Tag: Anthony Stalter (Page 48 of 133)

      2010 College Football Week 13 Picks

      November 26, 2010 /
      BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide talks with his team during the game against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers defeated the Crimson Tide 24-21. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

      Finally the tide turned for me in college football. After going 1-11 over the past three weeks, I finally stumbled into some winners last week and went 3-1. Arkansas, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss were winners, while Michigan State won outright but crapped the bed against the spread.

      Hopefully the darkness is behind me.

      No. 2 Auburn @ No. 11 Alabama, 2:30PM ET, Friday
      What an Iron Bowl matchup we have this year. For the first time in five seasons, the Tigers and Crimson Tide are both ranked heading into the season finale. Everyone knows what’s at stake for the Tigers, whose title hopes are on the line Friday in Tuscaloosa. Cam Newton has been Superman this year, but I think this is it. I think this is the day Newton lays an egg and a defense finally gets the best of him. Nick Saban is outstanding when it comes to taking away an opponents’ key player and there’s nobody more important to Auburn’s chances of victory than Newton. The Tigers have a habit of allowing opponents to hang around in the first half or worse, build a lead before stomping them in the final two quarters. But if they allow the Tide to build a lead on Friday, there may be no coming back for the Tigers. Roll Tide Roll.
      THE PICK: ALABAMA -4

      No. 4 Boise State @ No. 19 Nevada, 10:15PM ET, Friday
      The Broncos have averaged 50 points during a 10-game winning streak over the Wolf Pack and I don’t think their fortunate runs out on Friday. Colin Kaepernick is among the nation’s leaders in total yards, averaging 308.7 per contest. There’s no question he’s a tremendous player, but Boise’s defense showed last week against Fresno State that its often overlooked by Heisman candidate Kellen Moore. The key for me in this game is this: Fresno State nearly pulled off an upset over Nevada three weeks ago in a 35-34 defeat. Boise crushed that same Fresno team last week 51-0 on the “Smurf Turf.” Granted, Fresno played Nevada at home and Boise on the road, but you catch my drift. I don’t think these two teams are in the same class when it gets right down to it.
      THE PICK: BOISE STATE -14

      No. 5 LSU @ No. 12 Arkansas, 3:30PM ET, Saturday
      The line in this game has me leery of a trap, but I’m not going to overthink this one. Ryan Mallett had a difficult time with the Tigers last year in a 33-30 overtime loss. He completed just 17-of-39 passes for 227 yards and an interception and I believe he’ll struggle again on Saturday. LSU’s offense came alive lat week in a wild 43-36 win over Ole Miss. Jordan Jefferson threw for a career-high 254 yards and a touchdown, while also adding his sixth rushing score of the season. If the Tigers can play mistake-free football offensively, they win this game outright.
      THE PICK: LSU +3.5

      No. 17 South Carolina @ Clemson, 3:30PM ET, Saturday
      For all intents and purposes, this game doesn’t mean anything for South Carolina. The Gamecocks have bigger fish to fry next week in the SEC Championship Game, so does anyone really think they’re going to lay it on the line this weekend against a non-conference foe (even if that foe is Clemson)? And it’s not like the Tigers have nothing to play for; a win would enhance their bowl prospects and not allowing South Carolina to win on their home turf is all the motivation they need in this one. Stephen Garcia and Co. have put together a nice season, but I’m playing the emotional angle here. Clemson wins outright.
      THE PICK: CLEMSON +2.5

      Season Record: 17-23. And just think: I had to go 3-1 last week just to get to 17-23. Yikes.

      College Football, External Sports

      If Childress wants another job, he’ll have to change his approach with players

      November 22, 2010 /
      CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Brad Childress and Ray Edwards #91 of the Minnesota Vikings against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 20, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

      My guess is that it’ll be a while before Brad Childress finds another head coaching job in the NFL. And if he doesn’t change his philosophy on how to mange relationships with players, then he may never have another chance.

      One of the main reasons Vikings’ owner Zygi Wilf hired Childress in 2006 is because he thought Childress would help restore order off the field. The “Love Boat Scandal” was still fresh on everyone’s minds and Wilf fell for Childress’ harden approach with players.

