SB Nation - Ron Dayne

Know Your Colts History: This is why Peyton is Tougher Than You Are

JakeTheSnake — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:00:16 -0000

Before I get to this week's post, I'd like to clear up something from last week that I didn't get to address in the comments because I was out of town all weekend. When I said that I was thankful that Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis don't rotate in and out like most other linemen, that was overstatement. They do rotate in and out like most other linemen, but they don't rotate nearly as much as other linemen and they burn a lot more energy on every play than other linemen do every single down. That's what I was trying to get at in the post, but I went a little overboard in getting the point across, and I apologize for that.

Anywho, this week I'd like to talk about a painful, but great moment for the 2006 season (since my computer is still on the injured list). The moment comes from Week 7 when the Colts were hosting the Redskins. It was Peyton's second-toughest moment next to when he returned to a game in 2001 one play after fracturing his jaw.

At a time when the cries about Peyton being "soft" were at their highest, Peyton showed just how much grit he had. He probably would have preferred to crush a can on his head or eat glass, but when two linemen decide to make you into a human catapult, you don't get to veto. Even more impressive than the fact that he was didn't miss a play after nearly being folded like origami is that he threw three touchdowns in the next quarter to put the game away.

The Colts were 6-0 after the win, so the NFL knew that the Colts were for real, but this was the game that set the tone for the rest of the season. In one play, Peyton exhibited the toughness the team would rely on to get them through the difficult moments in that Super Bowl year.

When the team slumped near the end of the regular season and let notable rushers such as Travis Henry (93 yards), Alvin Pearman (71 yards in garbage time after Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew had their fun), Rudi Johnson (79 yards), and Ron Dayne (who tallied up 153 yards!) raked the Colts defense, they were tough enough to stick with the system and know things would work themselves out. When the team had to play on the road in a hostile Baltimore environment, their toughed out those yards late in the game to seal the deal. When the team had to face an 18 point deficit in the AFC Championship, they stiffened up and pulled out the win. When it came to the big game, gutted out the win in the pouring rain, shedding their image as a soft, indoor team once and for all.

I see a lot of that grit and toughness in this year's team. They may not have that signature moment of toughness they did in 2006, but they've shown the ability to deliver again and again in tough situations this season. Six different times this season the Colts have been down in the fourth quarter, and all six times the Colts have come back to win. They've managed to win at home, on the road, while holding onto the ball for less than one-fourth of the game, without a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning, and without the services of several key players in most games.

Just like '06, the key to this success goes back to the captain, Peyton Manning. He still sets the tone, and everyone else gets on board with him. Hopefully this year he won't have to bend over backwards (literally) to show that to the world.

Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals: Know Thy Enemy Edition

Pyromnc — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:00:51 -0000

More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

2 months ago: Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) drags Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib for yardage during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Williams rushed for 152 yards in the Panthers' 28-21 win. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Last year the Carolina Panthers were able to build a very good team that had a pretty good defense and an offense built around their young running backs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. Their offense would see Stewart and Williams rush for a combined 2,351 yards, with 1,515 by Williams and 836 by Stewart. Those are stellar numbers for two running backs but they haven’t been able to replicate the same success this season. Part of the problem has been the turnovers, a category in which the Panther’s lead the league. This team has had 6 fumbles lost and 14 interceptions this season through six games. This has made it very tough for this team as they get behind their opponents and it takes out a running game that was among the best last season. This all started when the Panther’s faced the Cardinals in the playoffs and the Cards forced 6 turnovers. Ever since then, this offense has not looked the same and the Cardinals will hope to repeat what they did on Sunday. If they want to do that they will have to neutralize the Panthers run game, something the Cards have done in their past 12 games (including the playoffs). Last season the Cards neutralized Stewart pretty good, allowing just 22 yards on 11 carries for 1 touchdown. However, they allowed Williams to rush for 171 yards on 29 carries (5.9 yards per carry) and 1 touchdown. Williams will be the one to look out for in this game.

DeAngelo Williams went to college at Memphis and was one of their best players to ever play there. While at Memphis he compiled over 7,573 all purpose yards, with 6,026 of those coming on the ground. The all purpose yards are an NCAA record and the rushing yards would be good enough for fourth all-time behind Ron Dayne, Ricky Williams, and Tony Dorsett. Williams was not bad at receiving either having 70 catches that went for 723 yards and 5 touchdowns. All this would be spread over a four year career in which he would only start one game his freshman year, but the remaining three years he would start every game he played. Those are pretty impressive numbers and would end up being good enough for him in the 2006 draft.

