With UCLA's exit in the second round of the tournament following a hard fought battle against Florida, the Bruins have a lot of hope for the coming 2011-2012 season. After a tumultuous 14-18 2009-2010 season, it looked like Ben Howland's time as the Bruins head coach could numbered, but improved play from the young Bruins has the patrons of Westwood optimistic for a tournament run and maybe more in the 2011-2012 season. Looking at the roster, there will be quite a blend of talent, experience, athleticism and size that could blend into one of Howland's best squads at UCLA.
Point Guards:
Lazeric Jones: The point guard position is somewhat of a weak spot for the Bruins, as there are only two true point guards on the roster with neither one being a clear cut starting quality player. Lazeric Jones was the starter for most of 2010-2011 despite playing with practically one hand due to a torn ligament in one of his fingers and a jammed wrist. Playing through that kind of pain is indicative of what kind of personality he has both on and off the court. Zeek has the prototypical bulldog, tough Chicago kid mentality that makes him an excellent asset as a leader. Unfortunately, near the end of the season, Zeek became almost a liability on the court by averaging only 3.6 assists per game to 2.1 turnovers per game while shooting only 38% from the field. Granted, he still averaged 9 points per game despite his poor shooting percentage, which can be partially attributed to his 81% free throw shooting percentage. On defense, Zeek was not as much of a liability, but as the season progressed, he seemed to be a little bit more passive on defense, which lessened his impact on forcing turnovers. For next season, whether it's Jones or Anderson running the point, either one will need to be a more active defender and do a better job of diagnosing screens and making the right decisions as to whether they should go over or under screens.
Jerime Anderson: The other point guard is Jerime Anderson, who came to Westwood with the expectation of being the 'next' great UCLA point guard. Clearly, he has not panned out as planned, but this past season he did solidify himself as a solid point guard option. Coming off the bench, Anderson was the Bruins' best 3 point shooter at 39%, but he had similar issues taking care of the ball as Jones, as he averaged only 2.6 assists per game to 1.5 turnovers per game. One point of promise where Anderson has the advantage over Jones is his ability to get to the basket and distribute from the drive. Anderson has shown a very good ability to use his screens and cut to the hoop, which is (at least in my opinion) one of the most important attributes to a successful point guard.
De'End Parker: Parker is a bit of an unknown as of now, but he is coming to UCLA from San Francisco City College as a point guard- granted he played as a wing in high school. His ability to play anywhere from the 1-3 will make him quite the asset to UCLA, especially if Honeycutt decides to leave early as expected. Based on his film, he seems to be an excellent ball handler with good driving ability and excellent court vision. These three traits all add up to a very good point guard, but the film was against JUCO competition, not Pac-10 talent.
Analysis: The Bruins are going to have an excellent inside game with Reeves Nelson, Travis and David Wear, Joshua Smith, Anthony Stover and Brenden Lane all being viable post options, so spreading the court and having the ability to cut to the basket and dump the ball off will be a huge plus for a point guard. With that being said, Anderson fits the billing as being the kind of penetrator needed to have a functional offense. He will need to improve his decision-making and his ability to work around screens before he can be considered the viable point guard option that can lead UCLA in a deep tournament run. Also, I believe that Zeek is the kind of personality that can infuse energy off the bench as a spark plug that can come in and make a play or two based on toughness that can get the team fired up. As a lifelong Sacramento Kings fan, Bobby Jackson comes to mind in the role that I believe he can play. Also, I believe that Parker should see some time at the point as the season progresses, which could cause some matchup problems if you team him up with Lee and possibly Honeycutt, as that would be a backcourt of 6'5, 6'5 and 6'8. Of course, UCLA's strength for the 2011-2012 season will be their frontcourt, but a productive backcourt will be the X-factor for the Bruins.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
The Beginning
When I was young, I enjoyed playing sports and I knew most of the rules and regulations to the major sports, but I did not care for spending time following leagues or teams. This was until January 31, 1999- the first day I started loving sports.
I was at the annual neighborhood Super Bowl party at the Cove's, my next door neighbors, house for the first time. The defending champion Denver Broncos, led by all-time great John Elway playing his last career game, took on the Atlanta Falcons in the last Super Bowl of the century. I didn't give a wink about the game. I was much more interested in the Nintendo stationed under a 16 inch black and white television equipped with Duck Hunter in their guest room. My parents told me that I should watch the game because I was born in Colorado Springs and the Broncos won the Super Bowl the year before, but I ignored them; shooting animated ducks was much more important.
Before the game started, my dad (in what was probably an attempt to get me interested in football... what a mistake) offered me a dollar to put down in the neighborhood pool guessing what the final score would be. I thought for a moment, and quickly predicted 33-19 and scurried back to the guest room. 33-19? Being that most points in the NFL are scored in multiples of 7 or 3, this prediction was something that of an uneducated 7 year-old would throw out in order to get back to his video game. My dad sighed and placed the bet.
Three hours of Duck Hunter later, a bitter Dennis Cove came into the guest room and he handed me a $20 bill. I was initially ecstatic, because being given $20 to a 7 year-old is like a tossing the keys to a brand new Ferrari to an adult, but I knew that there was a catch. I asked him, "What is this for?" He responded, "You won. God only knows how a little kid guesses a crazy score like that to within one point," and walked away. The Broncos won 34-19.
My first thought was, "Holy cow, I can buy so many booster packs of Pokemon cards!" My second was, "I will forever love the Denver Broncos!" That was the catch.
I went home and learned everything I could about the Broncos and over the years I developed an insatiable desire for more sports knowledge and I eventually expanded to following the Oakland A's and the Sacramento Kings. I quickly became an encyclopedia of random sports knowledge with an emphasis in those three teams. This love grew out of control into what some my mom sometimes calls an 'obsession'. What does she know, she's just a Psychologist.
I am now 19 years-old pursuing a career in sports journalism in an attempt to turn this obsession into something productive. That's the least I can do. Even as I write this blog, I catch myself taking peaks at ESPN, rivals, LA Daily News, Realgm, etc... to see if there's any news or stories that might peak my interest. You can call it unhealthy, you can call it weird but I call it my life.
