NFL Mock Draft 1.0

It is that time of year again. Yes, before we finish the 2010-11 season, I am already looking forward to next season. Below is my first NFL mock draft for this year. Obviously things will shift a bit once the Senior Bowl is played and the NFL Combine starts in late February. Until this then, based on the information I've read and the games I've watched, this is how I think things will go down...


NFL Mock Draft 1.0
1. Carolina Panthers – Nick Fairley, DT Auburn
To keep it short, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck burst the Panthers bubble when he announced he was returning to school for his senior season. In my opinion there are three players that are worth the number one pick and they are Nick Fairley, Da’Quan Bowers and Patrick Peterson. So I believe the Panthers will go with the biggest need. They will flirt with idea of drafting Da’Quan Bowers, but ultimately they will realize that Fairley is their guy.
2. Denver Broncos –Robert Quinn, DE/OLB UNC
This is probably a surprise for most people and once the combine starts it is very possible I will change my pick here. Most people are thinking Bowers if he is on the board but I think Quinn is just as talented and a better fit for the 3-4 defense. A lot of people have his stock dropping because he sat out last season due to suspension but I think we should remember all the people that passed on Dez Bryant. The talent is still there, Quinn will just have to get back into football shape.
3. Buffalo Bills –Da’Quan Bowers, DE/OLB Clemson
Bills are probably thinking they don’t have a chance at Bowers but I think they do. Quarterback is the biggest need but if you have a bad team, you have to draft on value. No QB is worthy here, Bowers is clearly the pick.
4. Cincinnati Bengals –Marcell Dareus, DT/DE Alabama
Most people have Dareus rated as a top-10 talent but I think he is the 5th best prospect and should be drafted 4th overall by the Bengals. He dominates the line and shows the size and versatility to play inside and outside.
5. Arizona Cardinals – Jake Locker, QB Washington
Watching the Cardinals offense last year was like explaining to someone why you would pay money to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers play…very hard to do. They have several holes, but a franchise QB is the biggest. They failed with Matt Leinart and now it is time to try again. Locker is a project with all the tools to be a winner, now he just has to prove he’s a winner.
6. Cleveland Browns – AJ Green, WR Georgia
Cleveland Browns showed signs of life sporadically during the season. It appears they hit a home run after drafting Colt McCoy last year and now it is time to get him a go to receiver. I guarantee you AJ Green is a sure thing.
7. San Francisco 49ers – Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri
The 49ers now have a new head coach, a young defense and an offense still looking for it’s true identity. It is time to draft their franchise QB. Blaine Gabbert has flown under the radar all season but if you got a chance to watch him play, it is clear that he has a ton of talent. I don’t think he has had enough college experience to be able to start right away but after a season of grooming he should be ready to take over in San Francisco.
8. Tennessee Titans – Patrick Peterson, CB LSU
Assuming Peterson will fall to pick eight is a stretch. After the first three picks I’m not comfortable putting Peterson on any other team before pick eight. If he happens to fall in Tennessee’s lap, I guarantee their will be shots going around in the Titans war room…Salud!
9. Dallas Cowboys – Stephen Paea, DT Oregon St
Saying the Dallas Cowboys were a disappointment is an understatement. They wasted a huge opportunity to have the chance to play in the Super Bowl in their home stadium. Heck, they didn’t even come close to making the playoffs. After a very very very slow start, they improved once they dumped Wade Phillips has the head coach. Their team is full of talent and while their offensive line can use an upgrade, I think Paea is a much better value pick than any of the offensive linemen at pick nine.
10. Washington Redskins – Julio Jones, WR Alabama
Julio Jones is a major sleeper in this draft. During his three years at Alabama he has compiled 2,653 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. At 6’4 220, his size will be a problem for opposing defensive backs. I’m expecting him to run a 4.5 which will be great along with his frame. He is a good run blocker and plays with attitude. The Redskins will finally get the receiver they have been looking for the past decade.
11. Houston Texans – Prince Amukamara, CB Nebraska
