2006 NFL Mock Draft Top Five Value Picks

Here's a 2006 NFL mock draft of the top five value picks, so throw out all of the other methods for measuring college players and their potential value in the NFL.

Most 2006 NFL mock drafts look at team needs and potential trades. None of that here. In an NFL draft that is this top-end heavy, it's all about value. Forget need in the top five and take the best player.

Some people say the Houston Texans would trade the first pick to select a quarterback or to stockpile picks to improve one of the most dreadful offenses the NFL has seen in many years.

Forget it. With Reggie Bush entering the NFL, 2006 mock NFL draft, along with the actual NFL draft, should have Bush as the first player being taken. Bush is destined for stardom. He's a young, fast version of Marshall Faulk, arguably the best football player ever to lace up the cleats.

At number two in this Baes version of the 2006 NFL mock draft, it's AJ Hawk. Most experts have Hawk anywhere from four to seven in their NFL mock drafts, but a player of Hawk's skills and fierce competitiveness doesn't come along often. Hawk impacts games, and not many players do this.

D'Brickashaw Ferguson is third in the 2006 NFL mock draft. This monster lineman will make most QBs and RBs better.

Fourth on the Baes 2006 NFL mock draft list is quarterback Matt Leinart. He fits all of the NFL draft expert's package for greatness, with the size, intellect and background. Someone gets a 10-year winner in this draft pick.

Rounding out the 2006 NFL mock draft at number five is Mario Williams. The NC State defensive end has protypical size and speed and finished his collegiate career with 14.5 sacks. He'll terrorize QBs for many years, and no one should pass on him at this spot.

Check out Mark's controversial sports commentary now at Top Online Sports Talk.

2005 NFC South Football Preview

OVERVIEW: NFC South

In the NFC South look for Tampa Bay and Carolina to catch and over take the Falcons in 2005, the fall from grace will fall on the shoulders of QB Michael Vick who has been to a large extent a product of media hype, sure the guy runs like a deer but so do most wide receivers and that is exactly what Vick is, a wide receiver playing out of position.

Remember the media hype surrounding Pittsburgh QB Kordell Stewart when he was in his �Slash� role with the Steelers? Then you also remember that he ended up saddling his team with disappointing loss after loss once other teams in his division and conference figured out how contain him in the pocket and make him play catch with his receivers.

Somehow someway the Falcons finished with a record of 11-5 straight up and 7-9 ATS during the regular season last year, a closer look see reveals that Atlanta won six games by a grand total of 16 points, in other words more than half of the Falcons 11 regular season wins were by an average point difference of only 2.6 points per game which includes defeating the Niners, Cardinals, and Giants by a total point difference of only 9 points and to think that these three teams finished 2004 with a combined straight up record of 14-34.

Michael Vick had the worst statistics of any playoff QB last season as evidenced by his 14 to 12 TD to INT ratio, a QB rating of only 78.1, and throwing for a mere 2313 total passing yards, to put things into perspective consider that Peyton Manning finished 2004 with a TD to INT ratio of 49 to 10 with 4557 total passing yards and a QB rating of 121.1, Viking QB Duante Culpepper finished the year with a TD to INT ratio of 39 to 11 with 4717 total passing yards and a QB rating of 110.9.

I won�t bore you with the statistics of the remaining 2004 Playoff QB�s but trust me when I say each of the remaining playoff QB�s had numbers better than Vick, but to put things another way, consider that Titan backup QB Billy Volek came off the bench in relief of sidelined QB Steve McNair last year and ended up with a TD to INT ratio of 18 to 10 with 2486 total passing yards and a QB rating of 87�enough said.

In reality Atlanta had a good season due to the fact that Tampa Bay and Carolina had injury filled bad seasons, look for that to change in 2005 when considering that the Panthers had a total of 14 players sidelined with injury during the first half of 2004 which was the root cause for their shoddy 1-7 straight up and 3-5 ATS start, however, the Panthers started to get healthy during the second half of 2004 and rebounded to post a 6-2 straight up and 6-1-1 ATS record with both losses coming by way of a field goal.

To showcase Michael Vick the NFL schedule maker saw fit to have Atlanta appear three times on Monday Night Football in 2005 including the season opening Monday Nighter which will be a playoff rematch against Philadelphia, in an attempt to make things easy on Vick in prime time each MNF appearance will take place on the Falcons home field.

With that being said, Atlanta�s three opponents on MNF will be the Eagles, the Jets, and the Saints and each team will have a passing attack that can fully expose the Falcons weak defensive secondary, for the sake of �Value� we will be wagering against Vick and company in each of these three Monday Night appearances and recommend that you do the same.

In our 2005 preview of the AFC West we made mention of the fact that the Oakland Raiders have gone 9-23 straight up and 9-22-1 ATS since their Super Bowl appearance following the 2002 season, remember who the Raiders opponent was in that Super bowl?

