Here is the schedule for the 2014 World Cup
June 12th- Brazil vs. Croatia – Group A; 4PM, ESPN: Ian Darke & Steve McManaman
June 13th- Mexico vs. Cameroon – Group A; 12PM, ESPN2: Fernando Palomo & Alejandro Moreno
June 13th- Spain vs. Netherlands – Group B; 3PM, ESPN: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
June 13th- Chile vs. Australia – Group B; 6PM, ESPN2: Daniel Mann & Kasey Keller
June 14th- Colombia vs. Greece – Group C; 12PM, ABC: Adrian Healy & Taylor Twellman
June 14th- Uruguay vs. Costa Rica – Group D; 3PM, ABC: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
June 14th- England vs. Italy – Group D; 6PM, ESPN: Ian Darke & Steve McManaman
June 14th- Cote d’Ivoire vs. Japan – Group C; 9PM, ESPN: Derek Rae & Efan Ekoku
June 15th- Switzerland vs. Ecuador – Group E; 12PM, ABC: Adrian Healy & Alejandro Moreno
June 15th- France vs. Honduras – Group E; 3PM, ABC: Daniel Mann & Kasey Keller
June 15th- Argentina vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina – Group F; 6PM, ESPN: Derek Rae & Roberto Martinez
June 16th- Germany vs. Portugal – Group G; 12PM, ESPN: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
June 16th- Iran vs. Nigeria – Group F; 3PM, ESPN: Derek Rae & Efan Ekoku
June 16th- Ghana vs. United States – Group G; 6PM, ESPN: Ian Darke & Taylor Twellman
June 17th- Belgium vs. Algeria – Group H; 12PM, ESPN: Adrian Healy & Efan Ekoku
June 17th- Brazil vs. Mexico – Group A; 3PM, ESPN: Fernando Palomo & Alejandro Moreno
June 17th- Russia vs. South Korea – Group H; 6PM, ESPN: Daniel Mann & Kasey Keller
June 18th- Australia vs. Netherlands – Group B; 12PM, ESPN: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
June 18th- Spain vs. Chile – Group B; 3PM, ESPN: Ian Darke & Steve McManaman
June 18th- Cameroon vs. Croatia – Group A; 6PM, ESPN: Derek Rae & Kasey Keller
June 19th- Columbia vs. Cote d’Ivoire – Group C; 12PM, ESPN: Adrian Healey & Alejandro Moreno
June 19th- Uruguay vs. England – Group D; 3PM, ESPN: Ian Darke & Steve McManaman
June 19th- Japan vs. Greece – Group C; 6PM, ESPN: Daniel Mann & Efan Ekoku
June 20th- Italy vs. Costa Rica – Group D; 12PM, ESPN: Derek Rae & Kasey Keller
June 20th- Switzerland vs. France – Group E; 3PM, ESPN: Daniel Mann & Efan Ekoku
June 20th- Honduras vs. Ecuador – Group F; 6PM, ESPN: Fernando Palomo & Alejandro Moreno
June 21st- Argentina vs. Iran – Group F; 12PM, ESPN: Adrian Healey & Roberto Martinez
June 21st- Germany vs. Ghana – Group G; 3PM, ESPN: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
June 21st- Nigeria vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina – Group F; 6PM, ESPN: Daniel Mann & Efan Ekoku
June 22nd- Belgium vs. Russia – Group H; 12PM, ABC: Derek Rae & Efan Ekoku
June 22nd- South Korea vs. Algeria – Group H; 3PM, ABC: Daniel Mann & Kasey Keller
June 22nd- United States vs. Portugal – Group G; 6PM, ESPN: Ian Darke & Taylor Twellman
June 23rd- Australia vs. Spain – Group B; 12PM, ESPN2: Daniel Mann & Kasey Keller
June 23rd- Netherlands vs. Chile – Group B; 12PM, ESPN: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
June 23rd- Cameroon vs. Brazil – Group A; 4PM, ESPN2: Adrian Healey & Efan Ekoku
June 23rd- Croatia vs. Mexico – Group A; 4PM, ESPN: Fernando Palomo & Alejandro Moreno
June 24th- Italy vs. Uruguay – Group D; 12PM, ESPN: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
June 24th- Costa Rica vs. England – Group D; 12PM, ESPN2: Ian Darke & Steve McManaman
June 24th- Japan vs. Colombia – Group C; 4PM, ESPN: Daniel Mann & Taylor Twellman
June 24th- Greece vs. Cote d’Ivoire – Group C; 4PM, ESPN2: Derek Rae & Kasey Keller
June 25th- Nigeria vs. Argentina – Group F; 12PM, ESPN: Derek Rae & Efan Ekoku
June 25th- Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Iran – Group F; 12PM, ESPN2: Daniel Mann & Craig Burley
June 25th- Honduras vs. Switzerland – Group E; 4PM, ESPN2: Fernando Palomo & Kasey Keller
June 25th- Ecuador vs. France – Group E; 4PM, ESPN: Adrian Healey & Alejandro Palomo
June 26th- United States vs. Germany – Group G; 12PM, ESPN: Ian Darke & Taylor Twellman
June 26th- Portugal vs. Ghana – Group G; 12PM, ESPN2: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
June 26th- South Korea vs. Belgium – Group H; 4PM, ESPN: Adrian Healey & Alejandro Moreno
June 26th- Algeria vs. Russia – Group H; 4PM, ESPN2: Derek Rae & Efan Ekoku
June 28th- Brazil vs. Chile – Round of 16; 12PM, ABC: Ian Darke & Steve McManaman
June 28th- Columbia vs. Uruguay – Round of 16; 4PM, ABC: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
June 29th- Netherlands vs. Mexico – Round of 16; 12PM, ESPN: Fernando Palomo & Alejandro Moreno
June 29th- Costa Rica vs. Greece – Round of 16; 4PM, ESPN: Daniel Mann & Kasey Keller
June 30th- France vs. Nigeria – Round of 16; 12PM, ESPN: Derek Rae & Efam Ekoku
June 30th- Germany vs. Algeria – Round of 16; 4PM, ESPN: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
July 1st- Argentina vs. Switzerland – Round of 16; 12PM, ESPN: Adrian Healy & Alejandro Moreno
July 1st- Belgium vs. United States – Round of 16; 4PM, ESPN: Ian Darke & Taylor Twellman
July 4th- France vs. Germany – Quarterfinal; 12PM, ESPN2: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
July 4th- Brazil vs. Columbia – Quarterfinal; 4PM, ESPN: Ian Darke & Steve McManaman
July 5th- Argentina vs. Belgium – Quarterfinal; 12PM, ABC: Derek Rae & Kasey Keller
July 5th- Netherlands vs. Costa Rica – Quarterfinal; 4PM, ESPN: Adrian Healey & Alejandro Moreno
July 8th- Germany vs. Brazil – Semifinal; 4PM, ESPN: Ian Darke & Steve McManaman
July 9th- Argentina vs. Netherlands – Semifinal; 4PM, ESPN: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
July 12th- Brazil vs. Netherlands – Third Place Match; 4PM, ESPN: Jon Champion & Stewart Robson
July 13th- Argentina vs. Germany – Final; 4PM, ABC: Ian Darke & Steve McManaman
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
2014 NBA Finals Prediction
Who could've asked for a better finals than last seasons finals? Well, guess what? We got a rematch! Here is my take on this years rematch.
