4 Downs With Chris Schisler Presented By @Yogolaada

Chris Schisler

This is my third installment of this type of article; I will try to award the prime performance. I will say after the absolutely awful finale of HBO’s True Blood, I have never been so ready to give Sundays to football.

First down:
Sam Bradford suffered another major injury and will miss the entire 2014 season. I spent much of the offseason suggesting the Rams should find another answer at quarterback. Part of this was because I’m not a Bradford guy, the other reason was he gets injured so easily. Committing to Sam Bradford is like committing to a cracked egg on the sidewalk. It might eventually cook but I would not recommend eating that metaphorical egg. Bradford missed much of the 2011 & 2013 seasons due to injury. The Rams backup for the often hurt Sam Bradford is Shaun Hill. Hill is a veteran back up and is not a bad backup . St. Louis can’t be all that excited about Hill though. In the toughest division in football the Rams had an uphill battle in front of them before the injury. Now a team that has a lot of talent has an even rougher road to the playoffs.

2nd Down:
The Ravens don’t have a legitimate backup quarterback. Tyrod Taylor has reached his low ceiling and Keith Wenning is unbelievably raw. Joe Flacco better remain healthy, or the Ravens are in real trouble. What shocks me about Taylor is his inability to make decisions and read coverages. The guy is a professional clipboard holder, he has plenty of time to work on the mental parts of the job. Taylor is horribly inaccurate. He is a glorified running back who can make the occasional nice pass. Seriously Joe, take care of yourself.

3rd Down:
Mike Ditka has a strong (but abusively stupid) opinion on the Redskins nickname. This following is part of an interview response he gave for RedskinsHistorians.com . His comments have made it all over social media and the internet. I read these comments in a USA Today article by Nate Scott (Just making sure to give credit where it is due).

“What’s all the stink over the Redskin name? It’s so much [expletive] it’s incredible. We’re going to let the liberals of the world run this world. It was said out of reverence, out of pride to the American Indian. Even though it was called a Redskin, what are you going to call them, a Brownskin? This is so stupid it’s appalling, and I hope that owner keeps fighting for it and never changes it, because the Redskins are part of an American football history, and it should never be anything but the Washington Redskins. That’s the way it is.”

While I admit there is no intent by Daniel Snyder to offend with the nickname, is Coach Ditka really naive enough to say there is not a legit gripe about the nickname? I love how he throws the word liberals in their like its such a bad thing. I am fairly liberal, I admit but this is such an utterly tone-death statement. Indian is just as offensive as redskin; it is a word made up by white people to make them the Cowboys bad guys. I am not a huge proponent of the name change. I too have some reverence for the Washington Redskins rich history. However it is a problem to many for a legitimate reason. “Manifest Destiny” of the white new America led to genocide of many native Americans; we took them off their land. Even I am beginning to wonder if we can morally allow them to keep the nickname, in our nation’s capitol of all places. I don’t have a problem with Ditka’s opinion. That he is entitled to. I have a problem with the poorly constructed argument. Sometimes being politically correct is better than being a dick.

4th Down
Kirk Cousins is a better quarterback than Robert Griffin III. Last year the Redskins offense did better when Cousins relieved the injured RG3. This preseason Cousins looked dramatically better. I will admit Cousins has played against back ups. Though RG3 has played awful regardless of the competition he played against this preseason. Because Griffin III gets hurt a lot, we have a fair sample of Cousins in regular season play. I’m sorry Washington Cousins is better. Robert Griffin III has unbelievable talent and potential, but is a project. Giving him the starting job, without earning it helps nobody.

Ravens vs Redskins Preview

The Baltimore Ravens host the Washington Redskins on Saturday night for their third preseason game. The starters are expected to play into the second half, giving us a nice idea where the teams stand going into the regular season.

