In August 2013, I witnessed the Run the Jewels put on the best hip-hop show I've ever seen at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. Just over a year later at the same venue, I saw them top themselves and set a new bar for live hip-hop performances.
The show opened with an upstart group named Black Heart Broadway. Their sound had a very low-rent feel to it, so it was to my surprise when they said they had collaborated with Killer Mike on their debut EP, which is set for release in early 2015. Black Heart Broadway was on stage for less than 15 minutes and while they weren't insultingly bad, they didn't really do much to convince me to check out their material further.
The main touring lineup kicked off shortly after as Queens-bred MC Despot hit the stage. Despot highly impressed me when he opened for Run the Jewels on their last headlining tour and this time out was no different. His lyrics are excellent and he has a rare flow that allows him to own both intense and melodic beats with ease. Aside from being a great MC, he's also a hilarious dude. Between the deadpan delivery of jokes in-between songs and his trademark mid-set aerobics routine that he makes the audience and his tourmates participate in, there's never a dull moment during a Despot show. I really hope he actually releases his long-delayed collab album with Ratatat in the near future because based on the material he played live, it sounds killer. Despot managed to top the previous time I saw him by a pretty wide margin and is without question in the upper-echelon of live rappers currently in the game.
Ratking hit the stage almost immediately after Despot wrapped up his set. Ratking is the latest in a seemingly endless wave of new hip-hop groups that hail from New York. Just like on record, Ratking's live performaces shows off serious potential but also leaves a lot to be desired. The production from in-house DJ Sporting Life is stellar and serve as the driving force of the group. Their beats range from beautifully abstract to noise-fueled, industrial bangers, which gives them a nice sense of diversity that you don't always find in hip-hop in the present day. Where Ratking struggles is in the inconsistency of the rapping. One part of the duo was absent (i don't know if it was Wiki or Hak), but the remaining one has a bizarre, almost reggae-esque cadence to his rapping that sounds great at times and falls completely flat at others. Ratking is a really young group and they certainly could amount to something noteworthy in the future, but they aren't anything above decent at this point in time.
After a 20 minute changeover, the time had finally come for Run the Jewels to hit the stage. The minute the beat to set opener "Run the Jewels" dropped the entire room exploded into a uncontrollable frenzy. The sold-out crowd was constantly thrashing around and screaming along with just about every song in their hour-long set. The wave of hype Run the Jewels has picked up in hip-hop circles over the past year seems to helped expand their fanbase rapidly. It's great to finally see these two unheralded hip-hop veterans pick up the respect they've wholeheartedly deserved for the last two decades. As for the performance itself, everything was pretty much flawless. Killer Mike and El-P have an incredible rapport together and put 110% into every single verse they spit. Their excellent setlist selections allowed the duo to consistently show off their skills on the mic while also making sure that the room's high-energy level never wavered. Just about every top cut from both of their albums was played, with the anthematic "Sea Legs", explosive banger "36" Chain" and the powerful and incredibly timely anti-police brutality track "Early" standing out from the pack. On top of being excellent rappers, Killer Mike and El-P are two of the most genuinely good dudes you'll find in the music industry They were incredibly gracious to the crowd for giving all their energy and supporting their music and with their frequent wide-smiles and exchanges of daps and hugs, you can tell that they are having a ball on-stage every single night. About the only downside to the set was the choice to close with "A Christmas Fucking Miracle and "Angel Duster". "A Christmas Fucking Miracle" and "Angel Duster" are both good tracks, it's just that their melancholy nature kind of killed the momentum and ended their otherwise relentless set on an anti-climatic note. Run the Jewels' performance was a masterclass in hip-hop showmanship and I can not fucking wait to see them again on their next tour.
Scores:
Black Heart Broadway 5/10
Despot 8.5/10
Ratking 7/10
Run the Jewels 9.5/10
Setlist:
Despot included:
Knock, Knock Who Cares
Home is Where the Hood is
Look Alive
House Made of Bricks
Ratking:
Puerto Rico Judo
Snow Beach
So Sick Stories
Cocoa '88
New Song
Protein
Remove Ya
So It Goes
Fall in Love (Phantogram cover)
Canal
Run the Jewels:
Run the Jewels
Oh My Darling Don't Cry
Blockbuster Night Part 1
Banana Clipper
36" Chain
DDFH
Sea Legs
Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)
Tougher Colder Killer (w/Despot)
Lie, Cheat, Steal
Pew Pew Pew
Early
All Due Respect
Love Again (Akinyele Back)
Get It
A Christmas Fucking Miracle
Encore:
Angel Duster
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Quick Movie Reviews: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, St. Vincent and The Purge: Anarchy
The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1: Yes, The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 is essentially just a two-hour tease for the second part that comes next year, but that doesn't mean its not a compelling film. The film does exactly what its supposed to do: advance the narrative of the series and generate excitement for the climax of the franchise. Mockingjay Part 1 is pretty light on action, which allows the stellar acting ensemble to really drive the film. Jennifer Lawrence is excellent as usual, Liam Hemsworth does a fine job in an expanded role and series newcomer Julianne Moore is a welcome addition to this already talented-loaded cast. About the only problem I had with the film was a severe lack of screen time for Woody Harrelson. While Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen may be the hero of the story, Harrelson's Haymitch Abernathy makes every scene that much more interesting. It may not be as strong of film as Catching Fire, but this still a beyond respectable entry in this excellent series.
4/5 Stars
St. Vincent: All hail Bill Murray. The role of miserable, drunk war veteran Vincent MacKenna, who reluctantly agrees to babysit the 12-year old son (newcomer Jaeden Lieberhearer) of his new neighbor (Melissa McCarthy) was a role he was born to play. Watching Murray take a 12-year old to objectionable establishments such as bars and strip clubs and give him questionable life lessons is pure movie magic. Few people are able to play an irritable, sarcastic prick as well as Murray and with his recent string of lackluster films, this is exactly the role Murray needed to be revitalized. The narrative of St. Vincent is conventional and ends in predictably schmaltzy fashion, but this cast, who aside from Murray is going out of their comfort zones, is able to elevate this out of familiar dramedy territory. McCarthy and Naomi Watts both turn in good performances going way off-type as the mother of Oliver and a pregnant stripper/prostitute that Vincent sleeps with respectively. The typically off-the walls McCarthy is refreshingly restrained and shows off an emotional, dramatic side of her acting that she hasn't shown in the past while Watts fares much better with the breezy comedy of this film than she did with the pitch-black comedy in Birdman. St. Vincent is an entertaining, feel-good romp that is a welcome albeit relatively generic reprieve from the bleak films that have been ruling the cinemas of late.
3.5/5 Stare
The Purge: Anarchy: The Purge: Anarchy is every bit the film the first installment should've been. Anarchy expands upon the mythology of The Purge and gives a much greater sense of what this evening of chaos where all crime is legal means to this fictional society of New America. The sequences involving how the wealthy purge and an anti-purge group who are hellbent on killing the people in power and putting an end to this night of senseless mass murders amongst the lower social classes are especially gripping and give the film engaging subplots that the original sorely lacked. The Purge: Anarchy also benefits from having a much stronger cast than its predecessor. While the performances aren't exactly noteworthy, none of the lead actors veer into ridiculous overacting at any point of the film, which is more than you can say for about half of the cast of the first installment. The social commentary about violence in America still isn't very sharp and there are a couple of dumb scenes that strip away some of the entertainment value, but this is still a major improvement over the original in every possible way. If the filmmakers keep developing this world and focus more on the origins of the Purge and the impact the violence has on this society, I would love to see a third installment.
3.5/5 Stars
4/5 Stars
St. Vincent: All hail Bill Murray. The role of miserable, drunk war veteran Vincent MacKenna, who reluctantly agrees to babysit the 12-year old son (newcomer Jaeden Lieberhearer) of his new neighbor (Melissa McCarthy) was a role he was born to play. Watching Murray take a 12-year old to objectionable establishments such as bars and strip clubs and give him questionable life lessons is pure movie magic. Few people are able to play an irritable, sarcastic prick as well as Murray and with his recent string of lackluster films, this is exactly the role Murray needed to be revitalized. The narrative of St. Vincent is conventional and ends in predictably schmaltzy fashion, but this cast, who aside from Murray is going out of their comfort zones, is able to elevate this out of familiar dramedy territory. McCarthy and Naomi Watts both turn in good performances going way off-type as the mother of Oliver and a pregnant stripper/prostitute that Vincent sleeps with respectively. The typically off-the walls McCarthy is refreshingly restrained and shows off an emotional, dramatic side of her acting that she hasn't shown in the past while Watts fares much better with the breezy comedy of this film than she did with the pitch-black comedy in Birdman. St. Vincent is an entertaining, feel-good romp that is a welcome albeit relatively generic reprieve from the bleak films that have been ruling the cinemas of late.
3.5/5 Stare
The Purge: Anarchy: The Purge: Anarchy is every bit the film the first installment should've been. Anarchy expands upon the mythology of The Purge and gives a much greater sense of what this evening of chaos where all crime is legal means to this fictional society of New America. The sequences involving how the wealthy purge and an anti-purge group who are hellbent on killing the people in power and putting an end to this night of senseless mass murders amongst the lower social classes are especially gripping and give the film engaging subplots that the original sorely lacked. The Purge: Anarchy also benefits from having a much stronger cast than its predecessor. While the performances aren't exactly noteworthy, none of the lead actors veer into ridiculous overacting at any point of the film, which is more than you can say for about half of the cast of the first installment. The social commentary about violence in America still isn't very sharp and there are a couple of dumb scenes that strip away some of the entertainment value, but this is still a major improvement over the original in every possible way. If the filmmakers keep developing this world and focus more on the origins of the Purge and the impact the violence has on this society, I would love to see a third installment.