I was at the annual neighborhood Super Bowl party at the Cove's, my next door neighbors, house for the first time. The defending champion Denver Broncos, led by all-time great John Elway playing his last career game, took on the Atlanta Falcons in the last Super Bowl of the century. I didn't give a wink about the game. I was much more interested in the Nintendo stationed under a 16 inch black and white television equipped with Duck Hunter in their guest room. My parents told me that I should watch the game because I was born in Colorado Springs and the Broncos won the Super Bowl the year before, but I ignored them; shooting animated ducks was much more important.
Before the game started, my dad (in what was probably an attempt to get me interested in football... what a mistake) offered me a dollar to put down in the neighborhood pool guessing what the final score would be. I thought for a moment, and quickly predicted 33-19 and scurried back to the guest room. 33-19? Being that most points in the NFL are scored in multiples of 7 or 3, this prediction was something that of an uneducated 7 year-old would throw out in order to get back to his video game. My dad sighed and placed the bet.
Three hours of Duck Hunter later, a bitter Dennis Cove came into the guest room and he handed me a $20 bill. I was initially ecstatic, because being given $20 to a 7 year-old is like a tossing the keys to a brand new Ferrari to an adult, but I knew that there was a catch. I asked him, "What is this for?" He responded, "You won. God only knows how a little kid guesses a crazy score like that to within one point," and walked away. The Broncos won 34-19.
My first thought was, "Holy cow, I can buy so many booster packs of Pokemon cards!" My second was, "I will forever love the Denver Broncos!" That was the catch.
I went home and learned everything I could about the Broncos and over the years I developed an insatiable desire for more sports knowledge and I eventually expanded to following the Oakland A's and the Sacramento Kings. I quickly became an encyclopedia of random sports knowledge with an emphasis in those three teams. This love grew out of control into what some my mom sometimes calls an 'obsession'. What does she know, she's just a Psychologist.
I am now 19 years-old pursuing a career in sports journalism in an attempt to turn this obsession into something productive. That's the least I can do. Even as I write this blog, I catch myself taking peaks at ESPN, rivals, LA Daily News, Realgm, etc... to see if there's any news or stories that might peak my interest. You can call it unhealthy, you can call it weird but I call it my life.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Looking back at my predictions....
So it's been quite a while since I've updated the blog, so I thought I would step up and eat some crow on my last predictions for the Pac-10 as we head down the home stretch. Lets start from the top:
1. Oregon: I maintain, until they lose, I dare you to argue.
2. Stanford: They are currently ranked #6 in the nation and look like (as I predicted) they will end up in a BCS game (possibly the Rose Bowl).
3. USC: The offense has kept up its end of the bargain with Marc Tyler stepping up last week against Arizona to complement the passing game. Meanwhile, the defense is starting to catch up to the talent they have on paper. By the end of this season, USC will have some nice pieces to build on going forward
4. Arizona: I was right yet again (someone owes me a cookie or a high five or something) on how Arizona would struggle with Foles out. What I did not foresee was a 42-17 beatdown from Stanford, a game that I thought would be somewhat close. Nevertheless, I still agree with this ranking, as the rest of the Pac-10 is just so muddled and confusing I couldn't justify putting anyone else ahead of them.
5. Oregon State: I no longer swear they're a good team. After defending them ALL SEASON LONG, they come out and get beat AT HOME by Wazzu. Now, that's nothing against a very respectable Wazzu team that has given several other Pac-10 teams problems this year, but Oregon State was supposed to be a team that would compete for the Pac-10. Instead, they lost to undeniably the worst team in the Pac-10.
6. Arizona State: 4-6 is not a very good record, but when you put Arizona State under the microscope, you can see that there was only one bad game they've had all season (a 50-17 beating from Cal). They lost four of their six games by four points or less, while giving Oregon one of their toughest games of the year. That being said, I still do not see ASU finishing strong against a very motivated UCLA team and a tough rivalry game against Arizona.
7. California: Win, win, loss, loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss... win? Cal has easily been the most consistent inconsistent team in the Pac-10 and possibly the nation in 2010. They have had some excellent showings this year against ASU and UCLA while looking absolutely pathetic in others like the USC and Oregon State games. One common theme throughout this season though has been Cal's seemingly dominant play at home. They only lost one game this year and that came at the hands of the juggernaut offense of Oregon that was only able to muster up 15 points against the Golden Bears, which is 35 points lower than their season average. Cal will finish out their season at home (fortunately) with the biggest game coming this weekend against Stanford. Thus far, Harbaugh has had issues winning against Cal and with the atmosphere of a rivalry game coupled with Cal's excellent play at home, I expect this to be one of the best games this season.
8. UCLA: The Bruins are desperately clawing to find a way into the postseason after a thrilling victory over Oregon State. Tomorrow is a redemption game at Washington on Thursday night where UCLA will try to show the nation that they are not nearly as bad as Oregon made them look four Thursdays ago. UCLA is starting to get healthy again with Sheldon Price and Nelson Rosario coming back from injuries that held them out for several weeks while superstar LB Akeem Ayers is close to being recovered from nagging injuries sustained all the way back from the Texas game. UCLA will have to win 2/3 to reach bowl eligibility and there is no doubt in my mind that the regular season finale against USC will be the deciding game in whether they reach a bowl game or not.
9. Washington: UW is the third stooge in the que of inconsistent teams behind Cal and UCLA. They have had huge wins at USC and against Oregon State, but they have been blown out the past three games and their defense has more holes in it than a sponge. Still, the Huskies can rectify their season if they win out, but the chances of doing that are slim, considering they have two games: Cal in Berkeley and Wazzu in Pullman, neither of which will be easy wins in any way, shape or form.
10: Washington State: For the first time in over two years, Wazzu has a W in the win column against a Pac-10 foe. Now, I wouldn't go as far as saying they aren't the worst team in the Pac-10, but the days of penciling in a W against the Cougars are gone.
With this recap being said, here are my predictions for how the rest of the season will play out and what the final records of each team will be:
1. Oregon: 12-0 Oregon State gives them a run, but the Ducks are too good to lose.
2. Stanford: 11-1 I think Harbaugh's finally gets Cal off his back.
3. USC: 8-5 I see USC finishing strong, but @ OSU, Notre Dame and @ UCLA will be rough to win out.
4. Arizona: 8-4 There's no way Arizona beats Oregon and I just don't think Arizona State has it in them to pull out a tough win this season.
