Our Heisman watch is pretty steady compared to last week's seismic shake-up. Only one player dropped off and the top five remained unchanged. Don't expect this to be the case next week however, as players will soon find themselves getting tested against conference opponents. Let's get started.
The only player to drop off from last week is LSU's Leonard Fournette. His performance this season has been somewhat underwhelming, as proven by his performance against unranked Auburn on Saturday. Not only did LSU lose, but Fournette failed to find the end zone.
We have five players on our honorable mention list, and they're all QBs: Tommy Armstrong Jr. of Nebraska, Brad Kaaya of the Hurricanes, Washington gun-slinger Jake Browning, the Aggie Trevor Knight, and Josh Dobbs of the Tennessee Volunteers.
10. Nick Chubb, Georgia (Last Week: 10)- Chubb struggled mightily against Ole Miss. He rushed for only 57 yards before leaving with an ankle injury. However, Chubb is expected to play in Week 5, so he barely beats out one of the QBs on our honorable mention list for the number 10 spot.
9. Dalvin Cook, Florida State (Last Week: NR)- Cook finds himself back on our watch list after his fantastic performance against South Florida. Not only did he rush for 267 yards and two touchdowns, but he also led the Seminoles in receiving yards.
8. Seth Russell, Baylor (Last Week: 10)- Russell quietly continues to be one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football. Against Oklahoma State, Russell threw for 387 yards and four scores while also leading the Bears in rushing.
7. Greg Ward Jr., Houston (Last Week: 8)- Ward put up beautiful numbers against Texas State, as he threw for 289 yards & two touchdowns and went 20 for 26. He added 39 yards and a score while rushing. Ward is hampered by the fact that he doesn't play many quality opponents, so he'll have to continue to put up big numbers and stay undefeated.
6. Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State (Last Week: 7)- Pumphrey was inactive in Week 4, but he rises after Chubb's slip. Pumphrey leads the nation in rushing yards and is third in rushing touchdowns. Like Ward, Pumphrey doesn't play many quality opponents, so that will hurt his stock a little bit, especially when looking at Power Five players like Dalvin Cook and Lamar Jackson.
5. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan (Last Week: 5)- Peppers is looking to be only the second defensive player in history to win the Heisman. The first was Michigan's Charles Woodson. The only defensive player to have come close in recent years was Manti Te'o, who was the runner-up to Johnny Manziel. But if anyone can break through, it's Peppers. No one in the nation has more tackles for loss than him and he leads the nation in punt return yards per game.
4. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (Last Week: 4)- As I said last week, Watson has yet to have a truly spectacular game this season. That being said, Clemson is undefeated and ranked at #5. Watson threw for 304 yards and ran for 36 more as Clemson rolled over Georgia Tech.
3. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 3)- Barrett had the week off, so he stays in the number three spot. We'll next see him in Week 5 when he takes on Rutgers at home in a Big 10 conference matchup.
2. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- McCaffrey didn't exactly have a banner game against the UCLA Bruins, but he did account for more than 150 all-purpose yards as Stanford stayed undefeated.
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 1)- Is there any defense that can contain Lamar Jackson? The Lousville QB accounted for more than 470 yards of total offense while also racking up seven touchdowns. Jackson's stats have been nothing short of fantastic thus far. He's sixth in the nation in rushing yards, first in rushing touchdowns, seventh in passing touchdowns, and ninth in passing yards.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Friday, September 23, 2016
Heisman Watch Week 3
Week 3 was a big one for the Heisman race. We saw a lot of contenders from last week dropout and some new players who are making their case. Some of these new players have reignited their campaign while others are just now making their case. The number of contenders are possibly higher than they were at any other time this season. It's going to be difficult to rank all of them, but we'll do our very best.
Five players from last week dropped off the rankings. The most notable player is Deondre Francois, the Seminoles QB. He was fourth last week and drops off after accounting for less than a 100 yards and throwing a pick. Two other QBs also dropped off, including Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma and Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, both of whom lost to ranked teams (although Kizer had a much better performance than Mayfield did). Two running backs also dropped off: Dalvin Cook of Florida State and Royce Freeman of Oregon. Both backs had subpar games over the weekend.
We have a number of honorable mentions to look at, and all four of them are quarterbacks. Let's give some love to Brad Kaaya of Miami (Fl), Tommy Armstrong Jr. of Nebraska, Josh Dobbs of Tennessee, and Tyler O'Connor of Michigan State. They'll need strong performances going forward in order to bolster their campaigns.
10. Seth Russell, Baylor (Last Week: NR)- Russell finds himself back on our Heisman watch after a strong performance against Rice. He threw for three touchdowns and more than 330 yards and Baylor is now ranked at 16.
9. Leonard Fournette, LSU (Last Week: NR)- Fournette's been a little inconsistent thus far this season, but he's now on the rise after running holes through the Bulldogs defense. He ran for 147 yards and two scores while also picking up some receiving yards.
8. Greg Ward Jr., Houston (Last Week: NR)- Ward tumbled after suffering a shoulder injury, but he looks to become a serious contender once again. He threw for 326 yards and one score while also rushing for 73 yards and two scores.
7. Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State (Last Week: NR)- Pumphrey has recently come out of nowhere to become a serious Heisman contender. He may not play for a big-name team, but he is the nation's leading rusher.
6. Nick Chubb, Georgia (Last Week: 5)- Chubb takes a slight hit after his lackluster performance against Missouri. He ran for only 63 yards, but the Bulldogs are undefeated and are very much in contention for a playoff spot. If Georgia continues to do well, it will be great for Chubb.
5. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan (Last Week: NR)- Peppers is the only defensive player who has made the list thus far this season. But Peppers is more than just a defender: he's also a skilled returner. Against Colorado in Week 3, he returned two kicks for 81 yards and four punts for 99 yards and a score. Add to the fact that he got 9 tackles in the game, and you have the making of a true superstar.
4. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (Last Week: 6)- Watson barely played against South Carolina State, but in he did still go 12 for 15 while throwing three touchdowns. Watson has yet to have an outstanding game this season, but he's been very consistent. If he wants to go back to New York this year, he'll need to step it up a little bit.
3. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 3)- The Buckeyes star has been excellent thus far this season. In OSU's route of #14 Oklahoma, Barrett threw for 152 yards and four touchdowns while also adding 74 yards on the ground.
2. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Last Week: 1)- McCaffrey had himself a game against USC on Saturday. He racked up 260 all-purpose yards and two scores while Stanford cruised to a win. The Cardinals are now ranked #7.
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 2)- Jackson continues to be the most outstanding player in college football today. In Louisville's dismantling of #2 Florida State, Jackson threw for 216 yards and a score while adding 146 yards and four scores on the ground.
Thanks for reading everyone. Check back next week for the newest Heisman edition.
Five players from last week dropped off the rankings. The most notable player is Deondre Francois, the Seminoles QB. He was fourth last week and drops off after accounting for less than a 100 yards and throwing a pick. Two other QBs also dropped off, including Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma and Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, both of whom lost to ranked teams (although Kizer had a much better performance than Mayfield did). Two running backs also dropped off: Dalvin Cook of Florida State and Royce Freeman of Oregon. Both backs had subpar games over the weekend.
We have a number of honorable mentions to look at, and all four of them are quarterbacks. Let's give some love to Brad Kaaya of Miami (Fl), Tommy Armstrong Jr. of Nebraska, Josh Dobbs of Tennessee, and Tyler O'Connor of Michigan State. They'll need strong performances going forward in order to bolster their campaigns.
10. Seth Russell, Baylor (Last Week: NR)- Russell finds himself back on our Heisman watch after a strong performance against Rice. He threw for three touchdowns and more than 330 yards and Baylor is now ranked at 16.
9. Leonard Fournette, LSU (Last Week: NR)- Fournette's been a little inconsistent thus far this season, but he's now on the rise after running holes through the Bulldogs defense. He ran for 147 yards and two scores while also picking up some receiving yards.
8. Greg Ward Jr., Houston (Last Week: NR)- Ward tumbled after suffering a shoulder injury, but he looks to become a serious contender once again. He threw for 326 yards and one score while also rushing for 73 yards and two scores.
7. Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State (Last Week: NR)- Pumphrey has recently come out of nowhere to become a serious Heisman contender. He may not play for a big-name team, but he is the nation's leading rusher.
6. Nick Chubb, Georgia (Last Week: 5)- Chubb takes a slight hit after his lackluster performance against Missouri. He ran for only 63 yards, but the Bulldogs are undefeated and are very much in contention for a playoff spot. If Georgia continues to do well, it will be great for Chubb.
5. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan (Last Week: NR)- Peppers is the only defensive player who has made the list thus far this season. But Peppers is more than just a defender: he's also a skilled returner. Against Colorado in Week 3, he returned two kicks for 81 yards and four punts for 99 yards and a score. Add to the fact that he got 9 tackles in the game, and you have the making of a true superstar.
4. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (Last Week: 6)- Watson barely played against South Carolina State, but in he did still go 12 for 15 while throwing three touchdowns. Watson has yet to have an outstanding game this season, but he's been very consistent. If he wants to go back to New York this year, he'll need to step it up a little bit.
3. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 3)- The Buckeyes star has been excellent thus far this season. In OSU's route of #14 Oklahoma, Barrett threw for 152 yards and four touchdowns while also adding 74 yards on the ground.
2. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Last Week: 1)- McCaffrey had himself a game against USC on Saturday. He racked up 260 all-purpose yards and two scores while Stanford cruised to a win. The Cardinals are now ranked #7.
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 2)- Jackson continues to be the most outstanding player in college football today. In Louisville's dismantling of #2 Florida State, Jackson threw for 216 yards and a score while adding 146 yards and four scores on the ground.
Thanks for reading everyone. Check back next week for the newest Heisman edition.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Heisman Watch Week 2
The Heisman campaign is still in the early phases for this season, but we already have a number of key candidates. And of course, we get more and more every single week. This was a relatively quiet week, with only two ranked teams (#15 TCU and #22 Oklahoma State) going down. With a lot of teams having an easy week, we saw a lot of big-name players having good games. But was it enough for them to make our list? Let's find out.
