2010 NFL Preview: NFC East

Standings
1. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
2. New York Giants (11-5)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9)
4. Washington Redskins (6-10)

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Tony Romo (QB, Dallas)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: DeMarcus Ware (OLB, Dallas)
Addition With Biggest Impact: Donovan McNabb (QB, Washington)
Mr. Irrelevant: Roy Williams (WR, Dallas)

I guess the Dallas Cowboys are my least favorite team in the NFL, so it saddens me that I have to admit that they are en route to have a really good if not totally great season. I could see the New York Giants giving them some trouble as long as their running backs and defense stay healthy at least most of the season, but the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins are entirely out of the picture for reasons I will disclose in coming paragraphs. Tony Romo has developed into an outright stud at quarterback who makes few mistakes and adding rookie Dez Bryant to the receiving equation should potentially make up for the fact that Roy Williams is a baby, an idiot and simply a bad wide receiver who doesn't give two shits about shit. Miles Austin could be the best receiver in the game within the next few years. If Felix Jones continues to develop and Marion Barber remains somewhat tough, the running attack should be formidable. I was going to say that their defense shouldn't be as good as it is until I remembered that their four starting linebackers are great to fantastic.

The New York Giants had an off year in 2009 thanks to injuries to both of their talented running backs and pretty much all their defensive players who matter. Eli Manning finally sort of came into his own with his first 4,000 yard season. He cut down his number of interceptions as well, which is exactly what this offense needed. Now, it turns out that the Giants probably could be an excellent passing team lead by Steve Smith and three more young, fast and flashy receivers in Hakeem Nicks, Domenik Hixon and Mario Manningham. If Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were to remain healthy, they should be back at the front of the pack in rushing offense. New York has also had one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL in recent years, and if their front four can get back to being consistent and healthy, combined with the way the offense is expanding, they will at least contend for a Wild Card spot, if not for the division title.

I believe that the Philadelphia Eagles' 2010 season will be much like the Green Bay Packers' 2008 one. That was Aaron Rodgers' first year starting at QB, and while his stats were impressive if not amazing, it was an awkward, transitional year. And, now they're completely sweet. With a couple years as Donovan McNabb's understudy, I definitely see a similar thing happening with Kevin Kolb's Eagles. However, like Rodgers was in '08, Kolb is relatively untested, having started in only two games last season in relief for an injured McNabb. Kolb's stats were completely sick in those two games, but they were against bad teams. I don't think anyone saw Rodgers coming right out of the gates and being as good as he has been in his first two seasons, and the same stands for Kolb. But, Rodgers is proof that it can happen. As for the rest of the offense, there are young stars (wide receiver DeSean Jackson and tight end Brent Celek) and enough potential stars in Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy that this transition period might last only as long as Green Bay's did. Philly's defense, which is usually very good, seems to be a sizable weakness for the team now.

Yes, sure, the addition of quarterback Donovan McNabb instantly makes the Redskins better, however, unfortunately, he doesn't have much to work with on offense. Chris Cooley can be one of the best tight ends in the game, and when he was injured last season, Fred Davis came in and proved that he is pretty awesome as well. But, other than that, the offense is lacking. Santana Moss is an overrated, under-performing wide receiver, and the running back situation has turned into a platoon featuring two injury prone ex-studs in Clinton Portis and Willie Parker and another ex-stud who happens to have, like, the worst attitude in the entire NFL (Larry Johnson). This does not bode well at all. Thankfully for Washington, the defense has turned to be quite good. LaRon Landry and DeAngelo Hall are talented defensive backs, the linebacker corps have the potential to be completely dominant and when Albert Haynesworth's head isn't in his ass, he's the best defensive lineman around.

