So lets finish the discussion about football before thegames begin in both College and the NFL. They stories in College are extremely intriguing. What kind of season will Penn St. have? They will be the most scrutinized team this year and now the story wont go away. I blogged how disappointed I was that the school did not fight for their rights, and now the members of the trustees are finally stepping up and in. It is bad for the school because everyone just wants to sweep the situation under the "football rug". The school is uniting in all sports to show that Penn St. has moved forward and cannot control what happens off the field. The students make the University and hopefull this fall they will represent their families, friends, and themselves with class and dignity. I feel for the victims, but no one can fix what happened. Good Luck Penn St.
Another story is several college athletes came back to college for one more year for a chance at a title. Matt Barkeley would have been a first round pick. Montee Ball and Landry Jones too. They have the world on their shoulders this season and relish the opportunity to get it done this fall. Expectations are extremely high at those Universities this fall. Tyrann Matthieu came back as well but addiction has ruined his college career. It is tragic and hopefully he will get the help he needs.
Speaking of the SEC will they win another BCS title? Georgia, is joining the fray this year as they have the quarterback in Murray to compete with the big boys. If South Carolina can control their turnover problems of years past they will be their as well. USC, Clemson, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon feel like they have enough to end the run of the SEC. Florida St. and Virginia Tech always possess potent defenses and good enough players to play with the SEC schools. I think the reign comes to an end this year.
I think the title game will be USC and Oklahoma. Bama and LSU have a lot of unanswered questions on both sides of the ball. They are both giving way too many new players an opportunity to be great this year. Look out next year though..
Denard Robinson will win the Heisman. He will combine for more than 50 touchdowns this year. Geno Smith in West Virginia may as well. West Virginia is a sleep team to win the title as well. they have a sick offense coming back. They scored 70 points in a bowl game last year and were just in year 1 of learning the offense of the new coaching staff. I cannot wait to see how it unfolds..
How about teams changing leagues just to make more money and a chance toplay for a title. Texas A&M in the SEC. Boise St. to the Big East. Missouri in the SEC. Just to name a few. Doesn't Pittsburgh, Syracuse move to the ACC soon? How about new coaches at schools? Charlie Weiss in Kansas? Kevin Sumlin in Texas A&M. Mike Leach at WSU? Bill Obrien at Penn St.? Urban Meyer at Ohio St.? Who will win more games? Ohio St. has sanctions coming. Can Texas rebound from last years meltdown? Notre Dame is playing the most brutal schedule I have ever seen. No cupcakes anywhere. They start the year in Ireland against Navy and then all breaks loose with their schedule.
In the NFL.. I gave you my predictions of who will win the divisions. I think New England, Baltimore, Houston, and Denver should prevail in AFC with Pittsburgh and San Diego making the playoffs. I think that Houston and New England will play for AFC title and Houston will emerge as champion. Houston has the defense and schedule to be really good this year. Home field advantage will be their launching pad to the Super Bowl.
I think Andrew Luck will be AFC rookie of the year and will not disappoint.
The NFC I think that the Niners, Giants, Packers, Saints win divisions. I think Philly and Chicago get wild cards. I am wavering on the wild card picks because Atlanta is very good. Detroit is as well. I just think Atlanta has the wrong success model. They keep bringing in the wrong veteran players. Asante Samuel has been on three teams now in the last five years because he cannot cover like he believes he can. The Falcons can score with anyone. can they stop anyone? Detroit needs a running game to gurantee that Stafford will be on the field this year for 16 games. He showed last year that if healthy he can put up huge numbers and be a superstar. I think that their defense is one year away from greatness but off the field matters will haunt this team. This team will be great in 2013 mark my word. Maturity wins titles. They will be forced to grow up pretty quickly. The NFC is much better than the AFC this year. There are more teams that have playoff ability in that conference. Dallas is better than most AFC teams and will be at home watching the post season. I already mentioned Atlanta and Detroit. Carolina is up and coming and Seattle will be a pleasant surprise. The final two in the NFC will be Green Bay v New Orleans. New Orleans will become the first team to host the super bowl.
The referee lockout is a disgrace to the league. The NFL make 9 billion dollars a year and they do not want give a raise to the men who give the games its integrity? The replacement refs will do a good enough job that wont cause a calamity, but why risk it? Yes every week we hear the pundits criticzie the refs for blown calls and it repercussions for teams, coaches and players. I understand that noone is perfect but at least we kindof understand when a ref misses a call. We dont understand when a ref misses a basic rule. the replacement refs had a game this preseason where they thought the 4 yard line was the end zone line. They marked a penalty 11 yards that was to be 15 or cannot explain why a call was made to the audience. They have even faced the wrong way talking to the camera. I wonder what is going to happen if in week 1 the Niners play Green Bay and blown call gives the game to one team and they lose out on homefield advantage 15 weeks down the road. A hefty price to pay when the refs are only asking to be compensated because everyone else involved in football is getting raises. We hope the best even though we know this is going to be ugly..
My super bowl of Houston and New Orleans will be fun to bet on and attend. The Saints will win and tell the league to kiss their *** when they are praising Sean Payton for organizing such a fine team. Brees is your M.V.P. .. Let the games begin
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The final two divisions are..Afc North and NFC East
I am sorry that is has been a while since my last post. Life truly is a blessing, but extremely difficult to maintain. I realize that most people will disagree that the two best divisions in football are the NFC East and the AFC north. I think that the NFC north is quite good. The Packers, Bears, and Lions have a shot to go to the big game and really make noise in the NFC. The AFC West could be good as well, but we don't know what we are going to get from those teams. The Chiefs have a lot of people coming back, the Chargers are trying to build new chemistry, the Raiders have a new coach and Carson Palmer throws way too many interceptions, and then there is Peyton Manning. He looked brilliant in his last pre- season game. Too many questions and not enough answers. The NFC east is loaded (when healthy). The Giants are the defending Super Bowl Champs and they look to prove that last year was not a case of catching lightning in a bottle. The Eagles have stars everywhere. So do the Cowboys. The Redskins are looking forward to a fresh start. The AFC north is solid with the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals who all played in the post season last year. The Browns. like the Redskins are starting a new quarterback, and have high hopes for an improved season. lets analyze shall we.
The AFC North could have had the SuperBowl representative last year if it had not been for a dropped pass and a missed chip shot field goal. Joe Flacco says he is an elite qb, and it is hard to to disagree since he has been in the post season every year of his career. He may not be flashy as Brady or Brees and yes he has had brain cramps with horrid performances( see Jacksonville game last year). He does not have to do much. He has a quality running game with Ray Rice. He has quality receivers to throw to. Anquan Boldin is a matchup nightmare. The defense is getting a bit older and that may be the liability this season. Terrell Suggs is out for a while with an injury and he is not someone easily to replace. Ed Reed is unhappy with contract situation but he will perform. This teams' only weakness may be covering receivers in this new pass happy league. Could be a big year for this team if Flacco lives up to his own hype. Eli said the same thing last year and won his second ring..