Of course you do, it was none other than the Tampa Bay Bucs. Like the Raiders these Bucs have also fallen on hard times over the past two seasons as evidenced by their 12-20 straight up and 12-19-1 ATS record since that January 26, 2003 Super Bowl appearance, historically speaking Tampa Bay�s two year record of 12-20 is the worst of any NFL team in history following a Super Bowl victory.

Tampa Bays woes have been offensive in nature when considering that the Buc defense held opponents to less than 300 yards per game on average for the fourth straight year in 2004, however, for the third time in this same four year span Tampa�s offense failed to average at least 100 rushing yards per contest and over the past four years have finished 30th, 27th, 23rd, and 29th in the league in rushing.

Look for Tampa Bay�s rushing numbers to improve dramatically in 2005 due to the drafting of RB Caell �Cadillac� Williams, OT Chris Colmer, and OG Dan Buenning along with the free agent addition of former Jet TE Anthony Becht who was very instrumental in clearing the way for Jet RB Curtis Martin to rumble to four straight 1000 yard seasons including Martin�s career high 1697 yards in 2004.

New Orleans is an enigma in a lot of ways as they are now paying the price for being a middle of the road team over the last four years with regard to posting straight up marks of 8-8, 8-8. 9-7, and 7-9 since 2001 which has led to another very average draft for a very average team.

However, the odd thing about the Saints is that they have an HC with a defensive background in Jim Haslett, yet finished 32nd in the league last year in total defense, on the flip side of things the Saints are immensely talented on offense and managed to post a 4-0 straight up and ATS mark in their final four games of 2004 after posting a shoddy combined record of 5-11 straight up and 6-10 ATS over their final four games from 2000 to 2003, see what I mean? These Saints are a paradox.

In closing, I fully expect the public to over rate the Falcons in 2005 and as recommended above I would look to play against Michael Vick and company in each of their three MNF appearances and especially since the ole history book shows that Atlanta has posted a mark of 1-13 ATS in their previous 14 Monday Night games.

New Orleans opens up their regular season with a visit to Carolina and the Saints might just catch the Panthers looking ahead to week two when New England comes to Charlotte, NC for a rematch of the 2003 Super Bowl, its always nice to know that according to past history the doggie in Saint/Panther contests has a record of 6-1-1 ATS in the past eight meetings.

With regard to the Panthers and Buccaneers, barring injury I would recommend a wager on them each and every time they are installed as a doggie getting at least a field goal, the only exception to this is when Tampa travels to New England on December 17th as the Bucs will be playing their third straight road game and will be in a divisional sandwich having just played at Carolina and a home date with Atlanta on deck.

Jim Campbell is one of the nations most respected Sports Handicappers, he specializes in College and Pro Football, you can visit Jim at his website located at footballforecastor.com for all of your handicapping needs including free play selections, College and NFL stats, trends and award winning analysis on upcoming games.

With over 30 plus years experience in the handicapping profession Jim has built a solid reputation, his web based handicapping service at footballforecastor.com as been in existence since 1997 and year after year proves to be one of the very best handicapping services in America.

National Football League Rules New Rules for the National Football League in 2005

The National Football League emphasizes new rules every year in order for the league to get better and better each year. The new rules for this year emphasize the safety of the players more than any other priority. While there are some minor rule changes that will not be noticed, there are also some changes that could become very prevalent in some close match-ups this season.

The National Football league is attempting to protect its players by cutting down on unnecessary roughness on the sidelines and on the field. If a player is hit out of bounds or punched or kicked or anything of that nature, expect the flags to come out more often this season. Players can also no longer tackle by grabbing the collars of the opposing team and pulling down, or knock a kicker down if he is not in a defensive position (or initiate helmet-to-helmet contact with a kicker). Players also cannot commit a personal foul after the halftime expires, if they do, they are penalized 15 yards, and the opposing team may extend the period for one untimed down.

The National Football League will also be penalizing coaches and players for not knowing how many challenges or timeouts they have. If a team attempts to call a timeout or a challenge when they do not have any left they will be penalized 15 yards. This could certainly come into play this year, especially in a close game if a team attempts to call a timeout, and is penalized and than moved out of field goal range. The new official rules from the National Football League for 2005 are listed-below.

1. �Players are prohibited from grabbing the inside collar of the back or side of the shoulder pads and immediately pulling down the runner. This rule does not apply to a quarterback in the pocket or a runner in the tackle box. Previously, there was no regulation about the "horse-collar" tackle. Penalty: loss of 15 yards.�

2. �An offensive player who is aligned in the tackle box at the snap and moves to a position outside the box cannot initiate contact on the side and below the waist of an opponent if the player is moving back toward the direction of his own end line. If the near shoulder of the blocker contacts the front of his opponent's body, the "peel back" block is legal. Previously, a player aligned in the tackle box could hit an opponent on the side and below the waist from any direction. Penalty: loss of 15 yards.�

3. �There shall be no unnecessary roughness, including unnecessarily running, diving into, cutting, or throwing the body against or on a player who is out of the play before or after the ball is dead. Previously, the policy on unnecessary roughness was less specific.�

