This begins the second edition of our NFL Draft Recap.
5. New York Jets (from Cleveland) – Mark Sanchez – QB – USC: In what would prove to be the first of Cleveland’s three first round trades, the New York Jets moved up to nab Sanchez at #5. The USC quarterback only has one year of starting experience coming out of college, but what he lacks in experience he makes up for with raw talent. While his arm strength is not quite as excellent as Stafford, it is nothing to joke about, and Sanchez has tight, accurate throws that his Georgia counterpart sometimes lacks. He is also a quick learner, as displayed by his strong performances during the second half of last year. He had some injury concerns, so it will be interesting to see how he performs over the long haul of a 16-game season, but the Jets have an expensive and veteran offensive line that should help him along the way.
6. Cincinnati Bengals – Andre Smith – OT – Alabama: Cincinnati has a history of taking players with character concerns, and the theme continued on Draft day. Andre Smith is probably the most talented offensive lineman in this year’s class, but his suspension from Alabama’s Bowl game and his unflattering appearances at the Combine and his Pro Day have raised questions about his work ethic. I don’t question Smith’s skill, but there is reason to question his discipline, and given the Bengals’ inability to effectively handle undisciplined players I’m not sure that it is the best place for him. At Alabama he flourished under Nick Saban’s orderly structure, but someone will have to give him the same discipline in Cincinnati for him to be successful.
7. Oakland Raiders – Darrius Heyward-Bey – WR – Maryland: This pick had a chance to be my Most Intriguing and Most Puzzling, but came up short on both counts. While Heyward-Bey might have been a stretch at #7, Raiders owner Al Davis loves raw speed, which the Terrapins receiver certainly provides as the fastest player at the Combine with a 4.30 second 40-yard dash. That being the case, it is little surprise that Davis picked Heyward-Bey over Michael Crabtree. While Heyward-Bey may not have been the best overall receiver, but with his combination of height and speed he is in many ways a poor man’s Randy Moss and will give JaMarcus Russell and the Raider’s lackluster pass attack a much-needed shot in the arm.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Eugene Monroe – OT – Virginia: A common pre-Draft argument was whether Monroe or Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith would go second overall to the Rams; few other names were even in contention. Despite Jacksonville’s repeated attempts to trade out of this pick, they can’t be too disappointed with Monroe. Regarded by many as the best pure pass protector in this year’s draft (so good that he made last year’s first-round pick Brandon Albert play guard at Virginia), Monroe will give David Garrard some time to drop back and throw after the departure of previous left tackle Khalif Barnes, and like Jason Smith has few character issues to worry about.
9. Green Bay Packers – B.J. Raji – DT – Boston College: The Packers were fortunate and likely ecstatic to land Raji at this spot. As the most highly rated defensive tackle in the draft, the BC product is a dominant force at the point of attack, and at 330 pounds at only 6’1” he is also an excellent space eater. With Ryan Pickett as the only other considerable option at nose tackle, it is highly likely that the Packers will start Raji right away in their new 3-4 defense. His suspension in to 2007/2008 season due to academic ineligibility and positive drug test at the Combine may have raised some eyebrows about his character (or perhaps his intelligence), but Raji is one of the premiere defensive players this year and a special nose tackle in the mold of Steelers starter Casey Hampton. Ironically, both Hampton and Raji teamed up with second-round picks during who came out the same year they did (Browns DT Shaun Rogers and new Patriots DT Ron Brace, respectively).
10. San Francisco 49ers – Michael Crabtree – WR – Texas Tech: The 49ers came into the draft amidst speculation that they were hunting for a new signal caller, but they may have instead gotten the best overall player in this draft with the selection of Michael Crabtree. While his college tape shows he possesses excellent athleticism and natural hands, Crabtree came to the Combine requiring ankle surgery for a fractured metatarsal and did not run there or at the Texas Tech pro day. Without a 40 yard dash, it is not inconceivable to think that his stock might have taken a little dip. Despite TTU’s tendency to be a pass-happy team, it still takes a special talent to dominate games against quality opposition the way Crabtree did against the Texas Longhorns and to win back-to-back Biletnikoff awards as a redshirt freshman and sophomore (in fact, he is the first player to ever win the award twice).
