Ask LJL About Sports

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Since KB, Lariat, and Coco have gone the wrestling route, I'll go the sports route. Ask me anything about the NFL, MLB, and NBA with a touch of NHL and I'll comment.

 

[Super Hans]

Who will win the respective confrences in the NFL this year?

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Who will win the respective confrences in the NFL this year?

Now that Ben is back, I think it's time for the Steelers to claim their rightful place on the throne. We have tough competition in the Ravens and Jets but I'm confident we will go to the Super Bowl. I don't trust the Colts running game and their defense can be suspect from time to time.

The NFC is a tough one. The Saints aren't what they were last year. I'm not completely sold on Atlanta, Green Bay is hurt, and the NFC West is terrible. The best team right now in the NFC are the Giants. They will go to the Super Bowl as long as Manning doesn't turn the ball over a lot which he has done this season.

 

[The Brain]

I'm no football expert so maybe you can help. All I hear on Chicago sports radio is the Bears have no offensive line. This results in Cutler getting sacked all the time. If the line is so bad at protecting Cutler why don't they run more often? It seems so obvious but the fact that they don't do it leads me to believe there is some reason I'm not aware of.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

I'm no football expert so maybe you can help. All I hear on Chicago sports radio is the Bears have no offensive line. This results in Cutler getting sacked all the time. If the line is so bad at protecting Cutler why don't they run more often? It seems so obvious but the fact that they don't do it leads me to believe there is some reason I'm not aware of.

Matt Forte is a decent running back so I am perplexed as you as to why they don't run more. Hester is great at kick and punt returns and not so much as a receiver. If Vincent Jackson is back some point in this season, I suggest the Bears go after him. The problem with Cutler is he doesn't take the easy yards that are given to him. It's ok to get a 5 or 6 yard gain. Just don't try to throw it 50 yards into double coverage.

 

[Big Sexy]

No way are the Giants the best team in the NFC. Their defense has big holes in the secondary and they are too inconsistent on offense.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

No way are the Giants the best team in the NFC. Their defense has big holes in the secondary and they are too inconsistent on offense.

To me right now, it's either them or the Eagles and I don't trust Andy Reid.

 

[Big Sexy]

The Saints are still a superior team to the Giants. They've had a couple hiccups this year but when push comes to shove they will get the job done. The Eagles have also been more impressive and the Packers, although they've struggled, are a better team.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

The Saints are still a superior team to the Giants. They've had a couple hiccups this year but when push comes to shove they will get the job done. The Eagles have also been more impressive and the Packers, although they've struggled, are a better team.

That's the beauty of the NFL. Everything will change in the next two or three weeks. I honestly believe the Rams will win the NFC West.

 

[The Brain]

Fantasy football is still new to me. Would it be wise to just pick up the defense against the Bears every week in fantasy if available? Maybe I sound like a bitter Bears fan, but with the amount of sacks against them it seems like it might be reasonable.

 

[goodlay]

There really isn't a clear cut best in the NFC right now, if I had to pick anyone I'd say New Orleans seeing that they are the defending champs and all.

AFC? I wanna say the Jets. They have loads of talent on both sides of the ball, and with Sanchez and the offense in sync, they are pretty dangerous.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Fantasy football is still new to me. Would it be wise to just pick up the defense against the Bears every week in fantasy if available? Maybe I sound like a bitter Bears fan, but with the amount of sacks against them it seems like it might be reasonable.

I would do it. Cutler is known to throw interception after interception and with the horrible offensive line, you could score big. I have Baltimore and San Diego as my two defenses. I usually start Baltimore every week.

 

[Chardee Macdennis]

Matt Forte is a decent running back so I am perplexed as you as to why they don't run more. Hester is great at kick and punt returns and not so much as a receiver. If Vincent Jackson is back some point in this season, I suggest the Bears go after him. The problem with Cutler is he doesn't take the easy yards that are given to him. It's ok to get a 5 or 6 yard gain. Just don't try to throw it 50 yards into double coverage.

Also, check into the history of their Offensive Coordinator. Not a propensity for running the ball....like at all!

 

[The Brain]

Also, check into the history of their Offensive Coordinator. Not a propensity for running the ball....like at all!

I keep hearing that too. I just think as a professional when you see something isn't working you would look to do something different.

 

[Big Sexy]

I keep hearing that too. I just think as a professional when you see something isn't working you would look to do something different.

Mike Martz isn't that type of coordinator. It's his way or the highway which is why his stints with both the Lions and the 49ers were so short. He has a great offensive mind and can be a tremendous O coordinator but he struggles to adapt sometimes to the personnel he has around him.

 

[Chardee Macdennis]

Mike Martz isn't that type of coordinator. It's his way or the highway which is why his stints with both the Lions and the 49ers were so short. He has a great offensive mind and can be a tremendous O coordinator but he struggles to adapt sometimes to the personnel he has around him.

