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The StatMan  

This show will cover anything and everything in the MLB, NHL, and NFL. From fantasy sports to the play on the field, we will cover hot topics of the past week and the week to come. This show will be interactive, as we will have guests and we want to open a dialogue with you, the fans.

  • Upcoming Episodes

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    Category: Sports

    Call-in Number: (347) 215-9576


    Join the StatMan on "Sports With The StatMan", every Sunday night at 10pm ET for a recap in the week of sports. We pay special attention to our "local" teams in the New York, Boston, and Philadelphia areas. Fantasy or pro, it's in the show! In November, we'll concentrate on the NFL (Weeks 8-12). Follow my picks each week, as I pick the winners in the local games, the three toughest games on the schedule, my knockout pool pick, and my Start 'Em and Sit 'Em recommendations. We will close out baseball, as the World Series finishes up. And, we can't forget about the greatest show on ice. We'll amp up over coverage of NHL hockey (Weeks 4-8) in the next month. Follow the blog on my show page (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan), my secondary blog (http://gstatman.blogspot.com), and you can follow me, the StatMan, on Twitter (http://twitter.com/gstatman). Tune in to "Sports With The StatMan" this November, where there is always something going on.
  • Featured Episode

    Date / Time:

    Category: Sports


    Join the StatMan on "Sports With The StatMan", every Sunday night at 10pm ET for a recap in the week of sports. We pay special attention to our "local" teams in the New York, Boston, and Philadelphia areas. Fantasy or pro, it's in the show! In November, we'll concentrate on the NFL (Weeks 8-12). Follow my picks each week, as I pick the winners in the local games, the three toughest games on the schedule, my knockout pool pick, and my Start 'Em and Sit 'Em recommendations. We will close out baseball, as the World Series finishes up. And, we can't forget about the greatest show on ice. We'll amp up over coverage of NHL hockey (Weeks 4-8) in the next month. Follow the blog on my show page (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan), my secondary blog (http://gstatman.blogspot.com), and you can follow me, the StatMan, on Twitter (http://twitter.com/gstatman). Tune in to "Sports With The StatMan" this November, where there is always something going on.
  • On Demand Episodes

    Original Air Date:

    Sports With The StatMan - No. 22

    Sports With The StatMan - No. 22 - MLB: Phillies-Braves, Yankees-Rangers, Yankees, Mets; NFL: 2009 preview of AFC East and NFC East

  • Date / Time:

    Show Notes for Show No. 21: Baseball, 2009 AFC North and NFC North Previews

    In case you missed it, here are the notes from last week's show (#21).  If you want to hear the rest, you can also listen to the podcast from this show.  Better yet, you can join us and listen live next Saturday night at 11pm.  For all of the latest schedules, podcasts, and blog entries, visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan.  Also, follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/gstatman.

    Topic 1: Baseball
    * Friday's 20-11 Yankee win over the Red Sox effectively stopped any designs on the Red Sox winning the AL Eastern Division.  The wild swings in last weekend's Yankee-Red Sox series is a microcosm of their season series, with the Sox winning the first eight games and the Yankees winning the next four.  The Yankees can afford to trade wins and losses with the Red Sox at this point in the season.  The Red Sox need to worry more about Texas and Tampa than they need to worry about the Yankees.  Once the season ends, if the Sox make the playoffs, the records no longer matter and it is a different ballgame.

    * The Phillies and Mets met at Citi Field this weekend and there were a lot of storylines, with super-rookie J.A. Happ winning his tenth game on Saturday and Pedro winning in his New York return on Sunday, with the game ending the unassisted triple play.  Mike Pelfrey outdueled Cole Hamels on Friday and they are very similar in age, but the similarities end there.  Hamels has done so much more in career, already securing a ring and a Playoff MVP.  Pelfrey was expected to be the #2 starter this season and Hamels is already the ace of the Phillies.

