Nobody Likes A Scab On Their Face or On Their Football Field

Any marginal sports fan turned on ESPN or something else this morning to see the highlight above this morning. We know what happened. The Seahawks defense dominated the Packers until they allowed them a slight edge in the second half. The Seahawks came back down to Earth and were down after only scoring once all game. The Seahawks pin back the Packers for excellent field position with just a couple plays to execute before time expired. Rookie quarterback Russel Wilson scrambles, then launches one in the endzone to where Ben Tate and some other receiver patiently waits. Tate (who Mike Tirico also called "Taint") already caught a deep ball in the corner of the endzone, but I did not get to see that play.

You can clearly see the Packer gets the football while Tate has some touch of the ball, working his hand into the Packer's grip as they collapse to the ground. I thought it was indeed a touchdown because I always thought that a draw on a catch went to the receiver. Well, the referees are scrambling on over, and the one ref, #26, is on the scene. What is weird about it is that the other endzone ref makes it to the pile on the ground FIRST as ref 26 enters the scene. Pretty odd right away to me that happened that way. Anyway, Lenny and Carl would have the most impact on this game.

At the 0:17 mark, you see ref 26 look at ref #84. As soon as the shoulders on 84 lift in the slightest movement, 26 lifts his arms slowly and then shoots them up to a touchdown symbol while 84 waves it off.

The last time I saw something like this was several years ago:


Neither referee was right there to see either of the men's feet hit the ground first.

I could not help but feel 26 really wanted to make a dramatic moment on TV, with the home crowd on their feet, hinging on one man to throw up two hands in a parallel position. The fact that 84 was looking at the play as he was lifting his hands to wave it off as either incomplete or an interception, 26 was looking at 84!

Now, I give the Packer's Jennings and Tate a lot of credit for doing everything in their power to grasp the ball and the win. Jennings did a better job getting to the ball first but Tate fought and fought, and when the pile cleared Tate is laying on the ground on his back with the ball in his hand attached to his outstretched left arm. It was a dramatic picture.

In my opinion, 26 was right there the whole time to see the whole play. There was also offensive pass interference on the play BUT perhaps a roughing the quarterback call as Russel Wilson gets annilhated. But I digress.

The fake defensive pass interference call that was called on the Packers shortly before this play seemed to me like a makeup call for blatant pass interference they missed earlier, once again on Tate.

Sho'nuff, it is in the record books as a great victory for the Seahawks and a stinging defeat for the Packers. The division of the NFC North has flip flopped in standings compared to last year's final standings (for now).

So what do I think the right call was? Because I know the rules as much as these scab referees do, please check out the passing rules found here. Specifically, page 2, Article 3. A player must maintain control of the football as they are going down. Jennings clearly has the football in his grasp but is yet to hit the ground. As her approaches the ground, Tate gets his hand in there. I would say Jennings has full control of the ball while Tate is working at obtaining "joint possession." I don't think Tate gets the joint possession of the ball as they collapse in the pile. As much as I like THIS group of Seahawks (I really have hated them since Shaun Alexander's last hurrah and they let me down in the Superbowl), the Packers should have won because that pass was INCOMPLETE. However because a touchdown was called, and there was no time left, the touchdown stands. This will prove to be very impactful in the long run of the NFL season. I think the Packers may recover, but the Seahawks jump leaps and bounds in terms of the playoff picture and may ultimately edge out other teams with a 2 game swing like that.

To that I say bravo to both you, Jennings and Tate for literally fighting until the bitter end of the game. I don't think the Packers did anything that should be accentuated or praised by coming back on the field to finish the extra point attempt as that is a rule they are supposed to follow. I know, the scabs messed up the rules anyways so why would the Packers returning matter. Whatever. The Packers were supposed to come back.

The only thing I would have liked better would be if Marshawn Lynch had caught the touchdown and not Ben Taint Tate.

Flipping The Bird: A Weekly Look at the Lucky to be 2-0 Philadelphia Eagles

After a thrilling and well earned win in Week 2 against perennial favorites the Baltimore Ravens, the Eagles face one of only two remaining undefeated teams on their schedule: The Arizona Cardinals.

 

Let's look what I predicted back when the schedule first came out...

 

Week 3: Eagles at Cardinals

The Angry Birds tour continues as the Eagles look to avenge their scorching loss to the John Skelton led Cardinals last season. I still cannot believe I saw that game in person. Vick should have sat out. I believe the team responds to him. When he is down, so is the rest of the team. Had Vick stepped out and encouraged guys on the sideline, and the run game was utilized more to spell Vince Young, I think the Eagles could have won that game and beaten out the Giants for the playoffs. Such is hindsight. Hopefully the Eagles will have a better answer this time around for Larry Fitzgerald and Beanie Wells. I see this actually being a higher scoring game than it should be, combined with a superstar receiver, Cardinals fans being jacked at their ownership of the Eagles lately, but the fact of the matter remains it is still the more dynamic Eagles offense overcoming the solid effort of the Cardinals. Eagles 30, Cardinals 24. (3-0)

 

