Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesIm still on the positive side with my picks so far this year; week fouraverage of 92.3% pushed my season average to 90.1%, so I can still show my face around the neighborhood. Week four really did not have any seismic implications on the college football scene unless you were a fan of the University of Texas, Notre New York Jets jersey
Dame or South Carolina. Those teams aside, the rest of the college football landscape remained basically the same both for the good and the bad.The Longhorns prepared for this week's Red River Rivalry by playing their worst game in years. Texas was the MVP for UCLA's victory as there was no aspect of the game that Texas did not do poorly. South Carolina shed its new contender image half way through its game with Auburn and the 2010 version of Notre Dame football looked much like last year's version losing its 11th game in a row to a ranked opponent. September did not really sort out anything other than Alabama and Ohio State seem to be the current elite but not really dominant. In fact the entire cast of the top 25 seems to be somewhat suspect. I personally, still ask what have TCU, Boise State or Wisconsin done this year on the field to justify where they are in the polls? Hell, add Michigan, LSU and Miami to that question as well. However the other ranked teams are not helping my argument as none of them are solidly laying claim to their place in the rankings. There are twenty five undefeated teams at this point; six of them are outside the top 25 (four are getting some votes). I am not suggesting that they should be above those in the polls with a loss but this as at times before poses the questions: is there now parity in big time college football or is it a down year or just too early to have an informed opinion?This weekaction should start separating some of the contenders from the pretenders. At a minimum the number of unbeatens will be reduced as there are five matches between undefeated teams this week. Outside those contests there are also two games between ranked opponents that will also shake out the polls a bit (No. 22 Penn State at No. 17 Iowa and No. 21 Texas vs. No. 8 Oklahoma) and begin clarifying the races in two conferences.Last week only the Alabama/Arkansas game lived up to the pre-game hype. Sadly Arkansas continued to be unable to put together four quarters of offense or the result might have been different. The Boise State/Oregon State and West Virginia/LSU games both listed as games of the week failed to excite. Oregon State showed itself as a middle of the pack PAC-10 team and not the measuring stick of a team trying to prove it desires to be in the championship game. LSU moved to 4-0 without looking like a team that should be undefeated, its victory more of testament to the Mountaineers weakness that the Tigers strength.Both called upsets from last week came to fruition as Northern Illinois beat the Gophers and #17 Auburn beat #12 South Carolina. I was not as accurate in predicting routs as Nebraska while winning did not blow out South Dakota State this week past.The games of the week for week five are Florida/Alabama, Stanford/Oregon, and Texas/Oklahoma. The favorites have a good chance to win each of these games but I think Stanford can pull off the upset. Clemson also has a good chance of beating the favorite this week. The routs of the week will be mostly at the hands of Boise State, Auburn Oakland Raiders jersey
and Nevada.Jamie Sabau/Getty ImagesHighlights:Game(s) of the WeekNo. 7 Florida at No. 1 Alabama- Alabama is not a juggernaut this year but the Gators have looked more vulnerable. UF could win but I believe this will be the first of two defeats at the hands of the Tide this year.No. 9 Stanford at No. 4 Oregon- Most the experts and the computers are picking Oregon to win the game. I however think the attitude and the smash you in the mouth attitude of the Cardinal will win a close game if they can win the turnover battle.No. 21 Texas vs. No. 8 Oklahoma- Texas has more to lose in this game but if UCLA can run on the Texas defense the way it did, Oklahoma will win this game.Potential UpsetsNo. 9 Stanford at No. 4 OregonNo. 16 Miami (FL) at Clemson- Miami's offense has not been anything special; their defense and special tam made the victory against Pittsburgh possible. Their QB has shown that his preseason hype was misplaced. Miami will give up at least two picks and lose to the Tigers.Virginia Tech at No. 23 North Carolina State- Va Tech should remember who they are this week and get rid of the last undefeated team in the ACC.Potential RoutsNo. 3 Boise State at New Mexico StateLouisiana-Monroe at No. 10 AuburnNo. 25 Nevada at UNLVResults: Week 1 31-5 [86.1%]Week 2 28-3 [90.3%]Week 3 26-2 [92.9%]Week 4 24-2 [92.3%]Week 5 xx-x [??.?%]Season109-12 [90.1%]Thursday, September 30Texas AM at Oklahoma State- Texas AM might have the better QB but Oklahoma State at home will win in probably a high scoring affair.Saturday, October 2No. 7 Florida at No. 1 Alabama- Ingram and Richardson will control the clock and be the biggest reason the Gators lose this week.No. 2 Ohio State at Illinois- Ron Zook's team may put up a fight for a half but even that is doubtful.No. 3 Boise State at New Mexico State- Boise State will say the right things but will pile on points all game longNo. 9 Stanford at No. 4 Oregon- I think the Cardinal will be the biggest upset of the week. The Ducks have the speed but Stanford plays as a team and has the right attitude to win at Autsen.No. 5 TCU at Colorado State- Colorado State has shown nothing so far to say they have a chance this week.No. 21 Texas vs. No. 8 Oklahoma- Oklahoma will win but will it mean as much as in other years.Louisiana-Monroe at No. 10 Auburn- The tigers will run up the score in the Newton Heisman campaign.No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 24 Michigan State- Two good teams, but Wisconsin should pull out a win in a hard fought game.Tennessee at No. 12 LSU- Tennessee is not going to win but may hang to make it look like a game.No. 16 Miami (FL) at Clemson- Clemson should get an upset win at home.No. 22 Penn State at No. 17 Iowa- Offensive line injuries will prevent Penn State from having a winning run game and injuries may deny Iowa the same but Iowa will still have the pass and a better defense - for the win.Washington at No. 18 USC- Locker will get some stats but still see his team lose.No. 19 Michigan at Indiana- Indiana will score points but Michigan Philadelphia Eagles jersey
should score more. This is not an endorsement for league honors but the Wolverines should win the game.Northwestern at Minnesota- How could one pick Minnesota. The gophers may put a game together this year but I do not think it will be this week.Virginia Tech at No. 23 North Carolina State- Va Tech if it has any ball security at all will win this road game.No. 25 Nevada at UNLV- UNLV suffers the wrath of a team trying to get voters to notice it.Duke at Maryland- The Terps win at home over the Blue Devils (it's not basketball)** Underlined teams are currently undefeated.
2011年1月22日星期六
22 Jan 11 Iowa Football: Don't Blame The Defense For Loss To Arizona
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesI am not the kind of person that is always looking for the silver lining in the gray cloud. I'm not a pessimist, but I'm also not somebody that desperately needs to grab onto some random bit of sunshine in order to make myself feel better.With that said, in Saturday's 34-27 loss to the Arizona Wildcats, Iowa did a lot of things wrong in all phases of the game.The receivers dropped a lot of balls. One of those drops led directly to a pick-six. Also, on at least one occasion, a receiver didn't run through his route. The end result of Denver Broncos jersey
that was he missed what would have been a sure touchdown.The Hawkeyes took 60 yards in very sloppy penalties, particularly false start and personal foul penalties. If you think Kirk Ferentz will not remind his players about that over and over this week, then you have not paid attention to Kirk Ferentz over the past 11 years.Ricky Stanzi showed a number of signs that he still has not exorcised his "Mr. Hyde" demons. As I said, the pick-six was not on him. On the other hand, he did force a number of throws for which he was lucky not to get burned.Even more importantly, he still stubbornly refused to give up on plays. This resulted in him taking sacks that he didn't have to take, and that hurt the team terribly.Speaking of sacks, Iowa gave up a whopping six on the night. They gave up three in a row on the last drive. All three of those sacks came on the exact same nickel blitz, which Iowa, for some reason, seemed entirely unable to counter. Some of that was on Stanzi and some of that was on the offensive line.Oh, and the special teams were atrocious.Nevertheless, I have seen a number of message boards that are quick to blame this on the defense, and I think that is a bit absurd.I'm not saying the defense was perfect. They took a number of the aforementioned penalties, there were linebackers out of position on a number of plays, and the cornerbacks got caught looking into the backfield on at least two occasions.Both of those mistakes by the corners turned into plays of over 30 yards, the last one of which all but put the proverbial fork in the Hawks.However, I Detroit Lions
think one has to put the defense's performance into perspective.First of all, Iowa gave up 34 points. Fourteen of those points were entirely on the special teams, and a pick-six given up by the offense. Another seven of those points came on an extremely short field, given up after a blocked punt.That leaves exactly 13 points that were fully on the defense.It is true that all 13 of those points came on series in which the offense drove down the field.Nonetheless, as has been well-documented, Iowa plays a defense that allows its opponents to take underneath stuff all game. Any patient and accurate quarterback can have success against the Hawks.The good news is that there are very few patient and accurate quarterbacks in college football. The bad news is that Arizona quarterback Nick Foles is just such a quarterback.The fact is, Foles is probably the best quarterback Iowa will see all year. Certainly, Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor and Michigan's Denard Robinson are loaded with talent and ability, but neither of them can pass like Foles.In short, Arizona was going to get its yards and pick up points against this defense. The key was that the defense limited those points to field goals, which they did, and limit the number of time the Cats were able to drive the ball, which they did.In 12 drives, the Wildcats scored two touchdowns, two field goals, and turned the ball over twice. Also, one of those touchdowns was after the blocked punt. In effect, the "drive" started at Iowa's eight-yard-line.Finally, Arizona had been averaging over 500 yards total offense per game, previous to the Iowa game.The Hawks held them to 366 total yards.The bottom line is this game was not Iowa's finest moment. This is not a game that anybody will point to, and say that the Hawkeyes were at their absolute best.Iowa will go into this week with a lot ofGreen Bay Packers jersey
work to do. That includes the offense, the special teams, and the defense.Nonetheless, fans pointing to the Iowa D as "beyond overrated," or putting this loss squarely on the defense's shoulders is a bit far-fetched.There is still a lot of football left, and it is a testament to the talent and heart on this team and this defense that they made it a game, despite how sloppily they played.
that was he missed what would have been a sure touchdown.The Hawkeyes took 60 yards in very sloppy penalties, particularly false start and personal foul penalties. If you think Kirk Ferentz will not remind his players about that over and over this week, then you have not paid attention to Kirk Ferentz over the past 11 years.Ricky Stanzi showed a number of signs that he still has not exorcised his "Mr. Hyde" demons. As I said, the pick-six was not on him. On the other hand, he did force a number of throws for which he was lucky not to get burned.Even more importantly, he still stubbornly refused to give up on plays. This resulted in him taking sacks that he didn't have to take, and that hurt the team terribly.Speaking of sacks, Iowa gave up a whopping six on the night. They gave up three in a row on the last drive. All three of those sacks came on the exact same nickel blitz, which Iowa, for some reason, seemed entirely unable to counter. Some of that was on Stanzi and some of that was on the offensive line.Oh, and the special teams were atrocious.Nevertheless, I have seen a number of message boards that are quick to blame this on the defense, and I think that is a bit absurd.I'm not saying the defense was perfect. They took a number of the aforementioned penalties, there were linebackers out of position on a number of plays, and the cornerbacks got caught looking into the backfield on at least two occasions.Both of those mistakes by the corners turned into plays of over 30 yards, the last one of which all but put the proverbial fork in the Hawks.However, I Detroit Lions
think one has to put the defense's performance into perspective.First of all, Iowa gave up 34 points. Fourteen of those points were entirely on the special teams, and a pick-six given up by the offense. Another seven of those points came on an extremely short field, given up after a blocked punt.That leaves exactly 13 points that were fully on the defense.It is true that all 13 of those points came on series in which the offense drove down the field.Nonetheless, as has been well-documented, Iowa plays a defense that allows its opponents to take underneath stuff all game. Any patient and accurate quarterback can have success against the Hawks.The good news is that there are very few patient and accurate quarterbacks in college football. The bad news is that Arizona quarterback Nick Foles is just such a quarterback.The fact is, Foles is probably the best quarterback Iowa will see all year. Certainly, Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor and Michigan's Denard Robinson are loaded with talent and ability, but neither of them can pass like Foles.In short, Arizona was going to get its yards and pick up points against this defense. The key was that the defense limited those points to field goals, which they did, and limit the number of time the Cats were able to drive the ball, which they did.In 12 drives, the Wildcats scored two touchdowns, two field goals, and turned the ball over twice. Also, one of those touchdowns was after the blocked punt. In effect, the "drive" started at Iowa's eight-yard-line.Finally, Arizona had been averaging over 500 yards total offense per game, previous to the Iowa game.The Hawks held them to 366 total yards.The bottom line is this game was not Iowa's finest moment. This is not a game that anybody will point to, and say that the Hawkeyes were at their absolute best.Iowa will go into this week with a lot ofGreen Bay Packers jersey
work to do. That includes the offense, the special teams, and the defense.Nonetheless, fans pointing to the Iowa D as "beyond overrated," or putting this loss squarely on the defense's shoulders is a bit far-fetched.There is still a lot of football left, and it is a testament to the talent and heart on this team and this defense that they made it a game, despite how sloppily they played.
