Sunday, March 9, 2014
Championship Week
Attention everyone! Sports Gab Champ Week is now available! Just hit the 'NCAA Men's Basketball' heading to check out my predictions, articles, explanations, and more!
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Conflict's Antidote: The Beauty of Sport
As the 23rd Winter Olympics came to a close, as a single tear ran down the face of that creepy bear, we too cried. We, the people of the world, united for 2 short weeks, collectively mourned the ending of a beautiful reunion, a single tear reducing us back to independent nations: nations conflicting, nations warring, nations at peace. But for 2 glorious weeks, our troubled, conflicted nations of the world united and rejoiced together, celebrating who else but our most prized athletes. The true beauty of the Olympics celebrates the true beauty of sport: its uncanny ability to bring together.
Jeremy Abbott is a four-time US national figure skating champion, and yet when the most pressure is on, during the Olympics, he has trouble delivering. If the name doesn't ring a bell, surely the memory of the American skater crashing into the wall on a quad jump, and stayed down for about 20 seconds. Abbott may have lost the competition with his unfortunate fall, but he surely won over Americans when, miraculously, he got up. Behind in his program, battered and bruised, and surely in awful amounts of pain, Abbott made the decision to get up and keep skating. Beautifully, I might add. Tell me that didn't give you chills. I won't believe you. No matter what your problems were at that particular moment, we as Americans were compelled to this man we'd known for all of 1 minute, for the drive he exhibited that made us proud to live in the U-S-of-A. Nationally, sports bring us such immense joy. Whether it was Charlie White and Meryl Davis getting the win, the US sweep in men's ski slope style, or Mikaela Shiffrin crying at the top of the podium, we were proud to call ourselves Americans. Sports bring the ultimate pride and joy.
Maybe the Olympics exist as a platform for what we aspire to be, as a global community. Sure, competition is the immediate backdrop, but doesn't that sort of represent the world? We are all competing with each other for the most revenue, power, etc., but if you delve deeper, we all have deep ties and bonds interconnecting. The Olympics is a representation of this. We are all competing to be the best, but we still gather to celebrate our collective prowess and make friends. Athletes from all over the globe, whatever their countries' conflicts may be, help each other out. This is what we strive for our world to be.
Sports are able to bring our world together in a way that no else can, and this is the beauty of it. Our most prized athletes put everything on the line for the pride and joy of not just their respective countries' citizens, but the world. Whatever conflict and strife occurs in the world, sports in the Olympics draws us closer. For 2 weeks, we are able to break the lines between our countries, and gather to collectively celebrate the athlete, in all its beauty. Countries still have troubles, concerns, wars even, but the Olympics disregards that. As the Olympic flame stays lit, so too does hope, a light guiding us, the nations of the world, towards the sweet salvation of global cooperation. Hope abounds. Pride flows. Sports triumph.
Jeremy Abbott is a four-time US national figure skating champion, and yet when the most pressure is on, during the Olympics, he has trouble delivering. If the name doesn't ring a bell, surely the memory of the American skater crashing into the wall on a quad jump, and stayed down for about 20 seconds. Abbott may have lost the competition with his unfortunate fall, but he surely won over Americans when, miraculously, he got up. Behind in his program, battered and bruised, and surely in awful amounts of pain, Abbott made the decision to get up and keep skating. Beautifully, I might add. Tell me that didn't give you chills. I won't believe you. No matter what your problems were at that particular moment, we as Americans were compelled to this man we'd known for all of 1 minute, for the drive he exhibited that made us proud to live in the U-S-of-A. Nationally, sports bring us such immense joy. Whether it was Charlie White and Meryl Davis getting the win, the US sweep in men's ski slope style, or Mikaela Shiffrin crying at the top of the podium, we were proud to call ourselves Americans. Sports bring the ultimate pride and joy.
Maybe the Olympics exist as a platform for what we aspire to be, as a global community. Sure, competition is the immediate backdrop, but doesn't that sort of represent the world? We are all competing with each other for the most revenue, power, etc., but if you delve deeper, we all have deep ties and bonds interconnecting. The Olympics is a representation of this. We are all competing to be the best, but we still gather to celebrate our collective prowess and make friends. Athletes from all over the globe, whatever their countries' conflicts may be, help each other out. This is what we strive for our world to be.
