Now that I've had some time to digest the draft, I've been able to turn my thoughts to the Cowboys' schedule for the upcoming season. If they are to be the first team to play in the Super Bowl in their home stadium, they're certainly going to have to earn it because the NFL's schedule makers certainly didn't do them any favors.
Week 1: Sept. 12, @ Washington
-Congragulations Redskins fans! With a new coach and quarterback, you can now consider your team relevant again. Now that it looks like the Redskins have finally come out of the wilderness that was the Jim Zorn era, I guess the league felt it was only right that the Cowboys be the first team to visit Donovan McNabb and Mike Shannahan in their new digs. How many times will McNabb tell his new personal protector Trent Williams about DeMarcus Ware in the days leading up to the game?
Week 2: Sept. 19, vs. Chicago
-It's always nice to have your first home game against a team with a turnover-prone QB who will undoubtedly still be working out the bugs in a new offensive system under the direction of Mike Martz.
Week 3: Sept. 26, @ Houston
-This game just screams shootout with a crazy ending to it. The Texans will be laying in wait and ready to prove they are no longer the step children of the lone star state.
Week 4: BYE
-Does any NFL team really need a bye at this point of the season? Maybe it will be a blessing in disguise.
Week 5: Oct. 10, vs. Tennessee
-The Cowboys would be wise to come out ready to play this one. The Titans are consistently one of the most physical teams in the league and this version of Vince Young is light years better than the one they saw during a blowout in Nashville on '06.
Week 6: Oct. 17, @ Minnesota
-After being bounced from the playoffs by the Vikings last season, you know the Cowboys want this one really bad. We all know it will probably be one of the better games of the regular season. The only question is how many times we'll see the replay of Keith Brooking storming over to the Vikings' bench during last year's playoff game after the Vikes scored a needless touchdown in garbage time.
Week 7: Oct. 25, vs. New York Giants
-The Cowboys have a rivalry with everybody in their division. That said, there's a certain disdain the Cowboys and Giants share and it will be on display for everybody to see during this Monday night matchup. Simply put, they just don't like each other and it makes for great games. Where is a personal foul from Flozell Adams when you need him?
Week 8: Oct. 31, vs. Jacksonville
-At first glance, this should be an easy win for the Cowboys. Then you realize Jack Del Rio might be coaching for his job this year-as proven by his drafting of Tyson Alualu 9th overall- and he'll do everything he can to steal a win in the Jags first trip to Jerryland.
Week 9: Nov. 7, @ Green Bay
-The NFL loves putting these two together on a regular basis, don't they? How many times will we hear about Tony Romo and his childhood in Wisconsin leading up to the game?
Week 10: Nov. 14, @ New York Giants
-The Cowboys first trip to the new Meadowlands venue should be a festive one. Will Tony Romo sign his name on the lockeroom wall the way Eli Manning did last year after his first trip to Cowboys Stadium?
Week 11: Nov. 21, vs. Detroit
-Welcome home Matt Stafford and welcome back Ndamokung Suh. The last time Stafford played football here in the area, he was setting records at Highland Park and becoming one of the top high school recruits in the country. The last time Suh played in Cowboys Stadium, he channeled his inner Jerome Brown and literally came within one second of single handedly derailing the Texas Longhorns' national title hopes. As far as the game is concerned, the Cowboys will overcome an early haze to get a relatively easy win. The fun part, however, is going to be watching Calvin Johnson go at it with Mike Jenkins in a battle of two of the better young players in the league.
Here's where things start getting interesting!
Week 12: Nov. 25, vs. New Orleans
-Whoa! The NFL definitely made sure they loaded up for their feature game on turkey day. In one corner, you've got the Cowboys and their monstrosity of a stadium. In the other, it'll be Drew Brees, Sean Payton and the rest of the beloved Saints who will probably still have a certain glow to them due to last year's Super Bowl win. Will Darren Sharper be playing with a star on his helmet this time?
Week 13: Dec.5, @ Indianapolis
-The second game of what promises to be an unforgiving gauntlet to finish the season sees the Cowboys head to Indy against the unflappable Peyton Manning and the Colts. Wade Phillips' defenses historically game Manning trouble when he was in San Diego. With players like DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff and Mike Jenkins at his disposal, there's no reason to think the Cowboys can't cause their fare share of problems for Manning and company.
Week 14: Dec. 12, vs. Philadelphia
-How much fire have Kevin Kolb and Andy Reid come under by this point in the season?
Week 15: Dec. 19, vs. Washington
-It's the last home game for the Cowboys and it's the first trip to Jerryworld for Donovan McNabb and Mike Shannahan's as part of the 'Skins/'Boys rivalry.
Week 16: Dec. 25, @ Arizona
-Is it really necessary for a team to have to play on Thanksgiving and Christmas? The Cowboys look like the better team on paper, but that was the case two years ago when they went to the desert and got beat in overtime on a blocked punt. Have the Cardinals clinched the NFC West by this point or is Larry Fitzgerald catching passes from Derek Anderson and getting ready for 2011?
Week 17: Jan. 2, @ Philadelphia
-This makes it three consecutive seasons these two will have finished the regular season against each other. Will the Cowboys be playing for another division title or scrapping just to get a playoff spot? Will Kevin Kolb be trying to finish off a nice season or is Michael Vick making Eagle fans forget that Donovan McNabb ever existed?
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Initial Thoughts on the 1st round of the draft
Here are my knee jerk reactions to the picks in the 1st round of the NFL draft:
1. St.Louis Rams- Sam Bradford, QB/Oklahoma
-Did they really have any other choice? Marc Bulger was sent packing a few weeks ago and they needed a face of the franchise.
