Your Canon Review 2010-11 NBA Preview in Review

With all the postseason awards given out, and the NBA playoffs in full swing, I figure now is as good a time as any to look back at the picks I made in the Canon Review NBA Preview done in October. After one of the most memorable seasons in recent memory, the NBA Playoffs have been one exciting thrill after another. With the Grizzlies' upset of the Spurs, the Heat coming into their own against the Celtics, and top-notch individual performances from Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and Zach Randolph, the 2011 NBA Playoffs have so far been one of the most memorable in NBA history. Meanwhile, during the regular season, Blake Griffin became an overnight sensation, the Celtics and Magic made trades that ended up hurting them in the long run, Derrick Rose led the Bulls to their best record since the Michael Jordan era, and All-Stars like Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams were traded in mid-season. So, did I see any of this coming, or not? Well, let's find out by looking back at my preseason picks.

Eastern Conference (Conference Rank in parentheses)

Atlantic Division:

Predictions:                                Current Record:

1. Boston Celtics (3)             1. Boston Celtics (3)- 56-26

2. New York Knicks (7)        2. New York Knicks (6)- 42-40

3. New Jersey Nets (11)       3. Philadelphia 76ers (7)- 41-41

4. Philadelphia 76ers (12)     4. New Jersey Nets (12)-24-58

5. Toronto Raptors (15)        5. Toronto Raptors (14)- 22-60

At the All-Star break, the Celtics looked like the beasts of the East. However, ever since GM Danny Ainge traded C Kendrick Perkins to the Thunder, the Celtics' play has dovetailed, especially PG Rajon Rondo. Now the Celtics are facing a 2-0 deficit to the Miami Heat in the playoffs. After adding C Amare Stoudemire in the offseason, the Knicks traded for another superstar in SF Carmelo Anthony. The end result was a first-round elimination to the Boston Celtics, but considering where the Knicks were the last few seasons, that's a step in the right direction. If the Knicks can get one more piece to team up with Carmelo and Amare, then New York could join the league's elite. 76ers coach Doug Collins came in and led his overachieving team to the playoffs this year.  The Sixers have a promising young core of players led by PG Jrue Holliday and SF Andre Igoudala, although they could use another scorer. The Nets traded for PG Deron Williams just after the All-Star break, and should be a little better next season with a full season from Williams. How much better could depend on the development of C Brook Lopez. The Raptors have a lot of young players, which helps explain their 22-60 record. While the Raptors are young, it's hard to see a team led by C Andrea Bargnani and SG Demar DeRozen carrying a team into contention, at least not without a little help.

Central Division:

1. Chicago Bulls (4)            1. Chicago Bulls (1)- 62-20

2. Milwaukee Bucks (6)      2. Indiana Pacers (8)- 37-45

3. Indiana Pacers (8)            3. Milwaukee Bucks (9)- 35-47

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (13) 4. Detroit Pistons (11)- 30-52

5. Detroit Pistons (14)       5. Cleveland Cavaliers (15)- 19-63

The Bulls were expected to be a good team this year, although very few people felt that the Bulls had a 60 win season in them this year, especially considering that C Joakim Noah and PF Carlos Boozer both missed large stretches of the season with injuries. Credit NBA Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau and MVP PG Derrick Rose for the Bulls meteoric rise. The Pacers had an up-and-down season and fired coach Jim O'Brien in midseason, but interim coach Frank Vogel led the Pacers to a 20-18 record during his stint, and the Pacers snuck into the playoffs. The Bucks were hoping to build on last season's success, but instead they saw the acquisitions of SF Corey Maggette and  PF Drew Gooden blow up in their faces and young PG Brandon Jennings take a step backwards after a strong rookie year. The Pistons made more news by feuding with coach John Kuester than anything they did on the basketball court, and look to be in rebuild mode. The Cavs lost LeBron James and at one point lost 26 games in a row. On the plus side, the team played hard under coach Byron Scott, and Cleveland did not finish with the worst record in the league.

Southeast Division:

1. Miami Heat (1)              1. Miami Heat (2)- 58-24

2. Orlando Magic (2)         2. Orlando Magic (4)-  52-30

3. Atlanta Hawks (5)          3. Atlanta Hawks (5)- 44-38

4. Washington Wizards (9) 4. Charlotte Bobcats (10)- 34-48

5. Charlotte Bobcats (10) 5. Washington Wizards (13)- 23-59

The Heat's big three of James, SG Dwyane Wade and PF Chris Bosh had a few bumps in the road, but at the end of the season, Miami won 58 games and are now poised to make a run at the NBA Championship. The Magic made some major trades in midseason to acquire PG Gilbert Arenas, SG Jason Richardson, and SF Hedo Turkoglu, and while the Magic won 52 games, they were upset by the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. The Hawks, meanwhile, played rather poorly after the All-Star break, but were able to pull it together once the playoffs started and are now tied at 1 game apiece with the top seeded Bulls. The Bobcats played better once Paul Silas took over as coach, but it still wasn't enough to snatch a playoff spot, especially since PF Gerald Wallace was traded to Portland after the All-Star break. The Wizards have an intriguing young team led by PG John Wall, SG Jordan Crawford, and C Javale McGee, but the young Wizards probably have a ways to go before becoming a legitimate playoff contender.

Western Conference:

Southwest Division:

1. Dallas Mavericks (3)      1. San Antonio Spurs (1)- 61-21

2. San Antonio Spurs (6)     2. Dallas Mavericks (3)- 57-25

3. Houston Rockets (7)     3. New Orleans Hornets (7)- 46-36

4. New Orleans Hornets (8) 4. Memphis Grizzlies (8)- 46-36

5. Memphis Grizzlies (12)    5. Houston Rockets (9)- 43-39

I must admit that I was surprised that the Spurs finished with the Western Conference's best record, as the team exceeded expectation by winning 61 games. Then again, I was also surprised that the Spurs fell to the eighth seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs, making their regular season accomplishments moot. The Mavericks once again won over 55 games behind the play of PF Dirk Nowitzki, but, in a change from recent years, the Mavericks have also had postseason success, defeating the Trailblazers in the first round and winning the first two games against the Lakers in L.A. in the second round. PG Chris Paul carried the Hornets to a playoff spot this year, and played very well against the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, serving notice to all the NBA that he is still amongst the elite players in the league. Memphis survived an injury to SF Rudy Gay, a fight between SGs O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen, and other problems to finish as the eighth seed in the deep Western Conference. Then they shocked the Spurs behind the play of PF Zach Randolph and C Marc Gasol, and are currently knotted up with Oklahoma City at one game apiece in their second round series. If the Rockets were in the Eastern Conference, they would have finished with the sixth best record. Instead, the Rockets are the best team out of the playoffs, despite the strong play of C Luis Scola and PG Kyle Lowry throughout the season.

Northwest Division:

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (1) 1. Ok. City Thunder (4)- 55-27

2. Utah Jazz (4)                        2. Denver Nuggets (5)- 50-32

3. Denver Nuggets (5)      3. Portland Trailblazers (6)- 48-34

4. Portland Trailblazers (10)       4. Utah Jazz (11)- 39-43

5. Minnesota Timberwolves (15) 5. Minnesota T'wolves (15)- 17-65

Perhaps I was a bit high on Oklahoma City at the beginning of the year, but hey, they did win 55 games and are favored to go to the conference finals. With C Kendrick Perkins teaming with Serge Ibaka to form an intimidating front line to compliment All-Stars SF Kevin Durant and PG Russell Westbrook, the Thunder will be a force to reckoned with for years to come. The Nuggets traded their best player in SF Carmelo Anthony, but instead of folding, the Nuggets rallied, and coach George Karl led them to a fifth seed in the West. Yes, they did fall to Oklahoma City in the first round, but Denver proved that there is life after 'Melo. The Trailblazers surprised me this year, as they survived a lot of injuries and made the playoffs. A large reason for that is the play of PF LaMarcus Aldridge, who stepped up his game and became an All-Star caliber player. The Jazz were a team in transition this year, as long-time coach Jerry Sloan resigned, then the team traded All-Star point guard Deron Williams. As such, the Jazz finished the season 8-20, and must rebuild around C Al Jefferson, PF Paul Milsap, and PG Devin Harris. The Timberwolves had the Most Improved Player in the league in PF Kevin Love, who also led the league in rebounding. Yet they still finished with the worst record in the NBA, which should tell you all you need to know about Love's teammates.

Pacific Division:

1. Los Angeles Lakers (2)    1. Los Angeles Lakers (2)- 57-25

2. Phoenix Suns (9)                  2. Phoenix Suns (10)- 40-42

3. Los Angeles Clippers (11) 3. G'State Warriors (12)- 36-46

4. Sacramento Kings (13)   4. L.A. Clippers (13)- 32-50

5. Golden State Warriors (14) 5. Sacramento Kings (14)- 24-58

It was a typical successful season for the Lakers out in the Pacific division. However, the Mavericks have the Lakers in a 2-0 hole in the playoffs, so if the Lakers want to win a third title in coach Phil Jackson's final season, then Kobe Bryant and co. must step it up. The Suns got a great season out of PG Steve Nash, but this year his supporting cast wasn't quite up to the task and the Suns missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The Warriors provided their fans with a lot of scoring, led by guards Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. However, if the Warriors want to be a playoff team next year, they've got to improve on defense. The Clippers have the NBA rookie of the year in PF Blake Griffin, and he and SG Eric Gordon give the Clips two great building blocks. Look for the Clippers to be the most improved team next year, if there is a season. Sacramento not only saw their team lose a lot of games, they also almost saw their Kings leave town. While the Kings will play in Sacramento next season, things probably won't be much better next year, as the owners are broke and the team is still too young to contend. But you could do worse than having a young core led by PG Tyreke Evans, PF/C DeMarcus Cousins, and SG Marcus Thornton.