5. UW: 6-6 This team was SO overrated at the beginning of the year. I think they should win 2 out of their next 3 games though, so we'll see if they can make it to a bowl game
6. ASU: 5-7 This team could have EASILY been 10-2 this year. Unfortunately, fate wasn't on their side.
7. UCLA: 5-7 My guess is they win in Washington, lose to a prepared ASU team and lose to 'SC in another let-down game to miss eligibility.
8. Cal: 5-7 There is no predicting Cal, but now that they have no QB, I can't see them making a bowl game.
9. OSU: 4-8 This is a horribly disappointing season if this prediction serves correct. I really thought they could go 10-2 this year, but something went terribly wrong. Look for heads to roll after this season.
10. Wazzu: 2-10 I believe that this team could easily take UW, but I just couldn't imagine Jake Locker ending his college career with a loss.
1. Oregon: I maintain, until they lose, I dare you to argue.
2. Stanford: They are currently ranked #6 in the nation and look like (as I predicted) they will end up in a BCS game (possibly the Rose Bowl).
3. USC: The offense has kept up its end of the bargain with Marc Tyler stepping up last week against Arizona to complement the passing game. Meanwhile, the defense is starting to catch up to the talent they have on paper. By the end of this season, USC will have some nice pieces to build on going forward
4. Arizona: I was right yet again (someone owes me a cookie or a high five or something) on how Arizona would struggle with Foles out. What I did not foresee was a 42-17 beatdown from Stanford, a game that I thought would be somewhat close. Nevertheless, I still agree with this ranking, as the rest of the Pac-10 is just so muddled and confusing I couldn't justify putting anyone else ahead of them.
5. Oregon State: I no longer swear they're a good team. After defending them ALL SEASON LONG, they come out and get beat AT HOME by Wazzu. Now, that's nothing against a very respectable Wazzu team that has given several other Pac-10 teams problems this year, but Oregon State was supposed to be a team that would compete for the Pac-10. Instead, they lost to undeniably the worst team in the Pac-10.
6. Arizona State: 4-6 is not a very good record, but when you put Arizona State under the microscope, you can see that there was only one bad game they've had all season (a 50-17 beating from Cal). They lost four of their six games by four points or less, while giving Oregon one of their toughest games of the year. That being said, I still do not see ASU finishing strong against a very motivated UCLA team and a tough rivalry game against Arizona.
7. California: Win, win, loss, loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss... win? Cal has easily been the most consistent inconsistent team in the Pac-10 and possibly the nation in 2010. They have had some excellent showings this year against ASU and UCLA while looking absolutely pathetic in others like the USC and Oregon State games. One common theme throughout this season though has been Cal's seemingly dominant play at home. They only lost one game this year and that came at the hands of the juggernaut offense of Oregon that was only able to muster up 15 points against the Golden Bears, which is 35 points lower than their season average. Cal will finish out their season at home (fortunately) with the biggest game coming this weekend against Stanford. Thus far, Harbaugh has had issues winning against Cal and with the atmosphere of a rivalry game coupled with Cal's excellent play at home, I expect this to be one of the best games this season.
8. UCLA: The Bruins are desperately clawing to find a way into the postseason after a thrilling victory over Oregon State. Tomorrow is a redemption game at Washington on Thursday night where UCLA will try to show the nation that they are not nearly as bad as Oregon made them look four Thursdays ago. UCLA is starting to get healthy again with Sheldon Price and Nelson Rosario coming back from injuries that held them out for several weeks while superstar LB Akeem Ayers is close to being recovered from nagging injuries sustained all the way back from the Texas game. UCLA will have to win 2/3 to reach bowl eligibility and there is no doubt in my mind that the regular season finale against USC will be the deciding game in whether they reach a bowl game or not.
9. Washington: UW is the third stooge in the que of inconsistent teams behind Cal and UCLA. They have had huge wins at USC and against Oregon State, but they have been blown out the past three games and their defense has more holes in it than a sponge. Still, the Huskies can rectify their season if they win out, but the chances of doing that are slim, considering they have two games: Cal in Berkeley and Wazzu in Pullman, neither of which will be easy wins in any way, shape or form.
10: Washington State: For the first time in over two years, Wazzu has a W in the win column against a Pac-10 foe. Now, I wouldn't go as far as saying they aren't the worst team in the Pac-10, but the days of penciling in a W against the Cougars are gone.
With this recap being said, here are my predictions for how the rest of the season will play out and what the final records of each team will be:
1. Oregon: 12-0 Oregon State gives them a run, but the Ducks are too good to lose.
2. Stanford: 11-1 I think Harbaugh's finally gets Cal off his back.
3. USC: 8-5 I see USC finishing strong, but @ OSU, Notre Dame and @ UCLA will be rough to win out.
4. Arizona: 8-4 There's no way Arizona beats Oregon and I just don't think Arizona State has it in them to pull out a tough win this season.
5. UW: 6-6 This team was SO overrated at the beginning of the year. I think they should win 2 out of their next 3 games though, so we'll see if they can make it to a bowl game
6. ASU: 5-7 This team could have EASILY been 10-2 this year. Unfortunately, fate wasn't on their side.
7. UCLA: 5-7 My guess is they win in Washington, lose to a prepared ASU team and lose to 'SC in another let-down game to miss eligibility.
8. Cal: 5-7 There is no predicting Cal, but now that they have no QB, I can't see them making a bowl game.
9. OSU: 4-8 This is a horribly disappointing season if this prediction serves correct. I really thought they could go 10-2 this year, but something went terribly wrong. Look for heads to roll after this season.
10. Wazzu: 2-10 I believe that this team could easily take UW, but I just couldn't imagine Jake Locker ending his college career with a loss.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Brian Xanders and Josh McDaniels: The mistakes
Instead of working on my Political Science paper, all I can think about is how badly the Broncos messed up with the hire of both Brian Xanders and Josh McDaniels. After yet another disappointing loss to a better team (that they could have beat) in the New York Jets, all I can think about is the 'what if' scenarios where the Broncos didn't hire McDaniels and give him and GM Brian Xanders free reign to tear apart the organization.
