Wednesday, February 10, 2010

NFL Draft Analysis- The Running Backs


When it comes to the top running back prospect around...the case for CJ Spiller is almost unanimous


Written by: D. Wash
Running back, more than any other position on the football field, relies quite heavily on instincts of the player. Because of this, it tends to be an easier position to evaluate potential than the other skill positions as long as one doesn’t get sold on incredible measurables alone. This year’s draft has countless backs to be drafted, but if teams are looking for a complete, every down back, the options become limited. However, due to the “running back by committee” system that a lot of teams are beginning to run, some of the many short yardage specialists in this year’s draft will be able to find a home that suits them.
CJ Spiller
This kid has had undoubted pro potential from the day he stepped onto campus. Sub par teammates have hampered his production, but he is clearly still the most explosive back in the group. Spiller is great moving both north-south and east-west. Great potential as a return man and also has the ability to catch out of the backfield. When he has the ball in his hands, he’s always a home run threat. An extreme competitor, he always plays with emotion and will give 110% on the field. He does tend to dance a little bit in between the tackles. His vision is above average, but not superb. He won’t be able to run inside to often, but ability to make the most of the open field, talent as a receiving running back, and return man potential make him worth it. He won’t fall out of the mid 1st round.
Jahvid Best
Has all the tools to become a premiere running back in this league. Great vision and patience when going through holes. Can charge through a hole on an inside run, but needs to work on leg strength to be able to drive the pile. On outside runs, Best shows that he is able to accelerate to his top speed extremely quickly and that he can change directions quickly. He also has the ability to break arm tackles and use a good stiff arm to hold off defenders. He shows the willingness and ability to make plays, regardless of the cost to his body. Because of that, there will be scouts that worry that his playing style will cause him to get injured. If he works on his ability as a receiver and doesn’t get injured, he could be the best running back in the draft class (and easily a pro bowler).
Jonathan Dwyer
A bigger guy, Dwyer is extremely durable and hasn’t missed a game despite the Georgia Tech “run first, second, and third” offensive system. Unlike Best and Spiller, Dwyer shows the strength to run and make plays on the inside. Will bang into the hole and drive his shoulder into the first defender (who will rarely be able to bring him down). Unlike Spiller and Best, his “home run” play ability is limited. Dwyer’s speed is good for his size (5-11, 235), but it won’t be able to outrun NFL defensive backs. As a blocker, Dwyer has potential simply because of his size, but he needs to be convinced to give 100% on plays where he isn’t the feature. He also needs to improve is discipline, as he tends to get too heavy at times.
Ryan Mathews
Good size, but his speed does leave something to be desired. He can turn the corner and tends to play faster than he’s timed in a 40, but he won’t be able to outrun the superior athletes in the NFL. On inside runs, he is decisive, strong, and explosive. He’ll sprint through the hole and will be able to make short yard gains even if the hole seems to be stuffed (goal line situations are probably where he’ll make the most impact on a team). Still needs to learn how to block and how to work effectively as a receiver from the backfield. His vision is good, but he needs to be more patient at times, as he often will outrun his pulling guards which effectively takes a blocker out of the play. Most likely won’t be an every down back, but does show great potential for a 2 back system as the power back.
Dexter Mccluster
The first thing that scouts will notice about Mccluster, fairly or unfairly, is his size. At 5-7 163, it’ll be hard for Mccluster to convince teams that he can play on Sundays. There will be questions about his durability due to his size and teams will really need to think about him before they pick him up. His speed is incredible, the best out of all of the running backs available, which will be one of the big reasons teams will draft him. If he gets out into the open field, good luck catching him. Not only extremely fast north-south, he can also cut on a dime and break defenders ankle’s without breaking stride. His potential as a return man is undoubted, and teams that draft him will expect for him to make an impact on special teams almost immediately. If he proves that he can remain durable and can improve his hands, there is a place for Mccluster in the NFL as a scat back. If not, his return abilities will still make him worth drafting.
Joe McKnight
He was billed as Reggie Bush 2.0, but McKnight failed to live up to that expectation while he was at USC. Even then, it may be best to examine McKnight in comparison to the former Trojan and current Super Bowl champion. He’s slimmer than Bush, but with a higher center of gravity which makes him easier to tackle than the 2005 Heisman trophy winner. Like Bush, he shows elite quickness and good acceleration, but lacks the top speed to be a top home run threat in the NFL. There are injury questions, and you can bet that scouts will be looking carefully at every joint in his body to see if he’s gonna be durable in the NFL. Can make incredible moves east-west, but sometimes makes too many of him and gets tackled as a result. Good vision and seems to find cut back lanes more easily than other backs. When he’s in the open field, he’ll be difficult to tackle due to his quickness and overall ability to elude defenders. He can make a big impact in the passing game since he is a naturally crisp route runner and can make the tough catches. Won’t be a every down back, but will be a good change of pace guy if he can stay durable.
LaGarette Blount
There’s no doubt that there’s character and maturity questions about Blount and his infamous highlight reel sports a punch that would make Rampage Jackson proud. He also has questionable work ethic when it comes to offseason training. Despite that, Blount’s performance at the senior bowl showed something that a lot of the running backs in this class don’t have, the potential to be an every down back. He’s durable and will almost never miss a down due to an injury. His size is great and his speed at that size is good. He can make plays on inside runs and is too competitive to be taken down after the first hit. His ability to block and overall aggressiveness in pass protection is another thing that will make scouts look over the issues with his intangibles. Whether Blount even gets drafted will depend on how he well he interviews at the combine. If he acts mature and seems like he’s grown through his punishment, there is probably a place for him in this league as an every down back.
Montario Hardesty, Toby Gerhart, Ben Tate, Charles Scott
I group these guys together because, apart from the uniform, they are almost the same running back. All have good size and inside running ability. All are natural competitors and hard to take down after the first hit. All have good vision and ability to let the play develop. But all (with the possible exception of Tate) will be limited to just short yardage backs because they lack even above average speed and ability to make plays on the outside. It’s a tough break, but there’s not much that they can do about it, because at this point of a running backs career, getting faster is a lot like getting taller, it just won’t happen.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

