SB Nation User Blog: Beck4Mercy

Beck4Mercy's Power Rankings

Beck4Mercy — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:27:24 -0000

I may or may not comment on why the team is where they are. These are my power rankings, you should post your own if you would like. I haven't looked at a whole data base of free agent transactions, so anything I list/forget is from my memory.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers - Coming off a Super Bowl victory, they are not too far ahead of #2 and #3. I sense a downturn in their running game, unless Mendenhall is actually good.

2. New England Patriots - They didn't make the playoffs last year. But they went 18-0 a year before and they have the same offense skills players with possibly better RBs. However Randy Moss is a year older, this could be one of his last years being very effective, and Tom Brady may not be 100% (not just physically) on opening week.

3. Tennessee Titans - Had best record in the season last year. Lost Haynesworth, got a 1st round WR this year. Still have Lendale and Chris Johnson, offense could have made a big improvement.

4. Arizona Cardinals - Still have Boldin at this moment. Got Beanie Wells. Offense should be even better assuming Warner doesn't wear down and Boldin doesn't disrupt. They drafted defense so they could be a bit better there.

5. Philadelphia Eagles - They lost Dawkins, but got OL help (Jason Peters), a new WR, TE, and RB, Desean Jackson is one year older.

6. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan should be better, meaning their offense got better without getting anyone. They got Peria Jerry and other people to build up the D.

7. New York Giants - I only put them here because they (hopefully) think they replaced Plaxico Burress. Otherwise I'd have to put them a few spots lower.

8. Miami Dolphins - Offense got new WRs and a new face at QB. Defense should have and improved Merling and a better LB set up than last year.

9. San Diego Chargers - Still have LT, who may or may not continue to go downhill (in a bad way). Don't know what to say about an underperforming team who I predict to underperform again.

10. Houston Texans - Went defense in first two rounds of draft. Entire offense is solid, except I am still not entirely sold on Matt Schaub, they need to get a seasoned vet if they don't have one backing him up.

11. Chicago Bears

12. Minnesota Vikings

13. Indianapolis Colts

14. Baltimore Ravens

15. Green Bay Packers

16. Cincinnati Bengals

17. Carolina Panthers

18. New Orleans Saints

19. Washington Redskins

20. Dallas Cowboys

21. Denver Broncos

22. Kansas City Chiefs

23. Buffalo Bills

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

25. Oakland Raiders

26. Seattle Seahawks

27. San Francisco 49ers

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

29. Cleveland Browns

30. St. Louis Rams

31. New York Jets

32. Detroit Lions

Stealing the Super Bowl (why the Steelers weren't that good this year)

Beck4Mercy — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:58:17 -0000

It's not as brutal as I made it look, I just wanted to point out a couple of facts of the year.

First off Pittsburgh may have had the #1 ranked defense by pts allowed per game, but it in reality, the last game of the season in which the Titans decided not to play and the Steelers did moreso than the Titans spoiled both teams stats (defensively) in an opposite fashion.

Secondly the Steelers may have had one of the strongest schedules, but guess what...you couldn't beat any of the teams that actually made your schedule tough.

You lost to the Eagles, Giants, Colts, and Titans. Probably would have lost again in the postseason, but instead faced teams you had beaten already.

This year's Steelers probably had one of the easiest roads to the Super Bowl in recent history. Facing a somehow overrated Chargers team that only went 8-8. Also facing a Ravens team you know inside and out and has zero offense, and a defense facing a few minor injuries, that would have lost to the Titans 9 out of every 10 times. I personally thought the Cardinals weren't as bad as their record and were actually the hardest team you faced (in postseason), but in order to win it, you needed a interception for a touchdown, otherwise the game in my mind could have been over by the 3rd quarter (but it's not like it was luck or something you just outplayed on that play, which decided the game).

Fortunately you've already clinched next year's division.

NFL Season Predictions (includes playoffs)

Beck4Mercy — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 02:51:08 -0000

I won't put the records, because I'd have to do a lot of digging into schedules so I am just putting the order in which they will rank in each division and then who will make it into the playoffs (which would be based on record). However, I'll add my comments next to the team.

