Monday, December 17, 2012

Seahawks

I posted my NFL season review, but I would also like to dedicate a post to the Seahawks.  The future is bright, as are playoff odds for this season.  Outside of obvious success in the playoffs, what would I like to see Seattle accomplish the rest of this season and in the offseason?  I will break it down position by position:

QB- Russell Wilson is our franchise guy.  Flynn is an awesome backup, but we should look to move him for assets.  Maybe ARZ, NYJ or even SD would give up a rd. 2 + 5 for him?
RB-  Lynch and Turbin are a very solid tandem.  A change of pace speedy back would be a nice add towards the end of the draft.
FB- Michael Robinson has been ideal for Seattle.  NO changes
WR- Needs a lot of work.  Rice is solid, and Tate would be better suited as a 3rd of 4th wide out.  Giving Wilson better targets to throw to will make the offense much better.  Tavon Austin or Justin Hunter would be intriguing in the draft, or signing Greg Jennings from Green Bay would be amazing.
TE- Could be upgraded as well.  Zach Miller has not produced as highly as anticipated, and McCoy is below average.  Adding another target is needed.
OL- Right tackle has to be addressed if Carpenter is moving to guard.  Increased depth is needed also

DE- Clemons, Bryant and Irvin are keepers.
DT- Jones has been very good, and should be brought back.  Branch should be retained at the right cost.
LB- A replacement for Leroy Hill is needed to bolster the linebacking core.
CB- Sherman and Browner might be the best tandem in the league.  If Trufant, Lane and Thurmond are all retained, corner is not a need.
S-  Depth could be used late in the draft.
K/P- No need for change.
KR- Washington continues to be among the best in the game.

The first priority should be targeting a WR in free agency.  Adding Greg Jennings, Dwayne Bowe or even a lesser known guy like Ramses Barden would be ideal.  TEs in FA could be Dustin Keller of Jared Cook.  In the draft we should look at offensive playmakers, offensive line depth (RT especially), and outside linebackers.  KJ Wright and Bobby Wagner have been phenomenal, but Leroy Hill is on the downside of his career.

NFL Season thoughts

Week 15 wraps up tonight, and playoff races are very tight.  The northwest Seahawks are in a solid position to make the playoffs, and even win the division if the cards fall right.  At 9-5, I would think that one more win would be enough to clinch a wild card berth.  Over the course of the season, who has played well?  Here are my position ranks based off of the player's current value to win games and develop into a player who can win games over the next few seasons:

QB (Without a good one, kiss wins goodbye)             
1.  Aaron Rodgers- The most elite QB in the league, and the youngest of the elite tier.                     
2.  Drew Brees-  Will still be incredible for at least 5 years.
3.  Tom Brady-  35 years old, but as dangerous as ever.  Still a top 3 guy.
4.  Andrew Luck- Has led the Colts to a likely playoff berth with questionable talent around him.  He will be the best QB in the league in 5 years.
5.  Robert Griffin III- Griffin has been outstanding as well.  He has made the Redskins relevant again and is dominant as a duel threat QB.
6.  Peyton Manning- Injuries aside, he proved this year that he can still play at a high level.  The Broncos would be lost without him.
7.  Matt Ryan- Has become the franchise guy for a great Falcons team.  He will continue to be an awesome fantasy QB, but hasn't reached the top echelon just yet.
8.  Eli Manning- I'd take Ryan over him, though that takes nothing away from the 2 Super Bowls Eli has won.  He still throws the ball inconsistently at times.  If only he could play every quarter like it was the 4th.
9.  Russell Wilson- Maybe only Bill Simmons saw this coming.  I was excited about the Wilson pick, but he has been fantastic for Seattle this year.  If he gets better weapons to throw to I could look foolish for rating him this low.
10.  Tony Romo- He takes a lot of heat for bad plays, but he is a solid quarterback.  He won't win MVPs, but with the right defense and right staff behind him, he could lead a deep playoff run (not saying it will necessarily be for Dallas...)
Sleeper- Andy Dalton

RB (Very important, but shelf life must play into account for running backs)
1 Adrian Peterson- Could break records his season after his ACL tear.  Guy is a beast, rushing for 6.3 ypa so far this season.
2 Marshawn Lynch- A high rating, but he is nearly impossible to bring down.  He does not have breakaway speed, but he can still bust out 25 yard gains pretty easily.  As long as he stays healthy he will be the 2nd best RB in the league.
3 Arian Foster- A workhorse.  Lacks top notch speed, but is tough to bring down.
4 Jamaal Charles- Best player on an awful team.  Could do real damage behind a good offensive line.
5 Ray Rice- The most effective back in the passing game, and is still very good with the run too.
6 Trent Richardson- Took a lot of hits this year.  The Browns will continue to improve, and he will vault into the top 10 backs in the league.
7 CJ Spiller- Had an awesome season.  He would shine more without Fred Jackson.  He needs more carries.
8 Doug Martin- Fast and compact.  He will rush for 1000 yards many times.
9 Alfred Morris- A 6th round pick, exploded rather unexpectedly.  He will be a big time producer as long as Griffin stays healthy.
10 Frank Gore- Very consistent.  Hasn't had the down games many others (ie. Chris Johnson) have had.  Will continue to produce.
Sleeper- David Wilson

