New York Giants 2009 Off Season Needs

The Jints had a nice 2008, despite injuries and distractions from players and the New York paparazzi/ media. They fell short of defending their crown, but it is extremely hard to repeat as a champion. The team has several excellent players who certainly has the team a favorite to repeat as NFC East Champions, but they have their quandaries like everyone else.




1. Flip A Coin? - Both Jacobs and Ward are free agents and there will be a long line of other teams wanting their services. Ward may be the guy who will go, because Jacobs provides that between the tackle style that the G-Men need in order to remain effective. Bradshaw and Ware can try to fill the void Ward will leave, but none could do what Jacobs does.



2. Get More Pass Catchers - Even if Burress wasn't an issue, the team needs more WR's. Amani Toomer will be 35 come September, and who knows how much he has left? Hakeem Nicks or Darrius Heyward-Bey will look pretty attractive to the Jints if they are still on the board. Heyward-Bey would give the team the deep threat they do not have. If the team decides to part ways with Burress, then this need becomes even greater.




3. Get Younger On The O-Line - Sean O'Hara will be 32 come June, and is the teams Center. Getting him a youngster to tutor would be beneficial for the team. Alex Mack should be sitting right there when the Jints draft at the 29th position. The team has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and are generally a young bunch. Still, one cannot have enough depth at one of the more physically demanding positions in the game.




4. Keep Stocking The Secondary - Ross and Webster are the guys at CB, but there isn't much behind them. Getting an extra DB or two will certainly help the team in dime packages. They have youth at Safety, but more bodies will help.



The Giants are a confident team that will be bent on reclaiming the trophy. The skill is there. What happens at the RB position may be more important than their WR issues. Keeping both Ward and Jacobs is an unlikely scenario because both want to be the guy, even if there is obvious success with the three headed committee they have used the past few years. Burress appears likely gone too, but there is a chance he stays. The Giants are a family,as taught to them by the Mara's, so this might be the time to stick together and try to go back to the dance. A scenario few can say is unlikely.

Washington Redskins Off-Season Needs

Looking at my beloved Skins, I worry. Jim Zorn really does not have the personnel he needs to run his offensive scheme, and the team is aging. They did draft a few decent players last year, but the overall draft was as incompetent as the man who ran it. I think the Redskins need to start gutting their roster now if they truly are committed to Zorn and his beliefs. But, is Zorn a West Coast guy who learned under Mike Holmgren, or a Ground Chuck guy who played under Chuck Knox? I personally cannot see a West Coast scheme work in the NFC East, where a team must be tough and ready to rumble. Yet, even if the Skins decide to stay smashmouth, do they have the guys who can stay healthy to accomplish their goals? This is the time for Zorn to answer the question.





1. FIRE VINNY CERRATO! - The fact that this guy even holds a job in any function whatsoever is dumbfounding. No other team would hire him, as shown after the Redskins fired him the first time. The main reason the team has fallen on hard times is because Cerrato is a horrible G.M. Charley Casserly is truly a Redskin, having started out as an unpaid assistant with the team in his youth. He learned from Hall Of Fame coaches and Bobby Beatherd. His last job was with the Houston Texans, where he was slammed by some pundits for drafting Mario Williams over Reggie Bush and Vince Young. How's that working out? Dan Snyder claims to be a true Redskin fan. If this is true, then he understands the Redskins are about tradition. Get Casserly in camp and take Cerrato deep into the woods with a shotgun.



2. Draft Defense - Cerrato made huge mistakes in wasting draft picks on a tight end not interested in football, and a wide receiver unhealthy and slower than a lineman. These moves bit the Redskins in their rear all season long in 2008. The Skins need to pay attention to the line of scrimmage, and especially on the defensive side of the ball. They have 5 D-linemen and 3 defensive backs up for contract, and there are no guarantees on who will return. Pete Kendall is also a free agent on an aging offensive line. If the Redskins allow Cerrato to continue drafting poorly, the Redskins will continue falling short.



