NFL Down Under

TAA: Young Cornerback Set To Benefit From NFL’s Pass Emphasis

Dominic — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:25:25 +0000

The Aussie Audible: weekly discussions on the NFL written by Dominic Davies.

In a passing league, finding an elite cornerback who can lock a receiver down is fast becoming a priority for NFL franchises. Just as NFL offenses employ more multiple receiver sets and find new and exotic ways to move the ball, the need for a defensive player who can single cover is greater than ever.

The contribution a truly elite cornerback such as Darrelle Revis can make to a team’s defense is becoming more apparent as secondaries continue to find themselves exposed by creative offenses. Given the rise of the pass-catching TE and the multiple WR sets it’s unsurprising to see teams invest in more than two quality corners.

Morris Claiborne - like Patrick Peterson before him - can also help NFL teams in the return game.

This is the environment Morris Claiborne will find himself in when he comes to the draft in April. And he is ideally suited to capitalize on it.

Hailing from LSU Claiborne is consistently ranked as the top corner in the 2012 Draft and is often regarded as an even greater prospect than last year’s Patrick Peterson, another LSU product drafted fifth overall by the Cardinals.

Claiborne’s skill-set is ideal for an NFL shutdown corner: quick, agile hips, great ability to extend his body to defend the pass and good overall quickness. Once more, his football intelligence appears to be excellent and is able to quickly diagnose a receiver’s rout and preempt the pass – perfect intangibles for a corner who wants to intercept the ball.

A common knock against him is found in his tackling, sometimes being too aggressive, over committing and not correctly wrapping a receiver up. However this comes hand in hand with his willingness to make a tackle – even against the run – and the technique can easily be fixed by pro coaches.

Even better Claiborne is dangerous with the ball in his hands, leading the NCAA in interception yardage and returned two kicks for touchdowns in 2011.

Last year it was clear NFL franchises had begun to place emphasis back on the cornerback position.

Much of of the offseason was devoted speculation as to where Nnamdi Asomugha would land. However, he was not the only CB picked up in free agency. Johnathan Joseph was wisely snatched by the Texans, whose pass defense has enjoyed a complete reversal from the year before and the Eagles not only nabbed Nnamdi but the Cardinals’ Dominique Rodgers-Cromatie as well, desperate to stop the pass.

Then in the 2011 Draft we saw three cornerbacks go in the first round, including Patrick Peterson with the fifth overall, Prince Amukamara 19th overall and Jimmy Smith – who had a fantastic year for the Ravens – 26th overall.

This year – after three quarterbacks each posted over five thousand passing yards – will surely see the trend towards quality cornerbacks continue. Expect teams to pay big money for free agents such as Carlos Rogers, Cortland Finnegan – annoying punk that he is – and Brandon Carr. Their agents must be salivating at the thought.

Those team struggling with the new cap that cannot afford these stars will find themselves looking to the draft. Looking to players such as Morris Claiborne.

More than a few teams are in need of some help in pass coverage. The Patriots, Redskins, Lions, Buccaneers, Cowboys and quite a few others require a shutdown corner. But realistically, only the Redskins and Buccaneers would be in a position to take Claiborne with most projecting a top 10 if not top 5 pick being used on the LSU star. The rest would be forced to trade up big or look to Janoris Jenkins or Dre Kirkpatrick – two top talents in their own right.

With the success of Patrick Peterson in 2011 expect Morris Claiborne to show up in draft discussions all the way into April. He’s clearly the most pro-ready of all the corners – although many say Janoris Jenkins is too – and could be taken off the board as early as the top 5.

Here’s some scouting reports: CBS Sports, Walter Football, NFL Mocks, Sideline Scouting.

Point of Interest: Talking about cornerbacks, looks like Eagles vet Asante Samuel might find himself on the block.

Point of Interest 2: Looks like the 18 game season idea is not going away. As a selfish NFL fan I approve.

Point of Interest 3: The more I (and others) talk about it, the more I see Stevie Johnson going to the Patriots. Superb help against Revis.

Final Point of Interest: Continuing the trend, Brodie will list the top 5 cornerbacks available in free agency tomorrow. Look out for it!

The Aussie Audible is a weekly column written by NFLDownUnder’s editor Dominic Davies. Summing up some of the week’s action and news as well as offer some opinion and pointless hyperbole.

The Top 5 Cornerbacks Available In 2012 Free Agency

Brodie — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:22:40 +0000

For teams who struggled in defending the pass last year these are the free agents they will be focusing on. While there is no Nnamdi Asomugha this time around to excite the media the pool of available CBs is still incredibly deep.

Let’s take a look at who is available and what teams are in need of help at cornerback.

Teams In Need Of Cornerback Help

New England Patriots – You might say that a team that lost the Super Bowl in the last minute doesn’t need too much help. However, if New England want another serious run at next season’s Super Bowl they will need to fix their 31st ranked pass defense (averaging 296 ypg). Help at cornerback is a no brainier for the Patriots who even resorted to using wide receiver Julian Edelman in the secondary in certain situations.

Detroit may be forced to resort to free agency to fix their poor secondary.

Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford finally showed the NFL world what he and Calvin Johnson can do and now it’s time for the defense to stand up. If the Lions were to build a solid secondary imagine how dangerous they could be when combined with that monster front four.

