By: Steve Johnson
Last night, the red hot Phillies won their sixth straight 9-7 vs Miami and head into today's 4pm game just 4 games back of the second Wild-Card team, St. Louis Cardinals. The Phillies, are at .500 for the first time since June 4th, almost 2 months before they became sellers. The Phillies got off to an 8-3 lead in the 6th after Jimmy Rollins capitalized off of Marlins Catcher Rob Brantly dropped ball on a routine pop up behind home plate. After a quick scare in the 7th, the Phillies bullpen came up big with Phillipe Aumont striking out back to back batters in the 8th and setting up Closer Jonathan Papelbon to retire the side in the 9th.
Who would have thought back in July that Phillies fans would be scoreboard watching? Not me, but I certainly was watching the Pirates go down to the Reds, Diamondbacks blanking the Dodgers, and the Padres rallying to beat the Cardinals. The Phillies end the home stand today at 4pm with Cliff Lee facing off versus the Marlins Josh Johnson, before they head on a road trip to Houston and New York. The Phillies, winners of six straight, have made this interesting, sit back and watch.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
NFL Week: AFC South Preview
By: Steve Johnson
The Houston Texans (10-6) are hands down the best team in this division, and are possibly the best team in the AFC. Quarterback Matt Schaub went down in week 10 (7-3) when they were coming off four wins and going into a bye week. They won the next three games and then lost the final three with the likes of Matt Leinart, rookie T.J. Yates, and old man Jake Delhomme. In the playoffs, Running Back Arian Foster rushed for 153 yards in a home playoff game vs Cincinnati before losing in Baltimore the following week. Oh yeah and Andre Johnson only caught 33 balls in 7 games last year, did I mention how the Texans HAVE TO stay healthy, here we go. If that Texans can stay healthy, it doesn't matter if I write about the other 3 teams in the division, I'm actually debating not to write anything else about them. The Texans need to stay healthy and get into the playoffs (they could probably bench their big 3 all year and still get in), but when they do all that matters is the Steelers, Ravens, and Patriots of the AFC. The Titans added speedy Wide Receiver Kendall Wright to go with strong armed QB Jack Locker, who should command an offense with a ton of firepower. The Jaguars drafted the first Wide Receiver in 2012 with Justin Blackmon, who can only hope second year Quarterback Blaine Gabbert doesn't throw like a girl. The Colts did the right thing and drafted another once in a decade Quarterback in Andrew Luck, but that team should be pretty bad for 2-3 years.
Prediction:
Texans (13-3)
Titans (8-8)
Jaguars (6-10)
Colts (6-10)
The Houston Texans (10-6) are hands down the best team in this division, and are possibly the best team in the AFC. Quarterback Matt Schaub went down in week 10 (7-3) when they were coming off four wins and going into a bye week. They won the next three games and then lost the final three with the likes of Matt Leinart, rookie T.J. Yates, and old man Jake Delhomme. In the playoffs, Running Back Arian Foster rushed for 153 yards in a home playoff game vs Cincinnati before losing in Baltimore the following week. Oh yeah and Andre Johnson only caught 33 balls in 7 games last year, did I mention how the Texans HAVE TO stay healthy, here we go. If that Texans can stay healthy, it doesn't matter if I write about the other 3 teams in the division, I'm actually debating not to write anything else about them. The Texans need to stay healthy and get into the playoffs (they could probably bench their big 3 all year and still get in), but when they do all that matters is the Steelers, Ravens, and Patriots of the AFC. The Titans added speedy Wide Receiver Kendall Wright to go with strong armed QB Jack Locker, who should command an offense with a ton of firepower. The Jaguars drafted the first Wide Receiver in 2012 with Justin Blackmon, who can only hope second year Quarterback Blaine Gabbert doesn't throw like a girl. The Colts did the right thing and drafted another once in a decade Quarterback in Andrew Luck, but that team should be pretty bad for 2-3 years.