3. Keep stockpiling Offensive Linemen - Look, the Redskins have one of the best offensive line coaches ever on the team in Joe Bugel. Just look at the juggling job Joe has done over the last few years with his oft-injured bunch to see what I mean. Take advantage of his wisdom while you can is my motto. There is a very good chance the Redskins won't be able to get a few guys that could help immediately in LB Rey Maualuga or CB/ S Malcolm Jenkins. It will probably come down to CB Vontae Davis or OT Jason Smith as the Redskins pick at 13. DE Brian Orakpo is also a possibility. Getting Smith is a sound move. They have Heyer looking as the heir apparent to Jansen at RT, and Smith could be the guy to learn behind Samuels at LT. It might not be the sexy pick, and you have the Cerrato factor destroying you, so that means the Redskins better hope to get someone later in the draft if they go another route. Whether they will get lucky and have a Chad Rinehart fall into their laps again remains to be seen, but not very likely.




4. Get Better On Special Teams - Both kicking jobs have been a mess for years. Cerrato showed his brilliance by wasting a draft pick on a punter who ended up being cut early on. They also had one of the worst placekickers in the game last year, which may have cost the team a win or two. The return game is nothing to fear either. Their top special team players are All Pro Snapper Ethan Albright and Wide Receiver James Thrash. Albright is 38 years old in a few months, and Thrash reaches 34 in two weeks. Their other top performer, Linebacker Khary Campbell, is a free agent and 30 years old. The entire unit needs help, and that will only come from good drafting and free agent signings.



5. Get Another Running Back - Clinton Portis is on his last legs. Legs that cannot last 16 games carrying the ball anymore. Ladell Betts will be 30 soon, which is old by NFL standards for this position. Betts has also had his injury issues. It would bode well for the Redskins to get a young kid they can groom and bring along this year. You have to run the ball to win it all, and the Redskins have that ability to do so. Dividing carries between Portis and Betts seems to be the best formula for 2009, assuming they stay healthy, but the team needs to keep an eye on the future also.




There is talent on this team, albeit much of it is aging. The team showed a glimpse of what they were capable of last year until injuries derailed their slim hopes. If Dan Snyder is convinced Zorn has the plan needed to win, then he has to get Jim the support he needs. Having insufficient support in the form of Vinny Cerrato will keep the Redskins in the division cellar. There are important pieces in place on both sides of the ball, but having someone in the front office with the ability to recognize and fill the gaps is a must.

Philadephia Eagles Off-Season Needs

The Eagles were within minutes of getting to the Super Bowl. Now they have as many questions as the next team to deal with. There are several aging stars that produce more to the team than just raw statistics alone. The team will have to juggle egos as well as the budget this off-season. Then there is the sad news of their brilliant Defensive Coordinator, Jim Johnson, dealing with health issues. The Eagles turning point in 2008 was when they lost to the Bengals in windy conditions. Donovan McNabb was benched, and that may have been the final straw for the under appreciated star. There are rumors he wants out, which would put a huge dent in the teams hopes for the next season or two until they see if Kevin Kolb develops into the heir apparent. The team is very capable of winning it all, so the few moves they make may be critical.






1. Keep Brian Dawkins - I put this first because I view it the most important move, assuming McNabb stays in Philly. Dawkins may not the same guy he was before his injury a few years ago, but he is still better than most at his position in the entire league. Then there are the intangibles he brings. Leadership, desire, and moxy. Irreplaceable is how I view him. In the old NFL days, this wouldn't be even up for discussion. Dawkins would retire an Eagle most likely. Now there is a dilemma that involves monetary concerns. The team must iron whatever wrinkles there are and keep him. Jon Runyan is another leader who is a free agent, but he may be on his way out due to his age and the fact he is coming off surgery. Plus the Eagles smartly stocked the O-line in last years draft.




