The 1st round of the 2011 NFL Draft is in the books. There was plenty of excitement, from the Falcons' big trade to the Ravens late pick. We saw guys fall and guys come off much earlier than expected. It's always a moot point to grade draft choices until five years down the road, but where's the fun in that. I'll try to keep it short and sweet, so here's my winner, loser, sleeper, and bust of round one.
Winner
New Orleans Saints - Cameron Jordan/Mark Ingram: It may be unfair because the Saints ended getting a couple guys, but who they got and where is why they are my top winner of the 1st round. First, they managed to have a solid defensive end in Cameron Jordan fall to them at the 24th spot. Getting him alone would have been a success for the Saints, but they took advantage of the Patriots trade-happy draft day strategy. Perhaps the Patriots are starting to overdo it and likely they regret some of those trades (see Clay Matthews III). This year may be no different, as they passed on the Mark Ingram, the top running back in this year's draft, and a player that they could have used as well. Regardless of what the Saints do the rest of the weekend, they will end up being a winner in this year's draft.
Loser
Minnesota Vikings - Christian Ponder: If you ask anyone, they'll tell you I believe Christian Ponder can be a good NFL quarterback. What I don't believe is that the Vikings took him with the 12th pick. When Tennessee took Jake Locker, the Vikings likely had to rethink their draft strategy. Unfortunately, while they tried to trade down to get in position to take Ponder later in round one, nobody was willing to deal. Vikings fans likely will watch all the elite defensive lineman that they passed up on carefully in the next few years. If Ponder turns out to have a decent career, they will simply look back and wonder what they could have gotten with the second or third round pick they likely lost out on.
Steal
New York Jets - Muhammad Wilkerson: The Jets always enter the draft with extra pressure, but this year they managed to get a top-12 talent with the the 30th pick. Wilkerson is a versatile defensive lineman that will fit into Rex Ryan's game plan perfectly. He can stop the run and rush the passer. The Jets likely had this position targeted, but never would have expected Wilkerson to be there. Jets fans were excited about this choice as well, but don't worry, they'll boo a pick sometime this weekend.
Bust
Jacksonville Jaguars - Blaine Gabbert: If you are laughing at my choice for bust, please send me your name and email, I will be glad to email you 5 years from now. Now the Vikings maybe failed to maximize their draft value, but I believe they actually got a better prospect than the Jaguars traded up to get with Gabbert. I don't believe in Gabbert's ability to materialize into a solid starting quarterback in the NFL, it's as simple as that. If he doesn't lead the Jags (or whatever they may be named in a few years) to an AFC championship game, you can count this as a fail.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
NFL Draft - 2011
With the 2011 NFL draft nearly upon us, I take some time out of my busy day to discuss me thoughts. Ok, so my boss is gone, her boss is gone, her boss's boss is gone, and everyone on in my office is on vacation, so Im not busy at all. Regardless, here are the top 10 things you need to know leading up to tonight's festivities...
1. Who will the WORLD CHAMPION Green Bay Packers select with the last and final pick?
Let me tell ya, being a top 10 pick makes the draft a lot more fun, but being dead last is a great feeling. Football is about winning in the fall, not winning in the spring, just ask the Detroit Lions. With the last pick on Thursday night, which may end up being Friday morning, the Packers take ....
Brooks Reed. If Ingram, Jimmy Smith, or Derek Sherrod is here, they take him, but they won't be. Mikel Leshoure is rumored here, but that is not a value pick the Packers are known for. This leaves us with Cameron Heyward and Brooks Reed. Reed has more versatility, and a better motor. Add in the fact that he can come from the complete opposite side of the field as Clay Matthews, and you opposing QBs cringe. Just ask anyone who takes snaps for the Bears. I quote Mel Kiper "Without the benefit of free agency this season, teams have not been able to fill their needs before the draft. Instead of needing 2 or 3 positions, they need 6 or 7 or more. Well, except for Green Bay. All they need is the season to start and another Lombardi trophy in the case." With that being said, don't be suprised if the Packers trade out of the first round (for someone to slide up and pick Dalton, Locker, or Ponder).
2. Who will go #1 overall?
Who should go #1 and who will go #1 are completely different questions. With Jimmy Clausen sitting on 1 year off being a 2nd rounder, the Panthers have a QB. He was a ROOKIE last year! Give him some slack. Aaron Rodgers didn't dominate until year 4, after some well needed clipboard time. Clausen was thrown into the firepit with no tools. Give him some time, and give him some talent, and he will be a solid QB. Taking Newton is risky, it is expensive, and it handcuffs your franchise for a decade if he isn't a perennial Pro Bowler. Do the right thing, and take AJ Green, Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, or Marcel Dareus here. But alas, Cam Newton is selected with the top pick.
3. No Trades.
The Draft will take an unprecendented form this year, due to the inability of teams to trade current players or to have signed free agents in the off season. Teams have glaring needs everywhere, and were unable to sign free agents to help themselves out. There will be more value drafting this year, and less need drafting. Pick for picks trading is the only kind of trade that will happen, and expect at least 2 in the first round. How different would mock drafts look if you put Kevin Kolb in a 49ers or Cards uniform...
4. Second attempt at Thursday night prime time TV.
Without even considering the Office finale, Thursday nights are packed full of big name prime time TV spots. Throw in that little labor dispute that is going on right now, and it will be interesting to see how fans take in the draft. Will the ratings match or beat last year, or will we see the ratings plummet? This could be the perfect time for fans to show the NFL what they have to lose if this labor issue continues.
Without even considering the Office finale, Thursday nights are packed full of big name prime time TV spots. Throw in that little labor dispute that is going on right now, and it will be interesting to see how fans take in the draft. Will the ratings match or beat last year, or will we see the ratings plummet? This could be the perfect time for fans to show the NFL what they have to lose if this labor issue continues.
5. Quarterbacks.
They are the face of a franchise, its backbone. Take a look at the teams drafting in the end of the draft, and what do they have in common? They have a QB. To win in this league, you need to have your prized possession making the calls and touching the ball every play. How many QBs will go on Thursday night? Could be as little as 2 (Newton and Gabbort), and could be as many as 7 (Dalton, Locker, Kaepernick, Ponder, and Mallett). My call is Newton (Panthers), Gabbort (Bills), Mallet (Seahawks), and Locker (Vikings) all go round 1, Ponder (Arizona) and Kaepernick (Bengals) go on Friday.
6. Running Backs.
The finesse spot that nobody is talking about at the top of this draft. Yet, I say it is possibly the most valuable position to fill. Trivia, name the running backs picked in the top 10 since 2004: There are 7....
CJ Spiller - Jury Still Out
Darren McFadden - Questionable, but has not lived up to the billingAP - Lets call this a success.
Reggie Bush - Failure
Ronnie Brown - Failure for where he was picked.
Cedric Benson - Excellent pick if you need someone to tile your floor.
Cadillac Williams - Good, but not worthy of the pick.
That means in the past 7 NFL drafts, 1 back of value was selected in the top 10 (14%). How many were selected in picks 20-32? There were 9...
Jahvid Best - So far, a good pick
Donald Brown - Jury still out, so far, failureBeanie Wells - ditto
Felix Jones - I would say a borderline success, above all but AP listed above
Rashard Mendenhall - Count it!
Chris Johnson - MVP caliber
Laurence Maroney - Ok for a while, but an overall failure, may have been ok for his end of the round slot
DeAngelo Williams - Mediocre, Im blaming the team, take him off the Panthers and its a good pick.
Joseph Addai - has had injuries, but I would call this late 1st rounder a success.
If you were keeping track, thats 6 (Best, Jones, Mendenhall, CJ, Wiliams, and Addai) picks I would rank above all but AP. That is a 67% success rate. Lesson: Take your running backs in the late 1st round, early second, which is where Mark Ingram, Mikel Leshoure, Ryan Williams, and DeMarco Murray are projected. Look for 3 of these guys to become fantasy monsters. My watch'em picks are Jacquizz Rodgers and Daniel Thomas.
7. A Poor WR group. Sure, you have AJ Green and Julio Jones, but can anyone name the #3 ranked wideout? Me neither. (Its Torrey Smith from Maryland). Pending some development, the rest of the list is strictly 3rd wideout type of talent. Keep your eyes on the following guys 2-3 years from now: Jonathan Baldwin, Tandon Doss, Austin Pettis, and Armon Binns.