    * The three things the Mets needed last offseason were a better bullpen, a starter, and a starting left fielder.  The bullpen was much better, but if you do not have a lead, the bullpen does not matter.  Passing on Raul Ibanez for being lefthanded looks silly now because the three Mets who were healthy (up until a couple of weeks ago) have been David Wright, Gary Sheffield, and Jeff Francoeur.  Ibanez would have given a nice balance in the Met lineup now.  I do not count the re-signing of Oliver Perez as addressing the starting pitching needs of the Mets in the off-season.  That was a knee-jerk signing because Perez was the medium-to-big name pitcher left on the board.

    * The celebration of the 1969 Mets reminded me of how that legacy has shaped my rooting interests as a fan seven years before I was born.  The legacy of the Miracle Mets changed the perception of the "underdog" forever.  The culture of the Mets was a losing culture and 1969 changed that, capturing the imagination of the city and typified the generation.  Rooting for the underdog makes for great theater, but 40 years later, those Mets took it to another level.  More on this in a blog post later this week.

    * AL Wild Card: Red Sox lead Texas by 1.5 and Tampa Bay by 3.5.  Texas salvaged the last game of its series against the Tampa and avoided a sweep with good pitching by Scott Feldman.  Tampa is on the road the next week, including a series at Detroit, so the Rays have a tougher road than Texas.  Boston is at home all week.

    * NL West: The Dodgers lead Colorado by 3.5 and San Francisco by 6.5 in the NL West.  The Dodgers are teetering and they are allowing the Rockies to get close and the Giants to stick around.  The Dodgers are not pushing the panic button yet and Joe Torre will not allow them to panic.  Los Angeles will face Colorado for three.  If Colorado takes the series, Dodgers fans better start to worry and if the Rox sweep, the Dodgers will jump on the panic button.  And, former manager Jim Tracy would be loving it.

    * NL Wild Card: Meanwhile, the Rockies have a three-game lead in the NL Wild Card.  Colorado won the final two games of its series against San Francisco to gain a game over the weekend on the Giants.  Atlanta and Florida are still in play for the Wild Card while Houston and the Cubs have fallen away.

    * AL Central: Detroit is in the driver's seat right now, 2.5 up on Chicago and 4.5 ahead of Minnesota.  If Chicago and Minnesota want to make the playoffs, they have to win the division.  The White Sox are hanging on and have a very tough schedule this week, embarking on a pivotal road trip against Boston, the Yankees, and Minnesota.  The Tigers have home games over the weekend against the Tampa in a wraparound series, but travel to Anaheim for three against the Angels.  The Twins might jump closer into the race with an easier week against both Baltimore and Texas at home before what could be a Thunderdome series against the White Sox.  The team that loses week's Twins-White Sox series might be out of it.


    Topic 2: 2009 NFL Preview - NFC North and AFC North
    AFC North
    Baltimore
    * Big Question: Can John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco take the next step?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: C Matt Birk, QB Chris Carr, TE L.J. Smith, DC Greg Mattison
      * Going: LB Bart Scott, S Jim Leonhard, CB Chris McAllister, TE Daniel Wilcox, C Jason Brown, QB Kyle Boller, K Matt Stover, FB Lorenzo Neal, DC Rex Ryan
    * 2008 record/2009 projection (change): 11-5/10-6 (-1)
    * Analysis: Rex Ryan left and took some key pieces of the defense with him.  But, there is plenty left to be a solid unit.  Flacco showed ability and great poise, and the guess here is he does take that next step, with second year coach Harbaugh, to make some noise.


    Cincinnati
    * Big Question: Will stubbornness, off-the-field antics, theatrics, or just plain losing cost Marvin Lewis his job?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: WR Laveranues Coles, QB J.T. O'Sullivan, WR Chad Ochocinco
      * Going: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, DB Dexter Jackson, RB Chris Perry, OL Levi Jones, WR Chad Johnson
    * 2008 record/2009 projection (change): 4-11-1/3-13 (-1.5)
    * Analysis: Lewis has only made the playoffs once in four years.  After this season, it will be five and the distractions will be too much for either him or upper management to bear.  For a franchise that names their placekicker as their "franchise player", you are telling the world you have no one on your team worth poaching.


