Well, Kentucky improved to 9-9 on Saturday with their win over South Carolina and people are starting to take notice. The Wildcats next game will be this Saturday at Georgia in a game that is scheduled to be televised on CBS.
Ramel Bradley and Patrick Patterson were named SEC's Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week after the Wildcats' wins over Tennessee and South Carolina. It was the first time in Bradley's career that he has been named SEC Player of the Week and it was Patterson's second time to be named Freshman of the Week this season.
In recruiting news, Kentucky Sports Radio's Matt Jones is reporting that Billy Gillespie has begun speaking to Chicago Curie's Steve Goins. Goins is a 6'10", 250 pound high school senior that is averaging 12 points and 15 rebounds per game this season. Scout.com lists Goins as a 3 Star recruit who has already been offered scholarships by Chicago State, Illinois Chicago, and South Florida. Depaul and Minnesota are also reportedly showing some interest. Goins doesn't appear to be much of an offensive threat yet, but the guy apparently has quite a motor and is a maniac on the boards. He might be exactly what Kentucky needs to take some defensive pressure off of Patrick Patterson. Gillespie hasn't offered Goins a scholarship yet, so we'll just have to wait and see if anything develops.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
ESPN's Jacobson Suspended
Not that we'll ever get to actually see it, but apparently ESPN's Dana Jacobson got a little drunk at ESPN's recent "Mike & Mike" roast. The reports are coming out that Dana got up in front of the microphone with a bottle of vodka in hand and said:
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"f... Notre dame"
"f....touchdown Jesus"
and - the step-aside-because-lightning-is-about-to-strike... "f.... Jesus."
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I don't know Dana Jacobson personally, but I have a feeling that her speech may not have come out exactly the way she intended. Vodka has a funny way of making people say and do stupid things. Dana is a University of Michigan graduate and I think it is quite obvious that she was just trying to get under Mike Golic's skin with her speech. Mike Golic is a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame.
In case you missed it, ESPN has decided to suspend Dana for one week as a result of her drunken mistake. That's right, I said one week!
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Honestly, I'm not that upset about what Dana said. In fact, I'll even admit that I kind of enjoy listening to her when she does guest appearances on ESPN Radio from time to time. But, I do think that if the reports about what she said are true she should have had her employment terminated instead only getting a one week suspension. Its not that I don't like Dana or that I think the one week suspension isn't sufficient. What upsets me is that there appears to be a double standard in this country. What do you think would happen to Colin Cowherd if he got drunk at an ESPN sanctioned event, then got behind a microphone and started making fun of a Muslim athlete and then threw in a "F**k Muhammed" joke for good measure? Yeah, I think Colin would have gotten more than a one week suspension.
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We will never defeat racism and/or bigotry in this country until we actually start treating everyone equally. Equal punishment for equal crimes would be a good place to start. A black man that commits a robbery will get twice the jail sentence that a white man would get for committing the same crime. That is just not right! Its the same crime and it deserves the same punishment.
A white man that makes a racially insensitive remark gets fired from his job, while a black man that makes a racially insensitive remark gets a pat on the back and an apology from the white community. Although its not as bad as the "double jail sentence," it is still not right. A racially insensitive remark is still a racially insensitive remark no matter who makes it.
In the Dana Jacobson situation, it was a religiously insensitive remark. She said it, and she should have been fired.
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I know Dana Jacobson isn't a black man and what she said wasn't about race, but I'm pretty sure you get my point. The recent poor choice of words by Kelly Tilghman about Tiger Woods is yet another example of what I'm talking about. I'm sure Kelly didn't intend for her "lynching" comment to come out quite the way it did, but she still said it and she can't take it back. And, what she said is about as racially insensitive as you can get. Kelly (who is a female like Dana Jacobson) only got suspended for two weeks for her racially insensitive remark.
Last week, Golfweek magazine decided to follow-up on Tilghman's poor choice of words by putting a noose on the cover of its January 19th edition. Dave Seanor, who is the editor responsible for the cover of the magazine, got fired over the incident. Dave, of course, is a white male. Don't get me wrong, I think Dave deserved to get fired. But, I also think Kelly Tilghman should have been fired as well.
Why didn't Dana Jacobson or Kelly Tilghman get fired for what they said? Double standards, that's why.
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"f... Notre dame"
"f....touchdown Jesus"
and - the step-aside-because-lightning-is-about-to-strike... "f.... Jesus."
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I don't know Dana Jacobson personally, but I have a feeling that her speech may not have come out exactly the way she intended. Vodka has a funny way of making people say and do stupid things. Dana is a University of Michigan graduate and I think it is quite obvious that she was just trying to get under Mike Golic's skin with her speech. Mike Golic is a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame.
In case you missed it, ESPN has decided to suspend Dana for one week as a result of her drunken mistake. That's right, I said one week!
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Honestly, I'm not that upset about what Dana said. In fact, I'll even admit that I kind of enjoy listening to her when she does guest appearances on ESPN Radio from time to time. But, I do think that if the reports about what she said are true she should have had her employment terminated instead only getting a one week suspension. Its not that I don't like Dana or that I think the one week suspension isn't sufficient. What upsets me is that there appears to be a double standard in this country. What do you think would happen to Colin Cowherd if he got drunk at an ESPN sanctioned event, then got behind a microphone and started making fun of a Muslim athlete and then threw in a "F**k Muhammed" joke for good measure? Yeah, I think Colin would have gotten more than a one week suspension.
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We will never defeat racism and/or bigotry in this country until we actually start treating everyone equally. Equal punishment for equal crimes would be a good place to start. A black man that commits a robbery will get twice the jail sentence that a white man would get for committing the same crime. That is just not right! Its the same crime and it deserves the same punishment.
