Month: October 2012

Oakland Raiders: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#30)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Raiders

Last week: 31 (+1)

Record: 1-3

I knew that win over the Steelers was a fluke. The Raiders looked awful in all facets of the game last week and once again look like the worst team in the league as they did two weeks ago. They rank 27th in the league in yards per play differential. Their defense is a mess and they just don’t have the offensive talent to keep up. I’ve said all along this will be one of the worst teams in the league this year. I’m standing by it.

Studs

RG Mike Brisiel: Did not allow a pressure on 38 pass block snaps, run blocked for 12 yards on 3 attempts

Duds

RB Darren McFadden: Rushed for 34 yards (13 after contact) on 13 carries, allowed 1 quarterback hit on 6 pass block snaps, 1 catch for 4 yards on 1 target

RT Willie Smith: Allowed 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and 5 quarterback hurries on 38 pass rush snaps, run blocked for 5 yards on 1 attempt

FS Matt Giordano: Allowed 5 catches for 32 yards on 6 attempts, 9 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 missed tackles

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Jacksonville Jaguars: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#31)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Jaguars

Last week: 30 (-1)

Record: 1-3

I almost put them last even though they had a win because they really haven’t looked good in any week, while Cleveland has hung with some playoff teams. They rank 31st in the league in yards per play differential. Blaine Gabbert doesn’t seem noticeably improved over last year. Since a solid showing in the opener, he’s 40 of 74 for 394 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He’s protecting the ball, but this offense simply has no explosion to it unless Maurice Jones-Drew is breaking off a bunch of big runs.

His last 3 games have been especially poor. Against Houston, he had as many attempts as yards midway through the 3rd quarter and finished 7-19 for 53 yards. In a win in Indianapolis, he was 9 of 20 for 75 yards, up until an 80 yard touchdown to Cecil Shorts, in which the receiver did most of the work. Shorts and a huge day by Maurice Jones-Drew are the two reasons they won that game against the lowly Colts. Not Gabbert. Last week, Cincinnati was missing their top 4 cornerbacks with injuries and using Terence Newman, Adam Jones, and Chris Crocker at cornerback. They stacked the box to stop MJD and Gabbert still went just 23 of 34 for 186 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. If this team ends up with a top-3 pick, GM Gene Smith could easily be fired and the Jaguars could look to take either Geno Smith or Matt Barkley to replace Gabbert.

Studs

CB Derek Cox: Allowed 2 catches for 13 yards on 6 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 4 tackles, 1 assist

LE Jeremy Mincey: 1 quarterback hurry on 33 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 5 solo tackles, 4 stops

MLB Paul Posluszny: 10 solo tackles, 3 assists, 4 stops, 1 missed tackle, was not thrown on

Duds

LG Eben Britton: Allowed 2 sacks, 1 quarterback hit, and 5 quarterback hurries on 22 pass block snaps

LG Mike Brewster: Allowed 2 sacks and 1 quarterback hurry on 22 pass block snaps, run blocked for 6 yards on 1 attempt

C Brad Meester: Allowed 1 sack and 1 quarterback hurry on 44 pass block snaps, run blocked for 11 yards on 6 attempts

WR Cecil Shorts: Caught 1 pass for 8 yards on 5 attempts on 23 pass snaps, 3.0 YAC per catch, 1 drop

LOLB Russell Allen: Allowed 6 catches for 48 yards and a touchdown on 6 attempts, 7 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 stops, 1 missed tackle

CB Rashean Mathis: Allowed 5 catches for 109 yards and a touchdown on 8 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist

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Cleveland Browns: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#32)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Browns

Last week: 32

Record: 0-4

The Browns are the worst team in the league, but they’re not awful. They haven’t lost a single one of their games by more than 10 points. They rank 23rd in the league in yards per play differential, bad but not awful. They’ve done this mostly with their best player being suspended. There just really isn’t a truly awful team in the NFL, at least one that has revealed itself yet. I almost put Jacksonville here because they haven’t been impressive in any of their games, even their win, but for another week Cleveland is this spot.