In the 2006 draft, it was hard to predict where Williams would go. Some had him going as a top ten pick, possibly by the Cardinals, and some had him going in the second round. Williams would end up going number 27 in the first round to the Carolina Panthers. In Williams first two years he did not get a lot of chances, having 121 rushing attempts and 33 receptions in his first season, and 144 rushing and 23 receptions in his second. This was because he was backing up DeShaun Foster. Williams would make the most of his chances by gaining 501 yards rushing on those 121 attempts and 313 yards on the 33 receptions, and would gain 717 yards on the 144 attempts and 175 yards on the 23 receptions his second year. This would lead to Williams getting his chance to start in 2008 and he did not disappoint. As stated in the opener, he would have 1,515 yards over 273 carries (5.5 yards per carry), which would go for 18 touchdowns. This year has been a different story. Williams has not had as many chances this year, in part because of the turnovers and most of these can be blamed on Jake Delhomme, who has 13 interceptions and 2 fumbles lost this season. When Delhomme is not turning the ball over, he is consistently missing open receivers, and generally making bad decisions. This had lead to the Carolina offense not being remotely close to what it was last year. This will be a key to the Cardinals winning this game.

The Cardinals will want to make the Panthers try and beat them with Delhomme and not with the run game. That is why the Cardinals must stop Williams and continue to stop Stewart like they did last season. If they can stop those two, Delhomme might be in for another long day and might even have some flashbacks to that playoff game that a lot of people believe started this whole mess for the Panthers. Do you think the Cardinals can continue their dominance over the running game? Will Delhomme have another bad game? Or will he get his revenge for what the Cards did in the Playoffs last year?

Eagles add Saints RB Hill, send Omar Gaither to IR

JasonB — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:29:08 -0000

More photos » by Marcio Sanchez - AP

3 months ago: New Orleans Saints running back P.J. Hill, right, celebrates after scoring on an 11-yard-touchdown in the third quarter against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL preseason football game in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Marcio Sanchez)

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The Eagles announced that they've put LB Omar Gaither on injured reserve after he went surgery to repair a lisfranc injury. Filling his spot on the roster will be RB P.J. Hill, who the Eagles' claimed from the Saints practice squad. PE.com had this to say.

Hill was a four-year letterman for the Badgers who joined former Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne as the only backs in UW history to gain more than 1,000 yards in each of their first three seasons. He closed his career with 770 carries for 3,942 yards (5.1 avg.) with 42 TDs, and added 39 receptions for 358 yards and two scores.

Here's his prospect profile from NFL.com

Hill surprised many by declaring his intention to enter the NFL Draft after his true junior season, although it wasn't shocking given the likely platoon at the position for the Badgers in 2009 and the short lifespan of NFL running backs. In three seasons with the Badgers, he rushed for almost 4,000 yards and 42 touchdowns. Although he was productive at Wisconsin, he doesn't rate as excellent in any one facet of his game and scouts wonder if he'll hold up in the pros considering his injury history and physical running style. Had an arm span of 32 1/2 inches at the combine.

Hill is a big back with a bruising running style. Certainly not the typical Eagles back... Check out some videos after the jump.

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Health Is King Edition

August West — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:48:50 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Boy, I'm glad our training camp isn't going to be a media circus.

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One man isn't going to be asked to replace the departed Big Albert. Instead the focus this year will be a rotation that runs eight ten deep with talent that's primed to break-out and hopefully rested enough to wear down O-lines as the game moves on. Also included here is an interview with Jason Jones, who will have to be a key contributor this year if we're to succeed.

Interested in being interviewed by Tennessean writer Gary Estwick on what training camp is like from a fans perspective? Then click here and hit him up at gestwick@tennessean.com for more information.

The Titans secondary is reviewed by Gary, and he's thinking what we're thinking: this secondary is as good at the top as it is shallow the rest of the way down the depth chart. We need all four guys to stay healthy, no matter how well the young guns behind them come along.

Follow us through the jump to see which former Titan just couldn't stomach playing for the Ratbirds...

Jim Wyatt reviewed the LB corps yesterday, and that unit looks at least a little deeper this year. Health is still a key though.