8. My steal of the draft:
Kyle Rudolph (TE, ND). I don't think this beast is off the board until mid second round, and its a shame. He is a monster (think Jermichael Finely and Antonio Gates sized) with an amazing pass catching ability, teamed with solid blocking skills. Whoever picks this kid up is going to have add one hell of a weapon.
9. The most irrelevant position in sports:
The kicker. Trivia: If a kicker is drafted, and no one is around to see it, does anyone give a shit? Answer: No. Sure, when it comes down to a last second field goal, you don't want Joe Schmo attempting a 55 yarder. But come on, they did absolutely NOTHING to get you to that spot. You can find a kicker in the hallway who can get the job done most of the time. Using a draft pick on this position is a complete and utter waste. The Oakland Raiders (notorious for the suburb drafting) wasted a #17 pick on Sebastian Janikowski. Now granted, he has one of the best legs in the league, but where has that gotten Oakland? There are 100 kickers who went undrafted who could fill in for him, and the Raiders would be no worse off. Who could they have selected? Shaun Alexander...Chris Hovan...Erik Flowers...Ahmed Plummer... Keith Bulluck... Mark Roman...Chad Clifton... all of whom would have been more beneficial picks, and all were selected after Sebastian in the 1st or 2nd round. (To the Raiders credit, Courtney Brown, Chris Samuels, Peter Warrick, Corey Simon, Travis Taylor, Ron Dayne, Bubba Franks, and Deltha O'Neal were all taken before Janikowski, so hey, they could've done worse). So will any kickers be taken before Sunday in this year's draft? I sure as hell hope not.
10. All considered, the NFL draft is really quite insignificant.
The hoopla and time put into it really is a guessing game in the end. If you try to argue this, I will do nothing but point you in the direction of Ryan Leaf and Peyton Manning, Barry Sanders and Tony Mandarich, Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith. Or JaMarcus Russell. Or Akili Smith. These guys went at the top, and a good number of Hall of Famers to be went near the bottom (Montana - 3rd round, Brady - 6th). All of the analysis in the world can only guide you in a direction, it cannot predict the future. So grab yourself a beer, sit down, and enjoy the draft tonight (and all weekend long). It is the one weekend a year when all teams have a chance, all fans can have some hope for the future, and is a weekend which most of these young kids have been dreaming of their entire lives. The next NFL legend may be the first pick in the draft, or who knows, maybe he won't be drafted at all...
What Should The Twins Do With Joe Mauer?
There is no argument that Joe Mauer is the best catcher in the game. He has one AL MVP award, three Gold Glove awards, and has three batting titles at the age of 28. Mauer is considered by many to be the best offensive and defensive catcher in the big leagues. So what's the problem? The problem is that Mauer can't stay healthy and has a huge contract.
In 2001, Joe Mauer was drafted by the Minnesota Twins with the first pick of the first round of the draft. His major league debut was three years later where he went 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored in a 7-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians. His career has been spectacular ever since. He holds a career batting average of .326 and has over 1,000 hits. Mauer's career year happened in 2009, where he hit .365 and had 28 homeruns. After his best statistical season, Mauer signed a record deal.
Mauer agreed to an eight year, $184 million contract extension in 2010. It is the largest contract ever signed by a catcher. At the time of his contract, Mauer was considered to be one of the best players in baseball. The problem is that he can't stay healthy. As a catcher, he has only played over 140 games in a season one time. He has been on the disabled list several times over his career. This year, he has only played 9 games out of the 22 that the Twins have played.
Mauer doesn't have injury problems because of bad luck and stupid plays. Mauer has injury problems because he plays one of the most physically demanding positions in sports, catcher. It is very difficult to have a long career at catcher because of the physical toll it takes on the body, more specifically the knees. If Mauer can't stay healthy, the Twins are going to have to make a very difficult decision...keep playing Mauer at catcher or move him to the outfield?
A lot people say that the Twins should just play Mauer at outfield and keep him healthy. The problem with that is the Twins just signed Mauer to an 8 year contract for $184 million to play behind the plate, not in the outfield. Mauer's value in baseball is due to the fact that he is a fantastic hitting catcher. If Joe Mauer was an outfielder, he wouldn't have received a contract offer near that high.
For example the Twins outfielders this year are Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, and Delmon Young. Last year, Span hit .264 with 26 stolen bases and 85 runs scored, Cuddyer hit .271 with 14 homeruns and 93 runs scored, and Young hit .298 with 21 homeruns and 112 runs batted in. Compare that to Mauer last year, who hit .327 with 9 homeruns and 75 runs batted in. Mauer is not that much of a step-up, if any, from these three players. But compare Mauer's stats to the Twins backup catcher, Drew Butera. Butera has played in 60 games the last two seasons and is batting .188 with 2 homeruns over that time period. Mauer is a huge step-up from Butera. Mauer's value as a catcher is undeniable; his value as an outfield isn't.
Mauer is a good baseball player; he is a great catcher. Moving Mauer to the outfield lowers his value in the league. Even if moving Mauer to the outfield is the best thing for him and the team, how are the Twins going to explain paying an outfielder, whose average stats are .326 with 10 homeruns, 60 runs batted in, and 4 stolen bases a season, that much money? The fans won't be happy if Mauer can't stay on the field, but they also won't be happy if the team is paying Mauer $184 million to be an outfielder.
What would you do if you were the Minnesota Twins? Would you risk leaving him at catcher and missing out on several games every season or would you move him to the outfield despite his large contract? I don't think the Twins have much of a choice...play Mauer at catcher as long as possible before they have to move him to the outfield. Either way, that large contract extentsion looks like it could hurt the organization for years to come...
all stats from www.baseball-reference.com
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| www.sportsgrumblins.com |
In 2001, Joe Mauer was drafted by the Minnesota Twins with the first pick of the first round of the draft. His major league debut was three years later where he went 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored in a 7-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians. His career has been spectacular ever since. He holds a career batting average of .326 and has over 1,000 hits. Mauer's career year happened in 2009, where he hit .365 and had 28 homeruns. After his best statistical season, Mauer signed a record deal.
Mauer agreed to an eight year, $184 million contract extension in 2010. It is the largest contract ever signed by a catcher. At the time of his contract, Mauer was considered to be one of the best players in baseball. The problem is that he can't stay healthy. As a catcher, he has only played over 140 games in a season one time. He has been on the disabled list several times over his career. This year, he has only played 9 games out of the 22 that the Twins have played.
Mauer doesn't have injury problems because of bad luck and stupid plays. Mauer has injury problems because he plays one of the most physically demanding positions in sports, catcher. It is very difficult to have a long career at catcher because of the physical toll it takes on the body, more specifically the knees. If Mauer can't stay healthy, the Twins are going to have to make a very difficult decision...keep playing Mauer at catcher or move him to the outfield?
A lot people say that the Twins should just play Mauer at outfield and keep him healthy. The problem with that is the Twins just signed Mauer to an 8 year contract for $184 million to play behind the plate, not in the outfield. Mauer's value in baseball is due to the fact that he is a fantastic hitting catcher. If Joe Mauer was an outfielder, he wouldn't have received a contract offer near that high.
For example the Twins outfielders this year are Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, and Delmon Young. Last year, Span hit .264 with 26 stolen bases and 85 runs scored, Cuddyer hit .271 with 14 homeruns and 93 runs scored, and Young hit .298 with 21 homeruns and 112 runs batted in. Compare that to Mauer last year, who hit .327 with 9 homeruns and 75 runs batted in. Mauer is not that much of a step-up, if any, from these three players. But compare Mauer's stats to the Twins backup catcher, Drew Butera. Butera has played in 60 games the last two seasons and is batting .188 with 2 homeruns over that time period. Mauer is a huge step-up from Butera. Mauer's value as a catcher is undeniable; his value as an outfield isn't.
Mauer is a good baseball player; he is a great catcher. Moving Mauer to the outfield lowers his value in the league. Even if moving Mauer to the outfield is the best thing for him and the team, how are the Twins going to explain paying an outfielder, whose average stats are .326 with 10 homeruns, 60 runs batted in, and 4 stolen bases a season, that much money? The fans won't be happy if Mauer can't stay on the field, but they also won't be happy if the team is paying Mauer $184 million to be an outfielder.
