Out of My League

The "Pek"ing Order

2012-02-07T16:47:00.006-06:00

By Joey Cavalier

Timberwolves fans have a lot to be excited about. The passing ninja that is Ricky Rubio, the development of Kevin Love, and an improved team defense have the fan base in a state of positivity and hope. But perhaps the most underrated storyline to this season has been the emergence of the Montenegrin center, Nikola Pekovic.

If there was such thing as a “NBA Bar Fight Draft,” Pekovic would be a lock as a top 3 pick. The European is listed at 6’11, 290 lbs. He’s got wicked ink, he looks like a hammerhead shark, runs like a duck, and plays like a bull. In his second season, “Pek” is emerging as a viable option at a position that has troubled the Wolves for nearly a decade. The Wolves haven’t had a capable center since the days of Rasho Nesterovic; and he wasn’t exactly greatness at the center position.

The Timberwolves drafted Pekovic in 2008 with the 31^st overall selection. He was widely considered a top ten pick at the time, but his contract situation caused him to slide into the second round. Pek finally made his debut with the Wolves last season, averaging 5.5 PTS, and 3 REB in 13.6 minutes per game. In limited playing time, Pekovic flashed potential, but didn’t play well enough to be viewed as a legitimate option at the center position.

Now, in his second season, Pekovic is flashing his talents nightly, and beginning to show the league why he was considered a top ten talent. In the Wolves’ last seven games, he has averaged 14.1 PTS, 9.3 REB (5.4 of those being offensive rebounds), and 26.35 minutes per game. During this stretch he has shot 63% from the field, and 73% from the free throw line. Pekovic has been solid, and is showing that he is capable of playing alongside of Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love in the starting lineup.

Pekovic has been a major factor in the Timberwolves ascent to .500. It is clearer than ever that Darko Milicic is not the long-term answer for this team at center. Given his size and skill-set, Pekovic has a chance to step up and play a crucial role on this team.

Let’s take a look at the things Pekovic does well:

Offensive Glass- Pekovic has been a beast on the offensive glass. In the last seven games, he has averaged 5.4 ORB per game! Over the course of the season, he is averaging 3.3 ORB (and that’s with only playing an average of 18.9 minutes per game), while Darko is only averaging a meager 1.5 ORB per game in a similar amount of playing time. In his strength, Pekovic establishes position near the rim, and understands where he needs to be when Wes Johnson is clanking his shots off of the back of the rim.

Offensive Efficiency- Pekovic has been very efficient offensively. He is shooting 61% from the field on the season. Also, he is bullying his way to the free-throw line, and is shooting 73% from the stripe. But the thing that is most impressive about Pek, is his ability to play with his back to the hoop. He is great in the low post, he knows where he is on the court, and knows the right move to make to get to the basket for an easy shot. He attacks the rim (unlike Darko) and provides the nasty scoring that this team needs. Unlike Pekovic, Darko is not very efficient offensively. He is currently shooting 43% from the field, and 45% from the free throw line. He has a habit of getting lost on the floor and heaving up a series of bad shots. Darko doesn’t possess the quality of offense or the consistency that this team needs from the center position.

Running the Floor- When Pek runs up and down the floor, one cannot help but laugh at how painfully awkward he looks. However, he runs the floor very well. He may look like he has webbed feet, yet he is displaying above average speed, and the type of hustle needed to get to the other end of the court. Also, his quickness and hustle has allowed him to excel in the Wolves’ pick-and-roll offense. Darko is certainly athletic enough to run the floor well, but his lack of motivation is clear, and in turn his quickness and hustle suffers.

Toughness- Ever since the Kevin Garnett era, the Wolves frontcourt has been about as soft as a bag of cotton balls. Pek contributes a gritty, physical style of play. Sometimes it gets him into foul trouble, but overall, that is what you ask for out of your center. Defensively, he is able to hold his own. He doesn’t block a lot of shots, but he is strong enough to keep players out of the paint and is quick enough to defend players away from the basket. In contrast, Darko is not a very “tough” player. He can block shots, but he lets way too many players waltz into the paint for easy buckets. And overall, Darko does not have the attitude of toughness that Pekovic possesses.

Pekovic could have a very bright future in this league. Obviously, he will never be in the same category as Dwight Howard or Andrew Bynum. But if he continues to improve, he will be a force to be reckoned with. It is time for the Timberwolves to move on from Darko (aka “Manna from Heaven”) Milicic and give Pek the starting job. He definitely has the skill-set and the upside to prosper as a starting center in this league.

Gopher Puck Talk

2012-02-07T14:21:00.000-06:00

By Jason Rossow of GopherTailgate.com

The Gopher Men’s Hockey team finds themselves in a position that is expected, but haven’t seen in five years…..leading the WCHA in February. The Gophers have four series left and take a three point lead into the home stretch.

Don Lucia will coach his 1,000^th game on Saturday night in Denver, and is still building his resume’ but will likely go down as a one of the ten greatest NCAA Hockey coaches all-time. In my opinion, the biggest difference between this year’s Gopher squad and the past three years which underperformed greatly is the addition of former Gopher, and former Gopher coach Mike Guentzel. Guentzel is the highest paid assistant coach in college hockey, and is the overwhelming favorite to replace Lucia when his time is done in Minnesota. Lucia's teams have floundered without Guentzel and flourished with him. The Gophers defense seemed like an area of concern starting the season, but has proved to be one of the best units in America this winter, with guidance of Guentzel.

The Gophers have a chance to have TWO finalist candidates for the Hobey Baker Award this spring (that is the Heisman of college hockey for Ryan Boser’s of the world).

Nick Bjugstad is having a monster sophomore season and his 33 goals rank him 2^nd in the nation despite missing two games for World Juniors over the holiday.

Kent Patterson has logged every minute of every game in net, and has been fantastic. He has an amazing 1.9 Goals Against average in conference play. The big concern Gopher fans have is how will Patterson hold up down the stretch. Will he be strong in playoff time or will he wear down?

Kyle Rau is the favorite to win WCHA Freshman of the Year, with 40pts and 27 goals thus far.

Defenseman Nate Schmidt is quietly having a big point year for a blue-liner. His 25 assists are the 2^nd most for any defenseman in the league.

The Gophers are 15-5 in the WCHA, three full points clear of defending national champ Minnesota-Duluth, and in great position to win their first McNaughton Cup since 2007. They are 5-5 on Friday nights and 10-0 on Saturday in conference play. However, they’ve had a bad non-conference record this season at just 4-4-1. At 19-9-1 overall, the Gophers are 2^nd in the nation with 3.72 Goals per game, and 2^nd with just 2.03 goals against. They rank 1^st and 2^nd in the major college hockey polls. Oddly enough, there is a legitimate chance they won’t qualify for the NCAA tournament if they falter down the stretch. College hockey uses something called the Pairwise rating to determine at-large teams for the tournament which is a formula that makes the Quarterback rating look like elementary math. In the Pairwise, the Gophers are ranked just T-7^th, and will likely need to remain in the top 13 or so to secure a spot in the NCAA’s.

The remaining schedule will be tough, with very difficult road series at Denver and Omaha. The two home series include rival Wisconsin & inner-state foe Bemidji State. The good news for playoffs is the Gophers won’t have to travel until the Frozen 4 if they make it that far. They’ll get a home series in the first round of the WCHA tourney at Marriuci, and then travel down the road a couple of miles to the Xcel Center for the Final5 if they advance. Then in the NCAA’s their first two games would also be in the Xcel center, meaning IF they were to reach the Frozen 4, they would play all their games in the Twin Cities from the end of February through the beginning of April. The stars are in alignment for the Pride on Ice to hang a banner (regular season champs), or two(post season champs), or even three (ncaa champs) this year. Of course in a one game, loser go home playoff, ANYTHING is possible good or bad.

Don Lucia’s teams hung 7 banners from 2002-2007 (2 national titles, 2 regular season titles and 3 postseason titles) but since 07 have not won any titles or advanced to the frozen 4. They haven’t won an ncaa playoff game since 2007, and haven’t been to the frozen 4 since 2005. The past four seasons have been as bad of a four year run as I can remember as a Gopher Hockey fan. A great March/April run would make every Gopher puck fan forget the past four years very quickly!

Joel Maturi: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and the Unknown

2012-02-02T15:07:00.004-06:00

By Jason Rossow of GopherTailgate.com

Joel Maturi came to the "U" in the summer of 2002, and leaves the Gopher athletic department 10 years later with mixed results.

The Good

Gophers won four national titles under his watch: two in women's hockey, one in men's hockey and one in wrestling
Gopher football was brought back to campus entirely on his watch, and has the finest stadium in the nation
No major academic scandals
Merged the men's and women's athletic programs under one umbrella
Always was accessible and would answer every e-mail ever sent

The Bad

Emphasizing non-revenue sports over football/basketball/hockey (best rowing house in America)

Not getting a basketball practice facility built

Not getting Siebert Field upgraded quickly enough

The handling of Trevor Mbakwe's and Royce White's legal situations

Allowing Pam Borton to run the women's basketball team into the ground

Marketing: not a word I believe was in Joel's vocabulary

Extending Dan Monson and firing him in the same year

Extending Glen Mason and firing him in the same year

Extending Tim Brewster and firing him in the same year

Jimmy Williams being paid $1M and never stepping foot on campus

The Ugly

Glen Mason, who was a legitimate middle-of-the-road coach, was fired with no idea how he would be replaced. Maturi went against the "U," and stuck his neck out with the hiring of a tight end coach who had no head coaching or coordinator experience (Tim Brewster). He swung and missed badly. In his fourth season at the "U," Brewster's team lost a home game to a team that was only a couple of years removed from D2. He was completely ill-equipped to coach at this level, and it is 100% on Joel Maturi that the program went from mediocre and relevant to an embarrassment.

The Unknown

Maturi's legacy is not done yet. The Tubby Smith hire is looking worse and worse every year, but Tubby's legacy is still being written. Jerry Kill's success or failure will also leave a lasting reflection on Joel Maturi.

Gopher Gab: Meet the 2012 Recruiting Class

2012-02-01T12:50:00.004-06:00

By Jason Rossow of GopherTailgate.com

The 2012 Minnesota Gopher recruiting class has a local theme, and a defensive backfield theme, and a JUCO theme.

There are 10 kids FROM Minnesota that were given scholarships and at least another three joining the team as “preferred walk-ons”. In the past 10 years, Minnesota players staying home have had a lot of success at Minnesota, so here’s to that trend continuing. Marion Barber, Eric Decker, Matt Spaeth, Mark Setterstrom, Ben Utecht, Thomas Tapeh, Adam Weber, Dom Barber and Marcus Sherrels are kids raised in the Gopher state who have gone on to the NFL. Looking back at recruiting classes, I couldn’t find any Gopher classes with more local kids. NDSU just won the FCS National title and beat the Gophers with a bunch of kids who were not good enough to be offered by Tim Brewster & Co. (or as I like to refer to them: Gopher rejects). In fact, no other BCS team in the country kept as many top 10 (rivals) recruits as the Gophers did in their home state with 7-of-10. They really only lost out on one of the 10, as one kid had just moved here, and one (No. 10) wasn’t offered.

The defensive backfield was the single greatest weakness on a bad 2011 team. The biggest addition to the defensive backfield isn’t a newcomer, but rather the good news on Troy Stoudermire receiving a medical red-shirt and granted a fifth year of eligibility. There are seven defensive secondary players committed to the 2012 class and another two players listed as “athletes” that may end up back there. Three of the eight D-backs are JUCO transfers. Coach Kill said the purpose of JUCO’s is not for depth, but rather to plug an immediate need.

Speaking of JUCO’s, there is a total of SIX in this year’s class. For comparison the other eleven teams in the Big10 have a total of 12 (even with Indiana's six). Good teams don’t rely heavily on JUCO’s. Along with the three defensive backs, Minnesota also added a running back, defensive tackle and wide receiver from the JUCO ranks.

Overall, the national rankings are going to show a very bad recruiting class for Minnesota. Rivals ranks Minnesota 12th out of the 12 Big10 teams and Scout ranks them 11th. Kill has won at every level he’s ever coached, and for some strange reason (i.e., drinking Gopher Kool-Aid by the gallon), I think he’ll have success at Minnesota with low-end recruits. IF, he can somehow breakthrough into a consistent winner with lesser talent, higher-rated recruits will suddenly start showing up at Minnesota.

There are five recruits that will headline this class. Four of the five are FROM Minnesota. Andrew McDonald out of Minnetonka was the pre-season No. 1 Minnesota recruit. He might be the most Big10-ready of the five, and could be an immediate starter at wide receiver this fall. The non-Minnesotan in the top five is another wide receiver, Jamel Harbison (ESPN 4 star) out of North Carolina. He and McDonald will battle each other and the current Gophers for immediate playing time. Jonah Pirsig might be the second largest creature in Blue Earth behind the Jolly Green Giant statue. At 6’8 and 300lbs., with agile feet, it’s easy to see why he could pretty much have named the school of his choice. Isaac Hayes (St. Thomas Academy) is an offensive guard who is listed by ESPN as one of the top 150 players in the nation! Last but not least is my favorite recruit of the Gophers class, quarterback Phillip Nelson of Mankato. He already graduated high school and is a student at the U this spring. Nelson posses the perfect combination of accurate passing and running ability. Tom Lemming, the most trusted recruiting name in the country, ranks Nelson as the second best QB in America. In unrelated Gopher news, former sixth-string quarterback Moses Allipate has moved to Tight End and has lost 30 pounds. For a FULL analysis of EVERY recruit in the Minnesota class a player by player breakdown, read on.

