Here are my picks for Week Eleven. If you are gambling with these, good luck to you.
16 at Baltimore +4 (Pittsburgh)
15 at Cincinnati +6 (Indianapolis)
14 at San Francisco +12.5 (Seattle)
13 NY Jets +13 (at Denver)
12 New Orleans +9.5 (at New England)
11 Philadelphia +7 (at NY Giants)
10 Jacksonville -4 (at Tennessee)
9 at Atlanta -6 (Tampa Bay)
8 Arizona +9.5 (at St. Louis)
7 Miami +2.5 (at Cleveland)
6 at Chicago +3 (Carolina)
5 at Green Bay -4.5 (Minnesota)
4 at Houston +7 (Kansas City)
3 at Washington -6 (Oakland)
2 Buffalo +11 (at San Diego)
1 Detroit +8 (at Dallas)
16 at Baltimore +4 (Pittsburgh) NOTE: In my newspaper, this line was off, but I looked for the line online and found Pittsburgh -4. That's what I'm going with. I am confident that the Ravens will cover this, win this game outright, and then have their problems. This has all the makings of a big upset. I'm putting all my points on the Ravens.
15 at Cincinnati +6 (Indianapolis) The Bengals are six point home dogs. Indy won their last really big regular-season game of the year last week, beating the Pats at New England. I think that the Bengals at least cover, if not win outright.
14 at San Francisco +12.5 (Seattle) Am I alone in liking Ken Dorsey? Maybe. Anyway, San Francisco is not that bad, at least I don't think. And I don't know if Seattle is that good, yet, or not. But this has the appearances of a forget-it game to the 'Hawks, and I think that the Niners cover.
13 NY Jets +13 (at Denver) OK, so here's the thing. I continue to not believe in the Broncos, and I continue to believe in Herm Edwards. Am I nuts? Well. Am I? ANSWER ME!
12 New Orleans +9.5 (at New England) The Saints never do anything they are supposed to do. They are supposed to get crushed this Sunday at Foxboro. They of course
will make it a close game. They have the receivers to do it.
11 Philadelphia +7 (at NY Giants) I hate to say this, but here it goes: I think Donovan McNabb's injury will help the Eagles for one week. I think it'll force the Eagles to do some different things on offense, which will be beneficial.
10 Jacksonville -4 (at Tennessee) The Jags have found an answer for Fred Taylor's injury-prone ways: Greg Jones. They had been dependant on Taylor to be healthy. But now, they can still run the ball without him. Tennessee comes up short in trying to win this one.
9 at Atlanta -6 (Tampa Bay) Chris Simms had a good game last week, so I'm betting on him struggling on the road at Atlanta. And I think Atlanta will be able to run against the Tampa D.
8 Arizona +9.5 (at St. Louis) Can Arizona cover? That's the question here. With this many points, all the Cards need to do is load up against the run. And the Arizona wideouts should have some open space against the Rams secondary.
7 Miami +2.5 (at Cleveland) I like the Dolphins running game more than the Browns'. It is a close call, so I'm going with the points.
6 at Chicago +3 (Carolina) The only reason I'm picking the Bears is that they are home dogs. It'll be cold in Chicago, and the Bears will be used to the weather. If they can stop Steve Smith, and I think they can, the Bears win.
5 at Green Bay -4.5 (Minnesota) Boy, the Pack is beat up. But with the addition of Samdon Gado, GB has a running game. That should be enough to cover against the Vikes, unless Green Bay has a complete special teams meltdown against Minnesota, ala the Gints.
4 at Houston +7 (Kansas City) Houston is coming around. They are a touchdown home dog, and KC isn't that great on the road. Texans win outright.
3 at Washington -6 (Oakland) I think that this could be a close low-scoring game, but Oakland has had some troubles against the run.
2 Buffalo +11 (at San Diego) Buffalo should be able to contain LT and keep it within eleven, unless JP Losman has a terrible game.
