Uncertainty Surrounding 2014 NFL Draft

The Draft is back! Pushed two weeks back this year has only allowed the speculation of mock drafts to hit a point where everyone is sick of talking about it. A marketing move by the NFL to move the draft may have been the wrong call for several reasons, but I digress. Every year, I am astounded by the amount of attention the draft receivers, because when you think about it, it is nothing more than a few large men being called to a stage to tell them what team they are playing. However, two networks (ESPN and NFL Network) will be simulcasting live from the event and people will be watching, myself included.

Now onto to the selections, there is no doubt that Jadeveon Clowney is the most talented player in this draft (watch his pro day if you don’t believe me). He may not be going to the Texans with the #1 pick, but if the Texans decide not to go that route, the possibility of trading the first pick and moving back would be very likely.

Wide receivers will be hot commodity in the first round, two (Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans) possibly going in the top 7 picks. Other options for teams include Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Marqise Lee, Jordan Matthews, Kelvin Benjamin (the man who ripped out my heart in Pasadena), and many others. This year’s draft is loaded with wide receiver talent and is a large indication of the transformation of offense in the NFL. Running backs are no longer a hot commodity and there is a great chance one is not taken in the first round this year. The NFL is a pass first league and running backs are falling by the waste side because of durability and cap room issues.

Lastly but most importantly, the quarterbacks are the talk of the draft because no one has any idea of what is going to happen. Johnny Manziel could go anywhere from the #1 pick to falling out of the first round. Teddy Bridgewater, after his horrendous pro day, is rarely talked about. The sibling of a former #1 pick, Derek Carr, continues to rise up the rankings and his future is uncertain. Blake Bortles (and hopefully his girlfriend) could be sitting in the green room throughout the first round. The most important position on the field for any team in the NFL and many teams don’t have the slightest clue about what to do with it, oh the irony.

Recapping Super Bowl XLVIII

Well, I was right about the winning team, but never in a million years did I expect the outcome that occurred. The Seahawks imposed their will from the opening kick-off. Talking heads will debate over the next few days where this 2013 Seattle Seahawks ranks among the all-time great defenses throughout the history of the NFL. Does it really matter though? To some, maybe, but for the rest of us, we just sat back in amazement as they absolutely shutdown the most dominant offense this past season.

Peyton Manning had no chance, because the Seahawks’ pass rush was in his face for most of the game and knocking him off of “his spot” (football jargon). I had a feeling going into the game that the “Legion of Boom” (Seattle’s secondary) would jam the Broncos’ wide receivers at the line, which they did very successfully. Eric Decker looked pedestrian, Wes Welker could not find a rhythm, Julius Thomas looked lost, and the only shimmer of hope was Demaryius Thomas, but he could only hold them up for so long. To be completely honest, I could go into the ends and outs of why they dominated, but in actuality there are no words to describe the beat down, just watch the tape and learn.

Marshawn Lynch did not have the type of dominant game, I imagined, but he also did not have to because of the lead they maintained for most of the game. Russell Wilson made clutch throws on third downs, and showed why he is considered one of the best young quarterbacks in the game. His offensive line kept him off the ground, and did just enough in the run game to establish a rhythm for the offense. Percy Harvin finally had the game he has been waiting for all season (his acceleration on the sweep play was astonishing), and allowed Seahawk fans to understand why management went and paid him $11 million dollars in the offseason.

This game does not tarnish the legacy of Peyton Manning, other than the fact, which most already knew, that he is a great quarterback, but not the greatest of all time. He found himself faced against a strong opponent who would not yield no matter what he threw at them. That’s football, it happens. The Seattle Seahawks were the better team and the final score proved as much.

Powerful Defense Will Trump Dynamic Offense

Super Bowl 44 is upon us and it seems all the hullabaloo caused from reaction to the possibility of a little snow on the ground was a whole lot of nothing. It will be cold, but at this point in the season these teams should be used to that and it should not be a problem. This game will lay in the hands of the players and the coaches, which team has done the best in their preparation work and which team will better execute on the field Sunday evening. So one that note here is my prediction on what will transpire Super Bowl Sunday:

Marshawn Lynch will be the key to this game, but he will not make his glaring impact to the world until the second half. At that point, Lynch will have close to 15 to 20 carries and will have absolutely worn down the front 7 of the Broncos.

Depending on how the officials referee the game, the Seahawks will be mauling the Broncos’ wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and make it difficult for Peyton Manning to establish a rhythm in the passing game. Points will be at a premium during the game, and without a reliable passing game, the Broncos will have trouble moving up and down the field.

Russell Wilson will make the critical throws at the critical points in the game, as he done all season. Marshawn Lynch will be the MVP and the Seahawks will beat the Broncos, 27-17.