2011年1月18日星期二
18 Jan 11 Miami Hurricanes Favored at Pitt
Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesCollege football kicks off this week with a marquee match-up between the No. 19-ranked Miami Hurricanes and the Pitt Panthers on Thursday night. Both teams have had two weeks to prepare for this important non-conference showdown. Miami enters the game with a 1-1 record with their loss Minnesota Vikings
coming at Ohio State 36-24. Pitt lost a heartbreaker at Utah in their opener, but picked up their first win of the young season versus New Hampshire. The college football lines show that Miami is a four-point favorite on the road.Miami has showed signs of returning to national prominence under Randy Shannon, but cannot seem to turn the corner. Too many mistakes were made at Ohio State to pull off the key win on the road. Star quarterback Jacory Harris was intercepted four times in his 39 pass attempts, which ultimately decided the game. The junior is completing 63 percent of his passes for 442 yards and four touchdowns. Cutting down on the turnovers is going to be a must if the Canes want to contend in the wide open ACC. Damien Berry leads the team in rushing with 139 yards on 22 carries. He is averaging over six yards per attempt and is still looking for his first touchdown. Lamar Miller and Mike James have each scored once out of the backfield. Miami features an explosive group of wide receivers that can change the outcome of games. Leonard Hankerson has gotten off to a fast start with 13 receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Harris and Hankerson form one of the better combinations in the nation. Travis Benjamin and Aldarius Johnson have pitched in with eight catches for over 100 yards. Miamidefense allowed over 400 yards of total offense to the Buckeyes and struggled equally against both the run and pass. They will need to focus on slowing down Pitt running back Dion Lewis.Suffering a loss in Week 1 is not ideal for any team, but ground can be made up throughout the season. Pitt will get a chance to do exactly that against a strong Miami team. Sophomore running back Dion Lewis has slumped through the first two games, averaging under 3 New England Patriots jersey
yards per carry. Lewis has 35 attempts for 102 yards and two touchdowns. He is being keyed on by opposing defenses making room to run much tougher to come by. Ray Graham has done a nice job in relief of Lewis, gaining 115 yards on nine carries and scoring twice. A big question mark for the Panthers was at the quarterback position coming into the season. Tino Sunseri won the job and has played ok early on. He has thrown for 459 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. At times in the Utah game Sunseri looked loss, but he almost brought them back in a rowdy environment. Wide receiver Jon Baldwin is an All-American candidate that will likely be a first round draft pick in the NFL. The 6-5 junior has snagged ten passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Mike Shanahan has seven receptions for 89 yards. Pittdefense will be without talented defensive end Greg Romeus.This will be the first meeting between these two schools since Miami left the Big East in 2003. The Hurricanes won six straight prior to theirNew Orleans Saints jersey
departure and have outgained Pitt by an average of 185 yards in five of their past six games. Miamispeed has trumped the physical style of play Pitt relies on. Four points is a good number to get in a game that should be tightly contested. Take the points in this one. Play: Pitt +4Donwait to sign up for premium football picks from Jimmy Boyd and company! No site gives our more winners than Locksmith Sports Picks.
coming at Ohio State 36-24. Pitt lost a heartbreaker at Utah in their opener, but picked up their first win of the young season versus New Hampshire. The college football lines show that Miami is a four-point favorite on the road.Miami has showed signs of returning to national prominence under Randy Shannon, but cannot seem to turn the corner. Too many mistakes were made at Ohio State to pull off the key win on the road. Star quarterback Jacory Harris was intercepted four times in his 39 pass attempts, which ultimately decided the game. The junior is completing 63 percent of his passes for 442 yards and four touchdowns. Cutting down on the turnovers is going to be a must if the Canes want to contend in the wide open ACC. Damien Berry leads the team in rushing with 139 yards on 22 carries. He is averaging over six yards per attempt and is still looking for his first touchdown. Lamar Miller and Mike James have each scored once out of the backfield. Miami features an explosive group of wide receivers that can change the outcome of games. Leonard Hankerson has gotten off to a fast start with 13 receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Harris and Hankerson form one of the better combinations in the nation. Travis Benjamin and Aldarius Johnson have pitched in with eight catches for over 100 yards. Miamidefense allowed over 400 yards of total offense to the Buckeyes and struggled equally against both the run and pass. They will need to focus on slowing down Pitt running back Dion Lewis.Suffering a loss in Week 1 is not ideal for any team, but ground can be made up throughout the season. Pitt will get a chance to do exactly that against a strong Miami team. Sophomore running back Dion Lewis has slumped through the first two games, averaging under 3 New England Patriots jersey
yards per carry. Lewis has 35 attempts for 102 yards and two touchdowns. He is being keyed on by opposing defenses making room to run much tougher to come by. Ray Graham has done a nice job in relief of Lewis, gaining 115 yards on nine carries and scoring twice. A big question mark for the Panthers was at the quarterback position coming into the season. Tino Sunseri won the job and has played ok early on. He has thrown for 459 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. At times in the Utah game Sunseri looked loss, but he almost brought them back in a rowdy environment. Wide receiver Jon Baldwin is an All-American candidate that will likely be a first round draft pick in the NFL. The 6-5 junior has snagged ten passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Mike Shanahan has seven receptions for 89 yards. Pittdefense will be without talented defensive end Greg Romeus.This will be the first meeting between these two schools since Miami left the Big East in 2003. The Hurricanes won six straight prior to theirNew Orleans Saints jersey
departure and have outgained Pitt by an average of 185 yards in five of their past six games. Miamispeed has trumped the physical style of play Pitt relies on. Four points is a good number to get in a game that should be tightly contested. Take the points in this one. Play: Pitt +4Donwait to sign up for premium football picks from Jimmy Boyd and company! No site gives our more winners than Locksmith Sports Picks.
2011年1月15日星期六
15 Jan 11 Detroit Lions "Worst Game Never Played" Commentary
In honor of the Detroit Lions' capturing and holding of the no. 32 spot in a perfect 100 percent of NFL power polls worldwide, RealFootball365 hereby kicks off the tournament for Super Bowl minus-I, also known as The Worst Game Never Played.Thanks to the powerful simulation at the second-greatest Web site ever, WhatIfSports.com, a true nightmare tournament can be assembled without all that messy time-travel business. Selected are four teams truly worthy of being called The All-Time Worst, or at least The Worst in Recent History. As the RealFootball365 thesaurus is being worn to the spine searching for ways to define the mess that is the Detroit Lions, a Matt Millen franchise will represent the Honolulu blue-and-silver so that we may learn just how bad things truly are there.The format of Washington Redskins jersey
the tournament is simple: The AFC representatives will face off, as will the NFC's. Winners go home, losers advance to the final showdown in Phoenix, Ariz. for Super Bowl minus-I. Take a look at these squads, and hedge your (completely illegal and in no way encouraged by the National Football League and its licensees) bets:1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - These guys weren't just a bad team, they weren't just an expansion team ... they were a phenomenon. In the first two games of the team history, the Bucs went without a point. The 1976ers, "led" by Steve Spurrier and "coached" by USC legend John McKay, would ultimately run up 26 straight losses while setting records for appearances in the butt of jokes that may never be broken. And lest we forget: For inexplicable reasons, Tampa Bay graced the AFC West with their presence before swapping conferences with the Seattle Seahawks the following season.1999 Cleveland Browns - After being robbed of a franchise whose history went back to the All-America Football Conference, Cleveland was re-expanded into the NFL, just so Clevelanders could experience a bad old-fashioned new team. This squad launched the career of Tim Couch and featured the NBA's all-time leading scorer, Karim Abdul-Jabbar, at halfback.1989 Dallas Cowboys - Not an expansion team, but they might as well have been. "Let me trade Herschel Walker," said Jimmie Johnson to Jerry Jones, "and I'll build you a Super Bowl team." Five players, six conditional draft choices, one first-round pick and three years later, the Lombardi Trophy was in the Lone Star State. Along the way, though, Dallas fans had to finish the loathsome 1-15 season of 1989. Sure, they had Troy Aikman, but he threw 18 picks (and they didn't even call them "picks" back then) against nine TDs. Jack Del Rio was a linebacker. You don't recognize the rest of the roster.2005 Detroit Lions - We'll run another tourney once the WhatIfSports guys post the numbers for the 2006 version, but for now this version will do. Sure, Detroit's favorite QB Joey Harrington is Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
there instead of Jon Kitna, but 2005 was, for Lions fans, just more of the same old garbage. Besides, the 2006 Lions' living players, Kevin Jones and Roy Williams, are on the 2005 team anyway. Plus, Millen was the GM and, boys and girls, these are truly his Lions.Onto the games!AFC Championship: 1976 Buccaneers 24, 1999 Browns 27. The Browns escape the ignominy of having to appear in The Worst Game Ever Played in an edge-of-your-seat game in Cleveland. After jumping out to 14-0 first-quarter lead on a 24-yard run from Couch (!) and a 19-yarder from Jabbar (assist from Magic Johnson), it appeared to be smooth sailing. But the '76 Bucs hadn't seen such easy meat back in their day and began clawing their way back, even knocking Couch out in the process. On came Koy Detmer to lead the Browns on a long drive culminating in an 18-yard pass to Leslie Shepherd - You know him: He was in the "Naked Gun" movies - with just over one minute, 30 seconds to play. Spurrier went 19-of-33 for 227 yards all the while wishing he were in Florida.NFC Championship: 2005 Lions 30, 1989 Cowboys 36. Not only is WhatIfSports a most excellent time-waster, it is also proof that the computer has a sense of humor. Check out the box score by clicking on the score above. Kicker Remy Hamilton, apparently substituted for Jason Hanson in either a completely believable coaching move by Steve Mariucci or Dick Jauron, goes 0-for-5 in extra-point conversions to waste a brilliant 25-of-33, 327-yard, three-TD performance by Harrington. The Cowboys prevail, winning for only the second time with this roster. And you know what? It's all perfectly credible. Except for Harrington's stats, of course.Super Bowl minus-I: 1976 Buccaneers 0, 2005 Lions 14. In a game where both teams' supporters hoped their guys wouldn't be true to form, the 1976 Bucs were. Fueled by Williams' guarantee of victory, Jauron (or maybe Mariucci) fired up his 21st-best 'D' to stop the Creamsicle-colored chumps of yesteryear. Hamilton again started at placekicker Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
for the Lions and went 0-for-3 in field goals, but Williams and Jones scored a TD apiece, more than enough to overwhelm truly the All-Time Worst.And so Detroit's fans rested peacefully for the first night since Matt Millen was applying punishment on the field as opposed to in the office; finally, a team the Lions can beat. Now, if only the Ford Motor Co. can get that prototype time machine up and running...P.S.Fire Millen in ours and all alternate universes.Insights into time travel and sometimes the Detroit Lions, too, (4)
the tournament is simple: The AFC representatives will face off, as will the NFC's. Winners go home, losers advance to the final showdown in Phoenix, Ariz. for Super Bowl minus-I. Take a look at these squads, and hedge your (completely illegal and in no way encouraged by the National Football League and its licensees) bets:1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - These guys weren't just a bad team, they weren't just an expansion team ... they were a phenomenon. In the first two games of the team history, the Bucs went without a point. The 1976ers, "led" by Steve Spurrier and "coached" by USC legend John McKay, would ultimately run up 26 straight losses while setting records for appearances in the butt of jokes that may never be broken. And lest we forget: For inexplicable reasons, Tampa Bay graced the AFC West with their presence before swapping conferences with the Seattle Seahawks the following season.1999 Cleveland Browns - After being robbed of a franchise whose history went back to the All-America Football Conference, Cleveland was re-expanded into the NFL, just so Clevelanders could experience a bad old-fashioned new team. This squad launched the career of Tim Couch and featured the NBA's all-time leading scorer, Karim Abdul-Jabbar, at halfback.1989 Dallas Cowboys - Not an expansion team, but they might as well have been. "Let me trade Herschel Walker," said Jimmie Johnson to Jerry Jones, "and I'll build you a Super Bowl team." Five players, six conditional draft choices, one first-round pick and three years later, the Lombardi Trophy was in the Lone Star State. Along the way, though, Dallas fans had to finish the loathsome 1-15 season of 1989. Sure, they had Troy Aikman, but he threw 18 picks (and they didn't even call them "picks" back then) against nine TDs. Jack Del Rio was a linebacker. You don't recognize the rest of the roster.2005 Detroit Lions - We'll run another tourney once the WhatIfSports guys post the numbers for the 2006 version, but for now this version will do. Sure, Detroit's favorite QB Joey Harrington is Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
there instead of Jon Kitna, but 2005 was, for Lions fans, just more of the same old garbage. Besides, the 2006 Lions' living players, Kevin Jones and Roy Williams, are on the 2005 team anyway. Plus, Millen was the GM and, boys and girls, these are truly his Lions.Onto the games!AFC Championship: 1976 Buccaneers 24, 1999 Browns 27. The Browns escape the ignominy of having to appear in The Worst Game Ever Played in an edge-of-your-seat game in Cleveland. After jumping out to 14-0 first-quarter lead on a 24-yard run from Couch (!) and a 19-yarder from Jabbar (assist from Magic Johnson), it appeared to be smooth sailing. But the '76 Bucs hadn't seen such easy meat back in their day and began clawing their way back, even knocking Couch out in the process. On came Koy Detmer to lead the Browns on a long drive culminating in an 18-yard pass to Leslie Shepherd - You know him: He was in the "Naked Gun" movies - with just over one minute, 30 seconds to play. Spurrier went 19-of-33 for 227 yards all the while wishing he were in Florida.NFC Championship: 2005 Lions 30, 1989 Cowboys 36. Not only is WhatIfSports a most excellent time-waster, it is also proof that the computer has a sense of humor. Check out the box score by clicking on the score above. Kicker Remy Hamilton, apparently substituted for Jason Hanson in either a completely believable coaching move by Steve Mariucci or Dick Jauron, goes 0-for-5 in extra-point conversions to waste a brilliant 25-of-33, 327-yard, three-TD performance by Harrington. The Cowboys prevail, winning for only the second time with this roster. And you know what? It's all perfectly credible. Except for Harrington's stats, of course.Super Bowl minus-I: 1976 Buccaneers 0, 2005 Lions 14. In a game where both teams' supporters hoped their guys wouldn't be true to form, the 1976 Bucs were. Fueled by Williams' guarantee of victory, Jauron (or maybe Mariucci) fired up his 21st-best 'D' to stop the Creamsicle-colored chumps of yesteryear. Hamilton again started at placekicker Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
for the Lions and went 0-for-3 in field goals, but Williams and Jones scored a TD apiece, more than enough to overwhelm truly the All-Time Worst.And so Detroit's fans rested peacefully for the first night since Matt Millen was applying punishment on the field as opposed to in the office; finally, a team the Lions can beat. Now, if only the Ford Motor Co. can get that prototype time machine up and running...P.S.Fire Millen in ours and all alternate universes.Insights into time travel and sometimes the Detroit Lions, too, (4)
2011年1月13日星期四
14 Jan 11 Seattle Seahawks Jerramy Stevens Commentary
If every starter's return mirrors that of Jerramy Stevens, Seattle fans will be very happy.It's not that Stevens has been such a consistent performer since returning from knee surgery. Quite the contrary, in fact. Stevens has been up (a touchdown in two games) and down (no catches against Oakland and a fumble Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
last week against San Francisco) in the games since he rejoined the starting lineup.But, as 'Hawks fans know, that's Stevens in a nutshell. He can be a potent part of the offense, or he can melt down at the most inopportune time--like the Super Bowl. You don't always know what he's going to deliver, and fans still can't be sure what he'll contribute each week. So Stevens is just picking up where he left off.If Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselbeck and Bobby Engram can do the same, fans will be cheering the team back to the playoffs. Because for those guys, "picking up where they left off" means solid play and helping the team win. Sure, they've had their struggles in 2006 but a healthy offense will be able to compete with the remaining teams on the schedule.Stevens still has an important role to play in the lineup, and Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
the tight end position is naturally an inconsistent one. And it's not like Stevens will be needed to catch 10 passes or reach 100 yards every game. The passing attack has Darrell Jackson, Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and (soon) Engram. The team simply needs Stevens to either block or become another option in a talented corps of receivers, and that's exactly what he's cut out to be.What Stevens has done is show that a player can return from an injury and fit back into Mike Holmgren's system. He can fill the role he needs to fill immediately. When the team has holes in its starting lineup, it doesn't look like much of a contribution. But Stevens has also shown the ability to make his playing time count late in the year. Not counting a meaningless game against the Packers to close out the 2005 season, Stevens scored in theReebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
Seahawks' last three regular-season contests.Stevens had no less than three receptions in every game last December, and that would be welcome production this year. At 6-4, the Seahawks have a tough road ahead. If they don't win the division, even a wild-card spot isn't a guarantee. The team will need production from its healthy starters--including Stevens--to defend its conference championship successfully.