Oakland Raiders -The surprise move of releasing Stanford Routt – who they gave a massive contract to during last year’s offseason – means the Raiders need serious help here. Last year they ranked 27th in the league in pass defense and that was with their #1 CB. With basically no draft picks in this year’s draft (due to the Carson Palmer trade) the Raiders must look towards free agency, they simply have no other choice.

Dallas Cowboys – Now is the time for the Cowboys to find a cornerback if they want a serious run at the playoffs. With both the Eagles and Giants in their division defending the pass is a must. After drafting only Josh Thomas in the 5th round and missing out on Asomugha last year they should make it a priority this offseason.

New Orleans Saints – Tracey Porter, the Saints #1 cornerback, is now a free agent. The Saints poor pass defense gets poorer after ranking 30th in pass defense in 2011. With Matt Ryan and Cam Newton in the division this position is crying out for help. Drew Brees can’t do it all, can he?

The Top 5 Cornerbacks Available In Free Agency.

5. Terrell Thomas, Age 27 (Giants)

In 2011 Thomas succumbed to an unfortunate ACL injury in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears, effectively ending his season. After recording 5 ints, 4 forced fumbles, and a sack in 2010 many in NFL circles believed he was ready for a pro bowl run.

Still, there would be risk here in grabbing him. As we all know most players are not the same after ACL injuries.

4. Carlos Rogers, Age 31 (49ers)

Carlos Rodgers was reinvigorated with the 49ers this year after several slow seasons in Washington. Rodgers picked off six passes and limited receivers to a 52.6 completion percentage during his time in San Francisco.

The only concerns for teams is his age (31).

3. Brent Grimes, Age 29 (Falcons)

Despite entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent Grimes has established himself as a very talented cornerback in the NFL today – earning a pro bowl appearance in the 2010/11 season. Grimes did see a drop in production in 2011/12 which could be a concern for potential buyers.

2. Cortland Finnegan, Age 28 (Titans)

Yes, the Cortland Finnegan who had that terrific fight with Andre Johnson (which you can see by clicking here). Now that is out of the way we can actually talk about his talent. Finnegan led the Titans defense to the 14th ranked pass defense in the league. He is passionate about the game and he can be a great leader and motivator.

Finnegan would be a great addition to any team.

1. Brandon Carr, Age 26 (Chiefs)

Brandon Carr had an absolutely outstanding year. Being the guy opposite Brandon Flowers he was obviously always going to be picked on by opposition QBs. Carr however proved that he is a top caliber cornerback under pressure with a completion percentage of 49.4 in 2011.

He will be a hot free agency prospect due to his talent and age.

Other Notable FA Cornerbacks

Richard Marshall
Tracey Porter
Stanford Routt (editors note: the Cheifs just signed Routt – looks like Carr is defintely not staying in Kansas City)
Aaron Ross
William Middleton
Rashean Mathis
Jason Allen
Tim Jennings

Who do you think is the number 1 prized free agent cornerback? Does your team need help in the secondary? Let us know!

This Week In The NFL: Peyton Not Out? Moss Back In?

Ryan Cogan-Briater — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:42:07 +0000

The offseason is now in full effect & with it brings the return of our ‘This Week In The NFL’ series. Every week we will collect & dissect all the biggest, best & weirdest news from around the NFL in bite-sized form.

Would it even be the offseason if we didn’t have the retiring/returning speculation and news? Seems this year the baton has been passed on from Favre to Manning and Moss. All the hyperbole, conjecture and misinformation we expect from our NFL offseason recapped for you right here!

The Future of #18 Still Unclear

Sports Illustrated has recently revealed that Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning has had four, not three, neck surgeries as has previously been reported and may need to undergo more to remove bone spurs that have developed above the point where his latest neck fusion took place.

The future of Peyton Manning remains up in the air, with a meeting between he and Colts owner Jim Irsay planned within the next seven days. Irsay says he is open to Peyton returning to the Colts, provided he restructures his contract which includes forgoing his $28 million roster bonus due on March 8th.

Manning is expected to be in demand if he is released, with ESPN Insider Adam Schefter naming the Jets, Dolphins, Redskins and Cardinals as teams expected to be interested in Manning if he hits the open market.

Randy Moss Wants Back In

At 35 years of age can Moss really contribute next season?

On Monday night, former star Wide Receiver Randy Moss declared his intent to return to the NFL in season 2012, ending a year long retirement. Moss said on his UStream video account “I wanna play football. Your boy is going to come back and play some football, so I’m really excited.”

His agent Joel Segal confirmed Moss’ decision stating “Randy and I have discussed it. He still has his fire and he’s looking forward to playing football. He’s excited.”

After a stellar career in which he compiled 954 receptions for 14858 yards and 153 touchdowns, Moss retired after a tumultuous 2010 season, one which saw him traded away by the Patriots to the Vikings for a third round pick.

After struggling to fit in during his second tenure with Minnesota, he was cut and claimed off waivers by the Titans, where he struggled to make an impact. He finished the season with just 28 receptions for 393 yards and 5 touchdowns.

New UCLA Head Coach still Holds Grudge with Former Team

Trashing the NFL coach of his former team as he returns to NCAA Football. Classy.

Jim Mora, once the coach of the Atlanta Falcons, has made what can only be perceived as a thinly veiled swipe at his former team.

