Image by Getty Images via @daylife

By Rafael Garcia

Sr. Contributing Writer

Southeast Region

Baltimore 20 Houston 13

The Texans worked hard all year to achieve some goals. They wanted to win the AFC South and at the same time make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They accomplished those two goals, won a playoff game, but could not get as far as they would have hoped to get. Mistakes and a veteran defense won in the end. 

They faced a Ravens team intent on stopping the run game and put the pressure on rookie QB TJ Yates. The running game turned in a great performance with Arian Foster getting 132 yards on 27 carries. His team won that battle but could not overcome three picks by Yates when they hurt the most. Yates would finish 17-35 for 184 yards, but when his team was driving in the second half, he threw picks to Ladarius Webb and Ed Reed to seal Houston’s fate.

The Baltimore defense did not play up to their potential for three quarters. After the Ravens took a 17-3 lead they allowed the Texans to mount a comeback. A Neil Rackers field goal and a touchdown run by Foster made it 17-13. When crunch time came it was Reed and his fellow future hall-of-famer Ray Lewis that came up big. Lewis made the play,  that would set the defensive tone for the rest of the game. He would end up with a team-high seven tackles.Once again, the Baltimore defense would come through for them.

Baltimore played an ugly game as they had nine punts and just 11 first downs. After they took the 17-3 lead they only put up three points the rest of the way. On the other side of the coin, they did not commit a turnover and never committed a penalty. Not bad for winning ugly the Ravens way.

As for the Texans, it was a season of hope that fell just a bit short. They were hoping to get playoff production from a rookie quarterback. They needed Foster to get into the end zone more often, as well as not making costly mistakes. They could not put that all together, but the future looks bright.

They have the core needed to keep this thing going. They have a backfield and a

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quarterback. They have some young players on defense too. JJ Watt is going to be a monster for years to come, just to mention one. Andre Johnson has come of age and had a good game with eight catches for 111 yards. They played well enough to compete but not to get to the big one. With a healthy team and this year to build on, look for the Texans to take control of the South for the next few years.

The Ravens will move on to play the Patriots for the AFC championship next week in Foxboro. They will have to start that game like they finished this one, or they will be too far behind to catch up. Tom Brady will take advantage of ever opportunity they will give him. They will have to keep the pressure on him and jam his receivers before they get their route. They will have to find a way to limit Brady’s chances by keeping him off the field as much as they can. An ugly game will result in a horrible loss so they better come ready.

(this is the 12th Installment of the “Pro Draft report” By Football Reporters)

(Eds. Note-due to a MS-Word Error, all the players show up as #1 in the first few rankings)

2011 NFL Draft Position Ratings- Safeties

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B y William Carroll-Special Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

1. Rahim Moore UCLA, 5’11 ¾” 201 4.62  Moore Missed no time during his 3 years at UCLA, with 14 career interceptions at it’s clear he has a nose for the ball.  He is very sudden in his change of direction and shows a real understanding of the game.  However he is no thumper and not impressive in run support.  He is at his best when playing center field, [Cover-1 or single high safety] He is also experience in Cover-2 he was a respected, accountable leader on the Bruin’s defense.  Moore is able to be so effective at least in part because he is a student of the game and instinctive however though Moore is willing enough as a defender of the run his ‘grab on and hope you trip over me’ tackling style is not the stuff that makes up instructional videos.  Moore diagnoses quickly and consistently, he is rarely fooled or out of position. Moore does struggle to disengage from blocks, he is not terribly strong in the upper-body, comparisons to Ed Reed are inaccurate and unfair, Reed was much more explosive and violent in hitting, closing on the ball, running with the ball, leaping for the ball in every possible way he was a better and more complete safety.  Moore will need to get stronger and gain experience playing in man coverage to be better than a solid starter. Career- 2010: 77 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 4 PBU, 1 INT
   2009: 48 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 7 PBU, 10 INTs
   2008 : 60 tackles, 4 PBU, 3 INTs

