Why the St. Louis Rams should re-sign Steven Jackson

           As a St. Louis Rams fan, there has been one player that has been the face of the organization for the past nine years, running back Steven Jackson. It seems as if his days are over in St. Louis after a report came out this week saying that he plans to void his contract and explore free agency. The move comes after the Rams organization said during the season that they plan to not sign Jackson to a lucrative extension after the 2013 season. I believe that it is the wrong decision and that Jackson has four or five good seasons left in him.

            Jackson was the 24^th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Rams after they swapped picks with the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals. Although the Rams have only made the playoffs once since they drafted Jackson, he has been one of the most reliable running backs in the league. Jackson has rushed for over 1,000 yards in every season except for his rookie year when he split carries with Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk. Last year, he became only the 6^th running back in league history to compile eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and also became the 27^th running back in NFL history to rush for 10,000 career yards. On December 24, 2010, Jackson passed the great Eric Dickerson as the all-time leading rusher in franchise history.

            So why should the Rams keep Jackson? Sure, Jackson ran for only 1,042 yards last year, his lowest since 2008 but if you look at the game tape, most of those yards were hard fought. Although Jackson is turning the dreaded running back age of 30, statically the age of when running backs start to have more injuries and their numbers decrease, he has never had an issue with durability in his career. Only twice in his career has Jackson played less than 14 games including last year when he played in every game.

            Jackson has never been a problem with the organization having never had any off the field issues. The problem for Jackson is that he wants to win a ring. Jackson feels that he is one of the leagues best and wants to be on a team that contends for a title next year, but the playoffs seem more likely for the Rams after last year. In Jeff Fisher’s first year as coach, they were two or three plays away from having nine wins as they went 7-8-1, their best record since 2006. With two first round picks in this year’s draft and a much-improved defense, the Rams have what it takes to contend for the playoffs.

            Will the Rams be willing to give Jackson more money is the question? The Rams don’t have a lot of extra money unless they can restructure some of their contracts including QB Sam Bradford. It is going to be a tough decision for Steven Jackson but I hope that both sides can work out a deal because the Rams will not be the same next year without him.

             

            images were used from sj39.com and washingtonpost.com

Kansas City Chiefs acquire QB Alex Smith

            San Francisco 49ers QB Alex Smith was finally traded today. After months of speculation about if the 49ers will trade him and if so to whom, Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs this morning. I think that the trade will be good for both sides.

            Alex Smith was the #1 overall draft pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of the University of Utah. In his first two years as the starter, Smith looked like a bust as he threw 17 touchdowns but also 27 interceptions. Up until the 2011 season it looked as if Smith was never going to live up to the expectations of being a number #1 draft pick. But when the 49ers hired Jim Harbaugh was hired, Harbaugh stressed that Smith was going to be their starting quarterback. Smith had the best season of his career in 2011-12 when he threw for 3,144 yards and 17 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions. Smith also set franchise records for most game winning drives in a single season and fewest interceptions in a single season. The 49ers also had their best record since 1997 as they went 13-3 before losing in the NFC Championship Game to the New York Giants. This season, Smith only started 10 games before sustaining a concussion that led to Harbaugh starting 2^nd year QB Colin Kaepernick over Smith.  We all know about Kaepernick and how he excelled as Harbaugh changed his offense to fit Kepernick’s system of the pistol offense. Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 34-31.

            I think this trade is good for both sides because: a) the 49ers believe that Kaepernick is the real deal and want him as their quarterback going forward and b) Smith will fit well with the Kansas City Chiefs and their new head coach, Andy Reid.

            Kaepernick threw for 1,814 yards in only 13 games, 8 of which he actually started. He also had 10 passing touchdowns with 3 interceptions but was a dual threat as he ran for 415 yards and 5 touchdowns. He excelled in the playoffs and Harbaugh has been behind Kaepernick since day one.

            Although they were 2-14 last year and own the number one pick, the Chiefs have several weapons that will help Smith succeed. The Chiefs ranked 5^th in rushing last year averaging 149.7 yards per game but ranked last in passing yards per game. The Chiefs are expected to release QB Matt Cassel according to reports. With All-Pro RB Jamaal Charles having defenses watching him most of the time, Smith will have a chance to succeed especially in play action where he excels. The big question for Smith and the Chiefs is if they will re-sign WR Dwyane Bowe, who is a free agent.

            The Smith trade was good for both sides and I expect Kaepernick to become even better over the next couple of years but also Smith to improve too. 

            image was used from cbssports.com

Can the Toronto Blue Jays win the AL East?

           Could this be the year that the Toronto Blue Jays finally win the AL East? The last time the Blue Jays won the AL East, I wasn’t even born yet. It was 1993, also their second straight World Series title. But with numerous acquisitions and the New York Yankees without key players, the Blue Jays have the team to contend for a division title.

            Last year was a disappointment for the Blue Jays as they finished 22 games behind the division winning Yankees with a 73-89 record on the season. Injuries to OF Jose Bautista and lack of a key #1 starter were a big part of their struggles last year.

            This offseason has brought in many new faces for the Blue Jays but also a coach who his making his second stint with the team. With John Farrell taking the job as coach of the Red Sox, the Blue Jays hired John Gibbons, who coached the team from 2004-2008.