3.5/5 Stars
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
2014 Week 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
This was the Drew Brees performance that his fantasy owners had been waiting for all season. Brees lit up a banged-up Ravens secondary for 420 yards and 3 TD's on Monday night. His night could've been even better if it wasn't for a dropped Jimmy Graham TD in the 2nd quarter and a a costly INT in the 3rd quarter. Brees has another solid matchup against an injury-riddled secondary in Week 13 as the Saints travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers.
Honorable Mentions: Peyton Manning (Broncos), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Tony Romo (Cowboys)
LVP: Jay Cutler (Bears)
Jay Cutler found new ways to sadden his fantasy owners this week by putting up weak numbers in a game where he didn't turn the ball over multiple times. Cutler threw for a measly 130 and a TD and lost a fumble against a Buccaneers defense that has been pretty bad against QB's for a majority of the season. Cutler has a horrendous matchup against the Lions on Thanksgiving day, so avoid starting him unless you absolutely have to.
Dishonorable Mentions: Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Joe Flacco (Ravens), Mark Sanchez (Eagles)
Running Back
MVP: Justin Forsett (Ravens)
There has not been a bigger pleasant surprise in fantasy football this year than Justin Forsett. Forsett's early success appeared to be a fluke, but he's been absolutely dominate in just about every game this season and rose out of the Ravens running back committee to become the clear-cut starter. Forsett had a career night against the Saints on Monday Night Football as he went for a ridiculous 182 yards and 2 TD's on 22 carries. Forsett should continue to get high volume for the rest of the season and will likely serve as one of the keys to a lot of fantasy player's success come playoff time.
Honorable Mentions: C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Eddie Lacy (Packers), Matt Forte (Bears)
LVP: Alfred Blue (Texans)
Rookie Alfred Blue had a great day in Week 11 starting in place of the injured Arian Foster. That success did not carry over to Week 12 as Blue got held in check in his 3rd career start, picking up just 66 yards (46 rushing, 20 receiving) on 19 touches against the Bengals mediocre defense. Foster is on track to return this week, so unless Foster misses another game, Blue's fantasy value is very limited moving forward.
Dishonorable Mentions: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), Andre Ellington (Cardinals), Jerrick McKinnon (Vikings)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)
Remember when Demaryius Thomas was asleep at the wheel for the first 3 weeks of the season? Didn't think so. Thomas has been electric since the Broncos return from bye in Week 5, picking up double digit fantasy points in every single game over that span. Thomas was once again fantastic this week as he put 89 yards and 3 TD's on a Dolphins secondary that has been suffocating wideouts all season long. Thomas is unstoppable right now and unless something inexplicably terrible happens, he will be a top 3 fantasy wideout for the rest of the 2014 season.
Honorable Mentions: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), Dez Bryant (Cowboys), T.Y Hilton (Colts)
LVP: Sammy Watkins (Bills)
The Bills unloaded on the Jets on Monday night, following a week of limited practice and emotional heartache due to the wild blizzard that dumped 60+ inches of snow on the Buffalo area. About the only Bill who didn't get in on the action was rookie wideout Sammy Watkins. Robert Woods took the brunt of the targets, leaving Watkins to finish with just 35 yards on 3 receptions. Watkins' groin injury has certain held him back and with a matchup against Browns shutdown corner Joe Haden on the horizon, don't look for Watkins to bounce back in Week 13.
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandon Marshall (Bears), Percy Harvin (Jets), Kendall Wright (Titans)
Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Saints)
Jimmy Graham certainly did not have his best outing on Monday night against the Ravens, dropping a number of passes and failing to get open in a couple of key situations that ultimately cost the Saints the game. That being said, Graham was still able to haul in a pair of TD's and put up the best TE performance of Week 12 by a pretty wide margin. The TE position has been absolutely awful this year, so even with Graham having a down year, he remains one of the very few good options at the position.
Honorable Mentions: Delanie Walker (Titans), Jason Witten (Cowboys), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
LVP: Larry Donnell (Giants)
Oh Larry Donnell.... Donnell's up-and-down status was down once again this week as he got almost completely silenced by the Cowboys on Sunday night. Donnell didn't pick up a catch until the 4th quarter and finished with just 24 yards on 2 receptions on the evening. We've seen this movie before and Donnell will almost certainly bounce back and have a game where he puts up ridiculous numbers within the next couple of weeks. Donnell is an aggravating player, but his redzone ability in a terrible TE class makes him undroppable in most leagues.
Dishonorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Coby Fleener (Colts), Martellus Bennett (Bears)
Defense
MVP: Buffalo Bills
As I mentioned earlier, the Bills came out and decimated the Jets after an emotional week for them as a franchise on Monday night. The defense was a large part of the beatdown as they allowed just 3 points and picked up 7 sacks, an interception, a blocked punt and a touchdown on the night. The Bills are an absolute force on defense and even with a tough remaining schedule that includes matchups against the Browns, Broncos, Packers and Patriots- who are all in the bottom 10 at allowing fantasy points to defenses, this a unit that must be started week after week.
Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers
LVP: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs defense hasn't been nearly as good in 2014 as they were a year ago. This was perfectly evidenced by their shockingly poor performance against the Raiders last Thursday. The Chiefs allowed 24 points, picked up 1 sack and a fumble recovery in a game that gave the Raiders their first win since November 17th, 2013. The Chiefs have been a middling defense all season long and with a tough schedule over the last month season, they just can't be counted on to deliver.
Dishonorable Mentions: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
This was the Drew Brees performance that his fantasy owners had been waiting for all season. Brees lit up a banged-up Ravens secondary for 420 yards and 3 TD's on Monday night. His night could've been even better if it wasn't for a dropped Jimmy Graham TD in the 2nd quarter and a a costly INT in the 3rd quarter. Brees has another solid matchup against an injury-riddled secondary in Week 13 as the Saints travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers.
Honorable Mentions: Peyton Manning (Broncos), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Tony Romo (Cowboys)
LVP: Jay Cutler (Bears)
Jay Cutler found new ways to sadden his fantasy owners this week by putting up weak numbers in a game where he didn't turn the ball over multiple times. Cutler threw for a measly 130 and a TD and lost a fumble against a Buccaneers defense that has been pretty bad against QB's for a majority of the season. Cutler has a horrendous matchup against the Lions on Thanksgiving day, so avoid starting him unless you absolutely have to.
Dishonorable Mentions: Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Joe Flacco (Ravens), Mark Sanchez (Eagles)
Running Back
MVP: Justin Forsett (Ravens)
There has not been a bigger pleasant surprise in fantasy football this year than Justin Forsett. Forsett's early success appeared to be a fluke, but he's been absolutely dominate in just about every game this season and rose out of the Ravens running back committee to become the clear-cut starter. Forsett had a career night against the Saints on Monday Night Football as he went for a ridiculous 182 yards and 2 TD's on 22 carries. Forsett should continue to get high volume for the rest of the season and will likely serve as one of the keys to a lot of fantasy player's success come playoff time.
Honorable Mentions: C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Eddie Lacy (Packers), Matt Forte (Bears)
LVP: Alfred Blue (Texans)
Rookie Alfred Blue had a great day in Week 11 starting in place of the injured Arian Foster. That success did not carry over to Week 12 as Blue got held in check in his 3rd career start, picking up just 66 yards (46 rushing, 20 receiving) on 19 touches against the Bengals mediocre defense. Foster is on track to return this week, so unless Foster misses another game, Blue's fantasy value is very limited moving forward.
Dishonorable Mentions: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), Andre Ellington (Cardinals), Jerrick McKinnon (Vikings)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)
Remember when Demaryius Thomas was asleep at the wheel for the first 3 weeks of the season? Didn't think so. Thomas has been electric since the Broncos return from bye in Week 5, picking up double digit fantasy points in every single game over that span. Thomas was once again fantastic this week as he put 89 yards and 3 TD's on a Dolphins secondary that has been suffocating wideouts all season long. Thomas is unstoppable right now and unless something inexplicably terrible happens, he will be a top 3 fantasy wideout for the rest of the 2014 season.
Honorable Mentions: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), Dez Bryant (Cowboys), T.Y Hilton (Colts)
LVP: Sammy Watkins (Bills)
The Bills unloaded on the Jets on Monday night, following a week of limited practice and emotional heartache due to the wild blizzard that dumped 60+ inches of snow on the Buffalo area. About the only Bill who didn't get in on the action was rookie wideout Sammy Watkins. Robert Woods took the brunt of the targets, leaving Watkins to finish with just 35 yards on 3 receptions. Watkins' groin injury has certain held him back and with a matchup against Browns shutdown corner Joe Haden on the horizon, don't look for Watkins to bounce back in Week 13.
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandon Marshall (Bears), Percy Harvin (Jets), Kendall Wright (Titans)
Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Saints)
Jimmy Graham certainly did not have his best outing on Monday night against the Ravens, dropping a number of passes and failing to get open in a couple of key situations that ultimately cost the Saints the game. That being said, Graham was still able to haul in a pair of TD's and put up the best TE performance of Week 12 by a pretty wide margin. The TE position has been absolutely awful this year, so even with Graham having a down year, he remains one of the very few good options at the position.