AFC EAST

New England Patriots (I could see them going as high as 14-2)

Miami Dolphins (see one of my fanposts, I have them at 11-5 right now)

Buffalo Bills

New York Jets (I see them in a tie with the Bills around 7-9, or maybe one game behind them)

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers (I could see the franchise turning slightly downhill within two years, if running doesn't improve)

Baltimore Ravens (not as good as last year, around 9-7)

Cleveland Browns (6-10 ish)

Cincinnati Bengals (just behind the Browns at 5-9 ish)

AFC SOUTH

Tennessee Titans (As long as they get a WR, they get the #1 or #2 seed)

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts (the Texans just simply beat them this year. WRs aren't too spectacular this year)

Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC WEST

San Diego Chargers (It happens again 9-7)

Denver Broncos (Slight mistake in firing Shanahan)

Oakland Raiders (Leader could literally be any one of these guys)

Kansas City Chiefs (even the Chiefs, who are even with the Raiders at the bottom)

______________

NFC EAST

Philadelphia Eagles (They were the best this year of this division)

New York Giants (WR has become a major issue)

Dallas Cowboys

Washington Redskins

NFC NORTH

Green Bay Packers (They get back to where they were two years ago)

Chicago Bears (NFC is weak and with a 10-6 ish record, they're in the playoffs)

Minnesota Vikings

Detroit Lions

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons (Continue rebuilding)

New Orleans Saints (Running still issues)

Carolina Panthers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals (I have them with the same record as the Falcons and Packers)

Seattle Seahawks

San Francisco 49ers (Singletary isn't that good)

St Louis Rams

PLAYOFFS

Miami @ San Diego, NY Giants @ Philadelphia

Houston @ Pittsburgh, Chicago @ Arizona

__________________________________

Miami @ New England, NY Giants @ Green Bay

Pittsburgh @ Tennessee, Arizona @ Atlanta

__________________________________

Miami @ Tennessee, Green Bay @ Atlanta

__________________________________

Green Bay @ Tennessee

Titans win.

2009 Regular Season Predictions (Playoff Edition)

Beck4Mercy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:32:58 -0000

Miami Dolphins 2009 Regular Season

Home:

W 27-13 Buffalo

W 20-17 New England

W 24-14 N.Y. Jets

W 27-17 Houston

L 21-24 Indianapolis

L 16-23 Pittsburgh

W 28-21 New Orleans

W 20-16 Tampa Bay

Away:

W 31-13 Buffalo

L 17-27 New England

W 17-10 N.Y. Jets

W 21-10 Jacksonville

L 13-27 Tennessee

W 23-21San Diego

L 24-31 Atlanta

W 24-14Carolina

My Perspective: So this would mean the Dolphins go 11-5 again, most likely into the playoffs unless they pull a Patriots. I do believe we would have beaten the Colts today, but next year I think, we have more positions to improve at than they do and therefore they won the game. It could change. Another swing game could be our home game against New England, who knows, they could be back to the Undefeated status and we would be no match, but I think we have caught up enough. Stay tuned for the next editions.

Who do we root for between the Patriots vs Jets?

Beck4Mercy — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:28:58 -0000

As good as we have played this year, we still must fight for our wild card/division spot. Some how, the Indianapolis Colts have come back and have the exact record as us. Baltimore is ahead of us tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fortunately the Broncos and Chargers only look like they are fighting for a division leader spot. Plus our division which is still in limbo, with the Patriots, Jets and Dolphins (and Bills, but really they are out).

Our (division and wild card I believe)) playoff spot is still in our hands.

So who do we want to win this Thursday between the Pats and Jets?

We already gave half of the tiebreaker to the Jets. But we hold the the tiebreaker with the Patriots currently.

If the Patriots win, we'll still be in third place in the division and at least 3rd place for the wild card and division (assuming we beat the raiders or else we have no chance).

If the Jets win, we'll be in 2nd place in the division, and possibly 2nd place for the wild card.

I still don't know what any of this means, but I conclude that the better choice for the wild card spot would be if the Jets win and for the divisional leader the Patriots win.

Countdown Clock

Beck4Mercy — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:07:10 -0000

Hey this is beck4mercy here. I have a question/comment/complaint/trying to get word count up,

Is the countdown clock right or is it off by 3 hours? This countdown clock I am talking about it found on the phinsider homepage on the left side. Can anyone confirm this or is it just because I live on the west coast or something?... It looks like it's 3 hours behind and it was last week, but I decided to point it out this week. Because the countdown is either counting down to the end of the game or it's set to a 4:00 et game or something.

