The Los Angeles Rams showed the most dramatic offensive turnaround in the history of the NFL in 2017, more than doubling their point total (224 to 478) as they jumped from the 32nd-ranked offense to number one. They show no signs of slowing down in 2018, rising to 4-0 with a 38-31 victory over the…
I’m sure there are academics out there who would say I’m besmirching Aristotle’s good name by using one of his defining works in a fantasy football article. To those tweed-laden, bespectacled folks, I say, “hey, it was you who introduced me to the idea, is not applying it to every aspect of my life an…
Does anyone really know what Allen Robinson’s going to do this year? There are a host of outstanding football analysts who do their best to project player performance from year to year using advanced scouting and statistical models, but even the best methods aren’t perfect, as every player reacts differently to new situations and to…
In the midst of my first 2018-19 fantasy football Mock Draft for a PPR league, I found myself in a quagmire of uncertainty. I’d drafted Alvin Kamara ninth overall and was hunting for a second running back towards the end of the third round. With pick 29, I was targeting Christian McCaffrey, figuring I would…
The Cover 3 defense has been a staple of some of the best defenses in recent memory. It’s a basic coverage that relies on 3 players eliminating the deep thirds of the field, while the remaining 4 players focus on underneath coverage (assuming 4 defenders are rushing). There are many variations to Cover 3, but…
Dallas Cowboys QB Rayne Dakota Prescott is set to be a rich man within the next calendar year or so. How rich exactly is anyone’s guess, but the 2016 4th round pick out of Mississippi State is eligible for a contract extension after the 2018 season and may look to cash in. Prescott has been…
Everything closes fast in the NFL. Pockets collapse, running lanes shrink and the window to win the Super Bowl can be wide open today and nailed shut tomorrow. A good quarterback improves those Super Bowl chances. He might help to give you a couple of windows instead of just one. Longevity with a team is…
Life is filled with lessons and learning experiences. That is a concept that my father instilled in me at a young age and it is an idea I am trying (with varying levels of success) to instill in my own children now. As we age we can take something from our experiences, both the good…
Finding the quarterback to lead your franchise isn’t an easy task for any NFL executive. For most teams, franchise quarterbacks are acquired by miserably finishing with the league’s worst record. Others are fortunate enough to fill the position by hitting on the rare 3rd or 4th round pick. Yet, for the unlucky teams that find…
Welcome on in my friends to the latest installment of “Check With Me,” my semi-regular column addressing quarterback issues at both the NFL and collegiate levels. Today we’ll dive into some NFL teams that need to address QB2, some reader questions, highlight another cause to support in “Helping One Another” and stay away from any…
Quarterback dominos began to fall this week, as the Cleveland Browns became active participants in the trade market. John Dorsey made a flurry of moves late last week, including trading for wide receiver Jarvis Landry as well as quarterback Tyrod Taylor. In this installment of Check With Me I’ll dive into that trade, look at…
It happens every winter. First, it comes, as Ned Stark warned us. Then, the questions are raised regarding the crop of quarterbacks: Can they make all the throws? Do they have enough velocity? Last year the 49 miles per hour number dogged Deshaun Watson through his draft day and into his rookie season (more on…
Pre-Combine Quarterback Thoughts The 2018 NFL Scouting Combine is just around the corner, a time when the professional football world descends upon Indianapolis to pursue dreams and consume St. Elmo’s Cocktail Sauce by the gallon. For many positions, the testing drills can result in dramatically improved draft stock, just ask Byron Jones or John Ross.…
There have been interesting discussions lately about how teams in need of a quarterback should go about improving the position this offseason. Whether it’s through free agency, the draft or both – all options come with caveats. Depending on your team’s organizational philosophy there will be different ways decision makers go about filling the need…
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has ranked near the top of the MVP race all season, but it doesn’t seem like anyone is too excited about his candidacy. First, Philadelphia Eagles QB Carson Wentz was the front-runner, but his season was cut short by a knee injury. Pundits next turned to Seattle Seahawks signal-caller…
Dan Hatman’s latest piece on Carson Wentz and self scouting has me thinking a lot about quarterback’s environments and how they affect their developmental curves. The Cleveland Browns are 0-8. After multiple benchings in favor of Kevin Hogan and Cody Kessler, Coach Hue Jackson has named his rookie quarterback, DeShone Kizer, the starter – again.…