Now that the Mannings and the Packers have been eliminate it is time to make the bold prediction. the predication of this year's Super Bowl Winner. One thing is certain, yet again. it will not be the Cleveland Browns. Not since 1964 when Jimmy Brown was still stomping around have the Brwns won it all, and way back then it was the NFL championship game. There was no super Bowl, bt this year there is and the Seattle Seahawks will win that game.
Why will they win? Well not for the reasons you might think. Not because of Lynch nor Wilson though they will get the credit. But because of Unger, and Giocamini and Johnson and McQuistan and Moffet and Okung. They will not get the credit they have not been credited all year. The offensive line never does get the credit Save for the movie "The blind side" these men remain obscure underrated underpaid and without the endorsements of the quarterbacks and runners and recivers and even standout defensive linemen and Ray Lewis type line backers. How many seahawk fans even know their names. I am not a Seahawk fan yet I am conceived they will win it all based on these unsung heroes. I can't even find any media stories describing them. Unger the center is going to the pro-bowl, Hey by the way, whens the last time you saw a center selling Nike's or Buick's? I am sure they will win because of these men.
My credentials? Well last year I predicted and followed Eli Maning's march from Georgia to the West, and I predicted the Giants would win it all. So I am one for one this time of year at predicting Super Bowl winners once the playoffs had started. At the beginning of the season I would have picked an all Manning bowl and I would have been wrong. At mid season the same. But now since the playoffs have started I pick the SeaHawks because of their offensive line.
And what makes these men standout -- their size. Max Unger Center 6'5" and 305. Russell Okung Tackle 6'5" 310. John Moffitt Guard 6'4" 319. Paul McQuistan Tackle 6'7" 315. Rishaw Johnson Gaurd 6'5" 313. Ah yes a formidable over sized offensive line taller and heavier then their defensive counterparts. This is what wins football games. That's average weight of 312. This fact pus there ability is what wins games. Quarterbacks can't throw and running backs can't run without an offensive line. An NFL calibre and standout line that exceeds the weight of their defensive counter parts wins games.
How do I know this little know fact? Well, It's like this the I have been a life long Cleveland Browns fan and I remember the Bernie Kosar Browns. They were huge and the Browns won and hey were not responsible for the drive nor the fumble, and they should have gone to the Super Bowl twice.
I do not think that this year we will see a repeat of either the drive or the fumble. And yes as much as I like Peyton Manning he is fun to watch. i am glad the Broncos are out, and they were beaten by will an incarnation of the Browns.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Big D v. Offenisve Innovation
The big story in the NFL this week does not concern Brady or the Mannings, nor even God's Chosen Team the Dallas Cowboys, nor the Best Team in the NFL the forty-niners, nor the Cheesiest Team in Green Bat, nor, not even the greatest Rookie QB in NFL History Luck of the Colts.
No the Big story in the NFL the game to watch is between the Bad Boys of the Midway -- Da Bears and the upstart yes that other team from football frenzied Texas the Texans themselves.
Da Bears have arguably the best defense int he NFL. Going into this weeks game against the Texans, the Chicago Bears offense ranks 25th in total offense with just over 325 yards per game. Their defense ranks 24th in total offense, yes that's right. so, how will the Texans beat them.
Well the Texans have a different kind of offense. It's not exactly west coast and not exactly a throw back type Lombardi simplistic, but it is different during this era of explosive big pass plays the Texans rely on something fundamentally different.
What makes their offense innovative and different is their reliance on a pro-bowl offensive line roatating players and, of course, Adrian Fisher. Fisher already has 770 yards this year as the work horse for the 7 and 1 Texans. He rushes with a great offensive line. And let's face it in spite of what we see on Televisions in spite of the endorsement deals in spite of the notoriety of the Mannings, the Lucks, the Youngs and who's that guy in San Francisco, in spite of the big name marquee QBs it is offensive lines that win games. Quarterbacks have a hard time acheiving with a mediocre offensive line. The Raiders, firty-niners and Browns have all gone through the rebuilding necessary to be competitive in the NFL this rebuilding begins with the offensive line the foundation of any great team. The Texans succes is grounded or anchored by a great offensive line with a great runner.