I'll start my rant beginning with the day of January 11, 2009- the day Josh McDaniels was hired. Now lets fast forward to February 12, 2009- the day the Broncos hired Brian Xanders as their General Manager. I might not be the only person who finds it odd that the head coach was hired before the GM, but I personally thought it was the beginning of a spiral that now leaves the Broncos in a hole with not a lot of light shining in from above. Here's some bullet-points of moves that the Broncos have made since January 11, 2009:
1. Trade Jay Cutler- I just can't even start to discuss this. Also he kind of looks like a genius right now but there's no way that this will be a good long term decision. Even McDaniels knows this (see #3/5).
2. 2009 NFL Draft- Take RB Knowshon Moreno with the 12th pick of the draft instead of taking OLB Brian Orakpo (a MAJOR position of need) who was then drafted by the Redskins with the next pick. Then in the second round, they traded their 2010 1st round pick for the 37th overall pick that turned into CB Alphonso Smith.
The aftermath of these two picks: Orakpo went on to be the only starting rookie Pro-Bowler by accumulating 11 sacks in as an OLB in a 3-4 defense (that's what the Broncos run). Now that both Elvis Dumervil AND Robert Ayers have gone down to injury, that leaves a gaping hole on the outside that is currently being filled by underachieving former 1st round pick Jarvis Moss instead of what could have been one of the best future pass rushers in the league. It's okay though because Moreno is the 44th best rusher in the league for the worst rushing attack in the NFL. He also has two touchdowns and two fumbles while averaging 3.1 yards per carry. If that pick wasn't bad enough, at least Moreno is still on the Broncos' roster. Alphonso Smith was almost cut before he was traded to the Detroit Lions for superstar TE Dan Gronkowski, who has three catches for 13 yards so far for the Broncos. What does that say after ONE season a guy (who was technically a first round pick) gets traded for a pickle and some baseball cards?
3. Trade Peyton Hillis for Brady Quinn- I'm not really sure which was worse, the fact that they traded Hillis or traded for Quinn. For a reeling run game, a guy like Hillis (who averaged 5 YPC as the starting RB for the Broncos the year before McDaniels was hired and is now one of the top 20 rushers in the league in only four full starts) is desperately needed while Quinn showed almost no improvement in the offseason and is officially destined to be a career backup quarterback now that the Kyle Orton is apparently Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow is the second coming. Once again, this transaction begs to ask the question: why?
4. Trade Tony Scheffler and Brandon Marshall- After pissing off both players due to on-the-field issues and the failure to give them the money they thought they "deserved", the Broncos were forced to trade both players. Thus far, it hasn't seemed to slow down the surprisingly/shockingly prolific passing offense of the Broncos, but there is still no doubt that both of those guys are excellent weapons to have in a passing offense.
5. Trade 3 draft picks for the One-And-Only Tim Tebow- I usually watch almost 95% of the NFL draft yearly despite how boring and tedious it may be, but this year I watched just the first round and spent the next six in my room breaking things and crying. Possibly the worst part about the 1st round of the draft was not the fact that the Broncos drafted Tebow, rather, the fact that they made a SMART MOVE in moving back from #11 to #22 to take WR Demaryius Thomas, (who has shown that he'll be a solid receiver at worst in the NFL) THEN drafted Tebow. I knew coming into the draft that McDaniels loved Tebow and I thought after the Thomas pick that we were out of the woods. I will be honest, one of the most horrifying moment of my life was when the ESPN noise indicated that the Baltimore Ravens just traded their draft pick because I immediately knew that it was the Broncos and they were going to draft Tebow. Why on God's green Earth would the Broncos go out of their way to trade Cutler, botch both of the 1st round picks received in the trade and then make a move to draft maybe the least prepared QB ever to be drafted in the 1st round?
To cap off this summary, I am NOT saying to blame McDaniel or Xanders for the mistakes they made. Rather, I blame the Broncos organization for giving both of them full reign over a once respected and successful franchise and allowing them to run it into the ground.
I'll start my rant beginning with the day of January 11, 2009- the day Josh McDaniels was hired. Now lets fast forward to February 12, 2009- the day the Broncos hired Brian Xanders as their General Manager. I might not be the only person who finds it odd that the head coach was hired before the GM, but I personally thought it was the beginning of a spiral that now leaves the Broncos in a hole with not a lot of light shining in from above. Here's some bullet-points of moves that the Broncos have made since January 11, 2009:
1. Trade Jay Cutler- I just can't even start to discuss this. Also he kind of looks like a genius right now but there's no way that this will be a good long term decision. Even McDaniels knows this (see #3/5).
2. 2009 NFL Draft- Take RB Knowshon Moreno with the 12th pick of the draft instead of taking OLB Brian Orakpo (a MAJOR position of need) who was then drafted by the Redskins with the next pick. Then in the second round, they traded their 2010 1st round pick for the 37th overall pick that turned into CB Alphonso Smith.
The aftermath of these two picks: Orakpo went on to be the only starting rookie Pro-Bowler by accumulating 11 sacks in as an OLB in a 3-4 defense (that's what the Broncos run). Now that both Elvis Dumervil AND Robert Ayers have gone down to injury, that leaves a gaping hole on the outside that is currently being filled by underachieving former 1st round pick Jarvis Moss instead of what could have been one of the best future pass rushers in the league. It's okay though because Moreno is the 44th best rusher in the league for the worst rushing attack in the NFL. He also has two touchdowns and two fumbles while averaging 3.1 yards per carry. If that pick wasn't bad enough, at least Moreno is still on the Broncos' roster. Alphonso Smith was almost cut before he was traded to the Detroit Lions for superstar TE Dan Gronkowski, who has three catches for 13 yards so far for the Broncos. What does that say after ONE season a guy (who was technically a first round pick) gets traded for a pickle and some baseball cards?
3. Trade Peyton Hillis for Brady Quinn- I'm not really sure which was worse, the fact that they traded Hillis or traded for Quinn. For a reeling run game, a guy like Hillis (who averaged 5 YPC as the starting RB for the Broncos the year before McDaniels was hired and is now one of the top 20 rushers in the league in only four full starts) is desperately needed while Quinn showed almost no improvement in the offseason and is officially destined to be a career backup quarterback now that the Kyle Orton is apparently Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow is the second coming. Once again, this transaction begs to ask the question: why?