4. �A kicker/punter standing still or fading backwards after the ball has been kicked is out of the play and must not be unnecessarily contacted by the receiving team until he assumes a distinctly defensive position. An opponent may not unnecessarily initiate helmet-to-helmet contact to the kicker/punter at anytime during the kick or during the retu. Previously, there was no regulation about contact with a kicker/punter after he kicked the ball, nor was there any regulation about helmet-to-helmet contact with the kicker.�

5. �If, during a scrimmage kick, a player is called for illegal touching inside the receiver's 5-yard line, the receiving team may elect to take a touchback. Previously, the receiving team could choose to take the ball at the spot of the foul or elect for the kicking team to lose five yards and re-kick.�

6. �If, at the end of a half, the defense commits a dead-ball personal foul, the offense may choose to extend the period for one untimed down and move 15 yards forward. Previously, a dead ball foul was unenforceable after time had expired.�

7. �The "pocket area" is now defined as spanning the normal tackle position on each side of the center and extends backwards to the offense's own end line. Previously, there were two defined pocket areas. The first spanned from tackle to tackle and was considered only for intentional grounding. The second spanned from tight end to tight end and was considered for illegal contact.�

8. �If, for any reason, the play clock is stopped with fewer than 10 seconds remaining, it is re-set to 10 seconds. Previously, if the play clock stopped prior to the snap, it was automatically re-set to 25 seconds.�

9. �For the following fouls called during a kick play, the offended team will have the option of accepting the penalty at the previous spot and replaying the down or adding the penalty yardage (five yards) onto the end of the play: ineligible player down field; member of the punting team voluntarily out of bounds; illegal formation; illegal motion; player not reporting change in eligibility; offensive offside; illegal shift. Previously, the offended team could decline the penalty or accept a re-kick and a loss of five yards.�

10 �An attempt to call an excess or illegal time-out to "freeze" a kicker prior to a field goal attempt or a PAT will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct. Previously, officials were instructed to ignore the attempt and assess no penalty. Penalty: loss of 15 yards.�

11. �A team that is out of timeouts or has used all of its available challenges may not attempt to initiate an additional challenge. Penalty: loss of 15 yards. Previously, there was no penalty for attempting to initiate an excess challenge.�

12 � A player or an official is out of bounds when he touches anything other than a player, an official or a pylon on or outside a boundary line. Previously, officials outside a boundary were considered out of bounds. This change pertains mostly to cases where players running along the sideline contact officials standing on the boundary line.�

(all rules in parenthesis are stated by the National Football League and are property of the National Football League)

Benjamin Nicholson
Scout and Sports Analyst
http://www.grinnation.com
benjamnicholson@aol.com
http://www.grinnation.com/NFLrules.htm

Ben Nicholson has been covering the National Football League for 10 years. He is currently a scout for a major sports team, and most recently has been covering the history of the National Football League.

Benefits of Online Football Betting

Many of the typical problems of football betting are done away with when you bet online. Such as busy phone lines, problems collecting money or late collection, or having to travel somewhere to place your bet or collect your money. In addition to these benefits, you also get to enjoy a signup bonus when you sign with a sportsbook website. Some football betting sites will even offer added benefits such as happy hour specials, reduced vig on occasion, and even at time free bets through customer appreciation celebrations or reward programs for the players.

Online football betting can be done through your computer or phone if you don�t want to use the computer. Betting sites will also typically offers a variety of ways to pay or collect your money such as through the computer, electronic transfer, direct deposit, credit cards, wire transfer or one of the many other online payment forms.

With online betting, you never have to worry about busy phone lines. Your largest problem is how slow or fast your computer connection is. However, no matter what your connection speed through online sites you are usually guaranteed to be able to bet on a football game without getting shutout.

You can often find betting lines that are fairer than your local bookie. Local bookies know who their competition is and if they know you don�t have other options they will often give you bad betting lines. However, online football betting allows you to receive similar betting lines no matter which website you go to. You also don�t have to worry about one-sided square point spreads with online football betting.

Therefore, you can find many added benefits by doing your football betting online. Make sure it is a licensed and regulated website and you will make a sound investment by using an online betting site.

Check out the Online Football Betting Systems at http://www.nflsystems.com

About Spain Television And The Distribution of The World Cup

The society in Spain is not only divided by autonomous communities; the country is also split into private and public areas. The most commonly known area where this private and public issue pops up is in the educational area; private and public schools. Other areas are: transport (toll ways) and television.

Sogecable is a company that is listed on the Ibex35, the Madrid stock exchange. And this company is the owner of Digital +, the private television channel. �Cuatro� is a additional channel that they also own and this channel recently got introduced as a private channel. Before that time it was one of the channel in the private Digital+ package.

Now we have got football, the world cup. And,

... Furthermore, on March 28th 2006, Sogecable reached an agreement for the exclusive distribution in DIGITAL+ of half of the matches of the forthcoming Football World Cup to be held in Germany since June 9th 2006. Source: (http://www.sogecable.com/Media/pdfs/2006/results_1quarter2006.pdf)

The other channel that was able to pay this licence was �LaSexta,� but this company obviously received only a part of the deal; the are able to broadcast all games, but many of them in a deferred way. Cuatro (recently mentioned as part of Digital+) is able to broadcast the games of �general interest;� this is when Spain is on.

