Saturday Morning Musings: FA Cup or the Exit for Wenger

Respect & admiration for an individual's achievements are one thing, but there are limits. Arsenal fans seem to have reached theirs. After today's 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea, which follows almost equally embarrassing results at Liverpool (5-1) & Manchester City (6-3) in past months, the Gunners, barring a miracle, are all but out of the title race. Today's match stuck to the script of recent away matches in which Arsenal has played its fiercest Premier League rivals: a very slow start, shoddy defending, early goals followed by poor & undisciplined decision making & a complete lack of confidence. The result? An embarrassing defeat in Arsene Wenger's 1000th match in charge of the club.

The team's performance was gutless. No question. After allowing the 1st goal, a superb left footed strike by Samuel Eto'o, Arsenal lost its shape & completely disappeared. Chelsea sensed their opponent's fear, tasted blood & went for the jugular. The team should be ashamed & embarrassed.

But a bigger responsibility for the loss & Arsenal dropping out of the title race lies with the man honored for managing his 1000th match for the club. The team sheet was flawed from the outset today. Wenger opted for a deep midfield pairing of Mikel Arteta & Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. While Chamberlain has been one of Arsenal's top players of late, Arteta has not been. His form has lagged from last year, he has been caught out of position regularly (matches against Manchester City & Everton stand out) and his pace is not what it used to be. Pairing an offensively inclined Chamberlain & a struggling Arteta was a recipe for disaster & that is what we saw. There was no cover in front of the Arsenal back four early in the match. Why wasn't Mathieu Flamini in the starting 11? He's the closest thing to a pit bull in the midfield for Arsenal. With Arteta in the line-up, Arsenal are an easy side to play against.

If we look at the season as a whole, Arsenal's biggest problem has been squad depth. Injuries to Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil & Jack Wilshere have troubled the Gunners lately & have undoubtedly had an effect on recent form. And, while Arsenal has one of the strongest midfield's in the Premier League, they are still short of high quality cover. But who controls the signing of players? Arsene Wenger. Arsenal's Board of Governors has repeatedly stated that the Gunners' boss has funds to use on signings but for whatever reason, he has chosen not to. The same script applies to depth at the striker position. Even though the most casual fan identified that there was no cover behind Olivier Giroud, Wenger still refused to sign anybody in January. We have seen that after a spectacular 1st half to season, Giroud has cooled off & Arsenal have no Plan B. Ultimately the fingers need to be pointed at Arsene Wenger, as he has full control of the operations at the club.

In the end, whatever sport you play, you play to win the game. Even if you are a cellar dweller & in the lowest position in the league, you play to win. It has been 9 years since won any trophy. Given the amount of money the club makes (8th richest club in soccer) & Arsenal's stature in England, that is really inexcusable to its fans. The fans need urgency from the club, to win trophies now. At any other club at this level, drastic changes would have been made prior to year 5, let alone 10.

Arsene Wenger without a doubt is one of the most respected & brilliant minds of the Premier League. He revolutionized the Premier League with his tactics, has helped to produced some of the most breathtaking football & amazing talents in the EPL's history (Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, & Robert Pires, to name just a few) & guided an unbeaten team in 2003-04. He has helped Arsenal become a financial powerhouse through difficult times of having to pay off a pricey new stadium. But in the end, you play to win & patience is now wearing thin. With Arsenal all but out of the title race, their only real chance of winning silverware this year is the FA Cup. If Arsenal somehow lose to Wigan in the semi-final or in the final, will Wenger return for a 10th season of trophy less football?

Arsene Wenger has repeatedly talked about belief in the past. He has said the key component to his team's success is having a belief in themselves. While there have been moments in the last 2 years where Arsenal's young squad have looked confident & full of pride, there have been moments like today, where the Gunners looked as they had had no belief whatsoever in their abilities. It seems as though belief in the abilities of the legendary manager is also dwindling at the moment. Wenger needs to win the FA Cup to restore that belief in the club's fans. Otherwise this could & probably should be a sad end to a legendary run at the club.

The Calm Before the Storm: 2014 NFL Pre-Free Agency Mock Draft 1.0

The free agent signing period officially kicks off on Tuesday in the NFL. Last year the Miami Dolphins splashed the most cash, & while Philip Wheeler, Mike Wallace & Danell Ellerbe had decent seasons, the team struggled miserably. Free agency is important but it can be argued that the NFL draft is the most important part of the off season, in which franchises search for the best collegiate players who will form their team's foundation for years to come.