last week against San Francisco) in the games since he rejoined the starting lineup.But, as 'Hawks fans know, that's Stevens in a nutshell. He can be a potent part of the offense, or he can melt down at the most inopportune time--like the Super Bowl. You don't always know what he's going to deliver, and fans still can't be sure what he'll contribute each week. So Stevens is just picking up where he left off.If Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselbeck and Bobby Engram can do the same, fans will be cheering the team back to the playoffs. Because for those guys, "picking up where they left off" means solid play and helping the team win. Sure, they've had their struggles in 2006 but a healthy offense will be able to compete with the remaining teams on the schedule.Stevens still has an important role to play in the lineup, and Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
the tight end position is naturally an inconsistent one. And it's not like Stevens will be needed to catch 10 passes or reach 100 yards every game. The passing attack has Darrell Jackson, Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and (soon) Engram. The team simply needs Stevens to either block or become another option in a talented corps of receivers, and that's exactly what he's cut out to be.What Stevens has done is show that a player can return from an injury and fit back into Mike Holmgren's system. He can fill the role he needs to fill immediately. When the team has holes in its starting lineup, it doesn't look like much of a contribution. But Stevens has also shown the ability to make his playing time count late in the year. Not counting a meaningless game against the Packers to close out the 2005 season, Stevens scored in theReebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
Seahawks' last three regular-season contests.Stevens had no less than three receptions in every game last December, and that would be welcome production this year. At 6-4, the Seahawks have a tough road ahead. If they don't win the division, even a wild-card spot isn't a guarantee. The team will need production from its healthy starters--including Stevens--to defend its conference championship successfully.
14 Jan 11 Seattle Seahawks Jerramy Stevens Commentary
If every starter's return mirrors that of Jerramy Stevens, Seattle fans will be very happy.It's not that Stevens has been such a consistent performer since returning from knee surgery. Quite the contrary, in fact. Stevens has been up (a touchdown in two games) and down (no catches against Oakland and a fumble Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
last week against San Francisco) in the games since he rejoined the starting lineup.But, as 'Hawks fans know, that's Stevens in a nutshell. He can be a potent part of the offense, or he can melt down at the most inopportune time--like the Super Bowl. You don't always know what he's going to deliver, and fans still can't be sure what he'll contribute each week. So Stevens is just picking up where he left off.If Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselbeck and Bobby Engram can do the same, fans will be cheering the team back to the playoffs. Because for those guys, "picking up where they left off" means solid play and helping the team win. Sure, they've had their struggles in 2006 but a healthy offense will be able to compete with the remaining teams on the schedule.Stevens still has an important role to play in the lineup, and Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
the tight end position is naturally an inconsistent one. And it's not like Stevens will be needed to catch 10 passes or reach 100 yards every game. The passing attack has Darrell Jackson, Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and (soon) Engram. The team simply needs Stevens to either block or become another option in a talented corps of receivers, and that's exactly what he's cut out to be.What Stevens has done is show that a player can return from an injury and fit back into Mike Holmgren's system. He can fill the role he needs to fill immediately. When the team has holes in its starting lineup, it doesn't look like much of a contribution. But Stevens has also shown the ability to make his playing time count late in the year. Not counting a meaningless game against the Packers to close out the 2005 season, Stevens scored in theReebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
Seahawks' last three regular-season contests.Stevens had no less than three receptions in every game last December, and that would be welcome production this year. At 6-4, the Seahawks have a tough road ahead. If they don't win the division, even a wild-card spot isn't a guarantee. The team will need production from its healthy starters--including Stevens--to defend its conference championship successfully.
last week against San Francisco) in the games since he rejoined the starting lineup.But, as 'Hawks fans know, that's Stevens in a nutshell. He can be a potent part of the offense, or he can melt down at the most inopportune time--like the Super Bowl. You don't always know what he's going to deliver, and fans still can't be sure what he'll contribute each week. So Stevens is just picking up where he left off.If Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselbeck and Bobby Engram can do the same, fans will be cheering the team back to the playoffs. Because for those guys, "picking up where they left off" means solid play and helping the team win. Sure, they've had their struggles in 2006 but a healthy offense will be able to compete with the remaining teams on the schedule.Stevens still has an important role to play in the lineup, and Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
the tight end position is naturally an inconsistent one. And it's not like Stevens will be needed to catch 10 passes or reach 100 yards every game. The passing attack has Darrell Jackson, Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and (soon) Engram. The team simply needs Stevens to either block or become another option in a talented corps of receivers, and that's exactly what he's cut out to be.What Stevens has done is show that a player can return from an injury and fit back into Mike Holmgren's system. He can fill the role he needs to fill immediately. When the team has holes in its starting lineup, it doesn't look like much of a contribution. But Stevens has also shown the ability to make his playing time count late in the year. Not counting a meaningless game against the Packers to close out the 2005 season, Stevens scored in theReebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
Seahawks' last three regular-season contests.Stevens had no less than three receptions in every game last December, and that would be welcome production this year. At 6-4, the Seahawks have a tough road ahead. If they don't win the division, even a wild-card spot isn't a guarantee. The team will need production from its healthy starters--including Stevens--to defend its conference championship successfully.
2011年1月12日星期三
13 Jan 11 The Key To The Cavs Winning a Title Is ...........
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesJJ Hickson.That's right. Not LeBron, Shaq, or Mo Williams. Obviously, those other guys are key to the Cavs title run, but that goes without saying. JJ is the Cavs 1st round pick from a year ago out of NC State who has grown leaps and bounds in just his second year in the league.Anyone who has watched the Cavs this year can see that Hickson is an energy guy with great athleticism and a penchant for finishing strong at the rim. He reminds me sort of Anderson Varejo with his hustle and effort, only with a slightly more Carolina Panthers jersey
polished offensive game. And Hickson has also picked up one other thing from Varejo: moving without the ball. JJ has made a niche this year of backcuts and following missed balls while playing with three of the leagues best passers in Mo, Shaq, and LeBron.The really great thing about JJ's emergence this year is that even if the Cavs decide to move on and include him in a deal, his improvement has been significant enough for other teams (Washington maybe?) to include him in a deal that could give the Cavs that possible missing piece like a Caron Butler or Antawn Jamison. With the expected return of Leon Powe around the All-Star break, it makes JJ that much more expendable. Can anyone say dynamite?
polished offensive game. And Hickson has also picked up one other thing from Varejo: moving without the ball. JJ has made a niche this year of backcuts and following missed balls while playing with three of the leagues best passers in Mo, Shaq, and LeBron.The really great thing about JJ's emergence this year is that even if the Cavs decide to move on and include him in a deal, his improvement has been significant enough for other teams (Washington maybe?) to include him in a deal that could give the Cavs that possible missing piece like a Caron Butler or Antawn Jamison. With the expected return of Leon Powe around the All-Star break, it makes JJ that much more expendable. Can anyone say dynamite?
12 Jan 11 Newsflash: Greg Oden Has A Penis, Human Anatomy Still Same
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesIf you listen to sports talk radio or watch any cable sports news outlet, you have probably heard by now that there are some unfortunate pictures ofGreg Odensurfacing on the magical internet. Apparently Oden had taken some nude pictures with a cell phone to send them a lady friend. As with all poor decisions, this one had a consequence.In this day and age of instant publication and even faster dissemination of information people need to be extremely aware of their actions. Am I going to ride my moral high horse and wag myReebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
finger in disapproval? Hell no. Who am I to judge what goes on in people personal lives? Im not going to say Oden foray into amature nude modeling is disgusting and inappropriate but I will say it was ill conceived.Let say you and I start a long distance relationship. You like me and I think you smell of slightly sour milk but I am willing to let it slide for now. Now you ask me to let you get a glimpse of my cash and prizes via webcam/picture/self commissioned oil painting. That is when something I like to call the Back To The Future effect comes in. There are multiple timelines that can play out from this one seemingly trivial but ultimately massively important decision I have to make. Do I want to live in the timeline where Im cool and have a bad ass Jeep or do I want a timeline where my dad gets greased and Biff is working over my mom like The Situation on Snookie?Since we lack actual flux capacitors (and Deloreans, for that matter) you have to be extremely aware of your actions. Greg was quite possibly caught up in a round of Show me your andReebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
Ill show you mine, and was just too eager to see some mammaries to remember that he was a seven foot athletic beast who was destined for the NBA. Don you think that thought would have crossed his mind? Something nagging like, Hey, if I do this and get super famous and things end poorly with this broad, will my junk be all over Google? Apparently he is either A; not terribly bright or B and more likely; way too trusting of people.I know that not everyone can be a cynic (even Conan, who made it clear he will never be one) but you have to be at least suspicious. I feel bad for the guy, I really do. I know he has a strong family support system and clearly know right from wrong but this isn a right or wrong situation. It was a matter of maturity and thinking with anatomy other than his brain which I can fault him with entirely. Throughout the course of history dudes have been getting fleeced by women and their feminine wiles. Friggen Samson was brought asunder because of Delilah and her quest for the source of his power. Im not drawing a parallel betweenReebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
Oden and a Greek legend but a woman did bring a world of embarrassment to him.Is the mysterious lady friend responsible for Greg loss of face in the public eye? No. Did she have a hand in it? Undoubtedly. The ultimate responsibility lies with Oden and his decision to snap and send those pictures. Im sure he learned his lesson, albeit the hard way. Now he has to face the reality that he no longer has that bad ass Jeep in his future and instead will be treated to Biff wrestling his mom.
finger in disapproval? Hell no. Who am I to judge what goes on in people personal lives? Im not going to say Oden foray into amature nude modeling is disgusting and inappropriate but I will say it was ill conceived.Let say you and I start a long distance relationship. You like me and I think you smell of slightly sour milk but I am willing to let it slide for now. Now you ask me to let you get a glimpse of my cash and prizes via webcam/picture/self commissioned oil painting. That is when something I like to call the Back To The Future effect comes in. There are multiple timelines that can play out from this one seemingly trivial but ultimately massively important decision I have to make. Do I want to live in the timeline where Im cool and have a bad ass Jeep or do I want a timeline where my dad gets greased and Biff is working over my mom like The Situation on Snookie?Since we lack actual flux capacitors (and Deloreans, for that matter) you have to be extremely aware of your actions. Greg was quite possibly caught up in a round of Show me your andReebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
Ill show you mine, and was just too eager to see some mammaries to remember that he was a seven foot athletic beast who was destined for the NBA. Don you think that thought would have crossed his mind? Something nagging like, Hey, if I do this and get super famous and things end poorly with this broad, will my junk be all over Google? Apparently he is either A; not terribly bright or B and more likely; way too trusting of people.I know that not everyone can be a cynic (even Conan, who made it clear he will never be one) but you have to be at least suspicious. I feel bad for the guy, I really do. I know he has a strong family support system and clearly know right from wrong but this isn a right or wrong situation. It was a matter of maturity and thinking with anatomy other than his brain which I can fault him with entirely. Throughout the course of history dudes have been getting fleeced by women and their feminine wiles. Friggen Samson was brought asunder because of Delilah and her quest for the source of his power. Im not drawing a parallel betweenReebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
Oden and a Greek legend but a woman did bring a world of embarrassment to him.Is the mysterious lady friend responsible for Greg loss of face in the public eye? No. Did she have a hand in it? Undoubtedly. The ultimate responsibility lies with Oden and his decision to snap and send those pictures. Im sure he learned his lesson, albeit the hard way. Now he has to face the reality that he no longer has that bad ass Jeep in his future and instead will be treated to Biff wrestling his mom.