2. Detroit Lions- Ndamukung Suh, DT/Nebraska
-Jim Schwartz had Albert Haynesworth during his time as the Titans' defensive coordinator. Now he gets a guy who is more than capable of raising the same kind of havoc in the middle and this time, he doesn't have to worry about him being a headache for the franchise.
3. Tampa Bay Bucaneers- Gerald McCoy, DT/Oklahoma
-Have you ever seen a guy so happy to see Roger Goodell? The Buccaneers haven't been the same on defense since Warren Sapp left for Oakland. McCoy has the tools and the attitude to be a force at Sapp's old position for the next decade.
4. Washington Redskins- Trent Williams, OT/Oklahoma
-Bob Stoops sure did have some good football players in Norman the past couple of years, didn't he?
5. Kansas City Chiefs- Eric Berry, S/Tennessee
-The Chiefs need a play maker in the secondary and Berry, who always seems to be around the ball, fits the bill.
6. Seattle Seahawks- Russell Okung, OT/Oklahoma State
-After seeing him slip past the Redskins at the four spot, I bet Pete Carroll couldn't turn the card in with Okung's name on it fast enough.
7. Cleveland Browns- Joe Haden, CB/Florida
-Adding Haden to the mix along with Eric Wright and the newly acquired Sheldon Brown suddenly gives the Browns a nice group of corners.
8. Oakland Raiders- Rolando McClain, LB/Alabama
-Oh those tricky Raiders! I bet Tom Couglin and the rest of the Giants organization want to punch the crap out of Al Davis for this one.
9. Buffalo Bills- C.J. Spiller, RB/Clemson
-Something about the look on his face tells me Spiller wasn't exactly over-joyed about the thought of having to brave those brutal winters in western New York. Being a native of Jacksonville, Fla., Spiller probably never needed a heavy coat growing up. He needs one now.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars- Tyson Alualu, DL/California
-I'm sorry, who? Jokes aside, Alualu can play in the trenches. It's just that nobody saw this move coming. Jack Del Rio is probably coaching for his job this year. I guess if he's going to get canned, it won't be because he's afraid to take a chance on a guy he really likes.
11. San Francisco 49ers- Anthony Davis, OT/Rutgers
-There's a question about whether or not he really loves the game of football. With his potential and under the watchful eye of Mike Singletary, he'll either be married to it and become an All-Pro for the next 10-12 years or he'll be on the pine. If you don't believe me, just ask Vernon Davis.
12. San Diego Chargers- Ryan Matthews, RB/Fresno State
-After dumping LaDanian Tomlinson, the Chargers needed a guy they could feed the ball to 20-25 times a game. Matthews, at 5'11 and nearly 220, definitely looks the part.
13. Philadelphia Eagles- Brandon Graham, DE/Michigan
-The Eagles get another high motor guy to go on their defensive line.
14. Seattle Seahawks- Earl Thomas, S/Texas
-After coaching Troy Palamalu, Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays during his time at USC, I think Pete Carroll knows a good safety when he sees one.
15. New York Giants- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/South Florida
-I'm willing to bet you can get Osi Umenyiora for a mid-round pick now. Still steaming from the Raiders stealing Rolando McClain, Tom Coughlin and company pick arguably the most athletically gifted DE prospect in the draft since Jevon Kearse.
16. Tennessee Titans- Derrick Morgan, DE/Georgia Tech
-Should be just another in what's starting to become a long line of rock solid defensive lineman for Jeff Fisher and his defensive staff.
17. San Francisco 49ers- Mike Iupati, G/Idaho
-I can only imagine how big the smile on Frank Gore's face is at this point.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers- Maurkice Pouncey, OL/Florida
-Will probably start out at guard, but will eventually move to center and be the cornerstone of the Steelers o-line for the next decade. With Big Ben on the shelf for at least the first quarter of the season, I guess the Steelers will do their fair share of running the ball.
19. Atlanta Falcons- Sean Weatherspoon, OLB/Missouri
-A true thumper who was a model of consistency during his time in Columbia.
20. Houston Texans- Kareem Jackson, CB/Alabama
-Somebody has to replace the recently departed Dunta Robinson
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Jermaine Gresham, TE/Oklahoma
-Needs work on his blocking skills, but he should be Carson Palmer's new security blanket in the rugged AFC North.
22. Denver Broncos- Demaryius Thomas, WR/Georgia Tech
-A Brandon Marshall starter kit without the off the field issues is just what Josh McDaniels is looking for.
23. Green Bay Packers- Bryan Bulaga, OT/Iowa
-Did you see the last play of the Packers' game in the playoffs against the Cardinals? If so, you know why the Packers went with an offensive lineman.
24. Dallas Cowboys- Dez Bryant, WR/Oklahoma State
-However much time is left on the clock for Roy Williams here in Dallas just got a little shorter. On another note, Bryant should send a huge thank you note to Randy Moss because after passing over Moss more than a decade ago because of character concerns, Jerry Jones wasn't going to pass up on another big time wideout.
25. Denver Broncos- Tim Tebow, QB/Florida
-I don't know if he's worth first round money, but I'm glad somebody took him so we can stop hearing him talk.
26. Arizona Cardinals- Dan Williams, DT/Tennessee
-Ken Whisenhunt gets a big body to go in the middle of what will be a new look Cardinals defense.
27. New England Patriots- Devin McCourty, CB/Rutgers
-Bill Belichik keeps re-tooling his secondary with young and lively bodies. Too bad none of them can cover Reggie Wayne, Brandon Marshall or Santonio Holmes.
28. Miami Dolphins- Jared Odrick, DL/Penn St.
-Far be it from me to question the Tuna when it comes to the draft. Oh wait, there was that year when he drafted Julius Jones instead of Steven Jackson. There was also that year he drafted Bobby Carpenter when he could've drafted DeMeco Ryans.