This random analysis site raises a good question: is LenDale White better thought of as 'a poor man's Jerome Bettis', or 'what Ron Dayne should have been?' You decide... I have to say these guys are surprisingly accurate in their snap evaluations of most of our starters (especially the O-line, save LeRoy, who is better than that say).

Intrepid reader/commenter (with a pimp middle name also) Jason Kyle Bates points us towards this gem: After getting a 1-year deal to play for the hated Ratbirds, Drew Bennett said his knee felt balky and decided to retire. I'd like to think Drew's conscience also played a role in his retirement.

If there's anything you would like to share with the MCM community, please take advantage of the comments, fanshots and fanposts to do so! You can also email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com.

Five rules for buying your next Badger jersey

Adam Hoge — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:23 -0000

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

You're crazy if you buy a Garrett Graham jersey this season.

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So Travis Beckham is gone and P.J. Hill left early for the Canadian Football League. That No. 9 jersey you’ve been sporting for the last two seasons? It’s useless now. The $50 you dropped on that No. 39? Seems like a pretty silly purchase now.

That’s because you didn’t follow the rules for purchasing a college football jersey—which is OK because they don’t exist… until now.

Buying a jersey can be tough. They are expensive and they always expire (unless of course you are the guy who customizes a jersey with his own name). That’s why I have a set of five rules each for buying college and professional jerseys.

So if you’re the guy with the No. 39 jersey hung in the back of your closet already, or you’re a freshman and want a jersey you can wear for the next four years, or you’re just a tool that wears a jersey every day of the week and is tired of wearing that Anthony Davis jersey, follow these rules when investing this fall:

For college teams (where players’ names are left off the jersey):

1) If the player is a true freshman then he must be a No. 1 recruit who is not red-shirting and if he is a red-shirt freshman then he must be a starter and lead the team in at least one key statistical category. Too many highly regarded recruits fall flat on their face.
Pass: Ron Dayne in 1996
Fail: Josh Oglesby in 2007

2) If the player is a sophomore or junior then he must be a starter and lead the team (among returning players if it is the offseason) in at least one key statistical category. These are the guys you want to invest in. They have already proven themselves and they are going to be around for a while.
Pass: David Gilreath or John Clay
Fail: Kyle Jefferson

3) If the player is a senior then he must be a Heisman/Player of the Year candidate or be a good candidate to have his jersey number retired at that player’s school. Sorry Garrett Graham fans, you missed your chance.
Pass: Alando Tucker in 2006-07
Fail: Kammron Taylor in 2006-07.

4) If the player plays football and wears No. 1, 7, 9, 12, 14, 18 or 80 then the previous rules do not apply to purchase the jersey, although the jersey can only be worn during seasons when the player currently wearing that number is a clear cut starter and leads the team in at least one key statistical category.
Pass: No. 12 Tyler Donovan in 2007.
Fail: No. 4 Allan Evridge in 2008.

5) Any former All-American is eligible for a jersey purchase, but the jersey must be from a year in which that player played.
Pass: Ron Dayne and Alando Tucker
Fail: A No. 33 or No. 42 placed on a 2009 jersey

The key here is to invest in a guy who ends up being a player Badger fans never forget. It’s not easy, because those types of players are rare. That’s why these rules are tough.

Under these rules, only two players currently qualify for a jersey purchase this season:

1) John Clay, So. – Clay is UW’s leading returning rusher, which means he qualifies under Rule 2. There is a small chance that he has so much success in 2009 that he leaves early for the NFL, but chances are he will be around for at least two full seasons, maybe even three.

2) David Gilreath, Jr. – Gilreath is first in receiving among UW’s returning wide receivers so he also qualifies under Rule 2.

This is a good year to wait out the first month and then re-evaluate the roster under these rules. These are the players to watch during the season:

1) Curt Phillips, R-Fr. – If Phillips ends up taking over as UW’s starting quarterback then he will most likely lead UW in passing and qualify for a jersey purchase under Rule 1.

2) Nick Toon, So. – Toon came on strong at the end of last season and could very well end up leading Wisconsin in receiving this season. If he does, he would qualify under Rule 2.

3) Kraig Appleton, Fr. – We don’t know if Appleton will play this season, but if he does and he ends up being the real deal then he could qualify under Rule 1.