2011年1月10日星期一
10 Jan 11 Stephen Curry: Shooter Or Basketball Player?
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesBefore you read this, you should know that Stephen Curry is my idol. You may see the bias in this article. However, hopefully you will see the validity of my points as well.As soon as I watched Stephen Curry for the first time in the 2008 NCAA tournament, my eyes lit up. I was just in awe on how good this guy was. He had the same number as me that I wore in high school; he wasn't highly recruited. He was a little guy doing big things and just breezing through the Big Dance beating some of the toughest teams in the country.Coming into theCarolina Panthers jersey
beginning of this NBA season, however, I had my doubts. I mean, Stephen Curry is very small for an NBA player, especially one who might not even be a point guard. Many experts said he would not be very successful in the NBA, commonly using the arguments that all he can do is shoot, he is weak, not very fast, and poor defensively. And even his shooting would not at all be guranteed for him after a significant increase from the three point line to the basket in which many rookies find challenging in their first couple of years.But I also could see tremendous upside in Stephen, maybe even a top three rookie of the year finish. After all, why would I believe my idol is going to be a disappointment at the professional level?At the beginning of the year, I was a little mad. Don Nelson did not give Stephen Curry the minutes he deserved. Every rookie deserves at least 30 minutes a game for a couple games just to see how they do. And Curry was not getting these opportunities.Then, Nelson got smart and gave Curry a little more playing time. And Stephen's stats benefited greatly. He really turned it on offensively scoring over 20 points on multiple occasions for awhile. Many still argued he lacked defensive skill, and the passing ability needed to be a successful point guard (even though he wasn't playing the position of a true point guard).Then Curry's minutes declined yet again. His stats decreased back to normal, and was lost in the hype of star rookies Brandon Jennings and Tyreke Evans.And then, a few weeks later, Curry was given yet another opportunity to succeed. And he hasn't cooled off since.I've been absolutely amazed by Curry's improvement over the season. And I can honestly say that he is a great overall BASKETBALL PLAYER, and not just a sharpshooter out of a mid major school.On the season, Curry is averaging 14.9 ppg, 5.2 apg, and 4.0 rpg. These are fantastic overall stats for a rookie. On these statistics alone, I think it is clear that Curry has made significant contributions to the Golden State organization in multiple categories and he is not just a sharpshooter getting lucky in the NBA because the Warriors' star player is injured (and he's only been injured for like 5 games anyway). But there is more. Much more.After being at times a little bit of an erratic shooter in college, Chicago Bears jersey
it was expected for Curry to be a little shaky in his first year from the arc. The complete opposite has happened. On the year, Curry is 41.6% from the three point line. A very impressive statistic for sure. He is also 45.4% from the field which is impressive considering he has really had to shoot a lot more lately with Monta Ellis's absence, and he's a first year guard.Curry will never be a defensive specialist, not even close, but he has proven that he can stop a man from scoring on him consistently. He averages an exceptional 1.9 steals per game, and chips in 0.2 blocks per game as well. He's no longer a weak spot in the Warriors defense.Curry has also improved upon his ability to take it to the basket, and finish. He'll never be a true slasher most likely, but he has athletic ability and can finish at the rack in traffic. If you watched the rookie vs. sophomore game and his overall performance in the last couple of weeks, you can see that quite lucidly. Also, when he does take it to the basket and draws a foul, he'll give you two points from the charity stripe quite often, with a free throw percentage near ninety.Last but not least, look at Curry's performance in the last two months, he's been ridiculous. Just a couple of days ago he pulled off his first career triple double, with 36 points, 10 rebounds, 13 ASSISTS!, and 36 points. He was absolutely on fire that game, but his exceptional offensive ability has shown in nearly every game in the last eight weeks, not just that one.Here's a list of his stats in some of his more recent games:24 points, 6 rebounds, 15 assists, 3 steals11Cincinnati Bengals jersey
points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal25 points, 9 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals23 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound, 2 steals15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals27 points, 6 assists, 9 rebounds, 3 steals32 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds, 4 steals.If you looked at these statistics without knowing who owned them, you would think it's an all-star AT LEAST, maybe even a Lebron James. At least an LJ with an off week. Don't lie to yourself, these are phenomenal statistics. Over a medium length period of time. And not all of these games is with Monta Ellis out as you probably are guessing. In fact, most of them are not. And all though this is only 7 games, that's still a great stretch, and I'm being honest here, these EXACT KIND OF NUMBERS HAVE EXISTED for about TWO MONTHS! That's just insane! On days (there have been VERY few) where Curry has an off shooting night, he puts up double or near double digits in rebounds and assists. Not to mention he's averaged nearly three steals a game in the last month and a half or so.Curry has proven he can score in many different ways, not just by bombing up threes. He's been driving the ball to the basket very nicely, and has been able to kick it out to guys like Corey Maggette because of his basketball IQ and awareness. Also, he has hit an extremely high percentage of free throws, and although he doesn't get there too often, that stat is only a minor speed-bump in his game that will improve as his career continues and he gets smarter and stronger. He's also proven he can drive and pull up for mid range jump shots.Yet another plus for Curry is he has shown he can run the high powered attack of the Warriors offense. He's turned into a solid leader, he never complains, he's always even keel; he's everything you want in a franchise player. He won rookie of the month in January after averaging nearly 20 ppg, 5 apg, 5 rpg, and exactly two steals per game in 15 games. And like I said these numbers have improved significantly MORE in the month of February. He has averaged 20 ppg in February with three 25+ point performances, 8 apg, 4.5 rpg, and 2 spg. Those are statistics that are setting him up for another rookie of the month type of stretch.And think about those 4.5 rpg. For a guard that's already good, but for Stephen Curry, who's 6 feet 3 inches, and not even 190 lbs, that's phenomenal. This kid is tough, he has ice water in his veins; he can do everything on the basketball court.All in all, Curry DOES have some cons. His strength is a little bit of an issue, his defensive skills are not stifling, and he doesn't get to the free throw line much. However, the strength will improve with time, his defense has ALREADY improved (nearly 2 spg), and as he becomes a bigger name, gets more confidence, and turns into the main offensive threat on his team (aka Monta Ellis leaves), he'll get to the foul line much, much more. And he'll knock them down too. In addition, his positives easily diminish his minor flaws. He has proven he can be one of the league's best three point shooters, with time his FT percentage will creep up to the mid nineties, his slashing ability has improved also and it will only get better, and he has knocked down mid range jumpers like nobody's business. He causes turnovers, he distributes the ball very well for a natural shooting guard, and is turning into a true point guard everyday. His court sense and vision is way above average which makes him a potential future 8 apg type of player. His leadership speaks volume of his character, and he IS the franchise player of Cleveland Browns jersey
the Golden State franchise. I believe right now he is the third best rookie in the league, and he is improving significantly everyday. He's shown he has potential to dominate the boards as a 6 foot 3 185 lb ROOKIE GUARD, and he works as hard as anyone in the league. When given the approrpriate minutes he will excel tremendously, and that has proven as of late. So, when asked if Curry is more of a shooter or a basketball player, the answer should clearly be basketball player. And if you're even smarter, you'll say he has top 30 player potential.
beginning of this NBA season, however, I had my doubts. I mean, Stephen Curry is very small for an NBA player, especially one who might not even be a point guard. Many experts said he would not be very successful in the NBA, commonly using the arguments that all he can do is shoot, he is weak, not very fast, and poor defensively. And even his shooting would not at all be guranteed for him after a significant increase from the three point line to the basket in which many rookies find challenging in their first couple of years.But I also could see tremendous upside in Stephen, maybe even a top three rookie of the year finish. After all, why would I believe my idol is going to be a disappointment at the professional level?At the beginning of the year, I was a little mad. Don Nelson did not give Stephen Curry the minutes he deserved. Every rookie deserves at least 30 minutes a game for a couple games just to see how they do. And Curry was not getting these opportunities.Then, Nelson got smart and gave Curry a little more playing time. And Stephen's stats benefited greatly. He really turned it on offensively scoring over 20 points on multiple occasions for awhile. Many still argued he lacked defensive skill, and the passing ability needed to be a successful point guard (even though he wasn't playing the position of a true point guard).Then Curry's minutes declined yet again. His stats decreased back to normal, and was lost in the hype of star rookies Brandon Jennings and Tyreke Evans.And then, a few weeks later, Curry was given yet another opportunity to succeed. And he hasn't cooled off since.I've been absolutely amazed by Curry's improvement over the season. And I can honestly say that he is a great overall BASKETBALL PLAYER, and not just a sharpshooter out of a mid major school.On the season, Curry is averaging 14.9 ppg, 5.2 apg, and 4.0 rpg. These are fantastic overall stats for a rookie. On these statistics alone, I think it is clear that Curry has made significant contributions to the Golden State organization in multiple categories and he is not just a sharpshooter getting lucky in the NBA because the Warriors' star player is injured (and he's only been injured for like 5 games anyway). But there is more. Much more.After being at times a little bit of an erratic shooter in college, Chicago Bears jersey
it was expected for Curry to be a little shaky in his first year from the arc. The complete opposite has happened. On the year, Curry is 41.6% from the three point line. A very impressive statistic for sure. He is also 45.4% from the field which is impressive considering he has really had to shoot a lot more lately with Monta Ellis's absence, and he's a first year guard.Curry will never be a defensive specialist, not even close, but he has proven that he can stop a man from scoring on him consistently. He averages an exceptional 1.9 steals per game, and chips in 0.2 blocks per game as well. He's no longer a weak spot in the Warriors defense.Curry has also improved upon his ability to take it to the basket, and finish. He'll never be a true slasher most likely, but he has athletic ability and can finish at the rack in traffic. If you watched the rookie vs. sophomore game and his overall performance in the last couple of weeks, you can see that quite lucidly. Also, when he does take it to the basket and draws a foul, he'll give you two points from the charity stripe quite often, with a free throw percentage near ninety.Last but not least, look at Curry's performance in the last two months, he's been ridiculous. Just a couple of days ago he pulled off his first career triple double, with 36 points, 10 rebounds, 13 ASSISTS!, and 36 points. He was absolutely on fire that game, but his exceptional offensive ability has shown in nearly every game in the last eight weeks, not just that one.Here's a list of his stats in some of his more recent games:24 points, 6 rebounds, 15 assists, 3 steals11Cincinnati Bengals jersey
points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal25 points, 9 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals23 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound, 2 steals15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals27 points, 6 assists, 9 rebounds, 3 steals32 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds, 4 steals.If you looked at these statistics without knowing who owned them, you would think it's an all-star AT LEAST, maybe even a Lebron James. At least an LJ with an off week. Don't lie to yourself, these are phenomenal statistics. Over a medium length period of time. And not all of these games is with Monta Ellis out as you probably are guessing. In fact, most of them are not. And all though this is only 7 games, that's still a great stretch, and I'm being honest here, these EXACT KIND OF NUMBERS HAVE EXISTED for about TWO MONTHS! That's just insane! On days (there have been VERY few) where Curry has an off shooting night, he puts up double or near double digits in rebounds and assists. Not to mention he's averaged nearly three steals a game in the last month and a half or so.Curry has proven he can score in many different ways, not just by bombing up threes. He's been driving the ball to the basket very nicely, and has been able to kick it out to guys like Corey Maggette because of his basketball IQ and awareness. Also, he has hit an extremely high percentage of free throws, and although he doesn't get there too often, that stat is only a minor speed-bump in his game that will improve as his career continues and he gets smarter and stronger. He's also proven he can drive and pull up for mid range jump shots.Yet another plus for Curry is he has shown he can run the high powered attack of the Warriors offense. He's turned into a solid leader, he never complains, he's always even keel; he's everything you want in a franchise player. He won rookie of the month in January after averaging nearly 20 ppg, 5 apg, 5 rpg, and exactly two steals per game in 15 games. And like I said these numbers have improved significantly MORE in the month of February. He has averaged 20 ppg in February with three 25+ point performances, 8 apg, 4.5 rpg, and 2 spg. Those are statistics that are setting him up for another rookie of the month type of stretch.And think about those 4.5 rpg. For a guard that's already good, but for Stephen Curry, who's 6 feet 3 inches, and not even 190 lbs, that's phenomenal. This kid is tough, he has ice water in his veins; he can do everything on the basketball court.All in all, Curry DOES have some cons. His strength is a little bit of an issue, his defensive skills are not stifling, and he doesn't get to the free throw line much. However, the strength will improve with time, his defense has ALREADY improved (nearly 2 spg), and as he becomes a bigger name, gets more confidence, and turns into the main offensive threat on his team (aka Monta Ellis leaves), he'll get to the foul line much, much more. And he'll knock them down too. In addition, his positives easily diminish his minor flaws. He has proven he can be one of the league's best three point shooters, with time his FT percentage will creep up to the mid nineties, his slashing ability has improved also and it will only get better, and he has knocked down mid range jumpers like nobody's business. He causes turnovers, he distributes the ball very well for a natural shooting guard, and is turning into a true point guard everyday. His court sense and vision is way above average which makes him a potential future 8 apg type of player. His leadership speaks volume of his character, and he IS the franchise player of Cleveland Browns jersey
the Golden State franchise. I believe right now he is the third best rookie in the league, and he is improving significantly everyday. He's shown he has potential to dominate the boards as a 6 foot 3 185 lb ROOKIE GUARD, and he works as hard as anyone in the league. When given the approrpriate minutes he will excel tremendously, and that has proven as of late. So, when asked if Curry is more of a shooter or a basketball player, the answer should clearly be basketball player. And if you're even smarter, you'll say he has top 30 player potential.