    Cleveland
    * Big Question: When will Brady Quinn get a shot?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: SS Mike Adams, TE Robert Royal, DB Hank Poteat, DB Abram Elam, LB David Bowens, LB Eric Barton, DE Kenyon Coleman, WR David Patten, WR Mike Furrey, C Fred Weary
      * Going: WR Joe Jurevicius, WR Syndric Steptoe, WR Donte' Stallworth (suspended for year)
    * 2008 record/2009 projection (change): 4-12/5-11 (+1)
    * Analysis: Eric Mangini left the Jets a failed coach and he goes back home to Cleveland to put his career back on track.  He brought in a lot of his guys, late of the Jets, but this team will spin its wheels until Brady Quinn is the quarterback and they get younger (and better) and running back and wide receiver.


    Pittsburgh
    * Big Question: How will the injury to Ben Roethlisberger affect the Steelers' repeat chances?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: WR Shaun McDonald
      * Going: WR Nate Washington, QB Byron Leftwich, CB Anthony Smith, LB Orpheus Roye, P Mitch Berger
    * 2008 record/2009 projection (change): 12-4/13-3 (+1)
    * Analysis: The Steelers are a stable franchise all around.  The reports are that the Roethlisberger's Achilles injury he suffered in practice is not serious.  If that is the case, they have the same pieces in place they had when they won it all last year.  There is no reason why they cannot repeat.


    Projected NFC North 2009 Standings
    1. Pittsburgh 13-3
    2. Baltimore 10-6
    3. Cleveland 5-11
    4. Cincinnati 3-13


    NFC North
    Chicago
    * Big Question: How will Cutler adapt to Chicago?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: QB Jay Cutler, T Orlando Pace, TE Michael Gaines
      * Going: WR Marty Booker, DB Mike Brown, QB Kyle Orton, QB Rex Grossman, WR Brandon Lloyd, T John Tait
    * 2008 record/2009 projection (change): 9-7/9-7 (even)
    * Analysis: If the offensive line holds up, Cutler will have time to strike downfield and Matt Forte will continue his ascendance.  If not, too much will be put on Cutler, who has a substandard receiving corps to work with.


    Detroit
    * Big Question: What exactly do the Lions have?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: QB Matthew Stafford (R), RB Maurice Morris, WR Bryant Johnson, WR Ronald Curry, WR Dane Looker, WR Billy McMullen, CB Philip Buchanon, T Ephraim Salaam, HC Jim Schwartz
      * Going: HC Rod Marinelli, WR Mike Furrey, WR Shaun McDonald, QB Dan Orlovsky, RB Rudi Johnson, TE Michael Gaines
    * 2008 record/2009 projection (change): 0-16/3-13 (+3)
    * Analysis: Expect an improvement this year, mainly because there is nowhere to go but up.  A top draft pick yielded a new quarterback.  A winless season yielded a new head coach who has experience coaching a top defense, as Schwartz did in Tennessee.  The offense is overhauled and there are rookie mistakes to be made, but they'll win a few.


    Green Bay
    * Big Question: Will the new 3-4 defense work?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: CB Anthony Smith, DT B.J. Raji (R), LB Clay Matthews (R), C Duke Preston, DC Dom Capers
      * Going: No notable players
    * 2008 record/2009 projection (change): 6-10/10-6 (+4)
    * Analysis: Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings are a year older and a year wiser.  Green Bay will use the lessons learned last year to improve this year.  It helps to have an easier schedule, too.


    Minnesota
    * Big Question: Will the Vikings regret signing Favre?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: QB Brett Favre, WR Percy Harvin (R), QB Sage Rosenfels
      * Going: C Matt Birk, QB Gus Frerotte, SS Darren Sharper
    * 2008 record/2009 projection (change): 10-6/11-5 (+1)
    * Analysis: Favre will be one of the missing pieces to help Minnesota improve on last year.  Favre has a better knowledge of the NFC and has Adrian Peterson to work with.  The play action passes will be textbook and that will help give them the edge.


    Projected NFC North 2009 Standings
    1. Minnesota 11-5
    2. Green Bay 10-6
    3. Chicago 9-7
    4. Detroit 3-13


    Join us for our next show (#22) on Saturday night, August 28th, at 11pm ET.  We will wrap up our 2009 NFL Preview with the NFC East and AFC East, which will cover all of our local teams we will concentrate on for the coming season: the Jets, Giants, Patriots, and Eagles.