(W1) San Antonio Spurs vs (E2) Miami Heat: Two point zero between these teams for the second year in a row features the leagues best player in LeBron James and the Miami Heat versus the leagues best team in the San Antonio Spurs featuring three hall of fame players in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. One key for this rematch for both teams is three-point shooting. San Antonio has the likes of Marco Belinelli and Danny Green who can both shoot the three ball and have an impact and potentially swing a game. Miami has the likes of Shane Battier and Ray Allen (don't forget the Ray Corner, too) who can shoot the three ball as well. The key matchup in this series is LeBron James vs Kawhi Leonard without a doubt. Another interesting matchup is Chris Bosh vs Tim Duncan and I'm curious to see if Dwayne Wade and Tony Parker will match up as well considering they are both guards expect one runs the point and the other is on the wing. On to the prediction, I believe this can potentially top last years finals considering how close these teams really are. There maybe a blowout or two but expect most of the games to be close. Give me the team that's clearly looking for revenge. Spurs in 7.
(W1) San Antonio Spurs vs (E2) Miami Heat: Two point zero between these teams for the second year in a row features the leagues best player in LeBron James and the Miami Heat versus the leagues best team in the San Antonio Spurs featuring three hall of fame players in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. One key for this rematch for both teams is three-point shooting. San Antonio has the likes of Marco Belinelli and Danny Green who can both shoot the three ball and have an impact and potentially swing a game. Miami has the likes of Shane Battier and Ray Allen (don't forget the Ray Corner, too) who can shoot the three ball as well. The key matchup in this series is LeBron James vs Kawhi Leonard without a doubt. Another interesting matchup is Chris Bosh vs Tim Duncan and I'm curious to see if Dwayne Wade and Tony Parker will match up as well considering they are both guards expect one runs the point and the other is on the wing. On to the prediction, I believe this can potentially top last years finals considering how close these teams really are. There maybe a blowout or two but expect most of the games to be close. Give me the team that's clearly looking for revenge. Spurs in 7.
2014 Stanley Cup Final Prediction
East Coast versus West Coast. Broadway versus Hollywood. New York versus Los Angeles. Rangers versus Kings. Say what you want. What a final we got this year! The country's two biggest markets are facing each other for a championship for the first time in a long time. Here is a breakdown and my prediction for the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
(M2) New York Rangers vs (P3) Los Angeles Kings: This is one of the most anticipating match ups we've seen in some time considering its New York and Los Angeles. To the match up now. Goaltending is dead even with the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist and the Kings' Jonathan Quick. Defensively the Kings get a slight edge over the Rangers who have some underrated defenseman such as Ryan McDonaugh and Dan Girardi. What gives the Kings the defensive edge is that they have the leagues best defenseman in Drew Doughty. Offensively is pretty much even as well and both teams run four lines. The Rangers have the offensive weapons in Rick Nash and Derek Stepan the Kings have the offensive weapons in Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik. By the way, the two guys I mentioned offensively for the Kings in Kopitar and Gaborik have been lights out these playoffs. Special teams are equal for both the Rangers and the Kings as well, even though the Rangers had that power play drought against the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. To the prediction, tough call for two outstanding teams who are probably the best two teams in the league right now, but I'm going with the team who's goalie has been the better one in the postseason and is the favorite for the Conn Smythe trophy at this point. Rangers in 6.
(M2) New York Rangers vs (P3) Los Angeles Kings: This is one of the most anticipating match ups we've seen in some time considering its New York and Los Angeles. To the match up now. Goaltending is dead even with the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist and the Kings' Jonathan Quick. Defensively the Kings get a slight edge over the Rangers who have some underrated defenseman such as Ryan McDonaugh and Dan Girardi. What gives the Kings the defensive edge is that they have the leagues best defenseman in Drew Doughty. Offensively is pretty much even as well and both teams run four lines. The Rangers have the offensive weapons in Rick Nash and Derek Stepan the Kings have the offensive weapons in Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik. By the way, the two guys I mentioned offensively for the Kings in Kopitar and Gaborik have been lights out these playoffs. Special teams are equal for both the Rangers and the Kings as well, even though the Rangers had that power play drought against the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. To the prediction, tough call for two outstanding teams who are probably the best two teams in the league right now, but I'm going with the team who's goalie has been the better one in the postseason and is the favorite for the Conn Smythe trophy at this point. Rangers in 6.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
2014 WNBA National TV Schedule
Here is the National TV schedule for the 2014 WNBA season.