Argentina, for example, as many of you know a country with a more than reasonable football league, is placed on the deferred space ... The question is who will watch -� this is the twenty-first century �- a game of which the outcome is already known?

Thus: ... As a result of this agreement and the inclusion in the DIGITAL+ proposal of �laSexta�, holder of the remaining World Cup rights including those classified as being of general interest in accordance with Spanish legislation, DIGITAL+ subscribers will be the only viewers in Spain able to enjoy the whole of the Football World Cup live.

And competitive as they are, Lasexta tries to take some revenge; observe their advertisements where they hit on Cuatro with � why would you watch only FOUR (Cuatro in Spanish) games is you can watch them all. What they do not tell you is that this all is half truth, namely � all, but not live.

What keeps my puzzled is why Spanish citizens do not seem to care about this. According to a web survey with a limited depth of only 360 response, less than 10% of the viewers watch the games through Canal+ (Digital+), 42% through Lasexta and 34% through Cuatro. (http://todosobremitele.blogcindario.com). This probably means that in Spain they are not really bothered with the World Cup unless Spain itself is on stage. General interest is Spain.

� 2006 Hans Bool

Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White a traditional management consulting company that offers online management advice. Astor Online solves issues in hours what normally would take days. You can apply for a free demo account Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hans_Bool

A Great Time to be a Zip Akron Fans Could Not Ask For Much More

The Akron Athletics Department and Akron fans must think they have died and gone to heaven. A little over a month ago the Zips faced a winless Army football team in Akron. A crowd of 12,203 watched the Zips fall flat on their faces in a 20-0 loss. At 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the MAC the Zips didn't look like a respectable team let alone a MAC Champion. But as Nick Gerogosian described earlier this year in his article entitled The Wacky MAC, the crazy MAC football season gave the Akron football team hope, and the Zips made the most of it.

The Zips were picked to go 4-7 and finish tied with Ohio for 3rd in the MAC East. Similarly, our friends at MACReportOnline.com picked the Zips to finish 4th in the MAC East. Losing their poster-child QB Charlie Frye to the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Draft meant the Zips would struggle in 2005, right?

Apparently J.D.Brookhart, Akron's Head Coach and the mastermind behind the Zips success, had other ideas. Junior Luke Getsy was named the starting QB of the Zips after transferring from Pitt. Brookhart liked Getsy's experience running the West Coast Offense and, looking back, made one heck of a great decision. Getsy was fortunate enough to have All-MAC running back Brett Biggs retuing and speedy senior WR Domenik Hixon to make his job a bit easier. The trio led the Zips all season to their improbable MAC Championship.

Faiess in college sports does not seem to exist; money dominates. Just ask the Akron Athletic Department after the 2004-2005 academic year ended. Despite having the heavily-hyped, All-MAC Quarterback Charlie Frye lead them to a 6-5 record, the Zips were the only, yes, I said the only, bowl-eligible school in Division I-A in 2004 not to receive a bowl bid. Then their basketball team finished the season 19-10 record and did not even receive a NIT bid. The Zips were possibly the most unlucky, successful school in Division I-A.

However, everything changed in the past few weeks for the Zips. Wins over Bowling Green, Ohio and some help from BG and Miami meant the Zips needed to beat rival Kent State on Thanksgiving Day to advance to the MAC Championship game against the Northe Illinois Huskies. A 35-3 thumping of Kent advanced Akron to a rematch with NIU who the Zips upset earlier in the year 48-42 in a crazy OT game.

Because the MAC has just two bowl tie-ins and because Toledo had already accepted an invite to the GMAC Bowl, the MAC Championship became the only chance for NIU or Akron to go bowling this season. Detroit, Michigan, was the site of the 2005 MAC Championship game; the same place that the winner would play in the 2005 Motor City Bowl. The loser, unfortunately, would watch most of the bowl season on ESPN.

ESPN did a first class job with their coverage of the title game and witnessed a fantastic football game between two solid football teams. The crowd may have been small, but the quality of the individual players and the exciting finish coupled with the excellence in ESPN's coverage certainly made the MAC look very good to a national audience. With 17 seconds remaining from the NIU 36 yard line Akron QB Luke Getsy fired a pass to the end zone and Domenik Hixon made a beautiful diving catch to tie the game. The PAT sealed a fantastic comeback for the Zips and a 31-30 victory. All of the bad luck of 2004-2005 was forgotten.

The Zips have a program on the rise that could very well become a force in the years to come. Brookhart's 2005 recruiting class was ranked #1 in the MAC by this site and it would be logical to think that J.D. and his staff could duplicate that effort thanks to their 2005 success. Another strong class of recruits added to the championship experience of 2005 will make facing the Zips even more difficult in the coming years.