4. Trade Tony Scheffler and Brandon Marshall- After pissing off both players due to on-the-field issues and the failure to give them the money they thought they "deserved", the Broncos were forced to trade both players. Thus far, it hasn't seemed to slow down the surprisingly/shockingly prolific passing offense of the Broncos, but there is still no doubt that both of those guys are excellent weapons to have in a passing offense.
5. Trade 3 draft picks for the One-And-Only Tim Tebow- I usually watch almost 95% of the NFL draft yearly despite how boring and tedious it may be, but this year I watched just the first round and spent the next six in my room breaking things and crying. Possibly the worst part about the 1st round of the draft was not the fact that the Broncos drafted Tebow, rather, the fact that they made a SMART MOVE in moving back from #11 to #22 to take WR Demaryius Thomas, (who has shown that he'll be a solid receiver at worst in the NFL) THEN drafted Tebow. I knew coming into the draft that McDaniels loved Tebow and I thought after the Thomas pick that we were out of the woods. I will be honest, one of the most horrifying moment of my life was when the ESPN noise indicated that the Baltimore Ravens just traded their draft pick because I immediately knew that it was the Broncos and they were going to draft Tebow. Why on God's green Earth would the Broncos go out of their way to trade Cutler, botch both of the 1st round picks received in the trade and then make a move to draft maybe the least prepared QB ever to be drafted in the 1st round?
To cap off this summary, I am NOT saying to blame McDaniel or Xanders for the mistakes they made. Rather, I blame the Broncos organization for giving both of them full reign over a once respected and successful franchise and allowing them to run it into the ground.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Pac-10 heat check: Round 2
This one won't be as in depth as two weeks ago, but with the impending #1 Oregon/UCLA matchup, I can't help but laying a few things out on the table. First, my rankings:
1. Oregon- Until they lose, I dare you to argue with me.
2. Stanford- They showed kinks in their armor against Oregon and USC, but I still believe that they are an extremely physical, well coached, Harbaugh team. I would put money down saying they will play in the Rose Bowl this year if Oregon goes undefeated despite the Pac-10 spot going to an at-large bid. This is just a good football team.
3. USC- As much as it pains me to say it, Lane Kiffin got his kids going. I don't think anyone can stop talking about true freshman WR Robert Woods (for good reason) and I just wanted to point out the fact that I mentioned him in the previous heat check- no big. Woods beside, 'SC has done an excellent job on the offensive side of the ball and if they get their defense organized (i.e. move Chris Galippo to OLB officially), they could be in contention for a solid bowl appearance this year. Oh wait...
4. Arizona- The loss of Nick Foles might be to much to handle, hence me dropping them in the rankings. The defense is still doing a superb job, holding a respectable Wazzu offense to only seven points. But the big question will be whether they can keep making beautiful music as a team without their conductor. The upcoming Washington and UCLA games will not be easy and the circled Stanford game will be the defining moment in their season. I still think they can win eight games, but my confidence is definitely shaken without the presence of Foles.
5. Oregon State- I swear this is a good team. They have the players on both sides of the ball and the coaching staff to bring out their best, but they just can't seem to come out and be the team they should be. QB Ryan Katz has done an excellent job this season running the offense and while the loss of James Rodgers hurts, there is still enough ammo between Katz, Jaquizz and that solid Beaver offensive line to remain in the top half of the Pac-10.
6. Arizona State- I'm as surprised as anyone else in the nation, but the Sun Devils are a completely respectable team. Dennis Erickson has taken this team from the cellar of the Pac-10 to being one of the biggest surprises of the year. Despite having just a 3-3 record, their three loses came in close games against Wisconsin (who just knocked off former #1 Ohio State), current #1 Oregon and Oregon State while also taking out Washington in Seattle.
7. California- If I could give any sort of insight on Cal, I would give it to you, but I just have no idea what is going on with this team. Shane Vareen is the only consistently good player on this team and although Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast has this team going in the right direction defensively, the Bears straight up got their pants pulled down by Matt Barkley and the USC offense. As of now, I guess I would call them a fringe bowl team, but if they get their act together, they could easily be in the top half of the Pac-10, but at the same time, if they play like they did against 'SC, they will be one of the worst three teams in the conference.
8. UCLA- As I said last time, the Texas game was not a fluke, BUUUUT, there is no way they are going to play that well again. For some reason, the Bruins have a slight sense of entitlement that has led to an apathetic performance on the field which, in combination with some questionably bland defensive play-calling (especially on the defensive side of the ball) led to the complete beating that was the Cal game. If UCLA doesn't come out every week respecting their opponents, they will be destined for a VERY subpar season and a possible shake-up in the coaching staff.
9. Washington- First, they beat USC at 'SC, then they lost pretty handily at home to ASU. That's no knock on either USC or ASU but UW just hasn't shown that they are consistently very good team, especially on defense (I'm starting to get a feel that consistency is a problem in the Pac-10...). They gave up 387 yards to a mediocre Sun Devil offense including 288 through the air. The only reason why I rate UW below UCLA is because I personally believe that UCLA has a better defense than UW and when UCLA goes to Seattle, I will put my money on the Bruins.
10. Washington State- I root for the cougs on a pretty consistent basis. There's something about Paul Wulff that I just feel bad for. I think he's a good coach with just not enough talent on his team and not enough interest in living in Pullman to get elite recruits. I do believe that Jeff Tuel will be one of the top Pac-10 QB's by the end of his career and Washington State will be a respectable team in the conference, but once again, this is not the year.
1. Oregon- Until they lose, I dare you to argue with me.
2. Stanford- They showed kinks in their armor against Oregon and USC, but I still believe that they are an extremely physical, well coached, Harbaugh team. I would put money down saying they will play in the Rose Bowl this year if Oregon goes undefeated despite the Pac-10 spot going to an at-large bid. This is just a good football team.
3. USC- As much as it pains me to say it, Lane Kiffin got his kids going. I don't think anyone can stop talking about true freshman WR Robert Woods (for good reason) and I just wanted to point out the fact that I mentioned him in the previous heat check- no big. Woods beside, 'SC has done an excellent job on the offensive side of the ball and if they get their defense organized (i.e. move Chris Galippo to OLB officially), they could be in contention for a solid bowl appearance this year. Oh wait...