MVP:

Preseason Picks: 

1. Kevin Durant, F, Thunder (27.7 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game)

2. LeBron James, F, Heat (26.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 7.0 assists per game, 1.6 steals per game)

3. Kobe Bryant, G, Lakers (25.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.7 apg)

Dark Horse: Dwight Howard, C, Magic (22.9 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 2.4 blocks per game)

Results:

1. Derrick Rose, G, Bulls (25.0 ppg, 7.7 apg)

2. Howard

3. James

4. Bryant

At the beginning of the season, it was thought that Rose would be a very good player, but still a year away from becoming a superstar. However, Rose stepped up his game, became the best point guard in the league and at 22, became the NBA's youngest MVP. Howard set a new career high in scoring and led a questionable Magic roster to a 52 win season, which is why he finished second. James had a great season, but the fact is that Rose and Howard meant more to their team's success than LeBron. Kobe was his typically solid self, while Durant finished fifth in the MVP voting after leading the NBA in scoring and leading  the Thunder to their best record since 1998.

Defensive Player of the Year:

Preseason Picks:

1. Howard, C, Magic

2. James, F, Heat

3. Joakim Noah, C, Bulls (48 games played, 10.4 rpg)

Dark Horse: John Wall, G, Wizards (1.8 spg)

Results:

1. Howard

2. Kevin Garnett, F, Boston Celtics (8.9 rpg, 1.3 spg, 0.8 bpg)

3. Tyson Chandler, C, Dallas Mavericks (9.4 rpg, 1.1 bpg)

4. Tony Allen, G, Memphis Grizzlies (1.8 spg)

I picked Howard at the beginning of the season largely because he had won the previous two awards and is still in the prime of his career. While I was right, I'm not going to take too much credit for it since most people that follow the NBA also made that pick. Garnett was once again the backbone to the Celtics' strong defense, while Chandler gave the Mavericks a much-needed quality low post defender and has helped that team immensely on the defensive end. Allen may not be the most consistent player on offense, but he also could-be the best on-ball defensive guard in the NBA today, as he showed in the Spurs series. James finished ninth in the balloting, although he didn't stand out on the defensive end as he did two years ago with the Cavs. Noah missed 34 games due to injury, but when he was in there, he was a menace to opposing offenses all across the league. As for Wall, well, I thought his quick hands would lead to more steals, but oh well. I think he might develop into an elite defender in the future, but I was a little quick on the gun this year.

Rookie of the Year

Preseason Picks:

1. Blake Griffin, F, Clippers (22.5 ppg, 12.1 rpg)

2. John Wall, G, Wizards (16.4 ppg, 8.3 apg)

3. DeMarcus Cousins, F/C, Kings (14.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg)

Dark Horse: Tiago Splitter, C, Spurs (4.6 ppg. 3.4 rpg)

Results:

1. Griffin

2. Wall

3. Cousins

4. Landry Fields, G/F, New York Knicks (9.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg)

Griffin's had a lock on the Rookie of the Year Award ever since the second week of the season, so it was no surprise that he was a unanimous selection for the award. As for the others, Wall and Cousins had up-and-down seasons, but both showed flashes of brilliance. As long as Cousins keeps his head on straight, both should become stars in the league. Fields was a revelation for the Knicks, and should be a solid role player for the Knicks for years to come. As for Splitter, well I was wrong, as G Gary Neal proved to be the best rookie on the Spurs this year.

NBA Finals Prediction: Heat over Lakers in 6

Well, it's kind of late to change things now, so I'll stick with the pick. The Heat have played as good a game as they have all season in their first two games with the Celtics, so I'm still pretty confident in that pick. As for the Lakers, to be honest, I can't see them coming back against the Mavericks after dropping the first two in L.A. But I'm sticking with the pick until the bitter end.


Overall, I don't think I did too badly this year. Out of 16 playoff teams, I only missed three (76ers, Grizzlies, Trailblazers) and I did get two of the three major awards right. Yes, I did underrate the Bulls and Spurs, but I think I did all right. Well, thanks for reading the Canon Review NBA Preview in Review. Remember, if you have an idea for a future review, or thoughts about this post, than share those ideas either by leaving a comment or sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.

Your 2010 Canon Review Pro Football Preview End of Season Review

2010 was quite possibly the wildest and wackiest season the NFL has ever had. Well, except for the 1987 season where teams put out replacement players due to the strike, but that's another story. This season had all sorts of unexpected occurrences, from the collapse of the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, to a team with a losing record, the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks, winning their division and becoming the first losing team to ever make the postseason. This season saw the redemption of Michael Vick, the reestablishment of Tom Brady as the NFL's best quarterback, and saw Donovan McNabb get traded to the Redskins, sign a multi-million dollar contract extension the same night his team gets crushed by his former team, the Eagles, and eventually sees coach Mike Shanahan bench McNabb for the immortal Rex Grossman. Also, 2010 was (hopefully) the final season of Brett Favre, who proved two things, that even he can't play at a high level forever, and that it's not a good idea to send pictures of your junk to female team employees. We also saw the saga of Randy Moss, who in a matter of weeks managed to complain about his current team (the Patriots) not offering him a contract extension, get traded to the Vikings, come back to play the Patriots and then praise the Patriots organization during his entire post-game press conference, complain about the team's catering to such an extent that the Vikings cut him, and sign with the Titans where he does absolutely nothing (6 catches for 80 yards).. Those events are only the tip of the iceberg in a crazy season that will probably be followed by the craziest offeseaon in recent memory, as the owners and players union try to work out a new collective bargaining agreement which has been greatly complicated due to commissioner Roger Goodell's insistence to extend the regular season to 18 games, among other factors, and if an agreement is not reached, well we could be without pro football next year. But that's next year, instead it's time for me to take a look back at my picks at the beginning of this season and see just how good, or bad, I was able to prognosticate the 2010 NFL season. If you want, you can take a look at my original picks here, and my midseason review here.

AFC East (* - Wild Card)

Predictions:                              Current Record:

1. New England Patriots          1. New England Patriots (14-2)

2. Miami Dolphins*                 2. New York Jets* (11-5)

3. New York Jets                     3. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

4. Buffalo Bills                         4. Buffalo Bills (4-12)

Although I was correct about New England, I'd be lying if I said I expected the Patriots to dominate to the extent that they have this season. QB Tom Brady has the Patriots offense firing on all cylinders, and unheralded players such as RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis and TE Rob Gronkowski have developed into dangerous offensive players. After finishing the season on an eight game winning streak, the Patriots are the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl. I was wrong about the Jets, as the team that I thought was overrated proved me wrong and won 11 games to earn a spot in the playoffs. A Super Bowl appearance seems unlikely for New York, but Rex Ryan and his boys are hungry, and will be looking to snack on their playoff foes. The Dolphins has a solid defense, but their offense wasn't so good, as they scored the third fewest points in the NFL this year. At midseason, some people, including me, were afraid that the Bills would go the entire season without a win. But those fears were unfounded, as the Bills went 4-4 in the second half, and were a dropped pass away from beating the playoff bound Steelers. Maybe next year will be the year that the Bills get out of the cellar in back into playoff contention. After all, if the Raiders, Chiefs, and Bucs can drastically improve, then why not the Bills.

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens               1. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

2. Pittsburgh Steelers*            2. Baltimore Ravens* (12-4)

3. Cincinnati Bengals               3. Cleveland Browns (5-11)

4. Cleveland Browns                4. Cincinnati Bengals (4-12)

Well, I had the top two teams making the playoffs, but just in the wrong order. The Steelers, despite missing QB Ben Roethlisberger for the first four games of the season, cruised to a 12-4 record and a first round bye, thanks in large part due to their top ranked defense and running game. Meanwhile, the Ravens also went 12-4 behind their third ranked defense, but could have gone 15-1 had they been able to close out games against Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and New England. To be fair, those teams had the three best records in the NFL, so the Ravens have at least proven they can hang with anybody in the league. Here's hoping for a third matchup between the Ravens and Steelers in the playoffs. I didn't think too highly of the Bengals at the beginning of the season, but I didn't think they would sink from 11 wins to 4 this year. It might be time to make massive changes in Cincinnati this offseason. The Browns were what we thought they were, although to their credit, they are only one of two teams to beat the Patriots this year. That wasn't enough to save coach Eric Mangini's job, but at least the Browns showed some glimmers of hope this season.

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts                1. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
2. Tennessee Titans                 2. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars           3. Tennessee Titans (6-10)
4. Houston Texans                   4. Houston Texans (6-10)

The Colts may have been banged up this year, but QB Peyton Manning and his crew survived enough injuries to put up a ten win season and win another division title. Of course, it helped that the other three teams had issues of their own. The Jaguars went 8-8 after a three game losing streak at the end of the season. In week 15, the Jaguars could have clinched the division with a win against the Colts, but fell, and then injuries to players such as RB Maurice Jones-Drew did the Jags in in the next two games. The Titans started the season 5-2 and had signed Randy Moss to gear up for the stretch run. After that, the Titans won one game as QB Vince Young and coach Jeff Fisher had a falling out, and the team collapsed along with the Young-Fisher relationship. The Texans had the league's leading rusher in Arian Foster, but once again found new and exciting ways to lose close games. In spite of this and other problems, the Texans are bringing back head coach Gary Kubiak. Well, it's not something I would do, but maybe the sixth year is the charm for Kubiak, assuming that there is any football next season.

AFC West:

1. San Diego Chargers            1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
2. Denver Broncos                  2. San Diego Chargers (9-7)
3. Oakland Raiders                 3. Oakland Raiders (8-8)
4. Kansas City Chiefs             4. Denver Broncos (4-12)

Well, I was quite wrong about the Kansas City Chiefs, who won most of the games they were supposed to win to win the division. Well, it wasn't quite that simple, as RB Jamaal Charles, WR Dwayne Bowe, and OLB Tamba Hali put together great seasons for Kansas City on their way to the division crown. The Chargers had the second highest scoring team, a defense that allowed the fewest yards in the league, and still find themselves out of the playoffs, thanks in large part to some horrendous play on special teams and key players missing time due to injuries and holdouts, like TE Antonio Gates and WR Vincent Jackson. I did have the Raiders third, although to be honest I thought they would be 6-10 instead of 8-8. Somehow, the Raiders went 6-0 against AFC West opponents and became the only team in NFL history to go undefeated in their division and miss the playoffs. The Broncos weren't so good this year, and so coach Josh McDaniels was shown the door before the end of the year. But kudos to WR Brandon Lloyd, who came back from obscurity to lead the NFL in receiving yards this year with 1,448.