Honorable Mentions: Delanie Walker (Titans), Jason Witten (Cowboys), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
LVP: Larry Donnell (Giants)
Oh Larry Donnell.... Donnell's up-and-down status was down once again this week as he got almost completely silenced by the Cowboys on Sunday night. Donnell didn't pick up a catch until the 4th quarter and finished with just 24 yards on 2 receptions on the evening. We've seen this movie before and Donnell will almost certainly bounce back and have a game where he puts up ridiculous numbers within the next couple of weeks. Donnell is an aggravating player, but his redzone ability in a terrible TE class makes him undroppable in most leagues.
Dishonorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Coby Fleener (Colts), Martellus Bennett (Bears)
Defense
MVP: Buffalo Bills
As I mentioned earlier, the Bills came out and decimated the Jets after an emotional week for them as a franchise on Monday night. The defense was a large part of the beatdown as they allowed just 3 points and picked up 7 sacks, an interception, a blocked punt and a touchdown on the night. The Bills are an absolute force on defense and even with a tough remaining schedule that includes matchups against the Browns, Broncos, Packers and Patriots- who are all in the bottom 10 at allowing fantasy points to defenses, this a unit that must be started week after week.
Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers
LVP: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs defense hasn't been nearly as good in 2014 as they were a year ago. This was perfectly evidenced by their shockingly poor performance against the Raiders last Thursday. The Chiefs allowed 24 points, picked up 1 sack and a fumble recovery in a game that gave the Raiders their first win since November 17th, 2013. The Chiefs have been a middling defense all season long and with a tough schedule over the last month season, they just can't be counted on to deliver.
Dishonorable Mentions: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos
Monday, November 24, 2014
50 Best NFL Player Names: 2014 Edition
Two years ago, I composed the hardest-hitting article of my writing career with my picks for the 50 Best NFL players (that list can be read here: http://maitlandsmadness.blogspot.com/2012/12/50-best-nfl-player-names.html). Well I'm pleased to announced that now is the time for the sequel to that list. As with the first list, this list will be comprised of the players with the funniest birth names, not nicknames (so gems like Bear Pascoe and HaHa Clinton-Dix are excluded from consideration). Without further ado, here are my picks for the 50 best players names in the NFL in 2014.
50.Knile Davis (Chiefs)
49.Joique Bell (Lions)
48.Wesley Woodyard (Titans)
47.Major Wright (Buccaneers)
46.Haloti Ngata (Ravens)
45.Michael Crabtree (49ers)
44.Brock Osweiler (Broncos)
43.Jeremy Zuttah (Ravens)
42.Knoshown Moreno (Dolphins)
38.Storm Johnson (Jaguars)
32.Stefen Wisnewski (Raiders)
31.Duke Ihenacho (Redskins)
30.Leonard Hankerson (Redskins)
29.Ezekiel Ansah (Lions)
28.Travaris Cadet (Saints)
27.Golden Tate (Lions)
24.Crockett Gilmore (Ravens)
23.Jaquizz Rodgers (Falcons)
22.Leodis McKelvin (Bills)
19.Mathais Kiwanuka (Giants)
13.John Kuhn (Packers)
12.Dexter McCluster (Titans)
7.Kai Forbath (Redskins)
6.Prince Amukamara (Giants)
3.Captain Munnerlyn (Vikings)
2.Barkevious Mingo (Browns)
1.D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Jets)
50.Knile Davis (Chiefs)
49.Joique Bell (Lions)
48.Wesley Woodyard (Titans)
47.Major Wright (Buccaneers)
46.Haloti Ngata (Ravens)
45.Michael Crabtree (49ers)
44.Brock Osweiler (Broncos)
43.Jeremy Zuttah (Ravens)
42.Knoshown Moreno (Dolphins)
41.Bjoern Werner
(Colts)
40.Cyrus Kouandijo (Bills)
39.Breno Giacomini (Jets)38.Storm Johnson (Jaguars)
37.Ndmuakong Suh (Lions)
36.Dontari Poe
(Chiefs)
35.Cornelius Washington (Bears)
34.Tony Jerrod-Eddie
(49ers)
33.Danny Woodhead (Chargers)32.Stefen Wisnewski (Raiders)
31.Duke Ihenacho (Redskins)
30.Leonard Hankerson (Redskins)
29.Ezekiel Ansah (Lions)
28.Travaris Cadet (Saints)
27.Golden Tate (Lions)
26.Orleans Darkawa
(Giants)
25.Henry Hynoski (Giants)24.Crockett Gilmore (Ravens)
23.Jaquizz Rodgers (Falcons)
22.Leodis McKelvin (Bills)
21.Gosder Cherilus
(Colts)
20.Dane Sanzenbacher (Bengals)19.Mathais Kiwanuka (Giants)
18.Michael Hoomanwanui (Patriots)
17.Ricky Jean-Francois (Colts)
16.Stanley
Jean-Baptiste (Saints)
15.Chris Ogbonnaya
(Panthers)
14.Whitney Mercilus (Texans)13.John Kuhn (Packers)
12.Dexter McCluster (Titans)
11.Jorvorskie Lane
(Buccaneers)
10.Nick Toon (Saints)
9.McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Dolphins)
8.Sherrick McMannis (Bears)7.Kai Forbath (Redskins)
6.Prince Amukamara (Giants)
5.Zane Beadles
(Jaguars)
4.Frank Zombo (Chiefs)3.Captain Munnerlyn (Vikings)
2.Barkevious Mingo (Browns)
1.D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Jets)
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Quick Movie Reviews: Birdman, Interstellar and Whiplash
Birdman: As far as technical filmmaking goes, Birdman is the gold standard. The cinematography makes it seem like the entire movie was filmed in one continuous shot and the audio mix is more reminiscent of a live theater production than a film. It was surely excruciating for everyone involved in the production to make the film seem so natural, but that effort pays off big time as Birdman sets a new bar for behind-the-camera wizardy in Hollywood. The acting is equally impressive with Michael Keaton perfectly capturing the desperation and psychosis of a washed-up actor who is desperate to get back into the spotlight in the present day after starring in a string of hit superhero films in the early '90s. The parallels between Keaton and his character Riggan Thomson's career are obvious (Keaton played Batman in the first two Batman films directed by Tim Burton and has been reduced to nothing but supporting roles since then) and Keaton brings every ounce of pain from his real-life acting struggles to this character. Edward Norton and Emma Stone are just as impressive in supporting roles. Norton plays a celebrated yet wildly arrogant Broadway actor who is brought in at the last minute to star in Riggan's comeback play. Norton hasn't had a role this juicy in years and he absolutely kills it here as a character who, just like Norton himself, is full of hubris and an absolute pain in the ass to work with. Stone is easily the biggest surprise in the whole film as Sam, Riggan's recovering drug addict daughter. Stone has never tackled a role like this before and she more than rises to the occasion with an understated yet powerful performance. Where Birdman kind of hits a wall is with its narrative. It tries to cover way too much different ground in a relatively short amount of time and as a result, a lot of the subplots that don't involve Riggan's battle with his inner demons are poorly developed. While the uneven storyline and obnoxiously ambiguous ending prevent Birdman from amounting to the masterpiece it strives to be, it's still a technically-dazzling and brilliantly-acted film that is essential viewing for anyone out there that considers themselves a film nerd.
4/5 Stars
Interstellar: For the first time in a long time, Christopher Nolan failed to deliver. Nolan's latest film, Interstellar, plays out more like a tedious science lesson than a sci-fi blockbuster. The theories on wormholes and time warps may be sound and scientifically accurate, but it's not even remotely interesting to watch these characters have seemingly endless conservations about them for at least half of the film's nearly three hour runtime. The human drama isn't that much more compelling as Nolan centers the film around a father (Matthew McConaughey)/daughter (played by Jessica Chastian, Mackenzie Foy and Ellen Burstyn over various stages of the film) in relationship and how gaps in the time space continuum can't ruin their deep love for one another. The two main themes of Interstellar converge in a ridiculous, inorganic way in the final act and it brings the already heavily-flawed space adventure down to earth at warp speed. The movie is visually-stunning and McConaughey and Chastain turn in solid performances, but that isn't nearly to overlook how hollow and dull this film is overall. If you love science or modern tributes to 2001: A Space Odyssey then Interstellar is your wet dream. If those things don't excite you, Interstellar is a joyless slog to sit through. Seriously Nolan, you're much better than plodding crap like this.
2/5 Stars
Whiplash: All I had to say about Whiplash once the credits rolled was wow. On paper, Whiplash doesn't sound like anything special. The film focuses on a young jazz drumming prodigy (Miles Teller) at the Shaffer Conservatory of Music in New York City who falls under the tutelage of a respected but band instructor (J.K. Simmons) who pushes him to the brink both physically and mentally. What makes Whiplash stand out is the fact that it plays out more like a thriller than a coming-of-age music drama. The scenes between Teller's Andrew and Simmons' Terance Fletcher are chock-full of tension and suspense. Simmons, who turns in a Oscar-worthy performance, is largely responsible for setting the film's tense tone. Watching the beyond intimidating Fletcher break down his students with insults was equally amusing and horrifying. There are brief glimpses of kindness to his character, but he mostly piles on the intensity and throws human decency to the side in an attempt to make his band the most disciplined and precise in the country. This is the role that longtime character actor Simmons needed to finally get a shot at being a leading man. While Simmons is the undeniable standout, Teller manages to turn another quality performance to add to his impressive and rapidly-growing resume. Teller is able to play the role of a kid who has sacrificed his social life and mental/physical well-being to be the best drummer possible with an incredibly level of authenticity and heart. Not only does Teller deliver as an actor, he also shows off some impressive chops on the drums. Just about every drum beat in the film- including the lengthy solo at end of the film- was played by Teller himself, which only adds to the film's remarkable realism and heavy emotional payoff. Don't let the unconventional subject matter turn you off, Whiplash is an absolutely brilliant crowd-pleaser of a film that demands to be seen by the masses.