Sports are able to bring our world together in a way that no else can, and this is the beauty of it. Our most prized athletes put everything on the line for the pride and joy of not just their respective countries' citizens, but the world. Whatever conflict and strife occurs in the world, sports in the Olympics draws us closer. For 2 weeks, we are able to break the lines between our countries, and gather to collectively celebrate the athlete, in all its beauty. Countries still have troubles, concerns, wars even, but the Olympics disregards that. As the Olympic flame stays lit, so too does hope, a light guiding us, the nations of the world, towards the sweet salvation of global cooperation. Hope abounds. Pride flows. Sports triumph.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Was Richard Sherman so wrong?
My first reaction to Richard Sherman's expletive-filled, live-televised rant? I doubled over laughing. Unlike most of America, instead of gaping in outrage, taking offense, or freaking out, I was rolling on the ground in uncontrollable laughter. It was funny! Even though I, and I suspect most teenagers, were laughing, I knew that American society might not perceive it as well.
Basically, the game ended after a TD pass intended for Michael Crabtree was batted by Sherman into the hands of waiting linebacker Malcolm Smith. Sherman proceeded to make the choke sign at Crabtree (for which he was penalized, though it didn't matter of course), and in his post-game interview with Erin Andrews, categorized himself as the best corner in the league, trashed Crabtree, and used a decent amount of expletives in the process. After, Twitter erupted-everyone who was anyone seemed to have an opinion. When Crabtree himself tweeted, criticizing Sherman, Sherman responded with "A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of a sheep". The majority of people shamed him for having no discipline and/or sportsmanship, while a couple praised his passion. Whatever the stance, one thing was certain: everyone knew about Richard Sherman.
Had Sherman not made these comments, what would have been thought of his game-clinching play? No doubt it would have been praised, but perhaps only football experts would understand Sherman's impact, while the majority of people would focus on the man who made the interception, or perhaps Kaepernick's throw. By drawing so much attention to himself, Sherman's play was recognized for what it was. Sherman did not just talk the talk, he walked the walk. Had Sherman not made the play, and still made the comments, I would have a problem. Fortunately, that's not the case. Sherman's getting plenty of attention for his fantastic play, that likely would have been absent in the event of his not commenting.
Richard Sherman is undoubtedly one of the better cornerbacks in the league, as most know. By declaring himself the best, obviously, he has opened himself to criticism. But would a dialogue on his being the best even exist had he not called himself out? Discussion of his prominence would be nowhere near as wide-open as it is now: sure his play would warrant some consideration, but likely, there would not have been discussion as to his being the best CB in the league. Similar to when Eli Manning and Joe Flacco called themselves elite, the conversation had a platform with which to be discussed on. Had any of these men, Sherman included, not made the comments they did, there likely would not be a conversation. Interestingly enough, the times in which these quarterbacks called themselves elite was the offseason before each man won the Super Bowl. Coincidence? Maybe, but perhaps the existence of a discussion on each man's eliteness propelled them to win it all.
Establishing the above, and accepting the fact that Sherman backed up his words with stellar play, can we excuse his alleged poor sportsmanship and expletive use, on live television? Maybe not, but the passion Sherman exhibited cannot be denied. Put yourself in Sherman's shoes-you've just made the game-winning play against a receiver who's considered to be one of the best, and now your team is going to the Super Bowl, the most coveted spot in perhaps all of sports, but most definitely in football, your line of work. I know I would be so charged up, I'd probably curse Crabtree out myself, maybe even on live TV. Sherman was so hyped up, I'm surprised he didn't call himself the best linebacker, hell, the best quarterback, in the league as well. The palpable passion Sherman exuded may have been a bit too extravagant, considering the circumstances, but can we really deny him the chance to celebrate? Critics of Sherman argue that maybe he was passionate, but on account of the impact his words have, due to the nature of where he works and its large amounts of viewers, he should know better than to express his passion in such an 'inappropriate' way, where he knew a large audience would receive it. These people have a point, but when one is so pumped up and passionate, is it reasonable to expect him to contain himself?
Maybe the blame falls on American society itself. We are so afraid of our words or actions being taken the wrong way, being judged, that we have evolved into a hyper-politically correct society. In a country where people have to constantly watch what they say, it's hard. We all slip up. Why should a professional athlete be any different? We expect those with impact to set a good example, and that good example means conforming to a society that stems from intense and necessary neutrality. Maybe we expect too much, especially in the face of passion. What Sherman said was just an extension of the immense fervor and enthusiasm he felt. Isn't that why we love sports? Watching people lay it all on the line for the good of their team, and mirroring their passion with our own? Watching football is about gritting your teeth, tensing up, and watching behind clenched fingers. Loving football is about the overflowing excitement and joy of seeing the people you back come out on top. Sherman? He was just loving football, the reason we pay attention to people like Sherman in the first place: because we love it.