Now the Akron Zips football team is heading into a December 26th match-up in the Motor City Bowl. The Zips basketball team, despite a loss @ Califoia on Saturday night, has high expectations and will likely contend for a MAC Championship. And Sunday marked former Akron QB Charlie Frye's first career start in the NFL.

What a great time to be a Zip!

by Luke M. Jeigan for VanDelaySports.com

Luke M. Jeigan is the Web Manager and Director of Operations and Marketing for http://www.VanDelaySports.com. A life-long fan of Mid-American Conference athletics, Luke has a strong interest in online promotions and Search Engine Marketing.

2006 NFL Draft The Reggie Bush Sweepstakes

While it's still quite a few months before the NFL Draft, with the regular season winding down, it's a good time as any to take a glance at the teams who are "competing' for the league's worst record and the right to draft the lone "can't miss" college player, USC running back/receiver/kick retu specialist Reggie Bush.

If you weren't convinced of this kid's potential at the beginning of the college football year, after watching him blow by defenses in 2004, after watching his last two games against Fresno State and UCLA, you have to be convinced now, right??

Current favorite: The Houston Texans

They'll be a few changes here, especially in the coaching department, as Dom Capers and his staff will either be shown the door at the end of the season, or sooner. David Carr was supposed to develop into the franchise QB by now, but we really don't know how good he is because of the lack of talent around him. The Texans management still believe he has potential, so they won't be drafting his replacement in 2006.

Bush would give the team at least a watch-able player, something they don't have at the moment. Not sure about you, but Domanick Davis doesn't exactly get the juices flowing.

The San Francisco 49ers

This may be the best scenario for the the San Diego native, since the hometown Chargers won't pick til late in the 1st round. Also, he and last year's #1 pick Alex Smith were teammates at Helix High. near San Diego.

The 49ers were once a proud organization, and with a underrated coach like Mike Nolan at the helm, all he needs are a few difference-makers, which Bush definitely is. Interesting enough, the Niners face the Texans in week 17, possibly with the USC star as the prize for the loser.

I knew Direct TV offered Sunday Ticket for some reason.

New York Jets

With the team having so much uncertainty about thir current quarterback situation, namely the health of Chad Pennington, Matt Leinart may be the more helpful choice. The Jets still have Curtis Martin in the backfield, and he can still run despite his age by evidenced by his rushing title in 2004.

And with Eli Manning starring for the cross-town Giants, the Jets would also love to have a marquee signal-caller. But could they really pass on Bush??

Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre probably won't allow the Pack to finish with the league's worst record, especially with the Lions and Ravens remaining on the schedule. Who even knows yet if he'll be back next year, as it's pretty much assured that head coach Mike Sherman is a goner.

And the team certainly won't draft another QB, since Aaron Rodgers is the future, I guess? If Favre retus for another year or two, he may never see the field.

The health of Ahman Green is also an issue, so Bush would be the perfect fit for GB. He'd also give Favre a dump-off guy, so hopefully he won't continue to throw into coverage. But old habits are hard to break, especially 14 year old habits.

John Onan (ego74) is a sports writer and handicapper. He runs Ego Sports Consulting, where he offers winning sports picks for a very reasonable price.

His website is http://ego42420.tripod.com and he can be reached at nay7201@mail.com

College Football Picks Explained

Picking college football games has become more and more popular in recent years. The process of picking the games happens in a number of forums in a number of places every year during the fall season of college football. Understanding what the situations are and why picking college football games are enjoyable to some makes the whole industry more understandable. Here, college football picks are explained in the context of several situations.

The Spread

To have college football picks explained properly, you need to first understand point spreads. The point spread is how sports books encourage betting on both sides of any game. A number is assigned to a team in the game. That number is how many points the book believes that team would need to have added to their score for you, the better, to believe they might win the game. For instance, if Indiana is playing Northweste, the book may say the line is Indiana plus 3. That means, if you bet on Indiana and they win or lose by less than three, you win the bet. The spread is part of what makes picking college football games difficult and exciting.

The Office Pool

College football picks explained in the context of the office pool, or any pool for that matter, make it easier to understand. In a pool, money is collected from a number of individuals and held centrally. The money is then paid out to the winner, and sometimes paid to second, third, etc. places in the competition as well. In a pool, the participants would compete by picking college football games every week. In many pools, the games are picked using the point spread (see above). This makes the selections more challenging and thus the money harder to win.

Straight Gambling

College football picks explained to one may also be mentioned in connection with actual gambling with a sports book. Some people who enjoy gambling like to use sports books to bet on their favorite college football picks. That is because they at least feel like they have some knowledge of what is going on and have a fighting chance. Unlike casino games, there is little about football gambling you don�t control except for the lines. That false sense of control is what makes picking college football games as a way of gambling incredibly popular.

That, in a nutshell, is college football picks explained. You will find that no matter where you go, there are people picking college football games for a number of reasons. By leaing what the betting lines and point spreads are, you have a better idea of how the process works. Additionally, by understanding how a pool works and how much many people enjoy straight up gambling on college football picks you can see what the appeal is in picking the games. Though it may not be your cup of tea, you will find that there area thousands of people out there who pick college football games every week for one reason or another.

