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  • Backyard Banter Podcast
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 54: Kyle Crabbs - Build my own chair at the table
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 53: James Koh - Divorce the information from emotion
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 52: Will Brinson - That's how it'll have to be
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 51: Charles McDonald - Not an escape from reality
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 50: What you've learned - For you, by you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 49: Jourdan Rodrigue - Let's see what you think then
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 48: Justin Twell - Long process to come back
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 47: Justin Lonero - It's time to relearn life
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 46: Scott Bischoff - Life presented the greatest challenge possible
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 45: Al Zeidenfeld - Little steps along the way
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 44: Jason Romano - Just a different dream
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 43: Matt Harmon - But here we are (Season 1 finale)
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 42: Gregg Rosenthal - I have to make it work or else
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 41: Jon Moore - Determiner of what I want
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 40: Uncle Chaps - Just have fun with it
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 39: Bob Harris - The best addiction I've ever had
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 38: Scott Fish - Everybody working together to make this big
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 37: Jene Bramel - Ask the questions you want answered
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 36: Mike Tagliere - Never going to leave this candy store
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 35: Ben Cummins - Starting at ground zero
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 34: Field Yates - It's the nature of what we do
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 33: Chris Heil - I gave it everything I had
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 32: Sal Stefanile - Just make them notice you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 31: Adam Levitan - Accept an alternate lifestyle
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 30: Matthew Freedman - It's not built for everyone
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 29: George Kritikos - If your heart's not in it people notice
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 28: Marcas Grant - Certainly never expected this
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 27: Steve Palazzolo - I understand the questions that come
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 26: Matt Miller - To build bridges not burn them
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 25: Graham Barfield - A human game played by humans
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 24: Pat Daugherty - I just said yes to everything
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 23: Eric Galko - There's always work to be done
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 22: TJ Hernandez - In some roundabout way
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 21: Alex Gelhar - Homework for the rest of your life
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 20: The Fantasy Footballers - Because we were fans
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 19: Jessica Kleinschmidt - The scariest person you deal with is yourself
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 18: Evan Silva - A willingness to work hard
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 17: Jeff Risdon - It's hard to be in the middle
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 16: Cecil Lammey - Because I didn't ask for anything
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 15: Patrick Claybon - If you shine people will see you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 14: Denny Carter - People want to know you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 13: Adam Rank - Honestly just don't go away
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 12: Adam Pfeifer - Being happy is doing this
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 11: Mark Schofield - You get one drive in this life
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 10: Liz Loza - Ride the horse in the direction it's going
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 9: Matthew Berry - I've done it without being negative to anyone
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 8: Matt Franciscovich - Persistence is a huge deal
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 7: Matt Williamson - I got lucky, but I made my own luck
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 6: Eric Stoner - Passions are best left as hobbies
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 5: Josh Norris - You don't have to have an opinion on everything
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 4: Rumford Johnny - Elevate somebody or get out of their way
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast episode 3: JJ Zachariason - No one cares because you're not established
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast episode 2: Matt Waldman - Popular doesn't necessarily make it good
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast episode 1 - Sigmund Bloom
  • Fantasy Hipsters
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 28: We''l see you in a bit.
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 27: "Ehhh how about you people relax with that one"
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 26: Mail Satchel - Davante Adams debate & "friends of the show"
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 25: NFL Network's Top 100 Players This or That
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 24: Mail Satchel - Surviving without Charlie and Tight Ends to Watch
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 23: Jeremy Maclin reaction, news recap and did Harmon pull off that hat?
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 22: Mail satchel - WE ARE THE PODCAST OF THE PEOPLE
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 21: Reception Perception review of sleepers, breakouts and surprises
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 20: Evan Silva destroys our MFL10 hopes and dreams
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 19: Mail satchel - Will Brandon Marshall thrive with the Giants in 2017?
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 18: We Are Pretty Mad
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 17: Mail satchel - Rompers, clean eating and the 2007 NFL Draft class
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 16: NFL depth chart breakdowns and being sick of bad Eddie Lacy jokes
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 15: Mail satchel - Drafting too many rookies, breakouts and bell-cow RBs
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 14: French press vs. pour over coffee & mock draft review with James Koh
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 13: Mail satchel - Los Angeles Chargers the hipster's team of 2017?