29. New York Jets- Kyle Wilson, CB/Bosie St.
-Wilson plays with the attitude Rex Ryan is looking for in a defensive player and adding him to a secondary already loaded with Darelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Jim Leonard is going make life a living hell for every opposing QB on the Jets' schedule.
30. Detroit Lions- Jahvid Best, RB/California
-The Lions now have a home run hitter in the backfield to help out Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew and the rest of their young and talented corps of skill players.
31. Indianapolis Colts- Jerry Hughes, DE/TCU
-The Colts pick another player who fits their style of defense perfectly.
32. New Orleans Saints- Patrick Robinson, CB/Florida State
-Another cover guy who will allow Greg Williams to dial up another exotic blitz package.
1. St.Louis Rams- Sam Bradford, QB/Oklahoma
-Did they really have any other choice? Marc Bulger was sent packing a few weeks ago and they needed a face of the franchise.
2. Detroit Lions- Ndamukung Suh, DT/Nebraska
-Jim Schwartz had Albert Haynesworth during his time as the Titans' defensive coordinator. Now he gets a guy who is more than capable of raising the same kind of havoc in the middle and this time, he doesn't have to worry about him being a headache for the franchise.
3. Tampa Bay Bucaneers- Gerald McCoy, DT/Oklahoma
-Have you ever seen a guy so happy to see Roger Goodell? The Buccaneers haven't been the same on defense since Warren Sapp left for Oakland. McCoy has the tools and the attitude to be a force at Sapp's old position for the next decade.
4. Washington Redskins- Trent Williams, OT/Oklahoma
-Bob Stoops sure did have some good football players in Norman the past couple of years, didn't he?
5. Kansas City Chiefs- Eric Berry, S/Tennessee
-The Chiefs need a play maker in the secondary and Berry, who always seems to be around the ball, fits the bill.
6. Seattle Seahawks- Russell Okung, OT/Oklahoma State
-After seeing him slip past the Redskins at the four spot, I bet Pete Carroll couldn't turn the card in with Okung's name on it fast enough.
7. Cleveland Browns- Joe Haden, CB/Florida
-Adding Haden to the mix along with Eric Wright and the newly acquired Sheldon Brown suddenly gives the Browns a nice group of corners.
8. Oakland Raiders- Rolando McClain, LB/Alabama
-Oh those tricky Raiders! I bet Tom Couglin and the rest of the Giants organization want to punch the crap out of Al Davis for this one.
9. Buffalo Bills- C.J. Spiller, RB/Clemson
-Something about the look on his face tells me Spiller wasn't exactly over-joyed about the thought of having to brave those brutal winters in western New York. Being a native of Jacksonville, Fla., Spiller probably never needed a heavy coat growing up. He needs one now.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars- Tyson Alualu, DL/California
-I'm sorry, who? Jokes aside, Alualu can play in the trenches. It's just that nobody saw this move coming. Jack Del Rio is probably coaching for his job this year. I guess if he's going to get canned, it won't be because he's afraid to take a chance on a guy he really likes.
11. San Francisco 49ers- Anthony Davis, OT/Rutgers
-There's a question about whether or not he really loves the game of football. With his potential and under the watchful eye of Mike Singletary, he'll either be married to it and become an All-Pro for the next 10-12 years or he'll be on the pine. If you don't believe me, just ask Vernon Davis.
12. San Diego Chargers- Ryan Matthews, RB/Fresno State
-After dumping LaDanian Tomlinson, the Chargers needed a guy they could feed the ball to 20-25 times a game. Matthews, at 5'11 and nearly 220, definitely looks the part.
13. Philadelphia Eagles- Brandon Graham, DE/Michigan
-The Eagles get another high motor guy to go on their defensive line.
14. Seattle Seahawks- Earl Thomas, S/Texas
-After coaching Troy Palamalu, Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays during his time at USC, I think Pete Carroll knows a good safety when he sees one.
15. New York Giants- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/South Florida
-I'm willing to bet you can get Osi Umenyiora for a mid-round pick now. Still steaming from the Raiders stealing Rolando McClain, Tom Coughlin and company pick arguably the most athletically gifted DE prospect in the draft since Jevon Kearse.
16. Tennessee Titans- Derrick Morgan, DE/Georgia Tech
-Should be just another in what's starting to become a long line of rock solid defensive lineman for Jeff Fisher and his defensive staff.
17. San Francisco 49ers- Mike Iupati, G/Idaho
-I can only imagine how big the smile on Frank Gore's face is at this point.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers- Maurkice Pouncey, OL/Florida
-Will probably start out at guard, but will eventually move to center and be the cornerstone of the Steelers o-line for the next decade. With Big Ben on the shelf for at least the first quarter of the season, I guess the Steelers will do their fair share of running the ball.
19. Atlanta Falcons- Sean Weatherspoon, OLB/Missouri
-A true thumper who was a model of consistency during his time in Columbia.
20. Houston Texans- Kareem Jackson, CB/Alabama
-Somebody has to replace the recently departed Dunta Robinson
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Jermaine Gresham, TE/Oklahoma
-Needs work on his blocking skills, but he should be Carson Palmer's new security blanket in the rugged AFC North.
22. Denver Broncos- Demaryius Thomas, WR/Georgia Tech
-A Brandon Marshall starter kit without the off the field issues is just what Josh McDaniels is looking for.
23. Green Bay Packers- Bryan Bulaga, OT/Iowa
-Did you see the last play of the Packers' game in the playoffs against the Cardinals? If so, you know why the Packers went with an offensive lineman.
24. Dallas Cowboys- Dez Bryant, WR/Oklahoma State
-However much time is left on the clock for Roy Williams here in Dallas just got a little shorter. On another note, Bryant should send a huge thank you note to Randy Moss because after passing over Moss more than a decade ago because of character concerns, Jerry Jones wasn't going to pass up on another big time wideout.