At the end of the day, was Sherman so wrong? If he wants to enjoy his game-saving play, so be it. Who are we to let our politically correct society keep him from it? We are criticizing a man who graduated from Stanford with a degree in communication, is currently working on his master's, writes a column for Sports Illustrated, and in football circles is considered to be one of the most intelligent guys around. He is not stupid, or naive. If Sherman could go back and choose to change his actions, would he? He is currently the most-talked about athlete (if not person, thanks to Justin Bieber) in the nation, has opened a dialogue on his being the best cornerback in the league, and is now playing in the Super Bowl. I know I wouldn't. So maybe, just maybe, he's not so bad after all.
Basically, the game ended after a TD pass intended for Michael Crabtree was batted by Sherman into the hands of waiting linebacker Malcolm Smith. Sherman proceeded to make the choke sign at Crabtree (for which he was penalized, though it didn't matter of course), and in his post-game interview with Erin Andrews, categorized himself as the best corner in the league, trashed Crabtree, and used a decent amount of expletives in the process. After, Twitter erupted-everyone who was anyone seemed to have an opinion. When Crabtree himself tweeted, criticizing Sherman, Sherman responded with "A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of a sheep". The majority of people shamed him for having no discipline and/or sportsmanship, while a couple praised his passion. Whatever the stance, one thing was certain: everyone knew about Richard Sherman.
Had Sherman not made these comments, what would have been thought of his game-clinching play? No doubt it would have been praised, but perhaps only football experts would understand Sherman's impact, while the majority of people would focus on the man who made the interception, or perhaps Kaepernick's throw. By drawing so much attention to himself, Sherman's play was recognized for what it was. Sherman did not just talk the talk, he walked the walk. Had Sherman not made the play, and still made the comments, I would have a problem. Fortunately, that's not the case. Sherman's getting plenty of attention for his fantastic play, that likely would have been absent in the event of his not commenting.
Richard Sherman is undoubtedly one of the better cornerbacks in the league, as most know. By declaring himself the best, obviously, he has opened himself to criticism. But would a dialogue on his being the best even exist had he not called himself out? Discussion of his prominence would be nowhere near as wide-open as it is now: sure his play would warrant some consideration, but likely, there would not have been discussion as to his being the best CB in the league. Similar to when Eli Manning and Joe Flacco called themselves elite, the conversation had a platform with which to be discussed on. Had any of these men, Sherman included, not made the comments they did, there likely would not be a conversation. Interestingly enough, the times in which these quarterbacks called themselves elite was the offseason before each man won the Super Bowl. Coincidence? Maybe, but perhaps the existence of a discussion on each man's eliteness propelled them to win it all.
Establishing the above, and accepting the fact that Sherman backed up his words with stellar play, can we excuse his alleged poor sportsmanship and expletive use, on live television? Maybe not, but the passion Sherman exhibited cannot be denied. Put yourself in Sherman's shoes-you've just made the game-winning play against a receiver who's considered to be one of the best, and now your team is going to the Super Bowl, the most coveted spot in perhaps all of sports, but most definitely in football, your line of work. I know I would be so charged up, I'd probably curse Crabtree out myself, maybe even on live TV. Sherman was so hyped up, I'm surprised he didn't call himself the best linebacker, hell, the best quarterback, in the league as well. The palpable passion Sherman exuded may have been a bit too extravagant, considering the circumstances, but can we really deny him the chance to celebrate? Critics of Sherman argue that maybe he was passionate, but on account of the impact his words have, due to the nature of where he works and its large amounts of viewers, he should know better than to express his passion in such an 'inappropriate' way, where he knew a large audience would receive it. These people have a point, but when one is so pumped up and passionate, is it reasonable to expect him to contain himself?