  • Original Air Date:

    Sports With The StatMan - No. 21

    Sports With The StatMan - No. 21 - MLB: Yankees-Red Sox, Phillies-Mets, Division races, Wild Card races; NFL: 2009 preview of AFC North and NFC North

  • Date / Time:

    2009 NFL Previews: AFC West/NFC West

    From Show #19 on August 9th, here are the previews for the Western Divisions in both the AFC and the NFC.  For the latest episodes and schedules for the next episodes, please visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan:

    AFC West
    Denver
    * Big Question: How will the Brandon Marshall soap opera get resolved?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: QB Kyle Orton, WR Brandon Lloyd, RB Knowshon Moreno (R), S Brian Dawkins, HC Josh McDaniels
      * Going: QB Jay Cutler, RB Selvin Young, HC Mike Shanahan
    * 2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 8-8/8-8 (even)
    * Analysis: Denver will take a step back with a new coach, new quarterback, and disgruntled wide receiver.

    Kansas City
    * Big Question: Can Matt Cassel lead the offense without having a couple of years to get acquainted with a new playbook?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: QB Matt Cassel, WR Bobby Engram, DE Tyson Jackson (R), HC Todd Haley
      * Going: HC Herman Edwards
    * 2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 2-14/5-11 (+3)
    * Analysis: Cassel will help Kansas City improve and will help the franchise get one step closer to respectability.

    Oakland
    * Big Question: Is JaMarcus Russell ready to take the next step?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: QB Jeff Garcia, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
      * Going: No notable players
    * 2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 5-11/6-10 (+1)
    * Analysis: The running game will take some of the pressure off, but Russell and the Raiders will end the season with a lot of question marks.

    San Diego
    * Big Question: Does LaDainian Tomlinson still have it?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: No notable players
      * Going: No notable players
    * 2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 8-8/11-5 (+3)
    * Analysis: Darren Sproles ran for 105 yards in the Wild Card round win over Indy last January.  If Sproles effectively spells Sproles, this team will go far.  As it is, they'll win a weak division.

    Projected AFC West 2009 Standings
    1. San Diego 11-5
    2. Denver 8-8
    3. Oakland 6-10
    4. Kansas City 5-11

    NFC West
    Arizona
    * Big Question: Can they get back to the Super Bowl and how will Wells fare in the running games?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: RB Chris "Beanie" Wells, CB Ralph Brown, SS Adrian Wilson
      * Going: RB Edgerrin James
    * 2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 9-7/9-7 (even)
    * Analysis: Kurt Warner will be around for another two years and Anquan Boldin is still on the team, so the offense will be just as good.  The defense needs to improve, but they still win the division and bring their playoff experience and solid coaching into January with a head of steam.

    St. Louis
    * Big Question: Can the younger offensive line protect Marc Bulger and create room for Steven Jackson?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: HC Steve Spagnuolo, S James Butler, QB Kyle Boller, C Jason Brown, T Jason Smith (R)
      * Going: WR Torry Holt, WR Drew Bennett, T Orlando Pace, QB Trent Green, HC Scott Linehan
    * 2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 2-14/6-10 (+4)
    * Analysis: A more run-oriented offense will play to the Rams strengths in personnel, but a lot hinges on the revamped offensive line.  New coach is a good defensive schemer, so both sides of the ball will improve.

    San Francisco
    * Big Question: What will the receiving corps produce?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: WR Brandon Jones, OC Jimmy Raye
      * Going: OC Mike Martz
    * 2008 record/2009 prediction (change):  7-9/5-11 (-2)
    * Analysis: With Brandon Moore out for 8 weeks and first-round pick Michael Crabtree still unsigned, the receiving corps is in disarray.  Add to that an unlikely 7-9 record last year and a run-leaning offensive plan, and expect a step or two backward.