Jack Peterson has an interest in Football Picks related topics. To access more information on football pick or on free football pick, please click on the links. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Peterson

Coaching Youth Football Part 1 Keys to Success

In your role as a youth football coach, you will profoundly affect the lives of your players. By your approach to education, you can show your players how to handle all of the many challenges they will see throughout their lives.

Be Passionate
You have to coach for the correct reasons. You should concentrate on the lessons that will show your players proper morals. Important standards to teach are respect for authority, work ethic, competitiveness, and teamwork. A good youth football coach will also stress setting reachable goals and developing a plan of how to reach those goals. If you go into coaching for the wrong reasons, like seeking fame or an ego-boost, your players will know and they will not respect you as much.

Enjoy Teaching
Your key reason for instruction should be to assist kids in maturing into well-developed adults. Of course winning is important, but if it really is the only thing you care about, you won't be able to find any satisfaction when you do win the big games. You have to give yourself a chance to enjoy the game, along with making it fun for your student athletes.

Have Patience
All great athletes have had a great coach behind them who was patient enough to teach them the necessary skills for their sport. Patience is not something everyone is bo with, but it can be leaed with time and experience. Many times a talented player will not develop until they finally get that one bit of coaching advice that makes everything click for them. As a coach, you must make sure to be patient with all of your players so that you will be there when their talent explodes.

Get Organized
You can't get everything done that you will want to unless you have a solid, regimented schedule. Most NFL coaches are famous for their attention to detail and organization, so you should patte yourself after the top of the profession. Make the most out of your limited practice time each day. Know what you need to get done that day before you begin practice. Discuss any key issues with your assistant coaches before setting your schedule so that there are no surprises once the players are on the field and ready to go.

Run an Efficient, Fast-Paced Practice
Do not waste precious practice time on conditioning and low-importance drills. Many coaches, especially at youth football levels, will make the mistake of grinding their players through useless drills just to impart toughness. Toughness and conditioning will both benefit more from a quick, well-organized practice with quality drills. Focus on drills that develop the skills your individual players are lacking. Of course, all fundamentals need to be refreshed from time to time, but you shouldn't waste excessive time on the things they already do well. Minimize "standing around" time in your practices.

Many youth football coaches spend too much time teaching by talking instead of active teaching.It is much more effective to limit your explanation to short bursts after each player has run through the drill. Quickly show them what they did wrong or right during the drill and start the next player. You can continue talking while the players are in motion, but many coaches will bring the entire team's practice to a standstill. Attention span can be a problem for kids, especially at the younger levels, so more information will be retained if you keep them moving and focused on the practice.

Keeping these basic ideas in mind will help any coach with their youth football team, no matter what the level or age-group. Enthusiasm, patience, and efficiency are the keys to success in winning and developing great youth football players. More tips will be available in future parts to this series.

This article courtesy of http://www.clovisfootball.com, the source for Clovis football information.

NFL Divisional Playoffs Matchup Washington RedSkins At Seattle SeaHawks

The latest NFL Football Odds has the Seahawks favored by 9.5 points.

The road-weary Washington Redskins go into the hostile territory of the Seattle Seahawks this Saturday afteoon. At first glance, the �skins look like a solid bet. They are 40-21 ATS as road dogs of 3.5 to 9.5 since 1992, are 6-0 against NFC West teams, and are 6-1 after 2 consecutive SU wins. Plus, the advantage of having one of the greatest NFL coaches in history also sweetens the �skins side. But, teams who are playing their third game in a row, especially entering the 2nd round of the playoffs are quite dismal.

Psychologically, they�ve �proven� themselves to be a good team by beating their first opponent as a road team. This may give them a false sense of superiority, and given the �skins inefficiency in scoring, Seattle will give them fits on both sides of the ball. The �skins will have to face a well rested �hawks team that is coming off a loss and seeking to avenge its 20-17 loss against these same �skins last October. Teams in this situation are a glaring 8-0-1 ATS. Add to the fact that the home teams in the second round of the playoffs win SU and ATS at about an 80% rate, it�s tough to go against Seattle in this spot.

See the latest live nfl football odds and bet the winners.

2006 NFL Mock Draft

1. Houston Texans - RB Reggie Bush USC Reggie Bush is the best player in this draft. Reggie is probably the most exciting and explosive player I have ever seen. Domanick Davis is a good running back, but he isn't so good that they won't draft Bush. A trade down is a possibility, but I don't see that happening. No matter what, Bush will be the 1st pick.

2. New Orleans Saints - DE Mario Williams NC St. I disagree with this selection, but I believe it will happen. The Saints already have two good defensive ends, but they are so intrigued by Williams that they take them anyway. OT Ferguson is another possibility, although they spent last year's first round pick on OT Jamaal Brown.