Maybe the blame falls on American society itself. We are so afraid of our words or actions being taken the wrong way, being judged, that we have evolved into a hyper-politically correct society. In a country where people have to constantly watch what they say, it's hard. We all slip up. Why should a professional athlete be any different? We expect those with impact to set a good example, and that good example means conforming to a society that stems from intense and necessary neutrality. Maybe we expect too much, especially in the face of passion. What Sherman said was just an extension of the immense fervor and enthusiasm he felt. Isn't that why we love sports? Watching people lay it all on the line for the good of their team, and mirroring their passion with our own? Watching football is about gritting your teeth, tensing up, and watching behind clenched fingers. Loving football is about the overflowing excitement and joy of seeing the people you back come out on top. Sherman? He was just loving football, the reason we pay attention to people like Sherman in the first place: because we love it.
At the end of the day, was Sherman so wrong? If he wants to enjoy his game-saving play, so be it. Who are we to let our politically correct society keep him from it? We are criticizing a man who graduated from Stanford with a degree in communication, is currently working on his master's, writes a column for Sports Illustrated, and in football circles is considered to be one of the most intelligent guys around. He is not stupid, or naive. If Sherman could go back and choose to change his actions, would he? He is currently the most-talked about athlete (if not person, thanks to Justin Bieber) in the nation, has opened a dialogue on his being the best cornerback in the league, and is now playing in the Super Bowl. I know I wouldn't. So maybe, just maybe, he's not so bad after all.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Wild Card Weekend Picks + Who's the Team of Destiny?
As spreads become set, people start placing bets, and people talk about the fact that the Super Bowl will be in New York as if we haven't heard from the 2+ years of coverage, one prevailing message shines through: We're all screwed. The NFL playoffs have been such a crapshoot recently that no matter how much you know, we're all in the same boat. Since 2006, only two teams that had first-round byes won the Lombardi, there's been a Round 2 upset where the spread favored the loser by at least 8.5 seven times out of the last eight years, and Mark Sanchez won 4 playoff games. Yes, you read that right. FOUR PLAYOFF GAMES! It's not often disputed that Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees are the current best QBs. Yet come January, those men are a combined 19-16, while Mark "Butt Fumble" Sanchez, Joe "I Get Paid by the Incompletion" Flacco, and Eli "Interception Record" Manning are a combined 21-9.
What I'm trying to say here is that the playoffs are a complete crapshoot. What I've found is that each year there's a 'Team of Destiny', a team that people have doubts about. The 2012 Ravens, 2011 Giants, 2010 Packers, 2009 Cardinals, 2008 Jets, 2007 Giants: they were undervalued and went far. Here's a case for why each one of the teams playing this weekend is the coveted 'Destiny Squad'.
Packers:
The Packers have already got some green and yellow magic going with that 4th and 8 last week. This is a team that has won games with Scott Tolzien at QB. Who's Scott Tolzien, you say? My point exactly Clearly they've already got some luck, and they can't even sell out the game, meaning people are betting against them (or nobody wants to sit around in below-zero weather). Already having luck + non-believers? This team is definitely a contender.
Bengals:
Everyone and their uncle has been talking about how you can't trust Andy Dalton, so the undervalued aspect is already in place. They haven't won a playoff game since 1990-if they do win they might as well go all the way to the Super Bowl.
Chargers:
They've got absolutely no momentum after barely beating out the Chiefs' backups (2012 Ravens, anyone?), and are lucky to even be in the playoffs anyway. Nobody believes in these guys, always a plus when you want to be the Team of Destiny. Also, there's the Redskins. The Redskins have beat the Super Bowl winner the past 3 years, and the Bolts are the only team they've beat in the playoffs this year. There's definitely some hope here.
49ers:
Everyone's been talking about Kaepernick's inconsistency, so they've already got doubters. They were kept from winning the division by a bad referee call involving Ahmad Brooks and Drew Brees, so they've got the revenge factor going for them. Also, they're incredibly talented.
Chiefs:
They've gone 3-5 the last 8 games, have lost to every playoff contender they've played, and have perennial playoff losers Alex Smith and Andy Reid. Recipe for disaster? Sure looks like it, but this kind of non-moentum and bad stats are usually present in the Team of Destiny.
Eagles:
No one disbelieves in the Eagles, per say, but very few people believe they're going far. I like to call this half-belief, and it was present in the 2010 Packers. Follow these guys.
Saints:
All anyone can talk about is Drew Brees' shabby record in away games, let alone his record in cold weather. Disbelief? Present! Destiny? Potential!
Colts:
Everyone's quick to mention that while the Colts offense has rejuvenated recently, it's been against the likes of the Texans and Jaguars. Like the Eagles, people sort of half-believe in them, which gives them destiny potential.