11. Buffalo Bills – Aaron Maybin – DE – Penn State: The Bills are on the cusp of becoming a playoff team after years of shattered expectations, which has featured no playoff seasons in over a decade. The Bills teams that went on a historic run of four straight Super Bowl appearances seem a distant memory. Their defensive line improved tremendously with the addition of Marcus Stroud in last year’s offseason, but Aaron Schobel is close to being on his last legs at 32 years old and Chris Kelsay has not been as productive as the Bills management has hoped, so Aaron Maybin was brought into the fold. Considered to be undersized by the standards of most NFL ends at only around 250 pounds, Maybin nevertheless has superb speed and edge-rushing ability. He will also have the opportunity to be mentored by the veteran Schobel, who is similarly undersized.
Picks 12-18 will be covered in the next Draft Recap, so stay tuned until then.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
NFL Draft Recap #1
Now that the last pick has been called, the Draft is officially over, but the drama is not. Now each team must get their players signed and on to the practice field. In the meantime, here is the first installment of our Draft Recap.
Most Intriguing Pick: I will not go so far as to say ‘best’ or ‘worst’ pick, since none of these players’ careers or set in stone. But I can say that the most interesting to me was Mark Sanchez, picked fifth overall by the New York Jets. The Jets made a costly trade to get the rights to Sanchez, and most of their hopes will be riding on his shoulders.
Most Puzzling Pick: Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos). With all of the focus for improvement on Denver’s ailing defense, they instead elected to take Knowshon Moreno, a running back from Georgia who many Draft analysts expected to be taken in the middle of the first round at the highest, more in the area of the Broncos’ #18 pick instead of their substantially higher #12 selection.
1. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford – QB – Georgia: As I outlined previously, the Lions went with Stafford over USC QB Mark Sanchez or Wake Forest product Aaron Curry. While Curry would have addressed the need for a fresh face at linebacker, Stafford could end up being a much more emphatic stamp on this new Lions regime with his elite arm strength and three years of college starts. Sanchez also had a case to go here, but he had some injury concerns in college and Stafford has the toughness that will probably be needed at the woeful Lions, where he can expect to get beat up for a while.
2. St. Louis Rams – Jason Smith – OT – Baylor: With the release of Orlando Pace who has been a feature on the Rams’ offensive line for the past decade, offensive tackle shot up the list of St. Louis’ needs (keep in mind it was already a concern before Pace’s departure, and thus became even more critical afterwards). They met it well, drafting a strong run- and pass-blocker in Jason Smith. While Alabama’s Andre Smith may have had the most potential of all the offensive linemen in this draft, Jason still has tremendous talent and is a safer pick due to his lack of off-the-field issues. I think that, like Pace before him, Smith with anchor the Rams line for a decade or more.
3. Kansas City Chiefs – Tyson Jackson – DE – Louisiana State: This was my first (but not biggest) surprise of this draft. While Tyson Jackson is ideal for the Chiefs’ conversion to a 3-4 defense with his ability to play 3-4 end or even 4-3 defensive tackle during the transition period, he might not have been worth the third overall selection. He is a solid player, but his potential is limited and he isn’t the type of talent who is necessarily going to change the fortunes of a franchise. Now the Chiefs tried to trade down but were unsuccessful, so while Jackson may have been a bit of reach in terms of talent he was likely one of the best players for Kansas City. He and last year’s fifth overall pick Glenn Dorsey will form a formidable tandem on the Chiefs defensive front along with first-rounder Tamba Hali.
4. Seattle Seahawks – Aaron Curry – LB – Wake Forest: Most of the pre-draft hype had Seattle taking a receiver, but with the acquisition of former Cincinnati Bengal T.J. Houshmandzadeh in free agency the Seahawks elected to go with Aaron Curry. One of the best players in this draft, Curry has excellent size (6’1” and 250 pounds), speed, skill, and raw instinct. He fits Seattle’s defensive scheme almost perfectly and can step right into the spot that Julian Peterson vacated, keeping the strong Seahawk linebacker core alive with Leroy Hill and Lofa Tatupu.
We will have picks #5 through 11 on the second edition of our 2009 NFL Draft Recap.
Most Intriguing Pick: I will not go so far as to say ‘best’ or ‘worst’ pick, since none of these players’ careers or set in stone. But I can say that the most interesting to me was Mark Sanchez, picked fifth overall by the New York Jets. The Jets made a costly trade to get the rights to Sanchez, and most of their hopes will be riding on his shoulders.
Most Puzzling Pick: Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos). With all of the focus for improvement on Denver’s ailing defense, they instead elected to take Knowshon Moreno, a running back from Georgia who many Draft analysts expected to be taken in the middle of the first round at the highest, more in the area of the Broncos’ #18 pick instead of their substantially higher #12 selection.
1. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford – QB – Georgia: As I outlined previously, the Lions went with Stafford over USC QB Mark Sanchez or Wake Forest product Aaron Curry. While Curry would have addressed the need for a fresh face at linebacker, Stafford could end up being a much more emphatic stamp on this new Lions regime with his elite arm strength and three years of college starts. Sanchez also had a case to go here, but he had some injury concerns in college and Stafford has the toughness that will probably be needed at the woeful Lions, where he can expect to get beat up for a while.
2. St. Louis Rams – Jason Smith – OT – Baylor: With the release of Orlando Pace who has been a feature on the Rams’ offensive line for the past decade, offensive tackle shot up the list of St. Louis’ needs (keep in mind it was already a concern before Pace’s departure, and thus became even more critical afterwards). They met it well, drafting a strong run- and pass-blocker in Jason Smith. While Alabama’s Andre Smith may have had the most potential of all the offensive linemen in this draft, Jason still has tremendous talent and is a safer pick due to his lack of off-the-field issues. I think that, like Pace before him, Smith with anchor the Rams line for a decade or more.
3. Kansas City Chiefs – Tyson Jackson – DE – Louisiana State: This was my first (but not biggest) surprise of this draft. While Tyson Jackson is ideal for the Chiefs’ conversion to a 3-4 defense with his ability to play 3-4 end or even 4-3 defensive tackle during the transition period, he might not have been worth the third overall selection. He is a solid player, but his potential is limited and he isn’t the type of talent who is necessarily going to change the fortunes of a franchise. Now the Chiefs tried to trade down but were unsuccessful, so while Jackson may have been a bit of reach in terms of talent he was likely one of the best players for Kansas City. He and last year’s fifth overall pick Glenn Dorsey will form a formidable tandem on the Chiefs defensive front along with first-rounder Tamba Hali.
4. Seattle Seahawks – Aaron Curry – LB – Wake Forest: Most of the pre-draft hype had Seattle taking a receiver, but with the acquisition of former Cincinnati Bengal T.J. Houshmandzadeh in free agency the Seahawks elected to go with Aaron Curry. One of the best players in this draft, Curry has excellent size (6’1” and 250 pounds), speed, skill, and raw instinct. He fits Seattle’s defensive scheme almost perfectly and can step right into the spot that Julian Peterson vacated, keeping the strong Seahawk linebacker core alive with Leroy Hill and Lofa Tatupu.
We will have picks #5 through 11 on the second edition of our 2009 NFL Draft Recap.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Stafford Is First Overall Pick in 2009 Draft
After two not-so-dramatic days of contract negotiations, former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford (expectedly) signed with the Detroit Lions, officially becoming the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The first pick will now be a mere formality, but the money they splashed to get Stafford will certainly make his arrival in Detroit anything but trivial.
The 6-year, $78 million contract awarded to Stafford is an NFL Draft record, and his average annual paycheck of $13 million exceeds that of established pros Tom Brady (6 years, $60 million) and Ben Roethlisberger (8 years, $102 million). Dishing that much money out to an untested rookie is a big gamble, but one that could ultimately pay off for the Lions, who are coming off the worst season in NFL history. Stafford could certainly be effective soon, with a rising star in Calvin Johnson to accompany him in a potentially powerful Detroit passing attack. This selection also narrows their list of needs. They have a potential franchise quarterback, and now their focus should shift to a left tackle to protect Stafford.
I have heard arguments for USC QB Mark Sanchez over Stafford, but to me Stafford is the better choice. This is not an issue of finished product versus upside (like, say, Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf). Both Stafford and Sanchez are very raw quarterbacks with a tremendous amount of potential, and both came out early when they could had polished their skills during their senior seasons. I think Stafford has the edge for Detroit because he played for an inferior team in college (that is not to say Georgia is a bad team, but their young offensive line has trouble compared to the seemingly endless depth at USC), and therefore has more experience with pressure in his face than Sanchez does. Stafford, who played at Georgia since his freshman year, also has more playing experience in general. I think the Lions can be happy with this pick.
Now, the focus of the Draft shifts to the St. Louis Rams, who hold the #2 pick in the draft for the second year in a row. They also have a pethora of needs, and it will be interesting to see how this pick (and the rest of the draft) plays out.