NFC East:

1. Dallas Cowboys                   1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
2. New York Giants                 2. New York Giants (10-6)
3. Washington Redskins         3. Washington Redskins (6-10)
4. Philadelphia Eagles             4. Dallas Cowboys (6-10) 

The Cowboys let everybody down in the first half of the season, but did show signs of life with a 5-3 finish under interim coach Jason Garrett. Nevertheless, 2010 was a disappointment for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys. 2010 was also disappointing for the Giants, particularly their 4th quarter collapse against the Eagles and their 45-17 shellacking by Green Bay late in the season. As it turns out, I had the Giants pretty much exactly where they finished, but the Giants had a team talented enough to do much more. The Eagles found their quarterback, although it wasn't Kevin Kolb, but Michael Vick, who put together his best season and became the player everybody hoped he would after being drafted number one in 2001. As for the Redskins, it seems to happen every year, but once again their big name acquisition, in this case QB Donovan McNabb, disappoints and is unable to make the Redskins a winning team again. After over a decade of big name players underachieving in Washington, you would think that Daniel Snyder and company would try something else, but I'm sure they'll go out and get Steve Smith or somebody like that next year and repeat the cycle all over again.

NFC North:

1. Green Bay Packers             1. Chicago Bears (11-5)
2. Minnesota Vikings*            2. Green Bay Packers* (10-6)
3. Chicago Bears                     3. Detroit Lions (6-10)
4. Detroit Lions                       4. Minnesota Vikings (6-10) 

At the beginning of the season, I felt that the Bears were too risky of a team to pick for the playoffs, as I figured that they would struggle on offense and finish 8-8 or something similar. Instead, the Bears won some close games, QB Jay Cutler and company improved enough on offense and now the Bears are the number two seed in the division. At least my choice for NFC Champions, the Packers, bailed me out and made the playoffs after wins against the Giants and the Bears in the season's final two weeks. However, despite their 10-6 record, only the Patriots had a bigger point differential then the Packers, who scored 148 more points then they allowed, so they could be a darkhorse in the postseason. The 2010 Minnesota Vikings season was so wacky and chaotic that there will probably be multiple books written about it. Their quarterback was involved in a sex scandal, they cut an All-Pro wide receiver three weeks after trading for him, they fired their coach after multiple reports leaked out about how little his team respected him, the roof on their stadium collapsed, and to top it all off, they won the NFL's first Tuesday game in 64 years behind a third-string quarterback. Other than that, it was business as usual for the Vikings, who at least got another strong season out of RB Adrian Peterson. The Lions were 6-10, losing six games by five points or less, and finishing the season with a four game winning streak that will probably make them the chic sleeper pick in the next football season, whenever that will be. Seriously, if QB Matthew Stafford stays healthy and the Lions get a consistent running game, then the Lions might see postseason play for the first time this century.

NFC South:

1. Atlanta Falcons                  1. Atlanta Falcons (13-3)
2. New Orleans Saints*         2. New Orleans Saints* (11-5)
3. Carolina Panthers              3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers    4. Carolina Panthers (2-14) 

Hey, I was right about the top two teams in this division, as the Falcons were able to stay healthy this season and win 13 games behind a mistake-free offense powered by QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, and WR Roddy White. The Saints weren't quite as dominant as they were in 2009, but were still one of the best teams in the league, and QB Drew Brees, despite his higher interception total, is able to lead his team to victory in even the toughest circumstances, as we saw last Monday night in Atlanta. Tampa Bay won one game against a winning team this year (Sunday against the Saints) but nevertheless, it was quite a comeback season for the Bucs, who found their quarterback of the future in Josh Freeman (25 TDs, 6 INTs). The Panthers had the worst offense in the NFL, as their two 1,000 yard running backs from 2009, DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart, missed time due to injuries. Not to mention the issues Carolina had at quarterback, which were so bad that the Panthers were not able to use their best offensive player, WR Steve Smith, effectively. The Panthers were so inept that no offensive player scored more than three touchdowns. Predictably, the Panthers decided to fire their entire coaching staff, and will probably get rid of a lot of players as well.

 

NFC West:

1. Arizona Cardinals                1. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
2. San Francisco 49ers            2. St. Louis Rams (7-9)
3. St. Louis Rams                    3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
4. Seattle Seahawks                4. Arizona Cardinals (5-11) 

The worst division in the history of football, bar none. The Seahawks, to their credit, exceeded expectations by winning seven games and the division, which isn't too bad considering that most people felt they would be the worst team in football in 2010. The 49ers were a popular pick to win the division this year, but poor quarterback play and disputes with coach Mike Singletary did them in, and ultimately led to Singletary being fired last week. I felt that despite the loss of Kurt Warner, the Cardinals would be fine with QB Derek Anderson leading the way. Whoops. The Rams were the favorites to win the division as of Sunday Night behind a strong rookie season from QB Sam Bradford. But the Rams couldn't win against Seattle last night. If it makes them feel any better, at least the Rams made me look bad by finishing second instead of third, although not quite as bad as the Cardinals made me look.

AFC Championship Game: Ravens over Colts

NFC Championship Game: Packers over Falcons

Super Bowl: Ravens over Packers

Well, My NFC Championship Game pick can't happen, as the Packers will have to play the Falcons in round two if they survive against the Eagles this week. I am surprised that all four of my 'final four' picks made the playoffs, so that's something. Since the Ravens and Packers are still alive, I'm going to keep my picks and go down with the ship, even if the Patriots and Steelers are probably better choices in the AFC, and the Falcons, Saints, and Eagles are better candidates to win the Super Bowl out of the NFC. Then again, the Ravens nearly beat the Patriots and have beaten the Steelers, while the Packers nearly beat the Falcons and beat the Eagles, so it wouldn't be too surprising if Baltimore and Green Bay were to make it through to postseason into the Super Bowl.

 

NFL MVP:

Preseason Picks:

1. QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (312 completions in 475 attempts, 3,922 yards, 28 TD passes, 11 interceptions, 101.2 QB Rating)

2. QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (450-649, 4700, 33-17, 91.9)

3. QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots (324-492, 3900, 36-4)

Dark Horse: QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (357-571, 3705, 28-9, 91.0)

Midseason Favorites:

1. Manning

2. Brady

3. QB Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (357-541, 4710, 30-13, 101.8)

4. OLB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers (13.5 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD) 

At the end of the season, Brady is the obvious choice for MVP, as he led the league in touchdown passes, quarterback rating, and set a record for most consecutive passes without an interception (335) while leading the Patriots to a league best 14-2 record. With all due respect to Manning, Rodgers, and Eagles QB Michael Vick (233-372, 3018, 21-6, 100.2, 676 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs), it's really not even close. Ryan and Rivers also had solid seasons, but each player is a notch below Brady and Vick as well. 

NFL Most Outstanding Offensive Player:

Preseason Picks:

1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings (283 attempts, 1298 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns, 36 catches)

2. Aaron Rodgers

3. Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans  (316, 1364, 11, 44 catches)
Dark Horse: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals (90 catches, 1137 yards, 6 TDs)

Midseason Favorites:

 

1. Rivers

2. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans (327, 1616, 16, 66 catches)

3. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons (115, 1389, 11)

4. Peterson 

Peterson was good once again this year, but his team's poor performance doesn't help him any here. Same for Johnson, while Fitzgerald had no chance at this award due mainly to the poor play of his quarterbacks. Once again, despite strong seasons from Foster, White, Vick, and Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (230, 1467, 5, 45 catches), this is basically Brady's award here as well, as no other player in the NFL had a better season on offense than Tom Brady.

NFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player:

Preseason Favorites:

1. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys (15.5 sacks, 2 fumble recovery, 1 TD)

2.Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers (7 INTs, 49 tackles, 1 TD)

3. Patrick Willis, ILB, San Francisco 49ers (101 tackles, 6 sack)

Dark Horse: Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets (2 fumble recoveries)

Midseason Favorites:

1. Matthews

2. Haloti Ngata, DT, Baltimore Ravens (5.5 sacks, 47 tackles)

3. Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs (14.5 sacks)

4. Aqib Talib, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6 Ints, 1TDs)

Ware led the NFL in sacks, but normally players on losing teams don't win the Defensive POY award unless they are clearly dominant over the field. Matthews somewhat slumped in the second half (3 sacks in the final eight games), while Willis played well, but like Ware, played for a losing team. Revis was nowhere near the impact player he was in 2009. In my estimation, there are five main contenders for the award, Matthews, Ngata, Hali, Polamalu, and the Ravens S Ed Reed (8 INT in 10 games). Each player is probably deserving of the award, but if it were up to me, I'd give it to Polamalu, as his return from an injury filled 2009 season made all the difference for the Steelers. Without Polamalu, the Steelers defense is not nearly as good as it is with him, and in my opinion, no other player on defense has a bigger impact on his team's performance than Troy Polamalu. But, we'll see who wins the award at the end of the day.

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year:

Preseason Picks:

1. Ryan Matthews, RB, San Diego Chargers (158 carries, 678 yards, 7 touchdowns)

2. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions (171, 555, 4, 58 catches, 487 yards)

3. Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams (354-590, 3512, 18-15, 76.5 rating)

Dark Horse: Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys (45 catches, 561 yards, 6 TDs, 2 punt return TDs)

Midseason Favorites:

1. Bradford

2. Bryant

3. Mike Williams, WR, (65 catches, 964 yards, 11 TDs)

4. Maurkice Pouncey, C, Steelers 

Williams might have a strong case for the award, and Pouncey is the only offensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl, but Bradford had quite a rookie season for the Rams, setting a rookie record for most completions in the seasons and making the Rams passing game succeed despite losing his top two receivers to injury early in the year. Matthews and Best had their moments, while Bryant proved to be a top-notch playmaker before suffering an injury of his own, but Bradford is the clear favorite here.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year:

Preseason Picks:

1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions (10 sacks, 48 tackles)

2. Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs (4 INTs, 72 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 TD)

3. Rolando McClain, ILB, Oakland Raiders (59 tackles, 0.5 sack, 1 INT)

Dark Horse: Derrick Morgan, DE, Tennessee Titans (1.5 sacks)

Midseason Favorites:

 

1. Suh

2. Berry

3. Earl Thomas, S, Seattle Seahawks (5 INTs, 60 tackles)

4. Koa Misi, OLB, Miami Dolphins (4.5 sacks, 29 tackles)

This is another award that will not be a close vote, as Suh was everything the Lions hoped for and then some, giving the team a disruptive force in the middle of the line, and you could make the case that he is the best defensive tackle in the NFL right now (I'd say Ngata is the only one better than Suh, but still). Patriots CB Devin McCourty (7 INT), like Suh, will be going to the Pro Bowl, while both Thomas and Berry proved to be playmakers from the safety position for their respective teams. But I would be shocked beyond belief if Suh did not win this award. 