What would you do if you were the Minnesota Twins? Would you risk leaving him at catcher and missing out on several games every season or would you move him to the outfield despite his large contract? I don't think the Twins have much of a choice...play Mauer at catcher as long as possible before they have to move him to the outfield. Either way, that large contract extentsion looks like it could hurt the organization for years to come...
all stats from www.baseball-reference.com
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Rantin' and Ravin'
Well here we are, round 1 of the 2011 NHL playoffs are complete. If you're not on the edge of your seat, then you are not a sports fan. Back to back nights, we have game 7's going into overtime, with the home team advancing in each. Not a happy first round for this guy, who's top 2 teams, the Blackhawks and the Penguins, are bested in game 7. Also, it is my opinion that the top 2 goalies in hockey are sent packing as well in Ryan Miller and Marc-Andre Fleury.
Anyone who was able to see the Pens/Lightning game tonight was witness to a hard-nosed, gutsy performance by both teams. The lone goal in the game, scored by Tampa's Sean Bergenheim, simply highlighted Fleury's largest flaw as a goaltender. He is the most athletic tender in the league, and he makes his money by being aggressive. It often times gets him into trouble, but he is usually able to recover with an ESPN highlight save because of his raw athleticism. Almost identical to a goal earlier in the series, Fleury heads to the far pipe as Dominic Moore skated behind the net. As he crossed Fleury's back, he no look passes backwards, and lays the puck out to the vacant post he had just skated past. Bergenheim rocketed the puck into the empty net. You have to take this kind of goal, and cannot blame MAF for his play, as it is this same play which makes him an elite NHL tender.
So round 2 of the playoffs is set, and you should expect nothing but more excitement. I haven't been hitting too well thus far, but here are my picks for round 2.....
Capitals v. Lightning
An intriguing matchup, made even more intriguing by the recent play of veteran goalie Dwayne Roloson. This guy has proven year after year that he can throw an entire team on his shoulders and carry them a VERY long ways. I think this one is a high flying series, very fast paced, and has the potential to have a few 10+ goal games. They could turn around the next day and have a 1-0 game. I am up in the air with this matchup, but I think in the end...Michal Neuvirth stands tall, and the powerful Caps offense breaks Roloson. Caps win 4-2.
Flyers v. Bruins
Talk about a series with history, potential, and a whole lot of bloodshed. You can count on these teams to beat each other until they can't see straight anymore. Personally, not a fan of either team, but am excited to watch just because they hate each other THAT much. The over-under on suspension games issued to players in this series is 3. As much as I hate Tim Thomas, he is the new age version of Dominik Hasek, and dammit he gets the job done. Patrice Bergeron, Krejci, Lucic, Peverley, and Ryder are all absolute weapons, and Chara, Boychuk, Ference (if hes not suspended), and Tomas Kaberle make one stiff defense in front of Thomas. Once the smoke has cleared, and the body count tallied, there is 1 Bruin left standing, and to no surprise, it is 20 year veteran and former Flyer, Mark Recchi. Bruins win on a game 7 OT goal.
Sharks v. Wings
Yet another series for the ages. The Red Wings are an NHL playoff stamp, and unusually, have some youth to support all of the 40 year old throw away players they pick up from everyone else. The Sharks are my favorite team left, and you have to love the squad they put on the ice. Heatley, Pavs, Thorton, Clowe, Couture, Marleau, and Setoguchi leave an offensive attack to rival anyone. Toss in Dan Boyle, Demers, and Wallin on defense, and you have one of the top squads in the league. Unfortunately, they have a habit of flopping in the playoffs, and Niemi has not proven he can win a game for them on his own. I hope I'm wrong, but I think the Wings experience, coupled with the superb goaltending of Jimmy Howard takes this series. Wings win it 4-3. Over-under on games Niemi is pulled from is 2.
Canucks v. Predators
Again, a huge congratulations to the Preds for winning the first series in franchise history. This should not have been a surprise, considering the Milwaukee Admirals have been stacked with young talent for a while, and it is starting to feed the beast that is in Nashville. Unfortunately, they now run into the President trophy winning Canucks, who have finally slain their playoff dragon, and are starving for a taste of the Cup's nectar. Their offense is ridiculous, and if Luongo can stop all of the shots he should, and not throw the puck into his own net, the Canucks should run through this easily. I want to call sweep here, but the Preds have a respectable roster, and steal one at home. Canucks win 4-1, and take a long break into the semis. The over-under on people+teeth knocked out by Shea Weber and Ryan Suter is 4.
There you have it, Canucks v Wings, Caps v. Bruins.
Trivia question: How many former Wisconsin Badgers are on 2011 NHL playoff rosters? Who are they?
This Week In Golf - Zurich Classic
Last Week - The Heritage
Brandt Snedeker won in a playoff after shooting a final round of 64. Mark Wilson tied for 21st and continues to hold the 1 spot in this year’s FedEx Cup Rankings.
3 Up
This Week – Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Last Year
Jason Bohn shot a final round 67 to edge out Jeff Overton by two strokes. Not all of the big names are playing this year, but this is the season of the first-time winners. Will there be another one this week?
Fantasy Breakdown
Many average golfers, including myself, have trouble hitting good tee shots and good iron shots in the same round. That’s because the driver requires a different swing than irons do. When you are hitting an iron, you want to hit down on the ball to create lift, completely the opposite of a driver. In order to hit your driver well, you need to swing in more of an upward motion. Try lowering your right shoulder when you set up for your tee shots. This should allow you to create more of an upward swing with your driver and give better contact off the tee.
stats from www.pgatour.com
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| http://www.pgatour.com/ |
Brandt Snedeker won in a playoff after shooting a final round of 64. Mark Wilson tied for 21st and continues to hold the 1 spot in this year’s FedEx Cup Rankings.
3 Up
Brandt Snedeker: Brandt Snedeker beat out Luke Donald after a 3-hole playoff for his second PGA tour victory. Snedeker has been up and down this entire season, but his game seems to be coming around. Along with a 4th place finish at the Valero Texas Open two weeks ago, this victory shows that Snedeker is one of the better players in the game and has a chance to win every week.
Luke Donald: Even though Luke Donald lost in the playoff to Snedeker, he showed that he is playing the best golf in the world right now. He now has five top 10’s in his last five starts. A win on Sunday would have given Donald the #1 ranking in the world. With the way that he is playing right now, I expect Luke to get that ranking this Sunday.
Spencer Levin: One of the hottest players on tour this year has been Spencer Levin. After his first twelve tournaments, he had eight top 20’s and three top 10’s. He had gained a lot of respect around the league and was expected to win his first tournament very soon. But after missing the cut in the two previous tournaments, people questioned his early success. His tie for 14th this week should show that he is here to stay and the early expectations were accurate.
3 Down
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| www.golfstore365.com |
Jim Furyk: Last year’s FedEx Cup champion has had a rocky start to the 2011 season. Furyk had a stretch of five weeks where he didn’t crack the top 20, but in the last few weeks he has shown signs of his form from last season. He was expected to be a contender this week and possibly get his first victory of the season, but dropped to a tie for 21st after a final round of 76.
Ernie Els: It’s been a struggle this year for Ernie Els. He hasn’t cracked the top 10 once this year and his best finish is a tie for 15th. People had high hopes for Ernie after he tied for 17th in two of his first three tournaments, but his last four tries have been discouraging. He’s cracked the top 50 once in the last four weeks. Rounds of 75 and 78 this week led to his first missed cut of the year; Ernie seems to be heading in the wrong direction.
Camilo Villegas: Once known around the league as one of the better young golfers of the game, Camilo Villegas can’t seem to get it together this season. Many players struggle after going through a swing change (just ask Tiger Woods), but this is getting ridiculous. Villegas hasn’t finished in the top 30 in any of his 10 events. After opening rounds of 66-68 last week, Villegas found himself at the top of the leader board. But a weekend finish of 74-73 led to a tie for 36th and another week outside of the top 30.
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| http://gtcgivesback.com/ |
Last Year
Jason Bohn shot a final round 67 to edge out Jeff Overton by two strokes. Not all of the big names are playing this year, but this is the season of the first-time winners. Will there be another one this week?
Fantasy Breakdown
Players to Think About
Nick Watney: Although Watney had a disappointing showing at the Masters (solo 46th), he has been a dominant force all year. Five top 10’s in his first five events of the year really says it all. He is second on tour in scoring average and should bounce back this week. Oh…and his first PGA tour victory was at the Zurich Classic in 2007.
Rory Sabbatini: I can’t express enough how I really don’t like Rory Sabbatini. However, Rory is a player that needs to be considered this week. He finished in 2nd place at this tournament two years ago and has already won on tour this year. Sabbatini’s downfall this season has been driving accuracy, where he ranks 131st on tour. If Rory can keep his tee shots in the fairway, he should be a contender this week.
