2012 Dallas Cowboys Offseason Needs

The Dallas Cowboys always seem to have a way of ruining their season. In 2011, the Cowboys started out the year primed to win the NFC East with a 7-4 record, but they ended their year just 1-4 over the final five games to finish with a disappointing 8-8 record. The poor finish was even more disconcerting for the Cowboys since the rival New York Giants won the division with a mediocre 9-7 record and went on to win the Super Bowl. Dallas has the weapons on the offensive side of the ball, but it needs to address some of its needs on the defensive side. The Cowboys took a big step forward thanks to the addition of free agent cornerback Brandon Carr, but more work needs to be done. Here are some of the Cowboys' big additions and subtractions so far in the young offseason, plus a breakdown of their biggest needs heading into the draft.

Additions:

Super Bowl 2012

CB Brandon Carr

QB Kyle Orton

ILB Dan Connor

FB Lawrence Vickers

S Brodney Pool

G Nate Livings

G Mackenzy Bernadeau

Subtractions:

WR Laurent Robinson

CB Terence Newman

ILB Bradie James

TE Martellus Bennett

FB Tony Fiammetta

G Kyle Kosier

Top 5 Needs:

1. Center/Guard
Dallas had huge problems just getting the snap to the quarterback last year. Some of the Cowboys' problems stemmed from the insane number of bad snaps their starting center, Phil Costa, had last year. If he remains the starter in 2012, then the Cowboys may have more of the same problems. They also need help at the guard spot. While there aren't any centers worth taking in the first round, the addition of Stanford's David DeCastro or Georgia's Cordy Glenn could greatly improve their offensive line.

2. Defensive Line
Despite being undersized, Jay Ratliff has shown tremendous awareness and ability at nose tackle. If the Cowboys had their way, they would move Ratliff to one of the two defensive end spots and find a new starting nose tackle. However, if that doesn't happen, look for the Cowboys to get an upgrade over Kenyon Coleman and Marcus Spears on the outside.

3. Outside Linebacker
The Cowboys re-signed outside linebacker Anthony Spencer, but I think they need to look for another player who can get to the quarterback. Spencer had just 6 sacks last season, while fellow outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware had a whopping 19.5. Someone line Alabama's Courtney Upshaw would do wonders for the Cowboys defense. While there may be bigger holes in the secondary, an improved pass rush can generally improve the play of your defensive backs.

4. Safety
Last year, the Cowboys brought in Abram Elam from the Cleveland Browns along with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. While Ryan's defense showed some promise last year, Elam was such a huge disappointment that the Cowboys seem uninterested in retaining the free agent. They added Brodney Pool from the New York Jets, but he's not that much of an improvement over Elam. If the Cowboys feel that they need to address this need through the draft, then they might go after Alabama safety Mark Barron, who is by far the best safety prospect in the draft.

5. Cornerback
Now that they have added Carr to the defensive unit and let go of Terrence Newman, the Cowboys have a vastly improved secondary. Carr was the Kansas City Chiefs' No. 2 corner behind Brandon Flowers, but he is more than capable of being the top guy. The Cowboys might be more compelled to add additional help at this position, unless Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick show marked improvements.

2012 Dallas Cowboys Offseason Needs

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Houston Texans' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

1st Round (#26) DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

3rd Round (#68) WR DeVier Posey, Ohio State

Nfl 2012

3rd Round (#76) G Brandon Brooks, Miami (OH)

4th Round (#99) C Ben Jones, Georgia

4th Round (#121) WR Keshawn Martin, Michigan State

4th Round (#126) DT Jared Crick, Nebraska

5th Round (#161) K Randy Bullock, Texas A & M

6th Round (#195) OT Nick Mondek, Purdue

Analysis of Notable Selections:

Whitney Mercilus: The Texans finally made it to the playoffs and the defensive turnaround was a huge reason why. Houston let Mario Williams depart via free agency. The key element to a Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense is a strong pass rush. Mercilus led the nation in sacks last season and has the pass rushing skills and work ethic to develop into a fine outside linebacker in Houston's defense. The team wisely passed on wide receiver help to further strengthen the defense with another young and talented front seven defender. Mercilus has work to do at stopping the run and setting the edge. He likely will start out as a pass rushing specialist and join Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed in a rotation. The Texans passed on Nick Perry. Mercilus has more pass rush moves than Perry does and looks more comfortable standing up.

