Joseph D'Amico
Johnny Banks
Johnny Banks has been betting on sports successfully for several years and in 2009 he decided to take his sports picks public to help the average sports bettor beat the books.
Jimmy Boyd
Jimmy Boyd of Locksmith Sports is the most consistent handicapper across all major sports that the industry has to offer.
Scott Spreitzer
Scott Spreitzer is now in his 18th year of handicapping and can currently be seen nationally on the Proline TV show.
Tony George
Tony George, President and CEO of Midwest Sports Consultants and Sports Audio Shows, is one of the most consistent and most respected handicappers in the sports gaming world.
The Overlooked Edge: Football Depth by Jim Feist
Depth is such an essential
element of success in pro and college football, and one that is easily
overlooked. Big college programs have this as a huge advantage over smaller
programs. The Florida Gators got off to a strong 4-0 start this season, but then
a serious injury against Alabama to starting QB John Brantley changed
everything. They lost 4 in a row and end up stumbling into a bowl thanks to a
win over Furman last week. Not exactly what the Gator fateful were hoping for
under new coach Will Muschamp and first-year offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.
Injuries are to be expected in football, being such a violent, physical
game. That’s why depth is so important, not just as at quarterback spot but
skill positions and both lines. A year ago Northwestern went to a bowl, but the
game that clinched a bowl, against Iowa, dynamic QB Dan Persa got injured. It
was their last win, too, as freshman Even Watkins was forced in the next game
and wasn’t sharp in a 48-27 loss to Illinois as a +7 dog. The Wildcats lost
their final three games, including the bowl.
The Texas Longhorns are
back in a bowl after taking last year off. They’ve used three quarterbacks this
season. Starter Garrett Gabbert got injured in September, but backup QBs
freshman David Ash and sophomore Case McCoy played better and improved the
offense. Big name programs have an edge over small schools with the ability to
stockpile depth, particularly behind center.
Oregon has had a great run
the last few years. Because of injuries in 2010, Oregon had to use backup QB
Nate Cost in the middle of the season, and he played well in a win over UCLA.
Three years ago, Oregon had to use four QBs, including main starters Jeremiah
Masoli and Justin Roper, but still managed to have one of the top offenses in
the nation. In 2008 their four QBs combined for 19 TDs, 11 picks.
Contrast that with programs like Syracuse, UConn, Purdue, San Diego
State, Miami of Ohio, Buffalo, who will be lucky enough to find one competent
QB. Even a program like South Carolina had to dismiss starting QB Stephen Garcia
in mid-season, starting over in many ways with freshman QB Conner Shaw. Shaw has
been pretty good, but the offense, combined with the loss of star RB Marcus
Lattimore, hasn’t been as potent as last season. Remember in 2007 when Georgia
seemingly lost all its running backs? That paved the way for freshman Knowshon
Moreno to explode out of nowhere. In the NFL, the Eagles have had a bad run of
injuries. QB Mike Vick has been in and out of the lineup with various ailments,
forcing Vince Young in, a significant dropoff in production. Now team has had
more injuries than the first place Houston Texans and they have to navigate the
second half of the season with Matt Leinart replacing Matt Schaub.
Is
the value of QB depth more pronounced than in Indianapolis? Without Peyton
Manning, the Colts have fallen off a cliff, from Super Bowl contender to top
pick in the draft! A few years ago the Tennessee Titans lost starting QB Vince
Young in Week 1, but they had a capable veteran backup available in Kerry
Collins during their 13-4 SU/12-5 ATS start. That same season the Patriots went
11-5 when they lost Tom Brady, as backup QB Matt Cassell played well.
Good college coaches and pro general managers will build their teams
with the understanding that they will lose some players during the season. This
is very different from a GM who takes the attitude that we should be a good team
IF we don’t have any key injuries.
Four years ago LSU needed to beat
Tennessee in the SEC title game, but was without its starting QB as senior Matt
Flynn had a shoulder injury. Many schools would have been set back, but the
Tigers trotted out strong-armed sophomore QB Ryan Perrilloux, who was
outstanding in the 21-14 win. Having a capable backup signal caller turned out
to be huge as they went on to top Ohio State for the national title.
Speaking of champions, look at the Pittsburgh Steelers the last few
years. Eight years ago the Steelers had a starting quarterback in Tommy Maddox,
but when Ben Roethlisberger fell to them in the first round (11th pick) of the
draft they were delighted. They thought he would go higher. Understand what
their thinking was: A player they had rated high dropped in their laps so they
took him. They placed and emphasis on drafting talent before need.
The
Steelers were stockpiling depth and talent at the most important position. They
didn’t anticipate Maddox getting hurt in Week 2, but were prepared with
Roethlisberger stepping in, winning 15 in a row as a rookie and a pair of Super
Bowl titles since. The main reason for depth is one of the most important
components of football: Injuries. Football is a violent game and injuries are
commonplace.