Jeff Overton: Jeff Overton has had a disappointing start to his season with only one top 10 finish in nine events, but this could be the week he breaks out. He took second at this event last year and tied for 13th in 2009. Overton can’t seem to find the greens this year, 134th in greens in regulation on tour, but he has shown great talent over the last couple of seasons. I expect Overton to play well this week, starting a string of good showings.
Players to Stay Away From
Brian Gay: One of the tour’s most consistent players is Brian Gay. He has only missed one cut this year and has six top 25’s in ten events this season, but the Zurich Classic doesn’t seem to be Brian’s favorite tournament. Gay hasn’t played in this event for the last two seasons, but in the four seasons before that he missed the cut three times and his best finish was a tie for 74th. Brian Gay is almost always a solid pick, but not this week.
Vijay Singh: Vijay won this event in 2004, but he hasn’t played here in the last five years and he has been struggling as of late. After taking 2nd place at the Northern Trust Open in February, Vijay has one top 50 in five events. It’s a shame, but Vijay Singh may be nearing the end of his career on the PGA Tour. He will have some good tournaments this year, but I have a feeling they will be few and far between. Let somebody else take the risk on Vijay Singh.
Brandt Snedeker: Even though Brandt has been playing great golf and won last week, he finds himself on my list of players to stay away from. He is playing great golf, but his track record here is less than spectacular. He is 0-for-2 at making the cut in this event. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make his first cut here this week, but I would be surprised to see him in contention. Snedeker is a streaky golfer. Keep an eye on him for future tournaments, but stay away this week.
My Picks
Luke Donald: Luke Donald is playing the best golf in the world right now. He has five straight top 10’s including a 2nd place finish last week. He leads the tour in scoring average and is 3rd in the World Golf Rankings. He has never played in the Zurich Classic, but I still expect him to be in the mix on Sunday. I wouldn’t be surprised if Luke Donald is the #1 ranked player in the world on Monday.
Steve Stricker: PGA Tour’s Mr. Consistency this year has been Steve Stricker again. After six stroke play events this season, Stricker has six top 30’s, five top 20’s, and three top 10’s. You can’t get much more consistent than that. This week should be more of the same for Stricker. He has three top 25’s in his last four tournaments at this venue. Anything outside of the top 15 would be a disappointment this week.
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| www.advocare.com |
David Toms: David Toms has been playing great golf this year. He has already recorded three top 5’s, ranks third in driving accuracy, and fourth in greens in regulation percentage. He has also played well at this event the last two seasons including a tie for 28th and a tie for 5th. I would be surprised to see David Toms outside of the top 15 this week.
Booth’s Golf Tip of the Week - Better Drives
stats from www.pgatour.com
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sprained Ankles and Bruised Ego's - NBA Playoff Update
The NBA playoffs are in full swing. With upsets brewing and injuries popping up, I'll preview how these series' will finish and the rest of the playoffs will unfold.
East
Bulls vs. Pacers (CHI 3-1) - News has surfaced that Derrick Rose has a sprained ankle, but plans to play in game 5. This series has been close the whole way through, so this is definitely not good news for the Bulls. If Rose's ankle limits him on the court, that may be just the break the Pacers need to get this series back to 3-2. Teams rarely like to give out all the information in these situations, but it doesn't sound too serious. The Bulls still will find a way to win this series, but it may take 6 or even 7.
Heat vs. 76ers (MIA 3-1) - While it was nice to see Doug Collins and the 76ers get a win, the real story again was the Heat's inability to hit a game-winning shot. If you haven't heard by now, the Heat are an abhorrent 1-19 in game-winners with less than 10 seconds left. I don't see this series going past game 5, but the Heat need to figure out how to finish before they start thinking about a NBA title.
Celtics vs. Knicks (BOS 4-0) - Well this wasn't much of a surprise. The Celtics showed their age in the regular season and had some struggles, but now it's playoff time. The Knicks are still missing the team chemistry needed to win and will need to add another piece in the offseason. The Celtics' big 4 have shown why they have been a mainstay in the playoffs the last few years. If Ray Allen continues to knock down shots and Rondo distributes the rock like he has been, this team will be difficult to beat.
Hawks vs. Magic (ATL 3-1) - You can't blame Dwight Howard. He has put up 129 points and grabbed 70 boards in 4 games. In case you are bad at math, that's 32 PPG and 17.5 RBG. Now if the rest of his team learned how to shoot, this series would probably be over. Assuming the Magic take game 5 at home, they will need to knock down shots on the road to have a chance in game 6. I think that they find a way to turn it on. I'll take the Magic to comeback and take it in game 7.
West
Spurs vs. Grizzlies (MEM 3-1) - No one saw this coming. Honestly, most predicted this series to be a sweep, but the Spurs have shown their age and their weakness in this series. The Grizzlies have punished San Antonio in the paint. Zach Randolph has shown how underrated he is and the upstart Grizzlies are only a game away from pulling off the upset. Manu and crew had been nearly unbeatable in the regular season, but can't seem to find their rhythm in this series. Tim Ducan is struggling more than anyone, so even though the Spurs may win game 5 at home, the Grizzlies are going to close it out at home in game 6. You are seeing the end of the Spurs dynasty.
Lakers vs. Hornets (TIED 2-2) - If Dwight Howard isn't the top performer in the playoffs, it has to be Chris Paul. Paul has carried his team to this point, but will need some other guys to step up if they are going to upset Phil and Kobe. Kobe needs some help of his own. Kobe is the owner of the ankle injury story in the West. He was seen leaving the arena on crutches, which is likely more of a precaution than anything. Unlike Rose, Kobe doesn't need to rely on his speed to contribute to his team. If the Lakers can take care of business at home in game 5, I like their chances to close it out in game 6 to earn some rest before the semis.
Dallas vs. Portland (DAL 3-2) - The Mavericks are more psyched than anyone that the Spurs are this year's target of the upset talk. Following game 4's historic collapse, the Mavs rebounded nicely to take back control of the series. Age is not on their side, but Dallas has a couple days of rest before they look to finish out the series in Portland. The Blazers and LaMarcus Aldridge have been underestimated all year, but they don't have what it takes to be a legit contender yet. Roy went from tears to jeers to carry them to the win in game 4, but I think that magic is gone and Dallas will do what it needs to close out this series on Thursday.
Oklahoma City vs. Denver (OKC 3-1) - The Nuggets avoided the sweep, but the big story is Russell Westbrook's decisions down the stretch. Taking a few ill-advised shots may draw concern from some, but I personally like the attitude that it shows from the Thunder. They believe they can make every shot and can compete with anyone. If Westbrook hits one of those threes, we would be talking about how dangerous this team is. Instead, people are beginning to worry about them. Denver has done a great job after the Carmelo trade, but their season will likely end tomorrow night. Don't be worried about the Thunder's poor decisions, they will be fine and likely be in the Western Finals before you know it.
What's To Come?
I'll go more in depth when the first round is official, but here are my projections for how the rest of the playoffs will play out.
East Semifinals
Chicago over Orlando in 6
Miami over Boston in 7
Eastern Conference Finals
Miami over Chicago in 7
West Semifinals
Oklahoma City over Memphis in 5
Los Angeles over Dallas in 6
Western Conference Finals
Los Angeles over Oklahoma City in 7
And the Winner is . . . Miami Heat over Los Angeles Lakers in 7
Again, I'll give more in-depth analysis on each series once the first round is over, but until then, enjoy the games!!
East
Bulls vs. Pacers (CHI 3-1) - News has surfaced that Derrick Rose has a sprained ankle, but plans to play in game 5. This series has been close the whole way through, so this is definitely not good news for the Bulls. If Rose's ankle limits him on the court, that may be just the break the Pacers need to get this series back to 3-2. Teams rarely like to give out all the information in these situations, but it doesn't sound too serious. The Bulls still will find a way to win this series, but it may take 6 or even 7.
Heat vs. 76ers (MIA 3-1) - While it was nice to see Doug Collins and the 76ers get a win, the real story again was the Heat's inability to hit a game-winning shot. If you haven't heard by now, the Heat are an abhorrent 1-19 in game-winners with less than 10 seconds left. I don't see this series going past game 5, but the Heat need to figure out how to finish before they start thinking about a NBA title.