MY PREDICTIONS:
Packers: 20 49ers: 16
The Packers are made for cold-weather, so this will be tough for a team coming from San Francisco. Rejuvenated by a 95-yard drive with 1:30 remaining, the Packers D holds on for the win against the men in red and gold.
Chiefs: 39 Colts: 31
I just don't have enough faith in an up-and-down Colts team to knock off a Chiefs team that while questionable, had one of the best records in the league. With the Colts down and driving, Trent Richardson will fumble in the red zone with under a minute left, and Tamba Hali will return it for a score.
Saints: 27 Eagles: 22
Drew Brees will shock everyone with a great game, and Nick Foles and Chip Kelly's inexperience will derail them. Rookie coaches rarely make it far. The Saints defense will get a big stop on 3rd down with around 6 minutes left, and the Saints will take all of it off the clock for the win.
Chargers: 27 Bengals: 13
The Bengals can't overcome their playoff losing habits with a terrible game by Dalton, and the suspect Chargers D forces too many 3-and-outs.
Sound off in the comments with your thoughts! Happy football watching!
What I'm trying to say here is that the playoffs are a complete crapshoot. What I've found is that each year there's a 'Team of Destiny', a team that people have doubts about. The 2012 Ravens, 2011 Giants, 2010 Packers, 2009 Cardinals, 2008 Jets, 2007 Giants: they were undervalued and went far. Here's a case for why each one of the teams playing this weekend is the coveted 'Destiny Squad'.
Packers:
The Packers have already got some green and yellow magic going with that 4th and 8 last week. This is a team that has won games with Scott Tolzien at QB. Who's Scott Tolzien, you say? My point exactly Clearly they've already got some luck, and they can't even sell out the game, meaning people are betting against them (or nobody wants to sit around in below-zero weather). Already having luck + non-believers? This team is definitely a contender.
Bengals:
Everyone and their uncle has been talking about how you can't trust Andy Dalton, so the undervalued aspect is already in place. They haven't won a playoff game since 1990-if they do win they might as well go all the way to the Super Bowl.
Chargers:
They've got absolutely no momentum after barely beating out the Chiefs' backups (2012 Ravens, anyone?), and are lucky to even be in the playoffs anyway. Nobody believes in these guys, always a plus when you want to be the Team of Destiny. Also, there's the Redskins. The Redskins have beat the Super Bowl winner the past 3 years, and the Bolts are the only team they've beat in the playoffs this year. There's definitely some hope here.
49ers:
Everyone's been talking about Kaepernick's inconsistency, so they've already got doubters. They were kept from winning the division by a bad referee call involving Ahmad Brooks and Drew Brees, so they've got the revenge factor going for them. Also, they're incredibly talented.
Chiefs:
They've gone 3-5 the last 8 games, have lost to every playoff contender they've played, and have perennial playoff losers Alex Smith and Andy Reid. Recipe for disaster? Sure looks like it, but this kind of non-moentum and bad stats are usually present in the Team of Destiny.
Eagles:
No one disbelieves in the Eagles, per say, but very few people believe they're going far. I like to call this half-belief, and it was present in the 2010 Packers. Follow these guys.
Saints:
All anyone can talk about is Drew Brees' shabby record in away games, let alone his record in cold weather. Disbelief? Present! Destiny? Potential!
Colts:
Everyone's quick to mention that while the Colts offense has rejuvenated recently, it's been against the likes of the Texans and Jaguars. Like the Eagles, people sort of half-believe in them, which gives them destiny potential.
MY PREDICTIONS:
Packers: 20 49ers: 16
The Packers are made for cold-weather, so this will be tough for a team coming from San Francisco. Rejuvenated by a 95-yard drive with 1:30 remaining, the Packers D holds on for the win against the men in red and gold.
Chiefs: 39 Colts: 31
I just don't have enough faith in an up-and-down Colts team to knock off a Chiefs team that while questionable, had one of the best records in the league. With the Colts down and driving, Trent Richardson will fumble in the red zone with under a minute left, and Tamba Hali will return it for a score.
Saints: 27 Eagles: 22
Drew Brees will shock everyone with a great game, and Nick Foles and Chip Kelly's inexperience will derail them. Rookie coaches rarely make it far. The Saints defense will get a big stop on 3rd down with around 6 minutes left, and the Saints will take all of it off the clock for the win.