The Pittsburgh Steelers too are dealing with injuries and angry players. Mike Wallace returned to the team finally. The Steelers have a new offensive coordnator so Wallace is going to need some time to get in to football shape and learn the new plays. The Steelers like the Ravens are smarting from a post season loss that no one still can believe happen. The Steelers always seem to find a new defensive stud and discover a running back to replace one from the previous year who is hurt or traded away. This team will start the year without a couple of key cogs in Harrison and Mendenhall. What I love about the Steelers is that they make no excuses and just play. I expect no less this season. I don't see glory this year but they will be heard from from every corner of the planet.
The Bengals shocked the world last year and made the post season with a rookie qb. They can really play some defense and coach Zimmer can really inspire. Adding Terrence Newman may not be wise but maybe he can reinvent Newman he could be the piece that pushes them ahead of the Steelers. NOT!!!! They let Cedric Benson go. Why? He was an off field catastrophe we all no that but on the field he was a security blanket for Dalton. Who does he turn to now? A.J. Green is quite good but still raw. This team will be in every game they play this year. You are going to have to play 4 physical quarters of football to beat them. Without a running game though, they may take a step backwards.They do every other year. Check out their recent history..
The Browns have a lot to look forward to. They have two young quarterbacks who can play and are tough. They drafted Richardson who is really tough. They need help everywhere else. They have young raw players all over the field. They have no receivers worth a darn. They have a rugged tough linebacking core but their secondary couldnt cover me. They have a new owner. thats a bout it.. Cleveland Brown football this year will be a year of wait and see. Josh Cribbs may be enough for me to watch.
The NFC East will be scrutinzed and watch as ever. The Philadelphia Eagles seem to be the trendy pick. Why? Yes on offense they have a dynamic duo at receiver, a running game that gashes you at least once a game. They have a tight end who can it all. The defense is out to prove that last year was a fluke and that the last four games last year are who they really are. They had a guy almost break the sack record and I am sure NNamdi wants to prove he is worth all of the money spent on him. The key for the Eagles this and every year is the quarterback. Mike Vick has to stay healthy for 16 games. If he does the Eagles go to the big game. If he doesn't Andy Reid will be fired..
The Dallas Cowboys are another trendy pick. They have a solid running game. A game breaking receiver and tight end. A super stud defensive end who wreaks havoc everywhere. They backup players who are as talented as most starters. The word that has to describe the Cowboys is Soft. They are the most injured talent laden team I have ever seen. Felix Jones always hurt, Miles Austin always hurt, Tony Romo always hurt, Dez Bryant hurt or in trouble with the law. They have no secondary whatsoever. They got torched by every team in the league last year. This year, the drafted Claiborne to replace Newman and he is raw. Mike Jenkins is too small. I don't know why we talk about this team so much. They really are all fluff no substance..
The Redskins drafted Robert Griffin III and veryone is all excited that they may have found their qb of the future. He had a prolific college career but never really won any significant games. Yes he can run and he is wicked fast. He is truly going to have to be because he is going ot be running for his life in this league and division. The Giants, Eagles, and Cowboys are licking their chops at the opportunity to smash mr. Griffin. The Redskins have a good line but need a running game to help Griffin. They 4 backs but none of them are anything special. Helu and Hightower can go the distance against anyone, Torrain is tough. When you have 4 backs that means you have none right? Defensively they will be great one week, but can't stop anyone the next. The swept the Giants last year quite easily. No one know what to expect. The redskins hope for improvement.
The Giants are my team and I am disgusted with how the world has thrown them under a bridge as a lucky team. I have never heard of a team that gets no credit for winning a title. they literlly had to win 6 games in a row against playoff quality teams and palyoff teams to get the big prize and they did. Eli Manning is crafting a Hall of Fame career and the Giants are out to prove that last year was no fluke. Defensively they will be better. They have several d-linemen who fill the roles needed to make them a title contender again. Yes they lost Manningham and Jacobs on offense but they believe in Barden and Ware to replace those pieces, The Giants are hungry to knock the Jets off the back page. I expect great things this year.
AFC North: Ravens 12-4, Steelers 10-6, Bengals 7-9, Browns 4-12
NFC East: Giants: 11-5, Eagles 10-6, Cowboys 9-7, Redskins 6-10
Player To watch AFC North: Joe Flacco.. It is your time to shine
Player to watch NFC East: Mike VIck: If you are Haelthy for regular season, could be special year.
The AFC North could have had the SuperBowl representative last year if it had not been for a dropped pass and a missed chip shot field goal. Joe Flacco says he is an elite qb, and it is hard to to disagree since he has been in the post season every year of his career. He may not be flashy as Brady or Brees and yes he has had brain cramps with horrid performances( see Jacksonville game last year). He does not have to do much. He has a quality running game with Ray Rice. He has quality receivers to throw to. Anquan Boldin is a matchup nightmare. The defense is getting a bit older and that may be the liability this season. Terrell Suggs is out for a while with an injury and he is not someone easily to replace. Ed Reed is unhappy with contract situation but he will perform. This teams' only weakness may be covering receivers in this new pass happy league. Could be a big year for this team if Flacco lives up to his own hype. Eli said the same thing last year and won his second ring..
The Pittsburgh Steelers too are dealing with injuries and angry players. Mike Wallace returned to the team finally. The Steelers have a new offensive coordnator so Wallace is going to need some time to get in to football shape and learn the new plays. The Steelers like the Ravens are smarting from a post season loss that no one still can believe happen. The Steelers always seem to find a new defensive stud and discover a running back to replace one from the previous year who is hurt or traded away. This team will start the year without a couple of key cogs in Harrison and Mendenhall. What I love about the Steelers is that they make no excuses and just play. I expect no less this season. I don't see glory this year but they will be heard from from every corner of the planet.
The Bengals shocked the world last year and made the post season with a rookie qb. They can really play some defense and coach Zimmer can really inspire. Adding Terrence Newman may not be wise but maybe he can reinvent Newman he could be the piece that pushes them ahead of the Steelers. NOT!!!! They let Cedric Benson go. Why? He was an off field catastrophe we all no that but on the field he was a security blanket for Dalton. Who does he turn to now? A.J. Green is quite good but still raw. This team will be in every game they play this year. You are going to have to play 4 physical quarters of football to beat them. Without a running game though, they may take a step backwards.They do every other year. Check out their recent history..
The Browns have a lot to look forward to. They have two young quarterbacks who can play and are tough. They drafted Richardson who is really tough. They need help everywhere else. They have young raw players all over the field. They have no receivers worth a darn. They have a rugged tough linebacking core but their secondary couldnt cover me. They have a new owner. thats a bout it.. Cleveland Brown football this year will be a year of wait and see. Josh Cribbs may be enough for me to watch.
The NFC East will be scrutinzed and watch as ever. The Philadelphia Eagles seem to be the trendy pick. Why? Yes on offense they have a dynamic duo at receiver, a running game that gashes you at least once a game. They have a tight end who can it all. The defense is out to prove that last year was a fluke and that the last four games last year are who they really are. They had a guy almost break the sack record and I am sure NNamdi wants to prove he is worth all of the money spent on him. The key for the Eagles this and every year is the quarterback. Mike Vick has to stay healthy for 16 games. If he does the Eagles go to the big game. If he doesn't Andy Reid will be fired..
