Keys for tonight’s Rams-Chiefs matchup

OK, Ok, okay already … I KNOW it’s a pre-season game. I get it. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t get just a little bit excited about going to see my two favorite NFL teams battle it out in one of the league’s best venues to watch a game. Chiefs. Rams. Arrowhead. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Here are some of the things I’ll be watching out for tonight:
(Post-game comments in italics, color.)

Stopping the Run – Whichever team does a better job of shutting down the other side’s rushing attack will have the upper hand. Both the Rams and the Chiefs want to establish the run to set up the pass (especially the Chiefs). Whoever does that most consistently will win the game. Advantage: RAMS

Controlling the Line of Scrimmage – This is where it all happens … in the trenches. It you don’t win the battles there, the game will get away from you ... and fast. Both of these franchises have been working hard to build solid offensive and defensive lines, with key additions this offseason for both teams. Which one solidifies first? Balanced.

Defense, Defense, Defense – The current strength of the Rams and the Chiefs alike is on the offensive side of the ball, but both teams desperately want their defense to step up and complete the football team. We should see early on whether the off-season moves are working or not. Advantage: CHIEFS

But most importantly … Helping Joplin – It’s the Governor’s Cup Game, and there is a lot on the line. But seriously, it’s a football game. It is really neat to see these organizations band together and make this annual gridiron fight all about helping those still very much in need in Joplin. I’ll be there wearing my “2011 Joplin Chiefs” shirt. I’m praying that piles of money are collected tonight to benefit those still seriously impacted by the May 22 tornadoes. Advantage: Joplin EAGLES!!

Watch my twitter feed tonight for real-time updates from the game.

Thanks for reading.

Steve

Top of the Brain: Wednesday

I'm sitting around the house tonight, thinking about the last few days in sports, and frankly, the last few days in the world. I’m not going to even pretend to know or understand what is going on with the U.S. stock market or the rebels overtaking Quaddafi in Libya or Steve Jobs stepping down as CEO at Apple. What I do know is that God built me with a love for sports, and I’m so glad he did. It’s a distraction, which I desperately need from this depressing world we live in. So here goes … Top of the Brain for this fine Wednesday …

Cardinals Swept at Home – Early in the year, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers who were the talk of baseball. They were the talk because their franchise was, and is, in a state of disgrace. And even so, they come to St. Louis and sweep the hapless Cardinals. The Cards are now just four games over .500 at 67-63, 10 full games behind the Brewers. Put a fork in them … they are done. The moth flying in Matt Holliday’s ear the other night is just the latest in a comedy of poor play that has done the Redbirds in all season. Hard questions have to be asked this offseason. Something has to change. It’s been five years since the team has sniffed the playoffs.

Pryor to the Raiders – In hindsight, it should really come as no surprise that troubled Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of this week’s supplemental draft. Al Davis and crew continue to be enamored with skill players with extreme speed, and Pryor fits that bill. This franchise more than any other gives second chances to guys that have gotten crossways with the NCAA, the law, their wives, purple drank, etc. He is definitely a project. He may eventually start a few games at quarterback, but with the speed and height and strength the dude has, he would make an incredibly talented TE. That’s likely where he’ll end up.

Colts Add Collins – Kerry Collins, veteran QB of the Giants and Panthers and Titans, was signed by the Indianapolis Colts today as insurance for Peyton Manning’s ailing neck. In reality, they had to do something. Manning is progressing slowly, and the Colts’ backup quarterbacks – Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky – are pitiful. If the team has any hopes of holding the season together in Peyton’s absence, they had to have an upgrade at QB. I still say Manning will be under center when the season starts. This move says management isn’t so sure.

Rams/Chiefs at Arrowhead – I’m headed to the Governor’s Cup game on Friday night in Kansas City. (Thanks to my buddy, Forrest, for the tickets.) Yes, it’s preseason, but seeing the two teams I follow most closely face off in person is worth the three-hour trip from my house to Arrowhead. I’m excited to see the Chiefs’ starters play into the third quarter and see how the teams compare after major off-season moves by both franchises. St. Louis has looked great so far in these make-believe games, and Kansas City has looked pretty horrible … but what does that mean. Nothing. Watching a game at Arrowhead, one of the best venues in all of the NFL, is worth my time. Watch my twitter feed for pix and updates from the game.

Chris Johnson’s Contract – Tennessee Titans’ GM Mike Reinfeldt, Johnson and his agent met today to talk contract. While both sides say the meeting was “beneficial,” no real progress was made. Johnson wants to be paid like one of the top playmakers in the NFL, not just one of the top running backs. He reportedly is looking for $39 million guaranteed over the first three years.  Ridiculous. Not. Gonna. Happen.

Bruce Pearl’s Punishment – The NCAA kicked off a new era of program discipline today when it announced the sanctions for Tennessee’s athletic program. The current coach and players won’t bear the brunt of the punishment; former coach Bruce Pearl and his staff will. Pearl got a three-year show-cause penalty, basically barring him from any NCAA job during that time. I like Pearl. I like this new direction for punishment even better.

Upcoming blog posts will include NFL division-by-division predictions, my very specific prognostications for the Chiefs and Rams, NFL Power Rankings, and fantasy football advice including my first video blog. Stay tuned.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time, thanks for reading.

Steve

Top 10 Storylines Heading into the NFL Season -- Part II

This is Part II of my look at the Top 10 Storylines heading into the 2011 NFL season. See yesterday’s post for the first half (Nos. 10-6).

5. Lead Lion: Will Matthew Stafford actually make it through an entire season? – Stafford has been highly regarded since being drafted first overall by the Detroit Lions in 2009. He set all kinds of passing records at the University of Georgia and has shown flashes of greatness since joining the league, but the problem has been keeping him on the field. He’s only played 13 games in two seasons, and his health is one of the keys to Detroit’s season. If he stays healthy, the Lions will make this year’s playoffs as a wildcard.