Mora, who is the new coach at UCLA, was discussing the advantages of recruiting high school players from the Atlanta area when he told the Atlanta Constitution-Journal ”The bottom line is this: The last time the Falcons won a playoff game, I was the head coach. Kids remember that game, the 47-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams. A lot of kids around Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the Southeast follow the Falcons. They know that was the last time that the Falcons have won a playoff game.”

Mora was fired following the 2006 season after posting a 26-21 record with the team.

He was replaced by Bobby Petrino, a coach infamously remembered for resigning from his role mid-season, only a day after he pledged commitment to Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

Mike Smith is the current head coach of the Falcons, with a 43-21 record in the regular season, but 0-3 in the playoffs.

Hines Ward Reportedly No Longer a Steeler

Two Super Bowl rings, a Super Bowl MVP AND a Dancing With the Stars winner. What a great career!

The Pittsburgh Steelers have chosen not to retain the services of long time WR Hines Ward, Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network has reported. However, both Ward and the Steelers have denied that a decision has been made his future with the team.

The Steelers, with the league’s lowest salary cap space last year, have been in cost cutting mode, restructuring the contracts of veterans Lawrence Timmons, Lamar Woodley and Ike Taylor to create more room for next season. It appears that the former Super Bowl MVP will be a casualty of the cap space process.

Hines Ward has played for the Steelers his whole career and has expressed interest in finishing his career at the club, saying he will restructure his contract if need be.

Bengals’ LB Rey Maualuga in Bar Brawl

The Bengals are not unfamiliar with legal problems during the offseason.

Rey Maualuga was involved in a bar brawl in Cincinnati last weekend and is facing misdemeanour assault charges.

The Bengals’ LB allegedly punched an employee of a Cincinnati area bar in the face early on Sunday morning. Maualuga is scheduled to appear in court on February 17th.

This is not Maualuga’s first brush with the law. In 2010 he pleaded guilty to drunken driving.For that he received a suspended seven day jail sentence and had his driver’s license suspended for 90 days.

He was fined two game checks and part of his signing bonus by the NFL.

Rob Gronkowski Undergoes Offseason Ankle Surgery

"Gronk hurt, Gronk hurt bad"

The New England Patriots star Tight End Rob Gronkowski has reportedly undergone ankle surgery to repair damage he suffered in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens.

It was believed that he had suffered a high ankle sprain which allowed him to play in the Super Bowl.

Following the surgery it was revealed that Gronkowski had torn ligaments in his ankle, which is far worse than the Patriots let us believe in the lead up to the Super Bowl.

Gronkowski will be sidelined for up to 10 weeks and will return to action in time for the team’s offseason OTA’s

TAA: Should the Patriots Get Aggressive in Offseason?

Dominic — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:20:45 +0000

The Aussie Audible: weekly discussions on the NFL written by Dominic Davies.

Bill Belichick has become famous for jealously hoarding his draft picks.

Rather than making a splash on a big name draftee or trading away picks to another team for talent he needs, Bill instead coolly stockpiles future picks by trading away his own near-declining players (see: Richard Seymour for a great example) for even more juicy draft picks.

Last year New England made nine selections in the draft. That included two in the second round, two in the third and two in the fifth. That was in a draft that still included them picking 17th overall (OT Nate Solder).

Richard Seymour's trade to Oakland was heralded as another coup for Belichick and the Patriots.

This year New England has two first round picks, two seconds, one third and one fourth. One can normally assume they will make one first round selection before trading away the other and probably gouging another franchise in the process, as is customary.

However is this the best way for the Patriots to move forward? The argument could be made that it’s not. Not anymore.

When the Patriots were at their best, juggling selections, bamboozling other GMs and otherwise being revered as Grand High Sage-Wizards of the Draft they already had an incredibly competitive team.

But Brady is aging, time is running out and the Patriots can no longer afford to be so general with their selections. They need very specific help, now.

Some examples of how the Patriots current philosophy might not be the best can be found in previous drafts. In the last three years the Patriots have drafted five players for their secondary. The highest draft pick they utilised for a safety or a cornerback in this period was Devin McCourty in 2010 at 27th overall.

To be fair, most of them are still on the roster but it’s obvious that the Patriots secondary has been notoriously poor these last two years and are only getting worse (30th overall against the pass in 2010, 31st in 2011).

In the last three years the following players were available early in the first round: Malcom Jenkins, Eric Berry, Joe Haden, Earl Thomas and Patrick Peterson. All five would have been worth moving up to select. Lest we forget all the terrific players there were in free agency last year too (Jonathan Joseph, Nnamdi Asomugha, Carlos Rogers).

But that’s not Bill Belichick’s philosophy. He plays it cool.

So is it time for that to change?

Going into this year’s draft the Patriots have two major needs: a big play receiver and a shutdown corner.

The University of North Alabama’s Janoris Jenkins, Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick and LSU’s Morris Claiborne are all corners worth trading up for and would provide an immediate boost to the Patriot’s secondary – both Jenkins and Claiborne are regarded as pro-ready by most scouts and could be slotted in immediately.

As for receivers, how about OSU’s Justin Blackmon or Baylor’s Kendall Wright? Both could both be great playmakers at the next level. Even Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd might be worth reaching for.

The Patriots are still looking for a replacement for Randy Moss.