I just got this joke here... How many Cardinals does it take to win a Super Bowl? Nobody knows, and we may never will. Well, wouldn't you look who else is 2-0 heading into week 3? Currently, the Cardinals are thirtieth in the league in total offense (248 yards per game), 27th in points per game (20), First in lost fumbles (tied with Eagles at 3), 13th in yards per game allowed (320.5), 5th in points allowed per game (17). Conclusions - their offense is terrible and their defense is at least top half of the league. I have seen games that the Cardinals played and their defense is indeed something decent. They have an outstanding cornerback and stable linebacker play, plus they have an average looking defensive line. This seems to be a norm for most teams, so why are they so statistically talented? Well, first is Patrick Peterson. That dude is almost everywhere anytime, and he is also providing to be a good return man PLUS he is also used on the offensive side of the ball occassionally in the wildcat package. They also faced a rookie quarterback who has nobody to throw to in Week 1 and allowed Marshawn Lynch to tear them up (while hurt) and then in Week 2 they uprooted the intimidating New England offense when Aaron Hernandez went down. They still had to play pretty gritty to stave off their opponents, so I will give them credit for that. Good teams find a way to win, even if they try to hold on to a win rather than play to win.

 

The Eagles have been playing to win, and their attitude has paid off so far as they have yet to quit in two straight games where they spent more time trailing in the game than leading. The Cardinals jumped out to leads in both games then had see-saw battles. A big deal can be made over the Cardinals last thirteen games being 10-3. Over the last 13 games, the Eagles were 9-4, including three games with Vince Young at the helm (record of 1-2) and one lost to these Cardinals. That loss to the Cardinals helped their resurgence. However, that game was totally horrible, and we found out later that Vick had cracked ribs, Jackson was benched, Maclin was injured during the game, and the defense was a still a mess in the secondary. But it was in Philadelphia and John Skelton led the team down the field several times and held the Eagles scoreless. The combination of Skelton and Fitzgerald ruined the Eagles and ultimately (along with any other loss) hurt their season in the long run.

 

So, now former Eagles destined starter Kevin Kolb is the opposing quarterback. Who beat out the rising John Skelton due to being of sound body (for now) with two good legs. The pundits will tell you that Kolb didn't win the past two games, and neither did their run game. Their defense kept them alive, and with Maclin already suggested to have minimal playing time on Sunday, their defense will do their best to do it again.

 

I put the Eagles down originally to win the game 30-24. Seeing how they held Tom Brady to what, 16 points in week 2(?), that score may be a bit of a stretch. However, the Patriots plan went under and they had to use the [for some unknown reason] maligned Wes Welker. Stevan Ridley was able to make some moves on Arizona, and Brady was just getting rushed. It has been stated in other articles I read that the pass rush is okay-tough in Arizona.

 

The Eagles will be without superb second year starting center Jason Kelce, and left tackle is still a mystery that will require frequent rotation. The Eagles running game has not quite taken off yet, but it was stagnant last season as well when fans were up in arms about blowing 4 straight fourth quarter leads due to turnovers and poor judgement in trying to continually execute big plays. I saw a more balanced offense against a much better defense on Sunday. The Eagles quickly took the time to show the Ravens they had 4 major offensive pieces (Vick, Jackson, McCoy, Celek) who would require attention. When the Ravens focused their attention on these guys, some backups like Bryce Brown, the backup receiver (I forget his name - Demarus Johnson perhaps?), and Clay Harbor hit up the Ravens for some decent spot yardage. The run game was used more frequently in Week 2 and McCoy looked REALLY good. So did Bryce Brown. This is a great thing as McCoy can be spelled a little more and keep his legs fresh for some of his great moves being more crisper when his number is called. Celek also, as he has for the past half season's worth of games, showed that he has a drive where it takes three defenders to bring him down - two dragging behind him and then the one coming at him head on - and will take on renowned players like Ed Reed. He also apparently got his clock cleaned on a play in the first half, gathered his wits, then jumped up and did the first down sign before having a career game (157 yards).

 

The defense matched up well against a no huddle offense, but they should not rest on their laurels of Sunday and expect the Cardinals to lay down. Kolb is good at shuttling the pass out quickly, but it is when he is in a panic at the pocket collapsing. One of his preseason foes called him "skittish." I watched them play the Patriots and saw it, but less than what he exhibited in the preseason. For what they paid this guy they want him to be more than a subpar game manager. The Eagles have a rolling pass rush that they can jack up Kolb all day with. Their offensive line is terrible and boast one of the worst rushing attack/duos in the league. Of course, leave it to the Eagles to allow banner days for both of the Cardinals backs. Let's hope not. Their linebackers are more above average than below average and combined with the corners and pass rush they have been made to look like stars. Which they may well develop completely into by the end of the year.

 

In summation, I just do not see the Cardinals being able to get it going on offensive. I see Andy Reid being agressive and trying to build up a lead on an opponent that EMBERASSED him last year ("Fire Andy" chants throughout the afternoon), and force Kolb to throw the ball. Larry Fitzgerald, formerly awesome receiver and Eagles killer, has 67 yards on the year (7 of which came last week). He will most likely draw Asomugha who hopefully can hang with him this year. If the Eagles don't get the big play, I hope they actually try the medium to short yardage game again that eventually dismantled the Ravens. How about you put them away before there are 2 minutes left on the clock? Eagles 20, Cardinals 10. And McCoy has a MONSTER game.