This year's draft brings another solid group of prospects, who are likely to become the face of the league in a few short years. But before that happens, they need to be drafted first. Who will end up where? My pre-free agency mock draft is below. Do you agree? Make sure to let me know what you think!   

1. HOUSTON TEXANS - JADEVEON CLOWNEY (DE-SOUTH CAROLINA)

-The Texans need a new quarterback after Matt Schaub's dismal 10 TD, 14 INT 2013 season. In a normal year Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles or even Johnny Manziel would go #1. But this is no normal year. Despite having an off year, compiling only 3 sacks, & with questions about his work ethic raised, Jadeveon Clowney remains college football's most enticing player. With freakish athleticism, showcased by running a 4.74 40 yard dash at the Combine. If the Texans were to select the South Carolina product, Clowney & J.J. Watt would make life miserable for NFL quarterbacks.

That scenario is too good to ignore. Expect Houston to take Clowney with this pick & trade for a QB like Kirk Cousins or take a quarterback in the 2nd round.

　
2. ST. LOUIS RAMS - GREG ROBINSON (OT-AUBURN)

-Going from one freak athlete to the next. At 6'5 & 332 pounds, Greg Robinson is no small man, but if you watched his Combine workout, you definitely noticed that he is both powerful & agile. Robinson ran a 4.92 40 yard dash & bench pressed 225 pounds 32 times. This exhibition of strength & speed once again highlighted why many scouts & observers see Robinson as the draft's top tackle.

The Rams need a top tackle, particularly since Jake Long tore his ACL last year. Keeping Sam Bradford upright will be key for St. Louis & using this pick on Robinson would be wise. Look for the Rams to pass on Sammy Watkins here & pick a wide-out with their 2nd pick in the draft (pick 13).


3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - BLAKE BORTLES (QB-UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA)

-Most people have the Jacksonville Jaguars taking Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M here, but I think the Jags make a smart football decision with their 1st pick in 2014 & go with the Florida product Bortles. At 6'5 & 232 pounds, Blake Bortles is a linebacker sized quarterback in the mould of Ben Roethlisberger. Bortles is an efficient & accurate passer, who runs well for his size & can pass when outside the pocket. Bridgewater & Manziel are much smaller quarterbacks compared to Bortles.

The Jags need a franchise player at quarterback, which they haven't had since Mark Brunell. With time, Bortles could develop into a solid NFL quarterback. By signing Chad Henne to an extension, the Jaguars are providing time & patience to whoever they draft in this position at quarterback.


4. CLEVELAND BROWNS - TEDDY BRIDGEWATER (QB-LOUISVILLE)

-A new coach & GM brings new hope in Cleveland, as the Browns try to start afresh yet again. Unlike previous years, the Browns will have a legitimate shot at drafting a young franchise quarterback at the #4 spot. The choice will be between Bridgewater & Manziel here. While Manziel will give the lonesome Browns a big personality in the dressing room & plenty of media & marketing buzz, Bridgewater will be give them the type of player they need right now. The Louisville quarterback is a smart, accurate passer, who makes the right decisions & has been compared to Russell Wilson (but physically bigger). If the Browns pick Bridgewater, pairing him with Josh Gordon & Jordan Cameron could make Cleveland an exciting team to watch in the coming years.

5. OAKLAND RAIDERS - JAKE MATTHEWS (OT-TEXAS A&M)

-There are 2 elite tackles in this draft. Greg Robinson is the first and Jake Matthews is not too far behind. The 6'5 Texan who protected Johnny Manziel's blindside is a legitimate top 5 pick, just like Auburn's Robinson. What differentiates the two is that while Robinson may have the higher ceiling, being a once in a decade type of talent & athlete, Matthews is probably more NFL ready at the moment. Matthews possesses a great mix of talent & is extremely agile.

Put simply, the Raiders are a mess. They need help at almost all positions. A quarterback & defensive help is required, but I think they go with the best player on the board in Matthews to address a broken offensive line.


6. ATLANTA FALCONS - KHALIL MACK (OLB-BUFFALO)

-The loss of Julio Jones to injury was a major reason for the Falcons pathetic 2013-2014 season, but there were other major deficiencies in the team's play as well. Atlanta's Achilles' heel over the past 3 years has been their poor defensive play. With a lack of play makers on the defensive side of the ball & almost no pass rush, it is clear that the Falcons need to address defense in free agency & the draft.