Amukamara is an exceptional talent. The Texans defense failed them once again last year and their secondary needs help. I’m expecting Amukamara to make an instant impact, besides imagine how much fun fans and the media will have with a guy named Prince.
12. Minnesota Vikings – Ryan Mallett Arkansas
The Vikings are a veteran team that needs a quality QB to take them to the next level. Obviously that QB will not be found with the 12th pick, so I assume they will make a trade for a vet or make a move in the free agency. Regardless, they should think long term and take Mallett and let him sit and learn the pro game for a few years and then turn the quarterbacking duties over to him.
13. Detroit Lions – Von Miller, OLB Texas A&M
The Detroit Lions had yet another disappointing season, but they do have a lot of promising young talent. Last year they traded Ernie Sims to the Philadelphia Eagles and now it time to replace him. It is too early to say but Von Miller could be better than Sims ever was. Miller played defensive end in college and will instantly be a pass rusher off the edge at linebacker, but many believe he can play in space and drop back into coverage as well.
14. St. Louis Rams – Akeem Ayers, OLB UCLA
The Rams almost pulled off the impossible. They were one win away from making the playoffs in the same year that they had the number one pick. A number one receiver would be great here and if Julio Jones slips he is the guy, but Julio should be gone and no other wide out is worth the risk at pick 14. Akeem Ayers is a very solid and proven outside linebacker and will be great teamed up next to James Laurinaitis.
15. Miami Dolphins – Cam Newton, QB Auburn
Last year the story of the first round was Tim Tebow. Everyone sat on the edge of their seat to see who would take a chance on him. This year that guy in Cam Newton. Similar to Tebow, Newton is larger than your average quarterback and comes from system where he ran more than he passed. They both are Heisman trophy winners and I expect both to have decent careers in the NFL. The Dolphins could use some new blood in their back field but it will be very hard to pass on Newton here for the Dolphins. He is not an NFL ready QB and has a lot of learning to do, but if there is any NFL system that he could excel in, it’s Miami’s.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars – Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa
Adrian Clayborn is a phenomenal talent. He has the unique ability to control a game at the line of scrimmage. The Jacksonville Jaguars have invested several top round picks in their defensive line and none of them have panned out the way they would have liked. You know the old saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again.”
17. New England Patriots – Mark Ingram, RB Alabama
The Patriots have always found a way to be successful without big names. They get guys in their system and groom them to become household names. A fine example of that was this year where they used BenJarvus Green-Ellis (I know what you’re thinking and yes, I’m thinking the same thing…His parents had a hard time narrowing down names for him so they combined a few) and Danny Woodhead or as Joe Theismann mistakenly called him, Danny Woodcock (Unbelievable). It is time the Patriots got a reliable franchise running back. Mark Ingram reminds me of a poor man’s Emmitt Smith.
18. San Diego Chargers – Brandon Harris, CB Miami
The San Diego Chargers did not live up to expectations this season. They can only blame themselves, because while Phillip Rivers was spectacular, the defense was not and it did not help that Vincent Jackson sat out 11 games and Marcus McNeil sat out five games. I think they should grab Brandon Harris, a very talented and speedy corner from Miami.
19. New York Giants – Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin
The ended the season on a disappointing note with a 10-6 record but no playoff appearance. The Giants have three major areas they need to upgrade. The Giants could use help in their secondary. The future of their backfield is in question, so a franchise running back could be an option but most importantly they should upgrade their offensive line. I think an offensive tackle would be the best value pick at pick 19.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ryan Kerrigan, DE Boston College
The Bucs pass rush was abysmal last year, as they ranked 31st in the league in sacks. Last year they aggressively made a point to draft their defensive tackles of the future and now it is time to grab their pass rusher of the future. Ryan Kerrigan has progressively improved in each of his years at Purdue and in his senior season he posted 13 sacks. He would instantly become a starter for the Bucs.
