While Madden ‘09 is a major improvement over last year’s version, some competition would sure help.

Before my review on Madden 2009 (PS3), a letter to Bronco head coach Mike Shanahan.

Dear Mike,

As a fan of the NFL for over two decades, I’d like to say thanks for your many contributions to the National Football League. You managed to turn the legacy of John Elway on its ear from wretched post-season quarterback to an immortal Denver hero who won back-to-back Super Bowls in his final two NFL seasons. Also, you gave us the short, albeit explosive, career of running back Terrell Davis. You even managed to push perennial mediocre quarterback Jake Plummer within a game of the Super Bowl.

However, I have a bone to pick with you, oh, enemy of all fantasy football owners. Not only do you confuse, bewilder and frustrate fantasy owners everywhere by bringing in multiple running backs with the last name of Bell and veteran backs of questionable character or continuously draft runners that are unable to reach 20 carries a game, but you have now committed the most unpardonable of sports sins.

While locked in early duels of Madden ’09, the game’s flow is halted by timeouts before field goals at the end of halves and games. How dare you bring such a momentum stopping, time-killing, and irritating innovation to a video game? This happened all because of your inability to put away the pedestrian Oakland Raiders at home. First, fantasy football and now video games. Laugh it up Shanahan; may your team drink from a cup of non-playoff sorrow in December.

Best Wishes,
Derek L. Jones

Okay, perhaps that’s a bit over the top, but I take my football seriously. The 20th anniversary edition of Madden offers a great escape for gamers, but also continues to expose apathy amongst the football video gaming community. Here’s a look at the best and worst of Madden ’09.

Pros

Cons

Verdict

Football gamers remain in a difficult position. No other option exists for an NFL game, which is a dangerous thing. EA Sports mailed in Madden over the years, especially once it snuffed out the 2K franchise. Luckily, the Madden franchise is enough to spawn national tournaments on a yearly basis. As long as it’s the only NFL video game in town, innovations will come at a snail’s pace because, after all, where else can you go? The franchise is growing stale and it would be nice if an overhaul accompanied one of these editions. Having said all of that, Madden ’09 offers a great gameplay experience versus last year’s version which I found to be a snoozefest. The graphics are top-notch and it’s a potentially addictive game. Score it 8 out of 10 for Madden ’09. To think I wrote this entire column without mentioning that fella from Mississippi that plays quarterback for the Jets.

August 15th, 2008
Categories: Derek Jones, FOOTBALL, Video Game Reviews . Author: Derek Jones . Comments: 6 Comments

We continue to roll out the 2008 RotoRob NFL Draft Kit, today getting into the real meat of the kit — cheat sheets!

I can safely say that these cheat sheets are the ultimate draft tool for every single reader, no matter the draft type or scoring system.

This is due, mainly, to the fact that our cheat sheets are completely customizable. If you think our rankings are “idiotic,” no worries, just alter them to your preferences. All the info is there for you to stay on top of any variable that gets thrown your way during the draft. Anyway, here’s a little explanation of the info we have provided.

Ranking - Derek Jones and I compiled a combined ranking list for each position. Some go against the popular opinion and some fall in line with them. For reasoning behind our rankings, you can actually go to Barnes & Noble or Borders and pick up the Fantasy Football Guide 2008 magazine (LT is on the cover holding the American flag over his head). Derek and I wrote the quarterback, running back, kicker, and defense rankings for that publication and I’d like to be modest, but frankly it’s awesome stuff. We’ll be discussing the magazine in greater detail later in the week.

Value - We realize our rankings don’t always align with the fantasy football brain trust at large. That’s okay. We give you an approximation of where players stand in general fantasy circles. This is done by combining many magazine rankings and is a good estimation of a player’s standing.

Tier - The difference between, say, LaDainian Tomlinson (we have at No. 2) and Steven Jackson (No. 3 on our list) is much different than the difference between Jackson and Brian Westbrook (who we have at No. 4). Knowing a player’s worth compared to his peers is important when considering which position to target when. If you take a tier three wide out when five are available but just one tier three back remains on the table, it could very well be a mistake. Just note that our tiers are determined within our personal rankings. When/if you change up the cheat sheets for yourself, be sure to fiddle around with the tiers as well.