A white man that makes a racially insensitive remark gets fired from his job, while a black man that makes a racially insensitive remark gets a pat on the back and an apology from the white community. Although its not as bad as the "double jail sentence," it is still not right. A racially insensitive remark is still a racially insensitive remark no matter who makes it.
In the Dana Jacobson situation, it was a religiously insensitive remark. She said it, and she should have been fired.
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I know Dana Jacobson isn't a black man and what she said wasn't about race, but I'm pretty sure you get my point. The recent poor choice of words by Kelly Tilghman about Tiger Woods is yet another example of what I'm talking about. I'm sure Kelly didn't intend for her "lynching" comment to come out quite the way it did, but she still said it and she can't take it back. And, what she said is about as racially insensitive as you can get. Kelly (who is a female like Dana Jacobson) only got suspended for two weeks for her racially insensitive remark.
Last week, Golfweek magazine decided to follow-up on Tilghman's poor choice of words by putting a noose on the cover of its January 19th edition. Dave Seanor, who is the editor responsible for the cover of the magazine, got fired over the incident. Dave, of course, is a white male. Don't get me wrong, I think Dave deserved to get fired. But, I also think Kelly Tilghman should have been fired as well.
Why didn't Dana Jacobson or Kelly Tilghman get fired for what they said? Double standards, that's why.
01/23/08: Kentucky Basketball
Last night's win against Tennessee was nothing short of impressive. The Wildcats shot the ball well, played good defense, and owned the boards. The Big Blue defense held Tennessee to 38.6% shooting from the floor and 26.9% from behind the arc. And, a couple of those made 3 pointers came from Lofton at the end of the game when Kentucky was trying not to foul anybody. The Wildcats also outrebounded Tennessee 36-27. The most impressive stat for me though, was the fact that Kentucky made 24-28 from the free throw line. The Wildcats also shot 48.9% from the floor, thanks mostly to the fact that they didn't take too many bad shots.
All eight players that coach Gillespie played last night performed very well. But, I think Patrick Patterson and Perry Stevenson deserve special mention. Patterson finished the game with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 assists. Stevenson just flat out looked like a man possessed. Stevenson finished the game with 14 points on 6-7 shooting, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 blocked shots. The usual suspects were there as well. Ramel Bradley finished with 16 points and went 10-10 from the free throw line, Joe Crawford had 10 points in only 24 minutes of play, and Jodie Meeks contributed 8 points in only 18 minutes of play. Both Crawford and Meeks played limited minutes because they were apparently nursing injuries.
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I don't know if anybody outside of the Big Blue Nation has noticed yet, but Billy Gillespie and the Kentucky basketball team look like they may be starting to get better. The Wildcats are only 2-2 in their last 4 games, but they have at least been competitive in all 4 games against some pretty good competition.
I still think the Wildcats only hope of making the NCAA Tournament this year will be if they win the SEC Tournament for the automatic bid, but I least I can now say that in public with a straight face.
All eight players that coach Gillespie played last night performed very well. But, I think Patrick Patterson and Perry Stevenson deserve special mention. Patterson finished the game with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 assists. Stevenson just flat out looked like a man possessed. Stevenson finished the game with 14 points on 6-7 shooting, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 blocked shots. The usual suspects were there as well. Ramel Bradley finished with 16 points and went 10-10 from the free throw line, Joe Crawford had 10 points in only 24 minutes of play, and Jodie Meeks contributed 8 points in only 18 minutes of play. Both Crawford and Meeks played limited minutes because they were apparently nursing injuries.
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I don't know if anybody outside of the Big Blue Nation has noticed yet, but Billy Gillespie and the Kentucky basketball team look like they may be starting to get better. The Wildcats are only 2-2 in their last 4 games, but they have at least been competitive in all 4 games against some pretty good competition.
I still think the Wildcats only hope of making the NCAA Tournament this year will be if they win the SEC Tournament for the automatic bid, but I least I can now say that in public with a straight face.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Reds Sign Affeldt
It was announced today that the Cincinnati Reds have reached a one year deal with 28 year old left handed pitcher Jeremy Affeldt. Foxsports.com is reporting the deal is for $3 million. It is being reported that the Reds plan to give Affeldt a chance to earn a spot in the starting rotation next season. The Reds have already projected Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, and Matt Belisle as starters for next season. The remaining two spots in the rotation will be up for grabs, with the obvious potential candidates for the final two spots being Homer Bailey, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Affeldt.
Affeldt appeared in 75 games last season for the Colorado Rockies entirely as a relief pitcher. Affeldt finished the 2007 season with a 4-3 record with a 3.51 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 59 innings. Affeldt started his Major League career as a starting pitcher with the Kansas City Royals in 2002. He started 42 games for the Royals between '02 and July 2006 when the Royals dealt him to Colorado. In 216 1/3 innings as a starter with the Royals Affeldt compiled a record of 8-17 with a 5.41 ERA.
I think this is another questionable signing by the Reds, but I'm happy they are at least being proactive this off season. There is no doubt the Reds need help on the pitching staff and this signing along with the recent signings of Francisco Cordero and Edinson Volquez has at least given the Reds some more options for the bullpen.
Affeldt appeared in 75 games last season for the Colorado Rockies entirely as a relief pitcher. Affeldt finished the 2007 season with a 4-3 record with a 3.51 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 59 innings. Affeldt started his Major League career as a starting pitcher with the Kansas City Royals in 2002. He started 42 games for the Royals between '02 and July 2006 when the Royals dealt him to Colorado. In 216 1/3 innings as a starter with the Royals Affeldt compiled a record of 8-17 with a 5.41 ERA.