25. Denver Broncos- Tim Tebow, QB/Florida
-I don't know if he's worth first round money, but I'm glad somebody took him so we can stop hearing him talk.
26. Arizona Cardinals- Dan Williams, DT/Tennessee
-Ken Whisenhunt gets a big body to go in the middle of what will be a new look Cardinals defense.
27. New England Patriots- Devin McCourty, CB/Rutgers
-Bill Belichik keeps re-tooling his secondary with young and lively bodies. Too bad none of them can cover Reggie Wayne, Brandon Marshall or Santonio Holmes.
28. Miami Dolphins- Jared Odrick, DL/Penn St.
-Far be it from me to question the Tuna when it comes to the draft. Oh wait, there was that year when he drafted Julius Jones instead of Steven Jackson. There was also that year he drafted Bobby Carpenter when he could've drafted DeMeco Ryans.
29. New York Jets- Kyle Wilson, CB/Bosie St.
-Wilson plays with the attitude Rex Ryan is looking for in a defensive player and adding him to a secondary already loaded with Darelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Jim Leonard is going make life a living hell for every opposing QB on the Jets' schedule.
30. Detroit Lions- Jahvid Best, RB/California
-The Lions now have a home run hitter in the backfield to help out Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew and the rest of their young and talented corps of skill players.
31. Indianapolis Colts- Jerry Hughes, DE/TCU
-The Colts pick another player who fits their style of defense perfectly.
32. New Orleans Saints- Patrick Robinson, CB/Florida State
-Another cover guy who will allow Greg Williams to dial up another exotic blitz package.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
I wonder
You know I had to bring it back!
Those of you who followed In the Trenches are familiar with the playful and insightful series known as "I wonder......". For those of you who aren't familiar with it, I hope you have as much fun reading it as I do writing it.
With that said, let's get to it.
I wonder.........
-why the 49ers aren't making a serious run at the newly available Donovan McNabb? General Manager or no general manager, contract extension or no contract extension, the personel department for the 49ers should have been at the front of the line the second Andy Reid made it public knowledge that the Eagles are listening to offers for any of their quarterbacks. (He really meant McNabb or Michael Vick, because we all know they're trying to give the keys to the franchise to Kelvin Kolb.) I know Mike Singletary and the front office have said Alex Smith is their starter, but I remember Brad Childress saying Tavaris Jackson was the starter in Minnesota until a certain Mississippi native decided he wanted to play football again last summer too. Why couldn't McNabb do for the 49ers in 2010 what Brett Favre just did for the Vikings 2009? Think about it for a second. The 49ers have a solid running game with Frank Gore and Glen Coffe, a nice trio of pass catchers in Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan and Vernon Davis, and a solid defense led by one of the best defensive players in the game in Patrick Willis. They've got all the tools necessary to win a wide open NFC West. Except a top flight quarterback! Alex Smith might finally blossom into the player the 49ers thought he might be when they took him with the first pick in the 2005 draft. That potential player isn't as good as what McNabb is right now and won't be as good as McNabb will be for the next three to five years. McNabb got the Eagles to five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl with no legitimate running game to speak of and mainly throwing to guys like Freddie Mitchell, James Thrash and Todd Pinkston. Imagine what he could do in a significantly weaker division, with comparable weapons and a coach who wouldn't just drop the outcome of games in his lap every week.
-how much longer Ben Roethlisberger will continue to get a pass from the mainstream media? It's amazing how much collateral a couple of Super Bowl wins gets you these days, isn't it? "Big Ben" has been accused of sexual assault twice within the last 8 months. Yet the media, by in large, has done everything they can to avoid raking him over the proverbial coals like they would do a number of so many other athletes. Could you imagine the tone of the coverage if a certain combustible receiver with the last name Owens was involved in anything remotely close to what Roethilisberger is right now? When the first suit was filed against Roethlisbeger last year by a worker at a casion resort in Lake Tahoe, ESPN initially stuck their head in the sand and refused to discuss it because it was a "civil" case. Fast foward to now and the recent allegations against him of sexual assault filed by a 20 year-old college student at a night club in Milledgeville, Georgia and the media is doing everything they can to keep from grilling him like piece of rotisserie chicken. Where is Ed Werder at now? ESPN can send him to Mississippi to camp out on Brett Favre's property to give us updates on when Favre goes to the bathroom but they can't send him to Milledgeville to get us answers as to what Roethlisberger was allegedly doing in a bathroom with a college girl. Werder can do numerous television reports and radio hits with useless info on the Dallas Cowboys, but he can't seem to gather an opinion on whether or not Roethlisberger is a "good" teammate anymore? Give me a break! Whether the Steelers' signal caller is found guilty on either charge will obviously be determined in the months to come. That said, I think it's kind of strange how a lot of talking heads have suddenly gone quiet when it comes to Big Ben. As for me, I'm like everybody else in the fact that I don't know if he's completely innocent on all charges or if he should be calling Michael Vick for advice on how to navigate his way through prison politics. One thing is certain though and that's that Roethlisberger is getting the mother of all hall passes from the media right now.
-why Urban Meyer is getting a pass for going postal on that reporter last week?
Sure, he apologized for it a couple of days later. That doesn't mean we should all just act like nothing happened. The reporter in question, Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel, drew the ire of Meyer because he quoted Gators' receiver Deonte Thompson saying something to the extent that new Gators quarterback John Brantley, unlike the diety known as Tim Tebow, plays like a "real quarterback". We all know Meyer and Tebow will be linked forever in the history books of college football. That's fine, but it's no excuse for Meyer to go all Mike Leach on Fowler and challenge him to a fist fight on the practice field.
