Each Friday during the football season, we'll give you the lowdown on what to watch over the weekend.
We kicked it off last Friday for the first week of the college season, and as the NFL kicks into gear this weekend, here's our Week 2 preview:
By Nick Seuberling
Seubs@pigskinpodcast.com
We're in the predictions business, and here are my best guesses for the season ahead:
1. The Browns will not make the playoffs in 2008.
The Browns are the chic team to make the postseason, but, unfortunately for Brownies backers, I just don't see that happening.
By Andy Barch
ABarch@pigskinpodcast.com
I love defense. I've been a big fan of defense ever since I began watching football.
When I played -- and yes, I sucked -- I hated playing offense, and I always enjoyed being a defensive end. There was nothing better than breaking through the line and smashing the quarterback, which I did just a few times when I played in high school and junior high. I'm not the fastest or the biggest, and I certainly lack coordination.
(As a matter of fact, my buddy Nick Seuberling says I look like Mary Katherine Gallagher of Saturady Night Live "Superstar" fame when I drive in for a lay-up in basketball. No, there is no YouTube footage of this, so stop searching!)
By Brian George
BGeorge@pigskinpodcast.com
Over the past few weeks, I've started a rundown of the three greatest players from each team in each of the six BCS conferences, based primarily on the players' accomplishments in college.
(Quick archive: Big Ten Part 1; Big Ten Part II; ACC part I)
Feel free to agree or disagree by sending us an e-mail. We may even use your e-mail and response on an upcoming show! We'll continue this week with Part 2 of the ACC.
Any site that claims it's an authority on football must compile rankings, right?
We did it with college -- preseason and post-Week 1 -- and here, on the eve of the NFL season opener, we unveil our NFL Terrific 10 and Fearful 5, which we'll release each Wednesday morning during the NFL season:
By Joel Hammond
JHammond@pigskinpodcast.com
I've been high on the New Orleans Saints' offseason moves to shore up their defense, and it seems I'm not the only one.
On NFL.com last week, Vic Carucci analyzes the trend of more teams bulking up their defenses, a trend spurred on by the Giants' dominating defensive performance against the New England Patriots in February. As Carucci writes, the Giants were "the ninth team to win a Super Bowl in the last 12 years with a top-10 defense."
Carucci identifies seven teams, including the Saints, who were especially active on that side of the ball this offseason; allow me to take a closer look and grade them.
The Pigskin Podcast, thanks to your votes, has overwhelmingly won the inaugural PressRow.net Access Award.
The final vote tally:
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Sports Biz: 2% (8 votes)
See story here, and thanks for your support!
By Erik Bell
EBell@pigskinpodcast.com
Before I get to the Browns, who open their season this Sunday against Dallas, a couple of thoughts from the first weekend of college football.
First of all, how nice was it to get up on Saturday, turn on College Gameday, and settle in for a full day of football?
It was a topsy-turvy first weekend, leading me to believe the craziness of last year might be the norm, rather than the exception.
Bowling Green had a big win, over Pitt at Heinz Field, and Clemson was run off the field in Atlanta.
East Carolina beat Virginia Tech in Charlotte, while Missouri outslugged Illinois in St. Louis. Michigan's early-season nightmares continued, with a home loss to Utah.
How'd all these games affect our top 25, which is actually 26 this week because of a tie for 25th? Read on.
Folks, a quick programming note:
Starting next week, there will be a new schedule 'round these parts, with the NFL and college seasons kicking into gear.
We wanted to change things up to better accommodate the football schedules; we couldn't very well have a complete recap show on Monday morning while the NFL games were just finished.