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 12: NFL Draft rookie fits and a cast iron running back with Matt Waldman
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 11: NFL Draft preview and drumset vomit with Josh Norris of Rotoworld
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast Episode 10: Mail satchel - Dynasty debate, bad impressions and hipster bands
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 9: Perfect Prospect Parings — identifying NFL fits for draft prospects
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 8: Corey Davis, DeVante Parker and what to drink at your draft
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 7: Carlos Hyde, Laquon Treadwell and NFL Draft rookie big board part 3
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 6: Valuing Jordan Howard for 2017 and NFL Draft rookie big board part 2
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 5: NFL Draft rookie top-12 big board and in-depth beer interview
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 4: Kaepernick saga, Harmon shaves his beard and Franchise gets roasted
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast Episode 3: Eddie Lacy, Free Agency, music & beer and picking best QB roommate
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 2: Early Free Agency Fallout, Combine Standouts & Mailbag
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 1: NFL Scouting Combine preview and washed vets
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast: Teaser episode introduction
  • Reception Perception: 2017
    • Reception Perception: Investigating any correlation between the results and draft prospect age
  • The 2016 Reception Perception Project
    • Reception Perception: 11 flags planted for the 2016 season
    • Reception Perception: Nelson Agholor can bounce-back in Doug Pederson's offense
    • Reception Perception: Improved technician Donte Moncrief is set to explode in 2016
    • Reception Perception: Only one concern can hold Sammy Watkins back from his ceiling
    • Reception Perception: Bruce Ellington has a chance to flash this season with the 49ers
    • Reception Perception: Albert Wilson and the Diary of a Truther
    • Reception Perception: Willie Snead built an impressive resume we must not ignore
    • Reception Perception: Welcome the ascending Tyler Lockett to rarified status
    • Reception Perception: Kamar Aiken is the answer to the Ravens receiver riddle
    • Reception Perception: DeSean Jackson and Josh Doctson make the Washington wide receivers a strength
    • Reception Perception: Browns make a refreshing first pick in Corey Coleman
    • Reception Perception: The fruitless search for fatal flaws with Laquon Treadwell
    • Reception Perception: Why there will never be a cumulative or overall grade
    • Reception Perception: The changing variables for Torrey Smith point to a rebound
    • Reception Perception: 2016 media appearances
    • Reception Perception: Rashard Higgins - never tell me the odds
    • Reception Perception: Keyarris Garrett is a unicorn in this draft class
    • Reception Perception: Malcolm Mitchell is a top-10 receiver in the 2016 NFL Draft
    • Reception Perception: 2016 NFL draft prospects results
    • Reception Perception: Golden Tate won't be able to replace Calvin Johnson
    • Reception Perception: Jeff Janis, trump cards and sorting through the noise
    • Reception Perception: Top-four college receiver primer
  • The 2015 Reception Perception Project
    • Reception Perception Based Media Appearances
    • Reception Perception: Steve Johnson is the Surest Sleeper Around
    • Reception Perception: Target and Contested Catch Data for Sophomore WRs
    • Reception Perception: Success Rate vs. Coverage Scores for the Sophomore Wide Receivers
    • Reception Perception: Why we Must Consider the Entire Range of Outcomes for Sammy Watkins
    • Reception Perception: Data Results from Year 1
    • Reception Perception: Scanning Through the Dolphins Receiving Corps for Fantasy Answers
    • Reception Perception: Allen Robinson is Quietly on the Precipice of a Massive Breakout
    • Reception Perception: Michael Crabtree is Exactly What the Raiders’ Passing Game Needs
    • Reception Perception: Justin Hunter and Wisely Shopping the Clearance Bins
    • Reception Perception: How Kevin White Began His Ascension to the Top
    • Reception Perception: Sammie Coates Falls Along a Dangerous Archetype
    • Reception Perception: A Video Rundown of the Data
    • Reception Perception: New Browns Receiver Dwayne Bowe Bring Value to a Depleted Pass Game
    • Reception Perception: Expectations and an Odd Coupling Doomed Mike Wallace in Miami
    • Reception Perception: Andre Johnson Still has Plenty Left to Offer the Colts
    • Reception Perception: Randall Cobb Made the Right Call Sticking With the Packers
    • Reception Perception: Where Do We Go From Here, Percy Harvin?
    • Reception Perception: Devin Smith and The Value of a Trump Card (FBG)
    • Reception Perception: The Siren Song of Dorial Green-Beckham (FBG)
    • Reception Perception: Impending Free Agent Michael Crabtree
    • Reception Perception: Amari Cooper Under the Microscope (FBG)
    • Reception Perception: Sammy Watkins and Cordarrelle Patterson
  • Matt Harmon's in-season film review blog
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    • Reception Perception: Cordarrelle Patterson and a Developing Story
    • Reception Perception: Jordy Nelson and Mastering the Little Things
  • Ramblings
    • Rebuilding a broken house: losing weight, changing my lifestyle and never looking back
    • Fighting through negativity bias and a wide receiver's drops
    • Saying Goodbye to Dixie
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    • My Reaction to Adrian Peterson and The Cycle of Abuse
    • Steve Smith: A Lesson in the Dangers of Emotional Football
    • The Arizona Cardinals Will Make the Playoffs
    • The Redskins Better Not Blow This Thing Up
    • The Commodification of NFL Players
    • Digging Deeper: Why Josh Freeman Failed with the Buccaneers
    • The Fall of Aaron Hernandez and the Patriot Way
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    • The Eye in the Sky: The St. Louis Rams Should Commit to Sam Bradford for 2014
    • The Eye in the Sky: Why the Cardinals Struggle Against Tight Ends
    • The Eye in the Sky: Uncovering a Diamond in the Rough, Mike Brown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Uncovering a Diamond in the Rough, Brandon Bostick
    • The Eye in the Sky: E.J. Manuel's Improvement All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Why Defending the Colts Offense is too Easy All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Picking Apart the Jets Defense All-22 Breakdown
    • Eye in the Sky: Texans vs. Chiefs (Week Seven) All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Redskins vs. Cowboys (Week Six) All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Panthers vs. Cardinals (Week Five) All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Colts vs. Seahawks (Week Five)
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  • 2014 NFL Draft Content
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  • Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down
    • April 27th Sunday Morning Coming Down
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  • 2013 NFL Power Rankings
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Week Thirteen in Review

