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Fantasy Football: Chalk Mock Round 1

Friday, June 11th, 2010

It is early a little to be releasing a fantasy football mock draft but fantasy football is a year round sport now, right? In order to the be the best, you can’t take the summer off anymore. Get your pen and paper out, and take some notes. This “Chalk Mock” is Splayback’s first attempt at the 2010 fantasy football draft and just like the stock market, it is forward looking. The scoring used is a performance based scoring system.

ROUND 1

1. Chris Johnson aka “Every Coaches Dream”
RB – Tennessee Titans

Chris should be the top pick in all formats. He almost broke the single season rushing record last season. He did set the record for most all-purpose yards in the history of the NFL. He is electric, he is young and he has a lot more to give.

Quote: On his 4.24 40-yard dash time (in Lee Jenkins’ article on SI.com)…
“After you run the 40 at the combine, they don’t tell you right away what official time you got. I was sitting with the trainer and someone came up and told me I’d run a 4.24. I knew what it meant. So I just picked up my bag and left.

Fact of Interest: CJ broke 20+ yard runs 29 times last year. The next closest was 15 by Adrian Petersen and Frank Gore.

Projected Stats: 2,250 Total Yards, 50 Receptions and 15 Touchdowns

2. Adrian Peterson aka “All Day” or “AP”

RB – Minnesota Vikings

In 2009 AP scored 18 TD’s and totaled over 1,800 yards. The things is, many of us Vikings fans thought AP wasn’t on top of his game last year. If you’re a Vikings fan, take him #1 overall and enjoy his dominant Sunday’s. Don’t be surprised if he over takes Chris Johnson as fantasy football’s finest in 2010.

Quote: On being a leader…
“I am starting to realize that a lot of guys look up to me, … Older guys, and even younger guys, are asking me questions and they ask me about how to handle situations. I’m young, but that leadership role has been on me so I need to live up to it.

Fact of Interest: Adrian led the league with most rushes, 87, for no gain and he led all running-backs in fumbles with 7.

Projected Stats: 1,900 Total Yards, 40 Receptions and 16 Touchdowns

3. Maurice Jones-Drew aka “MJD” or “MoJo”
RB – Jacksonville Jaguars

He’s a complete football player with remarkable consistency. Like Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson, he does it all and he scores a lot of touchdowns. He will go #3 in just about every fantasy draft in 2010.

Quote: Regarding his free football camp…
“My aim is to promote self esteem through positive experiences like the football camp. I feel opportunities such as this can offer kids a chance to hear directly from their NFL heroes, that although they came from similar surroundings, hard work and determination helped them to succeed,” Jones-Drew said, “If my youth outreach can turn one kid around, my mission is accomplished.”

Fact of Interest: MJD has averaged 13.5 touchdowns per year the past four seasons

Projected Stats: 1,750 Total Yards, 50 Receptions and 15 Touchdowns

4. Andre Johnson aka “Andre 3000”
WR – Houston Texans

Andre is the top wide receiver off the board. He is talented, consistent, mature, hard working and a very big man. In other words, he has all the tools to dominate. He’s the closest thing to a lock for 100 catches and 1,400-1500 yards receiving. Downside? He has yet to score 10 or more TD’s in a year but I think it’s a fluke, he will score 10 this year.

Quote: On not quitting…
“We’re a team that doesn’t quit. We’ve got a bunch of guys who, no matter what our record is, we’re going to go out and play and try to win. Any time you’re on the field, you want go out and win, no matter what your record is.”

Fact of Interest: Andre is averaging nearly 7 catches per game the past four seasons.

Projected Stats: 1,500 Yards, 100 Receptions and 11 Touchdowns

5. Randy Moss aka “The Freak”
WR – New England Patriots

If Randy and Tom Brady get off to a good start in 2010, look out. The only two full seasons Randy and Tom have had together have resulted in 23 and 13 TD’s. Randy is also in a contract year which means he needs to have a great season so he can get one more big contract before he retires. Take Randy and enjoy the rollercoaster.

Quote: Randy on taking his job serious…
“They really don’t know me, and I really don’t know them. But one thing for sure that I try to leave them with is I am serious about my J-O-B. Once I retire and leave this game, that’s what I want everybody to understand.”

Fact of Interest: Randy is only four TD’s shy of being the 2nd all-time for touchdowns by a wide-receiver.

Projected Stats: 1,300 Yards, 85 Catches, 14 TD’s

6. Ray Rice aka “Ray”
RB – Baltimore Ravens

It’s not too often a running-back scores 8 times and is considered a top tier fantasy player. What Ray lacked in touchdowns in 2009 he made up for in receptions (78) and total yards (2,000+). The Ravens offense acquired WR Anquan Boldin in the off-season and QB Joe Flacco is a young rising star. Ray will remain the focal point on a rising Ravens offense.