2011年1月9日星期日
9 Jan 11 LeBron James Not MVP? Am I Missing Something?
Sam Greenwood/Getty ImagesI have been hearing a lot of different names for MVP consideration. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant are the most common, but I have even heard whispers of Dwight Howard. But I ask, why?Is there really any question that LeBron James deserves to be the NBA's most Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
valuable player?I'm trying to comprehend how Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are more deserving of the award than LeBron James. Just look at the stats.LeBron JamesPPG 30.0RPG 7.10APG 8.5FG% 50Kobe BryantPPG 27.7RPG 5.30APG 4.7FG% 46Kevin DurantPPG 29.7RPG 7.60APG 2.9FG% 48So tell me why LeBron is not MVP. Is it because Kevin Durant is out-rebounding him by .50?Has Kevin Durant led his team to the best record in the NBA? No, that would be LeBron.The argument for Kobe is a little stronger because the Lakers have the second-best record in the NBA, but I still believe LeBron deserves it more. Kobe has dealt with a lot of injuries this year and hasn't been able to help his team at certain parts of the year. And throw in thathe also has one of the best supporting casts in the NBA.Granted, LeBron does have Antawn Jamison now, but he is a very recent addition and he is still learning the Cavaliers offense.The MVP is the award for the player that is the most valuable to their team. LeBron is the ONLY reason the Cavaliers are even a contender. Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
Without Kobe, the Lakers would probably be decent.I will say that the Thunder would probably not be anything without Durant, but I don't think he is MVP quite yet. I think Durant has many MVP awards ahead of him but 2010 belongs to the king, LeBron James.
valuable player?I'm trying to comprehend how Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are more deserving of the award than LeBron James. Just look at the stats.LeBron JamesPPG 30.0RPG 7.10APG 8.5FG% 50Kobe BryantPPG 27.7RPG 5.30APG 4.7FG% 46Kevin DurantPPG 29.7RPG 7.60APG 2.9FG% 48So tell me why LeBron is not MVP. Is it because Kevin Durant is out-rebounding him by .50?Has Kevin Durant led his team to the best record in the NBA? No, that would be LeBron.The argument for Kobe is a little stronger because the Lakers have the second-best record in the NBA, but I still believe LeBron deserves it more. Kobe has dealt with a lot of injuries this year and hasn't been able to help his team at certain parts of the year. And throw in thathe also has one of the best supporting casts in the NBA.Granted, LeBron does have Antawn Jamison now, but he is a very recent addition and he is still learning the Cavaliers offense.The MVP is the award for the player that is the most valuable to their team. LeBron is the ONLY reason the Cavaliers are even a contender. Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
Without Kobe, the Lakers would probably be decent.I will say that the Thunder would probably not be anything without Durant, but I don't think he is MVP quite yet. I think Durant has many MVP awards ahead of him but 2010 belongs to the king, LeBron James.
2011年1月8日星期六
8 Jan 11 NBA Fantasy Injury Updates: Derrick Rose To Miss Tuesday's Action?
Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesThe fantasy basketball season is winding down, so it's always good to stay up to date with key injuries, especially when the right (or wrong) sub can directly affect the outcome of a late-season run.Some of these injuries also affect how NBA teams will perform down the stretch as they vie for playoff positioning.Read on for the latest injury and roster news for the week:Derrick Rose Likely Out For TuesdayChicago Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro leaned towards Derrick Rose missing NBA action again, likely vaulting Jannero Pargo up to the top of Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
your "must-haves" in terms of fantasy waiver wires.Kirk Hinrich should also see max minutes and should see a minimum of 10 shots per game, while playing more of a distributor role than he has been in recent months.Judging by both player's last game, they should be suitable replacements for Rose until he returns to the court.There is still a slight chance Rose could try playing, but we advise plugging Pargo or Hinrich in your starting lineup, and look for Ronald "Flip" Murray to see even more action off the bench.Toney Douglas to Begin Starting For the New York Knicks?It's mostly a rumor at this point, and there isn't any commitment from the Knicks side, but it's beginning to look like a real possibility that Toney Douglas could see himself in the starting lineup sometime before the season ends.New York head coach Mike D'Antoni hasn't confirmed it, but sources say he is leaning in that direction.The Knicks haven't gotten great production out of Chris Duhon or Sergio Rodriguez, and even traded Nate Robinson because he didn't fit their plans.Bill Walker is a guy they tried Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
out in the lineup for a while, and he has played well, but Douglas could have more potential as a scorer and distributor than anyone the Knicks have currently been giving chances.Either way, it looks like Douglas is in for extended minutes, and the chance at a shot at the starting point guard job should tell you he's worth adding. That is, if you're a desperate owner in need of some real potential at the position.Chris Paul Nearing a Return to ActionChris Paul reportedly participated last Friday in the Hornets' shootaround, and the New Orleans brass is starting to aim for a return within the next two weeks.It's agreed by many that Paul will be eased back into his starting role gradually, and almost certainly won't start for a game or two (and possibly more) when he does in fact return.Darren Collison owners can finally start realizing their fears and plan for a transition, as Collison's minutes and production will undoubtedly drop in the final week or two of the season.Other news...New Jersey Nets starting point guard Devin Harris is questionable for Tuesdays game after Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
missing Monday's practice with an illness. There isn't any word yet on his availability, but he's expected to play.Grizzlies center Marc Gasol is day-to-day with a neck injury. His absence would give a boost to rookie center Hasheem Thabeet, who has otherwise been a grand disappointment in his first NBA season.Already out of your fantasy playoffs? Head over to Fantazzle.com to take another crack at your fantasy luck with daily and weekly fantasy sports games .
your "must-haves" in terms of fantasy waiver wires.Kirk Hinrich should also see max minutes and should see a minimum of 10 shots per game, while playing more of a distributor role than he has been in recent months.Judging by both player's last game, they should be suitable replacements for Rose until he returns to the court.There is still a slight chance Rose could try playing, but we advise plugging Pargo or Hinrich in your starting lineup, and look for Ronald "Flip" Murray to see even more action off the bench.Toney Douglas to Begin Starting For the New York Knicks?It's mostly a rumor at this point, and there isn't any commitment from the Knicks side, but it's beginning to look like a real possibility that Toney Douglas could see himself in the starting lineup sometime before the season ends.New York head coach Mike D'Antoni hasn't confirmed it, but sources say he is leaning in that direction.The Knicks haven't gotten great production out of Chris Duhon or Sergio Rodriguez, and even traded Nate Robinson because he didn't fit their plans.Bill Walker is a guy they tried Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
out in the lineup for a while, and he has played well, but Douglas could have more potential as a scorer and distributor than anyone the Knicks have currently been giving chances.Either way, it looks like Douglas is in for extended minutes, and the chance at a shot at the starting point guard job should tell you he's worth adding. That is, if you're a desperate owner in need of some real potential at the position.Chris Paul Nearing a Return to ActionChris Paul reportedly participated last Friday in the Hornets' shootaround, and the New Orleans brass is starting to aim for a return within the next two weeks.It's agreed by many that Paul will be eased back into his starting role gradually, and almost certainly won't start for a game or two (and possibly more) when he does in fact return.Darren Collison owners can finally start realizing their fears and plan for a transition, as Collison's minutes and production will undoubtedly drop in the final week or two of the season.Other news...New Jersey Nets starting point guard Devin Harris is questionable for Tuesdays game after Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
missing Monday's practice with an illness. There isn't any word yet on his availability, but he's expected to play.Grizzlies center Marc Gasol is day-to-day with a neck injury. His absence would give a boost to rookie center Hasheem Thabeet, who has otherwise been a grand disappointment in his first NBA season.Already out of your fantasy playoffs? Head over to Fantazzle.com to take another crack at your fantasy luck with daily and weekly fantasy sports games .
2010年12月9日星期四
San Francisco 49ers "Niner YouTube"
As we have approached that time of year between the draft and training camp, one thing is pretty clear: NFL football can't come soon enough. Before the pads come on and the injury reports start trickling in, though, let's take a look around the streaming jukebox that is YouTube for some golden picks 4 Brett Favre White jersey
-- with a red trim, that is. Terrell Owens becomes "T.O.":The nickname "T.O." doesn't bring a lot of warm and fuzzy memories to most 49ers fans, but this would have to be one of them. Down by four points with eight seconds remaining, it was all or nothing for the Niners in a playoff game against the then-powerhouse Green Bay Packers. Fans were captivated by Steve Young's marksman-like 25-yard bomb to the once-humble receiver, who evaded triple coverage to catch the game-winning touchdown and clutch it in the end zone in fetal position -- a star was born.49ers Draft Day Party- Draft V. Davis Reaction:You've gotta love team spirit. And you'll find plenty of that in this clip, which documents a room full of Niners fans anxiously waiting to reap the fruits of the 4-12 season that proceeded it. When the offensively challenged franchise announces the selection of Vernon Davis -- the freakishly talented tight end out of Maryland -- at 1:08, the room erupts with an electric jubilation that will give any self-respecting 49ers fan a case of goose bumps. 49ers Training Video:You all remember this -- the controversial spoof video made for the players that found its way into the hands of the media. In it, former public relations director Kirk Reynolds played mayor for a day, recanting the team's politically correct policies while engaging in some very politically incorrect behavior simultaneously. In this snippet, we see him talking about protocol around female reporters using some sleazy strippers as props. Needless to say, the jokes went over like a lead balloon and ultimately cost Reynolds his job. We are the 49ers:This campy yet clever parody of Billy Joel's "We didn't start the fire" is an amusing look back in the storied history of6 Super Bowl Champions jersey
the franchise. The song is accompanied by a slideshow showing some of the greatest imagery of the team dating back to the days of leather helmets. Be careful, though, you might get this stuck in your head. Fantasy Football is right around the corner. Make sure to check out our fantasy & news updates on the upper right-hand corner of the homepage
-- with a red trim, that is. Terrell Owens becomes "T.O.":The nickname "T.O." doesn't bring a lot of warm and fuzzy memories to most 49ers fans, but this would have to be one of them. Down by four points with eight seconds remaining, it was all or nothing for the Niners in a playoff game against the then-powerhouse Green Bay Packers. Fans were captivated by Steve Young's marksman-like 25-yard bomb to the once-humble receiver, who evaded triple coverage to catch the game-winning touchdown and clutch it in the end zone in fetal position -- a star was born.49ers Draft Day Party- Draft V. Davis Reaction:You've gotta love team spirit. And you'll find plenty of that in this clip, which documents a room full of Niners fans anxiously waiting to reap the fruits of the 4-12 season that proceeded it. When the offensively challenged franchise announces the selection of Vernon Davis -- the freakishly talented tight end out of Maryland -- at 1:08, the room erupts with an electric jubilation that will give any self-respecting 49ers fan a case of goose bumps. 49ers Training Video:You all remember this -- the controversial spoof video made for the players that found its way into the hands of the media. In it, former public relations director Kirk Reynolds played mayor for a day, recanting the team's politically correct policies while engaging in some very politically incorrect behavior simultaneously. In this snippet, we see him talking about protocol around female reporters using some sleazy strippers as props. Needless to say, the jokes went over like a lead balloon and ultimately cost Reynolds his job. We are the 49ers:This campy yet clever parody of Billy Joel's "We didn't start the fire" is an amusing look back in the storied history of6 Super Bowl Champions jersey
the franchise. The song is accompanied by a slideshow showing some of the greatest imagery of the team dating back to the days of leather helmets. Be careful, though, you might get this stuck in your head. Fantasy Football is right around the corner. Make sure to check out our fantasy & news updates on the upper right-hand corner of the homepage
2010年12月2日星期四
Dallas Cowboys Terrell Owens Philadelphia Eagles Donovan McNabb
When the Dallas Cowboys play the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday, it will be a difficult game for the Cowboys to win. The Philadelphia crowd will be in a frenzy, and be more hostile than any crowd the Cowboys have encountered in a long time. But even more of a factor than an unfriendly atmosphere is that, due to Steelers 36 Bettis Jersey
Donovan McNabb's utter contempt for Terrell Owens, he probably wants to win this game more than any other he has ever played in - including the Super Bowl. This could be a problem. This past Monday night against the weak Green Bay Packers, early in the game, McNabb stayed in the pocket and often threw the ball short of his receivers. But then, the ex-Syracuse standout started to make things happen with his legs. Not only did he pick up a couple of key first downs and a pair of scores, but his passing got a lot better, too. When McNabb runs, it appears to trigger something in him that improves his total performance. "I decided to go back to my style of play," McNabb said, "and if the opportunity is there, take full advantage."And while McNabb can't throw caution to the wind for 16 games anymore, you can take it to the bank that he'll do whatever it takes to beat T.O.'s Cowboys. So how can the Dallas Cowboys contain McNabb?They should rush three players, keep a spy on him at all times, and keep the linebackers in the middle of the field more often than not. As a result, the 'D' won't overpursue, which will not only keep McNabb from running, but it will be easier to contain Brian Westbrook as well. One reason that this strategy has merit is because the Cowboys' secondary is good enough to contain a beat-up Eagles receiving corps. (Donte' Stallworth's and Reggie Brown's status are unknown at this point.)That's not to say the Cowboys should never send more rushers after McNabb. They should just pick and choose their spots. Because a long scamper might be the fuel that starts McNabb's fire. And why wake up a sleeping dog? Get the hottest Dallas Cowboys insight (18) Are you ready for some football?If you can't take one more minute of Terrell Owens coverage, you're in the right place. The Dallas Cowboys travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. Even though the Cowboys are a big favorite, anything can happen. So here are three offensive and defensive strategies that should ensure that the Cowboys get on a return flight to Dallas on Sunday night with a 2-1 record. OFFENSE:1. Run the ball down the Titans' throats: Tennessee is giving up an average of 163 yards a game on the ground. Heck, even the Jets, who have a feeble running attack, gained close to 100 yards. So give Julius Jones the ball early and often, and let him do his stuff. 2. Watch the dog and blitz:Tennessee frequently dogged and blitzed the Miami Dolphins last week. On obvious passing downs, the Cowboys might be well-served to throw some short screens or quick slants. A couple of early play-action passes might also keep the Titans back on their heels. 3. Cash in on early opportunities: The last thing the Cowboys need is for this game to be up for grabs in the fourth quarter. They should go for the jugular from the start. If the Cowboys can jump out to a 10- or 14-point lead, the Titans will start to doubt themselves and will probably not come back. But should Dallas let them hang around, they may start to believe that they can win, which is half the battle. As Yogi Berra said: "Ninety percent of the game is half mental."DEFENSE:1. Get to Kerry Collins:Collins has a good arm and if he has time to get comfortable in the pocket, he can be effective. But knock him on his butt a couple of times and it's a totally different story. With that in mind, early in the game, Dallas should send the kitchen sink after Collins to rattle him. After that, just the thought of 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