4.5/5 Stars
4/5 Stars
Interstellar: For the first time in a long time, Christopher Nolan failed to deliver. Nolan's latest film, Interstellar, plays out more like a tedious science lesson than a sci-fi blockbuster. The theories on wormholes and time warps may be sound and scientifically accurate, but it's not even remotely interesting to watch these characters have seemingly endless conservations about them for at least half of the film's nearly three hour runtime. The human drama isn't that much more compelling as Nolan centers the film around a father (Matthew McConaughey)/daughter (played by Jessica Chastian, Mackenzie Foy and Ellen Burstyn over various stages of the film) in relationship and how gaps in the time space continuum can't ruin their deep love for one another. The two main themes of Interstellar converge in a ridiculous, inorganic way in the final act and it brings the already heavily-flawed space adventure down to earth at warp speed. The movie is visually-stunning and McConaughey and Chastain turn in solid performances, but that isn't nearly to overlook how hollow and dull this film is overall. If you love science or modern tributes to 2001: A Space Odyssey then Interstellar is your wet dream. If those things don't excite you, Interstellar is a joyless slog to sit through. Seriously Nolan, you're much better than plodding crap like this.
2/5 Stars
Whiplash: All I had to say about Whiplash once the credits rolled was wow. On paper, Whiplash doesn't sound like anything special. The film focuses on a young jazz drumming prodigy (Miles Teller) at the Shaffer Conservatory of Music in New York City who falls under the tutelage of a respected but band instructor (J.K. Simmons) who pushes him to the brink both physically and mentally. What makes Whiplash stand out is the fact that it plays out more like a thriller than a coming-of-age music drama. The scenes between Teller's Andrew and Simmons' Terance Fletcher are chock-full of tension and suspense. Simmons, who turns in a Oscar-worthy performance, is largely responsible for setting the film's tense tone. Watching the beyond intimidating Fletcher break down his students with insults was equally amusing and horrifying. There are brief glimpses of kindness to his character, but he mostly piles on the intensity and throws human decency to the side in an attempt to make his band the most disciplined and precise in the country. This is the role that longtime character actor Simmons needed to finally get a shot at being a leading man. While Simmons is the undeniable standout, Teller manages to turn another quality performance to add to his impressive and rapidly-growing resume. Teller is able to play the role of a kid who has sacrificed his social life and mental/physical well-being to be the best drummer possible with an incredibly level of authenticity and heart. Not only does Teller deliver as an actor, he also shows off some impressive chops on the drums. Just about every drum beat in the film- including the lengthy solo at end of the film- was played by Teller himself, which only adds to the film's remarkable realism and heavy emotional payoff. Don't let the unconventional subject matter turn you off, Whiplash is an absolutely brilliant crowd-pleaser of a film that demands to be seen by the masses.
4.5/5 Stars
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
2014 Week 11 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense streak of inhuman offensive play continued on Sunday versus the Eagles. Rodgers picked apart the weak Eagles secondary all day on his way to a 341-yard, 3 TD performance. With his recent output, Rodgers is now challenging Andrew Luck for the most valuable fantasy quarterback of 2014 and his current run of utter domination is in little danger of ending this week when he goes up against a Vikings secondary who just got destroyed by Jay Cutler.
Honorable Mentions: Jay Cutler (Bears), Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Andy Dalton (Bengals)
LVP: Matthew Stafford (Lions)
Matthew Stafford certainly isn't the most reliable quarterback to start in fantasy, but his Week 11 performance was even disappointing by his standards. Stafford failed to get going at all on Sunday afternoon against the Cardinals, finishing with just 183 yards, 0 touchdowns and an INT. Stafford's got a brutal schedule (when he isn't facing the Bears) for the final portion of the season, so his owners might want to look elsewhere for a starting QB for their potential playoff push.
Dishonorable Mentions: Robert Griffin III (Redskins), Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Matt Ryan (Falcons)
Running Back
MVP: Le'veon Bell (Steelers)
After a few down weeks in a row, Le'veon Bell returned with a vengeance in Week 11. Bell was able to bail out a mediocre passing attack with a career-high 204 yards on the ground in the Steelers comeback win over the Titans on Monday night. Bell has easily been one of the best RB1's this season and he should continue to deliver the goods once the Steelers return from bye in Week 13.
Honorable Mentions: Jammal Charles (Chiefs), Eddie Lacy (Packers), Matt Forte (Bears)
LVP: Andre Ellington (Cardinals)
With Drew Stanton replacing Carson Palmer, it seemed like the perfect time for Andre Ellington to become the centerpiece of the Cardinals. While Ellington got ample touches this week, he picked up just 66 yards (42 rushing, 24 receiving) on 23 touches. The Lions are admittedly a tough matchup for any running back, but with Palmer out for the season, you're going to need to get better production out of Ellington if you want to remain at the top of the NFC. The sledding doesn't get any easier for Ellington as the Cardinals face the Seahawks tough run D in Week 12.
Dishonorable Mentions: Mark Ingram (Saints), Jerick McKinnon (Vikings), Steven Jackson (Falcons)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
Buccaneers rookie wideout Mike Evans has been playing out of his mind for the past month, but that was just a warmup for his career day in Week 11. Evans made the most of his 7 receptions picking up 209 yards and a pair of TD's against the Redskins on Sunday. Evans appears to have taken the Bucs number 1 wideout job from Vincent Jackson and has officially solidified himself as a weekly must-start for fantasy purposes.
Honorable Mentions: Brandon Marshall (Bears), Alshon Jeffrey (Bears), A.J. Green (Bengals)
LVP: Calvin Johnson (Lions)
With an elite corner in Patrick Peterson shadowing him for the entire game and a poor performance from Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson just couldn't get anything going this week against the Cardinals. Johnson's 5 catch, 59-yard performance may not look overly bad on paper, but with Johnson being who he is and the fact that the Cardinals secondary have a relatively vulnerable secondary, this performance was highly underwhelming for his fantasy owners. Johnson has another rough matchup lined up for Week 12 as the Lions are set to face the incredibly tough Patriots secondary
Dishonorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), DeSean Jackson (Redskins), Pierre Garcon (Redskins)
Tight End
MVP: Coby Fleener (Colts)
And the surprise performance of Week 11 award goes to...Coby Fleener! Fleener made the most of Dwayne Allen exiting the game early with an ankle injury and gassed the Patriots strong secondary for 144 yards on 7 receptions. With Allen's status unclear for this week and the strong chemistry he has with Andrew Luck, Fleener should be a solid TE1 for at least this upcoming week.
Honorable Mentions: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Larry Donnell (Giants), Heath Miller (Steelers)
LVP: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
Travis Kelce has been a surprisingly solid fantasy tight end this season, but given the fact that he is a member of the notoriously conservative, run-heavy Chiefs offense, he's going to put up some stinkers from time to time. Week 11 was one of those times. Kelce had just 37 yards and a rare fumble against the Seahawks on Sunday. Kelce has a decent chance of rebounding against the Raiders this Thursday night.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Vernon Davis (49ers), Antonio Gates (Chargers)
Defense
MVP: Green Bay Packers
The hit-or-miss Packers defense was very much a hit on Sunday against the Eagles. The team finished the afternoon with 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INT's, 2 defensive touchdowns and a kick return touchdown. The Packers have another solid matchup against the Vikings this week, so they could be in line to have a rare string of solid outings in a row.
Honorable Mentions: San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers
LVP: Denver Broncos
What the hell happened to the Broncos on Sunday? The Broncos suffered a shocking loss at the hands of the middling Rams on Sunday. While their offense deserves a lot of the blame, the defense didn't really do much to help matters. The Broncos picked up just 3 sacks and failed to get a takeaway against a Rams offense that has been a godsend to fantasy defenses this year. The Broncos defense has cooled down substantially in recent weeks, so they're nothing more than a mid-level defensive start at this point in time.
Dishonorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense streak of inhuman offensive play continued on Sunday versus the Eagles. Rodgers picked apart the weak Eagles secondary all day on his way to a 341-yard, 3 TD performance. With his recent output, Rodgers is now challenging Andrew Luck for the most valuable fantasy quarterback of 2014 and his current run of utter domination is in little danger of ending this week when he goes up against a Vikings secondary who just got destroyed by Jay Cutler.
Honorable Mentions: Jay Cutler (Bears), Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Andy Dalton (Bengals)
LVP: Matthew Stafford (Lions)
Matthew Stafford certainly isn't the most reliable quarterback to start in fantasy, but his Week 11 performance was even disappointing by his standards. Stafford failed to get going at all on Sunday afternoon against the Cardinals, finishing with just 183 yards, 0 touchdowns and an INT. Stafford's got a brutal schedule (when he isn't facing the Bears) for the final portion of the season, so his owners might want to look elsewhere for a starting QB for their potential playoff push.