The 2009 verdict: The No. 32 John Clay jerseys are going to be on shelves all over State Street and that’s the jersey you should be buying this season. I’m still worried he might leave early, but look at it this way, if he does that means he had a season that won’t be forgotten at Wisconsin any time soon.

Honestly, college jerseys are easier because names are left off and they can sometimes be used years later for a new player under Rule 4. Professional teams are tougher because names are on the jerseys and free agency changes everything. Of course, sometimes jerseys last forever because you bought Michael Jordan’s Bulls jersey in the 1980s.

It’s always a gamble, but here are five rules for purchasing a professional player’s jersey:

1) The player should have at least two years left on his contract and not have a history of trade rumors following him around.
Pass: Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers. He’s got the long-term deal and the franchise is building around him.
Fail: Milton Bradley – Chicago Cubs. Some Cubs fans fell into the Nomar Garciaparra trap again. Bradley has the long-term deal, but he’s played on 312 teams.

2) If the player is over 30 years old then he must have at least two All-Star appearances.
Pass: Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets. Still two years left on his deal and the Nuggets love him.
Fail: Russell Branyan, Seattle Mariners. He’s become one of Seattle’s best players, but history says he won’t keep it up past this season.

3) Do not buy a rookie’s jersey unless it’s 2003 and his name is LeBron James. Half the rookies out there fail to materialize. Wait a year and then follow the rest of these rules. Do I even need to mention names like Darko Milicic, Kwame Brown, Ryan Leaf, or Rex Grossman?

4) Any regular contributor on a Championship team is eligible for a jersey purchase. This includes starters, key bench players/relief pitchers and even a very mediocre player who made a huge play in the postseason that will be remember forever (although in that case it would help to add a World Series, NBA Finals, Super Bowl, e.t.c. patch to the jersey).

5) Any Hall-of-Famer is eligible for a jersey purchase, but the jersey must be from a year in which that player played.
Pass: Carlton Fisk – Boston Red Sox or Chicago White Sox
Fail: Michael Jordan – Washington Bullets. I have actually seen a few of these. He didn’t play for the Bullets, you morons. He regrettably played for the Wizards.

If your player does not violate the rules that apply to him, then you can fork out the money for that player’s jersey. If none of your favorite players pass all five of these rules then consider buying a personalized jersey with your name on it. However, if you go that route, be prepared to be forever known as "that guy."

Arizona Cardinals News: Chris "Beanie" Wells Versus Other Big Ten Running Backs

Hawkwind — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:18:00 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

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When the Arizona Cardinals selected Chris "Beanie" Wells with the 31st overall pick in this year's draft there was hope amongst the coaching staff and fans alike that the franchise had finally found the running back to establish a powerful ground game. Wells was a punishing back with a surprising burst while at Ohio State and the only red flag seemed to be his inability to stay healthy, but will his game translate to the NFL? We've seen in recent years that many Big Ten teams have struggled against other conferences and the struggles have also been shared with their running backs at the NFL level.

Since the 2000 draft, nine Big Ten running backs have been selected in the first or second round, although the league seems to be souring on the conference in recent years. After selecting six backs between 2000 and 2003, only four backs (including Wells) have been selected in the first two rounds in the past six drafts. So is Wells destined to join in Big Ten counterparts or will he break out of the mold? Let's take a look at each of the other nine backs.....

2000 Draft: Round 1 - Pick 11: Ron Dayne - Dayne had it all during his days at Wisconsin. He won the Heisman trophy, was the NCAA all-time rushing leader when he left and remains one of the only players in NCAA history to record four 1,000 yard seasons. As a professional though, he never got close to duplicating the kind of success that he had in college. He never even recorded 800 yards in a season and only topped 200 carries once in his career, as a rookie. Despite his size (5'10, 245) he could manage to even carve out a role as a goal line specialist and his last season was in 2007, with his third team in eight seasons.

Career line: 96 games (28 starts), 983 carries for 3,722 yards (3.8 avg) and 28 TDs. 57 receptions for 340 yards.

2001 Draft: Round 1 - Pick 27: Michael Bennett - Bennett was actually Dayne's backup for two seasons before breaking out with over 1,500 yards in his first season at a starter at Wisconsin and he was also a stand-out performer in the 100 and 200 meters. Despite his speed though, Bennett struggled with injuries for his entire career and has only logged 16 games in a season twice. His best season in 2002 was the only year that he broke 1,000 yards or 200 carries and his lack of size (5'7 207) kept him from being a factor around the goal line. Bennett finished the 2008 season with the Chargers, his fifth team in nine seasons, and has been traded or released in the middle of the season for two consecutive years.