Rahim Moore 2011 Combine Results

Summary

There is a fairly strong probability that Moore could be over drafted due to the perception that he’s the best at his position but perhaps the only day 1 starter at FS in the whole draft.  To some extent his amazing sophomore year is being overvalued.  Moore will be a valuable addition to most teams, but anyone expecting a dominant or elite player is likely to be disappointed.  Earl Thomas was more complete, if he progresses you might have a less powerful but more ball centered version of Madieu Williams or a more instinctive and reliable version of Gus Scott.  Moore did pick the right year to declare as he’s go almost a round later most years, this year he could be in the top 5-10 picks in the 2^nd and is a near lock to go in the top 50 selections, the Cowboys, Chargers and Bengals have shown strong interest, overall grade 8.6

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from the NFL…

Quarterback MATT CASSEL of the Kansas City Chiefs, linebacker TERRELL SUGGS of the Baltimore Ravens and rookie kick returner-wide receiver JACOBY FORD of the Oakland Radiers are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for November.

Quarterback MATT RYAN of the Atlanta Falcons, defensive end JULIUS PEPPERS of the Chicago Bears and kicker DAVID AKERS of the Philadelphia Eagles are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for November.

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The 6-2 Baltimore Ravens travel down to Atlanta tonight to play the 6-2 Falcons. 

Last Game: 11/19/06: Falcons 10 at Ravens 24.  Baltimore RB Jamal Lewis rushes for 91 yards & 3 TDs as Ravens hold Falcons to 186 total yards.

Last Game at Site:  11/3/02: Falcons 20, Ravens 17.  Atlanta K Jay Feely converts game-winning 40-yard FG with 2:02 remaining as Falcons win 4th consecutive game.

TV: NFL Network (8:20 PM ET): Bob Papa, Matt Millen, Joe Theismann.

Radio: Westwood One Radio: Ian Eagle, Trent Green, Laura Okmin (Field reporter).  SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 125 (Bal.), 126 (Atl.).  XM: 124 (WW1), 102 (Bal.), 103 (Atl.).

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JETS LOOK TO REGROUP AGAINST THE PANTHERS

by TJ Rosenthal for Football Reporters Online

QB Mark Sanchez is struggling but won’t be benched. Free safety Kerry Rhodes , compared to Ed Reed before the season by Rex Ryan, WILL be benched. Ryan will now sit in on offensive meetings as a way to help Sanchez with his development. Oh, and David Clowney’s twitter account was hacked into this week as some creep threw violent taunts towards a fan who sent the Jet wideout not so kind  thoughts on the Patriot loss. Welcome to “As The Jets Turn,” the latest episode in the Gang Green’s 2009 season as the club readies for Carolina .

It seems like light years ago that this soap opera was full of hope and promise. Now at 4-6, losers of six of the last seven, the Jets look to simply regroup against another 4-6 team, the Carolina Panthers. A club like the Jets whose run game is dangerous yet  whose QB Jake Delhomme, has also come under fire for underperforming this season.

For the Jets, the formula is simple on paper. Sanchez must limit his mistakes ( he’s 3rd in the NFL in interceptions with 16)  while Thomas Jones and the Jet run game move the chains. The Jet defense must regain its early season form and create pressure on opposing team’s backfields.

The D must also find a way to start creating turnovers,  something they’ve been unable to do all season. FS Kerry Rhodes who many thought would become the next Ed Reed, the ball hawking future hall of fame Raven, (a former leader on Rex Ryan’s Baltimore defense),  has not made one big play all season. His tentative play has led to big plays given up by the Jet secondary. Eric Smith will replace Rhodes this week who was benched by Ryan in order to send a message to his team. How the Jets react to the benching will go a long way in determining Ryan’s presence as a leader of this team in the future.

Ryan has also decided to now sit in and observe the offense at team meetings. Admittedly Ryan likened the experience to “French class,” but something had to be done and sitting the future of the team Sanchez, was not on the head coach’s radar. Many Jet faithful are starting to wonder though, if its it too early to throw the season away and allow Sanchez the growing pains. What if backup QB Kellen Clemens can settle down an offense that has turned it over too often during this two month swoon? A swoon that has dropped the Jets from first place to a game out of last in the AFC East. Jet analyst and former Jet QB Ray Lucas voiced his belief on SNY that the move to Clemens might be the right one in order to save 2009.