Of course there’s another option, they could look to free agency or trade, as they did with Randy Moss. Moss provided the perfect big play-receiver that Brady needed in 2007 – and they only gave up a fourth round pick for him! Since Moss it’s clear the Patriots have tried to find a suitable replacement in Chad Johnson and Deion Branch, but both lack the elite talent required.

In free agency we have the likes of Brandon Lloyd and Vincent Jackson available, two big targets for Brady. Brandon Lloyd would be especially tempting considering that Josh McDaniels has returned as offensive coordinator.

Moss himself is also making a return to the league, wouldn’t that be a story if he found himself back in New England?

If the 13-3 New England Patriots made anything clear, it’s that they are close, so close, to being a championship team. All they need are a few more pieces to complete the puzzle. Not only would making a splash this offseason provide the missing piece, it would energise a despondent fanbase which has taken this last Super Bowl loss particularly hard.

Now might not be the time to buy in bulk or play it safe. Now might be the time to finally go all in, use some picks, spend some money, whatever. Make a statement and take a very uncharacteristic gamble on some elite talent.

Knowing Bill he could trade up in the draft and still have 10+ picks overall anyway.

Point of Interest: Take note Randy Moss: If you’re trying to get back into the league it’s best to do so without any of the same drama that marked your exit.

Point of Interest 2: A Canadian RB who played in the CFL has been signed by the Dolphins. I wonder if more teams will start to look across the border for talent.

Point of Interest 3: There’s actually a study proving that the Eagles’ secondary cannot make tackles. Science!

Final Point of Interest: Don’t forget to fill out our reader survey and have a chance to win the prize!

The Aussie Audible is a weekly column written by NFLDownUnder’s editor Dominic Davies. Summing up some of the week’s action and news as well as offer some opinion and pointless hyperbole.

10 Things We Learnt From The 2011/12 NFL Season

Alex — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:20:02 +0000

Once we got past the labor dispute that threatened the season, fans were treated to some pretty darn good games of football. Throughout these games there were plenty of lessons to be learned, in plenty of areas.

Here are ten big ones.

A Healthy Matthew Stafford = Bad News for Defenses

NFL fans had seen glimpses of what Matt Stafford could do on the gridiron. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been healthy enough to stay out on the field.

In 2011, his first injury-free season, Stafford showed exactly what he was capable of doing. He shredded opposing defenses to become just the fourth player in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a single season, as well as connecting on 41 touchdowns.

Add to that the fact he led Detroit to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and you can see why Lions fans were ecstatic to have him healthy. He won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year to boot.

If he can stay healthy, this season showed that Matthew Stafford can be one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.

League Takes Concussions Seriously

Concussions have been a very serious issue for the NFL for quite some time and the league has recently taken huge inroads into eradicating the issue. While total elimination of concussions is near impossible, several rule changes instituted in 2011 have been made in an attempt to minimize the problem.

The definition of a ‘defenseless receiver’ has been clearly outlined to NFL officials and the act of ‘launching’ (both feet leaving the ground to hit an opposing player in an upward motion) has been outlawed. When judging these types of calls, the league has told its officials to err on the side of caution.

Some believe that these new rules have taken the physicality out of the game, but when it comes to players safety one can’t be too careful.

Can’t Spell Elite Without E-L-I

This may seem a fairly obvious thing to say about someone coming off their second Super Bowl MVP in the last four years, but Eli Manning is an elite quarterback.

You may be asking why I felt the need to say that we learned this in 2011. The answer is that when asked in a radio interview before the season if he was on the same level as Tom Brady, Eli said yes. The scoffing started immediately. Manning had thrown 25 interceptions for a non-playoff team, while Brady threw just 4 picks in an MVP winning season.

In fact, in a preseason poll of current NFL players, Eli was not ranked in the top 100. He wasn’t even rated among the top 12 quarterbacks.

Then when the season started, Eli proved everybody wrong. Aided by the emergence of receiver Victor Cruz, Eli threw for over 4,900 yards, 29 touchdowns and a 92.9 passer rating. He also led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLVI over none other than Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Sounds elite to me.

Defense Doesn’t Matter In The Regular Season

29th ranked pass defense vs. 31st ranked pass defense.
19th ranked run defense vs. 17th ranked run defense.
27th ranked total defense vs. 31st ranked total defense.

Any guesses who these two teams were? Indy? St. Louis? Tampa Bay maybe?

Wrong, wrong and wrong. That, ladies and gentlemen, was the match up in the Super Bowl, the Giants and the Patriots.

A lack of a strong defense was a common theme among the playoff teams in 2011. Of the 12 teams that made it to the postseason, only six were ranked in the top 20 in total defense. The two worst in the NFL? The top seed in each conference: the Packers and the Patriots.

Comparatively, of this year’s playoff teams only Denver and San Francisco had offenses ranked outside the top 13.

The saying goes that ‘defense wins championships’. Well in this day and age, it doesn’t get you to the Super Bowl. Or even to the playoffs. That’s the job of the offense now.

Tight End Is The New Glamour Position

2011 was a banner year for the tight end position. While in previously they have been thought of as an extra offensive lineman, this season showed what the big guys are capable of when given an opportunity.

Of the top 17 players in the league in receptions, six were tight ends. Two of them (New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham and New England’s Rob Gronkowski) finished in the top receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. ‘Gronk’ actually led the league in TDs.