Career line: 94 games (50 starts), 817 carries for 3,627 yards (4.4 avg) and 13 TDs. 151 receptions for 1,220 yards and 6 TDs.

2001 Draft: Round 2 - Pick 38: Anthony Thomas - Thomas was a standout at Michigan and still ranks second in the school's history in yards in a career and yards in a season. He blasted onto the NFL scene with 736 carries for 2,928 yards in his first three seasons. In the process he logged 35 starts and won the NFL Rookie of the Year award in 2001. The problem though is that in the five seasons since those first three seasons he's bounced around between Bears, Cowboys, Saints and Bills while managing just 308 carries for 963 yards. His final season in 2007 consisted of two starts, 36 carries and 89 yards.

Career line: 86 games (43 starts), 1,044 carries for 3,891 yards (3.7 avg) and 23 TDs. 113 receptions for 756 yards and one TD.

2002 Draft: Round 1 - Pick 18: TJ Duckett - Duckett can still be found in the top five of most rushing lists at Michigan State University and even though that success didn't completely translate, he's the first guy on this list who has found his niche in the NFL. After flirting with a starting role during his first two seasons, Duckett has basically settled in as a backup running back and goal line specialist. He's never logged 200 carries or 800 yards in a season but he has managed eight touchdowns or more in four different seasons, while playing for four different teams in seven seasons.

Career line: 93 games (14 starts), 717 carries for 2,814 yards (3.9 avg) and 44 TDs. 35 receptions for 303 yards.

2002 Draft: Round 2 - Pick 56: Ladell Betts - At the time Betts left Iowa he was the second leading rusher all-time at the school and was the only Hawkeye to lead the team in rushing each of the four seasons that he played. Betts has never been much more than a backup, although he did break 1,000 in the one season that he started in place of an injured Clinton Portis. During that season, 2006, he logged 245 carries for 1,154 yards but in every other season of his career he's failed to carry the ball more than 100 times or go over 400 yards. He is the first player on our list though that has spent his entire career, to this point, with the team that drafted him.

Career line: 93 games (11 starts), 720 carries for 2,966 yards (4.1 avg) and 11 TDs. 148 receptions for 1,326 yards and three TDs.

2003 Draft: Round 1 - Pick 27: Larry Johnson - Johnson's the first back on our list to become a bona-fide star. Johnson won multiple awards during his final season at Penn State but wouldn't truly break into the NFL until 2005 when he logged back to back seasons of more than 1,700 yards. Since the 2006 season though he's been hampered by injuries after being overworked to the tune of 416 carries. He showed some signs of returning to his former self in 2008 but has spent the off season amidst constant trade talks after multiple arrests.

Career line: 68 games (48 starts), 1,243 carries for 5,638 yards (4.5 avg) and 55 TDs. 139 receptions for 1,293 yards and six TDs.

2004 Draft: Round 1 - Pick 26: Chris Perry - Perry won the Doak Walker Award (nation top RB) after his senior season at Michigan but he's been worse than disappointing as a pro. In four injury plagued seasons he's almost missed more games (29) than he's actually played (35) and he didn't score a rushing touchdown until 2008. Over that time he's managed just 606 yards rushing and started a grand total of nine games. This past season was actually Perry's best season when he started six games and posted a career high with 104 carries but the Bengals were not impressed considering that they cut him shortly after the draft.

Career line: 35 games (9 starts), 177 carries for 606 yards (3.4 avg) and two TDs. 83 receptions for 474 yards and two TDs.

2006 Draft: Round 1 - Pick 21: Laurence Maroney - It's too early to tell what kind of careery Maroney will have but he's managed to decent seasons so far. If he can stay healthy he's proven to have the talent to succeed.

Career line: 30 games (9 starts), 388 carries for 1,673 yards (4.3 avg) and 12 TDs. 26 receptions for 310 yards and one TD.

2008 Draft: Round 1- Pick 23: Rashard Mendenhall - It's way to early to even look at Mendenhall's career considering that he broke his shoulder just 19 carries into his first NFL season.