21. Kansas City Chiefs – Nate Solder, OT Colorado
The Chiefs surprised a few people this year with their success and it was because they had a balanced offense and defense. They need to continue to build both sides of the ball but it is important that they protect their quarterback Matt Cassel. Solder is a prospect with a ton of talent and should be able to contribute immediately.
22. Indianapolis Colts – Mike Pouncey, C/G Florida
Poor Colts…There was no team in the NFL that suffered more major injuries than the Colts. Their offensive line can definitely use depth and an upgrade. Mike Pouncey has been dominating at Florida for years and his brother Maurkice Pouncey was drafted lasted year by the Steelers and instantly became an impact player. The fact that his brother panned out will only help Mike’s stock.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Tyron Smith, OT USC
The Eagles appear to be back and more explosive than ever. They are a team that relies on the shotgun formation and a spread offensive scheme. As we learned toward the end of the season, they must keep Vick healthy if they are going to be successful. Therefore, they need to draft guys that will protect him. They should go with the best tackle available here.
24. New Orleans Saints – Cameron Jordan, DE UCLA
Cameron Jordan is a very talented player off the edge. I see him as a 4-3 defensive end, which could be the reason he slides down in the draft a little. I expect him to do well at the Senior Bowl and at the combine so he has plenty of time to bring his stock up.
25. Seattle Seahawks – JJ Watt, DE Wisconsin
JJ Watt is very similar to Cameron Jordan. He is a relentless player coming off the edge but I see him strictly as a 4-3 defensive end. At pick 25, the Seattle Seahawks would love to draft JJ Watt. He would instantly compete for a starting job at defensive end.
26. Baltimore Ravens – Aaron Williams, CB Texas
Once again the Ravens ended the season on a low note. Unfortunately, they have become the team that will make the playoffs every year and produce some of the best football any true fan could ask for but will never make it to the big game. Regardless, they need to add depth to their average secondary. Williams will probably be a starter before the season is over.
27. Atlanta Falcons – Anthony Castonzo, OT Boston College
The Falcons had a ton of success this season and a lot of it was due to their explosive offense. I think they should take an offensive tackle in the first round to ensure that “Matty Ice” is always protected.
28. New England Patriots – Jonathan Baldwin, WR Pittsburgh
The Patriots have slowly been revamping their team with young blood. They need to upgrade their defensive line but after Moss was traded there is a gaping hole in the big play department for the Patriots offense. Baldwin has never had a good QB, so it is hard to assess what he may be in the NFL but the truth of the matter is that his ceiling his higher than any other wide receivers in this draft. He could be the final piece to the new and improved young explosive Patriots offense.
29. Chicago Bears – Cameron Heyward Ohio St.
The Bears have exceeded everyone’s expectations that are not Bears fans this year. I personally was never a believer and still am not. I do recognize that I have to give credit when credit is due, and they deserve everything they have earned. With that being said, they could use depth in the offensive line but if Cameron Heyward is still on the board this late, it’s a no brainer. His productivity is remarkable and he would be ranked higher if he didn’t take plays off. In any case, Heyward and Peppers could become a dominant duo.
29. New York Jets, Rahim Moore, S UCLA
The Jets will always need depth at every position on defense because of the type of defense they run. Depth and versatility is important to their success. This season, the Jets suffered a couple of injuries, specifically at the safety position that hurt their team. It is time to add more depth to that position and draft Rahim Moore from UCLA. He may not start immediately but he will be the long term solution.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers – Derek Sherrod, OT Mississippi St
The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have many holes on offense or defense but you can never have enough linemen. I think the offensive line is more of a priority than the defensive line, so the Steelers should take the best lineman on the board at pick 30.
32. Green Bay Packers, DeMarco Murray, RB Oklahoma
Green Bay has a fantastic team and the only major hole I see is at running back. It is scary to think what their offense might be like if they had a go to guy at running back.