I think this is another questionable signing by the Reds, but I'm happy they are at least being proactive this off season. There is no doubt the Reds need help on the pitching staff and this signing along with the recent signings of Francisco Cordero and Edinson Volquez has at least given the Reds some more options for the bullpen.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Colts' Embarrassing Loss
I know you're not supposed to blog when you're angry. But, I'm going to do it anyway. It has been a long time since I have been this embarrassed to be a Colts fan. The highly favored Indianapolis Colts just lost at home to the San Diego Chargers. This game was supposed to be a cake walk for the Colts.
If you're a Colts fan there a lot of things you can blame this loss on. The 3 turnovers, some dropped passes, injuries, the lack of any kind of pass rush, the mysterious disappearance of the 3rd rated defense in the NFL, or some very obvious "no calls" by the referees. But, I'm not going to blame this loss on any of those things.
I'm going to blame this loss solely on Tony Dungy and the rest if the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff. Once again, the Indianapolis Colts found themselves favored to win a huge game and once again they looked totally unprepared. With all due respect to the San Diego Chargers, there is just simply no excuse for the way the Colts played today. The part that makes me sick is that this isn't the first time a Tony Dungy led Colts team has looked ill prepared in the playoffs ( not to mention the regular season). I don't claim to know what the problem is, but there very obviously is a problem. The Colts have repeatedly just looked "flat" come playoff time.
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In 2003, the Colts lost their first playoff game under Tony Dungy 41-0 to the NY Jets.
In 2004, the Colts fell behind the Patriots 15-0 in the AFC Championship game before the Colts even managed to score a point. The Colts ended up losing that game 24-14.
In 2005, the Colts again lost to the Patriots, this time in the Divisional round of the playoffs. The final score was 20-3. This was the year that Peyton Manning set just about every single regular season passing record known to man, but the Colts could only manage 3 points against the Patriots defense in a playoff game.
In 2006, the Dungy led Colts laid one of the biggest eggs of all time with their 21-18 loss at home in the Divisional round of the playoffs to the wild card Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers were up 14-0 in the 1st quarter before the Colts knew what hit them. The Colts played so bad in that game that I still can't watch the tape, even today.
In 2008, well, it was more of the same. The Colts defense looked so bad against the Chargers that I think even Jim Sorgi could have led the Charger offense to the end zone.
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I know Tony Dungy really is a nice guy. And I think Tony has done a fantastic job, along with Bill Polian, of drafting talented players into the Colts organization. It has taken me awhile, but I have finally begun to like the philosophy behind the Cover 2. I just can't remember the last time I thought the Colts coaching staff actually out coached anybody on a Sunday.
This past Sunday, the Colts defensive plan to start the game was obviously to bring Bob Sanders up into the box in order to stop Tomlinson. I thought it was a great call on Dungy's part. The problem with this decision soon became apparent, however, when the Chargers were so successful in the passing game. The Colts couldn't get any kind of pass rush without Dwight Freeney on the field, and the Colt DBs were simply over matched in coverage. The Colts chose to blitz in obvious passing situations and the Charger offensive line did a magnificent job of protection against the Colts' blitzes. I would have liked to have seen the Colts use a little more Cover 2 in the second half, but I don't know that it would have worked any better. But, at least I would have tried something different.
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There are rumors circulating out there that Tony Dungy is planning to announce his retirement within the next couple weeks. I have to say that I don't think I will be too upset if Tony does decide to retire. Don't get me wrong, I really do like Tony and I would really like to see him stay. Tony has put a very strong foundation in place in Indianapolis. There are a lot of good people and good football players on the Colts roster. I just think maybe the Colts have achieved all they can under the leadership of this coaching staff.
The Colts won the Super Bowl last year and I will forever be thankful for that. Tony Dungy deserves most of the credit for last year's championship. But, maybe it is time to let somebody else take over the reins. Or, at the very least bring in some different assistant coaches to gain some new perspective.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in the first year after Jon Gruden was brought in to replace Tony Dungy as the head coach for the Bucs. The players that won the Super Bowl for Jon Gruden that year were pretty much the same guys that Tony had on the team the year before when the Bucs came out "flat" and lost to the Eagles 31-9 in an NFC wild card game.
Maybe it is time the Colts go out and find their own "Jon Gruden."
If you're a Colts fan there a lot of things you can blame this loss on. The 3 turnovers, some dropped passes, injuries, the lack of any kind of pass rush, the mysterious disappearance of the 3rd rated defense in the NFL, or some very obvious "no calls" by the referees. But, I'm not going to blame this loss on any of those things.
I'm going to blame this loss solely on Tony Dungy and the rest if the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff. Once again, the Indianapolis Colts found themselves favored to win a huge game and once again they looked totally unprepared. With all due respect to the San Diego Chargers, there is just simply no excuse for the way the Colts played today. The part that makes me sick is that this isn't the first time a Tony Dungy led Colts team has looked ill prepared in the playoffs ( not to mention the regular season). I don't claim to know what the problem is, but there very obviously is a problem. The Colts have repeatedly just looked "flat" come playoff time.
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In 2003, the Colts lost their first playoff game under Tony Dungy 41-0 to the NY Jets.
In 2004, the Colts fell behind the Patriots 15-0 in the AFC Championship game before the Colts even managed to score a point. The Colts ended up losing that game 24-14.
In 2005, the Colts again lost to the Patriots, this time in the Divisional round of the playoffs. The final score was 20-3. This was the year that Peyton Manning set just about every single regular season passing record known to man, but the Colts could only manage 3 points against the Patriots defense in a playoff game.
In 2006, the Dungy led Colts laid one of the biggest eggs of all time with their 21-18 loss at home in the Divisional round of the playoffs to the wild card Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers were up 14-0 in the 1st quarter before the Colts knew what hit them. The Colts played so bad in that game that I still can't watch the tape, even today.