May 17th- Sky vs Liberty- 8PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
May 24th- Dream vs Sky- 8PM; NBATV:
May 26th- Lynx vs Sky- 3:30PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
May 30th- Sun vs Sky- 8:30PM; NBATV:
June 3rd- Sparks vs Dream- 7PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward, Carolyn Peck, LaChina Robinson
June 6th- Lynx vs Storm- 10PM; NBATV:
June 15th- Mercury vs Lynx- 1PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
June 18th- Mystic vs Dream- 12PM; NBATV:
June 22nd- Shock vs Sky- 1PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
June 22nd- Stars vs Sparks- 3:30PM; NBATV:
June 22nd- Fever vs Lynx- 7PM; NBATV:
June 22nd- Mystic vs Storm- 9PM; NBATV:
June 24th- Storm vs Sparks- 3:30PM; NBATV:
June 29th- Sun vs Liberty- 3PM; NBATV:
June 29th- Dream vs Fever- 6PM; NBATV:
July 1st- Fever vs Dream- 8PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 1st- Sky vs Sparks- 10PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 6th- Lynx vs Liberty- 2PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 6th- Mercury vs Sparks- 4PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 8th- Sun vs Dream- 7PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 8th- Sparks vs Lynx- 9PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 13th- Storm vs Lynx- 3PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 15th- Sparks vs Fever- 8PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 15th- Mystics vs Mercury- 10PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 19th- WNBA All-Star Game- 3PM; ESPN: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 22nd- Fever vs Sky- 8PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 22nd- Mercury vs Storm- 10PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 29th- Sky vs Silver Stars- 8PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 29th- Sparks vs Mercury- 10PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
August 7th- Sky vs Lynx- 8PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
May 17th- Sky vs Liberty- 8PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
May 24th- Dream vs Sky- 8PM; NBATV:
May 26th- Lynx vs Sky- 3:30PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
May 30th- Sun vs Sky- 8:30PM; NBATV:
June 3rd- Sparks vs Dream- 7PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward, Carolyn Peck, LaChina Robinson
June 6th- Lynx vs Storm- 10PM; NBATV:
June 15th- Mercury vs Lynx- 1PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
June 18th- Mystic vs Dream- 12PM; NBATV:
June 22nd- Shock vs Sky- 1PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
June 22nd- Stars vs Sparks- 3:30PM; NBATV:
June 22nd- Fever vs Lynx- 7PM; NBATV:
June 22nd- Mystic vs Storm- 9PM; NBATV:
June 24th- Storm vs Sparks- 3:30PM; NBATV:
June 29th- Sun vs Liberty- 3PM; NBATV:
June 29th- Dream vs Fever- 6PM; NBATV:
July 1st- Fever vs Dream- 8PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 1st- Sky vs Sparks- 10PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 6th- Lynx vs Liberty- 2PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 6th- Mercury vs Sparks- 4PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 8th- Sun vs Dream- 7PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 8th- Sparks vs Lynx- 9PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 13th- Storm vs Lynx- 3PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 15th- Sparks vs Fever- 8PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 15th- Mystics vs Mercury- 10PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 19th- WNBA All-Star Game- 3PM; ESPN: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 22nd- Fever vs Sky- 8PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
July 22nd- Mercury vs Storm- 10PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 29th- Sky vs Silver Stars- 8PM; ESPN2: Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck
July 29th- Sparks vs Mercury- 10PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
August 7th- Sky vs Lynx- 8PM; ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals Predictions
The Stanley Cup Playoffs have been very fun and entertaining to say the least. We are down to the final four and here are my predictions on who will go to the Stanley Cup finals.
Eastern Conference
(3) Montreal Canadiens vs (2) New York Rangers: This original six matchup is pretty much a coin toss since these teams are pretty much even. Montreal pretty much surprised everybody by upsetting the Boston Bruins in seven games. The Rangers on the other hand, rallied back from a 3-1 series hole to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games. Part of the Rangers rally was because the team rallied around forward Martin St. Louis in the wake of his mother passing away. The goalie matchup between Montreal net minder Carey Price and Rangers net minder Henrik Lundqvist will be pretty intriguing considering how well they both have been playing. In order for Montreal to win the series, Price must outplay Lundqvist and if the Rangers want to win the series, the power play has to be decent and forwards such as Derek Stepan and Rick Nash need to be scoring. Again tough call, but give me the team with the slightly better goaltender, which is Lundqvist. Rangers in 6.
Western Conference
(3) Chicago Blackhawks vs (3) Los Angeles Kings: A Western Conference finals rematch is pretty much what people had expected to see when this time came along. These two teams going at it is very fun to watch. Chicago beat the Minnesota Wild in six games to get back to the conference finals and Los Angeles rallied from a 3-2 series hole to beat the Anaheim Ducks in seven games to reach the conference finals for a third straight year. Chicago is the slightly better offensive team but Los Angeles has the slightly better goaltender in Jonathan Quick. Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford is underrated, but so is the Los Angeles offense. If Chicago wants to return to the Stanley Cup Finals, forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews need to continue to score and and for Los Angeles, Quick needs to be dominant and offensive players such as Mike Richards and Marion Gaborik need to keep scoring. This incredible matchup is bound to go to distance. Give me the reigning champs to return to the finals to set up an intriguing original six matchup. Blackhawks in 7.
Eastern Conference
(3) Montreal Canadiens vs (2) New York Rangers: This original six matchup is pretty much a coin toss since these teams are pretty much even. Montreal pretty much surprised everybody by upsetting the Boston Bruins in seven games. The Rangers on the other hand, rallied back from a 3-1 series hole to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games. Part of the Rangers rally was because the team rallied around forward Martin St. Louis in the wake of his mother passing away. The goalie matchup between Montreal net minder Carey Price and Rangers net minder Henrik Lundqvist will be pretty intriguing considering how well they both have been playing. In order for Montreal to win the series, Price must outplay Lundqvist and if the Rangers want to win the series, the power play has to be decent and forwards such as Derek Stepan and Rick Nash need to be scoring. Again tough call, but give me the team with the slightly better goaltender, which is Lundqvist. Rangers in 6.
Western Conference
(3) Chicago Blackhawks vs (3) Los Angeles Kings: A Western Conference finals rematch is pretty much what people had expected to see when this time came along. These two teams going at it is very fun to watch. Chicago beat the Minnesota Wild in six games to get back to the conference finals and Los Angeles rallied from a 3-2 series hole to beat the Anaheim Ducks in seven games to reach the conference finals for a third straight year. Chicago is the slightly better offensive team but Los Angeles has the slightly better goaltender in Jonathan Quick. Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford is underrated, but so is the Los Angeles offense. If Chicago wants to return to the Stanley Cup Finals, forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews need to continue to score and and for Los Angeles, Quick needs to be dominant and offensive players such as Mike Richards and Marion Gaborik need to keep scoring. This incredible matchup is bound to go to distance. Give me the reigning champs to return to the finals to set up an intriguing original six matchup. Blackhawks in 7.
Friday, May 16, 2014
2014 NBA Playoffs Conference Finals Predictions
We are finally at the conference finals after a great first two rounds. These conference final match ups are pretty intriguing and we shall see what happens. Onto the predictions.