NFL Draft Analysis- The Quarterbacks




There are quite a few quarterback options that will be available at all times during the draft, but most of the quarterback prospects have questions. There is no doubt in my mind that there are multiple pro bowlers in this group of quarterbacks, there are too many skilled guys to not have some studs. The question remain however, who will rise when put on the biggest stage and who will become irrelevant and forgotten except when mentioned in reference to their spectacular feats in college?
Sam Bradford (The Tactician)
He possesses near perfect mechanics and accuracy that the scouts rave about. It may be hard for some of us to remember, but at this time last year it was projected that he would be the number 1 draft pick if he did happen to enter the draft. His intelligence and ability to break down defensive coverages is a major plus for him as well. Both his Heisman trophy and his national championship ring prove that he knows how to win and perform under pressure, and it sure doesn’t hurt that he played under center in a traditional offense for his entire college football career. The only question that exists when it comes to Bradford is how his shoulder injuries will affect him, both mentally and physically. Physically, scouts will do everything short of dissecting his shoulder to determine how much it will affect his future playing and whether it if fully healed. Mentally, it will be impossible to tell how exactly the knowledge of previous injury will affect his game until you put him into a game situation. Will he shy away from hits or stand strong in the pocket and make the throws he needs to? The answer to that could affect his success in NFL because, if Bradford plays scared, it will cause a rough start of his career.
Jimmy Clausen (The Gunslinger)
His rocket arm is something that you notice instantly when you watch him. He has very crisp mechanics and, physically, has all the tools to be a successful NFL quarterback. As far as decision making goes, he has gotten significantly better during his widely publicized college career, but at times has looked like a reckless gunslinger with high risk, high reward potential. In that sense, he looks a lot like Jay Cutler. The constant exposure and adversity that he has had to experience throughout his college career has toughened him and shown that he is mentally strong enough to take the criticisms of media and fans that are inevitable for any quarterback in the NFL (even Peyton Manning makes mistakes). The constant media coverage he incurred at Notre Dame will also make it easy for him to adjust to playing on Sundays, as Saturdays for Notre Dame are a lot like Sundays for pro teams. He can make reads and has the instincts to make big plays. The abundance of film that is readily available on Clausen has given scouts to break down every element of his game, so in that sense Clausen is one of the safest picks in the draft because you know exactly what you get. His experience in a pro style offense at Notre Dame will transition quite well into almost any NFL team.
Colt Mccoy (The Playmaker)
His arm accuracy is good, but not at the level of Sam Bradford. His strength is good, but not at the level of Jimmy Clausen. He knows how to make reads and take control of the game when he needs to. He isn’t afraid of getting hit and, despite the fact that he’s a prolific rusher, has no relevant injuries. Mccoy had 3 years of solid Heisman candidacy and was a star all four years at Texas. He owns more wins than any other college football quarterback and has never missed a start (quite impressive considering that he’s been starting since his freshman year). Competing in the tough Big 12 made it so that he has plenty of experience. There’s a question to how he will be able to transition to a more conservative pro style offense and how he’ll be able to work against NFL D-Line pressure (performance against Nebraska’s Suh is worrying to say the least.) 6-2 isn’t short, but it’s definitely borderline for a quarterback. Scouts will be thinking about that when they evaluate him.
Tim Tebow (The Wildcard)