3. Tennessee Titans - QB Matt Leinart USC Matt Leinart is the best quarterback in this draft. He played under Titans's offensive coordinator Norm Chow at USC. Steve McNair is in the twilight of his career and evidently the Titans aren't sold on backup Billy Volek. Jay Cutler or Vince Young are possibilities here. I definitely see the Titans taking a quarterback at this spot.

4. New York Jets - QB Vince Young Texas Vince is a perfect fit for New York. They have Patrick Ramsey and Chad Pennington, so there is little pressure for Young to start right away. He can sit for a year or two and then take over the reigns. Ferguson and a trade up for Leinart are a possibilities as well.

5. Green Bay Packers - OLB AJ Hawk Ohio State AJ is the surest thing in this draft. I don't see anyway he can be anything but a great player in the NFL. Mario Williams is also a possibility if available. Linebacker has been a huge need for GB for years now. They can finally sure that unit up with the safest possible pick.

6. San Francisco 49ers - TE Veon Davis Maryland Davis is probably the best tight end prospect ever, and worthy of this high selection. He is 6'4 263, and runs a 4.38 40. He had nearly 900 yards receiving last year, so don't think he is all measurables. He could instantly boost a receiving corp that is one of the leagues worst.

7. Oakland Raiders - QB Jay Cutler Vanderbilt Cutler is a great quarterback prospect who has almost unlimited potential. Some believe he is actually the best QB in this draft. If Oakland is lucky enough to have him fall into their lap, they won't hesitate to take him. Their QB situation looks medicore with Aaron Brooks as the starter. Andrew Walter was taken in the 3rd round last year, but that won't keep them from taking Cutler.

8. Buffalo Bills - LT D'Brickshaw Ferguson Virginia The Bills primary need is offensive tackle. They luck out and get a heck of a player that could easily be the 2nd overall pick. Ferguson falls this far only because OT is a very deep position, so teams like New Orleans don't feel forced to fill their need in the first round.

9. Detroit Lions - FS/CB Michael Huff Texas Huff is a tremendous athlete who could excelled at free safety in college. What makes him so intriguing is that he has every tool needed to play coer as well. This versatility makes him a valuable commodity on draft day. RT Winston Justice is also a possibility because the their offensive line leaves a lot to be desired.

10. Arizona Cardinals - OT Winston Justice The Cardinals offensive line was horrible last year. Justice can come in and immediately improve this unit in the running and passing games. Justice's stock is on the rise and he would be a great selection if he is still available. If any of the three QBs fall this far, then they would surely be taken here instead.

11. St. Louis Rams - CB Tye Hill The Rams need an upgrade at CB. Tye Hill is the best of this year's class. He blends world class speed with toughness second to none that more than makes up for his small stature. This may seem high, but coers usually go really high. Pac-Man Jones went top 10 last year and he wasn't any better of a prospect than Hill. Other options include Michael Huff if he fell, Jimmy Williams, and DT Brod Bunkley.

12. Cleveland Browns - NT Haloti Ngata Oregon The Browns benefit from Ferguson's slide and Justice's rising stock. Because of these, Ngata slips by Buffalo and is still available at #12. Ngata is a prototypical 3-4 NT who can anchor Crennel's defense for many years. They have a big need a DE, so he might play there for a year or two until Ted Washington retires.

13. Baltimore Ravens - DT Broderick Bunkley Florida St. With the loss of Kemoeatu to the Panthers, the Ravens could use another DT. Bunkley is the total package at tackle. He has good size, outstanding strength, and great athletic ability. Don't be surprised if they take Winston Justice if he is still on the board. Trading up for a QB if any of the Big 3 start falling is a possibility as well.

14. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Santonio Holmes Ohio St. The Eagles' biggest need is wideout after the departure of Terrell Owens. Holmes would provide a solid young tandem with Reggie Brown. I think they should take LenDale White at this spot, but Andy Reid doesn't seem to care if he has a good running back although that feeling might change if he doesn't have the receivers to support his pass happy offense.

15. Denver Broncos - RB LenDale White USC With the loss of Mike Anderson, the Broncos need to add a RB sometime on draft day. While not necessarily their biggest need, picking White makes sense because he is the best player on the board. He could be the thunder to Tatum Bell's lightning. Other options are Bunkley, Holmes, and WR Chad Jackson.

16. Miami Dolphins - OLB/DE Manny Lawson NC St. It is rumored that the Dolphins are going to switch the 3-4 defense. That means they need a rush linebacker to pair with Jason Taylor. Lawson is a tremendous athlete an pass rusher. There is a possibility that they sign Lavar Arrington. If that happens, look for them to take Chad Jackson, a offensive tackle, or just the best available player

This is just the first half of Round 1. Check out the rest at my site.

writer and creator of http://www.cowboys-fan.com

Football Not For Dumb People

For those of you who think professional football players can be as dumb as tree stumps and still play the game, as long as they are either big and strong, have an arm that can throw a hand grenade from Ohio to Califoia or have a leg that can kick the chrome off of a bumper, you need to think again. Pro football is a very complex sport and unless you've got a good head on your shoulders, you are going to find out the hard way that it isn't simply a matter of being skilled.

