Hayward to IR

DE Reggie Hayward was placed on IR yesterday after suffering a season ending broken leg against the Colts on Sunday. Hayward, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his tenure in Jacksonville, may have played his final game for the Jaguars.

James Wyche is listed behind Hayward on the team's official depth chart, but this injury may necessitate a return to DE for Quentin Groves. To this point Groves had been listed as a LB on the depth chart. CB Kennard Cox replaced Hayward on the active roster. This despite a lack of DEs on the roster. This may signal more 3-4 alignmnents in the near future. The Jags even experimented with what I'll call a 3-1-7. If five DBs is nickel and six is a dime, what is seven? A quarter?

Replacing Cox on the practice squad is DE Robert Henderson, a former 6th round pick of the New York Giants.

Week 1 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Previous	Hi/Lo
1	Steelers	1	1/1
2	Eagles	4	2/4
3	Giants	6	3/6
4	Vikings	13	4/13
5	Patriots	2	2/5
6	Chargers	3	3/6
7	Titans	7	7/7
8	Ravens	8	8/8
9	Packers	9	9/9
10	Saints	10	10/10
11	Falcons	15	11/15
12	Cowboys	12	12/12
13	Colts	5	5/13
14	Bills	17	14/17
15	Seahawks	19	15/19
16	Bears	14	14/16
17	Jets	25	17/25
18	49ers	22	18/22
19	Cardinals	11	11/19
20	Chiefs	28	20/28
21	Redskins	23	21/23
22	Raiders	32	22/32
23	Jaguars	26	23/26
24	Broncos	24	24/24
25	Bengals	20	20/25
26	Dolphins	18	18/26
27	Texans	16	16/27
28	Browns	27	27/28
29	Bucs	30	29/30
30	Panthers	21	21/30
31	Lions	31	31/31
32	Rams	29	29/32

Thoughts on the Colts Game

Some quick thoughts on the Jaguars 14-12 loss to the Colts...

- Tough draw for the four rookie starters on Sunday. Each went head to head with Pro Bowl-caliber players. Each had their moments, but it'll be a learning process. For Cox, it won't get any easier this week against the Cardinals.

- Garrard has to realize he has two rookie tackles protecting him and be more decisive and get rid of the ball. To not even get a pass off on the final offensive play in in excusable. The same thing happened against the Colts at the end of the Thursday night game last December.

- It's clear that Garrard was paid too early. They may decide to cut that cord once the season is over. I know it's early, but he's not getting any better and there will be a lot of QB talent in the 2010 draft. If he continiues to struggle throughout the season, I wouldn't be surprised if they gave McCown a look at some point.

- The defense gave up only 14 points playing a bend but don't break style. There were two missed oppurtunities for intereceptions that they can't afford to miss. They have to learn to get off the field on 3rd down.

- The offense must capitalize on turnovers. They must capitalize on red zone oppurtunities. Failures on both fronts proved costly.

- Scrap the wildcat. The play call for the two point attempt was questionable. Spread the field and have Garrard run the draw from shotgun. More times than not, the play works.

- The Colts attacked rookie CB Derek Cox all afternoon. Why did we let their CB off the hook. The Jaguars only completed 5 passes to WRs. The Jags can not afford for Jones-Drew to lead the team in receptions.

- It'll be interesting to see who fills the void for Reggie Hayward, who is lost for the season with a broken leg. They have some undersized guys and the oft-injured James Wyche.

Week 1 Fantasy Picks

Anyone could tell you to start Tom Brady, Adrian Peterson, or Larry Fitzgerald. Therefore, I'll offer up my weekly picks of the middle of the pack players who should have a good week. Although, the wife won the fantasy league last season, so maybe she should be writing this.

QB - Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Hill, Byron Leftwich
RB - Mike Bell, Ray Rice, Felix Jones
WR - Anthony Gonzalez, Percy Harvin, Kevin Walter
TE - Brandon Pettigrew, Chris Baker, Visanthe Shiancoe
DEF - Seahawks, Bengals, Saints
K - Mason Crosby, Josh Scobee, Jay Feely

Week 1 Picks

Steelers 23 Titans 20
Colts 27 Jaguars 20
Saints 38 Lions 17
Eagles 34 Panthers 21
Vikings 28 Browns 10
Texans 24 Jets 16
Ravens 31 Chiefs 6
Bengals 17 Broncos 14
Falcons 17 Dolphins 16
Cowboys 29 Bucs 21
Giants 13 Redskins 10
Cardinals 34 49ers 28
Seahawks 24 Rams 13
Packers 26 Bears 20
Patriots 42 Bills 13
Chargers 45 Raiders 6

Prediction Time

Here's how I see the 2009 season playing out...

AFC
East - Pats (12-4), Dolphins (9-7), Jets (5-11), Bills (5-11)
North - Ravens (11-5), Steelers (10-6), Bengals (9-7), Browns (5-11)
South - Colts (11-5), Titans (9-7), Texans (8-8), Jaguars (8-8)
West - Chargers (12-4), Chiefs (6-10), Broncos (5-11), Raiders (4-12)

Playoffs
Ravens over Titans, Colts over Steelers
Chargers over Ravens, Patriots over Colts
Chargers over Patriots

NFC
East - Giants (11-5), Eagles (8-8), Cowboys (8-8), Redskins (7-9)
North - Vikings (12-4), Packers (11-5), Bears (10-6), Lions (3-13)
South - Falcons (11-5), Saints (11-5), Panthers (5-11), Bucs (4-12)
West - Cardinals (9-7), Seahawks (8-8), 49ers (6-10), Rams (3-13)

Playoffs
Giants over Saints, Packers over Cardinals
Falcons over Giants, Packers over Vikings
Falcons over Packers

Super Bowl
Chargers 27 Falcons 23
SB MVP - LaDainian Tomlinson

MVP - Tom Brady 
Offensive POY - Adrian Peterson
Defensive POY - Aaron Kampman
Coach of the Year -  Mike McCarthy
Offensive ROY - Percy Harvin
Defensive ROY - Aaron Curry
Coaches Fired - Jim Zorn, Wade Phillips, Dick Jauron, Tom Cable, John Fox, Andy Reid

Preseason Power Rankings

1 Steelers
2 Patriots
3 Chargers
4 Eagles
5 Colts
6 Giants
7 Titans
8 Ravens
9 Packers
10 Saints
11 Cardinals
12 Cowboys
13 Vikings
14 Bears
15 Falcons
16 Texans
17 Bills
18 Dolphins
19 Seahawks
20 Bengals
21 Panthers
22 49ers
23 Redskins
24 Broncos
25 Jets
26 Jaguars
27 Browns
28 Chiefs
29 Rams
30 Bucs
31 Lions
32 Raiders