4. Arizona- The loss of Nick Foles might be to much to handle, hence me dropping them in the rankings. The defense is still doing a superb job, holding a respectable Wazzu offense to only seven points. But the big question will be whether they can keep making beautiful music as a team without their conductor. The upcoming Washington and UCLA games will not be easy and the circled Stanford game will be the defining moment in their season. I still think they can win eight games, but my confidence is definitely shaken without the presence of Foles.
5. Oregon State- I swear this is a good team. They have the players on both sides of the ball and the coaching staff to bring out their best, but they just can't seem to come out and be the team they should be. QB Ryan Katz has done an excellent job this season running the offense and while the loss of James Rodgers hurts, there is still enough ammo between Katz, Jaquizz and that solid Beaver offensive line to remain in the top half of the Pac-10.
6. Arizona State- I'm as surprised as anyone else in the nation, but the Sun Devils are a completely respectable team. Dennis Erickson has taken this team from the cellar of the Pac-10 to being one of the biggest surprises of the year. Despite having just a 3-3 record, their three loses came in close games against Wisconsin (who just knocked off former #1 Ohio State), current #1 Oregon and Oregon State while also taking out Washington in Seattle.
7. California- If I could give any sort of insight on Cal, I would give it to you, but I just have no idea what is going on with this team. Shane Vareen is the only consistently good player on this team and although Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast has this team going in the right direction defensively, the Bears straight up got their pants pulled down by Matt Barkley and the USC offense. As of now, I guess I would call them a fringe bowl team, but if they get their act together, they could easily be in the top half of the Pac-10, but at the same time, if they play like they did against 'SC, they will be one of the worst three teams in the conference.
8. UCLA- As I said last time, the Texas game was not a fluke, BUUUUT, there is no way they are going to play that well again. For some reason, the Bruins have a slight sense of entitlement that has led to an apathetic performance on the field which, in combination with some questionably bland defensive play-calling (especially on the defensive side of the ball) led to the complete beating that was the Cal game. If UCLA doesn't come out every week respecting their opponents, they will be destined for a VERY subpar season and a possible shake-up in the coaching staff.
9. Washington- First, they beat USC at 'SC, then they lost pretty handily at home to ASU. That's no knock on either USC or ASU but UW just hasn't shown that they are consistently very good team, especially on defense (I'm starting to get a feel that consistency is a problem in the Pac-10...). They gave up 387 yards to a mediocre Sun Devil offense including 288 through the air. The only reason why I rate UW below UCLA is because I personally believe that UCLA has a better defense than UW and when UCLA goes to Seattle, I will put my money on the Bruins.
10. Washington State- I root for the cougs on a pretty consistent basis. There's something about Paul Wulff that I just feel bad for. I think he's a good coach with just not enough talent on his team and not enough interest in living in Pullman to get elite recruits. I do believe that Jeff Tuel will be one of the top Pac-10 QB's by the end of his career and Washington State will be a respectable team in the conference, but once again, this is not the year.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The NBA is coming! The NBA is coming!
The preseason is upon us and there is excitement in the air in the year that follows the fabled 2010 free agency period. Every sports journalist on the planet had their dreams come true with Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James teamed up in Miami, and that is NOT what I plan on talking about. I want to talk about the Sacramento Kings.
Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, Omri Casspi, Jason Thompson and Donte Greene! I know all of these names are completely random and probably could be made up, but all of these young men are cornerstones in the new Sacramento Kings journey to the championship. I will probably do a more in-depth analysis of the team when the season actually rolls around, but for now, I'm going on the record with a prediction of their final record:
32-50
Pretty bold, right? Well this record would actually be a major improvement from last year's 25-57 record and 2008-2009's abysmal17-65 record. I fully expect DMC to compete for Rookie of the year and I would not be surprised if Omri Casspi gets into the discussion for 6th man of the year within the next two or three seasons. Also, if it seems like 32-50 isn't that big of a step in the right direction, look at what OKC did the year after they were the worst team in the league at 20-62. They went 23-59 and then 50-32. I don't expect the Kings to do that kind of damage but it will only be Tyreke Evans' second year in the league, wherein Kevin Durant was in his third year when he got the Thunder to the playoffs. And if you need clarification, yes, I am calling Tyreke Evans the Kevin Durant of the Kings.
Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, Omri Casspi, Jason Thompson and Donte Greene! I know all of these names are completely random and probably could be made up, but all of these young men are cornerstones in the new Sacramento Kings journey to the championship. I will probably do a more in-depth analysis of the team when the season actually rolls around, but for now, I'm going on the record with a prediction of their final record:
32-50
Pretty bold, right? Well this record would actually be a major improvement from last year's 25-57 record and 2008-2009's abysmal17-65 record. I fully expect DMC to compete for Rookie of the year and I would not be surprised if Omri Casspi gets into the discussion for 6th man of the year within the next two or three seasons. Also, if it seems like 32-50 isn't that big of a step in the right direction, look at what OKC did the year after they were the worst team in the league at 20-62. They went 23-59 and then 50-32. I don't expect the Kings to do that kind of damage but it will only be Tyreke Evans' second year in the league, wherein Kevin Durant was in his third year when he got the Thunder to the playoffs. And if you need clarification, yes, I am calling Tyreke Evans the Kevin Durant of the Kings.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
My first legitimate post- a Pac-10 heat check
SO, the plan to maintain a constant stream of posts fell through near the end of summer, but in the light of UCLA's stunning victory over Texas, I decided that I will try once more to keep up on my blog.
Don't worry, this post isn't about me drooling over UCLA (although I could do that pretty easily), instead here are my preseason rankings going into legitimate Pac-10 play.
1. Oregon: I know that Stanford has looked mighty fine over the first four games, but I just can't pick against Oregon. They have yet to prove that there's anything not to love about that team. They haven't missed a beat with Masoli leaving and their defense is full of playmakers like Kenny Rowe, Casey Matthews and John Boyett who will somehow make Luck (who is one heck of a QB) make some tough decisions and eventually some mistakes. I could legitimately see Oregon going undefeated this year if they keep up the pace- although USC, Arizona and Oregon State won't be gimmes.