Celtics vs. Knicks (BOS 4-0) - Well this wasn't much of a surprise. The Celtics showed their age in the regular season and had some struggles, but now it's playoff time. The Knicks are still missing the team chemistry needed to win and will need to add another piece in the offseason. The Celtics' big 4 have shown why they have been a mainstay in the playoffs the last few years. If Ray Allen continues to knock down shots and Rondo distributes the rock like he has been, this team will be difficult to beat.
Hawks vs. Magic (ATL 3-1) - You can't blame Dwight Howard. He has put up 129 points and grabbed 70 boards in 4 games. In case you are bad at math, that's 32 PPG and 17.5 RBG. Now if the rest of his team learned how to shoot, this series would probably be over. Assuming the Magic take game 5 at home, they will need to knock down shots on the road to have a chance in game 6. I think that they find a way to turn it on. I'll take the Magic to comeback and take it in game 7.
West
Spurs vs. Grizzlies (MEM 3-1) - No one saw this coming. Honestly, most predicted this series to be a sweep, but the Spurs have shown their age and their weakness in this series. The Grizzlies have punished San Antonio in the paint. Zach Randolph has shown how underrated he is and the upstart Grizzlies are only a game away from pulling off the upset. Manu and crew had been nearly unbeatable in the regular season, but can't seem to find their rhythm in this series. Tim Ducan is struggling more than anyone, so even though the Spurs may win game 5 at home, the Grizzlies are going to close it out at home in game 6. You are seeing the end of the Spurs dynasty.
Lakers vs. Hornets (TIED 2-2) - If Dwight Howard isn't the top performer in the playoffs, it has to be Chris Paul. Paul has carried his team to this point, but will need some other guys to step up if they are going to upset Phil and Kobe. Kobe needs some help of his own. Kobe is the owner of the ankle injury story in the West. He was seen leaving the arena on crutches, which is likely more of a precaution than anything. Unlike Rose, Kobe doesn't need to rely on his speed to contribute to his team. If the Lakers can take care of business at home in game 5, I like their chances to close it out in game 6 to earn some rest before the semis.
Dallas vs. Portland (DAL 3-2) - The Mavericks are more psyched than anyone that the Spurs are this year's target of the upset talk. Following game 4's historic collapse, the Mavs rebounded nicely to take back control of the series. Age is not on their side, but Dallas has a couple days of rest before they look to finish out the series in Portland. The Blazers and LaMarcus Aldridge have been underestimated all year, but they don't have what it takes to be a legit contender yet. Roy went from tears to jeers to carry them to the win in game 4, but I think that magic is gone and Dallas will do what it needs to close out this series on Thursday.
Oklahoma City vs. Denver (OKC 3-1) - The Nuggets avoided the sweep, but the big story is Russell Westbrook's decisions down the stretch. Taking a few ill-advised shots may draw concern from some, but I personally like the attitude that it shows from the Thunder. They believe they can make every shot and can compete with anyone. If Westbrook hits one of those threes, we would be talking about how dangerous this team is. Instead, people are beginning to worry about them. Denver has done a great job after the Carmelo trade, but their season will likely end tomorrow night. Don't be worried about the Thunder's poor decisions, they will be fine and likely be in the Western Finals before you know it.
What's To Come?
I'll go more in depth when the first round is official, but here are my projections for how the rest of the playoffs will play out.
East Semifinals
Chicago over Orlando in 6
Miami over Boston in 7
Eastern Conference Finals
Miami over Chicago in 7
West Semifinals
Oklahoma City over Memphis in 5
Los Angeles over Dallas in 6
Western Conference Finals
Los Angeles over Oklahoma City in 7
And the Winner is . . . Miami Heat over Los Angeles Lakers in 7
Again, I'll give more in-depth analysis on each series once the first round is over, but until then, enjoy the games!!
Monday, April 25, 2011
History Will Be Made... NHL Playoffs
Sick of the Wings
One of the best perks of the playoffs thus far is not having to watch the Wings for over a week. Granted, it would have been better for them to lose 4 straight, but either way, we won't need to see them again until this coming weekend. How does everyone not get sick of seeing them on TV EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!?
The Nasty Hockey League?
I am anti-Niemi
Of course, as a notorious brick wall myself, I have to have an opinion on several goalie situations. I am indeed a Hawks fan, but I don't think that I can dislike a goalie more than former Hawk Antti Niemi. He did not win a cup FOR the Hawks, he won one WITH the Hawks. When supported by the league's best offense AND the best defense, my 12 year old cousin could have been good for them last season. Simply take a look at Niemi's performance thus far in the playoffs. He is leading the charge in yet another Sharks playoffs collapse. The fact that Niemi is starting game 6 is baffling to me. I mean WTF, is McLellan TRYING to get knocked out in the first round? Niemi is not a prime time goalie, and he will not lead the Sharks to the promised land. Coach McLellan needs to get Antero Niittymaki in net ASAP, or theyre done. Their saving grace may be no Anze Kopitar sniping the top shelf. The Kings take game 6 in LA, and Niemi gets the yank in game 7 in favor of Niitymaki. Sharks win in game 7 and advance into the second round.
LuonGO Home
We may be witnessing the end of Roberto Luongo in Vancouver. I do not know of a better of example of an individual being so dominating at his position during the regular season, and sucking so terribly in the playoffs (Brett Favre maybe,but oh wait, at least he won a championship). When asked about his coach losing confidence in him because of starting Cory Schneider in game 6, Luongo responded with "We are the best goalie duo in the league, he is just as good as I am, it doesn't matter who plays". REALLY Roberto!? Cory Schneider is JUST as good as you are!? Then why does he make 900k this season, while you make 10 MILLION dollars? Are you going to pool that together and split it 50/50 with him? Step up and be the MVP your team needs you to be, grow some man curds, step up, take your job back, and win a freaking series for your Team Choke. Luongo has been absolutely dominated historically by the Blackhawks, and Cory Schneider going down on a penalty shot in game 6 means Luongo is back in net in front of the Vancouver crowd on Tuesday night. Look for the Hawks to jump on him early and get in his head throughout the game, and to knock the President Trophy winners out in round 1 (for the 3rd straight year). Roberto Luongo gets booed out of Rogers Arena, which is the beginning of the end of his career.
Some Admirals and Badger Love
Lastly, a big congratulations to the Nashville Predators for successfully advancing to the second round for the first time in franchise history. Gotta love the Milwaukee Admirals big brother making some noise, especially with the likes of the Badgers own Blake Geoffrion getting some ice.
Prediction Time
Wings, Predators, and Capitals are in for round 2.
LA wins game 6, but loses game 7 to the Sharks. *Currently scoreless through 10 min of 1st period
Hawks end the pathetic playoff career of Roberto Luongo and win game 7 in Vancouver.
Ryan Miller gets SOME form of help in game 7, Sabres over the Flyers (who might start the first person to raise their hand in the locker room in net, be it a trainer, a defenseman, or a reporter)
Montreal makes game 6 interesting, but they are self-destructive and Boston storms back from behind to take the series.
Pittsburgh continues their star-free play and defeats Tampa Bay in game 7.
I will provide round 2 previews once the matchups are set.
so at last... my take on your
2011 Stanley Cup Champions
The Washington Capitals.
They have an insanely powerful offense led by superstar Alexander Ovechkin, who has finally smacked that playoff monkey off his back. They need a little defense to make it happen, but should that D ever faulter, newly anointed star Michal Neuvirth steps up and takes control. The Caps are for real, and it will take something short of a miracle to stop Ovi from hoisting the cup in 2011.
Erd's Mock Draft
The NFL Draft is once again upon us. Whether the CBA situation has intensified your interest in the draft or drowned out your excitement, your favorite team is going to be making decisions that will change your team's outlook for the next decade. Sleepers and busts are going to be found throughout the draft, but the biggest question once again is at quarterback.
The quarterback position is usually the most intriguing in the draft. Whether teams are trading up to get their quarterback or trading down to pass on a guy, their always will be a "what if" scenario 3-5 years down the road. The difference in taking an Alex Smith over an Aaron Rodgers or taking a JaMarcus Russell over a Calvin Johnson or Adrian Peterson can be detrimental to your team for years. For the Carolina Panthers, that decision is going to happen on Thursday night.
Will the Panthers go with Cam Newton as expected, or wiil we get a surprise like in 2006 when the Texans took Mario Williams over Reggie Bush? How many quarterbacks will go in the first round? Are Jets fans going to cheer or boo their pick? Who is going to fall in the draft and get their own designated camera? These questions can only be answered after this weekend, but I'll do my best to prepare you for what's to come.