But instead of accepting these as a limitation, the Texans have built on this. They have implemented an innovative offense that includes sequencing of run plays with similar blocking patterned lanes and back routes. These sequences in turn have play-action passing plays sequenced in. The power of this is that will keep defenses off-balance, even such a high powered high pursuit defense featured by Da Bears.
The NFL has needed a major innovation since the rise of linebacker play in answer to the west cost offense, the next logical move is to counter the new size speed and versatility of the linebacker play with a running offnese using pass plays built of the run. Play action passing game particularly in the red zone has been a staple of tradition offenses and will remain so, but we see more and more teams like the Giants running sequences of running plays and popping in the play action pass from the red zone for 6.
Now the Texans have taken this to a new level by structuing an offense anchored by a solid line and powered by an excellent runner and building play action passes off the running plays.
We shall see but this strategy should catch on in the NFL and certainly defeat Da Bears today.
No the Big story in the NFL the game to watch is between the Bad Boys of the Midway -- Da Bears and the upstart yes that other team from football frenzied Texas the Texans themselves.
Da Bears have arguably the best defense int he NFL. Going into this weeks game against the Texans, the Chicago Bears offense ranks 25th in total offense with just over 325 yards per game. Their defense ranks 24th in total offense, yes that's right. so, how will the Texans beat them.
Well the Texans have a different kind of offense. It's not exactly west coast and not exactly a throw back type Lombardi simplistic, but it is different during this era of explosive big pass plays the Texans rely on something fundamentally different.
What makes their offense innovative and different is their reliance on a pro-bowl offensive line roatating players and, of course, Adrian Fisher. Fisher already has 770 yards this year as the work horse for the 7 and 1 Texans. He rushes with a great offensive line. And let's face it in spite of what we see on Televisions in spite of the endorsement deals in spite of the notoriety of the Mannings, the Lucks, the Youngs and who's that guy in San Francisco, in spite of the big name marquee QBs it is offensive lines that win games. Quarterbacks have a hard time acheiving with a mediocre offensive line. The Raiders, firty-niners and Browns have all gone through the rebuilding necessary to be competitive in the NFL this rebuilding begins with the offensive line the foundation of any great team. The Texans succes is grounded or anchored by a great offensive line with a great runner.
But instead of accepting these as a limitation, the Texans have built on this. They have implemented an innovative offense that includes sequencing of run plays with similar blocking patterned lanes and back routes. These sequences in turn have play-action passing plays sequenced in. The power of this is that will keep defenses off-balance, even such a high powered high pursuit defense featured by Da Bears.
The NFL has needed a major innovation since the rise of linebacker play in answer to the west cost offense, the next logical move is to counter the new size speed and versatility of the linebacker play with a running offnese using pass plays built of the run. Play action passing game particularly in the red zone has been a staple of tradition offenses and will remain so, but we see more and more teams like the Giants running sequences of running plays and popping in the play action pass from the red zone for 6.
Now the Texans have taken this to a new level by structuing an offense anchored by a solid line and powered by an excellent runner and building play action passes off the running plays.
We shall see but this strategy should catch on in the NFL and certainly defeat Da Bears today.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Give the ball to CC
Let's face it CC Sabathia is the only chance that the New York Yankees have for winning at least one game from the Detroit Tigers in the best of seven American League Championship Series.
If CC can pitch the way he has the lst few weeks of the regular season and against the Orioles in the ALDS then the Yankees can avoid a sweep.
The once upon a time Bronx Bombers will only have to score 2 or 3 runs with Sabathia pitching a complete game, or wait CC is certainly capable of pitching a complete game shut out so only 1 run will be needed. Since Derek Jeter is out for the rest of the playoffs; CC, Raul Ibanez and Ichiro; would appear to be the only Yankees that have showed up for the playoffs this year. The rest save for Andy Pettitte himself the leader in post season victories are well "Just happy to be their."
