First 2009 Draft Sim of the Season

It’s October and its time for The World Series Draft Teks Kickoff coverage of the 2009 NFL draft.

Our first effort has just been posted up over on the main site.  Won’t get into team needs and player rankings just yet.  This posting discusses our In-season timeline and other guidelines that simulations will follow until the NFL season is over.

What’s that?  You don’t like where your team is ranked ??   Our Sim sucks?   Kansas City is just fine at QB ??

If only there was some manner to make changes to the simulation’s inputs and then generate a new mock draft based upon those changes . . . . 

Dolphins Update #13

The bye week has come an gone.  Unfortunately it came at a time when the Dolphins had no injuries and were coming off their best win in almost 2 years.  Hopefully the team has maintained their confidence and swagger heading into what should be a difficult game against the Chargers.

Go Ahead — Fine Me, Goodell . . .

 . . . because I have yet to see officiating as atrocious during the first 4 weeks of this NFL season — and I have been watching NFL football since 1960!  When a face mask infraction that brings back memories of The Exorcist is not called and even Joe Buck takes a break from talking about baseball to elaborate on missed calls, Houston, we have a problem!  Well, let’s review my keys to the game:

• Cowboys pressure on Campbell – yes, there were sacks, hurries and knockdowns, but this young man is developing into a real pro QB!  Stood tall in the pocket, 220 yards passing and no interceptions,  combined with 161 yards rushing led to a 16 minute advantage in time of possession.
• Romo protecting the ball – only one interception, but it led to a field goal which was the difference in a 2 point victory.

However, a key to the game that I did not foresee was only 44 yards of rushing for the Cowboys and 16 minutes less time of possession.  I could not fathom Jason Garrett getting away from the running game, a questionable offensive strategy, to say the least.

OK, a quick tour around this Sunday’s action:

• Which 4-0 team is more impressive?  Buffalo victories include Seattle, Jacksonville, Oakland and St. Louis, while Tennessee has defeated Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Houston and Minnesota.
• Denver’s leaky defense had to eventually catch up with them, but Kansas City?!?!?! 
• With the Chiefs’ win, the heat in Linehan’s seat must have increased at least a few more degrees, as the 3rd best team in Missouri (yep, Mizzou could take the Rams!) have yet to muster a win.
• BTW, the Bungles and Tejanoes do not reside in Missouri — neither can “Show Me” anything!
• The NFC East has just suffered its first defeat outside the division — can Kyle Orton provide steady QB play to compliment the Bear’s defense?

Whooey, were there just a couple of upsets in the NCAA this weekend?  Down is up and it’s time to remove the “C” from BCS (now that’s an acknowledgement) and institute a 16 team playoff!

OK, Cincinnati comes to Big D next week — and there is only one key to the game:  Dallas must get back to basics on offense, put that big OL to work and hammer the Bengals defense with a big dose of rushing.  That will lead to multiple down-the-field opportunities with play-action passes.

If the Cowboys need to take solace, they should look no further than their former FB, Walt Garrison, for inspiration.  After a difficult loss, Walt offered this perspective:  “When you can put on a ten gallon hat and walk under the belly of a snake, everything looks like up!”

“From deep in the heart of Texas, live from the Armadillo World Headquarters — Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen!”

Yes, I was there — and still remember the good times,

Long Ball

Mac’s NFL Power Rankings – Week Four

Rick McGlothlin – Drafttek.com Senior writer/ Indianapolis Colts correspondent

Explain this season to me thus far, will you? Anyone – please. What the heck is going on? Buffalo gets jumped on by the Rams 13-0 to start the game, KC knocks off undefeated Denver, Tampa Bay is led by Brian Griese to a thumping of Green Bay, Jacksonville nearly loses at home to Houston and Washington gives Dallas everything they can handle in Big D. Incredible. This is one of the more topsy-turvy seasons that I can remember in a long while.

What I do believe is this: The top division remains the NFC East, followed by the NFC South and then a close race between the AFC South & AFC East. Following those four is the AFC West, then NFC North, AFC North and finally the NFC West. With that, here’s the new power rankings for week #4.

Mac’s Marquee NFL Matchups – Week Four

Rick McGlothlin – Senior Writer/ Drafttek.com & Indianapolis Colts correspondent

Time for a few teams to step up and show they’re for real while others searching for answers see hope start to fade away completely. Yes, I’m talking to you Bengal and Browns fans. The lose goes to 0-4 and pretty much can kiss any playoff spot goodbye.  You too KC and Detroit. But hey Lions fans? At least your dreaded “ball and chain” for the past 7 years has been discarded – congrats ! That’s a start towards recovery.

Big, big games on tap Sunday, and then again Monday night, so let me outline the best.