Our drop-offs from last week are Seth Russell, Greg Ward Jr,, and Leonard Fournette, all of whom played very little or not at all last week. Our three honorable mentions go out to Washington's Jake Browning (who has thrown for 8 touchdowns thus far in the season), the Volunteer Josh Dobbs (who threw for three scores against Virginia Tech), and Trevor Knight of Texas A&M (who threw for three scores and 344 yards).
10. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: NR)- Mayfield dropped off last week due to a loss to Houston, but he bounces back after throwing for three touchdowns and 244 yards on Saturday. The Sooners are still ranked at #14.
9. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: NR)- Like Mayfield, Freeman dropped off the list after a weak Week 1 performance. In Week 2 however, he ran for 207 yards and two scores as Oregon beat Virginia.
8. DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame (Last Week: NR)- Kizer was an honorable mention last week, but he moves up after going 16 of 18 for 165 yards and a touchdown (not to mention the one he had on the ground).
7. Dalvin Cook, Florida State (Last Week: 5)- Cook slips a couple of spots, but he still had a good outing against Charleston Southern. The Seminole ran for 80 yards and two scores as Florida State moved up to #2 in the polls.
6. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (Last Week: 4)- Waston has only been trending downwards as the season began, and his performance against Troy really didn't help. Though Clemson won, Watson threw two picks while posting a QBR of 36.5.
5. Nick Chubb, Georgia (Last Week: 3)- Chubb had a remarkable game in Week 1, but he slowed down a bit in Week 2. The Bulldogs won, but Chubb only ran for 80 yards and two scores. Not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, but a rather pedestrian one for Chubb.
4. Deondre Francois, Florida State (Last Week: 4)- When the season began, all the Seminole Heisman hype was firmly planted on the shoulders of Francois's teammate, Cook. Now, after throwing for five touchdowns in two games, Francois finds himself one of the Heisman front-runners.
3. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 2)- The Buckeyes crushed Tulsa, but Barrett didn't put up eye-popping stats. While he did rush for two scores, he had zero from the air. Of course, the rainy weather is why OSU chose to run the ball more, but it still hurts Barrett a bit.
2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 10)- Jackson follows up his incredible Week 1 game by putting on a show in Week 2 against Syracuse. In just two games thus far, Jackson has accounted for thirteen scores. A win over Florida State next week would do wonders for his Heisman campaign,
1. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Last Week: 1)- McCaffrey holds on to the top spot this week, but just barely. Stanford was inactive this week, but they have a big conference match-up against USC next week.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Heisman Watch Week 1
That might have been one of the wildest opening weekends in college football history. Two top-five teams lost, Texas is relevant for the first time in years, and we saw games from Thursday to Monday. Of course, with so much action, there's a lot of Heisman action to talk about. We finally got to see a lot of the contenders like Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook in action, as well as other possible breakout stars. There's a lot of stuff to talk about, and that's what we'll do here. Let's get started.
Three players dropped off from last week: Royce Freeman of Oregon (who only had 92 yards of total offense), Chad Kelly (who lost to Florida State), and Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma (who lost to Houston). We have two players on the honorable mention list: DeShone Kizer of Notre Dame (who accounted for six touchdowns despite losing to Texas) and D'Onta Foreman of Texas (who ran for 131 yards and a score against ND).
10. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: NR)- Jackson turned heads on Thursday when he passed for six touchdowns and rushed for two more when #19 Louisville dismantled Charlotte. The Cardinals are now six spots higher in the rankings and have a chance to compete for the ACC title.
9. Deondre Francois, Florida State (Last Week: NR)- Francois won his first career game when he beat Ole Miss on Monday night. All the Heisman spotlight was on Dalvin Cook and Chad Kelly going into this game, but Francois completely stole the show. He threw for 419 yards and two scores while also rushing for 59 yards.
8. Seth Russell, Baylor (Last Week: 7)- Russell threw for 163 yards and four touchdowns as he led Baylor to victory over Northwestern State. On top of that, Baylor now looks like the favorite to win the Big 12.
7. Leonard Fournette, LSU (Last Week: 1)- Fournette drops out of the top spot after putting up 138 rushing yards and zero scores against Wisconsin as #5 LSU suffered an upset loss. However, next week he faces Jacksonville St. in what should help him bounce back.
6. Greg Ward Jr., Houston (Last Week: 10)- Ward continues his dark horse Heisman campaign after leading Houston to an upset win over #3 Oklahoma. He threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns, and the Cougars are now #6.
5. Dalvin Cook, Florida State (Last Week: 5)- Cook had a bit of a rough game against Ole Miss, as he only had 91 rushing yards and zero scores. However, he did catch 7 passes for 101 yards as the 'Noles knocked off #11 Ole Miss.
4. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (Last Week: 3)- #2 Clemson had a bit of a lackluster win against unranked Auburn. His statline wasn't great (248 passing yards with one score and one interception), but at least Clemson won.
3. Nick Chubb, Georgia (Last Week: 6)- Chubb probably had the best game of anyone who was on our Heisman watch last week. He had 222 yards on the ground (to go with his two scores) as Georgia beat #22 UNC.
2. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: NR)- Looking back on my list from last week, I can't believe I left Barrett out. He made me pay for that oversight by throwing for 349 yards and accumulating six total touchdowns. Now that he's not fighting for playing time, he's the smartest pick for a Buckeye Heisman winner since Troy Smith.
1. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- I had a tough choice between McCaffrey and Fourntette for the top spot last week, but I see now that McCaffrey was the way to go. Not only did he have 2 rushing scores, but he also picked up 40 receiving yards as well as 44 return yards. At this point, he's the safe pick to win the Heisman.
Thanks for reading everyone. Check back next week for an updated Heisman watch.
Three players dropped off from last week: Royce Freeman of Oregon (who only had 92 yards of total offense), Chad Kelly (who lost to Florida State), and Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma (who lost to Houston). We have two players on the honorable mention list: DeShone Kizer of Notre Dame (who accounted for six touchdowns despite losing to Texas) and D'Onta Foreman of Texas (who ran for 131 yards and a score against ND).
10. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: NR)- Jackson turned heads on Thursday when he passed for six touchdowns and rushed for two more when #19 Louisville dismantled Charlotte. The Cardinals are now six spots higher in the rankings and have a chance to compete for the ACC title.
9. Deondre Francois, Florida State (Last Week: NR)- Francois won his first career game when he beat Ole Miss on Monday night. All the Heisman spotlight was on Dalvin Cook and Chad Kelly going into this game, but Francois completely stole the show. He threw for 419 yards and two scores while also rushing for 59 yards.
8. Seth Russell, Baylor (Last Week: 7)- Russell threw for 163 yards and four touchdowns as he led Baylor to victory over Northwestern State. On top of that, Baylor now looks like the favorite to win the Big 12.
7. Leonard Fournette, LSU (Last Week: 1)- Fournette drops out of the top spot after putting up 138 rushing yards and zero scores against Wisconsin as #5 LSU suffered an upset loss. However, next week he faces Jacksonville St. in what should help him bounce back.
6. Greg Ward Jr., Houston (Last Week: 10)- Ward continues his dark horse Heisman campaign after leading Houston to an upset win over #3 Oklahoma. He threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns, and the Cougars are now #6.
5. Dalvin Cook, Florida State (Last Week: 5)- Cook had a bit of a rough game against Ole Miss, as he only had 91 rushing yards and zero scores. However, he did catch 7 passes for 101 yards as the 'Noles knocked off #11 Ole Miss.
4. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (Last Week: 3)- #2 Clemson had a bit of a lackluster win against unranked Auburn. His statline wasn't great (248 passing yards with one score and one interception), but at least Clemson won.
3. Nick Chubb, Georgia (Last Week: 6)- Chubb probably had the best game of anyone who was on our Heisman watch last week. He had 222 yards on the ground (to go with his two scores) as Georgia beat #22 UNC.
2. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: NR)- Looking back on my list from last week, I can't believe I left Barrett out. He made me pay for that oversight by throwing for 349 yards and accumulating six total touchdowns. Now that he's not fighting for playing time, he's the smartest pick for a Buckeye Heisman winner since Troy Smith.
1. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- I had a tough choice between McCaffrey and Fourntette for the top spot last week, but I see now that McCaffrey was the way to go. Not only did he have 2 rushing scores, but he also picked up 40 receiving yards as well as 44 return yards. At this point, he's the safe pick to win the Heisman.
Thanks for reading everyone. Check back next week for an updated Heisman watch.
Monday, September 5, 2016
NFL 2016-2017 Season Preview
Labor Day weekend means two things: a much-needed Monday off and that football season is back. On Thursday night, we'll get a rematch of the most recent Super Bowl- the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. Of course, things are a little bit different now. Denver is without legendary QB Peyton Manning while Carolina has their lead receiver in Kelvin Benjamin back. Of course, we must look at every single team in the NFL, because that's our job. We'll preview every single team, predict the playoffs, and hand out awards. Let's get started.
NFC North:
Minnesota won the division last year, but that's looking less certain this year. Now that their starting QB Teddy Bridgewater is out for the season, things are looking a lot less certain. Sure, they got Sam Bradford, but that's nowhere a guarantee that they'll win the division. Meanwhile, Green Bay is yapping on their heels. Now that Jordy Nelson is back, their offense should be firing on full gear. I'll pick Green Bay to win the division, but Minnesota should absolutely be contending for a wild-card shot.
Unfortunately for Detroit and Chicago, their outlooks are a bit more bleak. Detroit will certainly miss Calvin Johnson and Chicago just doesn't have the talent to match up to GB and the Vikings. That being said, Chicago has the potential to be a lot better than they were last year. Kevin White has returned after missing all of last season while they also picked up Danny Trevathan from the Broncos. The Bears probably won't be that great this year, but they should finish ahead of the Lions.
NFC East:
The Cowboys were ready to win the division, but then Tony Romo went and suffered a season-ending injury. All the other pieces are in place, including first-round pick Ezekiel Elliot. The 'Boys have rookie Dak Prescott ready in place, and he was impressive in the preseason. If he doesn't work out, there's also Mark Sanchez. However, even if one of those two QBs don't work out, this division belongs to last year's winner: Washington. Sure, they have a running back issue (Alfred Morris went to Dallas and Matt Jones is injured) but they also got Josh Norman, arguably the best corner in the NFL. Washington should win this division and Dallas has a chance of fighting for a wild-card spot.
