Heading to the big city of dreams with barely a year as a starting college quarterback seemed like a scenario for a third string quarterback in the NFL. That was not the case for Mark Sanchez. The USC standout withstood a training camp quarterback battle and came in having to replace a wacky drawn out Favre year from 2008. Starting off the year 3-0 had Jets fans in a Sanchez love at first sight start. Eating on a hot dog during game play was comical, but the debates would soon turn in an instant.
The Jets and particularly Sanchez started to slump and the losses started to reel off. They lost six of seven games and were suddenly 4-6 in the heavily competing AFC conference. Playoff chances were Jim Mora like…..playoffs….playoffs. That’s when the Jets decided to water down their offensive play selections and limit the mistakes Sanchez could make. The decision to flip their offense and tone it down drastically saved the Jets season. Sanchez still almost cost the Jets a few games but the organization didn’t lose their faith in Sanchez. They let him grow through his mistakes and that leeway for showing their strong commitment should start to payoff for the 2010 season.
New York likely will keep Sanchez geared down a bit still but they have so many weapons on the offensive side of the ball that it should open things up for Sanchez rather easily. Questions at wide receiver still loom but the talent is there. Both Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes have had boom and bust years in the NFL. Edwards in particular has the most to prove. He has been prone to fading out and dropping balls since he has entered the league. Big play ability is why the Jets have him and he showed against the Colts that he can get the job done. Years of his mistakes should of added maturity to his façade that he was an all world receiver that’s indispensable.
For Santonio Holmes the Jets really don’t know what there going to get out of. The risk of a fifth round pick versus the reward was worth the weight of baggage they’re bringing in. Holmes has had a few great years in Pittsburgh and must have somewhat of a clue that he needs to change his actions off the field. The assets of Dustin Keller and Jerricho Cotchery make the Jets one of the best spread package offenses in the NFL. It doesn’t hurt that the Jets also have one of the best offensive lines in the game.
For fantasy value Sanchez still remains a poor option. An outlook for 2010 still will be geared towards the ball control style that got them turned around the second half of 2010. The Jets play around their defense and will win or lose games based upon how that unit maintains. Offensively the Jets are loaded in the backfield and will look to “please” their backs with plentiful amounts of carries. Shonn Greene and LT should be a lock to be at the top of the NFL in amount of carries from the top two running backs on any team.
Does Sanchez have any fantasy value? We would say in the rarest of games, yes. When the Jets gave him the freedom to air out the football though, that’s when he showed his inexperience as a pocket quarterback. You have to look at the relevant numbers, and when the Jets let him throw the football twenty times or more he had disastrous games. In fact he threw 19 of his 20 interceptions (7 contests) in those games. It’s safe to say the Jets might of not won 5 to 6 games let alone 9 if they had not changed their offensive philosophy.
The Jets are the team on HBO’s training camp series this summer so we will all get an early shot to see where Sanchez has developed in phases as a quarterback. Ranking him against the rest of the leagues quarterbacks from a fantasy perspective though, he would have to rank towards the bottom five to seven. Meaning don’t touch him in your fantasy drafts not even as a backup.
Teams sometimes have to part ways with an unfinished project. Washington did just that when they cut ties with Jason Campbell. The yearly overhaul was a constant new beginning for Campbell, who hasn’t had the same regime under him for consecutive years ever. As the season wound down last year everyone knew Jim Zorn was headed out. That seemingly meant Campbell would be sent away as well as the Redskins had been talking of it for years. Once Donovan McNabb entered the fold it was all but a sure lock as soon as the Redskins got the right offer for Campbell.
The fact that Campbell has landed with the Raiders seems like a part two for an organization that’s been unsettled in front office moves. They’ve made just as many poor free agent signings as well as their share of carousel moves on the sidelines. Through it all though the team has done well with on the field performance. They’ve hung tough in games and have had a decent defense to go along with a drive sustaining tandem force in the backfield. Downfalls for the Raiders came directly from the player handling the football under center.
JaMarcus Russell just did not show that he was willing to work on building from a porous not a clue rookie to a laughable overweight show for check starter last season. Jason Campbell is the exact opposite. He has taken the heat for years in DC but brushed aside all the talks of his job being in jeopardy. Until it was relinquished he just went out and performed with no excuses. Those punishing years as a Washington Redskin are going to pay dividends in the Raiders silver and black.