 

OTHER NFL NOTES:

Dear NFL Network,

When you have a blowout of a game and the fans are leaving the stadium, there is no way to hide that. I am sure you have enough people changing the channel when they see the Giants score repeatedly in the fourth quarter. Especially when the backup quarterback comes in. However, there is still a game going on the Panthers, while maybe conceding a loss themselves, are still running plays to at least get the offense rolling or defense to correct themselves before the game ends. I don't need to hear you describe how disappointing of a blowout the game is and more talk about last week's Giants win than their current game. I want the plays called. I am a fan of the game, and I would rather see how Derek Anderson handles his relief role in a losing effort than 10 shots of Cam Newton looking angry because he has to. Sell me the game, all four quarters of it. It may have been boring, but I wouldn't have fallen asleep if you were actually talking about something other than what just Giants fans would care about.

 

-Duba

 

Also, I hope the replacement refs are continually trained throughout the week so that maybe by the end of their time in the NFL they can call a game without having the first quarter (15 minutes) last one hour.

Duba Tuesday Roundup: Tooth Fairy, Fantasy and Flag Football

Yesterday was a milestone for my son. After what felt like weeks, he finally lost his "wiggler." We put him in several situations for him possibly lose his tooth, but not until he was brushing his teeth yesterday morning did the bloody event occur. On Sunday, he was able to push the tooth pretty much all the way down, but it still hurt him so we let it be. I saw him in the morning when I was getting ready for work, but he was still toothed. I get a text from Kim before she leaves for work that he lost it! It was pretty cool. I don't know teeth parts, but it is the right front tooth.

 

So, I had to go and put on the snazzy outfit above and wait for him to fall asleep. Unfortunately his friend came over last night and put ideas in his head that he was going to get toys and lots of money. Earlier in the day, I searched all around southern New Jersey banks for $2 bills. We would call them "Twoth" dollar bills. After 3 banks and an hour of driving, I found 3 $2 bills for last night and the future. We made sure he went to bed early and had his tooth in the corner of his bed. I had to argue with him to keep the bedroom door closed but the tooth fairy will know how to find him. So, it was about 10:30 when I retrieved my $2 bill and snuck into his room. He rolled over onto the part of the pillow over the tooth, and I guarentee he was playing with it before he fell asleep. Thank God he didn't get it out from under the pillow. So, sure enough, I put the money in and take the tooth out where it now sits in my underwear drawer in a little keepsake box. He has a mouth-shaped tooth holder that I think we are going to fill up with all his teeth when the last one is gone.

 

Kim told me this morning that he was excited about his $2 and had all these grand ideas for what to buy with it. Hopefully he can save up his toothy bucks and get something he really wants.

 

Fantasy Football

Two weeks into the season and I am already in much better shape than the past two years. Unfortunately, the injury bug is biting me with important injuries to Greg Jennings, Fred Jackson, Antonio Gates, and now Aaron Hernandez. Luckily, this hurt me in NONE of my games this weekend, although the replacements I used or lack of points from the injured/inactives made me a little nervous at some points in the game. By halftime last night I won my game in the Duba invitational, but then Willis McGahee blew the doors open. Follow that up with another thegreatjimduba win and Medulla Amendola's first victory in my office league. This week, two of my three games should be winnable, as long as everybody contributes to the max. Thegreatjimduba is projected to nearly double my NFL-managed league opponent, and if I can land a viable tight end in the office league my points projections should make my opponent quake in her boots. Unfortunately in the Duba Invitational, I face Mandi, who happens to have the majority of her players with favorable matchups. I am trying some sneaky things on the waiver wire as I am unsure of the play of Jermain Gresham (TE) and Kevin Smith (RB) going forward. We shall see. I am stacked at wide receiver depth and hopefully can trade up to CJ Spiller.

 

Flag Football

For over a year now, I have yet to lose a game. We came close though on Saturday as we only tied. So I guess that still counts to my undefeated streak. Rocco got to carry the ball in the game but he was more worried about avoiding being tagged/flags ripped off than just running forward to what I think could have been a monster gain if not a touchdown. Oh well, he will get his chance and at least he paid attention this time. He did some work at center allowing another kid to run the ball.

 

Randomness

The NFL Network guy finally won me over. He has a commercial this week hyping up the Panthers-Giants game. The camera is far away from the guy who has his hand extended out to the camera, open, and holding a tiny panther in his hand. He asks if the Giants are going to crush the Panthers as he closes his hand or if the Panthers will bite back. He then proceeds to make the most fantastic panther growling sound I ever heard as his hand explodes open. They shome some graphics of the teams then he closes his hand quickly and then quickly belts out another roar. It still makes me laugh even though I have seen it for 4 straight days now.

 

Bigups to Walgreens for producing a very sturdy and effective knee brace that is helping me recover from apparently tearing a tendon in my knee. I picked up Rocco a couple weeks ago in an airplane spin formation and upon ascent something popped and things haven't felt right. It is a black neoprene material with metal bars I adjust based to my fat thigh diameter. Awesome.