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So of the nine selections (although we'll reserve judgement on Maroney and Mendenhall), and 53 seasons, Larry Johnson and maybe Anthony Thomas were the only picks would probably be considered 'successful picks.' Do you think "Beanie" can break the trend and what will set him apart from these guys? Is there even a trend here?

Is Your Seat Getting Warm Gary Kubiak?

Jake — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:54:32 -0000

Now that the 2009 NFL Draft is officially in the books, NFL connoisseurs’ speculation has switched from predictions of the draft to those of the upcoming season. Although final rosters won’t be determined for months, people feel that they can predict how teams will perform in 2009 based off of choices that were made or not made during the draft. In the eyes of hometown fans, their team is almost always good enough at this point in the season to be a playoff or even Super Bowl contender because false hope is better than no hope.

In the case of the Texans though, it’s not just Houston fans that are predicting a playoff birth at this current juncture. After a solid draft, the Texans are a trendy pick to contend for a wild card spot or even the AFC South title. And why wouldn’t they be? After two 8-8 seasons, the Texans are the epitome of the phrase, “On the verge”. Even Texans owner Bob McNair, who usually keeps a low profile with the media, recently stated that he would be disappointed if the Texans don’t make the playoffs this year. While it seems like any NFL owner would obviously be disappointed every year that their franchise doesn’t make the postseason, the fact that McNair felt inclined to say it publicly is as close to being a prediction as possible despite the fact that McNair explicitly stated that he wasn’t making one.

With these extra expectations comes added pressure. This pressure has displayed itself the most in the assertion that if the Texans miss the playoffs again this year that fourth year head coach Gary Kubiak will lose his job. From now until the beginning of the 2009 season, whenever you hear Kubiak’s name in the national media you will almost certainly hear the phrase “hot seat” along with it. Naturally our first reaction as Houston fans is to think that this notion is ridiculous because we have an inclination to be loyal, but I think we owe it to ourselves to think about whether the Texans would be better off without Kubiak after yet another absence of a winning season this year.

Gary Kubiak became the second head coach in the brief history of the Houston Texans after he took over control of the team before the 2006 season. Kubiak inherited a team that had managed to win only two games the year before after similar playoff expectations proved to woefully unrealistic. There were some solid players on the Texans roster, but besides Andre Johnson and Dunta Robinson the team lacked elite performers. Kubiak quickly remedied that problem by finding future cornerstones Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Eric Winston and Owen Daniels in his first draft. After this marquee draft class, Kubiak and his chosen general manager Rick Smith added several key players the next two years such as Steve Slaton, Amobi Okoye, Fred Bennet, Zac Diles and Xavier Adibi.

Despite the success of Kubiak’s philosophy of building the team through the draft, the first ever winning season has still evaded the grasp of the youngest NFL franchise. One obvious reason may be the lack of premier free agency success. Several veteran running backs were brought in to fit Kubaik’s newly instated zone blocking/running scheme, but ball carriers Ahman Green, Chris Brown and Ron Dayne were repeatedly too injured to provide a positive impact. Defensive end Anthony Weaver was signed in 2006 to be a rushing partner for Mario Williams, but was incredibly unproductive recording only one sack in three seasons with Houston.

Although not a technically a free agent, quarterback Matt Schaub is still doing his best to quiet naysayers. In 2007 Kubiak determined that David Carr was not the signal caller of the future so he and Rick Smith made a deal with Atlanta to send two second round draft picks in return for their promising backup quarterback, Schaub. Despite playing well, many believe that the jury is still out on Schaub because of his inability to remain healthy over a 16 game season. Schaub has also shown carelessness with the ball at times as evidenced by his 19 interceptions and 17 fumbles in the last two years, as opposed to 26 touchdowns.

The true Achilles Heel of the Texans has been something that Kubiak never had to deal with before his ascension to head coaching status; the defense. As a career offensive player and coach, Kubiak has had to learn on the job how to develop a defensive roster and coaching staff, and there have been growing pains. Kubiak hired Richard Smith as defensive coordinator in 2006, but only lasted three seasons when he was fired after the defensive squad finished 23rd in the league in 2008. Head defensive assistant and linebackers coach Frank Bush was promoted to defensive coordinator and has promised an attacking, pass rush centric defense which sharply contrasts Smith’s read and react style of defense.

