Weekly Top 5

Last week we brought you our top five overrated NFL players, some people may have disagreed with the choices but that’s why we love opinion threads. This week we bring you our top five underrated players, once again this is our opinion so if you don’t agree please feel free to comment.

Number 5 – Matt Schaub

Originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, Schaub would end up being traded to the Houston Texans for two second round draft picks and the teams would swap their first round picks. After two injury prone seasons at the Texans, Schaub finally managed to complete a full sixteen game season and would end up getting voted to the pro bowl.

In 2009 when he was voted to the pro bowl, Schaub passed for 4,770 yards (6^th highest total in NFL history), the following year Schaub passed for 4,370 yards! Only five quarterbacks have thrown for 4,300+ yards in two straight years and this feat puts Schaub in amongst names such as Warren Moon and Dan Fouts (both hall of famers) as well as current players Drew Brees and Peyton Manning (two future hall of famers)

It’s not just the pundits who underrate this guy, in the preseason top 100 players (voted for by the players) Schaub didn’t even make the list but Vonta Leach did...that’s right, according to the players Leach, who’s a fullback, is a better player than Schaub and more valuable to his team than Schaub.

Even with the loss of Andre Johnson to injury, Schaub still has the Texans top of their division and still he gets none of the love!

Number 4 – Eric Decker

Even though he’s a second year player, Decker deserves a lot more praise than he receives. He didn’t feature that much in the Broncos offence last year due to injury, but Decker was still effective in the special teams game, recording 7 tackles and averaging 25.2 yards per return.

This season Decker has stepped up and despite playing opposite defacto number one receiver Brandon Lloyd (until he was traded), it was Decker who leads the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns. When Lloyd was traded away these stats were over looked and everyone was saying “how can the Broncos win without any good receivers?” Decker is answering that question.

Regardless the quarterback Denver decide to start, Decker is still producing and should start to receive more credit. His 90 yard punt return for a touchdown will also help in drawing attention to his talents.

BAFA announce GB Senior and Youth Head Coaches

Coaches Callan and Anderson celebrate winning the EFAF cup with the London Blitz

From BAFA.com

BAFA have announced that London Blitz Assistant Head Coach, Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive back coach Mike Callan will be taking over as Head Coach of the GB Senior team.

Fellow Blitz coach, defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Damien Anderson was also announced as Head Coach of the GB Junior team, a promotion form his assistant coaches position with the same team.

This caps off a great year for the coaching pair as they won their third consecutive undefeated national championship as well as winning the EFAF cup during the same season.

 Nickc Wasmuth was also announced as the General Manager for team GB.

Dbl Coverage would like to extend our congratualtions to the pair and hope they bring every success to the national program.

NFL Play of the week: Broncos running wild. Tebow vs. Oakland Raiders

In an article last week we talked about Tim Tebow and the issues surrounding him and the Broncos. In their Week 9 game vs the Oakland Raiders we saw the Broncos adapt the offence to their opinion polarising QB and run a lot more of the zone read and option style offence he ran at the University of Florida.

An interesting twist the Broncos added was running the zone read from the Quads formation, leaving the backside defensive end isolated by himself. Check out a video of the play and then read on after the page break for our breakdown of the first play from Quads.

NFL Week 9 Review

NYJ @ Buffalo

A 27-11 victory for the Jets created a three way tie atop of the AFC east. A rushing touchdown for Tomlinson and John Conner combined with a receiving touchdown for Holmes proved to be the difference in this game. Turnovers from the Bills’ offence kept them out of the game until the 4^th quarter.

Seattle @ Dallas

Classic Dallas, lose one week, win the next. Winning 23-13 over the Seahawks, Dallas improved to 4-4 whilst the ‘Hawks dropped to 2-6. Good running from Murray, as well as two touchdown passes from Romo, helped Dallas easily win this game. Three interceptions from Tavaris Jackson overshadowed the good performance by Marshawn Lynch (135 rushing yards on 23 attempts, 1 touchdown).

Cleveland @ Houston

Still playing without Andre Johnson and still winning, the Texans ran out as comfortable winners over the Browns with a 30-12 victory. Foster and Ben Tate both rushed for over 100 yards and a touchdown each. With a 6-3 record the Texans look set to win the AFC South.

NFL Rookie of the Year – First half of the season contenders

Now we have reached the true halfway point of the season (week 8 featured several teams that hadn’t played 8 games due to bye weeks) it’s time to look at a few of the contenders for the offensive and defensive rookie of the year contenders.

Offence

There aren’t too many candidates for offensive rookie of the year this season as the field has been thinned by injuries to potential contenders (the missing men being messirs Ingram, Jones and Leshoure). There are also a few candidates whos seasons have only just started and look to be having an impact already.

However the three that make up the main pack chasing the title are all in the midst of some of the strongest rookie seasons seen.