Eastern Conference Finals
(1) Indiana Pacers vs (2) Miami Heat: A rematch of last years eastern conference is what was expected back in November and here we are. Despite all turmoil surrounding Indiana within the past two months, they are in the conference finals, which is where they wanted to be. It's just a matter of which Pacer team shows up in this series. Miami on the other hand, has been beatable in their last few games against the Brooklyn Nets. The reason why Miami was able to win games two, four, and five against Brooklyn was because Brooklyn could not make clutch baskets down the stretch in crunch time and Miami had made their clutch baskets at the right time (Ray Allen in particular). I do have concerns with both teams. Indiana it's whether they are "back" or if their slump has been a mirage. Miami it's obviously whether they can stay healthy (Dwayne Wade, Allen, Shane Battier in particular). I am also curious to see who the two head coaches Frank Vogel for Indiana and Erik Spoelstra for Miami do in terms of match ups and what players they'll use to come off the bench to have an impact on the team. When it's all set and done, the two-time defending champion Heat will get the job done because I am not sold whether Indiana is really back to being who they once were and Miami has the worlds greatest basketball player and sports figure on their team. Heat in 6.
Western Conference Finals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (2) Oklahoma City Thunder: This matchup is what many people had seen coming back in November as well. A rematch of the 2012 Western Conference Finals when Oklahoma City rallied back from a 2-0 series whole to win in six games. There are so many intriguing story lines in this series too. This series can define whether Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook can get the job done once again without home court advantage and more importantly, the future of the big three in San Antonio (Tim Duncan in particular). San Antonio has been nothing short of dominant in these playoffs from game seven in the first round against the Dallas Mavericks and throughout last round against the Portland Trail Blazers. During Oklahoma City's playoff run, if it weren't for referees giving them their calls, their opponents making mistakes, and miracle plays from Durant and Westbrook, they could've very well been ousted against either the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round or the Los Angeles Clippers last round. This series is absolutely bound to go to distance for sure. I just do not see Oklahoma City making these miracle plays again by Durant and Westbrook and this dominant San Antonio team making mistakes down the stretch. Bring it on finals rematch! Spurs in 7.
Eastern Conference Finals
(1) Indiana Pacers vs (2) Miami Heat: A rematch of last years eastern conference is what was expected back in November and here we are. Despite all turmoil surrounding Indiana within the past two months, they are in the conference finals, which is where they wanted to be. It's just a matter of which Pacer team shows up in this series. Miami on the other hand, has been beatable in their last few games against the Brooklyn Nets. The reason why Miami was able to win games two, four, and five against Brooklyn was because Brooklyn could not make clutch baskets down the stretch in crunch time and Miami had made their clutch baskets at the right time (Ray Allen in particular). I do have concerns with both teams. Indiana it's whether they are "back" or if their slump has been a mirage. Miami it's obviously whether they can stay healthy (Dwayne Wade, Allen, Shane Battier in particular). I am also curious to see who the two head coaches Frank Vogel for Indiana and Erik Spoelstra for Miami do in terms of match ups and what players they'll use to come off the bench to have an impact on the team. When it's all set and done, the two-time defending champion Heat will get the job done because I am not sold whether Indiana is really back to being who they once were and Miami has the worlds greatest basketball player and sports figure on their team. Heat in 6.
Western Conference Finals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (2) Oklahoma City Thunder: This matchup is what many people had seen coming back in November as well. A rematch of the 2012 Western Conference Finals when Oklahoma City rallied back from a 2-0 series whole to win in six games. There are so many intriguing story lines in this series too. This series can define whether Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook can get the job done once again without home court advantage and more importantly, the future of the big three in San Antonio (Tim Duncan in particular). San Antonio has been nothing short of dominant in these playoffs from game seven in the first round against the Dallas Mavericks and throughout last round against the Portland Trail Blazers. During Oklahoma City's playoff run, if it weren't for referees giving them their calls, their opponents making mistakes, and miracle plays from Durant and Westbrook, they could've very well been ousted against either the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round or the Los Angeles Clippers last round. This series is absolutely bound to go to distance for sure. I just do not see Oklahoma City making these miracle plays again by Durant and Westbrook and this dominant San Antonio team making mistakes down the stretch. Bring it on finals rematch! Spurs in 7.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Grading every NFL teams 2014 draft
Here are my grades for how every NFL team did in this years draft.
Buffalo Bills: Grade: C+: Analysis: I absolutely love how Buffalo traded with Cleveland to grab wide receiver Sammy Watkins at four. Watkins and new acquisition wide out Mike Williams will make a great tandem in Buffalo with quarterback EJ Manuel. Buffalo upgraded their offensive line by grabbing guard Cyril Richardson and tackle Seantrel Henderson which are decent picks. Buffalo did not draft a tight end or a safety to replace Jarius Byrd, which they had to do. As I said, the Watkins pick was excellent, but drafting a safety would boost this grade up.
Miami Dolphins: Grade: B: Analysis: Miami needed to address their offensive line and they did so by drafting tackles Ja'Wuan James and Billy Turner. They also gave quarterback Ryan Tannehill some more weapons in receivers Jarvis Landry, Matt Hazel, and tight end Arthur Lynch. They also upgraded their defensive backfield by drafting cornerback Walt Aikens. Miami did a decent job, but an extra offensive lineman would've been nice.
New England Patriots: Grade: B: Analysis: New England addressed most of its needs in this draft. First round selection Dominique Easley, the defensive tackle was a decent one. We may have witnessed the drafting of future hall of fame quarterback Tom Brady's successor in quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. New England also bolstered their offensive line in drafting center Bryan Stork, guard Jon Halapio, and tackle Cameron Fleming. Running back James White and receiver Jeremy Gallon are decent picks, but New England should've drafted a receiver in one of the early rounds and drafted the potential Brady successor later on.
New York Jets: Grade: B: Analysis: The Jets did a quite decent job on this draft. I understand where general manager John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan were going with their first round pick in safety Calvin Pryor. Ryan loves going defense and Idzik wants to use the Seattle Seahawks blueprint with picks like these. The Jets stocked up their offense by drafting receivers Jalen Saunders, Shaquelle Evans, Quincey Enunwa, and tight end Jace Amaro. They also drafted offensive lineman Dakota Dozier to help the offensive line and cornerback Dexter McDougle to bolster the defensive backfield. The Jets should've drafted a receiver in the first round since there were so many still on the board, but like I said, I know what the Jets wanted to do there.