Andre McDonald, WR

Minnetonka, Minnesota

3-STAR (Rivals), 3-STAR (Scout), 4-STAR (ESPN)

(Also Pictured Above)

6’2-6’3 / 200-210 lbs.

Offers: Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa St, Michigan St, Ohio St, UCLA, and Vanderbilt

40: 4.47-4.51

Rivals: No. 3 recruit in Minnesota, 68th WR in the nation

Scout: 75th WR

ESPN: No. 2 in Minnesota, No. 37 WR, No. 25 region

Strengths: Hands, Route Running, Catching in traffic

Video: http://kstp.com/article/stories/S2470858.shtml?cat=3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPTDxFDg688

Jason’s Thoughts: McDonald is very impressive on film. He should be able to compete immediately for a starting job. He reminds me of former Viking Sidney Rice in his ability to go get the ball at the right time and come down with it in traffic. He doesn’t have world-class speed, but has the perfect body to be a solid receiver at this level and possibly the next. His recruiting was a bit of a process… He committed to the Gophers early and then de-committed, saying Iowa was his leader. He then committed to Vanderbilt, and later opened his options back up. He finally chooses the “U” over UCLA and Vanderbilt as his two other finalists.

Isaac Hayes, G

Mendota Heights, Minnesota

3-STAR, 3-STAR, 4-STAR

6’2-6’3 / 270 lbs.

Offers: Virginia Tech, Boise St, Oregon St. and other Non-BCS

40: 5.1

Bench: 270 lbs.

Squat: 435 lbs.

RIVALS: No. 39 Guard, No. 59 MN recruit

SCOUT: No. 75 Guard

ESPN: No. 112 player in the nation, No. 9 Guard, No. 8 player in the region, No. 1 player in MN

Strengths: Run Blocking, Pass Blocking, Space Blocking, Toughness

Video: http://www.kfan.com/pages/gophers.html?article=8803354

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCMPtsPSmZ0

Jason’s Thoughts: Hayes is an ESPN top-150 recruit which is a “big deal”. At St. Thomas Academy, he was an all out stud. He seemed to do everything well for a lineman. He has good footwork, uses his hands well, and does well both run and pass blocking. He’s a touch short and needs to add strength. I see a redshirt season in 2012, and a long career and the likelihood of being a multi-year starter.

Jamel Harbison WR

Charlotte, North Carolina

3-STAR, 3-STAR, 4-STAR

5’11-6’0 / 181-191 lbs.

Offers: Clemson, North Carolina St, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia

40: 4.8

Shuttle: 4.5

Vertical: 32.4

RIVALS: No. 28 ranked in North Carolina

SCOUT: No. 151 WR

ESPN: No. 28 ranked WR, No. 89 Regional, No. 10 State

Strengths: Hands, Speed, Catch in Traffic, YAC

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIfzqkaQOCs

Jason’s Thoughts: Harbison’s commitment to the “U” never seemed locked up until signing day as he became more and more sought after later in the process. He might be listed as 5’11 and running a slowish forty time, but from his video’s Harbison is a beast. He runs routes well, has great hands, and is very good at getting yards after first contact. I look for Harbison to challenge for a starting spot immediately at the “U”.

Phillip Nelson, QB (P-S)

Mankato, Minnesota

3-STAR, 3-STAR, 3-STAR

6’2- 6’3 / 212-216 lbs.

Offers: (none)

40: 4.48

Bench: 275

Squat: 405

Vertical: 30

GPA: 3.6

RIVALS: No. 15 Pro-Style QB in nation, No. 2 MN recruit

SCOUT: No. 46 QB in the nation

ESPN: No. 94 QB in the nation, No. 185 recruit in the region, No. 7 in the state

Strengths: Accuracy

Video: http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2012/01/04/incoming-gophers-qb-philip-nelson-shines-in-all-star-game/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqgWJSnqjiI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ugihEfQBOA&feature=related

Jason’s Thoughts: I watched Nelson play in the state semifinals last fall. He ran a more complex no huddle offense than I’ve ever seen at the Minnesota High School level. His greatest asset is his throwing motion. He gets rid of the ball VERY quick and is pretty accurate. He also has a very good speed. Nelson graduated high school early and is already enrolled at the “U”. I see him red-shirting next fall and battling Max Shortell for the starting spot the following season. Don’t be fooled by Nelson having no other offers. Similar to Tommy Olson last year, Nelson made it clear early on that Minnesota was his choice. Tom Lemming (who is to college recruiting what Mel Kiper is to the NFL draft) ranks Nelson as the No. 2 overall QB in the country! Nelson is originally from Wisconsin and his father played for the Badgers.

Jonah Pirsig, OT

Blue Earth, Minnesota

3-STAR, 3-STAR, 3-STAR

6’8"-6’9" / 290-300 lbs.

Offers: Auburn, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa St, Miami, Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, & Wisconsin

RIVALS: No. 6 MN recruit

SCOUT: No. 35 OT

ESPN: No. 52 OT, No. 43 recruit in the region, No. 4 in the state

Strengths: Run blocking/Toughness

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL9Xws9dkSU

Jason’s Thoughts: Pirsig was an important recruit in that he is a Minnesota kid staying home, and choose MN over other finalists Iowa & Wisconsin. Losing home grown talent to USC or Notre Dame doesn’t hurt nearly as much as lining up across from them the next four years in your rival's uniform. Thankfully, Pirsig will be wearing the right colors! When watching film on Pirsig it’s easy to see why he could have basically picked his school of choice. He’s 6’8, with a wide frame, and is surprisingly very light on his feet. Playing at Blue Earth he didn’t see much for competition, however. Pirsig excelled at run-blocking, and I believe will one day anchor the left tackle spot. He needs a good year or two working on building strength and technique and the sky is the limit for his body.

Jack Lynn, OLB

Lake Zurich, Illinois

3-STAR, 3-STAR, 2-STAR

6’2"-6’3" / 205 lbs.

Offers: Many Non-BCS D1 schools

RIVALS: No. 27 state

SCOUT: No. 102 OLB

ESPN: No. 171 OLB, No. 349 Regional, No. 52nd State

Strengths: Tackling

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sn0si0CPmc

Jason’s Thoughts: Lynn played WR and DE in high school. He will be used by the Gophers likely at OLB. I think he’ll almost certainly red-shirt to add size to his frame. He has a good sized body, and has a great motor on the field (theme with Kill’s recruits), but I think he lacks the skill to be a solid player in the near future.

Jordan Hinojosa, DT

Miami, Florida

3-STAR, 2-STAR, 2-STAR

6’3" / 265-275 lbs.

Offers: Michigan State, Wake Forest, West Virginia

40: 5.23

Shuttle: 5.79

Vertical: 23inches

SCOUT: No. 111 DT

ESPN: No. 133 DT, No. 730 regional, No. 262 state

Strengths: Pursuit

Jason’s Thoughts: I really like Hinojosa. He plays EXTREMELY hard, and has great height and size already. He has a nice offer list as well. Look for a redshirt season to work on technique and add strength, and then we could see a lot of Hinojosa the next 4 years.

Nick Rallis, S

Edina, Minnesota

3-STAR, 3-STAR, 2-STAR

5’11"-6’0" / 200-205 lbs.

RIVALS: No. 9 ranked MN player

SCOUT: No. 66 OLB

ESPN: No. 119 safety, No. 228 region, No. 10 state

Strengths: Zone Coverage/Run Support

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLKeHmKMkG4

Jason’s Thoughts: Nick is the brother of starting linebacker Mike Rallis. Nick had actually committed to Brewster’s staff many moons ago. Rallis is a very tough kid that played both ways at Edina. He reminds me a LOT of his brother minus the hair. He is going to be either a safety or OLB at the next level. He lacks all the measurables to be recruited by high-end programs.

Lincoln Plsek, DE

Waco, Texas

3-STAR, 2-STAR, 3-STAR

6’3"-6’4" / 235-240 lbs.

40: 4.7

Offers: Air Force, Army, Rice, Stephen F Austin

ESPN: No. 102 DE, No. 174 Region, No. 135 State

Strengths: Run Defense

Jason’s Thoughts: Plsek played both ways in HS, and could end up at TE for the Gophers. I still see him being given a shot mainly at DE, however. A typical Kill-type recruit yet again… not overly flashy, but makes plays, and is another lunch bucket type of player.

K.J. Maye, Athlete

Mobile, Alabama

3-STAR, 2-STAR, 3-STAR

5’10" / 175-193 lbs.

Offers: Kentucky and many non-BCS teams

ESPN: No. 95 athlete, No. 36 state, No. 426 region

Strengths: Versatility

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHwgW8dSM8c

Jason’s Thoughts: He played QB in High School and actually looks like he could play QB at small D1 or D2 school. He will come to the Gophers as either a DB, or more likely a slot receiver. He is very quick and elusive, but has a VERY small frame. His high school film reminds me most of current Gopher Troy Stoudermire, who also was a HS QB. However, Stoudermire, although short, has much more solid build. His video on youtube is long, but the first play at the 30-to-38 second mark is worth the watch.

Rodrick Williams Jr., RB

Lewisville, Texas

3-STAR, 2-STAR, 2-STAR

5’10"- 5’11" / 215-220 lbs.

Offers: Iowa, Utah

SCOUT: No. 138 RB

ESPN: No. 88 RB, No. 279 region, No. 222 state

Strengths: Power, Hands

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg5fRsMF2Bo

Jason’s Thoughts: Williams Jr. reminds me of current Gopher Donnell Kirkwood. He is the short and stocky build and keeps his legs moving. He also catches the ball well out the backfield. His speed isn’t real good for Big10 level, and for a bruising type of back needs a little more strength. I see him red-shirting, with starting potential in his upperclassman years. Side note: Williams is a top-rated Heavyweight Wrestler in Texas.

Mitch Leidner, QB (P-S)

Lakeville, Minnesota

2-STAR, 3-STAR, 2-STAR

6’4"-6’4.5" / 220-225 lbs.

40: 4.9

Bench: 270

Squat: 350

Scout: No. 56 QB

ESPN: No. 110 QB, No. 224 Region, No. 9 state

Strengths: Reads

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPwNutO00jA

Jason’s Thoughts: Leidner also graduated HS early and is enrolled at the “U” and will take part in spring practice. He has great size, and is tough to bring down. He seems a little robotic and not overly smooth throwing. With his great size, if he can’t work his way up the QB depth chart, he would likely be moved to Tight End.

Antonio Johnson, S

Cleveland, Ohio

3-STAR, 2-STAR, 2-STAR

5’11"-6’0" / 185-190 lbs.

40: 4.5

Vertical: 35 inches

Offers: Akron, Ball St, Buffalo, Eastern Mich, Kent St., Toledo

Rivals: No. 43 Safety

Scout: No. 180 OLB

ESPN: No.132 state, No. 157 safety, No. 307 region

Strength: Run support

Video: http://cleveland.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1307289

Jason’s Thoughts: Johnson committed to Ball St. prior to having a Gopher offer. Johnson also played RB in high school. I am high on Johnson and think he could be a solid defender for the Gophers. Of course, all these D1 prospects look like studs when you’re the most athletic kid on the field. But Johnson looks the part of a legit safety.

Maxx Williams, TE

Waconia, Minnesota

3-STAR, 3-STAR, Unranked

6’3"-6’4" / 220-225 lbs.

40: 4.75

Bench: 305

Shuttle: 4.27

Vertical: 33 inches

GPA: 3.6

RIVALS: No. 7 MN

SCOUT: No. 49 Tight End

Jason’s Thoughts: Yet another Minnesota kid committed to the Gophers. He’s intriguing to me as his name Maxx has two x’s, and he looks like Sherman from the American Pie series. Williams looks a bit small on the field. He shows good leaping ability and good hands. I think Williams ends up starting at TE for the Gophers at some point.

Scott Ekpe, DT

Lewisville, Texas

2-STAR, 2-STAR, 2-STAR

6’3"-6’4" / 250-265 lbs.

40: 4.8

Bench: 310

Squat: 515

SCOUT: No. 175 DE

ESPN: No.142 Position, No. 339 region, No. 267 state

Strengths: Lateral Range, Pass Rushing, Size

Jason’s Thoughts: Ekpe played the nose in a 3-4 in HS. He has a frame to be a DT in college. He is a long ways from being a viable DT in the Big10 and will need lots of coaching and time in the weight room. Fortunately, Ekpe joins Nelson and Leidner as December high school grads and will get an extra spring practice session with the team.

Alex Keith, DE

Columbia, Missouri

2-STAR, 2-STAR, 2-STAR

6’3"-6’4" / 205-235 lbs.

ESPN: No. 192 position, No. 313 region, No. 19 state

Strengths: Pursuit

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZbjnb7FSm8

Jason’s Thoughts: Yet another Kill recruit with a good “motor”. He also has a nice frame for a DE. He seems like he plays a little tight and upright, but hopefully some good coaching will help with that.