If the Jets want to have any chance on Sunday they have to do one thing. Stop the league’s number four rusher (982 yards) Deangelo Williams. He’s a faster version of the league’s number five rusher  Maurice Jones-Drew, who torched the Jets for 123 yards weeks two weeks ago.  The Panthers defense ranks 11th overall, fourth against the pass at 185 yards per game. That doesn’t bode well for the Jet air attack which has struggled to move the ball since the arrival of the player thought to be perhaps the missing playoff piece in WR Braylon Edwards in week five. Sanchez averages 179 passing yards a game. To score, the Jet ground game has to be effective. More carries for Shonn Greene, the rookie backup with big play potential exemplified in Oakland a month back

may be on the menu.

With Buffalo up next in Toronto on Thursday, the Jets play two games in five days. A win streak would leave the Jets at 6-6 and talking playoffs again.  Anything less than a two game sweep though, and the talk around Florham Park the rest of the way will be about the development of Sanchez and 2010.

THREE KEYS TO THE PANTHERS GAME:

Stop Deangelo Williams: Forget Jake Delhomme. He’s good for a few mistakes, missed opportunities and a bunch of yardage that add up to field goal chances. It’s Deangelo Williams who must be stopped. Williams can single handedly ruin the Jets as quality RBs often do. It’s in the Gang Green’s DNA to face a tough back and get dominated. If it happens Sunday, it’s light out for 2009. For real.

Sanchez, throw to the Green Jerseys! Interception happy Mark Sanchez HAS to cut down on the INT’s. Otherwise one of two things will happen. Or both. The Jets will certainly lose. Two, the rookie will be benched for Clemens during the game as Rex Ryan tries to save a season evaporating faster than electronic appliances  on Black Friday department store shelves.

Shonn Greene, Dustin Keller, Braylon Edwards,  you guys alive? : The Jets need a spark on offense. Here are three players that can provide that. Greene needs more touches, Keller and Sanchez need to get on the same page now and Edwards has to stop dousing his hands with vaseline before he enters the huddle. Catch the ball Braylon let’s go. Enough already.

follow TJ Rosenthal on twitter @ thejetreport for daily Jet news and thoughts regarding Gang Green

The 2009 Jets season started on the second play of Monday night’s 2nd preseason game. Against one of  the NFL’s best defenses in history,  rookie bonus baby Mark Sanchez, whom Jet faithful  hope is the next coming of Joe Namath, dumped off a rushed screen pass under pressure from future hall of famer Ray Lewis.

Suddenly daydreams changed from Sanchez as the next Broadway Joe to nightmare flashes of onetime firstst rounder and disappointment Browning Nagle. The ball floated seemingly in slow motion into the hands of lineman Hloti Ngata who ran it in for a 25 yard TD.  This on a night where the future was supposed to start.  Jets rookie head coach Rex Ryan seemed poised to crown Sanchez the new king, despite a shaky start that almost led to a 2nd interception on the next possession.  A slant route that Lewis jumped at midfield was dropped, and had TD written all over it , Sanchez  then showed some resiliency. The former  USC star threw a TD on his 5th possesion to Leon Washingtonm the teams biggest threat  (yds) to cut the Ravens  lead to 14-7. A TD that by the way, happened while Lewis ad all pro Ed Reed watched from the sidelines. Nonetheless, 4th year backup Kellen Clemens, did little to sway things in his favor, throwing a dumb pick for a TD on the Jets own 15 with :30 left in the half.

So the Jets, who lost the game 24-23 after a failed two point conversion by then signal caller and 3rd string QB Eric Ainge , are three weeks from the opener and are shaping up like this: A team whose new coach knows from his Raven experience and will try to implement,  running the ball  and tough defense as the winning formula. The 1-2 punch of Thomas Jones and Leon Washington at RB with the touted 3rd rounder Shonn Greene  will find holes thanks to a seasoned offensive line that may one of the leagues best. Former 1st round pick the 6′ 7″  D Brickshaw Ferguson, former Steeler all pro 11 year vet  Alan Faneca, and all pro C Nick Mangold are versatile and athletic. Emerging pass catching  TE Dustin Keller  has star potential but a rookie QB and no true number one WR may tighten coverage around him .

