Year One Not Quite What Shaahan Wanted

Last year Mike Shanahan took over in Washington, and many thought that when they got Donovan McNabb that maybe they were going somewhere. Not so much, and they find themselves back in the top 10 of the draft. Shanahan opened up a big controversy with McNabb, and now he has those questions to answer, along with numerous other ones about his team, and up is not necessarily where they are heading, except maybe in their selection of next year's draft.

The Redskins do have a few positions figured out, on defense their secondary is all relatively young, and pretty good, despite what Michael Vick did to them on that one Monday night. Their linebackers are solid too, with three of the four having very productive year's in 2010. The defensive line needs a little work, and youth, so in terms of the defense that would be the place to look.

On offense it is really tough to find really where their strengths are. Their offensive line play was good, could have been better, though Trent Williams is going to be an absolute stud. Their receivers are a hodge podge of attributes, and not really consistent. They are at this point going to start Ryan Torrain, who we are unsure of what to expect of, and their quarterback situation is entirely way too confusing. The rock on the offense is still Chris Cooley though, who is as solid as they come, especially in Washington lately.

So pressing needs in Washington: figure out quarterback situation, get some receiver roles, figure out confidence in Torrain, and sure up that defensive line. They seem to have a lot more question marks than the teams selecting in front of them oddly enough. The quarterback situation has to be addressed, but this point in the draft with the talent pool where it is they just do not reach here. They may trade down if they are in line to do so and get a quarterback they like at a more relative selection. There are no running backs that are worth the 10th pick when they have talent available for other needs at this point in time. That then points to the defensive line and the wide receiver position.

When you are the Redskins at this pick and the positions you are looking at are wide receiver and defensive line, the choice should be easy. There have been two defensive ends taken, and two defensive tackles, so the top of those talent pools have already been plucked. You have both A.J. Green and Julio Jones sitting there, waiting to be selected, top of that talent pool, you have to pull that trigger, it fulfills a need. I am more partial to Jones than most people, his run times, hands, size, build all scream top talent in the NFL, and he has the motor and confidence to boot. Here though, Green will be their choice because Snyder loves the names and the prestige, and Green has been forecast as a top three talent. Though Jones might be better, fit what they need better, they will take Green because he is the number one rated at the position and still available for them at 10.

Predictions as of today for this pick:

Me: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
Mel Kiper: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
Todd McShay: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
NewNFLDraft.com: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Well Jason Garrett, Here Is Step Two

Step one for the now official Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was to get the job. He did enough at the end of last year to get Jerry Jones to believe in him and take away the interim tag. Now he has to move on to step and build the team that he needs to win in his system. The question is, where should they go with this selection?

The Dallas Cowboys are continuing the trend at this point in the draft of underachieving teams, countless people had the Cowboys playing at home in last year's Super Bowl going into the season, and they have a lot of that same talent both coming back, and only getting better. On offense they are set at running back, wide receiver, tight end, center, guards, and of course quarterback. So they could look into their tackle positions here and see if they can draft for that.

On defense they have one of the scarier defensive players in the league in DeMarcus Ware, two former Pro Bowl cornerbacks, young safeties that are growing into their position, an experienced and good defensive tackle, and solid though aging middle linebackers. They could look into their end and other outside linebacker position at this point in the draft too. The thing about this pick is the Cowboys last year were one of the more talented teams, and they just underachieved. They still have all that great and emerging talent, so this pick really can fit right into a need to make this team almost complete, or at least more so in the future.

With that in mind there are a couple positions they should be looking at, on that offensive side they should be looking at the tackle position, while they could look to take a top talent defensive back to sure up both the present, and almost as importantly the future, or a defensive end to come in and maybe play right away. With the depth of this class though, and the picks that they have in the future, it would seem the best course of action here to go with the offensive side of the ball. If they were lucky to have something happen that would land a guy like Da'Quan Bowers into their lap that would be ideal, but that seems unlikely. So to go with Tyron Smith, the number one tackle and offensive lineman on the board, would make complete sense and would really be a great building block in this draft, and for the Garrett regime.

Predictions as of today for this pick:

Me: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
Mel Kiper: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
Todd McShay: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
NewNFLDraft: Tyron Smith, OT, USC

No Jeff Fisher, No Vince Young, Who To Select

Last time we saw the Tennessee Titans they were in a completely different situation than they find themselves now, and that makes this an interesting pick. They have pieces set, and some young guys in those positions like Kenny Britt, Chris Johnson, their secondary consists of nobody over the age of 30, and their linebackers had solid years last year. The Titans are another one of those teams that people had high hopes for coming into the 2010 season. They were on a roll at the end of the 2009 season, Vince Young had a great end to the year and had another off season under his belt, and they had one of consensus three best running backs in the league. They were supposed to be going places. Now they have a different coach, lost their top five pick of five seasons ago, and are in a situation where they have many directions where they could go.

This pick comes down to what they need, but also as to what talent is still available. A.J. Green is still on the board, and many believe him to be a top three, top five talent. To get that sort of talent at pick eight would be a bit of a steal. Problem is they had one receiver emerge last year as a star in Britt, they have faith in Nate Washington, and just last year selected Damian Williams who just last year as a rookie showed some flashes as to what he is capable of out of USC. So the question there is a popular one that people debate about all the time, do you draft for need, or do you take the best available player. In that debate it seems like the idea of taking what you need, because at this point they should all be talented in the top 10, should be the prevailing train of thought. You need a few things if you find yourselves in the top 10 selecting a player, so to load up on talent at a spot where you might already be set, at least more so than at other positions, seems rather silly for lack of a better word.

The other direction that they could go in would be on the defensive side of the ball, because both at defensive tackle and the end spot opposite of Justin Babin they seemed to under produce. In this spot if Patrick Peterson were still available that would probably be the direction in which they would go, but with him off the board they should be looking up front. Robert Quinn jumps to mind here because of his talent and work ethic on that defensive line. With Babin on one side and Quinn on the other the Titans would have a good pass rush, and a good one for the near future as Babin is coming off of his best year as a professional.