DeVier Posey: Houston has been looking for improved receiver help to complement Andre Johnson for quite some time. Posey has decent size (6' 1 ½" and 210 lbs) and speed (4.45 in the Forty), but needs a lot of work on becoming a precise route runner. He is a bit of a project who may never develop into a trusted 2nd receiver. The Texans passed on several promising wide receiver prospects such as, Mohamed Sanu and Jarius Wright. Houston was correct in addressing the wide receiver position, but they may not have chosen the correct one.

Brandon Brooks: The former University of Miami (Ohio) offensive guard has heavy hands, tremendous size and a powerful lower body. He has a chance to push for a starting job in Houston at guard provided he keeps his weight under control. Brooks moves well for a player of his size (6' 5" and 345 lbs) and is athletic enough to handle Houston's zone blocking scheme. The key question for Brooks is conditioning and keeping his focus during games over the course of a season. The Texans love to run the ball and Brandon Brooks has the potential to be a solid addition to the team's offensive line.

Jared Crick: A torn pectoral muscle cost Jared Crick 8 games during his senior season and he dropped to the 4th round. Crick does not have J.J. Watt's size, but he plays with a similar intensity and awareness. The Texans will convert Crick from a defensive tackle into a defensive end in their 3-4 defense. Wade Phillips version of the 3-4 defense enables smaller defensive linemen to excel, as long as they have quickness. Crick has to get stronger, but he does fit Houston's defense. He represented value in the 4th round.

2012 NFL Draft Grade: B

Bottom Line: The Texans added a key pass rusher (Whitney Mercilus) to their defense and that is always a positive. They also added to their offensive line depth with the selections of Brandon Brooks and Ben Jones. The Jared Crick pick was likely the team's best from a value standpoint. He joins a young and talented front seven. The only question regarding Houston's draft was did they find receiver help for Andre Johnson? DeVier Posey was a key pick near the top of the 3rd round. Posey has to prove to his quarterback that he can consistently be in the right spot and relied upon.

Houston Texans' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com provides extensive pre and post NFL draft analysis. The site features scouting reports, rankings, top values, biggest risks, interviews with college coaches and players and mock drafts.

LSU Tigers 2012 Football Predictions

2011 was a great year for LSU. The Tigers finished the regular season with an undefeated 12-0 run, including impressive wins against then No. 3 Oregon, No. 3 Arkansas, and No. 2 Alabama. They would finish with an impressive 13-0 with a 42-10 thrashing of No. 12 Georgia in the SEC Title Game, setting up the much anticipated rematch with Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. It ended up being a cakewalk for Alabama though as they just decimated the Tigers 21-0 in their second meeting. LSU was unable to make it past midfield until the 4th quarter and were outgained 384-92 in total yards.

2012 will be another year where heavy expectations are set in Baton Rouge. Les Miles will have 13 starters (7 offense, 6 defense) back from last year squad. While the expectations may be high, there is plenty to be excited about in the new season. Despite the fact that they will have a new quarterback and will have to replace some big names on the defensive side of the ball, this year's team is arguably better or equally just as talented as the team that went 13-1 in 2011.

Nfl 2012

Offense

The Tigers averaged 35.7 points per game behind a powerful rushing attack that averaged 203 ypg on the ground. The running game looks to be the main focus again in 2012, as they are extremely talented at the running back position and are very experienced up front on the offensive line.