Duke Anyanwu, Athlete/WR

Blaine, Minnesota

3-STAR, 2-STAR, 1-STAR

6’2"-6’4" / 200-225 lbs.

40: 4.96

Shuttle: 4.95

Vertical: 26.0

Offer: Air Force

Scout: No. 291 WR

ESPN: No. 289 WR, No. 17 state, No. 392 region

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFz3NIFudrc

Jason’s Thoughts: Anyanwu lined up everywhere in HS including QB, RB, WR & LB/Safety. While he looks like a man amongst boys on film, he is pretty slow for a D1 receiver. It will be a work in progress no matter what position he ends up at. Anyanwu is very young and not highly recruited. He may end up gray-shirting, meaning he doesn’t start with the football team officially until Jan. 2013, leaving him five years to play four at that point. Basically fudging the NCAA rules and getting two years to red-shirt.

Roland Johnson, DT

Butler Community College (South Carolina)

3-STAR, 2-STAR, Unranked

6’1"-6’2" / 285-295 lbs.

Offers: Indiana, other non-BCS schools

Strengths: Disruptiveness

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omlne-0JFVk

Jason’s Thoughts: Johnson has less than ideal size for the D-Tackle. His height and arms length could limit his success. Like so many of Kill’s recruits, is known for a hard work ethic and relentless motor. As a JUCO will provide immediate depth on the D-line. He could even be used at DE.

Briean Boddy, CB

Coffeyville Kansas Community College

3-STAR, 2-STAR, Unranked

5’11" / 175 lbs.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLyDZmSk5Nc

Jason’s Thoughts: He has three years of eligibility remaining, had four picks and three fumbles recovered last fall as well as was a key return man for Coffeyville. I like JUCO transfers a lot more that have three years vs. two.

James Gillum, RB

Perkinston Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

3-STAR, 2-STAR, Unranked

5’11" / 195 lbs.

Offers: Louisiana Tech

Jason’s Thoughts: Gillum was recruited by Kill’s staff at Northern Illinois out of high school. He ran for over 1,000 yards in both of his seasons at Miss Gulf Coast CC. Gillum might be the most impactful recruit of the class next season. He could end up on the bench or be the No. 1 RB—I’m not sure where he’ll stack up.

Martez Shabazz, CB

Athens, Texas (Trinity Valley CC)

3-STAR, 2-STAR, Unranked

5’10"- 5’11" / 165-170 lbs.

Offers: Baylor & Non BCS Schools

40: 4.36

Jason’s Thoughts: Shabazz was clocked as the fastest player for all defensive players by ESPN. He has two years of eligibility remaining and will compete immediately for a starting corner position. I have not seen video of Shabazz.

Damarius Travis, S

Pensacola, Florida

3-STAR, 2-STAR, Unranked

6’1" / 185-194 lbs.

40: 4.67

Shuttle: 4.75

Vertical: 27.9

Offers: Florida International, Western Michigan

Jason’s Thoughts: No video, but based on the Gophers secondary, depth is great. And Florida HS experience is a plus, too.

Youshoub Timss, DT

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

2-STAR, Unranked, 3-STAR

6’2" / 260-270 lbs.

Offers: Syracuse & many non-BCS teams

ESPN: No. 83 Position, No. 171 State, No. 497 region

Strengths: Strength (funny)

Jason’s Thoughts: He lined up at end a lot in his video and clearly doesn’t have the body shape or speed to be an end in college. The good news is he appears very strong. He has a lot of technique refining, and adding 20-30lbs to be a solid DT producer in the Big10. From his interview he seems like a great kid!

Jeremy Baltazar, CB

Brenham, Texas (Blinn CC)

2-STAR, 2-STAR, Unranked

6’0" / 195-196 lbs.

40: 4.4-4.5

Bench: 365

Squat: 425

Shuttle: 4.32

Offers: 2 Non-BCS

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2OhYNFaQCk

Jason’s Thoughts: Baltazar is projected as a cornerback, but has the strength and size to move to safety if needed. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Isaac Fruechte, WR

Rochester CC

2-STAR, 2-STAR, Unranked

6’2"-6’3" / 205-210 lbs.

40: 4.4

Bench: 270

Squat: 400

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTJ8RxT_3EM

Jason’s Thoughts: Fruechte graduated from Caladonia, Minnesota and played one season at RCTC. He sat out this season allowing him three years of eligibility at the “U”. I am very excited about Fruechte and think he will do surprisingly well. He’s also the roommate of Phillip Nelson, which reminds me of the last two Minnesota kids that were QB/WR roommates, Weber and Decker.

Eric Murray, CB
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2-STAR, 2-STAR, Unranked

5’11"-6’0" / 173-180 lbs.

Rivals: No. 4 ranked player in Wisconsin

Jason’s Thoughts: Murray ranks as the No. 4 prospect out of Wisconsin and is a low profile recruit, which shows that Minnesota High School football is superior to the Drunken Sconnies. No video of Murray.

Ben Lauer, OT
Plymouth, Minnesota

Unranked, 2-STAR, Unranked

6’6"-6’7" / 260-270 lbs.

Offers: North Dakota, North Dakota St.

Scout: No. 169 OT

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF57t9QcQuU

Jason’s Thoughts: Another local kid with great size. It took me half way through his video to figure out who was being highlighted (not a good thing). But with his frame, and a good work ethic, he could be a factor down the road.

Vikings and Browns: A Trade That Needs to Be Explored

2012-01-26T09:43:00.002-06:00

There's still one tiny little game left to be played, but for 30-of-32 NFL teams, the process of improving 2012 rosters has already kicked into high gear. From coaching carousels to Senior Bowl scouting, front offices are looking for an angle, while fans are concocting harebrained schemes to make sure their teams are playing at this time next season.

Admittedly, this is article is closer to the latter than the former.

Trades are rare in the NFL, and high-profile trades are virtually nonexistent. But that doesn't mean they can't—or shouldn't—happen. When executed correctly, trades benefit both teams, and I believe that the trade I'm suggesting accomplishes just that: Minnesota sends the No. 3 pick to Cleveland for cornerback Joe Haden.

Click here to read the rest of the article at Bleacher Report.

Timberwolves Giving Fans Something to Howl About

2012-01-23T12:15:00.005-06:00

By Joey Cavalier

Last season, watching a Timberwolves game was about as fun as stubbing your toe or stepping on a Lego. This season, however, the T-Pups are one of the most exciting squads to watch in the entire NBA. There is something very special going on in the Timberwolves organization. For the first time since Kevin Garnett was regularly dropping F-Bombs (and countless other vulgarities) in the Target Center, the (quickly growing) fan base is buzzing with optimism.

Although there have been a ton of positive developments with this team, there have been a fair share of disappointments as well.

Let's break down “the good" and “the ugly” through 14 games.

The Good…

The speculation that Ricky Rubio’s game wouldn’t translate to the NBA can be put to rest. Some rubes loved to point out the “fact” that Rubio’s game was “regressing” in Europe. Yet, Rubio has been spectacular for the Timberwolves, and he looks like a savvy veteran in the heat of the game. Rubio ranks 7th in the league in assists (8.3 per game), he is averaging 11 points per game on 40% shooting and he has more steals than any player in the NBA (39). He is also hitting clutch shots when the game is on the line. Rubio is putting the team on his back, and is a top-notch floor general that the Wolves haven’t had in a long, long time. The future is extremely bright for this kid.

Kevin Love has also been terrific. One can even make a case for Love as the NBA’s best power forward. Currently, Love is top-five in scoring (24.06 PPG), top-two in rebounding (14.1 RPG), top-three in efficiency (26.0 EFF), top-three in points/assists/rebounds (with a 39.9 AVG) and is leading the NBA in double-doubles (15). On top of those gaudy numbers, his defense has improved and he is producing in the clutch (e.g. his game-winning three pointer versus the Clippers). Few players in the world can match Love's work ethic, and he's an essential building block for this young team.

Just like it’s weird to see the Wolves with a capable point guard, it is also weird to see the Timberwolves with a coach who knows what he is doing; Kurt Rambis was plain bad, and Rick Adelman is plain good. Adelman is teaching these youngsters how to play basketball, and he's making the right calls late in games. Going from Kurt Rambis to Rick Adelman is like upgrading from a Geo Metro to a Cadillac. Thank you, David Kahn.

Hard work is a necessary ingredient to any successful NBA team, and unlike last year, this squad appears to understand that. Wayne Ellington, Anthony Randolph and Anthony Tolliver have worked extremely hard off the bench, allowing the Wolves to stay competitive while the starters are resting. This trio of subs has provided an offensive punch while putting forth solid defensive effort. Adelman is getting the role players to buy in and work hard. In contrast, Rambis never even defined role players, let alone got them to work hard. The role players for the Wolves have made a huge difference this season.

Last year the Wolves would get blown out on a nightly basis. This season, the Wolves have been competitive in every game. They haven’t lost a game by more than 11 points all year, due largely to their improved defense. Last season, the Wolves allowed an average of 107.71 points per game. This season, the Wolves are only giving up 93.81 points per game. The Wolves could already score, and with their newfound commitment to defense, they can already compete with the top teams in the league.

The Ugly...

Wesley Johnson is starting to concern me. He will flash his potential here and there, but then immediately disappear again. The rip on him coming out of Syracuse was that he had already peaked in college. But the Wesley Johnson we are seeing doesn’t look like the Wesley Johnson from Syracuse. He looks timid and tentative when given the ball. You have to wonder if his lack of growth has stemmed from playing out of his natural position (small forward), but regardless, he's been bad. Currently, Wes is averaging 6.12 points per game on 37% shooting (25% from three-point land), and the Wolves simply need more than that from their starting shooting guard.

Many people are quick to defend Michael Beasley because he scores points, but I am not inclined to do so. When Beasley has been on the court this season he has been a selfish black hole of missed shots. Yes he scores points, but he does so in a very inefficient fashion. This is a problem. The more Beasley hogs the ball, the less opportunities Ricky Rubio has to make something happen. Rubio should be given the ball to make plays, not Beasley. The Wolves really need to figure out what to do with Beasley when he returns. I do not believe he is a good fit for this team. I think it is time to see what we can get for him.

Darko Milicic is not your typical draft-lottery bust. He is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, and hidden in a labyrinth. One minute he is sinking baby-hooks and blocking shots, while the next minute he is getting burnt and chucking the ball against the backboard. I have never seen an NBA player try so hard in the first five minutes of a game, and then just completely check out for the rest of the game. Darko is clearly gifted, but simply doesn’t possess the will to be a solid NBA center. He has had some big games this year (he put up 22 points against DeAndre Jordan recently), but the Wolves will not be able to depend on him for the long term.

An area in which the Wolves have lacked discipline is in their three point shooting. Wolves average 22 three-point attempts per game (4th highest across the league). Obviously, with Ricky Rubio’s dribble penetration, three-point opportunities will be aplenty, but the Wolves need to choose their shots more wisely.

Another area of weakness for the Wolves is their tendency to struggle early in games. The Wolves have stumbled out of the gates in many games, offensively, and have needed to make valiant comebacks. While it’s nice that they are showing an ability to muster a comeback, you do not want them doing that on a nightly basis. They need to shoot better in the first quarter if they want to be a winning team. Also, while the Wolves defense has improved greatly, they are still giving up too many easy buckets early in games. Opposing teams have gotten out to good starts against the Wolves, and the Wolves have lost a lot of close games… You do the math.

All in all, there is a lot to be excited about if you are a Timberwolves fan. Rick Adelman, Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love make this team fun to watch. More importantly, not only are the Wolves fun to watch, but they are showing that they have what it takes to be a winning team in this league—something Minnesota fans have longed for since the days of the Big Ticket.

Scouting the Country with Studwell

2012-01-20T09:20:00.025-06:00

We're down to the final four teams in the NFL playoffs, which means 28 teams have already moved on to offseason preparation—namely, the college draft. It also means that 87.5% of fan bases have moved on to the draft. Yes, YouTube NFL Draft scouts (myself included) are already operating out of the offices of mom's basement, and as you know, these pros never miss a pick. But what about the real guys? Fans are quick to credit or blame GM Rick Spielman for draft successes and failures, and often gloss right over Director of College Scouting, Scott Studwell. He's held the post for 10 years, and this study will take a look at how the Studwell-led scouting effort has fared not only in judging college talent entering the league, but more specifically, how they've fared with respect to the major conferences.

The chart below breaks down draft picks by conference, dating back to 2006, which is the cutoff for players who figure into the current team's future. Obviously, this information should be taken with a grain of salt, as each draft presents its own unique challenges, coincidences and war room voices. However, certain trends may give us some insight into how well Studwell & Co. have allocated their scouting resources.

Draft grades are based player performance, as well as projected future performance.

