Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 573 of 1503)

      Despite late season collapse, Del Rio’s job appears to be safe

      January 3, 2010 /

      After defeating the Texans 23-18 in Week 13, the young Jaguars had high hopes of making the postseason. But they proceeded to lose their next three games before dropping their season finale today in Cleveland.

      Despite Jacksonville’s 23-17 loss to the Browns in which the Jags allowed 300 total yards and 214 rushing yards, Jack Del Rio’s job appears to be safe for now. Michael C. Wright of the Florida Times-Union wrote via his Twitter page that Del Rio would be with the Jaguars next season, although he didn’t go into any detail as to why.

      T-Bone, one of our regular readers, brought up a good point last week about NFL teams possibly playing things cautiously when it comes to coaching hires because of a potential lockout in 2011. They don’t want to pay a new head coach boatloads of money with a threat of a lockout coming in two years. Granted, that’s just an observation, but it’s one that might have teeth.

      Del Rio had a young team that wasn’t supposed to compete this year and given their overall inexperience, it’s not a complete shock that they faded down the stretch. For the most part, I think he did a decent job keeping them in contention until the final month of the season. Had they beat Indianapolis a few weeks ago on Thursday night when they were matching the Colts score-for-score, the Jags might be getting ready for the postseason right now.

      Some may look at the Jags’ effort today in Cleveland and make a case that Del Rio should go. But there’s not much shame losing to a Browns team that finished the season on a tear and that found a gem in running back Jerome Harrison. Again, I think the Jags’ collapse had more to do with their youth than Del Rio’s lack of coaching. But Jacksonville fans may have a different opinion.

      NFL

      This is why teams considering resting starters: Wes Welker tears ACL

      January 3, 2010 /

      ESPN.com is reporting that Patriots’ receiver Wes Welker has been diagnosed with a torn ACL and MCL and will miss the entire postseason. Welker suffered the injury while trying to make a cut during New England’s 34-27 loss to Houston in Week 17.

      For those fans that complain about teams resting starters late in the season, this is why they do it. I understand this isn’t the same as the Colts conceding a perfect season by pulling Peyton Manning and the rest of their starters last week, and I’m not trying to compare the situations. But did Welker have to play today? Did he absolutely need the extra work? If he took the week off, would he and Tom Brady not be able to complete a bubble screen next week in the postseason after successfully completing 4,350 bubble screens this season?

      I get it – momentum is vital in sports. Teams don’t want to have a losing mindset entering the postseason and it’s key for coaches to keep their players confident. But what was this all for in the end? What if this had been Brady? I’m sorry, but I disagree with those that think teams with nothing to play for should keep their starters in through Week 17. I get that injuries can happen in practice and even in the player’s own homes, but the risk factor is amplified in a live game.

      I feel bad for Wes Welker. He worked his ass off all season to help his team get to the playoffs and now he’ll have to watch from the sidelines because Bill Belichick and his coaching staff decided that he needed to play in a semi-meaningless game against Houston.

      NFL

      Cal’s Jahvid Best declares for NFL draft

      January 3, 2010 /

      The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that California running back Jahvid Best has declared that he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2010 NFL Draft.

      “I feel like I’m ready to play in the NFL, and I feel like I can be successful,” Best said on a conference call. “This is an opportunity I can’t pass up.”

      Best acknowledged he’s not yet 100 percent as he continues to recover from a severe concussion and back injury sustained Nov. 7. He expressed “no doubt” he will be ready to perform for scouts on Pro Day in Berkeley and at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, starting Feb. 24.

      If Best lights up the stopwatch in the 40-yard dash – a likely scenario, given his electrifying speed – he will vault higher in the draft. Best has never run a formal, timed 40-yard dash, but he was the state 100-meter champion during his senior year at Salesian High in Richmond (in 10.31 seconds).

      His speed on the football field has drawn comparisons to Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson and former Cal wide receiver DeSean Jackson, now with the Philadelphia Eagles.

      I would have loved to see Best come back for his senior year and challenge for the Heisman next season, but I can’t wait to see how he does in the draft. I’m not ready to pronounce him the next Chris Johnson, but I think he does have a similar skill set.

      It’ll be interesting to see how he does at the combine and where he eventually winds up in the NFL.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      College Football

      The bowl season has not been kind to the MAC

      January 2, 2010 /

      Outside of Arizona, no team has given a worse effort in a bowl game this season than Northern Illinois, which lost 27-3 to South Florida in the International Bowl on Saturday. And at least the Wildcats had an excuse for being so inept: They were playing Nebraska and the Cornhuskers’ outstanding defense.

      The Huskies racked up just 130 total yards, went 3-for-13 on third downs and turned the ball over twice. They had one decent drive the entire game on offense, which netted a 21-yard field goal.

      With NIU’s loss, the Mid-American Conference is now 0-4 in the International Bowl, which is the only bowl game played outside of the United States. Cincinnati beat Western Michigan in the first International Bowl in 2007, then Rutgers defeated Ball State in 2008 and Connecticut topped Buffalo in 2009.

      The MAC must feel cursed in bowl games. The conference is now 0-4 in bowl games this season, which includes Bowling Green’s heartbreaking loss to Idaho on Wednesday and Temple’s near win over UCLA on Tuesday.

      The MAC’s lone hope for a win this year will come down to next Wednesday when Central Michigan takes on Troy in the GMAC Bowl. Thankfully, the Chippewas are the class of the conference and aren’t likely to turn in the horrendous effort the Huskies did today.

      College Football

      Brian Kelly should be ashamed of himself after Florida’s rout of Cincinnati in Sugar Bowl

      January 2, 2010 /

      Watching Cincinnati play Florida last night was like watching 5-year olds take on the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. It was apparent from the start that the game was more of a get-together for the Gators and less of a BCS bowl.

      Tim Tebow completed 31-of-35 passes for 482 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 51 yards and a TD. Florida’s defense also held Cincinnati’s “high-powered” offense to just 170 passing yards and 76 rushing.

      After watching that game, I’d be shocked if Brian Kelly woke up this morning and could look at himself in the mirror. He was the commander and chief of a team that he allowed to walk into an ambush by themselves with little to no direction. It wouldn’t have mattered if Kelly was on the sidelines because Florida was bigger, faster, stronger and just flat out better, but he should have been there regardless.

      The guy I felt most sorry for was quarterback Tony Pike. He didn’t have a chance to succeed because the overmatched, unprepared coaching staff that Kelly left Cincinnati with didn’t put him in a position to win. They kept calling bootlegs and rollouts to the short side of the field, which clearly played into Florida’s hands. He also didn’t have any clue what to do when the Gators blitzed because every time he got the ball to his hot receiver a Florida defender was there to take the wideout’s life. I could smell the crap in Pike’s draws from my couch but I don’t blame him: I blame the coaching staff for not getting him prepared for what he was going to face.

      Again, had Kelly been there, it’s not likely that much would have changed. Florida was the vastly superior team in every phase of the game and it showed. But Kelly would have gained some respect had he been there to fall with the rest of his team. I realize that he has the right to a promotion and move up the coaching ladder, but it disgusts me that he benefits from all of this, while his former players suffer (especially the seniors, who were routed on national television in their final game).

      Cincinnati’s effort last night was putrid, but how could you blame them? They were down a head coach and an offensive playcaller from the start and Florida took advantage by breaking their neck and stomping on their spines just for good measure. Hopefully Kelly watched last night and couldn’t keep his food down thinking about the 80-plus kids he screwed. That game was an embarrassment to college football and so are coaches like Kelly.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      Barstool Debates, College Football

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