 

I also am recovering from a viral infection in my respiratory system and am taking 3 medications for it. One is a pill that is an antiviral-novacaine combination. I had an uncontrollable tickle in my throat that made me cough to the point I felt like I was having an asthma attack. I think I started getting sick after we went to a rodeo in Berlin, New Jersey the weekend before last. I probably picked up some deadly combination virus of piney (resident of the Pine Barrens who are inexplicably like Cajuns) and incest. The bull riding was pretty cool, but the vendors were ridiculously overpriced. I walked up to the ticket counter with $100 and left the end of the show with $0.50, and all I did was buy tickets and feed my family. Shitty food at that. Pickalilly Inn, your pulled pork is more like pulled stork. Tough to eat and disgusting.

 

Flipping The Bird - A Weekly Look At The 5 Preseason-Game-Playing Eagles

Well folks, in his unheralded 14th year, Andy Reid has done it again - completely baffled the fans of the poor Philadelphia Eagles. Only a coaching performance like that and a victory like that could spark such vitriole and bitterness about a win.

 

What happened that was so bad?

 

Passing

ATT

YDS

TD

LG

M. Vick	29/56	317	2	4
Rushing	ATT	YDS	TD	LG
L. McCoy	20	110	0	22
M. Vick	7	32	0	16
D. Jackson	1	5	0	5
B. Brown	2	3	0	4
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
J. Maclin	7	96	1	46
D. Jackson	4	77	0	35
B. Celek	4	65	0	28
J. Avant	4	27	0	8
L. McCoy	6	26	0	10
C. Harbor	3	16	1	10
D. Johnson	1	10	0	10

 

So, Vick had 317 yards with two touchdowns, but 4 interceptions. LeSean McCoy with 110 yards rushing on 20 carries. 30 total rushing attempts, 86 total offensive plays. So, the Eagles rushed 35 % of the time, 66 percent of those plays went to one of the best running backs in the NFL. Worse yet, McCoy was involved in only the 20 rushes, carrying only 25 percent of the offense.

 

Now, if you read last week's Flipping the Bird and/or you don't live under a rock, you would know that Cleveland is terrible against the run. The Eagles amassed a total of 150 rushing yards on 30 plays, or 5 yards per attempt regardless of who took the carry and McCoy's touches went for 5.5 yards per carry.

 

People are pissed at Reid that he didn't run the ball. I never actually heard him say it, but according to various things I heard, Andy wanted Vick to knock the rust off his passing game since he missed the majority of preseason action. I get that. However, to completely think that you can do that against a professional team in their staidum on their opening day in the first game of the year when you are constantly considered a Super Bowl contender, you make grave mistakes. If the Eagles lost this game there would have been calls for Andy Reid's head on a platter.

 

I could watch these mistakes develop as Vick played. I am no expert (although I am currently the ONLY undefeated coach in my son's flag football league - for the second year in a row) however I could see that he was trying to implement whatever these things are that the Eagles are trying to instill in Vick. That is what practice is for and the preseason as well.

 

What else I took away from that game is that when it seemed like all was lost, the Eagles changed the plan (in some people's minds) and had a balanced, nearly 5 minute long drive to eat the clock and ultimately deliver the game winning touchdown. Douchebags on the radio call in to the shows and start declaring that drive worked because of McCoy. Oh really?

 

That final drive, that consisted of 18 total plays was really great and what I said before that the Eagles need to do win this season in previous blog entries. Did you know that of those 18 plays, 5 of them were rushes (27 percent rushes)? Also, out of those 5 plays, on 3 of them belonged to McCoy (16 percent of the plays). The play also went 91 total yards and had its mix of penalty yardage and a negative yard run by Bryce Brown, and McCoy contributed only 13 yards (14 percent of the total yardage). This was also at a clip of 4.3 yards per carry with a longest of 7 yards. Also, the Eagles had 10 offensive series, and at 20 total rushes, McCoy averaged 2 plays per series (though we know that isn't the case).

 

So, suddenly Asian math wiz Duba, what does this all mean?

 

To me, it means that yes, McCoy is a vital piece of the Eagles offense. Had he run the ball more, at his average of 5.5 yards per carry, so up to 30 rushes, he would have had 165 yards, possibly helping the Eagles secure more points, perhaps keeping the defense more honest and subsequently keeping the Eagles to fewer turnovers (though McCoy did lose a fumble early in the game as well, perhaps hurting his overall value). And, in my opinion, you fool the fans into thinking that the last drive, which you should have been doing all game, was great and McCoy was the reason it worked.

 

It was not the reason it worked. The Eagles were lucky. By that point in the game, you've tipped your hand to your opponent that you plan a long, meticulous drive down the field that will involve a mix of running and passing. The rushing production of the Eagles was only average on this drive, but the passing efficiency proved superior on this drive. Yes, Vick worked out some of his demons and was almost picked off for a 5th time. But "almost's" don't count. I almost won $1 million in a scratch off lottery ticket, too. Instead, I ended up -$2. Long and short of it - Vick played like his 2010 self in this drive and it paid off better than whatever this new-look Mike Vick is supposed to be.

 

So, going against the top 2 defense against the pass, and eventually using the pass to beat the Cleveland Browns lauded pass defense. The Eagles could have taken the easy way out and ran the ball like madmen. I believe this game was important for Vick to struggle. He knows every game hinges on his every throw, his career rests on every game, and his coach's future rests solely on how he handles it all. With four interceptions already on his stat line for the day, the ball was still put in his hands to beat a team they were supposed to beat. Lofty expectations, some heaped on even by Vick himself, with his own play getting in the way, and seemingly the entire season rested on Vick for this one drive. And he did what he did when he won most of our hearts in 2010 - Victory.