In 2008, well, it was more of the same. The Colts defense looked so bad against the Chargers that I think even Jim Sorgi could have led the Charger offense to the end zone.
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I know Tony Dungy really is a nice guy. And I think Tony has done a fantastic job, along with Bill Polian, of drafting talented players into the Colts organization. It has taken me awhile, but I have finally begun to like the philosophy behind the Cover 2. I just can't remember the last time I thought the Colts coaching staff actually out coached anybody on a Sunday.
This past Sunday, the Colts defensive plan to start the game was obviously to bring Bob Sanders up into the box in order to stop Tomlinson. I thought it was a great call on Dungy's part. The problem with this decision soon became apparent, however, when the Chargers were so successful in the passing game. The Colts couldn't get any kind of pass rush without Dwight Freeney on the field, and the Colt DBs were simply over matched in coverage. The Colts chose to blitz in obvious passing situations and the Charger offensive line did a magnificent job of protection against the Colts' blitzes. I would have liked to have seen the Colts use a little more Cover 2 in the second half, but I don't know that it would have worked any better. But, at least I would have tried something different.
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There are rumors circulating out there that Tony Dungy is planning to announce his retirement within the next couple weeks. I have to say that I don't think I will be too upset if Tony does decide to retire. Don't get me wrong, I really do like Tony and I would really like to see him stay. Tony has put a very strong foundation in place in Indianapolis. There are a lot of good people and good football players on the Colts roster. I just think maybe the Colts have achieved all they can under the leadership of this coaching staff.
The Colts won the Super Bowl last year and I will forever be thankful for that. Tony Dungy deserves most of the credit for last year's championship. But, maybe it is time to let somebody else take over the reins. Or, at the very least bring in some different assistant coaches to gain some new perspective.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in the first year after Jon Gruden was brought in to replace Tony Dungy as the head coach for the Bucs. The players that won the Super Bowl for Jon Gruden that year were pretty much the same guys that Tony had on the team the year before when the Bucs came out "flat" and lost to the Eagles 31-9 in an NFC wild card game.
Maybe it is time the Colts go out and find their own "Jon Gruden."
Friday, January 11, 2008
NFL Divisional Round Breakdown
I correctly predicted 3 out of 4 games last week. So, I thought I would give it a go for this week's games as well. The Divisional Round of the playoffs is always a little tougher to decipher. All of these games have the potential to be very interesting, but I think the higher seeds will prevail in every game.
1) Seattle at Green Bay: I think this game has the biggest potential for an upset. Seattle coach Mike Holmgren knows the Packers and Brett Favre very well. The Seahawks have a pretty good quarterback in Hasselback and a very fast defense. But, the Seahawks don't have any running game. I think the Packers are too well balanced on offense and defense and will eventually wear down the Seahawks offensive and defensive lines. I think the Packers will pull away and win this game in the 4th quarter. But, I wouldn't be surprised if the Seahawks might be able to win in a high scoring shootout. I just don't think that will happen.
Winner = Green Bay
2) NY Giants at Dallas: I think the Cowboys will jump up early in the passing game. I see Jason Witten and Terrell Owens both having huge games. Tony Romo's agility will negate the Giants pass rush and the Cowboy running game will take over in the 2nd half. Eli Manning will come back down to earth once the Giants fall behind early and will probably throw a couple interceptions that will seal the Giants fate. Winner = Dallas
3) Jacksonville at New England: Jacksonville is a very good football team. But, I think their injuries on the defensive line will be too much for the Jags to overcome. If the Jags were healthy, I think this would be a good football game. But, the Jags aren't healthy and Belichick has had too much time to develop a game plan. I think the Jag defense will shut down the Patriots running game, but I think Tom Brady will come up huge in the passing game. I think this game will be close early with Jacksonville maybe even having the lead into the 2nd half. Jones-Drew and Taylor will probably have big yards on the ground, but in the end I think the Jags will turn the ball over and the Patriots will pull away. Unless, of course, the weather turns nasty. Then, I think the Jags might have the advantage in inclimate weather.
Winner = New England
4) San Diego at Indianapolis: I know the Chargers beat Indy earlier this season in San Diego, but I don't think this game will even be close. The Colts were missing a lot of key players in the 1st game and they still almost won. Now, the Colts are as healthy as they have been all season. The Chargers have the speed on defense to compete with the Colts, but I think the Colts will fire up the running game and then live off of the play action pass. I look for the Colts to focus their defensive effort on stopping LT and forcing Philip Rivers into throwing the ball more than he wants. Joseph Addai should have a huge game both running and receiving. I also look for Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez to both have good games underneath.
Winner = Indianapolis
1) Seattle at Green Bay: I think this game has the biggest potential for an upset. Seattle coach Mike Holmgren knows the Packers and Brett Favre very well. The Seahawks have a pretty good quarterback in Hasselback and a very fast defense. But, the Seahawks don't have any running game. I think the Packers are too well balanced on offense and defense and will eventually wear down the Seahawks offensive and defensive lines. I think the Packers will pull away and win this game in the 4th quarter. But, I wouldn't be surprised if the Seahawks might be able to win in a high scoring shootout. I just don't think that will happen.
Winner = Green Bay
2) NY Giants at Dallas: I think the Cowboys will jump up early in the passing game. I see Jason Witten and Terrell Owens both having huge games. Tony Romo's agility will negate the Giants pass rush and the Cowboy running game will take over in the 2nd half. Eli Manning will come back down to earth once the Giants fall behind early and will probably throw a couple interceptions that will seal the Giants fate. Winner = Dallas
3) Jacksonville at New England: Jacksonville is a very good football team. But, I think their injuries on the defensive line will be too much for the Jags to overcome. If the Jags were healthy, I think this would be a good football game. But, the Jags aren't healthy and Belichick has had too much time to develop a game plan. I think the Jag defense will shut down the Patriots running game, but I think Tom Brady will come up huge in the passing game. I think this game will be close early with Jacksonville maybe even having the lead into the 2nd half. Jones-Drew and Taylor will probably have big yards on the ground, but in the end I think the Jags will turn the ball over and the Patriots will pull away. Unless, of course, the weather turns nasty. Then, I think the Jags might have the advantage in inclimate weather.