ADP (10 Team) & ADP (12 Team) - This is another way to look at a player’s value. Average Draft Position should be a good gauge of when to take a player. This is denoted by (Round.Pick) so ‘2.07′ means ’second round, seventh pick of the round’ in case you were wondering.

Auction - Approximate auction price assuming cap space and roster restrictions aren’t an issue. This means that, essentially, it’s the price we’d pay for the player if he were the first one nominated during the draft. Because auction rounds are free form, any player can be nominated at any point. When caps start dwindling and some owners fill roster spots, the values of players nominated later can change greatly. Knowing the estimated auction value of players is immensely important when looking for late steals and for avoiding bad buys.

Finally, the spreadsheets include endless space for you to add notes, song lyrics, funny insults you think up, etc. As I said, cheet sheets get no better than this. Now, all we need to do is set up the contract of what percentage of your winnings come to me. Wait, that’s not part of the deal? Crap.

Quarterbacks (.xls)
Running Backs (.xls)
Wide Receivers (.xls)

August 13th, 2008
Categories: 2008 NFL Draft Kit, Andy Goldstein, Cheat sheets, Derek Jones, FOOTBALL . Author: Andy Goldstein . Comments: 3 Comments

If fantasy owners were Superman, this is what Coach Shanahan is to them thanks to the way he handles running backs.

As we continue to roll out the RotoRob 2008 NFL Draft Kit, Derek delivers his sleeper and bust picks. Andy already weighed in with his own sleepers and busts on Tuesday, an article that generated some debate. Do you guys agree with Derek’s picks? Let us know.

QUARTERBACK

Sleeper – Matt Schaub: During his first season as a starter, Schaub showed glimpses of being a promising quarterback. He only fired nine touchdown passes in 11 games, but was limited by injuries in two of those contests. Schaub will feel more comfortable in year two with the Texans and if he has a healthy Andre Johnson, look out. Johnson stretches the field for Houston’s passing game and when he was out of the lineup last season, he was sorely missed. Schaub’s success will largely be tied to Johnson’s health thanks to a lack of solid depth at receiver for Houston, but a 20-plus touchdown season is not out of the question for him.

Bust - Derek Anderson: The 2007 campaign was a tale of two different seasons for Anderson. Through the first eight games, he averaged 263 yards per game; over the last eight, he tallied 209 yards per contest. Anderson’s touchdowns dipped and his interceptions climbed as well during the second half. Teams will be ready for Anderson in ’08. Despite being armed with a good set of weapons at receiver with Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr., teams will not be fooled by Anderson’s success. The third-year pro will find it difficult to replicate his solid ’07 campaign that included 29 touchdown passes. The addition of Donte Stallworth sounds like a novel concept, but he is more flash than substance. Furthermore, games early on against the Cowboys, Steelers, Ravens, Giants and Jags will test Anderson’s mettle.

RUNNING BACK

Sleeper – Selvin Young: With all due respect to New Orleans’ Pierre Thomas, the nod goes to Young. Travis Henry is gone and rookieRyan Torain is going to miss at least six weeks with a broken elbow, leaving Young as the primary starter for the Broncos. As a rookie, it may be hard for Torain to get into the flow of things right away which should give Young an advantage. Granted, Coach Mike Shanahan is to fantasy football what kryptonite is to Superman. Shanahan has played around with back combinations the last few seasons since dealing Clinton Portis. However, Young should see plenty of time on the field because of Denver’s current situation. He averaged a solid 5.2 yards per carry last season on 140 attempts, but he only scored one touchdown. Look for his yards and touchdowns to jump up in 2008.

Bust - Willis McGahee: Like sour milk or stale bread, something isn’t quite right with the Raven offense at the moment. On second thought, that has been the case since they began in Baltimore. While everyone lauds the practice play of rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, he probably will not begin the season as the starter. Kyle Boller may get the nod and that will not do McGahee any favors. Perhaps the most glaring omission from the Ravens in ’08 will be at left tackle after the retirement of future Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden. Great left tackles in football are not easy to come by and replacing them is an even more difficult chore. Undoubtedly, Ogden’s departure will affect McGahee. Another issue for the former Miami Hurricane is his health. McGahee is suffering from an ailing left knee and, with his history of knee problems, that’s not a good trend for ’08.