If a team like Oakland can back a JaMarcus Russell than having Campbell on their side is going to be comparable to Cincinnati dumping Akili Smith and transforming to Jon Kitna than Carson Palmer. Campbell will have a solid two to three years to work himself in, and honestly we do not see him needing more than a year to get acclimated. There are strong areas of concern but Campbell should come in as a leader and boost the work ethic of the natural talented youth around him.
Chaz Schilens showed great upside before starting off last year with a nagging injury, and Darrius Heyward-Bey never could get going with Russell. Campbell should also boost the threat of the running game by extending the secondary from creeping up to the line of scrimmage.
All in all Campbell’s first year with the Raiders is not going to be pretty for fantasy standards. Keeper league participants should have a strong eye on Campbell though. He is a young growing quarterback with strong intangibles compared to the rest of his aging counterparts. Unless he totally loses his drive to the Raiders organization woes, than Campbell should make a few steps forward in his career that should have taken place years ago. For 2010, Campbell can only be looked at a backup quarterback in competitive leagues, and unnecessary starter unless your team gets stricken with injuries.
Flacco Battle Tested
By Zack Cimini
Notjustagame23@gmail.com
When a player comes in and is drafted with little to no expectations it can make for an easier transition. After all your main mind set is too prove to everyone else that did not draft you that you’re the real deal. For Joe Flacco, his rookie campaign has to be classified as a rarity. A strong organization like the Baltimore Ravens was positioning him to be their future stud. Patience grew thin on Kyle Boller and suddenly Flacco was getting his chance to shine. Maybe being thrust into the spotlight unknowingly gave Flacco the chance to go out and not think about his situation.
He stormed onto the scene and really went unnoticed as far as having an impact until the Ravens made the playoffs. Up until then people were saying that Flacco was playing within the offense and the Ravens concept. They were limiting his reads, progressions, and shots down the field. You can say that for just about any offensive in the league depending on who the opposing defense is. For Flacco though he was making the most of those strikes down the field.
After the 2009 playoffs when the Ravens went to the AFC championship game the hype surrounding Flacco coming back was just beginning to blossom. His numbers were less than spectacular in the playoffs but his accuracy and arm strength was there. The key to what happened down the stretch in the playoffs in 2009 that was overlooked was Flacco’s inconsistency. Of all the things that you would not want to carry over, that did.
Flacco’s 2009 year did not start off anywhere near what he would of imagined. The Ravens were entrusting a bigger role for Flacco and he was not ready for it. A transformation of play calling saved the Ravens season, and shifted them back into the wild card spot. They finished the year winning three of their last four to gain position in a favorable matchup against the New England Patriots. The key to the Ravens end of season uprise was utilizing their backfield tandem. Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and Le’Ron McClain were as good as any backfield units and will still be going into 2010.
One of the areas that likely hurt Flacco was at the wide receiver position. Before training camp began in 2009, the Ravens were caught off-guard by the sudden announcement that Derrick Mason would not return. It was thought to be an emotional decision based on days earlier that Steve McNair had been murdered. After some time Mason decided he would return. Mason though is an aging receiver that could not be relied on as a number one receiver. Behind him Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams were not the type of receivers who were going to scare opposing secondary’s.
Thus the Ravens finally decided to upgrade at the receiver position. Bringing in Anquan Boldin was a strong enough move to show Flacco the Ravens mean business. Boldin may have taken a second seat to Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona, but he is a guy that is going to leave it all on the field. He punishes opposing cornerbacks and has a knack for finding holes and providing a target spot for quarterbacks to fit in balls. Baltimore also rolled the dice by signing Donte Stallworth. Everyone knows the reasoning Stallworth missed last season. He brings speed to the table and can fit in certain packages such as the spread and wide formations on seven to ten plays a game.
Last year wasn’t necessarily a disappointment from expected charted growth for a second year quarterback. For fantasy football fans it was. Flacco slid by the week on updated fantasy boards and drifted to a borderline considerable benching. He was the reason why you key in on securing a backup that can actually step in without too many worries. Flacco’s growth in 2010 should be a hit to the comparisons expected a year ago. He has went through enough ups and downs to bear the brunt of blows that come with the territory of being a starting NFL quarterback. Those situations are going to come and go, but Flacco shouldn’t linger stretches of weeks at a time with that happening.