Prediction:
Texans (13-3)
Titans (8-8)
Jaguars (6-10)
Colts (6-10)
NFL Week: AFC East Preview
By: Steve Johnson
Tim Tebow! Mark Sanchez! There I got it in, but that's the last this article will talk about those terrible quarterbacks. The New England Patriots (13-3) don't have much competition, but do they ever? I feel like every year they're predicted to win 12-14 games. Last year was no different, going 13-3 and losing once again to Eli Manning and the Giants. In the off season the Patriots got a package deal for Belichick school of coaching alumni Josh McDaniels and his go to WR...no matter where they go, Brandon Lloyd. Look for Lloyd to take some of the vertical passes from All Pro Tight End Rob Gronkowski, because that's Lloyd's game. Taking away the vertical passes shouldn't have any effect on the other great Tight End on the team, Aaron Hernandez. Adding two first round picks on defense, Chandler Jones and Donta Hightower should really help their defense. The Buffalo Bills (6-10) started off with three straight wins in 2011, and made themselves known that they were real with a 34-31 Win vs New England in week 3. Ryan Fitzpatrick ended terribly and it's rumored to be a rib injury at the end of last year. I expect the Bills to make the next step and have a winning record with the addition of Mario Williams. The New York Jets (8-8) are overrated and suck. I should end it at that, but I won't. I hated their draft this off season. I loved Coples, but hate him in that defense. He's not a 3-4 DE and shouldn't be asked to play that. I don't think Stephen Hill is ready to play in the NFL, and shouldn't be drafted that high for a prospect. The Miami Dolphins (6-10) are in a rebuilding this year and will show that today as they start Quarterback Ryan Tannehill today. Although I like what they're doing in the off season and this year, they could be pretty bad. Don't expect Reggie Bush to have the same year he had last year...because he's still Reggie Bush.
Prediction:
Patriots (13-3)
Bills (9-7)
Jets (8-8)
Dolphins (4-12)
Tim Tebow! Mark Sanchez! There I got it in, but that's the last this article will talk about those terrible quarterbacks. The New England Patriots (13-3) don't have much competition, but do they ever? I feel like every year they're predicted to win 12-14 games. Last year was no different, going 13-3 and losing once again to Eli Manning and the Giants. In the off season the Patriots got a package deal for Belichick school of coaching alumni Josh McDaniels and his go to WR...no matter where they go, Brandon Lloyd. Look for Lloyd to take some of the vertical passes from All Pro Tight End Rob Gronkowski, because that's Lloyd's game. Taking away the vertical passes shouldn't have any effect on the other great Tight End on the team, Aaron Hernandez. Adding two first round picks on defense, Chandler Jones and Donta Hightower should really help their defense. The Buffalo Bills (6-10) started off with three straight wins in 2011, and made themselves known that they were real with a 34-31 Win vs New England in week 3. Ryan Fitzpatrick ended terribly and it's rumored to be a rib injury at the end of last year. I expect the Bills to make the next step and have a winning record with the addition of Mario Williams. The New York Jets (8-8) are overrated and suck. I should end it at that, but I won't. I hated their draft this off season. I loved Coples, but hate him in that defense. He's not a 3-4 DE and shouldn't be asked to play that. I don't think Stephen Hill is ready to play in the NFL, and shouldn't be drafted that high for a prospect. The Miami Dolphins (6-10) are in a rebuilding this year and will show that today as they start Quarterback Ryan Tannehill today. Although I like what they're doing in the off season and this year, they could be pretty bad. Don't expect Reggie Bush to have the same year he had last year...because he's still Reggie Bush.
Prediction:
Patriots (13-3)
Bills (9-7)
Jets (8-8)
Dolphins (4-12)
Saturday, September 8, 2012
NFL Week: NFC North Preview
By: Steve Johnson
In 2011, one division had 3 teams make the playoffs...not the NFC North, but this year I think that changes. The NFC North might be the best division in football in 2012. The Green Bay Packers (15-1) finished atop the North, followed by the Detroit Lions (10-6), Chicago Bears (8-8), and Minnesota Vikings (3-13). The Packers enter 2012 with just about the same personnel as their 2011 campaign for perfection. They lost Offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin for the Dolphins Head Coach job, but have almost an identical roster. They added workhorse Cedric Benson to help the almost irrelevant run game. On defense they drafted another Trojan pass rusher in Nick Perry, to compliment Clay Matthews. Adding push rush, along with moving Charles Woodson to safety should help their last place pass defense. What won't help their pass defense is the addition of Brandon Marshall for the Chicago Bears. BMarsh caught 206 passes in 07 and 08 with Jay Cutler as his quarterback, that trend should continue, as long as the OLine can not be really really bad. The Lions should continue to improve as long as they can stay healthy...and out of jail. The Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson connection is the best in football, and has the potential to be one of the all-time greats. Watch for both Brandon Pettigrew and Titus Young to have break out years, which they will have to rely on tremendously without a running game. The Vikings should be better with a year under cool and collected Christian Ponder in this offense. If they can get All-Pro Adrian Peterson back relatively soon, they can be good team. Ponder and Wide Receiver Percy Harvin have a connection unlike many in the NFL...no I'm serious. They completed a higher percentage than any other connection in the league. I like Kyle Rudolph as a sleeper to have a huge year, he's big, strong, and can run.