I'll pick New York to finish third over the Eagles. Both teams are problematic, but the Giants still have more talent (like Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., and Sterling Shepard). In fact, there's a small chance of them making the playoffs. It's small, but it exists.
NFC South:
Carolina's the easy pick here. Not only did they win the NFC last year, but they got back Kelvin Benjamin, their young, talented receiver who was out last year. On paper, they might be the most talented team in the league: Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart, Luke Kuechly, Greg Olsen, Thomas Davis, Jonathan Stewart, etc.
Out of the three remaining teams (Atlanta, New Orleans, and Tampa Bay), I pick Atlanta to finish second. Dan Quinn didn't provide the complete resurgence many Falcon fans were hoping for, but there were bright spots. Devonta Freeman emerged as one of the best backs in the league and rookie safety Keanu Neal should help the defense out. New Orleans should improve from their dismal season last year, thanks to the departure of Rob Ryan and the addition of TE Coby Fleener. Tampa Bay might surprise us (especially if second-year QB Jameis Winston continues to develop), but a tough division will keep them in the basement.
NFC West:
This is a tough pick between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. Both teams should make the playoffs, but I'm gonna go with Arizona because Seattle didn't really get better this offseason. In fact, you could argue they got worse. They lost o-linemen J.R. Sweezy and Russell Okung as well as defender Brandon Mebane. Meanwhile, Arizona has the full use of breakout star David Johnson. Carson Palmer will continue off his fantastic season last year and should lead his team to the division title. Don't be too disappointed Seattle fans though, they'll almost certainly make the playoffs.
I'll pick the Rams to finish ahead of the 49ers. Jeff Fisher coaching your team pretty much guarantees a 7-9 or 8-8 finish while the 'Niners have plenty of problems, including their quarterback situation. Jared Goff will eventually start, and he'll have a tough learning curve.
AFC North:
This is a two-team division between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. Le'Veon Bell's suspension will be mitigated by DeAngelo Williams, but gunslinger Andy Dalton was having a fantastic season last year before falling to injury. If he continues where he picked off last year, Cincy's going to be hard to beat. Their defense is a force to be reckoned and it's the reason why they get the edge over Pitssburgh.
Baltimore has had a bad string of luck with injuries recently. Last year it was former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, now it's pass-catcher Benjamin Watson and running back Kenneth Dixon. These injuries will make it hard for Baltimore to compete with Cincy and Pittsburgh, but at least they'll be ahead of Cleveland. Speaking of the Browns, it's hard to not think they'll improve from last season. They have a new head coach Hue Jackson and new QB RG3, plus WR Josh Gordon is finally back. They'll probably still be better than last year, but it's hard to picture them finishing in the top three.
AFC East:
It doesn't matter if Tom Brady is suspended for four games, the Patriots are still the clear facorites in their division. Jimmy G can handle things well enough and when Bill Belichick is your coach, things are always good. Their team is full of talented players like Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, and Julian Edelman.
I'm picking the Jets to finish second, as they did last year. Ryan Fitzpatrick is back and Rex Ryan has done a good job with the New York defense. I'm picking the Dolphins to finish third. Yes, they have problems with their running game, but Ryan Tannehill is a franchise QB with some good targets. It's tough to put the Bills at the bottom, as they have a talented team, including Tyrod Taylor, Sammy Watkins, and LeSean McCoy.
AFC South:
This is tough, as Andrew Luck is back, but I still have to go with the Texans. Their passing game was arguable their biggest weakness last year, but thanks to the additions of Brock Osweiler and Will Fuller, things are looking up. Plus, the QB situation wasn't the only problem in Indy last year. Frank Gore failed to live up to expectations while they lost TE Coby Fleener. Indy will make things difficult for the Texans, but I expect Bill O'Brien's team to win out.
The Jaguars are ready for a breakout season, thanks to a number of factors. Donte Fowler Jr. is ready to make his season debut after being injured all of his rookie season. They also drafted the very athletic Myles Jacks well as DB Jalen Ramsey. The Titans will continue to struggle, especially if they can't protect Marcus Mariota.
AFC West:
The defending champs are the clear favorites in this division. Sure, they lost a lot of talent (like Mailk Jackson, Peyton Manning, and Danny Trevathan), but they have plenty of other talented players (like Von Miller, CJ Anderson, and Demariyus Thomas). They're easily the best team in this division.
The Oakland Raiders are ready for a breakout season thanks to the emergence of Derek Carr and Amari Cooper. Sure, they lost Charles Woodson to retirement, but they also got a number of other talented players on defense, like Khalil Mack. Unfortunately, I still think they're falling short of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are coached by Andy Reid, one of the best coaches in the league, and they have talented players like Eric Berry, Jamaal Charles, and Alex Smith. The San Diego Chargers will finish at the bottom of the division. They have a franchise QB and talented team, but the other teams should have them beat.