What many fail to realize is that the running back corps were all relatively young last year. Their top four rushers were all freshmen and sophomores. They also boast one of the more balanced attacks in the country. Spencer Ware received 2nd-Team All-SEC honors with 707 yards and eight touchdowns and looks to be the starter heading into 2012. Michael Ford (756 yards, seven touchdowns), Alfred Blue (539 yards, seven touchdowns), and Kenny Hilliard (336 yards, eight touchdowns) will look to help out Ware on the backfield.

All of that talent in the backfield will only benefit from one of the top offensive lines in the country. Despite them losing 2nd-Team All-American guard Will Blackwell, they do have some capable starters returning to fill the void in starting tackles Chris Faulk and Alex Hurst, guard Josh Williford and center P.J. Lonergan. They also get back injured starting guard Josh Dworaczyk. Dworaczyk was the projected starter head into last season, but a season-ending injury thwarted that chance last August. Hurst, Faulk, and Williford are each considered to be one of the top 15 players at their respective positions in the country.

The quarterback position is where there will be a huge change on offense. The Tigers lost their quarterback rotation last year in Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson. It seems that junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger is the projected starting quarterback in 2012. But he will face some stiff competition in a couple of highly recruited red-shirt freshmen in Stephen Rivers (brother of NFL QB Phillip Rivers) and Jerrard Randall.

Passing hasn't been a huge emphasis in the Tiger's offense in recent years despite them sporting a strong core of receivers that have come through the program. They lost 1st Team All-SEC wide out Rueben Randle and his team-best 53 catches for 917 yards and eight touchdowns. But they do have two highly recruited receivers in Odell Beckham (41 catches, 475 yards, two touchdowns) and Russell Shepard (14 catches, 190 yards, four touchdowns) coming back. Sophomore Jarvis Landry is also someone who the Tigers are expecting huge things from over the next three seasons.

Defense

Defensively, the Tigers were superb last year. They help opposing offenses to just 11.3 points/game and 262 yards of total offense. They were outstanding in forcing opposing teams into mistakes, as they finished the year +20 in the turnover department. They were able to capitalize on those mistakes and turn them into scores.

LSU has been widely known for producing NFL talent on the defensive line, as they have had at least one defensive lineman selected in each of the last nine drafts. This year, they lost top defensive tackles in the country in Michael Brockers, who was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round. But despite that, LSU still figures to be one of the top units in the trenches in 2012. Sam Montgomery and Barkevius Mingo, two of the top defensive end in the SEC, are set to return. Starting defensive tackle Bennie Logan and 1st Team Freshman All-American tackle Anthony Johnson round out the team.

There is also a lot to like in the secondary if you are a LSU fan. While the Tigers lose 1st Team All-American corner Morris Claiborne, starting strong safety Brandon Taylor, and backup corner Ron Brooks. They also return 1st Team All-American corner Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu and one of the elite free safeties in the country in Eric Reed. They also add in one of the top safety prospects in junior Craig Loston to fill the void left by Taylor, and will have another great player at corner in Tharold Simon.

Linebacker is the one spot where the Tigers may have problems defensively. They've lost two starters in Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francois, but returning middle linebacker can help fill the immeasurable void. Juniors Lamin Barrow and Tahj Jones may take over for the vacant spots, however, one or two of the five talented freshmen can swoop in and win the starting spot.

SEC Prediction - 1st SEC West

The Tigers can defend their SEC Title and go back to the Championship Game, but it's not going to be easy. While they get Alabama at home, they have to go and face Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M and Arkansas on the road. Most of their success will hinge on the shoulders of their new starting quarterback. With Alabama losing some very important pieces defensively and their star running back Trent Richardson, and Arkansas having to deal with the loss of head coach Bobby Petrino, it's looking like the Tigers will win the SEC West and finish the year with at least 11 wins.