**The Lightining Round
-why undersized forwards keep volunteering to get posterized by Amare Stoudemire? I'm not sure what it is but guys in the league are starting to make an embarrasing habbit of finding themselves on the business end of Amare's explosions at the rim lately. Some poor guy from the Golden State Warriors was nearly deposited in the seats behind the basket by Stoudemire last week. (Amare gave the guy a chance to stay on the ground.) And just the other day in Chicago he baptized one of the Bulls undersized front court players at the rim as well. Message all role players in the NBA: Stop trying to climb the ladder with Amare! You don't have enough rungs on yours to get up there with him!
-why Kate Gosselin is relevant enough to put on Dancing with the Stars?
I'm not sure how much more of this lady's 15 minutes of fame I can take? For the record, I have nothing against her personally. However, she is somewhere between the mistresses of politicians who are looking for a book deal and the Hollywood socialites who are famous for having a rich surname or a scandolous sex tape. Having a bundle of kids and then exploiting them on a television show for a few years to pay your bills does not make you a celebrity. It makes you a mom who tried to make the best of a sticky situation for her family. I wish the best for Kate, John and that brood of crum-snatchers they brought into this world. I just wish Kate would get off my tv screen.
-why guys in pick up basketball games at the local health club insist on wearing the elbow sleeve as if they were Allen Iverson?
It's bad enough when the tubby guy hits the court with his favorite pair of worn out Air Jordan's, but now guys are adoning themselves with the elbow sleeve as if they have a legitimate injury or something. It's pick up basketball fellas! Most of us are in there for the cardio and competition of it. If any of us were good enough to actually have tendinitis of the elbow, we'd be getting played to play somewhere. But we're not. Playing at the local gym is already trying enough from time to time when you have to deal with the guys who call those ridiciulous fouls just to keep from losing. Seeing middle age men or 25 year-olds who still think they can take their favorite NBA superstar in the elbow sleeve is where I draw the line on proper pick up game ettiquite
Those of you who followed In the Trenches are familiar with the playful and insightful series known as "I wonder......". For those of you who aren't familiar with it, I hope you have as much fun reading it as I do writing it.
With that said, let's get to it.
I wonder.........
-why the 49ers aren't making a serious run at the newly available Donovan McNabb? General Manager or no general manager, contract extension or no contract extension, the personel department for the 49ers should have been at the front of the line the second Andy Reid made it public knowledge that the Eagles are listening to offers for any of their quarterbacks. (He really meant McNabb or Michael Vick, because we all know they're trying to give the keys to the franchise to Kelvin Kolb.) I know Mike Singletary and the front office have said Alex Smith is their starter, but I remember Brad Childress saying Tavaris Jackson was the starter in Minnesota until a certain Mississippi native decided he wanted to play football again last summer too. Why couldn't McNabb do for the 49ers in 2010 what Brett Favre just did for the Vikings 2009? Think about it for a second. The 49ers have a solid running game with Frank Gore and Glen Coffe, a nice trio of pass catchers in Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan and Vernon Davis, and a solid defense led by one of the best defensive players in the game in Patrick Willis. They've got all the tools necessary to win a wide open NFC West. Except a top flight quarterback! Alex Smith might finally blossom into the player the 49ers thought he might be when they took him with the first pick in the 2005 draft. That potential player isn't as good as what McNabb is right now and won't be as good as McNabb will be for the next three to five years. McNabb got the Eagles to five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl with no legitimate running game to speak of and mainly throwing to guys like Freddie Mitchell, James Thrash and Todd Pinkston. Imagine what he could do in a significantly weaker division, with comparable weapons and a coach who wouldn't just drop the outcome of games in his lap every week.
-how much longer Ben Roethlisberger will continue to get a pass from the mainstream media? It's amazing how much collateral a couple of Super Bowl wins gets you these days, isn't it? "Big Ben" has been accused of sexual assault twice within the last 8 months. Yet the media, by in large, has done everything they can to avoid raking him over the proverbial coals like they would do a number of so many other athletes. Could you imagine the tone of the coverage if a certain combustible receiver with the last name Owens was involved in anything remotely close to what Roethilisberger is right now? When the first suit was filed against Roethlisbeger last year by a worker at a casion resort in Lake Tahoe, ESPN initially stuck their head in the sand and refused to discuss it because it was a "civil" case. Fast foward to now and the recent allegations against him of sexual assault filed by a 20 year-old college student at a night club in Milledgeville, Georgia and the media is doing everything they can to keep from grilling him like piece of rotisserie chicken. Where is Ed Werder at now? ESPN can send him to Mississippi to camp out on Brett Favre's property to give us updates on when Favre goes to the bathroom but they can't send him to Milledgeville to get us answers as to what Roethlisberger was allegedly doing in a bathroom with a college girl. Werder can do numerous television reports and radio hits with useless info on the Dallas Cowboys, but he can't seem to gather an opinion on whether or not Roethlisberger is a "good" teammate anymore? Give me a break! Whether the Steelers' signal caller is found guilty on either charge will obviously be determined in the months to come. That said, I think it's kind of strange how a lot of talking heads have suddenly gone quiet when it comes to Big Ben. As for me, I'm like everybody else in the fact that I don't know if he's completely innocent on all charges or if he should be calling Michael Vick for advice on how to navigate his way through prison politics. One thing is certain though and that's that Roethlisberger is getting the mother of all hall passes from the media right now.
-why Urban Meyer is getting a pass for going postal on that reporter last week?
Sure, he apologized for it a couple of days later. That doesn't mean we should all just act like nothing happened. The reporter in question, Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel, drew the ire of Meyer because he quoted Gators' receiver Deonte Thompson saying something to the extent that new Gators quarterback John Brantley, unlike the diety known as Tim Tebow, plays like a "real quarterback". We all know Meyer and Tebow will be linked forever in the history books of college football. That's fine, but it's no excuse for Meyer to go all Mike Leach on Fowler and challenge him to a fist fight on the practice field.
