quite ready to count Mark Sanchez out as a starting NFL QB, but if you were going to trade for Tebow and take on all the distractions he brings with him, isn’t this the situation you at least consider handing him the reigns and seeing if he can spark these Jets like he did for the Broncos last year? Can the offense really do much worse? 


Falcons 30, Eagles 17

The Falcons have looked shaky in a couple games this year that they may have been lucky to win (against bad teams like the Panthers and Raiders nonetheless), but they remain the lone unbeaten team and have moments like the Matt Ryan bomb to Julio Jones that show just how dangerous their offense can be. Their defense also deserves credit; they haven’t been the best unit in the league and they may not have as many big names as others, but they have been damn effective. It is almost unfair, but the measure of their success for this season lies on how far they can advance in the playoffs, regardless of how good their regular season is. The Eagles, contrarily, look like a full-blown disaster. Just a week after firing their Offensive Line Coach-turned Defensive Coordinator, the clamoring for Mike Vick’s benching is starting to grow louder. They need to figure out what is holding them back, because expectations for this team will remain sky-high as long as their payroll does.

Steelers 27, Redskins 12

He's human!! Yes, unfortunately it turns out RGIII is mortal after all. After seeing his electric play over the last few weeks it seems like many forgot he is still a rookie. Dick LeBeau’s defense is designed to confuse quarterbacks of all ages, and Griffin is not immune to that fact. The Steelers may have been the bigger story of this game, though. With the defense finally starting to resemble the menacing units that have earned the squad so much respect over the years, the offense beginning to click with the development of a running game, and ‘Big Ben’ Roethlisberger doing things only he can, the Steelers have the looks of one of the better teams in a depleted AFC. 

(Personnel decision: With Jonathan Dwyer breaking 100 yards this week and playing better with every snap, does Rashard Mendenhall still own the starting spot assuming he returns from injury?)


On a fashion note, WHAT THE HELL WERE THE STEELERS WEARING? These jailhouse jumpsuit jerseys with manual scoreboard numbers rank up there with the worst-of-the-worst. They definitely give those yellow and powder blue Eagles atrocities a run for their money. 


Giants 29, Cowboys 24

Why can’t the ‘Boys play the Giants every week, as they seem to always play them tougher than just about anyone else. In a game where each team scored at least 23 unanswered at one point, it was Eli Manning who once again came up big late in the game. The Cowboys looked miserable in the first quarter and a half before Tony Romo got hot and brought them back into it as fast as he played them out of it. For that two-quarter stretch, Romo showed all his abilities that give the organization confidence in him. But it is that inconsistency that often costs his team at inopportune times. The Giants, however, blew what once seemed like an insurmountable lead, yet found a way to come back and hang on to win. They aren’t perfect, but the Giants seem to always have the confidence that they’re going to win; and as a rival fan, I hate watching the Giants play because it always FEELS like they are going to win, even in those seemingly rare cases they don’t. That’s what made Dez Bryant’s so-close-to-a-touchdown catch, where his fingertips landed just out-of-bounds, so shocking and would have made it such a revelation; the Giants just don’t lose games like that under Tom Coughlin. 

If you didn’t see it, look for Bryant’s almost-touchdown in this week’s Top Ten- it was that good. Proof that sometimes it really is a games of inches. 


Raiders 26, Chiefs 16

Well the Brady Quinn Experiment didn’t last long in KC. When reverting back to turnover-prone Matt Cassel before halftime is your best option, it may be time to bottom out and take a quarterback early in the draft (however I have my doubts Matt Barkley would really be any better). The Raiders, who have looked abysmal many times this year, have looked very capable in brief glimpses. Being in the AFC West, they’re still just a game back and have legit reason to hope for the playoffs, where they can get blasted by a far superior team. Just don’t count on it Raider fans, with the way Peyton Manning has been playing. 


Broncos 34, Saints 14

Speaking of that guy Peyton Manning, remember him? Well it turns out he is still pretty good. With him starting to assume his old form and Willis McGahee pacing a balanced rushing attack, the Broncos are turning into a dynamic offense. The defense has looked suspect at times throughout the year, but a team with playmakers like Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil, and Champ Bailey can create turnovers and big plays that fuel the offense. For the Saints, Drew Brees was good, but not great. Unfortunately for the Saints this year, it takes excellence from Brees week-in and week-out if they want to compete because of their porous defense, which has a legitimate chance to earn the dubious title of worst defense ever.


Thursday Night Rewind

Buccaneers 36, Vikings 17

Did the teams switch jerseys before the game? It was the Bucs that came out with a stingy defense, balanced offensive attack, and confidence of a team playing above expectations; everything that the Vikings had been coming into the game. And while Adrian Peterson had a strong performance (15 carries for 123 yards and a score), it was Tampa Bay rookie running back Doug Martin who stole the show. He rushed for a career high 135 yards on 29 carries and a score while also catching 3 passes for 79 yards and another TD through the air. In the tough NFC, this was a difficult loss for the Vikings, who still have the toughest part of their schedule ahead of them.  For the Bucs, Josh Freeman is returning to the form he showed two years ago and Martin looks like he could be a star. They have plenty of reason to be excited about the future down in Tampa.


Looking Ahead to Monday Night

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

The ‘Niners have a chance to separate themselves from the rest if the NFC West with a win in the desert, which would give them a two game lead in the division with wins over both division rivals trailing them. The Cardinals, on the other hand, need a win to stop a three game losing skid after jumping out to a 4-0 start. With a rotation at QB between Kevin Kolb and John Skelton due to injury, the play at that position has been even more erratic than having just one mediocre quarterback the whole season; which is depressing considering how stout the defense has been and the big-play potential across the board from guys like Larry Fitzgerald and Patrick Peterson. 

I expect the ‘Niners to assert their dominance and take control of the division, going on the road and winning a defensive battle 20-10. 


I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman. 

Thanks for the support!