 

Up next is one of my favorite teams, the Baltimore Ravens. They looked fantastic against the Bengals. One thing I did not mention in this blog yet was the Eagles' defense looked awesome. The Browns did not score a single offensive touchdown, had 6 turnovers, and the players we questioned in the past looked great. The Ravens are not the Browns.

 

The Ravens also beat up on their division opponent, making a mockery of the Bengals. However, the Bengals were missing a lot of pieces on the defensive side of the ball. The Bengals also did not get at Flacco a lot. It has always been stated that once Flacco starts getting rocked he tends to lose his grip on the game (i.e, incomplete passes as he still can be a decent game manager). The Ravens incorporated more no-huddle offense, perhaps not allowing the Bengals enough time to form their sets/select their packages to get to Flacco as often as they would in a previous season.

 

The Eagles have a standard defensive system that is almost like a "plug and play" type of system. The defensive lineman depth is so great right now that the linebackers have some easy layups in tackles/stoppages. With the rotation of linemen and to a degree linebackers, well, I expect the Ravens to slowly weaken allowing Flacco to go to his backo. Asomugha and Cromartie seem to be playing at the level they are known to be able to play at as well, perhaps making Flacco wait longer to find the open receiver, allowing that one extra second for Babin, Hunt, Jenkins, Graham, or Cole to get to Flacco. The depth at the defensive line will also be key for the Eagles to stop Ray Rice.

 

I predict that the Ravens will stick with the run and look for the deep ball in the first half randomly. The line depth will be needed to help fight off the offensive line and the rough Ray Rice. The last great running back the Eagles faced, Demarco Murray last season, struggled mightily when the Eagles were playing the minutes that mattered. The Eagles practically obliterated Dallas and relaxed themselves on both sides of the ball, when Murray was able to collect 100+ yards on them. That was in last year's already defeated Eagles team defense, which was far weaker than this year's improved unit.

 

The only thing that worries me in this game is the offense of the Eagles. The Ravens have historically been a great defensive team. I think their retooling and reshaping and redesigning of the offense will be hit or miss for them, and this week is a miss. The Eagles, however, after treating the Browns like the 5th preseason game, I would think normally to be ready for this daunting task. However with news of Desean Jackson and Maclin hurting with leg injuries, we may have to temper expectations.

 

I did see the Ravens dismantle the Bengals Monday night. I also saw BenJarvus Green-Ellis make some big runs on the Ravens. BJGE had 18 carries for 91 yards, 5.05 yards per carry. His longest was 14 yards, so take that away and 17 carries and 77 yards still equates to 4.53 yards per carry. I think McCoy can exploit that, as long as the Eagles start with running the ball first. Perhaps it will take some play action plays for Vick to turn around and see how his receivers are getting away or not in the secondary, see which tight end option is best available, and see what lanes McCoy gets the most production in. The game plan in Week 1 went from the long ball to a balanced passing attack in the final drive, so hopefully that means the Eagles are now using the philosophy that it is okay to change your game plan.

 

Knowing the Eagles, though, I expect some small gains and then going for the bomb at least 2 to 3 times before the first quarter is over. That could be make or break. If it works, then we can switch to the medium yard and running game and be fine I think. If it doesn't, we all know Reid will continue to try to deliver the ball in to the end zone no matter how far away it is. Let us hope for the former.

 

Do I still hold true to my prediction? Well, the Eagles are +2.5 points against the Ravens. I don't know much about that, but I do know that the home team is automatically awarded +3 points. So, that means the Ravens should win, in my opinion, but hints that home field advantage will payoff better for the Eagles to squeek out an upset. Is it really a home field advantage? Baltimore and Philadelphia are only 2-3 hours apart on any given day. Weather is the same and so is the verocity of the fans, just in the opposite direction for the Ravens. The Ravens are a well established team who have never missed the playoffs and been to a couple of AFC title games on the road and never really seem to get iced. This game will be brutally tough on both teams. But, I am a homer. I have faith in my team's players to step up when needed (which should be the whole f'ing game, not one play). I think they do it, and make it look better than the win at Cleveland. I have seen Andy Reid teams struggle and play poorly on offense one week only to kill it the next week. While I don't think anybody will "kill" the Ravens this year, I do think the Eagles get away with a good win. Eagles 23, Ravens 16.

 

Flipping The Bird: A Weekly Look at the Worst Way for Cleveland to Start a Season

 

 

51 posts and 4 months ago I wrote about my bold Philadelphia Eagles predictions for the 2012-2013 season. Specifically, I briefly broke down their schedule, including the upcoming Week 1 matchup at the Cleveland Browns.