LSU Tigers 2012 Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

Baltimore Ravens' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

2nd Round (#35) OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

2nd Round (#60) OT Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

Nfl 2012

3rd Round (#84) RB Bernard Pierce, Temple

4th Round (#98) G Gino Gradkowski, Delaware

4th Round (#130) FS Christian Thompson, South Carolina State

5th Round (#169) CB Asa Jackson, Cal-Poly

6th Round (#198) WR Tommy Streeter, Miami

7th Round (#236) DE Deangelo Tyson, Georgia

Analysis of Notable Selections:

Courtney Upshaw: The Ravens were able to add a 4th round draft choice by moving down six spots in a trade with Minnesota. Baltimore then selected Upshaw with the high 2nd round selection. Upshaw's lack of top athleticism did cost him a 1st round selection. However, the former Alabama defender is tough, physical and should fit in well with Baltimore. The team has been searching for an outside linebacker who can rush the quarterback to pair with Terrell Suggs for some time. Jarret Johnson (a better run stuffer than pass rusher) signed with San Diego. Paul Kruger has been average and Sergio Kindle may never recover fully from a fractured skull sustained in 2010. Upshaw plays the run well and with experience can be a decent pass rusher as well. Baltimore had to have been pleased to add Courtney Upshaw to their defense in the 2nd round.

Kelechi Osemele: This is another excellent fit for the Ravens. Ben Grubbs left via free agency for the Saints. Baltimore wants to run the ball with their best offensive player, Ray Rice. Osemele does not have the quickness to play offensive tackle in the NFL. However, his tremendous size and power are what Baltimore is looking for in a guard. Osemele is no Ben Grubbs at this point. He has to improve his technique and play tougher. The Ravens add a guard with excellent potential, but it may take him some time to reach it.

Bernard Pierce: The retirement of Ricky Williams led the Ravens to find a complement to Ray Rice. Pierce is a good-sized back (6' and 220 lbs) who can be a physical runner. His job will be to give Rice a breather. Pierce will have to improve his ball security and earn his coaches' trust. Lamar Miller has a superior burst to Pierce, but Baltimore was looking for a bigger and more physical back. Robert Turbin has a similar skill-set to Pierce. Turbin catches the ball more naturally than Pierce does. The former Utah State back may have been the better selection and Baltimore would not have had to trade up to secure his services. Bernard Pierce was a decent selection, but time will tell whether he or Robert Turbin was the way to go.

2012 NFL Draft Grade: B

Bottom Line: The Ravens added two starters (Courtney Upshaw and Kelechi Osemele) in the near future. The rest of their draft consisted mostly of adding potential backups at running back, offensive line and the secondary. Gino Gradkowski is the most appealing of Baltimore's 3rd day draft choices. The former Delaware offensive lineman played guard and center. His football IQ and dedication give him a chance to develop into a starting center down the road with a lot of work.

Baltimore Ravens' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com provides extensive pre and post NFL draft analysis. The site features scouting reports, rankings, top values, biggest risks, interviews with college coaches and players and mock drafts.

2012 NFL Mock Draft (17-24)

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

With the loss of cornerback Leon Hall to a torn Achilles' tendon, look for the Cincinnati Bengals to use one of their picks to address the hole left in the secondary. They added Jason Allen and brought back Adam "Pacman" Jones, but they still need to add more depth in the draft. With two first-round picks in the draft, the Bengals have the luxury of picking Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, who would've landed much higher in the draft if it weren't for his questionable behaviour. Kirkpatrick certainly has the potential to be something great, as he has the size at 6'2" to match up against big receivers and the speed to keep from getting burnt deep. Despite a few character concerns, he is definitely worth the Bengals taking a risk on, and not waiting to see if he will fall to them at No. 21.

Nfl 2012

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

Another team that is in desperate need of improving their pass rush is the San Diego Chargers. The big reason they struggled against the pass last year was because of their inability to put pressure on the quarterback. Larry English was supposed to be their guy, but it's becoming more and more apparent that he will never turn into the player they were hoping him to be. Whitney Mercilus was the most productive pass rusher in college football last year, and he might just be San Diego's answer if he is still on the board. Mercilus has the uncanny ability to get to the quarterback and force turnovers, and that is definitely something NFL teams are looking for. He led the nation with 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles last year.