The Dallas Cowboys are another trendy pick. They have a solid running game. A game breaking receiver and tight end. A super stud defensive end who wreaks havoc everywhere. They backup players who are as talented as most starters. The word that has to describe the Cowboys is Soft. They are the most injured talent laden team I have ever seen. Felix Jones always hurt, Miles Austin always hurt, Tony Romo always hurt, Dez Bryant hurt or in trouble with the law. They have no secondary whatsoever. They got torched by every team in the league last year. This year, the drafted Claiborne to replace Newman and he is raw. Mike Jenkins is too small. I don't know why we talk about this team so much. They really are all fluff no substance..
The Redskins drafted Robert Griffin III and veryone is all excited that they may have found their qb of the future. He had a prolific college career but never really won any significant games. Yes he can run and he is wicked fast. He is truly going to have to be because he is going ot be running for his life in this league and division. The Giants, Eagles, and Cowboys are licking their chops at the opportunity to smash mr. Griffin. The Redskins have a good line but need a running game to help Griffin. They 4 backs but none of them are anything special. Helu and Hightower can go the distance against anyone, Torrain is tough. When you have 4 backs that means you have none right? Defensively they will be great one week, but can't stop anyone the next. The swept the Giants last year quite easily. No one know what to expect. The redskins hope for improvement.
The Giants are my team and I am disgusted with how the world has thrown them under a bridge as a lucky team. I have never heard of a team that gets no credit for winning a title. they literlly had to win 6 games in a row against playoff quality teams and palyoff teams to get the big prize and they did. Eli Manning is crafting a Hall of Fame career and the Giants are out to prove that last year was no fluke. Defensively they will be better. They have several d-linemen who fill the roles needed to make them a title contender again. Yes they lost Manningham and Jacobs on offense but they believe in Barden and Ware to replace those pieces, The Giants are hungry to knock the Jets off the back page. I expect great things this year.
AFC North: Ravens 12-4, Steelers 10-6, Bengals 7-9, Browns 4-12
NFC East: Giants: 11-5, Eagles 10-6, Cowboys 9-7, Redskins 6-10
Player To watch AFC North: Joe Flacco.. It is your time to shine
Player to watch NFC East: Mike VIck: If you are Haelthy for regular season, could be special year.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The next set of divisions are the Nfc North and afc west
I usually save the NFC east for last because my favorite team plays there so I will preview the North in NFC and West of the AFC. These two divisions have the most uncertainty of allof the divisions and they have probably the most talent. The North in NFC has the reigning M.V.P. in Rodgers, 5000 yard passer in Stafford, Cutler and Marshall back as a tandem. The AFC west has Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers, Carson Palmer and Matt Cassell back from injury. How do you pick a favorite in the AFC west and how do you keep the Bears and Lions out of the playoffs? Lets dive in..
The NFC north is loaded on both sides of the ball. The defending divisional champs the Packers are angry because of last years collapse. They go 15-1 during the regular season and was poised to repeat as champs until they ran into the New York Football Giants. Aaron Rodgers could have easily passed for 5000 yards. They still dont have a running game but who cares if they are scoring at will. The Packers weakness is their defense cannot get off the field. Several quarterbacks last year torched their secondary because they had no pass rush. they think they have rectified that with the draft of Nick perry but he is one man and Rome was not byuilt in one day. They should be great again but still need a running game that could help their defense. Cedric Benson could bethe answer.
The Detroit Lions are the team that everyone will be watching this year. After an off season arrests, this team needs to grow up and save all of their off field shannigans for the field. They have sick talent on the defense. They have the best receiver in the game who wants to set records this season. Stafford threw for 5g's last year and when healthy he is a top 5 quarterback. They have problems in their secondary but their pass rush could overcome it. They need a consistent running back. I look forward to seeing the growth. If they don't grow up soon this could be a disaster..
The Bears have Forte back in tow and added Marshall. they have a great tight end and if Cutler is not on his butt a lot this year they could be a playoff team. The defense get Briggs, Urlacher and Peppers back. They have a good secondary. They need the weather to help them use their advantages over the Packers and Lions. they have a consistent back. They just haveto stay healthy. If the Bears stay healthy, they will make the playoffs and go very deep. Cutler is due for a huge year. They have Hester as well and Johnny Knox. i like this team to challenge for a large prize this year..
The Vikings will be rebuilding. They have individual players who can start and star on any team. Percy Harvin, Jared Allen are superstars. Adrian Peterson is a wait and see. Christian Pounder has a lot to work with, but is he really ready? Leslie Frazier will be the first coach fired this year. It is not his fault, but this team is going to struggle.
The Afc west is a quarterback driven division. I believe the Peyton Manning got the shaft from Indy and is on a mission to prove that they failed him. He will learn how hard it is to play in inclimate weather and how badly you need a running game. He has a lot of no name receivers, but they can run the ball. They have a good tough defense, but they need to grow up quickly. They can rush the passer with both of their ends who are special. Champ Bailey is aging but he can still play. This team will go as far as Peyton takes them. He will bethe most watched player in the league this year.
The Chiefs had a weird last year. They were the only team to defeat the Packers, a coaching change during the season, injuries to every key position , and Dwayne Bowe is still unhappy. They Get Jamaal charles back in the backfield as well as Matt Cassel. They get better on defense which was pretty darn good last year. They have the right recipe to win with a balance running attack and a head coach who can really coach defense. Dont sleep on the Chiefs this year. I may pick them to win the division.
The San Diego Chargers are the enigma team of the AFC. They have a solid defense and an explosive offense. Phillip Rivers is as good as anyone but he admits last year he forced way too many balls. He does not have an Elway arm but he has the best deep ball in football. They did lose Vincent Jackson so this team needs to find a deep threat. They need a running back who will play tough. Matthews is always hurt. Their defense has to also show up. Lovetheir first round pick in Melvin Ingram. He is a beast. Norv Turneris on his last legs. No win this year and he is done..
The Raiders have more talent than all three teams in this division. They have the best running back. They have unreal speed at receiver. Theyhave a sick D-line and linebacker McClain is awesome. Carson Palmer has to stop throwing interceptions. It is simple as that. If the Raiders have a turnover ratio that favors them this year they will be in the playoffs and can challenge for the super bowl.. They need McFadden to stay healthy and play like the star that he is. Period.
The records will be: NFC North: Packers: 13-3, Bears: 11-5, Lions:10-6, Vikings 2-14
The records will be: AFC West: Oakland: 10-6, Broncos: 10-6, Chiefs 9-7, Chargers 9-7
The player to watch in NFC North: Jay Cutler.. Put up or shut up..
The player to watch in AFC West: Peyton Manning.. is he enough to get it done?