It really comes down to whether they want to take that talent still left on the board, or go for that defensive line. At this point in the draft, with the Titans probably looking for a new quarterback to follow the same line that Young did and watch Kerry Collins before being thrown into the fire, they might want to try and trade down in the draft and pick up a quarterback later in the round that they might not have available to them come the second round. However, if they were to stay in this pick, the route for them to go would be to sure up that line and take Robert Quinn.

Predictions as of today for this pick:

Me: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
Mel Kiper: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
Todd McShay:Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
NewNFLDraft.com: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

Welcome To The NFL Jim Harbaugh, Where Does Your Era Begin?

Who was the big get of the coaching offseason in the NFL? Many would say that it is the San Francisco 49ers head man Jim Harbaugh, coming off of one of the best seasons in Stanford University history, leading them to a victory in the Orange Bowl to cap off a 12-1 season. That lone loss came in a game that Stanford played at eventual runner-up Oregon back in early October. Quite a turnaround from where the program began with Harbaugh at the helm, the year previous to him stepping in the team went a woeful 1-11. In essence a complete 180 degree change for the program.

Now he has gotten his pay day, and he joins his brother as the head coach of an NFL team (his brother of course the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens). Harbaugh grew up right near the team, so this is a staying home of sorts, and now he has his chance to turn this team into what he wants, what he needs to win, and that all can start with this pick in the top 10.

He inherits a team that could potentially win right away, as they were a very popular pick to make a playoff run under Mike Singletary last year. The positions that are filled for this team need not even a second glance, running back, tight end, offensive line, middle linebackers, outside linebackers they are more than set there with talent, and young talent in spots. The quarterback position is something they may need to address, though it could be interesting to see if Harbaugh can come in and make a difference with the talent on the roster, something that defensive minded predecessors Mike Nolan and Singletary could not do.

Then there are the players you are looking at to see who is available, and what best fits what we need to build that solid foundation for the future of this franchise under Harbaugh. They have three spots to look at, defensive tackle, wide receiver, and the secondary. At this point in the draft, with the players that are available, and the linebackers that you have quite honestly, you can pass on the defensive tackle spot for this pick. This leads into three players that keep coming up on the lists of the teams ahead of the 49ers, Patrick Peterson, A.J. Green, and Julio Jones.

In previous posts and picks it was suggested that coaches like Ron Rivera of Carolina, and John Fox of Denver, pick a defensive stud to build their team and defense around because that was their specialty, their niche. Offense is what Harbaugh does, and that is the precise reason I am going to say that receiver here is not the direction the should go in. They have a bonafide number one in the making in Michael Crabtree, and then they have talent there in former top 10 pick Ted Ginn Jr., and Josh Morgan, talent that Harbaugh can work with at that position moreso than Fox or Rivera could have on their defenses.

With that faith in Harbaugh, the pick for them right here is a run up to the commissioner before something unexpected happens, and get him to announce with that seventh pick the 49ers select Patrick Peterson. He can step in right away and play any spot in the secondary you will ask of him. Need a corner opposite Nate Clements, there he is. Need a roaming safety to make plays and be an incredible one-two punch with Patrick Willis, and get this team that much closer to where they want to be. This pick alone could once again make them the favorites in the recently down NFC West.

Predictions as of today for this pick:

Me: Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU
Mel Kiper: Patrick Peterson. DB, LSU
Todd McShay: Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU
NewNFLDraft.com: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn

Well Mike Holmgren, Season Two Starts Now

Mike Holmgren came to Cleveland last year and he was supposed to begin the resurgence of the Browns organization, well year two in that rebuild starts with this selection. With some overhaul to the roster they were able to achieve that same 5-11 record that they had the year before Holmgren had arrived, but they were able to do that in transition.

The Browns do have positive aspects to their team, and relatively young ones that they hope to hold onto and really give Holmgren a chance to build this franchise up. They have one of the best left tackles in the league in Joe Thomas, a top up and coming center in Alex Mack, and a solid guard in Eric Steinbach. The left side of their line is young and rather good, and the right side has a good set of skills as well, though at this point they are on the back ends of their careers. They have depth at the quarterback spot, and Colt McCoy really seemed to show signs of being able to be a solid starting NFL quarterback. Then with Peyton Hillis they have one of the bigger surprises of the season, but also one that they can seemingly count on for the near future.

On defense they made their choice last year to go with cornerback Joe Haden with their top 10 pick, and he payed off with six interceptions in his rookie season. They still have Shaun Rogers on that defensive line, as well as linebackers like Matt Roth and Chris Gocong who had their best years in the league last year. Their safeties seem to be set for the future as well, as the second round selection by Holmgren in T.J. Ward played great as a rookie accumulating more than 120 tackles to go with two interceptions, and Abram Elam had more interceptions and pass deflections in 2010 than he did in his first four years in the league.

So with those positions seemingly set, and given the players that are both available and worthy of the sixth overall selection there seem to be four names that could, or even should, be called by commissioner Roger Goodell for the Browns. The only three names that they should be considering at this point with both defensive tackles off of the board are Da'Quan Bowers, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, and Julio Jones. They need help on both sides of the ball, and at this point they have to look at what they can get now, and hope to get later.

The talent that Jones and Green possess put them far and away above the rest of the receivers in this class, but there are other players that can be picked in that second round. Jonathan Baldwin can be that big wide receiver across from Mohamed Massaquoi, as can Leonard Hankerson, and that is something that they could risk because of the run that will be made on defensive ends. There are a lot of good defensive ends available, and at this point the top one is still out there, and hard to pass up for a team that had the seventh fewest amount of sacks in the NFL last season. Lastly, Peterson is a talent that they could put on the other side of Haden and have a set of corners to shut down the NFL for the next 10 plus years, along with their young and talented safeties.

It would seem that this is a good position to be in for the Browns, as the positions that they are finding themselves in need of, have not really been snatched off the board yet, so they have options. Though I think that Peterson is the best player available, at this point they have the players in that secondary right now where they have the ability to choose a player elsewhere and make their team better for both tomorrow and the future. Then with a little foresight they can see that a wide out will be available come pick 37, though obviously not at the talent level of Green and Jones, who they can maybe see as a better fit into the offense and compliment to Massaquoi. The biggest need for the Browns is that pass rush, give their secondary that much more help with a pass rush, and that guy is Bowers, the best pass rusher in the draft, and the national leader in sacks in 2010. Bowers at that pick is the best for their team in both this draft, and for their team.