He’s a great leader with unbelievable intangibles. Absolutely no off the field issues to speak of, and it’s clear that mo’ money won’t cause mo’ problems for Tebow. His size is like that off a tight end, which definitely will give him the ability to see effectively over his offensive line. Committed to playing football and determined to play quarterback at the next level. He’s confident without being cocky, and shows great heart. His strong arm is definitely a plus, but his elongated throwing motion, difficulty working under center, and sloppy footwork will make him a project for a quarterback’s coach. Accuracy for medium to long passes is suspect. Lacks the ability to make good reads against zone coverage and is too often thinking run. Clearly quite mobile, but at the next level it will be less relevant unless he changes position. More of a running back playing quarterback than a quarterback who can run. Coaches will need to rework his throwing motion and fundamentals from the ground up if he decides to stay at QB.
Sean Canfield (The Low Risk Prospect)
Has the prototypical size and weight for an NFL quarterback. Can definetly take a hit, and often did behind a questionable Oregon St. offensive line in 2009. He has a strong arm, good accuracy, and good mechanics. Reads defenses relatively well, but will need to work on that at the next level as Pac 10 defenses are notoriously weak compared to other conferences. Struggled mightily as a sophomore starter, bringing up question about whether he was a one year wonder or the real deal. The Rodgers brothers opened up the offense for him, so without superior athletes like them, there is a question about how effective he will be. Questionable decision making because he sometimes overestimates his ability to fit a ball into a tight window.
Dan Lefevour (The Dark Horse)
Lefevour boasts a moderately strong arm and great arm accuracy, even while on the run. College production was exceptional (responsible for more career touchdown than any player in D 1 history). Mobile in the pocket (much like a Tom Brady) and even when flushed out of the pocket he’s looking downfield as a passer. Lefevour is great under pressure and in the red zone, as evidenced by his bowl victory against Troy. Extremely intelligent and considered a “film junkie”.  This leads to his ability to read defenses quickly and effectively as well as his ability to make the smart throw. He was named the North’s most outstanding player in the senior bowl. Didn’t play under center in college, but showed ability to take snaps under center at the Senior Bowl. The level of competition that he competed with is questionable.
Tony Pike (The Future Backup)
Pike has good height (6-5) and speed, but could use some more bulk. Has good accuracy, especially on short passes, but lacks the arm strength to gun the ball long or work outside the hash marks. There are durability questions and he needs to work on reading NFL coverages. His work ethic has been called into question as well, which may limit him from reaching his full potential of being an average starting quarterback. He played in the spread in college, but showed at the senior bowl that he can work under center. His mental game will have a major affect on where teams draft him, and if teams don’t think they can get him to work hard enough to reach full potential, he could fall to the 5th or 6thround despite his potential.
Others
Jevan Snead: Too young and left school a year too early, most likely due to poor coaching and low quality of offensive weapons. Will be a little project for a quarterbacks coach, but has more potential as a pro style QB prospect than Tebow.
Jarrett Brown: Athleticism and crisp mechanics are beginning to interest many different scouts. Not enough film to justify drafting him too high yet, but a solid combine performance could land him in the 3rd or 4th round.
Darryl Clark: Another athletic quarterback with good size. He would like to play quarterback in the NFL, but isn’t totally opposed to playing other positions (unlike Tebow). Penn St. coaches call him extremely coachable, and if his measurables at the combine impress, he’ll be drafted in the 4th or 5th.