Gronkowski set the single season record for receiving TDs for a TE with 17. Vernon Davis was San Francisco’s biggest weapon in the passing game and caught the game-winner in the 49ers’ back and forth playoff game with the Saints (who had gained the lead on the back of a Jimmy Graham touchdown catch).

2011 really was the Year of the Tight End.

NFC West no longer the ‘Worst’

For the longest time, the NFC West has had a reputation as the worst division in the NFL. It was a division of pushovers that didn’t have a single team worthy of making the playoffs. Just last season, Seattle won the division with a 7-9 record, becoming the first team in league history to win a division with a losing record.

In 2011, though, the division took major steps forward. San Francisco, under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, finished 13-3 and made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game. Arizona improved to 8-8 and counted notable wins over Philadelphia and San Fran. Seattle finished 7-9 again, but had victories over the Eagles, Ravens and eventual champion Giants. St. Louis, even though it only won two games, still had a victory over New Orleans. Go figure.

The NFC West is truly on the up and up and could be the division to watch in 2012.

The Right System Can Save A Career

Reggie Bush and Alex Smith had less than stellar careers prior to the 2011 season. Bush had never rushed for more than 600 yards. Smith had struggled with form and injury sonce being the first overall pick in 2005. Both had been written off, by many, as busts.

This season proved to be the best in the career of each player.

Bush was out of the pass-first offense of New Orleans and was given the starting job in Miami. He set career highs in rush attempts (216), rushing yards (1,086) and rushing touchdowns (6).

Smith was taken under the wing of new Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh and, given one last chance by the organisation, finally repaid the faith they had shown in him. He set career highs in passing yards (3,144), completion percentage (61.3%) and passer rating (90.7) while leading San Fran to a 13-3 record and an NFC Championship Game appearance.

Be careful when throwing around the term bust. That player might just be in the wrong system.

Cam Newton Is One Heck Of A Quarterback

Cam Newton had plenty of doubters entering his rookie year. The number one pick in last year’s draft, Newton was coming from running a relatively simple offense at Auburn and there were doubts as to whether he could adapt to a more complex system in the pros. He also had some off-field issues relating to his father apparently ‘shopping’ him during his recruitment in college.

Those doubters were left eating plenty of crow when Newton became the first rookie to ever throw for over 400 yards in his debut and followed it up with another 400 yard performance the following week.

By the end of his first year he had set several NFL and rookie records including most passing yards by a rookie (4,051), most total touchdowns by a rookie (35) and most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (14).

Cam Newton had one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history and by all accounts, it was only the beginning.

The Ryans Need To Shut Up And Coach

Rex Ryan is a really good coach. His brother, Rob, is a fantastic defensive coordinator. They are both pretty funny to boot. That being said, they both really need to stop talking.

Rob, the Cowboys defensive coordinator, said before the Cowboys played the Lions in week 4, that Detroit’s Pro Bowl receiver, Calvin Johnson, wouldn’t even start for Dallas. When that game was done, ‘Megatron’ had 8 catches for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the game-winner. He also said that he would set aside some championship gear before the Cowboys played the Giants in week 17 with the division on the line. Dallas lost and subsequently missed the playoffs.

Rex, the Jets head coach, guaranteed before the season that New York would get over the hump and win the Super Bowl. The Jets had troubles on the field and in the locker room. They faltered down the stretch, losing their final three games to finish 8-8 and missed the playoffs. He was right though, New York did win the Super Bowl. It was just the Giants, not the Jets.

The Ryan brothers can be great coaches and could one day help their teams to win a championship. But that will only happen when they focus on the game and not the press conference.

There’s Never Been One Like Tebow

Did you really think I could do a story on the NFL in 2011 and not mention Tim Tebow?

Tebow-mania was, without a doubt, the biggest story of the 2011 NFL season. He was given the starting job in Denver thanks to a combination of struggles by Kyle Orton and unprecedented fan support. That’s when the split happened. Fans and media alike were put into two camps: ‘Believers’ and ‘Haters’.

The believers think he is the long term answer for the Broncos, pointing to his penchant for pulling out wins in close games as proof. It’s hard to argue with. He led a 1-4 Denver team to wins in 7 of his first 8 starts. He scored the game-winning touchdown against the Jets in week 11. He threw the game winning touchdown on the first play of overtime in the playoffs against the Steelers.

The haters, however, believe Denver is wasting their time with Tebow at QB. He did complete only 46.5% of his passes in the regular season and that number dropped to 40.4% in the playoffs. He was exceedingly ineffective to end the season, losing his final 3 starts. In week 17 against Kansas City, when a win would have guaranteed Denver be in the playoffs, he went 6-22 for 60 yards in a 7-3 loss. The Broncos made the playoffs only because Oakland lost to San Diego in the final week.

Tebow is very honest about his shortcomings. His throwing motion is very long and has taken steps to correct this. He is as hard a worker as there is in the NFL. He is also very open about his Christian faith, often kneeling in prayer on the sideline or on the field which gave birth to the phenomenon known as “Tebowing”.

There never has been, nor will there ever be, another player quite like Tim Tebow.

2011 NFL Season Reader Survey: Have Your Say & Win!

Andy A Thomas — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:44:37 +0000

We had our biggest year on NFL Down Under by far this season doubling our numbers in almost every category…but that’s not enough and we want your help to make the site & our events even bigger and better in the 2012 NFL season!