Non-Major Conferences: 11 Picks since 2006

Grade: F

Sifting through small-school prospects has been the achilles heal of the Vikings' scouting department in recent years. The 2006 second round selections of Ryan Cook (2.19, OL, New Mexico) and Tarvaris Jackson (2.32, QB, Alabama State) were mortifying reaches, and unforgivable misjudgments of talent. The team wasted four more draft picks on small-school kids in 2007, Spielman's first year, selecting Marcus McCauley (3.8, CB, Fresno State), Aundrae Allison (5.9, WR, East Carolina), Tyler Thigpen (7.7, QB, Coastal Carolina) and Chandler Williams (7.23, WR, Florida International). Thigpen would become the only player of the 2007 bunch worthy of an NFL roster spot, and the personnel department, still searching for Coastal Carolina on the map, promptly assigned him to the practice squad and lost him to Kansas City. The Vikings went off the grid again with their first pick in 2008, selecting Tyrell Johnson (2.12, S, Arkansas State), and later adding Jaymar Johnson (6.27, WR, Jackson State). The 2009 team was a breath away from the Super Bowl, and a meaningful contribution from any of the seven aforementioned selections—Cook or Johnson, in particular—could have been the difference.

Thankfully, the small-school scheme was trashed in 2009, as the Vikings used all five of their selections on major conference prospects (including four from the SEC). They threw a late-round pick at Joe Webb (6.30, QB/WR, UAB) in 2010, an experiment that, at the very least, still has a chance to pan out. Finally, it's too early to tell on 2011 selections Brandon Fusco (6.7, C, Slippery Rock) and Stephen Burton (7.33, WR, West Texas A&M), but both look like throw-away picks.

One interesting trend is that nine of the 11 small-school selections since 2006 have come on the offensive side of the ball, including three quarterbacks.

Conclusion: The team's inability to identify small-school talent that will translate to the next level is apparent, so anything more than a late-round dart in the 2012 draft should be cause for concern.

SEC: 7 Picks since 2006

Grade: B+

The Vikings have uncovered some very nice production from the SEC in recent drafts. In 2006 the team selected Greg Blue (5.17, S, Georgia), who turned out to be nothing more than a training camp tease, but the staff earned high marks for their 2007 decision to select the talented Sidney Rice (2.12, WR, South Carolina) instead of fan favorite Dwayne Jarrett of USC. After skipping over the conference in 2008, the Vikings pilfered the SEC in 2009, when in addition to Percy Harvin (1.22, WR, Florida) they turned up depth guys like Asher Allen (3.22, CB, Georgia), Jasper Brinkley (5.14, LB, South Carolina) and Jamarca Sanford (7.22, S, Mississippi). The team bypassed the SEC again in 2010, but added 2011 developmental prospect DeMarcus Love (6.3, OT, Alabama), who's expected to have a future in the league.

Conclusion: The Vikings have gotten a lot of bang for their SEC buck since 2006. The fact that they've done good work in SEC talent evaluation is comforting, considering that LSU cornerback Morris Clairborne is surely on their short list of candidates for the No. 3 pick.

Big 10: 6 Picks since 2006

Grade: C-

The Vikings hit a homerun in 2006, when they nabbed Chad Greenway (1.17, LB, Iowa) and Ray Edwards (4.30, DE, Purdue) from the Big 10. However, they haven't landed an impact player from the conference since.

Minnesota declined to pick a single player from the Big 10 from 2007-2009. In 2010, they made a mind-boggling reach for local boy Nate Triplett (5.36, LB, Minnesota), and then added career practice squadder Mickey Shuler (7.7, TE, Purdue) late in the draft. Last season, they landed the talented Christian Ballard (4.9, DL, Iowa), who was pinned as a first-round prospect with a marijuana habit. He looks to have a fairly promising future in purple if he can avoid Sam Hurd. The team also added (and soon cut) Ross Homan (6.35, LB, Ohio State). It's interesting to note that the Vikings addressed their dreadful safety situation last season by using one of their four sixth round picks on the anonymous Mistral Raymond (South Florida) instead of Iowa's Tyler Sash (6.33, Giants), a much more established player.

Conclusion: Whether by preference or sheer coincidence, the team hasn't pulled anything useful out of the Big 10 since the Spielman era began in 2007. Iowa OT Riley Reiff is on many Viking draftniks' radars (via a trade-back situation), but where does he rate with Studwell's team?

Big 12: 5 Picks since 2006

Grade: A-

The Vikings have had a great deal of success pulling players from the Big 12 since 2006, so it's a bit discouraging to see that they haven't tapped the conference in the last two drafts. Prior to the unpredictable knee injuries, 2006 draft pick Cedric Griffin (2.16, CB, Texas) was one of the fastest rising cornerbacks in the league. The next season, the Vikings landed superstar Adrian Peterson (1.7, RB, Oklahoma). Of course, this pick had more to do with risk-taking (due to injury concerns) than talent evaluation, but the team also hit on Brian Robison (4.3, DE, Texas). We'll never know if Peterson's teammate, Rufus Alexander (6.2, LB, Oklahoma), would have panned out, as he tore his ACL before he ever got a chance. After an encouraging rookie season, 2009 draft pick Phil Loadholt (2.22, OT, Oklahoma) has struggled, but he still has the talent to turn it around.

Conclusion: Studwell's staff has vetted this conference as well as any, and there's likely to be a lot of Big 12 talent available in the area of the Vikings' draft picks. Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State) and Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor) are projected as top-five picks, and guys like Ronnell Lewis (OLB, Oklahoma) and Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor) could be possible options early in the second round.

Pac 12: 5 Picks since 2006

Grade: D-

After bypassing the Pac 12 altogether from 2005-2007, the team swung and missed on John David Booty (5.2, QB, USC) in 2008. They skipped the conference again in 2009, but have used two picks on Pac 12'ers in each of the last two drafts. In 2010 they traded up to secure the services of Toby Gerhart (2.19, RB, Stanford). Slowly but surely, this pick is becoming less disappointing. Two rounds later they grabbed the athletic (and troubled) Everson Griffen (4.2, DE, USC), who like Christian Ballard, was viewed as a first-round talent with off-the-field concerns. Griffen's arrow is pointing up, and many are excited to see what he could do with more playing time. Considering the team's immense struggles in the secondary last season, it was disappointing that rookie Brandon Burton (5.8, CB, Utah) couldn't make more of an impression. Finally, D'Aundre Reed (7.12, DE, Arizona) is nothing more than a developmental project.

Conclusion: Yuck. Perhaps USC OT Matt Kalil could give this grade a boost.

ACC: 4 Picks since 2006

Grade: C+

By all rights, this grade should read "incomplete," but we're projecting here. Ultimately, the grade will hinge on how well last year's first rounder, Christian Ponder (1.12, QB, Florida State), pans out. Amidst the rookie mistakes, he showed promise in 2011, and we won't be able to fairly grade him until the offensive line and wide receiving corps are overhauled. The team got nice value in Letroy Guion (5.17, DT, Florida State) in 2008. His purple future is still being written. The team also seemed to be on to something with their first pick in 2010, Chris Cook (2.2, CB, Virginia), before he injured his knees... and then his girlfriend. Stay tuned, his trial is set to begin March 5th. Finally, Chris DeGeare (5.30, 2010, G, Wake Forest) never materialized.

Conclusion: It's all about the continued development of Ponder here. The ACC isn't sending much top-tier talent to the NFL this season, so a mid-round depth guy like Guion is probably the Vikings' best bet.

Big East: 2 Picks since 2006

Grade: F

In Studwell's 10 seasons, the Vikings have drafted exactly two players from the Big East, and both were non-descript late-rounders: Ryan D'Imperio (7.30, 2010, FB, Rutgers) and Mistral Raymond (6.5, 2011, S, South Florida).

Conclusion: There's nothing to see here.

Independent (Notre Dame): 2 Picks since 2006

Grade: A

John Sullivan (6.21, 2008, C, Notre Dame) has developed into a franchise center, and Kyle Rudolph (2.11, 2011, TE, Notre Dame) is the real deal.

Conclusion: Cretin-Derham Hall's Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) is projected to go somewhere between Minnesota's first and second picks, but the 6'3", 224-lb. wideout could be in play for the Vikings via trade.

2012 NFL Mock Draft

2012-01-18T20:11:00.002-06:00

Guest Written by Jon Eric Duden

“With the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select…”

NFL lovers and draft junkies across the globe have already been anticipating these words for weeks. Who will my team take this year? Will they get that final piece to the puzzle? Let’s take a look at this year’s draft class and make some early predictions on who will go where in the draft this season.

1. Colts: Andrew Luck, QB-Stanford

If you talk to Tony Dungy or Jemele Hill of ESPN, they would tell you why this pick should not be Luck, and instead should be the fast-rising Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III from Baylor. Hill’s argument contends that if Manning comes back healthy, then Griffin learning the ropes underneath Manning would better suit the Colts franchise. Dungy contends that Griffin’s mobility puts him a step ahead of Luck and he projects like Cam Newton. Neither of these arguments would persuade me to pass on perhaps the best QB prospect to come through the draft in the past 30 years. Luck is a pro-ready QB with all the arm strength, accuracy, and intangibles necessary to make an immediate impact. He was the beneficiary of tutoring from former NFL QB and current 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, so he knows what it’s like to run a pro style offense. Jim Irsay should not worry about whether or not Manning and Luck can co-exist or if he can afford to devote that much of the team payroll to one position. Luck is simply too talented to pass up at No. 1.

2. Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR-Oklahoma State

I would not be surprised if a team desperate for a QB (Browns, Redskins, Dolphins, Seahawks) made a determined effort to jump up to No. 2 to select RG3. The Rams are now under a new regime with Jeff Fisher. He has plenty of cap room to work with in St. Louis, so there are many different directions the franchise could go at No. 2. If they stay put, I see them selecting Blackmon with the No. 2 overall pick. The Rams were plagued by injuries all season long, and were doomed from the start when Sam Bradford’s favorite target, Danny Amendola, was lost in Week 1. Devoid of any explosive weapons, the Rams were forced to make a midseason trade with the Broncos to acquire Brandon Lloyd. Blackmon would bring another playmaker to an offense that desperately needs one. He’s not the tallest or fastest receiver to ever play the game, as he stands only 6’1”, weighs 215 pounds, and will likely run a 40 yard dash time this spring in the high 4.4-4.5 range. However, his hands are at an elite level, which allow him to make plays and turn up the field for more yardage after the catch. Some might suggest the Rams need to look at offensive tackle Matt Kalil from USC with this pick, but St. Louis simply can not afford to spend another top-10 pick on a lineman, despite the fact that Jason Smith has been a bust and Roger Saffold took a step backwards this year. They must gain offensive weapons for Bradford and the Rams to be effective, and Blackmon fits the bill. Keep an eye out for a trade of this pick, though, if someone wants RG3 bad enough.

3. Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT-USC

If Griffin is taken at No. 2 by a team trading up for him, then the Vikings would have their choice of drafting Morris Claiborne, Kalil, or Blackmon. The Vikings could use all three of these players, as each would address a major weakness. However, we’re only able to select one! DAMN! If that’s the case, then the Vikings will likely look to improve their offensive line and take Matt Kalil. Kalil has not been graded on the same level as other top OT draft picks like Jake Long and Joe Thomas, so the thought of drafting an offensive tackle to protect your QB’s blind side at No. 3 is a little troublesome. He’s quite slender for a man of his size, as he weighs in at less than 300 pounds despite being 6’7”. He’s a dominant force in the run game, but could stand to work on his pass protection as he’s had difficulty with speed rushers coming around the edge. He’ll need to work on his quickness, but he'd still be a vast improvement over Charlie Johnson, and it would allow Johnson to slide inside to left guard to replace Steve Hutchinson, who's unlikely to return for the 2012 season. One could make a case for the Vikings drafting Justin Blackmon to improve their receiving corps, which doesn’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of other NFL teams with names like Devin Aromashodu, Michael Jenkins, Emmanuel Arceneaux, and Greg Camarillo. Blackmon would bring a spark to a unit that needs it very dearly. Another route the Vikings could go would be to take Morris Claiborne out of LSU. This defensive back has drawn comparisons to Joe Haden of the Cleveland Browns and would be a vast improvement over the Swiss cheese secondary the Vikings employed this year. He’s the type of shutdown corner the Vikings would love to have in the NFC North with the dominant passing attacks of the Packers and Lions. He’s a taller corner, standing at 6’1” who has the ability to be physical with the receivers and also stand tall with them as they make a play on the football. Also, Antoine Winfield will turn 35 this year and would likely be a better fit at safety once he returns from his collarbone injury. Drafting Claiborne, who's regarded as a better pure cover man than former teammate Patrick Peterson, would also greatly improve the special teams as he is a dynamic kick/punt returner. This unit struggled last year except for when Percy Harvin was allowed to return kicks. Much of the year was spent dealing with mediocre returns from Lorenzo Booker and Marcus Sherels. A dynamic kick returner not named Harvin would allow the Vikings to spare their prized offensive weapon from injury on special teams and also help to improve field position for a team who would need all the help they can get with a quarterback starting in only his second NFL season.

4. Browns: Trent Richardson, RB-Alabama

Curses be damned! The Madden Curse struck not only the cover man himself (Peyton Hillis), but the franchise as a whole as the Cleveland Browns stumbled to a 4-12 record this year with an anemic offense. Hillis is a free agent in 2012 and is not likely to return to the team. With that in mind, it makes sense for the Browns to select Richardson, who compares to Emmitt Smith/Earl Campbell in terms of running style. He’s a physical back with the speed to go with it. Standing 5’11” and weighing in at roughly 220 pounds, he would provide Cleveland with that dominant workhorse back they thought they had in Hillis. An alternative to this pick would be RG3; however, the Browns will likely test the FA waters and may go after a guy like Matt Flynn to lead their team if they’re not entirely sold on Colt McCoy. Who can blame them for that?

5. Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, DB-LSU

Claiborne would make an immediate impact for a another team that regressed in 2011. Ronde Barber will turn 37 this year and Aqib Talib, though quite a talent at CB, is one misstep off the field away from a serious suspension. As a result of these facts, the Buccaneers would not be out of line in drafting Claiborne. He possesses prototypical size and speed for his position and also gives you return skills as well. His playing style has drawn comparisons to Patrick Peterson and Joe Haden. Claiborne would have been a possibility for the Vikings, keeping his collegiate colors, but he will likely fall into the lap of the Buccaneers at No. 5 and he will reward them for the selection just like last year’s fifth overall pick (Patrick Peterson) did for the Cardinals.

6. Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB-Baylor

This scenario would be a dream come true for the Redskins. Washington would be able to acquire the franchise QB they’ve been missing, as John Beck and Rex Grossman have clearly shown they are not the long term solution. Griffin has been compared to Cam Newton by some, but he does not possess Newton’s size, arm strength, or mobility to warrant such comparisons. Griffin stands 6’2” and weighs 220 pounds, so there are injury concerns due to his slight build as a QB. He tore his ACL in 2009 during his sophomore season. This past season was a career year for him, as he threw for 3,998 yards and had a TD:INT ratio of 36:6. He became the first Baylor player to win the Heisman Trophy, and his athleticism will be the talk of the pre-draft camps and individual workouts. Depending on his combine workouts, he may be drafted as high as No. 2 overall. This is absolutely the lowest he slips.

7. Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery, WR-South Carolina

Go to the market because the cupboard is bare! That’s what Blaine Gabbert is begging new coach Mike Mularkey to do this offseason. The WR corps in Jacksonville is horrific. Mike Thomas is clearly not a No. 1 WR. Jeffery would be the large target that Blaine Gabbert could lean on as a young, inexperienced QB. While Minnesotans may cringe at the thought of a South Carolina WR to going No. 7, Jeffery compares to Brandon Marshall (and not Troy Williamson) from a physical standpoint, standing 6’4” and weighing in at 233 pounds. He also compares to Marshall in terms of attitude, as there have been questions about his demeanor and conditioning. Size can not be coached, so let’s hope Jeffery resembles Brandon Marshall and not Mike Williams.

8. Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE-North Carolina (pending coin toss)

The Panthers need all sorts of help on the defensive side of the ball. There were several games this past season where Newton had brought the team within striking distance of a victory, but the defense let him down time after time. The pass rush is solid from a supreme talent like Charles Johnson, but what’s better than one pass rusher? TWO pass rushers! Another route the Panthers could take is Dre Kirkpatrick, the blossoming star CB from national champion Alabama.

9. Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT-Iowa (pending coin toss)

The Dolphins would love to move up to get a QB like RG3, but the fact that Matt Barkley AND Landry Jones have both decided to return to college has hurt the Dolphins chances of finding their franchise QB in this draft. Other mock drafts across the net have shown the Dolphins selecting Ryan Tannehill, the QB from Texas A&M, but this pick just screams of need over value. Reiff would give the Dolphins two solid offensive tackles to protect whoever their QB may be next season. Matt Moore showed promise at times in his starts last year, but they might pursue Matt Flynn if they feel he’ll be worth the money he’ll undoubtedly earn this offseason.

10. Bills: Jonathan Martin, OT-Stanford

Protect the No. 1 overall pick’s blindside and you shall be rewarded! The Bills need all kinds of help, so this pick could go in any number of directions, but you can’t go wrong in drafting a solid offensive tackle who will be able to keep your newly paid QB upright so he can make plays down the field. If the Bills don’t address the O-line, expect them to make a move towards improving their anemic pass rush.

11. Chiefs: Dontari Poe, DT-Memphis (pending coin toss)

The Chiefs could use help in the interior of their D-line or at LB to complement Derrick Johnson. It may be hard for them to pass on MLB Luke Kuechly, but when you have a 6’5” defensive tackle who weighs 350 pounds staring you in the face, you don't mess around. Poe’s size/speed combo is like something out of Madden. He’s the kind of freakish specimen that has scouts drooling.

12. Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, LB-Boston College (pending coin toss)

This is another team whose pick is hard to figure out due to the fact that Barkley and Jones both stayed in college for another season. The Seahawks have figured out what the rest of the league already knew: Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst are definitely not franchise QBs. Do they reach for Ryan Tannehill or do they go with the best player available? If they go BPA, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they were to select Kuechly. Kuechly is a tackling machine, as he amassed an astonishing 191 tackles in the 2011 season. If not Kuechly, the Seahawks might look at an edge rusher like DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw from Alabama.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB-Alabama

The Cardinals would have loved to have seen Jonathan Martin still on the board here, as they are in dire need of an OT to keep their QBs healthy. John Skelton outperformed Kevin Kolb this year, which brought into question their decision to trade away Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie AND this year's second rounder for Kolb. The Cardinals could bring in another CB such as Dre Kirkpatrick to play alongside Patrick Peterson, they could draft Adrian Wilson’s heir apparent in Mark Barron, or they could draft a WR such as Michael Floyd to complement Larry Fitzgerald. All of these options are tempting, but the Cardinals need to spend another draft pick on their defense this year and should go with Kirkpatrick. He’d be a great complement to Patrick Peterson and would give them two prototypical corners with good size/speed. Kirkpatrick could even make a transition to free safety if the need arose. Here’s another spot where Courtney Upshaw or Melvin Ingram, two outstanding rush LB/DE hybrids could go as well.

14. Cowboys: Courtney Upshaw, OLB-Alabama

If Upshaw is still on the board, it would be hard for the Cowboys not to take him. Pairing Upshaw with Ware would give the Cowboys a frightening duo of pass-rushing edge rushers. Upshaw would also provide an upgrade over Anthony Spencer, who has done little to distinguish himself in his tenure with the Cowboys. Terrence Newman is likely on his way out in Dallas as well, so a draft pick in the secondary could be a possibility, especially if Dre Kirkpatrick were to slide to the Cowboys here.

15. Eagles: Vontaze Burfict, MLB-Arizona State

Burfict has become legendary on and off the field for his crazy antics. If you thought Ray Lewis was an animal on the field, then wait until you see Burfict play. There are questions about his maturity, however, as he’s known for committing an inordinate amount of personal fouls. Ndamukong Suh would blush at the amount of penalties called on Burfict in a game. If Burfict can learn to harness his anger on the field and learn to play with discipline, then he will likely be a top level ILB in the NFL. Can he do it though? That remains to be seen. The Eagles could use his physical presence on their defense to take the pressure off their vaunted secondary.

16. Jets: Mark Barron, SS-Alabama

Barron will likely be the fourth member of the Crimson Tide to go in the first round (and third defender). He’s a large safety at 6’2” and 215-220 pounds. He would bring a physical presence to a defensive backfield led by the best cover corner in the game, Darrelle Revis. Barron would be a terrific complement to Revis, Antonio Cromartie, and Jim Leonhard, but can the Jets calm things down enough in-house to make a smart decision in the war room come draft day? That will be the question when Roger Goodell steps to the mic on Thursday night to announce the Jets' selection. I doubt the fans would boo Barron.

17. Bengals (via Raiders): David DeCastro, OG-Stanford

This pick was traded to the Bengals this season as compensation for the Carson Palmer trade. The Bengals were a surprise team this year, making the playoffs behind the dynamic rookie duo of A.J. Green and Andy Dalton, as well as a young and underrated defense. If Alshon Jeffery was still available here, it would be hard to pass up the opportunity to pair him with Green. As a young QB, Andy Dalton would love to have two large targets on the field alongside him. Just ask Matt Ryan how he feels about having two top flight WRs in Atlanta with Roddy White and emerging superstar Julio Jones. Another possibility would be a RB such as Trent Richardson, but Richardson will likely be long gone by this pick. With Jeffery and Richardson both off the table, it’s quite possible the Bengals turn to help on the offensive line. The Bengals could look at a guy like Cordy Glenn, a massive guard out of Georgia. The other option at guard of note is David DeCastro out of Stanford. DeCastro, at 6’5” and 310 pounds, profiles much like Steve Hutchinson, who dominated the NFL for many years at the guard position. The Bengals could also attempt to package this pick with their own pick later in the first round in an effort to go up and get a guy like Jeffery or Richardson.

18. Chargers: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB-South Carolina

This versatile athlete could help the Chargers improve their awful pass rush. Once upon a time, players such as Shawne Merriman and Leslie O’Neal struck fear into opposing offenses. The current defense lacks bite, however. Another route the Chargers could go would be offensive tackle. Marcus McNeill spent most of the season on I.R. with a serious injury, and there’s no guarantee he will ever return to the club.

19. Bears: Dont’a Hightower, ILB-Alabama

Yet another Crimson Tide defensive player comes off the board as the Bears select a physically dominating (6’4”, 260 lbs.) linebacker who is a punishing force in the run game. The Bears need to address the linebacker position this offseason with Lance Briggs turning 32 and Brian Urlacher coming off a serious knee injury. The Bears could also look at someone like Nick Perry, a defensive end from USC to provide a consistent pass rush opposite Julius Peppers. The defense is aging and at least one of the Bears early draft picks should be focused on bringing some youth to this stellar unit.

20. Titans: Cordy Glenn, OG-Georgia

CJ2K suffered this year through a disappointing season. He was nowhere near the RB he once was when he became the sixth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards. Inconsistent line play along with Johnson’s holdout were the two major reasons given as to why the running game never got off the ground in 2011. It’s quite ironic for the line play to be so inconsistent in Tennessee when you consider the Titans have not one but two Hall of Fame offensive linemen on their coaching staff with head coach Mike Munchak and assistant Bruce Matthews. The interior of the line could be taken care of quite well if the Titans were to draft Cordy Glenn, an offensive guard from Georgia. Glenn, an overwhelming specimen at 6’5” and a beefy 348 pounds would be an ideal selection for the Titans. He combines both the size needed to withstand the interior pass rush of opposing defensive tackles, but he also has the agility to maneuver off the line and get out ahead of the running back and block downfield. He would quickly become Chris Johnson’s best friend, much like Larry Allen was for Emmitt Smith.

21. Bengals: Alonzo Dennard, CB-Nebraska

This is the second draft pick of the first round for the Bengals. With this pick, they will likely look to address their secondary, as their prized cover corner, Leon Hall, is coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon which required season-ending surgery. An Achilles injury is a devastating injury to any athlete, but particularly to an athlete who requires acceleration and explosion. Hall may never be the same cornerback he was before the injury. As a result, the Bengals would not be out of line to use this extra first round pick to address this situation. Dennard lacks ideal size at CB, as he stands only 5’10”, but he is not afraid to be physical with receivers and does not appear to back down from a challenge. He won the Tatum-Woodson award in the Big 10 this past season for the top CB of the conference. He would be a nice addition to the Bengals, as either a parter or a replacement for Hall.

22. Browns: Michael Floyd, WR-Notre Dame

There are likely plenty of Vikings fans out there who are hoping and praying that Floyd slips out of the first round and makes it to the Vikings' pick in the second round, but that simply will not be the case. Cleveland is a team who should be in the market for a WR like Floyd. Floyd possesses fantastic size for his position as he stands 6’3” and weighs 224 pounds. He’s a very competent blocker in the running game as well, which would come in handy if the Browns were to draft Trent Richardson as predicted earlier. The Cleveland offense has left a lot to be desired as of late and spending both first round draft picks on dynamic players who could contribute immediately will do nothing but boost the confidence of Colt McCoy or whoever the Browns end up with at quarterback.

23. Lions: Zebrie Sanders, OT-Florida State

As Vikings fans know, Gosder Cherlius has simply not gotten it done as an offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions. When you have a quarterback who is as athletically gifted as Matthew Stafford, but as fragile as a piece of balsa wood, you need a tackle who will be able to stand up to the pressure of the pass rush coming from all angles. The Lions should look to draft Zebrie Sanders, offensive tackle from Florida State. He’s the highest rated tackle left on the draft board after Kalil, Reiff, and Martin. If you value your quarterback, you will draft an offensive tackle that can protect his blind side, and Sanders should be able to do just that. He possesses the size and the athleticism at 6’5” and 307 pounds to withstand the rush of oncoming defensive ends and linebackers.

24. Steelers: Devon Still, NT-Penn State

With news of Casey Hampton’s torn ACL against the Broncos in the divisional playoff game versus the Broncos, this pick looks more and more appealing as the days go by. Yes, Hampton will not require surgery, but at age 33, he is slowly sliding down the hill into retirement. It would be a smart move to draft his replacement at this time. Devon Still, who won the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year, is a larger tackle, standing 6’5” and weighing 310 pounds, compared to Hampton (6’1”, 325). Still possesses an enormous amount of talent, perhaps top 10 level talent, but he’s battled inconsistency throughout his career. The Steelers will be hoping this inconsistency will allow them to draft Still this late in the draft with the hope he’ll continually flash that top 10 ability.

25. Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT-LSU

The Tebow magic wore out in the divisional round as the Broncos were blown out in a big way by the Patriots in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. The Broncos have a young defense with some solid playmakers like Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller. However, they lack a strong interior presence at defensive tackle with the underwhelming Brodrick Bunkley currently leading the way at DT. They would love to see Devon Still at pick 25, but he will most likely be drafted before they come to the podium with their selection. The Broncos should be thrilled, however, to draft Michael Brokers, the 21 year old defensive tackle from LSU. He surprised many by declaring for the draft after his sophomore season. He’s another defensive tackle who brings great height to the position, but could stand to add some weight to his frame as he currently weighs a little over 300 pounds while standing 6’6”. The potential to develop is there and the raw talent has to be harnessed, but taking a gamble on a man with this physical ability is worth the risk.

26. Texans: Fletcher Cox, DT-Mississippi State

The Texans were a Cinderella story this year as they were able to make their first playoff appearance in franchise history despite losing their top two quarterbacks to injury and also losing their premier wide receiver, Andre Johnson, to two separate hamstring injuries during the season. The Texans will likely think long and hard about drafting a complementary WR to take some of the pressure off of Johnson, as well as their superstar running back, Arian Foster. However, the Texans also need to address the interior of their defensive line and upgrade one of the few weaknesses their young defense currently has under new coordinator Wade Phillips. Phillips transformed this defense into a feared unit filled with several high draft picks and future stars. The defense will get Mario Williams back from injury and add him to a unit that already includes young studs like J.J. Watt, Brian Cushing, Brooks Reed and Demeco Ryans. Despite all this young talent, the Texans lack a dominant presence in the interior of their D-line. Shaun Cody has been serviceable, but the right draft pick could be an upgrade. Cox shows the versatility to play both tackle and also line up as a rush end, which would be an invaluable asset for a team that runs a 3-4 defense. He has great size and power at 6’4”, 295 pounds and he would be able to hold his own at the point of attack. Putting Cox in the middle of this defensive line could strike even more fear into the hearts of opponents.

27. Patriots: Nick Perry, DE-USC

This pick was traded to the Patriots during last season’s draft by the Saints, as part of the deal that brought Mark Ingram to New Orleans. The Patriots should look to address the defense with their two late first round draft picks. With the first of their two selections, they will either take a defensive lineman in an effort to bolster their pass rush, or a cornerback to help their inept secondary that was forced to use wide receivers Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater at times. A talent like Perry is too good to pass up at this pick, though. Perry is a pass rush specialist who has elite athleticism and an explosive burst off the edge. He’s a young player at age 21 who has the potential to be quite a talent as long as he stays focused on the prize ahead of him. With Mr. Belichick as his coach, that should definitely not be a problem. It would not be surprising, however, to see Belichick once again trade one, if not both of these first rounders for a future pick.

28. Packers: Chris Polk, RB-Washington

The Packers were penciled in by most to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but instead, they were the first team in NFL history to record 15 wins in the regular season and lose their first playoff game. The secondary could be a potential area of focus for the Packers due to the aging of Charles Woodson, as well as the injury to Nick Collins. They also need an every-down back who can shoulder the load for the team. Chris Polk has the power, vision and size (5’11”, 222 pounds) to absorb the wear and tear of the NFL. He would allow the Packers to diversify their attack, because while Aaron Rodgers is historically good, you still must run the ball with some consistency no matter how good your passing attack is. Polk would address a glaring weakness for the Packers.

29. Giants*: Zach Brown, LB-North Carolina

Ridiculously fast, clocking in at 4.4 seconds in the 40 yard dash, Brown would be a nice complement to Mathias Kiwanuka on the Giants defense. Brown is not very big though, and does sacrifice some strength for his track-level speed, but he could be a dominating pass rusher off the edge in the mold of Demarcus Ware in Dallas. If the Giants don’t choose to go with an OLB, then they could also pursue an offensive tackle, which they are also in desperate need of as David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie have both struggled to keep up with the dominant edge rushers the NFC East (Trent Cole, Ryan Kerrigan and Ware). Mike Adams of Ohio State, who is a physical beast at 6’8”, 320 pounds, would be a great pass blocking tackle that could help squash the pass rush of these defensive ends. He needs to work on his run blocking, but he would definitely be a welcome addition along the offensive line.

30. Ravens*: Peter Konz, C-Wisconsin

Forty percent of the Ravens offensive line is comprised of former Minnesota Vikings players. Both Bryant McKinnie and Matt Birk currently play for the Ravens and both are on the downturn of their careers—Birk, in particular. It would not be surprising if Birk called it quits after this season if the Ravens were to win the Super Bowl. As a result, the Ravens should look to draft the only top tier center available in this year’s draft in Peter Konz from Wisconsin. Konz is an agile big man who has the versatility to play other positions on the line if needed. The ability to get out and move in space will come in handy when blocking for a star running back like Ray Rice. Konz is the logical choice for the Ravens' franchise here.

31. 49ers*: Kendall Wright, WR-Baylor

Led by Jim Harbough, the 49ers have risen from the ashes, and are one win away from the Super Bowl. Wide receiver is the area that deserves the most attention for them this offseason. They currently lack any proven playmaking wide receiver, as Michael Crabtree has been spotty at best. When he's not held in to block, the 49ers do have the luxury of the freakishly athletic Vernon Davis at TE, and another weapon like Kendall Wright from Baylor would certainly do a lot for Alex Smith’s continued growth as an NFL QB. Wright was Robert Griffin III’s go to guy at Baylor this past season and caught 108 passes for 1,663 yards and 14 TDs. The biggest drawback to Wright is his size at 5’10” and 190 pounds, but he makes up for that with elite speed, timing in the low 4.3’s for 40 yard dash. He has reliable hands and, surprisingly, is not afraid to go over the middle to make the tough catch despite his size. He would be a valuable complement to the possession WR that Michael Crabtree is in San Francisco. Don’t be surprised if some teams actually rate Wright higher than Justin Blackmon.

32. Patriots*: Brandon Thompson, DL, Clemson

With their second pick of the first round (if they keep the selection) the Patriots should not pass up on the versatile defensive lineman Brandon Thompson from Clemson. Thompson can excel in either the 3-4 or the 4-3 scheme, both of which are schemes Belichick has shown on defense as of late. As discussed earlier, though, it would not be a shocker if New England traded one of their first rounders for future draft choices. The Tom Brady-led offense has masked a lot of deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball, and spending two draft picks strong pass rush would buy time for their woeful secondary.

*The draft order for picks 1-28 has been set. Picks 29 and 30 will be the losers of the conference championship game. Pick 31 will be the loser of the Super Bowl and pick 32 is the winner of the Super Bowl. This article was based on the prediction that the Patriots defeat the 49ers in the Super Bowl.

2012 Fantasy Football: Top 25

2012-01-12T09:55:00.007-06:00

It’s been 11 days since the curtain officially closed on the 2011 fantasy football season. By now, league winners should be back from Disney World, and the rest of you should be transitioning from bargaining to acceptance.

Whether you’re chasing redemption or a repeat, your 2012 preparation starts here!

1. Arian Foster – In a pass-heavy league where multiple-back attacks have become the norm, dual-threat superstar Arian Foster might be the closest thing we’ll ever see to LaDanian Tomlinson’s prime. Running behind and elite-level offensive line in a system that fits him like a glove, he’s put any injury concerns to rest over his last 13 games, tallying 14 touchdowns and an average of 152.5 combination yards.

2. Ray Rice – We’ve always been able to count on Ray Rice for all-purpose yardage, but in 2011 he finally began finishing drives, posting a career-high 15 scores. He hasn’t missed a game in the last three seasons, averaging 284 carries and a jaw-dropping 72 receptions over that span. With a shallow pool of surefire running backs, Rice and Foster belong ahead of any of the growing pool of top-tier signal callers.

3. Aaron Rodgers – Aaron Rodgers’ efficiency (45 touchdowns against just six interceptions) is off the charts, and as an added bonus, he’s averaged 281 yards and four touchdowns on the ground over the last four seasons. He’s the safest pick in fantasy football.

4. Drew Brees – You can literally flip a coin between Rodgers and the NFL’s new passing king, Drew Brees. Over his last seven games, Brees has been the league’s best signal caller, totaling 27 touchdowns, three interceptions and an average of 374 yards. The potential loss of Marques Colston shouldn’t deter drafters—Colston needs Brees, not vice versa.

5. Calvin Johnson – Calvin Johnson scored 18 times in 17 games (including playoffs), and cracked 200 yards in three of his last four contests. After averaging over 100 yards and a score per game, regularly destroying double-teams and displaying uncanny chemistry with Matthew Stafford, he’s the unquestioned top receiver heading into 2012.

Click here to read the rest of the article at Bleacher Report.

From Darling to Dumpster: Breaking down the Wild’s Recent Eight-Game Losing Streak

2011-12-30T11:21:00.001-06:00

By Joey Cavalier

Let’s just say it has been a rough couple of weeks for the Minnesota Wild (and for the “Team of 18,000”). Only two weeks ago the Wild were sitting at the top of the NHL in the standings, and were finally being recognized as a legitimate contender for the Stanley Cup. Now, only two weeks removed from the hype machine, the team is in danger of watching the Stanley Cup playoffs from the comfort of their own homes. To put it kindly, it has been an absolutely brutal stretch of games for the Wild.

So what has contributed to this free fall from the top of the standings? Well for starters, the Wild only managed to score ten goals during their eight game losing streak (that was finally snapped last night vs. Edmonton). The offense has been unable to create quality shots, and have been even less capable of burying the puck when given the chance. Yet, the biggest struggle for the Wild’s offense, at least in my opinion, is that no one on the squad has been creating the necessary havoc in front of the net. If you disagree, let me know the last time you saw a member of the Wild getting physical in front of the opposition’s net. When was the last time the Wild were screening and pestering the opposing goaltender over the course of a game? Successful teams station key players in front of the net to create offense, and it pays off time and time again (see: Vancouver Canucks). The Wild simply are not doing that. When the Wild were feasible on offense this year, it was when players were creating mayhem and opportunities in front of the opponent’s net.

The Wild defensemen are also to blame for the recent skid. They have been an absolute joke in terms of contributing offensively. Collectively, the Wild defensemen have scored only six goals on the year. Marco Scandella has three of the six goals, while Jared Spurgeon has two of the six. That means only three Wild defensemen have scored a goal on the year. That is just bad, plain and simple. It is hard to win games when all of the pressure to produce offense is placed on a group of banged-up forwards. When the offense is hurting, the defense must take initiative and generate offense. If the Wild are going to climb up and out of this chaos, they will need the defense to step up and score some goals. If they do not begin producing offensively, the Wild will never see the light of the postseason.

While injuries certainly factor into the Wild’s offensive struggles, the Wild have been dealing with injuries all year. So the injury excuse isn’t sufficient enough to explain the recent disappearing act on offense.

There are certainly other things that are contributing to Wild’s free fall (i.e. bad penalties, ineffective power play, defensive lapses, etc). But offense, or lack thereof, lies at the core of the Wild’s recent failures. Getting Devin Setoguchi and Guillaume Latendresse back from injury will certainly help the Wild put more pucks in the net. But if the Wild do not get back to getting nasty in front of the net, setting screens, and burying loose pucks in and around the crease, they will never rise up to the top of the standings. If the Wild defenders do not begin to take shots and find a way to score goals, then the Wild will become accustomed to looking up to other teams in the standings. Luckily, the Wild still have plenty of games remaining to put it back together, and regain the reputation as a legit, Cup contender.

Gopher Gab

2011-12-21T13:25:00.003-06:00

By Jason Rossow

When Trevor Mbakwe (above, right) went down in the Championship Game of the Old Spice Classic over Thanksgiving weekend, I assumed the Gopher Basketball season was done. Since that night however, the Gophers have rattled off six consecutive victories over some decent competition.

The player I’ve been most impressed with, and I feel is the Gophers best player (now that Mbakwe is done) is JUCO transfer Julian Welch (above, left). He makes good decisions with the ball, can get a basket when needed, and plays solid defense. Welch has averaged 14 points a game WOM (without Mbakwe) and scoring just 6.6 WM (with Mbakwe). With point guard being the most important position in basketball, I give the Gophers a much better chance at staying in games with Welch running the show. Most impessive for Welch is he is shooting free-throws at a .875 clip!

The other player that has stepped up the most WOM is Rodney Williams. One of the most gifted players to ever put on the Maroon & Gold is FINALLY showing signs of becoming a legit Big10 player. Losing Mbakwe has forced Tubby to put Williams at the 4-spot, getting him closer to the rim. It’s obvious that Williams (as of this moment) is a better power forward than small forward. WM, Williams was scoring a modest 7.7 per, but WOM he's pumped in 12 a game. Of course, when you have two dunks per game it skews the numbers, but Williams is shooting a crazy .613 from the field. Williams continues to get the Gophers national attention with his sick dunks that regularly crack the Top-10 Sportscenter plays of the night. Williams is the best dunker I’ve seen play for Minnesota, or the Big10 for that matter. Now if the rest of his game could catch up to his leaping/dunking ability, you’d have a lottery pick.