WIDE RECEIVER

Sleeper – Anthony Gonzalez: One of the biggest question marks entering this season for Indy surrounds Marvin Harrison. He is returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for much of ’07. While he is coming back, things may not be quite the same in the land of milk and Peyton. Reggie Wayne has emerged as the team’s top receiver and Gonzalez is poised to become a legitimate number two threat. He only compiled three touchdown receptions last season, but showed flashes that give Colt fans hope that there is plenty of life after Harrison. During Gonzalez’s final six games, he put up a pair of 100-yard performances and pulled in four touchdowns. He has already built a relationship with Manning on the field which will serve him well.

Bust - Greg Jennings: With each passing day, I’m becoming more and more convinced that this whole Aaron Rodgers thing isn’t going to work out. Rodgers has the pressure of the world on his shoulders and he will not be well equipped to handle it. Whether a quarterback sits for three seasons and watches Brett Favre or Babe Laufenberg, it makes little difference. At the end of the day, the quarterback must have the tools to get it done on the field. Rodgers is going to struggle in his first season and Jennings will be one whose numbers suffer. He caught 12 touchdowns last season and while he only compiled 920 yards receiving, the third-year receiver averaged 17.4 yards per game, a team best. Those numbers will come down with a signal caller that is as green as the jersey on his back.

August 7th, 2008
Categories: 2008 NFL Draft Kit, Derek Jones, FOOTBALL . Author: Derek Jones . Comments: 4 Comments

Was Beck singing about a Utopia or the New England offense?

What Went Right

“Put your hands on the wheel and let the Golden Age begin,†sang Beck on his Sea Change album. Most assuredly, he was talking about some sort of Utopia or maybe the Patriot offense in 2007. New England shattered offensive records in large part thanks to Tom Brady and the team’s wildly successful passing game. By the numbers, it’s the greatest single season passing offense in league history. Whether it’s Brady’s 50 touchdown passes, Randy Moss’ 23 touchdown receptions or Wes Welker’s league-leading 112 catches, an offense that averaged 36 points per game served as a fantasy owner’s dream. Defensively, they weren’t too shabby either. Despite being armed with linebackers nearly ready to collect AARP cards, the Pat defense allowed only 17 points per game and finished fourth overall.

What Went Wrong

Believe it or not, there were flaws to a team that went 16-0 (typing 18-1 would pay respect to the ‘72 Dolphins and I refuse to be a part of such a demeaning concept). Everyone talks about the great pass rush that the Giants put on Brady in the Super Bowl. However, I think the struggles of the New England running game was a significant problem as well. The Pats mustered just 45 yards rushing in their shocking 17-14 loss. Laurence Maroney carried 14 times for 36 yards and ended the way he started the year — quietly. Granted, the pass-happy Pats brutalized teams with throwing downfield earlier on but the running game did not get cranked up until the bombs away approach finally met resistance towards season’s end. Maroney did not outperform backup Sammy Morris early on in the season. He finally got going when the weather turned colder and the defenses stiffened. However, his lack of consistency helped doom the Pats in the desert.

Off-season Outlook

The team’s offseason was filled with visions of Arlen Specter and Spygate off the field, but free agent defections related to on-field activities will have the greatest impact on the ’08 Pats. Cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Randall Gay and safety Eugene Wilson pursued greener pastures, receiver Donte Stallworth left for Cleveland, and the team released linebacker Rosevelt Colvin. These losses caused patchwork solutions that may make New England vulnerable — especially in the secondary. Instead of overpaying vets, the front office elected to show younger (and cheaper) players the “Patriot Way.â€

Draft Review

When a team sets the NFL scoring record during the previous season, selecting offensive players is not a glaring necessity. Defense was the order of the draft for New England. The team added much-needed youth to its linebacking corps by adding Jerrod Mayo and Shawn Crable in the first and third rounds, respectively. Then, the Pats replenished their secondary with the additions of cornerbacks Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite in the second and fourth rounds.