Dolphins Update #12

Really short post today; afterall, it is a bye week!  Check out the recent happenings with the marine mammals from Miami after the jump…

Hallelujah!

As per reports from ESPN, Fox and many Detroit radio sources…

MATT MILLEN IS NO LONGER THE GM OF THE LIONS!!!

Coming two days after VP William Ford Jr. stated that if he were in charge, he would fire Millen…Ford Sr. did the same thing (or Millen felt the pressure and bolted). Tom Lewand and Martin Mayhew will share duties to finish out the season.

This is a big, huge, giant step in the right direction. But it is only a step. Right now the roster is filled with developmental players and there is a lack of depth at the offensive and defensive lines, and in the linebacking corps. Head Coach Rod Marinelli is officially on the hot seat because any new GM would not want to start with a coach who’s never been successful. Rod will have to go (at least) 8-8 to have a chance at saving his job.

As it stands right now, nothing but good has ever been said about Lewand who is a business guy but has been with the Lions enough to see a raise in status. A theory at the moment is that Lewand would take over as “President” and have the final say in all business or football matters but either a separate GM or head coach with GM abilities would have a good amount of input (i.e. everything but the rubber stamp).

However, firing Millen is like taking Tylenol3 and applying a band-aid when you have a gaping gunshot wound. Sure you’ll feel better and it may look nicer, but there’s still a problem. William Clay Ford Sr. is still the owner of the Lions. Since taking over in ‘64 the Lions have been abyssmal for much of that time. This was once a proud championship winning franchise. Now? It exists to run star players into the ground.

For the good of football, Roger Goodell needs to step in. There are quite a few ownership messes right now that need to be dealt with.

Oakland: A small portion of the Raiders team is already owned by a small investment group. It makes sense to me to force Al Davis (the worst owner in Sports) to sell the remaining majority shares to the same group (adding a few more wealthy raiders fans) LA is the NFL’s second biggest market…lets get Davis out of there and the Raiders back to LA.

Detroit: This one is the easiest, force Ford to cede control of the team to his son–or let Bill Davidson/Mike Illich buy the team (both have been rumored to a degree)

Buffalo: When Ralph Wilson sells this team there will be chaos if LA, San Antonio, and other markets are clamoring for a franchise. This is a tricky legal matter but it fits: sell the team to the citizens of Buffalo. If Green Bay can own a team…so can Buffalo.

Pittsburgh: Right now the 5 Rooney brothers are violating the leagues anti-gambling policy because they own small casinos in addition to portions of the Steelers. Also, the NFL mandated that every team have a shareholder with at least 30%. Stanley Druckenmiller is ready to buy this team but not at the price the Rooney Bros. want. The NFL needs to lean in a little harder on the sons of the best owner ever. Druckenmiller is a passionate fan and has the capital for this team to succeed. Dan–the oldest brother (76) is a great owner but is getting old yet would serve as a great mentor for Druckenmiller.

Colts Bye Week Comes At Perfect Time

Rick McGlothlin – Drafttek.com Senior Writer / Indianapolis Colts Correspondent

It’s not been one of the more pleasant seasons for the members of the Indianapolis Colts. One young, 2 year veteran defensive tackle suddenly retires prior to the season. Another defensive tackle is busted for possesion of weed. Future hall of famer Peyton Manning is out the entire summer and pre-season while many other key parts of the Indy defense go down with injuries in pre-season, including Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday. So the deck was stacked against the Colts coming into the season and thus far they seem to continue drawing more than a fair share of Jokers.

Time isn’t on their side either.

Mac’s NFL Rankings – Week Three

Rick McGlothlin – Drafttek.com Senior writer/ Colts correspondent

It looked like collegiate football at times yesterday. Single wing formations, direct snaps, trick plays and plenty of stunning upsets. Yet, it was the NFL on one of the more zany Sundays in quite awhile. One thing is for certain as we head into week four, and that is there is a feeling I get that the landscape is shifting. The formidable powers the past few years are nursing injuries and trying to plug holes, while the younger teams are zipping right by them. Right now it appears that the NFC East is the class of the entire league and everyone else is trying to file in right behind them until lightning strikes. With that, here are my Week Three NFL Power Rankings, with changes galore. Including at the top.

1.(2) Dallas (3-0) – On the road and against one of the more talented young teams in the NFL, the Cowboys finally powered up in the 2nd half and crushed Green Bay. One of the weapons was heretofore unknown Miles Austin, 3rd year wide receiver from tiny Monmouth in New Jersey. He came out of nowhere to give the Packers secondary fits while they were busy keeping tabs on TO.

Dolphins Update #11

Well that was fun, now wasn’t it?  The Dolphins grabbed their first win of the season against New England, their first regular season loss since December 10, 2006.  And who did they lose to that day?  Miami, a 21-0 drubbing.  Here is the weekly game recap…