Whipping around Sunday:

Week Thirteen’s Best:
1)    Nick Foles
  • Anyone who thinks Nick Foles is not the Eagles’ quarterback of the future is not paying attention. A few people excused the second year quarterback’s stellar play by saying he had not faced a great defense yet. No longer can that excuse be made after the Eagles win over the Arizona Cardinals. Foles was once again the main man for the Eagles, tossing three touchdown passes and playing largely mistake free. The Cardinals have one of the best defenses in the league, but Nick Foles was not rattled against them. He was wise to continuously go after their sole weak spot, covering the tight ends, and showed great maturity in the win. Foles has near elite ball placement skills, and runs this offense way better than Michael Vick did during his time as the starter. It is past time we give Foles his due, and the Eagles give him the keys to their future. 
2)    Mike Tolbert
  • I have always been a huge fan of Tolbert’s but after attending the Panthers game today, I was blown away with how he played. Tolbert is much faster than given credit for, and turned the corner several times on the Bucs. He had been given a bigger role in the wake of the DeAngelo Williams injury, and excelled in it. It is crazy to say this about an offense with Steve Smith, Cam Newton, and two other running backs with bloated salaries, but this offense might be a sunken ship if it were not for Tolbert. His contributions as a runner and blocker are what might get him in the Pro Bowl, but his work as a check down option are what makes him a savior for Cam Newton. 
3)    Alshon Jeffery
  • Just checking, but is this guy still too fat and lazy to play in the league? His 249 receiving yards and two scores against the Vikings say he is not. The Vikings secondary came in to the game with a horrid reputation, and Jeffery helped validate that. The second year wide receiver made terrific catches all afternoon, and one that should not be humanly possible on his second touchdown. Alshon Jeffery has raised his level of play after a solid rookie season to a near elite level. He will be giving Brandon Marshall a run for his money to be the best wide receiver on the Bears in the next few years, if he has not taken that title already. 
4)    The 49ers receivers
  • Even with just two catches and clearly not fully healthy, Michael Crabtree’s mere presence made a hug difference. He made a great double move to put up a sixty-yard catch, and clearly drew the defense's attention. Both Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin benefitted from the extra space, while Colin Kaepernick had a second consecutive nice day as a passer. That has not happened this season without Crabtree. This offense suddenly looks plenty loaded, and of championship caliber just in time. 
5)    Eric Decker
  • Often the forgotten man in a loaded Broncos receiving core, no one overlooked Eric Decker today. Decker came up with four touchdown catches and helped the Broncos dig out of an early deficit. The Chiefs group of corners are not a bunch of slouches, and Decker took them to task. A free agent after the season, Decker could be building his case to be some other team’s top receiving weapon next year. 