Baltimore Ravens: Grade: B+: Analysis: Baltimore's draft was underrated. They addressed their offensive and defensive lines by drafting defensive tackles Timmy Jernigan, Brent Urban, and offensive guard John Urschel. Baltimore also gave quarterback Joe Flacco some new weapons in wide receiver Michael Campanaro and tight end Crockett Gilmore. First round pick linebacker CJ Mosley was a wise choice, so he can play alongside linebacker Arthur Brown. Like some other contending teams, Baltimore could've picked up a receiver in the first round, but as I said, great draft with wise picks.
Cincinnati Bengals: Grade: B+: Analysis: Cincinnati had a pretty decent draft to say the least. Their first round pick was the defensive steal of the draft in cornerback Darqueze Dennard. They improved their defensive front in bringing in defensive end Will Clarke. An intriguing move was drafting quarterback AJ McCarron because current quarterback Andy Dalton has not proved himself in postseason play, despite all the talent they have at other positions on both sides of the ball. Overall, a decent draft for Cincinnati.
Cleveland Browns: Grade: C-: Analysis: This grade would be much higher if it weren't for the Josh Gordon suspension. The suspension was announced Friday and they did not draft a wide receiver at all. On the upside, Cleveland drafted a potential franchise quarterback in Johnny Manziel. There were a few cornerbacks in the draft that are better than Justin Gilbert. If it weren't for Manziel, Cleveland would've failed this draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Grade: A-: Analysis: Pittsburgh had a great draft. They decided to go younger on the defensive side by drafting linebackers Ryan Shazier and Jordan Zumwalt, defensive ends Stephon Tuitt and Dan McCullers, and cornerback Shaquille Richardson. Pittsburgh got quarterback Ben Rothlisberger two new weapons in wide out Martavis Bryant, running back Dri Archer, and tight end Rob Blanchflower. Like Baltimore, Pittsburgh's draft is being overlooked.
Houston Texans: Grade: A-: Analysis: Houston definitely made the correct choice by taking the drafts best player in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. They may have found their future franchise quarterback in Tom Savage. Two other wise picks were running back Alfred Blue to back up Arian Foster and tight end CJ Fiedorowicz. Houston probably should've drafted a quarterback in the second round, but we will see what happens in the near future.
Indianapolis Colts: Grade: C-: Analysis: Indianapolis really didn't have a good draft at all. Thanks in to large part of trading their first round pick in the Trent Richardson trade, which has been nothing short of a disaster so far. On the upside, they bolstered their offensive line by drafting tackles Jack Mewhort and Ulrick Johnson. Indianapolis did give Andrew Luck yet another weapon in drafting wide receiver Donte Moncrief. Overall, not the best draft for a pre annual contender like Indianapolis.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Grade: A: Analysis: Many people are questioning their first round pick in quarterback Blake Bortles. Some thought they should've gone with Manziel, Watkins, or Khalil Mack. Bortles is one of those hit or miss guys but he does have the highest ceiling as quarterbacks in this draft. They probably got a steal in the second round by drafting wide receiver Marquis Lee, who should have been drafted in round one. Jacksonville had also drafted linebacker Telvin Smith, which was a wise one. Bortles is a solid pick, like I said hit or miss and Jacksonville sure did do well in this years draft.
Tennessee Titans: B+: Analysis: Tennessee did a nice job in this draft. They drafted their likely future franchise quarterback in Zach Mettenberger, since the team declined his option on his current contract. They also drafted running back Bishop Sankey to replace Chris Johnson. Tennessee also bolstered their offensive line in drafting tackle Taylor Lewan in the first round. Their defense was
also bolstered by drafting linebacker Avery Williamson to the linebacking core and safety Marqueston Huff to the secondary. Overall, a great job in the draft for a team that is in rebuilding mode.
Denver Broncos: B-: Analysis: Denver did a decent job in this draft. They did a great job in drafting cornerback Bradley Roby to replace Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and wide receiver Cody Latimer to replace Eric Decker's production along with newcomer Emmaunel Sanders. Denver also drafted linebacker Lamin Barrow to pair up with Von Miller. They did improve their offensive line by drafting tackle Michael Schofield, but they should've bolstered their defensive line as well.
Kansas City Chiefs: D: Analysis: It is very bizarre about this grade because Andy Reid usually drafted well in Philadelphia and the Kansas City's front office usually drafted very well too. Kansas City really did not address much of their needs. Since quarterback Alex Smith has one year left on his contract, Kansas City drafted quarterback Aaron Murray in the draft. The two positions they needed to address were wide receiver and safety. On the upside, they drafted running back De'Anthony Thomas to back up Jamaal Charles. Overall, not a good draft at all for Kansas City.
Oakland Raiders: B: Analysis: I think Oakland did a decent job this draft. Fifth overall they drafted outside linebacker Khalil Mack, who was one of the best four players in this draft. The Derek Carr selection was pretty wise considering that they acquired veteran quarterback Matt Schaub in the offseason. They bolstered their secondary by drafting cornerbacks Keith McGill and Travis Carrie. The defensive line was also improved by drafting tackle Justin Ellis and defensive end Shelby Harris. The grade would've been higher if Oakland had drafted a wide receiver, which is a clear need.
San Diego Chargers: B+: Analysis: San Diego's draft was great to say the least. Their first round pick bolstered their secondary in cornerback Jason Verrett. They also gave quarterback Philip Rivers protection by drafting offensive guard Chris Watt. Their defensive line got bolstered by drafting nose tackle Ryan Carrethers. They also gave Rivers new offensive weapons in running back Marion Grice and wide receiver Tevin Reese. Overall, a great and pretty overlooked draft to say the least.
Dallas Cowboys: B: Analysis: The draft's most dramatic moment was obviously when Dallas was on the clock and Johnny Manziel was still on the board. Cowboys everything Jerry Jones did the right thing by not pulling the trigger and drafting Manziel and going with a need in offensive tackle Zach Martin. Dallas bolstered their defensive front by drafting tackle Ken Bishop and defensive ends Demarcus Lawrence and Ben Gardner. Their secondary was also bolstered by drafting safety Ahmad Dixon. Jones definitely went the right route by going mostly defense in the draft.
New York Giants: B: Analysis: The Giants draft was very good to say the least. First round pick wide out Odel Beckham Jr was an awesome pick and will be a fun player to watch along side Victor Cruz, replacing Hakeem Nicks. The offensive line was upgraded by drafting center Weston Richburg and same with the defensive line in drafting tackle Jay Bromley. Another potential steal of this draft is running back Andre Williams. Overall, the Giants should have drafted at least one more offensive lineman, but other than that, a decent draft.