**The Lightining Round
-why undersized forwards keep volunteering to get posterized by Amare Stoudemire? I'm not sure what it is but guys in the league are starting to make an embarrasing habbit of finding themselves on the business end of Amare's explosions at the rim lately. Some poor guy from the Golden State Warriors was nearly deposited in the seats behind the basket by Stoudemire last week. (Amare gave the guy a chance to stay on the ground.) And just the other day in Chicago he baptized one of the Bulls undersized front court players at the rim as well. Message all role players in the NBA: Stop trying to climb the ladder with Amare! You don't have enough rungs on yours to get up there with him!
-why Kate Gosselin is relevant enough to put on Dancing with the Stars?
I'm not sure how much more of this lady's 15 minutes of fame I can take? For the record, I have nothing against her personally. However, she is somewhere between the mistresses of politicians who are looking for a book deal and the Hollywood socialites who are famous for having a rich surname or a scandolous sex tape. Having a bundle of kids and then exploiting them on a television show for a few years to pay your bills does not make you a celebrity. It makes you a mom who tried to make the best of a sticky situation for her family. I wish the best for Kate, John and that brood of crum-snatchers they brought into this world. I just wish Kate would get off my tv screen.
-why guys in pick up basketball games at the local health club insist on wearing the elbow sleeve as if they were Allen Iverson?
It's bad enough when the tubby guy hits the court with his favorite pair of worn out Air Jordan's, but now guys are adoning themselves with the elbow sleeve as if they have a legitimate injury or something. It's pick up basketball fellas! Most of us are in there for the cardio and competition of it. If any of us were good enough to actually have tendinitis of the elbow, we'd be getting played to play somewhere. But we're not. Playing at the local gym is already trying enough from time to time when you have to deal with the guys who call those ridiciulous fouls just to keep from losing. Seeing middle age men or 25 year-olds who still think they can take their favorite NBA superstar in the elbow sleeve is where I draw the line on proper pick up game ettiquite
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The South Region
Don't tell me there's not somebody in the NCAA looking out for the Duke Blue Devils.
They feasted on a mediocre ACC this season and somehow got a 1 seed over West Virginia who won the Big East. Add that to the fact that 2 seed Villanova hasn't looked like themselves in a couple of weeks now and 4th seed Purdue struggled to break the 40 point barrier in their last game and you have the makings of a nice and easy Sunday stroll to Indianapolis for the most polarizing college basketball program in the country.
Now that we've established that the Blue Devils get preferential treatment, let's take a look at who's going to have Dick Vitale throwing his bracket in that Blue Devil-painted trash can of his.
Louisville definitely has the necessary tools to knock off the Blue Devils in the second round. It's just a matter of whether or not they can hit their 3's and Edgar Sosa can avoid making the crucial mistake we all know he has the potential to.
Let's say the Blue Devils survive the Cardinals and get to the regional in Houston.
They should find the physical and seemingly forgotten Aggies of Texas A&M waiting for them in what should amount to a glorified home game for the Aggies inside Reliant Stadium.
(Houston is a short drive from College Station for those of you not familiar with that part of the state of Texas.)
The Aggies, just like Louisville have what's needed to knock off Duke. Donald Sloan can get into the lane when he wants and the crafty Brian Davis will certainly give the lead-footed Brian Zoubek all he can handle in the paint. If the officials let the players decide the game, don't be surprised if the Aggies pull it off. If the zebras come out a little trigger happy or as Bill Raftery says calling those cheap nickel-dimers, you'll hear more than those famous war hymns coming from the Aggie faithful in the stands.
Here's where things are going to get interesting.
Other than Villanova, who seems to forgotten who they are over the past couple of weeks, the team that has what it takes to beat Duke is Baylor.
That's right, I said it!
The school that's basically been an afterthought in basketball for sometime now and was the center of an ugly murder cover-up a few years ago is suddenly an emerging player in the Big 12 under the guidance of the enthusiastic Scott Drew.
Tweety Carter and LaceDarrius Dunn are one of the most active guard combos in the land and Michigan-transfer Ekpe Udoh is probably a lottery pick in the upcoming draft if he decides he's ready to start being fairly compensated for his exploits on the court. Throw in the human pogo stick that is sophomore Quincy Acy and the Bears have all the makings of a team that can make a run to Indianapolis.
The Winner: Baylor. Their bigs will be the key to them winning a track meet with Villanova. (Scottie Reynolds has only so many miracles in him, right?) Their overall athleticism will give the Blue Devils fits and a crowd that's sure to be rooting for them will help them find a way to beat Coach K's crew in a very entertaining game.
Baylor is the most famous Baptist school in the country so it's not exactly what you would consider party central. Things will never be the same down on the Brazos or at famous watering hole George's though after Scott Drew and the Bears pull off the tournament's most shocking upset and cut down the nets in Houston.
They feasted on a mediocre ACC this season and somehow got a 1 seed over West Virginia who won the Big East. Add that to the fact that 2 seed Villanova hasn't looked like themselves in a couple of weeks now and 4th seed Purdue struggled to break the 40 point barrier in their last game and you have the makings of a nice and easy Sunday stroll to Indianapolis for the most polarizing college basketball program in the country.
Now that we've established that the Blue Devils get preferential treatment, let's take a look at who's going to have Dick Vitale throwing his bracket in that Blue Devil-painted trash can of his.
Louisville definitely has the necessary tools to knock off the Blue Devils in the second round. It's just a matter of whether or not they can hit their 3's and Edgar Sosa can avoid making the crucial mistake we all know he has the potential to.
Let's say the Blue Devils survive the Cardinals and get to the regional in Houston.