1 Detroit +8 (at Dallas) I am putting all of my point on Joey Harrington being able to keep it close against Dallas. The Cow Pokes didn't really look all that good against a struggling Iggles club.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Friday, November 11, 2005
Disappointing Bengals; So Many, So Little Time
There is an interesting list of disappointing Bengals at this website:
http://unabatedsports.blogspot.com/
I added my two cents:
Travis Dorsch, neither a kicker nor a punter, drafted in the fourth round in 2002. Drafted after him was ave Zastudil, who is a fine punter for Baltimore.
Matt Schobel, a tight end who cost the Bengals two picks in 2002, the third and the fifth, which they used to trade up to the top of the third to get him. He is an OK player, but the best blocking TE in that draft, Randy McMichael (out of Georgia, no less) turned out the be the best pass-catching TE in the draft. Drafted in the fourth round. Schobel is not bad, but I guess they don't think he is good enough in blocking to be a starting tight end. Of course, they felt they need to trade up because they screwed up so much the year before, drafting ...
Sean Brewer. Third round TE out of San Jose State in 2001, who was not on anyone's draft list. No one's. He surprised everyone. There were some better TEs available. Shad Meier. Brandon Manumaleuna. Our own lovable Tony Stewart.
Curtis Keaton, RB. Now, he was only a fourth-round pick in 2000. But Na'il Diggs out of Ohio State was still on the board, and that would have been a great pick.
Craig Yeast, WR, fourth rounder in 1999, out of Kentucky. I think he might have been the all-time leader in receptions in the SEC at one point. Yeast played and/or plays in Canada. Brandon Stokely was taken in the same round the same year.
Artrell Hawkins, CB, second round pick in 1998. This was a terrible pick. Hawkins was projected lower, maybe fifth. He was too small, and not a terribly fast smallish CB. The next three picks were Patrick Surtain, Brian Kelly, and Samari Rolle.
Jevon Langford, DE, fourth round 1996. Very next pick, Jon Runyan. Next DEs taken, Chris Sullivan and Sean Moran.
Jeff Cothran, FB, first pick, third round, 1994. He couldn't block very well. And that's about all FBs do anymore. He was a better pick than ...
Steve Shine, LB, third round, 1994, out of Northwestern. Next linebacker taken, Jason Gilden, by the Stillers, no less. Drives me nuts.
Ty Parten, DT, third round, 1993. Next DT taken, Gilbert Brown.
Bob Dahl, G, Notre Dame, third round, 1991, who started for the Browns for several years. Kevin Donnalley was just a few picks later.
Bernard Clark, MLB, out of "The U". DeMond Winston and Jeroy Robinson were still available.
Kerry Owens, 1989, LB, fourth round. Pittsburgh selects Jerrol Williams, LB, the very next LB picked that draft. Drives me nuts.
Rob Woods, 1989, T, fourth round. Jeff Uhlenhake was the next OL picked.
Rickey Dixon, 1988, fifth player taken overall in the first round. Next two players picked: Tim Brown and Sterling Sharpe. Next DBs were Terry McDaniel and EricAllen.
http://unabatedsports.blogspot.com/
I added my two cents:
Travis Dorsch, neither a kicker nor a punter, drafted in the fourth round in 2002. Drafted after him was ave Zastudil, who is a fine punter for Baltimore.
Matt Schobel, a tight end who cost the Bengals two picks in 2002, the third and the fifth, which they used to trade up to the top of the third to get him. He is an OK player, but the best blocking TE in that draft, Randy McMichael (out of Georgia, no less) turned out the be the best pass-catching TE in the draft. Drafted in the fourth round. Schobel is not bad, but I guess they don't think he is good enough in blocking to be a starting tight end. Of course, they felt they need to trade up because they screwed up so much the year before, drafting ...
Sean Brewer. Third round TE out of San Jose State in 2001, who was not on anyone's draft list. No one's. He surprised everyone. There were some better TEs available. Shad Meier. Brandon Manumaleuna. Our own lovable Tony Stewart.
Curtis Keaton, RB. Now, he was only a fourth-round pick in 2000. But Na'il Diggs out of Ohio State was still on the board, and that would have been a great pick.