Erd's Mock Draft
1. Carolina Panthers - QB Cam Newton, Auburn
Cam Newton is the most physically gifted of all quarterbacks in this year's draft. The questions surrounding him are about his integrity and personality, not his talent or potential. Carolina can't pass on his upside.
2. Denver Broncos - DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Premiere defensive line prospects are hard to pass up. Dareus showed what kind of athlete he was when he went up against the man who was picked before him. This is a smart and safe pick for Denver.
3. Buffalo Bills - LB Von Miller, Texas A&M
The Bills have some offensive weapons up-and-coming, but need to solidify their defense. Miller possesses speed, power, and agility and a playmaker like Miller is what they need in their division.
4. Cincinnati Bengals - DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina
The Bengals will be tempted by AJ Green, but with a QB with one step out the door, they are better suited to get a solid defensive standout. Don't be surprised if they go with Green, but Quinn is better for their situation.
5. Arizona Cardinals - QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
The Cardinals are the poster childs for the importance of a QB in the NFL. They went from a team that was a play away from winning the superbowl to last in their division. Gabbert has the tools to be a franchise QB.
6. Cleveland Brown - WR AJ Green, Georgia
The Browns could get the steal of the draft this year with AJ Green. Green is one of the best WR prospects in the last 10 years and with the Browns' need at the position, he'll make an immediate impact..
7. San Francisco 49ers - DB Patrick Peterson, LSU
The 49ers may be tempted to reach for a QB, but they will be better off waiting until the second round. They would be far from settling with Peterson, who is great value at the 7th pick.
8. Tennessee Titans - DT Nick Fairley, Auburn
The Titans defensive line coach, Tracy Rocker, coached Fairley at Auburn, so naturally this is a good fit. Fairley is a solid pick in this position and fills a need for the Titans.
9. Dallas Cowboys - OL Tyron Smith, USC
Dallas had some injuries at the o-line last year, which exploited their lack of depth at the position. Expect them to get some protection for Romo and a solid run blocker as well in Smith.
10. Washington Redskins - WR Julio Jones, Alabama
Jones is a speedy, legit #1 receiver. The Redskins have a lot of need, but looking at what they have, Jones fills a big gap at the position and could make an immediate impact for the offense.
11. Houston Texans - DE JJ Watt, Wisconsin
Houston is switching to a 3-4 scheme, so they'll be looking for someone to plug into that system. Watt is a talented player with a motor that's always going. They may go Aldon Smith, but Watt is the better choice.
12. Minnesota Vikings - QB Jake Locker, Washington
This is the first surprise of the draft. The Vikings saw something good from Joe Webb last year, but the chance to get a possible star in Locker can't be passed on. They need a QB with AP's window closing.
13. Detroit Lions - CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
The Lions have a solid offense, but need to solidify their defense to compete with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Amukamara gives them the shutdown corner they have been looking for.
14. St. Louis Rams - DE Aldon Smith, Missouri
The Rams would like to get one of the top receivers in this draft, but unless they move up, they'll have to settle for a defensive line improvement. Smith will help improve their pass rush and they'll likely go WR in round 2.
15. Miami Dolphins - OL Mike Pouncey, Florida
The Dolphins would love to see a top QB fall to them at this spot, but it probably won't happen. Miami will likely go after Pouncey, who, if he turns out like his brother, is a solid pick at this spot.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
If Bowers indeed falls to the Jags, they will be ecstatic. They need help on the D-line and Bowers is a top 10 talent in this year's draft. If not Bowers, they'll likely just take the best DE available here.
17. New England Patriots - DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
The Patriots may finally use up their picks this year and Kerrigan fits their plans perfectly. Kerrigan is a blue-collar type player who will give Belichick 100% on every play.
18. San Diego Chargers - DE Cameron Jordan, California
Getting a defensive lineman is probably going to be the focus of the Chargers, so the top DE available will probably go here. Jordan is a talented pass rusher and may end up staying in state to begin his pro career.
19. New York Giants - OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
The Giants have a few needs to fill, but at this point, they will likely go after Castonzo if he's still available. Coughlin knows the game is won in the trenches, so getting younger at o-line is a must.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DL Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
The Bucs made great strides last year, but need to keep up with their division. In order to do so, they need to get pressure on the likes of Brees and Ryan. Clayborn can fill that need and make an immediate impact.
21. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Corey Liuget, Illinois
Liuget may be gone already at this point, but if not, the Chiefs will likely be looking at building up their defensive line. They could go Phil Taylor here as well, but Liuget is regarded as the better prospect.
22. Indianapolis Colts - OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
Peyton Manning is the key to the Colts' success, so naturally Indy will be looking at finding him some protection. Carimi is a large, gritty tackle that is great value for the Colts at the 22nd pick.
23. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado
The Eagles could go a few different directions on the defensive side. They may look to improve their front 7, but Smith would provide them with what the need opposite Asante Samuel.
24. New Orleans Saints - DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple
New Orleans may be a target for many teams to trade with if a few value picks fall here. If no move is made, they will likely go with a versatile lineman like Wilkerson.
25. Seattle Seahawks - QB Christian Ponder, Florida State
Seattle needs to address their future at QB. Hasselbeck's days are numbered, so getting someone in now is a must. Ponder moved up draft boards and may just sneak into the first round if Seattle pulls the trigger.
26. Baltimore Ravens - OT Nate Solder, Colorado
The Ravens will likely try to move Oher back to the right side. Solder is a whopping 6'8" with an enormous wingspan. He should be able to neutralize the pass rush that will likely be coming after Flacco regularly.
27. Atlanta Falcons - TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame
Most would agree that Rudolph has the tools to be a great tight end in the NFL. The Falcons will likely be looking to find a replacement for one of the all-time greats at TE in Gonzalez, so this should be a likely fit.
28. New England Patriots - RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
The Patriots are far from predictable, so a trade down is a great possibility here. If not, Ingram could give the Patriots the back that would be the thunder to the Danny Woodhead lightning.
29. Chicago Bears - LB Akeem Ayers, UCLA
Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs aren't getting any younger, and the Bears need a linebacker who can get after the quarterback. If Ayers is still there, his athleticism would be a good addition to their LB corps.
30. New York Jets - DT Phil Taylor, Baylor
Rex Ryan believes in stopping the run, and with the Kris Jenkins situation, they need someone to fill that spot. Taylor is large enough to do it and is the kind of player Ryan likely won't pass up.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Aaron Williams, Texas
The Steelers are getting old on defense, but still are performing at a high level. Defensive back tends to show age more than other positions, so getting the top corner available is problem their aim here.
32. Green Bay Packers - OT Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State
The defending super bowl champions don't have any glaring holes. They need to get younger in their secondary and could get depth at d-line, but getting more protection for Rodgers is never a bad idea.
The quarterback position is usually the most intriguing in the draft. Whether teams are trading up to get their quarterback or trading down to pass on a guy, their always will be a "what if" scenario 3-5 years down the road. The difference in taking an Alex Smith over an Aaron Rodgers or taking a JaMarcus Russell over a Calvin Johnson or Adrian Peterson can be detrimental to your team for years. For the Carolina Panthers, that decision is going to happen on Thursday night.
Will the Panthers go with Cam Newton as expected, or wiil we get a surprise like in 2006 when the Texans took Mario Williams over Reggie Bush? How many quarterbacks will go in the first round? Are Jets fans going to cheer or boo their pick? Who is going to fall in the draft and get their own designated camera? These questions can only be answered after this weekend, but I'll do my best to prepare you for what's to come.
Erd's Mock Draft
1. Carolina Panthers - QB Cam Newton, Auburn
Cam Newton is the most physically gifted of all quarterbacks in this year's draft. The questions surrounding him are about his integrity and personality, not his talent or potential. Carolina can't pass on his upside.
2. Denver Broncos - DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Premiere defensive line prospects are hard to pass up. Dareus showed what kind of athlete he was when he went up against the man who was picked before him. This is a smart and safe pick for Denver.
3. Buffalo Bills - LB Von Miller, Texas A&M
The Bills have some offensive weapons up-and-coming, but need to solidify their defense. Miller possesses speed, power, and agility and a playmaker like Miller is what they need in their division.
4. Cincinnati Bengals - DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina
The Bengals will be tempted by AJ Green, but with a QB with one step out the door, they are better suited to get a solid defensive standout. Don't be surprised if they go with Green, but Quinn is better for their situation.