With that in mind we have put together a quick survey for you to fill out, have your say and go into the chance to win your own Super Bowl XLVI Limited Edition Commerative Wilson Game Ball.

Just simply answer a few questions & win this…too easy!

The Top 5 QB’s Available In 2012 Free Agency

Brodie — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:34:09 +0000

This year’s free agent quarterback class is certainly not a buyers market. While players like Drew Brees and Alex Smith are free agents realistically they aren’t going anywhere, that leaves us with an interesting selection.

Let’s take a look at who is available in FA and which teams might want to take a look!

Teams In Need Of A Quarterback

Washington Redskins - The mess that was Rex Grossman and John Beck did not go quite to plan for the Redskins last year. While they finished 5-11 they had an improved and largely underrated defense. If this team landed a big name QB they could be a dark horse in the 2012/13 season. Knowing Dan Snyder, free agency is the most likely path for the Redskins.

Matt Moore found some success in Miami, but it might not be enough to ensure his return.

Miami Dolphins – After Chad Henne went down with injury last year the Dolphins were left with Matt Moore. However, both Moore and Henne are free agents this year meaning Miami needs a QB. Although Moore did a great job filling in last year the Dolphins could be looking more towards somebody new to be their franchise quarterback.

Cleveland Browns – With Colt McCoy struggling in his sophomore campaign the Browns should be looking for help at the QB position. However, many believe that the Browns will target RG3 in the draft.

Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs have come straight out and said they will be looking for someone to compete with Matt Cassel this season. I wouldn’t be looking for a big name here just someone to put some pressure on the incumbent starter.

Denver Broncos – It’s no secret that Broncos GM John Elway is not a Tebow fan. Although Tim Tebow made it into the playoffs I’m willing to put that down to this terrific Broncos defense. I would look for someone to compete with Tebow come training camp.

Top 5 QB’s Available In Free Agency.

5. Matt Moore

After leading the Dolphins out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes Moore took control of this Dolphins team and helped them be competitive down the stretch. I would expect Matt Moore to sign with a team such as the Broncos or the Chiefs.

He would be a great addition to a team who is after a quarterback to compete with their starter.

4. Kyle Orton

Orton has been a consistent if not specatular starter for several years now in the NFL. However, with the return of Cassel from injury it looks clear that he’ll not remain with the Chiefs. After playing for two different teams in 2011 once again Orton is looking to start for a new franchise.

Orton is a hard working, blue collar QB who is perfect for a franchise looking to steady the ship at the QB position or develop young talent on the bench.

3. Jason Campbell

This could be the number 1 bargain of free agency. After sitting out most of the year with injury Campbell will most likely come cheap. Before the injury he was well on his way to leading the Raiders into the playoffs.

Campbell will be looking somewhere long term and sustainable after solid stints in both Washington and Oakland.

2. Matt Flynn

After throwing for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns against Detroit in week 17 Flynn’s value has skyrocketed. The big question now is whether or not Flynn’s performance was a fluke. I believe that teams would consider Flynn to be as good as the limited tape shows.

The ideal landing spot for Matt Flynn would be Miami. With the ex Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin now the Dolphins head coach, Flynn could fit into his system with ease.

1. Peyton Manning

Okay, so Peyton is not quite a free agent, yet. But I think it’s the worst kept secret in sports that Peyton is out of Indy. The baggage with Manning however includes several neck surgeries and the rust associated with missing the entire 2011/2012 season.

There are so many questions that are yet to be answered with Manning. However, if healthy I can’t think of many teams that wouldn’t want Manning on their roster.

Other Notable FA QB’s

Who do you think is the number 1 prized free agent quarterback? Let us know!

An Aussie Fan’s Guide To The 2012 Offseason

James Hunter-Smith — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:36:51 +0000

The NFL season is over. No more early mornings, no more smack talk over Fantasy Football, no more laughing at Blaine Gabbert freak out in a collapsing pocket.

For those who take an interest in other sports, the offseason wait isn’t too bad. This is particularly true for the AFL fans – the two sporting seasons transition seamlessly into one another. That is, of course, unless you are a Demons supporter and regularly dread the start of any AFL season in fear of yet another year of embarrassment and disappointment.

But fear not! Yes, the offseason has arrived but it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Don’t worry, we’ll get you through it.

Below is everything you need to know about the NFL offseason, in chronological order. We’ll show you how exciting it is, that’s our promise. Aren’t we nice? Let’s go!

**Please note: These are all US dates.

KEY DATES:

2012 NFL SCOUTING COMBINE

When: February 22-28th.

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

First up is the NFL combine, where scouts, coaches, managers and, well, the entire world get a glimpse of the upcoming draft pool via physical and mental tests. Over 300 exciting college prospects look to solidify their NFL careers by impressing onlookers in hope to boost their draft position. It’s not the easiest time for these youngsters - they have to overcome nerves and keep a cool head. Everything they’ve been training for comes down to this loaded week.

A list of the tests – physical, mental and intellectual – include:

40-yard dash
Bench press (225 lb, or 102 kg)
Vertical jump
Broad jump
20-yard shuttle
Drills per players’ specific position
Interviews with teams
Injury evaluation/drug screen etc.

Follow all of the combine’s action at www.nfl.com/combine.

FREE AGENCY PERIOD

When: March 13th.

Where: Well, everywhere.

