Hopefully you'll find the opinions on this post to be "fair and unbiased" but.... you won't. Let's go in order. And by order, I mean order of exit...
New York Jets
DM - The Jets were the most inconsistently consistent team this season. Win 2, lose 3. Win 3, lose 2. Win 3, lose 3. Preseason favorites to go the Super Bowl, right? Yes, if you listened to the Rex Ryan and the ENTIRE Jets team before the season started. Thankfully, Rex isn't the only beat writer for the NFL and there are a few more people noting what the Jets really are/were. A really good defensive team that's still living in the 2009-10 season when teams "feared" that Jets D. And a underachieving offense that is STILL waiting for Mark Sanchez to step up (believe me, I know a thing or two about waiting on a QB to step up. More on that later in the post). Mark can't do this, Mark, NO, don't do that. By the end of the Jets season, the locker room imploded; calling out guys, finger pointing and Mark was been seen as a babied QB. But all this showboating (and lack of follow through) is facilitated by the one man who just stay quiet, Rex. With that all said they STILL had a chance to make the playoffs but ultimately couldn't, finishing 8-8. GRADE: D
J-Rod - The Jets were a colossal failure this season. This is the team that Rex Ryan named "the team to beat". They came in with what many believed to be the best defense in the NFL.... KAMAN!!! Their defense finished being ranked 17th in the league. Mark Sanchez is NOT an elite QB. He is now and will always be a not ready for prime time player.The only thing the Jets rank first in is bull shit hype. GRADE: F-
Atlanta Falcons
DM - The Falcons are tough to peg to start. They were 10-6 and with the exception of a Week 1 loss to the Bears (because who can gauge a team after one loss) and a Tampa Bay team that started off hot, their losses are to Green Bay, Houston and two to New Orleans. All teams that won their respective divisions. So where did the Falcons struggle? Beating "elite" teams but also beating them when it mattered the most, the playoffs. The Falcs posted the best record in the NFL last season and wound up losing right off the bat in the Divisional game to the Pack (yes, the eventual Super Bowl champs). This season they matched up with the Giants (yes, this years Super Bowl champ). But regardless of how "hot" the Giants came into the game or if the matchups weren't there for them, scoring only 2 points total at home is not becoming of a team picked for a deep run into the playoffs. Matt Ryan continues to excel in the regular season but can he get his team over the hump with playoffs winsssss (plural). GRADE: C+
J-Rod - Its fitting that the Falcons plays in Atlanta. The home of the MLB team that plays great in the regular season but falls by the wayside in post season. To use another baseball analogy, Matt Ryan is like the Barry Bonds of the NFL except less roids and talent. I mean Ryan is a good QB. He is an accurate passer and reads defenses extremely well. What he lacks is that "umph" that separates "good" quarterbacks from "elite" quarterback. The "elite" quarterback can carry your team. The "elite" quarterback makes his entire team, not just the offense but the defense and special team play on another level just by his leadership and drive. The "elite" quarterback doesn't fold like the NY Mets in spring training under pressure. Matt Ryan is a good QB but he will never be "elite" and neither will his team. GRADE: C+
Green Bay Packers
J-Rod - Discount Double Check! Yes, Aaron Rodgers and his Green Bay team. The favored sons of the NFL. The recently dethroned champs. The Packers have always had a mystique about them. Arron Rodgers has continued that Packers tradition of winning. I know I ridicule this team 24/7 but most of that is to annoy a certain cheesehead. This is a really good team with one major flaw.... defense. In all honesty this team was one or two good defensive players from repeating this season. But alas they faced the mighty big blue and were sent home packing. Still can't take anything away from this team and I expect them to address the defense situation this off season. GRADE: B+
DM - Green Bay. Hmmmm. The defending Super Bowl champs. Started the season 13-0. Aaron Rodgers was running away with the MVP. The team was a offensive juggernaut averaging over 28 points per game in that run. Finished 15-1, home field throughout. Their defense had some holes in it but only because they gambled. A lot. Lead the NFL in INTs. But they could afford too with DDC (cmon, you can figure it out...) under center. But alas, theygot dismantled lost in the Divisional game to the would-be new Super Bowl champ, Giants. I think if the Pack had not won the Super Bowl last season and had the same record/result the grade would have been higher, as they would have accomplished much more. But defending the title by going 13-0, then 15-1 without one playoff win and lose at Lambeau no less, ultimately seals their grade. GRADE: B
DM - Green Bay. Hmmmm. The defending Super Bowl champs. Started the season 13-0. Aaron Rodgers was running away with the MVP. The team was a offensive juggernaut averaging over 28 points per game in that run. Finished 15-1, home field throughout. Their defense had some holes in it but only because they gambled. A lot. Lead the NFL in INTs. But they could afford too with DDC (cmon, you can figure it out...) under center. But alas, they
San Francisco 49ers
J-Rod - Why is this irrelevant team here? Who dares sully this post with falseness? The San Francisco numbers had a great run last year under very odd circumstances. I mean how often do you see a team go 13-3 in the regular season without a real quarterback? Alex Smith did just enough to get by last season but the true reason for the 9ers success was their defense. In this new offensive era a great defense will only get you so far. This is the quarterback era and if that guy on your team is not in the "elite" circle you aint gonna get that lombardy trophy any time soon. A lot of NFL team took the 49ers for granted contributing to their winning record. This upcoming season the league will be ready. I expect the niners will do ok but nothing like this season thus once and for all solidifying the falseness that their season was. But if I am too say this team was false and yet they managed to end up 1 game away from the Super Bowl then I gotta grade them high. Contradiction.... thy name is J-Rod.
