Week 5 was another strange week in the NFL. Graham Gano kicked a game winning 63 yard field goal, Greg Joseph kicked the ugliest game winning field goal in recent memory, and one of the NFL’s best kickers, Mason Crosby, missed 5 kicks against the Lions. The Jets running game rose from the ashes, the…
This past weekend someone asked me why fantasy football is so difficult. I told her, quite frankly, it is so hard because the NFL is almost impossible to predict. Right on cue the Bills beat the Vikings and the Lions beat the Patriots with their first 100 yard rushing performance in 5 years. This, of…
With the new season upon us, what better time than now to talk about the playoffs? There are 31 fan bases across the country full of high hopes that their favorite team will make the playoffs. For New England fans, it’s become basically an annual occurrence, so they probably aren’t too concerned. Enjoy it while…
“Evolution is the fundamental idea in all of life science – in all of biology” – Bill Nye And especially in the game of football. Yet unlike nature, where changes can be gradual and take life cycles, evolution in football must be swift, must be effective, and preferably must be trailblazing lest ye be left…
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…
The 2017 Philadelphia Eagles team will go down as one of the teams people remember for a lifetime. From the individual personalities, to the aggressive coaching, to the resiliency they showed throughout the season, both sides of the ball presented many story lines. One aspect that really stood out during the season was their success…
When we think of injuries in today’s NFL, the one that will probably spring to mind immediately is the ACL tear. The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is found in both knees and a tear of this ligament more often than not requires surgery followed by rehabilitation and physical therapy. Some big names unfortunately suffered…
Each year the NFL scouting community engages in a shuffle, as both personnel and scouts move between organizations. Sometimes these are individual movements and promotions from team to team, but other times these moves indicate a new front office that is looking to make a shift in the team’s philosophy. This tracker I have put together…
Does a piece on a wide receiver regarded as one of the best in the league need to be written? With the recent buzz of trade rumors regarding this high profile athlete, Twitter and the media in general have exploded with remarks on his worth as a locker room guy (we as outsiders have very…
The 2018 NFL Draft is less than 3 weeks away and every team is putting the finishing touches on their draft boards. We all know the consensus top prospects such as Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb and Quenton Nelson. Then there are those middle round prospects that don’t get the recognition they deserve. Day 2 and…
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…
The NFL’s top wide receivers have been evolving in recent seasons and it’s currently having an impact on how we evaluate and value certain traits at the position. Two drafts ago, Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell was considered the next Dez Bryant due to his inability to create consistent separation and strong ball skills, highlighted…
New head coach Pat Shurmur brings a lot to the historic organization of the New York Giants. On the offensive side of the ball, the conversation starts with two time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning. His career is nearing its end, and he is coming off a disastrous 2017 season. Without diving into the drama…
There are three core positions in football. Quarterback, meaning someone who can throw the ball downfield. Offensive tackle, meaning someone to protect that quarterback. And an edge pass rusher, meaning someone to disrupt the opponent’s quarterback. The next in line after this trio would be the field-tilting cornerback. For everything you have up front, under…
Time. We’d all like more of it. I often find myself thinking ‘there aren’t enough hours in the day,’ and for most of us, this is true. We all want to do so much more with the time we have each day, week or month. When you have children, as I do, you want even…