5. Arizona Cardinals - QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
The Cardinals are the poster childs for the importance of a QB in the NFL. They went from a team that was a play away from winning the superbowl to last in their division. Gabbert has the tools to be a franchise QB.
6. Cleveland Brown - WR AJ Green, Georgia
The Browns could get the steal of the draft this year with AJ Green. Green is one of the best WR prospects in the last 10 years and with the Browns' need at the position, he'll make an immediate impact..
7. San Francisco 49ers - DB Patrick Peterson, LSU
The 49ers may be tempted to reach for a QB, but they will be better off waiting until the second round. They would be far from settling with Peterson, who is great value at the 7th pick.
8. Tennessee Titans - DT Nick Fairley, Auburn
The Titans defensive line coach, Tracy Rocker, coached Fairley at Auburn, so naturally this is a good fit. Fairley is a solid pick in this position and fills a need for the Titans.
9. Dallas Cowboys - OL Tyron Smith, USC
Dallas had some injuries at the o-line last year, which exploited their lack of depth at the position. Expect them to get some protection for Romo and a solid run blocker as well in Smith.
10. Washington Redskins - WR Julio Jones, Alabama
Jones is a speedy, legit #1 receiver. The Redskins have a lot of need, but looking at what they have, Jones fills a big gap at the position and could make an immediate impact for the offense.
11. Houston Texans - DE JJ Watt, Wisconsin
Houston is switching to a 3-4 scheme, so they'll be looking for someone to plug into that system. Watt is a talented player with a motor that's always going. They may go Aldon Smith, but Watt is the better choice.
12. Minnesota Vikings - QB Jake Locker, Washington
This is the first surprise of the draft. The Vikings saw something good from Joe Webb last year, but the chance to get a possible star in Locker can't be passed on. They need a QB with AP's window closing.
13. Detroit Lions - CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
The Lions have a solid offense, but need to solidify their defense to compete with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Amukamara gives them the shutdown corner they have been looking for.
14. St. Louis Rams - DE Aldon Smith, Missouri
The Rams would like to get one of the top receivers in this draft, but unless they move up, they'll have to settle for a defensive line improvement. Smith will help improve their pass rush and they'll likely go WR in round 2.
15. Miami Dolphins - OL Mike Pouncey, Florida
The Dolphins would love to see a top QB fall to them at this spot, but it probably won't happen. Miami will likely go after Pouncey, who, if he turns out like his brother, is a solid pick at this spot.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
If Bowers indeed falls to the Jags, they will be ecstatic. They need help on the D-line and Bowers is a top 10 talent in this year's draft. If not Bowers, they'll likely just take the best DE available here.
17. New England Patriots - DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
The Patriots may finally use up their picks this year and Kerrigan fits their plans perfectly. Kerrigan is a blue-collar type player who will give Belichick 100% on every play.
18. San Diego Chargers - DE Cameron Jordan, California
Getting a defensive lineman is probably going to be the focus of the Chargers, so the top DE available will probably go here. Jordan is a talented pass rusher and may end up staying in state to begin his pro career.
19. New York Giants - OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
The Giants have a few needs to fill, but at this point, they will likely go after Castonzo if he's still available. Coughlin knows the game is won in the trenches, so getting younger at o-line is a must.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DL Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
The Bucs made great strides last year, but need to keep up with their division. In order to do so, they need to get pressure on the likes of Brees and Ryan. Clayborn can fill that need and make an immediate impact.
21. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Corey Liuget, Illinois
Liuget may be gone already at this point, but if not, the Chiefs will likely be looking at building up their defensive line. They could go Phil Taylor here as well, but Liuget is regarded as the better prospect.
22. Indianapolis Colts - OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
Peyton Manning is the key to the Colts' success, so naturally Indy will be looking at finding him some protection. Carimi is a large, gritty tackle that is great value for the Colts at the 22nd pick.
23. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado
The Eagles could go a few different directions on the defensive side. They may look to improve their front 7, but Smith would provide them with what the need opposite Asante Samuel.
24. New Orleans Saints - DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple
New Orleans may be a target for many teams to trade with if a few value picks fall here. If no move is made, they will likely go with a versatile lineman like Wilkerson.
25. Seattle Seahawks - QB Christian Ponder, Florida State
Seattle needs to address their future at QB. Hasselbeck's days are numbered, so getting someone in now is a must. Ponder moved up draft boards and may just sneak into the first round if Seattle pulls the trigger.
26. Baltimore Ravens - OT Nate Solder, Colorado
The Ravens will likely try to move Oher back to the right side. Solder is a whopping 6'8" with an enormous wingspan. He should be able to neutralize the pass rush that will likely be coming after Flacco regularly.
27. Atlanta Falcons - TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame
Most would agree that Rudolph has the tools to be a great tight end in the NFL. The Falcons will likely be looking to find a replacement for one of the all-time greats at TE in Gonzalez, so this should be a likely fit.
28. New England Patriots - RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
The Patriots are far from predictable, so a trade down is a great possibility here. If not, Ingram could give the Patriots the back that would be the thunder to the Danny Woodhead lightning.
29. Chicago Bears - LB Akeem Ayers, UCLA
Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs aren't getting any younger, and the Bears need a linebacker who can get after the quarterback. If Ayers is still there, his athleticism would be a good addition to their LB corps.
30. New York Jets - DT Phil Taylor, Baylor
Rex Ryan believes in stopping the run, and with the Kris Jenkins situation, they need someone to fill that spot. Taylor is large enough to do it and is the kind of player Ryan likely won't pass up.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Aaron Williams, Texas
The Steelers are getting old on defense, but still are performing at a high level. Defensive back tends to show age more than other positions, so getting the top corner available is problem their aim here.
32. Green Bay Packers - OT Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State
The defending super bowl champions don't have any glaring holes. They need to get younger in their secondary and could get depth at d-line, but getting more protection for Rodgers is never a bad idea.
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Booth Review - MLB Possibly Adding Two Wildcard Teams
It looks like baseball is going to be adding two playoff teams starting next season. Both the players’ union and owners seem to be in agreement with this, which leaves three questions:
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| picture from wired.com |
Will this change be good for baseball?
In my opinion, adding 2 more playoff teams will be a great change for baseball. In case you don’t already know, there are two leagues in baseball, with three divisions in each league. Every division winner gets a playoff spot and each league gets one wildcard. In 2012, there may be another wildcard spot added to both leagues, changing the number of teams that make the playoffs from 8 to 10. The rest of the four major sports have more playoff teams than baseball. Hockey and basketball have 16 playoff teams each and the NFL has 12. More playoff teams means that more fans are invested in the postseason. Baseball will now have two more fan bases that are excited for baseball in October.
This change will also make the regular season more exciting. These two postseason spots will add more teams to the playoff mix at the end of September meaning more teams will be invested at the end of the season. Less teams will be trading their best players off, less teams will shut down there young pitchers for the year, and more teams will be fighting for the playoffs. What isn’t great about that?
A great example of how this change will help baseball is the 2008 season. In 2008 the Angels, Rays, Red Sox, and White Sox made the playoffs. They had 100, 97, 95, and 89 wins, respectively. The Yankees has 89 wins that season and lost the playoff race by 6 games. That means that even though the Yankees had the same amount of wins as the White Sox, they were out of the playoffs a week before the end of the season. It you add another wildcard team for the American League that season, the Yankees, the Twins (88 wins), and the Blue Jays (86 wins) would have been fighting for that last spot. The Twins were in the division race anyways, but the Blue Jays and Yankees were done before the last week of baseball started. Adding this playoff spot would have kept these teams in the hunt until the end of the season making baseball more exciting.
Will adding two playoff teams take away from the importance of the regular season?
Some people argue that adding two wildcard teams will make the regular season less important and I couldn’t disagree more. I think it will make the regular season even more important. Right now, each league has four playoff spots. The only advantage the 1 seed has over the wildcard is home field advantage. That isn’t much of an advantage considering there are 162 games in a season. Team A could have 110 wins, Team B could have 80 wins, and they will have the same chances of making the World Series, other than home field advantage. By adding another wildcard spot, teams that win the division will have a first round bye and will be able to rest their players.
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| picture from pennlive.com |
In the past, there have been times when two teams from the same division clinched playoff spots early. Rather than fighting for the division and top seed, they decided to rest their players because the difference between the wildcard and division winner wasn’t that drastic of a difference. Adding a wildcard playoff game will make winning the division very important. Now those two teams will be competing until the end of the season fighting to stay out of the play-in game.
Should the wildcard round be a one game elimination or a best-of-3 series?