Perhaps Eli Mannig could take a bat, at least he might be able to swing and hit something besides air.
AROD well, AROD is being AROD again, "Just happy to be enjoying the limelight" whether or not he is actually in the lineup.
No, for AROD the playoffs are about media coverage and the opportunity to increase his endorsement money. Not about actually producing -- playing baseball which he is paid and paid more than anybody else to do. But then they are the Yankees and they can afford him. Or can they?
Can the Yankees afford AROD. 30 million dollars -- the amount the Yankees are paying AROD to do whatever it is he does with a number 13 on his back -- the Ynakees certainly can afford to pay.
But AROD comes with another price tag. The price of a well shall we actually use the word the "L" word. Is it time that we call AROD what he really is a high priced well "athlete" with a certain attitude? Or maybe a better description is the "Q" word. For after all in athletics at any level there are worse things than being labeled a "Loser."
In athletics anyone can put forth the effort consistently and come up short. Some may ultimately be vindicated like the Elway Broncos, a team that ended up in the Super Bow several times and putting forth the effort and coming up short until they finally put it together twice. They never well quit.
AROD is another story. Is AROD the worst thing in athletics a a a ... well a quitter? You can decide, let us have a look. probably if adjusted for inflation
Alex Rodriquez gets paid more money than anyone in history (reflect on that for a moment more than Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan, Cy Young, Ted Williams, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Reggie Jackson, and Pete Rose and probably if adjusted for inflation makes more money this year than all of the above players made their entire careers to play ball) so why isn't he playing ball?
Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2012/10/18/trade-rumors-throw-alex-rodriguez-curveball/#ixzz29fwmusEV
He got his ring, he can take it and go. We are tired of him in New York and the rest of us Yankee fans around the horn. He can take his money and run. Yankee fans are a lot of things all over the country, loud and passionate, obnoxious, arrogant etc. I am sure the plethora of Yankee haters can add to the list, but two things we are not "losers or quitters." To be blunt AROD just doesn't fit in. He is not a Yankee, heck he's not even a Red Sock -- all those years under the curse of the bamabino, but they never quit; and eventually during the AROD era they triumphed.
So just what is a Yankee? Perhaps it is a player who fractures his foot against Baltimore in the playoffs and nobody even knew it until after continuing too hit and field and hit in the clutch he was carried off the filed and now has to watch the AROD era which happens to coincide with his own era come to an end from the sidelines. No, they had to pry the bat out of Derek Jeter's hands. A man who accepted less money in this time to stay with the team he was brought up in, a man who during the 2001 post season, after 9/11 brought devastation to his city and so many emergency workers Firefighters and police officers gave their very lives to do their jobs jobs for which they are paid much less than those who play a little boy's game dove head first into the stands sacrificing his own body for these brave men to catch a ball coming out bloodied but making the catch. A man who during that same post season like so many of the emergence workers from that time 9/11 showed up out of nowhere to make a play at home plate and put us in the the world series.
I feel like the last of the AROD fans. Who'd a thunk it. Say it ain't so Alex, say IT AIN'T SO!
A loser, but worse than that as proved so far in this postseason "Yankee Time" a quitter.
So, AROD it's time to go. Please take the money and run.
But to day is about CC our hope in this boy's game that means so much to many of us. so, many thrills so much pride the Yankee swagger not even a swagger really just get to the post season and get it done. The Tigers are worthy opponents they are young experienced and they can play. Dang they have the triple crown winner. a money pitcher in Verlander. And they beat us last year. who remembers the last out in that series, yes AROD bat on his shoulder taking strike three.
But CC is up for it he is always up for it. He is clutch too. A man who plays a little boy's game and wants the ball when it's lights out. A winner, who will not quit. Give him the ball and then hand it to Andy tomorrow.
Maybe CC will wake up Grandy and Cano too and maybe with AROD out of the line up, just maybe the New York Yankees will shake it off and remember who they are. Bigger than the Dallas cowboys, "America's Team" with fans worldwide.
