Dynamics Could Change in the AFC
AUTHOR: Adam Best | IN: Dallas | COMMENTS: No Comments
As recent years have proven success with Superbowl betting comes down to finding the right team at the right time. The days of powerhouse dominators are long gone as even the New England Patriots have had problems closing out great regular seasons including their run at perfection in 2007 when they blew the Super Bowl in the final seconds.
First and foremost, the shot at Super Bowl glory really does reside at the quarterback position and in the AFC figuring out who is the best can become quite problematic based on that formula.
At first glance the Pittsburgh Steelers with Ben Roethlisberger would be the “sure thing” except that they failed to deliver in the Super Bowl last year and this year Roethlisberger has been slowed down by injuries and inconsistent play. That immediately makes Pittsburgh, a wild card team, far from a sure thing in the 2011 playoffs.
The Baltimore Ravens have been near the top of the AFC except for the Steelers and Patriots but Joe Flacco hass yet to establish himself as a quarterback with playoff credibility. The Ravens certainly have the defense and Flacco has the ability, but it would certainly be a blind case of “betting the come” and not the trends to go with the Ravens.
Another obvious choice would be Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Brady is the best in the game and a near machine in efficiency but the Patriots are questionable as far as breakaway receiving talent and even if Brady lights up the scoreboard, the question remains about whether or not the New England defense is of championship caliber.
An interesting wild card is Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals, who emerged from nowhere as one of the true surprise playoff teams. Cincinnati as a whole is not all that impressive but to make the playoffs in Dalton’s rookie season after Carson Palmer quit on the team gives them great momentum heading into the post season.
Then there is the anti-quarterback, Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos. Before anyone rips Tebow they should consider what would have happened had Denver stuck with original starter Kyle Orton; a likely last place finish and no playoffs and even less excitement. Tebow finished badly but he did lead Denver to the playoffs and a first round home game against a struggling Pittsburgh team which is far greater than the Superbowl action expectations people had of the Broncos in August.
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TCU Alum Jeremy Kerley as a New York Jets QB?
AUTHOR: J.D. Moore | IN: TCU Football | COMMENTS: 2 Comments
With Greg McElroy injured, Jets head coach Rex Ryan has alluded that Jeremy Kerley could be a secondary backup to the quarterback position.
Kerley...a Quarterback? (Image: nj.com)
As per a tweet from Manish Mehta, the Jets beat writer for the New York Daily News, Rex Ryan has confirmed on this. Jenny Vrentas, the Jets beat writer for the Star-Ledger in Newark, also confirms this.
As of now, the depth chart at quarterback for New York goes as such: Mark Sanchez, Mark Brunell and Kerley. The former TCU receiver was a highly touted quarterback in high school, winning the district MVP twice and ranking as a four-star recruit by Rivals. He was converted into a receiver at TCU.
Unless a freak accident happens with Sanchez and Brunell, Kerley will never see a snap as quarterback. But while Kerley is highly unlikely to see snaps, it at least means that the Jets have much confidence in him in the Wildcat. Kerley essentially replaced Brad Smith as the go-to guy for the Wildcat in the Jets formation, even going as far as taking Smith’s old jersey number, #11.
With this move, Kerley is sure to be a long time staple in New York’s receiving corps.