Predictions as of today for this pick:

Me: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
Mel Kiper: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
Todd McShay: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
NewNFLDraft.com: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

What A Difference A Year Makes

That also includes what a difference losing a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback makes. In losing Kurt Warner to retirement the Arizona Cardinals looked as if they lost their quarterback, offensive line, defensive line, a couple linebackers, and their special teams units. The loss of Warner killed the Cardinals, and two years removed from the Super Bowl, they now find themselves with a top five draft pick.

Looking at the Cardinals roster they have some pieces that are set like the running backs they have, if healthy, can be a decent one-two punch, and then with Larry Fitzgerald you have a good receiver set right there, but Steve Breaston appears to be able to make the move from slot to the number two receiver. Their cornerbacks and safeties are under control and though Patrick Peterson would be a great fall to number five, that is just not where the most help is necessary.

That is because with the players that are available at this point in the draft, they have more pressing needs. There is still a quarterback available in Cam Newton that some say could go as early as number one. There is a freak of a pass rusher in Da'Quan Bowers, that could be the opposite of Darnell Dockett, and their pressure on the quarterback would be that much more immediate. Peterson could be an outside shot here simply because of the sheer talent that he possesses, and the fact that he is someone you want on your team and could really build a defense around.

The choice for Arizona though should be clear, they need help at that quarterback position, and there is a top flight potential quarterback with a history of winning on the board, and Cam Newton should be their choice. He has the intangibles and swagger that a team like Arizona needs. He has the ability to come in and play right away, learn on the job, because he will be a bit of a project, but someone who can and will learn quickly. He has tools around him that will aid to an immediate amount of success, and he could be like Vince Young who people said needed time to watch the game develop in front of him, but with pieces around him became the rookie of the year.

Predictions as of today for this pick:

Me: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Mel Kiper: Von Miller, OLB, Tecas A&M
Todd McShay: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
NewNFLDraft.com: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

This Pick Unable To Answer All Of The Bengals Questions

A lot of teams have had issues this offseason, aside from the obvious lockout situation, but the Cincinnati Bengals are right up there in terms of in your face issues. What are they going to do with their receiving core, that went from scary to start last season, to gone this offseason. Their franchise quarterback wants to be traded or is threatening to retire, and their pro bowl running back of 2009 was a bit of a dud in 2010.

When looking at the defense they seem to be rather solid, to have young players growing into their positions at spots, and veterans and established players at other spots. Their corners are among the best duo in the league, and with young guys like Carlos Dunlap and Ray Maualuga in the front seven, to go with veterans like Dhani Jones and Domato Peko and Patrick Sims on the line they are set there in terms of spending a top four selection on those positions.

Where the Bengals are in the draft, and what they are being pressed into needing for this team to make last season a detour from the 2009 season's success, comes down to those two positions, wide receiver and quarterback. Terrel Owens and Chad Ochocinco might both be on their way out, the former moreso than the latter, but that means you need someone to fill that void. Losing not just one, but maybe two receivers of that caliber needs to be addressed and addressed quickly. Then on the other hand you can have all the receivers you want, but if there is nobody to get them the ball that is not going to help anyone. Is Carson Palmer really going to be out of Cincinnati? If that answer is yes then the club has to address that before anything else, because you can bring in a receiver to work with a quarterback and that can mesh quicker than a new quarterback trying to work with older receivers, learning curve is much more difficult.

So this pick comes down to one criteria, is Palmer the quarterback for Cincinnati's future? For the sake of this mock draft gonna have to say that Palmer is going to be gone, and with that comes the need for another quarterback. So now you have two names that are sort of hovering above the rest, Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert. Both have highs and lows, and question marks, but those are the names that the Bengals will have been dealt. Given that Marvin Lewis is indeed back as coach, the type of success they have had in the past with a quarterback like Palmer, and the easiest transition for the Bengals it would seem that the pick for Cincinnati would be Gabbert.

Predictions as of today for this pick:

Me: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
Mel Kiper: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Todd McShay: AJ Green, WR, Georgia
NewNFLDraft.com: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

Nobody Circles The Wagons, Like The Buffalo Bills

The third pick in this year's NFL Draft goes to the Buffalo Bills, a team that on paper appears to be not good at all, but somehow could have easily been drafting outside the top 10. They had narrow defeats to the likes of the Dolphins, Patriots, Ravens, Chiefs, Bears and Steelers. With all of their downfalls and lack of talent, the Bills were still somehow seven plays away from potentially being 11-5. A bit of a stretch? Probably. But those are six games against five teams that made the playoffs where they lost by eight points or less. So the question for the Bills in this spot is, what position, what player, what talent do we need to change those plays into positives and achieve maybe an 8-8 record at least?

Again you have to look at the positions where the Bills seem to be at a point where it is not sensible waste a pick on when the talent pool is so rich in what they need to start a full team that can win football games. On the offensive side of the ball you look at the running back position, where they had a near 1,000 yard rusher in Fred Jackson, and picked C.J. Spiller last year with the ninth overall selection. They should be all set there, as well as at wide receiver, where Stevie Johnson was able to emerge last year along with rookie David Nelson, and where new options for Lee Evans may make him as valuable as he once was. The interior of the offensive line seems to be a group that is growing and maturing as they will be entering their third season with players Eric Wood and Andy Levitre.

On defense they have players that are making names for themselves, but also there are holes that are becoming glaringly obvious. The middle of the defense had a solid year last year, and along with the players that are available that does not seem like a spot where they should be looking. Kyle Williams made it to his first Pro Bowl, and then Akin Ayodele and Paul Posluszny combined for 257 tackles at the linebacker spot. Jairus Byrd took a step back in terms of interceptions in 2010 from his rookie season, but he was also able to nearly double his tackles, force three fumbles and score a touchdown. Then the question marks begin, are these cornerbacks that you can have faith in? Terrence McGee is getting older, and then Reggie Corner and Leodis McKelvin are young and still should be given time to improve as they could develop.

What they do need is help at the tackle spot on their offensive line, but at this point in the draft, with the players that are available, going to that position would not be taking advantage of their draft slot. So then you switch to the most important position on the field, quarterback. The question for the Bills front office is do we have a quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick that we can win with, grow with, start the new era of our franchise with? While this may not be the answer, given the quarterbacks that are in the draft, I think they may be able to go there in the second round, if they really seem it fit to get a quarterback this year.