Craig Yeast, WR, fourth rounder in 1999, out of Kentucky. I think he might have been the all-time leader in receptions in the SEC at one point. Yeast played and/or plays in Canada. Brandon Stokely was taken in the same round the same year.
Artrell Hawkins, CB, second round pick in 1998. This was a terrible pick. Hawkins was projected lower, maybe fifth. He was too small, and not a terribly fast smallish CB. The next three picks were Patrick Surtain, Brian Kelly, and Samari Rolle.
Jevon Langford, DE, fourth round 1996. Very next pick, Jon Runyan. Next DEs taken, Chris Sullivan and Sean Moran.
Jeff Cothran, FB, first pick, third round, 1994. He couldn't block very well. And that's about all FBs do anymore. He was a better pick than ...
Steve Shine, LB, third round, 1994, out of Northwestern. Next linebacker taken, Jason Gilden, by the Stillers, no less. Drives me nuts.
Ty Parten, DT, third round, 1993. Next DT taken, Gilbert Brown.
Bob Dahl, G, Notre Dame, third round, 1991, who started for the Browns for several years. Kevin Donnalley was just a few picks later.
Bernard Clark, MLB, out of "The U". DeMond Winston and Jeroy Robinson were still available.
Kerry Owens, 1989, LB, fourth round. Pittsburgh selects Jerrol Williams, LB, the very next LB picked that draft. Drives me nuts.
Rob Woods, 1989, T, fourth round. Jeff Uhlenhake was the next OL picked.
Rickey Dixon, 1988, fifth player taken overall in the first round. Next two players picked: Tim Brown and Sterling Sharpe. Next DBs were Terry McDaniel and EricAllen.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Gridiron Grit: Picks with Spread and Confidence Points for Week Ten
Where the heck have I been? Anyway, I'm back, and with my picks.
14 Houston +18 (at Indianapolis)
13 NY Jets +9 (at Carolina)
12 Green Bay +9.5 (at Atlanta)
11 San Francisco +13 (at Chicago)
10 Baltimore +7 (at Jacksonville)
9 at Tampa Bay -1.5 (Washington)
8 at Buffalo -2.5 (Kansas City)
7 at Philadelphia -3 (Dallas)
6 St. Louis +7 (at Seattle)
5 New England -3 (at Miami)
4 at Oakland +3 (Denver)
3 at Pittsburgh -8 (Cleveland)
2 Minnesota +9.5 (at NY Giants)
1 Arizona +4 (at Detroit)
14 Houston +18 (at Indianapolis) Houston has had about as bad a first half as you can have. And Indy has dominated in the first half. But ... 18 points? Damn. That's a lot of points. Take the points. Give the Texans 14 of your confidence points.
13 NY Jets +9 (at Carolina) Again with the points. The Jets aren't that bad, especially on defense, are they? I think they stay closer in this one than that.
12 Green Bay +9.5 (at Atlanta) Points points points. At least the Pack has No. 4, and goes a long way in my book. And they have been playing better on defense. Take the points.
11 San Francisco +13 (at Chicago) This has been one of the most generous points weeks in my memory. Can Chicago score 20? That means that San Fran gets a fluke TD and covers. Take the points.
10 Baltimore +7 (at Jacksonville) Hell, I know Baltimore is playing poorly, and that the two best defensive players in the NFL are in civvies, but, hell, they can stay within seven at Jacksonville, I would think. Take the points.
9 at Tampa Bay -1.5 (Washington) OK. I'm done with the points. Tampa Bay has looked like poop on a stick, but they will bounce back at home agin the down and up and down Skins. The D will stuff the Skins.
8 at Buffalo -2.5 (Kansas City) I think the Bills are poised for a good second half, and it will start at home against the Chiefs, who will have a tough time getting up for this week after last week's game.
7 at Philadelphia -3 (Dallas) Iggles out to prove that they are better off without B.O. than with him.
6 St. Louis +7 (at Seattle) I think that the Rams still consider themselves a contender in the NFC West and will need this game to continue to contend. Even if they don't win, they will cover.