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

By trading for Pro Bowl wideout Brandon Marshall, the Chicago Bears has finally took care of their biggest need. They can now use their first-round pick to further bolster their already-improving offensive line. It seems as though Chicago is going after Georgia's Cordy Glenn, and if he is still available, could form a solid combo alongside offensive tackle Gabe Carimi. Despite starting at left tackle for Georgia, he could very well be moved to guard in the NFL. He can certainly shine at guard in the NFL, especially being a powerful run-blocker. They could go for someone like Stanford's Jonathan Martin, should they be interested in adding a tackle. The main thing here is that the Bears should be addressing the offensive line with this pick.

20. Tennessee Titans: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Tennessee Titans have pretty much covered all their biggest needs this offseason, and will now look into boosting their secondary after watching Cortland Finnegan leave for the Rams. Despite having a disappointing season last year, Stephon Gilmore is making a lot of noise on the draft boards. He certainly has the ability and the potential to be a star in the NFL and if he is available, Tennessee will be more than happy to draft him with its pick. Not only is Gilmore capable of making plays on the ball, he is also extremely strong against the run.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Once the Bengals have selected Kirkpatrick with their first pick in the first round, it seems as though their next pick would be a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball. They have lucked into acquiring an elite wideout in A.J. Green, but could use an upgrade at the No. 2 spot. He didn't show much at the combine, but Baylor's Kendall Wright certainly has the skills to burn defenses deep. Wright could force defenses to keep a guy over the top, allowing more room for the rest of the receivers to work in the middle of the field. Another reason why the Bengals will end up picking this guy is that he would be a major upgrade in the return game for Cincinnati.

22. Cleveland Browns: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

After taking receiver Justin Blackmon with their first pick in the draft, the Cleveland Browns now have another shot at improving their offense. Quarterback Colt McCoy needs to be better protected than he was last year so that his potential can be fully achieved in Cleveland. The biggest need for the Browns is to find a replacement at right tackle, and Stanford's Jonathan Martin definitely fits that bill. Martin is a dominant run blocker, but he still has a ways to go in pass protection. That makes him a perfect fit at right tackle early in his career and he will most definitely be the guy the Browns target with this pick.

23. Detroit Lions: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

In order for the Detroit Lions to take that next step and contend for the NFC North title, they need to improve their secondary. They need help at both corner and safety. They could take a gamble on oft-maligned player Janoris Jenkins out of North Alabama, but I believe that the organization has enough troubled pieces in the locker room. The best fit for Detroit is Alabama safety Mark Barron. The draft class is incredibly thin at safety, so the Lions must use this pick if they want to upgrade at safety. Barron has incredible instincts and is really strong and powerful when he tackles. He would make opposing wideouts think twice about going across the middle and he would help tremendously against the run.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

The Pittsburgh Steelers could definitely go a number of ways with this pick. They could use the pick on the offensive line, corner or nose tackle, but I believe that they will not pass up the opportunity to grab Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower. The Steelers just seem to have the knack of grooming players on the defensive front seven, and Hightower is one of those players whom they love to go after. He is phenomenal against the run and can put pressure on the quarterback in passing situations. The situation fits perfectly for Hightower, since the Steelers just let go of inside linebacker James Farrior, so they need him to fill a void for them.

2012 NFL Mock Draft (17-24)

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Character Development: Questions for Creating Character Facts and Personalities

An author who wants to create a realistic character needs to know everything possible about that character, not only to keep the facts straight, but also to understand that character's motivations. While critics often differentiate between a plot-driven and a character-driven story, a writer who does his or her work well will find that the character's motivations will drive the plot, and understanding the character's past is the key to understanding his or her motivations for the present and the future. Asking the character a series of questions not only helps to create a realistic character, but often the oddest or seemingly most random questions will result in new information about the character that can help a writer to overcome writer's block.