The NFC north is loaded on both sides of the ball. The defending divisional champs the Packers are angry because of last years collapse. They go 15-1 during the regular season and was poised to repeat as champs until they ran into the New York Football Giants. Aaron Rodgers could have easily passed for 5000 yards. They still dont have a running game but who cares if they are scoring at will. The Packers weakness is their defense cannot get off the field. Several quarterbacks last year torched their secondary because they had no pass rush. they think they have rectified that with the draft of Nick perry but he is one man and Rome was not byuilt in one day. They should be great again but still need a running game that could help their defense. Cedric Benson could bethe answer.
The Detroit Lions are the team that everyone will be watching this year. After an off season arrests, this team needs to grow up and save all of their off field shannigans for the field. They have sick talent on the defense. They have the best receiver in the game who wants to set records this season. Stafford threw for 5g's last year and when healthy he is a top 5 quarterback. They have problems in their secondary but their pass rush could overcome it. They need a consistent running back. I look forward to seeing the growth. If they don't grow up soon this could be a disaster..
The Bears have Forte back in tow and added Marshall. they have a great tight end and if Cutler is not on his butt a lot this year they could be a playoff team. The defense get Briggs, Urlacher and Peppers back. They have a good secondary. They need the weather to help them use their advantages over the Packers and Lions. they have a consistent back. They just haveto stay healthy. If the Bears stay healthy, they will make the playoffs and go very deep. Cutler is due for a huge year. They have Hester as well and Johnny Knox. i like this team to challenge for a large prize this year..
The Vikings will be rebuilding. They have individual players who can start and star on any team. Percy Harvin, Jared Allen are superstars. Adrian Peterson is a wait and see. Christian Pounder has a lot to work with, but is he really ready? Leslie Frazier will be the first coach fired this year. It is not his fault, but this team is going to struggle.
The Afc west is a quarterback driven division. I believe the Peyton Manning got the shaft from Indy and is on a mission to prove that they failed him. He will learn how hard it is to play in inclimate weather and how badly you need a running game. He has a lot of no name receivers, but they can run the ball. They have a good tough defense, but they need to grow up quickly. They can rush the passer with both of their ends who are special. Champ Bailey is aging but he can still play. This team will go as far as Peyton takes them. He will bethe most watched player in the league this year.
The Chiefs had a weird last year. They were the only team to defeat the Packers, a coaching change during the season, injuries to every key position , and Dwayne Bowe is still unhappy. They Get Jamaal charles back in the backfield as well as Matt Cassel. They get better on defense which was pretty darn good last year. They have the right recipe to win with a balance running attack and a head coach who can really coach defense. Dont sleep on the Chiefs this year. I may pick them to win the division.
The San Diego Chargers are the enigma team of the AFC. They have a solid defense and an explosive offense. Phillip Rivers is as good as anyone but he admits last year he forced way too many balls. He does not have an Elway arm but he has the best deep ball in football. They did lose Vincent Jackson so this team needs to find a deep threat. They need a running back who will play tough. Matthews is always hurt. Their defense has to also show up. Lovetheir first round pick in Melvin Ingram. He is a beast. Norv Turneris on his last legs. No win this year and he is done..
The Raiders have more talent than all three teams in this division. They have the best running back. They have unreal speed at receiver. Theyhave a sick D-line and linebacker McClain is awesome. Carson Palmer has to stop throwing interceptions. It is simple as that. If the Raiders have a turnover ratio that favors them this year they will be in the playoffs and can challenge for the super bowl.. They need McFadden to stay healthy and play like the star that he is. Period.
The records will be: NFC North: Packers: 13-3, Bears: 11-5, Lions:10-6, Vikings 2-14
The records will be: AFC West: Oakland: 10-6, Broncos: 10-6, Chiefs 9-7, Chargers 9-7
The player to watch in NFC North: Jay Cutler.. Put up or shut up..
The player to watch in AFC West: Peyton Manning.. is he enough to get it done?
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
The next two weakest divisions are...
So i guess the next two "weakest divisions" by default are the NFC South and AFC east. Both divisions are extremely top heavy and extremely weak at the bottom. In the NFC South, the Saints and Falcons are coming off of playoff seasons that ended in shocking performances. The Falcons got smacked around by the Giants. They scored 2 points and looked quite intimidated in Giant stadium. The Saints went into San Francisco and played the way the normally play but could not stop the anemic offense of the Niners and allowed Alex Smith to drive 80 yards for a victory. No one could have ever predicted that the niners would score 39 points in a game. The AFC east is headlined by the Patriots. They represented the AFC in the Super Bowl and fell shortto the New York Giants. They have a loaded offense but defense failed them last year. I think they ran into a team that simply has their number. The Giants defeated the Patriots during the season and ended their 20 game home winning streak on a fourth quarter drive. The Patriots need to just simply avoid the Giants and they would have several more championships. Lets analyze both divisions..
The AFC east has three quarterbacks trying to find themselves and Tom Brady. The New York Jets play solid defense but cannot get a pass rush. They try blitzing everyone but once the blitz gets picked up they are vulnerable except of course on Revis island. On offense the Jets need to get back to running the ball and with the departure of L.T. they brought in Tim Tebow to bolster that attack. He can run and he needs to work on his throwing. The Jets have no receivers. They have Dustin Keller who can play but he cannot be affective if the Jets core of receivers cannot get open. The Jets talk alot and are media darlings for not doing anything. They are the Kardashians of sports and it is time to show up, put up or quietly shut up...
The Buffalo Bills got off to a great start last year. Then Ryan Fitzpatrick got a huge contract extension and then the Bills fell off a cliff. They couldn't beat Alabama after week 5. They have seriuos weapons on offense. They can run the ball with jackson and Spiller. Johnson is a star in the making. They play probably in the worse play to play for a team that can pass the ball as well as they do. Their defense thinks that this year their line is the best in football. The signed Mario Williams to give them the pass rush they need to cover up their weaknesses at linebacker and cornerback. If they can stay healthy and confident,they have enough to compete for a wild card spot.
The Miami Dolphins just named Ryan Tannehill their starter for the season. He has serious upside, but he has only play 19 games as a starting qb in college and he needs more class room time. Reggie Bush had his first season as a 1000 yard rusher. He is poised to prove that last year was not a fluke. They just released Chad Johnson and traded away Brandon Marshall. So who is Tanneyhill going to throw the ball to? They have a solid tight end in Fasano but who else? Defensively the Dolphins have a pulse. They can rush the passer quite well. Cameron Wembley was a sweet surprise last year. They are starting a new with a new coach and coordinator. They are a work in progress. They will struggle this year some.
The Patriots needed defensive help and drafted 6 new defensive players. they realize that they cannot win the big game with offense only. If their offense does not get on the field then they are being wasted. They still need a running game. Brady is Brady and he has made stars of both tight ends and Welker is in his final year with the Pats. They have not given him a longterm deal which is a joke. The Patriots improve on defense they could unbeaten in the regular season...
The NFC south has star potential all over the place. The Tampa Bay Bucs flopped last year. They have to regroup with a new coach in Schiano and get Freeman his confidence back. Theyhave weapons on both sides of the ball and last year clearly the coach lost that team. They have running backs and young talented receivers who can stretch the field. The defense is fast and opportunistic. They just don't know how to play yet. This year they will improve some but Freeman has to healthy and play with the confidence of two years ago.