an aggressive pass rush should get him to panic and throw bad passes. 2. Don't fear Vince Young:At this point in his career, Young can't hurt the Cowboys with his passing ability. So, if he lines up behind center, the Cowboys' D should defend him exactly like the New Orleans Saints played Michael Vick on Monday night: Don't overpursue; make him stay in the pocket. 3. Watch for trickery: From a talent standpoint, the Titans are no match for Dallas, and Jeff Fisher knows it. So the Cowboys should be wary of fake punts, fake field goals, flea flickers, reverses and any other trick that's humanly possible. Remember, Fisher called for the famous game-winning Frank Wycheck lateral against the Buffalo Bills in the 2000 playoffs, so we know chicanery is in Fisher's repertoire. Get the best Dallas Cowboys analysis (4)
Donovan McNabb's utter contempt for Terrell Owens, he probably wants to win this game more than any other he has ever played in - including the Super Bowl. This could be a problem. This past Monday night against the weak Green Bay Packers, early in the game, McNabb stayed in the pocket and often threw the ball short of his receivers. But then, the ex-Syracuse standout started to make things happen with his legs. Not only did he pick up a couple of key first downs and a pair of scores, but his passing got a lot better, too. When McNabb runs, it appears to trigger something in him that improves his total performance. "I decided to go back to my style of play," McNabb said, "and if the opportunity is there, take full advantage."And while McNabb can't throw caution to the wind for 16 games anymore, you can take it to the bank that he'll do whatever it takes to beat T.O.'s Cowboys. So how can the Dallas Cowboys contain McNabb?They should rush three players, keep a spy on him at all times, and keep the linebackers in the middle of the field more often than not. As a result, the 'D' won't overpursue, which will not only keep McNabb from running, but it will be easier to contain Brian Westbrook as well. One reason that this strategy has merit is because the Cowboys' secondary is good enough to contain a beat-up Eagles receiving corps. (Donte' Stallworth's and Reggie Brown's status are unknown at this point.)That's not to say the Cowboys should never send more rushers after McNabb. They should just pick and choose their spots. Because a long scamper might be the fuel that starts McNabb's fire. And why wake up a sleeping dog? Get the hottest Dallas Cowboys insight (18) Are you ready for some football?If you can't take one more minute of Terrell Owens coverage, you're in the right place. The Dallas Cowboys travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. Even though the Cowboys are a big favorite, anything can happen. So here are three offensive and defensive strategies that should ensure that the Cowboys get on a return flight to Dallas on Sunday night with a 2-1 record. OFFENSE:1. Run the ball down the Titans' throats: Tennessee is giving up an average of 163 yards a game on the ground. Heck, even the Jets, who have a feeble running attack, gained close to 100 yards. So give Julius Jones the ball early and often, and let him do his stuff. 2. Watch the dog and blitz:Tennessee frequently dogged and blitzed the Miami Dolphins last week. On obvious passing downs, the Cowboys might be well-served to throw some short screens or quick slants. A couple of early play-action passes might also keep the Titans back on their heels. 3. Cash in on early opportunities: The last thing the Cowboys need is for this game to be up for grabs in the fourth quarter. They should go for the jugular from the start. If the Cowboys can jump out to a 10- or 14-point lead, the Titans will start to doubt themselves and will probably not come back. But should Dallas let them hang around, they may start to believe that they can win, which is half the battle. As Yogi Berra said: "Ninety percent of the game is half mental."DEFENSE:1. Get to Kerry Collins:Collins has a good arm and if he has time to get comfortable in the pocket, he can be effective. But knock him on his butt a couple of times and it's a totally different story. With that in mind, early in the game, Dallas should send the kitchen sink after Collins to rattle him. After that, just the thought of 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
an aggressive pass rush should get him to panic and throw bad passes. 2. Don't fear Vince Young:At this point in his career, Young can't hurt the Cowboys with his passing ability. So, if he lines up behind center, the Cowboys' D should defend him exactly like the New Orleans Saints played Michael Vick on Monday night: Don't overpursue; make him stay in the pocket. 3. Watch for trickery: From a talent standpoint, the Titans are no match for Dallas, and Jeff Fisher knows it. So the Cowboys should be wary of fake punts, fake field goals, flea flickers, reverses and any other trick that's humanly possible. Remember, Fisher called for the famous game-winning Frank Wycheck lateral against the Buffalo Bills in the 2000 playoffs, so we know chicanery is in Fisher's repertoire. Get the best Dallas Cowboys analysis (4)
Art Shell Comments on Tom Walsh
The have taken the notion of loyalty to an all-new level this season.Loyalty, that is, in all the wrong places and at all the wrong times.Al Davis showed his allegiance to Art Shell this past offseason by re-hiring the long-removed coach to take over his struggling ballclub. In turn, Shell pledged his fidelity to Tom Walsh.Now 10 4 Brett Favre White jersey
weeks into the 2006 campaign, the Raiders are in utter disarray, becoming the laughingstock of the NFL.Still, the triangle of trust remains nauseatingly intact, despite no visible proof of improvement or control.Davis won't touch Shell, which in turn safeguards his friend, Walsh.While, underneath it all, the players stand voiceless.And that's the problem.The first sign of the Shell tyranny began early in the offseason, when wide receiver Jerry Porter detected the first signs of the downward spiral ahead. Porter, who dropped 23 pounds during the summer in preparation of the upcoming season, was benched for the first four games of the year after an altercation in Shell's office.In late July, Shell commented on the Porter situation, saying, "You can't have inmates running the asylum...not under me, and 99.9 percent of the players here feel that way. They want direction."Not quite.Defensive players Warren Sapp and Jarrod Cooper have already publicly supported Porter; Randy Moss has remained unhappy throughout the entire season; running back LaMont Jordan questioned the team's offensive game plan after a shutout loss at Seattle; free safety Stuart Schweigert spoke out about his unproductive offense after Sunday's loss to Denver; and, now, quarterback Andrew Walter has joined the club."We need to make [the playbook] more complex," Walter said on Sunday. "I'd like more swing routes, flat routes, short stuff. There are certain things I'd like to see."Instead of sitting down with his 24-year-old quarterback and finding a middle ground, Shell stood resolutely on the side of his hopeless coordinator."When you speak out, you need to know what you're talking about when you make those statements," Shell commented. "You can speak out; I've said that before. Guys are capable of speaking out, but when you start going out and you start airing your laundry in public, then you've got to have some accountability for that, too.""Accountability" has become a preferred word for Shell this season. Thus far, the word has been applied to virtually every member of the team -- except himself and his buddy, of course. According to Shell, Walsh is yet to cost the team a single game, despite coordinating the NFL's worst offense.Even I, who tried to cut Walsh some slack after Sunday's loss to the Broncos, have had trouble defending the coordinator for more than 24 hours. After writing yesterday, "For the first time of the '06 season, even the artless Tom Walsh is free from blame," I received a stream of feedback. Among the most recurrent responses was, "Did Mr. Walsh offer you free pancakes for life to write that?"I wish. But, apparently, he has made that same offer to Shell, and he accepted.Shell added to the Steelers 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey
Walsh-defense on Monday, saying, "To start making statements about what's in and what's not in, then you need to take a hard look at what's there. Obviously, I don't want to get into a contest with a young man."Perhaps because you would lose.Want to be in the Raiders mailbag? Visit RaidersLive.com to submit your questions and comments for the Nov. 17 mailbag. . (52)
weeks into the 2006 campaign, the Raiders are in utter disarray, becoming the laughingstock of the NFL.Still, the triangle of trust remains nauseatingly intact, despite no visible proof of improvement or control.Davis won't touch Shell, which in turn safeguards his friend, Walsh.While, underneath it all, the players stand voiceless.And that's the problem.The first sign of the Shell tyranny began early in the offseason, when wide receiver Jerry Porter detected the first signs of the downward spiral ahead. Porter, who dropped 23 pounds during the summer in preparation of the upcoming season, was benched for the first four games of the year after an altercation in Shell's office.In late July, Shell commented on the Porter situation, saying, "You can't have inmates running the asylum...not under me, and 99.9 percent of the players here feel that way. They want direction."Not quite.Defensive players Warren Sapp and Jarrod Cooper have already publicly supported Porter; Randy Moss has remained unhappy throughout the entire season; running back LaMont Jordan questioned the team's offensive game plan after a shutout loss at Seattle; free safety Stuart Schweigert spoke out about his unproductive offense after Sunday's loss to Denver; and, now, quarterback Andrew Walter has joined the club."We need to make [the playbook] more complex," Walter said on Sunday. "I'd like more swing routes, flat routes, short stuff. There are certain things I'd like to see."Instead of sitting down with his 24-year-old quarterback and finding a middle ground, Shell stood resolutely on the side of his hopeless coordinator."When you speak out, you need to know what you're talking about when you make those statements," Shell commented. "You can speak out; I've said that before. Guys are capable of speaking out, but when you start going out and you start airing your laundry in public, then you've got to have some accountability for that, too.""Accountability" has become a preferred word for Shell this season. Thus far, the word has been applied to virtually every member of the team -- except himself and his buddy, of course. According to Shell, Walsh is yet to cost the team a single game, despite coordinating the NFL's worst offense.Even I, who tried to cut Walsh some slack after Sunday's loss to the Broncos, have had trouble defending the coordinator for more than 24 hours. After writing yesterday, "For the first time of the '06 season, even the artless Tom Walsh is free from blame," I received a stream of feedback. Among the most recurrent responses was, "Did Mr. Walsh offer you free pancakes for life to write that?"I wish. But, apparently, he has made that same offer to Shell, and he accepted.Shell added to the Steelers 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey
Walsh-defense on Monday, saying, "To start making statements about what's in and what's not in, then you need to take a hard look at what's there. Obviously, I don't want to get into a contest with a young man."Perhaps because you would lose.Want to be in the Raiders mailbag? Visit RaidersLive.com to submit your questions and comments for the Nov. 17 mailbag. . (52)
2010年12月1日星期三
Seattle Seahawks MNF Recap Tom Walsh
Two weeks ago, two unnamed opposing defenders of the referred to Tom Walsh's offensive game plan as "high school stuff."Don't flatter the man.Just a week after the Raiders netted 98 offensive yards in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team followed up with an equally dismal outing.In Monday night's shutout loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland's offense registered just 185 total yards, 44 of which came on the team's final drive with just 1:17 remaining. On the night, the Raiders' longest drive covered just 53 yards, while 10 of43 Polamalu black jersey
the team's 12 legitimate offensive drives accounted for less than 25 yards before punting.Just prior to Monday night's embarrassment, quarterback Andrew Walter was asked to identify the team's problems on the offensive side of the ball."If I had to pinpoint it, I would say it's a lot of different areas," Walter said. "And, is that general? Yes, that's a very general answer, but it's the truth. It's not one person; it's not one area of the offense. We're talking about O-line, running backs, tight ends, quarterback and wide receivers. I'd say it's a lot of us."Add one inept offensive coordinator into the mix and call it complete.Walsh called just four designed running plays in the entire first half, opting to put the game on the shoulders of his inexperienced, struggling quarterback.Other factors that Walsh ignored include: there was a torrential downpour and 20-plus mph winds; starting running back LaMont Jordan had returned from injury; the offensive line had allowed a league-high 35 sacks heading into the game; and the wide receivers have had trouble holding onto the ball all season.The result of the pass-happy offensive scheme was zero points, 10 punts, nine sacks, a 45.7 completion percentage and a 20 percent third-down conversion rate.Art Shell, on his last leg, tried to defend the decision-making of his longtime friend following the game."You get into a rhythm and then you try not to run all the time," he said. "You want to come in with the pass."On the evening, the Raiders finished with just 13 rushes; however, the running game accounted for 64 of the offense's 185 total yards. Through the air, Walter averaged just 2.8 yards per pass on a whopping 35 attempts. On the ground, though, Jordan averaged seven yards per carry; however, he was allowed just nine attempts on the game -- just over two a quarter."I know there's a lot of factors that go into an offense, that go into a team," Walter said on Monday. "And I know it's never on one person."With that in mind, Walsh isn't alone. The offensive line allowed nine sacks; the receivers couldn't hold onto the ball; and Walter consistently hesitated in the pocket.Perhaps the most bewildering gaffe of Monday's 16-0 loss, however, was Walsh's play call on third-and-1 with just under nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Following a 10-yard LaMont Jordan rush on second-and-11, the offense lined up deep in a shotgun formation on its own 42-yard line. Instead of calling a simple run, Walter attempted a short 4 Brett Favre White jersey