Projected NFC Seedings: 1) Carolina Panthers 2) Arizona Cardinals 3) Green Bay Packers
4) Washington Redskins 5) Seattle Seahawks 6) Minnesota Vikings
Projected AFC Seedings: 1) Denver Broncos 2) New England Patriots 3) Cincinnati Bengals
4) Houston Texans 5) Pittsburgh Steelers 6) Kansas City Chiefs
Playoff Predictions:
The Packers take on their division rivals in the first round. I'm going to take the more experienced team here and say Green Bay moves on. In the other NFC wild-card game, we see Seattle at Washington. I got to go with Seattle on this one, they're a better team overall. The Seahawks then take on Carolina, and just like last year, I predict the Panthers win. In the other second-round match, I predict Green Bay takes out Arizona in the upset. Remember, their playoff match last year was extremely close and the Packers didn't have Jordy Nelson then. Finally, in the NFC title game, Carolina outlasts Green Bay to move on to their second straight Super Bowl.
We open the AFC side of things with KC at Cincinnati and Pittsburgh at Houston. I know Cincy has a problem getting it done in the first round of the playoffs, but I predict their luck changes this year. I also predict the Steelers outplay Houston to move on. In the second round, I'm going with the upset and taking Pittsburgh over New England. It's a bit of a risky pick, but I just think Pittsburgh has more pieces than the Pats. Meanwhile, Denver outlasts Cincinnati to move on. In the AFC title game, I'll pick the Steelers to outlast Denver, as the pressure is too much for their young QB.
In the Super Bowl, I'm picking Carolina over Pittsburgh. Carolina has an absolutely loaded team and they will be looking to bounce back from their humiliating defeat last week. The MVP: QB Cam Newton, who has one helluva game.
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Elliot, Dallas Cowboys
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Leonard Floyd, Chicago Bears
Coach of the Year: Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
Thanks for reading everyone.
NFC North:
Minnesota won the division last year, but that's looking less certain this year. Now that their starting QB Teddy Bridgewater is out for the season, things are looking a lot less certain. Sure, they got Sam Bradford, but that's nowhere a guarantee that they'll win the division. Meanwhile, Green Bay is yapping on their heels. Now that Jordy Nelson is back, their offense should be firing on full gear. I'll pick Green Bay to win the division, but Minnesota should absolutely be contending for a wild-card shot.
Unfortunately for Detroit and Chicago, their outlooks are a bit more bleak. Detroit will certainly miss Calvin Johnson and Chicago just doesn't have the talent to match up to GB and the Vikings. That being said, Chicago has the potential to be a lot better than they were last year. Kevin White has returned after missing all of last season while they also picked up Danny Trevathan from the Broncos. The Bears probably won't be that great this year, but they should finish ahead of the Lions.
NFC East:
The Cowboys were ready to win the division, but then Tony Romo went and suffered a season-ending injury. All the other pieces are in place, including first-round pick Ezekiel Elliot. The 'Boys have rookie Dak Prescott ready in place, and he was impressive in the preseason. If he doesn't work out, there's also Mark Sanchez. However, even if one of those two QBs don't work out, this division belongs to last year's winner: Washington. Sure, they have a running back issue (Alfred Morris went to Dallas and Matt Jones is injured) but they also got Josh Norman, arguably the best corner in the NFL. Washington should win this division and Dallas has a chance of fighting for a wild-card spot.
I'll pick New York to finish third over the Eagles. Both teams are problematic, but the Giants still have more talent (like Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., and Sterling Shepard). In fact, there's a small chance of them making the playoffs. It's small, but it exists.
NFC South:
Carolina's the easy pick here. Not only did they win the NFC last year, but they got back Kelvin Benjamin, their young, talented receiver who was out last year. On paper, they might be the most talented team in the league: Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart, Luke Kuechly, Greg Olsen, Thomas Davis, Jonathan Stewart, etc.
Out of the three remaining teams (Atlanta, New Orleans, and Tampa Bay), I pick Atlanta to finish second. Dan Quinn didn't provide the complete resurgence many Falcon fans were hoping for, but there were bright spots. Devonta Freeman emerged as one of the best backs in the league and rookie safety Keanu Neal should help the defense out. New Orleans should improve from their dismal season last year, thanks to the departure of Rob Ryan and the addition of TE Coby Fleener. Tampa Bay might surprise us (especially if second-year QB Jameis Winston continues to develop), but a tough division will keep them in the basement.
NFC West:
This is a tough pick between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. Both teams should make the playoffs, but I'm gonna go with Arizona because Seattle didn't really get better this offseason. In fact, you could argue they got worse. They lost o-linemen J.R. Sweezy and Russell Okung as well as defender Brandon Mebane. Meanwhile, Arizona has the full use of breakout star David Johnson. Carson Palmer will continue off his fantastic season last year and should lead his team to the division title. Don't be too disappointed Seattle fans though, they'll almost certainly make the playoffs.
I'll pick the Rams to finish ahead of the 49ers. Jeff Fisher coaching your team pretty much guarantees a 7-9 or 8-8 finish while the 'Niners have plenty of problems, including their quarterback situation. Jared Goff will eventually start, and he'll have a tough learning curve.