 

What should be a no brainer will probably turn in to a closer game than it should. Historically, the Eagles do not get off to a great start under Andy Reid. The last time before the last time they played the AFC North, though, they did, finishing 13-3 and going to the Superbowl. The Browns have not changed, and I think after an early struggle of a game, the Eagles smoke them at the end. Eagles 31-17. (1-0)

 

With recent developments and a preseason that was marred with injuries to Michael Vick, have my predictions changed? Not really. The Eagles usually don't get off to great starts as far as I can remember, but last year they had a layup in opening day against St. Louis that almost went sour (fortunately Steven Jackson got hurt after his blistering touchdown run) that the Eagles eventually recovered and dominated the last 3 quarters of that game.

 

This year, what promises yet again to be an explosive Eagles offense, who was ranked  4th last year in total offense (399.1 yards per game); 9th in passing offense; 5th in rushing offense; 8th in total defense; 10th in passing defense; and 16th in rushing defense finished AT LEAST in the top half of the league in these major statistics, top 10 in 5 out of the 6 stat categories I mentioned. Cleveland, on the other hand, was 30th against the run (534 rushing attempts against or 33.4 attempts per game) but 2nd in pass defense (469 attempts, or 29.3 attempts per game with 265 completions or 56.5 percent completions), and ultimately putting them at 10th overall on defense - 2 spots lower than the Eagles. I will not state the Browns' offensive stats as they have a rookie quarterback, rookie running back, and a second year receiver they hope to make a star. But not this week. Okay, if you really wanted to know, they were 24th ranked passing and 28th in rushing offense - behind Madden '12 cover boy Peyton Hillis. The coach is the same for Cleveland. The line is pretty much the same for Cleveland, the stank is still the same from Cleveland as well.

 

In an attempt to cater to the new wave of pass happy offensive schemes in the NFL, the Browns went with an old rookie quarterback to lead the charge behind potential rookie phenom Trent Richardson. However, he has just had knee surgery a month ago that was minor, albeit a factor in this weekend's game. I think that the Eagles being 16th in running defense is a weird statistic. The last four games the Eagles played they practically dominated - although it was against weaker teams. The defense looked crisper yet they still allowed 100+ rushing yard games for 3 out of the 4 starting running backs they faced in that span. The beginning of the season for the Eagles also exposed their run defense, in a new defensive scheme under a new defensive coordinator and line coach with a turnstyle of new players, as being weak. The front 4 came together to lead the league in sacks, showing they can indeed get in the backfield, but once a running back is able to get past these four, they have a potential to break a big play.

 

I think some of the younger players the Eagles have with them this year allow the excitement of playing for a team contending for a Super Bowl on paper may get the best of them. I remember Casey Mathews last year was able to paint a picture instead of stopping Steven Jackson on the second defensive play of the year last year rather than stop him. If Richardson is able to find that type of hole in the first half, then the game may turn out to be more of a nail-biter than it deserves to be, and the Browns certainly hope that Richardson becomes that type of player.

I think the Cleveland secondary is over rated. Joe Haden is a star and it looks like, despite being suspended, that his appeal of said suspension will allow him to play. However, with a weak rushing defense means Vick will have the time to throw the ball. Can DeSean Jackson outrun Joe Haden? Probably. And when he does, it will be lights out. Then they roll coverage to DeSean and Maclin/Celek/Avant/McCoy become threats in the passing game. McCoy and Vick can both rush (provided both of these guys stay healthy) and just rip apart this supposed 10th overall defense. I think that rating will prove to have been too high for them as they will probably finish the week in the bottom 10 of defenses. Of course, provided the Eagles play up to their potential.

As far as the Eagles defense goes, with constant threats of sacks in Brandon Weeden's old-young rookie quarterback face, and Greg Little the only real option against pro-bowl caliber Nnamdi Asomugha, I expect big things for the defense. Should the Eagles jump to a quick lead (like they always try to) I expect the ball to come out of Trent Richardson's hands and on the throwing arm of Weeden. At some point in the game the Eagles will relax everything and the Browns can get some garbage time stats, including Richardson ripping off a run or two. Oh yeah, the Eagles also acquired the Browns' safety David Sims a week ago.

Bottom Line: The Eagles need to murder the Browns this weekend to make themselves look more complicated and threatening then they really are before the Ravens come to town next week. If they sleep on Cleveland, however, individual players may get hurt or staph infections if they are not paying attention. Should Vick go down in this game, I think Nick Foles can adequately control the offense in this environment, especially if McCoy is then given the ball to utterly destroy the Browns.

Fantasy options: I think I will roll with Trent Richardson as my number 2 running back. He was drafted early in my blog teams' league so I might as well use him, right? I also have the Eagles Defense, Alex Henery, Maclin, and McCoy on my various other teams. I think I am going to roll with all 4 of them as great options to put up properly projected points, and then some.

Change of Prediction/Score?: Still a win, but 38-21.

 

 

100th Blog Entry Spectaculum!! My Weakness - Fantasy Football

I have only really been a football fan kind of recently in my life. 10 years or just a little more. I only really knew Donovan McNabb as my quarterback and Andy Reid as my coach. I could watch any Eagles game, get excited for it, and maybe, just maybe, watch one of the other games on Sunday. As time went on it became more and more of a priority for me. Now, I research it all year long, read about it, listen to podcasts, and can recall many wins-losses from the past several years, mostly for the Eagles. However, through the blessed creation that is Fantasy Football, I have learned to love the game as a whole, plus my favorite team.

