Seismonic Shift in Denver

December 31, 2008 By Leave a Comment

NFL teams did not waste much time in dismissing Romeo Crennel (Cleveland), Rod Marinelli (Detroit) and Eric Mangini (New York Jets).

Seismonic Shift in Denver

End of a Broncos era

I’m sure many people were (and are) waiting for Kansas City to send Herm Edwards home or even Wade Phillips in Dallas. Instead, news came out that Mike Shanahan was axed after 14 years as head coach of the Denver Broncos. Despite Shanahan’s red face, race was not a factor in the decision.

Shanahan was a Colorado institution. He delivered two Super Bowl titles (after four misses for the franchise) to the Broncos faithful and it looked like he was coach for life.

The question is who do the Broncos have in mind? What direction will they take? How will they fix that pourous defense? Of course, rumours will swirl with Cleveland and Detroit (two former proud NFL franchises that have faltered in the Super Bowl era) now looking for coaches.

In any event, it will be odd for fans to look over the Denver sidelines and not see Shanahan there.


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Orange Bowl Preview

December 31, 2008 By 1 Comment

By Daniel Freer

Fantasy College Blitz

Although it may not share the same marquee-value as the BCS National Championship Game that will be played in the same Dolphins Stadium one week later, the 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl (January 1st, 8:30 PM, Fox) will feature two conference champions who want to represent themselves, and their sometimes-maligned conferences, in a grand fashion before a national television audience.

The Virginia Tech Hokies and the Cincinnati Bearcats, both the somewhat-surprising champions of their conferences (ACC, Big East, respectively), meet in suburban Miami in what could be a close, low-scoring matchup.

The Orange Bowl could be the national-breakout game for some talented athletes from both teams, including Cincinnati WR Mardy Gilyard (photo, thanks IconSMI), who faces one of the best pass defenses in the land in Virginia Tech.

VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (Head Coach:  Frank Beamer)

Usually, when discussing teams, the offense is mentioned first.  However, with the Hokies (9-4), it is best to talk about the defense and special teams, first

Although the Mullins BlitzIndex 2008 Prebowl BlitzIndex Worksheet – Google Docs lists the Hokies at 29th overall on defense, they dominate in their usually strong categories…especially turnovers and turnover margin.  Virginia Tech snagged 30 turnovers from opponents this season…six of them in interceptions by top CB Victor “Macho” Harris…two of those returned for TDs

Special teams are another area of strength for the Hokies, who annually block a number of kicks and punts…while returning opponents kicks and punts for TDs.  Hokies head man Frank Beamer coaches the special teams himself…one of the few head coaches that directly handle that area.

Offensively, the Hokies have a top RB in Darren Evans, who ran for over 1100 yards and 10 TDs in 2008.  His performance has been a boon to the Hokies, who have struggled to throw the football this season.

Not that QB Tyrod Taylor is a slouch at running the offense.  He was second on the team in rushing with nearly 700 yards and 6 TDs.  Taylor threw for under 900 yards in 2008, but his main weapons are his legs.  The top receiver for VT this season was WR Jarrett Boykin, who had 413 yards receiving and 2 TDs.

CINCINNATI BEARCATS  (Head Coach:  Brian Kelly)

With the Bearcats, the top two players to watch are at wide receiver.  WRs Mardy Gilyard (1118 yards, 7 TDs receiving) and Dominick Goodman (977 yards, 7 TDs receiving), possess big-play capability…and make it hard for opposing defenses to get away with double-covering one or the other.

Having two top-flight WRs has made it an easier transition for Bearcat QB Tony Pike, who took over the starting QB job when Dustin Grutza suffered a season-ending injury early in 2008.  Pike responded with over 2100 yards passing and 18 TD passes…and hit a number of big pass plays during the Bearcats championship run.

The UC backfield has been steady most of the season, led by RBs Jacob Ramsey (630 yards, 2 TDs) and John Goebel (581 yards, 7 TDs).   The ground game could be a factor if the Hokies are able to contain the Bearcats passing attack.

Although Virginia Tech gets more recognition for its defense, the Bearcats defenders were pretty good, too…in fact, finishing ahead of the Hokies in the Mullins BlitzIndex.