Winner = New England
4) San Diego at Indianapolis: I know the Chargers beat Indy earlier this season in San Diego, but I don't think this game will even be close. The Colts were missing a lot of key players in the 1st game and they still almost won. Now, the Colts are as healthy as they have been all season. The Chargers have the speed on defense to compete with the Colts, but I think the Colts will fire up the running game and then live off of the play action pass. I look for the Colts to focus their defensive effort on stopping LT and forcing Philip Rivers into throwing the ball more than he wants. Joseph Addai should have a huge game both running and receiving. I also look for Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez to both have good games underneath.
Winner = Indianapolis
Thursday, January 10, 2008
01/10/08: Kentucky Basketball
I have been getting some emails wondering why I haven't been posting anything lately about Kentucky basketball. The answer is pretty simple.
If you read my last post related to Kentucky basketball on December 20th, then you can probably figure out why I haven't been posting anything relating to the team. If you didn't read it, then I'll take the time to give you a short explanation. I haven't been posting anything because I don't see how saying anything negative about Billy Gillespie or this year's version of the Kentucky Wildcats could in any way be productive. So, I have decided that I would rather not post anything about the guys in Lexington until I have something positive to write.
I have come to realize that coach Gillespie is in a bit of a "rebuilding year," and I am OK with that. On Saturday, the'Cats will open the SEC season with a game against 13th ranked Vanderbilt. It doesn't look like it will be pretty. Coach Gillespie announced yesterday that the injury bug has returned to the Lexington campus. Check out the story here.
If you read my last post related to Kentucky basketball on December 20th, then you can probably figure out why I haven't been posting anything relating to the team. If you didn't read it, then I'll take the time to give you a short explanation. I haven't been posting anything because I don't see how saying anything negative about Billy Gillespie or this year's version of the Kentucky Wildcats could in any way be productive. So, I have decided that I would rather not post anything about the guys in Lexington until I have something positive to write.
I have come to realize that coach Gillespie is in a bit of a "rebuilding year," and I am OK with that. On Saturday, the'Cats will open the SEC season with a game against 13th ranked Vanderbilt. It doesn't look like it will be pretty. Coach Gillespie announced yesterday that the injury bug has returned to the Lexington campus. Check out the story here.
Friday, January 4, 2008
My 1st Round Playoff Breakdown
I got a few phone calls from friends this week asking about my opinions on the first round of the playoffs. So, I thought I would share some of my thoughts with everybody on the topic.
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1) Titans at Chargers: This game is a tough one to call. In case you forgot, this a rematch of an overtime game that was played in Week 14. San Diego won that game in Tennessee 23-17. That game got very physical and as a result these teams don't like each other very much. The Titans enter the rematch this week missing TE Bo Scaife and WR Roydell Williams due to injuries. I think these injuries will have a huge impact on Tennessee's already suspect passing game and will make the Titans offense mostly one dimensional. I have utmost respect for Tennessee's defense, but I just don't think the Titan's offense will be up to the task without Scaife and Williams. As result of that fact, I am going with San Diego.
2) Jacksonville at Pittsburgh: This is a rematch of a game that was played in Week 15. The Jags won that game 29-22 in Pittsburgh, but don't be fooled by the score. The Jags dominated that game in every aspect (except the score) from start to finish. To me, this is the biggest lock of the first round. In the first game between these 2, Jacksonville had 25 first downs and 421 total yards of offense and the Jag defense sacked Big Ben 5 times. The Steelers only managed 13 first downs and 217 yards of total offense and never touched Garrard. Now, the Steelers enter this game without Willie Parker and may also be forced to play without an injured Troy Polamalu. I'm going with Jacksonville in a game that might not even be close.
3) Washington at Seattle: Finally, 2 teams that haven't seen each other in awhile. These 2 teams are virtually unknown at this point in the season. Seattle hasn't been faced with a playoff caliber team since they lost to Pittsburgh 21-0 back in Week 5. The Redskins played a much tougher schedule this year than the Seahawks, but managed to only win 2 games out of the 7 they faced against teams in this year's playoffs. But, the Redskins did win their last 4 games of the regular season with QB Todd Collins at the helm after starter Jason Campbell got injured. I think this game is a tossup. Todd Collins has played great in the last 4 games of the season, but let's not forget that Todd has been a backup for most of his career for a reason. My gut tells me to go with the hot team in Washington, but I'm going with Seattle because they are playing at home and they have more playoff experience.
4) Gaints at Buccaneers: This is another game that makes me scratch my head. Tampa went 2-3 against playoff teams this year and the Giants went 1-5 against playoff teams. I think this will be a battle of defensive strengths. The Giants are going to get after Jeff Garcia on every snap and the Bucs are gonna sit back in Cover 2 and wait for Eli to implode. The thing that stands out to me in this game is the fact that New York will be playing without TE Jeremy Shockey. Shockey's presence in the passing game against Tampa's cover 2 scheme will be sorely missed by Eli Manning. As a result, I think Eli will rely more heavily on his WR's and I think Eli will probably make a few bad throws. I think Tampa will win a close game because of turnovers.