Coach Most Likely to be Fired: 

1. John Fox, Panthers

2. Lovie Smith, Bears

3. Jack Del Rio, Jaguars

Dark Horse: Andy Reid, Eagles 

Of the four listed here, only one, John Fox, ended up being fired. Smith and Reid led their teams to division championships, so I'm pretty sure that they're safe, while it looks like the Jaguars will bring Jack Del Rio back for another season. As of this writing, there are six teams (Dallas, Minnesota, Denver, San Francisco, Carolina, and Cleveland) that fired their coaches, but there are whispers that Oakland's Tom Cable, Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis, and Tennessee's Jeff Fisher might also be on the chopping block.

Well, thanks for reading this rather long post, and if you have any comments about this or previous posts, or ideas for future reviews or posts, than share them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.  

Your 2010 Canon Review College Football Preview in Review

Since today marks the beginning of college football's bowl season, I figured that now is a good time to look back at my 2010 College Football preview and see just how poorly I did in predicting what would happen this year. If you want to look back at my original picks, then check out the Canon Review College Football Preview and the Canon Review College Football Midseason Review .

ACC: In the Atlantic Division, I picked Boston College at the beginning of the season to emerge as the division champs, but a slow start thwarted the Eagles' hopes at a ACC Championship Game birth. My mideseason pick, Florida State, did just enough to emerge as the division champs, although if N.C. State had been able to beat Maryland in their final game, then I would have been wrong once again. In the Coastal Division, Virginia Tech was my pick at the beginning of the season, and despite a slow start, the Hokies reeled off an 11 game winning streak to easily capture the Coastal Division and win the ACC Championship Game against Florida State. Unfortunately for me, although I picked Virginia Tech at the beginning of the year, I changed my pick in midseason to Florida State. In hindsight, I should have just stuck with my gut, as Virginia Tech was far and away the top team in this conference, even though they lost to Division I-AA James Madison in the week's second game.

Big East: Pittsburgh was picked by many to represent the Big East in the BCS, but after another disappointing season, Pittsburgh fired coach Dave Wannstedt and will be playing in something called the BBVA Compass Bowl. My pick at the beginning of the season and at midseason was West Virginia, and in spite of a struggling offense, the Mountaneers had a strong defense and did finish in a three way tie for the conference lead. However, the Connecticut Huskies won the Big East crown after beating West Virginia and Pittsburgh in back to back weeks, and the Huskies will be making their first appearance in a BCS bowl game as they will get slaughtered by Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. So, congrats to coach Randy Edsell, RB Jordin Todman, and the rest of the Huskies on a job well done.

Big Ten: Once again, I unwisely decided to change my original pick at midseason, the Wisconsin Badgers, and instead went with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Once again, I was quite wrong, as Wisconsin finished with an 11-1 record and average 43.5 points a game. Actually, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and the surprising Michigan State each finished with 11-1 records and 7-1 conference records, but because Wisconsin finished the season with the highest BCS ranking, they were the team chosen to represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl. Meanwhile, Ohio State gets a birth in the Sugar Bowl, while Michigan State gets the honor of being the highest ranked team left out of the BCS, even though they beat Wisconsin. Go figure. As for Iowa, even though they handed Michigan State their only loss of the season, the Hawkeyes struggled down the stretch and finished the season with a 4-4 conference record in the Big Ten. At the end of the day, I think I will claim that I was right about Wisconsin winning the Big Ten, and conveniently forget to mentioned that I abandoned that pick in the middle of the season.

Big Twelve: In the Big Twelve's last year with 12 teams (next year, it will have ten teams, while the Big Ten will have 12 teams, how strange is that?), I am pleased to report that my Big 12 North pick, Nebraska, was spot on. I am not pleased to mention that I picked Texas to win the Big 12 South and the Conference. I certainly did not expect Texas to struggle mightily on offense without QB Colt McCoy, and the only comfort I can take in my mispick is that I was not alone in that regard. At least my mid-season pick, Oklahoma, came through in the end and took the Big 12 South crown. But the Sooners proved me wrong again, as they beat Nebraska in the Big 12 Title Game and won the conference, thwarting Nebraska's chance of winning the conference in their final year before playing in the Big 10 next year.

Pac 10: At the beginning of the season, I declared that the Pac 10 had no dominant team and that the Washington Huskies would emerge as the champions at the end of the year. I don't remember ever being so incorrect in my life. For one, Washington was inconsistent all year, especially their quarterback, Jake Locker. Also, there was not one, but two dominant teams in the Pac-10 this year, as the Oregon Ducks ran roughshod over everybody with a rapid-fire offense that landed them a spot in the BCS Championship Game. Also, Stanford dominated everyone in their path, with the exception of Oregon, on the way to an 11-1 record and a top-5 ranking in the BCS rankings. I also made the statement that Locker is the best player in the conference, but as Oregon RB LaMichael James and Stanford QB Andrew Luck proved, that was quite a misfire on my part as well.

SEC: The story of the year in the SEC was Heisman Trophy winning Auburn QB Cam Newton. Whether it was with his excellent play on the field, or allegations of illegal recruiting practices off of it, the buzz in the SEC revolved around Cam Newton and the SEC champion Auburn Tigers. While some experts, like ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, picked Auburn to win the SEC West, it would be safe to say that very few people saw Newton and Auburn having the season they had. I however, was also not expecting too much more than a mid-level bowl game from Auburn. Instead I went with Alabama to repeat as SEC Champions. Instead, the Tide lost three games and finished fourth in the SEC West. In the East, I had Florida as the pick to win at the beginning of the season, but their offense sputtered without Tim Tebow, so in midseason I switched to South Carolina. At last, one of my midseason changes paid off, as South Carolina beat Florida and won the SEC East, only to get slaughtered by Auburn in the SEC Championship Game.

Other Conferences: Of the five other conferences, only one of my picks, TCU in the Mountain West, proved to be correct. In the WAC, Boise State started the season ranked number three and won their first 10 games before falling to QB Colin Kaepernick and Nevada. The loss gave Nevada the tiebreaker advantage and the WAC crown. In the MAC, my preseason pick (Temple) didn't even make a bowl game (although they were eligible with an 8-4 record), and my midseason pick Northern Illinois lost to Miami of Ohio in the MAC Championship Game. Oddly enough, the MAC Title game was the last game for both coaches (Jerry Kill of NIU and Mike Haywood of Miami) as they moved on to bigger schools after the game. In Conference USA, my preseason pick was Houston, but an injury to QB Case Kessum derailed the Cougars, so I went with SMU in the midseason. That was also incorrect, as Central Florida triumphed over SMU in the C-USA Championship Game. In the Sun Belt, both my preseason pick (Middle Tennessee) and mid season pick (Troy) at least made a bowl game, but it was Florida International that took the Conference after a mid-season win against Troy gave them the tiebreaker advantage. So, in the other confrences, my prediction average was a nifty .200.

National Championship Game: Originally, I picked Alabama to battle Boise State. Since they didn't even win their respective conferences, you already know that that is wrong. At midseason, I had the wisdom to switch to Oregon at least, but I still believed in the Broncos and not only predicted a spot in the title game, but for Boise State to be the 2010 National Champions. Well, at the end of the day, it is Oregon and Auburn in a battle of two explosive offenses. This should be an exciting game, provided the month long layoff doesn't make the two teams rusty. If I had to choose a winner, I would go with Oregon, as they seem to be more talented than Auburn. But I wouldn't be surprised Cam Newton wins the game by himself a la Vince Young in the 2006 Rose Bowl.

Heisman Trophy: Let's take a look at my preseason top five, along with my darkhorse pick:

1. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
2. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
3. Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia
4. Case Kessum, QB, Houston
5. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Dark Horse: John Brantley, QB, Florida

I am pleased to report that of the six players listed above did not receive one single vote for the Heisman Trophy in 2010. Ingram and Devine failed to clear the 1,000 yard mark, Brantley was ineffective and eventually benched, Kesssum was hurt, Locker disappointed and Pryor was good, but not great. My midseason pick of Denard Robinson started the season on fire, but faded down the stretch. Still, at least he got some votes. The only comfort I can take is that at least I was not alone in not picking Cam Newton for the Heisman. Heck, he was ranked seventh among SEC quarterbacks in the preseason. Anybody that says they picked Newton at the beginning of the season to win the Heisman and lead Auburn to a 13-0 record is a liar, unless I see evidence to the contrary.

Well, overall I did not do so well. Out of the 11 conferences, I correctly picked the winner of three of them at the beginning of the season (Virgina Tech in the ACC, Wisconsin in the Big 10, TCU in the Mountain West). After making some adjustments in midseason, I somehow did worse and only got two correct (TCU, Oregon in the Pac 10). All I can say is that it is a good thing I don't gamble on college football, because I would be broke, or moreso than I already am. Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any thoughts about this or other posts, or ideas for future posts, than let us know them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at kthec2001@gmail.com.

The Canon Review 2010 NFL Preview Mid-Season Review

With every team now playing at least half of their schedule, I figured that now is a good time to look back at how my predictions for the 2010 NFL season stack up so far.