Quote: On his 2010 spring mini-camp…
“It’s all about having fun,” Rice said. “You’ve got to have some spunk in practice. This is what it’s all about. This is where my season was made last year, in minicamps, being here in the offseason. It’s definitely been beneficial.”

Fact of Interest: Although only 5’8, Ray is listed as 210 lbs.

Projected Stats: 1,800 Total Yards, 60 Receptions and 10 Touchdowns

7. Frank Gore aka “Franky G” or “Al”
RB – San Francisco 49′ers

The 49′ers have a fast rising football team and a fast rising offense. In the 2010 NFL Draft, the 49’ers selected two offensive linemen in the first round. Christmas came early this year for Frank. The stars are aligned for the veteran back to have a great season. Select Frank early and see Frank run.

Quote: Frank’s Offensive Coordinator Comments on Gore…
“He (Frank) calls after the game, which is the only time I have to sleep. He calls and I have to talk to him. Win or lose, he calls,” said a laughing 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, who is in his first year working with Gore, but already has experienced the intense passion with which the fifth-year power rusher approaches the game.

Fact of Interest: Frank has rushed for over 1,000 yards in four straight seasons

Projected Stats: 1,700 Total Yards, 50 Receptions and 11 Touchdowns

8. Calvin Johnson aka “Megatron”
WR – Detroit Lions

You could surely wait to take Megatron in the second or third round of your draft but don’t miss out on him. Let’s rewind to 2008 when Calvin scored 12 touchdowns and caught 78 passes, impressive, but what’s more impressive is that Calvin did it with four different QB’s throwing to him throughout the year. Unfortunately, in 2009 Calvin had a rough go because rookie QB Matthew Stafford was learning how to play in the NFL, Calvin saw triple coverage often due to the poor receivers beside him, the Lions implemented a new offensive system and a knee injury hampered Calvin all season. 2010 should be a different story as the Lions have added rookie RB sensation Jahvid Best, veteran WR Nate Burleson, pass catching TE Tony Scheffler and Matthew Stafford is a year wiser. This is the best situation Calvin has been in as a pro. In conclusion, I predict Calvin matches or surpasses his 2008 numbers which makes him worthy of a first round selection.

Quote: On the new Detroit offensive weapons…
“I can get a lot more single coverage when you add guys like Nate (Burleson) and all these receivers that we have,” said Johnson.

Fact of Interest: At 6’5 and 240 lbs., Calvin ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at the combine before his rookie season.

Projected Stats: 1,350 Yards, 80 Receptions and 13 Touchdowns

9. Michael Turner aka “The Burner”
RB – Atlanta Falcons

The safe play in this spot is Michael Turner. He’s not going to catch many passes but he will rush for a ton of yards and touchdowns. Quarterback Matt Ryan is developing into one of the premiere passers in the NFL and the Falcons offense is getting better. This will bode well for Michael Turner who can turn a little daylight into sunshine.

Quote: On being in better shape than in 2009…
“I don’t know that the weight was all that much different last year,” Turner said. “But it was a different look of the weight. I’ll put it like that. This is a better look for me right now and it’s going to get better from here on out. I’m more fit now. I want to be as cut as possible. I’m eating right and staying away from the bad stuff. I’m from Chicago and we’ve got those greasy pizzas that I love. But I’ve got that stuff out and I’ve made it a habit to just eat better all the way around and I’ve worked very hard at my conditioning.”

Fact of Interest: Michael Turner was the back-up to Ladainian Tomlinson his first four seasons as a pro.

Projected Stats: 1,600 Total Yards, 10 Receptions and 15 Touchdowns

10. Ryan Matthews aka “Buff Daddy”
RB – San Diego Chargers

Chargers coach Norv Turner made it easy this off-season for us fantasy football mavens to predict his season, “I would expect Ryan to have 250 carries and 40 catches, something like that,” Turner told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Let’s do the math; 250 carries times 4.5 yards per carry + 40 catches times 7 yards a catch + 13 touchdowns = Fantasy RB Stud

Quote: Coach Norv Turner on drafting Matthews
“I was here when we drafted L.T., and I know how excited I was that day,” said Turner, who was offensive coordinator when the Chargers chose Tomlinson with the No. 5 overall pick in 2001. “I’m equally excited to get Ryan here now.”

Fact of Interest: Matthews decided to attend Fresno State despite being recruited by major college programs so he could stay close to home.