Monday, February 8, 2010

National Signing Day Reset



Ronald Powell was the most sought after recruit in America, and the Florida Gators snatched him up


Written by: D. Wash
There weren’t any parades, Turkeys, or chestnuts roasting on an open fire. But last week there was a major holiday for college football. February 3rd was National Signing day. National Signing day is the day that shapes the future of college football and, indirectly, the NFL for years to come. Every year hundreds of high school recruits decide what college they will go to and on national signing day recruits can officially sign their Letter of Intent to attend and play sports for a school. 

The Winners
                Despite coaching questions and changes, the recruiting classes that the University of Florida and USC were able to put together were by far the best in the nation. Between the two schools, they picked up six of the top seven prospects and 21 of the top 100 prospects, which is unbelievable. If even some of these prospects can perform up to their potential, then there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that both of these schools will be able to continue their tradition of winning and being the premiere teams in college football.
USC Motto: “Offense Sells Tickets”
Lane Kiffin was not only able to keep together the excellent recruiting class that Pete Carroll assembled, but he also picked up some new tools that will be used effectively. The school’s top 5 recruits are all project to make an impact on the offensive side of the ball (with the possible exception of #6 recruit Robert Woods who could play either wideout or safety in college). Both Running Back Dillon Baxter and Wideout Kyle Prater (ranked #17 and #3 respectively) have already enrolled, giving them a chance to make an impact despite a talented roster of skill position players. Prater especially could make an impact his entire duration at USC, as he has excellent body control and the size (6-5, 205) to be able to make a catch even if he’s covered. Offensive Tackle recruit  Seantrel Henderson (#2 recruit nationally) is another impressive pick up by the Trojans. He is huge (6-8, 301) and could easily be groomed into a first round draft pick by the time he leaves USC. The aforementioned Robert Woods has impressive speed (4.43) and overall athleticism. He hits like a linebacker and is simply explosive with the ball in his hands, which will give Kiffin and the USC staff a difficult decision to make about which side of the ball he belongs on. Though those four are the top of the recruiting class, USC was also able to get an astonishing 13 four star prospects in addition to the 4 five star recruits (Henderson, Prater, Baxter, and Woods). With these future Trojan stars on their way to campus, as well as the building blocks already present in Pasadena, people should only expect USC to look more and more impressive offensively over the next few years.
Florida’s Motto: “Defense Wins Championships”
Florida went looking for talent on the other side of the ball, and they found it in both quality and quantity. The star of the class is without a doubt the destructive defensive end prospect Ronald Powell. Blessed with speed (4.52), size (6-4, 230), and an array of moves, Powell (who had the honor of being named the #1 recruit in the class)has the potential to make an immediate impact on the Gators Defense. Even when matched up against top offensive linemen prospects, he’s been able to be extremely effective and fight through blocking. If coaches at Florida can inspire him to give 110% in every practice rep, then Powell has the opportunity to amount one of the most impressive sack totals that college football has ever seen. He’s that good. Future teammates of Powell include defensive tackles Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley (ranked #4 and #7 respectively). Both have the potential to play as freshman, and with those three all coming into Florida at the same time, SEC quarterbacks should be very afraid of what they should be able to do when put together. Other top recruits include the versatile 5 star athlete Matt Elam and the extremely strong 4 star cornerback prospect Joshua Shaw. Florida was able to pick up some offensive prospects (TE Gerald Christian, WR Chris Dunkley, OL Ian Silberman and Chaz Green) as well, and with a total of 4 five star prospects and 18 four star prospects, its my opinion that Florida had the top recruiting class of 2010. Not only was the class they put together impressive, but by convincing 11 of their recruits to enroll early, Florida is giving themselves a chance to use some of their extensive recruiting talent from 2010 in this upcoming season.
The Best of The Rest
Though Florida and USC easily had the top 2 recruiting classes, there are a number of other schools that had impressive classes as well. Texas was able to bring a lot of their instate talent to Austin for the upcoming season. DE Jackson Jeffcoat has the potential to build a Julius Peppers like body if he commits himself to football full time (he also plays basketball) and LB Jordan Hicks has the speed and coverage abilities to do a lot in pass coverage and blitzing. Add in 5 four star wide receivers, and there is little doubt that Texas will be able to continue their contention for national titles in upcoming years. UCLA  was a big surprise this year, and with another big recruiting class next year they may be able to realistically contend with USC. Cal also had a big year, picking up quite a few top defensive prospects such as top Safety recruit Keenan Allen and massive DE prospect Chris Martin. Florida state is another team that was able to pick up a pair of five star recruits, stealing them from Florida even though they are undergoing a coaching change. While Notre Dame’s class wasn’t extremely impressive, it didn’t have a precipitous drop off that you would expect after an unpleasant coaching transition.
What’s Happened to Big Ten Football?
The biggest disappointment of national signing day (and the entire college recruiting process) was the efforts of the Big Ten. The SEC and Pac 10 were able to draw the majority of the 26 five star prospects (11 and 9 respectively), while the Big Ten could only manage to reel in a single 5 star recruit (MSU commit, DE prospect William Gholston). That in itself is enough reason to lose some hope for Big Ten football, as its 5 star prospects that end up becoming Heisman winners, National Champions, and First Round Draft Picks. Penn State did manage to pick up enough four star recruits to have a top 15 ranked recruiting class (Michigan was also able to crack the top 25 recruiting classes), but considering the deep tradition of winning in Big Ten Football, only two top 25 recruiting classes is just embarrassing. If the Big Ten is unable to turn around their lackluster performance in recent years with good recruiting classes, I fear that the reputation of the conference will forever be tarnished, and they will never be able to return to the place of glory that they had five or ten years ago.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Super Bowl XLIV Preview



