eugene cho

Update:  Umm, maybe I need to keep my day job since I clearly don’t have a future as a sports prognosticator.  My four predictions for the 2nd week were all wrong.  I chose Seattle, Dallas, Indianapolis, and Jacksonville.   At this point, how can you not root for Green Bay and Patriots to face off in the Super Bowl.  Brett Favre vs. Tom Brady = dream matchup.

As for the Seattle Seahawks, could you have asked for a better dream start?  Two turnovers resulting in two touchdowns to be up 14-0 on a road game?  But it wasn’t meant to be.  I have no complaints because the better team clearly won — unlike the Superbowl game with the Pittsburgh Steelers two years ago.  I’m still bitter about that loss!

So where do the Seahawks go from here? 

QB:  Matt Hasselbeck has already the team to the Superbowl so he certainly has the tools but for whatever reason, he seemed to have “happy feet” the entire year.   A solid season but…

WR:  When healthy, I think they have the most talented group of receivers with Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson and Hackett.  They’re set but just need to get all of them healthy for the entire year.

RB:  Ugh.  I really like Shaun Alexander but it was painfully clear that he has lost a step or two.  He just couldn’t burst through any holes and simply looked slow.  Maurice Morris is a good change of pace running back but can’t see him as an everyday back.  He’s in the Kevin Faulk mold.  It’s sad to see but we’ll likely need to release Alexander; maybe he’ll retire since he’s in preps of becoming an ordained minister.  Where do we go from here?  Well, we need to look for a  pro caliber player in the NFL or look for someone in the free agency market.  If there are no options, how about trading a low draft choice for Julius Jones [Dallas] or Chester Taylor [Minnesota]?

Defense:  This was the biggest disappointment in the game vs Green Bay.  They were so good throughout the entire year but just seemed out-muscled throughout the entire year.  But overall, a solid defense capable of taking us back to the playoffs next year. I love their linebackers!

Biggest Area of Change:  Offensive Line and Running Back.  The running game was non-existent.  Not just the RB’s fault as the Offensive Line got beat on the trench leading to Hasselbeck’s happy feet.  Sure miss Hutchinson but we need to make this a big priority in the offseason.

Overall, a good year but I think everyone knew we’d be lucky to win one game in the playoffs – which we did.  2008 looks promising but need to have a plan for the running game.

Thoughts?

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Some of you might not believe me but I predicted the results of this weekend’s NFL playoff games.  I’m serious…I just wished I published them here.  Better late than never.  Here are the rest of my picks throughout the playoffs…

Week 1

• Seattle defeats Washington.  12th man advantage.
• Jacksonville defeats Pittsburgh.  Pitts looked bad against NE couple weeks ago and lost their starting RB. 
• NY Giants defeats Tampa Bay.  NY’s defense pulls through.
• San Diego defeats Tennessee.  Home field, too much weapons for SD, and Vince Young is gimpy.

Week 2:

• Seattle defeats Green Bay.  Sorry Brett.  You’ve had an incredible year and rank in my books amongst the top 3 players of all time but Hasselbeck finally redeems himself for that interception couple years ago.
• Dallas defeats NY Giants. The third time is not the charm for Giants.  Eli Manning still not there…
• Jacksonville defeats New England.  Sorry Bostonians.  Who cares if you go undefeated in the regular season when you lose in the playoffs?  Close game but Jacksonville’s running game with Fred Taylor and Drew-Jones carries the team.  Add Garrard’s time management and NE just falls short at home.  I’m calling this major upset.
• Indianapolis defeats San Diego.  Who’s the most dominant defense?  It’s Indy in my opinion.  If I could play like one defensive player in the NFL, it would be Sanders.  Indy in a blowout.

Conference Championships:

Seattle defeats Dallas Cowboys.  Yes, I’m biased but I think Dallas is overrated and Seattle is underrated.  If Deion Branch is healthy, Seattle’s defense frustrates Romo and wins even without a fumbled field goal attempt; Shaun Alexander actually plays a decent game and in a twisted turn of events, Josh Brown kicks a 53 yard field goal to win the game.  And I’m stuck with 33 people at the 5pm service again on Super Bowl Sunday!

Indianapolis defeats Jacksonville.  Too much offense and too much defense.  I really like Jacksonville’s offense and physical defense but Addai, Harrison, Wayne, Clark, and Manning win with too much firepower.

Super Bowl

Indianapolis defeats Seattle.  I wished Seattle wins so that Holmgren can retire at the top of the game [He deserves it].  But the best team in the NFL will win the Super Bowl again – Indianapolis.  People forget that if Wayne had caught that pass from Manning, they would have beaten the Patriots in the regular season game.  Everyone forgot about Indy this year because of NE but with their offense and defense, they win the Super Bowl.  Seahawks keep it close for a half, and then, Indy pours it on.  Tony Dungy gets carried off the field again and on his way to the Hall of Fame one day.

Three simple questions: Who’s your pick for NFC Champion, AFC Champion, and of course, the Super Bowl Champion?

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