GRADE: A-
GRADE: A-
DM - Flashback to the previous season. Da Man stated on this very show (before we went national) that the "sexy pick" 49ers would win the NFC West. J-Rod laughed in my face but I would not wavier from my bold prediction. So what did the 9ers do, they started 0-5. Great. Still hope. Finished 6-10. Crud. So to start this season I was a bit hesitant to say the least but still optimistic. What's your point, the grade is for this season! The point is it's the same exact team as the previous season yet under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, the team flourished. Beating some of the top teams in the league and finishing 2nd best in the NFC at 13-3. The defense obliterated teams and did not allow a 100-yard rusher or a single rushing touchdown until week 16. Both The 9ers were one special teams play* away from capping off an incredible run to the Super Bowl. However, destiny resided with another team. This teamed proved itself worthy of their grade. GRADE: A
New England Patriots
J-Rod - The Patriots did what they always do. Win and Win and Win. This team year after year just dominates. Tom Brady is a living legend and always finds a way to succeed regardless of the personnel he is surrounded with. I really can't say anything bad about this team. Whenever this team doesn't win the championship their season is deemed a failure. Not many teams can say that. They're EXPECTED to win time and time again. Unfortunately this time they faced a team that was destined to win it all at the Super Bowl. I mean you can't beat destiny can you? GRADE: A
DM - Every year the Pats are expected to be right in the hunt come playoff time (they are like the Yankees of New England...). But for the last few years the Pats have had some considerable playoff busts. Even midway through this season questions about would this Pats team, led by Brady but surrounded by an average offensive core, would arise. Could they win it all with just Belichik and Brady? Can they stop teams from scoring, enough to give Brady a chance to win it late? Their D was atrocious. Last in the league. Their O, top 3 in the league. Ultimately finishing at 13-3, home field throughout. But this was expected right? Nothing new here, right? AFC East, check. AFC champs, check. Super Bowl champs? Not so fast, they had the unfortunate task of
New York Giants
J-Rod - What can I say about the champs that hasn't been already said? This team was left for dead after losing to the Redskins (I was holding the shovel). But WOW what a ride! They took that loss as a wake up call and started ripping out the wins. Sure the bulk of their games were "interesting" and they probably made me age many more years to my life but the end result was perfection. Eli Manning morphed into what he said he was all season, ELITE. His poise, leadership, and self confidence just bloomed at the right time. He not only solidified his place in NY Giants history but in the process made a case for 2 Mannings to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame when their careers are over. The Giants defensive line was dominant all season and the secondary fell into place at the right time. Most seem to forget that the Giants secondary was banged up most of the season. In the final regular season games and into the playoffs the Giants secondary showed what they can do when all their key players are healthy. The wide receiving core is young and talented. Brandon Jacobs got his groove back. Coughlin is one of the premier head coaches in the game. He never loses his cool and knows how to lead. This is a team that underachieved most of the regular season and played on the level they're capable of at the end of the season straight into the Super Bowl. The odds makers have 5 other teams above the Giants as Super Bowl favorites for next season. Does that surprise anyone? Underdogs....that's exactly the way this team likes it. GRADE: A+
DM - This was the easiest grade of all the teams by far. The Giants won the Super Bowl. Had you heard? You'd never know on this show (keep your sarcasm meters on people). They had a great epic run at the veeeeery end of the season and through the playoffs (Ed's note: see GB last year). It's easy (for New Yorkers at least) to get caught up in the hysteria. Don't believe me, google LINSANITY. SMH. However. Since the grade reflects the WHOLE season and not the last 3 games or so, the total body of work is taken into account. As you just read, J-Rod was ready to bury his team after the Skins lost (Ed's note: we might post the IM convo on the Monday after that game, LOL). By this point, they were 7-7. But I'd like to go back one week earlier, to the Cowboys game. The JPP Tip Drill game. The GMen had lost 4 straight prior to that win in DAL after starting 6-2. This team was the epitome of underachieving mediocre. The secondary, abysmal. The so-called "pass rush", non-existant. Injuries? Every team has injuries, go out and play. But they wouldn't do it. That JPP block doesn't happen and it would have been 6 straight and no playoffs. But.... they turned it around. Won the NFC East thanks to Romo doin what he do baby. And were dubbed the hottest team going in. Please note they won 3 of the last 4 games, thats hot baby (sarcasm meter going off?). But so did the 9ers, with 3 straight coming in, (no, it's ok you guys were hot. Giants all the way baby...). The point is you can't be a C or D student for most of the year if not all, ace a few tests at end and expect an A. You're a C+, B- at best. Easy. GRADE: B-
No comments:
Post a Comment