Projected Stats: 1,400 Total Yards, 40 Receptions and 13 Touchdowns

11. Roddy White aka “Rowdy”
WR – Atlanta Falcons

In his last three seasons, Roddy caught 83, 88 and 85 passes. Matt Ryan is getting better every year and so is the Falcon’s offense. I like Roddy’s chances of catching 90 plus passes next year. If he can match or come close to matching his 11 TD’s from last year, he has a reasonable chance of competing for the top WR spot in fantasy. Think of Roddy White as the new Reggie Wayne, he will consistently catch close to 90 passes and 10 scores.

Fact of Interest: Roddy turns 29 this fall making him the oldest player taken in the this first round Chalk Mock!

Projected Stats: 1,200 Yards, 90 Receptions and 11 Touchdowns

12. Aaron Rodgers aka “A-Rodge”
QB – Green Bay Packers

There is nothing Rodgers can’t do on the field and he’s only 26 years old. Rodgers finished as a top 3 fantasy QB in 2008 and he finished as the top fantasy QB last year in 2009. He has what is considered by many the best young receiving core in the NFL at his disposal. Last year he wasn’t protected very well by his offensive line so the Packers spent their first round pick on an offensive lineman. In 2010, Rodgers will be one of the best passers in the game and he will contend for most rushing yards and rushing TD’s by a quarterback making him a fantasy coach’s dream come true!

Fact of Interest: On his NFL draft day, Rodgers slipped to the 24th pick in the first round to back-up Brett Favre.

Projected Stats: 4,500 Passing Yards, 33 Pass TD’s, 10 Interceptions and 250 Rushing Yards / 4 Rush TD’s

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Slow Food vs. Fast Food

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

A few months back, I presented to a fine group of high school hockey players at Holy Angels Academy in Richfield, Minnesota. Among the topics covered was the damage caused to performance levels due to foods filled with fat, sugar, starch, sodium, preservatives and additives. My passion for the topic was obvious, and most of the athletes took a close look at their own eating habits. It was not long before they were asking me if soda, candy, chips, hot dogs, pizza, cookies, candy and specific foods at fast food locations were OK to consume. They were shocked to learn not only why these foods were not helpful, but how they actually hurt their body and the effects they had on their ability to train, perform and recover. You could say that I had their attention. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many of our youth today.

Fast food is a rip off. Yes, one can certainly find what looks to be a fantastic deal on a dollar menu. Almost any fast food restaurant today has a heavily discounted menu displayed front and center. Be it french fries, hamburgers that contain processed meat or chicken tenders sometimes made from 20 various products, it appears you’ve found a good deal. A person can also find a great deal on soda. Many parents allow children to form the bad habit of constant soda consumption because they do not realize what the beverage is made of. Some even go so far as calling it liquid cocaine for children due to its tendency to signal cravings. Whether it’s the sugar, caffeine, carbonation or any combination of those, one can easily be hooked on this just like the fat laden deep fried foods. I think you get my point.

When a human being needs to eat, the mind tells the body that it’s hungry. Whether from a vending machine, fast food joint, kitchen cafeteria, gas station, grocery store, farmers market or the lunch a mother packed…food will be and must be consumed. However, when healthy, wise food decisions are made one will feel energized, satisfied and refreshed. I would bet that this is not how most people feel after a visit to McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell or Burger King for this matter. This is because most of what is consumed at these locations is not true food at all but hybrids food and manmade additives, preservatives etc. The human body just does not know what to do with these products and ends up feeling lethargic, depressed, bloated, agitated and often even hungry again within a short period of time. It has even been proven that some foods contain additives that promote hunger. Now, I find this quite interesting and wrong. Talk about attempting to make additional profit off of what looks like a great deal.

So where is the solution to all of this? First and foremost, one must remember that they are what they eat. If one consumes junk, they will feel less than optimal. Think about the last time you had too much chocolate cake, a large cookie or a king sized candy bar. Sure, the taste was great, but the after effect was not so hot. A quick surge of energy and happiness followed by a huge crash of sleepiness and agitation that only left you looking for more filling foods shortly after. This is not what we desire. Even my athletes have figured this out, as one practice without a full tank can certainly bring about huge misery and a little added unwanted attention from the coaching staff. The answer is not as complicated as one thinks.