2. Draft A Running Back NOW - The Eagles have the 21st and 28th draft picks so far, but we know they love to wheel and deal on draft day. There is a chance they could package both picks to move up to get their mitts on either Knowshon Moreno or Chris Wells, because both should be gone by the time their first pick comes along. They could stay put and snag LeSean McCoy at 28, and grab the very athletic OLB/ DE Aaron Maybin at 21. Maybin would fit perfectly into Johnson's blitz schemes. The need for a RB is obvious. Brian Westbrook is a 3rd down type at this stage of his career, and he needs someone else to tote the rock 10-15 times a game.




3. Get Another WR - One guy the Eagles might look at in the first round is Hakeem Nicks. The guy has wonderful hands and is very sound in all facets of the game. He could give Donovan another option besides Curtis and Jackson. Avant and Baskett are not too bad, but Nicks represents a huge upgrade and could allow Curtis to go in as a #3 in the slot and flourish.




4. Get More Defensive Linemen - Peria Jerry may get tabbed in the first round due to his explosive play as a DT. Jim Johnson has done a masterful job of rotating in guys, but getting more stout in the middle would help their star DE Cole.



The Eagles have done a very good job drafting, and it has translated on the field. Donovan McNabb getting a running game behind him would help, because he has pretty much been doing it all ever since he was drafted. They are hard to measure right now, as they were for me last year, because the talent is there. They easily could go all the way or not make the playoffs. Of course it all rests on Donovan's shoulders the way things lie right now, but another good off season that brings him help could get them over the hump and Philly its first trophy since 1960.

The Cowboys Off-Season Plans Must Change

When one looks at the current roster of the Dallas Cowboys and sees all of the talent that has yet to achieve the goal of winning a championship, there may be a calling for overhaul. Though it may seem this is a good idea, I cannot see this as being their best path to getting back to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys can achieve winning with minor tweaking of an already stout roster. Here are a few things the Cowboys can do to get back on top :


1. Sign Ray Lewis - Lewis may be nearing his end, and came off his least productive season in years, but his impact lies far more than statistics. Though I wouldn't sign him to more than a two year deal, he will provide the leadership the team is so desperately in need of. Lewis wants to get another ring before he retires, and this is more probable a happening with Dallas than Baltimore. Plus, the Ravens have all three of their linebackers up for contract. Someone will have to go most likely, and Lewis seems to be the one many think is the one. Though Zach Thomas was not horrible last year, Lewis would represent an upgrade.



2. Draft In The Trenches - The Cowboys should use their few draft picks wisely. As it stands right now, they do not pick until 50 other players have gone off the board. Jerry Jones has wheeled and dealed on draft day, so a guy like Bobby Carpenter might garner a draft pick. If Dallas somehow stands pat on their current situation, they should get a Safety first. Guys like Louis Delmas of Western Michigan, Rashad Johnson of Alabama, William Moore of Missouri, and Patrick Chung of Oregon may be available. After they fill this much needed area, Dallas needs to go after line help on both sides of the ball exclusively. Getting a back up for Tony Romo can be had on the free agency market, and Romo's health will be dictated by the efficiency of his blockers. Depth, at the least, is a must for Dallas this draft.



3. Keep T.O. - Say what you want about Terrell Owens, the man is headed to Canton one day to pick up his bust. He is still the teams best option at WR as well, though the Cowboys desperately need to get Roy Williams more involved. Dallas is lacking a bona fide deep threat, but Baltimore just showed you can go far without one. If Dallas does not improve their blocking, then keeping T.O. becomes even more important for those quick in routes a quarterback needs to get rid of the ball.



4. Upgrade The Offensive Coaching - Dan Reeves almost came to the Cowboys rescue recently, but things fell apart suddenly. Current offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is coming off an atrocious 2008 campaign that has most pundits scratching their heads wondering what Jerry Jones sees in him. Reeves would have certainly brought balance to the offensive scheme, but there are others out there who could also help. One name that jumps out is Jon Gruden. Gruden is aware of the importance of the running game, as to where Garrett seems to eschew the idea. Hiring an experienced coach like Gruden as a consultant could help bring the balance the Cowboys offensive play calling so desperately needs.