Philadelphia Eagles: C: Analysis: Philadelphia had an average draft. They made a questionable first round draft choice in outside linebacker Marcus Smith. They gave quarterback Nick Foles some receiving help in drafting receivers Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff to replace DeSean Jackson's production. Their secondary was addressed by drafting cornerback Jaylen Watkins. Philadelphia could've used a pick on an inside linebacker as well.
Washington Redskins: C: Analysis: What really killed Washington in this draft was the fact that St Louis had their second overall pick in the draft because of the 2012 draft trade for quarterback Robert Griffin III. On the upside, their secondary was bolstered by drafting cornerback Bashaud Breeland. They gave RG3 protection by drafting offensive tackle Morgan Moses and guard Spencer Long. One thing that needed to be addressed but wasn't was their defensive front.
Chicago Bears: B-: Analysis: Chicago went defense with their first round pick in cornerback Kyle Fuller, which was the correct way to go to say the least. Their defensive front got bolstered by drafting tackles Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton. The one area that they should've took a pick with that they did not was linebacker. Other than that, not a bad draft for Chicago.
Detroit Lions: C: Analysis: Detroit's first round draft selection of tight end Eric Ebron was questionable considering that they needed a wide receiver, which they did draft in TJ Jones. Theie defensive backfield was bolstered by drafting cornerback Nevin Lawson. Detroit drafted center Travis Swanson to bolster the offensive line, but they needed a guard or a tackle on that end.
Green Bay Packers: B+: Analysis: Green Bay may have gotten a steal with first round draft selection in safety Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, who should've been drafted earlier. They drafted another weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers in tight end Richard Rodgers. They also drafted linebacker Carl Bradford to play alongside Clay Matthews. What costs Green Bay an "A" was that they didn't draft protection for Rodgers.
Minnesota Vikings: D+: Analysis: Minnesota did not address all their needs. They drafted quarterback Teddy Bridgewater by trading back into round one which was a solid move. Other first round draft pick linebacker Anthony Barr was drafted too high. They did not address their needs of wide receiver and defensive backs. On the upside, they drafted defensive end Scott Chrichton to bolster the defensive line. The Bridgewater pick saved Minnesota from a failing grade.
Atlanta Falcons: B: Analysis: Atlanta did a decent job to say the least. They addressed the offensive line by drafting tackle Jake Matthews sixth overall. They bolstered the secondary by drafting free safety Dezmen Southward. One area Atlanta did not address was the defensive front but overall, not a bad draft.
Carolina Panthers: C+: Analysis: Carolina's draft was unimpressive. They addressed their wide receiver need in the first round by drafting Kelvin Benjamin. They also gave quarterback Cam Newton protection by drafting guard Trai Turner. Carolina addressed their secondary by drafting safety Tre Boston and cornerback Bene Benwickere. Carolina should have drafted another receiver and a tight end as well.
New Orleans Saints: B+: Analysis: New Orleans did a great job by trading up to draft wide receiver Brandin Cooks, which makes their offense more dangerous. They also bolstered their linebacking core by drafting outside linebacker Ronald Powell and inside linebacker Khairi Fortt. Their secondary was also addressed by drafting cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste and safety Vinny Sunseri. One thing New Orleans did not bolster was their offensive line but other than that, great draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B: Analysis: Tampa Bay did a great job with their first round draft choice in wide receiver Mike Evans. They also bolstered the offensive line by drafting guard Kadeem Edwards and tackle Kevin Pamphile. Tampa Bay also made great selections in tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and running back Charles Simms to bolster the offense. The one area Tampa Bay did not bolster was their defensive line.
Arizona Cardinals: C+: Analysis: Arizona had a pretty average draft to say the least. They did well in drafting safety Deone Bucannon in the first round. They addressed their tight end need in drafting Troy Niklas in the second round. Arizona also drafted quarterback Carson Palmer's possible successor in Logan Thomas. Arizona did not address their need in their linebacking core and they should have drafted the potential Palmer successor in the second or third round.
St. Louis Rams: A-: Analysis: St. Louis hit the ball out the park with their first round picks in offensive tackle Greg Robinson and defensive tackle Aaron Donald. They also bolstered the secondary by drafting cornerback LaMarcus Joyner and safety Mason Alexander. St. Louis also inspired the world and made history by drafting defensive end Michael Sam, who publicly came out as gay. It would've been nice if St. Louis drafted an extra wide receiver.
San Francisco 49ers: B-: Analysis: San Francisco did well with their first round draft selection in safety Jimmie Ward to bolster their secondary and also drafted cornerback Dontae Johnson. They also drafted a weapon for quarterback Colin Kaepernick in wide receiver Bruce Ellington, who could be a steal. San Francisco also bolstered their linebacking core by drafting linebacker Chris Borland. San Francisco should have drafted another receiver and even a tight end to back up Vernon Davis.
Seattle Seahawks: C+: Analysis: What hurt Seattle in this draft was trading out of the first round. They gave quarterback Russell Wilson protection by drafting offensive tackle Justin Britt and they gave Wilson more weapons by drafting wide receivers Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood. Seattle also bolstered their defensive line by drafting defensive end Cassius Marsh. Seattle's grade would've been higher if they didn't trade out of the first round and pick a better wide receiver such as Marquis Lee.
Buffalo Bills: Grade: C+: Analysis: I absolutely love how Buffalo traded with Cleveland to grab wide receiver Sammy Watkins at four. Watkins and new acquisition wide out Mike Williams will make a great tandem in Buffalo with quarterback EJ Manuel. Buffalo upgraded their offensive line by grabbing guard Cyril Richardson and tackle Seantrel Henderson which are decent picks. Buffalo did not draft a tight end or a safety to replace Jarius Byrd, which they had to do. As I said, the Watkins pick was excellent, but drafting a safety would boost this grade up.
Miami Dolphins: Grade: B: Analysis: Miami needed to address their offensive line and they did so by drafting tackles Ja'Wuan James and Billy Turner. They also gave quarterback Ryan Tannehill some more weapons in receivers Jarvis Landry, Matt Hazel, and tight end Arthur Lynch. They also upgraded their defensive backfield by drafting cornerback Walt Aikens. Miami did a decent job, but an extra offensive lineman would've been nice.
