Day: October 9, 2006 (Page 1 of 2)

      Monday Night Football Recap: Denver 13, Baltimore 3

      October 9, 2006 /

      This game was as advertised if you were a gambler. Too terrific defenses and bad weather? If that doesn’t have the “under” written all over it, I don’t know what does.

      It’s incredible how two quarterbacks can play so poorly and yet, their defenses mask their inabilities and still make them look okay.

      By the way, I think Denver found a way to have a margin of success against the Ravens defense – so much so, that I think the rest of the NFL should all be watching the tape of this game.

      Brian Billick and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan love to get guys moving before the snap in order to overload where they think the offense is going to go with the football. Denver did a nice job tonight in making a move by putting either a receiver or fullback in motion and then making a countermove after the Ravens defense adjusted. That created decent running lanes for Tatum Bell and provided the Broncos with enough offense to move the ball sporadically throughout the game.

      Now of course, you still have to have the scheme and athletes like Denver has on offense in order to take advantage of my observation – it’s not like a just cracked the failsafe way to beat Baltimore’s defense, because obviously not a lot of teams are able to move an inch against Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Co.

      Lets get into some of my random thoughts throughout this game:

      – What an incredible effort by the Broncos defense tonight.

      – Champ Bailey is the best overall cornerback in the NFL. He covers as well as he plays the run.

      – McNair finally ran out of magic in the fourth quarter. It’s been about two weeks too long…

      – Jamal Lewis had a very Jamal Lewis night didn’t he? 15 carries for 43 yards is just about what he’s averaging these days.

      – They said it up in the broadcast booth, but I’ll echo it: how bad does Brett Favre miss having Javon Walker? Okay, maybe not that much considering rookie Greg Jennings is tearing the league up. Let me rephrase: how lucky is Jake Plummer to have Javon Walker to throw to now?

      – Derek Mason is a solid receiver – when McNair can get him the ball.

      – Comment of the night comes from Joe Thiesman who said this after McNair ran for a first down in the first quarter: “You (NFL quarterbacks) can’t make a living on running all the time.” Really? So, Michael Vick is one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league because of his dead-on accuracy and pocket presence right?

      – Speaking of Plummer – just start Jay Cutler, Mike Shanhanan, before Plummer ruins the season. The defense is playing way too well for this guy to muff it up for the Broncos.

      – What’s with ESPN’s intro for these games? I’m not talking about Hank Williams Jr.’s theme song, but the one where a celebrity walks up to a camera on a crowded street, picks up a helmet and says something to the effect of: “are you ready for some football?” The celebrity than does some cheesetastic move with the helmet and then the rest of the intro is a one-minute GMC ad.

      I didn’t mind it in the second week when they had Eva Longoria do it, but after seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ashton Kutcher and Hugh Hefner headline the intro – I suddenly have a problem with it.

      NFL

      Fantasy Football: Waiver Wire Watch, Week 6

      October 9, 2006 /

      QUARTERBACKS

      The following list contains players already covered in previous WWW, so if any of the top guys are still available on your league’s waiver wire, grab them first: 1. Rex Grossman, 2. Jon Kitna, 3. David Carr, 4. Alex Smith, 5. Chad Pennington, 6. Charlie Frye, 7. Matt Leinart, 8. Philip Rivers, 9. Brad Johnson, 10. Mark Brunell.

      Bruce Gradkowski played really well in his first start. He threw for 225 yards and two TDs and no picks against a team (the Saints) that has been playing very good defense…Joey Harrington didn’t play particularly well (232 yards, 2 INT), but the Dolphins might stick with him until Daunte Culpepper can prove that he can move around a little better than he did in the first few games.

      RUNNING BACKS

      If available, add these guys before digging too deep, though if LJ is out Dee Brown would be at the top of this list: 1. Maurice Jones-Drew, 2. Cedric Benson, 3. Maurice Morris, 4. Jerious Norwood, 5. Michael Turner, 6. Correll Buckhalter

      Dee Brown would be first in line to take over for Larry Johnson if the Chiefs’ stud is going to miss any time. Michael Bennett is also in the picture, but he’s been battling a hamstring injury. Needless to say, the Chiefs running game is still one of the league’s best, so Brown would be quite valuable if LJ is out for any duration…Leon Washington received 23 carries against the Jags, while Kevan Barlow only rushed four times. Washington ran for 101 yards, and it looks like the Jets want to get him more involved in the offense…Noah Herron took over for Vernand Morency after Morency fumbled his way out of the lineup. Herron touched the ball 25 times for 126 yards and a touchdown. He lacks breakaway speed, but he provided the tough yards when the Packers needed them the most…Depending on the status of DeAngelo William’s leg, Eric Shelton would be worth a pickup in deep leagues due to DeShaun Foster’s long history of injury.