Written by Nick Kowalski
With Super Bowl XLIV being just hours away, a complete examination of the match up is in order. In a battle between both conference's top-seeded teams, the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts (16-2) will face off against the best the NFC has to offer, in the New Orleans Saints (15-3). The Colts-Saints battle for the Vince Lombardy Trophy will mark the first between the league's two top-seeded teams since 1993.

The big game will be played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida - in what will be Little Havana's tenth time as host - beginning at 6:25 p.m. on CBS.

Led by four-time regular-season MVP and Superbowl XLI Champion, Peyton Manning, the Colts appear to be flying high. Jim Caldwell's team took swift care of upstart rookie running back Ray Rice's Baltimore Ravens in the second round. Sure, Indy had a slow first half in the AFC Championship vs. the Jets, as Manning and Co. were held to just 13 points. But in the second half, the Colts' offense took over. Referring back to the tail end of the regular season, die-hard Colts fans and the like criticized the team for, essentially, giving up the chance at a perfect record - after having started the season 14-0 - by resting several key players, in back-to-back losses against the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. It is a given that the decision of Indianapolis' coaching staff to bench a faction of their starters was implemented with the intent of preparing for a deep run in the playoffs. And, for one, a perfect (regular) season already has been accomplished (2006 New England Patriots) - and, as proven, does not guarantee a Superbowl victory.

In opposition, New Orleans' high-octane offense, with All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees at the helm, will look to cap off its season-long success in what will be the franchise's first Superbowl appearance. Much like the Colts, the Saints flirted with perfection, but backed-into the playoffs, having suffered three straight losses in Weeks 15-17. Once they lost, 24-17, at home to the Cowboys, N. O. chose to preserve their talent for the playoffs - which, in hindsight, was a brilliant decision. Though an undefeated regular season would have meant a tremendous amount to the city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, a win on Sunday in the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl appearance would mean even more.

The stats -

In an analysis of the regular season and playoff statistics, here is a brief highlight of both teams' numbers:

In the regular season, New Orleans led the league in total offense, at 403.8 yards per game, 272.2 of which were via air mail (4th best in league).

On the other hand, the Colts, who averaged 282.2 passing yards per game, were second in the NFL. In the playoffs, Indianapolis managed to average an impressive 368 yards of total offense. As well, Larry Coyer's bunch allowed the Ravens and Jets just a combined average of 86.5 yards on the ground.

Brees finished the season with a 70.6 completion percentage - an NFL record. Additionally, the proficient passer threw for 34 touchdowns, which was most in the league.