For the Gophers to have any success in the Big10, Ralph Sampson III is going to need to play well. Ralph is already a senior this year for the Gophers, and will probably go down as the being the most hyped, yet having the most underwhelming career you could imagine. Ralph continues to look like he’d rather be doing anything in life BUT playing basketball. His lack of effort, hustle, waste of a 6’11 frame, and waste of natural talent shouldn’t be confused with being a calm, focused, mentally tough player.

Prior to Mbakwe going down, I had the Gophers projected around 5th in the Big10 and making an early exit from the NCAA tourney. Now, even with the six consecutive non-conference wins, I’m not a believer in this team. If they could go .500 in the Big10 I would be impressed. The Big10 is stacked this season, and could argue with the Big East as to who is the premier basketball league in America. With Ohio St., Michigan St., Purdue, Indiana, Illionis, Wisconsin and Michigan all legit Top-20 teams in the country, the Gophers just don’t have a great chance of being successful without their top player. Another thing that has me concerned is the lack of road games. To be successful in the Big10, you need to win some road games. That has been Tubby’s downfall every year he’s been here. So what do the schedule makers do for Team Tubby this year? Of the 13 non-conference games, 10 of them are at the Barn, and three of them at a neutral site. They have their first true road game December 27th when the travel to Illinois to open up Big10 play. After that night, we’ll have a good understanding of what kind of team the Gophers have WOM. Losing a top-5 Big10 player from an otherwise mediocre (at best) team is going to prove to be too much to overcome for Tubby’s squad. I predict the worst three letters in college basketball coming our way in Mid-March…… N. I. T.

2011-12-15T10:39:00.003-06:00

Weekly rankings take into account opponent, injuries and other incidental factors.

QUARTERBACKS

Ryan Boser highlights one quarterback who will "POP," and one who will "FLOP."

Andy Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals) at St. Louis

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and Andy Dalton survived a hellish five-game stretch against the league’s top four fantasy pass defenses (Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston and Pittsburgh twice)...Click here to read the rest of the breakdown at Bruno Boys.

Michael Vick (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. New York Jets

The good news is that Michael Vick (ribs) made it through Sunday’s tilt with Miami without any setbacks. The bad news is that he was lousy, completing just 15-of-30 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and only running twice for nine yards... Click here to read the rest of the breakdown at Bruno Boys.

RUNNING BACKS

Joey Cavalier highlights one running back who will "POP," and one who will "FLOP."

Felix Jones (Dallas Cowboys) at Tampa Bay

Now that DeMarco Murray is on IR, Felix Jones gets another chance to prove he is worthy. He certainly did that last week when he shredded the New York Giants for 137 total yards in relief for Murray. This week Jones faces off against one of the most putrid defenses in the entire NFL. Everyone (yes, even the Jacksonville Jaguars) puts up crazy numbers against the Bucs. Expect Jones to fill in nicely for the injured Murray, and help carry your team to a victory. Felix is a low-end RB1 going into this weekend, based on his matchup and the opportunity for feature back duties.

Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Pittsburgh

If you are a Frank Gore owner, chances are you’ve had your backup plan in place for several weeks. Gore is hobbling into the fantasy playoffs, and health concerns will likely force the Niners to hold him back again this week (he only out-carried Kendall Hunter 10-to-eight last week), rendering him a very risky play. Pair that with a brutal matchup against a Steelers defense that is stout against the run, and Gore could be in for a rough day. If you have the depth, you may have better options than Gore. Otherwise, expect Gore to be nothing more than an average flex-play this weekend.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Joey Cavalier highlights one wide receiver who will "POP," and one who will "FLOP."

Jabar Gaffney (Washington Redskins) at New York Giants

Jabar Gaffney has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners down the stretch this season. Last week Gaffney racked up 92 yards and a touchdown on six catches against the Patriots. This week he faces off against a New York Giants secondary that gave up three touchdowns last week against the Cowboys. Gaffney could be in for a huge day as the Redskins will be throwing the ball all game (likely playing a good old fashioned game of “catch-up”). If you have been bitten by the injury bug, and are digging deep looking for a fill-in, look no further than Gaffney. He should perform as a solid WR2 this weekend.

Santonio Holmes (New York Jets) vs. Philadelphia

Don’t let the three game touchdown streak fool you; Santonio Holmes is still not a dependable fantasy WR. Over his last four games, Holmes has been targeted 30 times, yet he has only reeled in 40 percent of those targets (not good). This week the Jets square off against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have been much better defensively in recent weeks. Holmes will likely get the Nnamdi Asomugha-treatment for a good portion of the game, and that alone caps his upside dramatically. You’ve probably made it this far without Holmes, so you should be able to continue on without him.

TIGHT ENDS

2011-12-01T17:59:00.011-06:00

Weekly rankings take into account opponent, injuries and other incidental factors.

QUARTERBACKS

Ryan Boser highlights one quarterback who will "POP," and one who will "FLOP."

Matt Moore (Miami Dolphins) vs. Oakland

Matt Moore continued his strong play on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys, completing 19-of-32 passes for a season-high 288 yards and one touchdown. In his past four games he’s been intercepted just once, and has two three-touchdown efforts to his name, so he’s quickly shaping up as a dependable fantasy option with very nice upside...Click here to read the rest of the breakdown at Bruno Boys.

Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) at Baltimore

Joe Flacco’s attempts, and subsequently, yardage, have been all over the board this season. The one constant has been the touchdowns. Or lack thereof. Flacco’s managed multiple touchdown passes just once in his last eight games, and things won’t get any easier this week against Cleveland’s top-tier pass defense... Click here to read the rest of the breakdown at Bruno Boys.

RUNNING BACKS

Joey Cavalier highlights one running back who will "POP," and one who will "FLOP."

LeGarrette Blount (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Carolina

Blount, once again, looks like he is going to finish the season strong for fantasy owners. Blount is looking for his third straight 100-yard game, and is beginning to show signs that he can be useful in the passing game (56 receiving yards in his last outing). Blount comes into this week with a dream matchup against the putrid Carolina run defense. Blount will likely get 18-23 touches and is a must-start this week. Start him and be rewarded!

Cedric Benson (Cincinnati Bengals) at Pittsburgh

After coming on strong over the last two weeks, fantasy owners will be looking to Cedric Benson for another big game. Benson squares off with a Steelers defense that ranks 6th against the run. Benson may be a workhorse, but the Bengals could easily abandon the run game if they get down early against the high-powered Steelers offense. Benson is worth a look as a flex-play, but if you are looking for someone to be a difference maker and win you a game, Benson is not that guy.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Brian Dezelske highlights one wide receiver who will "POP," and one who will "FLOP."

Eric Decker (Denver Broncos) at Minnesota

The native of Cold Spring, MN has been managed to score four touchdowns with Tim Tebow at the helm, which just so happens to be the same amount of touchdowns he tallied when Kyle Orton was the starter. The Denver Broncos have been dialing up more pass plays for Tebow as each week goes by, and the Minnesota Vikings have given up the most passing touchdowns in the league. That combination should make for a great homecoming for the former Golden Gopher. Decker should get at least one score, and might even top 100 yards in the process as the Broncos ‘Tebow’ the Vikings this Sunday.

Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons) at Houston

Roddy White and the Atlanta Falcons square off against the Houston Texans in what should be run-heavy affair between the two. The Texans are the No. 2 pass defense in the league and are only giving up 6.0 yards per attempt, making it difficult for any offense to score through the air. It’s understandable to play him if you have him, just don’t expect a third 100-yard game in a row.

NOTE: Mario Manningham was downgraded after rankings were submitted, and is not expected to play.

TIGHT ENDS

NFL WEEK 11

2011-11-26T14:03:00.001-06:00

**OML Weekly Rankings will resume in Week 13**

WIDE RECEIVERS

Brian Dezelske highlights three running backs who will "POP," and three who will "FLOP."

Mike Wiliams (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) @ Tennessee

Last week’s performance was what lil’ Mikey Williams’ owners have been waiting for. Finally! Maybe I’m over-excited and letting my emotions get the best of me, but I feel a repeat coming.

He’s struggled with top-flight DB’s this year, so there’s cause for concern about his matchup with Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan.

Don’t sweat that this week. Tasting the end zone last week should motivate him to finish the season on a strong note, and that starts with building off of his big game against the Green Bay Packers.

Laurent Robinson (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Miami

Laurent Robinson has been popping for the last four weeks in a row, having scored five times in that span.

He continues his momentum this week, extending his scoring streak to five games against a sub-par Miami Dolphins secondary that ranks 25th against the pass.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Robinson went 7/79/2 on Turkey Day. Kudos to Brian for the great call, and my apologies to readers for not getting this nugget posted sooner! - RB

Wes Welker (New England Patriots) @ Philadelphia

Our esteemed followers are going to think I’m nuts, and there may be some truth to that, but not when it comes to Wes Welker flopping all over the place this week like a fish out of water.

It’s simple. The first six weeks of the season he ripped off four 100-yard games and hauled in six TD’s. Since week six he has 1 such 100-yard and zero TD’s, and in four of the last five games he’s failed to eclipse 50 receiving yards.

The major reason for this is Rob Gronkowski taking over as the league's premier tight end, and teams focusing all their attention on stopping Welker.

DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. New England

I know every DeSean Jackson owner is super excited about starting him against worst pass defense in the NFL, but slow down just a little bit here.

He still only has two 100-yard games on the year to go with two touchdowns, and you can be assured that Bill Belichick will have a game plan devised to take away the long ball—Jackson’s specialty.

NFL Week 10

2011-11-12T00:13:00.016-06:00

**OML Weekly Rankings will resume in Week 12**

QUARTERBACKS

Ryan Boser highlights three quarterbacks who will "POP," and three who will "FLOP."

Tim Tebow (Denver Broncos) @ Kansas City

Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) vs. New England

Matt Cassell (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. Denver

Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Houston

Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears) vs. Detroit

Tom Brady (New England Patriots) @ New York Jets

Click here to read all 32 quarterback breakdowns at Bruno Boys.

RUNNING BACKS

Joey Cavalier highlights three running backs who will "POP," and three who will "FLOP."

Ben Tate (Houston Texans) @ Tampa Bay

The Houston rushing attack is simply unstoppable. Even with Arian Foster playing like he did last year, Ben Tate is still producing. He has 100-yard performances in 2 of his last 3 games. With Andre Johnson likely to miss another week, look for the Texans to run the ball early and often against a Tampa Bay defense that is without Gerald McCoy. Tate will have another shot at 100-yards in this game.

Reggie Bush (Miami Dolphins) vs. Washington

Oddly enough, Reggie Bush has become the focal point of the Dolphins offense. With Daniel Thomas taking the back seat as he heals up, Bush will get the bulk of carries against a Redskins’ defense that has cooled off significantly after a hot start. Bush looks for his 3rd straight game with 100+ total yards and will be given the opportunity to do so. Bush makes for nice flex start this week.

Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans) @ Carolina

Last week, CJ racked up 110 total yards against a tough Bengals defense. Now Johnson has a chance to build off of last week’s success against a feeble Carolina defense, which ranks 28th against the run, and has been unable to stop opposing running backs all year long. Johnson is a solid RB2 this week that has low-end RB1 upside. Plug him in to your lineups and finally get your money’s worth!

Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants) @ San Francisco

After doing a nice job filling in for the injured Ahmad Bradshaw last week, Jacobs gets another chance to prove that he can play at a high level. Bradshaw is out for the second straight week and Jacobs will get the start. Too bad the Giants play the 49ers, a team that has been a nightmare for opposing running backs. Jacobs will get a lot of carries, but will have a tough time doing anything with them. Only start Jacobs if you are desperate.

Cedric Benson (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Pittsburgh

Despite the fact that Benson has been given the ball an average of about 21 times per game, he only has two 100-yard games to show for it. This week he will likely get 20+ touches against the Steelers defense. The only problem is the Steelers have been absolutely lights out against the run this year. Look for better options this week, as Benson is likely to disappoint and put up a lame stat-line.

LeGarrette Blount (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Houston

Overall, Blount has run the ball well this year, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. The problem for the Blount-man is that when his team gets down, he watches the game from the sidelines. That could easily happen this week against the Texans. Houston has been putting up a ton of points early in games. Thus, Blount has a good chance of being neutralized and watching much of the game with his Tampa Bay Buccaneers baseball cap on.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Brian Dezelske highlights three wide receivers who will "POP," and three who will "FLOP."

DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Arizona

It’s been a rough year for D-Jax owners so far, and that’s hard to wrap the mind around since this is a contract year. Jackson just can’t be kept locked up much longer, and facing the Arizona Cardinals is just what he needs to break out. The Cardinals rank 28th against the pass and struggle with covering speedy receivers—Mike Wallace torched them for a 95-yard touchdown in week 7. It can be unsettling to plug feast-or-famine players into your lineup, but the Cardinals offer an abundance to feast on.

Jordy Nelson (Green Bay Packers) vs. Minnesota

Jordy Nelson and the undefeated Green Bay Packers face the Minnesota Vikings this week on Monday Night Football. With Antoine Winfield coming back this week and sure to be on Greg Jennings most of the day, Nelson is sure to have a big day working the rest of the Vikings DBs. He’s more than just a flex play this week—he’s a solid WR2 play in all leagues.