      WIDE RECEIVERS

      If available, add these players before moving on to the rest of the list: 1. Marques Colston, 2. Reggie Williams, 3. Bernard Berrian, 4. Jerricho Cotchery

      According to Dennis Green, Larry Fitzgerald is going to miss 2-5 weeks with a hamstring injury and Bryant Johnson is going to be the main beneficiary. Johnson is starter quality as long as Fitz is out…Arnaz Battle caught two TDs for the 49ers on Sunday and has at least two receptions in each game this season. Antonio Bryant is still the #1 guy, but Battle could be a decent bye week fill-in if he’s got a good matchup.

      TIGHT ENDS

      If available, add these players before moving on to the rest of the list: 1. Chris Cooley, 2. Desmond Clark, 3. Alex Smith, 4. Eric Johnson, 5. Alex Smith

      Jerramy Stevens should return in Week 6 and is capable of being a Top 10 or 15 TE when healthy. If you have a need and an open roster spot, he’s a good guy to stash until he returns to the field.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      ALCS Preview: Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics

      October 9, 2006 /

      Well, how many people expected this series to look a little like the New York Yankees vs. the Minnesota Twins? Shows how much the pundits of the world know, huh? Count me in as one of those very pundits who felt like Game 1 Tuesday would be played in the Bronx and not across country in Oakland, California. But what a refreshing sight to see the Detroit Tigers make their first World Series run since 1987. Both teams deserve to be here and as far as on paper, they’re both as even as they come. The Scores Report handicaps the series…

      Detroit Tigers
      Strengths: Detroit’s strengths are coaching and balance in both its pitching rotation and lineup. Jim Leyland simply out coached Joe Torre in the ALDS and has done a remarkable job in during this most morbid franchise around. He knows how to win close games and Leyland will also take a risk or two during the course of a game that could change the momentum around for his squad. The Tigers also had the best pitching rotation in the MLB and on any given night, opponents could see a live rocket arm (Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya), a crafty veteran (Kenny Rogers) or two unfazed youngsters who can pitch in tough environments (Nate Robertson and Jeremy Bonderman). Detroit can also hit for power or average and have a complete workhorse in Carlos Guillen.
      Weaknesses: The Tigers don’t have a shutdown closer and are way too impatient at the plate. Todd Jones has struggled in tight ballgames over the course of the season and always seems to let the leadoff man get on base in the ninth inning. For as good as Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez has been for Detroit for the past couple of season, he tends to be selfish and will swing at balls out of the strike zone and will chase pitches with a 3-0 count. Overall, the Tigers are going to have to be much more patient at the plate or Oakland’s pitchers will eat them alive (unlike New York’s pitching staff).

      Oakland A’s
      Strengths: The A’s have experience and pitching on their side. Oakland has been in the playoffs the past four out of six years, so the A’s have a major advantage over the Tigers in postseason experience. All four of the A’s starters that Detroit will face in the postseason had 10-plus wins in the regular season. Barry Zito out dueled the Twins’ Johan Santana in Game 1 at the Metrodome of the ALDS. He only gave up one run on four hits. Backing up Zito is Joe Blanton (who wasn’t even needed against Minnesota), Dan Haren (14 wins) and Esteban Loaiza (11 wins). Oakland also has a solid closer in Huston Street and a good holdman in Kiko Calero.
      Weaknesses: The A’s hitters can get on base, but they ranked near the bottom in doubles, triples and slugging percentage. The bottom line for teams is getting on base and making runners get knocked in for runs (which Oakland has done). But in the playoffs you can’t live and die by singles alone and Frank Thomas can’t be the only guy hitting the ball in gaps and down the line for extra bases.

      Do the Tigers remind anybody else of the ’05 Chicago White Sox?

      Tigers in six.

      General Sports, MLB

      Couch Potato Alert (10/9)

      October 9, 2006 /

      The ALCS and the NLCS start this week with the Tigers/A’s and the Cardinals/Mets squaring off for the right to play in the World Series. Fox has all the coverage. The Ravens/Broncos tilt tonight wraps up Week 5 of the NFL season, and should be a good one.

      (All times ET.)

      NFL
      Mon, 8:30 PM: Baltimore @ Denver – ESPN

      MLB
      Tues, 8 PM: Detroit @ Oakland – FOX
      Wed, TBD: St. Louis @ NY Mets – FOX
      Wed, TBD: Detroit @ Oakland – FOX
      Thurs, 8 PM: St. Louis @ NY Mets – FOX

      College Football
      Thurs, 7:30 PM: (22) Virginia Tech @ Boston College – ESPN

      College Football, MLB, NFL, Television

      College Football Power Rankings

      October 9, 2006 /

      With the new AP and USA Today Top 25 polls posting over the weekend, it’s time to take a look at the top 10 in college football.