WR (Can make a average QB look very good)
1 Calvin Johnson- Megatron.  The most dominant receiver in the game.  He might reach 2000 yards with Rodgers or Luck.
2 Brandon Marshall-  Finally found a situation free of stress.  An incredible deep target, he is still a go to guy.
3 AJ Green- The next top receiver in the league.  The guy is scary good.
4 Julio Jones- Targets are even with White, and he has become a bigger red zone target.
5 Randall Cobb- His speed and shiftiness are tough to come by.  Think Welker with athleticism.
6 Andre Johnson- Might not be at the peak of his career, but he is still an incredible target to throw to.
7 Victor Cruz- Has incredible hands.  Good out of the slot or on the outside.
8 Dez Bryant- Might make Romo look better than he is.  Needs to increase work ethic, but his talent level is impressive.
9 Demaryius Thomas- Drafted ahead of Bryant, has become the top target for Manning.  Needs to run crisper routes, but he will continue to improve vastly.
10 Larry Fitzgerald- Still has caught almost 700 yards despite having awful QBs to throw his way.  If he sticks it out, Matt Barkley could be just what Fitz needs.
Sleeper-TY Hilton

Defensively I am going to rank slightly differently.  Based off of various skills, I will rank defensive players instead of just positions.

Pass Rush
1 JJ Watt
2 Aldon Smith
3 Chris Clemons
4 Von Miller
5 Clay Matthews
sleeper- Justin Houston
Tackles
1 James Laurinitas
2 Navorro Bowman
3 Luke Kuechly
4 Patrick Willis
5 Clay Matthews
sleeper- Bobby Wagner
Cover Skills
1 Patrick Peterson
2 Richard Sherman
3 Darrelle Revis
4 Tim Jennings
5 Stephon Gilmore
sleeper- Janoris Jenkins
Overall most complete defensive players:
1 JJ Watt
2 Von Miller
3 Clay Matthews
4 Patrick Willis
5 Patrick Peterson

Kick Returns:
1 David Wilson
2 Jacoby Jones
3 Randall Cobb
4 Darius Reynaud
5 Percy Harvin

Thoughts?

@ZRey12

NBA Draft Stock

It has been a busy 2 weeks in college basketball.  Who has looked good over the past week to help their draft stock?

Stock up:
Trey Burke PG/Michigan-  Burke is the best college point guard in the country.  This does not necessarily mean he is the best NBA prospect at the 1 in this draft, but his ability to make plays for his teammates has been exceptional.  He has scored the ball well also, showing an impressive knack for taking the right shots at the right time.  He projects as a starter at the next level in the mold of Eric Maynor or even Mo Williams.  Current big board rank:  14

Richard Howell F/North Carolina State- Howell seems like a perfect "glue guy" at the next level.  Every season NBA teams try to find players that at the right fit for a team, and can play with any player in any system.  He rebounds the ball at a high level, and scores very efficiently.  He is not a great shooter, as most of his baskets come on putbacks or in the paint shots.  He reminds me of Dante Cunningham.  Cunningham could start for a team based off of fit more than talent, and Howell is a guy who could do the same in the NBA.  Current big board rank:  32

Others to keep an eye on:  Eric Moreland/Oregon State, Nemanja Nedovic/Serbia, Sean Kilpatrick/Cincinnati

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Game Preview vs. NO

The Blazers play the Hornets tonight in a battle between the two top rookie of the year candidates in Lillard and Anthony Davis.  Lillard has the edge right now, but with three quarters of the season still to play, Davis could explode onto the scene, especially defensively.  For Portland, there needs to be continued analysis on the play of JJ Hickson and Lamarcus Aldridge on the court together.  According to 82games.com, both players are more effective playing with the other on the bench.  Aldridge in particular has been better playing next to Meyers Leonard, and Hickson best next to Jared Jeffries.  With the continued improvement of Joel Freeland, including his solid D-League outing, expect Portland to continue to experiment with a variety of post units.  If Portland does not establish themselves as playoff contenders, Hickson could be a player on the move due to his potential and the status of his contract (A reasonable, expiring deal). 