2010 NFL Preview: AFC West

Standings
1. San Diego Chargers (13-3)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
3. Oakland Raiders (5-11)
4. Denver Broncos (3-13)

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Philip Rivers (QB, San Diego)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Nnamdi Asomugha (CB, Oakland)
Addition With Biggest Impact: Jason Campbell (QB, Oakland)
Mr. Irrelevant: Tim Tebow (QB, Denver)

Since future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson developed his Old Man Leg Syndrome last season, the San Diego Chargers became quarterback Philip Rivers' team all the way. Over the past two seasons, Rivers has proved that he is a stellar quarterback who makes few mistakes. His talent and leadership alone should be enough to help the Chargers dominate this otherwise atrocious division, though perhaps my 13-3 prediction might be a bit too optimistic. Supposedly rookie running back Ryan Matthews could be another LT, but I don't know that I buy that yet. Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson give this team one of the NFL's best passing attacks. The defense hasn't lived up to potential the past few seasons, and that might have everything to do with outside linebacker Shawne Merriman being injury prone and also a complete psycho. If he returns to form this year, they could be quite devastating, especially with Shaun Phillips and Stephen Cooper coming into their own.

Two seasons ago, quarterback Matt Cassel was a New England Patriot and took over that offense when Tom Brady went down with a season ending injury. While I wouldn't be surprised if it was the system, staff and the rest of the offense that made him good, I still think he deserves a chance to prove he can lead an NFL team. If the Kansas City Chiefs even had just slightly better receivers, that would offer him considerable help, but alas, they really don't. Jamaal Charles came out of nowhere to rush for 968 yards in the final eight weeks of last season, and I am totally buying into the hype; he could be a star. Let's just hope the situation doesn't turn into another Larry Johnson-esque debacle. Bringing in Thomas Jones from the New York Jets to help out with the running game was a brilliant move, as he inexplicably seems to run better as he gets older. There is nothing worth mentioning defensively about this team aside from they made a great decision in the first round of the draft, picking up safety Eric Berry.

It's hard to imagine the Oakland Raiders ever being good again. The staff seems to have no idea how to draft. Nabbing quarterback Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins should definitely improve the situation there, but it's not like he's great or anything, so only slightly. Zach Miller and Michael Bush are talented, but aside from that, this offense just sucks. Losing Greg Ellis and Kirk Morrison hurts their defense. Defensive end Richard Seymour is a great leader but isn't by any means a statistical monster. Neither is corner back Nnamdi Asomugha for that matter, but that's only because he is so good at his position that quarterbacks rarely throw towards him.

Last year I predicted the Denver Broncos to go 2-14, and they ended up opening the season with a 6-0 record before only winning two out of the final ten games. However, I'll go ahead and say that this year they really should be terrible. No more Brandon Marshall drama, but that also means no more pure talent on that offense. I think Kyle Orton is a fine quarterback, and adding Brady Quinn as backup wasn't such a bad idea, despite the fact that he has been awful so far in his career. Running back Knowshon Moreno could end up being pretty good, but I don't think anything more than that. Drafting Tim Tebow in the first round was one of the stupidest moves I could imagine. But, maybe we're all wrong about him. Outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil took his game to the next level last year by accumulating 17 quarterback sacks, and their secondary is old but pretty awesome thanks to Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.

2010 NFL Preview: AFC South

Standings
1. Indianapolis Colts (14-2)
2. Houston Texans (9-7)
3. Tennessee Titans (7-9)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Peyton Manning (QB, Indianapolis)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Mario Williams (DE, Houston)
Addition With Biggest Impact: Aaron Kampman (DE, Jacksonville)
Mr. Irrelevant: Kerry Collins (QB, Tennessee)

The safest bet one could make for this coming season is that the Indianapolis Colts will win the AFC South. Sure, the division is becoming more competitive thanks to the Houston Texans' phenomenal passing game and the resurgence of the Tennessee Titans over the past few years. However, the Colts will continue to be several notches ahead of them as long as they have Peyton Manning as their field general. Ol' premature grandpa Joseph Addai helps make their overall running game pretty much crap, but Reggie Wayne can still be considered a premier receiver, and the rest of the corps are young and improving. Somehow, this makes their offense just sick. The defense isn't half bad with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis as their defensive ends and Bob Sanders returning from injury (yet again) at free safety bodes well for them as he can completely disrupt an offense on his own (almost in the same way that Troy Polamalu can). They made it all the way to the Super Bowl last year, and nothing has really changed. And, Manning needs to win at least one more championship to go along with those incredible stats to make him the greatest quarterback of all time. What can't that happen this year?