      As far as the two official polls go, there weren’t any big changes…unless you consider Auburn falling to #10 and #11 (in the AP and USA Today polls, respectively) a big change. The other big move was Florida, which after essentially crushing LSU on Saturday, moved into the top three in both the AP and USA Today 25 polls.

      In my rankings, there are going to be movers and shakers as well. Like I said in my Weekend Wrap for college football, I will not eat the corn bread on SEC teams as much as I have. Yes, LSU and Auburn are still powerful football teams and yes the SEC has a tough schedule – but giving a two-loss team rights over West Virginia is just horse manure and I won’t stand for it anymore, SEC fans!

      Here is how I see the Top 10:

      1. Ohio State (6-0)
      The Buckeyes schedule is a cakewalk until November 18 vs. Michigan. OSU is at Michigan State (which has obviously lost all sanity after the defeat to Notre Dame), home for Indiana, Minnesota and then at Illinois and Northwestern before the Wolverines come to town. Expect QB Troy Smith and WR Ted Ginn Jr. to pad their Heisman stats for another five weeks before really having to play again.

      2. Florida (6-0)
      Nobody has a tougher three-game stretch than the Gators. Florida dismantled LSU in an impressive fashion last Saturday and now has to travel to a pissed off Auburn team this weekend before coming back to Gainesville to face Georgia. If the Bulldogs can somehow stay ranked (and I say “somehow” after watching them get destroyed by Tennessee), they would be the fourth top 25 opponent that the Gators would have played on its ’06 schedule. If Florida can top Auburn and Georgia the next two weeks and Tennessee keeps up its surge to the top 10 (remember, Florida beat the Vols 21-20 earlier this season in Knoxville), than the Gators might have an outside chance at being ranked #1 if OSU falters even a little bit.

      3. Michigan (6-0)
      What a trio of performers the Wolverines own in RB Mike Hart, QB Chad Henne and WR Mario Manningham. Manningham is starting to become for Henne what Braylon Edwards was for Jon Navarre a few seasons ago. It’s hard to believe that Super Mario is just a sophomore too. Unlike Ohio State, however, Michigan still has a few programs left on its schedule that can still trip them up. The Wolverines still face Penn State and Iowa the next two weeks before finishing with some fluff teams before traveling to Columbus.

      4. USC (5-0)
      The true test for the Trojan comes soon in a three-game stretch in which USC will play Oregon, California and Notre Dame (all somehow at home). For now, however, the Trojans aren’t an undisputed #4, but QB John David Booty is finding other weapons in his offense while his number one wide out, Dwayne Jarrett, is still out with an injury. It was Steve Smith who emerged two weeks ago against Washington State while this past Saturday it was sophomore Patrick Turner (12 catches, 116 yards and one touchdown) against Washington. USC isn’t thrashing opponents, but they aren’t losing to Arkansas either.

      5. Texas (5-1)
      Nice effort by cornerback Aaron Ross in the Long Horns win over the Sooners last Saturday. Ross had two interceptions, eight tackles and scored essentially the game winning points for Texas on a fumble recovery for a touchdown. I wrote last week how people seem to have forgotten about the Long Horns after their defeat to Ohio State, but wouldn’t it be something if Florida and/or Michigan get tripped up in the next two weeks and Texas squeezes back into the top five of either the AP or USA Today polls?

      6. West Virginia (5-0)
      Yeah, I know that the Mountaineers aren’t playing any stiff competition because of the conference they’re in. But they also have the second best rushing attack in all of college football and have the third best rusher in the NCAA in Steve Slaton. West Virginia would beat LSU and Auburn right now on natural ground – mark it down.

      7. Tennessee (5-1)
      Oh, man did the Volunteers take Georgia behind the woodshed last weekend. 51-33? If Tennessee could have staved off a late comeback to Florida in Knoxville earlier last month, the Vols are easily a top five program. Erik Ainge and Robert Meachem are coming to a playground near you.

      8. Auburn (5-1)
      Hey, every team has games like the Tigers did against Arkansas last Saturday and lets face it, the Razorbacks have been playing good football as of late. But you just can’t lose at home to an unranked team when you’re rated at #2 in the nation. I’m glad I saved face and moved Auburn down to #4 in my Power Rankings last week before this past weekend’s debacle.

      9. Louisville (5-0)
      The Cardinals just scored again…somewhere in America.

      10. Notre Dame (5-1)
      Somehow, someway, the Irish fight their way back into the top 10. Damn you Michigan State! You had ND on the freakin’ ropes for three quarters you shmucks! Ahh well, the Irish still have one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and RB Darius Walker is starting to hit is stride again, so I guess Notre Dame is deserving of top 10 honors again…I guess.

      College Football, General Sports

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