Can it get any worse????

This play sadly sums up how the Minnesota Timberwolves season has gone.

Conference Championship Predictions

NFC

#6 Green Bay @ #2 Chicago

Soldier Field

I'm going Green Bay all the way!!! I might need a cheese hat for the weekend...

Green Bay possesses something right now that no one else seems to---> killer instinct--- they know how to put teams away. I am by no means a Green Bay fan, but I am a fan of good football. They are a good football team. They have showed it week in and week out with their ability to still continue to win while battling key injuries. It is good when you have players that can step in and keep the ball rolling. On the offensive side of the ball there are WEAPONS. Aaron Rodgers is doing a great job taking snaps and is showing the league how to be an effective quarterback if your last name is not Brady or Manning. I like his style. he is showing that he can not only "manage" a game, but rather make big plays at big moments. He has great awareness in the pocket and even shows he has athletic ability when he scampers outside of the pocket. Furthermore, the loss of running back Ryan Grant seems not to even be a factor; Green Bay has still been able to punish teams with their ground attack. 3rd string tailback James Starks literally ran all over Philly during his 123 yd outing in the City of Brotherly Love. This lethal ground attack opens up the field for Rodgers who loves his receivers. His options include the seasoned but still elusive Donald Driver, who is turning 36 in a couple of weeks. He also can toss it to the likes Greg Jennings, and has deep threat in Jordy Nelson.

The only thing Green Bay is going to have to do is pound the ball against a Chicago defense that is committed to penetration. The Bear's defensive backs CANNOT handle the Packer receiving corps, HOWEVER if Chicago can get into the backfield to disrupt the run, getting to the passer will be a simple task. OT Chad Clifton will play well regardless of if his duties are against Israel Idonije or Julius Peppers, and I expect the same for, Bryan Buluga. Remember if you have the 6'4" Brian Urlacher preoccupied with the run stop, you will have passing lanes open up in the middle of the field.

Jay Cutler............. If the Bears had a him last time they were at the Super Bowl, they would have won! <---- Actually if they would have had ANY other quarterback, they would have won... Lets not forget that Cutler is the same guy that Denver ridded themselves of Jake "The Snake" Plummer for. Mr. Cutler sure resurrected Denver, huh?

Unfortunately for him and the rest of the Bear offense, they must cross paths with an above average Packer defense.... The same Packer defense that shut out the AFC Champion hopeful New York Jets towards the latter part of the season. The secondary consist of Heisman Trophy Winner Charles Woodson, opposite him is Tremon Williams, and the consistent Charlie Peprah. Their Linebacking positions are stout with AJ Hawk and 3rd generation player Clay Matthews . Nose Tackle, BJ Raji needs his own zip code, for he is the force that will clog up the middle...

I will give kudos to the coaching staff of Chicago for doing a marvelous job with their personnel and finding a place for one of the few guys in the NFL that truly is a gamebreaker, Devin Hester. He is a dangerous return man, that seems like he is figuring out how to be a successful receiver... at least more successful than he was at cornerback. I like him, and I am excited to see him develop as an impact player that is not one-dimensional. Johnny Knox, who is actually #1 on the depth chart, will be opposite him running routes--- or attempting to against Woodson, I don't expect him to have much fun or success. Matt Forte notches another 1,000+ yd rushing season under his belt, but I do not expect him to do well against Green Bay.

It will be a good game, I think Green Bay is more talented across the board and matches up favorably against the Bears. I expect them to be victorious in the Windy City.

That game, will not be as good as

AFC

#6 Jets @ #2Steelers

This year's Jets have done as well as I suspected last year's Jets to do. I had hoped that they would make it to the Super Bowl under rookie QB Mark Sanchez.)

Heinz Field

There is not much to say about this game.

-I expect this to be a hard-hitting football game. (James Harrison, Hines Ward, Lamar Woodley, Bart Scott and Brodney Pool)

-I expect Revis and Cromartie to give the Steeler receivers a fit.

-I expect Big Ben and Rashard Mendenhall to each lose a fumble.