The Houston Texans are another team with a totally boss passing game and nothing to write home about in regards to running the ball. Matt Schaub has emerged as a Pro Bowl quarterback, and Andre Johnson is without question the best wide receiver in the game right now. These facts, along with the support that receiver Kevin Walter and tight end Owen Daniels (who, before getting injured mid-way through the season, was playing better than every other tight end in the league, and there are a lot of really good ones) offer suggest that the Texans may finally squeeze their way into a Wild Card spot. Two years ago, running back Steve Slaton could have been Rookie of the Year, but last year was terrible for him. I'm not convinced anyone else they've got can be any better. The team's secondary is pretty bad, but the rest of the defense should soon become dominant. Mario Williams potentially could be the next Reggie White or Bruce Smith, and DeMeco Ryans and second year man Brian Cushing are two of the best linebackers around. There is no way this team can compete with Indianapolis just yet, though.

Last season was pretty insane for the Tennessee Titans. Opening up with an 0-6 record with Kerry Collins leading the team (when the year before he led them to 13-3, the best record in the NFL), then finally giving Vince Young another chance as he led the team to an 8-2 finish. Young is not a statistically impressive QB, but he sure knows how to win games. The only other thing that is special about their offense is running back Chris Johnson, who already has unseated Minnesota's Adrian Peterson as the best RB in the game. His rushing of 2,000+ yards may have been an over-intensive work load in today's NFL, but his numbers will continue to be gaudy, and he has quite a career ahead of him. Their defense is not what it was two years ago, but Stephen Tulloch, Cortland Finnegan and Michael Griffin have shown flashes of brilliance. There's a chance that the Titans could break out and have a great year, but I think it is more likely that they will simply be mediocre.

The only thing the Jacksonville Jaguars have going especially great for them is running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who finally got the chance to prove that he is capable of being the main guy in town. Quarterback David Garrard could have been great but has really blown it the past few seasons, and all the passing game's really got is receiver Mike Sims-Walker, who only seemed to want to play during the first half of the season. Here is another defense but used to be great but is now on the border of being atrocious. Aaron Kampman was a smart pick-up for Green Bay, as he excels in a 4-3 system, but other than that, expect offenses to score quite a bit on these guys.

2010 Twitter Review Session #7

(94) More Songs - Grown Ups (Big Scary Monsters)
Mathy pop punk with terrific emo tendencies. Don't hate me for being into the quality emo revival. (7/10)

(95) Heaven is Whenever - The Hold Steady (Vagrant)
Overrated bar-rock band gets cheesier and worse. "Hurricane J" is best song they've ever written, though. (5.5/10)

(96) Memory Map - Holiday Band (self-released)
Fantastic debut from Bloomington's newest all-star band. Angular, complex and really fun guitar pop. (8.5/10)

(97) Compass - Jamie Lidell (Warp)
Very cool, modern and at times even futuristic R & B/soul, with subtle electronic flourishes in places. (6.5/10)

(98) Congratulations - MGMT (Columbia)
Straying from the electronic pop sound that got them big, this is a neat nod to psychedelic 60s pop that sometimes fails. (6/10)

(99) Outlaster - Nina Nastasia (Fat Cat)
Gorgeous, wonderfully orchestrated folk tunes that should be awesome if only there was more to grab my attention. (6/10)

(100) Together - The New Pornographers (Matador)
After four solid and at times fantastic power pop albums, New Pornos release their first complete dud. (6/10)

(101) Deathbed Plus 4 EP - The Ponys (Matador)
Chicago-style garage punk band returns after an extended break with an EP that shines every once in a while. (6/10)

(102) Chroma Cannon - Prizzy Prizzy Please (Joyful Noise)
Bizarre, bad ass experimental punk from Bloomington dudes. Sometimes obnoxious, but really really fun. (6.5/10)

(103) Rooms - Rooms (self-released)
Poppy emo with some nice, subtle intricacies. Unfortunately, every song sounds the same. (5.5/10)

(104) Shadows - Teenage Fanclub (Merge)
Long running power pop band release first album in five years. Is solid and features three fantastic songs. (7/10)

(105) King of the Beach - Wavves (Fat Possum)
I LOATHED 2009's Wavves album. On 2010's, the tempos are sped up and the production is cleaner, making it totes great. (8/10)