2. Stanford: Jim Harbaugh is mean. He is rude, cocky and he knows how to coach a football team. There is no reason for him to be in college football- he should really make everyone in the Pac-10's life easier and just jump to the next available coaching position in the NFL. Stanford is a well-disciplined, well-oiled machine that all starts in the trenches and just works it's way to Andrew Luck. I know, I know, everyone has heard enough about Luck this year (especially with ridiculously corny headlines that use his name in what some editor thought was "really creative") but he really is as good as advertised. The real kudos should go to the Stanford O-line though. They made Toby Gehart look like a God last year and they're doing the same with Luck this year. Those five guys just know how to control their man and give Luck the time necessary to make a play. Stanford does have some weaknesses like a lack of talent on the outside with Ryan Whalen going down, but I fully expect them to give Oregon a run for their money this year in the Pac-10.
3. Arizona: I just didn't want to buy into these guys at the beginning of the year, but as they proved against Iowa- they have some players. I am actually much more impressed defensively with Arizona despite Nick Foles getting most of the ink when Arizona is in the paper. The front line led by Brooks Reed, Ricky Elmore, Justin Washington and Lolomana Mikaele has done an excellent job of holding their gaps and letting the linebackers make plays. Tevin Wade has also lived up to the hype as the best corner in the Pac-10 thus far. Arizona may have a let down or two throughout the season, but I fully expect them to win at least 8 games this season.
4. Oregon State: Record wise, they have been unimpressive at best, but lets see you take on Boise State, TCU and Louisville and come out unscathed. Yes, they have underachieved, but there is no doubt that they will still be one of the top five teams in the Pac-10. Both Rodgers brothers are healthy and playing well while Ryan Katz has come out and played better than expected. The weakness through the first three contests has been the defense. Half-man, half tank Stephan Paea has not lived up to the Pre-Season All-American hype like he can, but when you're double and triple teamed on every play, it can be hard to make a difference. Oregon State has an experienced secondary and a solid linebacking core led by Dwight Robertson who has had one hell of a year so far, so I fully expect Oregon State to get back on track and compete for the Pac-10 title.
5. USC: USC could be the worst ranked team in college football. Their 4-0 record is about as impressive as a debate between George W. Bush and Lane Kiffin in molecular cell biology. They beat a mediocre 2-2 Hawaii team, giving up 36 points and over 450 yards, a 2-1 Virginia team who's wins come against Richmond and Virginia Military Institute and two 1-3 teams in Minnesoda and Washington State. Now, there is no denying that they do have talent on that team, espcially on the offensive side of the ball with Matt Barkley, WR Ronald Johnson and up-and-coming wideout Robert Woods but a spotty offensive line and an unsure stable of running backs has some questioning how well USC's offense who is averaging 37 points/game will hold up against some fantastic Pac-10 defenses like Oregon and Stanford.
6. UCLA: Call it a homer pick, but what UCLA did in Austin last Saturday was not a fluke. That was a team that went out and played like they could play. Now, no one knows yet whether the team who played Stanford or the team who played Texas will step out onto the field each week, but my guess is UCLA will show up for some big games this season. All of the talk has been (deservedly) about the UCLA running game led by Johnathan Franklin and the 'Filthy Five', but the UCLA front seven held its own last week against a solid Texas offensive line. Defensive Coordinator Chuck Bullough did a fantastic job of mixing schemes and rotating superstar Akeem Ayers from OLB to DE, allowing him to make two HUGE plays- one sack and forced fumble from the defensive end position and one interception from the linebacker position. I know that college players aren't supposed to get paid but if there's a guy that deserves a paycheck, it would be Akeem Ayers. As I digress, UCLA will have to work on consistently bringing the same energy to the field each week, and if they do, I can see them challenging teams like Oregon and Arizona and possibly competing for the Pac-10. Wishful thinking? We'll see.
7. Arizona State: I think the only team more disrespected in the Pac-10 preseason poll than UCLA was Arizona State. They were predicted to finish 9th. Arizona State raised some eyebrows across the nation, especially on the west coast after giving #11 Wisconsin all they could handle IN Wisconsin. The defense is fantastic in the middle with Lawerence Guy and Jamarr Robertson as the defensive tackles and future NFL Pro-Bowler Vontaze Burfict at MLB, which has been the main reason as to why they had such success against a power team like Wisconsin. I do not expect ASU to make a lot of noise in the hunt for the Rose Bowl, but I would not be surprised at all if they play spoiler and knock off one of the top tear teams later in the year.
8. California: In my eyes, Cal was a top 5 Pac-10 team going into the year. My eyes were poked after Nevada ran for 316 yards in Reno. Granted, Cal's best defensive player Mike Mohammed did not play in the game, but I seriously doubt that one player would have kept Nevada from putting up 52 points on what was thought to be a pretty solid Cal defense. Offensively, there are bright spots with Shane Vareen and freshman wideout Keenan Allen, who will be one of the best wideouts in the Pac-10 and maybe the nation by the time he leaves for the NFL. Nevertheless, I just don't see a winning football team in Cal, despite the solid effort they showed against Arizona last week. I expect them to have a fairly lackluster season with a few bright spots here and there.
9. Washington: OH MY GOSH, JAKE LOCKER!!! JAKE LOCKER!!! Aren't you glad you aren't hearing that anymore? After a poor 1-2 start that was capped off by a 56-21 beating from Nebraska at home, all of the 'Jake Locker for Heisman' talk has been silenced in a hurry. Washington showed against Nebraska that they simply are not a team that looks like the possible Pac-10 contenders everyone thought they would be. Of course, whenever you put together the offensive talent like Jake Locker, Jermaine Kearse and Chris Polk, there's always a danger of a tough game, but until they prove that they are going to live up to their talent on paper, Washington will be in the bottom half of the Pac-10.
10. Washington State: They will eventually get out of the cellar, but this year isn't the year...
Don't worry, this post isn't about me drooling over UCLA (although I could do that pretty easily), instead here are my preseason rankings going into legitimate Pac-10 play.