Dishonorable Mentions: Robert Griffin III (Redskins), Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Matt Ryan (Falcons)
Running Back
MVP: Le'veon Bell (Steelers)
After a few down weeks in a row, Le'veon Bell returned with a vengeance in Week 11. Bell was able to bail out a mediocre passing attack with a career-high 204 yards on the ground in the Steelers comeback win over the Titans on Monday night. Bell has easily been one of the best RB1's this season and he should continue to deliver the goods once the Steelers return from bye in Week 13.
Honorable Mentions: Jammal Charles (Chiefs), Eddie Lacy (Packers), Matt Forte (Bears)
LVP: Andre Ellington (Cardinals)
With Drew Stanton replacing Carson Palmer, it seemed like the perfect time for Andre Ellington to become the centerpiece of the Cardinals. While Ellington got ample touches this week, he picked up just 66 yards (42 rushing, 24 receiving) on 23 touches. The Lions are admittedly a tough matchup for any running back, but with Palmer out for the season, you're going to need to get better production out of Ellington if you want to remain at the top of the NFC. The sledding doesn't get any easier for Ellington as the Cardinals face the Seahawks tough run D in Week 12.
Dishonorable Mentions: Mark Ingram (Saints), Jerick McKinnon (Vikings), Steven Jackson (Falcons)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
Buccaneers rookie wideout Mike Evans has been playing out of his mind for the past month, but that was just a warmup for his career day in Week 11. Evans made the most of his 7 receptions picking up 209 yards and a pair of TD's against the Redskins on Sunday. Evans appears to have taken the Bucs number 1 wideout job from Vincent Jackson and has officially solidified himself as a weekly must-start for fantasy purposes.
Honorable Mentions: Brandon Marshall (Bears), Alshon Jeffrey (Bears), A.J. Green (Bengals)
LVP: Calvin Johnson (Lions)
With an elite corner in Patrick Peterson shadowing him for the entire game and a poor performance from Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson just couldn't get anything going this week against the Cardinals. Johnson's 5 catch, 59-yard performance may not look overly bad on paper, but with Johnson being who he is and the fact that the Cardinals secondary have a relatively vulnerable secondary, this performance was highly underwhelming for his fantasy owners. Johnson has another rough matchup lined up for Week 12 as the Lions are set to face the incredibly tough Patriots secondary
Dishonorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), DeSean Jackson (Redskins), Pierre Garcon (Redskins)
Tight End
MVP: Coby Fleener (Colts)
And the surprise performance of Week 11 award goes to...Coby Fleener! Fleener made the most of Dwayne Allen exiting the game early with an ankle injury and gassed the Patriots strong secondary for 144 yards on 7 receptions. With Allen's status unclear for this week and the strong chemistry he has with Andrew Luck, Fleener should be a solid TE1 for at least this upcoming week.
Honorable Mentions: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Larry Donnell (Giants), Heath Miller (Steelers)
LVP: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
Travis Kelce has been a surprisingly solid fantasy tight end this season, but given the fact that he is a member of the notoriously conservative, run-heavy Chiefs offense, he's going to put up some stinkers from time to time. Week 11 was one of those times. Kelce had just 37 yards and a rare fumble against the Seahawks on Sunday. Kelce has a decent chance of rebounding against the Raiders this Thursday night.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Vernon Davis (49ers), Antonio Gates (Chargers)
Defense
MVP: Green Bay Packers
The hit-or-miss Packers defense was very much a hit on Sunday against the Eagles. The team finished the afternoon with 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INT's, 2 defensive touchdowns and a kick return touchdown. The Packers have another solid matchup against the Vikings this week, so they could be in line to have a rare string of solid outings in a row.
Honorable Mentions: San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers
LVP: Denver Broncos
What the hell happened to the Broncos on Sunday? The Broncos suffered a shocking loss at the hands of the middling Rams on Sunday. While their offense deserves a lot of the blame, the defense didn't really do much to help matters. The Broncos picked up just 3 sacks and failed to get a takeaway against a Rams offense that has been a godsend to fantasy defenses this year. The Broncos defense has cooled down substantially in recent weeks, so they're nothing more than a mid-level defensive start at this point in time.
Dishonorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns
Friday, November 14, 2014
Movie Review: Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler focuses on an opportunistic sociopath named Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal). Bloom is a low-level thief who is desperately searching for an employment opportunity that rewards him financially. That opportunity falls right into Bloom's lap as he's driving past a grisly accident scene on the Los Angeles freeway and sees a group of cameramen capturing the aftermath of the accident with the intent to sell the footage to a local news station for their early morning broadcast. Bloom is inspired about what he witnessed on the freeway and soon buys a camera and a police scanner for his car so he can enter the freelance video journalism business. Before long Bloom is able to establish a business relationship with the news director of the lowest-rated news station (Rene Russo) in LA, who gladly purchases Bloom's most graphic footage to try and get ahead in the ratings. After a few sales, Bloom hires an assistant (Riz Ahmed) and quickly becomes the most well-known "Nightcrawler" in LA thanks to his willingness to cross any ethical boundary to get footage and eliminate anyone that poses a threat to his exploitative video news empire.
Nightcrawler is a Hollywood thriller doesn't feel fake for even a second; which makes it especially unsettling to sit through. There are people just like Louis Bloom currently among us making a living off of filming fatal car accidents and murder scenes for a paycheck from news stations across the country. Even when Bloom's decisions become more rash and he goes to more extreme lengths to get the perfect shot for the news, it never loses its sense of authenticity and that is a big part of why Nightcrawler is such an unshakable and impactful piece of film-making.
The scenes between Bloom and Rene Russo's Nina are rooted even more in the truth than Bloom's scenes "Nightcrawling" around Los Angeles. At the end of their first meeting, Nina encourages Bloom to go out and capture more brutal work for the newscast by asking him to think of her newscast as " a screaming woman running down the street with her throat cut". Nina's sentiments are perfectly representative of how television news operates in the present day. The only news stories most people care about are gruesome events that end in at least one fatality, especially when they happen in affluent neighborhoods where brutal crime doesn't typically occur. Gilroy often uses a satirical tone to address the subject, but his message is very serious and monstrously affective. The comparisons to Sidney Lumet's 1976 classic Network are unavoidable, Gilroy has just updated that film's anti-media message for the digital age. Nightcrawler delivers such a scathing and accurate portrayal of the modern, sensationalist-driven news industry that it's almost nauseating to watch.
Underneath all the commentary on sensationalist journalism and capitalism, Nightcrawler is a character study about a man who is desperate to succeed in life by any means necessary. Jake Gyllenhaal is masterfully manipulative and downright creepy as Bloom. He rips through the film's long monologues with an endless amount of sleazy confidence and bravado. When he's selling the other film's characters on his agenda, you can't help but buy into the shit he's selling. Despite his psychotic tendencies and blatant disregard for human decency, Gyllenhaal grounds the character with a stunning level of humanity. No matter how fucked up Bloom's actions or motives are, you never find yourself truly hating the character. Gyllenhaal has quietly become one of the most reliably great actors in Hollywood over the past few years and his work here is certainly in the conversation alongside Donnie Darko and End of Watch for the best performance of his career thus far. Gyllenhaal's unhinged yet commanding performance really drives home the force of Nightcrawler's biting social commentary. Nightcrawler is a vastly important film that serves as a potent condemnation of modern news and the capitalist attitude that dominates the American business landscape.
4.5/5 Stars
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Album Review: Job for a Cowboy-Sun Eater
There is arguably no other band in the modern metal landscape that has spawned more internet and in-person verbal fights than Job for a Cowboy. They picked up a steady group of passionate followers and detractors when they released their debut 2005 EP Doom and the arguments have only gotten more intense over the years as they've drifted further away from the deathcore sound that first got them noticed. If anything is going to silence the legions of Job for a Cowboy detractors out there, it's going to be their new LP Sun Eater, which is not even remotely similar to anything the band has done in the past.
Sun Eater is much more reminiscent of foreign atmospheric death metal a la Gorguts and Morbus Chron than the contemporary American death metal they tackled on 2009's Ruination and 2012's Demonocracy. The technicality the band has brought to the table on their past few releases is still very much present, there's just a more of a focus on establishing a mood than constantly bombarding the listener with mind-numbing speed. The more expansive approach to the songwriting on Sun Eater allows the band to dive into the most ambitious, sprawling material they've ever produced.
Album opener "Eating the Visions of God" will more than likely take back anyone who's ever heard Job for a Cowboy before. The majority of the riffing is subdued, there's prominent bass throughout, the moments of technicality are unexpected and exciting, and there's an overwhelming aura of dread throughout the six-and-a-half minute runtime. Cuts like "Sun of Nihility", "The Synthetic Sea" and "Buried Monuments" only build upon the strength of "Eating the Visions of God". All of these songs have a distinct structure with dynamic instrumentation and moments of nuanced gloom that build organically into beautiful extreme metal bedlam. Even the more straightforward tech-death affairs on the record ("The Stone Cross", "A Global Shift") feel more fluid and dense than anything they've crafted in the past. There's room to breathe on the compositions on this record and those moments of subtlety allow this record get under your skin in a way that most releases in this genre only dream of.