After all the gossip talk and predictions of what people think is going to happen with Donovan in Washington and Kolb in Philly, training camp will begin and performance will be the true measure. The fantasy world is already anticipating a spike to Kolb’s game and expect him to be a strong fantasy starter.
Why shouldn’t they? He was a big factor in his two starts last year when he threw for 300 yards and had the offense ticking like it hadn’t missed a beat. Two games is hardly a scope of predictable measure. Quarterbacks have their streaks all the time, and more often than not a quarterback can step in and excel. Especially with a solid skill set as Kolb does have, and experience gained from learning behind McNabb. Often though once that quarterback gets truly tested defensive coordinators gain quickly on a quarterbacks tendencies. They’ll know exactly what type of pressure to throw at Kolb and schemes too throw off his rhythm.
Flashback to what the true reason why McNabb wasn’t traded a year before. A November 23rd matchup in which McNabb was yanked and Kolb came in and played like an ex XFL caliber quarterback. Andy Reid’s statement of just giving Kolb some experience and his other stammering explanations were bogus. If Kolb would have performed well then and there he would of taken over the reigns.
The potent combo and fantasy fanatics that are expecting DeSean Jackson to thrive as he did last year may be in for a surprise. Sure Kolb’s two starts last year were great games for Jackson. Both games he exploded for big touchdowns and over 100 yards receiving. For anyone that remembers those games, Jackson’s big play touchdowns were not due to Kolb’s arm. The plays involved Jackson making a big play after the catch and using his speed to run away from the pack. Kolb doesn’t necessarily have a strong arm; not nearly the strength of Donovan McNabb’s.
That’s the factor that could turn DeSean Jackson from a week to week consistent big time fantasy factor back to unpredictable. If Kolb can’t show the strength to air it out, teams will compress their safeties and bump more off the snap on Jackson. Jackson has shown the ability to make catches wherever on the field but we all know he is a guy that is a burner. He had 10 plays for over 40 yards, an incredible statistic, especially considering he only caught 61 balls. That’s a bad sign for owners banking on Jackson trending around the numbers of last year.
We expect Jackson’s big play ability to be diminished with Kolb under center. Meaning Jackson likely will have a tough time catching six to eight touchdowns. Yardage should still be there as we know Andy Reid is going to call enough pass plays to numerically make up for Kolb’s three years as backup. Seriously though, do not make the mistake of reaching too high on grabbing Jackson. A legit number one fantasy receiver should be somebody that without question can guarantee you ten plus touchdowns. We don’t foresee that happening in 2010. Breaking down the numbers of last year and looking beyond the big plays of Jackson, he had seven games with three catches or less.
Unless Kolb is an All-Pro type like Aaron Rodgers waiting to shine, it’s going to be a long painful growing experience for Kolb, Jackson, and Andy Reid.
An elite quarterback as himself in Donovan McNabb should have had his pull of position in any environment of trade talks. We were not looking at a quarterback beyond being a capable consistent threat back in the pocket. He is not 37 or 38 years old. He is only 33 and was worthy of another two to three seasons with the Eagles. Departing from their teams of the 2000’s began last season when the Eagles decided to part ways with Brian Dawkins. This off-season that continued with Brian Westbrook giving his exiting papers.
With the rumor mill of Donovan McNabb every off-season being traded it just seemed an inevitable story but nothing more to it every year. If it were ever to happen you would of expected it last year, especially when McNabb was benched against the Baltimore Ravens. For the umpteenth time McNabb ignored the doubters and naysayers and got the Eagles oh so close to the Super Bowl. Up top in the Eagles front office the pressure kept being added onto McNabb’s shoulders. 2009 although a solid statistical year for McNabb ended unsatisfactorily.
As they say, business is business, and McNabb might have his best shot yet to make a lasting impact on the NFL in the latter stages of his career. Heading to Washington would seem like a laughable situation for anyone, but Washington will back him with talent. That’s one thing Daniel Snyder has never shyed away from doing. He will group together with Mike Shanahan and evaluate where their weaknesses are. For years in Philadelphia, McNabb really never had that great receiver or solid offensive line. DeSean Jackson will be a formidable threat but his rapid development was based as a second round pick. A gem of a steal that fell to the Eagles laps. There truly was no urgency in ever getting McNabb a true talented receiver. Come on…..Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, Freddie Mitchell. The best he ever could get was Terrell Owens for a year of his antic adventures.