End the AROD era..
Give the ball to CC
If CC can pitch the way he has the lst few weeks of the regular season and against the Orioles in the ALDS then the Yankees can avoid a sweep.
The once upon a time Bronx Bombers will only have to score 2 or 3 runs with Sabathia pitching a complete game, or wait CC is certainly capable of pitching a complete game shut out so only 1 run will be needed. Since Derek Jeter is out for the rest of the playoffs; CC, Raul Ibanez and Ichiro; would appear to be the only Yankees that have showed up for the playoffs this year. The rest save for Andy Pettitte himself the leader in post season victories are well "Just happy to be their."
Perhaps Eli Mannig could take a bat, at least he might be able to swing and hit something besides air.
AROD well, AROD is being AROD again, "Just happy to be enjoying the limelight" whether or not he is actually in the lineup.
No, for AROD the playoffs are about media coverage and the opportunity to increase his endorsement money. Not about actually producing -- playing baseball which he is paid and paid more than anybody else to do. But then they are the Yankees and they can afford him. Or can they?
Can the Yankees afford AROD. 30 million dollars -- the amount the Yankees are paying AROD to do whatever it is he does with a number 13 on his back -- the Ynakees certainly can afford to pay.
But AROD comes with another price tag. The price of a well shall we actually use the word the "L" word. Is it time that we call AROD what he really is a high priced well "athlete" with a certain attitude? Or maybe a better description is the "Q" word. For after all in athletics at any level there are worse things than being labeled a "Loser."
In athletics anyone can put forth the effort consistently and come up short. Some may ultimately be vindicated like the Elway Broncos, a team that ended up in the Super Bow several times and putting forth the effort and coming up short until they finally put it together twice. They never well quit.
AROD is another story. Is AROD the worst thing in athletics a a a ... well a quitter? You can decide, let us have a look. probably if adjusted for inflation
Alex Rodriquez gets paid more money than anyone in history (reflect on that for a moment more than Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan, Cy Young, Ted Williams, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Reggie Jackson, and Pete Rose and probably if adjusted for inflation makes more money this year than all of the above players made their entire careers to play ball) so why isn't he playing ball?
Rodriguez, only 3 for 23 in this postseason, had been left out of the starting lineup twice and pulled for a pinch hitter three times in the playoffs.
"I'm not happy about it. Obviously, you come to the ballpark feeling you can help the team win. When you see your name is not in the lineup, it's obviously disappointing," Rodriguez said Wednesday night. "You've got to accept being a cheerleader and also make sure that you're ready when you're number's called."
He has $114 million and five years remaining on his contract — and a no-trade clause.
Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2012/10/18/trade-rumors-throw-alex-rodriguez-curveball/#ixzz29fwmusEV
He got his ring, he can take it and go. We are tired of him in New York and the rest of us Yankee fans around the horn. He can take his money and run. Yankee fans are a lot of things all over the country, loud and passionate, obnoxious, arrogant etc. I am sure the plethora of Yankee haters can add to the list, but two things we are not "losers or quitters." To be blunt AROD just doesn't fit in. He is not a Yankee, heck he's not even a Red Sock -- all those years under the curse of the bamabino, but they never quit; and eventually during the AROD era they triumphed.
So just what is a Yankee? Perhaps it is a player who fractures his foot against Baltimore in the playoffs and nobody even knew it until after continuing too hit and field and hit in the clutch he was carried off the filed and now has to watch the AROD era which happens to coincide with his own era come to an end from the sidelines. No, they had to pry the bat out of Derek Jeter's hands. A man who accepted less money in this time to stay with the team he was brought up in, a man who during the 2001 post season, after 9/11 brought devastation to his city and so many emergency workers Firefighters and police officers gave their very lives to do their jobs jobs for which they are paid much less than those who play a little boy's game dove head first into the stands sacrificing his own body for these brave men to catch a ball coming out bloodied but making the catch. A man who during that same post season like so many of the emergence workers from that time 9/11 showed up out of nowhere to make a play at home plate and put us in the the world series.