            The Blue Jays ranked right around the league average in all batting numerical categories last year. In order to contend, they saw that they needed to go out and make a trade this year because they couldn’t win off of just Bautista and 1B Edwin Encarnacion. The Blue Jays were the recipients of the Miami Marlins dumping their whole team as they acquired four-time All-Star SS Jose Reyes, P Mark Buehrle, P Josh Johnson, C John Buck, and CF Emilio Bonifacio on November 20^th. Johnson struggled last year as he went 8-14 but if Johnson can get back to how he pitched in 2010 when he led the NL in ERA, he will be the Blue Jays ace. Reyes is one of the league’s best shortstops when healthy as last year was the first time since 2008 that he was healthy. The Jays also acquired OF Melky Cabrera who batted .346 and was named the All-Star Game MVP last year before testing positive for HGH. Cabrera was suspended for the last 50 games of the 2012 season. But perhaps the biggest acquisition of all is P R.A. Dickey. Dickey came out of nowhere last year and won the CY Young award as he went 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA and 230 strikeouts. Can Dickey keep performing like he did last year now that he is in the AL, or will batters figure him out early and dominate him?

            The Blue Jays have lots of questions entering this season but will have Bautista healthy and Encarnacion coming off of his best season where he was 4^th in the AL in home runs with 42 and 3^rd in RBIs with 110. But watching Bautista and Gibbons being interviewed, the Jays are ready to challenge for the division title.

           

            image was used from www.wildonsports.com

            

Will Matt Barkley be a good NFL quarterback?

            If he would have left last year after his junior year, USC QB Matt Barkley would have been one of the top quarterbacks taken in the 2012 NFL Draft. But he didn’t. Barkley came back for his senior year in hopes of winning a national championship and perhaps a Heisman Trophy.

            USC struggled all year long as the preseason #2 team in the nation and went 7-6 including an embarrassing lost in the Sun Bowl. Barkley didn’t have as good of season as he had in 2011 and got injured in USC’s season finale against UCLA. Now the quarterback who many thought would have been maybe #1 overall last year, may not even get drafted in the first round this year?

            Barkley came out this week and said that he would not be throwing in the NFL combine this weekend instead focusing on the USC’s pro day on March 27^th because his right shoulder still isn’t 100%. Some scouts now wonder if Barkley will return to the form in his junior year where he led USC to a 10-2 record.

            Barkley threw for 3,528 yards with 39 touchdowns to 7 Ints in his junior year. This year, his numbers dropped as he threw for 3,273 yards and 36 touchdowns but 15 Ints. Barkley left USC as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in school history including the 8^th most touchdowns in NCAA history and most completions, attempts, and yards in PAC-12 history. Barkley only won one bowl game in his four years as USC was on probation for two years after dealing with the aftermath of the Reggie Bush situation. But Barkley was a proven leader, as he became the first Trojan to ever be named captain as a freshman in 2009. He not only dealt with the two-year probation but also with a coaching change as Pete Carroll left for the NFL after his freshman year and hired Lane Kiffin.

            Do I think that Barkley will be a good NFL quarterback? Yes. I am not saying that only because I saw Barkley play at USC for four years as I am a USC season ticket holder, but Barkley has the intangibles that will make him a good NFL quarterback. He has a great arm but it will interesting to see how it looks at USC’s pro day? Barkley always was accurate when he threw the ball deep but has had issues with overthrowing his receivers in the short to mid gain. He is not a mobile quarterback but is good at throwing the ball on the run. A big problem that Barkley will have to fit is his decision making as three of his four years he had double digit Ints. He also has the advantage as he played in a pro system for four years. He also has ideal size at 6’3”.

            This year’s quarterback class is not deep at all as the #1 quarterback prospect is between Barkley and West Virginia’s Geno Smith.  I think Barkley would be a perfect fit to the Arizona Cardinals at the #7 pick. Cardinals have weapons at the receiver position with Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Roberts, and Michael Floyd. Barkley will not be a hall of fame quarterback but he will have a good NFL career.   

           Now we all sit and wait as March 27^th will be a big day for Barkley’s career. 

           image was used from bleacherreport.com

How have the Chicago Blackhawks been so dominate?

            Has anybody realized how dominant the Chicago Blackhawks have been so far in this lockout-shortened season? With last night’s 4-3 shootout victory over the Vancouver Canucks, the Blackhawks tied the NHL record for consecutive games to with a point to start the season matching the 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks’ record of 16. The Blackhawks have good fortune on their side as the Ducks went on to win the 2007 Stanley Cup.

            2010 was a magical year for the Blackhawks after they won their first Stanley Cup since 1961. The past two seasons have not been as successful as they lost in the conference quarterfinals in each year.

            Through 16 games this year, the Blackhawks have yet to lose a game in regulation as all three of their losses came in shootouts. The Blackhawks rank 2^nd in the NHL in goals per game with 3.31 and are also 2^nd in goals allowed with 1.94 per game. The Blackhawks goaltending has been superb. Both Corey Crawford and Ray Emery are having fantastic seasons in net so far as Crawford is giving up only 1.65 goals per game while Emery is undefeated in his six starts (Crawford has all three of the shootout losses.) Head Coach Joel Quennville is fortunate because if Crawford gets injured, he has full confidence in putting Emery in and if they expect to make a deep run in the playoffs, Emery will have to play a couple of games to give Crawford some rest.

            RW Patrick Kane is having an MVP-caliber season as he is currently tied for third in the league in points with 22. Besides Kane leading the team in goals, 12 players have at least two goals with four having at least five. Six players also have six or more assists.

            The Blackhawks hope to win their second title in four seasons and if they keep playing stellar hockey, they should be the favorite to bring the Stanley Cup back to Chicago.

             image was used from blackhawks.nhl.com