Chargers: 27 Bengals: 13
The Bengals can't overcome their playoff losing habits with a terrible game by Dalton, and the suspect Chargers D forces too many 3-and-outs.
Sound off in the comments with your thoughts! Happy football watching!
Friday, December 13, 2013
D-Rose Knee-ver Catches a Break
When the NBA season started on
October 29th, fans were very eager for the first game, which
featured the Chicago Bulls vs. the Miami Heat. Why? Derrick Rose, the 2011 NBA
MVP and 3-time NBA all-star, was playing his first game since a season-ending
ACL tear during Game 1 of the first round of that year’s playoffs. ACL tears
are serious injuries, particularly for basketball players. Before a modern
surgery tactic was formulated for dealing with these painful injuries, they
were career ending. While football player Adrian Peterson and Robert Griffin III
came back from ACL tears roughly 9 months after the injury, Rose chose to sit
out a whole year and a half of basketball. In basketball, players are
constantly jumping and making quick cuts across the court, placing more stress
on the knee than football and other sports. Rose wanted to take the time for
his knee to completely heal, and even get better at basketball, instead of
rushing back and risking further injury. Unfortunately for Rose, and Bulls
fans, all the extra prep couldn’t prevent what happened on November 22nd
against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Without
Rose, the Bulls were still a good team. In the ’12-’13 season they earned a
spot in the playoffs, and had a key win over the Miami Heat to break their win
streak of 20+ games. Add Derrick Rose back into the mix? The Bulls had the
potential to go very far this year, and Rose seemed like his old self in just
the 2nd game this year, sinking a floater as time expired to beat
the New York Knicks, 82-81. But Rose just couldn’t seem to catch a break on
that November night. Once again, Rose suffered a knee injury, this time on his
right knee. The next morning, it was confirmed that Rose torn the meniscus in
his right knee, and that he would be out for the remainder of the season.
Rose
underwent successful surgery in late November, and is recovering well,
physically. Emotionally? "I
know how much work he has put into his rehab and the type of person and player
he is," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "So I feel for him because of all
the things that he does and what they mean to our team."
For the
Bulls management, this is a nightmare. The front office decided to keep the
team, which included talented (and expensive) players Joakim Noah, Carlos
Boozer, and Luol Deng, intact going into this season, knowing Rose would be
back and that they had a serious shot at the championship, despite some
monetary concerns. With Deng set to become an unrestricted free agent next
year, and Boozer likely to pursue other options as well, it’s nearly impossible
that Rose will have the same level of talent surrounding him when he comes back
from his most recent injury, barring any setbacks.
While
the situation looks grim, it’s not completely desolate. “He’s still going to be Derrick,” said
Deng. “He still is going to work hard and come back even better.”
Monday, November 11, 2013
What's Up with the Falcons?
At first they were excusable: a last-second comeback by Drew Brees, a failed comeback against the Patriots, a 4-point lead to a red-hot Dolphins team. They were easily understandable losses by a team that had made the NFC Championship game a year ago. We patiently waited for the Falcons to get back on track, to become the Falcons we've known since Matt Ryan arrived, and the Falcons that took off when Julio Jones was acquired. We're still waiting. For a team that has barely changed since last year, what happened?
A quick examination of the Falcons' season will provide an easy scapegoat: injuries. Julio Jones suffered a season-ending foot injury, Roddy White and Steven Jackson both missed significant amounts of time, Left Tackle Sam Baker has been out since early in the year, and key defensive players like Sean Weatherspoon and Asante Samuel have been rotating through a carousel of injuries. Obviously, guys like Jones and White make Matt Ryan's job easier. With both of them out, he's lost his top receivers, and as a result, defenses can put more attention towards Tony Gonzalez, the other big threat. The Falcons offense worked so beautifully last year because teams could not afford to double team Jones, White, and Gonzalez, and at least one of them was usually open. With just Gonzo left, Ryan is being forced to throw to less competent receivers, which in part can explain the countless interceptions. The defensive nobodies that are being forced to play can explain the decrease in the defense's ability to shut teams down.
But let's not forget that Ryan was considered an elite QB last year. This year, his throws are off-time, he can't convert 3rd downs, he has exhibited poor decision making, especially when faced with pressure. Perhaps most puzzling is his inability to perform in the clutch. He earned the nickname 'Matty Ice' for being so cool under pressure. He has certainly had plenty of opportunities for game-winning drives this year, but they have all seemed to fizzle out. Matty Ice has turned to Matty Lukewarm, at best. Why? Currently, it looks like a severe case of the injury bug to his receivers has brought down his production. Right now, it seems that the receivers made Ryan, and without them, he is lost.