I feel like the last of the AROD fans. Who'd a thunk it. Say it ain't so Alex, say IT AIN'T SO!
A loser, but worse than that as proved so far in this postseason "Yankee Time" a quitter.
So, AROD it's time to go. Please take the money and run.
But to day is about CC our hope in this boy's game that means so much to many of us. so, many thrills so much pride the Yankee swagger not even a swagger really just get to the post season and get it done. The Tigers are worthy opponents they are young experienced and they can play. Dang they have the triple crown winner. a money pitcher in Verlander. And they beat us last year. who remembers the last out in that series, yes AROD bat on his shoulder taking strike three.
But CC is up for it he is always up for it. He is clutch too. A man who plays a little boy's game and wants the ball when it's lights out. A winner, who will not quit. Give him the ball and then hand it to Andy tomorrow.
Maybe CC will wake up Grandy and Cano too and maybe with AROD out of the line up, just maybe the New York Yankees will shake it off and remember who they are. Bigger than the Dallas cowboys, "America's Team" with fans worldwide.
End the AROD era..
Give the ball to CC
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Express
I would imagine that most football fans today are unfamiliar with the name Ernie Davis. He remains an historic figure none the less. For those who do remember Jim Brown, other than for his movies. My favorite role for him was in "Mars Attacks." You'll never guess who teamed up with Jim to defeat a Martian take over of the earth in that one.
But then there are those of us who are die hard Cleveland Browns Fans. We remember Art Modell, and the running of Jim Brown, Frank Ryan, and the great Paul Warfield before he flew to Miami.
We also remember the last championship in 1964, pre-super bowl. And of course what might have been. What was and what might have been describe pretty well the film called "The Express." I must admit it was beautiful for me to watch, and of course I won the DVD. I would recommend it to any football fan.
The story of Ernie Davis. there he was sandwiched between Jim Brown and floyd Little at Syracuse University. "The Express" is a beautiful film recommended to any football fan and especially for those of us who love the browns. In addition to being a beautiful story full of football highlights of one of the greatest running backs of all time. The film includes another great performance by one of Hollywood's unsung heroes Dennis Quaid.
Ernie Davis is probably the greatest running back in the NFL. He did suit up, and his story is even more poignant than that of Gayle Sayers. Ah dah bears ..." Is Ernie Brian Piccolo? Well you'll have to see the movie for that.
Of course the game has changed over the years. There are those who say it has changed so much that Brown and Davis would not be effective in today's NFL. Bill Walsh and the "west coast" offense have changed things. Throwing for 5 yards anytime in any situation and any place on the field not only revolutionized the offensive game, but defenses had to change to keep up. Today we see the more versatile, quick linebackers, who are as large as defensive linemen and as quick as defensive backs. And we all know that defenses win games. As evidence I offer this past year's super bowl. No one was more surprised than I that Peyton Manning did not pull it out somehow. Although a case can be made as depicted in "The Blind Side" that offensive linemen are the real winners.
"The Express is the story of Ernie Davis, his running his character, during the civil rights movement of the 60s, and the fact that he endured the same prejudice as Jackie Robinson, and Ernie carried himself with the same courage. He had large shoes to fill and even larger exceptions and he exceeded them all. Although he did not share Brown's love of lacrosse, he was like Brown able to run around you or through you -- it really didn't matter to him.
The story follows Davis's life from beginning to end, and even if you know the story there is enough suspense, being well directed to keep any fan riveted. Of course in those days, and yes they did have helmets with face-masks, unlike "Leatherheads" (I am probably the only one who throughly enjoyed that one).
So here's the bottom line. My recommendations.
1- "The Express
2- "The Blindside"
3- "Brian's Song" 1 and 2 Dah Bears ...
4-Mars attacks, Nicholson plays two parts including President of the United States Hmmm?
and
5- "Leatherheads"
I'd get them and watch them all in that order.