-I expect that Santonio Holmes will have an unbelievably big game and put up bigger numbers.

-I expect none of this to be enough to put the Steelers away.

With this in mind, I thought this was cute: "53 Jets will fly the Steelers down to Dallas for the Super Bowl"

GO STEELERS... Where is my terrible towel???

Thanks for your time,

Samson X

The Sanchize

Pressure is a word thrown around a lot in sports. From NFL football to high school baseball, all areas of competitive sport understand pressure is a given. No position in any sports sees more pressure than an NFL quarterback. Whether it’s a 280 pound lineman that runs like a gazelle or the pressure applied by the media scrutinizing every decision made, it is a part of a quarterback’s everyday life. It’s because of the pressure and difficulty of the position as a whole that young quarterbacks are expected to go through growing pains. However the difficulty of the job for a QB multiplies to the tenth degree when the playoffs begin.

It is nearly inconceivable that a young QB who honestly has been mediocre during the regular season, can turn his game a complete 180˚ and show the "it" factor that is expected and needed to play at an elite level in the playoffs. However that is exactly what Jets 2nd year QB Mark Sanchez has done. Though you can’t deny he has shown glimpses of greatness during the regular season his play as a whole has been inconsistent and at times simply terrible. His career quarterback rating is a meager 70.2, with a touchdown to interception ratio of less then 1 – 1. The Jets regular season success has been more in spite of Sanchez then because of him, relying heavily on a monstrous defense, with maybe the best defensive mind in the league scheming up masterful game plans, and a take no prisoners running game that will ground and pound its way down field with ill regard for the defense.

However in the playoffs Mark Sanchez transcendent play has been nothing short of a late Christmas present to Rex Ryan and the Jets. Over his 2 years in the league he has compiled a stellar 4 and 1 playoff record all five games on the road. He has elevated his rating all the way to 92.2. His completion percentage is 7 points higher in the playoffs, while he has a touchdown to interception ratio of 7 to 1. His impressive resume includes road wins against the likes of Carson Palmer, Phillip Rivers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. He has come a long way and is close to regaining his nickname the Sanchize.

This weekend Mark will attempt to add a great notch on his playoff belt by taking his jets to the cold of Heinz Field where they will face two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger and a scary Steelers defense, led by a now healthy Troy Polamalu. This is probably the biggest challenge he has faced to date in his young career. The Sanchez will need to be leave his average regular season performance and lofty New York City lifestyle behind and be prepared to let the Sanchize do battle with Big Ben and crew Sunday in what is sure to be a violent chess game to say the least.

Major Announcement!!!!!!

No Hype Now is pleased to announce that we have recently added two additional bloggers. So make sure you look out for their thorough analysis, with a twist of their own humor in the future. You know here we like to keep it color coded, so D'Arco will be in yellow and Samson X will be in Grey. Without further ado, I'll let them introduce themselves:

My name is Greg D'Arco, I was was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. I now live and work in the greater Philadelphia area. I am a die hard Washington Redskins, Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Lakers and maybe above all University of Southern California Trojans fan(a lil random I know but its been like that forever). I have love and appreciation for all sports from baseball to international soccer, EXCEPT NASCAR, my greatest passions though are football at any level and NBA hoops. FIGHT ON

Samson X. Born: Boston, MA Raised: Atlanta, GA. Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics. Braves, Hawks, Falcons. (In that order) Former walk-on University of Pittsburgh's football team. Guess that makes me a Steeler fan (by default) as a result of being immersed in the Steel City culture for four yrs... In the world of sports I have to be a witness before I'm a believer. Sry. I don't jump on any bandwagons until teams are convincing enough to show that they deserve it. I will cheer for teams that play well and execute, especially when my teams are out of it.

Hail PITT!!!

Samson X

Joe Theismann...Oops

NFL great Joe Theismann makes a terrible mistake on national television when talking about New England Patriots running back Danny Woodhead.