The potential for a mean tough defense is apparent especially with the addition of former Raven, the collision style LB Bart Scott, but  this unit will have to get through the first 4 games while star LB Calvin Pace gets through a league suspension. Baltimore’s 2nd year phenom Joe Flacco moved the ball  well on the Jets , playing without killer run stopper NG, 360 lb Cris Jenkins, and Darrele Revis , a shutdown corner who returns next weekand  against the Giants. Revis is the star of a secondary that hopes to a play an aggressive  ball hawk style resembling Ryan’s former unit, that very Raven defense that smothered Sanchez and the Jets offense early on Monday night. Pressure will come from all places. It will need to come from 2008 bust Vernon Gholston who will step into Pace’s shoes while Pace sits. Gholston was invisible last night and better imrpove from the meek 5 tackles he made all of last season. Ryan says he’s thinking not reacting out there. That’s not a good sign for a guy taken with the 8th pick in 2008.

Rex Ryan the new coach with the loudmouth brash attitude, embodies the brutally honest manner of his dad, the former legendary creator of the Bears 1985 46 defense, and Eagles head coach from 1986-1990 Buddy Ryan.  The guy who once punched his own coach mate Keven Gilbride in the face for ruining his defense’s shutout in the final regular season game in 1992 against guess who? The Jets. The new air around Florham Park is a  far cry from the secretive martial law like approach of the ousted Eric Mangini, now in Cleveland.

The son of one of the Jets Super Bowl III assistants has been quoted as saying “I’m not here to kiss Bill Belichecks rings.” This an  attempt to erase the complacent culture that has permeated the Jets organization for too long. The last Jet teams to play with reckless abandon ( I don’t mean winning  a few playoff games for those Herm Edwards supporters out there. i mean flying around the field like a bunch of “crazed dogs”to quote the great Giant LB Lawrence Taylor) may have been the 1998 Bill Parcells led squad that fell a game short of the Super bowl thanks to another John Elway  second half comeback. Before that, perhaps the early 1980′s Sack Exchange Jets of Joe Klecko and sack dancing Mark Gastineau.  Unfortuantely for those Walt Michaels/Joe Walton era teams, abandon became lack of discipline, which resulted in sad playoff exits. Remember Gastineau’s moronic ill advised late hit on Browns QB Bernie Kosar that kept a hopeless Cleveland drive alive leading to an OT loss in the 86 playoffs?. Ugh.

For THESE Jets, it will be about  buying into Ryan’s aggression. The former Ravens coordinator brings with him the swagger. Letting the” fur fly” as Ryan likes to say will be the Sunday approach as Jet fans can expect the  blitzes and the  pressure will come from all places. The more that success happens on the field during the regular season, the greater the swagger will become.  As for now and the dog days of summer, Ryan is providing energy, and fun. He’s big . He’s loud. He’s what a football coach ought to be. He’s at times Parcellian, rolling his eyes after mistakes, shouting profanity from his lips so easily deciphered on the sidelines even for the novice lip reader. Soon however, it will be about results. Wins and losses.

September is a stone’s throw away but for the Jets, the first quarter of the 2009 season will have to be a war of attrition.   Sanchez will need more development on the fly behind center.  A wide out has to either emerge opposite the dependable Jerricho Cotchery, or else the organization has to bring someone in and get them up to speed quickly. Plaxico Burress could’ve been that guy, but a two year prison sentence for shooting himself in the leg last winter

has ended that dream for Jet fans. Maybe disgruntled Bronco star WR Brandon Marshall can fall out of Denver and into our laps somehow.  Dreams are what Jet preseasons are all about right? On the other side of the ball, Ryan’s favorite side of the ball, the  defense will have to start to develop a killer attitude while at the same time chomping at the bit for Pace’s week 5 return.

Let’s also not forget that the already fierce AFC East has gotten even better. Tom Brady is back in New England. TO in Buffalo makes the Bills a different threat. The Dolphins were division champs in 2008 and will be playing with a new confidence out of the gates. Jet fans should hope that the team can get through October  and the first eight games at 4-4 so that big games in December are possible. Too often, the faces change with Gang Green,  but the story remains the same. The Rex Ryan era is upon us. Let’s see what happens. At worst it will be entertaining.

Sanchez brings a flare, a dynamic of excitability that has been the missing intangible for this franchise since Joe Namath left. Big shoes to fill. Even bigger expectations. New York city swallows up the meek and the thin skinned. The learning curve doesn’t go over well around here. That said, Ryan has ot believe that above everything,  Sanchez gives the Jets the best chance to win. The Jets open the season at Reliant Stadium Sept 13 at Houston.