To put in place a healthy diet one must start with a plan. Plan out what you desire to purchase during the next trip to the grocery store or farmers market. Hit the produce aisle and load up the cart with brightly colored fruits and veggies. One will be amazed at the options and how great these taste in place of packaged and preserved types of foods. Next, hit the grains and find things like oatmeal, brown rice, millet, buckwheat and whole wheat to integrate into your next meal or snack. This is where one can attain long term energy. No candy bar will match this and that snack wrap will not even come close. Move along the to the meat aisle and find some healthy, natural cuts of meat. Avoid those that are soaked in preservatives and find healthier alternatives like chicken breast, turkey breast and lean roast beef to use for sandwiches. Don’t stop there, move to the dairy section and stock up on yogurts, cottage cheese, cheese and milk. I know some suggest that dairy products should be avoided, however I suggest they should be included, especially when it comes to things like calcium, protein, vitamin D and a host of other helpful foods. Also, be sure to pick up plenty of eggs. These are nature’s beauties that are chock full of protein that makes one feel full and assists in the regeneration of muscle cells better than most foods. Not satisfied yet? Wondering about the middle aisles of the store? This is where your bad foods are located. Chips, cookies, candy, cakes, boxed foods, etc…these are the foods you will want to avoid. Remember the discussion about short energy boosters that provide very little nutrition or value to a person’s dietary behaviors? Yep, stay out of those aisles. It’s amazing how one simply does not eat bad food when it is not in one’s home! Again, this goes back to developing a plan and sticking with it.

Once these procedures are put into place, it is important that one remembers the following, especially you athletically minded people.

1. Always eat breakfast! (Fuel the body, avoid starvation mode.)

2. Drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water per day and adjust based on climate, activity, etc.

3. Never go more than 3 and 1/2 hours without eating.

4. Choose a diet that contains variety. Use spices, herbs and other tasty natural additives to mix it up.

5. Avoid things that are unnatural to the body. Learn how to read food labels. (We are what we eat!)

6. Eat slow, avoid mindless eating and portion distortion. (Remember, it takes the brain 20 minutes or more to learn that it is full.)

7. Pack meals and snacks ahead of time. (The worst kind of meal comes from a vending machine, food booth or fast food joint.)

8. Avoid the following no matter what: Soda, candy, cookies, cakes, crackers, and any food that is deep fried, made of processed foods or contains high amounts of sodium, sugar, or fat.

9. When in a situation where food decisions are difficult or limited, be sure to do the best you can. (Buffets, ordered in meals, while traveling, meals as a guest etc.)

10. Last but not least, give yourself a grade. A=90% following the diet, B=80% following the diet, C=70% following the diet…you get the picture.

Dietary habits do matter. It truly is not difficult to be a healthy, fit person. Believe it or not, if one eats properly both in food choice and amount he or she will avoid 70% or more of today’s biggest health issues. Mix this with proper amounts of activity the percentage goes up even more. We must remember that every action has a reaction and we want more of the positive types when it comes to our bodies. Practice a proactive and preventative health plan today by making wiser decisions for you, your family and those that you care about.

Sending you my best and reminding you to do the same!

Coach T

www.trainingbytroy.com

Education, Motivation, Inspiration!

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Winter Olympics: Biathlon (Humor)

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

The winter Olympics are wrapping up and I cannot help but think how many kids have sat glued to the TV watching the drama unfold in the biathlon? Now, I do not want to bring up a sore subject but I felt let down as an American when the best we could do is 18th place in the Men’s Mass 15 km. Apparently we do not spend enough time combining two activities that go together like peanut butter and jelly, shooting and skiing.

I am not taking anything way from Evgeny Ustyugov, he skied well and shot even better. You can blame it on naïveté that I assumed Tim Burke representing the US would do a little better than one minute and nine seconds off the lead. The Biathlon got me thinking… What if I had been raised to be a world-class biathlete? It’s not the most popular sport, an exploratory “google search” of key letters “bia” had the biathlon seventh on that list, behind “Bia”nchi Holsters police gear and accessories. Now, this is not an endorsement of those particular gun holsters.

I digress. How does a “google search” of an Olympic Sport, which involves firearms, fall underneath a company that makes things to put firearms into? Maybe I am to blame, because I am overestimating the global appeal of the biathlon? Just because I was riveted by the precision riflery and the break neck skiing does not mean everyone else will be. So my natural line of thinking of being an Olympic athlete is cooler than working at Circuit City. Who cares if you are the Flying Tomato or The Weenie Evgeny (I made that up)? You can still tell people in public you were an Olympian. And isn’t that the only reason we got to social functions? To try to impress people? Maybe, just I do, I don’t know.

Now my athletic career has seen the curtain close. My dreams of shooting and skiing in Sochi in 2014 will never be more than dreams. My question is, why do parents put their kids in sports where they will never make it to the pros? My dad could have taken me to eat three times a week at Old Country Buffet and I would not be a pulling guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Way too much competition. If you are playing the odds, a smart wager would not be to raise the next Peyton Manning, but to be the next Evgeny Ustyugov. You strap a pair of skis on a kid and teach them target practice and all of a sudden they are a 16-year-old 145 pound world class athlete.

On Sunday the USA will play Canada for the gold medal in men’s hockey. So what if it is watched by half the world? The winners’ medal will be no golder than Ustyugov’s. At the end of the day, isn’t that what really matters. A medal is a medal, so why mettle in a sport with so much competition?

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