INTERESTING:

Virginia Tech has lost the last four BCS Bowls they have played in, including a loss in last season’s Orange Bowl game to Kansas.  The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), as a whole, have lost in their last 8 BCS Bowl appearances.

Cincinnati is making their first-ever BCS Bowl appearance, and their 10th overall bowl appearance in the program’s history.  Their Big East Conference brethren have fared much better in BCS Bowls than their ACC counterparts in recent years…Big East teams have won in their last three BCS Bowl games.

Both schools have met in a bowl game previously, in the 1947 Sun Bowl, won by Cincinnati.  It was the first-ever bowl game for both programs.

IN SUMMATION:

Look for a low-scoring game, and, one which could be won with a big play late in the game.  Especially watch the matchup between Cincinnati’s WR duo of Gilyard and Goodman, against the tough Virginia Tech secondary.  Whoever fares better between the two groups should win the game.  In an overall assessment of both teams, Cincinnati may have the slight advantage over Virginia Tech…especially if the offenses needs to make key plays late.

PREDICTION:

Cincinnati  20    Virginia Tech  16


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NBA All-Stars

December 31, 2008 By 2 Comments

From Basketball Notes By Alex

I have made my selections for the 2009 All-Star game.

For the West: Amare Stoudemire, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Brandon Roy, and Al Jefferson.
For the East: LeBron James, Danny Granger, Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, and Dwight Howard.

I like Amare because he has played consistent ball in Phoenix and consistency is the biggest issue with this team.

Timmy D has kept the Spurs going strong, despite tough times with injuries earlier in the season.

Kobe, of course, because he has the best team in the West on his back. He also has got good fan vote to get him in.

Roy has been incredible this year, those games were he’s taken over have shown his greatness to be at an All-Star level.

Al won’t start because Yao dominates the Chinese vote; but if you look at what he puts up, he’s got to be considered.

Carmelo Anthony is also likely to steal away a spot on the team because he is popular. There are probably one or two more players who get in because they’re liked.

LeBron is the MVP right now, his team is doing great and he’s performed at an All-Star level.

Granger probably won’t start, but taking a leadership role and meeting those expectations has shown he can really play in this league.

Rondo has shown tremendous improvement this year and I am amazed at his progress.

DWade is back and better than ever; his team may not be tremendous, but he’s been great and he’s got the fan vote on his side as well.

What can I say about D12. Leading the league in double-doubles, dominating games, showing offensive skills; this is what I wanted to see out of him.

Allen Iverson is a candidate to steal a starting spot away from one of these players. He’s got tremendous fan favor, look out Rondo!

I am looking forward to this game, it should be a good one. Let’s hear who you think should make the starting lineups in the comments.


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Good News

December 31, 2008 By Leave a Comment

ISW is glad to hear one of the classiest and most elegant of all athletes is doing well. He was released from hospital after experiencing a drop in blood pressure. Keep strong Jean Beliveau.


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More NFL Storylines

December 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Detroit Lions pay attention: How about the Miami Dolphins? Just one year ago they jumped for joy managing to avoid a 0-16 season. This season the Dolphins wrapped up the AFC East with a 24-17 over the New York Jets capping off one of the best turn around stories in pro football history.

In another improbable story, the Oakland Raiders defeated the Tampa Bay Bucaneers 31-24. The loss eliminated the Bucs and opened the door for either the Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles to grab a wild card spot. And it wasn’t even close. The Eagles knocked around and beat down the Cowboys 44-6. Suddenly, that tie against the Bengals doesn’t mean so much anymore. Give credit to McNabb and the Iggles, they persisted and were rewarded.

Remember the blown call that sealed a Denver Broncos victory over the San Diego Chargers earlier this year? Was there a more hard luck team than the Chargers? Four losses coming with under 30 seconds to go? Are you serious? Well, it all came to a showdown against their division rivals for the AFC West title. After all the injuries and bad luck, the Chargers finally euthanized their demons and kicked Broncos ass by a score of 52-21.

For those of you who care, that’s a combined 96-27 between the two games. Not the tight division games we expected. The Eagles and Chargers are in.

Finally, the Minnesota Vikings took the NFC North with a last second win over the New York Giants 20-19 while the Chicago Bears fell to the Houston Texans 31-24. The Vikes are off to the post season while Da Bears go home.