AFC North:
This is a two-team division between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. Le'Veon Bell's suspension will be mitigated by DeAngelo Williams, but gunslinger Andy Dalton was having a fantastic season last year before falling to injury. If he continues where he picked off last year, Cincy's going to be hard to beat. Their defense is a force to be reckoned and it's the reason why they get the edge over Pitssburgh.
Baltimore has had a bad string of luck with injuries recently. Last year it was former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, now it's pass-catcher Benjamin Watson and running back Kenneth Dixon. These injuries will make it hard for Baltimore to compete with Cincy and Pittsburgh, but at least they'll be ahead of Cleveland. Speaking of the Browns, it's hard to not think they'll improve from last season. They have a new head coach Hue Jackson and new QB RG3, plus WR Josh Gordon is finally back. They'll probably still be better than last year, but it's hard to picture them finishing in the top three.
AFC East:
It doesn't matter if Tom Brady is suspended for four games, the Patriots are still the clear facorites in their division. Jimmy G can handle things well enough and when Bill Belichick is your coach, things are always good. Their team is full of talented players like Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, and Julian Edelman.
I'm picking the Jets to finish second, as they did last year. Ryan Fitzpatrick is back and Rex Ryan has done a good job with the New York defense. I'm picking the Dolphins to finish third. Yes, they have problems with their running game, but Ryan Tannehill is a franchise QB with some good targets. It's tough to put the Bills at the bottom, as they have a talented team, including Tyrod Taylor, Sammy Watkins, and LeSean McCoy.
AFC South:
This is tough, as Andrew Luck is back, but I still have to go with the Texans. Their passing game was arguable their biggest weakness last year, but thanks to the additions of Brock Osweiler and Will Fuller, things are looking up. Plus, the QB situation wasn't the only problem in Indy last year. Frank Gore failed to live up to expectations while they lost TE Coby Fleener. Indy will make things difficult for the Texans, but I expect Bill O'Brien's team to win out.
The Jaguars are ready for a breakout season, thanks to a number of factors. Donte Fowler Jr. is ready to make his season debut after being injured all of his rookie season. They also drafted the very athletic Myles Jacks well as DB Jalen Ramsey. The Titans will continue to struggle, especially if they can't protect Marcus Mariota.
AFC West:
The defending champs are the clear favorites in this division. Sure, they lost a lot of talent (like Mailk Jackson, Peyton Manning, and Danny Trevathan), but they have plenty of other talented players (like Von Miller, CJ Anderson, and Demariyus Thomas). They're easily the best team in this division.
The Oakland Raiders are ready for a breakout season thanks to the emergence of Derek Carr and Amari Cooper. Sure, they lost Charles Woodson to retirement, but they also got a number of other talented players on defense, like Khalil Mack. Unfortunately, I still think they're falling short of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are coached by Andy Reid, one of the best coaches in the league, and they have talented players like Eric Berry, Jamaal Charles, and Alex Smith. The San Diego Chargers will finish at the bottom of the division. They have a franchise QB and talented team, but the other teams should have them beat.
Projected NFC Seedings: 1) Carolina Panthers 2) Arizona Cardinals 3) Green Bay Packers
4) Washington Redskins 5) Seattle Seahawks 6) Minnesota Vikings
Projected AFC Seedings: 1) Denver Broncos 2) New England Patriots 3) Cincinnati Bengals
4) Houston Texans 5) Pittsburgh Steelers 6) Kansas City Chiefs
Playoff Predictions:
The Packers take on their division rivals in the first round. I'm going to take the more experienced team here and say Green Bay moves on. In the other NFC wild-card game, we see Seattle at Washington. I got to go with Seattle on this one, they're a better team overall. The Seahawks then take on Carolina, and just like last year, I predict the Panthers win. In the other second-round match, I predict Green Bay takes out Arizona in the upset. Remember, their playoff match last year was extremely close and the Packers didn't have Jordy Nelson then. Finally, in the NFC title game, Carolina outlasts Green Bay to move on to their second straight Super Bowl.
We open the AFC side of things with KC at Cincinnati and Pittsburgh at Houston. I know Cincy has a problem getting it done in the first round of the playoffs, but I predict their luck changes this year. I also predict the Steelers outplay Houston to move on. In the second round, I'm going with the upset and taking Pittsburgh over New England. It's a bit of a risky pick, but I just think Pittsburgh has more pieces than the Pats. Meanwhile, Denver outlasts Cincinnati to move on. In the AFC title game, I'll pick the Steelers to outlast Denver, as the pressure is too much for their young QB.
In the Super Bowl, I'm picking Carolina over Pittsburgh. Carolina has an absolutely loaded team and they will be looking to bounce back from their humiliating defeat last week. The MVP: QB Cam Newton, who has one helluva game.
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Elliot, Dallas Cowboys
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Leonard Floyd, Chicago Bears
Coach of the Year: Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
Thanks for reading everyone.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Heisman Watch Week 0
After about 7 months of waiting, the college football season is back. It's been a long wait for it, but it looks like it's all going to be worth it. The off-season was exciting (thanks to stories like John Harbaugh's antics in the South and QB battles at schools like Notre Dame and Alabama), but it has nothing on the drama and intrigue of the real season.