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1) Titans at Chargers: This game is a tough one to call. In case you forgot, this a rematch of an overtime game that was played in Week 14. San Diego won that game in Tennessee 23-17. That game got very physical and as a result these teams don't like each other very much. The Titans enter the rematch this week missing TE Bo Scaife and WR Roydell Williams due to injuries. I think these injuries will have a huge impact on Tennessee's already suspect passing game and will make the Titans offense mostly one dimensional. I have utmost respect for Tennessee's defense, but I just don't think the Titan's offense will be up to the task without Scaife and Williams. As result of that fact, I am going with San Diego.
2) Jacksonville at Pittsburgh: This is a rematch of a game that was played in Week 15. The Jags won that game 29-22 in Pittsburgh, but don't be fooled by the score. The Jags dominated that game in every aspect (except the score) from start to finish. To me, this is the biggest lock of the first round. In the first game between these 2, Jacksonville had 25 first downs and 421 total yards of offense and the Jag defense sacked Big Ben 5 times. The Steelers only managed 13 first downs and 217 yards of total offense and never touched Garrard. Now, the Steelers enter this game without Willie Parker and may also be forced to play without an injured Troy Polamalu. I'm going with Jacksonville in a game that might not even be close.
3) Washington at Seattle: Finally, 2 teams that haven't seen each other in awhile. These 2 teams are virtually unknown at this point in the season. Seattle hasn't been faced with a playoff caliber team since they lost to Pittsburgh 21-0 back in Week 5. The Redskins played a much tougher schedule this year than the Seahawks, but managed to only win 2 games out of the 7 they faced against teams in this year's playoffs. But, the Redskins did win their last 4 games of the regular season with QB Todd Collins at the helm after starter Jason Campbell got injured. I think this game is a tossup. Todd Collins has played great in the last 4 games of the season, but let's not forget that Todd has been a backup for most of his career for a reason. My gut tells me to go with the hot team in Washington, but I'm going with Seattle because they are playing at home and they have more playoff experience.
4) Gaints at Buccaneers: This is another game that makes me scratch my head. Tampa went 2-3 against playoff teams this year and the Giants went 1-5 against playoff teams. I think this will be a battle of defensive strengths. The Giants are going to get after Jeff Garcia on every snap and the Bucs are gonna sit back in Cover 2 and wait for Eli to implode. The thing that stands out to me in this game is the fact that New York will be playing without TE Jeremy Shockey. Shockey's presence in the passing game against Tampa's cover 2 scheme will be sorely missed by Eli Manning. As a result, I think Eli will rely more heavily on his WR's and I think Eli will probably make a few bad throws. I think Tampa will win a close game because of turnovers.
Chudzinski To Interview With Ravens
ESPN.com is reporting that Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski will interview for the Baltimore Ravens vacant head coaching position. Phil Savage confirmed yesterday that the Ravens have been granted permission to speak with Chudzinski.
The Ravens are also reportedly interested in speaking with Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, Indy's assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, Cowboys' assistant head coach Tony Sparano, Cowboys' offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, and Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. However, McDaniels has already announced that he will not pursuing any head coaching opportunities at this time.
The Ravens are also reportedly interested in speaking with Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, Indy's assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, Cowboys' assistant head coach Tony Sparano, Cowboys' offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, and Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. However, McDaniels has already announced that he will not pursuing any head coaching opportunities at this time.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
My Thoughts On The Browns For '08
I know the NFL season just ended a couple days ago, but I thought I would go ahead and give my early opinion of the Cleveland Browns for the 2008 season.
First of all, I'd like to say that I don't think there is any way the Browns will be able to win 10 games again next season. I'm not saying I think the Browns will get worse next year. I'm saying they have a bitch of a schedule in '08 and I think they will be lucky to win 8 games next season.
The good news for the Browns is that the Steelers have a tougher schedule than Cleveland.
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Here is a look at the teams on Cleveland's schedule for '08. Each opponent's '07 record is in parenthesis after their name. In addition to Cleveland's Divisional foes, the Browns also face every team in the AFC South and NFC East, along with the 2nd place team from the AFC West (Denver) and the 2nd place team from the AFC East (Buffalo):
Cleveland's Home Games: Houston (8-8), Indy (13-3), Dallas (13-3), Giants (10-6), Denver (7-9), Pittsburgh (10-6), Cincinnati (7-9), and Baltimore (5-11).
Cleveland's Away Games: Jacksonville (11-5), Tennessee (10-6), Philadelphia (8-8), Washington (9-7), Buffalo (7-9), Pittsburgh (10-6), Cincinnati (7-9), and Baltimore (5-11).
Those are the 16 games that Cleveland will play in '08. All that remains to be determined is the exact dates the Browns will face each of their opponents.
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OK, now that I have covered how difficult the Browns schedule is going to be next season I would like to move on to the next issue I see facing the Browns. The quarterback position.
I've been saying most of the season that I think the Browns should keep both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn for one more year. But, after looking at the Browns schedule for next season I think it might be wise for Phil Savage to at least listen to what other teams might be willing to offer for either Quinn or Anderson. The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Browns are in fact willing to listen to trade offers for Derek Anderson. The thing I find most interesting about the Plain Dealer's story is that there is no mention of the Browns possibly trading Brady Quinn. Does that mean the Browns have already made up their mind who the long term quarterback in Cleveland will be? If so, I wonder what information they are basing their decision on?
You would think that a team that might be considering trading their starting quarterback in the offseason would have at least given their untested backup QB a few meaningful snaps during the regular season. But, the Browns didn't do any such thing. Even in the Browns' last game of the season against San Francisco, which was a completely meaningless game, coach Romeo Crennel stuck with Derek Anderson throughout. Quinn did actually get to see some action on one drive late in the 2nd quarter of the 49er game when Anderson got hurt and had to leave the game, but Crennel put Anderson right back in to start the 2nd half. Quinn finished the game 3 for 8 and led the Browns to a field goal. Edwards and Winslow both dropped Quinn passes in the end zone on that drive that should have been caught for a touchdown. All in all, I thought Quinn looked pretty decent on his only drive of the entire NFL season. That's right, that is the only action Brady Quinn saw all season.
