Predictions Review/ Mock Draft

I think this is a good time to review some of the predictions I had going into the season.  It’s crazy to think that it was just about 3 months ago when I had predicted that Brett Favre would end his career in disappointing fashion, Chris Johnson would out perform what he did in ’09, that the Eagles would have the top rated fantasy football defense, Aaron Rodgers would throw 44 TD passes, and that Calvin Johnson and Michael Crabtree would be the leading receivers this season.  Naturally I missed out on most of these predictions. However, the one I am happiest about is that fact that I nailed Brett Favre to the wall like a famous filet-o-fish.  I don’t know if I could have drawn up a better way for Prima-Favre to end his career (QB Rating 69.9, 11 TD’s, and 19 Int’s, laundry list of injuries).  His grey hairs became a lot more grey, his excuses became a lot more mundane, and his text messages were…nevermind.  This horse is dead.

CJ2K didn’t have the type of season a #1 pick is expected to have. I mean sure, 1600 yards from scrimmage and 12 total TD’s is certainly nice, but not #1 overall pick type stats.  It probably didn’t help that the Titans had a poor O-Line and were trailing in most of their games.  Last year, the Titans were 8-8 and CJ2K had 358 rushing attempts.  This season, the Titans were 6-10 and CJ2K only had 318 rushing attempts. A slight correlation can be seen here.  It will be interesting to see what happens in Tennessee this off-season. If Jeff Fischer comes back, then Vince Young won’t and Kerry Collins is a very poor man’s version of Brett Favre which will allow teams to bring 8 in the box to stop the run.  Vince young keeps teams from doing that.

Sure missed on the Eagles prediction huh? It was a very disappointing season defensively for the Eagles Brandon Graham was injured for most of the season, Asante Samuel seems to be the only CB on the team and the LBs still cannot cover TE’s downfield.  Every mock draft I look at teams predicting that the Eagles will draft an O-Lineman in the first round and that Andy Reid just loves taking OL in the first round. A few reasons why that probably won’t happen:  First, it is going to be near impossible to get a STUD  now that the Eagles are going to be drafting somewhere in the mid 20’s.  Andy Reid only drafts can’t miss O-Lineman in the first round. Think about it.  Shawn Andrews was a beast for 3 seasons before her tucked his tale in and basically quit on his team. Second, there are zero can’t miss O-Lineman this year. Third, Andy has only taken one O-Lineman in the first round in 12 seasons (two if you count the time they trade a first for Jason Peters).  Fourth, our secondary is more of an issue.  In a draft where there are 6 CBs that received 1^st round grades from Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, you can expect them to target one of them.  Look for the Eagles to target Brandon Harris or Aaron Williams at the end of the first round.  They could trade up to go get Janoris Jenkins but with this depth you won’t need to do that.  Simply put, defense is an absolute priority this off-season.

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers were riddled with injuries this off-season.  The big blow came from Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley being lost for the season.  With no running game and no big receiver in the middle of the field, it was hard for Rodger’s to score down in the Red Zone.  Sure the target of 44 TD’s was high, but Rodgers should have scored more than 28 TD’s.  He should have had at least 33 TD’s with his talent.  Rodger is a great keeper and will be the 3^rd or 4^th QB taken next draft season.

Michael Crabtree and Calvin Johnson are going to be top flight WR’s in this league for the next 6 or 7 years.  Calvin already is a top end WR as he earned his first Pro Bowl appearance with 2^nd and 3^rd string QB’s throwing to him.  Crabtree had a poor season for one reason. Mike Singletary.  The man is the Larry Bowa of football.   No one wanted to play for him and his brash, “I’m in your face starring at you with my bloodshot eyes and I’m not backing down” look can only work for so long.  Crabtree had a successful 2^nd season but will benefit is a coach like Jon Gruden or Jim Harbaugh comes along to save the offense.  These 2 WR’s are solid WR’s to keep in any keeper league or dynasty league. Calvin will be a top 15 pick again next season.

FRANK CAP 2011 Mock Draft- Top 10 picks

1.   Carolina- Andrew Luck/QB

Being Compared to: Peyton Manning (not joking)

2.   Denver-   Patrick Peterson/CB

Being Compared to:  Champ Bailey

3.   Buffalo-  Da’Quan Bowers/DE

Being Compared to:  Michael Strahan

4.   Cincinnati- AJ Green/WR

Being Compared to:  Larry Fitzgerald

5.   Arizona- Marcell Dareus/3-4 DE

Being Compared to: Ty Warren

6.   Cleveland-  Robert Quinn/3-4 OLB

Being Compared to:  Cameron Wake

7.   San Francisco- Prince Amukamara/DB

Being Compared to:  Malcolm Jenkins

8.   Tennessee-  Nick Farley/ 4-3 DT

Being Compared to: Gerald McCoy

9.   Dallas- Adrian Clayborn/3-4 DE

Being Compared to:  Darnell Dockett

10. Washington-  Jake Locker/ QB

Being Compared to:  Eli Manning