Arguably one of the most exciting times of the NFL offseason, the free agency period sees NFL teams try to fill gaps in their roster by offering huge contracts to some of the best unrestricted and out of contract players.

And this year, there are some big names. Huge names.

Perhaps the best part of this crazed period is the hype leading up to it, with analysts, experts and the general public making bold predictions as to where players might land. It’s also an immensely important time for teams, as this is a golden chance for them to boost their roster if their draft position isn’t overly helpful.

Some key free agents in 2012 who may change teams include:

Mario Williams – Houston Texans.
Jermichael Finley – Green Bay Packers.
Mike Tolbert – San Diego Chargers
Matt Forte – Chicago Bears.
Vincent Jackson – San Diego Chargers.
DeSean Jackson -Philadelphia Eagles.
Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs.
Marshawn Lynch – Seattle Seahawks.
Matt Flynn – Green Bay Packers.
Peyton Manning?

NFL Down Under will keep you posted on all free agency moves, so make sure you keep an eye out for all the big news.

2012 NFL DRAFT

When: April 26-28th.

Where: Radio City Music Hall, New York.

The Draft may just edge free agency as the most anticipated – and important – part of the NFL offseason. Franchises wrap up hours of film and combine analysis by selecting young college players to help bolster their roster and hopefully kickstart their teams’ future.

What makes the draft so entertaining is the prospect of trading certain picks for other higher picks/players, in order to help a team grab a key player they desire. For example, in 2011, Cleveland gave up its sixth overall pick for Atlanta’s first, second and fourth round picks, alongside the Falcon’s first and fourth round selection in 2012. This allowed Atlanta to get their hands on WR Julio Jones. A crazy move? Maybe, time will tell. I’m leaning towards yes.

The 2012 NFL draft in particular is drawing a plethora of attention given the extreme talent and depth of players. We all know Stanford QB Andrew Luck is headed to Indianapolis, but where will Baylor QB Robert Griffin III land? Will the Browns trade up and snag him, given their stockpile of draft picks? Or will the Rams hold tightly onto that No.2 pick and secure their WR of the future?

If there’s only one downside to the draft, it’s the endless amounts of online mock drafts. They’re great initially, then they become good, then they just become ridiculous. No-one wants to sit through Mark Schlereth’s Mock Draft 12.0.

ROOKIE MINICAMPS

When: Sometime in late April/early May (specific dates TBA).

Where: Team-specific training areas

These minicamps, which usually run for around three days, allow recently-drafted players to become familiar with their new team and the facilities, while meeting the coaching staff and some of the teammates they’ll be playing alongside.

The camps also allow the rookies to get a grasp of the team’s playbook and gives the coaching staff a first-hand look to assess their newest acquisitions. For the most part, coaches are pleased with what they see. But for some there’s always that brief moment of “oh dear, what have we done…”. (I assume that’s what went through Jack Del Rio’s head during last year’s rookie minicamp. Okay, fine, enough bashing of the Jags). Much power is vested in the head coach, who can decide who must attend the camps, what drills are undertaken and how long the sessions run for.

ORGANISED TEAM ACTIVITIES (OTA’s)

When: Mid-may, continuing into June.

Where: Team-specific training areas

The OTA’s see players re-unite and train as a team, usually in two to three day spans. The aim is simple – develop the roster, plan and learn new schemes and continue to give rookies a chance to familiarise themselves with the NFL world.

Under the new NFL CBA, teams are allowed a maximum of 10 OTA’s, compared to 14 in previous seasons.

These OTA’s are generally the only time playing groups can collaborate and train together in the offseason before official training camps begin. The full squad isn’t always required to attend, but teams often host at least one mandatory minicamp where it is compulsory for every player.

TRAINING CAMPS

When: Beginning in July (specific dates TBA).

Where: Team-specific training areas

Training camps are the real deal. It’s the time where teams switch into overdrive and start properly preparing themselves for the upcoming season.

The playbook is mastered, positions are determined, and the player rosters are cut down to the mandatory 53-man list. Not only are drills and scrimmages performed, but the training camps also include gym sessions, position-orientated meetings and lectures. It’s also a time for the new players and rookies to become fully integrated into their respective teams.

Fans are welcome to attend open sessions and it’s often a good time for them to meet their favourite players while watching them train. But not all sessions are available to the public, often the camps that are used to execute detailed game plans will be closed.

OTHER KEY DATES:

Franchise tags may be announced – February 20th-March 5th
Trade period opens – March 13th
NFL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – August 5th, Canton, Ohio.
Team rosters to be cut to 80 players – August 28th
Team rosters to be cut to 53 players – September 2nd

Be sure to keep an eye out for all our updates throughout the NFL offseason. We’ll be on the ball right from the scout combine all the way up to the start of the 2012 Pre-Season.

TAA: NFL Teams Don’t Need Luck If They Get Griffin.

Dominic — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:55:51 +0000

The Aussie Audible: weekly discussions on the NFL written by Dominic Davies.

Forget Andrew Luck. We know where he’s going to land in the 2012 NFL Draft (the Manning-less Colts), so the real story will revolve around the other big-name QB: Robert Griffin III.

While we have spent the last two years being in awe of how NFL-ready Standford’s Luck is (his accuracy, pocket poise, and command of a pro-styled offense are off the charts), this year has seen an explosion of interest in Baylor’s own signal caller.