Creating a character questionnaire for each major character can lead to richer fiction and greater focus. Following are some sample questions to ask your character. Envision the character sitting in the room with you and telling you about him- or herself. Then fill in the answers to the questions as they are provided. Depending on your character, you might find many other questions to ask that will provide you with an additional understanding of the character and more material for your story.

Super Bowl 2012

FACTS:

1. What is your full name?
2. How did your parents decide on your name?
3. How tall are you?
4. What color is your hair?
5. What color are your eyes?
6. How much do you weigh?
7. What is your birthday (month, date, and year)? (Note: It's important to pinpoint this date so you can figure out details about the character's past and how old he or she would have been during certain events. It might be a good idea to create a character timeline.)
8. What is your father's name?
9. What is your mother's name?
10. What are your grandparents' names?
11. Do you have any siblings? What are their names, birthdates, and birth order?
12. Where were you born?
13. Where were your parents born?
14. Where were your grandparents' born?
15. Where do you live now?
16. Do you have any medical problems, diseases, injuries?
17. Do you have any distinguishing marks on your body (a mole, a birthmark, a missing finger, a tattoo, etc.)?
18. What religion are you, and why?
19. What is your annual income?
20. How much money do you have saved?
21. What kind of house/apartment do you live in?
22. What kind of car do you own?
23. Do you have any pets?
24. When will you be able to retire?
25. Are you married? If so, what is your spouse's name?

(Note: You can make a new character sheet for the spouse if the person is significant and ask that character all of these questions as well. Depending on the main characters in your story, you might also do the same for the parents, grandparents, siblings, children, etc. It might be interesting to ask your characters to describe a specific event that happened to the family to see how they might all describe and respond to it differently).

HISTORY:

1. Where did you go to school?
2. How many times have you moved in your life?
3. When did you move to where you live now?
4. Did you attend college, trade school, etc. and where?
5. What did you study in school?
6. When you were a child, what did you dream of being when you grew up?
7. What jobs have you held and what years? (What does your resume look like?)
8. What is the first historical event you remember? (The Great Depression, Kennedy's assassination, the moon landing, September 11^th)?
9. How did you feel/react to (Princess Diana's death, Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, the Columbine shooting, Michael Jackson's death, the O.J. Simpson Trial, Betty White's 90^th birthday, the Fall of the Berlin Wall, The Super Bowl in 1989, 2004, 2012, etc.)?
10. Who did you vote for in the (1960, 1972, 1980, 1992, 2008) presidential election?
11. What places have you visited on vacation?
12. Have you visited any interesting places for work?
13. Who was your best friend as a child?
14. Who was your best friend in high school?
15. Who was your best friend in college?
16. Who is your best friend now?
17. Who are all of the people whom you have dated?
18. Why did your relationship with each person you dated not work out?
19. What is the worst thing that ever happened to you?
20. What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
21. Who was your fourth grade teacher and what influence did he/she have on you?
22. Who did you take to the prom in high school?
23. What groups, organizations did you belong to in high school, or what sports did you play?
24. How did you meet your current significant other?
25. Who important to you has died in your life and how did you cope with their deaths?