Where they should be looking though is to the defensive side of the ball here, just simply because of the talent that is available to them, talent they can build a defense around, and build on. They need help at the outside linebacker position, that is for sure, and a guy like Von Miller would be a perfect solution to that problem. Problem is for the Bills is that they also need a pass rusher on the outside, and a guy like Da'Quan Bowers would also be a guy that the Bills could take at this pick and be content with their selection. The best talent in the draft though is still on the board in Patrick Peterson, and with the questions that they have at corner and then at safety adjacent to Byrd, that might be the way to go because of that impact he could have on their whole defense for the next 10-15 years.

At this spot I think the Bills should go with Von Miller because of their ability to make plays in the middle with Williams, Ayodele, Posluszny, and Byrd having Miller will improve their ability to both stop the run, and rush the quarterback of the edge the way that Bowers might do. If they stay in the 3-4 primarily this pick would be the best for them to make here.

Predictions as of today for this pick:

Me: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
Mel Kiper: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Todd McShay: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
NewNFLDraft.com: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

John Elway, Your First Pick Please

A new era is starting in Denver, John Elway is back, John Fox is the new head coach, and Tim Tebow comes into the year having ended 2010 as the starter. Problem is for all three of them, is the Broncos are coming off of a 4-12 year, John Fox just left the worst team in the league, and it would appear the other three teams in their division are on the upward swing, while they are falling backwards after starting 2009 6-0. Yeah that means they have gone 6-20 since. So that leads into them having that second pick in the draft. Now assuming that Marcell Dareus is taken number one by the Carolina Panthers, where will the Broncos lean? Well what do they need?

If there is one thing that is clear they are not going after a quarterback, even with John Elway making his first choice here. They just drafted Tebow, Kyle Orton had a solid year last year with over 3,600 yards with 20 touchdowns, and Brady Quinn is still just entering his fifth year and still might have a chance to live up to the hype. The offense seems rather set as a whole when you look at it, Brandon Lloyd exploded onto the scene last year and led the NFL in receiving yards. Eddie Royal has shown flashes, Jabar Gaffney is a solid number three, and they just recently drafted Demaryius Thomas, who they hope to be a star in the making. Add that to Knowshon Moreno in the backfield, Daniel Graham at tight end, and anchors at the tackles in Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris and the Broncos are set enough on that side of the ball to look elsewhere with this pick.

This also lends itself to the idea of Ron Rivera coming into Carolina and establishing a defense with his first pick, as can Fox who began it all as a defensive coordinator on the New York Giants. So why not build up what you know? The defense is unfortunately a mix of old and new for the Broncos, so where do you turn? Do you look at the young talent and try to evaluate it now and maybe "give up" so to speak on them and try to fix previous mistakes, or do you look at the aging veterans and try to begin your reload? Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins are getting older, but at this point, with this pick in this draft, you might not want to spend a pick where there is still a player that can man the position. Your secondary is not great, but not terrible, you have some young guys at the corners, guys like Patrick Cox have the potential to learn and grow with someone like Bailey leading them.

So you begin to look at your linebackers and defensive line. These both have their ups and downs, because the linebackers have two young studs in the making that can really grow still and are guys that you are confident playing with. Then you look at a guy like Kevin Vickerson on the edge of the line, he did not have a great year, but it was the most he has played, and the most impact he has had as a professional. Maybe a spot where you can hold off, and let him try to grow into the position still. Especially since you will be getting back an elite player in Elvis Dumervil.

For the Broncos, trying to establish that defensive edge with Fox, it should come down to two players, Nick Fairley for that defensive tackle spot, or Von Miller as an outside linebacker. Given their depth at linebacker, and having Dumervil returning this year, the pick for the Broncos at this point has got to be Fairley. He was a man in the toughest football conference, and was able to continuously beat double teams, and get to the ball. He will be an immediate impact, and it will strengthen them up the middle. They have pieces on offense, at this point in the draft, with a new era beginning, using this as a starting point is a big deal for the Broncos.

Predictions as of today for this pick:

Me: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Mel Kiper: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Todd McShay: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
NewNFLDraft.com: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

Carolina With The Number 1 Pick Selects...

As is the case with any team that gets the number one pick of the draft, the Carolina Panthers are in need of a lot of help. Not all is going to be fixed with this first pick, and that is what they have to remember. So often is this one pick overhyped, overrated, overspeculated, over(your necessary adjective here). The Panthers have to remember though, this is one pick, in one draft, one guy. They need to build their team around this pick yes, but not in the sense that they have to be the savior, but rather the focal point in the team's turnaround. While everyone wants a Peyton Manning to turn the franchise into a contender for the next 10-15 years, having a solid, to hopefully outstanding, selection here is what the Panthers need. There are so many first pick busts, that you need to take what you think is best for your team's success, maybe not the team's image, or the symbol this pick might mean for the franchise's direction.

With that being said, the way Carolina should be looking at this pick, you have to take a look at the needs that this team has. Sometimes the easiest way to do that is to look at what the team does not need. When you look at their roster you know there is absolutely one position that the Panthers are all set at, and that would be running back. Jonathan Stewart has been a solid back throughout his career in Carolina while splitting time with the departed DeAngelo Williams, and now has a solid backup in Mike Goodson, who showed a lot of promise as the featured back in the middle of the 2010 season. This also goes for the wide receiver position, though not a position usually looked at as a number one pick possibility, they are set with veteran Steve Smith and young talent in David Gettis and Brandon LaFell.

On the other side of the ball it is roughly the same for the cornerback position. Chris Gamble is towards the top of the league in terms of cornerback talent, and they are in the process of developing young talent in Captain Munnerlyn and Robery McClain. The linebacking corp is young and showed improvements last year, as Jon Beason played very well throughout in the middle of the defense. Charles Godfrey was able to perform solid in the back of the defense, accumulating over 80 tackles during the year, to go along with five interceptions. Lastly, Charles Johnson was able to really make strides playing the full season, and got 11.5 sacks to lead the team.