 

What better way to celebrate 100 total blogposts in 9 months than with the topic that will probably dominate this blog for the rest of the year (Dublog Reminder - Tune in on Friday for an all new "Flipping the Bird").

 

What entails is a tribute to my favorite thing second only to my family - Football and its child known as Fantasy Football. Please join me as I show you how I was once great, then humbled, and now ravenous for another title.

 

The Beginning...

My friend Brian asked me if I wanted to play in a fantasy football league in 2004. I never really knew much about football other than I rooted for the Eagles. My first team, The Pickers (an ode to the old blue collar black working man by Lynyrd Skynyrd's "The Ballad of Curtis Lowe") finished the season at 6-7. I was the 6th seed actually out of 10 total teams, 8 playoff teams. The league was so bad I won my first two rounds of playoffs by scores of 64-48 and 62-30. I was up against the 11-2, first seed who averaged 110+ points in the playoffs. I simply beat him 121-103 and won my first fantasy football championship.

 

The following year, I had moved out of my then in-laws house and into my home, where I had no internet access except at work. I finished the season with a staggering 13-1 record and 1048 points, almost 100 more than the second highest scorer. I remember one game I already had it all clinched and I rested my starters for my only loss of the season. I lost by 3 goddamn points in the first round of the playoffs and settled for third place. Okay, I got a little cocky there.

 

In 2006 I finished with a middling 7-6 record, good enough for the 5th seed in the playoffs. I breezed through it all, eventually changing my team name to just DUBA and secured a dazzling 2 point victory of Nigradomus in the finals. In 2007, I went 8-4-1 and had the only tie I can ever recall in fantasy football. Until the playoffs. I came in as the 3 seed. I dispatched of the first round opponent handedly, but then in the second round only scored 50 points. However, my opponent only scored 50 as well. Yahoo did its own coin flip, and once again Duba prevailed. It was my team Brocktoon, led by Derek Anderson, taking on Brian in the finals. Sho'nuff, a 64-30 drubbing secured my 4th place finish in 4 years, 3 championships in 4 years run. I returned to the league in 2008 only to finish 8th out of 12. Perhaps that many teams was too much for me to handle. I named my team something racist like an asshole. I started hanging out with Brandon again and became a member of his league. I picked Tom Brady as my first overall and he proceeded to tear his knee ligaments. Thus my season was over before it could start.

 

The middle...

Between the 2008 and 2009 seasons, my life changed. I got divorced and as such divorced myself from all things associated with that part of my life. I reconnected with my friends who mostly accepted me back with open arms. It was pleasant. It also renewed my passion for football again despite the rough year I had experienced. 2009 presented a new league to me that Brandon and some of my older friends and people I never met before were playing in. I think it was an ESPN league run by Scott and Tim that featured two quarterbacks to start. I remember the league was divided into two divisions. However, my division was the lamest as no record was better than 6-7. The other division had all winning records. Unfortunately, since Scott set up divisions, he needed at least the division winner for the shit division to be in the playoffs. The division winner? You guessed it - moi. I proceeded to bump Brandon from the playoffs that he dominated the year before. I cannot recall how everything else went, but I made it to the finals and was projected to lose to Tim in the Super Bowl. Brandon gave me a heads up that day that he dropped Adrian Peterson, whom I promptly scooped up. I proceeded to blow out Tim in the finals. Fact of the matter is, without AP's contributions, I would've still won by I think 10 points. This victory was great and helped me have some money to buy the new lovely lady in my life a little gift for Christmas. I think one player refused to pay me because I beat him in the first round. Thems the breaks, kid.

 

After much discussion with former league participants, I decided to head up the league. Brandon and I decided that there is no way in Hell another team with a losing record should win a championship. Hence, the birth of the Duba Invitational. I took the league to the NFL's website, set it up for perhaps 10 or 12 teams, that I cannot recall. The 2010 Duba Invitational saw me struggle as I tried to make move after move to bolster my lineup, only to ultimately give up future great players. I cannot recall how I fared, but I did have to change my team name to the Homo Squad and I didn't even make the playoffs. I had Vick as my quarterback then, but still couldn't get the job done.

 

However, I fared much better back in Yahoo land. I was in my first ever office league at work and was an outsider joining in with Dave Bell and his band of misfits. The Bell league had individual defensive players, and I faired well. I took second place overall as the team Bulk Hogan thanks to the breakout performances of Vick, Desean Jackson, and Peyton Hillis. It was my first ever 16 team, 4 division league, and I loved it. In my office league, I was hovering in 10th place for the beginning of the season. On October 6th of that year, I posted a message saying "Man am I horrible." Simply stated. So I renamed my team "Bunch of Sissies" and changed my team picture to that of me dressed as Snooki for Halloween. What followed was an 8 straight win-streak to vault me into first place, a first round bye, and the inevitable date with another fantasy championship.

 

However, that's where it has all ended. In 6 years of fantasy football, I racked up 5 championships (4 Yahoo, one ESPN), and one second and third place finish each. Last year, things drastically went downhill. The office league had 10 bench spots, which was one more total spots than the active roster had. I was beset by injuries and worked up such a negative kharma through my egotistical mocking of opponents that I couldn't even trade Mathew Stafford for a RB3. It was awful. I finished 8 out 10 and was morally down. Until the 2011 Duba Invitational unfolded and I was down yet again. It was due to a loss at the mighty hands of future AFC Championship Game Goat Billy Cundiff. Had he not kicked an extra point I would have beat Rich Song and perhaps been 7-6 and made the playoffs. Rather, once again in Yahoo and ultimately bringing down my rating, I finished 7th out of 16. I finished ahead of Mandi at least but unfortunately behind Horn.