Forwards of the Future

The NBA is constantly evolving. It has gone from a game dominated by white males, to a growing international phenomenon. As athletes evolve, so does the game. People claim the stars of the past were tougher, but there is no question that the players now are bigger, stronger, faster and overall, more athletic. Players with unbelievable god given ability come in large numbers, but with that, the fundamentals of the game are changing. If you don’t believe me, name six pure shooting guards that deserve an All-Star vote. No, I don’t mean combo guards that can play the point guard and shooting guard positions and no I don’t mean small forwards that play shooting guard because their team doesn’t have a better choice at shooting guard. I’m talking about players that were born to play shooting guard and can shoot well enough to be effective at the position. In case you are still thinking I’ll give you two names to start…Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen.

While you are thinking, I’ll continue with what I was saying. The game is not played the way it once was and with that, the rules have changed slightly. It is now easier for players to get to the lane because officials are asked to call the game closer. Hand checking and a lot of physical play has been removed from the game. (Don’t get me wrong, the game is still physical, you just have to wait until the playoffs to see the real NBA) No wonder guards can’t shoot like they used to. Why practice that when you can use your athleticism and take advantage of the rules to penetrate the paint.

There has been a shift in what positions are most important to a team’s success. It used to be a team needed a good center, someone that owned the paint. Once you had your center you could build around them, probably needing a star shooting guard or point guard next. Boy oh boy times have changed. The center position now is almost a myth. If you thought thinking of good pure shooting guards was hard, you will truly struggle to name good pure centers. (No, Tim Duncan doesn’t count, he’s a power forward and so is Pau Gasol.) Now the game is being taking over by point guards and athletic, versatile forwards. Everyone is looking for the next dominant point guard. Name six point guards that deserve an All-Star vote. You could probably come up with 8 to 10. That’s a third of the league.

While I love watching the new stars of today, I always wonder how the game has changed so drastically. For that reason, I find it very refreshing when certain teams or players remind me of how the game used to be played. An example of this would be the Boston Celtics. They are a well balanced unit that focuses on defense and plays with passion. Not to mention they have attitude. This is the same team that was so serious about not allowing baskets that after the whistle was blown on a play and an opposing player would take a practice shot, one of the Celtics (often Kevin Garnett) would jump up and swat the ball away before it reached the rim. They are intimidating and play with an “F U” mentality. I’m not a Celtics fan but have no choice but to appreciate the type of basketball they play.

There are also two young players I love to watch. It is not just because of their stats or highlights but more so because of the way they play the game. Those two players are Blake Griffin and Kevin Love. Both players play on traditionally non-contending teams but if you haven’t gotten a chance to see them play, you should invest in the NBA League Pass next year.

Griffin is plain and simple phenomenal. There really isn’t much not to like about him. Standing at 6’10 and weighing a solid 250 lbs, Griffin is built to dominate the paint area. His game is far from perfect but the passion he plays with makes up for all his weaknesses. I heard on ESPN this week that several players in the NBA are not fond of Griffin because he plays hard 100% of the time. Understandably, we all know players in the NBA take plays off and in the regular season some players even take games off, so to play against a guy that is giving it his all on every single play could get a little annoying. But that is no reason not to like him! How can you be a professional athlete and be angry at an opposing player for giving it his or her all for a whole game. (Eh um Lamar Odom)