All of these reasons are cause for concern and seem to be fuel for the fire that warms the hot seat, but it’s important to look at the recent accomplishments of the Texans for the purpose of discerning whether progress is being made. In 2008, Hurricane Ike prohibited the Texans from playing their first home game until October, and that phenomenon coupled with a tough opening schedule and poor fourth quarter play kept the Texans winless through their first four games. Despite this setback, the Texans finished the rest of the season with an 8-4 record including a 5-1 run in the last six games.

Even though the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde act was not ideal, it was heartening for Texans fans to see the team play so well in the end season. Even more encouraging is that the defense started to play a lot better during the last six games. The Texans gave up an embarrassing 28.7 points per game in the first ten games, but were able to reduce that number to 17.83 points per game in the home stretch. Also, the Texans averaged over one less turnover per game in the last six games (1.33) than they did in the first ten (2.4).

All these stats are great, but how realistically enthused should fans be about performing well against teams with a combined record of 42-54? While it is encouraging to see a team playing to its potential, six games shouldn’t be used to judge Kubiak’s performance, but neither should a single season. To judge a head coach, different owners have different timetables. Bob McNair decided to end the tenure of Dom Capers, the first head coach he hired, after four seasons which would suggest that there is justification to the ominous hot seat talk, but upon further inspection, that might not be fair.

In 2005, the first year that the Texans had reasonable playoff aspirations based on improving win totals every season prior, the wheels came off. After winning seven games in 2004, the Texans managed to win only two which qualified for the worst record in the league and the first pick in the subsequent draft. Capers probably wasn’t on the chopping block until that fall from grace.

So that brings us to Kubiak and the question of whether he is truly on the hot seat… Maybe. To say that there is no way that Kubiak is in danger of losing his job would be setting him and those of you that like him up for the same fall that Capers took. Any win total less than 6 would have to have pretty good rationale to excuse Kubiak for such a poor performance.

On the flip side of that coin though, to say that he is gone if he doesn’t make the playoffs is asinine. The Texans play in what has been the consistently toughest division in football over the last four or five years which may be getting a little softer but still has one of the best quarterbacks of all time and a defensive line coach who would be a shoe in if position coaches could be inducted into the hall of fame. Also, there has been at least one team in the AFC for the last three years that has won at least ten games and still missed the playoffs. Does anyone in their right mind think that the first ever winning record would be the impetus to fire the franchise’s most successful coach it’s ever had? Keep in mind that Kubiak has a 22-26 record as a head coach after inheriting what technically was the worst team in football at the time. That’s only 4 games below .500.

Speaking of .500, Even another season with that winning percentage, although amazingly frustrating, would not cause me to call for Kubiak’s head. Why? Because stability is the backbone of successful franchises. I agree that there comes a time when you have to cut the cord with a coach that simply cannot take you to the promised land, but unless we promoted a coach from within, the system would be completely overhauled and we would find ourselves in the same situation we had when Kubiak took over; the wrong players to fit that new system. With that development, we would be waiting for at least two to three more years until we could actually have fun watching postseason football.

I’m not trying to make excuses for a coach I like; I’m simply trying to let cooler heads prevail, especially until there is a reason not to. Hopefully this is a completely irrelevant argument because the Texans do end up making the playoffs. I personally will be going into the season with the mindset that as long as the team doesn’t implode, I hope to see Kubaik’s rockabilly haircut on the sideline in 2010. Hopefully Bob McNair, the Texans players, and the majority of you feel the same way.

The Eleventh Overall Pick: A Brief History

MattRichWarren — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:00:10 -0000

For the second time in two years, the Buffalo Bills are looking to address a team need from spot 11 in the NFL Draft. Over the last 25 years, the eleventh pick has produced Pro Bowlers, Hall of Famers, All-Pro selections, and busts just like every other spot on the draft board. Here's a closer look at the players drafted eleventh overall in the last 25 drafts and what we can expect from the player we draft at that position this year.