Enter Buffalo's Khalil Mack. Behind Clowney, Mack is the draft's top pass rusher. The athletic outside linebacker from Florida is explosive, & makes plays on the ball. He can provide an edge rush like Denver's Von Miller or line up in coverage.

　
7. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - SAMMY WATKINS (WR-CLEMSON)

-After the Bucs roller coaster 2013 season, which saw them go 4-12 with plenty of locker room drama, Greg Schiano was handed the pink slip. Former Bears coach Lovie Smith is now calling the shots, so expect to see professionalism & class back at Raymond James Stadium.

After working on the defense last year in free agency, look for the Bucs to focus on adding a key piece on offense in the 2014 draft. Tampa Bay has a solid foundation with Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson & Mike Glennon going forward. Even though Martin is coming back from a major injury, backup Bobby Rainey showed himself to be capable in the emergency fill in role. Lovie Smith will need to improve his receiving corps though. The Bucs require a second option at receiver behind Vincent Jackson, and Clemson's Sammy Watkins is just the guy to grab at #7. He may not be the tallest of receivers at 6'1, but Watkins possesses the leaping ability of Torrey Smith & the acceleration of a healthy Percy Harvin. The Bucs would be foolish to pass on the draft's #1 receiver!


8. MINNESOTA VIKINGS - JOHNNY MANZIEL (QB-TEXAS A&M)

- "Johnny Football" is a high octane QB, who showed in his 2 years at Texas A&M that he is a big play quarterback. He can use his legs & arm to hurt you & has an element of risk & excitement in his style of play. Time will tell if he can translate his college success into the NFL. One thing is for sure, Manziel's skill & marketing power will be hard to pass up for a team in the top 10 of the draft.

That being said, I think Maniel drops to #8 & the Vikings. Manziel is too big of a risk for teams in the top 5, plus Bortles & Bridgewater are better NFL ready quarterbacks at this point. Minnesota have needed a quarterback for sometime. Matt Cassel & Christian Ponder may suffice for another year or two, but it's time for a change in Minny.


9. BUFFALO BILLS - ANTHONY BARR (OLB-UCLA)

-Barr is ranked by many as the #2 outside linebacker in this draft behind Khalil Mack of Buffalo. An explosive pass rusher & open field hitter, Barr is a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball.

Buffalo's much improved defense in 2013 was due to the emergence of rookie linebacker Kiko Alonso. The University of Oregon product racked up 159 tackles, 2 sacks & 4 interceptions in his rookie campaign. Lining Barr up next to Alonso could make the Bills already improved defense one to fear in 2014 & beyond.


10. DETROIT LIONS - DARQUEZE DENNARD (CB-MICHIGAN STATE)

-The Detroit Lions were arguably the NFL's biggest bust last year. With scary talent on the offensive side of the ball with Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush & the inconsistent Matthew Stafford, & a defensive line led by Ndamukong Suh, which strikes fear in the hearts of offensive lines, the team was expected to win the NFC North. Instead they finished 2nd to last in the league's most storied division.

With new coach Jim Caldwell taking the driver's seat in the Motor City after the dismissal of Jim Schwartz, look for the Lions to address the weakest part of their team in the 2014 draft: the secondary. The Lions allowed the 9th most passing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks (247) in the NFL. The Lions secondary has been their Achilles' heel for the past 2 years & it is time to address it in this draft. Dennard, the top corner back in this draft, would bring instant athleticism, confidence & a physical style to Detroit.


11. TENNESSEE TITANS - TAYLOR LEWAN (OT-MICHIGAN)

-The Titans have plenty of needs, but none more than at the tackle position. After releasing right David Stewart in recently, the Titans are in the market to re-stock the O line.

While the Titans have a good interior to their offensive line (Chance Warmack & Andy Levitre at the guard positions), tackle needs to be addressed. The best pick at #11 would be Michigan's massive Taylor Lewan. At 6'7 & 309 lbs, Lewan possesses good foot speed & a mean streak, which is needed at the tackle position. There's no shame in being ranked the #3 OT in this draft behind Greg Robinson & Jake Matthews.

