Shelf Watch – NFL Offseason Edition

The Shelf Watch knows you are aching from the lack of football and over-exposure to family. That’s why we have got a NFL only Shelf Watch for you that will get you pumped for the offseason and solve all this free time and DVR space you suddenly have. TO THE SHELVES…

Super Bowl Trends

Top Shelf: It’s Over

From the moment the NFC title game ended, there has been a nonstop stream of overblown news and (more often) non-news. The Richard Sherman interview had a blowback, and then those who created that blowback received blowback, and since there was nothing else to talk about for two weeks, analysts tried to create blowback for the blowback from the creation of the initial blowback. If that last sentence seemed incoherent, then that just shows how stupid the build up to the Super Bowl became. The Marshawn Lynch story never mattered one iota, yet it played for days. Players had to deal with sport reporters (and even worse, non-sports reporters) throwing nonsensical questions at them in attempt to create a response. Much of the coverage ended up turning into complaints about the weather or the traffic. Perhaps worst of all, Bud Light and others created commercials that advertised … THEIR OWN GODDAMN COMMERCIALS. This was by far the worst Super Bowl of this century, and that's without mentioning how dull the game was.

Middle Shelf: Youth Matters

After years of color commentators repeating the adage that big game experience wins big games, we have seen that myth go to pot it just three games. In the AFC title game, Denver beat a New England team that had been playing in big games for years and two hours later, Seattle beat a team in San Francisco that was in its third straight conference championship. Then the Super Bowl featured just one player who had previously appeared in the big game: Peyton Manning. The Seahawks were younger and thus healthier and less weathered by the long season which showed in the absolute physical dominance they played with all game. Across the league, rookies are playing more snaps and depth is being tested more and more and the league is becoming less about who has the most strengths as much as having the least weaknesses. This should be on display this offseason, where draft picks will be at a premium and older free agents will face longer waits and smaller checks.

Bottom Shelf: People Bitching about Peyton Manning’s Performance

This is where you separate those people who love the game and those who love to argue about the game. Anyone who truly appreciates great football would recognize that this was the most dominant year for any quarterback in NFL History, and it’s not even close. To think otherwise is to either be too wrapped up in spite towards Manning or to be addicted to contrarianism. We only have one, two years tops left of Manning’s brilliance, and not much more from Tom Brady. We should all just release our petty hatred from 2003 and start appreciating the two best quarterbacks of these last 20 years.

NFL Offseason Storylines

Top Shelf: Possible Weapons Race

This is going to be one of the most fun free agency classes in quite some time. TJ Ward and Jairus Byrd are two of the league’s best safeties who have a chance to escape Cleveland and Buffalo respectively. The amount of effective pass rushers available, led by Greg Hardy and his 15 sacks, is ridiculous. All that still pales in comparison to the amount of offensive skill players that are on the market come March. Eric Decker. James Jones. Maurice Jones Drew. Dennis Pitta. These are all guys that could have put some of last year’s contenders over the top and that short list doesn’t even mention the fact that Jimmy Graham hasn’t been resigned yet and could dominate the open market. Look for Washington (lacking draft picks), Carolina (one impact guy away from beating San Francisco in round two) and New England (especially with Gronk out indefinitely) to be this year’s teams that make a splash.

Middle Shelf: The Arrival of Johnny Football

If anyone misses non-stop Tim Tebow coverage on ESPN, then it’s is time to get ready for MANZIEL-MANIA. No matter where he is drafted, he is guaranteed to be a polarizing figure, to become the crutch of hundreds of sports talk shows and to be the second best-selling jersey this year (you tell me you don’t want a Ha Ha Clinton-Dix jersey). If nothing else, it will be fun to have a player whose career can explode or implode at any moment.

Bottom Shelf: Rule Changes

Pass interference is the last rule that favors defensive backs, and a review of the call would suck whether or not it was overturned. PAT’s aren’t broken, and any change would affect the strategy of the game. The one rule that should change is defenders getting penalized for ball carriers ducking their head into harm’s way and making it impossible for defenders to avoid hitting the head. Instead of banning ball carriers from leading with their heads, which would be impossible to enforce, just make it so that if an offensive player lowers his helmet into the defender while getting tackled it void the defensive targeting penalty. If nothing else, it would save us from three to six Jim Harbaugh tirades per game.

Teams to Watch This Offseason

Top Shelf: Philadelphia Eagles

If there is any team with an opportunity to make a substantial move towards the top, it’s these Eagles. The offense needs more weapons, but Chip Kelly can focus on defense and offensive line in the early in draft because so many spread players are available on day two and three. The Iggles can pick up an o-line guy in round one (Taylor Lewan?), a rush linebacker at pick 54 (Trent Murphy?) and then spend the rest of the draft grabbing an undervalued running quarterback (Logan Thomas? Stephan Morris? Keith Price?), a speedster no one else wants (Bruce Ellington? Dri Archer) or pick up guys he recruited and knows how to use (DeAnthony Thomas, Lache Seastrunk, Josh Huff and Terrence Mitchell are all available). Speaking of former Ducks, you’d have to think Kelly has the inside track to TJ Ward and Jairus Byrd, who just happen to fill the Eagles’ big hole at safety. If they could pull off even a third of that and grab some depth as well, Philly would be on the cusp of becoming a legitimate title contender.