(106) Expo 86 - Wolf Parade (Sub Pop)
On LP3, Krug and Boeckner's songwriting styles finally mesh, however unfortunately with disappointing results. (6.5/10)

(107) Everything Purple - 800 Beloved (Moodgadget)
Surprisingly impressive melancholy 80s-style indie pop from Detroit, w/chorus-y acoustic guitars and everything. (6.5/10)

(108) Sweet Release - The Americas (self-released)
Two-piece math rock with American Football guitars and Davey von Bohlen-esque vocals. Not as good as I'd hoped. (6.5/10)

(109) Beach Fossils - Beach Fossils (Captured Tracks)
More lo-fi, summery guitar pop with low key vocals, faster tempos and sparse yet shimmering guitars. (7.5/10)

(110) The Living Breathing Organ Summer - Child Bite (Joyful Noise/Forge Again)
While other releases of theirs have had more stand out tracks, their third arty and raw LP is their best yet. (7/10)

(111) Mirror Image 7" - Ducktails (Shdwply)
Two more trippy psychedelic instrumentals from Real Estate's M. Mondanile. Interesting textures, quite beautiful. (6.5/10)

2010 NFL Preview: AFC North

Standings
1. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
4. Cleveland Browns (2-14)

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Ray Rice (RB, Baltimore)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Troy Polamalu (SS, Pittsburgh)
Addition With Biggest Impact: Anquan Boldin (WR, Baltimore)
Mr. Irrelevant: Jake Delhomme (QB, Cleveland)

It hurts me to say that with Ben Roethlisberger sitting four to six games thanks to sexual assault charges filed against him, my Pittsburgh Steelers don't really stand a chance of winning the AFC North, let alone nabbing a playoff spot in an American Football Conference that, while even stronger, should continue to fall victim to parody. This year, and potentially for years to come, the AFC North title is for the Baltimore Ravens to lose. I wouldn't feel so strongly this way if it wasn't for the brilliant addition of maligned Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Boldin probably is a little overrated, and even if he stays healthy for an entire season (which is unlikely), won't be as good as the top tier AFC receivers when he's the team's number one guy. But, he can only help a team that was already headed in the right direction. In his rookie year, quarterback Joe Flacco lead the team to the AFC championship, then last year showed gaudier statistics. He's got to be ecstatic to have the younger, more explosive Boldin to throw to, though journeyman Derrick Mason is the definition of consistency and performing above expectations year in and year out. What a mega-bonus that Ray Rice quite possibly is the most talented running back in the NFL. Not only is he amazing in the ground game, but he sure knows how to catch a shit-ton of footballs and make plays. Last year was no fluke, and his numbers should be absolutely ridiculous this time around. Future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis and ball hawking free safety Ed Reed (who may or may not be on the verge of retiring) make the Ravens defense a little old, but you couldn't ask for better leaders on the field. That defense is still one of the best in the entire NFL, and not that the offensive pieces are really coming together, their first Super Bowl appearance since after the 2000 season when they annihilated the New York Giants shouldn't be too far off. Just not this year.

I don't think the Steelers will lose every game that Roethlisberger doesn't play, but it'll be tough. Hopefully backup Dennis Dixon can perform at least as well as he did in the one game he played last year, which was against Baltimore, so that Byron Leftwich doesn't come in and screw everything up. The infamous Pittsburgh running game was revived a bit last year thanks to the surprisingly outstanding performance of Rashard Mendenhall, but they have become a passing team now, and they really need Roethlisberger to be successful at it. The loss of Santonio Holmes hurts, but Mike Wallace could pick up where he left off, and Hines Ward almost seems to be getting better as he gets older. The Steelers always have one of the league's top defenses, but they took a step back last year. However, linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley and strong safety Troy Polamalu still make them tremendously dangerous.

There is no way the Cincinnati Bengals can repeat what they accomplished last year, which was a 10-6 record and the AFC North crown. Sure, they were embarrassed by the New York Jets in their final regular season game, and then again in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. It was still an impressive outing for a team that is usually pretty bad. I don't think they'll return to being bad again this year, but they won't be great. Quarterback Carson Palmer's arm continues to falter with each passing year, and Chad Ochocinco isn't getting any younger (IS getting more and more hilarious, though). Running back Cedric Benson came out of nowhere to have a career year. He could have rushed for 1,500 yards if a hip injury hadn't required him to miss two games. Their defense made some huge strides last year, and defensive end Antwan Odom (who led the league in sacks before suffering an Achilles tendon tear), linebackers Rey Maualuga and Dhani Jones and cornerback Leon Hall make them pretty formidable. However, I'm not convinced that they are good enough on either side of the ball to win quite like they did last year.