throw to Jordan. The pass fell incomplete and the Raiders punted for the seventh consecutive time.Prior to the season, it was Walsh who so vehemently stated, "It's downhill running, it's power football. We're not lateral-stepping."At this point, simply "lateral-stepping" would be a good start for the inept coordinator.Want to be in the Raiders mailbag? Visit RaidersLive.com to submit your questions and comments for the Nov. 17 mailbag. (49)
the team's 12 legitimate offensive drives accounted for less than 25 yards before punting.Just prior to Monday night's embarrassment, quarterback Andrew Walter was asked to identify the team's problems on the offensive side of the ball."If I had to pinpoint it, I would say it's a lot of different areas," Walter said. "And, is that general? Yes, that's a very general answer, but it's the truth. It's not one person; it's not one area of the offense. We're talking about O-line, running backs, tight ends, quarterback and wide receivers. I'd say it's a lot of us."Add one inept offensive coordinator into the mix and call it complete.Walsh called just four designed running plays in the entire first half, opting to put the game on the shoulders of his inexperienced, struggling quarterback.Other factors that Walsh ignored include: there was a torrential downpour and 20-plus mph winds; starting running back LaMont Jordan had returned from injury; the offensive line had allowed a league-high 35 sacks heading into the game; and the wide receivers have had trouble holding onto the ball all season.The result of the pass-happy offensive scheme was zero points, 10 punts, nine sacks, a 45.7 completion percentage and a 20 percent third-down conversion rate.Art Shell, on his last leg, tried to defend the decision-making of his longtime friend following the game."You get into a rhythm and then you try not to run all the time," he said. "You want to come in with the pass."On the evening, the Raiders finished with just 13 rushes; however, the running game accounted for 64 of the offense's 185 total yards. Through the air, Walter averaged just 2.8 yards per pass on a whopping 35 attempts. On the ground, though, Jordan averaged seven yards per carry; however, he was allowed just nine attempts on the game -- just over two a quarter."I know there's a lot of factors that go into an offense, that go into a team," Walter said on Monday. "And I know it's never on one person."With that in mind, Walsh isn't alone. The offensive line allowed nine sacks; the receivers couldn't hold onto the ball; and Walter consistently hesitated in the pocket.Perhaps the most bewildering gaffe of Monday's 16-0 loss, however, was Walsh's play call on third-and-1 with just under nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Following a 10-yard LaMont Jordan rush on second-and-11, the offense lined up deep in a shotgun formation on its own 42-yard line. Instead of calling a simple run, Walter attempted a short 4 Brett Favre White jersey
throw to Jordan. The pass fell incomplete and the Raiders punted for the seventh consecutive time.Prior to the season, it was Walsh who so vehemently stated, "It's downhill running, it's power football. We're not lateral-stepping."At this point, simply "lateral-stepping" would be a good start for the inept coordinator.Want to be in the Raiders mailbag? Visit RaidersLive.com to submit your questions and comments for the Nov. 17 mailbag. (49)
LaMont Jordan Justin Fargas "Rushing Duo"
The idea seems almost laughable, when you consider that the currently sit at 1-5 and have a total of two rushing touchdowns through six games. Yet the duo of LaMont Jordan and Justin Fargas is, in fact, one of the more productive running back tandems in the NFL.What's ironic is that Jordan 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
was expected to once again be the workhorse, after getting the majority of the team's snaps in 2005. Meanwhile, the oft-injured Fargas was considered more of an afterthought. On the contrary, Fargas has become a key cog in the Raiders' rushing attack, even getting the bulk of the carries llast week in place of an injured Jordan. These extensive reps have allowed Fargas to establish himself as an effective runner, and have given Oakland a much-needed injection of speed in the backfield. And as a result, the Raiders now possess a well-balanced ground attack.Don't believe me? Consider that Oakland is now ranked 10th overall in rushing offense. And despite a horrid start overall for the offense as a whole, Jordan and Fargas are on pace to combine for over 1,400 yards and roughly 4.5 yards per carry. In Week 4 against the Browns, the pair rushed for a staggering 182 yards. They followed up that performance with a 134-yard effort against the 49ers. Finally, in Week 6, the Broncos put a stop to Oakland's rushing bonanza. Then again, they seem to do that to every team they play.Regardless, the duo does have one major Achilles' heel that keeps it from achieving true elite status -- the inability to get into the end zone. Combined, the two backs have just one rushing touchdown between them. That's simply unacceptable in a league where most teams have four rushing touchdowns or more. And, unfortunately, the Raiders are likely to continue to struggle to cross the goal line on the ground in Week 8. They are up against a Pittsburgh defense that is currently ranked ninth in the league against the run, allowing only 94.2 yards per game and having given up only four rushing TDs in six contests.Jordan has not fully recovered from a lingering back injury, 43 Polamalu white jersey
and Fargas does not appear to be the type of back capable of grinding down a spectacularly physical Steelers defensive front. However, if this unlikely duo is to take the next step toward legitimacy, these are the kinds of games where the pair must find ways to make an impact.And the last time I checked, rumbling into the end zone for a score is the best way to do that.Daily analysis, courtesy of Anthony Carroll returns Monday. (23)
was expected to once again be the workhorse, after getting the majority of the team's snaps in 2005. Meanwhile, the oft-injured Fargas was considered more of an afterthought. On the contrary, Fargas has become a key cog in the Raiders' rushing attack, even getting the bulk of the carries llast week in place of an injured Jordan. These extensive reps have allowed Fargas to establish himself as an effective runner, and have given Oakland a much-needed injection of speed in the backfield. And as a result, the Raiders now possess a well-balanced ground attack.Don't believe me? Consider that Oakland is now ranked 10th overall in rushing offense. And despite a horrid start overall for the offense as a whole, Jordan and Fargas are on pace to combine for over 1,400 yards and roughly 4.5 yards per carry. In Week 4 against the Browns, the pair rushed for a staggering 182 yards. They followed up that performance with a 134-yard effort against the 49ers. Finally, in Week 6, the Broncos put a stop to Oakland's rushing bonanza. Then again, they seem to do that to every team they play.Regardless, the duo does have one major Achilles' heel that keeps it from achieving true elite status -- the inability to get into the end zone. Combined, the two backs have just one rushing touchdown between them. That's simply unacceptable in a league where most teams have four rushing touchdowns or more. And, unfortunately, the Raiders are likely to continue to struggle to cross the goal line on the ground in Week 8. They are up against a Pittsburgh defense that is currently ranked ninth in the league against the run, allowing only 94.2 yards per game and having given up only four rushing TDs in six contests.Jordan has not fully recovered from a lingering back injury, 43 Polamalu white jersey
and Fargas does not appear to be the type of back capable of grinding down a spectacularly physical Steelers defensive front. However, if this unlikely duo is to take the next step toward legitimacy, these are the kinds of games where the pair must find ways to make an impact.And the last time I checked, rumbling into the end zone for a score is the best way to do that.Daily analysis, courtesy of Anthony Carroll returns Monday. (23)
LaMont Jordan Justin Fargas "Rushing Duo"
The idea seems almost laughable, when you consider that the currently sit at 1-5 and have a total of two rushing touchdowns through six games. Yet the duo of LaMont Jordan and Justin Fargas is, in fact, one of the more productive running back tandems in the NFL.What's ironic is that Jordan 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
was expected to once again be the workhorse, after getting the majority of the team's snaps in 2005. Meanwhile, the oft-injured Fargas was considered more of an afterthought. On the contrary, Fargas has become a key cog in the Raiders' rushing attack, even getting the bulk of the carries llast week in place of an injured Jordan. These extensive reps have allowed Fargas to establish himself as an effective runner, and have given Oakland a much-needed injection of speed in the backfield. And as a result, the Raiders now possess a well-balanced ground attack.Don't believe me? Consider that Oakland is now ranked 10th overall in rushing offense. And despite a horrid start overall for the offense as a whole, Jordan and Fargas are on pace to combine for over 1,400 yards and roughly 4.5 yards per carry. In Week 4 against the Browns, the pair rushed for a staggering 182 yards. They followed up that performance with a 134-yard effort against the 49ers. Finally, in Week 6, the Broncos put a stop to Oakland's rushing bonanza. Then again, they seem to do that to every team they play.Regardless, the duo does have one major Achilles' heel that keeps it from achieving true elite status -- the inability to get into the end zone. Combined, the two backs have just one rushing touchdown between them. That's simply unacceptable in a league where most teams have four rushing touchdowns or more. And, unfortunately, the Raiders are likely to continue to struggle to cross the goal line on the ground in Week 8. They are up against a Pittsburgh defense that is currently ranked ninth in the league against the run, allowing only 94.2 yards per game and having given up only four rushing TDs in six contests.Jordan has not fully recovered from a lingering back injury, 43 Polamalu white jersey
and Fargas does not appear to be the type of back capable of grinding down a spectacularly physical Steelers defensive front. However, if this unlikely duo is to take the next step toward legitimacy, these are the kinds of games where the pair must find ways to make an impact.And the last time I checked, rumbling into the end zone for a score is the best way to do that.Daily analysis, courtesy of Anthony Carroll returns Monday. (23)
was expected to once again be the workhorse, after getting the majority of the team's snaps in 2005. Meanwhile, the oft-injured Fargas was considered more of an afterthought. On the contrary, Fargas has become a key cog in the Raiders' rushing attack, even getting the bulk of the carries llast week in place of an injured Jordan. These extensive reps have allowed Fargas to establish himself as an effective runner, and have given Oakland a much-needed injection of speed in the backfield. And as a result, the Raiders now possess a well-balanced ground attack.Don't believe me? Consider that Oakland is now ranked 10th overall in rushing offense. And despite a horrid start overall for the offense as a whole, Jordan and Fargas are on pace to combine for over 1,400 yards and roughly 4.5 yards per carry. In Week 4 against the Browns, the pair rushed for a staggering 182 yards. They followed up that performance with a 134-yard effort against the 49ers. Finally, in Week 6, the Broncos put a stop to Oakland's rushing bonanza. Then again, they seem to do that to every team they play.Regardless, the duo does have one major Achilles' heel that keeps it from achieving true elite status -- the inability to get into the end zone. Combined, the two backs have just one rushing touchdown between them. That's simply unacceptable in a league where most teams have four rushing touchdowns or more. And, unfortunately, the Raiders are likely to continue to struggle to cross the goal line on the ground in Week 8. They are up against a Pittsburgh defense that is currently ranked ninth in the league against the run, allowing only 94.2 yards per game and having given up only four rushing TDs in six contests.Jordan has not fully recovered from a lingering back injury, 43 Polamalu white jersey
and Fargas does not appear to be the type of back capable of grinding down a spectacularly physical Steelers defensive front. However, if this unlikely duo is to take the next step toward legitimacy, these are the kinds of games where the pair must find ways to make an impact.And the last time I checked, rumbling into the end zone for a score is the best way to do that.Daily analysis, courtesy of Anthony Carroll returns Monday. (23)
Reports say Josh McCown; Rod Marinelli says 'it doesn't matter
If there's one word to describe the current , it has to be "unpredictable."From a draft-day Randy Moss trade, to the JaMoney -- er, JaMarcus -- Russell debacle, to the recent third-round cut incident, the Raiders have sent fans on a roller coaster of an offseason.Five days separated from the official start of 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
Oakland's season, head coach Lane Kiffin sent fans around one more stomach-turning loop.According to the NFL Network's Adam Schefter, the first-year head coach is expected to announce Josh McCown as the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's matchup with the Detroit Lions.The news came as a shock to many, as both fans and several team insiders had expected Daunte Culpepper, who signed a deal with the team on July 31, to take over the starting job.Just hours earlier, ESPNews reported that Culpepper had indeed edged out McCown in the race, and would head into Week 1 as the starter. However, since Schefter's report, ESPN reporter Michael Smith has quietly taken the burden off his employer by saying McCown will now likely be the man in Oakland.If Schefter is once again proven right, it will become evident that Kiffin didn't base his decision solely on numbers and percentages.Culpepper turned many heads during the preseason, showing traces of mobility that haven't been a part of the 30-year-old's game since 2004, his last successful stint with the Minnesota Vikings. In four outings the 6-foot-4, 265-pounder completed 26-of-47 passes (55.3 percent) for 308 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also took off on the ground eight times, good for 32 yards.Though not far off, McCown had an up-and-down preseason that, in the end, was capped off rather boringly.The 28-year-old ex-Arizona Cardinal and Detroit Lion also attempted 47 passes, and completed 24 of them (51.1 percent) for 352 yards, but he threw no touchdowns or interceptions. He carried the ball just three times for 8 yards.Statistically, then, Culpepper held the apparent edge.Perhaps the greatest explanation behind Kiffin's unconfirmed decision, though, is the length each player has been with the team. McCown, who was added on the first day of the 2007 draft, has been a member of the Raider roster 94 days longer than Culpepper, and he might be much more familiar with Kiffin's offensive system.He might be much more familiar with the Lions' defensive system, too. Though, that reasoning is very unlikely.Unless you're a conspiracy theorist, then this quote looks pretty fishy:"It's simply a matter of always trying to gain a competitive advantage," Kiffin said on Wednesday.How chilling.In the end, though, it will simply come down to who is the better-fit quarterback for Kiffin's offense. That is, the player who gives the Raiders the best chance to win in Week 1. As of now, only Kiffin knows whom that is."JaMarcus," wide receiver Jerry Porter sarcastically predicted.For the time being, that's the only certainty in Oakland: Russell won't be on the field anytime soon."Really it doesn't [matter] in a 36 Bettis White Jersey
certain way," Lions head coach Rod Marinelli recently said. "Both [quarterbacks] are very good veteran players: both right-handed, both can run the boot, both move around very well, both have great arms. They're savvy veterans."Ironically, Marinelli may be the only person who can calm Raider fans down at this point.