The Baltimore Ravens offense has shown a great deal of promise this preseason. The running game has been resurgent as Kubiak’s wide zone blocking scheme has worked splendidly. The Ravens offensive line was the main concern going into the preseason however it has looked good.
The offensive line should get a good test (at least from a pass protection standpoint) facing quality pass rushers like Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan.

The Ravens focus offensively will be to get off to a fast start. In the first preseason game the offense had a beautiful 80 yard touchdown drive. In the second game the offense heated up but after a slow start. Rhythm and tempo is clearly important for this offense. Fast starts are so important for the Ravens.

For the Redskins its all about getting Robert Griffin III some much needed confidence. RG3’s performance was fairly pedestrian last week against the Browns (other than one deep bomb). The Redskins have weapons. Its up to RG3 to get the job done. Look for the Skins to start with easy, high completion passes. The Ravens defense has continued its troubles against screens, this may be just the test they need.

For the Ravens defense, the focus is on the front seven. With injuries to Ladarius Webb, Asa Jackson and Jimmy Smith the Ravens are short handed in the secondary. There is only so much you can do to help this-it may not look pretty in the Ravens secondary. The Ravens need to get good push up front. The time for the Ravens rush defense to step up is now; it has been unacceptable thus far. The tackling must be sharp, the fundamentals must be done well. The secondary may have its struggles but there are no excuses for the front 7.

Predictions: NFC Full List

Chris Schisler

For more about the predictions see the article for each division. There will be more in depth articles on each team as we progress into the preseason.

Playoff Seeds
1.) Green Bay Packers 12-4
2.) San Francisco 49ers 11-5 (Tiebreaker: Head to Head vs Saints)
3.) New Orleans Saints 11-5
4.) Philadelphia Eagles 10-6
5.) Seattle Seahawks 10-6
6.) Chicago Bears 10-6

Non Playoff Teams
7.) Minnesota Vikings 9-7
8.) St. Louis Rams 9-7
9.) Carolina Panthers 9-7
10.) Arizona Cardinals 8-8
11.) New York Giants 8-8
12.) Atlanta Falcons: 7-9
13.) Detroit Lions 7-9
14.) Dallas Cowboys 6-10
15.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-10
16.) Washington Redskins 5-11

Predictions NFC East

Chris Schisler

Philadelphia Eagles: 10-6
Reason: The Eagles came on strong in the second half of the 2013 season. I think the NFL adjusts to the new look Eagles offense a bit in 2014. That being said, the Eagles are clearly the most talented team in the NFC East. They should win this division rather easily.

New York Giants: 8-8
Reason: The Giants were 7-9 last season. I really don’t see how they improved all that much. The offensive line and secondary are the main concerns though I think you could add linebackers into the discussion. This is not a playoff team. Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin give the Giants some respectability but they can’t save this team fan they?

Dallas Cowboys: 6-10
Reason: There is absolutely no defense on this roster. Can you find it? I know I am being facetious but you get my point. Sean Lee tore his ACL and DeMarcus Ware went to the Broncos. A historically bad defense got worse. The offense has a lot of talent. However Romo in shootouts inevitably screws up. He is a QB slot machine. The turnovers put stress on a drastically bad defense. To steal a line from the cooking shows Jerry Jones probably watches instead of working on winning: This is a recipe for disaster.

Washington Redskins: 5-11
Reason: This team is in desperate need of help. There is no promising the health of Robert Griffin III. If he does stay healthy his offense is not going to be a juggernaut. The defensive secondary is a major concern.

NFL Draft Steals Part 1

The buzz of the NFL draft has faded some, but there is much more to discuss. Today I want to talk about the steals of the draft. To get a “steal” a team must get a good player who exceeds the value of that draft pick.