Week Thirteen’s Worst
1)    The Bears
  • The Bears defense stood no chance to stop the run as expected, and they most likely lost a shot at the playoffs today. The Bears put up ridiculous video game numbers on offense, but in the end, that group could not march down the field to seal the win at the end of the game or in overtime. There have been a ton of injuries on this team, and it is just best for them to hit the reset button and take what they can from the first year in the Marc Trestman era. 
2)    Cam Newton
  • Again from the game I was at. Cam Newton was not very good against the Bucs. He had several of his all too familiar high passes, and one even led to a drive killing interception. This game was never in doubt, but Newton made a few costly mistakes. It is tough to reconcile Newton’s role on this team when he has games like this. On the one hand, think how much better they could be if he did not make those big mistakes. Then again, he constantly bails this offense out with his freakish ability to elude defenders in the backfield. It is an upset if a defender actually brings him down. Cam needs to play with more consistency as this team begins a playoff push. 
3)    The Jets
  • Embarrassing, dysfunctional, losing. All adjectives that we believed would describe the Jets coming into the season have come to fruition. Geno Smith was finally sent to the bench in the football move of a mercy kill, but that did nothing to help the Jets' chances. The offense may have been even worse under Matt Simms, and clearly there are problems beyond the quarterback position. Geno Smith needs an infusion of confidence, but it is hard to see how the Jets are going to do that at this point. Once regarded as the favorite for a wild card spot, the Jets are now amongst the worst teams in the league.
4)    Mike Glennon
  • He was on the other side of this list last week, but the rookie quarterback fell back to earth on Sunday against a fiery defense. The Panthers defensive line, minus Charles Johnson, kept Mike Glennon off his spot all afternoon, and he struggled to read some pretty confusing coverage from the defenses. Glennon launched some really questionable throws right to the Panthers secondary. He has still strung together a nice season, but this was a setback. 
5)    The Chargers
  • More inconsistency from the Chargers. After a huge win against the Chiefs, the Chargers fell to the Bengals and they fell hard. The Bengals did not do anything particularly well on Sunday, the Chargers just could not string anything together. Phillip Rivers played arguably his worst game of the season, and the rest of this team is not equipped to make up for that. The Chargers could absolutely be the sixth seed in the AFC, but they cannot play enough consistent games to grab it. 

Reviewing the Top “Matchups to Watch”
1)    Adrian Peterson vs. the Bears run defense
  • Sometimes a mismatch does not go the way it should, and sometimes Adrian Peterson goes for 200 yards against a pitiful run defense. The return of Lance Briggs did nothing to help the Bears, as their problems lie more on the line of the defense. Adrian Peterson continues to run his team out of contention for a top quarterback which he so desperately needs. 