Outside of his relentless play, Griffin is a human highlight reel. As soon as he put on an NBA jersey, he instantly became one of the most explosive players in the league. If someone put together the top-10 dunks from this season thus far, he would probably hold four of those spots. With that being said, he is the heavy favorite to win the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest. He is a no nonsense kind of guy. Even as a rookie, he is a true professional and is showing he is a far better leader than any of us expected him to be. He plays for a historically bad franchise in the Los Angeles Clippers, with a terrible owner in Donald Sterling. Since 1984, the Clippers have had three winning seasons. Trust me, I doubled checked those numbers. With that being said, his 22 points, 12 rebounds (ranked 4th in the league), 3 assists, shooting 52% from the field per game has really lifted a young Clippers team. I’m a fan of Griffin because of his work ethic and the intensity he plays with. He doesn’t talk as much trash as say a Kevin Garnett but when watching him play, it is clear he has an “F U” mentality. For whatever reason, we feel the need to compare sports athletes to players from the past. Griffin has received comparisons from Shawn Kemp to Charles Barkley. For me, it is too early to compare him to anyone. He has only played half a season in his rookie career. The athleticism, dunks and rebounding will always be there but with his work ethic, who knows what type of game he will have. I’ve already seen more moves in the paint from Griffin in 40 games than I’ve seen from Dwight Howard in six and half seasons. His game has definitely developed since we last saw him in college. He is constantly fouled and has taken well over 300 free throws already. He is currently ranked 7th in the league in free throws attempted and if you’re wondering, yes he gets to the line more than Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony. He is second in the league in double doubles with 33 in just 40 games. That is off the charts for a rookie. If he continues to work on his free throw shooting (currently shooting 60%) he will only score more points and become more of a problem for opposing defenders. Griffin will easily run away with the Rookie of the Year Award and is the first step to changing the culture of Clippers basketball. As he and his teammates grow and develop together, they will win more games and fans will eventually come to see the whole team and not just Blake Griffin. I don’t want to jinx it but Griffin could be what it takes to remove the Clippers from under the Lakers shadow one day. (One day when Kobe Bryant is long gone)

The other young star I love to watch is Minnesota Timberwolves own, Kevin Love. Love is a hard hat and lunch pail kind of player. Nothing flashy about his game, he just out works his opponents. He has an old school type of game. Love stands at 6’10 260 lbs. Unlike Blake Griffin, Love does not possess phenomenal athleticism. He is talented in other ways. He has an exceptional knack for rebounding. He understands the lost art of body positioning and boxing out. He knows he isn’t going to out jump everyone, so he uses his 260 pound frame to his advantage. Love’s career has taken off and it only took him three years. Love has seen his points, rebounds, field percentage, free throw percentage and minutes take a major leap from last year. He has improved his rebounding total by four per game (15 per game), his free throw percent by six percent (87%), three point percentage by 13% (.444%) and points by seven per game (21 per game). He leads the league in rebounding, double doubles, consecutive double doubles and will most likely win the most improved award. Offensively he has no major weakness. He can play in the low post but prefers to play in the high post and elbow line extended area. He now confidently shoots from three point range, making him very dangerous for opposing big men attempting to guard him. Where his game lacks is on defense, similar to Blake Griffin. He rarely blocks shots (0.3 per game) and although he is a very crafty player, he does not get many steals (0.6 per game). My biggest knock on Love is his ability to help his team. There is no doubt about it, Kevin Love will be a star in the NBA and should be an All-Star this year but his team continues to struggle even as he excels. They are currently 10-33 and just 2-21 on the road.

Both the Clippers and the Timberwolves have young teams. It is arguable that the Clippers have a more talented roster, and if that is true, it isn’t by much. Love and Griffin impact the game in similar ways, in terms of statistics but Griffin’s play translates to more wins for his team. You can’t go wrong with either player and both may redefine the power forward position in their own way.

Whether it is Love’s superb fundamentals, versatility and feel for the game or Griffin’s explosiveness, work ethic and “F U” mentality, both players excel in today’s game but have a little old school to them.

Did you finish your list of six shooting guards yet?

Bart Scott Post Game Interview

New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott, with a few emotional words after an upset victory over the New England Patriots. You have to love his passion for the game...

Quite a Marketing Strategy

Funny video from Memphis Grizzlies star Rudy Gay. He is officially marketing himself to get more All-Star votes. I don't think his plan will work, but I love his creativity. This video should remind you of a recent Dos Equis commercial.

Run of the Year!!!

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch exploded for possibly the run of the year, against the New Orleans Saints. Take a look...