1.) Baltimore Ravens: CJ Mosley, Terrance Brooks, Michael Campanaro

The Ravens got a top 10 talent in CJ Mosley at 17. He will start right away, next to Darryl Smith in the Ravens 3-4. Terrance Brooks is probably a day 1 starter, he is an incredible athlete. I had a second round grade on him and was surprised when Baltimore did not take him in the second round. To get him in the third round is simply incredible. Campanaro is a gem in the seventh round. He is a Wes Welker type of player. He has potential and there is time for him to develop in a strong receiving group.

2.) Cincinnati Bengals: Darqueeze Dennard CB Michigan State

I thought Dennard was the best cornerback in this draft class and two went before him. He is a technically sound savvy corner, with ball skills. I think he could be an interception machine in the NFL.

3.) Carolina Panthers: Kony Ealy DE Missouri (60th overall selection)

Ealy might be the second best defensive end in this draft class and was definitely a first round talent. Ealy went in round 1 in just about everyone’s mock draft. The Panthers got him near the end of round 2.

4.) Green Bay Packers: Hasean Clinton-Dix, Devante Adams

I thought Clinton-Dix was a top 15 talent. The Packers got him at pick 21. Devante Adams was a potential first round pick. He is a tall receiver with a good frame and a great vertical jump. With the 53rd selection, Green Bay got an instant red zone threat.

5.) Washington Redskins: Morgan Moses OT Virginia

I considered Moses to be the fourth ranked tackle by a landslide. 8 tackles were taken in front of Moses. Moses could have been a late first round pick in my evaluation but fell to the early third.

Chris Schisler Mock Draft 1 picks 33-42

33.) Houston Texans	Dion Bailey S USC	This may be a little high for Bailey but it fills a desperate need for the Texans secondary.
34.) Washington Redskins	David Yankee OG Stanford	Yankee is a dominant run blocker, but is also good in pass protection. This fills a need for the Skins.
35.) Cleveland Browns	Bishop Sankey RB Washington	There is a reason Sankey averaged 5.8 yards a carry last season. He is a strong runner who gets yards after contact.
36.) Oakland Raiders	Antonio Richardson OT Tenn	Richardson is the best remaining tackle, a position the Raiders need to get better at.
37.) Atlanta Falcons	Jace Amaro TE Texas Tech	Amaro is a big time playmaker at tight end. He has a 6’5” frame and great athleticism.
38.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Scott Crichton DE Oregon St.	The Bucs need a pass rusher and this is their best bet at defensive end.
39.) Jacksonville Jaguars	Carl Bradford OLB Arizona St.	8.5 sacks last season will entice the Jags. Bradford is a well-rounded player.
40,) Minnesota Vikings	Derick Carr QB Fresno St	The Vikings cannot pass up Carr who is the best QB available at this point.
41.) Buffalo Bills	Christian Jones LB FSU	Jones will be a nice compliment to Kiko Alonso
42.) Tennessee Titans	Allen Robinson WR Penn St	Best Player Available. Great polished beast of a receiver.

Sean Ewing’s NFC East Preview

NFC East Preview by Sean Ewing

 