Let the playoffs begin.

By the way, I do like the Dolphins as a dark horse.


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Stats Corner: Hot Starts For Three NHL Teams

December 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment

I don’t know when was the last time three teams got off to such a strong start 35 games in. I didn’t check it but this is probably one of the better ones:

By winning percentage using NHL.com standings figures:

San Jose -.829

Boston – .800

Detroit – .729

For good measure, the Chicago Blackhawks renaissance continues: .703


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0-16

December 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment

One year after the New England Patriots went 16-0, the Detroit Lions did the same thing – in reverse.

Ouch.

Speaking of the Pats, they finished the season 11-5. If the New York Jets beat the Miami Dolphins, the Pats get the wild card spot. If the fish win, the Pats are out.

Nevertheless, given the massive injury obstacles the Patriots had to overcome, it’s remarkable they reached 11 wins led by back up QB Matt Cassel. It really gets to the heart of the quality of the coaching staff and organization the Patriots are.

How can Bill Belichick not be coach of the year?


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A Game Not Soon Forgotten

December 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment
A Game Not Soon Forgotten

Aiming for immortality

It’s been 50 years since the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants played in what is regarded as the greatest NFL game ever played. It’s a game that began the process of bringing football in the imagination of Americans eventually eclipsing baseball.

The main protagonist, of course, was Johnny Unitas who led the Colts to a 23-17 overtime victory over the Giants.

Here’s an article discussing the game but with a special Canadian twist looking at the Saskatchewan Roughriders connection.

The interesting part was how the Colts spied on the Giants. It does help to put into perspective the hypocritical howling that went on during “Spygate” and the New England Patriots. It’s not morally the right thing to do, but whenever competition, money and prestige are involved it’s almost inevitable it happens. Heck, this sort of stuff happens all the time at all levels in every sport. I remember when my soccer coach once told a couple of us to go “check” out an opposing team at a tournament to see what they were up to.


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Canadian Hockey Fans Need To Let It Go

December 26, 2008 By 1 Comment

Like any Canadian hockey fan, I love everything about the World Junior Hockey Championships.  Except one thing: the incessant booing of anything American.

I watched Team USA defeat Germany this afternoon and the typical jeering that’s become to common here took place. Some will say that Canadians were merely supporting the underdog. I would believe this if we didn’t have a pathetic pattern of booing the U.S. national anthem and Team USA in general.

And don’t throw at me the political statement angle. That’s bull shit from a politically disengaged and apathetic nation like Canada.

They’re just kids for the love of God. They’re not professionals. I see absolutely no point in booing after each American goal.

They say Canadians love hockey to the point of madness. That’s true. Canadian fans will pretty much go watch every game at this tournament even if it doesn’t involve Canada. I myself probably will take the trek to Ottawa from Montreal to catch a game. However, sometimes when we act like boors we display an ugly side not typically associated with the “polite” Canadian.

In Europe, soccer fans cheer and clap for the opposing side even if their team loses. The way they see it, sometimes you get beat by a better team and there’s nothing wrong in acknowledging this. The most recent example I saw was when Real Madrid fans at the legendary Bernabeu saluted Alessandro del Piero of Juventus in the group stage of the Champions League following a sterling performance by the Italian striker.

Class is class.

Team USA has a fantastic hockey team. They should be judged on their play. Not by the colors of their flag.

Let’s go Canada. We’re better than that.


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The Great Sammy Baugh Passes On

December 22, 2008 By Leave a Comment

The Great Sammy Baugh Passes OnThe Washington Redskins  family lost one of its greatest legends when the versatile QB Sammy Baugh died at the age of 94 this past week.

An all-round player, Baugh could play defense back and punt – he holds the sing season record for longest punt average with 51.4. He also possessed wicked passing abilities made him one of the all-time great QB’s despite playing in an era where the running game ruled. He still holds the Redskins records for most career TD’s with 187. He led the NFL in passing six times. In one of those seasons in 1945 his completion percentage was 70.3 which is one of the highest in league history only eclipsed by Ken Anderson in 1982.

Slingin’ Sammy played his entire career with the Redskins from 1937 to 1952.

Here’s to you Mr. Baugh.


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