5. Get All Players To Stay Local - This offseason should have one theme: Concentration Towards Dedication. Players wanting to make the team must make a difference now. Stay in Dallas, work on mechanics, and stay in shape. Getting sharp now will translate on the field come August.


It isn't a long list, and there are several other teams with much longer ones. Dallas expects to get to the Super Bowl again this upcoming season. Hopefully they now notice the reasons they haven't in many years. The lack of leadership amongst the players is a glaring area, but the fact the Cowboys lost the line of scrimmage battle most games should be the primary focus. Getting all players on board early will be key.

PLEASE Join Me In Prayer

I understand that several of you do not happen to surf onto The Sporting News.

I happily still do.

There is a man I want to tell you about : LEW TROOP


http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Lew%20Troop



I ask you to peruse his fantastic artwork. He is a true wordsmith.

Lew has recently fallen ill.

I am requesting that you take a moment and say a prayer for him.

His recovery is my hope, and those of you who have been blessed to have made Lew's acquaintance certainly understand what I mean.

My NFL Predictions Versus Reality

On 8/ 10/ 08 I did a prediction for the 2008 NFL season. Predictably, I did a horrible job. Next year I'll do as poorly, God willing.


NFC EAST:



1. Dallas Cowboys
2. N.Y. Giants
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Washington Redskins
At least I got it right on my Redskins.





NFC NORTH :



1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions
I didn't suck too bad here.




NFC SOUTH :



1. New Orleans Saints
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Atlanta Falcons
I was (happily) way off on the Falcons..like most.



NFC WEST :



1. Seattle Seahawks
2. Arizona Cardinals
3. St. Louis Rams
4. San Francisco 49ers
Seattle sent Holmgren out with a poor showing.





AFC WEST :



1. San Diego Chargers
2. Oakland Raiders
3. Denver Broncos
4. K.C. Chiefs
Other than Oakland, I did OK.



AFC SOUTH :



1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Houston Texans
4. Tennessee Titans
I think I did pretty mediocre here.





AFC NORTH



1. Cleveland Browns
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Baltimore Ravens
Obviously a bad job guessing here.





AFC EAST :



1. New England Patriots
2. N.Y. Jets
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Miami Dolphins
I wasn't even close here.





PLAYOFFS



NFC :



Seattle over Green Bay = Holmgren waves good-bye to his old team one last time.
Neither team even got close.

Minnesota over N.Y. Giants = The running game is too much to handle.
G-men made it, and this is as far as Minni got



Dallas over Seattle = Dallas explodes, as Romo tries to lose his choke label.
Neither team even made the playoffs.

Minnesota over New Orleans = The running game keeps the Saints O on the sideline.
Minni making it one game was my only right prediction.



Minnesota over Dallas = Peterson and Taylor wear out a small defensive front in the 4th quarter, while controlling the clock = perfect playoff formula.
Wayyyyyyyyyy off here.





AFC :


Jacksonville over Cleveland = The Jags run the ball down the Browns throats.
Neither squad even sniffed the playoffs.

Indianapolis over Pittsburgh = Payton takes his passing game to the next round.
Pitt allowed nothing all season.



New England over Indianapolis = Brady outduels Manning once again.
I guess I can say Indy made it to the plaoffs...for a game.

San Diego over Jacksonville = The Bolts have too many weapons for the Jags to contain.



San Diego over New England = The Bolts control the line of scrimmage, and play clock.
I was wayyyyyyyy off here.





SUPER BOWL XLIII :


San Diego over Minnesota = L.T. gets 100 yards, but Gates takes away the double team from Chambers, who is the games MVP.
I guess I can say "At least both of my pix made the playoffs"



SEASON AWARDS:

NFL MVP: ADRIAN PETERSON, RB, MINNESOTA
OK, I wasn't too far off I guess. AP was solid still.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year: SHAWN MERRIMAN, LB, SAN DIEGO
At least I got the pass rushing OLB part right.