Now some people are saying that the quarterback position is something that the Panthers have to take a look at, and something that they should possibly draft. I find this to be confusing, because while Jimmy Clausen was not especially good as a rookie, it seems that the idea of growing and progressing is thrown out the window these days. Though a completely different animal, Clausen was a part of one of the worst seasons in Notre Dame history as a freshman. By the time he left as a junior he had a number of records, and had an outside shot at the Heisman Trophy, with a 68% pass completion and a ratio of 28 touchdowns to only four interceptions. He learned, progressed, and improved in college, I think that with this class, and the team needs, to completely abandon what he might have a starting off point from seems counter productive.

This team needs defensive line help in the worst way, and their are plenty of names out there to be said first that would help this team there, and build from that position. New head coach Ron Rivera is a defensive guy, would it not make sense to build based on your strength, and maybe turn things around quicker than you would anticipate. Rex Ryan built that defense up and saw quick results. Lovie Smith (where Rivera coached) won with defense first, why not take a shot at building up your defense, and the gameplan you can thrive with.

With that being said, I think that the choice that needs to be made here, though I do not think he is necessarily the best player, or a guy I would want to spend a top pick on, is Marcell Dareus. He is a positional need for the Panthers, and he is probably the best guy at that position and the most exciting, and many like him as a top talent defensive tackle. He is a hard worker and comes from the Nick Saban defense that is something to be taken into consideration.

Other options here would be Nick Fairley, where at this point it is a toss up between the two for which goes first out of their position. Fairley probably has the biggest upside, but when it comes down to it he is too volatile, and you are just not sure on what you will get long term. Da'Quan Bowers would also fit into this spot, giving the Panthers a potential double edge attack, in the mold of the Indianapolis Colts, or the New York Giants. With Johnson improving last year though the need for an outside rusher is not as pertinent as that man in the middle of the line. When you take a step back and look at this roster, at this new direction they have the chance to go in, and what is needed to start with this first overall pick, Dareus is the pick that makes sense and is solid for Carolina.

Predictions as of today for this pick:

Me: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Mel Kiper: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
Todd McShay: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
NewNFLDraft.com: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

Jeff Fisher, Longest Tenured Coach No Longer

The Tennessee Titans announced that Jeff Fisher would no longer be coaching the team. This comes as a bit of a shock. Just last month, in a battle of wills, it seemed that Fisher had won out to remain in Tennessee instead of embattled former number three pick Vince Young. Owner Bud Adams decided differently on Thursday night. There have been reports that the possible final straw was the push that Fisher made for his son to be given a position with the Titans, though Adams had made it a policy to not hire family members within the organization.

Fisher was the longest tenured coach in the NFL, but he longevity with Tennessee did not get him a pass in Adams' mind. Having had disagreements in the past, and with the team finishing below .500, Adams decided a new direction is necessary.

Having been the head coach since 1994, Fisher had been coaching the team since before they came to Tennessee, back when they were the Houston Oilers. His career record as the Titans head man was 147-126, though in his 17 seasons the team was over .500 only six times. Fisher did lead them to Super Bowl XXXIV, in a narrow defeat at the hands of Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams, in one of the better and closer Super Bowls. Unfortunately, Fisher had recorded 11 losing seasons, and losing streaks of five games in a season at some point in five of the last seven seasons.

The question is where to next? Could it be a hire within with someone like Mike Munchak. Or will they go outside the organization and bring in someone like a Perry Fewell or Russ Grimm. The other questions hanging out there, does this change the future of Vince Young? Many had thought that it was either Fisher or Young, now with Fisher gone do the Titans backpedal and hold onto Young? That should be an interesting debate inside Titans camp, especially with Adams' public approval of Young.

The Knee Injury Heard 'Round The World

So how many people were coming out and attacking Jay Cutler during Sunday's game? Simple, a lot. Former players, current players, sportswriters, casual fans, everyone had their own opinion, and many were not in favor of Cutler. He was certainly trending on Twitter.

There were a lot of things being said: 'He is not that hurt, why is he still on the sideline,' 'He has been standing the whole time, how hurt can he be?' 'he has no heart, he is just scared to play out there,' 'he is a wimp, how can he not go back in now, he can't be hurt that bad, he just can't take it,' and finally 'if I was on the Bears I would not be able to stand it, he better not come in the locker room. I would be playing no matter what.'

Maybe some of those are fair to say, maybe not, but the way it was a storm of criticism it was certainly as much the talk of the two teams making it to the Super Bowl. So, with Monday came the MRI that everyone was waiting for, and the results...a sprained MCL (which can also be referred to as a torn MCL, not everyone understands that and has jumped on his back that much more with the word sprain being used).

Now I am a Cutler fan, and I for one was not thrilled with everyone calling him out and jumping on his back having no facts of which to back what they were saying up with. What I will say about Cutler is that he has gotten abused in his football career, and always stood back up and been in that huddle the next play. At Vanderbilt, in the vaunted SEC, they had by far the worst team most of his career, and he got manhandled. He won SEC player of the year as a senior and he never just sat out against teams like Florida, let alone in the NFC Championship game. Last year and this year with the Bears, he was getting clobbered, sacked a record amount of times early on, but he was still getting up and competing, in games that were not the NFC Championship game.

So why would he then say I can't do this anymore, knowing the storm that he was walking into? He had to truly have something wrong, and then we also find out that doctor's and coaches are making these decisions. Then on Monday the reports that he has a torn MCL and it is a grade II, which typically lends itself to a three to four week minimum recovery time. So to call him out I think is unfair, and unprofessional.

The worst part in all of this, the Bears defense is getting no credit for keeping that team in the game with shutting down the new quarterback darling and hottest player/offense in the NFL.

Lastly, I love all of those who had comments, for the most part, now taking steps back and trying to change their words and what they said, or how they were aimed. I wish that people would now take the criticism that they deserve, rather than say they never questioned the injury, but how he was acting. The fact that they try to insult the intelligence of people is almost a joke, because those who have seen and read those comments know exactly what was being said. To step back now and try and say otherwise is a joke, and they look like cowards and fools. You said it, accept it and say you were wrong and should not have jumped the gun. This is the beauty of a network like Twitter, people can give knee jerk reactions, and now they should feel the effects of doing the wrong thing, not try and lie their way out of it. Sad really.