Stockpiling depth, while managing a salary cap, is
essential when injuries strike. It’s not just at quarterback. The Ravens played
great defensively last week when star MLB Ray Lewis sat out with an injury. The
Patriots have had a ton of injuries this year on defense, but are playing better
now than when they were healthy back in September with a string of backups
stepping in.
Part of it is luck, as it’s tough to lose such a pivotal
figure as a star quarterback. On the other hand, part of it is smart coaching
and management if they prepare properly with depth. It’s not the job of a pro
football general manager to be praying every Sunday for players not to get
injured. Rather, the smart teams evaluate and upgrade depth, as injuries are to
be expected.
You can get all of Jim Feist’s FREE football winners and articles right here at www.aasiwins.com.
game. That’s why depth is so important, not just as at quarterback spot but
skill positions and both lines. A year ago Northwestern went to a bowl, but the
game that clinched a bowl, against Iowa, dynamic QB Dan Persa got injured. It
was their last win, too, as freshman Even Watkins was forced in the next game
and wasn’t sharp in a 48-27 loss to Illinois as a +7 dog. The Wildcats lost
their final three games, including the bowl.
back in a bowl after taking last year off. They’ve used three quarterbacks this
season. Starter Garrett Gabbert got injured in September, but backup QBs
freshman David Ash and sophomore Case McCoy played better and improved the
offense. Big name programs have an edge over small schools with the ability to
stockpile depth, particularly behind center.
the last few years. Because of injuries in 2010, Oregon had to use backup QB
Nate Cost in the middle of the season, and he played well in a win over UCLA.
Three years ago, Oregon had to use four QBs, including main starters Jeremiah
Masoli and Justin Roper, but still managed to have one of the top offenses in
the nation. In 2008 their four QBs combined for 19 TDs, 11 picks.
State, Miami of Ohio, Buffalo, who will be lucky enough to find one competent
QB. Even a program like South Carolina had to dismiss starting QB Stephen Garcia
in mid-season, starting over in many ways with freshman QB Conner Shaw. Shaw has
been pretty good, but the offense, combined with the loss of star RB Marcus
Lattimore, hasn’t been as potent as last season. Remember in 2007 when Georgia
seemingly lost all its running backs? That paved the way for freshman Knowshon
Moreno to explode out of nowhere. In the NFL, the Eagles have had a bad run of
injuries. QB Mike Vick has been in and out of the lineup with various ailments,
forcing Vince Young in, a significant dropoff in production. Now team has had
more injuries than the first place Houston Texans and they have to navigate the
second half of the season with Matt Leinart replacing Matt Schaub.
the value of QB depth more pronounced than in Indianapolis? Without Peyton
Manning, the Colts have fallen off a cliff, from Super Bowl contender to top
pick in the draft! A few years ago the Tennessee Titans lost starting QB Vince
Young in Week 1, but they had a capable veteran backup available in Kerry
Collins during their 13-4 SU/12-5 ATS start. That same season the Patriots went
11-5 when they lost Tom Brady, as backup QB Matt Cassell played well.
with the understanding that they will lose some players during the season. This
is very different from a GM who takes the attitude that we should be a good team
IF we don’t have any key injuries.
Tennessee in the SEC title game, but was without its starting QB as senior Matt
Flynn had a shoulder injury. Many schools would have been set back, but the
Tigers trotted out strong-armed sophomore QB Ryan Perrilloux, who was
outstanding in the 21-14 win. Having a capable backup signal caller turned out
to be huge as they went on to top Ohio State for the national title.
years. Eight years ago the Steelers had a starting quarterback in Tommy Maddox,
but when Ben Roethlisberger fell to them in the first round (11th pick) of the
draft they were delighted. They thought he would go higher. Understand what
their thinking was: A player they had rated high dropped in their laps so they
took him. They placed and emphasis on drafting talent before need.
Steelers were stockpiling depth and talent at the most important position. They
didn’t anticipate Maddox getting hurt in Week 2, but were prepared with
Roethlisberger stepping in, winning 15 in a row as a rookie and a pair of Super
Bowl titles since. The main reason for depth is one of the most important
components of football: Injuries. Football is a violent game and injuries are
commonplace.
essential when injuries strike. It’s not just at quarterback. The Ravens played
great defensively last week when star MLB Ray Lewis sat out with an injury. The
Patriots have had a ton of injuries this year on defense, but are playing better
now than when they were healthy back in September with a string of backups
stepping in.
figure as a star quarterback. On the other hand, part of it is smart coaching
and management if they prepare properly with depth. It’s not the job of a pro
football general manager to be praying every Sunday for players not to get
injured. Rather, the smart teams evaluate and upgrade depth, as injuries are to
be expected.
You can get all of Jim Feist’s FREE football winners and articles right here at www.aasiwins.com.