They should find the physical and seemingly forgotten Aggies of Texas A&M waiting for them in what should amount to a glorified home game for the Aggies inside Reliant Stadium.
(Houston is a short drive from College Station for those of you not familiar with that part of the state of Texas.)
The Aggies, just like Louisville have what's needed to knock off Duke. Donald Sloan can get into the lane when he wants and the crafty Brian Davis will certainly give the lead-footed Brian Zoubek all he can handle in the paint. If the officials let the players decide the game, don't be surprised if the Aggies pull it off. If the zebras come out a little trigger happy or as Bill Raftery says calling those cheap nickel-dimers, you'll hear more than those famous war hymns coming from the Aggie faithful in the stands.
Here's where things are going to get interesting.
Other than Villanova, who seems to forgotten who they are over the past couple of weeks, the team that has what it takes to beat Duke is Baylor.
That's right, I said it!
The school that's basically been an afterthought in basketball for sometime now and was the center of an ugly murder cover-up a few years ago is suddenly an emerging player in the Big 12 under the guidance of the enthusiastic Scott Drew.
Tweety Carter and LaceDarrius Dunn are one of the most active guard combos in the land and Michigan-transfer Ekpe Udoh is probably a lottery pick in the upcoming draft if he decides he's ready to start being fairly compensated for his exploits on the court. Throw in the human pogo stick that is sophomore Quincy Acy and the Bears have all the makings of a team that can make a run to Indianapolis.
The Winner: Baylor. Their bigs will be the key to them winning a track meet with Villanova. (Scottie Reynolds has only so many miracles in him, right?) Their overall athleticism will give the Blue Devils fits and a crowd that's sure to be rooting for them will help them find a way to beat Coach K's crew in a very entertaining game.
Baylor is the most famous Baptist school in the country so it's not exactly what you would consider party central. Things will never be the same down on the Brazos or at famous watering hole George's though after Scott Drew and the Bears pull off the tournament's most shocking upset and cut down the nets in Houston.
The East Region
I know Kentucky has their moments when they make every one of their fans want to pull their hair out, but they should be in the Elite 8 as along as John Calipari can keep his band of future draft picks focused on the task at hand.
Maybe they'll cross paths with Temple or Wisconsin in the Sweet 16. The Owls or Badgers will undoubtedly try to control the tempo to keep John Wall from turning the court at the Carrier Dome into his personal speedway, but who do the Owls, Badgers or even potential Cinderella Cornell have that can bang with DeMarcus Coursins, Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton for 40 minutes and live to tell about it?
The other side of the region sees the West Virginia Mountaineers, who should've been a 1 seed, and a grab bag of teams that I still can't really get a hold on.
Maybe New Mexico can keep Bob Huggins rugged crew from meeting the Wildcats, but outside of the Lobos there's not a team that's just oozing with the potential or the personnel to beat the Mountaineers.
6th seed Marquette is tough as they nails but the suddenly streaking Washington Huskies might be the team to knock them off the slippery slope they've been camping out on the past couple of weeks. Clemson and Missouri will be one of the most entertaining first round games on style of play alone. Neither of them though have enough to beat the Mountaineers or the Lobos.
The Winner: Kentucky. Can you show me a point guard in this region capable of sticking with John Wall for 40 minutes? No. Is there a front line that can battle with Kentucky's for a full 40 minutes? Probably not. The Wildcats will cut down the Carrier Dome nets after having a battle royal with West Virginia in game that will not be for the faint of heart. Isn't it fitting these two will get together in a Big East team's arena?
Maybe they'll cross paths with Temple or Wisconsin in the Sweet 16. The Owls or Badgers will undoubtedly try to control the tempo to keep John Wall from turning the court at the Carrier Dome into his personal speedway, but who do the Owls, Badgers or even potential Cinderella Cornell have that can bang with DeMarcus Coursins, Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton for 40 minutes and live to tell about it?
The other side of the region sees the West Virginia Mountaineers, who should've been a 1 seed, and a grab bag of teams that I still can't really get a hold on.
Maybe New Mexico can keep Bob Huggins rugged crew from meeting the Wildcats, but outside of the Lobos there's not a team that's just oozing with the potential or the personnel to beat the Mountaineers.
6th seed Marquette is tough as they nails but the suddenly streaking Washington Huskies might be the team to knock them off the slippery slope they've been camping out on the past couple of weeks. Clemson and Missouri will be one of the most entertaining first round games on style of play alone. Neither of them though have enough to beat the Mountaineers or the Lobos.
The Winner: Kentucky. Can you show me a point guard in this region capable of sticking with John Wall for 40 minutes? No. Is there a front line that can battle with Kentucky's for a full 40 minutes? Probably not. The Wildcats will cut down the Carrier Dome nets after having a battle royal with West Virginia in game that will not be for the faint of heart. Isn't it fitting these two will get together in a Big East team's arena?
The West Region
Jim Boeheim's probably not the biggest fan of having to possibly play a regional final in the mountains on the other side of the country but the Orange have a pretty favorable draw.
I'm sure they'll be looking to exercise some tournament demons against Vermont in the first round and things could get a little hairy in the second round against either Gonzaga or the steel trap that is the defense of Florida State depending on whether or not Arinze Onuaku can give them productive minutes as he continues to recover from that injured quad.
This is definitely one of Boeheim's best squads though and the duo of Andy Routins and Wesley Johnson along with some help from Rick Jackson should figure things out to get the Orange to the second weekend.
Assuming the Orange make it to Salt Lake City, there's no telling who they'll see in the Sweet 16.
Butler and Vandy have both had great seasons. However, they're just as capable of losing to UTEP and Murray St. as they are of beating them. (UTEP's front line of Derek Caracter and Arnett Moultrie is just the kind that can give Butler nightmares and there's just something about Vandy that makes me nervous this time of year.)