Keys to Tonight's Game:
1.  LA gets 25.  New Orleans does not have the best interior defense, though Anthony Davis will be one of the best in the league by next year, and LA should take advantage.
2.  Win the 3 point shooting battle.  Both teams like to shoot from the outside, and, the team that makes the most from downtown will likely prevail.
3.  Commit less than ten turnovers.  New Orleans is not a team that will win lots of games based off of talent alone, they rely on their opponent's mistakes.  Look for Portland to be secure with the ball to win this game.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Updated NBA Draft Big Board

Here is an updated big board for the 2013 draft.  I have also included their subjective grade.  Here is the scale, though I can guarantee the ratings will change over the course of the year:
Grade Scale (Ceiling):  90-100 (Superstar) 80-89 (All-Star) 70-79 (Starter) 60-69(Contributor) 50-59 (Role Player) 40-49 (Draftable)

*For Reference, Anthony Davis was graded as a 93, Damian Lillard 84, Meyers Leonard 74, and Will Barton 65 in last years draft.
  1.  Shabazz Muhammed SG/UCLA      Grade:  82
  2.  Nerlens Noel PF/Kentucky              Grade:  81
  3.  Cody Zeller C/Indiana                       Grade:  81
  4.  Alex Len C/Maryland                         Grade:  79
  5.  Alex Poythress F/Kentucky              Grade:  78
  6.  Michael Carter-Williams G/Syracuse   Grade:  77
  7.  Rudy Gobert C/France                       Grade:  75
  8.  Archie Goodwin G/Kentucky           Grade:  75
  9.  Otto Porter SF/Georgetown             Grade:  74
  10.  CJ McCollum G/Lehigh                       Grade:  74
  11.  James McAdoo PF/North Carolina   Grade:  72
  12.  Ben McLemore SG/Kansas                Grade:  72
  13.  Anthony Bennett F/UNLV                  Grade:  72
  14.  Isaiah Austin C/Baylor                        Grade:  71
  15.  Mason Plumlee PF/Duke                    Grade:  71
  16.  Tony Mitchell PF/North Texas           Grade:  70
  17.  Trey Burke PG/Michigan                     Grade:  69
  18.  Marcus Smart PG/Oklahoma State   Grade:  68
  19.  LeBryan Nash SF/Oklahoma State    Grade:  68
  20.  Sergey Karasev SF/Russia                   Grade:  67
  21.  Myck Kabongo PG/Texas                     Grade:  67
  22.  BJ Young PG/Arkansas                         Grade:  66
  23.  Kyle Anderson SF/UCLA                      Grade:  66
  24.  Dario Saric F/Croatia                            Grade:  66
  25.  Ricardo Ledo G/Providence               Grade:  65
  26.  Brandon Paul SG/Illinois                     Grade:  65
  27.  CJ Leslie F/NC State                              Grade:  65
  28. Andre Roberson F/Colorado              Grade:  64
  29.  Mike Moser F/UNLV                             Grade:  63
  30.  Victor Oladipo SF/Indiana                 Grade:  63

    Next 5:  Steven Adams PF/Pittsburgh, Isaiah Canaan PG/Murray State, Adonis Thomas SF/Memphis, Jamaal Franklin SG/San Diego State, Nemanja Nedovic G/Serbia


    Who would you want to select?

    @ZRey12   and as always, Go Blazers!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Weekly Basketball Thoughts

NBA
- Aldridge has been playing better.  He is finally comfortable within the offense and has been getting better looks down low.  If our starting unit continues to score, Portland will fight for a playoff spot.
- While LA and Hickson both have good individual stats, I am concerned by their ability to play with each other.  Neither are ideal compliments for each other.  With Leonard or Jeffries alongside Aldridge, I think LA's efficiency would improve.  Could this lead to a Hickson trade at the deadline?  Unlikely, as he is still our best rebounder, and our bench needs to show improvement over a longer period of time.  If we fall out of contention, though, expect Hickson to switch teams at the deadline. Speaking of Portland's bench...
- Can Portland's bench keep it up?  For 2 straight games, the bench for Rip City has looked decent, which is a massive upgrade over recent play.  Babbitt looks like a role player, in the mold of Steve Novak, that this team could use for spacing, and Will Barton looks like a useful player as well.  Nolan Smith still needs to get more comfortable, and Freeland needs continued looks as well.  Leonard still has been having his ups and downs, though it does appear that he has starter level potential as a player.  Don't count out Claver yet either.
- Rondo went to Mexico to sit out his suspension, and has not touched a basketball for a week.  I'm not sure Blazer fans would go for this...