Middle Shelf: Houston Texans

Houston might be the best team to finish last in the standings in quite some time. Like many teams they are just a quarterback away from contention, and they have the first pick, the 33rd pick, and offer an income tax free destination for free agents. If they can get a serviceable quarterback, a decent cornerback and maybe just one more receiver, they’ll be right back with the deeply flawed Indianapolis Colts at the top of the AFC south.

Bottom Shelf: Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns

I couldn't decide on just one team here. There is nothing I love more than seeing teams crash and burn due to poor decisions and these teams are this year’s top candidates. The Dolphins are one misstep from collapsing to the bottom of an already division after blowing a sure playoff bid against a New York Jets team with absolutely nothing at stake. Half their offensive line has hissy-fitted their way out of a job, they have way too many overpaid guys and zero proven leaders, and they don’t pick until number 18. If they blow that pick it could mean the end of this already floundering regime. Speaking of floundering regimes, how ugly is the Browns coaching situation where they hired the only coordinator desperate for a head coaching gig that he would walk into a situation where he lasts 25 games tops and poisons his name for the rest of his career? FUN FUN FUN! Also this.

NFL Draft Finds

1st Round: Odell Beckham (Wide Receiver, LSU)

Whoever picks up this guy is going to be happy with what he will bring to their offense. I have seen him play at least eight or nine times at LSU and he never failed to jump out at me. He has the speed and elusiveness after the catch that is reminiscent of a Victor Cruz type, but he has always reminded me more of Anquan Boldin because of the way he positions himself and his assertiveness when going to the ball. Throw in his ability as a returner, his experience against top shelf SEC defensive backs and an excellent name and he’ll be giving some lucky team 80 receptions a year in no time at all.

2nd-3rd round: Trent Murphy (Rush Linebacker, Stanford)

One of the reasons Sean Mannion was so successful last year was the tremendous protection he had game after game. Then Stanford traveled to Corvallis and the Beavers were only able to put up twelve points. Much of that was due to Trent Murphy, who spent all game shooting into the backfield, sniffing out screens and getting after Mannion for two and a half sacks on the day. Murphy excels at defending the pass, even when he is in coverage and could easily play a 4-3 outside linebacker. Murphy also teamed up with Shayne Skov (another find in round two or three) to form one of the nation’s top run defenses at Stanford, so he would be hard to take off of the field on any down.

4th-7th round: Isaiah Crowell (Running Back, Alabama State)

If anyone is going to be the Terrell Davis/Alfred Morris guy in this draft, it is going to be Crowell. The former top recruit for Georgia earned the starting job as a true freshman, playing well enough to make Bulldog fans forget about Knowshon Moreno. After being arrested for weapons charges, Crowell was dismissed from Georgia and spent the last two years at Alabama State, where he put up solid numbers without getting too many carries. If he lands in the right situation he could become a valuable player in a short amount of time. He would do good to end up in Atlanta (Georgia is his home state), experience a solid locker room and learn from the uber-professional Steven Jackson.

How to spend your Weekends without the NFL

Top Shelf: IRB Rugby Sevens

There was a brief period when the Universal Sports Network was available on broadcast television, and I would check in every week to see if Rugby Sevens was on. When the series comes to America, the NBC announcers spend so much time explaining what's going on that you can’t really watch ignorantly and be constantly amazed at the truly gifted athletes the spot has to offer. It is better to figure things out on the fly and listen to the British announcers talk nonsense while you marvel at the 14 minutes games and awesome form tackling (Cut to: Jon Gruden foaming at the mouth). It is worth your time to see Cecil Afrika, and daydream about the havoc he could wreck as a running back or kick returner.

Middle Shelf: Arena Football

The AFL has always been one of my favorite minor sports leagues despite the fact that there wasn’t a team in Portland and it was never on TV. Now Portland has an expansion team (unfortunately the chose not to bring back the sensational Portland Forest Dragons moniker and logo) and the endless touchdown parade will be led by Darron Thomas. The first game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network, and I don't think you will have any trouble getting tickets.

Bottom Shelf: Pac-12 Basketball

Oregon has played better after their five game skid, but they are still boring to watch. That is the story for most of the conference as Arizona is getting ready to run away with the title. UCLA has been dull as well, and the only game that has been anywhere near interesting was Cal playing the inevitable spoiler role to Arizona’s bid to go undefeated, and that they ever got as far as they did was a testament to how weak the conference is. You are better off watching the ACC which is unbelievable this year or those loaded Kentucky and Kansas squads and wish the Blazers had a horse in this draft.