Studs

CB Buster Skrine: Allowed 3 catches for 38 yards on 7 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 2 solo tackles

FS Usama Young: Was not thrown on, 1 sack and 1 quarterback hurry on 3 blitzes, 1 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 stop

LE Jabaal Sheard: 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries on 35 pass rush snaps, 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 6 stops

K Phil Dawson: 5 kickoffs, 2 touchbacks, 71.0 yards per kickoff, 18.6 opponent’s average starting distance, 3/3 FG (50, 51, 52)

Duds

WR Greg Little: 4 catches for 77 yards on 9 targets on 52 pass plays, 3.3 YAC per catch, 3 drops

TE Jordan Cameron: 1 catch for 15 yards on 6 targets on 18 pass plays, 7.0 YAC per catch, 2 drops

CB Dmitri Patterson: Allowed 10 catches for 136 yards on 13 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 11 solo tackles, 2 stops

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Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Claims

stevenlourie 2012 Fantasy Football, 2012 Waiver Claims

TE Greg Olsen (Carolina)

Percent owned (ESPN): 16.5%

I was surprised to see the Olsen was owned in less than 25% of all leagues. Through 4 games, he has 20 catches for 256 yards and a score and has surpassed 5 fantasy points (standard) in 3 of 4 games, including 23 total in his last 2. You can do a lot worse with a low end TE1 or a bye week filler.

WR James Jones (Green Bay)

Percent owned (ESPN): 21.6%

Greg Jennings is hurt again. With the exception of that ugly week 2 game against Chicago, in which neither team was prepared for a Thursday Night game, Jones has had at least 5 fantasy points every week and he’s going to be a starting receiver on one of the league’s most explosive offenses as long as Jennings is out. On the year, he’s caught 16 passes for 191 yards and 3 scores.

RB Brandon Bolden (New England)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.3%

Bill Belichick can be inconsistent with his running backs, but Brandon Bolden looked awfully good last week, rushing for 137 yards and a score on 16 carries. Don’t start him yet or anything, but he’s worth a bench stash.

RB Jackie Battle (San Diego)

Percent owned (ESPN): 8.4%

Apparently Ryan Mathews’ is in Norv Turner’s doghouse because of fumble problems. Battle got the start and the goal line carries last week, rushing for 39 yards and a score on 15 carries and adding another 42 yards on 4 catches. Mathews is the much more talented back and it’s very possible Mathews will be back as the feature back next week, but Battle is worth a bench stash, especially for Mathews’ owners.

RB Bilal Powell (NY Jets)

Percent owned (ESPN): 5.2%

Bilal Powell didn’t do much against San Francisco, but what’s important is that Shonn Greene is continuing to struggle as the starter. If he keeps it up, eventually Powell will be given the chance to start. He’s worth a bench stash in deeper leagues and in regular leagues for Greene’s owners.

RB Ronnie Hillman (Denver)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.4%

Some saw Hillman as someone who could be a fantasy factor this year if Willis McGahee, who is in his age 31 season, slips up. Hillman began the year as the 4th string back because John Fox hates rookies, but it appears he’s moved up to 2nd string and got 31 yards on 10 carries this past weekend. McGahee is still in his age 31 season and Hillman is still a much better fit for the offense because of his pass catching abilities, so don’t be surprised if he eventually starts to eat into the veteran’s playing time.

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Week 4 NFL Picks Results

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Picks, 2012 Week 5 NFL Picks

Week 4 Results

ATS: 10-5 +25 units/+2260

SU: 11-4

Upset Picks: 3-3 -75

Over/Under: 1-0 +100

Total: +$2285

Public Results ATS*: 7-8 +4 units

2012 results to date

ATS: 32-28-3 +18 units/+1055

SU: 36-27

Upset Picks: 12-14 +$0

Over/Under: 2-0 +200

Total: +1255

Survivor: 2-2 (HOU, NE, NO, BAL)

Public Results ATS*: 27-35-1 -22 units

*I’m doing this to see how the general public does. Based on percent of bets on each team, if the more popularly bet team covers, it’s a public win, if not, it’s a public loss. If a team that has 50-59% of the action on it covers, the public gets “one unit,” if they don’t cover, they lose one unit, 60-69% is 2, 70-79% is 3, etc.

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