State of the Team

Quarterbacks

Thomas Edward Patrick Brady is fantasy football’s consensus top quarterback and rightfully so. Nonetheless, those waiting for an ’07 repeat need to temper their expectations. Peyton Manning, Dan Marino and Kurt Warner all suffered drop-offs the season following their 40+ touchdown campaigns. The recipe is there for Brady’s decline as well. Defenses caught on towards the end of the season and started putting more pressure on him. Considering New England’s competition in 2008, a fall could be in the cards. While the Patriots’ strength of schedule ranks dead last, they play against seven of the top ten passing defenses in the league. Brady is not going to reach 50 again but 28 to 30 touchdowns isn’t pedestrian either.

Running Backs

Maroney remains an enigma entering 2008. Many believed he would have a bust out campaign a season ago. Instead, he produced one 100-yard rushing performance in the season’s first 13 games. He must shed the “injury-prone†label as well. Maroney has been banged up throughout his first couple of years and missed three games last season with a groin injury. For reasons mentioned in the previous section, he’ll be a key figure in the Patriot offensive scheme. Maroney is amongst the second round tier of backs in fantasy land. Should he struggle, backup Morris proved last year that he could move the chains in a reserve role. He produced back-to-back 100-yard rushing efforts before suffering a season-ending chest injury against Dallas.

Wide Receivers

Towards the end of the season, Randy Moss did not have quite the same impact as earlier in the year. In the final six games of the season (including the playoffs), Moss averaged just 53 yards per game. During the first six games, he averaged 101 yards a game. Opponents pressured Brady effectively and did a better job of scheming against the Pats by season’s end. Moss is too good not be an explosive player again, but — much like Brady — he’s set to endure a bit of a drop from ’07. Yet, that still makes him one of the top fantasy options at receiver. The guy who provides the most intrigue is Welker, who turned into Brady’s go-to guy at the end of the year. Overall, some fantasy pundits seem almost way too high on him right now. Defenses should be a bit more prepared to slow down Welker, especially on third down when he killed teams. He’s a number two receiver on teams in larger leagues, but be careful. Don’t automatically assume he’ll repeat his mammoth ’07. Jabar Gaffney and Chad Jackson round out this explosive group of receivers. Jackson, a former first round pick, needs to produce, otherwise his days in Foxborough are numbered.

Tight Ends

Ben Watson is coming off ankle surgery and his productivity remains a question mark. He has yet to show that he is a top level tight end. Whenever he shows flashes, an injury is soon to follow. Lucky for Watson though, he has a future Hall of Fame quarterback who’ll get him the ball. Kyle Brady is gone, while in his stead, the team added veteran Marcus Pollard, who is likely to serve as Watson’s backup. Dave Thomas returns as a reserve.

Defense/Special Teams

The defense is younger, but more inexperienced than previous seasons. They’ll be a better unit by season’s end, assuming the secondary doesn’t get ravaged by injury, which seems to be the status quo in most years for the Patriots. New England’s kick and punt return teams are solid. Welker is a more reliable option at punt returner while Jackson still has much to prove before being considered a reliable kick returner. As long as Lord Belichick is anywhere near the defense, they’ll be amongst the league’s best.

July 26th, 2008
Categories: Derek Jones, FOOTBALL, Team report . Author: Derek Jones . Comments: 8 Comments

What Went Right

Brett Favre didn’t get to throw to Randy Moss but Greg Jennings and Donald Driver did the trick in 2007. The Mississippi gunslinger fired 28 touchdown passes, his highest total since 2004. Along the way, Favre set NFL career records for most touchdown passes and most yards (sorry, Dan Marino). In other years, Favre would have received strong MVP consideration. Driver and Jennings were the biggest beneficiaries of Favre’s blast-from-the-past season. Jennings accounted for 12 touchdowns, while Driver led the team in receptions (82) and receiving yards (1,048). The biggest surprise for the Pack was the emergence of running back Ryan Grant, who accumulated 956 yards rushing and eight touchdowns despite not seeing an abundance of playing time until Week Eight.