The 6-year, $78 million contract awarded to Stafford is an NFL Draft record, and his average annual paycheck of $13 million exceeds that of established pros Tom Brady (6 years, $60 million) and Ben Roethlisberger (8 years, $102 million). Dishing that much money out to an untested rookie is a big gamble, but one that could ultimately pay off for the Lions, who are coming off the worst season in NFL history. Stafford could certainly be effective soon, with a rising star in Calvin Johnson to accompany him in a potentially powerful Detroit passing attack. This selection also narrows their list of needs. They have a potential franchise quarterback, and now their focus should shift to a left tackle to protect Stafford.
I have heard arguments for USC QB Mark Sanchez over Stafford, but to me Stafford is the better choice. This is not an issue of finished product versus upside (like, say, Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf). Both Stafford and Sanchez are very raw quarterbacks with a tremendous amount of potential, and both came out early when they could had polished their skills during their senior seasons. I think Stafford has the edge for Detroit because he played for an inferior team in college (that is not to say Georgia is a bad team, but their young offensive line has trouble compared to the seemingly endless depth at USC), and therefore has more experience with pressure in his face than Sanchez does. Stafford, who played at Georgia since his freshman year, also has more playing experience in general. I think the Lions can be happy with this pick.
Now, the focus of the Draft shifts to the St. Louis Rams, who hold the #2 pick in the draft for the second year in a row. They also have a pethora of needs, and it will be interesting to see how this pick (and the rest of the draft) plays out.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Pre-Draft News
In two days, the 2009 NFL Draft will be officially kicking off. Of course, the draft clock has been ticking for the #1 overall pick holder Detroit Lions ever since the end of the NFL's first ever 0-16 season. Amidst talk of possible trades for the first selection and the debate over who should get picked first; it appears that the Lions have zoomed in on a target; according to NFL.com's columnist Steve Wyche, Detroit has entered final contract negotiations with former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, despite Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry's pledge to sign for less money if he were picked first.
In other news, the Atlanta Falcons have traded for Kansas City's future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. In return, the Chiefs recieve Atlanta's second round pick in next year's draft. While they did lose an iconic and productive veteran player in Gonzalez, stockpiling picks could be just what the Chiefs need to boost their ailing franchise and perhaps follow the example of last year's resurgent Falcons.
In other news, the Atlanta Falcons have traded for Kansas City's future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. In return, the Chiefs recieve Atlanta's second round pick in next year's draft. While they did lose an iconic and productive veteran player in Gonzalez, stockpiling picks could be just what the Chiefs need to boost their ailing franchise and perhaps follow the example of last year's resurgent Falcons.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Cutler Saga Ends, Dealt to Bears
Jay Cutler was traded last week to the Chicago Bears, and the cost was steep: for Cutler and Denver's fifth-round pick in this year's draft, the Bears gave up quarterback Kyle Orton, their first- and third-round picks from this year, and next years first round selection as well. It is undeniable that Chicago paid through the nose, but was it worth it? As I said concerning the Terrell Owens trade to Buffalo, only time will tell, but until I am proven otherwise I will have to approve.
I'm certainly not without a certain degree of bias. I am a Chicago Bears fan, so I cannot help but be excited by the move, especially coming from a traditionally conservative Bears management and this year's quiet offseason. Signing Cutler was the most emphatic way to make a splash this season; in a league that has become pass-happy (and a division that has not), Chicago certainly has a chance the take the NFC North by storm with the most talented quarterback to grace their roster since Sid Luckman in the 1940's. Cutler's arm strength is at an elite level, ideal for the blustery winds of Soldier Field, and he has already proven that he can play at a high level. It might be rough going for the first year, with an offensive line featuring two newcoming offensive tackles in Keven Shaffer and Orlando Pace and a recieving corps that may be considered lackluster compared to the one Cutler had in Denver, but Cutler will eventually prove his worth to the Bears.
I'm certainly not without a certain degree of bias. I am a Chicago Bears fan, so I cannot help but be excited by the move, especially coming from a traditionally conservative Bears management and this year's quiet offseason. Signing Cutler was the most emphatic way to make a splash this season; in a league that has become pass-happy (and a division that has not), Chicago certainly has a chance the take the NFC North by storm with the most talented quarterback to grace their roster since Sid Luckman in the 1940's. Cutler's arm strength is at an elite level, ideal for the blustery winds of Soldier Field, and he has already proven that he can play at a high level. It might be rough going for the first year, with an offensive line featuring two newcoming offensive tackles in Keven Shaffer and Orlando Pace and a recieving corps that may be considered lackluster compared to the one Cutler had in Denver, but Cutler will eventually prove his worth to the Bears.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Michael Vick: What He's Really Worth
Michael Vick recently released papers to the bankruptcy court entailing his plan for repaying his debts, a plan that assumed he would make ten million dollars a year upon his reinstatement to the NFL. Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture?