Imagine Jim Brown and Ernie Davis in the same backfield ... Dah Browns. More fun than Kosar, Mack and Bryant.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The NBA has no Credibility
Tim Donaghy the former NBA referee, who was banned for gambling on NBA games, recently appeared on 60 minutes, and has oddly enough written a tell all book.
I have no argument with Mr. Donaghy being banned from NBA or his writing a book.
What concerns me is the credibility or lack there of of the NBA.
It seems that after being in financial turmoil, NBA executives deceive that they should encourage officials to call games in such a way as to promote certain high market teams to advance in the playoffs at the experience of lower market teams, and at the expense of the integrity of the game.
This means that the outcome of games and indeed series and championships were pre determined. so, we have been watching great athletes play their hearts out with no chance of winning the prize. While entertaining this is not athletics but theater. Good theater since the athletes themselves did not know what was going on, but theater non the less.
Now that we know this we can watch the NBA or not, but at least we understand what it really is. Games and championships are decided not on the best play, but according to the profit to be made by the champions being in the largest media market.
I for one have no interest in this. I like athletics and I ;like theater, I don't necessarily like them mixed, I mean I enjoy the Harlem globe trotters, but I certainly don't take the scores seriously. The globe trotters like the NBA simply are a show case for a certain type of skills, but to be caught up in the scores and the outcomes and the standings as I do with baseball, would be foolish now.
So unless their is some honest and credible effort by a third party to expose and ban those responsible for this illegitimacy of athletics, I will watch the LA Lakers whenever I want the same kind of basketball showcase I get from watching the Harlem globe trotters, heck they might be able to increase income by letting the globe trotters into the league.
I am disgusted. I know many people who were making the same pint that Tim Donaghy made with regard to a Lakers Kings series a few years ago. I dutifully defended the integrety of the game, saying no the officials were not biased and they simply made the calls as they saw them. that after all the NBA represented legitimate athletics contests just as Major league baseball, the steroids controversy not withstanding. As it turns out I was wrong that championships and all others was decided not on play and ability but predetermined in favor of a bias toward the higher market team.
So, I and others were duped.
The NBA needs a complete overhaul. Something similar to what happened in Major League Baseball after the black sox scandal.
I have no argument with Mr. Donaghy being banned from NBA or his writing a book.
What concerns me is the credibility or lack there of of the NBA.
It seems that after being in financial turmoil, NBA executives deceive that they should encourage officials to call games in such a way as to promote certain high market teams to advance in the playoffs at the experience of lower market teams, and at the expense of the integrity of the game.
This means that the outcome of games and indeed series and championships were pre determined. so, we have been watching great athletes play their hearts out with no chance of winning the prize. While entertaining this is not athletics but theater. Good theater since the athletes themselves did not know what was going on, but theater non the less.
Now that we know this we can watch the NBA or not, but at least we understand what it really is. Games and championships are decided not on the best play, but according to the profit to be made by the champions being in the largest media market.
I for one have no interest in this. I like athletics and I ;like theater, I don't necessarily like them mixed, I mean I enjoy the Harlem globe trotters, but I certainly don't take the scores seriously. The globe trotters like the NBA simply are a show case for a certain type of skills, but to be caught up in the scores and the outcomes and the standings as I do with baseball, would be foolish now.
So unless their is some honest and credible effort by a third party to expose and ban those responsible for this illegitimacy of athletics, I will watch the LA Lakers whenever I want the same kind of basketball showcase I get from watching the Harlem globe trotters, heck they might be able to increase income by letting the globe trotters into the league.
I am disgusted. I know many people who were making the same pint that Tim Donaghy made with regard to a Lakers Kings series a few years ago. I dutifully defended the integrety of the game, saying no the officials were not biased and they simply made the calls as they saw them. that after all the NBA represented legitimate athletics contests just as Major league baseball, the steroids controversy not withstanding. As it turns out I was wrong that championships and all others was decided not on play and ability but predetermined in favor of a bias toward the higher market team.
So, I and others were duped.
The NBA needs a complete overhaul. Something similar to what happened in Major League Baseball after the black sox scandal.
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