^^That...reference "The Greatest Show on Turf" for some of his highlight reels though if you're in the mood to gain some sense of hope for your teams future. Remember though, he has failed as much as he has succeded. So, the book has yet to be written on his stint w/the Bears.

 

[Megatron]

I know you said pro sports, but I'm quite sure you follow NCAA.

If the season ended right now, standings aside, who would you put in the BCS National Championship Game?

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

I know you said pro sports, but I'm quite sure you follow NCAA.

If the season ended right now, standings aside, who would you put in the BCS National Championship Game?

I will have Oregon in first and then the second team would be either Oklahoma or Boise State. I'll try not to let my Oklahoma bias get in the way of my explanation.

In terms of who have they played so far, Boise State beat an Oregon State team who just lost a heartbreaker to Washington when they tried to go for 2. They also beat Virginia Tech who is improving each and every game.

Oklahoma beat a Texas team who just went on the road to beat Nebraska and a Florida State team who is 5-1.

It will be most interesting if Virginia Tech and Florida State play each other in the ACC Championship because that will determine Boise State's chances to play in the big one.

I didn't expect the Big 12 to be great this year but Oklahoma State and Missouri have surprised me. So right now I have Oklahoma and Oregon in the championship game. TCU may jump Boise at the end if they beat Utah and the toughest game Boise St. had left in Nevada lost to Hawaii.

 

[Megatron]

I'd put Boise State in, because, to me, they've been the best team all year. They won in a hostile environment 2000 miles away in their opener, and then beat another quality team a few weeks later pretty convincingly. Nevada losing hurt them, but if they had only 1 loss till then, it'd still benefit Boise. Auburn would be my other choice. Cameron Newton is my frontrunner for the Heisman, and these guys always seem to pull it out late against good opponents. Clemson's a good team, and they beat them. As is Arkansas, and South Carolina. If they run the table (or LSU for that matter) they'll make it in. That'd include a win over Bama and the SEC Championship (since the East is so weak this year).

Sticking with NCAA, do you think it's smarter to build around a QB like Newton/Robinson or a QB like Mallett/Luck to be successful?

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

I'd put Boise State in, because, to me, they've been the best team all year. They won in a hostile environment 2000 miles away in their opener, and then beat another quality team a few weeks later pretty convincingly. Nevada losing hurt them, but if they had only 1 loss till then, it'd still benefit Boise. Auburn would be my other choice. Cameron Newton is my frontrunner for the Heisman, and these guys always seem to pull it out late against good opponents. Clemson's a good team, and they beat them. As is Arkansas, and South Carolina. If they run the table (or LSU for that matter) they'll make it in. That'd include a win over Bama and the SEC Championship (since the East is so weak this year).

Sticking with NCAA, do you think it's smarter to build around a QB like Newton/Robinson or a QB like Mallett/Luck to be successful?

As long as you have a stable offensive line, I would build around Mallett/Luck. With a little more seasoning, I think Mallett can be similar to Peyton Manning in terms of throwing the ball. Luck will be a solid quarterback as well as most likely the number one pick in the draft.

The thing about quarterbacks like Robinson and Newton are that accuracy tends to be a problem. Michael Vick completion percentage has been average his career. I see Newton as a Vince Young type in that they may not put up the eye-popping statistics but they win football games.

 

[Megatron]

Finally, do you think the BCS would be less shit on if they did a 'plus 1' model, which would feature #1 vs. #4 (based on BCS ranking) and #2 vs. #3, with the winners playing each other in the championship game? Since it would include more teams, be sort of a mini-playoff, and would clearly give a non-AQ team a shot.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Finally, do you think the BCS would be less shit on if they did a 'plus 1' model, which would feature #1 vs. #4 (based on BCS ranking) and #2 vs. #3, with the winners playing each other in the championship game? Since it would include more teams, be sort of a
mini-playoff, and would clearly give a non-AQ team a shot.

First and foremost, there is always going to be complaining no matter what system is in place. There might still be some teams who have a case and are left out.

I think the BCS would be less shit if they did the plus 1 model. I don't see how it would lessen the regular season because you still have to fight just as hard to get in because one less may potentially knock you out. I'm in favor as long as it is by BCS ranking. It may suck if there are five undefeated teams and one gets left out.

 

[gd]

Giants aren't even gonna make the playoffs.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Giants aren't even gonna make the playoffs.

But they will. Here's who I see contending for the playoffs.

NFC East: Giants and Eagles
NFC North: Vikings and Packers
NFC South: Saints and Falcons
NFC West: All four are in contention

The Bears are overrated and the Redskins give up too many yards for my liking. 9-7 isn't going to do for the wild card so I only see one team coming out of the NFC West. I just don't see the Vikings going 7-4 or even 8-5 since the Giants and Falcons are 4-2. Minnesota has to go to Green Bay, Philadelphia, and New England and have the Giants at home.

 

[gd]

Division Winners - Packers, Redskins, Falcons, Shit NFC West Team

Wildcard - Saints, Eagles.

I'd like the Giants if Eli Manning didn't suck.