What Went Wrong

A funny thing happened on the way to Green Bay playing the Patriots in the Super Bowl - Corey Webster. The Giant cornerback’s overtime interception in the NFC title game began what has been a tragic comedy for Packer fans, management and especially Favre. The legendary Packer quarterback announced his retirement in March, and then changed his mind after management set the wheels in motion for Aaron Rodgers to be the starting quarterback. Instead of being focused on football this offseason, the Packer front office is involved in a game of chicken with a first ballot Hall of Fame quarterback — a game which they cannot possibly win in the eyes of the public.

Off-season Outlook

Despite the three ring circus of the last few months, the Packers are coming off a 13-3 season and narrowly missed playing in the Super Bowl. While the change at quarterback (we think) will be an adjustment, the Packers kept the team intact for the most part. Offensive tackle Joe Toledo and linebacker Brandon Chillar posed as the Pack’s only meaningful free agent acquisitions. Meanwhile, they’ll need to address defensive tackle at some point with Johnny Jolly’s legal situation. Jolly could face up to 20 years in prison for possessing at least 200 grams of codeine.

Draft Review

Okay, follow me for a moment. The Packers spent so much time in nurturing Rodgers and are so completely against the idea of Favre coming back that they drafted Brian Brohm in the second round. Matt Flynn was then selected as a seventh round choice. So, the Packers could open the season with three quarterbacks that have never started a game. In brighter news, the team used another second round pick on receiver Jordy Nelson to add depth to a talented group of pass catchers.

State of the Team

Quarterbacks

Assuming the Packers stick to their alleged party line of keeping Favre in retirement, Rodgers as a fantasy option is an intriguing issue. He has good weapons at receiver and a solid running game to back him. Rodgers looked good when he relieved an injured Favre against Dallas last season (completing 18-of-26 for 201 yards and one TD). However, being the starter is another ballgame. Rodgers watching for a few years may give him an upper hand early as teams don’t have a great reference point for preparing against him. However, consider him a second string fantasy quarterback until he can prove himself. Historically, quarterbacks that follow Hall of Fame quarterbacks often struggle. A 17- to 20-touchdown pass season is not unreasonable, but don’t expect a Joe Montana to Steve Young transition.

On a quick side note, the Packers are better off with Favre as their quarterback for this season, but here’s the truth of the matter for fantasy owners. As days go by and August drafts start soon, the prospect of selecting Favre in a draft under any circumstance is not a good idea until something concrete happens. Remember, the Packers have all the power in this situation, not Favre.

Running Backs

Grant is back, but will have the added pressure of trying to produce with Rodgers under centre. Luckily though, teams still have to worry about Driver and Jennings, so selling out against the run isn’t a real option for defenses unless Rodgers shows Akili Smith-like talent. Former Giant castoff Grant possesses good breakaway speed and the ability to shed tacklers. Handling a season’s load worth of carries is a concern, but he should be ready for the challenge. He is an early- to mid-second round option in fantasy drafts. Brandon Jackson, Vernand Morency and DeShawn Wynn add depth and versatility.

Wide Receivers

Jennings posed as the long distance threat last season (averaged a team-high 17.6 yards per catch) and ranked amongst the league’s best in catches of 40 yards or more. Only Moss and Joey Galloway caught more passes of at least 40 yards than Jennings’ seven big play receptions. The veteran Driver could act as a security blanket for Rodgers out of the gate. However, since Jennings is younger and a long distance threat, he has better value than the 32-year-old Driver. Nelson and James Jones round out a talented group. If Rogers fails it’ll likely be on his own merit, not because he lacked options.

Tight Ends

The team severed ties with Bubba Franks and gave Donald Lee a four-year, $12 million contract extension last November. The new deal solidifies Lee as the starter and, after catching six touchdown passes in ’07, he should be a red zone factor again. He’s not in Gates-Witten-Gonzalez territory, but he’s an up and coming talent. Lee’s backup is slated to be rookie Jermichael Finley out of Texas.

Defense/Special Teams

The Jolly situation could affect Green Bay’s run stopping capabilities going forward and the secondary got exposed a bit in the NFC title game. Despite those issues, the Packers play in a division which lacks consistent offenses. Despite the fact that its return games lack explosiveness, it should rank close to a top 10 fantasy unit.

July 23rd, 2008
Categories: Derek Jones, FOOTBALL . Author: Derek Jones . Comments: 1 Comment