Sure, you have to be big and strong, especially if you're going to be a lineman. These guys top the scales and 300 pounds plus and feel like mack trucks when they hit you. Certainly if you're a 90 pound weakling, you're not going to get far in the game of football. And yes, if you have a fantastic arm and can throw a football the length of the field accurately, you'll most likely make a good quarterback, again, provided that you have a head on your shoulder.

Okay, so why the need for brains? Isn't this a rather simple game? Isn't the object of the game to score a goal by either running or passing the football over the goal line? And if that's not simple enough, you can also kick it over if you think you're too far out for a regular score. How hard can this be? Kids in high school play it and some of these kids aren't the brightest bulbs in the bunch.

To answer that question, one has to understand the level at which pro football is played. These players ARE the strongest of the strong and the most talented. They have the best arms and legs. When it comes to raw talent, there is none better anywhere. What separates the good players from the great players is how they assimilate the game on an intellectual level. In pro football there are a great number of plays for both offense and defense. Some teams have play books that have well over 100 plays. And they're all used. If the coach calls a play, you better know what it means and how you're supposed to react. That means storing a hundred or more plays in your head. And you thought cramming for an exam was hard. This requires a certain degree of brain power.

Imagine the coach calls a play and you forget which play it is and you miss an assignment or a route or a block. It could mean the difference between scoring and not scoring or the opposition scoring or not scoring. Usually it's mistakes that decide games. By having the plays down cold, you minimize the chance of those mistakes.

So the next time you think that football players are just a bunch of dumb jocks, I suggest you try getting a hold of one of their play books and see if you can lea even half of what's in them.

Professional football. It's NOT for dumb people.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Football Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Big Ten Creates New Channel More to Follow

The Big Ten Conference announced recently that it will create its own cable tv channel to broadcast even more games and sports nationally.

The conference just signed a new 10-year TV deal with ESPN and ABC that will carry Big Ten football, men's and women's basketball and volleyball games starting in 2007.

The Big Ten Channel will be available to satellite and cable distributors nationwide and also will be available through the Inteet, I-Pods, cell phones and other technologies, the league said.

DirecTV will offer the channel on its Total Choice package, which currently reaches about 15.4 million households, according to the news release.

"The Big Ten Channel will provide our conference the ability to strengthen both its brand and its long-term destiny as one of the leading academic and athletic conferences in the nation," said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany.

The new cable channel will carry not only football and basketball, but also such sports as soccer, tennis, swimming and diving and wrestling -- the so-called Olympic sports, the conference said.

This could lead to others conferences - most notably the Pac-10, Big 12, ACC and SEC following suit and offering up their own channels. It makes perfect sense. We have a insatiable hunger for sports in this country and with some of those on the fringe, like wrestling and volleyball, that have diehard fans it's only natural that these channels pop up.

The Big Ten Channel and the others who follow suit will be a win-win for the fans as well as the conferences and schools. It will bring huge amounts of money to the schools and allow the viewers to watch events they might miss otherwise.

For the football fan, the amount of games that may be available to watch is like manna from heaven, especially when the other conferences get on board and copy the Big Ten. It has already multiplied with the emergence of satellite and will grow even more with these individual outlets.

Rest assured the Big Ten is the first to jump on the cable TV bandwagon, but they definitely won't be the last.

Brian Carson is a writer and sports fanatic who, along with a select group of coaches has created the ultimate multimedia guide to coaching youth football at http://www.pigskinplaybooks.com To read more football articles go to http://carcoer.blogspot.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Carson

Mario Williams Houston Texans Defensive End

A native of Richlands, North Carolina, Mario Williams was bo on New Year's Eve, January 31, 1985. Currently playing the position of defensive end for the NFL's Houston Texans, Williams stands 6'7" and weighs just under 300 pounds.

Like many NFL superstars, Mario Williams got plenty of field time as a youngster. While attending North Carolina State from 2003 until 2005, Williams gained experience as a defensive end. Recruited out of Richlands High School, Mario Williams did not disappoint. He started in each of his three college seasons, recorded 175 tackles and 25 sacks.

One year after college, during the 2006 NFL draft, Mario Williams was chosen by the Houston Texans in a deal that would last for six years and one which is said to be worth $54 million to the North Carolina native. On Saturday, April 29, 2006, Williams was chosen as the # 1 overall draft pick. After much speculation that Houston would select Reggie Bush or Vince Young, all of that guessing ended when Mario Williams came on board as the team's new defensive end for the 2006 season.

Some reports have indicated that $26 million is guaranteed and, providing Mario Williams achieves the performance goals as stated in the contract, the total payout could total more than $60 million after all is said and done. As the new 2006 NFL season approaches, the Houston Texans will be eager to see if their newest recruit will continue his powerful plays on the field. Friends and family from North Carolina will be equally anxious to watch as Mario Williams continues to live the dream of playing professional football in the NFL.

Bob writes for fanfrenzyzone.com and GoAllout.com. Where you can purchase a Mario Williams Jersey or Texans Tickets. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Johnson