College
-Indiana is the best team in the country.  Zeller and Oladipo, with improved play from Hulls and Watford, have been scoring well as a unit.  They are very unselfish, and an awesome college basketball team.  Zeller and Oladipo will both be in the NBA one day.
- Otto Porter (Georgetown) looks like an ideal "glue guy" in the NBA.  He can do everything (except shoot the 3...), and his hustle has been very important for Georgetown.  He has an NBA body, and could be in the league right now in a Jared Dudley type role, though he is a 3 man at 6'8".  If he ever learns how to shoot we could be looking at a Luol Deng or Nicolas Batum quality player.
- Michael Carter Williams continues to impress at Syracuse.  He is a solid scorer, and is leading the nation in assists per game.  If Syracuse can find clutch play from MCW in Big East play, they will challenge (and possibly overtake) Louisville for the Big East Title.
- Shabazz Muhammed can score, but he has been underwhelming as a team talent for UCLA.  I still think he compares to James Harden, in that he is not an ideal #1 scorer for an NBA team.  Will his lack of star power for UCLA cause him to slip from the number 1 draft pick?  It's possible, as Noel and Zeller have played very well for their schools.

@ZRey12

Blazers play again tomorrow night, time for another win!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

NFL Mock Draft 2.0

There are quite a few teams atop the draft board with needs for quarterbacks.  Unfortunately, the two top quarterbacks have been playing themselves out of the top 5 of the draft.  What will they do?
Draft order updated as well (this week's games not taken into account).
  1.  KC- Manti T'eo ILB/Notre Dame
  2.  JAX- Jarvis Jones OLB/Georgia
  3.  OAK- Star Lotulelei DT/Utah
  4.  CLE- Damontre Moore DE/Texas A&M
  5.  PHI- Luke Joekel OT/Texas A&M
  6.  CAR- Barkevious Mingo DE/LSU
  7.  BUF- Bjoern Werner DE/Florida State
  8.  SD- Matt Barkley QB/USC
  9.  NYJ- Taylor Lewan OT/Michigan
  10.  TEN- Ezekiel Ansah DE/BYU
  11.  ARZ- Geno Smith QB/West Virginia
  12.  DET- Dee Milliner CB/Alabama
  13.  STL- Justin Hunter WR/Tennessee
  14.  MIA- Keenan Allen WR/California
  15.  STL*- Chase Warmack OG/Alabama
  16.  NO- Dion Jordan DE/Oregon
  17.  DAL- Alec Ogletree ILB/Georgia
  18.  CIN- Sam Montgomery DE/LSU
  19.  TB- Jonathan Hankins DT/Ohio State
  20.  MIN- Barrett Jones OL/Alabama
  21.  PIT- Sylvester Williams DT/North Carolina
  22.  SEA- Tavon Austin WR/West Virginia
  23.  IND- Eric Fisher OT/Central Michigan
  24.  NYG- CJ Mosley ILB/Alabama
  25.  GB- Dri Archer RB/Kent State
  26.  DEN- Jonathan Banks CB/Mississippi State
  27.  CHI- Dallas Thomas OT/Tennessee
  28.  NE- Jordan Poyer CB/Oregon State
  29.  SF- Chase Thomas OLB/Stanford
  30.  BAL- Matt Elam S/Florida
  31.  HOU- Robert Woods WR/USC
  32. ATL- Tyler Eifert TE/Notre Dame
*Pick from WAS
Round 2
  1. KC- Terrance Williams WR/Baylor
  2. JAX- Eric Reid S/LSU
  3. PHI- Jonathan Jenkins DT/Georgia
  4. CAR- Sheldon Richardson DT/Missouri
  5. CIN- Anthony Barr OLB/UCLA
  6. SD- Corey Lemonieur DE/Auburn 
  7. NYJ- Markus Wheaton WR/Oregon State
  8. TEN- Kenny Vacarro S/Texas
  9. ARZ- DJ Fluker OT/Alabama
  10. DET- Monte Ball RB/Wisconsin
  11. BUF- Oday Aboushi OT/Virginia
  12. STL- Kawann Short DT/Purdue
  13. WAS- Marquess Wilson WR/Washington State
  14. DAL- Zach Ertz TE/Stanford
  15. MIA- Desmond Trufant CB/Washington
  16. TB- Brennan Williams OT/North Carolina
  17. MIN- Denard Robinson WR/Michigan
  18. CIN- Giovani Bernard RB/North Carolina
  19. SEA- Khaseem Greene OLB/Rutgers
  20. PIT- David Amerson CB/NC State
  21. NYG- Xavier Rhodes CB/Florida State
  22. MIA- Jonathan Cooper OG/North Carolina
  23. GB- Tank Carradine DE/Florida State
  24. CHI- Da'Rick Rogers WR/Tennessee Tech
  25. NE- Shane Skov LB/Stanford
  26. DEN- Kenjon Barner RB/Oregon
  27. SF- Jake Matthews OT/Texas A&M
  28. BAL- Akeem Spence DT/Illinois 
  29. HOU- John Simon DE/Ohio State
  30. ATL- Kevin Reddick ILB/North Carolina
    Cleveland and NO forfeit picks