There is no doubt that Vick is (or at least, was) one of the greatest athletes to ever grace an NFL field (note the use of the word athlete, not quarterback). His electrifying speed dazzled many fans during his previous career with the Atlanta Falcons, and he was at one point considered to be one of the most (if not the most) exciting player to watch in the whole league.
But slow down, Mr. Vick. An NFL team is not likely to sign you at all—let alone for $10 million annually—unless you can prove you're back in shape. A year and a half of incarceration and prison food would wreak havoc with the body of even a great athlete, so pardon the NFL teams for being skeptical. And that's completely ignoring the whole reason why you went to prison in the first place, or your less-than-spotless record before then.
Now, there are undoubtedly some times that will show some interest in Vick. That being said, the number of teams with a dire quarterback need is growing thin. The Detroit Lions, of course, hold the #1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and could select Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, reducing their motivation to sign Vick, and their cap room, considerably. On the other hand, signing Vick could give the Lions the opportunity to select an offensive lineman (a left tackle, specifically) and then either trade down or pick the best player available with their second 1st-round pick (#20 from the Dallas Cowboys). If Vick proved that he could still cut it at the NFL level, this situation could bode very well for the Lions.
The Jacksonville Jaguars could also try and be in the hunt for Vick's signature. David Gerrard has proved that he can play well, but I think the Jags have reason to be somewhat concerned about their depth at quarterback and the resemblance between Gerrard's and Vick's playing styles is perhaps the best you will find in the league.
The Kansas City Chiefs, having just recently traded for Matt Cassel, are most likely out of the question, as are the New York Jets, who have recently publicly stated that they are happy with thier current group of signal callers, and the Chicago Bears, whose style of power run does not fit Vick's abilities.
Having just placed Jay Cutler on the trade block, the Denver Broncos could pursue Vick, but I see that as being unlikely. The signing of a player like Vick—with a controversial past and demands for a salary equaling Peyton Manning and surpassing Tom Brady— would seem to directly contradict the policy of "team before stars" that Josh McDaniels is trying to set up in Denver.
I think the team to not rule out, though, is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their infamous quarterback carousel under Jon Gruden may have faded away, but unless they trade for Jay Cutler their short- and long-term solution for quarterback remain unsolved. Vick had superb arm strength before he left the league and his outstanding speed and mobility were the envy of quarterbacks everywhere. With some improvements to his accuracy, I believe he could excel in the same type of West Coast offense that Jeff Garcia and, going further back, Steve Young played in.
So, my advice to Vick: Don't expect to start or make a starter's wage, don't expect a warm welcome back into the league immediately, and (here's a little bit of a plea in here as well) please, PLEASE keep your head on straight. I'm sure that if you prove yourself to the league, there will inevitably be a job waiting for you somewhere.
There is no doubt that Vick is (or at least, was) one of the greatest athletes to ever grace an NFL field (note the use of the word athlete, not quarterback). His electrifying speed dazzled many fans during his previous career with the Atlanta Falcons, and he was at one point considered to be one of the most (if not the most) exciting player to watch in the whole league.
But slow down, Mr. Vick. An NFL team is not likely to sign you at all—let alone for $10 million annually—unless you can prove you're back in shape. A year and a half of incarceration and prison food would wreak havoc with the body of even a great athlete, so pardon the NFL teams for being skeptical. And that's completely ignoring the whole reason why you went to prison in the first place, or your less-than-spotless record before then.
Now, there are undoubtedly some times that will show some interest in Vick. That being said, the number of teams with a dire quarterback need is growing thin. The Detroit Lions, of course, hold the #1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and could select Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, reducing their motivation to sign Vick, and their cap room, considerably. On the other hand, signing Vick could give the Lions the opportunity to select an offensive lineman (a left tackle, specifically) and then either trade down or pick the best player available with their second 1st-round pick (#20 from the Dallas Cowboys). If Vick proved that he could still cut it at the NFL level, this situation could bode very well for the Lions.