The Cleveland Browns are another team to add to the list of potentially worst teams in the NFL in 2010. Their quarterback situation is much better than it was last year, though the way Jake Delhomme played in the playoffs following the 2008 season and all of last year, I hope they're not expecting much. That could have been the stupidest move in the 2010 off-season. I have more faith in former Seattle Seahawks backup Seneca Wallace. Joe Thomas is one of the best offensive lineman in the league, but one awesome guy on the line isn't going to save this offense. Running back Jerome Harrison broke out at the end of last year, rushing for 550+ yards in his final three games, which is completely insane, but he is unproven. The defense could become solid as the squad learns to play together, but I'll be surprised if that actually happens. Joshua Cribbs is the best return man in the game right now. So, there actually are more positives for the Browns than I realized, but there are too many enormous questions that if they don't work out the right way, 2010 will most likely be a disaster for this team.

2010 Twitter Review Session #6

(78) Settings EP - Tanlines (True Panther)
Upbeat and really fun electronic pop with that ever so popular African influence showing its head. Good stuff. (7.5/10)

(79) Civil Like the War - Those Transatlantics (Gangplank)
The long wait is over, and despite line-up changes, here is another quality album from one of MI's best. (7/10)

(80) My Love Will Follow Me 7" - Vivian Girls (Wild World)
Sixth 7" features fantastic garage-pop song w/barber shop harmonies and a so-so Chantels cover. (6.5/10)

(81) Color Your Life EP - Twin Sister (Infinite Best)
Very cool, challenging pop music in the vein of Broadcast or even a mid-fi Stereolab in places. (7.5/10)

(82) Kairos - White Hinterland (Dead Oceans)
Casey Dienel did the epic Guaraldi-esque piano thing better than this now popular form of synth-infused pop. (6/10)

(83) At Echo Lake - Woods (Woodsist)
Another year, another lo-fi psychedelic pop album from Woods. The production here is better, but the songs are not. (6/10)

(84) Before Today - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (4AD)
Not album of the year, but very cool, soulful lo-fi pop album. "Round and Round" rules HARD. (8/10)

(85) Infinite Arms - Band of Horses (Brown/Fat Possum/Columbia)
I was surprised to find that this isn't TERRIBLE. In fact, it even has some of BoH's best songs yet. (7.5/10)

(86) Blue Sky, Raging Sun - Berry (Joyful Noise)
Quirky, complex, piano driven indie pop. The talent here is undeniable, but it's pretty easy to loose interest quickly. (6/10)

(87) Destroyer of the Void - Blitzen Trapper (Sub Pop)
2008's Furr blended Blitz Trap's fun indie pop with their southern rock leanings perfectly. Not so much here. (5.5/10)

(88) Never Mine 7" - Brilliant Colors (Slumberland)
Had high hopes for this Slumberland Recs all-girl punk band. These two songs are fine, just not great. (6/10)

(89) Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (Fiction/Last Gang/Universal Motown)
Second album of dark, huge synth pop from boy/girl duo. First half is painfully obnoxious, second half is eh. (4/10)

(90) The Black Dirt Sessions - Deertick (Partisan)
Boring, insincere, slightly haggard Americana/alt-country from a young dude who's cig-affected voice sounds fake. (3/10)

(91) Tommy - Dosh (Anticon)
Andrew Bird drummer does the melodic, experimental, mostly instrumental groove-jams thing really well. Fantastic drummer. (7/10)

(92) The Drums - The Drums (Island/Moshi Moshi)
Sparse yet driving and fun, new wave-infused summery hipster pop. "Let's Go Surfing" is song of the year thus far. (8/10)

(93) Everyone Everywhere - Everyone Everywhere (Tiny Engines)
Early 2000s-style emo done damn well, in spite of the album's lack of dynamics. Loud and poppy. (7/10)