Nothing in sports is more exciting than a single elimination game; winner moves on, loser goes home. Some of the best baseball games in the past couple of years have been the play-in games to make the playoffs. If baseball decided to go with the one game elimination approach, people will realize that the wildcard games are the most exciting games of the playoffs every year.
In the end, I think adding two wildcard teams to the playoffs is a great decision by Major League Baseball. And making it a single elimination game would bring even more excitement to the sport.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tiger Woods - Gone Forever?
I am not mad at Tiger for all the infidelities. I am mad at Tiger for lying to me. Even though I never met him, I felt like I knew him as I am sure many people felt. He was on the TV screen, but for me it felt like he was in my home. I greeted him with open arms and loved watching him play the game. Tiger will never understand what he meant to his fans. I don’t think he cares. I still believe that Tiger isn’t regretful for what he did. He doesn’t feel bad for letting us down. He is only concerned about himself. He’s mad that he got caught. He is not remorseful, he’s angry that the media blew this story up. For over a decade, Tiger portrayed himself as the perfect person. He was the talented, hard working, family man that we all fell in love with. But it was all a lie. Tiger wasn’t the perfect human. He made mistakes, even more than anyone could have imagined.
I remember that day on Friday, November 27, 2009 when the golf world changed. I was at a hotel in Appleton Wisconsin. On the TV in the lobby, there was breaking news that Tiger Woods was in a serious car accident and he was in critical condition. The first thing that entered my mind was fear and sadness. Tiger will never understand how much worry his fans had for him that day. All of the bad thoughts entered my mind. Will Tiger be ok? Will Tiger ever play golf again? Will the best golfer I have ever seen be able to continue is historic career? I was worried for his safety and concerned that the best golfer of my generation and maybe of all time would not be able to complete his legacy.
But Tiger had me fooled. He had us all fooled. I wanted the legend; I wanted the perfection; I wanted to see history. Instead, I was disappointed to see Tiger get knocked down. The legacy is gone, the perfection is gone. Tiger will still probably be the best golfer my eyes have ever seen, but it isn’t the same anymore. I still believe that Tiger will beat Jack’s record of 18 majors, but it won’t be the same. The dominance is gone, the intimidation is gone, and the legacy of the perfect sports athlete is gone.
I wish I lived in the days of Jack Nicklaus, a true champion of the game. Jack has that perfect legacy. He was the best player in golf for almost two decades. He was a great competitor and didn’t pout when he lost. He was somebody you could look up to and follow, somebody you could admire. He was somebody you felt good about cheering for. I wish I could have been there to watch him play and be his fan.
I deserve better than Tiger Woods. The world deserves better.
picture from casinocamreport.com
picture from casinocamreport.com
Meet the Bloggers
Welcome to Sporting An Argument! We are three normal guys who love to talk sports, but there's only one problem, we seem to always disagree. Meet our bloggers below and follow the blog to get the latest news and debate on the current world of sports.
Brian Boothby aka BOOTH
Booth is our resident golf expert and is the most logical of the three of us. He is currently a civil engineer, but if that falls through, sabermetrics might be in his future. He continually is improving his golf game and continues to tear up courses around the state. Despite his frame, Booth was also a tenacious enforcer for his high school hockey team. In 2007, he tried to watch an entire NASCAR race, but after 7 laps, he quit. His only comment, "This is dumb."
Sport Specialty: Golf
Erd's Final Word: Well said Booth, perhaps a tad bit better than Fuzzy Zoeller. . .
Adam Erdman aka ERD
Erd is your tell-it-as-it-is guy who generally is right. At least in his own mind, enough so that he is writing about himself in the third person present progressive. Back in his prime, Erd was a three-sport; rushing the passer in the fall, pulling down rebounds in the winter, and scooping balls out of the dirt in the spring. He still plays basketball during the winter, but now spends most of his time watching the sports he loves, and if there is a fantasy league for it, he probably has done it.
Sports Specialty: Football
Brian Boothby aka BOOTHBooth is our resident golf expert and is the most logical of the three of us. He is currently a civil engineer, but if that falls through, sabermetrics might be in his future. He continually is improving his golf game and continues to tear up courses around the state. Despite his frame, Booth was also a tenacious enforcer for his high school hockey team. In 2007, he tried to watch an entire NASCAR race, but after 7 laps, he quit. His only comment, "This is dumb."
Sport Specialty: Golf
Favorite Sports Movie: Miracle
All-Time Sports Hero: Ken Griffey Jr.
Most Memorable Sports Moment: "I will never forget sitting on the couch at my parents house watching Tiger Woods win the 1997 Masters. He didn't just win, he dominated. He won his first major by 12 strokes at the age of 21; I doubt anyone even remembers who placed second. I will always remember that day, not only because Tiger was the youngest ever to win a major and that he crushed the field, but because I knew that golf had changed forever. I knew I was seeing the greatest golfer of our time start a career that would go down in history. What a great day for golf. Oh and for anybody that's interested, Tom Kite was second."
Most Memorable Sports Moment: "I will never forget sitting on the couch at my parents house watching Tiger Woods win the 1997 Masters. He didn't just win, he dominated. He won his first major by 12 strokes at the age of 21; I doubt anyone even remembers who placed second. I will always remember that day, not only because Tiger was the youngest ever to win a major and that he crushed the field, but because I knew that golf had changed forever. I knew I was seeing the greatest golfer of our time start a career that would go down in history. What a great day for golf. Oh and for anybody that's interested, Tom Kite was second."
Erd's Final Word: Well said Booth, perhaps a tad bit better than Fuzzy Zoeller. . .
Erd is your tell-it-as-it-is guy who generally is right. At least in his own mind, enough so that he is writing about himself in the third person present progressive. Back in his prime, Erd was a three-sport; rushing the passer in the fall, pulling down rebounds in the winter, and scooping balls out of the dirt in the spring. He still plays basketball during the winter, but now spends most of his time watching the sports he loves, and if there is a fantasy league for it, he probably has done it.
Sports Specialty: Football
Favorite Sports Movie: Rocky IV
All-Time Sports Hero: Dan Marino
Most Memorable Sports Moment: "The one single moment in sports that I will remember vividly for the remainder of my life is David Tyree's catch in Superbowl XLII. The fact that the Giants ruined the Patriots bid for a perfect season was enough to make this game memorable, but Tyree's catch may just be the greatest play in Super Bowl history. I remember sharing the moment with a group of my college buddies and as I look back on it, I continue to marvel at the irony of the Giants playing David and the Patriots playing Goliath."
Erd's Final Word: I wonder if anyone told this woman that the Patriots actually didn't win. . .
Nick Evans aka PUKKA
Most Memorable Sports Moment: "I've been a die-hard hockey fan and Chicago Blackhawks fan my entire life. They were on one of the longest droughts in professional sports, so when Patrick Kane put the puck in the back of the net to win the Stanley Cup last year, my lifelong devotion was rewarded. I was at a bar watching the game with a ton of people and I was the only one who knew the puck was in right away. So when everyone else was standing there thinking the game was still going on, I was already celebrating what many fans had waited 49 years for."
Erd's Final Word: It was definitely an amazing goal, but the whole world watched this one. . .
Now you know the bloggers, so come back, become a follower, and join in the argument.
Erd's Final Word: I wonder if anyone told this woman that the Patriots actually didn't win. . .
Known for his straight-billed hats and his occasional wristband, Evans is the homer of our group. Despite his skewed views on sports, he still knows his stuff and is riding a recent hot streak of fantasy success. He is an avid hunter (for deer and ladies alike), but his true love is hockey. For the past 20 years, Evans has been minding the nets at various levels of hockey. He would be the first to buy season tickets if an NHL franchise moved to Wisconsin.
Sports Specialty: Hockey
Sports Specialty: Hockey
Favorite Sports Movie: Slap Shot
All-Time Sports Hero: Eddie Belfour
Most Memorable Sports Moment: "I've been a die-hard hockey fan and Chicago Blackhawks fan my entire life. They were on one of the longest droughts in professional sports, so when Patrick Kane put the puck in the back of the net to win the Stanley Cup last year, my lifelong devotion was rewarded. I was at a bar watching the game with a ton of people and I was the only one who knew the puck was in right away. So when everyone else was standing there thinking the game was still going on, I was already celebrating what many fans had waited 49 years for."
Erd's Final Word: It was definitely an amazing goal, but the whole world watched this one. . .
Now you know the bloggers, so come back, become a follower, and join in the argument.
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