The Carolina Panthers has no where to go but up. Cam Newton re-wrote the rookie record books with his play last year. Steve Smith found the fountain of youth. They ran the ball well and really are a couple of defenders away from being ready to compete for the division. Newton still has a lot to learn and he must take care of his body this season because teams will be gunning for him. Football cannot be this easy. If they can run it better than they did last they could contend for a wild card. Their defense has a lot of promise. They just play in the division that youhave to be able to score points or you cannot compete.
The Atlanta Falcons need a defense to match their offense. They can score with anyone. They have great running backs and receivers and tight ends. The Qb play is all pro level. They need someone on the defense to make a play and get off the field on 3rd down. They need better play calling and smart play calling. They should be ashamed of themselves for what they did last year. They think that winning comes in the form of outscoring people. They need to understandthat you have to make a stop once in a whlie or ball control to keep Brees or Rodgers off the field. If the Falcons can figure that out, they could have a super season...
The Saints have the pressure of hosting the super bowl this year, a scandal that has rocked the league, and no head coach to guide them through. Drew Brees set the NFL record for yards in a season last year and just got paid a beaucoup dollar contract. They have the offense of the present but dont have a defense at all. They bend but dont break. They can intercept any pass, cause thousands of fumbles, but always have at least 2 or 3 games that defy logic.. This season they have to prove that they are even more special than ever because they are being asked to coach themselves.. It should be wild..
The outlook this season.. New England:14-2, Buffalo:9-7, New York Jets 9-7, Miami 3-13
The outlook this season.. New Orleans: 13-3, Atlanta: 11-5, Carolina: 7-9, Tampa bay 5-11
The player to watch in the AFC east: Mark Sanchez. the jets go as far as he takes them
The player to watch in NFC south: Drew Brees The pressure is squarely on his shoulders.
The AFC east has three quarterbacks trying to find themselves and Tom Brady. The New York Jets play solid defense but cannot get a pass rush. They try blitzing everyone but once the blitz gets picked up they are vulnerable except of course on Revis island. On offense the Jets need to get back to running the ball and with the departure of L.T. they brought in Tim Tebow to bolster that attack. He can run and he needs to work on his throwing. The Jets have no receivers. They have Dustin Keller who can play but he cannot be affective if the Jets core of receivers cannot get open. The Jets talk alot and are media darlings for not doing anything. They are the Kardashians of sports and it is time to show up, put up or quietly shut up...
The Buffalo Bills got off to a great start last year. Then Ryan Fitzpatrick got a huge contract extension and then the Bills fell off a cliff. They couldn't beat Alabama after week 5. They have seriuos weapons on offense. They can run the ball with jackson and Spiller. Johnson is a star in the making. They play probably in the worse play to play for a team that can pass the ball as well as they do. Their defense thinks that this year their line is the best in football. The signed Mario Williams to give them the pass rush they need to cover up their weaknesses at linebacker and cornerback. If they can stay healthy and confident,they have enough to compete for a wild card spot.
The Miami Dolphins just named Ryan Tannehill their starter for the season. He has serious upside, but he has only play 19 games as a starting qb in college and he needs more class room time. Reggie Bush had his first season as a 1000 yard rusher. He is poised to prove that last year was not a fluke. They just released Chad Johnson and traded away Brandon Marshall. So who is Tanneyhill going to throw the ball to? They have a solid tight end in Fasano but who else? Defensively the Dolphins have a pulse. They can rush the passer quite well. Cameron Wembley was a sweet surprise last year. They are starting a new with a new coach and coordinator. They are a work in progress. They will struggle this year some.
The Patriots needed defensive help and drafted 6 new defensive players. they realize that they cannot win the big game with offense only. If their offense does not get on the field then they are being wasted. They still need a running game. Brady is Brady and he has made stars of both tight ends and Welker is in his final year with the Pats. They have not given him a longterm deal which is a joke. The Patriots improve on defense they could unbeaten in the regular season...
The NFC south has star potential all over the place. The Tampa Bay Bucs flopped last year. They have to regroup with a new coach in Schiano and get Freeman his confidence back. Theyhave weapons on both sides of the ball and last year clearly the coach lost that team. They have running backs and young talented receivers who can stretch the field. The defense is fast and opportunistic. They just don't know how to play yet. This year they will improve some but Freeman has to healthy and play with the confidence of two years ago.
The Carolina Panthers has no where to go but up. Cam Newton re-wrote the rookie record books with his play last year. Steve Smith found the fountain of youth. They ran the ball well and really are a couple of defenders away from being ready to compete for the division. Newton still has a lot to learn and he must take care of his body this season because teams will be gunning for him. Football cannot be this easy. If they can run it better than they did last they could contend for a wild card. Their defense has a lot of promise. They just play in the division that youhave to be able to score points or you cannot compete.
The Atlanta Falcons need a defense to match their offense. They can score with anyone. They have great running backs and receivers and tight ends. The Qb play is all pro level. They need someone on the defense to make a play and get off the field on 3rd down. They need better play calling and smart play calling. They should be ashamed of themselves for what they did last year. They think that winning comes in the form of outscoring people. They need to understandthat you have to make a stop once in a whlie or ball control to keep Brees or Rodgers off the field. If the Falcons can figure that out, they could have a super season...
The Saints have the pressure of hosting the super bowl this year, a scandal that has rocked the league, and no head coach to guide them through. Drew Brees set the NFL record for yards in a season last year and just got paid a beaucoup dollar contract. They have the offense of the present but dont have a defense at all. They bend but dont break. They can intercept any pass, cause thousands of fumbles, but always have at least 2 or 3 games that defy logic.. This season they have to prove that they are even more special than ever because they are being asked to coach themselves.. It should be wild..
The outlook this season.. New England:14-2, Buffalo:9-7, New York Jets 9-7, Miami 3-13
The outlook this season.. New Orleans: 13-3, Atlanta: 11-5, Carolina: 7-9, Tampa bay 5-11
The player to watch in the AFC east: Mark Sanchez. the jets go as far as he takes them
The player to watch in NFC south: Drew Brees The pressure is squarely on his shoulders.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The weakest two divisions in the NFL are..
The weakest 2 divisions in the NFL this season will be the AFC South and the NFC West. Both of these divisions have one super team and three other teams trying to find themselves. The 49ers and Texans have super aspirations based what they accomplished last year and what they did in the off season to prove that last year was not a fluke. The Niners made it to the championship game and played the Giants as tough as any team could. The weather and an unfortunate fumble in overtime ended their dreams of a super bowl. They have added Randy Moss, Brandon Jacobs, LeMicheal james to give weapons to Alex Smith which should compliment their stellar defense. Houston played the second half of the seaon with an injured Andre Johnson, Matt Schaub, Mario Williams, and even Arian Foster. They lost backup quarterback Matt Leinart and used T.J. Yates as quarterback who guided them to the playoffs. Leinart and Williams are no longer on the team but Schaub and Johnson are ready to lead this team back to the post season. Theyhave a lot of nobody's on this extremely talented defense and if the run the ball like they have over the past 2 seasons with Foster, this team could be in New Orleans come Super sunday. The Texans could end up with home field advantage because of a weak schedule and soft division. The Niners will have Green Bay, New York,and New Orleans to fight for home field. Lets look at the other teams in the two divisions.