AFC East:(*=Wild Card)

Predictions:                              Current Record:

1. New England Patriots          1. New York Jets (6-2)
2. Miami Dolphins*                 2. New England Patriots (6-2)
3. New York Jets                     3. Miami Dolphins (4-4)
4. Buffalo Bills                         4. Buffalo Bills (0-8)

Well, it looks like I was wrong about the Jets, as RB LaDanian Tomlinson has made a huge impact on the Jets' offense, and QB Mark Sanchez has cut down on his turnovers and has had more good games than bad. Defensively, the Jets aren't quite as dominant as last year's squad, but they still are one of the best defenses in the NFL and the Jets look as if they will battle the Patriots for the AFC East squad right down to the wire. The Patriots, in spite of trading WR Randy Moss, are still one of the top teams in the league. But last week's loss to Cleveland raised some questions about the team's once stout defense, which ranks 29th in the league after week 9. Miami just benched their starting quarterback, Chad Henne, as their offense has struggled to put up points. But their defense, led by OLB Cameron Wake, has been solid, and the Dolphins have survived a brutal schedule to remain at .500 thus far. The Dolphins' schedule in the second half is a bit easier, but they'll have a tough time catching the Patriots and Jets unless they can beat both teams on the road. The Bills have been called the best 0-8 team in NFL history, which still means that this season has been a disappointment. With QB Ryan Fitzpatrick developing into a legit starting-caliber quarterback, all hope is not lost in Buffalo, and look for the Bills to get at least one victory, possibly as soon as this Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Overall, I'm sticking with the Pats as division champs, but the Jets will make the playoffs instead of the Dolphins.

AFC North:

1. Baltimore Ravens                1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

2. Pittsburgh Steelers               2. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

3. Cincinnati Bengals               3. Cleveland Browns (3-5)

4. Cleveland Browns                4. Cincinnati Bengals (2-6)

My Super Bowl pick at the beginning of the season, the Ravens, still look strong, but they seem to make a habit of letting inferior teams hang around before finally closing them out. With S Ed Reed recently rejoining the defense that has gotten great years out of DT Haloti Ngata and ILB Ray Lewis, and QB Joe Flacco having an excellent year thus far on offense, the Ravens may be the favorites in the AFC to reach the Super Bowl. The Steelers went 3-1 without QB Ben Roethlisberger, thanks to a stifling defense and the excellent play of RB Rashard Mendenhall. With Roethlisberger back in tow, another Super Bowl run is definitely in reach for Pittsburgh. The Browns, in spite of a muddled quarterback situation, have played tough all year and can claim victories over the Saints and Patriots. With QB Colt McCoy solidifying the quarterback situation and RB Peyton Hillis playing at an All-Pro level, the Browns are capable of winning on any given Sunday, and even though a playoff birth is unlikely, they are a team not to be taken lightly. Despite WR Terrell Owens playing like the T.O. of old, the Bengals are one of the NFL's most disappointing teams, as QB Carson Palmer has played much worse than his reputation and the team has made a staggering amount of mental errors. Overall, I still have the Ravens and Steelers making the playoffs, with the Browns and Bengals switching places.

AFC South:

1. Indianapolis Colts                1. Indianapolis Colts (5-3)

2. Tennessee Titans                 2. Tennessee Titans (5-3)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars           3. Houston Texans (4-4)

4. Houston Texans                   4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4)

The Colts have suffered a ton of injuries on both sides of the ball, but as long as they have QB Peyton Manning, it would be foolish to count the Colts out. The Titans are tied with the Colts and with the teams playing each other twice in the second half, the Titans will control their own destiny in the AFC South. If WR Randy Moss can provide the Titans with another deep threat and open up the field for RB Chris Johnson, then the Titans will be a dangerous team, provided that QB Vince Young stays healthy. The Jaguars are a roller-coaster team, looking dominant one week and absolutely dreadful the next. Despite an improved TE Mercedes Lewis and the continued excellence of RB Maurice Jones-Drew, look for the Jaguars to continue their inconsistent play. After beating the Colts in week one, the Texans looked as if they turned the corner, but their defense has been hurt by injuries and poor play, hampering a top-notch offense powered by RB Arian Foster. In the end, I can't go against the Colts, and I see no reason to change my preseason picks.

AFC West:

1. San Diego Chargers            1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)

2. Denver Broncos                  2. Oakland Raiders (5-4)

3. Oakland Raiders                 3. San Diego Chargers (4-5)

4. Kansas City Chiefs             4. Denver Broncos (2-6)

The Chargers have a high-powered offense led by QB Philip Rivers and a solid defense, but have been historically bad on special teams, allowing three return touchdowns (including two in one game) and five blocked punts, half of the entire league's total of blocked punts thus far. If the Chargers can get their special teams under control, they could once again return to the playoffs. The Chiefs have been a pleasant surprise thus far, behind a top-notch running game powered by RBs Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, and a defense powered by the pass rushing of OLB Tamba Hali and solid play from ILB Derrick Johnson and rookie S Eric Berry. With an easy schedule remaining, the Chiefs have a good chance to win the division. The Raiders have won five games for the first time since 2002, as RB Darren McFadden has become the player the Raiders hoped he would be after picking him in the 2008 Draft. With a solid defense backed up by CB Nmandi Asomugha, the Raiders aren't going away anytime soon. The Broncos have gotten solid play out of QB Kyle Orton and CB Champ Bailey, but have struggled because they can't run the ball (2.9 ypc) and can't stop the run either (allowing 4.6 ypc). Unless they find a solution to those problems, 2010 will be a lost season for the Broncos while the other three teams fight for the division crown. At the end of the day, look for the Chargers to once again reign as division champions despite a tough challenge.

NFC East:

1. Dallas Cowboys                   1. New York Giants (6-2)

2. New York Giants                 2. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3)

3. Washington Redskins         3. Washington Redskins (4-4)

4. Philadelphia Eagles             4. Dallas Cowboys (1-7)

Looks like I was dead wrong about the Cowboys, as their dismal play has gotten their coach Wade Phillips fired. Their offense has been bad, and their defense has been worse. The Giants have gotten some talk thrown their way as being the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, and with an offense powered by WR Hakeem Nicks and RB Ahmad Bradshaw complimented by the pass rushing exploits of DE Osi Umenyiora and the defense, the Giants have the look of a top-notch team. The Eagles' season may not have gone exactly as planned, but QB Michael Vick has revitalized his career and made the Eagles a dangerous team in the process. The Redskins are fortunate that they are 4-4, as QB Donovan McNabb has not played well and the team has allowed more yards than they've gained in every game thus far this season. With an opportunistic defense led by CB DeAngelo Hall and the return game exploits of Brandon Banks, the 'Skins should continue to hang close with most teams, but unless McNabb gets back on track, then this looks like a 7-9 team at best. In the end, look for the Giants to win the division, while the Eagles take one of the two wild-card spots.

NFC North:

1. Green Bay Packers             1. Green Bay Packers (6-3)

2. Minnesota Vikings*            2. Chicago Bears (5-3)

3. Chicago Bears                     3. Minnesota Vikings (3-5)

4. Detroit Lions                       4. Detroit Lions (2-6)

The Packers have suffered a lot of injuries, but thanks to a breakout season from OLB Clay Matthews and a solid performance from QB Aaron Rodgers, the Pack remain the favorites in the NFC North. When the Bears keep the turnovers down and protect QB Jay Cutler, they're a capable football team. Otherwise, the Bears can look as bad as any team in the NFL. The Vikings are a colossal mess, with rumors of coach Brad Childress's job security, the saga of WR Randy Moss, and the scandal involving QB Brett Favre contributing to a lost season in Minnesota, despite the best efforts of RB Adrian Peterson. The Lions are 2-6, but have lost 5 games by fewer than eight points, and have actually outscored their opposition by 15 points. But with QB Matthew Stafford likely out for the season, the Lions may struggle to reach 5 wins, even with super rookie DT Ndamukong Suh. The Packers are probably the only above average team in this division, so they should coast to a division title.

NFC South:

1. Atlanta Falcons                    1. Atlanta Falcons (7-2)

2. New Orleans Saints*           2. New Orleans Saints (6-3)

3. Carolina Panthers                3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers      4. Carolina Panthers (1-7)

The Falcons just became the first NFL team to reach seven wins this season, in part because that they played 3 days before everyone else this week, but nevertheless. With WR Roddy White having an All-Pro season and QB Matt Ryan maturing into one of the NFL's top quarterbacks, the Falcons are living up to expectations. The Saints have had some bumps in the road and injuries have hampered their running game, but QB Drew Brees and company have an easier second half schedule and should compete for the NFC title. The Panthers have a decent defense, but their offense is historically bad, and it wouldn't be surprising if the Panthers didn't win a game for the rest of the season. Despite coach Raheem Morris's claims, the Buccaneers are not the best team in the NFC. They are a lot better than I picked them to be though, as QB Josh Freeman may be the most promising young quarterback in the NFL. The Bucs are going in the right direction, but the Falcons and Saints are just too tough for them to overcome. Look for Atlanta and New Orleans to make the playoffs.

NFC West:

1. Arizona Cardinals                1. St. Louis Rams (4-4)

2. San Francisco 49ers            2. Seattle Seahawks (4-4)

3. St. Louis Rams                    3. Arizona Cardinals (3-5)

4. Seattle Seahawks                4. San Francisco 49ers (2-6)

This division is just as bad as most pundits predicted, and it is likely that the division winner will finish with a .500 or worse record. The Rams have received a huge boost from rookie QB Sam Bradford, and most of their recent high draft picks such as DE Chris Long are starting to play up to their draft positions. At the very least, the Rams have finally emerged from the doldrums of the past few years. The Seahawks got off to a hot start, but have been blown out in the last two games by the Raiders and Giants. If QB Matt Hasselbeck can come back from injury, the Seahawks should be a factor in the NFC West. If the Cardinals could get decent play from the quarterback position, then they would probably lead the division. Unfortunately for Arizona, neither Derek Anderson or Max Hall have proven to be the answer, and Arizona will spend the rest of the season struggling to find a consistent offense. The 49ers still have ILB Patrick Willis, RB Frank Gore, and not a whole lot else. However, other than a game in Green Bay, the 49ers have a rather easy schedule down the stretch, so it wouldn't be surprising if they get on a run. Ultimately, I really don't know who's going to win. I guess I'll go with the Rams since they seem to be the team that's the hottest right now.