#11 Picks, 1984-2008
2008 - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Bills
2007 - Patrick Willis, LB, Niners
2006 - Jay Cutler, QB, Broncos
2005 - DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Cowboys
2004 - Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
2003 - Marcus Trufant, CB, Seahawks
2002 - Dwight Freeney, DE, Colts
2001 - Dan Morgan, LB, Panthers
2000 - Ron Dayne, RB, Giants
1999 - Daunte Culpepper, QB, Vikings
1998 - Tra Thomas, OT, Eagles
1997 - Michael Booker, CB, Flacons
1996 - Alex Molden, DB, Saints
1995 - Derrick Alexander, DE, Vikings
1994 - John Thierry, LB, Bears
1993 - Dan Williams, DE, Broncos
1992 - Leon Searcy, OT, Steelers
1991 - Pat Harlow, OT, Patriots
1990 - Anthony Smith, DE, Raiders
1989 - Donnell Woolford, DB, Bears
1988 - Michael Irvin, WR, Cowboys
1987 - Shawn Knight, DE, Saints
1986 - Joe Kelly, LB, Bengals
1985 - Richard Johnson, DB, Oilers
1984 - Wilber Marshall, LB, Bears

There are some outstanding players on this list. We can measure how many outstanding players there are by looking at individual honors like Pro Bowl appearances, All-Pro Team selections, and Hall of Fame enshrinement. I think you'll like the results.

Pro Bowl
Every year the Pro Bowl takes the best players from each conference and plays them against one another. Between 40 and 50 players are considered Pro Bowl players in a given year from each conference for a grand total of 80-100 players. Here's the eleventh overall picks who have been selected to the Pro Bowl:

Patrick Willis (2007, '08)
Jay Cutler (2008)
DeMarcus Ware (2006-08)
Ben Roethlisberger (2007)
Marcus Trufant (2007)
Dwight Freeney (2003-‘05, '08)
Dan Morgan (2004)
Daunte Culpepper (2000, ‘03, '04)
Tra Thomas (2001, '02, '04)
Leon Searcy (1999)
Donnell Woolford (1993)
Michael Irvin (1991-'95)
Wilber Marshall (1986, '87, '92)

All-Pros
At the conclusion of every season, 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL select the All-Pro Team. This is a much more exclusive honor than the Pro Bowl, however; 27 spots existed on the team in 2008. Here are the All-Pro eleventh overall picks.

Patrick Willis (2008)
DeMarcus Ware (2007, '08)
Dwight Freeney (2004, ‘05)
Michael Irvin (1991)
Wilber Marshall (1986, '92)

Hall of Famers
The Hall of Fame is the greatest individual honor an NFL player may receive. It takes into account your entire body of work throughout your career. Of the thousands of NFL players and contributors in the league's rich history, only 247 people are currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The only Hall of Fame player who was drafted at number 11 is Dallas Cowboys great Michael Irvin, who was tearfully inducted in 2007.

Biggest Bust
By far, the largest eleventh overall bust was Shawn Knight. He was drafted out of BYU by the New Orleans Saints in 1987 and played one year each for the Saints (10 games), Broncos (14 games), and Phoenix Cardinals (7 games, 1 start), recording exactly one stat - a fumble recovery.

BREAKING NEWS: Ahman Green To Be Placed On Injured Reserve

Tim — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:42:15 -0000

I admit it. I was kind of snookered by Ahman Green this season. Never really trusted he would stay healthy, of course; last season's constant will-he-play-oh-who-are-we-kidding-of-course-he-won't game was never that far from my mind.

Yet this season, I occasionally found myself impressed by Ahman Green's performance on the field. He couldn't really be counted on to suit up most weeks. When he did grace us with his presence on Sundays, however, Ahman proved to be a capable backup/change-of-pace back from Steve Slaton. He even showed an aptitude for picking up tough first downs in third-and-short and/or goal line situations. I stopped hating him like I did last season.

What's my reward for softening on Ahman Green? This. Well played, Ahman. You got me. Sort of, anyway. In fact, one day, I want to be like you: Earning $11,000,000.00 for the equivalent of far less than one season of work. You're an inspiration to us all, and I hope you enjoyed ~~stealing~~ earning money in Houston the past two (2) years.

What this means in the short-term is likely not positive for your Houston Texans. Slaton's banged up. Ryan Moats is banged up and has not proven to be anything approaching a solution at back-up. Is a Darius Walker return imminent? Who knows? Personally, I'd prefer Ron Dayne, if for nothing else than short yardage situations. Assuming, you know, that he hasn't turned into Gilbert Grape's mother.

Houston's running attack may well be running on fumes when the Jags come to town on Monday night. I'll close with the ultimate silver lining: Smithiak sure got that renegotiated contract right.