Oakland's season, head coach Lane Kiffin sent fans around one more stomach-turning loop.According to the NFL Network's Adam Schefter, the first-year head coach is expected to announce Josh McCown as the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's matchup with the Detroit Lions.The news came as a shock to many, as both fans and several team insiders had expected Daunte Culpepper, who signed a deal with the team on July 31, to take over the starting job.Just hours earlier, ESPNews reported that Culpepper had indeed edged out McCown in the race, and would head into Week 1 as the starter. However, since Schefter's report, ESPN reporter Michael Smith has quietly taken the burden off his employer by saying McCown will now likely be the man in Oakland.If Schefter is once again proven right, it will become evident that Kiffin didn't base his decision solely on numbers and percentages.Culpepper turned many heads during the preseason, showing traces of mobility that haven't been a part of the 30-year-old's game since 2004, his last successful stint with the Minnesota Vikings. In four outings the 6-foot-4, 265-pounder completed 26-of-47 passes (55.3 percent) for 308 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also took off on the ground eight times, good for 32 yards.Though not far off, McCown had an up-and-down preseason that, in the end, was capped off rather boringly.The 28-year-old ex-Arizona Cardinal and Detroit Lion also attempted 47 passes, and completed 24 of them (51.1 percent) for 352 yards, but he threw no touchdowns or interceptions. He carried the ball just three times for 8 yards.Statistically, then, Culpepper held the apparent edge.Perhaps the greatest explanation behind Kiffin's unconfirmed decision, though, is the length each player has been with the team. McCown, who was added on the first day of the 2007 draft, has been a member of the Raider roster 94 days longer than Culpepper, and he might be much more familiar with Kiffin's offensive system.He might be much more familiar with the Lions' defensive system, too. Though, that reasoning is very unlikely.Unless you're a conspiracy theorist, then this quote looks pretty fishy:"It's simply a matter of always trying to gain a competitive advantage," Kiffin said on Wednesday.How chilling.In the end, though, it will simply come down to who is the better-fit quarterback for Kiffin's offense. That is, the player who gives the Raiders the best chance to win in Week 1. As of now, only Kiffin knows whom that is."JaMarcus," wide receiver Jerry Porter sarcastically predicted.For the time being, that's the only certainty in Oakland: Russell won't be on the field anytime soon."Really it doesn't [matter] in a 36 Bettis White Jersey
certain way," Lions head coach Rod Marinelli recently said. "Both [quarterbacks] are very good veteran players: both right-handed, both can run the boot, both move around very well, both have great arms. They're savvy veterans."Ironically, Marinelli may be the only person who can calm Raider fans down at this point.
"Five reasons for win on Sunday"
Two desperate teams will enter McAfee Coliseum in Oakland on Sunday with one common goal: to win.The Detroit Lions, who finished with just three victories in 2006, will take on the , a two-win franchise from last season. Both teams earned the title of being the worst in their conference last year, combining for 27 hard-to-watch losses.Luckily, for at least one of the teams, somebody will walk off the field this Sunday with a win and a 1-0 record.Here are five reasons why the Raiders will be that team:5. Stuart SchweigertI'm serious. Well, 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey
not completely. The 26-year-old free safety, though, does have a special interest in this game. A native of Saginaw, Mich., Schweigert saw plenty of the Lions growing up in the same state. "This game is special to me because I am from Michigan," Schweigert said a week ago. "[I'd] love nothing more to send them back home with a loss on their record." After recording no interceptions in 2006, I'm feeling a big one in this game. Remember that. (Unless he doesn't get one.)4. The confusing quarterback quandaryNo matter what Lions head coach Rod Marinelli says, not knowing whom Oakland's starting quarterback will be on Sunday is a disadvantage to his team. Both Marinelli and Detroit's defense had to deal with ESPN reporting Culpepper as the starter, Adam Schefter reporting Josh McCown as the top man and head coach Lane Kiffin saying, "Ugh...I don't know." Whomever it might be, the Lions won't know until it's too late to game plan around that person.3. Short corners...tall wide receiversCompared to Oakland's wideouts, Detroit's cast of cornerbacks doesn't look all too impressive. The team's top two corners, Fernando Bryant and Stanley Wilson, both list at a modest 5-foot-11, and neither has recorded an interception in their five combined years with the Lions. On paper, the Raiders have the advantage, hoarding athletic receivers Jerry Porter (6-2), Ronald Curry (6-2) and Mike Williams (6-5). The Lion secondary will find it hard to win one-on-one battles.2. Tall, fast wide receivers...equally tall, fast cornersOn the flip side, Oakland matches up with quarterback Jon Kitna's main targets very well. The 6-3, 212-pound Roy Williams will line up alongside first-round rookie Calvin Johnson, who will be manned up against the 6-2, 210-pound Nnamdi Asomugha and the smaller Fabian Washington. Though Washington lists at 5-11, he makes up for any height disadvantages with quickness and an above-average vertical jump.Combined, the duo of starting corners recorded 90 tackles, 12 interceptions and 19 passes defensed last season. With '06 first-rounder Michael Huff and Schweigert back at the safety spots, it's hard to imagine even the big-play Lions wideouts getting behind Oakland's secondary. 1. Defense wins championships...and games against DetroitYou won't hear it much from the mouths of most NFL analysts, but the Raider 'D' is one of the best in the league. Along with a top-ranked secondary, the unit is strong across the board, from the pass rush, to the linebackers to the coordinator. The Rob Ryan-led unit features one of the fastest linebacking corps in the league, made up of OLBs Thomas Howard and Sam Williams and middle man Kirk Morrison. 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey black jersey
Throw in a strong pass rush from Derrick Burgess, Tommy Kelly and Warren Sapp, and the Oakland 'D' should have no problem flustering Kitna.We all know what happens when Kitna is flustered.
not completely. The 26-year-old free safety, though, does have a special interest in this game. A native of Saginaw, Mich., Schweigert saw plenty of the Lions growing up in the same state. "This game is special to me because I am from Michigan," Schweigert said a week ago. "[I'd] love nothing more to send them back home with a loss on their record." After recording no interceptions in 2006, I'm feeling a big one in this game. Remember that. (Unless he doesn't get one.)4. The confusing quarterback quandaryNo matter what Lions head coach Rod Marinelli says, not knowing whom Oakland's starting quarterback will be on Sunday is a disadvantage to his team. Both Marinelli and Detroit's defense had to deal with ESPN reporting Culpepper as the starter, Adam Schefter reporting Josh McCown as the top man and head coach Lane Kiffin saying, "Ugh...I don't know." Whomever it might be, the Lions won't know until it's too late to game plan around that person.3. Short corners...tall wide receiversCompared to Oakland's wideouts, Detroit's cast of cornerbacks doesn't look all too impressive. The team's top two corners, Fernando Bryant and Stanley Wilson, both list at a modest 5-foot-11, and neither has recorded an interception in their five combined years with the Lions. On paper, the Raiders have the advantage, hoarding athletic receivers Jerry Porter (6-2), Ronald Curry (6-2) and Mike Williams (6-5). The Lion secondary will find it hard to win one-on-one battles.2. Tall, fast wide receivers...equally tall, fast cornersOn the flip side, Oakland matches up with quarterback Jon Kitna's main targets very well. The 6-3, 212-pound Roy Williams will line up alongside first-round rookie Calvin Johnson, who will be manned up against the 6-2, 210-pound Nnamdi Asomugha and the smaller Fabian Washington. Though Washington lists at 5-11, he makes up for any height disadvantages with quickness and an above-average vertical jump.Combined, the duo of starting corners recorded 90 tackles, 12 interceptions and 19 passes defensed last season. With '06 first-rounder Michael Huff and Schweigert back at the safety spots, it's hard to imagine even the big-play Lions wideouts getting behind Oakland's secondary. 1. Defense wins championships...and games against DetroitYou won't hear it much from the mouths of most NFL analysts, but the Raider 'D' is one of the best in the league. Along with a top-ranked secondary, the unit is strong across the board, from the pass rush, to the linebackers to the coordinator. The Rob Ryan-led unit features one of the fastest linebacking corps in the league, made up of OLBs Thomas Howard and Sam Williams and middle man Kirk Morrison. 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey black jersey
Throw in a strong pass rush from Derrick Burgess, Tommy Kelly and Warren Sapp, and the Oakland 'D' should have no problem flustering Kitna.We all know what happens when Kitna is flustered.
2010年11月30日星期二
Aaron Brooks New Orleans Saints
When you think of Aaron Brooks, a comparison to Kerry Collins doesn't instantaneously come to mind. However, Collins and Brooks do have a great deal in common.Unfortunately, much of the widespread similarities between the two quarterbacks seem to be common downfalls-mainly their poor decision-making ability and propensity to turn the ball over. And with the ' set to meet with Brooks on Tuesday, it would be wise if the organization carefully thought about the quarterback before getting too in-depth with his future. Keeping Brooks out of the future plans altogether may help to prevent another chapter in the "Kerry Collins saga."Besides the glaring difference in mobility between Collins and Brooks, their on-field decision making is awfully similar. Simply put, both are careless and inconsistent quarterbacks. At any one point in the season, in a game, or even on a single drive, Brooks or Collins can make a spectacular play for their team or for the opposing defense. But more likely than not, both seem to aid their contesting defenses and hurt their own teams in the grander scheme of things.Since becoming a New Orleans Saint, Brooks has been spectacular at times and second-rate at other times. After joining the club in 2000, Brooks has started in 82 of the 85 games he has suited up for. Looking solely at yardage and touchdown totals, both Brooks and Collins appear very impressive. Since his first start for the Saints in 2000, Brooks has thrown for 19,156 yards and 120 touchdowns. Similarly, since 2000, Collins has posted just as impressive numbers, with 21,811 yards and 114 touchdowns. But behind the high yardage and touchdown totals of both quarterbacks lie interceptions, fumbles, and losses-and not in moderation. In the last six years, Brooks has thrown for 84 interceptions, fumbled the ball 59 times - losing 23 of them, and has been sacked 210 times. To measure him up, you can easily compare his numbers with Collins' over the last six years using the same categories: 91 interceptions, 70 fumbles, 21 lost fumbles, and 180 sacks. This means there is just a difference of seven interceptions, 11 fumbles, and two lost fumbles in six years of play. Besides the 30 additional sacks that Brooks has incurred, it would be hard to find two quarterbacks as statistically similar as Brooks and Collins over a six-season span.From 1995 to 1999, before Brooks had entered the NFL out of Virginia, Collins put up 11,826 yards, 59 touchdowns, 75 interceptions, fumbled 51 times, lost 27, and was sacked 116 times playing for the Panthers, Saints, and Giants.Even each quarterback's win/loss ratio is somewhat comparable. In 2001, Brooks' first season as a full-time starter, he managed a 7-9 record; that same year Collins also went 7-9 with the New York Giants. In 2002, Brooks improved to go 9-7, while Collins posted just one extra win at 10-6. In 2003, Brooks finished the season 8-8 and Collins was removed after 13 games, going 4-9. In 2004, Collins' first season with Oakland, Brooks went 8-8 once more while Collins went 3-9. Finally, last season Collins finished 4-12 while Brooks was pulled after starting 13 games, going 3-10. In all, Brooks holds a starting record of 35-42 since 2001 and Collins holds a 27-43 record since then. This means in the past six NFL seasons, Brooks has differentiated himself from Collins by winning eight extra games-which turns out to value just over one additional win per season. One supplementary victory in 2006 is not exactly what the Raiders should be looking for right now.What's even more frightening about Aaron Brooks is that he has yet to make a postseason appearance since his rookie year, when he finished off a ten win season started by quarterback Jeff Blake. Brooks led the Saints to their first postseason victory in franchise history, defeating the St. Louis Rams in the NFC Wild Card game 31-28 that year, but has not been back since. Offensively, Brooks has been in decent company since the beginning of his career, surrounded by players such as Ricky Williams, Deuce McAllister, Joe Horn, and Donte' Stallworth.Ironically, Brooks took over the New Orleans Saints after Jeff Blake was injured on November 19, 2000 against, you guessed it-the . He started the following week and did not miss a snap up until late 2005. With Tuesday's meeting, the Raiders could once again give life to Aaron Brooks-but not necessarily for the general welfare of the team.
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