Of course, along with the college football season comes the Heisman Trophy, the single-most prestigious trophy awarded to an individual athlete. It may be too early to already pick a Heisman favorite, but what's the fun in waiting. Our weekly Heisman watch will kick off with our Top 10 contenders and some honorable mentions. Let's get started.
There are plenty of honorable mentions to give out, but we'll highlight a few: QB Brad Kaaya of Miami (Fl), Josh Rosen of UCLA, and whoever the starting QB of Notre Dame is. With that being said, let's get to our list.
10. Greg Ward Jr., Houston- This may seem like an odd pick, but Ward really has the skills to pull off this upset. He passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. However, he'll need to lead his team to a victory over Oklahoma in Week 1 in order to win the Heisman.
9. Royce Freeman, Oregon- The Oregon running back had a great season last year, but was overshadowed by other backs (like Christian McCaffrey and Ezekiel Elliot). Now, he's poised to have a real breakout year.
8. Chad Kelly, Ole Miss- This might seem like another odd pick, but Kelly and Ole Miss had a great season last year, topped off by Kelly throwing for more than 4,000 yards. He's currently the best quarterback in the SEC and if he keeps winning, he'll stay in the Heisman conversation.
7. Seth Russell, Baylor- Russell had limited playing time last year, but he shone whenever he did. Quarterbacks have always done well in Baylor's system (like Robert Griffin III), so everything is set up for Russell to succeed.
6. Nick Chubb, Georgia- Chubb was looking fantastic last season before suffering a terrible season-ending injury. Now that he's completely healthy, look for him to run rampant all over opposing defenses.
5. Dalvin Cook, Florida St- Cook might have been a little under-the-radar last season, but he still had a great year. In total, he rushed for more than 1,600 yards and 19 touchdowns. If FSU does well this year, Cook will have a lot to do with it.
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma- Mayfield was one of last season's biggest breakout stars and Oklahoma ended up making the College Football Playoffs. If Oklahoma does well again this season, Mayfield will definitely be a Heisman finalist.
3. Deshaun Watson, Clemson- Watson is easily one of the biggest preseason favorites. Not only did he play in the national title game last year, but he was a Heisman finalist. There's a very good chance he can do the same thing again this year.
2. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford- Last year, McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders's single-season all-purpose yards record, and it was good enough to have him finish second in the Heisman voting. If he has a season anything like that again, he'll be a lock for New York.
1. Leonard Fournette, LSU- By the midway point of last season, Fournette was easily the Heisman leader. Unfortunately, he had a string of bad games that essentially derailed his candidacy. This year however, could be the season that Fournette goes the distance.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Of course, along with the college football season comes the Heisman Trophy, the single-most prestigious trophy awarded to an individual athlete. It may be too early to already pick a Heisman favorite, but what's the fun in waiting. Our weekly Heisman watch will kick off with our Top 10 contenders and some honorable mentions. Let's get started.
There are plenty of honorable mentions to give out, but we'll highlight a few: QB Brad Kaaya of Miami (Fl), Josh Rosen of UCLA, and whoever the starting QB of Notre Dame is. With that being said, let's get to our list.
10. Greg Ward Jr., Houston- This may seem like an odd pick, but Ward really has the skills to pull off this upset. He passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. However, he'll need to lead his team to a victory over Oklahoma in Week 1 in order to win the Heisman.
9. Royce Freeman, Oregon- The Oregon running back had a great season last year, but was overshadowed by other backs (like Christian McCaffrey and Ezekiel Elliot). Now, he's poised to have a real breakout year.
8. Chad Kelly, Ole Miss- This might seem like another odd pick, but Kelly and Ole Miss had a great season last year, topped off by Kelly throwing for more than 4,000 yards. He's currently the best quarterback in the SEC and if he keeps winning, he'll stay in the Heisman conversation.
7. Seth Russell, Baylor- Russell had limited playing time last year, but he shone whenever he did. Quarterbacks have always done well in Baylor's system (like Robert Griffin III), so everything is set up for Russell to succeed.
6. Nick Chubb, Georgia- Chubb was looking fantastic last season before suffering a terrible season-ending injury. Now that he's completely healthy, look for him to run rampant all over opposing defenses.
5. Dalvin Cook, Florida St- Cook might have been a little under-the-radar last season, but he still had a great year. In total, he rushed for more than 1,600 yards and 19 touchdowns. If FSU does well this year, Cook will have a lot to do with it.
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma- Mayfield was one of last season's biggest breakout stars and Oklahoma ended up making the College Football Playoffs. If Oklahoma does well again this season, Mayfield will definitely be a Heisman finalist.
3. Deshaun Watson, Clemson- Watson is easily one of the biggest preseason favorites. Not only did he play in the national title game last year, but he was a Heisman finalist. There's a very good chance he can do the same thing again this year.
2. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford- Last year, McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders's single-season all-purpose yards record, and it was good enough to have him finish second in the Heisman voting. If he has a season anything like that again, he'll be a lock for New York.
1. Leonard Fournette, LSU- By the midway point of last season, Fournette was easily the Heisman leader. Unfortunately, he had a string of bad games that essentially derailed his candidacy. This year however, could be the season that Fournette goes the distance.
Thanks for reading everyone.
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