Green Bay Back To The Super Bowl, Led By Defense

The game's first drive started out the way that all the "experts" said that it would, Aaron Rodgers finding Greg Jennings a couple of times for big gains, well timed and blocked run plays, and a touchdown for the Packers, 7-0. That was supposed to happen for most of the game, just Rodgers and Packers domination. Then it was 14-0 as the Packers were moving the ball, and it seemed like this one was going to be like last week in Atlanta. Then the Bears defense started playing, and Brian Urlacher would not let this game get away from them.

From that point on Aaron Rodgers was intercepted twice, and the Bears defense did not give up any more points. The Packers were still able to move the ball a little bit, but the Bears and their defense were not going to let this game be lost by them. They took the Packers best hit and said 'oh no, we are still here.' Problem is the offense for the Bears could not do the same, and that's because the Packers defense had something to say about this game too.

Jay Cutler left the game early in the third quarter because of an injury to his knee that will get an MRI, but before that he was not exactly effective. He threw for only 80 yards and was picked off once, for a nice quarterback rating of about 30. Todd Collins came in for a couple of drives, only to be taken out because of terrible play, and in comes Caleb Hanie.

Hanie was able to get the job done to a certain extent though, leading both of the touchdown drives for the Bears, making it a game again. The Packers defense was not going to lose this game to the third string quarterback though after how they had manhandled the first two. In between those two touchdowns Hanie did throw another touchdown, only it was taken in by 337 pound defensive tackle B.J. Raji on a Packer interception. The game winner as it turned out.

That was not the only play made by the Packers though, rookie Sam Shields also picked off Hanie on their final drive attempt to cement the win, and the Packers their fifth trip to Super Bowl Sunday. The Packers took a knee and that was all she wrote.

This was a defensive game through and through, and both of them played extremely well. The Bears were able to take the Packers punches early and then completely shut down the hottest team and offense in the NFL, and do it rather convincingly. The Packers were the defense that made the plays for the win though, as that pick six was what won this game for Green Bay, and what sets up a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Super Bowl that will be rich in tradition.

The efforts of Brian Urlacher can not go unmentioned though, as he was everywhere on the field, and did everything possible to get his team the win. If he could have played quarterback he might have. Urlacher not only intercepted Aaron Rodgers on a huge play in the red zone, bu he had 10 tackles, nine of which were solo, a pass deflection, and a sack in the first half that forced the Packers out of field goal range and had to punt. He was a beast on the field, and it is a shame that he had to walk off the field without a win.

Packers Versus Bears, take 182

The Packers visit the Bears on Sunday, making this the NFL record 182nd meeting between the two. So these two teams might know a little bit about each other. This year in their two games they split, with each team winning at home in one score games. So who will be heading to the Super Bowl then, the red hot team in the Packers, or the stout defensive juggernaut at home?

The Bears have Soldier Field on their side, so their is a tiny victory before the game even starts. The biggest key for the Bears today will be pass protection though. The Bears may try to run the ball, show a lot of run early to keep them honest, but the Packers and everyone watching know the Bears with Jay Cutler and Mike Martz want to pass the ball. The offensive line has progressed immensely this year, but today they need to keep Cutler upright in order to win. Give Cutler time and he will make the throws necessary to give the Bears a chance to win.

Secondly, just like the Bears will try to do, the Packers will want to try and run the ball for balance, and the Bears must shut James Starks and that running game down. If they are able to do what they did all year then they should be able to eliminate the balance from the Packers offense. Knowledge is power with a defense as good as the Bears, and if you give them a solid game plan to execute they will almost always do it well. They need to pressure Aaron Rodgers, and that first step might be stopping the running game.

The Packers are as hot a team as there is, and they will be hitting on all cylinders presumably the way they are going. In order for them to win, they have to rely on games from a pair of players on each side of the ball. On the defensive side it is those two that you would look to if you are a Packers fan in Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews. The two are two of the most elite pass rushers at their positions, and if they can get to Cutler early then this game could be under the Packers control throughout.

On offense the Packers will get what is expected from Rodgers, Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. The two that will make or break this game for that offense are James Jones and Jordy Nelson. These two are going to find themselves open and getting balls thrown to them, if they can make plays and move the ball then the Packers will be in good shape. The more balls they catch early, the more open Jennings and Driver may be later in the game. Their offense is already great, if these two have solid games they will be hard to stop, even for the Bears.

This game should be a close, hard fought grudge match between two teams that do not like each other. It really is a matter of are you going with the Bears defense or the Packers offense. My head says to go with the Packers, but my heart says the Bears will step up at Soldier Field. The heart just might win out this time.

Head Prediction Packers 21 Bears 13
Heart Prediction Bears 20 Packers 14

Football Has Three Facets, Who Has Best Special Teams

Everyone says that you have to win all three facets of the football game to win, you have to win special teams so that you can control the field position. These teams seem to be the haves and the have nots when it comes to special teams though. They are well equipped, or they have their problems in terms of special teams.

1. Chicago Bears

The Bears could be put number one in this ranking for one guy alone, the NFL career leader in return touchdowns, Devin Hester. He is the most dangerous player in the league, and he can always return a kick, no matter the coverage and the placement. He is a one man wrecking crew, and you simply should not kick it to him.

They also are a good coverage team on their own kicks, and they have maybe the best kicker remaining in the playoffs in Robbie Gould. Gould is among the best kickers in the NFL, and this year he went 25-30 kicking, and has made nearly 86% of his kicks in his career. This year he went three of four from over 50 yards as well, so he has the distance. He has only missed two kicks in the second half of the season on top of it, and throughout his career he has hit game winning field goals for the Bears, and at Soldier Field.

2. New York Jets

The Jets have a pretty good return game of their own, and they are able to throw numerous returners back there that can really get a great return, and even numerous guys scoring a touchdown for them.

Brad Smith is the main return guy, when healthy, and he is a feared return man throughout the league. He has returned three kicks in the last two years, including two this year, with a return average of over 28 yards. When Smith isn't in there they can then throw one of the fastest players in the NFL into the return game with Antonio Cromartie, who really was a big part in the win over the Indianapolis Colts, with his big kickoff return on the game winning drive for the Jets. Then they can throw Santonio Holmes out there, or Jerricho Cotchery, both of which that have kickoff returns in their careers.