The change in sound on Sun Eater also brings a lot more attention to the vast amount of talent Job for a Cowboy possesses. This is a band that has gone through a revolving door of members since their inception a decade ago (vocalist Jonny Davy is the only founding member still in the band,) and this incarnation of Job for a Cowboy is light-years ahead of any of their previous lineups. Guitarist Tony Sannicaderio evolves to the next level as a player with the most intricate riffs and solos he's ever written, session drummer Danny Walker (Intronaut, ex-Exhumed) seamlessly integrates himself into the fold and Davy delivers yet another strong, unabashedly evil vocal performance. However, the MVP of Sun Eater is bassist Nick Schendzilos. I have absolutely no idea why Job for a Cowboy waited so long to unleash this beast on the world. The flawless tone and finesse of the bass plays an integral part in helping establish the haunting atmosphere that runs through Sun Eater. The rest of the metal world needs to listen and take notes on how bass is used on this record. Bass is criminally underutilized in metal and Sun Eater serves as a perfect testament of just how effective it can be when its prominently featured in the music.
The constant shifts in sound Job for a Cowboy have made throughout their career have all culminated with Sun Eater. If Davy wasn't the vocalist, it couldn't even be identified as a Job for a Cowboy album. The variation of the songwriting and excellent musicianship throughout makes this album monumentally better than anything they did in the past. While there are times the record becomes meandering ("The Celestial Antidote", "Worming Nightfall"), the overwhelming strength of the rest of the album is more than enough to forgive the couple of missteps along the way. There will undoubtedly be some people out there that will dismiss Sun Eater simply because of the band's early reputation as the kings of pig-squaling, breakdown-laden deathcore. But for those open-minded listeners who are willing to overlook the days of "Knee Deep" and "Entombment of a Machine", you'll be treated to one of the most rewarding and dense death metal releases of 2014.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Burning Monuments
2.The Synthetic Sea
3.Sun of Nihility
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
2014 Week 10 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
The only thing more satisfying than throwing 6 TD's in a game, is throwing 6 TD's against your arch rival. Aaron Rodgers got to experience that feeling of nirvana on Sunday night as he carved up the abysmal Bears defense in primetime on Sunday. The devastation probably could've been worse, but Rodgers was pulled from the game after the first series of the second half. Rodgers is in inhuman form right now and he has another chance to go off this week against a terrible Eagles secondary at the friendly confines of Lambeau Field.
Honorable Mentions: Peyton Manning (Broncos), Tony Romo (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
LVP: Andy Dalton (Bengals)
I'm not going to lie, I'm picking Andy Dalton over Colin Kaepernick and Ben Roethlisberger for the worst QB play of the week because he screwed over one of my teams this week. Dalton had the single worst game of his career on Thursday night (86 yards, 0 TD's, 3 INT's, 2.0 passer rating) against the Browns. Dalton had next to no zip on the ball and was consistently inaccurate for the duration of the game. The Browns have a good secondary and haven't allowed a lot of fantasy points to quarterbacks, but that still doesn't excuse just how woefully horrible Dalton was in this game. Dalton is only a desperation start for extremely brave owners for the rest of 2014.
Dishonorable Mentions: Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Cam Newton (Panthers)
Running Back
MVP: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks)
You see what happens when the Seahawks let Marshawn Lynch run free? Beast Mode was back in full force this week as the Seahawks took on the Giants on Sunday afternoon. Lynch made the most of his 22 carries, picking up 140 yards and 4 TD's on the day. Lynch is about as deadly of a running back as there is in the NFL and if the Seahawks continue to give him the ball at a high rate, he'll be a top-flight RB1.
Honorable Mentions: Justin Forsett (Ravens), Jammal Charles (Chiefs), Eddie Lacy (Packers)
LVP: Jeremy Hill (Bengals)
What a difference a week makes. A week after his breakout performance against the Jaguars, Jeremy Hill was all but completely silenced in Week 10 against the Browns. Hill got a measly 13 touches (12 carries, 1 reception) for 61 yards and lost an ugly fumble in the second quarter. Hill fell victim to the Bengals terrible offensive performance and total abandonment of the run once the second half rolled around, but considering the quality of the matchup and absence of Giovani Bernard from the lineup, this performance is still a major disappointment.
Dishonorable Mentions: Lamar Miller (Dolphins), Ronnie Hillman (Broncos), Matt Forte (Bears)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
No one was happier to have Tony Romo return to the lineup than Dez Bryant. Bryant bounced back big time from his terrible performance against the Cardinals in Week 9 with Brandon Weeden under center with a 158-yard, 2 TD performance against the Jaguars on Sunday in London. Bryant will have more off-weeks than your typical WR1, but when he's on, there's few that can come close to matching his production.
Honorable Mentions: Jordy Nelson (Packers), Martavis Bryant (Steelers), Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos)
LVP: A.J. Green (Bengals)
A.J. Green was yet another victim of Andy Dalton's abysmal performance against the Browns. Green finished with just 3 receptions for 23 yards on the evening. If its any constellation for this terrible performance, Green looked 100% healthy in this game and should be back to his WR1 form once Dalton gets back on track.
Dishonorable Mentions: Sammy Watkins (Bills), Steve Smith (Ravens), Jeremy Maclin (Eagles)
Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Saints)
Week 10 marked the first time all season where Jimmy Graham has looked truly unstoppable. Graham looked like the 2013 version of himself as he picked up 76 yards and 2 TD's on 10 receptions against the 49ers on Sunday. Graham's day would've been even better if he didn't get flagged for pass interference on what would've been his 3rd TD at the end of regulation. With Graham appearing to be back in top form, he should be in line for a dominant run down the stretch.
Honorable Mentions: Julius Thomas (Broncos), Jared Cook (Rams), Mychal Rivera (Raiders)
LVP: Larry Donnell (Giants)
Oh Larry Donnell, how you continue to disappoint. Donnell failed to take advantage of a banged-up Seahawks linebacking group and finished the game with just 26 yards on 4 receptions. Donnell is simply not the great fantasy option he appeared to be in the early stages of the season. Even with his typically lackluster production, Donnell is still a low-end TE1 due to the sheer amount of targets he gets and his ability to get in the endzone at any given time.
Dishonorable Mentions: Owen Daniels (Ravens), Heath Miller (Steelers), Vernon Davis (49ers)
Defense
MVP: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles defense is just stupid this season. After a couple of slow weeks in a row, The Eagles D came alive once against in Week 10 as they suffocated the Panthers for 60 minutes. The Eagles put up absurd numbers across the board finishing the game with 9 sacks, 3 INT's, 2 fumble recoveries, a kick return touchdown and a defensive touchdown. The Eagles are not going to be without their down weeks, but when they're on, they are a top 5 fantasy defense.
Honorable Mentions: Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals
LVP: Pittsburgh Steelers
This was a difficult week to find a worst fantasy defense because no defense with a good matchup grossly under-performed. That being said, it's hard to deny that the Steelers put up the weakest performance of the week. The Steelers picked up 4 sacks and zero takeaways against a Jets squad that has been turning the ball over at an alarming rate this season. The Steelers are a banged-up unit that doesn't take the ball away very often, so they're aren't exactly the most valuable fantasy defense at the moment.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
The only thing more satisfying than throwing 6 TD's in a game, is throwing 6 TD's against your arch rival. Aaron Rodgers got to experience that feeling of nirvana on Sunday night as he carved up the abysmal Bears defense in primetime on Sunday. The devastation probably could've been worse, but Rodgers was pulled from the game after the first series of the second half. Rodgers is in inhuman form right now and he has another chance to go off this week against a terrible Eagles secondary at the friendly confines of Lambeau Field.
Honorable Mentions: Peyton Manning (Broncos), Tony Romo (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
LVP: Andy Dalton (Bengals)
I'm not going to lie, I'm picking Andy Dalton over Colin Kaepernick and Ben Roethlisberger for the worst QB play of the week because he screwed over one of my teams this week. Dalton had the single worst game of his career on Thursday night (86 yards, 0 TD's, 3 INT's, 2.0 passer rating) against the Browns. Dalton had next to no zip on the ball and was consistently inaccurate for the duration of the game. The Browns have a good secondary and haven't allowed a lot of fantasy points to quarterbacks, but that still doesn't excuse just how woefully horrible Dalton was in this game. Dalton is only a desperation start for extremely brave owners for the rest of 2014.
Dishonorable Mentions: Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Cam Newton (Panthers)
Running Back
MVP: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks)
You see what happens when the Seahawks let Marshawn Lynch run free? Beast Mode was back in full force this week as the Seahawks took on the Giants on Sunday afternoon. Lynch made the most of his 22 carries, picking up 140 yards and 4 TD's on the day. Lynch is about as deadly of a running back as there is in the NFL and if the Seahawks continue to give him the ball at a high rate, he'll be a top-flight RB1.
Honorable Mentions: Justin Forsett (Ravens), Jammal Charles (Chiefs), Eddie Lacy (Packers)
LVP: Jeremy Hill (Bengals)
What a difference a week makes. A week after his breakout performance against the Jaguars, Jeremy Hill was all but completely silenced in Week 10 against the Browns. Hill got a measly 13 touches (12 carries, 1 reception) for 61 yards and lost an ugly fumble in the second quarter. Hill fell victim to the Bengals terrible offensive performance and total abandonment of the run once the second half rolled around, but considering the quality of the matchup and absence of Giovani Bernard from the lineup, this performance is still a major disappointment.
Dishonorable Mentions: Lamar Miller (Dolphins), Ronnie Hillman (Broncos), Matt Forte (Bears)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
No one was happier to have Tony Romo return to the lineup than Dez Bryant. Bryant bounced back big time from his terrible performance against the Cardinals in Week 9 with Brandon Weeden under center with a 158-yard, 2 TD performance against the Jaguars on Sunday in London. Bryant will have more off-weeks than your typical WR1, but when he's on, there's few that can come close to matching his production.
