Ahhh… NFL football!

Yes, NFL football is finally here!  OK, not really.  It is just the preseason.  Which basically means four weeks of scrimmages for teams to evaluate what players learned in training camp and how they apply it in a game setting to narrow down their roster and select starters.  You will not see the starters making the big hits that you will see during the regular season in fear of injuries before the season starts.  However, after six long months of not watching one down of football, just seeing the teams in full uniforms on the field creates some excitement for football fans.

Winning in the preseason does not necessarily indicate what a team will do in a real game.  Just look at the Detroit Lions who went undefeated during the 2008 preseason, but ended the regular season 0 – 16.  Nevertheless, it does provide a glimpse of what your team is capable of doing, where the weaknesses are, and most importantly gives you an opportunity to see players in action before drafting players for your fantasy football team.

After the first full weekend of preseason games, I was most impressed with the depth at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Pittsburgh is going to be without Big Roethlisberger for the first part of the regular season.  Since he was slapped with his suspension, everyone has wondered who would take the snaps at the beginning of the season.  While it appears as if Byron Leftwich would get the starting job, he struggled over the weekend against Detroit.  But, no worries for Steeler Nation because Dennis Dixon stepped in and completed 6 of 7 passes and led the offense to three touchdowns after starting deep in their own territory.  They were playing the Lions and it is the preseason, so Steelers fans do not need to book flights Dallas (host for Super Bowl 2011), but they should feel comfortable with whoever Head Coach Mike Tomlin has fill in for Big Ben for a few weeks. 

Tonight the New York teams (Giants and Jets) will faceoff in the New Meadowlands Stadium at 8 p.m.  I selected the New York Jets to win it all this year.  Watching them return their starters and add veterans like LaDainian Tomlinson (running back) and Antonio Cromartie (cornerback) to their roster, I believe that they will get past the Indianapolis Colts this year, represent the AFC in the Super Bowl and take home the Lombardi Trophy.   Now the preseason has started and their star cornerback, Darrelle Revis, does not have a contract and has not been to training camp.  Jets fans should not worry, but tonight will show how strong the defense is without Revis.  Watch the game on ESPN.

OK, it’s time to get ready for the Heels & Helmets Fantasy Football League Draft on September 6 online at noon!  Go back and review the responsibilities of the positions on offense, defense, and special teams and catch a couple of preseason games to examine the players.  This will be your team!  You’re the boss.  Who will you pick?

Ciao! 

Heels & Helmets

Big Ben Is Suspended, But The Drama Is Just Starting

NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell announced last month that Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger would be suspended for 4 – 6 games at the beginning of the 2010 season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.  While Ben received his punishment, the drama and uncertainty continues for the Steelers organization and its fans.

Who will replace Big Ben as the starting quarterback?

Last weekend, the Steelers conducted their first mini-camp and Coach Tomlin was clear that a decision on who will be the starting quarterback has not been made and it will not be decided until training camp.  Let’s look at the options:

1. Byron Leftwich – A strong quarterback returning to Pittsburgh for the second time.  (He played behind Roethlisberger during the 2008 season.)  Drafted number 7 in the first round of the 2005 draft by Jacksonville, he entered the league with a lot of promise.  He throws well and has been pretty accurate, but multiple ankle injuries have limited his career.

2. Dennis Dixon – Pittsburgh drafted him in the 6^th round of the 2008 draft.    In his first season he was deactivated and last season he was behind Ben and Charlie Batch.  He did start at the end of last season because they were both injured.  Dixon is really fast and some people thought that he would move to the receiver position in the NFL.

3. Charlie Batch - A tried and true veteran.  He had a great start to his career in Detroit, but has suffered several injuries that have limited his action.  He has been the back up quarterback in Pittsburgh since 2002.  Entering his 13^th season, he is familiar with the game, the team and Tomlin.  He is also a favorite in Steeler Nation because he grew up close by in Homestead, Pennsylvania.

See the drama is just starting.  Over the next few months, you will hear all about these guys competing for “Big Ben’s job.”  And once Tomlin announces his starter in July, the drama will not end.  The discussion will then turn to how the new starter compares to Ben and what the Steelers will do when he returns.

At this point there are just too many unknowns to make a prediction.  Did the Steelers bring back Leftwich to back up Ben?  In anticipation of the suspension, was that move to have another experienced QB on the roster?  I’ll have to follow this drama and analyze every word (and non-word) from Tomlin to guess what he is going to do this summer.

What do you think?

Ciao!

Heels &  Helmets