1. Oregon: I know that Stanford has looked mighty fine over the first four games, but I just can't pick against Oregon. They have yet to prove that there's anything not to love about that team. They haven't missed a beat with Masoli leaving and their defense is full of playmakers like Kenny Rowe, Casey Matthews and John Boyett who will somehow make Luck (who is one heck of a QB) make some tough decisions and eventually some mistakes. I could legitimately see Oregon going undefeated this year if they keep up the pace- although USC, Arizona and Oregon State won't be gimmes.
2. Stanford: Jim Harbaugh is mean. He is rude, cocky and he knows how to coach a football team. There is no reason for him to be in college football- he should really make everyone in the Pac-10's life easier and just jump to the next available coaching position in the NFL. Stanford is a well-disciplined, well-oiled machine that all starts in the trenches and just works it's way to Andrew Luck. I know, I know, everyone has heard enough about Luck this year (especially with ridiculously corny headlines that use his name in what some editor thought was "really creative") but he really is as good as advertised. The real kudos should go to the Stanford O-line though. They made Toby Gehart look like a God last year and they're doing the same with Luck this year. Those five guys just know how to control their man and give Luck the time necessary to make a play. Stanford does have some weaknesses like a lack of talent on the outside with Ryan Whalen going down, but I fully expect them to give Oregon a run for their money this year in the Pac-10.
3. Arizona: I just didn't want to buy into these guys at the beginning of the year, but as they proved against Iowa- they have some players. I am actually much more impressed defensively with Arizona despite Nick Foles getting most of the ink when Arizona is in the paper. The front line led by Brooks Reed, Ricky Elmore, Justin Washington and Lolomana Mikaele has done an excellent job of holding their gaps and letting the linebackers make plays. Tevin Wade has also lived up to the hype as the best corner in the Pac-10 thus far. Arizona may have a let down or two throughout the season, but I fully expect them to win at least 8 games this season.
4. Oregon State: Record wise, they have been unimpressive at best, but lets see you take on Boise State, TCU and Louisville and come out unscathed. Yes, they have underachieved, but there is no doubt that they will still be one of the top five teams in the Pac-10. Both Rodgers brothers are healthy and playing well while Ryan Katz has come out and played better than expected. The weakness through the first three contests has been the defense. Half-man, half tank Stephan Paea has not lived up to the Pre-Season All-American hype like he can, but when you're double and triple teamed on every play, it can be hard to make a difference. Oregon State has an experienced secondary and a solid linebacking core led by Dwight Robertson who has had one hell of a year so far, so I fully expect Oregon State to get back on track and compete for the Pac-10 title.
5. USC: USC could be the worst ranked team in college football. Their 4-0 record is about as impressive as a debate between George W. Bush and Lane Kiffin in molecular cell biology. They beat a mediocre 2-2 Hawaii team, giving up 36 points and over 450 yards, a 2-1 Virginia team who's wins come against Richmond and Virginia Military Institute and two 1-3 teams in Minnesoda and Washington State. Now, there is no denying that they do have talent on that team, espcially on the offensive side of the ball with Matt Barkley, WR Ronald Johnson and up-and-coming wideout Robert Woods but a spotty offensive line and an unsure stable of running backs has some questioning how well USC's offense who is averaging 37 points/game will hold up against some fantastic Pac-10 defenses like Oregon and Stanford.
6. UCLA: Call it a homer pick, but what UCLA did in Austin last Saturday was not a fluke. That was a team that went out and played like they could play. Now, no one knows yet whether the team who played Stanford or the team who played Texas will step out onto the field each week, but my guess is UCLA will show up for some big games this season. All of the talk has been (deservedly) about the UCLA running game led by Johnathan Franklin and the 'Filthy Five', but the UCLA front seven held its own last week against a solid Texas offensive line. Defensive Coordinator Chuck Bullough did a fantastic job of mixing schemes and rotating superstar Akeem Ayers from OLB to DE, allowing him to make two HUGE plays- one sack and forced fumble from the defensive end position and one interception from the linebacker position. I know that college players aren't supposed to get paid but if there's a guy that deserves a paycheck, it would be Akeem Ayers. As I digress, UCLA will have to work on consistently bringing the same energy to the field each week, and if they do, I can see them challenging teams like Oregon and Arizona and possibly competing for the Pac-10. Wishful thinking? We'll see.
7. Arizona State: I think the only team more disrespected in the Pac-10 preseason poll than UCLA was Arizona State. They were predicted to finish 9th. Arizona State raised some eyebrows across the nation, especially on the west coast after giving #11 Wisconsin all they could handle IN Wisconsin. The defense is fantastic in the middle with Lawerence Guy and Jamarr Robertson as the defensive tackles and future NFL Pro-Bowler Vontaze Burfict at MLB, which has been the main reason as to why they had such success against a power team like Wisconsin. I do not expect ASU to make a lot of noise in the hunt for the Rose Bowl, but I would not be surprised at all if they play spoiler and knock off one of the top tear teams later in the year.
8. California: In my eyes, Cal was a top 5 Pac-10 team going into the year. My eyes were poked after Nevada ran for 316 yards in Reno. Granted, Cal's best defensive player Mike Mohammed did not play in the game, but I seriously doubt that one player would have kept Nevada from putting up 52 points on what was thought to be a pretty solid Cal defense. Offensively, there are bright spots with Shane Vareen and freshman wideout Keenan Allen, who will be one of the best wideouts in the Pac-10 and maybe the nation by the time he leaves for the NFL. Nevertheless, I just don't see a winning football team in Cal, despite the solid effort they showed against Arizona last week. I expect them to have a fairly lackluster season with a few bright spots here and there.
9. Washington: OH MY GOSH, JAKE LOCKER!!! JAKE LOCKER!!! Aren't you glad you aren't hearing that anymore? After a poor 1-2 start that was capped off by a 56-21 beating from Nebraska at home, all of the 'Jake Locker for Heisman' talk has been silenced in a hurry. Washington showed against Nebraska that they simply are not a team that looks like the possible Pac-10 contenders everyone thought they would be. Of course, whenever you put together the offensive talent like Jake Locker, Jermaine Kearse and Chris Polk, there's always a danger of a tough game, but until they prove that they are going to live up to their talent on paper, Washington will be in the bottom half of the Pac-10.
10. Washington State: They will eventually get out of the cellar, but this year isn't the year...
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