PERSONALITY:

1. What is your favorite color?
2. What is your favorite place to vacation and why?
3. What is your favorite book?
4. Who is your favorite actor?
5. Who is an actor you can't stand?
6. What is your favorite movie?
7. Which movies do you absolutely hate?
8. What is your favorite TV show?
9. What is your favorite food(s)?
10. What is your favorite restaurant?
11. What most annoys you about (your mom, dad, brother, sister, wife, son, daughter, best friend, boss, co-worker)?
12. How often do you exercise? What are your exercise goals?
13. Which of your buttons does your mother (sister, brother, son, wife, girlfriend, etc.) like to push that sets you off?
14. Do you believe it's okay to tell a lie and under what circumstances?
15. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
16. What things might you be asked to do that you hate doing but do anyway (attend birthday parties, weddings, do chores for your elderly aunt, etc.)?
17. Have you ever been arrested and why?
18. Who would you lay down your life for?
19. Who would you really like to tell off?
20. What are your spending habits?
21. Do you enjoy hot weather, or do you prefer colder temperatures?
22. What kind of relationship do you have with God?
23. If you could describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?
24. If your (best friend, wife, daughter, boss, neighbor etc.) were to describe you in one sentence, what do you think he/she would say?
25. What do you think is the meaning of life?

Hopefully, those are enough questions to get you a start in developing your character. Some of them may be irrelevant, but I suspect a lot of them will trigger more ideas and questions for you to ask.

It's important to spend some time getting to know your character. Hang out with him or her. Envision the person riding in the car with you, spending time with you, going to dinner with you. After all, you might be spending the next several months or years writing about this person, so you want to get to know him or her as well as you can. I find that asking questions and letting the characters answer in their own voices can take a story to new and exciting places and make both the characters and the plot richer as a result. Don't be shy. Ask your characters these probing questions and you'll discover enough about them to fill many books.

Character Development: Questions for Creating Character Facts and Personalities

Irene Watson is the Managing Editor of Reader Views, where avid readers can find reviews of recently published books as well as read interviews with authors. Her team also provides author publicity and a variety of other services specific to writing and publishing books.

2012 Michigan State Spartans Football Predictions

Michigan has been a powerhouse these past two seasons. It earned a share of the Big Ten title in 2010 finishing the year at 11-2, and won the Legends division last year, finishing 11-3.

Michigan State's success has them among elite company, as are one of just seven BCS schools to have won at least 11 games over the past two seasons. The string of 11-win seasons could very well come to an end in 2012 as they must replace a plethora of offensive stars.

Nfl 2012

Offense

Without a doubt, the loss of quarterback Kirk Cousins will sting as the Spartans will miss his play and leadership abilities. He led Michigan State to rank second in the Big Ten in passing offense last season.

Junior Andrew Maxwell is expected to take over under center, but he won't have the same proven playmakers to throw to that Cousins had last season. Wide receivers B.J. Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and running back Edwin Baker have all moved on the NFL.

Junior running back Le'Veon Bell is the team's top returning receiver. He hauled in 35 passes for 267 yards last year. He also rushed for 948 yards and 13 scores.

Bell has the opportunity to really show his skill this season with four returning starters on the offensive line. However, Maxwell will need to be able to stretch the field in order to keep defenses from loading the box in an attempt to slow down Bell.

Defense

The Spartans are so good defensively that they will have an opportunity to contend for a second-straight Legends division title.

Michigan State welcomes back eight starters from a unit that led the Big Ten in total defense, run defense, sacks and interceptions.

The defense is led by menacing end William Gholston, who plays the run as well as the pass and imposes his will against opposing offenses.

The Spartans are stacked at linebacker with anchors Denicos Allen and Max Bullough. Allen is the team's primary line of defense against the quarterback, having recorded 11 sacks in 2011. Bullogh is the team's top returning tackler, having recorded 89 stops last year.

The secondary looks to be strong as well with corners Johnny Adams and Darqueze Dennard and safety Isaiah Lewis showing potential this spring. Lewis is a big time hitter who also picked off four passes a year ago.

Big Ten Legends Prediction: 3rd Place

The defense will carry this team once again as their offense takes a considerable hit heading into 2012. With their suspect offense, it just seems unlikely for them to get another Legends title. They get a difficult stretch in the new season which will make or break their bid to repeat as division champs as they face Michigan and Wisconsin on the road. They'll also face a Nebraska team at home that defeated them 24-3 last year.

2012 Michigan State Spartans Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.