Honorable Mentions: Jordy Nelson (Packers), Martavis Bryant (Steelers), Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos)
LVP: A.J. Green (Bengals)
A.J. Green was yet another victim of Andy Dalton's abysmal performance against the Browns. Green finished with just 3 receptions for 23 yards on the evening. If its any constellation for this terrible performance, Green looked 100% healthy in this game and should be back to his WR1 form once Dalton gets back on track.
Dishonorable Mentions: Sammy Watkins (Bills), Steve Smith (Ravens), Jeremy Maclin (Eagles)
Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Saints)
Week 10 marked the first time all season where Jimmy Graham has looked truly unstoppable. Graham looked like the 2013 version of himself as he picked up 76 yards and 2 TD's on 10 receptions against the 49ers on Sunday. Graham's day would've been even better if he didn't get flagged for pass interference on what would've been his 3rd TD at the end of regulation. With Graham appearing to be back in top form, he should be in line for a dominant run down the stretch.
Honorable Mentions: Julius Thomas (Broncos), Jared Cook (Rams), Mychal Rivera (Raiders)
LVP: Larry Donnell (Giants)
Oh Larry Donnell, how you continue to disappoint. Donnell failed to take advantage of a banged-up Seahawks linebacking group and finished the game with just 26 yards on 4 receptions. Donnell is simply not the great fantasy option he appeared to be in the early stages of the season. Even with his typically lackluster production, Donnell is still a low-end TE1 due to the sheer amount of targets he gets and his ability to get in the endzone at any given time.
Dishonorable Mentions: Owen Daniels (Ravens), Heath Miller (Steelers), Vernon Davis (49ers)
Defense
MVP: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles defense is just stupid this season. After a couple of slow weeks in a row, The Eagles D came alive once against in Week 10 as they suffocated the Panthers for 60 minutes. The Eagles put up absurd numbers across the board finishing the game with 9 sacks, 3 INT's, 2 fumble recoveries, a kick return touchdown and a defensive touchdown. The Eagles are not going to be without their down weeks, but when they're on, they are a top 5 fantasy defense.
Honorable Mentions: Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals
LVP: Pittsburgh Steelers
This was a difficult week to find a worst fantasy defense because no defense with a good matchup grossly under-performed. That being said, it's hard to deny that the Steelers put up the weakest performance of the week. The Steelers picked up 4 sacks and zero takeaways against a Jets squad that has been turning the ball over at an alarming rate this season. The Steelers are a banged-up unit that doesn't take the ball away very often, so they're aren't exactly the most valuable fantasy defense at the moment.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Album Review: Unearth-Watchers of Rule
Watchers of Rule is easily the most relentlessly heavy release Unearth has ever put out. Unearth has never been a particularity cheerful band, but their past records have had sporadic clean vocal lines and moments of melody to break up the heavier sections. Watchers of Rule is a 35-minute blast of pure sonic fury that doesn't let up for even a second. There's an almost death metal level of intensity that runs through that this record and makes Unearth's trademark onslaught of crushing riffs and breakdowns that much more satisfying. There are a few tracks on this record ("To the Ground", "Trail of Fire", "Lifetime in Ruins") that go way above and beyond what I thought they were capable of from a heaviness standpoint. Even as a longtime fan of the band, the sheer force of this album blew me away. You would have to look long and hard to find another 2014 album that's as packed to the brim with pure, unadulterated rage as Watchers of Rule.
What always gets lost in the shuffle with Unearth is just how skilled they are as musicians and that proficiency has never been stronger than it is on this record. Guitarist Buz McGrath once again manages to exceed his previous performances and step his playing up to the next level. The leads on Watchers of Rule are easily the most dynamic and technical he's ever written. The sheer speed of the solos on the title track, "From the Tombs of Five Below" and "Never Cease" in particular make them outright bonkers to listen to. McGrath has long been one of the most underrated guitarists in the metal community and hopefully the barrage of blistering solos he lays down on Watchers of Rule finally gets him the respect he deserves.
New drummer Nick Pierce is also a beyond welcome addition to the fold. Pierce- who joined the band shortly after Darkness in the Light was released in 2011- has an explosive playing style that perfectly fits the fierce tone of this album. Unearth has had a lot of great drummers in their ranks since their inception, but Pierce could very well be the most well-rounded and flat-out skilled player to ever play in the band.
Watchers of Rule is a beast of a record that simply can't be ignored by the metal masses. It's evident that the band had a serious chip on their shoulder during the writing process for this record and that fire led them to craft a collection of songs that hits harder than any of their previous material. Even for a band with a remarkably consistent discography like Unearth has, Watchers of Rule is a hell of an accomplishment, especially at this point in their career. Watchers of Rule is exactly the shot to the heart that metalcore needed to be revived.
4.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Never Cease
2.To the Ground
3.From the Tombs of Five Below
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
2014 Week 9 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Ben Roethlisberger astounded the football world with his 6 TD performance in Week 8 against the Colts. So what did Big Ben have planned for an encore this week? Another 6 TD performance of course! Roethlisberger was money from the second quarter on, spreading the wealth to pretty much of all his receivers and decimating the injury-plagued Ravens secondary on just about every drive. Roethlisberger honestly hasn't looked this good in years. He is throwing the ball with uncharacteristically high accuracy and getting excellent protection from a resurgent offensive line right now. The Steelers have another friendly matchup on this schedule this week when they go up against the trainwreck otherwise known as the New York Jets, so Big Ben's reign of terror on opposing defenses is highly likely to continue.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Andrew Luck (Colts)
LVP: Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
What the hell happened to Phillip Rivers this week? Rivers- who has been excellent for all of 2014- was repeatedly turning the ball over (3 INT's and a fumble on the afternoon) and missing his targets all afternoon in the Chargers embarrassing 37-0 loss to the Dolphins. Rivers heads into the bye with 2 poor performances in his last 3 games and has a bitch of a schedule including matchups against the Ravens, Patriots, 49ers and Broncos down the stretch. Rivers is stable enough, but he's far from the best QB1 option for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.
Dishonorable Mentions: Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Cam Newton (Panthers), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Running Back
MVP: Jeremy Hill (Bengals)
Rookie running back Jeremy Hill stepped up big time in his first career start versus the Jaguars in place of the injured Giovani Bernard. It didn't start off particularly noteworthy, but Hill's huge second half led to him finishing with 154 yards and 2 TD's on the afternoon. Hill is expected to start again on Thursday against the Browns terrible run defense, so we could very well be looking at another dominant performance from the promising rookie.
Honorable Mentions: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), Matt Asiata (Vikings), Mark Ingram (Saints)
LVP: Ben Tate (Browns)
Ben Tate's 2014 campaign has been a roller coaster ride and his performance in Week 9 was a new low. Tate picked up a mere 3 yards on the ground on 10 carries against a Buccaneers run D that has struggled all year long. Tate was able to add 29 yards on 4 receptions to slightly salvage his afternoon, but it was not nearly enough to make up for his terrible day on the ground. With Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell frequently cutting into his carries, his long injury history and general inconsistency, Tate will be a high-risk RB2 for the rest of the year.
Dishonorable Mentions: Branden Oliver (Chargers), Jerrick McKinnon (Vikings), Ahmad Bradshaw (Colts)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Jeremy Maclin (Eagles)
Jeremy Maclin was able to follow up a dominant performance in Week 8 with another explosive performance in Week 9. Maclin put up 158 yards and 2 TD's on 6 receptions in the Eagles hard-fought victory over the Texans on Sunday. Even with Mark Sanchez taking over for the injured Nick Foles at quarterback, Maclin remains a weekly top-end WR1.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Antonio Brown (Steelers), DeSean Jackson (Redskins)
LVP: Andre Johnson (Texans)
Longtime superstar wideout Andre Johnson just hasn't gotten going this year. Johnson's struggles in 2014 are best evidenced by his lackluster 12-yard performance against a very burnable Eagles secondary on Sunday. It's very bizarre to see the Texans not try and get Johnson more involved with the offense. He may not be the full-blown stud he once was, but he's a sure-handed, dependable wideout who can get the job done when called upon. Johnson is nothing more than a mid-level WR3 given his current usage in this offense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kelvin Benjamin (Panthers), Dez Bryant (Cowboys), Andrew Hawkins (Browns)
Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
In a seemingly recurring theme for Week 9, Rob Gronkowski followed up his dominant Week 8 performance with yet another one this week. Gronkowski picked up 105 yards and a TD on 9 receptions in the Patriots shockingly lopsided victory over the Broncos on Sunday. As long as Gronkowski doesn't get injured after the Patriots bye week in Week 10, he's going to dominate for the remainder of the 2014 season.
Honorable Mentions: Jimmy Graham (Saints), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Charles Clay (Dolphins)
LVP: Zach Ertz (Eagles)
Zach Ertz continues to be the most frustrating tight end in fantasy football. Ertz got just 4 yards on his lone reception against the Texans on Sunday. Ertz is a touchdown-dependent TE1 who will put up just as many stinkers as he does solid performances.