Hopefully I am right otherwise I will sound not very smart.

Season Predictions

Beck4Mercy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:17:25 -0000

I just want to get mine on record... I didn't check if all of these records are possible (there may be 2 more losses than wins if you add them up, I did try to get rid of this but ran out of time)

AFC EAST
New England Patriots 14-2
New York Jets 8-8
Buffalo Bills 7-9
Miami Dolphins 7-9

AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis Colts 11-5
Jacksonville Jaguars 10-6
Tennessee Titans 10-6
Houston Texans 6-10

AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6
Cleveland Browns 8-8
Cincinnati Bengals 6-10
Baltimore Ravens 3-13

AFC WEST
San Diego Chargers 12-4
Denver Broncos 7-9
Oakland Raiders 6-10
Kansas City Chiefs 4-12

NFC

NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys 12-4
New York Giants 11-5
Philadelphia Eagles 10-6
Washington Redskins 7-9

NFC SOUTH
New Orleans Saints 10-6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7
Carolina Panthers 6-10
Atlanta Falcons 5-11

NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers 11-5
Minnesota Vikings 9-7
Detroit Lions 7-9
Chicago Bears 5-11

NFC WEST
Seattle Seahawks 10-6
Arizona Cardinals 7-9
San Fransisco 49ers 6-10
St. Louis Rams 5-11

AFC PLAYOFFS
BYE:
Patriots
San Diego
Wild Card Round:
Titans @ Colts
Jaguars @ Pitsburgh
Division Playoffs:
Jaguars @ New England
Colts @ San Diego
Conference Championship:
Colts @ New England

NFC Playoffs
BYE:
Dallas
Green Bay
Wild Card Round:
Eagles @ Seattle
New Orleans @ New York Giants
Divisionals:
Eagles @ Dallas
Giants @ Green Bay
Conference Championship:
Green Bay @ Dallas

Super Bowl XLIII:

New England vs Dallas (@ Tampa Bay)

New England wins

Season Outcome Prediction (scores of each game)

Beck4Mercy — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:42:43 -0000

I did this entire thing a month ago, before Favre (I was at some concert I had to attend for school, and I was bored). So the first game may be off, but I'll use that as an excuse for the first game predicting who wins.

1. W 27-24 vs NY Jets

2. L 14-24 @ Arizona

3. L 10-31 @ New England

5. L 13-28 vs San Diego

6. W 14-13 @ Houston

7. W 17-10 vs Baltimore

8. W 13-10 vs Buffalo

9. L 21-12 @ Denver

10. L 14-17 vs Seattle

11. W 24-19 vs Oakland

12. L 13-24 vs New England

13. W 24-13 @ St. Louis

14. L 20-21 @ Buffalo

15. L 24-28 vs San Francisco

16. W 17-10 @ Kansas City

17. L 10-20 @ NY Jets

Total the Dolphins go 7-9, PF 273 PA 303

Feel free to criticize/bash this.

Pennington/Run through QBs after Marino

Beck4Mercy — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:28:52 -0000

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3526489

Basically it says stuff we already know. Parcells loves Henne and likes Pennington and brought him in. McCown is getting paid less therefore Pennington gets the job. Then there is a cool, but sad run through of all the QBs past Marino.

First off I have no idea why we would drop Beck over McCown. McCown from my understanding will cost around $2 mill more than Beck for these next two years. Assuming Pennington is the season starter for the year... If we keep McCown we will again have a QB carousel with two qbs of close to equal (low) value and having them fight for the job during season. Splitting the starts 10 and 6. This hasn't worked out in the past as seen by the espn chart.

Another possibility would be for McCown (backup QB) to come off the bench whenever needed (Even start games if necessary). I would much rather have Henne doing that if it was between them two. Better yet have the option of either Beck or Henne and drop McCown.

The last and least likely (still likely) option is if Henne were to start most of the season. I don't think we need two veteran qbs as backups. I do see sense in this though. If Henne is for sure the guy, then both Pennington and McCown most definitely would play better off the bench than Beck. I still think we would manage with just one of these as a backup and Beck as a super back up just in case.

Maybe we can trade McCown for a 6th or 7th rounder, but otherwise we will have to release him.