Robert Griffin III, or “RG3″, shot up the draft boards in 2011 on the back of his explosive speed, mobility and undeniable ability to put the team on his back and make plays. With more in common with Michael Vick or Cam Newton than Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, RG3 has elite speed (he ran track at high school and college and recently recorded a 4.49 40 yard dash time) and agility, but remarkably also maintains great arm strength and accuracy. These are highly prized attributes for any NFL QB and a rarely all found in a single prospect.

However, we should be careful. Luck was accurate in a pro-styled offence, while RG3 played in a spread offense that featured more high-percentage passes. It’s not a knock against him per se, but it’s something that’s acknowledged when considering him as an NFL QB.

What that style of offense did do for RG3 was provide the perfect environment for displaying his outstanding athletic ability. We have plenty of evidence for that:

His speed, mobility and ability to make plays when the play breaks down are clear. He’s lethal on the move and always the dual-threat. While Luck represents the prototypical NFL pocket passer, RG3 is clearly of the new breed of mobile, athletic QBs who can make plays equally with arm or legs.

“He (Griffin) brings an element to the team that’s pretty popular right now, throwing the football and moving,” said Michael Lombardi in a recent conversation with ESPN’s Bill Simmons.

Lombardi is right. His unique skill set is certainly one on the rise in the NFL. Michael Vick, Tim Tebow and last year’s first overall draft pick – and rookie of the year! – Cam Newton have paved the way for the mobile QB and RG3 is well poised to capitalise on their success. Cam Newton in particular has turned the Carolina Panthers around, earning them four more wins than their previous season. There are many teams who are hoping that RG3 might be able to provide the same spark.

Perhaps the most captivating aspect of RG3 has nothing to do with his athletic ability at all: his leadership. Intangibles – as tricky as they are to analyse – are quickly becoming prominent in the minds of pro scouts. In the case of RG3 most commentators rave about his leadership ability, command of the huddle and ability to inspire his teammates into playing big. He never loses confidence in himself or his team and is smart, both on and off the field.

A natural leader who never gives up on a play:

In a league where character – at least in my mind - is starting to matter as much as pure physical talent, RG3 has both.

Of course there are criticisms: he tends to hold onto the ball for too long, resulting in sacks, and he often takes off after only making a single read. In the NFL he’ll have to learn to throw the ball away and learn to look over more than one or two receivers. Both of these skills can be taught.

So who is interested in RG3? Plenty of teams. Before the exile of the Polians from Indianapolis there was a rumor that they prized him over Luck with their 1st overall pick (Lombardi’s mentions this in the same interview with Simmons linked above). The Browns with the fourth overall pick are also strong options (they still don’t appear convinced with Colt McCoy – nor should they) and the Redskins are in dire need of a play-making QB and may trade up to second overall to get him.

Other possibilities include the Miami Dolphins or Seattle Seahawks, both teams would have to make moves up the board to get their man.

While it’s undeniable that Andrew Luck is the most pro-ready QB in the draft, Robert Griffin III appears to have the most potential. Look for draft pundits to play close attention to RG3 at the combine from February 22nd.

If your team needs a franchise quarterback you should pay attention too.

Here are some reports on RG3 (some more reputable than others): CBS Sports, New Era Scouting, Mocking The Draft, Bleacher Report, Draftbreakdown.com.

Point of Interest: Peyton Manning has yet to be evaluated by doctors from any other team other than the Colts. Now he is reportedly training at Duke’s field.

Point of Interest 2: There’s actually an embarrassment of riches when it comes to linebackers available in free agency. Is this why the Redskins have not yet resigned London Fletcher?

Point of Interest 3: Victor Cruz believes he should be paid more. He should, but is there a DeSean Jackson-level of drama emerging because of this?

Final Point of Interest: Look for more draft QB talk to come in later articles. Don’t forget we do have some interesting QBs available via Free Agency as well, including Matt Flynn.

The Aussie Audible is a weekly column written by NFLDownUnder’s editor Dominic Davies. Summing up some of the week’s action and news as well as offer some opinion and pointless hyperbole.

ESPN Australia Reveals Record Breaking Ratings For Super Bowl XLVI

John Beck — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:58:02 +0000

ESPN recently announced that Super Bowl XLVI has replaced Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals as the highest rated program in the history of ESPN Australia.

This years’ coverage peaked at 133,200 viewers with an average audience of 94,177 watching the New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots early Monday morning, reaching an estimated total of 310,000 people on the day.

Considering the length of the broadcast such numbers are a good sign.

The average audience number went up a whopping 49% when compared to those last year in the 2011 Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Impressively this is despite the fact that the game was also being shown live on free-to-air television.

ESPN Commercial Director Australia/NZ, Gus Seebeck, said the network was extremely proud of the ratings result and that the numbers underline “the growing popularity of the NFL in Australia.”

The figures are just rewards for the ESPN Australia team who believed in the NFL’s popularity in Australia, throwing their support behind increased NFL programming this season. Recently, Australians have become spoiled for choice when it comes to NFL programming as the game reaches a wider audience than ever before.

Limited access to the league has long been a problem for NFL fans in Australia and was a major contributor to its somewhat limited popularity.

Ideally, as the level of exposure increases the popularity of the NFL will continue to grow leading to more figures like the ones seen on Super Bowl XLVI.

Our weekly TV Guide will continue to keep you informed of NFL relation content on both free-to-air and paid networks.