New England Patriots: Grade: B: Analysis: New England addressed most of its needs in this draft. First round selection Dominique Easley, the defensive tackle was a decent one. We may have witnessed the drafting of future hall of fame quarterback Tom Brady's successor in quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. New England also bolstered their offensive line in drafting center Bryan Stork, guard Jon Halapio, and tackle Cameron Fleming. Running back James White and receiver Jeremy Gallon are decent picks, but New England should've drafted a receiver in one of the early rounds and drafted the potential Brady successor later on.
New York Jets: Grade: B: Analysis: The Jets did a quite decent job on this draft. I understand where general manager John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan were going with their first round pick in safety Calvin Pryor. Ryan loves going defense and Idzik wants to use the Seattle Seahawks blueprint with picks like these. The Jets stocked up their offense by drafting receivers Jalen Saunders, Shaquelle Evans, Quincey Enunwa, and tight end Jace Amaro. They also drafted offensive lineman Dakota Dozier to help the offensive line and cornerback Dexter McDougle to bolster the defensive backfield. The Jets should've drafted a receiver in the first round since there were so many still on the board, but like I said, I know what the Jets wanted to do there.
Baltimore Ravens: Grade: B+: Analysis: Baltimore's draft was underrated. They addressed their offensive and defensive lines by drafting defensive tackles Timmy Jernigan, Brent Urban, and offensive guard John Urschel. Baltimore also gave quarterback Joe Flacco some new weapons in wide receiver Michael Campanaro and tight end Crockett Gilmore. First round pick linebacker CJ Mosley was a wise choice, so he can play alongside linebacker Arthur Brown. Like some other contending teams, Baltimore could've picked up a receiver in the first round, but as I said, great draft with wise picks.
Cincinnati Bengals: Grade: B+: Analysis: Cincinnati had a pretty decent draft to say the least. Their first round pick was the defensive steal of the draft in cornerback Darqueze Dennard. They improved their defensive front in bringing in defensive end Will Clarke. An intriguing move was drafting quarterback AJ McCarron because current quarterback Andy Dalton has not proved himself in postseason play, despite all the talent they have at other positions on both sides of the ball. Overall, a decent draft for Cincinnati.
Cleveland Browns: Grade: C-: Analysis: This grade would be much higher if it weren't for the Josh Gordon suspension. The suspension was announced Friday and they did not draft a wide receiver at all. On the upside, Cleveland drafted a potential franchise quarterback in Johnny Manziel. There were a few cornerbacks in the draft that are better than Justin Gilbert. If it weren't for Manziel, Cleveland would've failed this draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Grade: A-: Analysis: Pittsburgh had a great draft. They decided to go younger on the defensive side by drafting linebackers Ryan Shazier and Jordan Zumwalt, defensive ends Stephon Tuitt and Dan McCullers, and cornerback Shaquille Richardson. Pittsburgh got quarterback Ben Rothlisberger two new weapons in wide out Martavis Bryant, running back Dri Archer, and tight end Rob Blanchflower. Like Baltimore, Pittsburgh's draft is being overlooked.
Houston Texans: Grade: A-: Analysis: Houston definitely made the correct choice by taking the drafts best player in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. They may have found their future franchise quarterback in Tom Savage. Two other wise picks were running back Alfred Blue to back up Arian Foster and tight end CJ Fiedorowicz. Houston probably should've drafted a quarterback in the second round, but we will see what happens in the near future.
Indianapolis Colts: Grade: C-: Analysis: Indianapolis really didn't have a good draft at all. Thanks in to large part of trading their first round pick in the Trent Richardson trade, which has been nothing short of a disaster so far. On the upside, they bolstered their offensive line by drafting tackles Jack Mewhort and Ulrick Johnson. Indianapolis did give Andrew Luck yet another weapon in drafting wide receiver Donte Moncrief. Overall, not the best draft for a pre annual contender like Indianapolis.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Grade: A: Analysis: Many people are questioning their first round pick in quarterback Blake Bortles. Some thought they should've gone with Manziel, Watkins, or Khalil Mack. Bortles is one of those hit or miss guys but he does have the highest ceiling as quarterbacks in this draft. They probably got a steal in the second round by drafting wide receiver Marquis Lee, who should have been drafted in round one. Jacksonville had also drafted linebacker Telvin Smith, which was a wise one. Bortles is a solid pick, like I said hit or miss and Jacksonville sure did do well in this years draft.
Tennessee Titans: B+: Analysis: Tennessee did a nice job in this draft. They drafted their likely future franchise quarterback in Zach Mettenberger, since the team declined his option on his current contract. They also drafted running back Bishop Sankey to replace Chris Johnson. Tennessee also bolstered their offensive line in drafting tackle Taylor Lewan in the first round. Their defense was
also bolstered by drafting linebacker Avery Williamson to the linebacking core and safety Marqueston Huff to the secondary. Overall, a great job in the draft for a team that is in rebuilding mode.
Denver Broncos: B-: Analysis: Denver did a decent job in this draft. They did a great job in drafting cornerback Bradley Roby to replace Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and wide receiver Cody Latimer to replace Eric Decker's production along with newcomer Emmaunel Sanders. Denver also drafted linebacker Lamin Barrow to pair up with Von Miller. They did improve their offensive line by drafting tackle Michael Schofield, but they should've bolstered their defensive line as well.
Kansas City Chiefs: D: Analysis: It is very bizarre about this grade because Andy Reid usually drafted well in Philadelphia and the Kansas City's front office usually drafted very well too. Kansas City really did not address much of their needs. Since quarterback Alex Smith has one year left on his contract, Kansas City drafted quarterback Aaron Murray in the draft. The two positions they needed to address were wide receiver and safety. On the upside, they drafted running back De'Anthony Thomas to back up Jamaal Charles. Overall, not a good draft at all for Kansas City.
Oakland Raiders: B: Analysis: I think Oakland did a decent job this draft. Fifth overall they drafted outside linebacker Khalil Mack, who was one of the best four players in this draft. The Derek Carr selection was pretty wise considering that they acquired veteran quarterback Matt Schaub in the offseason. They bolstered their secondary by drafting cornerbacks Keith McGill and Travis Carrie. The defensive line was also improved by drafting tackle Justin Ellis and defensive end Shelby Harris. The grade would've been higher if Oakland had drafted a wide receiver, which is a clear need.
San Diego Chargers: B+: Analysis: San Diego's draft was great to say the least. Their first round pick bolstered their secondary in cornerback Jason Verrett. They also gave quarterback Philip Rivers protection by drafting offensive guard Chris Watt. Their defensive line got bolstered by drafting nose tackle Ryan Carrethers. They also gave Rivers new offensive weapons in running back Marion Grice and wide receiver Tevin Reese. Overall, a great and pretty overlooked draft to say the least.