Percy Harvin (Minnesota Vikings) @ Green Bay

Percy Harvin is another receiver that’s been having a hard time breaking out this year, although he has been more involved in the offense with Christian Ponder under center. The Green Bay Packers have the second worst pass defense in the NFL, and show no signs of being able to fix that any time soon. Now that Ponder has had two full starts under his belt, one already being against the Packers, his growing confidence should play into Harvin’s favor. Look for him to have right around 80 receiving yards and a score. Three or four carries for some rushing yards aren’t out of the question either.

A.J. Green (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Pittsburgh

A.J. Green faces a pretty tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense this week and it could spell trouble for the young receiver... indirectly. The Steelers' front seven are sure to put tons of pressure on young rookie QB Andy Dalton—pressure that Dalton hasn’t seen yet this season as a rookie. If the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line can control the Steelers pass rush, Dalton and Green could have a nice day, however, I just don’t see that happening. Dalton is going to get his first taste of what a real defense and he won’t like it.

Brandon Lloyd (St. Louis Rams) @ Cleveland
I'm just not buying Brandon Lloyd as a legitimate No. 1 receiver in St. Louis. I know he had a nice game last week, but I feel that was just a flash in the pan. This week Lloyd will go up against Joe Haden of the Cleveland Browns, who’s one of the best young players in the NFL that nobody talks about. The Browns are ranked 1st in the NFL against the pass and a huge reason for that is Haden. If you have other options at the WR or flex position, don’t hesitate to sit him.

Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers) vs. Minnesota

In week seven, Greg Jennings had seven catches for 147 yards and a touchdown in the Green Bay Packers' 33-27 win over the Minnesota Vikings. However, Antoine Winfield was not playing that week. He’s back this week and will be on Jennings all game long, with defensive help rolling over to that side of the field as well. I know if you have to start him if he’s on your team, just don’t be surprised if he has one of his least productive outings of the year.

Minnesota Wild: Snap-Shots and Takeaways

2011-11-10T15:13:00.000-06:00

By Joey Cavalier

It is finally time to check in on our Minnesota Wild. You know, the only team in Minnesota that wins games (save for the Lynx!). “Snap-Shots and Takeaways” is a series that will continue throughout the season. It will be random and quick-hitting, as I discuss the different areas of the Wild’s success and failures. Today we are talking about coaching, offense and defense. Next week I will touch on the Wild’s special teams and goaltending.

Let’s drop the puck!

Coach

When Mike Yeo was given the job as Wild head coach, I was very skeptical. However, the first-year coach has shown why he was given the job. He has fashioned the Wild into a “tough team to play against” (Yeo’s own words). He has displayed a sense of composure that most first-year coaches do not possess, as he has coached the Wild to a 19-point start through their first 14 games (the Wild are currently tied for 3rd in the Western Conference!). Time will tell if Yeo can keep this pace up, as well as solve the Wild’s deficiencies, but as for now, Yeo has done an excellent job as head coach.

Offense

Even after acquiring Danny Heatly and Devin Setoguchi via trade this past offseason, the Minnesota Wild have struggled to manufacture offense. Believe it or not, the Wild are currently 27^th in the NHL with only 2.21 goals per game. That’s not the end of it either; they rank 26^th in the league with only 26.6 shots per game. That’s not very good…

Though the Wild have been struggling as a team to score goals, the forwards have been doing their part in putting up offense. Guillaume Latendresse, Matt Cullen, Mikko Koivu, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Heatley and Setoguchi all have 8 points or more on the year. Cullen has been a pleasant surprise, and he is finally playing to his potential. Latendresse has played well, and looks like he is back to pre-injury form. Heatley has been working magic in the clutch with two game-winning goals on the year. The Wild forwards, as a group, haven’t exactly put holes through the back of the net, but they’ve accounted for 27 of the team’s 31 goals on the year and have at least been consistent in the way that they produce.

I fully expect the offense to improve as the season goes on, as chemistry grows and as players get accustomed to Yeo’s newly installed system.

Defense

The Wild have one of the youngest blue-lines in the entire league. Nate Prosser (25), Justin Falk (23), Jared Spurgeon (21) and Marco Scandella (21) have all been seeing significant ice-time while Greg Zanon and Clayton Stoner are recovering from injuries. This unit is currently a two-sided coin: they have been stellar defensively, yet they have been less-than-stellar offensively.

The Wild defensemen have only scored four goals through 14 games. That is just garbage. Marek Zidlicky has been the biggest letdown of the bunch, as he was supposed to be “the guy” on the blue-line with the departure of Brent Burns. Zidlicky has been completely ineffective as an offensive-defenseman. He has no goals on the year and only four assists. Scandella leads all Wild defensemen with 2 goals and is showing great promise as an offensive-defenseman. As the season goes on, and as Scandella continues to get opportunities, I believe that he will become the Wild’s No.1 defenseman. Replacing Brent Burns is no easy task, but Scandella is showing that he is the most capable of doing so.

Though the Wild defensemen have struggled to generate offense, they have done a great job keeping the opposition away from the net and off of the scoreboard. The Wild are currently 2^nd in the NHL with 1.79 goals against per game. That is largely due to the elite goaltending of Josh Harding and Niklas Backstrom, but the defensemen have certainly done their part. The youthful blue-line is showing a lot of promise, along with a sound understanding of the game. They have been blocking a ton of shots, hitting hard and playing “smart hockey.” They have also shown physicality in front of the net when things get heated and when fists are flying.

Overall, it has been an exciting start for this Wild squad. For the first time in years, Wild fans have something to be excited about. Hopefully, they can build off of this early success and become a true Stanley Cup contender as the season matures.

Minnesota Twins Offseason: Part 4 of 4 (SP/RP)

2011-11-06T16:06:00.009-06:00

By Matt Tschida

Part 1: C/1B

Part 2: 2B/SS/3B

Part 3: DH/OF

STARTING PITCHING

CURRENT (How 2011 Started and Ended)
Started:

1. Francisco Liriano

2. Carl Pavano

3. Nick Blackburn

4. Brian Duensing

5. Scott Baker

Ended:

1. Carl Pavano

2. Brian Duensing

3. Anthony Swarzak

4. Scott Diamond

5. Liam Hendricks

2012

1. James Sheilds/ErikBedard/Other FA/Trade?

2: Scott Baker

3: Carl Pavano

4: Francisco Liriano

5: Nick Blackburn

The Twins' starting rotation was realatively healthy for the majority of the 2011 season, but as the Twins were eliminated from any kind of playoff push in August and September, they shut down every starter who had any sign of injury (which was probably the smart thing to do). The Twins thought that Francisco Liriano was ready to be a consistent force in their rotation, and at least duplicate his 2010, but other than his no-hitter his season was miserable. Brian Duensing could not repeat the success he had in the 2nd halves of 2009 and 2010. Nick Blackburn was his typical inconsistent self, putting together a great month or two and having two or three awful months. Carl Pavano was respectable, but didn’t have quite the success he had in 2010, mostly due to a major decline in the defense behind him. Scott Baker was having a career year until injuries once again plagued him. To make matters worse, top pitching prospect Kyle Gibson had a less-than-stellar first half of the season, and ended up needing Tommy John Surgery.

On October 4th, Bill Smith said that the starting pitching is one of the many priorities the team has to address, as they plan to move one or two starters into the bullpen. The obvious person to move into the bullpen is Brian Duensing. He showed great flexibility in 2009-2010 out of the pen, and would help solidify the left handed relief options. I think it’s a foregone conclusion that Kevin Slowey will get traded, and a good fit for him would be trading him to the Colorado Rockies for RP Rafael Betancourt. The Rockies already have 2-3 other set-up relief pitchers and only have 2 pitchers who started more than 17 games for them last season, so it would be a good fix for both teams. The Twins may have to throw in a minor league player to make the deal work.

With the Twins moving a starter to the bullpen and likely trading Kevin Slowey they will need to pursue a free agent starter and/or trade for a starting pitcher. Obviously, the Twins would like to get an “ace” pitcher, but it will be difficult to do without breaking the bank. C.J. Wilson will likely get $18M/year or more, and while Mark Buehrle will probably be more affordable, he's said he would like to re-sign with the White Sox. Here’s a few other options that might be more realistic for the Twins this offseason:

James Shields (Tampa Bay) – Shields had a breakout season this year, going 16-12 and striking out 225 in just under 250 IP. He also notched 11 complete games (imagine how much Bert would like this addition), and his 2.82 ERA was a career-best. It’s hard to determine what the Rays would want in return for Shields, but this is definitely a good time for them to sell considering he had a 5.18 ERA in 2010. He signed a team-friendly contract that pays him (team options for each year) $7M in 2012, $9M in 2013 and $12M in 2014. I’m guessing the Twins would need to package centered around Denard Span to land Shields. The main reasons his name has been floating around the trading block are that the Rays generally trade their players before they start making a lot of money, and they already have a 1A starting pitcher (David Price) and 1B starting pitcher (Jeremy Hellickson) with a 3rd ace-quality pitcher (who many scouts believe he has the best stuff out of all three) ready to start next season in the rotation in Matt Moore.

Wandy Rodriguez (Houston) – Houston is definitely in rebuilding mode, and they've put Wandy on the trading block before. It’s not surprising that multiple teams claimed him when he was put on waivers in August, but the Rockies and Astros couldn’t come to an agreement. He has thrown at least 191 innings in the last three seasons, and his highest ERA was 3.60, with K/9 at 7.82, 8.22, and 8.45. Houston probably won’t need major league-ready talent, but would likely demand a couple top 10-15 prospects from any team wanting him.

Erik Bedard (Red Sox) – Bedard proved this season that if he can stay healthy he can be effective. He struck out 125 batters in 129 1/3 IP with an ERA of 3.62. The last time Bedard had an ERA over 4.00 was in 2004. The biggest issue with Bedard in the past five season has been his health. If the Twins could get a bargain for Bedard like the Mariners did (one year at $1M), it would be a no-brainer. I would actually be fine with the Twins signing Bedard to a one year deal at a base of $3-$4M with incentives based on innings pitched. I’m guessing someone like the Red Sox or Yankees will be in the running for Bedard as well.

Edwin Jackson (St. Louis) – Jackson is a little like Liriano in that he has all of the pitches to be successful, and even a potential ace, but has yet to put it all together and become a consistent pitcher. One year he’ll post a 3.62 ERA and the next he’ll put up an ERA of 4.47. I have a hard time justifying signing a pitcher who is as inconsistent as Jackson to a multi-year contract for big money when a team is trying to be budget conscious.

Javier Vazquez (Florida) – Vazquez can be dominant at times, but for the most part he is a league-average pitcher. If the Twins were to move a second starter to the bullpen (likely Blackburn) and they could get Vazquez at a reasonable price to be a 4th or 5th starter, that would be a quality signing. Possibly in the one-year, $5M range. Vazquez helped his stock out a little bit by only giving up two earned runs and 24 hits in his last six starts of 2011.

RELIEF PITCHING

CURRENT

Closer: Joe Nathan
Set-up RH: Matt Capps

Set-up LH: Glen Perkins

RHRP: Alex Burnett/Lester Oliveros/Jim Hoey/Kyle Waldrup

LHRP: Jose Mijares/Phil Dumatrait

Long Relief/Spot Starter: Anthony Swarzak

2012

Closer: Drew Storen
Set-up RH: Rafael Betencourt

Set-up LH: Glen Perkins

RHRP: Kyle Waldrup/Alex Burnett/Lester Oliveros/Carlos Gutierrez

LHRP: Brian Duensing/Jose Mijares

Long Relief: Anthony Swarzak/Jeff Manship

As noted in the starting pitching section above, I would trade Kevin Slowey to a team in exchange for a quality relief pitcher—note to Bill Smith: quality relief pitcher, not a hard-throwing project, but a quality relief pitcher. Kevin Slowey still has upside, and starting pitchers are generally more valuable than relief pitching. With that said, the Twins may need to throw in a minor league prospect (not a top prospect but a B-C prospect), because Slowey’s value really is about as low as it has ever been.

As you can see I have Drew Storen listed as the team’s closer next year. I am a huge fan of Storen and was all for trading Denard Span at the trade deadline in order to get him. I would revisit that offer at the winter meetings and aggressively pursue this trade. Many Twins fans were upset that we were considering this trade because Bill Smith made a huge mistake in 2010 by trading a top catching prospect (Wilson Ramos) for a below average closer/average set-up pitcher (Matt Capps). Twins fans need to understand Drew Storen is NOT Matt Capps. Storen is actually an elite closer who is still only 24 years old. Another reason I would go for this trade is it saves the Twins a lot of money. Instead of spending $7-8 million on a closer, they would be spending just over $400,000. Think of it this way: Would you rather have an outfield of Tosoni/Revere/Cuddyer and have Storen as the Twins' closer (who, I remind you, would hopefully be the team’s closer for the next 5-10 years—he’s under team control through 2016) or Revere/Span/Tosoni with Nathan as the Twins' closer. To me it’s virtually a no-brainer.