Their punter, Steve Weatherford, averaged over 42 yards per punt this year and was able to get 42 punts inside the 20, with only four touchbacks, in a solid campaign. Then Nick Folk is a solid kicker, who will be remembered for that game winning kick against the Colts in that Wild Card match up to help get the Jets this far.

3. Green Bay Packers

The Packers return game is solid, with Jordy Nelson as a more than serviceable return man, but they are not exactly anything to write home about. The key for the Packers in the return games is to just make sure that they cover their own kicks well. They are a team that relies heavily on their offense to move the ball, and their defense to stop it.

Mason Crosby however is one of the better kickers in the NFL, with a big leg, which is why the Packers find themselves in the top three. While he had a slow year going only 22-28, his long was a 56 yarder, and he can kick it with anyone from distance. Though one of his misses did come against Chicago this year, his only missed field goal against the NFC North division this year.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers do not have the return game that they once had. They had Holmes returning kicks for them and they were dangerous. Back when Antwan Randle-El was there in his first stint, he was one of the better return men in the league. He has now gotten older and his dangerousness has left him a little bit. Like the Packers the Steelers more rely on their ability to cover their kicks, rather than returning them.

The kicking game is not up to par with the other three teams as well. Heinz Field took Jeff Reed and spit him out, leading them to bring in a new kicker after releasing their long time starter, in the middle of the year. Their kicking game has been fine, with Shaun Suisham coming in and going 14-15 this year, but the confidence can only go so far in a player who was brought in mid-year.

When it comes to these teams the Bears with Hester and Gould, and then the Jets and their plethora of return men, they are heads and shoulders above the others. In these conference championships those should definitely be advantages for those two.

Defense Is Said To Win Championships

It's the famous cliche, defense wins championships. This season makes it not seem so cliche though, given that the four teams still playing all have some of the top defenses, if not arguably the four top defenses, in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Chicago Bears all dominated at one point or another the defensive landscape this year. They were all able to shut teams down and really get them to where they are now. Which defense is the best though?

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are the king of kings when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. Their rankings are great, their schemes and coaches are great, and they simply have great players in their positions.

Their coaching staff consists of the youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl, and a former defensive backs coach, so they got that going for them. The actual defensive coordinator though, he was just inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past August. Dick LeBeau is one of the greatest defensive minds that the NFL has ever seen, and he is the man behind the madness of the Steelers defense, an amazing advantage to have with their schemes.

In Troy Polamalu they have arguably the best safety in the league, and one of the all time great safeties to ever play the position. He is everywhere on the field, and seemingly able to diagnose every single play, and able to meet the ball. Their rest of the secondary is great, but outshined by the linebacker unit that has one of the elite linebackers in James Harrison. This defense is full of play makers and elite talent, including pass rusher Lamarr Woodley who has recorded double digit sacks in each of the last three seasons, after only four as a rookie.

Finally, to name them the number one all you have to do is look at their rankings in the NFL. In total yards per game defense the Steelers were number one at an amazing only 126 per game, 91 passing yards against per game which was tops in the NFL, and came in second by a yard with only 35 rushing yards per game. They also led the league only allowing an average of 14.5 points a game. Every which way you look at this defense they are the best defense remaining, simply because they were the best defense in the league. The next three spots are the tough ones to choose.

2. Chicago Bears

Who had the Chicago Bears winning the NFC North and making it to the NFC Championship game this year? Yeah I doubt there were too many predicting that, but the reason they are where they are is because of that defense that they have. As much of a team defense that you will find, they play spectacularly off of one another. Whether it be the secondary playing as one, or Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs attacking from the linebacker positions, and then you have an incredibly strong and disciplined defensive line with Julius Peppers, who is a top five defensive end.

The Bears are also led by Lovie Smith, who was a standout defensive coordinator before head coach of the Bears, and Rod Marinelli was in the same position, a top defensive coordinator that got a head coaching opportunity. When that did not workout he finds himself back in a comfortable spot doing what he is great at.

The Bears are an incredible team defense, their rankings rival that of the Steelers this year, as they finished fourth in points per game at a shade under 18, as well as total defense, while edging out the Steelers for fewest rushing yards allowed per game. And when you want to look at a game they played, week 17 against the red hot offense from the Packers they only allowed 10 points in a must win at Green Bay for the Packers, showing them nothing but base defense.

3. New York Jets

The New York Jets are easily one of the most feared defenses in the league, earning them respect from all teams. They have a solid defensive line headed by Shaun Ellis. A linebacking core that Bart Scott anchors, creating one of the most lethal blitzing defenses and run stoppers. Then their secondary is headlined by two of the best cover corners in the NFL. They are a team built around their solid defense.

Rex Ryan is the third head coach we have talked about, and the third who comes from a strong defensive coordinator background. As a defensive coordinator he was able to develop the Baltimore Ravens into the best defense in the NFL, and the work he put in there, along with their personnel, has allowed them to remain a top five defense with his departure a couple of years ago. Talk about lineage as well, his brother his currently one of the better defensive coordinators in the NFL currently, and their father Buddy Ryan is known as one of the best defensive coordinators in NFL history. It is no wonder the defense is so strong for the Jets with him at the helm.

While the Jets have good stats among the NFL leaders in point allowed per game finishing sixth, seventh in yards per game, and sixth in rushing yards per game. They were easily a top 10, numbers wise top 6 defense.

The thing that makes them such a good defense is their secondary, mainly their cornerbacks. Having Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie on the outside is what makes this defense ranked number three of the four remaining teams. Revis is widely considered the best cornerback in the NFL, with some going as far lately to put him in the best ever talks, and Cromartie is on the short list of cover corners you would want on your team.

In the playoffs Revis and company have shut down two of the top offenses in the NFL, holding the Colts and Patriots to only 37 total points. Revis held Pro Bowl wide receiver to only one catch in the Wild Card match up. Revis has the ability to shut down a receiver he is covering completely, making them the number three defense.

4. Green Bay Packers

The Packers defense is good enough to be the number two defense on this list, but with Revis being able to almost single handedly shut down half the field to go along with the Jets pass rush, and the performance in their base defense, to go along with their statistical output over the whole season, by the Bears against the Packers in week 17, the Packers find themselves at number four.