The AFC south is trying to look to the future. The Jags, Colts and Titans are all staring first or second year quarterbacks. The Colts have Andrew Luck and he looks amazing. He has poise, confidence, and ability that I have never seen in a rookie qb. The problem they have is that they are going to waste the first half of the season learning how to protect him and developing a running game. The Colts gutted the franchise. They have quality players, including Reggie Wayne, but the running game has to become a priority until Luck can lead them to victories. The Defense will be new and on the field alot. I think they will surprise a few teams.
Tennessee has the running back, a star receiver in the making, but the defense, and quarterback position could be a liability. I liked Locker in college but he would be great against USC, but then go 4/20 against Nebraska. He is not consistent yet. Chris Johnson went from a 2,000 yard back to almost out of the league in two years. He has to carry thi team like Barry Sanders and I dont think he can. The defense can stop the run. They get passed on a lot. Coach Munchak has to address this or they will have a tough season ahead.
Jacksonville needs to give Blaine Gabbert his courage pills before each game. He looked brave in his first two preseason games so maybe he is ready to shake off the "soft" label he has. They need Maurice Jones Drew in camp asap. I like Justin Blackmon as a receiver and thought he was the best prospect in the draft. He has freakish speed and size. Just throw him the ball and he will deliver. This team will improve from last year when in tact but that remains to be seen if that will actually happen.
The NFC west is only slightly better. Seattle is enbroiled in quarterback battle. Matt Flynn just signed a big deal to be the guy but he is getting challenged big time by Russell Wilson who isnt your typical rookie. He is just"short". They signed T.O. and he can still play the game and get open. Lynch can run as well. Their problem is inconsistency on offense and defensively they do not cover well or tackle. This team last year played a lot of close games but could not get off the field in third down situations. They were so tired probably because the offense struggled at times in all games and then got hot and had to stage comebacks. Pete Carrill must have a strong heart to put up with style of football.
Arizona has weapons everywhere. They can score with anyone but like Seattle they play the game in stretches and not consistnt football. They have 2 quarterbacks which means they have none. Jon Skelton is going to win the job because Kevin Kolb is either hurt or trying to force the ball somewhere. Hand the ball off to oft injured Beany Wells and maybe they can eliminate their mistakes. Their defense is fast and aggressive. They just don't have size to stop most running teams. They can cover and their special teams will snipe you if you allow them. Patrick Petersen is the real deal. Need stability at the qb position to compete with niners.
St.Louis has a quarterback with confidence issues. If Sam Bradford can play like he did during his rookie season, the Rams could be fun to watch. Steven Jackson is the most feared back in the league, but teams are willing to let him run because they the Rams will bog down somehow. This year is a big one Bradford. He needs to legitimize being a 60 million dollar man. They have a decent core of receivers. I think they should have made a play for Blackmon but they chose who they did. Defensively, the Rams get aftre the quarterback as good as anyone. They just don't cover very well. The way you hide your deficiency in your secondary is by putting the opposing quarterback on his back. In that stadium, with that noise, they should be able to do that with more consistency. We shall see..
The outlook for the teams: San Fran: 12-4, Seattle: 7-9, Arizona:6-10, St.Louis: 5-11
The outlook for the teams: Houston: 14-2, Indy: 5-11, Jacksonville: 4-12, Tennesse: 2-14.
Player to watch in NFC west: Alex Smith..( was last year a fluke?)
Player to watch in AFC south: Andrew Luck.. The future starts now..
Both divisions will be great in 2 years.
The AFC south is trying to look to the future. The Jags, Colts and Titans are all staring first or second year quarterbacks. The Colts have Andrew Luck and he looks amazing. He has poise, confidence, and ability that I have never seen in a rookie qb. The problem they have is that they are going to waste the first half of the season learning how to protect him and developing a running game. The Colts gutted the franchise. They have quality players, including Reggie Wayne, but the running game has to become a priority until Luck can lead them to victories. The Defense will be new and on the field alot. I think they will surprise a few teams.
Tennessee has the running back, a star receiver in the making, but the defense, and quarterback position could be a liability. I liked Locker in college but he would be great against USC, but then go 4/20 against Nebraska. He is not consistent yet. Chris Johnson went from a 2,000 yard back to almost out of the league in two years. He has to carry thi team like Barry Sanders and I dont think he can. The defense can stop the run. They get passed on a lot. Coach Munchak has to address this or they will have a tough season ahead.
Jacksonville needs to give Blaine Gabbert his courage pills before each game. He looked brave in his first two preseason games so maybe he is ready to shake off the "soft" label he has. They need Maurice Jones Drew in camp asap. I like Justin Blackmon as a receiver and thought he was the best prospect in the draft. He has freakish speed and size. Just throw him the ball and he will deliver. This team will improve from last year when in tact but that remains to be seen if that will actually happen.
The NFC west is only slightly better. Seattle is enbroiled in quarterback battle. Matt Flynn just signed a big deal to be the guy but he is getting challenged big time by Russell Wilson who isnt your typical rookie. He is just"short". They signed T.O. and he can still play the game and get open. Lynch can run as well. Their problem is inconsistency on offense and defensively they do not cover well or tackle. This team last year played a lot of close games but could not get off the field in third down situations. They were so tired probably because the offense struggled at times in all games and then got hot and had to stage comebacks. Pete Carrill must have a strong heart to put up with style of football.
Arizona has weapons everywhere. They can score with anyone but like Seattle they play the game in stretches and not consistnt football. They have 2 quarterbacks which means they have none. Jon Skelton is going to win the job because Kevin Kolb is either hurt or trying to force the ball somewhere. Hand the ball off to oft injured Beany Wells and maybe they can eliminate their mistakes. Their defense is fast and aggressive. They just don't have size to stop most running teams. They can cover and their special teams will snipe you if you allow them. Patrick Petersen is the real deal. Need stability at the qb position to compete with niners.
St.Louis has a quarterback with confidence issues. If Sam Bradford can play like he did during his rookie season, the Rams could be fun to watch. Steven Jackson is the most feared back in the league, but teams are willing to let him run because they the Rams will bog down somehow. This year is a big one Bradford. He needs to legitimize being a 60 million dollar man. They have a decent core of receivers. I think they should have made a play for Blackmon but they chose who they did. Defensively, the Rams get aftre the quarterback as good as anyone. They just don't cover very well. The way you hide your deficiency in your secondary is by putting the opposing quarterback on his back. In that stadium, with that noise, they should be able to do that with more consistency. We shall see..
The outlook for the teams: San Fran: 12-4, Seattle: 7-9, Arizona:6-10, St.Louis: 5-11
The outlook for the teams: Houston: 14-2, Indy: 5-11, Jacksonville: 4-12, Tennesse: 2-14.