Something happened last year in the NFC East that had not since 1999. The Washington Redskins became relevant. After being 3-6 and all but done for the season, the fans and even Coach Mike Shanahan gave up. Luckily, RGIII did not give up. He exploded onto the scene last year propelling the Redskins to a 7 game winning streak to end the season which ultimately allowed them to win the NFC East and make the playoffs. This year in the NFC East things will most likely not change too much.
Let’s start things off with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles have a lot of work to do. Quarterback wise Michael Vick seems to be ideal for Chip Kelly’s new system as he is a dual threat QB, but the last two years he has had trouble with protecting the football. The offensive line did get a little better as the Eagles spent their first round pick on OL Lane Johnson. That being said they still have a ways to go. As far as the defense is concerned, to put it lightly, they were bad. Fortunately, the Eagles did have a pretty decent offseason as they were able to pick up two solid cornerbacks in Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher as well as underrated safety Kenny Philips. It is difficult to predict what is to come of the Eagles this year. All of it will hinge on how effective Chip Kelly’s new offense can be and the quarterback play. Learning a new offense especially one as complex as Chip Kelly’s will take some time for everyone to get used to and we will likely see inconsistent play throughout the season. I predict a last place finish for the Eagles and a 7-9 record.
Next, the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys on paper usually have the best team, but for one reason or another they never amount too much or as Stephen A. Smith says, “They are an accident waiting to happen.” Because of their salary cap situation being up tight they could not make many moves, but Jerry Jones and the boys did get CB Brandon Carr to bolster the secondary as well as many offensive players in the draft. Sean Lee will also be back from injury and do not underestimate B.W. Webb the rookie cornerback out of William & Mary. He always seems to be around the ball, he knows what to do when he has it, and he can return punts as well as kicks if Dez Bryant is injured. The problem with them is they still have many needs such as on the O-line and D-line. Although they did make the right move in signing Romo long-term it does not appear he will lead them to a Super Bowl. That being said when you have a good quarterback you need to sign them as they are hard to find and Tony Romo is still a good QB. Overall, the Cowboys still have talent, but as usual, I believe America’s team will underachieve with a third straight season at 8-8 which will land them at third place in the NFC East missing the playoffs once again.
Third, the New York Football Giants. The Giants were very streaky last year starting out 6-2 but finishing 3-5 down the stretch and just narrowly missing the playoffs. They did sign a few players most notably interior linemen Cullen Jenkins from the Eagles who is a great run stopper. The Giants also got Ryan Nassib from the draft which is smart as Eli is not getting any younger and was not great last year. Interceptions have been a problem for most of Eli’s career which is why outside the playoffs I do not trust him and I believe he is overrated. The main problem with the Giants, however, is that they did nothing to improve the secondary which did not perform well. Corey Webster got burned way too much and everyone else in the secondary cannot stay healthy. Even in a mediocre division I do not see the Giants making the playoffs. They do not match up well with the passing attacks around the league especially that of Dallas and Washington. I predict a 9-7 record from them and a second place finish in the NFC East.
Last but not least, the Washington Redskins. As you can guess they are in my opinion the best team in the NFC East and I believe they will grab the 4 seed in the playoffs with an 11-5 record. RGIII when healthy or even when injured was the best player on the field. He has world-class speed, good decision-making, and a strong, accurate arm. All of this combined makes it almost impossible for opposing defenses to defend. Combine this with a decent offensive line, a great running back in Alfred Morris, and a good receiving core the Redskins will be fine on offense.
What they will need to improve is the defense particularly the secondary. Their front seven will be fine assuming Brian Orakpo can come back healthy. Now the secondary… Last year, if not for the New Orleans Saints secondary the Redskins secondary would have been historically bad. That being said help is on the way. Brandon Merriweather is a competent safety if healthy and that is a big “if.” The Redskins also got help in the draft. In the 2013 draft they got three DBs, two safeties and a corner named David Amerson, Bacarri Rambo, and Phillip Thomas. Amerson lead NCAA in interceptions two years ago and Rambo was 2nd behind him. Thomas lead the NCAA in picks last year. It is evident the skins have addressed their needs in the secondary with young talented “ball-hawk” defensive backs. There is nowhere to go up for the Redskins secondary and with talent on the way for the defense they look to be better than last year.
The NFC East will most likely be the least competitive division in football, but also could be the most intriguing as RGIII is always a must see as well as Tony Romo and Dallas. The Eagles will be the most exciting team to watch or at least a team we will all have our eyes on during week 1 because of their new offense under Chip Kelly. If they can play well on offense and put up big numbers there is no doubt that the NFC East will be the most exciting division to watch this year.

