Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 619 of 1503)

      Bucs’ coach Morris strips Bates of defensive coordinator duties

      November 24, 2009 /

      Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris has relieved Jim Bates of his defensive coordinator duties and will take over the play-calling responsibilities for the remainder of the season.

      From the St. Petersburg Times:

      Under Bates, Tampa Bay’s defense is ranked 26th overall in the NFL and last against the run, allowing 168.9 yards per game. Only the Detroit Lions have given up more points than the 29.4 per game allowed by the Bucs this season.

      Bates becomes the second coordinator hired by Morris and Dominik to leave since the start of the season.

      The Bucs fired offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski 10 days before the start of the regular season, saying he had trouble calling plays and that his passing scheme wasn’t NFL quality. They replaced him with quarterbacks coach Greg Olson.

      I’m not criticizing the decision because at least now the Bucs will revert back to the Tampa 2, which is a scheme that better fits their personnel. But how could Morris and Dominik be so far off when they hired Jagodzinski and Bates this offseason? These were the guys that they hired, yet both coordinators couldn’t even make it through one season.

      That said – if someone isn’t getting the job done (and Bates clearly wasn’t), then why continue to let him fail? If Morris doesn’t think Bates is the right fit, then there isn’t any point in waiting until the end of the season to fire him. If Morris proves that he can be the defensive playcaller, then he might as well find that out now instead of waiting until next year.

      We’ll see if the move pays off. Morris certainly has his work cut out for him this Sunday, because the Bucs travel to Atlanta to take on an offensive that can put some points on the board.


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      NFL

      Report: Notre Dame’s Clausen punched by fan

      November 24, 2009 /

      According to a report by ESPN.com, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was punched in the face by an irate fan outside a South Bend resturant early Sunday morning.

      The report states that Clausen has a swollen eye from the incident, although he’s still expected to play this weekend against Stanford.

      That person said Clausen was “sucker-punched” by a fan as he left an establishment after having dinner with his parents.
      The fan allegedly said something to Clausen and/or a female acquaintance.

      A South Bend police spokesman said that no police reports were filed over the weekend involving Clausen, according to the Chicago Tribune.

      The newspaper also reported that the name of the bar was CJ’s and that a bartender at the establishment said that Clausen had been there with family members and other Irish upperclassmen after Notre Dame’s loss to Connecticut on Senior Day.

      If you’re an Irish fan, why punch Clausen? Out of all the players and coaches that have under performed on that team this season, Clausen would be the last guy you would punch, right? (I’m being factious by the way – fans shouldn’t be touching any player or coach no matter how much Charlie Weis screws the pooch.)

      Either way, things are definitely getting a little testy in South Bend these days.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      College Football

      Kris Brown blows another chance for Texans

      November 24, 2009 /

      For the second week in a row, Texans’ kicker Kris Brown blew an opportunity for his team to tie a game and force overtime. This time, Browns’ miss came in a 20-17 loss to the Titans on Monday night.

      Brown missed a 49-yard field goal with six seconds remaining, which would have tied the game and forced overtime. Granted, a 49-yard attempt is no chip shot but he also missed a 49-yarder early in the second half that could have given Houston the lead, not to mention he blew a 42-yarder last week against the Colts as time expired that could have forced overtime.

      Again, 49 and 42-yarders are no gimmies. But Matt Schaub and the offense put their team in position to at least force overtime the last two games and their kicker couldn’t convert. One could make the argument that Schaub and the offense should have done more before that point, but the bottom line is that Brown needs to be more clutch if Houston wants to reach the next level.

      As for the Titans, they’ve now won four in a row since Jeff Fisher made the switch from Kerry Collins to Vince Young. VY was once again far from explosive as a passer, but he kept drives alive with his legs (11 carries, 73 yards) and also did a fantastic job of getting the hell out of the way of Chris Johnson, who rushed for 151 yards on 29 carries.

      Tennessee’s defense also did a great job bottling up Steve Slaton and Houston’s running game, limiting the Texans to just 57 yards on the ground. The Titans also pressured Schaub throughout the night and forced him into some inaccurate throws.

      Tennessee held the Texans to only a field goal in the second half after allowing 14 points in the first two quarters. It was a complete effort from the Titans, who have damn near erased their 0-6 start.

      NFL

      Is Parcells interested in joining Browns?

      November 23, 2009 /

      According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Bill Parcells may be interested in leaving the Dolphins taking a position with the Browns next season.

      What sounds unthinkable is actually gaining a little credence. There is chatter initiated in NFL personnel ranks that Parcells would be agreeable to leaving the Dolphins midway through his four-year contract to take on his next rebuilding project in Cleveland.

      “The one thing about Bill is he’s unpredictable,” said a league source, who would not discount the possibility.

      Parcells has an escape clause in his contract to leave the Dolphins at any point and still receive the remaining money owed him. Further, the new team would not be required to compensate the Dolphins with money or draft picks.

      Parcells is always looking for a new challenge, they say, and he feels the organization he has set up in Miami will carry on fine without him.

      Wooing Parcells would have to wait until Miami’s season is over. There’s the very real possibility of him playing one suitor against another. He has left the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the altar on separate occasions twice each during his illustrious career.

      There is also the realization that Parcells, 68, is not going to preside long over what he builds.

      “You just have to find the steady hand [to oversee] after he gets bored,” a source said.

      Even if Parcells came to Cleveland for two years it would still be worth it for the Browns, because he would build a coaching staff that could succeed once he bolts. The key would be to get him for those couple of years to point the ship in the right direction and get it moving forward. Then when he decides to move on to greener pastures, the organization will hopefully be filled with competent people.

      As the article notes, Parcells is always intrigued by a challenge. He has a massive ego and wants to see his name mentioned in the headlines. He has to be getting a little complacent in Miami and Cleveland would be the ultimate reclamation project.

      We’ll see if the Big Tuna bites if Cleveland offers.


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      NFL

      Twins’ Mauer earns much-deserved 2009 AL MVP award

      November 23, 2009 /

      In a unanimous decision, Twins catcher Joe Mauer was named the 2009 American League’s Most Valuable Player on Monday. Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and shortstop Derek Jeter finished second and third, respectively.

      Mauer received 27 of 28 first-place votes after leading the league in batting average (.365), on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587). No other catcher has ever led the league in those three categories and he even threw in a Gold Glove this season, just for good measure.

      Not to take anything away from Teixeira, Jeter or Miguel Cabrera (who finished fourth), but there simply was no other choice for this award than Mauer. He was phenomenal and most likely parlayed his ’09 season into a fat contract extension. (Mauer becomes a free agent in 2011.)


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      MLB

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