Their rush attack has been poor as well. Steven Jackson was supposed to bring a multifaceted attack to the already highly competent Falcons. Instead, when he's played, the team feels obliged to run him, and he just hasn't produced. When the Falcons are down, they have to turn to Ryan throwing insane amounts of passes.
While the Falcons rookies have played well on D, the overall missed tackles and blown coverages, along with an incapacity to generate a pass rush have give over well for opposing teams. While the Falcons defense wasn't elite last year, they were good enough. Without a strong offense to support them, they've been nonexistent.
Overall, the Falcons' inabilities, which started with injuries but have evolved into borderline incompetence, have locked them into a continuous cycle. With defenses no longer having to focus on 3 threats, Ryan has made poor decision and thrown lots of interceptions, which puts the defense on the field too much and leads to their problems with stopping any offenses. Factor in that they don't have the added dimension of a legitimate run game, and Ryan's loss of that magical ability during crunch time, and the Falcons are utterly lost, and deserving of their 2-7 record. There's still hope, but I wouldn't expect a turnaround, at least this year, for Falcons fans. They'll just have to be content with watching that Julio Jones commercial over and over.
A quick examination of the Falcons' season will provide an easy scapegoat: injuries. Julio Jones suffered a season-ending foot injury, Roddy White and Steven Jackson both missed significant amounts of time, Left Tackle Sam Baker has been out since early in the year, and key defensive players like Sean Weatherspoon and Asante Samuel have been rotating through a carousel of injuries. Obviously, guys like Jones and White make Matt Ryan's job easier. With both of them out, he's lost his top receivers, and as a result, defenses can put more attention towards Tony Gonzalez, the other big threat. The Falcons offense worked so beautifully last year because teams could not afford to double team Jones, White, and Gonzalez, and at least one of them was usually open. With just Gonzo left, Ryan is being forced to throw to less competent receivers, which in part can explain the countless interceptions. The defensive nobodies that are being forced to play can explain the decrease in the defense's ability to shut teams down.
But let's not forget that Ryan was considered an elite QB last year. This year, his throws are off-time, he can't convert 3rd downs, he has exhibited poor decision making, especially when faced with pressure. Perhaps most puzzling is his inability to perform in the clutch. He earned the nickname 'Matty Ice' for being so cool under pressure. He has certainly had plenty of opportunities for game-winning drives this year, but they have all seemed to fizzle out. Matty Ice has turned to Matty Lukewarm, at best. Why? Currently, it looks like a severe case of the injury bug to his receivers has brought down his production. Right now, it seems that the receivers made Ryan, and without them, he is lost.
Their rush attack has been poor as well. Steven Jackson was supposed to bring a multifaceted attack to the already highly competent Falcons. Instead, when he's played, the team feels obliged to run him, and he just hasn't produced. When the Falcons are down, they have to turn to Ryan throwing insane amounts of passes.
While the Falcons rookies have played well on D, the overall missed tackles and blown coverages, along with an incapacity to generate a pass rush have give over well for opposing teams. While the Falcons defense wasn't elite last year, they were good enough. Without a strong offense to support them, they've been nonexistent.
Overall, the Falcons' inabilities, which started with injuries but have evolved into borderline incompetence, have locked them into a continuous cycle. With defenses no longer having to focus on 3 threats, Ryan has made poor decision and thrown lots of interceptions, which puts the defense on the field too much and leads to their problems with stopping any offenses. Factor in that they don't have the added dimension of a legitimate run game, and Ryan's loss of that magical ability during crunch time, and the Falcons are utterly lost, and deserving of their 2-7 record. There's still hope, but I wouldn't expect a turnaround, at least this year, for Falcons fans. They'll just have to be content with watching that Julio Jones commercial over and over.
Monday, October 28, 2013
The Case for Michigan State
Something wasn't right last year. When that final buzzer sounded and Duke players started jumping up and down, something felt wrong. Yes, Michigan State had just been eliminated in the Sweet 16. Yes, they weren't going to play until next year. You knew it, but it just didn't feel that way. The whole game felt off; like, oh, we'll come back tomorrow. These aren't OUR Spartans, these are just some guys in green jerseys with the words MICHIGAN STATE across the front.