Sunday Night Game:

New York Giants- 24 at Washington Redskins- 17
Reviewing the Game:
  • Well it certainly looked like it was 2012 all over again for the Redskins. They were living the dream with RG3 and the read option, but the alarm clock went off and we were right back in 2013. For most of the game, it looked like neither team wanted to win this contest, but Andre Brown eventually willed the Giants to win. It is crazy given his career path, but he really has been the missing piece for this team. The Giants snuck the win out, and the Redskins had some solid moments. However, this was a rather dreadful game between two irrelevant and non-contending teams. 
The Redskins Perspective:
  • The Redskins has a productive first half revisiting some of their old tricks from last year, but in a microcosm of their season, the Giants figured it all out in the second half. The Redskins offense was an unproductive mess in the last third minutes. The option stopping working, and the Giants just pinned their ears back and rushed the passer. The Redskins offense needs a new direction fast.
  • Brian Orakpo was a full-grown man tonight. He was dominant off the edge, and was easily the best Redskins defensive player. Orakpo is setting himself up to make a pile of money this offseason. 
The Giants Perspective:
  • Even thought they won, there is not too much nice to say about the Giants. However, outdoing Brian Orakpo was Justin Tuck, who collected four sacks. Tuck looked about three years younger during this win and was a constant nuisance to RG3. When this team can rush the passer, it can play like a playoff caliber defense.
  • The Eli Manning interception train rolled right along. He made a couple of throws that looked like he flat out did not care who was going to catch it. Unbelievable how many head scratching throws he makes. 
  • This team still is not going anywhere, so this win does not matter. However, it still shows they do have some nice front line talent, albeit it surrounded by terrible depth and middling second level starters.


Monday Night Game:

New Orleans Saints- 7 at Seattle Seahawks- 34
Reviewing the Game:
  • Yet another game that was billed as “The Game of the Year” fell epically short. In what has low key been a disappointing NFL season, this game had to take the cake as the biggest miss. The Saints were completely outmatched by the Seahawks on the road. The noise was deafening and the Saints pass protection failed left and right. The Saints all but squandered any small hope they had at fighting for home field advantage in the playoffs, and now have to seriously worry about the Panthers stealing the division. Of course, the Saints could certainly win Sunday night, but their flaws all look like things Carolina is ripe to exploit. The Seahawks were phenomenal in every way, and look as near unbeatable as ever. 
The Saints Perspective:
  • For all the talk of them being a dynamic offense, the Saints receivers are a pretty overrated group. Marcus Colston can be easily taken away at this point in his career, and Kenny Stills and Robert Meachem are just inconsistent deep threats at this point. Jimmy Graham was able to be held in check by a pretty athletic group of Seahawk linebackers, something we had not seen coming into this game. Drew Brees could not find open guys down the field fast enough.
  • Yes, Brees was pressured relentlessly, but he struggled in this game. He did not feel pressure in the pocket at the elite level he normally does, and missed a number of throws. As mentioned, this offense is not what it used to be. If they do not get an A+ effort from their quarterback, there are not enough guys to step up around him. 
The Seahawks Perspective:
  • Russell Wilson is incredible, like you did not already know that. Here is what you may not know, outside of his height; Wilson may have the best skill set of any quarterback in the league. His running ability is off the charts, his elusiveness is killer, and his arm talent is outrageous. Wilson made a number of throws with pressure in his face, and still managed to flick the ball down the field effortlessly. He is incrediblely accurate and throws with great touch. Wilson is the best young quarterback in the league, and it is not relatively close. 
  • The Seahawks defense is back in business. Even without two of their top three corners, they did a number on the Saints. Their defensive line was dominant and sent waves of pressure at Brees. Their linebackers and safeties were great in coverage, and the corners were just fine without Browner and Thurmond. 
  • He gets lost amongst a number of other star defenders, but Bruce Irvin is playing great. He made a hit on Jimmy Graham to knock the ball out of his hands and negate a first down. He rushes the passer well and looks at home as an outside linebacker. He is a poor man’s Von Miller.

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