    Seattle
    * Big Question: What will life be after Mike Holmgren?
    * Notable Comings and Goings:
      * Coming: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, C Grey Ruegamer, DB Travis Fisher
      * Going: WR Bobby Engram, RB Maurice Morris, WR Koren Robinson
    * 2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 4-12/6-10 (+2)
    * Analysis: Jim Mora has wanted the Hawks job for a while and, now, he has it.  If Hasselbeck can stay healthy, the offense may be okay, but there are holes on both sides of the ball.

    Projected NFC South 2009 Standings
    1. Arizona 9-7
    t2. St. Louis 6-10
    t2. Seattle 6-10
    4. San Francisco 5-11

  • Date / Time:

    Show Notes No. 20: Baseball, 2009 AFC South/NFC South Previews

    In case you missed the show last Sunday, here are the show notes.  If you want to hear the rest, please download the show on our show page at:
    http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan.  Better yet, you can join us live.  Check the show page for the latest schedule.

    Show Open
  • Mets playing the spoiler role, taking two of three so far in the four-game set with the Giants at home.  The Giants are in the middle of the Wild Card race in the National League and has fallen slightly behind Colorado and Florida because of this weekend.  The spoiler role is all the Mets can do over the next six weeks.
  • Phillies have an eventful week and Brad Lidge is not doing well.  The fans are okay with Lidge because he is still living off of last year’s performance and the Phillies are still in first place.  But, based on Florida’s charge, the Phillies are still in a dog fight for the division.
  • For the Yankees, Mariano Rivera is going through his normal dip in his season before gearing up for September and the playoffs.  Derek Jeter is a gamer, leaving a game early after getting hit by a pitch in his foot.  He lobbies to start the next game and leads it off with a home run.  But, the Yankees are on a roll and have been untouchable since the All-Star Break.
  • Red Sox recovering from being swept in their four-game series with the Yankees.  Youkilis is pesky and gets under your skin if you are his opponent.  If Yook was a hockey player, he would be a fourth-line pest.  He is getting his suspension out of the way so he is back in time for the series against the Yankees next weekend. 


    Topic 1: Baseball
    Red Sox
    If the Red Sox are thinking about the division, they have no margin for error.  The Sox play the Yankees next weekend at Fenway for three games and the Sox need all of them.  There are only two series left against the Yankees and next weekend is one of them.  Youkilis will come back at Toronto before the series against the Yankees, which will kick off a 10-game homestand.  It is more realistic to think about the Wild Card.
    About charging the mound, it is not looking at baseball as a bloodsport or being thirsty for violence in baseball, it is about getting your team behind you and sparking them.  For those reasons, charging the mound can be a pretty good tactic.  It gives your team a sense of invincibility and tells the other team “if you mess with our team, we are going to mess with you”.

    Phillies
    Cliff Lee has been fantastic, drawing comparisons to CC Sabathia after his trade to Milwaukee last season.  Jamie Moyer was booted from the rotation when the Phillies activated Pedro Martinez.  Demoting Moyer to the bullpen was the path of least resistance because J.A. Happ is a part of your future and you did not sign Pedro (and Pedro did not sign with the Phillies) to be in the bullpen.  Moyer is not a good candidate for a situational left-hander and he is not going to reinvent himself to prolong his career.  He’s already 46.
    Pedro is off to a great start, as the offense gave him all kinds of support to work with.  But, his start was anything but great, allowing three runs and seven hits in a five-and-dive.  He threw 99 pitches in five innings and though he almost had a 2-to-1 strike-to-ball ratio, in a tighter game, we may not be singing his praises.  Pedro will face Arizona at home on Tuesday for his home debut and at Citi Field on Sunday for a homecoming of sorts against the Mets.
    Brad Lidge has struggled mightily this season, but the Phillies have no other options.  Ryan Madson tried when Lidge was on the DL and he was terrible.  This could be the Phillies’ Achilles heel.  The Phillies have shown they can come back with their offense, but their pitching staff might be giving up some games and they could be an issue down the stretch.