Player to watch in NFC west: Alex Smith..( was last year a fluke?)
Player to watch in AFC south: Andrew Luck.. The future starts now..
Both divisions will be great in 2 years.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
If you aint cheatin' you aint trying right?
I wasn't going to comment on the latest ahtlete to be taken down by the PED's epidemic but I feel that I am in the minority. I feel like everyone, everything, anyone, and anything is under suspicion. I feel like Joe McCarthy is alive and well and I really thought that we were smarter than this. First it was Carl Lewis making comments about the Jamaican Olympic team. He did not accuse anyone in particular for doping but he questioned the practices used by their doping commission. This enraged Usain Bolt, as it should have, and it has enraged me. There is nobility in being a fined tuned machine that can play sports without the use of supplements, cortizone shots, and PED's. If you can go through your entire career without those things then you are truly special. I am going to tell you why this topic infuriates me so.
Melky Cabrera got in trouble for having elevated testosterone levels. he failed i guess a test and he even apologized for what he did. I listened today to every sports pundit and Cabrera got hammered for his stupidity. He has been called stupid by every person because he is going to be a free agent next year and could have made himself a chunk of change next year. He was leading the National League in hits and runs. He was the M.V.P. of the All star game. He was a candidate for league M.V.P. He blew it. I get it. I looked back at Melky's career statistics and yes he is having a season to remember. Shouldn't he be? He is in his baseball prime years. He is 27 years old. He has been in the major leagues since he was 20. He had 201 hits last year in Kansas City. He hit over .300 for the first time in his career. When was with the Yankees as a full time player he hit .280 and .273. When he changed leagues and played with the Braves yes he hit only .255. Doesn't that happen to every player who changes leagues? Pujols right now is hitting .280's in his new league. Prince Fielder does not have 20 home runs yet in his new league. Adam Dunn went from a guy who was averaging 40 plus homeruns a season to barely 15 last year. The point I am making is that I am so tired of sports pundits telling us that PED's are the reason for success in sports. I am tired of people telling me that all it takes to succeed in sports is an injection, a pill, a sports drink. They tell us that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports. No one is going to tell you that there is a study where they can prove that PED's make you an all star player. No one is going to tell you that because they would sound stupid if they did. Why did they not make Bobby Estella, Marvin Bernard, Jay Gibbons, Jeremy Giambi special players? These guys were already displaying a skill set that only a small percentage of the population has.
Some people are even saying that the reasons that they are more no hitters in baseball these days is that no one is taking PED's anymore and therefore the players can't hit. Not the fact that there are more pitchers who throw 95 miles an hour than ever before. King Felix throws 97. Phil Humber tops at 94. Matt Cain the same. More pitchers rely on two pitches that baffle hitters. The fast bast sets up evrything and the a secondary pitch that looks like a fastball but actually is a changeup or slide piece. Justin Verlander throws 100. Ubaldo Jimenez throws 100. Yes Jered Weaver and Johan Santana threw no-no's and barely throw 91. They know how to really pitch. Whatever happened to the argument that good pitching beats good hitting? If you look around major league baseball teams today pitchers are not nibbling anymore. Pitchers throw strike one at a more alarming rate. Nolan Ryan demands that his pitchers finish what they start or they cant pitch for him. GIVE THE PITCHERS SOME DAMN CREDIT FOR ONCE!!!
Now the one argument that people make is that PED's get a player back on the field faster or they keep him on the field longer without injury. What the heck then is a cortizone shot if it is not a PED? If Dwayne Wade did not get a shot in his knees he would not have been able to play in the NBA finals. Mike Miller of the Heat could not get out of bed without a cortizone shot. Why is cortizone legal and why is Adderal illegal? I can name so many athletes who come on television and talk about how cortizone shots have prolonged their seasons or careers. I will research more about cortizone and will retract all of these statements if I determine that the affects of cortizone is not a PED.
I am not in denial about the uses of PED's in sports. I just question what is a PED and what proof is there that definitively shows the reason why one person does something. We dont anything about the previous generations in sport because they clearly were bionic or super human. Athletes today cant practice in the heat, they suffer injuries to their legs running bases, they cant pitch more than a 100 tosses in a game. You can say whatever you want about Bonds or Clemens, Sosa or Manny. They still had to hit the ball or throw the ball in a area where no one could either hit or catch it. The rules are the rules... The Giants need to be fined because they seem to have had a lot ofplayers who get caught doing these things. All this shows me is that the ol' adage of if "you aint cheatin' you aint tryin'" is still alive and well. I guess it is back to the drawing board...
Melky Cabrera got in trouble for having elevated testosterone levels. he failed i guess a test and he even apologized for what he did. I listened today to every sports pundit and Cabrera got hammered for his stupidity. He has been called stupid by every person because he is going to be a free agent next year and could have made himself a chunk of change next year. He was leading the National League in hits and runs. He was the M.V.P. of the All star game. He was a candidate for league M.V.P. He blew it. I get it. I looked back at Melky's career statistics and yes he is having a season to remember. Shouldn't he be? He is in his baseball prime years. He is 27 years old. He has been in the major leagues since he was 20. He had 201 hits last year in Kansas City. He hit over .300 for the first time in his career. When was with the Yankees as a full time player he hit .280 and .273. When he changed leagues and played with the Braves yes he hit only .255. Doesn't that happen to every player who changes leagues? Pujols right now is hitting .280's in his new league. Prince Fielder does not have 20 home runs yet in his new league. Adam Dunn went from a guy who was averaging 40 plus homeruns a season to barely 15 last year. The point I am making is that I am so tired of sports pundits telling us that PED's are the reason for success in sports. I am tired of people telling me that all it takes to succeed in sports is an injection, a pill, a sports drink. They tell us that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports. No one is going to tell you that there is a study where they can prove that PED's make you an all star player. No one is going to tell you that because they would sound stupid if they did. Why did they not make Bobby Estella, Marvin Bernard, Jay Gibbons, Jeremy Giambi special players? These guys were already displaying a skill set that only a small percentage of the population has.
Some people are even saying that the reasons that they are more no hitters in baseball these days is that no one is taking PED's anymore and therefore the players can't hit. Not the fact that there are more pitchers who throw 95 miles an hour than ever before. King Felix throws 97. Phil Humber tops at 94. Matt Cain the same. More pitchers rely on two pitches that baffle hitters. The fast bast sets up evrything and the a secondary pitch that looks like a fastball but actually is a changeup or slide piece. Justin Verlander throws 100. Ubaldo Jimenez throws 100. Yes Jered Weaver and Johan Santana threw no-no's and barely throw 91. They know how to really pitch. Whatever happened to the argument that good pitching beats good hitting? If you look around major league baseball teams today pitchers are not nibbling anymore. Pitchers throw strike one at a more alarming rate. Nolan Ryan demands that his pitchers finish what they start or they cant pitch for him. GIVE THE PITCHERS SOME DAMN CREDIT FOR ONCE!!!