We expect McNabb to have a seamless transition and thrive as a Redskin. His personable character will shine there, and you’ll see him flashing that patented smile as he gains his redemption. Injury prone or not, McNabb has found a way each year to get his team to the playoffs and make a push. It’ll be interesting to see what key components the Redskins add in this years draft. Money hunger is not an issue in Washington. The players on that team have been paid nicely. Getting their attention and drive to be committed as the true definition of team is the key. McNabb commands that with his presence and will surely revitalize the talent that went dormant under Jim Zorn.
In Philadelphia the brunt of the blame always fell on McNabb’s shoulders. Often times though the obvious criticism should of went directly at Andy Reid and his horrid play call selections. The team would literally force a ratio of passes than mixing it up with the running game. Sometimes it was downright stupefying. The chemistry was so unbalanced at times that the Eagles would go consistently in lulls that would allow teams to get back in games. Shanahan will not put McNabb in that type of situation.
Right now McNabb is probably bitter as can be. This extra season being in Washington instead of Philly will pay off in the long run. Draft McNabb in the same spots you normally would in your fantasy football drafts. He is going to remain a force and have better all around talent to work with. The highest of keys is an organization that is committed to him for the next several years.
Cleveland is looking once again at huge changes of trying to dig themselves out from the graveyard of the league. They seem to be headed in the right direction be retooling from the key place in the front office. Making changes up there has been a consistent off-season move though from the Cleveland Browns that has translated into zero improvement as a team. Someone of Mike Holmgren’s caliber is not going to be taking his time to see what he has.
By now the entire league knows the Browns have little to no talent on the offensive side of the football. Just look at the carousel of the backfield as a prime example. The Browns have shuffled through numerous running backs in Jamal Lewis, Chris Jennings, and Jerome Harrison. At times part of the reason for this issue was due to injuries in the backfield. It seemed that Jennings had earned the nod for more carries and a larger share when he had a solid outing that led to the Browns upset win over the Steelers. Magician Mangini though had his own new plans and fooled all fantasy owners by giving the work load to seldom used Jerome Harrison. With only 1.9 percent of fantasy owners starting Harrison that has to be the worst official huge outburst fantasy output not utilized in leagues.
The worse area that the Browns have had horrible management of decisions is at quarterback. The Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn show has been a long drawn out three year horrific episode. During Quinn’s rookie year was the only real reasoning for either or to make a case for themselves. Quinn was a rookie and like most they’re expected to learn from the sideline. Anderson handled the pressure of having a highly praised rookie breathing down his neck like a poised veteran. He had a torrid 2007 season that made him the top out of everyone’s preseason radar steal of the year from the quarterback position. After a year like that you could only figure that Anderson was going to hold a starting role similar to the way Drew Brees did fighting off Philip Rivers, and Brett Favre holding back Aaron Rodgers.
Soon though we all saw that Anderson just had a career year and could not ever break out of his funk. Partly the blame went to the fact that Braylon Edwards developed bad habits with dropped balls, lack of effort, and inability to handle being a number one receiver. You’d think Cleveland would have tried to build better talent at the position of receiver for Edwards and their quarterbacks. That never happened and the Browns finally parted ways with Edwards this year.
On the other side of the quarterback picture was Brady Quinn. He got into a few games in 2008 but was given the job this year based on Anderson ineffectiveness once again. We all know he will miss the last two games with his foot injury but lets break down the ten games he did play in this year. Quinn showed zero pocket precence and played more like a backup quarterback trying not too lose a game. He has to find his niche with the Browns system and trust his physical skills and mental preparation to take some risks downfield. We know that he can take what the defense gives him and make that dump off throw. Any quarterback can do that, but if the Browns are going to ascend even with a few extra wins in 2010 they’re going to need Quinn to elevate his game dramatically.
Don’t be surprised if Mike Vick enters the Browns sweepstakes in the off-season. Cleveland needs someone to put the pressure on Quinn to be more of a force. Both Anderson and Quinn can argue they had zero talent this year to accomplish anything. The main weapon for them happened to be Joshua Cribbs who has only 20 catches but was who they used to run gadget plays to break up the routine throws of Quinn. Holmgren will come in and get his quarterback some play makers. It’ll be up to Quinn to shake his overall career sixty six quarterback rating. If not, the Quinn project in Cleveland will be over and over quickly.
Maybe when Quinn slipped in the 2007 draft there was a main reason for it. Why EAS has used him as a spokesman we have no idea. It must be recession low budget spending.