Dishonorable Mentions: Vernon Davis (49ers), Antonio Gates (Chargers), Greg Olsen (Panthers)
Defense
MVP: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins defense is suddenly becoming quite a formidable defense. The Dolphins picked up 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, a fumble recovery and allowed 0 points to the Chargers. The Dolphins don't exactly have the easiest matchups for the last 2 months of the season, but they'll remain a solid fantasy option in most weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: Houston Texans, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
LVP: San Diego Chargers
How the mighty have fallen.... The Chargers defense has gone from one of the best to one of the weakest fantasy defenses in a matter of a month. The Chargers got lit up once again by the Dolphins for 37 points and failed to register a sack or takeaway. The Chargers are now droppable in just about any 10-12 team league.
Dishonorable Mentions: Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs
MVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Ben Roethlisberger astounded the football world with his 6 TD performance in Week 8 against the Colts. So what did Big Ben have planned for an encore this week? Another 6 TD performance of course! Roethlisberger was money from the second quarter on, spreading the wealth to pretty much of all his receivers and decimating the injury-plagued Ravens secondary on just about every drive. Roethlisberger honestly hasn't looked this good in years. He is throwing the ball with uncharacteristically high accuracy and getting excellent protection from a resurgent offensive line right now. The Steelers have another friendly matchup on this schedule this week when they go up against the trainwreck otherwise known as the New York Jets, so Big Ben's reign of terror on opposing defenses is highly likely to continue.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Andrew Luck (Colts)
LVP: Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
What the hell happened to Phillip Rivers this week? Rivers- who has been excellent for all of 2014- was repeatedly turning the ball over (3 INT's and a fumble on the afternoon) and missing his targets all afternoon in the Chargers embarrassing 37-0 loss to the Dolphins. Rivers heads into the bye with 2 poor performances in his last 3 games and has a bitch of a schedule including matchups against the Ravens, Patriots, 49ers and Broncos down the stretch. Rivers is stable enough, but he's far from the best QB1 option for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.
Dishonorable Mentions: Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Cam Newton (Panthers), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Running Back
MVP: Jeremy Hill (Bengals)
Rookie running back Jeremy Hill stepped up big time in his first career start versus the Jaguars in place of the injured Giovani Bernard. It didn't start off particularly noteworthy, but Hill's huge second half led to him finishing with 154 yards and 2 TD's on the afternoon. Hill is expected to start again on Thursday against the Browns terrible run defense, so we could very well be looking at another dominant performance from the promising rookie.
Honorable Mentions: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), Matt Asiata (Vikings), Mark Ingram (Saints)
LVP: Ben Tate (Browns)
Ben Tate's 2014 campaign has been a roller coaster ride and his performance in Week 9 was a new low. Tate picked up a mere 3 yards on the ground on 10 carries against a Buccaneers run D that has struggled all year long. Tate was able to add 29 yards on 4 receptions to slightly salvage his afternoon, but it was not nearly enough to make up for his terrible day on the ground. With Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell frequently cutting into his carries, his long injury history and general inconsistency, Tate will be a high-risk RB2 for the rest of the year.
Dishonorable Mentions: Branden Oliver (Chargers), Jerrick McKinnon (Vikings), Ahmad Bradshaw (Colts)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Jeremy Maclin (Eagles)
Jeremy Maclin was able to follow up a dominant performance in Week 8 with another explosive performance in Week 9. Maclin put up 158 yards and 2 TD's on 6 receptions in the Eagles hard-fought victory over the Texans on Sunday. Even with Mark Sanchez taking over for the injured Nick Foles at quarterback, Maclin remains a weekly top-end WR1.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Antonio Brown (Steelers), DeSean Jackson (Redskins)
LVP: Andre Johnson (Texans)
Longtime superstar wideout Andre Johnson just hasn't gotten going this year. Johnson's struggles in 2014 are best evidenced by his lackluster 12-yard performance against a very burnable Eagles secondary on Sunday. It's very bizarre to see the Texans not try and get Johnson more involved with the offense. He may not be the full-blown stud he once was, but he's a sure-handed, dependable wideout who can get the job done when called upon. Johnson is nothing more than a mid-level WR3 given his current usage in this offense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kelvin Benjamin (Panthers), Dez Bryant (Cowboys), Andrew Hawkins (Browns)
Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
In a seemingly recurring theme for Week 9, Rob Gronkowski followed up his dominant Week 8 performance with yet another one this week. Gronkowski picked up 105 yards and a TD on 9 receptions in the Patriots shockingly lopsided victory over the Broncos on Sunday. As long as Gronkowski doesn't get injured after the Patriots bye week in Week 10, he's going to dominate for the remainder of the 2014 season.
Honorable Mentions: Jimmy Graham (Saints), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Charles Clay (Dolphins)
LVP: Zach Ertz (Eagles)
Zach Ertz continues to be the most frustrating tight end in fantasy football. Ertz got just 4 yards on his lone reception against the Texans on Sunday. Ertz is a touchdown-dependent TE1 who will put up just as many stinkers as he does solid performances.
Dishonorable Mentions: Vernon Davis (49ers), Antonio Gates (Chargers), Greg Olsen (Panthers)
Defense
MVP: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins defense is suddenly becoming quite a formidable defense. The Dolphins picked up 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, a fumble recovery and allowed 0 points to the Chargers. The Dolphins don't exactly have the easiest matchups for the last 2 months of the season, but they'll remain a solid fantasy option in most weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: Houston Texans, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
LVP: San Diego Chargers
How the mighty have fallen.... The Chargers defense has gone from one of the best to one of the weakest fantasy defenses in a matter of a month. The Chargers got lit up once again by the Dolphins for 37 points and failed to register a sack or takeaway. The Chargers are now droppable in just about any 10-12 team league.
Dishonorable Mentions: Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, November 2, 2014
2014 NFL Mid-Season Awards
Thursday's game between The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints marked the start of Week 9 in the NFL, which means the halfway mark of the NFL season regular season is (somehow) here. To celebrate the first half of the season, here are my picks for the best and worst players and teams over the first 8 weeks of the season.
MVP: DeMarco Murray (Cowboys)
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Andrew Luck (Colts), Peyton Manning (Broncos)
Best Offensive Player: Andrew Luck (Colts)
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Peyton Manning (Broncos)
Best Defensive Player: J.J. Watt (Texans)
Honorable Mentions: Von Miller (Broncos), Justin Houston (Chiefs), Luke Kuechly (Panthers)
Best Offensive Rookie: Kelvin Benjamin (Panthers)
Honorable Mentions: Sammy Watkins (Bills), Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Allen Robinson (Jaguars)
Best Defensive Rookie: C.J. Mosley (Ravens)
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Fuller (Bears), Bradley Roby (Broncos), Anthony Barr (Vikings)
Best Coach: Bruce Arians (Cardinals)
Honorable Mentions: Jim Caldwell (Lions), Mike McCoy (Chargers), Doug Marrone (Bills)
Most Disappointing Offensive Player: LeSean McCoy (Eagles)
Dishonorable Mentions: Keenan Allen (Chargers), Jordan Cameron (Browns), Eddie Lacy (Packers)
Most Disappointing Defensive Player: Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)
Dishonorable Mentions: Jared Allen (Bears), Richard Sherman (Seahawks), Robert Quinn (Rams)
Team
Biggest Surprise (AFC): Buffalo Bills
Biggest Disappointment (AFC): New York Jets
Biggest Surprise (NFC): Dallas Cowboys
Biggest Disappointment (NFC): Chicago Bears
Team Most Likely to Fade in the 2nd half (AFC): San Diego Chargers
Team Most Likely to Fade in the 2nd half (NFC): Detroit Lions
Updated Playoff Predictions:
AFC
1.Broncos
2.Patriots
3.Colts
4.Ravens
5.Bengals
6.Steelers
NFC
1.Eagles
2.Cardinals
3.Packers
4.Saints
5.Seahawks
6.49ers
MVP: DeMarco Murray (Cowboys)
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Andrew Luck (Colts), Peyton Manning (Broncos)
Best Offensive Player: Andrew Luck (Colts)
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Peyton Manning (Broncos)
Best Defensive Player: J.J. Watt (Texans)
Honorable Mentions: Von Miller (Broncos), Justin Houston (Chiefs), Luke Kuechly (Panthers)
Best Offensive Rookie: Kelvin Benjamin (Panthers)
Honorable Mentions: Sammy Watkins (Bills), Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Allen Robinson (Jaguars)
Best Defensive Rookie: C.J. Mosley (Ravens)
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Fuller (Bears), Bradley Roby (Broncos), Anthony Barr (Vikings)
Best Coach: Bruce Arians (Cardinals)
Honorable Mentions: Jim Caldwell (Lions), Mike McCoy (Chargers), Doug Marrone (Bills)
Most Disappointing Offensive Player: LeSean McCoy (Eagles)
Dishonorable Mentions: Keenan Allen (Chargers), Jordan Cameron (Browns), Eddie Lacy (Packers)
Most Disappointing Defensive Player: Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)
Dishonorable Mentions: Jared Allen (Bears), Richard Sherman (Seahawks), Robert Quinn (Rams)
Team
Biggest Surprise (AFC): Buffalo Bills
Biggest Disappointment (AFC): New York Jets
Biggest Surprise (NFC): Dallas Cowboys
Biggest Disappointment (NFC): Chicago Bears
Team Most Likely to Fade in the 2nd half (AFC): San Diego Chargers
Team Most Likely to Fade in the 2nd half (NFC): Detroit Lions
Updated Playoff Predictions:
AFC
1.Broncos
2.Patriots
3.Colts
4.Ravens
5.Bengals
6.Steelers
NFC
1.Eagles
2.Cardinals
3.Packers
4.Saints
5.Seahawks
6.49ers
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