So when guys like Keith Appling, Gary Harris, and Adreian Payne didn't suit up the next day, you can imagine how they felt. Hungry.....to win. That's why I think Michigan State will be cutting down the nets this year.
Michigan State has arguably the best backcourt in the the NCAA today. Keith Appling is a 6-1 senior who now has sole possession of the team. (Let's not mention the sideline "exchange" between Appling and graduated Laynce Nix). With no one to feud with and a lot to prove (especially if he wants to get drafted), not to mention a knack for dishing out assists, Appling looks poised to have a great year. His ankle problems are behind him, and if things go his way, a title is in front of him.
Gary Harris gained the adoration of MSU'ers everywhere when he chose to come back for his sophomore year instead of declaring for a draft he likely would have been a top-15 pick in. The scariest part about the sweet-shooting, head-faking, unibrowed Spartan? He's still a raw talent. Yup, let that sink in for a minute. If Tom Izzo can really tap into his potential, and history indicates he can, then Gary Harris; unibrow might just become more famous than Anthony Davis'. Scary, I know.
Three words: Adreian Postmove Payne. Postmove is one word because that's how his opponents feel after he finishes at the net. Payne is great a posting up down on the blocks, a sweet dunker, and he can even hit the occasional 3 when asked. What's not to like? If you're a Michigan fan, the fact that he's a raw player also.
Brendan Dawson is the written-in starter at the 3, and he's a serviceable guy who is dangerous when he gets hot. What I'm more excited about the bench: particularly the guard duo of Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine. Both performed phenomenally off the bench last year, especially against Memphis in the 2nd round and the regular season games against Indiana. Trice has a wicked, wicked 3, that he can shoot from anywhere not called backcourt. Valentine is great off the dribble and has some great passes up his sleeve. Other reserves like Matt Costello are dominant down low. Costello has a sweet hook and is fantastic at powering his way up to the basket.
Can you see why I'm excited? In the AP Poll right now, Michigan State enters the season as #3, and they have some huge chances to prove themselves against their fellow Big Ten teams, along with televised match ups against Kentucky and Georgetown, among other schools. And should I even mention the number of Final Fours Tom Izzo has taken MSU to?
This is the Spartans year.
So when guys like Keith Appling, Gary Harris, and Adreian Payne didn't suit up the next day, you can imagine how they felt. Hungry.....to win. That's why I think Michigan State will be cutting down the nets this year.
Michigan State has arguably the best backcourt in the the NCAA today. Keith Appling is a 6-1 senior who now has sole possession of the team. (Let's not mention the sideline "exchange" between Appling and graduated Laynce Nix). With no one to feud with and a lot to prove (especially if he wants to get drafted), not to mention a knack for dishing out assists, Appling looks poised to have a great year. His ankle problems are behind him, and if things go his way, a title is in front of him.
Gary Harris gained the adoration of MSU'ers everywhere when he chose to come back for his sophomore year instead of declaring for a draft he likely would have been a top-15 pick in. The scariest part about the sweet-shooting, head-faking, unibrowed Spartan? He's still a raw talent. Yup, let that sink in for a minute. If Tom Izzo can really tap into his potential, and history indicates he can, then Gary Harris; unibrow might just become more famous than Anthony Davis'. Scary, I know.
Three words: Adreian Postmove Payne. Postmove is one word because that's how his opponents feel after he finishes at the net. Payne is great a posting up down on the blocks, a sweet dunker, and he can even hit the occasional 3 when asked. What's not to like? If you're a Michigan fan, the fact that he's a raw player also.
Brendan Dawson is the written-in starter at the 3, and he's a serviceable guy who is dangerous when he gets hot. What I'm more excited about the bench: particularly the guard duo of Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine. Both performed phenomenally off the bench last year, especially against Memphis in the 2nd round and the regular season games against Indiana. Trice has a wicked, wicked 3, that he can shoot from anywhere not called backcourt. Valentine is great off the dribble and has some great passes up his sleeve. Other reserves like Matt Costello are dominant down low. Costello has a sweet hook and is fantastic at powering his way up to the basket.
Can you see why I'm excited? In the AP Poll right now, Michigan State enters the season as #3, and they have some huge chances to prove themselves against their fellow Big Ten teams, along with televised match ups against Kentucky and Georgetown, among other schools. And should I even mention the number of Final Fours Tom Izzo has taken MSU to?
This is the Spartans year.
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