Injury report -

Pivotal injuries to star players can play a role in determining the outcome of the big game. If recent history is any indicator, inflicted players, dependant upon type and degree of injury, will strive to play through pain - and either triumphantly succeed, a la wide receiver Terrell Owens (9 receptions, 144 yards, 1 receiving touchdown) in Superbowl XXXIX or fail trying, like Heinz Ward (2 receptions for 43 yards) just last year.

This year is no exception. Colts' All-Pro defensive end, Dwight Freeney, is suffering from a sprained right ankle. Reportedly, Freeney, who has been virtually sidelined since the AFC Championship, did not practice with the team on Friday. The five-time Pro Bowl selection - who recorded a career-best 13.5 sacks this season - is an integral part of the Colts' rush defensive scheme and his full-strength services will be deeply missed on Sunday. It is a safe bet that Freeney will make a determined effort to play, but the likelihood of his making an impact on the field is doubtful. Also, Indy's top wide receiver, Reggie Wayne, left practice early on Friday after coming up short on a pass route, according to the Boston Herald. The four-time Pro Bowl wide out has allegedly re-aggravated a nagging hamstring injury.

The Saints have avoided the injury bug, to an extent. While starting safety Darren Sharper, linebacker Jonathan Vilma, and tight end Jeremy Shockey are recovering from minor knee injuries, all three practiced with the team on Friday and did not appear to be phased by any ailment.  Notably, Shockey sat out Super Bowl XLII with the New York Giants due to a season-ending broken left fibula acquired in Week 15. After practice, Head Coach Sean Payton stated that his team put a cap on a "good week of work." More importantly for the Bourbon Street dwellers, all members of the injury list suited up and practiced on Friday.

Weather report -

The National Weather Service reports that there will be sunny skies and a high/low near 71/54 degrees Fahrenheit in Miami on Sunday. There is a 30-40% chance at rain for Saturday, but it is expected to clear up in the evening.

Interesting note: As both the Saints and Colts play their home games in domes, neither team has played outdoors this playoff season. In fact, January 3 was the last time either team played a game in the elements - the Saints lost at Carolina (23-10) and the Colts got blown out in Buffalo (30-7).

Opinionated rambling -

I believe this year's Super Bowl will be memorable in that it pits two offensive powers against one another. Obviously, two All-Pro gunslingers, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, who were both on the sidelines for this past week's Pro Bowl, will combine to throw for several touchdowns - early and often. For the Colts, even if Wayne is not at 100%, Manning has other weapons to work with, such as Clark or Addai. On the flip side, the New Orleans offense can score at will, too. Though known primarily for its elusive passing attack, the Saints' offense is actually two-pronged, as they command the leagues sixth-ranked rushing offense, led by running back Reggie Bush - which is not to snub rushing contributors Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell. Quite conversely, the Colts have the league's worst rushing offense, averaging a mere 80.9 yards per game. The game may be decided by who has the ball last, which brings place kickers into the equation. In that category, I give a solid advantage to the Colts's veteran kicker, Matt Stover, over the Saints' second-year kicker, Garrett Hartley. Without a healthy Freeney, the Colts will need Antoine Bethea to step up his game and get to Brees if they are to have a chance at halting the Saints' efficient and devastatingly destructive offense. That aside, Indianapolis' defense does tend to play sloppy and give up a lot of points, as seen in snippets throughout the second half of the regular season, though they did have the eighth-best scoring defense in the NFL (19.2 points per game). N. O.'s defense, featuring Vilma (110 tackles in 2009) and Sharper (tied for first with 9 interceptions this season), may have a comparative advantage over the Colts.

Prediction -

Peyton may have an edge in experience and leadership (after all, he is the league's reigning MVP), but I am confident in Brees' ability to move the chains against the Colts' mediocre defense. To no one's surprise, I expect New Orleans to take a page or two out of the Jets' first-half play book and blitz Manning throughout the game. Now, it may or may not pan out, but, either way, it may be enough to hold Manning to a few three-and-outs, especially late in the game. I believe wide receiver Marques Colston will have a quality outing as the Saints march past the Colts in what will be a high-scoring affair. Score: Saints 44, Colts 34. MVP: Drew Brees.

There you have it - I have provided an in-depth preview of Super Bowl XLIV and have shared with you my gut instinct regarding the outcome. Please feel free to leave a comment or contact me via email at nknk09@yahoo.com.