A look to the bottom part of the region seems pretty boring at first glance until you realize Frank Martin's Kansas State team,(26-7), is probably the most under the radar 2 seed in recent memory. Sharp-shooter Jimmer Fredette and 7th seed BYU will be a tough out for anybody they come across, and 6th seed Xavier is about as fun to play with this time of year as an angry bunch of scorpions.
I like Jamie Dixon and the tough minded Pitt Panthers as the 3 seed. Let's be real though, the Panthers have probably over-achieved this year and their time to win the title was snuffed out last year in Boston with a mad dash to the bucket by Villanova's Scottie Reynolds.
The Winner: Syracuse. I reserve the right to change my mind if an announcement comes down that Onuaku can't play. If he does make a return to the lineup though, the Orange will find a way to outlast a gritty Kansas State team in another hotly contested game that will probably push the fiery Frank Martin to the verge of simultaneously hyperventilating and having a brain aneurysm.
I'm sure they'll be looking to exercise some tournament demons against Vermont in the first round and things could get a little hairy in the second round against either Gonzaga or the steel trap that is the defense of Florida State depending on whether or not Arinze Onuaku can give them productive minutes as he continues to recover from that injured quad.
This is definitely one of Boeheim's best squads though and the duo of Andy Routins and Wesley Johnson along with some help from Rick Jackson should figure things out to get the Orange to the second weekend.
Assuming the Orange make it to Salt Lake City, there's no telling who they'll see in the Sweet 16.
Butler and Vandy have both had great seasons. However, they're just as capable of losing to UTEP and Murray St. as they are of beating them. (UTEP's front line of Derek Caracter and Arnett Moultrie is just the kind that can give Butler nightmares and there's just something about Vandy that makes me nervous this time of year.)
A look to the bottom part of the region seems pretty boring at first glance until you realize Frank Martin's Kansas State team,(26-7), is probably the most under the radar 2 seed in recent memory. Sharp-shooter Jimmer Fredette and 7th seed BYU will be a tough out for anybody they come across, and 6th seed Xavier is about as fun to play with this time of year as an angry bunch of scorpions.
I like Jamie Dixon and the tough minded Pitt Panthers as the 3 seed. Let's be real though, the Panthers have probably over-achieved this year and their time to win the title was snuffed out last year in Boston with a mad dash to the bucket by Villanova's Scottie Reynolds.
The Winner: Syracuse. I reserve the right to change my mind if an announcement comes down that Onuaku can't play. If he does make a return to the lineup though, the Orange will find a way to outlast a gritty Kansas State team in another hotly contested game that will probably push the fiery Frank Martin to the verge of simultaneously hyperventilating and having a brain aneurysm.
The Midwest Region
I don't think it's quite as murderous as everybody is making it out to be, but I think it's safe to assume Bill Self won't be sending any thank you cards to the selection committee.
Ohio State and Georgetown are the toughest 2/3 seed combination in the field. After that though, there's a slew of teams who could pose a threat to Kansas but they either have glaring flaws or can be wildly inconsistent.
I know Maryland has Gary Williams and a player with the machismo of Tony Montana in Grevis Vasquez, but they don't matchup with the Jayhawks. Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans have become a permanent staple in the month of March, but there's something a little different with this year's version of the Spartans as opposed to the group that went to the title game last season.
6th seed Tennessee already has a win over Kansas this season, but they've got their hands full with a scary San Diego State crew in the first round and will probably be staring directly at Georgetown in the second round if they survive Steve Fisher's band of athletic Aztecs. 10th seed Georgia Tech, led by the monstrous tandem of Derek Favors and Giani Lawall, definitely looks the part getting off the bus. Talented and physically imposing as the Yellow Jackets may be though, they turn the ball over way too much and just have far too many moments when they just can't seem to get out of their own way.
The Winner: Kansas. The Jayhawks should get to the Elite 8 without too much stress. It'll get sticky their though where they'll face either Brandon Roy-clone Evan Turner and Ohio State or jack-of-all-trades big man Greg Monroe and the Hoyas who will be as dangerous as anybody left in the field if they're still alive at that point. Whether it's the Buckeyes or the Hoyas, expect freshman Xavier Henry to be the key in a Jayhawks win in what could turn out to be one of the best Elite 8 games of recent memories.
Ohio State and Georgetown are the toughest 2/3 seed combination in the field. After that though, there's a slew of teams who could pose a threat to Kansas but they either have glaring flaws or can be wildly inconsistent.
I know Maryland has Gary Williams and a player with the machismo of Tony Montana in Grevis Vasquez, but they don't matchup with the Jayhawks. Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans have become a permanent staple in the month of March, but there's something a little different with this year's version of the Spartans as opposed to the group that went to the title game last season.
6th seed Tennessee already has a win over Kansas this season, but they've got their hands full with a scary San Diego State crew in the first round and will probably be staring directly at Georgetown in the second round if they survive Steve Fisher's band of athletic Aztecs. 10th seed Georgia Tech, led by the monstrous tandem of Derek Favors and Giani Lawall, definitely looks the part getting off the bus. Talented and physically imposing as the Yellow Jackets may be though, they turn the ball over way too much and just have far too many moments when they just can't seem to get out of their own way.
The Winner: Kansas. The Jayhawks should get to the Elite 8 without too much stress. It'll get sticky their though where they'll face either Brandon Roy-clone Evan Turner and Ohio State or jack-of-all-trades big man Greg Monroe and the Hoyas who will be as dangerous as anybody left in the field if they're still alive at that point. Whether it's the Buckeyes or the Hoyas, expect freshman Xavier Henry to be the key in a Jayhawks win in what could turn out to be one of the best Elite 8 games of recent memories.
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