Wouldn't you think the Browns would want to see how Brady Quinn performed in actual games before they even entertained thoughts of trading away Derek Anderson?
I'm not defending Derek Anderson. I think DA may be the most overrated quarterback in the NFL. Sure, Derek threw 29 TD passes this year, but he also threw 19 interceptions and only completed 56.5% of his passes. And any knowledgeable Cleveland fan will tell you that DA always threw his INTs at the worst possible time. But, at least DA is a known quantity. And all things considered, I think Derek did a pretty decent job in his first season as a starter in the NFL.
Now, Cleveland finds themselves in a difficult situation. They are without a 1st round draft pick this year, they have a defense that needs a lot help, and they have a schedule next season that will make it difficult for either of their quarterbacks to achieve the kind of success that Derek Anderson achieved this year. So, if they decide to keep Anderson as the starter there is a good chance that he will suffer a sophomore slump and his trade value will drop. If they bench Anderson and decide to go with Quinn, they will be entering the season with an unproven starting quarterback who will probably struggle against a much tougher schedule than the one Anderson faced this season.
I'm sorry, but I think if the Browns don't trade one of these guys this offseason they will be facing the mother of all quarterback controversies next year. And, if they decide to keep both of these guys for one more year and either of them looks bad next year, the Browns will lose the ability to get something of value in a trade for the loser of their quarterback controversy.
So, if Cleveland is even thinking about trading either one of these guys then they better do it now. I know it will be a tough decision, but that is the kind of decision that Crennel and Savage get paid the proverbial "big bucks" to make.
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Next, the Browns need to find a way to resign Jamal Lewis or find a decent replacement for him. Jamal is 29 years old and probably doesn't have a lot of miles left on his engine, but there is no doubt that he was an integral part of the Browns' success this year. Lewis put up over 1300 yards rushing this year, averaged 4.4 yards per carry, had 30 receptions, and scored 11 touchdowns. That kind of production is hard to replace.
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The Browns need to talk Joe Jurevicius into returning for at least one more year. All indications are that Joe will return next year, but he has mentioned the possibility of hanging up his cleats. Joe was a nice 3rd option this year with 50 receptions and his productivity would be sorely missed next year if he chooses to retire.
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Cleveland also needs to try and do something to get a first round draft pick this year. Their defense needs a lot of help and they need to move up in the draft where they can get somebody that will make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball. There are some Free Agents available in this year's market, but I think the high impact players will probably get the franchise tags from their respective teams. So, Cleveland's best bet will probably be to try and get better in the draft. I think Cleveland's most desperate need for next year is on the defensive line, and there are some quality defensive lineman who should still be available in the middle of this year's first round. You can check out some of this year's defensive line prospects here.
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So what do I think will happen in Cleveland?
I think the Browns will resign Jamal Lewis and talk Jurevicius into at least one more year. Then, I think the Browns will try to sign and trade Derek Anderson for draft picks. The only question being to which team they try to trade DA, and what kind of draft picks they ask for in return. I think the Browns will probably try to get a 1st and 3rd round pick for Anderson. I'm just not sure which team they will try to trade him to. I think the most obvious teams that will show interest in DA would be the Vikings, Bears, Falcons, Dolphins, 49ers, Jets, Ravens, and Chiefs.
All of those teams except the Bears and Falcons have a young quarterback on their roster who has shown some promise. The Vikings have Tarvaris Jackson, the Dolphins have John Beck, the 49ers have Alex Smith, the Jets have Kellen Clemens, the Ravens have Troy Smith, and the Chiefs have Brody Croyle. I think the argument can easily be made that DA is a better quarterback than all of those guys. But, all those teams have young QBs with potential on their roster and probably won't be willing to pay the high price for DA. But, you never know.
I don't think Bill Parcells in Miami will be willing to give up the first overall pick for Anderson, so I don't think Miami will be in the running at all.
That leaves the Bears and the Falcons. I think there is a pretty good chance the Bears and Falcons will both probably draft a quarterback (Matt Ryan from BC or Andre Woodson from Kentucky). But, I think the Bears are closer to being a playoff team than the Falcons and might consider trading for a QB instead of drafting and developing one. So, if any team is willing to pay the price that Cleveland will be asking for DA, I think it will be the Bears. Unless, of course, the Bears somehow manage to acquire Donovan McNabb. Then, all bets are off.
First of all, I'd like to say that I don't think there is any way the Browns will be able to win 10 games again next season. I'm not saying I think the Browns will get worse next year. I'm saying they have a bitch of a schedule in '08 and I think they will be lucky to win 8 games next season.
The good news for the Browns is that the Steelers have a tougher schedule than Cleveland.
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Here is a look at the teams on Cleveland's schedule for '08. Each opponent's '07 record is in parenthesis after their name. In addition to Cleveland's Divisional foes, the Browns also face every team in the AFC South and NFC East, along with the 2nd place team from the AFC West (Denver) and the 2nd place team from the AFC East (Buffalo):
Cleveland's Home Games: Houston (8-8), Indy (13-3), Dallas (13-3), Giants (10-6), Denver (7-9), Pittsburgh (10-6), Cincinnati (7-9), and Baltimore (5-11).
Cleveland's Away Games: Jacksonville (11-5), Tennessee (10-6), Philadelphia (8-8), Washington (9-7), Buffalo (7-9), Pittsburgh (10-6), Cincinnati (7-9), and Baltimore (5-11).
Those are the 16 games that Cleveland will play in '08. All that remains to be determined is the exact dates the Browns will face each of their opponents.
