Last week we looked at three NFL coordinators who are new to their jobs and hold a lot of promise. We’re going to look at the other side of things this week – five guys who are on hot seats. All of them are in desperate need of a big year this year, and some of them probably shouldn’t have been given the chance they have been given this year. What they definitely all have in common is that we should keep a close eye on them and their units, because there is a pretty good chance that they are going to have problems:
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The head coaches get all of the attention in the NFL, but who they hire as coordinators has at least as much bearing on the on-field success of the team as their own performance. Coaches all have different styles, but for many teams the head coach acts as the CEO who oversees operations, and it’s the coordinators who actually work with the players, implement the strategy, call the plays, and have the direct impact on the outcome of games. The media tends to spend most of their time dwelling on head coaches, though, spending the limited coordinator time they do have on the high profile stars. By looking beyond those big names and getting a sense of some of the significant under the radar coordinator moves that have been made in the offseason bettors can have an edge over those who aren’t paying attention. Here are three significant coordinator changes that you’ll want to consider as you prepare for this upcoming NFL season:
Continue reading “Offseason Coordinator Changes NFL Bettors Should Take Note Of”
The weekly NFL recap for this week saw 4 major stories, all of which could have an impact on handicapping this years NFL season. With week 1 NFL games a little over 2 months away it is important to keep up to date with this news and at it to your betting arsenal.
NFL weekly recap June 14 – 20
OT Brown to Redskins for conditional pick
The New Orleans Saints traded offensive lineman Jammal Brown to the Washington Redskins for a conditional draft pick. The Saints picked the 29-year-old with the 13th pick of the 2005 draft. He started all of his games between 2005 and 2008, but spent 2009 on the injured reserved list, due to a hip injury and sports hernia surgery.
Cold Weather Super Bowl; a hot topic for bettors
Mark this one in your calendars! Super Bowl XLVIII will be the first of its kind to be played outside in a cold weather location. The NFL announced Tuesday that they will hold the 2014 championship game in Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
I really, really, really hate the Pro Bowl. Total waste of time, and totally pointless as a handicapping exercise. Here are 10 reasons why:
1. It’s boring. Name the last time that there was an exciting Pro Bowl. You can’t because it has never happened.
Five Thoughts about each of Sunday’s games:
Dallas (+2.5) at Minnesota
1. Is the Dallas defense for real? They have allowed just two touchdowns in the last 12 quarters, and have looked almost unbeatable, but that has come in two games against the obviously deeply flawed Eagles and a game at the terrible Redskins. This is a big step up in competition for them.
Five Thoughts about each of Saturday’s games:
Arizona (+7) at New Orleans
1. The total is interesting here. The books set it at a sky high 57.5 – higher than either team had faced all year. Still, because of what Arizona did last week and what New Orleans is capable of doing I was expecting that the public might push it higher still. They haven’t – it’s down as low as 56. That’s more restraint than I typically give the public credit for having.
The NFC only has some seeding issues to determine because the teams to make the playoffs are all set. The AFC on the other hand is as crazy as it has been in years. The four division winners are set except for some minor seeding questions, but the wild card is totally wide open. As you get ready to watch and bet on the games today here’s a cheat sheet to try to clarify the picture a bit.
Baltimore – Simply, they are in if the win at Oakland in the late afternoon game. If they don’t win that game then they need to wait for the rest of the teams to eliminate themselves in order to make it.
N.Y. Jets – Like Baltimore, the Jets are in if they win. If they lose they also need to sit back and hope the rest of the teams knock themselves out. They are at home to the Bengals, and Cincinnati will likely be resting players for the playoffs, so for the second straight week the Jets could benefit from their scheduling. If any team can mess this up, though, it’s the Jets.
Denver – If the Broncos had won one of their last three games then they wouldn’t be in the mess that they are in. Now they need a bunch of help, though they do have the most chances of any team that doesn’t control their own destiny. They play at home against the Chiefs. They should be able to win that one, but they don’t have to – though it would obviously be easier if they did. If they win then they need either Baltimore or the Jets to lose or tie and either Pittsburgh to lose or Houston to win. If both the Ravens and Jets lose then the Broncos are in with a win. If the Broncos lose then they could still get in four different scenarios which all include a Pittsburgh loss. In addition to that they would need loss by Baltimore, Houston, and Jacksonville or the Jets, or from Baltimore, the Jets, and Jacksonville, or from Houston, Jacksonville, and the Jets. Finally, the Broncos have an unlikely longshot possibility – they could get in win or lose if Pittsburgh wins but Baltimore, Miami, the Jets, Jacksonville, and Houston all lose. Confused yet?
Pittsburgh – The Steelers are eliminated if the lose at Miami. If they win that game then they need losses from either the Jets and Baltimore as well as Denver, or from the Jets or Ravens and Houston.
Houston – The Texans need to win against the Pats at home. That shouldn’t be to tough if, as expected, the Pats take it easy with their starters. If they win then they either need losses from both the Jets and Ravens, or from one of the two and the Broncos.
Jacksonville – The Jags are one of two 7-8 teams that are still alive. The obviously need to beat the Browns in Cleveland. If they do that then they still need a lot of help. If Baltimore and the Jets both lose then they also need losses from Denver and Pittsburgh, or Houston and Pittsburgh, or Denver and Houston. If just one of the Jets or Ravens loses then they need Denver, Houston and Pittsburgh all to lose. In other words, if you are a Jacksonville fan don’t plan your playoff trip just yet.
Miami – The Dolphins can get into the playoffs in one very unlikely scenario – if they win (which means Pittsburgh loses), and the Jets, Ravens, Texans, and Jaguars all lose. They don’t exactly control their own destiny.
Here’s what’s crossing my mind as I get ready for a day of football action:
1. The Saints are favored by 10.5 in Atlanta. Can you imagine how crazy you would have thought I was if I had told you that that was going to be the spread back in July. Crazy, crazy stat – In the last eight years every team in the NFC South has gone from last one year to first the next – including New Orleans this year.
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