Are we taking the Washington Redskins to Lightly

Are we taking the Washington Redskins to Lightly | Chris Schisler
Mike Shanahan and Bruce Smith have built the Redskins from the ashes. With quarterback Robert Griffin and one of the hardest hitting teams in the NFL, the Redskins are poised for a good season. Many people don’t see them as a playoff team citing their tough schedule and Robert Griffin’s health as their chief concerns. Most people seem to think the Giants are the team to beat in the NFC East. The average fan has taken two looks at their schedule and written them off. . There is not much hype surrounding the Redskins this year. The Redskins will surprise most people. There may be something special brewing in Washington.
Washington’s offense is a handful for any defense. The versatility of their quarterback and their power running game make them a threat for a big play. On any given play Robert Griffin III can beat you deep or run for a first down. Alfred Morris came on strong last year; the rookie runningback scored 13 touchdowns and ran for 1613 yards. The offensive line is one of the best run blocking lines in football. The zone running scheme they utilize sets up big runs. This sets up big plays in the passing game. RG3 is sensational at the play-action pass. The Redskins offense uses so many motions and there is so much going on in the backfield that defenses often play to hesitant and slow. Washington is a big play offense.
With a healthy Brian Orakpo the Washington defense may thrive. Ryan Kerrigan and Orakpo make up a great pass rushing duo. The front seven of the Redskins is a huge strength. The worries still remain with the secondary. Washington drafted cornerback David Amerson out of NC State who I believe was a steal. My biggest concern for the Redskins is their safties. This being said their pass rush will be so strong, it may not end up being a problem. The Redskins are very well coached. They own the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball with physical play.
The power hierarchy in the NFC is debatable. It would seem that San Francisco is the leader of the NFC. Seattle is also a formidable team and should give the 49ers a run for their money. The Packers will always have a shot with Aaron Rodgers all though their team has its weaknesses. The Saints figure to be somewhere in the equation; as recent history has shown us Drew Brees plus Sean Peyton equals a NFC South championship. Atlanta receives much of the NFC’s hype but has never done well in postseason play. The Redskins are the forgotten contender and could be a dark horse for the NFC’s Super Bowl bid.
The Redskins do have one of the toughest schedules, but they are one of the toughest teams. I am not willing to bet against Robert Griffin’s health, I expect him to be at full strength when the season starts. The Redskins have a big play offense. I predict their defense will produce sacks and turnovers as well. It would not shock me at all to see the Redskins win the NFC East. It would not even shock me if they had a chance at a Lombardi trophy.

Stubborn Mediocrity

Stubborn Mediocrity | Chris Schisler | May 31, 2013

The game of football is like water. Offenses and defenses can take the shape of anything the coach desires. There is no one way to win the game but there are definite ways to lose. Teams change year to year. Adaptability is the most important factor to long lasting success. Refusing to change in the NFL from year to year is refusing to accept reality. Some teams never change. They have a way of doing things and a philosophy that never bends. This seldom works. Closed minded organizations never fix their problems. This is either because they are delusional or blind to the problem. Maybe these teams have low standards. There are a handful of stubborn franchises in the league. Some of them have been dancing in mediocrity for quite some time. Others have recently or will quickly see their downward spiral. This non adaptive way of thinking is like poison. If football is like water, this acceptance of stubborn mediocrity is contaminated.

The NFC East is the center of this contamination. In this division we have four of the most historic franchises in league history. Three of these teams have fallen victim to their egos. The Redskins were a victim of Dan Snyder’s ego for years. Snyder has actually become the perfect example of making changes for a better direction. Originally Snyder was a blind man trying to sail the ship, as a result the Redskins sank. After the embattled owner decided to bring in Bruce Smith and Mike Shannahan to take control and make football decisions, the Washington Redskins have become the reigning division champions. The other teams, the media darlings that they are have a lot to learn from Dan Snyder. (I never thought that I would ever think this, but its true.)