5 New England -3 (at Miami) New England is not happy. They smoke Dolphin.
4 at Oakland +3 (Denver) Oakland is a home dawg agin the Broncos. I see them winning outright. Jake Plummer throws seven INTs to prove that he's not as mistake-free as the boys at ESPN and CBS say he is.
3 at Pittsburgh -8 (Cleveland) I had a hard time picking this game. I think the Stillers are the best team in football, but without Ben Roethlisberger, they are less good. Giving up eight points was tough. And Romeo is doing a heckuva job there in the Mistake. A three pointer for me, and I give it to the Stillers.
2 Minnesota +9.5 (at NY Giants) I still don't believe in the Gints. I know they are better than the Vikes, but by nine and a half at home? Maybe. I don't know. So I am taking the points, but for only two confidence points.
1 Arizona +4 (at Detroit) Imagine being the production assistant for this one, making 16 a year and having to travel to work 18 hours on this. One point. Take the points. What's the point?
thankyouverymuch,
OldCleat
14 Houston +18 (at Indianapolis)
13 NY Jets +9 (at Carolina)
12 Green Bay +9.5 (at Atlanta)
11 San Francisco +13 (at Chicago)
10 Baltimore +7 (at Jacksonville)
9 at Tampa Bay -1.5 (Washington)
8 at Buffalo -2.5 (Kansas City)
7 at Philadelphia -3 (Dallas)
6 St. Louis +7 (at Seattle)
5 New England -3 (at Miami)
4 at Oakland +3 (Denver)
3 at Pittsburgh -8 (Cleveland)
2 Minnesota +9.5 (at NY Giants)
1 Arizona +4 (at Detroit)
14 Houston +18 (at Indianapolis) Houston has had about as bad a first half as you can have. And Indy has dominated in the first half. But ... 18 points? Damn. That's a lot of points. Take the points. Give the Texans 14 of your confidence points.
13 NY Jets +9 (at Carolina) Again with the points. The Jets aren't that bad, especially on defense, are they? I think they stay closer in this one than that.
12 Green Bay +9.5 (at Atlanta) Points points points. At least the Pack has No. 4, and goes a long way in my book. And they have been playing better on defense. Take the points.
11 San Francisco +13 (at Chicago) This has been one of the most generous points weeks in my memory. Can Chicago score 20? That means that San Fran gets a fluke TD and covers. Take the points.
10 Baltimore +7 (at Jacksonville) Hell, I know Baltimore is playing poorly, and that the two best defensive players in the NFL are in civvies, but, hell, they can stay within seven at Jacksonville, I would think. Take the points.
9 at Tampa Bay -1.5 (Washington) OK. I'm done with the points. Tampa Bay has looked like poop on a stick, but they will bounce back at home agin the down and up and down Skins. The D will stuff the Skins.
8 at Buffalo -2.5 (Kansas City) I think the Bills are poised for a good second half, and it will start at home against the Chiefs, who will have a tough time getting up for this week after last week's game.
7 at Philadelphia -3 (Dallas) Iggles out to prove that they are better off without B.O. than with him.
6 St. Louis +7 (at Seattle) I think that the Rams still consider themselves a contender in the NFC West and will need this game to continue to contend. Even if they don't win, they will cover.
5 New England -3 (at Miami) New England is not happy. They smoke Dolphin.
4 at Oakland +3 (Denver) Oakland is a home dawg agin the Broncos. I see them winning outright. Jake Plummer throws seven INTs to prove that he's not as mistake-free as the boys at ESPN and CBS say he is.
3 at Pittsburgh -8 (Cleveland) I had a hard time picking this game. I think the Stillers are the best team in football, but without Ben Roethlisberger, they are less good. Giving up eight points was tough. And Romeo is doing a heckuva job there in the Mistake. A three pointer for me, and I give it to the Stillers.
2 Minnesota +9.5 (at NY Giants) I still don't believe in the Gints. I know they are better than the Vikes, but by nine and a half at home? Maybe. I don't know. So I am taking the points, but for only two confidence points.
1 Arizona +4 (at Detroit) Imagine being the production assistant for this one, making 16 a year and having to travel to work 18 hours on this. One point. Take the points. What's the point?
thankyouverymuch,
OldCleat
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