Prediction:
Packers (12-4)
Bears (10-6)
Lions (10-6)
Vikings (5-11)
In 2011, one division had 3 teams make the playoffs...not the NFC North, but this year I think that changes. The NFC North might be the best division in football in 2012. The Green Bay Packers (15-1) finished atop the North, followed by the Detroit Lions (10-6), Chicago Bears (8-8), and Minnesota Vikings (3-13). The Packers enter 2012 with just about the same personnel as their 2011 campaign for perfection. They lost Offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin for the Dolphins Head Coach job, but have almost an identical roster. They added workhorse Cedric Benson to help the almost irrelevant run game. On defense they drafted another Trojan pass rusher in Nick Perry, to compliment Clay Matthews. Adding push rush, along with moving Charles Woodson to safety should help their last place pass defense. What won't help their pass defense is the addition of Brandon Marshall for the Chicago Bears. BMarsh caught 206 passes in 07 and 08 with Jay Cutler as his quarterback, that trend should continue, as long as the OLine can not be really really bad. The Lions should continue to improve as long as they can stay healthy...and out of jail. The Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson connection is the best in football, and has the potential to be one of the all-time greats. Watch for both Brandon Pettigrew and Titus Young to have break out years, which they will have to rely on tremendously without a running game. The Vikings should be better with a year under cool and collected Christian Ponder in this offense. If they can get All-Pro Adrian Peterson back relatively soon, they can be good team. Ponder and Wide Receiver Percy Harvin have a connection unlike many in the NFL...no I'm serious. They completed a higher percentage than any other connection in the league. I like Kyle Rudolph as a sleeper to have a huge year, he's big, strong, and can run.
Prediction:
Packers (12-4)
Bears (10-6)
Lions (10-6)
Vikings (5-11)
NFL Week: NFC South Preview
By: Steve Johnson
The days of the brutal teams in the NFC South are over. No longer do you see the inconsistency of a new NFC South team winning the division year after year. The South presents three playoff worthy teams this year, with the emergence of Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers (6-10). Newton was one of the NFL's top stories last year. Never has the game seen a rookie come on as strong as Newton did, breaking Peyton Manning's rookie passing record, while also running for over 700 yards and double digit touchdowns. Despite the great rookie stats, the Panthers still finished 3rd in the division behind New Orleans (13-3) and Atlanta (10-6). The biggest off season storyline came in New Orleans, where the Saints were part of a bounty scandal that saw head coach Sean Payton suspended a year and the franchise forfeit draft picks. Maybe it's just what the second place rival Atlanta Falcons wanted, their chance to top the division and win Matt Ryan's first playoff game. Neither the Saints of the Falcons made any huge off season move, neither having a first round pick. The Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12) however had strong off seasons in both Free Agency and the 2012 Draft. Tampa added free agent Wide Receiver Vincent Jackson from San Diego and stole Offensive Linemen Carl Nicks from the Saints. In the draft the Buc's upgraded on both sides of the ball, adding Running Back Doug Martin and Safety Mark Barron in the first round. The Panthers will get back their entire Linebacker corp in Thomas Davis and Jon Beason, also adding first round pick Luke Kuechly.
Predictions:
Atlanta (11-5)
New Orleans (10-6)
Carolina (8-8)
Buccaneers (4-12)
The days of the brutal teams in the NFC South are over. No longer do you see the inconsistency of a new NFC South team winning the division year after year. The South presents three playoff worthy teams this year, with the emergence of Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers (6-10). Newton was one of the NFL's top stories last year. Never has the game seen a rookie come on as strong as Newton did, breaking Peyton Manning's rookie passing record, while also running for over 700 yards and double digit touchdowns. Despite the great rookie stats, the Panthers still finished 3rd in the division behind New Orleans (13-3) and Atlanta (10-6). The biggest off season storyline came in New Orleans, where the Saints were part of a bounty scandal that saw head coach Sean Payton suspended a year and the franchise forfeit draft picks. Maybe it's just what the second place rival Atlanta Falcons wanted, their chance to top the division and win Matt Ryan's first playoff game. Neither the Saints of the Falcons made any huge off season move, neither having a first round pick. The Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12) however had strong off seasons in both Free Agency and the 2012 Draft. Tampa added free agent Wide Receiver Vincent Jackson from San Diego and stole Offensive Linemen Carl Nicks from the Saints. In the draft the Buc's upgraded on both sides of the ball, adding Running Back Doug Martin and Safety Mark Barron in the first round. The Panthers will get back their entire Linebacker corp in Thomas Davis and Jon Beason, also adding first round pick Luke Kuechly.
