Ending the Drought … with NFL Power Rankings

It’s been a very long, extremely dry summer for lots of folks all across the Midwest and much of the United States. And much like that moisture drought, it’s been a long time since this blog has seen any kind of significant activity. That’s my fault. We’re here to fix that.

I’m cranking it back up starting today as the NFL season is close enough that us diehard fans can begin to taste it. All team training camps are in full swing, and the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton takes place this Sunday. That’s right football junkies … the best time of the year is almost here.

With that, I thought I’d kick it all off with a pre-season ranking of all 32 NFL teams. Some of this is based on other experts so-called opinion, some research and some gut. Let me know where you think I’ve got it right but especially where you think I really dropped the ball (pun intended).

1. Green Bay – Top to bottom, still the best talent.
2. New England – Brady and Gronk hard to stop.
3. NY Giants – Defending champs have to be near the top.
4. Baltimore – Always play tough defense. Can Flacco and the O deliver?
5. Pittsburgh – Big Ben is hurt. Wallace holding out. Haley’s a wild card.
6. San Francisco – Not sure they can repeat 13-3 with Alex Smith.
7. Houston – Texans lost key pieces, but play in a weak division.
8. New Orleans – Despite everything, they’re still dangerous.
9. Detroit – Lots of firepower and off-field issues.
10.  Atlanta – Good team still trying to prove it is great.
11.  Philadelphia – Vick says dynasty. Let’s see it on the field.
12.  Chicago – Cutler. Forte. Marshall. And a good D.
13.  Dallas – Sooner or later, they have to live up to the hype … right?
14.  Kansas City – The ACL trio returns. Solid D. It’s all on Cassel.
15.  Buffalo – Great offseason, but can they compete in AFC East.
16.  Denver – Everybody love Peyton, but he needs more tools.
17.  Cincinnati – Great young core. Insanely tough division.
18. San Diego – Promise big every year. It’s do-or-get-fired time.
19. Carolina – Big dreams in PantherLand after Cam’s rookie year.
20.  NY Jets – Their mouths outpace their talent this year.
21.  Tennessee – Steady team. Big decision on the QB.
22.  Seattle – Pete believes. No one else is sure. Pick a QB, please.
23.  Washington – RGIII has the town by the tail. But can he win?
24.  Arizona – Solid by not spectacular anywhere.
25.  Tampa Bay – Lots of moves to improve the roster. And a new coach.
26.  St. Louis – Fisher is the new sheriff in town. Sam has to rebound.
27.  Oakland – Reggie has some work to do in the post-Al era.
28.  Miami – Philbin takes over. Still need a QB.
29.  Jacksonville – MJD and Blackmon holding out. Khan can’t like that.
30.  Cleveland – New owner. New QB. New RB. Big hill to climb.
31.  Indianapolis – His name is Luck, and he’ll need it this season.
32.  Minnesota – AP is still recovering. Is Ponder the guy?

With the NFL, that’s the end of the dry spell. Poet and didn’t know it. Let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading.

Steve

Miller Mock Draft 2.0

This is the week. T-minus four days and counting until the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. I’ll be heading to Kansas City with my buddy, Forrest Gossett, to watch at the Chiefs Official Draft Party. It’s an event for Season Ticket Holders only. Yeah, that’s right. Can’t wait …

I’ve made a few tweaks to my picks from last week. Well, actually … more than a few tweaks. More than half of the 32 teams’ picks have changed (shown in red). 

Take a look, and let me know what you think. 

  

1.       Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB Stanford

2.       Washington Redskins (from Rams) – Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor
3.       Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT USC
4.       Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson, RB Alabama
5.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB LSU
6.       St. Louis Rams (from Redskins) – Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State
7.       Jacksonville Jaguars – Melvin Ingram, DE S. Carolina
8.       Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill, QB Texas A&M
9.       Carolina Panthers – Fletcher Cox, DL Mississippi State
10.   Buffalo Bills – Luke Kuechly, LB Boston College
11.   Kansas City Chiefs – David DeCastro, OG Stanford
12.   Seattle Seahawks – Quinton Coples, DE N. Carolina
13.   Arizona Cardinals – Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame
14.   Dallas Cowboys – Mark Barron, S Alabama
15.   Philadelphia Eagles – Dontari Poe, NT Memphis
16.   New York Jets – Courtney Upshaw, LB Alabama
17.   Cincinnati Bengals (from Raiders) – Stephon Gilmore, CB S. Carolina
18.   San Diego – Cordy Glenn, OT Georgia
19.   Chicago Bears – Riley Reiff, OT Iowa
20.   Tennessee Titans – Dont’a Hightower, LB Alabama
21.   Cincinnati Bengals – Kendall Wright, WR Baylor
22.   Cleveland Browns (from Falcons) – Stephen Hill, WR Georgia Tech
23.   Detroit Lions – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama
24.   Pittsburgh Steelers – Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford
25.   Denver Broncos – Michael Brockers, DT LSU
26.   Houston Texans – Nick Perry, DE USC
27.   New England Patriots (from Saints) – Whitney Mercilius, DE Illinois
28.   Green Bay Packers – Shea McClellin, LB Boise State
29.   Baltimore Ravens – Peter Konz, C Wisconsin
30.   San Francisco 49ers – Harrison Smith, S Notre Dame
31.   New England Patriots – Mike Adams, OT Ohio State
32.   New York Giants – Coby Fleener, TE Stanford

How does your mock look different from this?

Thanks for reading.

Steve

Chiefs, Rams Uniform Surveys

With the NFL's long-anticipated release of the Nike uniforms last week, I've put together a couple brief surveys for fans of the Missouri franchises ... Chiefs and Rams.

If you would, take a couple minutes and let your opinion be heard. Just a few short questions about the uniforms, favorite players, etc. 

Rams Uniform Survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VY6TZPM


Chiefs Uniform Survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q8CFK7C

Thanks.