 

THE NOW!

So it is a new football year, starting tonight. I have three teams. One, is the 2012 Duba Invitational held on CBS' website with the same 16 team, 4 division format. I have already brought up our draft party, but perhaps I should detail my team as it stands, heading into Week 1 ready for Battle against the evil Christopher "The Joe" Kerr:

 

Team Name: Steve Breastonlargement

QB - Drew Brees, Russel Wilson (BN)

RB - Fred Jackson, Kevin Smith, Willis McGahee (Flex), Ryan Williams (BN), Ben Tate (BN)

WR - Torrey Smith, Percy Harvin, Jeremy Maclin (BN), Greg Little (BN)

TE - Jermaine Gresham

DST - Broncos

K - Nate Kaeding (who was also on my first ever championship team 8 years ago, as was Drew Brees).

 

I am happy with this team compared to most of the teams in the league. I just dumped off Frank Gore for Willis McGahee and believe I am set albeit for that one super gem of a wide receiver. I hope they pan out and Torrey Smith lives up the hype. We shall see as I play against Jay Cutler and Matt Forte hosting the Colts.

 

I have rejoined the office league after debating if I wanted to do more than one team again this year. Being a commissioner of my league and writing weekly recaps is time consuming enough, let alone another team to mess with and taunt other players. Please keep in mind that the "Duba Rule" is in effect - $1 owed per add/drop as the year I won I made 52 total moves. I payed close to that last year. Anywho, as far as the draft goes, I got in I think in the middle of round 6. I promptly typed "Suck it bitches" in the chat and took Hernandez, Rivers, Wilson, and Blackmon. As such, I autodrafted the majority of my team with the number three spot and here is my so called lineup for Week 1:

 

Team Name: Medulla Amendola

QB - Philip Rivers, Russel Wilson (BN)

RB - Lesean McCoy, Fred Jackson, Stevan Ridley (Flex), Marshawn Lynch (BN), Ben Tate (BN)

WR - Greg Jennings, Steve Smith (the good one), Justin Blackmon (BN), Kenny Britt (BN), Danny Amendola (BN - I had to have him)

TE - Aaron Hernandez

DST - Lions

K - Alex Henery

 

I am trying to ship off Rivers and Lynch for Tom Brady to somebody with NO running backs. Just trying to be a good man.

 

And finally, my third and final team is a first for me. Despite a desperate plea for worldwide attention and the quick death of the The Great Jim Duba Intercontinental Invitational Fantasy Football Championship Challenge, I opted to represent my entire blog and its supporters/fans with a randomly drafted team in a random NFL.com league to test my might against total strangers. Unfamiliar players in a league have netted me 4 championships every time I joined something new. Let us hope for the sake of this blog and my faithful audience from Russia to Hong Kong, Sweden to Senegal, that I am victorious. My team is as follows:

 

Team Name: The Great Jim Duba

QB - Peyton Manning, Jay Cutler (BN), Russel Wilson (BN)

RB - Arian Foster, Trent Richardson, Peyton Hillis (BN)

WR - Jordy Nelson, Justin Blackmon, Greg Jennings (BN), Percy Harvin (BN)

TE - Antonio Gates, Dustin Keller (BN)

DST - Eagles

K - Akers

 

I fear I may be playing my bench spots wrong this week for this team, but I will do my best to figure it out before Sunday.

 

I have moderately good spirits about this year. I feel like in the Duba Invitational league I drafted an injury free team and was able to get rid of my garbage before I hated myself for having them. I don't like Frank Gore. He has no sizzle. I understand he can be productive, but I want productive with that possible home run too. Therefore the McGahee trade and my pursuit of Fred Jackson. I think I could certainly have done a little better at wide receiver as I think Julio Jones or Roddy White was there for me in the second round, but alas I skipped for Jackson I believe. I do like Harvin, a lot, but I fear Maclin may disappear at times. 16 team leagues are tough, especially when you draft in week 1 of the preseason and many other team's starters go down with nagging injuries. I stand atop a perch with a couple other teams that are unaffected and I think I stand to do something never done in the three year history of the Duba Invitational - Win my own Trophy.

 

The office league will be tough this year with 3 total new players, all who seem to have some major fantasy football sense. Our first timer and recent new hire Chris was number 1 pick plus was awarded the Yahoo Kiss of Death, I mean "Best Draft" award. I was around his age when I first joined Fantasy football so hopefully that helps me bring back that youthful energy I once displayed in earlier Yahoo league victories.

 

The Great Jim Duba, well, only time will tell. When you put the words "The Great" in front of your name, you better do something about it. I think a middle of the standings performance and then rolling into the playoffs is a safe bet for this team. If Peyton Manning stays healthy, I have a lot of trade bait on my team.

 

There you have it. My entire fantasy football career, starting off great, then fizzling quicker than a Russian protest.