12. NEW YORK GIANTS - ZACK MARTIN (OT-NOTRE DAME)

-The Giant's O-line was in shambles last year. As a result Eli Manning played some of the worst football of his career in 2013. Manning was hit 83 times (which ranked 15th in the NFL), & the O-line also had little success blocking for the Giants' multiple running backs. Time to build up the offensive line in the Big Apple.

At #12, look for the Giants to take Notre Dame senior Zack Martin. Martin is a quick & effective blocker who can also play at guard. The one downside to Martin is that at 6'4 he is on the smaller side for offensive lineman & that does not provide him with height & arm length that Taylor Lewan possesses.


13. ST. LOUIS RAMS - MIKE EVANS (WR-TEXAS A&M)

-The Rams picked up an important piece of their offense in last year's draft with Tavon Austin. Austin showed why he was highly touted coming out of the college, by proving to be big play maker for the Rams both on offense & special teams. While the Rams have needs on the defensive side of the ball in their secondary, look for Jeff Fisher & his team to land another play making wide out.

Texas A&M's Mike Evans is the perfect complementary receiver for Austin. At 6'5 & a solid 231 lbs Evans is a huge target for quarterbacks & one Sam Bradford desperately needs in his offense. Evans is compared to Tampa Bay's Vincent Jackson, & is a physical receiver who can bully corners. One downside to Evans skill set is that he lacks an explosive burst off the snap. Evans & Austin could be a classic thunder & lightning threat in the Rams' play calling scheme.


14. CHICAGO BEARS - C.J MOSLEY (ILB-ALABAMA)

-After a superb start to the season, the Bears fizzled away yet again. While the trials & tribulations of the Bears offense always get the headlines, the Bears defense is the area that needs addressing.

With Charles Tillman testing free agency & likely to land with a NFC rival, the Bears could opt to take Oklahoma State corner back Justin Gilbert here, but I think they select C.J. Mosley, the best defensive player on the board at this point. Mosley is a very athletic linebacker, with great instinct who can play either inside or outside. Mosley would be great pick to rejuvenate the heart of the Bears' defense.


15. PITTSBURGH STEELERS - MARQISE LEE (WR-USC)

-It's safe to say that the Pittsburgh Steelers offense was anaemic last year. Le'veon Bell's preseason injury effected the running game & with Big Ben getting older & his mobility now limited, the Steelers cannot call the same bootlegs/run plays that they used to with their star quarterback. Bell looks like the real deal at running back, but the Steelers are still in dire need of play makers on offense.

With Emmanuel Sanders testing the free agent market, look for the Steelers to draft a wide out in the 1st round. At this point Marqise Lee from USC would be the best the fit. Lee, who was bothered by injuries this past year, is a tall, slender & athletic receiver (produced a 38" vertical jump at the Combine). As speed is Lee's biggest asset, he & Antonio Brown could stretch AFC secondaries thin in 2014.


16. DALLAS COWBOYS - KONY EALY (DE-MISSOURI)

　
17. BALTIMORE RAVENS - JUSTIN GILBERT (CB-OKLAHOMA STATE)

　
18. NEW YORK JETS - ERIC EBRON (TE-NORTH CAROLINA)

　
19. MIAMI DOLPHINS - LOUIS NIX (DT-NOTRE DAME)

　
20. ARIZONA CARDINALS - CYRUS KOUANDJIO (OT-ALABAMA)

　
21. GREEN BAY PACKERS - HASEAN CLINTON-DIX (FS-ALABAMA)

　
22. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - DEE FORD (DE-AUBURN)

　
23. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - KELVIN BENJAMIN (WR-FLORIDA STATE)

　
24. CINCINNATI BENGALS - CALVIN PRYOR (FS-LOUISVILLE)

　
25. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - ODELL BECKHAM JR. (WR-LSU)

　
26. CLEVELAND BROWNS - DAVID YANKEY (OG-STANFORD)

　
27. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - JASON VERRETT (CB-TCU)

　
28. CAROLINA PANTHERS - ALLEN ROBINSON (WR-PENN STATE)

　
29. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - MORGAN MOSES (OT-VIRGINA)

　
30. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - AARON DONALD (DT-PITTSBURGH)

　
31. DENVER BRONCOS - RYAN SHAZIER (OLB-OHIO STATE)

　
32. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - JACE AMARO (TE-TEXAS TECH)


Now let's see what Free Agency has in store! Stay tuned for the next installment of my Mock Draft!