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OK, now that I have covered how difficult the Browns schedule is going to be next season I would like to move on to the next issue I see facing the Browns. The quarterback position.
I've been saying most of the season that I think the Browns should keep both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn for one more year. But, after looking at the Browns schedule for next season I think it might be wise for Phil Savage to at least listen to what other teams might be willing to offer for either Quinn or Anderson. The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Browns are in fact willing to listen to trade offers for Derek Anderson. The thing I find most interesting about the Plain Dealer's story is that there is no mention of the Browns possibly trading Brady Quinn. Does that mean the Browns have already made up their mind who the long term quarterback in Cleveland will be? If so, I wonder what information they are basing their decision on?
You would think that a team that might be considering trading their starting quarterback in the offseason would have at least given their untested backup QB a few meaningful snaps during the regular season. But, the Browns didn't do any such thing. Even in the Browns' last game of the season against San Francisco, which was a completely meaningless game, coach Romeo Crennel stuck with Derek Anderson throughout. Quinn did actually get to see some action on one drive late in the 2nd quarter of the 49er game when Anderson got hurt and had to leave the game, but Crennel put Anderson right back in to start the 2nd half. Quinn finished the game 3 for 8 and led the Browns to a field goal. Edwards and Winslow both dropped Quinn passes in the end zone on that drive that should have been caught for a touchdown. All in all, I thought Quinn looked pretty decent on his only drive of the entire NFL season. That's right, that is the only action Brady Quinn saw all season.
Wouldn't you think the Browns would want to see how Brady Quinn performed in actual games before they even entertained thoughts of trading away Derek Anderson?
I'm not defending Derek Anderson. I think DA may be the most overrated quarterback in the NFL. Sure, Derek threw 29 TD passes this year, but he also threw 19 interceptions and only completed 56.5% of his passes. And any knowledgeable Cleveland fan will tell you that DA always threw his INTs at the worst possible time. But, at least DA is a known quantity. And all things considered, I think Derek did a pretty decent job in his first season as a starter in the NFL.
Now, Cleveland finds themselves in a difficult situation. They are without a 1st round draft pick this year, they have a defense that needs a lot help, and they have a schedule next season that will make it difficult for either of their quarterbacks to achieve the kind of success that Derek Anderson achieved this year. So, if they decide to keep Anderson as the starter there is a good chance that he will suffer a sophomore slump and his trade value will drop. If they bench Anderson and decide to go with Quinn, they will be entering the season with an unproven starting quarterback who will probably struggle against a much tougher schedule than the one Anderson faced this season.
I'm sorry, but I think if the Browns don't trade one of these guys this offseason they will be facing the mother of all quarterback controversies next year. And, if they decide to keep both of these guys for one more year and either of them looks bad next year, the Browns will lose the ability to get something of value in a trade for the loser of their quarterback controversy.
So, if Cleveland is even thinking about trading either one of these guys then they better do it now. I know it will be a tough decision, but that is the kind of decision that Crennel and Savage get paid the proverbial "big bucks" to make.
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Next, the Browns need to find a way to resign Jamal Lewis or find a decent replacement for him. Jamal is 29 years old and probably doesn't have a lot of miles left on his engine, but there is no doubt that he was an integral part of the Browns' success this year. Lewis put up over 1300 yards rushing this year, averaged 4.4 yards per carry, had 30 receptions, and scored 11 touchdowns. That kind of production is hard to replace.
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The Browns need to talk Joe Jurevicius into returning for at least one more year. All indications are that Joe will return next year, but he has mentioned the possibility of hanging up his cleats. Joe was a nice 3rd option this year with 50 receptions and his productivity would be sorely missed next year if he chooses to retire.
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Cleveland also needs to try and do something to get a first round draft pick this year. Their defense needs a lot of help and they need to move up in the draft where they can get somebody that will make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball. There are some Free Agents available in this year's market, but I think the high impact players will probably get the franchise tags from their respective teams. So, Cleveland's best bet will probably be to try and get better in the draft. I think Cleveland's most desperate need for next year is on the defensive line, and there are some quality defensive lineman who should still be available in the middle of this year's first round. You can check out some of this year's defensive line prospects here.
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So what do I think will happen in Cleveland?
I think the Browns will resign Jamal Lewis and talk Jurevicius into at least one more year. Then, I think the Browns will try to sign and trade Derek Anderson for draft picks. The only question being to which team they try to trade DA, and what kind of draft picks they ask for in return. I think the Browns will probably try to get a 1st and 3rd round pick for Anderson. I'm just not sure which team they will try to trade him to. I think the most obvious teams that will show interest in DA would be the Vikings, Bears, Falcons, Dolphins, 49ers, Jets, Ravens, and Chiefs.
All of those teams except the Bears and Falcons have a young quarterback on their roster who has shown some promise. The Vikings have Tarvaris Jackson, the Dolphins have John Beck, the 49ers have Alex Smith, the Jets have Kellen Clemens, the Ravens have Troy Smith, and the Chiefs have Brody Croyle. I think the argument can easily be made that DA is a better quarterback than all of those guys. But, all those teams have young QBs with potential on their roster and probably won't be willing to pay the high price for DA. But, you never know.
I don't think Bill Parcells in Miami will be willing to give up the first overall pick for Anderson, so I don't think Miami will be in the running at all.
That leaves the Bears and the Falcons. I think there is a pretty good chance the Bears and Falcons will both probably draft a quarterback (Matt Ryan from BC or Andre Woodson from Kentucky). But, I think the Bears are closer to being a playoff team than the Falcons and might consider trading for a QB instead of drafting and developing one. So, if any team is willing to pay the price that Cleveland will be asking for DA, I think it will be the Bears. Unless, of course, the Bears somehow manage to acquire Donovan McNabb. Then, all bets are off.
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