    Yankees
    The Yankees are unstoppable right now.  They finished a 5-2 week, winning 2 of 3 in Toronto and 3 of 4 in Seattle.  They are winning late with homers and clutch hits.  Against Toronto, they had two homers to go ahead in the 8th on Tuesday and Robinson Cano got the big hit on Wednesday in the ninth to give the Yankees the win – their 11th walk-off win of the season. 
    With the Yankees, as with most championship-caliber teams, it is a different hero every day.  They have built a team that is perfect for Yankee Stadium.  Most of the homers Damon hits at home would not be home runs in most other parks.
    The Yankees can not only stick the dagger into the Red Sox next weekend, but they can twist it around a little bit on their rivals.

    Mets
    David Wright getting hit in the head by a pitch and going on the DL on Sunday.  That makes 10 players currently on the DL and it is beyond ridiculous.  A couple of players are coming back in Carlos Beltran and Billy Wagner, but it is definitely too little, too late.
    When Wright was buzzed with a pitch last week, it looked for a second that Wright would charge the mound and he didn’t.  Comparing that with the Youkilis situation against Rick Porcello of the Tigers, the contrast is a big one.  But, what does that say about Wright and the Mets?  Is he a guy who does not do those things?  Is this an organizational mantra?  If this was 30 years ago, the situation would have been different.
    The temperament of this Mets team is not the same as it was in the 1980s.  The Mets of 1986 started fights sometimes and always finished them.  The Mets of the recent past have a more harmonious clubhouse, but it has been signified by pacifism.  Even when they have been successful, the thoughts that stick in my mind was the Clemens-Piazza aggression in 2000 and Carlos Beltran looking at a called third strike in end the NLCS in 2006.  The “bad boy image” of the 1980s might be in the rear view mirror of the fans and the media, but it probably still sticks in the mind of ownership.

    Around the League
    NL Wild Card race: Colorado and Florida are top two in the Wild Card standings and are playing each other this weekend.  Florida trying to hang in there in the NL East and the Wild Card.
    AL Wild Card race: Texas is 7-3 in their last 10 and started their weekend series against Boston behind the Red Sox for the Wild Card by a half-game.  The Rangers took 2 of 3 from Boston and stand a half-game up for the Wild Card.  Texas is in a fight with the Angels for the top spot in the AL West.  The Angels do not have a lead-pipe lock, but they have owned the AL West and it is amazing how they still get it done.  They have lost Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter for times this season and there was the tragic death in April of young pitcher Nick Adenhart.  Mike Scioscia is one of the most consistent managers in baseball.  But, Texas is actually pitching this year, which is something the Rangers have never, ever been known for because of the hot summers in Texas.
    In the AL Central, no one is close in the Wild Card, so the fight is for the division.  The Tigers lead the White Sox, but the Tigers had a tough time with an emotional Red Sox team during the week.  Detroit salvaged the series by winning the last game of the four-game series.

    Topic 2: 2009 AFC South and NFC South Previews
    AFC South
    Houston
    ·        Big Question: Can Matt Schaub stay healthy? 
    ·        Notable Comings and Goings: 
        o       Coming: DE Antonio Smith, OLB Brian Cushing (R) 
        o       Going: No notables 
    ·        2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 8-8/7-9 (-1) 
    ·        Analysis: If Schaub stays healthy, maybe they can finish at or above .500, but they need more depth to make the playoffs. 

    Indianapolis

    ·        Big Questions: Will the loss of Harrison be felt?  What effect will new coach Caldwell have on the Colts?
    ·        Notable Comings and Goings: 
                o       Coming: RB Donald Brown (R), HC Jim Caldwell, DC Larry Coyer 
        o       Going: RB Dominic Rhodes, WR Marvin Harrison, HC Tony Dungy 
    ·        2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 12-4/13-3 (+1) 
    ·        Analysis: Remember Tampa after Dungy left?  Indy will be just fine because Dungy left them in great position. 

    Jacksonville

    ·        Big Question: How long will Jack Del Rio last?
    ·        Notable Comings and Goings: 
        o       Coming: WR Torry Holt, OT Tra Thomas, OT Eugene Monroe (R) 
        o       Going: RB Fred Taylor, WR Matt Jones, WR Reggie Williams, DE Paul Spicer, LB Mike Peterson
    ·        2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 5-11/4-12 (-1)
    ·        Analysis: The Jags created addition by subtraction by not re-signing Jones or Williams, but not even Holt can save this team. 