The Jacksonville Jaguars could also try and be in the hunt for Vick's signature. David Gerrard has proved that he can play well, but I think the Jags have reason to be somewhat concerned about their depth at quarterback and the resemblance between Gerrard's and Vick's playing styles is perhaps the best you will find in the league.
The Kansas City Chiefs, having just recently traded for Matt Cassel, are most likely out of the question, as are the New York Jets, who have recently publicly stated that they are happy with thier current group of signal callers, and the Chicago Bears, whose style of power run does not fit Vick's abilities.
Having just placed Jay Cutler on the trade block, the Denver Broncos could pursue Vick, but I see that as being unlikely. The signing of a player like Vick—with a controversial past and demands for a salary equaling Peyton Manning and surpassing Tom Brady— would seem to directly contradict the policy of "team before stars" that Josh McDaniels is trying to set up in Denver.
I think the team to not rule out, though, is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their infamous quarterback carousel under Jon Gruden may have faded away, but unless they trade for Jay Cutler their short- and long-term solution for quarterback remain unsolved. Vick had superb arm strength before he left the league and his outstanding speed and mobility were the envy of quarterbacks everywhere. With some improvements to his accuracy, I believe he could excel in the same type of West Coast offense that Jeff Garcia and, going further back, Steve Young played in.
So, my advice to Vick: Don't expect to start or make a starter's wage, don't expect a warm welcome back into the league immediately, and (here's a little bit of a plea in here as well) please, PLEASE keep your head on straight. I'm sure that if you prove yourself to the league, there will inevitably be a job waiting for you somewhere.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
2009 NFL Rule Changes
At the owners committee today, four new rules were passed, all concerning player safety:
1. A blindside block deliver to a defender's head with the blocker's head, forearm or shoulder will result in a 15-yard penalty. While football is undoubtedly a contact sport, head protection has long been one of the important issues surrounding rule changes, and it's good that the defenders are getting a little protection on the blindside. No offense to Hines Ward, but I trust that most people who witnessed his Week 7 block on Kieth Rivers will agree that it is worthy of being considered for a penalty call.
2. Initial contact to the head of a defenseless reciever is also punishable by a 15-yard penalty. As with the first rule change, this is to protect the player's head in a vulnerable situation (Eric Smith on Anquan Boldin, anyone?). Good rule change from where I'm standing.
3. On kickoffs, any single blocking wedge can be limited to only two players. I'm not familiar with what the previous size was limited too, but I think this is a somewhat detrimental rule. The unpredictablily of the return game is one of the things that makes the NFL exciting, and removing the ability to block with more than two players in a single wedge would seem to make returning a kick to the house a more difficult proposition.
4. On an onside kick, the kicking team can have no more than five players pursuing the ball. This rule seems to stack the odds of the recovery of an onside kick even more in the favor of the recieving team. Don't quote me on this, but most onside kicks fail anyway. I could understand the logic behind this rule if onside kicks were being recovered on a regular basis, but I don't believe that no NFL team currently has a kicker capable of consistently delivering an onside kick just right. I don't see how this affects player safety, and it will likely only marginally affect gameplay.
1. A blindside block deliver to a defender's head with the blocker's head, forearm or shoulder will result in a 15-yard penalty. While football is undoubtedly a contact sport, head protection has long been one of the important issues surrounding rule changes, and it's good that the defenders are getting a little protection on the blindside. No offense to Hines Ward, but I trust that most people who witnessed his Week 7 block on Kieth Rivers will agree that it is worthy of being considered for a penalty call.
2. Initial contact to the head of a defenseless reciever is also punishable by a 15-yard penalty. As with the first rule change, this is to protect the player's head in a vulnerable situation (Eric Smith on Anquan Boldin, anyone?). Good rule change from where I'm standing.
3. On kickoffs, any single blocking wedge can be limited to only two players. I'm not familiar with what the previous size was limited too, but I think this is a somewhat detrimental rule. The unpredictablily of the return game is one of the things that makes the NFL exciting, and removing the ability to block with more than two players in a single wedge would seem to make returning a kick to the house a more difficult proposition.
4. On an onside kick, the kicking team can have no more than five players pursuing the ball. This rule seems to stack the odds of the recovery of an onside kick even more in the favor of the recieving team. Don't quote me on this, but most onside kicks fail anyway. I could understand the logic behind this rule if onside kicks were being recovered on a regular basis, but I don't believe that no NFL team currently has a kicker capable of consistently delivering an onside kick just right. I don't see how this affects player safety, and it will likely only marginally affect gameplay.
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