4. Show-Me Schedules: Can upstart teams like the Chiefs and Rams maintain their success in the face of tougher schedules? – These Missouri teams were two of the real surprises of the 2010 season. The Chiefs went 10-6, and made the playoffs as the AFC West division champs; the Rams finished 7-9, coming up one game short of the NFC West division title. The question for this upcoming season is whether the teams have improved enough to maintain their ascent in the face of tougher schedules. St. Louis faces the Eagles, Ravens, Packers, Saints and Steelers. Kansas City’s tough games include Colts, Chargers (twice), Patriots, Steelers, Jets and Packers. I see both teams battling down to the wire for division titles.

3. Kick-off Kraziness: How will the new kick-off rules affect offenses? – Through two weeks, the results are clear. The changes in the kickoff rules (moving it from the 30 to the 35 yard line) has significantly reduced teams’ opportunities for return yardage. The percentage of touchbacks has basically doubled from last season (jumping from 15 to 30 percent) and the most exciting play in football has basically been neutered. Offenses are definitely going to suffer, being forced to start drives at the 20-yard line or worse. It might be safer, but it’s definitely less exciting.

2. Houston’s Hurdle: Will this year be the year the Texans finally break through? – Year after year after year, the Houston Texans tease the football world with promises of this year being the year. And then every year they seem to come up short. Over the past five years, the team has finished 6-10, 8-8, 8-8, 9-7 and 6-10. The offense is always good, but the defense has been weak. With the addition of some secondary help and new Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips, that is expected to change. They’ll make the playoffs this year, finally.

1. Hoodie Magic: Can Bellichick add Ocho and Albert to his list of rehab projects? – The Patriots latest shots at career reclamation projects are Chad Ochocinco (Bengals) and Albert Haynesworth (Redskins). Coach Bill Bellichick has previously turned around the troublemaker careers of such guys as Corey Dillon and Randy Moss. Ocho is probably going to be fine. He’s older, a step slower and his attitude seems to be a little more subdued this year. Haynesworth is another subject all together. I doubt he is even going to make the team.

BONUS – Who will win (or lose) the Andrew Luck sweepstakes? – Stanford Quarterback Andrew Luck is the consensus No. 1 pick for next year’s NFL Draft. So as we look at the season ahead, what team is lining up to be in the hunt to get him? I’m angling toward two franchises with the inside track: Buffalo and Denver. Either team will take him, no doubt.  The real interesting situation would be Denver. If they were to get him, Orton would move to No. 2 and Tim Tebow would be traded. That would the best thing possible for the team and for Tebow.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on what you think are the hot topics as we wait for the season to start.

Until next time, thanks for reading.

Steve

Top 10 Storylines Heading into the NFL Season -- Part I

We are almost to the halfway point in the NFL pre-season schedule, and from what I can tell, we don’t really know that much more than we did two weeks ago. The pre-season – which just about everyone (including coaches and players) agrees is pretty worthless other than conditioning – really only gives us football-starved fans a glimpse into the season. The results mean nothing. And we should remember that as we watch games and look ahead longingly to the real deal. The Redskins beat the Colts on Thursday night, for example. Zero significance.

As we endure the rest of the pre-season, I wanted to offer up some thoughts on the Top 10 storylines for the upcoming season. These are the big-ticket items of interest we’ll be talking about for weeks.

10. The Pack: Can anybody beat the champs? – Scores of prognosticators picked Green Bay to be in the Super Bowl last year, but many of them lost faith when a number of key players went down with injuries during the season. Despite the setbacks, the team finished 10-6, claimed a wildcard playoff spot and rolled on the road to the championship. Can they do it again? The chances are good.

9. Peyton’s Pain: Will his pain in the neck end the consecutive starts streak? – Peyton Manning has started 227 consecutive regular season games for the Colts. But, for the second time in as many years, he has undergone neck surgery; this time it was a minor procedure to fix a disc-related issue. Last year it was to relieve pain from a pinched nerve. Colts Owner Jim Irsay tweeted Saturday that the Colts are preparing to start the season without him. I seriously doubt that. Until we see it, I won’t believe it.

8. NFC South: Which team wins it this year? – This division, more than any other, seems to have a knack for having one of its worst teams rise up and win it the next year. In 2003 the Panthers went from 7-9 to the Super Bowl; in ’05 the Bucs went from 5-11 to 11-5; and in ’09 the Saints went from 8-8 to 13-3 and won the whole thing. Last year, the surprising young Buccaneers went 10-6 and barely missed the playoffs. This year … Carolina maybe? All the other teams appear to be loaded.

7. Jet Stream: Can the team’s play finally match Rex’s talk? – Ever since the flamboyant Rex Ryan was named as Jets head coach in January 2009, he has constantly run his yapper. Last year he signed the ESPN NFL Training Camp tour bus with “Next Super Bowl Champs.” How did that work out? I’m all for being confident, but the dude just never shuts up. And the team has to try and cash the checks his mouth writes. They are a good team, going to the last two AFC Championship games … just not that good.

6. Flying Philly: Are the Eagles really a dream team? – Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel, Ronnie Brown, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie … this is just the beginning of the list for the so-called “Dream Team” Eagles assembled by Head Coach Andy Reid in Philly this year. The Miami Heat proved that you need more than the best players. We’ll see if the chemistry is there. I say they win the NFC East.

I originally intended for this whole thing to be posted at once, but after drafting the first half and seeing how long it was getting, I decided to break it into two pieces. Part II will post tomorrow.

To Be Continued …