AFC Championship Game: Ravens over Colts
NFC Championship Game: Packers over Falcons
Super Bowl: Ravens over Packers

If there's one thing for certain in the NFL this season, it's that there is still no clear-cut favorites to win the Super Bowl. You can make a case for the Jets, Patriots, Colts, Ravens, Steelers, Falcons, Saints, Packers, Giants, and perhaps the Eagles to be the top team in the NFL. Since my Championship Game picks are all among the favorites, I see no reason to change course now, although I do have my doubts about the Colts being able to beat the Steelers or Patriots with all of their injuries.

NFL MVP:

Preseason Picks:

1. QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (192 completions in 303 attempts, 2,300 yards, 15 TD passes, 9 interceptions, 90.6 QB Rating)
2. QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (228-351, 2478, 16-4, 96.1)
3. QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots (166-261, 1826, 14-4)
Dark Horse: QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (212-338, 2265, 16-5, 91.9)


Current Favorites:


1. Manning
2. Brady
3. QB Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (215-329, 2944. 19-8, 102.9)
4. OLB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers (10.5 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD)


In spite of losing three of his top four receivers and his top running back due to injury, Manning still is playing at his usual level, making a star out of previous unknown TE Jacob Tamme and having the Colts on the top of their game. Brady also has taken a subpar supporting cast, on paper at least, and led the Patriots to a 6-2 record. Rodgers and Ryan are definitely very valuable to their teams, but it will be hard for them to get votes over Manning and Brady. Rivers is third in the NFL in QB rating and leads the league in touchdowns and yards. If the Chargers could block on punts worth a damn, Rivers would be the frontrunner for MVP Awards. In his second year, Matthews has become the biggest defensive impact player in the NFL, and a 20 sack season is not out of the question for the pass-rushing specialist.
 
NFL Most Outstanding Offensive Player:

Preseason Picks:

1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings (180 attempts, 857 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns, 26 catches)
2. Aaron Rodgers
3. Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans  (178, 721, 8)

Dark Horse: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals (42 catches, 510 yards, 4 TDs)

Current Favorites:

1. Rivers
2. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans (157, 864, 9 , 32 catches)
3. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons (70, 934, 7)
4. Peterson


Although the Vikings have disappointed, Peterson has continued to shine and has even improved, as his fumble problems of last year have largely disappeared. Rodgers has been solid, but Rivers has performed at a much higher level. Johnson may not run for 2,500 yards this year, as he predicted, but 1,500 seems like a safe bet. Foster has come out of nowhere to become the most productive back in the NFL this season, while White has taken his game to another level to become the most productive receiver in the league. As for Fitzgerald, the poor quarterback play in Arizona have hampered his numbers, although he still remains a top-notch player.
 

NFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player:

Preseason Favorites:

1. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys (8 sacks, 1 fumble recovery)
2.Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers (2 INTs, 32 tackles)
3. Patrick Willis, ILB, San Francisco 49ers (54 tackles, 1 sack)
Dark Horse: Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets (2 fumble recoveries)

Current Favorites:

1. Matthews
2. Haloti Ngata, DT, Baltimore Ravens (5 sacks, 32 tackles)
3. Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs (8 sacks)
4. Aqib Talib, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5 Ints, 1TDs)

Ware may have eight sacks, but other than that his play has been spotty at best, and the rest of the Cowboys' misfortunes won't help his cause. Polamalu's return has solidified the Steelers defense, although he may not have the individual numbers to get POY consideration, Willis has once again been spectacular for a struggling 49ers team, while Revis has struggled to stay on the field due to injury. Matthews is the odds-on favorite right now, but it would be unwise to ignore Ngata, as he is the best defensive lineman in the game. Hali has sparked the Chiefs' Renaissance, while Talib has proven to be an impact player for the surprising Bucs. 
 
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year:

Preseason Picks:

1. Ryan Matthews, RB, San Diego Chargers (87 carries, 382 yards, 2 touchdowns)
2. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions (107, 345, 4, 41 catches, 356 yards)
3. Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams (171-292, 1674, 11-8, 75.9 rating)
Dark Horse: Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys (38 catches, 435 yards, 4 TDs, 2 punt return TDs)


Current Favorites:


1. Bradford
2. Bryant
3. Mike Williams, WR, (36 catches, 559 yards, TDs)
4. Maurkice Pouncey, C, Steelers


Matthews and Best were supposed to carry the rushing load for their respective teams, and each player has for the most part, although the Lions would probably like Best to improve on his 3.2 ypc. Bradford has been everything the Rams could have hoped for, while Bryant has been one of the few positives in a season full of negative for Dallas. Williams, a fourth-round pick, has emerged as Josh Freeman's favorite target in Tampa Bay, while Pouncey has stepped into a starting role for the Steelers and excelled for the most part.
 
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year:

Preseason Picks:

1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions (6.5 sacks, 24 tackles)
2. Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs (2 INTs, 33 tackles, 2 sacks)
3. Rolando McClain, ILB, Oakland Raiders (26 tackles, 0.5 sack)
Dark Horse: Derrick Morgan, DE, Tennessee Titans (1.5 sacks)

Current Favorites:

1. Suh
2. Berry
3. Earl Thomas, S, Seattle Seahawks (4 INTs, 30 tackles)
4. Koa Misi, OLB, Miami Dolphins (3.5 sacks, 14 tackles)


Suh, the second pick in the draft, has quickly become one of the most dominant lineman in the NFL from day one. Berry and Thomas have been key components in the improvements of the Chiefs and Seahawks, respectively. McClain has been decent for the Raiders thus far, while Morgan has made very little impact for the Titans thus far. Misi has given the Dolphins a second pass rushing threat besides Cameron Wake. Ultimately, Suh is going to run away with this award, even if he struggles with extra points.

Coach Most Likely to be Fired: 

1. John Fox, Panthers
2. Lovie Smith, Bears
3. Jack Del Rio, Jaguars
Dark Horse: Andy Reid, Eagles

With the Panthers at 1-7, it's only a matter of time before Fox gets fired. The Bears may be 5-3 and the Jaguars may be 4-4, but both Smith and Del Rio could ultimately lose their jobs if their respective teams falter in the second half. Reid's Eagles have played well thus far, so he should be safe. As for other coaches in danger, the Cowboys' Wade Phillips has already lost his job, while the Vikings' Brad Childress seems to have lost the respect of his team. Other coaches that could be in trouble include the 49ers' Mike Singletary, the Browns' Eric Mangini, the Bengals' Marvin Lewis, and the Texans' Gary Kubiak.

Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any comments about this or previous posts, or ideas for future reviews or posts, than share them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.

The Canon Review 2010 College Football Preview Midseason Review

Believe it or not, the 2010 College Football season is halfway over. So, with that in mind, it's time to take a look at my picks before the beginning of the season and see just how poorly I've done. In case you want to look back at those picks, you can click the link here.

ACC: Originally, I had Boston College and Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game at the end of the year. Well, Boston College has not done as well as I had hoped, as they have had issues at the quarterback position. As for Virginia Tech, they have had a disappointing season as well up to this point, but still are in the lead in the ACC Coastal Division and gave N.C. State their only loss. With Georgia Tech and Miami both having up-and-down seasons of their own, Virginia Tech is still in prime position to clinch the Coastal Division title. As for the Atlantic division, it looks as if it's shaping up to be a two team battle between N.C. State and Florida State, with the October 28th battle between the two likely to decide which team will play in the ACC Championship game. If I were a betting man, I'd say Florida State will be the team that emerges, and ultimately wins the ACC.

Big East: It's highly likely that the WAC and Mountain West Conferences are better than the Big East, but since the Big East winner has an automatic spot in the BCS, they're going to get more attention. The Big East has only one team ranked in the top 25, which just happens to be my preseason choice to win the conference, West Virginia. On one hand, West Virginia is only a 6-point loss to #9 LSU. On the other hand, West Virginia isn't as consistent as one would like, as a near-loss to Marshall clearly showed. Although West Virginia is the favorite, the race is still wide open, as there's time for early disappointments Pitt and Connecticut to right the ship, and the surprising Syracuse Orangemen could be a factor as well. Overall though, I still feel pretty confident that West Virginia will take the conference.


Big Ten: Wisconsin was my preseason pick to win the conference, and if they beat #1 Ohio State at home this Saturday, then the Badgers have quite a good shot at winning the Big Ten. It would be silly to count out the Buckeyes, as they really have only two tough games (at Wisconsin, at Iowa) standing between them and a perfect season. Michigan may have college football's most exciting player in QB Denard Robinson, but their defense is offensive, and will keep them from being a serious threat. Michigan State is the other undefeated team in the Big Ten (Ohio State is also undefeated), and they get a break by not playing Ohio State this year. Iowa was thought to be a serious contender at the beginning of the year, and with home games against both Michigan State and Ohio State, Iowa may still be the favorite to win the conference. At the end of the day, even though I picked against Ohio State at the beginning of the year, I find it hard to choose against them now. But I'm doing it anyway, as I'm just not convinced that they can run the table. Give me Iowa this time around.

Big Twelve: I picked Texas at the beginning of the year, and that's going to be wrong. The Longhorns already lost to Oklahoma and are big underdogs this Saturday against a Nebraska team still angry over last year's defeat to Texas in the Big 12 Championship game. It looks like Nebraska and Oklahoma will represent the North and South divisions, respectively, in the Big 12 Championship Game. However, both teams should face major challenges from rivals Missouri and Oklahoma State, respectively, as both teams are also undefeated. When the dust clears, I expect Nebraska to finish their final season in the Big 12 as the conference champion.