Then again statistically speaking the Packers were among the top five in rushing yards per game allowed, total yards per game allowed, sacks, and interceptions. They are statistically more impressive than the Jets, and equal to the Bears. Dom Capers is also one of the better defensive minds in the NFL, and a great read of talent.

With the stats that they have you can assume their personnel is amongst the best in the league. With Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson on the defense they have last year's defensive player of the year, and probably this year's defensive player of the year. Matthews finished fourth in the league in sacks, to go along with his 60 tackles. Woodson is all over the field, one of the most lethal blitzing cornerbacks in the league, and a great cover corner. Those two, along with Pro Bowl snub Tramon Williams, put the Packers into the upper echelon of the NFL defenses.

The common factor that all of these teams have are elite players at their positions, but also incredible defensive minds. The abilities of these coaches and staffs to use their abilities to the upmost of their potential is what have these defenses playing so well, and these teams in their conference championships.

It's A Passing League, Who Has the Best Receiving Corp?

The most solid part of the passing game is obviously the quarterbacks, but The Four Corners of Sports already ranked the remaining quarterbacks, and you can read that here. The passing game we are going to talk about is all about the routes, the hands, the speed, elusiveness that the receivers bring to the game. This ranking will include the complete passing game, the receivers, running backs and tight ends.

1. New York Jets

This might be surprising to people, but the Jets definitely have the best overall passing game. Now if Mark Sanchez was factored into this then there would be differences, both because of his rank amongst the remaining quarterbacks, and just their overall skills. The other passing games don't have the depth of talent that the Jets does though.

Just look at the receivers that the Jets have in Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery. A few years ago Cotchery was the number one receiver in a decent passing game for the Jets, and since then they have added two Pro Bowl receivers to the mix. Holmes has won two Super Bowls, and was the MVP in the second of the two with his unforgettable late game-winning catch. Then when you look at Edwards he has had a touchdown in two of his last three playoff games, in addition to the huge catch on the game winning drive against the Colts in the Wild Card round this year. Edwards and Cotchery both rank in the top five in yards this postseason, both passing the 100 yard mark so far.

Not only do the Jets have those receivers, but also one of the best, if not the best, receiving running backs of the last decade in LaDanian Tomlinson, who was able to score the first touchdown of the game against the Patriots on Sunday with a very smooth over the should catch in the second quarter. On top of that Dustin Keller might not be the best overall tight end remaining, but he is arguably the most skilled tight end left in the passing game. Just another target for Sanchez to find on the field.

The Jets have the total package, tight end, running back, and three receivers that can get it done, and get it done when it matters. They are deserving of the number one passing game in terms of receivers.

2. Green Bay Packers

With the Packers passing game, due to injuries, they are receiver heavy. The receivers they have though is more than enough to put them into the number two slot in this ranking. Aaron Rodgers is amazing, but he doesn't lack any talent when it comes to his receivers.

Greg Jennings is on a short list when you are talking about the best receivers in the NFL right now. He is a superb at route running, and is very quick in his cuts, giving him opportunities to lose the defense before he even unleashes his great speed. During the regular season he had nearly 1,300 yards and found himself tied with Calvin Johnson for second in the league with 12 receiving touchdowns.

This postseason Donald Driver has stepped up his game, coming off a bit of a down year for him. In the playoffs though he has caught the third most yards, and has had four catches over 20 yards already. He is constantly a safety valve for Rodgers, and continues to maintain his speed and route running skills. He was surpassed this year, in terms of yards only, by James Jones. The young speedster gives the passing game another element on the outside, and might have given them a better chance of getting bumped up to the top spot if it weren't for his suspect hands at times.

The tight end position was strong to start the year for the Packers, but with injuries they are not getting the same production from there, and the running backs are only check downs for the most part, though Brandon Jackson was able to score a very important screen pass touchdown against the Eagles.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

This year was a breakout year for Mike Wallace, and he alone puts them in the third spot. Unfortunately in these rankings the rest of the cast was not enough to move them up further. Their lack of real diversity is what keeps them in this third spot.

Mike Wallace is that home run threat that teams are looking for, the DeSean Jackson type of receiver. Wallace was able to finish fifth in the league in yards, with over 1,250 of them, and came in second on yard per catch average only to Jackson, by those with over 20 catches. With his 10 touchdowns Wallace is Roethlisberger's biggest threat, and he will have to deal with that in these playoffs, as he will probably see Darrelle Revis across from him Sunday.

Hines Ward is still a very productive number two receiver, and he will do a lot in the blocking game, but he is losing some of that speed he once had. He will give them looks over the middle and screens, but not quite what he used to. The team will rely on the young guys to step up, the way that Emmanuel Sanders did last week against the Ravens when he had four receptions for 54 yards. Heath Miller is also an option for the Steelers, he had a touchdown reception against the Ravens, and though he is more of a blocking tight end Roethlisberger is able to trust Miller when he throws his way.

The Steelers have maybe the most explosive receiver left, though the Bears receivers might have something to say about that, in Wallace, and a plethora of possession receivers to go with the blossoming young guys.

4. Chicago Bears

The Bears have a group of receivers that could be among the most explosive and dangerous in the league, they just do not seem to make the progressions that a James Jones and Mike Wallace do, and seem to stick in their roles they have had over the years. Devin Hester and Johhny Knox could be two of the most feared receivers on the outside, but they just have not reached that level yet, and that is why they find themselves in the fourth spot of these rankings.

They have two of the best receiving running backs in Matt Forte and Chester Taylor. They are both wonderful options out of the backfield for Jay Cutler, and both have thrived in the offense. Forte had three receiving touchdowns on the year, including a game in which he caught over 150 yards. He also had seven games that he averaged double digit yards per catch. Taylor was not used nearly as much as he has been in the pass, but before the Bears was the third down back for the Vikings because of his ability to catch out of the backfield.

Greg Olsen at tight end is extremely talented and can take over a game. Last week against the Seattle Seahawks he had three catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, including a touchdown on Cutler's first pass attempt to give the Bears a quick 7-0 lead.

The Bears have talent on the outside, a good tight end and very capable running backs. If those two receivers on the outside were to develop, this time next year the Bears would be finding themselves higher up on a list like this.