Nolan Bennett's Dallas Cowboys fan blog

http://theghostwriter.today.com/2009/03/01/nfl-quarterback-draft-class-

Continue reading "NFL Quarterback Draft Class Showdown: 2006 vs 2005"

As football fans across the globe cast their longing eyes in the direction of the April draft, I decided that now might be a good time to reflect on draft classes of the last 10 years. Too often in this business, we rush ahead to the next big event without taking pause to evaluate the past and learn from it. In a way, this study will still be a celebration of the coming 2009 draft as I believe it will shed some light on certain overlooked trends that no one ever stops to consider. I will begin with a class by class showdown of sorts at the quarterback position over the last 10 drafts.  This is part III in the series:

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http://theghostwriter.today.com/2009/02/28/nfl-quarterback-draft-class-

Continue reading "NFL Quarterback Draft Class Showdown: 2004 vs 2003"

 As football fans across the globe cast their longing eyes in the direction of the April draft, I decided that now might be a good time to reflect on draft classes of the last 10 years. Too often in this business, we rush ahead to the next big event without taking pause to evaluate the past and learn from it. In a way, this study will still be a celebration of the coming 2009 draft as I believe it will shed some light on certain overlooked trends that no one ever stops to consider. I will begin with a class by class showdown of sorts at the quarterback position over the last 10 drafts.  This is part II in the series:

 Read the rest here:

http://theghostwriter.today.com/2009/02/27/nfl-quarterback-draft-class-

Continue reading "NFL Quarterback Draft Class Showdown: 2002 vs 2001"

As football fans across the globe cast their longing eyes in the direction of the April draft, I decided that now might be a good time to reflect on draft classes of the last 10 years. Too often in this business, we rush ahead to the next big event without taking pause to evaluate the past and learn from it. In a way, this study will still be a celebration of the coming 2009 draft as I believe it will shed some light on certain overlooked trends that no one ever stops to consider. I will begin with a class by class showdown of sorts at the quarterback position over the last 10 drafts.  First up, we have the class of 1999 taking on that of 2000:

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Continue reading "NFL Quarterback Draft Class Showdown: 2000 vs 1999"

And with the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select…

A) Matthew Stafford, QB, UGA

B) Eugene Monroe, OT, UVA

C) Aaron Curry, LB, WF

D)  Jason Smith, OT, BAY

E) Michael Crabtree, WR, TTU

Over the course of the next two months, the above sentence will be completed multiple times with each of these names.  Which one is correct? Well, let’s first take a look at the lowly Lions’ needs...

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Continue reading "And with the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select…"

 Talk all you want about the “potential” of Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez, but if you’re looking for an immediate impact quarterback in the 2009 draft, look no further than the diminutive Pat White of West Virginia. To use the old cliche that probably became a cliche because it used to be considered an invaluable trait, the guy is simply a play-maker. Sure, he “only” stands 6′0 1/4 and weighs 197 lbs., but this is a player who isn’t afraid to put the team on his back in crunch time and make the game-deciding play. Still, the story of his life has been one of under-appreciation, and the tale of this year’s draft is looking like yet another chapter.

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http://theghostwriter.today.com/2009/02/24/standing-pat-the-case-for-mountaineer-5/

Continue reading "Standing Pat: The Case for Mountaineer #5"

It’s no secret that the NFL draft draws worldwide interest. In fact, next to the Super Bowl, it is the most watched football-related event of the year. Now, it’s true that some of this mass appeal can be attributed to scheduling: its late April arrival each year serves as an oasis of sorts to the average football fan in the barren emptiness that separates the end of the Super Bowl and the start of training camp. Plus, it is the one true event that merges the collegiate and professional levels–thus, unifying two enormous pools of fans. So, this is all to say that I fully understand the inherent appeal of the system. The yearly NFL Combine, however, I believe to be an entirely different animal.

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  http://theghostwriter.today.com/2009/02/22/hello-world/

Continue reading "The 2009 NFL Meat Market"

Crime and Punishment in Big D

 

           You don’t have to be a die-hard fan to know that the biggest reason for the Cowboys’ recent struggles has been Brad Johnson. As bad as the offensive line and defensive secondary have played at times, the fact that the former Super Bowl quarterback hasn’t looked like he could throw a stone in the ocean this season has to be Wade Phillips’ worst oversight since coming to Dallas two years ago.

 

That being said, and I felt like it needed to be, the next most troubling aspect of this season has been the endless parade of yellow flags upon the field. Far too often this year, the lack of discipline on the team has both sustained opponents’ pivotal drives and negated game-changing plays by the ‘Boys. Would it surprise you to learn that we lead the league in penalties? With 71 such infractions, we’re ahead of second-ranked Arizona by nine! Well-coached teams like the Patriots (even though it pains me to give them their due) might total nine penalties over the course of three full games. That’s right, New England has just 24 penalties this year. They’re also 5-3 with a backup quarterback playing the entire season—and if you point out that lowly Matt Cassel could probably pass left-handed and still hit his receivers with better accuracy than Brad Johnson, I’ll throw something at you.

Continue reading "Crime and Punishment in Big D"

MID-SEASON NFL AWARDS & RECOGNITION

MOST OVER-PUBLICIZED
5. Jeremy Shockey (NO)—When he was acquired in the off-season from the Giants, many lauded the move. On paper, it truly seemed like a “win-win” scenario for both teams. One expert even went so far as to say that the outspoken tight end would have the same type of impact on the Saints as Randy Moss had on the Patriots in 2007 (sorry, Mr. Jaworski). Thus far, having played in 5 of 8 games, Shockey has 200 receiving yards, zero touchdowns, and two lost fumbles. Recently, he lashed out at his new organization for rushing him back on the playing field after he suffered a sports hernia earlier in the season. Even with crucial injuries at skill positions, the 4-4 Saints have had little trouble moving the ball on offense. If Shockey doesn’t score a touchdown shut up soon, he might find out the hard way just how expendable he actually is.

Continue reading "THE ULTIMATE MID-SEASON NFL BREAKDOWN OF AWARDS & RECOGNITION"

MID-SEASON NFL ALL-PRO TEAMS

2nd TEAM

QB = Drew Brees (NO): 2563 YDS 15 TD 7 INT 69% CMP 101.6 RTG

RB = Michael Turner (ATL): 655 YDS 6 TD 4.5 YPC, 3 CTH 11 YDS
         Marion Barber (DAL): 611 YDS 5 TD 4.0 YPC, 32 CTH 276 YDS 2 TD

WR = Larry Fitzgerald (ARZ): 43 CTH 661 YDS 5 TD
           Santana Moss (WAS): 42 CTH 658 YDS 5 TD, 2 PR 44.0 AVG 1 TD (80 YDS)

FB = Leonard Weaver (SEA): 15 CAR 67 YDS, 10 CTH 159 YDS 2 TD

TE = Antonio Gates (SD): 30 CTH 403 YDS 5 TD

OT = David Diehl (NYG)
          Jammal Brown (NO)

OG = Eugene Amano (TEN)
          Rich Seubert (NYG)

Continue reading "MID-SEASON NFL ALL-PRO TEAMS"