Pac Ten: I must say that I was spectacularly wrong in picking Washington to win the conference this year, as they have clearly shown not to be a championship level team at this point. I also felt that the race would be wide-open all season with a number of quality teams contending for the crown. Well, while the Pac Ten does have a plethora of quality football teams, the #2 Oregon Ducks have emerged as the clear favorites, especially after their big win against then #9 Stanford earlier this season. Yes, Arizona is also a very good team, but not quite at the level of Oregon. If there is one team that could derail Oregon from a championship season, it could be the Ducks' rivals the Oregon State Beavers. Yes, the Beavers have lost two games this season, but both of those losses came on the road against top 5 teams (Boise State, TCU). Plus, the Beavers looked mighty impressive in dispatching Arizona last week, and Oregon has to come to their home stadium at the end of the year. If the Beavers get past Stanford the previous week, then we could be looking at a de facto Pac Ten title game in the final week of the season. With all that said, I'm still picking Oregon to win the conference.

SEC: Alabama's loss to South Carolina last Saturday shook up the whole landscape of the conference. In the East, South Carolina is in the lead, and is really the only team in that division playing at a high level. The team's biggest test left is a trip down to The Swamp to face the Florida Gators in a game likely to decide the Eastern Champion. Since both Florida and Georgia have disappointed, it may be the Gamecocks' year to finally play in the SEC Championship Game. In the West, Alabama's loss leaves LSU and Auburn as the two lone undefeated teams in the conference. You can make the argument that LSU has been more lucky than good, and we shall see in the next two weeks just how good the Tigers are as they play both Auburn and Alabama in back-to-back games. Auburn has been powered by QB Cam Newton and a top-notch offense, and could very well take the Western crown. It would also be unwise to count out Arkansas. However, Alabama, despite their loss last week, is still the best team in the conference, and will prove that by winning the West and avenging their loss to South Carolina in the SEC Championship game.


Other Conferences: In the WAC, preseason favorite Boise State has not disappointed, beating BCS teams Virginia Tech and Oregon State thus far and currently ranking #3 in the polls. The Broncos have a tough test upcoming against Nevada, but should be able to win the WAC once again. Over in the Mountain West conference, TCU has a battle on their hands with Utah, and the two would be BCS-busters meet November 6th in Utah and what is likely to be the only loss for one of these two teams, provided Air Force doesn't shock TCU and Utah between then. I picked TCU at the beginning of the year, and I will not change my mind now. In Conference USA, QB Case Kessum's season ending injury has put preseason favorite Houston in a difficult spot and has opened the door for a number of teams to step in. Right now, that team looks to be SMU, so that's who I'll go with. Even though I picked Temple to win the MAC at the beginning of the season, last week's lost to Northern Illinois has convinced me to go in a different direction, as now I feel Northern Illinois will be the MAC champs. In the Sun Belt conference, Troy crushed my preseason pick Middle Tennessee St. last week by a 29 point margin, and very little stands between Troy and a conference title.

National Championship: With Alabama losing last week, I have had to change my original pick, as I feel that at least two teams will go undefeated and leave Alabama out of the title game. I still have Boise State playing for the title, but I have replaced Alabama with Oregon. This might prove to be advantageous for the Broncos, as they beat the Ducks last season. That, and the fact that Boise State has proven it can beat top-notch competition on a regular basis, is why I'm picking Boise State to shock the world and win the 2010 National Championship.


Heisman Trophy: Well, my preseason pick of Washington QB Jake Locker did not work out so well. As for my other contenders, Ohio State QB Terelle Pryor has done everything expected of him, while West Virginia RB Noel Devine has been good, but not great so far. Alabama RB Mark Ingram has battle injuries this season, and Houston QB Case Kessum is now out for the season due to injury. My darkhorse was Florida QB John Brantley, and well, that's just not going to happen this year, as Brantley has struggled this year. The current favorites right now are Pryor and Michigan QB Denard Robinson, who in spite of his poor performance last week against Michigan State, has put together one heck of a season thus far. Boise State QB Kellen Moore is getting some consideration, as are the Oregon Ducks duo of RB Lamichael James and QB Darron Thomas. Other than Robinson, Auburn QB Cam Newton may be the most valuable player to his team so far this season. Also, QBs Ryan Mallet of Arkansas, Andrew Luck of Stanford, and Nebraska's dual threat Taylor Martinez all could win the trophy with a monster second half. Ultimately, it's Robinson's to lose at this point, as long as he doesn't have another game like last week's. If not Robinson, look for Pryor or James to take home the Heisman.

Well, thanks for reading. Hopefully the second half of the College Football season will be as interesting as the first, and hopefully the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will run the table from here on out. Remember, if you have any thoughts about this or other posts, or ideas for future posts, than let us know them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at kthec2001@gmail.com.

The Canon Review 2010 MLB Preview Postseason Review (and Postseason Preview)

Another baseball season has come and gone, or at least it has for the majority of teams in Major League Baseball. With that in mind, here's a look back at the predictions I made at the beginning of the year, and just how accurate I was. If you want to check out the original preview post, and the mid-season review, they can be found at http://thecanonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/canon-review-2010-mlb-preview.html and http://thecanonreview.blogspot.com/2010/07/canon-review-2010-mlb-preview-mid.html.

AL East: (* - Wild Card winner)

Predictions:                                 Final Standings:
1. New York Yankees                Tampa Bay Rays (96-66)
2. Tampa Bay Rays                    New York Yankees* (95-67)
3. Boston Red Sox                      Boston Red Sox (89-73)
4. Baltimore Orioles                   Toronto Blue Jays (85-77)
5. Toronto Blue Jays                   Baltimore Orioles (66-96)

Well, at least I got the playoff teams right. The Rays and Yankees spent most of the season trading first place in the division, and finished the season with the two best records in the American League. The Red Sox also had a solid season, but fell somewhat short of their preseason expectations due to a stream of injuries and problems with pitching, as the Sox did not have a solid third starter behind Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester. The Blue Jays exceeded expectations, as they finished with a winning record behind a major league leading 257 home runs, including 54 from the surprise of the year, 3B Jose Bautista. The Orioles weren't quite as good as I had expected, but they did play better after manager Buck Showalter arrived (34-23 under Showalter). The Orioles still have some good young talent, but have a large mountain to climb in order to just get out of the cellar next year.

AL Central

Predictions:                                 Final Standings:
1. Minnesota Twins                    Minnesota Twins (94-68)
2. Chicago White Sox                 Chicago White Sox (88-74)
3. Detroit Tigers                         Detroit Tigers (81-81)
4. Cleveland Indians                   Cleveland Indians (69-93)
5. Kansas City Royals                Kansas City Royals (67-95)

Well, I had this division down pat. The Twins were able to win the division despite playing without All-Star closer Joe Nathan for the entire season, and former MVP 1B Justin Morneau for half the season. Chicago and Detroit had realistic chances at taking this division, but Detroit fell out of contention by August and the White Sox were plagued by inconsistency on offense, outside of Paul Konerko. The Indians and Royals were never really factors in the AL Central race, as the two teams battled for fourth place for most of the season.

AL West

Predictions:                                 Final Standings:
1. LA Angels of Anaheim           Texas Rangers (90-72)
2. Texas Rangers                       Oakland Athletics (81-81)
3. Seattle Mariners                    LA Angels of Anaheim (80-82)
4. Oakland Athletics                   Seattle Mariners (61-101)


If only I had followed my gut and picked Texas to win. Instead, I went with what I felt was the smart choice and picked the Angels. Behind a solid pitching staff and an offense powered by likely MVP Josh Hamilton, the Rangers picked up their first division title since 1999. The Athletics were found lacking for offense, but their league leading pitching (3.58 team ERA) carried the team to a .500 record and a second place finish in the West. The Angels made a big move in acquiring SP Dan Haren in July, but they never were realistically in the race. The Mariners were a popular pick to win the West at the beginning of the year, and while I wasn't among their supporters, nobody expected the Mariners to drop off the way they did. The Mariners lost 101 behind an offense that finished last in the AL in nearly every major category. Outside of OF Ichiro Suzuki, the Mariners offense was a black hole, providing no support for a pitching staff that wasn't too bad.

NL East

Predictions:                                 Final Standings:
1. Philadelphia Phillies                Philadelphia Phillies (97-65)
2. Atlanta Braves*                      Atlanta Braves* (91-71)
3. New York Mets                      Florida Marlins (80-82)
4. Florida Marlins                       New York Mets (79-83)
5. Washington Nationals            Washington Nationals (69-93)


Well, I had the Phillies winning it at the beginning of the year, but truth be told, I also felt at the All-Star break that the Phillies would miss the playoffs. I guess I should have just stuck with my original pick. Other than that, this is the only other division I got exactly right. The Phillies looked like a disappointment the first four months of the season, but the mid-season trade for SP Roy Oswalt and likely Cy Young winner Roy Halladay powered the Phillies down the stretch, and the Phillies survived their numerous injuries in their lineup to finish with baseball's best record. The Braves were actually in first for most of the year, but injuries to 3B Chipper Jones and 2B Martin Prado hurt an already low-powered offense. However, the Braves' strong pitching staff and timely hitting has them in the playoffs in manager Bobby Cox's final season. The Marlins fired manager Fredi Gonzalez during the season, while the Mets fired their manager, Jerry Manuel, today. The Mets got off to a hot start, but injuries and a lack of hitting outside of 3B David Wright contributed to their downfall, while the Marlins were just too up-and-down to seriously compete. The Nationals were sparked by the debut of phenom SP Steven Strasburg, but they finished last once again, and with Strasburg likely out for 2011 due to a severe elbow injury, the Nats' might be visiting last place again next year.

NL Central

Predictions:                                 Final Standings:
1. St. Louis Cardinals                 Cincinnati Reds (91-71)
2. Milwaukee Brewers               St. Louis Cardinals (86-76)
3. Chicago Cubs                          Milwaukee Brewers (77-85)
4. Cincinnati Reds                      Houston Astros (76-86)
5. Houston Astros                      Chicago Cubs (75-87)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates                   Pittsburgh Pirates (57-105)


Well, lo and behold, the Reds pulled it out. I must admit that I didn't think much of the Reds' chances to hold on to the NL Central lead, but the NL's best offense pushed the Reds to their first playoff appearance since 1995. Reds' 1B Joey Votto is the likely MVP of the NL, and a resurgence from 3B Scott Rolen helped power the Reds' offense. The Cardinals looked like the most talented team in the division on paper, but they don't play games on paper, and the Cardinals disappointed down the stretch. The Brewers had the bats, but lacked the pitching to make them contenders. The Astros were actually a little better than I thought they would be, as they played hard under manager Brad Mills. The Cubs, meanwhile, had too many players that failed to live up to their massive contracts, and they might need to clean house completely. The Pirates has some quality rookies like 2B Neil Walker and 3B Pedro Alverez make their debuts, but this may have been the worst Pirates team yet in their 18 year stretch of losing seasons. There are a whole bunch of kids graduating high school next spring that have never seen a winning season from the Pirates, and next year will more than likely be more of the same.