    Tennessee

    ·        Big Questions: When is Vince Young going to take control of the team?  Who is the #1 RB? 
    ·        Notable Comings and Goings: 
        o       Coming: WR Nate Washington, WR Kenny Britt (R), TE Alge Crumpler, DE Jason Jones 
        o       Going: DE Albert Haynesworth, WR Brandon Moore
    ·        2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 13-3/12-4 (-1)
    ·        Analysis: The torch is not ready to be passed to Young as long as Collins keeps winning.  With another year under Johnson and White’s belt, this team will be just as good, maybe better. 

    Projected AFC South 2009 Standings

    1. Indianapolis (13-3)
    2. Tennessee (12-4)
    3. Houston (7-9)
    4. Jacksonville (4-12)
    NFC South
    Atlanta
    ·        Big Question: Can Ryan and Turner do it again? 
    ·        Notable Comings and Goings: 
        o       Coming: TE Tony Gonzalez, LB Mike Peterson 
        o       Going: No notables 
    ·        2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 11-5/9-7 (-2) 
    ·        Analysis: The team could be better than last year, but a tougher schedule will make the team look worse than it is.  They’ll still make the playoffs and if Ryan and Turner play well and learn from their mistakes, watch out in January. 

    Carolina

    ·        Big Question: Can Jake Delhomme be consistent enough? 
    ·        Notable Comings and Goings: 
        o       Coming: OT Jordan Gross 
        o       Going: No notables 
    ·        2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 12-4/9-7 (-3) 
    ·        Analysis: The running game is great, but everyone knows that and will key in on stopping it.  Delhomme is not consistent enough and there is not a lot of depth at receiver.  Carolina will fall back to the pack. 

    New Orleans

    ·        Big Question: Can the new defense step up? 
    ·        Notable Comings and Goings: 
        o       Coming: RB Mike Bell, FB Heath Evans, DE Paul Spicer, DB Malcolm Jenkins (R), DC Gregg Williams 
        o       Going: DT Hollis Thomas, CB Mike McKenzie 
    ·        2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 8-8/7-9 (-1) 
    ·        Analysis: They threw the lights out last year and still finished 8-8.  Brees can’t possibly do it again, or can he?  The defense is revamped, which will take time to take effect. 

    Tampa
    Bay
    ·        Big Question: How will the running game be sorted out? 
    ·        Notable Comings and Goings: 
        o       Coming: RB Derrick Ward, TE Kellen Winslow, QB Luke McCown, QB Byron Leftwich, QB Josh Freeman (R), LB Angelo Crowell, DC Jim Bates, HC Raheem Morris 
        o       Going: LB Derrick Brooks, RB Warrick Dunn, WR Joey Galloway, HC Jon Gruden 
    ·        2008 record/2009 prediction (change): 9-7/5-11 (-4) 
    ·        Analysis: Roster turnover, thy name is Tampa Bay.  Who is going to throw?  Who is going to catch?  The running game could be interesting, though, with Ward joining holdover Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams is returning from injury.  One thing is certain: Gruden left at the right time. 

    Projected NFC South 2009 Standings
      
    1. Atlanta* (9-7)
    2. Carolina (9-7)
    3. New Orleans (7-9)
    4. Tampa Bay (5-11)

    * - Atlanta wins division on sweeping season series from Carolina

    Join us next week (Show #21) on Sunday, August 23rd at 8pm ET for more baseball talk and we will preview the AFC North and NFC North.

     

  • Original Air Date:

    Sports With The StatMan - No. 20

    Sports With The StatMan - No. 20 - MLB: Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies-Braves, Wild Card races; NFL: 2009 NFL Previews (2nd of 4) for AFC South and NFC South

  • Original Air Date:

    Sports With The StatMan - No. 19

    Sports With The StatMan - No. 19 - MLB Talk (Red Sox-Yankees, Phillies, Mets, Around the League), NFL Preview (1st of 4 - AFC West, NFC West)

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