Free Agency Grades

I know I am not alone when I say that I am thrilled to have football back in my life. The last week has been great with all of the additions and subtractions teams have been making. I want to take a look at the AFC East and get you all up to speed on [...]

Position Rankings (OTA Edition): Safeties

Well, training camps are begginning today and what better time to close out my rankings.  Today I look at the last line of defense, the safeties.  A very demanding position the safety is asked to cover a large area.  Set back from the line of scrimmage, safties need to be able to diagnose plas and [...]

Position Rankings (OTA Edition): Corner Backs

In my opinion corner back is one of the toughest positions to play in the NFL.  Most positions you can be aggressive and at the snap get right after the ball.  When you’re out there on an island you have to sit back and use your instincts to diagnose routes and react off of a [...]

Position Rankings (OTA Edition): Middle Linebacker

 Well, I’m back from vacation and am long overdue for a rankings column.  This article will focus on the men in the middle.  The middle linebackers in the 3-4 defense need to work together to be effective.  In order to do so, you need to find a unique type of player.  Strength and athleticism are crucial [...]

Position Rankings (OTA Edition): Outside Linebacker

  The outside linebacker wears a lot of hats within the 3-4 defense.    They must first contain the edge in the running game, rush the passer to create pressure, as well as drop back in coverage to play either zone, or possibly matchup man with a TE, WR, or RB out of the backfield.  Outside linebackers must possess [...]

Position Rankings (OTA Edition) Defensive End

  The defensive end position in the 3-4 is comparable to the defensive tackle position in the 4-3.  The main focus for these techniques are gap responsibility and occupying blockers.  Defensive ends in the 3-4 lineup on the tackle and are responsible for the B and C gaps (those in between the guard and tackle, and outside of the [...]

Position Rankings (OTA Edition): Defensive Tackle

It is much easier to compare the team defenses in the AFC East now that each team is running a 3-4.  The 3-4 defense has been a progressive trend in the NFL and the league has now 15 teams using this defense!  In 2004 only 5 teams were utilizing the scheme.  With the success of [...]

Position Rankings (OTA Edition): Wide Receivers

Aside from quarterback, the wide receiver position is the most debated position in the NFL. Whether you have Fitzgerald one, and Andre Johnson two, or whether you still pay homage to Moss and give him the #1 spot, the love affair with this position is never-ending.  Words like diva, prim donna, and even narcissist have been [...]

Position Rankings (OTA Edition): Running Backs

For years, years before my time, football was a running game.  The style of play was geared to grind out yards by being stronger and more physical than the other team.  A team was led by its running backs.  A prime example of the importance placed on the running game occurred in 1962 when the Cleveland Browns [...]

Position Rankings (OTA Edition): Offensive Lineman

This article will focus on the big men up front, the unsung heroes of a team, the guys you only hear about when they screw up.   Being an offensive lineman in the NFL is sort of like being a janitor, you do all the dirty work and you only get noticed if there is poo [...]