The New York Giants have become infamous for sneaking into the playoffs and winning championships after frustratingly difficult seasons. They have done this in 2007 and 2011. They got hot at the right time these seasons. Last season was a much different story. The New York Giants went 9-7 getting absolutely pummeled by the Falcons and Ravens near the season’s disappointing end. The Giants may have won 2 Super Bowls in 5 years, but they have never been a complete football team. The Giants are always sneaking into the playoffs as a wildcard with 8-8 and 9-7 records 3 of the last 4 years. The 2013 Giants could be a disaster waiting to happen. They have a great defensive line but have a below average secondary and an average linebacker core. They are a pass happy team that has to have shootouts to win. The problem is their almost nonexistence running game (Partly due to no commitment to it) and their inability to protect Eli Manning. The Giants have ignored these concerns year after year now, stockpiling receivers and defensive linemen like a squirrel preparing for winter. The Giants are what they always have been: An incomplete team with an elite QB and a coach that just give them a chance. But hey, they’re okay with it.

The Philadelphia Eagles demise illustrates my point perfectly. Andy Reid had built a perennial contender. The problem was that Reid never changed. His pass happy offense worked in McNabb’s prime and even several years after. When the car keys were passed to Michael Vick things went haywire. It worked for a while but when Vick reverted to his quarterback-turnover slot-machine-tendencies Reid needed to change. He needed to use running back LeSean McCoy as the centerpiece of the offensive strategy. Reid however does not know what a runningback is Reid seemingly did not even notice the runningback in his own backfield.  The Eagles defense also required major help near the end of the Reid era. What was the coach’s response? He moved longtime offensive line coach Juan Castillo to the defensive coordinator position. When things went south for the Eagles, Reid used Castillo as the scapegoat and fired him. Andy Reid was a great thinker of the game. The problem is he got to the point where no one could ever tell him he was wrong. Castillo could not get it to work, showing Reid that he was wrong. But he refused to face the facts. Andy Reid’s legacy vanished quickly.

The Dallas Cowboys are the one perfect example of my point against non-adaptability in the NFL. Jerry Jones is the owner, general manager and sometimes even the coach of the Dallas Cowboys. He makes every decision, all though his track record has proven him to be a horrible decision maker. The Cowboys have always gone after big name players to keep their delusional “America’s Team” title. He chose Terrell Owens and all his popcorn over Bill Parcells. Jerry Jones constantly undermines the authority of his head coaches. They have been doing it Jerry’s way for a long time now. Since 1996 they have won one playoff game.

Some mistake Bill Bellicheck as stubborn and inflexible. Bellicheck has kept the New England Patriots contenders and he has done it by embracing change. When he realized how special Tom Brady was he focused the team much more on offense. In the early 2000’s Bellicheck had a rare and preciously gifted defense. Those players have gone but the success has not. Bellicheck began with the Parcells 3-4 defense. It is the bread and butter of his football genius. The Patriots have played hybrid defenses and have become more of a 4-3 team, to adapt to their personnel. That is surely not easy for Bellicheck to do. The Patriots are one of those gold standard teams. Love them or hate them the Patriots are always competing for a championship. It is because Bellicheck can handle anything that comes the Patriots’ way.

This past season we saw that confronting your team’s major problem and changing can lead to a world championship. The Baltimore Ravens had hit rock bottom offensively during a three game losing streak. When head coach John Harbuagh fired his OC and good friend Cam Cameron, the Ravens had finally dealt with their biggest hindrance. Jim Caldwell took the reins and let Joe run the offense with his powerful arm. Flacco was finally free to play his style of football. He had one of the most prolific postseason runs of all-time, with eleven touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Champions are made when teams are willing to face reality and they maintain high Standards. John Harbuagh is proof of that.

Football teams never stay the same from year to year. This is why it is so important to be able to adapt and to be flexible. Teams that have reached or are heading towards mediocrity are stubborn and unwilling to change when necessary. Football is a results driven business. As Bill Parcells so correctly said “You are what your record says you are.” If a team cannot face this truth (Cough cough… Cowboys) they are doomed to live in their stubborn mediocrity.