Now the one argument that people make is that PED's get a player back on the field faster or they keep him on the field longer without injury. What the heck then is a cortizone shot if it is not a PED? If Dwayne Wade did not get a shot in his knees he would not have been able to play in the NBA finals. Mike Miller of the Heat could not get out of bed without a cortizone shot. Why is cortizone legal and why is Adderal illegal? I can name so many athletes who come on television and talk about how cortizone shots have prolonged their seasons or careers. I will research more about cortizone and will retract all of these statements if I determine that the affects of cortizone is not a PED.
I am not in denial about the uses of PED's in sports. I just question what is a PED and what proof is there that definitively shows the reason why one person does something. We dont anything about the previous generations in sport because they clearly were bionic or super human. Athletes today cant practice in the heat, they suffer injuries to their legs running bases, they cant pitch more than a 100 tosses in a game. You can say whatever you want about Bonds or Clemens, Sosa or Manny. They still had to hit the ball or throw the ball in a area where no one could either hit or catch it. The rules are the rules... The Giants need to be fined because they seem to have had a lot ofplayers who get caught doing these things. All this shows me is that the ol' adage of if "you aint cheatin' you aint tryin'" is still alive and well. I guess it is back to the drawing board...
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
what is Washington really doing?
Today Steve Strasburg is scheduled to pitch against the San Fransico Giants. Strasburg is one of the key reasons why the Nationals have the best record in baseball. He doesn't have Verlander type numbers from a year ago, but his numbers nonetheless are impressive. He has a 2.90 ERA. He has a boat load of strikeouts. He has a modest won-loss record. He is a headline grabber and when he pitches, his games are usually an event. The reason why he is in the news so much these days is that his team has him on an innings count and with 133 plus inning thrown this year, he is closing in on the number allotted. Has he had a lot of stressful innings this year? That is a tough question to answer. He is a strikeout pitcher so most of his innings are full of pitches that are fouled off. Curt Schilling said that a stressful inning is in the seventh inning and beyond and you have to make pitches to get outs. Strasburg has not pitched in the 8th inning this entire year. That is astounding. He has had several quality starts(which is 6 innings), but doen not have a complete game or one start last 8 innings. Is he an ace? What is this team doing? Are they helping Strasburg and hurting the team? Why didn't they start him in mid May or even June 1st? Lets analyze this situation.
One of my favorite athletes of all time is Dan Marino. When Marino came into the NFL he set the world on fire. He threw passes into areas that no one thought he could. His release and timing with Nat Moore, Mark Clayton and Duper was impeccable. He went to the Super Bowl inhis second year as a pro and I am certain everyone told him that he would be back again and again and again. He was the most prolific passer in NFL history until recently a lot of his records have been falling, but guess what, He NEVER made it back to the big game again. He never played in the Super Bowl in spite impressive victories and prolific moments in his brilliant career. Steven Stasburg may never get an opportunity to play in the post season ever in his career. Nothing in sports is guranteed or promised. I can name you hundreds of great athletes who have never had a chance to win the big game. I can name you hundreds of athletes who had to go to other teams and take a lesser role to win or play in a title game. Ray Bourque took over 20 years? I fully understand that the Nationals are looking towards the future and since it worked last year with Ryan Zimmerman it will work for Strasburg. What they seem to not understand is how hard getting to the playoffs really is for most teams. Hank Aaron played in how many playoffs and world series? Ted Williams played in how many playoffs and world series games? Not many off the top of my head.
I understand that coming off an arm injury season yes the Nats want to protect their investment. I watched Johann Santana pitch a no hitter and he has not been the pitcher since. He threw more pitches that game than he has in years and he is having an off season. But what was Terry Collins supposed to do? What if Strasburg throws a no hitter today or next week? Are they going to take him out of a game when he hasn't allowed a hit? Also doesn't anyone remember what happened last year in baseball? There are about 40 games left in the season, what if the Nationals start to tank like the Braves and Red Sox did last year? This is a young team with players who do not know how to finish off a playoff race. Injuries happen daily in this game for the dumbest reasons. Players get hurt playing video games, slipping in the shower, running to a base. I know this is not Strasburg's decision or even Davey Johnsons, but you have to seize the day while you can. Remember the Mets? Remember the Mets had all of that young pitching that was going to remind us all of the mets of the mid 80's and we were going to be in the world series yearly. Paul Wilson, Jason Isringhausen, Bill Pulsipher, Kirk Pressley, Bobby Jones. They barely pitched together on the same staff. All of their careers decimated by injuries. It is a tough call, i know, baseball is a cruel game. Strasburg may never be the same pitcher again. Clinch the playoff berth first then shut him done for a few starts. If he does not pitch in September, the Nationals will be at home watching the playoff with me..
One of my favorite athletes of all time is Dan Marino. When Marino came into the NFL he set the world on fire. He threw passes into areas that no one thought he could. His release and timing with Nat Moore, Mark Clayton and Duper was impeccable. He went to the Super Bowl inhis second year as a pro and I am certain everyone told him that he would be back again and again and again. He was the most prolific passer in NFL history until recently a lot of his records have been falling, but guess what, He NEVER made it back to the big game again. He never played in the Super Bowl in spite impressive victories and prolific moments in his brilliant career. Steven Stasburg may never get an opportunity to play in the post season ever in his career. Nothing in sports is guranteed or promised. I can name you hundreds of great athletes who have never had a chance to win the big game. I can name you hundreds of athletes who had to go to other teams and take a lesser role to win or play in a title game. Ray Bourque took over 20 years? I fully understand that the Nationals are looking towards the future and since it worked last year with Ryan Zimmerman it will work for Strasburg. What they seem to not understand is how hard getting to the playoffs really is for most teams. Hank Aaron played in how many playoffs and world series? Ted Williams played in how many playoffs and world series games? Not many off the top of my head.
I understand that coming off an arm injury season yes the Nats want to protect their investment. I watched Johann Santana pitch a no hitter and he has not been the pitcher since. He threw more pitches that game than he has in years and he is having an off season. But what was Terry Collins supposed to do? What if Strasburg throws a no hitter today or next week? Are they going to take him out of a game when he hasn't allowed a hit? Also doesn't anyone remember what happened last year in baseball? There are about 40 games left in the season, what if the Nationals start to tank like the Braves and Red Sox did last year? This is a young team with players who do not know how to finish off a playoff race. Injuries happen daily in this game for the dumbest reasons. Players get hurt playing video games, slipping in the shower, running to a base. I know this is not Strasburg's decision or even Davey Johnsons, but you have to seize the day while you can. Remember the Mets? Remember the Mets had all of that young pitching that was going to remind us all of the mets of the mid 80's and we were going to be in the world series yearly. Paul Wilson, Jason Isringhausen, Bill Pulsipher, Kirk Pressley, Bobby Jones. They barely pitched together on the same staff. All of their careers decimated by injuries. It is a tough call, i know, baseball is a cruel game. Strasburg may never be the same pitcher again. Clinch the playoff berth first then shut him done for a few starts. If he does not pitch in September, the Nationals will be at home watching the playoff with me..
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