NFL Rookie of the Year : FELIX JONES, RB, DALLAS
I was way off on Ryan and Flacco, as far as even playing this year.

Babbling With The Beeze And Other Ramblings

THE BEEZE has one of the great blogs on the net!

http://thebeezewax.blogspot.com

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the%20BEEZE

I look forward to each of his thoughts put down on digital paper.


Today I decided to take a break from posting crap that no one reads to play one of THE BEEZE's great ideas.

A game called The Interview Game.


Here goes :


1. If you had the power to put any one player in the Football Hall of Fame, Who would it be?

Chris Hanburger. He is my first CCC profilee.
SO MANY deserve it! The politics involved with the voters is frustrating, but I doubt there is a solution to appease all. This upcoming H.O.F. Class typifies the process. You see Derrick Thomas get in, though he is deserving, and wonder why others haven't been yet.


2. What would you want for your last meal?

I would probably have a hard time picking this. Maybe to try to stall? Ahhh, to keep it simple...maybe Fettuccine Alfredo?




3. Would you like to know the precise time of your death?

To quote the great Tommy Chong: No thanks man, I'm not into time.



4. If you could ask the President one question, what would it be?

"Would you say the route to an improved ecology is through better education first, or to try to improve the ecology along with trying to improve our educational system?" The reason is because the USA is now 3rd from last on earth in education...yet our planet is in need of some tlc.




5. In your profile, Under favorite music, the first two listed are...Flock of Seagulls, and Jimi Hendrix...If they could have performed together, what would it have sounded like?

Mike Score, the founder of AFOS, is a good guitarist. He started out as one on another band. In fact, he created (with AFOS guitarist Paul Reynolds) that guitar wash sound some may have heard the Edge of U2 use the past few decades.
Jimi was an inventor and innovator. We know he started distortion and feedback. If only those paramedics hadn't laid him down...who knows? I could see him having fun with all the toys that have come along in music...as well as ones he probably would have invented.

Both men have one common theme = experimentation. You listen to Jimi's Third Stone From The Sun (the inspiration for my blog name) to 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be).... or AFOS' The Last Flight Of Yuri Gagarin to Tanglimara, and you see both men searching for sound.

I imagine it could work if they had gotten together. I see the theme being other wordly..outer space and such. Jimi would front the song most likely, which I'm sure Mike would have no problem with. Mike is a very nice man, and has always been very kind to me in all of the years that I have known him. The thought of those two men in a studio made me delve further than I thought I would as I began to answer this question.


Again, much thanks to THE BEEZE for allowing me to play the game.


Since this is the day of the big game for the NFL....

I know the Steelers look pretty damn unbeatable.


Still, I root for the underdog!




The Cardinals have had a long, strange trip as a franchise.

They have not won any championships in over 60 years!


Their last victory photo


They have had MANY GREAT players since then:


Hall Of Fame Safety Larry Wilson





Hall Of Fame Tight End Jackie Smith





Hall Of Fame Offensive Tackle Dan Dierdorf




Hall Of Fame Cornerback Roger Wehrli




American Hero Pat Tillman



I'll be posting an Almost All Time Cardinals Team soon, but those are just a few of their franchise legends.


I won't be upset if the Steelers win. We all know they had their own hard times as a franchise until the 1970's. But the Cardinals are an unusual franchise alike no other. The number of cities they have played in is astounding. They truly define the term vagabond franchise.

I am pulling for them. I guess it is because they were part of the NFC East back in their days in Saint Louis. I'd like to see them get a new trophy.

No other franchise in the NFL deserves one more than them.

If they pull it off, then my next under dog team may either be the Chargers, Saints, Titans, Eagles, Browns, or Bengals.

That is, of course, my Redskins don't make it back to the big game!