NL West

Predictions:                                 Final Standings:
1. Colorado Rockies                   San Francisco Giants (92-70)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers             San Diego Padres (90-72)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks           Colorado Rockies (83-79)
4. San Francisco Giants              Los Angeles Dodgers (80-82)
5. San Diego Padres                  Arizona Diamondbacks (65-97)

Although I had the Giants fourth at the beginning of the year, I also said that they would be contenders in a tight division. Well, the Giants did surprise me, as rookie C Buster Posey and OFs Pat Burrell and Andres Torres gave new life to an offense that desperately needed it. That, along with a top notch pitching staff, powered the Giants to the title. The Padres surprised everybody, and spent most of the year in first place. They just couldn't hold on to the lead at the end, as the Padres just didn't have enough offensive firepower outside of 1B Adrian Gonzalez. The Rockies tried to get back in the race in September behind SS Troy Tulowtizki and OF Carlos Gonzalez, but came up short. The Dodgers were clearly affected by the chaos in their front office, and were inconsistent for most of the season. In hindsight, I overestimated the Diamondbacks' talent, although 2B Kelly Johnson did have a nice season, and young Daniel Hudson came out of nowhere to put together a spectacular second half.

Award Predictions:
AL MVP:
1. Joe Mauer, C, Twins (.327 BA, 9 HR, 75 RBI,)
2. Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees (.256, 33, 108)
3. Kendry Morales, 1B, Angels (.290, 11, 39)
Dark Horse: Nelson Cruz, RF, Rangers (.318, 22, 70)

Current Favorites:
1. Josh Hamilton, LF, Rangers (.359, 32, 100, 1044 OPS)
2. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Tigers, (.328, 38, 126)
3. Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees, (.319, 29, 109)


Mauer had a strong season, finishing third in the AL in batting average and third in on-base percentage (.402). He didn't hit for the same power he did last year, but Mauer should get some MVP votes. Teixeira led the league in runs with 113 and finished in the top 10 in home runs and RBIs, but most people wouldn't consider Teixeira the most valuable player on his own team. Morales missed most of the season after breaking his leg celebrating a game winning home run, while Cruz also battled with injuries for much of the season. Among the favorites, Hamilton has the best numbers, leading the league in batting average, slugging percentage (.633) and OPS. However, Hamilton's chances may be hurt by his missing most of September with a rib injury. Cabrera led the AL in RBI, finished second in batting average and third in home runs, but he will be penalized due to his team's lack of success. Cano is coming off one of the best seasons a second baseman has ever had, finishing the season with 200 hits, over 100 RBIs and runs and nearly 30 home runs. Ultimately, the award will probably go to Hamilton, but it will be a close vote.

NL MVP:
1. Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies (.275, 16, 65)
2. Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals (.312, 42, 118)
3. Ryan Braun, LF, Brewers (.304, 25, 103)
Dark Horse: Justin Upton, RF, Diamondbacks (.273, 17, 69)

Current Favorites:
1. Joey Votto, 1B, Reds (.324, 37, 113, 1024 OPS)
2. Pujols
3. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Rockies, (.336, 34, 117)


Utley missed over two months due to injury and was never really a candidate, so bad choice on my part. Pujols put together yet another MVP-caliber season, leading the NL in home runs and RBIs and finishing second in OPS (1011). Since his Cardinals failed to make the playoffs, that could hurt, especially since Votto put together similar numbers to Pujols, leading the league in OBP (.424), SLG (.600), and leading his Reds to the postseason. Gonzalez led the NL in hitting and had a monster second half, but will lose votes due to the Rockies not making the playoffs and because of the season his teammate Troy Tulowitzki (.315 BA, .949 OPS) had. As for my other preseason choices, Braun had a solid, but unspectacular year, and Upton failed to build on his solid season last year. Look for Votto to capture the MVP this season.

AL Cy Young Award:
1. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners (13-12 win-loss record, 2.27 ERA, 232 Strikeouts)
2. C.C. Sabathia, SP, Yankees (21-7, 3.18, 197)
3. Zack Greinke,  SP, Royals (10-14, 4.17, 181)
Dark Horse: Brett Anderson, SP, Athletics (7-6, 2.80, 75)

Current Favorites:
1. Hernandez
2. Sabathia
3. David Price, SP, Rays (19-6, 2.72, 188)

The only thing that could keep Hernandez from winning his first Cy Young is a lack of wins. Hernandez led the AL in ERA and H/9 (6.993), and finished second in strikeouts as well as WHIP (1.057). However, since Hernandez played for a team that couldn't score if they lead off each inning with a runner on second, his win total of 13 would be the lowest of any Cy Young Award winning starting pitcher. Sabathia was solid, leading the league in wins and finishing in the top ten in many other categories, while Price finished 2nd in wins and 3rd in ERA. As for my other preseason choices, Greinke could not repeat his remarkable 2009, while Anderson pitched well when healthy, but only started 19 games due to injury. The award should go to Hernandez, but his low win total could make voters go with Sabathia or Price instead.

NL Cy Young
1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies (21-10, 2.44, 219)
2. Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants (16-10, 3.43, 231)
3. Chris Carpenter, SP, Cardinals (16-9, 3.22, 179)
Dark Horse: Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Rockies (19-8, 2.88, 214)

Current Favorites:
1. Halladay
2. Jimenez
3. Adam Wainwright, SP, Cardinals (20-11, 2.42, 213)

Halladay was everything the Phillies hoped for when they traded for him last offseason, leading the NL in wins, innings pitched (250.2), and complete games (9). Halladay also finished second in strikeouts and third in ERA, and led the league in SO/BB (7.300). Lincecum and Carpenter both were very good this season as well, but there were others that were just a little better. For the season's first few months, it looked as if Jimenez might win 25 games, but he slowed down some in the second half. Still, Jimenez finished third in both wins and strikeouts, and may get some credit for pitching in the league's toughest pitchers park, Coors Field. Wainwright put together a season that would have won him the award most seasons, finishing second in wins in ERA, but Halladay was just that much better, and should win the award this year.

AL Rookie of the Year:
1. Wade Davis, SP, Rays (12-10, 4.07, 113)
2. Scott Sizemore, 2B, Tigers (.224, 3, 14)
3. Brian Matusz, SP, Orioles (10-12, 4.30, 143)
Dark Horses: Lou Marson/Carlos Santana, C, Indians (Marson: .195, 3, 22 Santana: .260, 6, 22)

Current Favorites:

1. Neftali Feliz, RP, Rangers, (40 saves, 2.73, 71 SO)
2. Austin Jackson, CF, Tigers (.293, 4, 41, 27 steals)
3. John Jaso, C, Rays, (.263, 5, 44)

Realistically, this is a two horse race between Feliz and Jackson. Feliz will get credit for being the closer on a playoff bound team, and his 40 saves finished third in the AL. Plus, Feliz held batters to a .176 batting average against and struck out 9.2 batters per nine innings. Jackson proved to be a capable center fielder for the Tigers, finishing sixth in the AL in runs (103), and ninth in hits (181). Jaso had a decent year as the Rays leadoff hitter, posting a .372 OBP. As for my preseason picks, Davis was a decent starter, but his performance was rather unspectacular. Sizemore lost the second base job in Detroit and struggled most of the year. Matusz had his moments, but was too up and down to be a serious contender for the award, and while Santana played well in his limited action, Marson struggled, and both men didn't get a whole lot of at bats in their first year. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Feliz is a unanimous selection.

NL Rookie of the Year:
1. Jason Heyward, RF, Braves (.277, 18, 72)
2. Alcides Escobar, SS, Brewers (.235, 4, 41)
3. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals (5-3, 2.91, 92)
Dark Horse: Pedro Alvarez, 3B/1B, Pirates (.256, 16, 64)

Current Favorites:
1. Heyward
2. Buster Posey, C, Giants, (.305, 18, 67)
3. Jaime Garcia, SP, Cardinals, (13-8, 2.70, 132) 

One thing's for sure, this is a vote that will be very close. Heyward impressed from the very first at-bat, finishing 4th in OBP (.393) and walks (91), and getting many timely hits for the Braves. Posey turned the whole season around for the Giants after his callup, giving the Giants a much needed bat in the middle of the order, and Posey was named the NL Player of the Month for July. Garcia finished 4th in the NL in ERA and provided the Cards with a solid third starter behind Wainwright and Carpenter. As for the other presason picks, Escobar couldn't hit enough to seriously contend for the award. Strasburg was great for the Nationals, but didn't play enough to draw much consideration. Alvarez, much like Posey, was a midseason callup, but did not provide the same impact Posey did. My pick would be Heyward, but Posey could get some votes due to his offensive superiority at a defensive position, and his impact on the Giants' division winning campaign.


As for the playoffs, in the National League, I predict the Braves and Phillies to get past the Giants and Reds, respectively. As much as I would like to pick the Braves to go to the World Series, it's pretty hard to ignore the Phillies' pitching and the fact that they ate the Braves alive during their games in the last month. So I'll have to go with my head and pick Philadelphia for the pennant. In the American League. I predict the Yankees and Rays to continue their year-long battle for supremacy, with the Yankees ultimately beating the Rays in the ALCS. As for the World Series, I picked the Yankees to win it all at the beginning of the year, and despite the questions surrounding their pitching, I will still pick them to win it all at the end of the year.


Well, that took a while. I hope that it wasn't too bad of a read. Thanks for reading, and if you have any thoughts about the just completed baseball season, then please feel free to share those thoughts in the comments. Also, if you have an idea for a future post, then share those either by leaving a comment or sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.