Predictions:
Atlanta (11-5)
New Orleans (10-6)
Carolina (8-8)
Buccaneers (4-12)
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
NFL Week: NFC East Preview
By: Steve Johnson
The NFC East is possibly the NFL's most glamorous division, and probably the most unpredictable. Last year the heavy favorite was the Philadelphia Eagles. But last year's off season champions didn't make the playoffs and had to win 4 straight just to break even. The New York Giants won the division in typical Giants form, starting off bad, squeezing into the playoffs, and ending with Eli Manning holding up his second Lombardi Trophy. The Dallas Cowboys finished right behind the Eagles at 8-8, and the Washington Redskins finished an ugly 5-11. Every year is a new year, especially in the NFC East, where anything can happen.
In the off season the division champion Giants re-uped their Running Backs by drafting David Wilson to back up Ahmad Bradshaw. The Eagles fixed some holes they thought they fixed in 2011 by adding Middle Linebacker Demeco Ryans, and drafting linebacker Mychal Kendricks and Defensive Linemen Fletcher Cox and Vinny Curry. But that doesn't matter if Michael Vick can't stay healthy. Everything else is in place for the Eagles to win a Super Bowl, but the team relies on Vick and his ability to make good decisions. Watch for the defense to be a top defense in the NFL, as long as second year Defense Coordinator Juan Castillo can make the right play calls. The Defensive Line is the deepest in the NFL and should pressure every single Quarterback they face. The Cowboys moved up in the first round to sure up their terrible secondary with Mo Claiborne. Just like the Eagles, the Cowboys rely on their Quarterback staying healthy and not being a moron. Quarterback Tony Romo could be an idiot if his Offensive Line doesn't play terribly. The Redskins traded their entire draft for years to come on potential great QB prospect Robert Griffin III. They are a year or two away from making a difference.
Predictions:
Eagles 10-6
Giants 10-6
Cowboys 9-7
Redskins 6-10
The NFC East is possibly the NFL's most glamorous division, and probably the most unpredictable. Last year the heavy favorite was the Philadelphia Eagles. But last year's off season champions didn't make the playoffs and had to win 4 straight just to break even. The New York Giants won the division in typical Giants form, starting off bad, squeezing into the playoffs, and ending with Eli Manning holding up his second Lombardi Trophy. The Dallas Cowboys finished right behind the Eagles at 8-8, and the Washington Redskins finished an ugly 5-11. Every year is a new year, especially in the NFC East, where anything can happen.
In the off season the division champion Giants re-uped their Running Backs by drafting David Wilson to back up Ahmad Bradshaw. The Eagles fixed some holes they thought they fixed in 2011 by adding Middle Linebacker Demeco Ryans, and drafting linebacker Mychal Kendricks and Defensive Linemen Fletcher Cox and Vinny Curry. But that doesn't matter if Michael Vick can't stay healthy. Everything else is in place for the Eagles to win a Super Bowl, but the team relies on Vick and his ability to make good decisions. Watch for the defense to be a top defense in the NFL, as long as second year Defense Coordinator Juan Castillo can make the right play calls. The Defensive Line is the deepest in the NFL and should pressure every single Quarterback they face. The Cowboys moved up in the first round to sure up their terrible secondary with Mo Claiborne. Just like the Eagles, the Cowboys rely on their Quarterback staying healthy and not being a moron. Quarterback Tony Romo could be an idiot if his Offensive Line doesn't play terribly. The Redskins traded their entire draft for years to come on potential great QB prospect Robert Griffin III. They are a year or two away from making a difference.
Predictions:
Eagles 10-6
Giants 10-6
Cowboys 9-7
Redskins 6-10
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