Dallas Cowboys: B: Analysis: The draft's most dramatic moment was obviously when Dallas was on the clock and Johnny Manziel was still on the board. Cowboys everything Jerry Jones did the right thing by not pulling the trigger and drafting Manziel and going with a need in offensive tackle Zach Martin. Dallas bolstered their defensive front by drafting tackle Ken Bishop and defensive ends Demarcus Lawrence and Ben Gardner. Their secondary was also bolstered by drafting safety Ahmad Dixon. Jones definitely went the right route by going mostly defense in the draft.
New York Giants: B: Analysis: The Giants draft was very good to say the least. First round pick wide out Odel Beckham Jr was an awesome pick and will be a fun player to watch along side Victor Cruz, replacing Hakeem Nicks. The offensive line was upgraded by drafting center Weston Richburg and same with the defensive line in drafting tackle Jay Bromley. Another potential steal of this draft is running back Andre Williams. Overall, the Giants should have drafted at least one more offensive lineman, but other than that, a decent draft.
Philadelphia Eagles: C: Analysis: Philadelphia had an average draft. They made a questionable first round draft choice in outside linebacker Marcus Smith. They gave quarterback Nick Foles some receiving help in drafting receivers Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff to replace DeSean Jackson's production. Their secondary was addressed by drafting cornerback Jaylen Watkins. Philadelphia could've used a pick on an inside linebacker as well.
Washington Redskins: C: Analysis: What really killed Washington in this draft was the fact that St Louis had their second overall pick in the draft because of the 2012 draft trade for quarterback Robert Griffin III. On the upside, their secondary was bolstered by drafting cornerback Bashaud Breeland. They gave RG3 protection by drafting offensive tackle Morgan Moses and guard Spencer Long. One thing that needed to be addressed but wasn't was their defensive front.
Chicago Bears: B-: Analysis: Chicago went defense with their first round pick in cornerback Kyle Fuller, which was the correct way to go to say the least. Their defensive front got bolstered by drafting tackles Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton. The one area that they should've took a pick with that they did not was linebacker. Other than that, not a bad draft for Chicago.
Detroit Lions: C: Analysis: Detroit's first round draft selection of tight end Eric Ebron was questionable considering that they needed a wide receiver, which they did draft in TJ Jones. Theie defensive backfield was bolstered by drafting cornerback Nevin Lawson. Detroit drafted center Travis Swanson to bolster the offensive line, but they needed a guard or a tackle on that end.
Green Bay Packers: B+: Analysis: Green Bay may have gotten a steal with first round draft selection in safety Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, who should've been drafted earlier. They drafted another weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers in tight end Richard Rodgers. They also drafted linebacker Carl Bradford to play alongside Clay Matthews. What costs Green Bay an "A" was that they didn't draft protection for Rodgers.
Minnesota Vikings: D+: Analysis: Minnesota did not address all their needs. They drafted quarterback Teddy Bridgewater by trading back into round one which was a solid move. Other first round draft pick linebacker Anthony Barr was drafted too high. They did not address their needs of wide receiver and defensive backs. On the upside, they drafted defensive end Scott Chrichton to bolster the defensive line. The Bridgewater pick saved Minnesota from a failing grade.
Atlanta Falcons: B: Analysis: Atlanta did a decent job to say the least. They addressed the offensive line by drafting tackle Jake Matthews sixth overall. They bolstered the secondary by drafting free safety Dezmen Southward. One area Atlanta did not address was the defensive front but overall, not a bad draft.
Carolina Panthers: C+: Analysis: Carolina's draft was unimpressive. They addressed their wide receiver need in the first round by drafting Kelvin Benjamin. They also gave quarterback Cam Newton protection by drafting guard Trai Turner. Carolina addressed their secondary by drafting safety Tre Boston and cornerback Bene Benwickere. Carolina should have drafted another receiver and a tight end as well.
New Orleans Saints: B+: Analysis: New Orleans did a great job by trading up to draft wide receiver Brandin Cooks, which makes their offense more dangerous. They also bolstered their linebacking core by drafting outside linebacker Ronald Powell and inside linebacker Khairi Fortt. Their secondary was also addressed by drafting cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste and safety Vinny Sunseri. One thing New Orleans did not bolster was their offensive line but other than that, great draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B: Analysis: Tampa Bay did a great job with their first round draft choice in wide receiver Mike Evans. They also bolstered the offensive line by drafting guard Kadeem Edwards and tackle Kevin Pamphile. Tampa Bay also made great selections in tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and running back Charles Simms to bolster the offense. The one area Tampa Bay did not bolster was their defensive line.
Arizona Cardinals: C+: Analysis: Arizona had a pretty average draft to say the least. They did well in drafting safety Deone Bucannon in the first round. They addressed their tight end need in drafting Troy Niklas in the second round. Arizona also drafted quarterback Carson Palmer's possible successor in Logan Thomas. Arizona did not address their need in their linebacking core and they should have drafted the potential Palmer successor in the second or third round.
St. Louis Rams: A-: Analysis: St. Louis hit the ball out the park with their first round picks in offensive tackle Greg Robinson and defensive tackle Aaron Donald. They also bolstered the secondary by drafting cornerback LaMarcus Joyner and safety Mason Alexander. St. Louis also inspired the world and made history by drafting defensive end Michael Sam, who publicly came out as gay. It would've been nice if St. Louis drafted an extra wide receiver.
San Francisco 49ers: B-: Analysis: San Francisco did well with their first round draft selection in safety Jimmie Ward to bolster their secondary and also drafted cornerback Dontae Johnson. They also drafted a weapon for quarterback Colin Kaepernick in wide receiver Bruce Ellington, who could be a steal. San Francisco also bolstered their linebacking core by drafting linebacker Chris Borland. San Francisco should have drafted another receiver and even a tight end to back up Vernon Davis.
Seattle Seahawks: C+: Analysis: What hurt Seattle in this draft was trading out of the first round. They gave quarterback Russell Wilson protection by drafting offensive tackle Justin Britt and they gave Wilson more weapons by drafting wide receivers Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood. Seattle also bolstered their defensive line by drafting defensive end Cassius Marsh. Seattle's grade would've been higher if they didn't trade out of the first round and pick a better wide receiver such as Marquis Lee.
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