      The problem is that Childress didn’t have much coaching experience at the time. He had never been a head coach at any level and while he was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles before arriving in Minnesota, head coach Andy Reid called most of Philadelphia’s plays over that span. Thus, Childress’ football resume was highly barren of legitimate experience.

      There were also warning signs about the way Childress handled players. It was highly reported that Terrell Owens had asked Childress not to speak to him during the 2005 season. When he did get to Minnesota, several veteran quarterbacks including Brad Johnson and Gus Frerotte didn’t see eye-to-eye with Childress because they weren’t allowed to go off-script during games.

      Childress also got into a spat with Brett Favre last year because he didn’t appreciate the veteran quarterback’s freelancing. More recently, he’s gotten into spats with receiver Percy Harvin and cornerback Antoine Winfield. Out of the handful of articles that I read so far on his firing, not one player has defended or stuck up for him. That says a lot.

      All of this leads to the obvious: Childress doesn’t know how to handle NFL personalities. He desperately wanted Favre to be his quarterback, but he didn’t know how to handle Brett’s massive ego. He wanted Randy Moss to save his fleeting passing game, but the first time the receiver gave him any guff he waived him on the spot.

      Some coaches can get away with being a disciplinary. Bill Cowher made his mark in Pittsburgh with that approach, although he also knew how to strike a rapport with players. He knew he couldn’t constantly belittle them or they’d eventually turn their backs on him, which is exactly what happened to Childress. Vikings players put up with him last year because they were winning. But now that this has become a lost season, they had no problem giving marginal effort for a guy whom they don’t respect.

      All this leads to is this: if Childress doesn’t change his ways then he might as well drop down to the college ranks where players are easier to mold. While he’s down there, he may want to learn how to maximize his players’ strengths, too. It never ceased to amaze me how much he misused Adrian Peterson throughout his years in Minnesota. But that’s a topic for another time.

      For now, “Chilly” might want to work on his people skills.

      External Sports, NFL

      Vince Young, Jeff Fisher get into “verbal confrontation”

      November 22, 2010 /
      NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 21: Lorenzo Alexander of the Washington Redskins forces a fumble by quarterback Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field on November 21, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

      It appears as though Vince Young’s time in Tennessee is running out.

      According to reports, Young got into a “verbal confrontation” with coach Jeff Fisher following the Titans’ overtime loss to the Redskins on Sunday. Per Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean, Young told Fisher, “I’m not running out on teammates, I’m running out on you.” Young also was apparently “throwing out expletives under his breath” in the locker room while Fisher was speaking to the rest of the team.

      Speculation has started to grow that Young won’t take another snap with the Titans, and not just this year – ever. He tore a tendon in his thumb during the loss to Washington and was replaced by Rusty Smith. Following the game, Fisher said that Young wouldn’t retain the starting quarterback job whether Young needed surgery to repair his thumb or not.

      Considering Young is owed $8.5 million in 2011, plus a $4.25 million roster bonus, chances are the Titans will place him on injured reserve this season and then revisit the situation at the end of the year. One would have to imagine that they’ll first try to trade him, but they’ll probably wind up releasing him in the end.

      And that’s probably a wise move. I’m only going on what I read, so keep that in mind. But it’s apparent that Young is lacking in maturity and it’s probably safe to say that he doesn’t know the first thing about being a leader. He may have a lot of physical skill, but that only goes so far in the NFL – especially for quarterbacks.

      Maybe a change of scenery will do wonders for him. He’s still young and again, he’s talented. But either way, his days are numbered in Tennessee.

      External Sports, NFL

      Will Brett Favre quit on the rest of the season?

      November 22, 2010 /
      FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 31: Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings stands on the sideline in the third quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

      Following the Vikings’ embarrassing 31-3 loss to the Packers on Sunday, Brett Favre dodged questions about whether or not he’s committed to playing out the rest of the season.

      “I would never have expected to be in this situation,” Favre said. “Mathematically I think there is still some hope. I hate to use Jim Mora’s comments about playoffs. I can’t even think about that. I know there is still a slim chance, but come on. We’ve got to play a lot better than we played today and last week.

      “I came back for a Super Bowl, you’re right. Also [there is] a chance that that doesn’t happen, probably a better chance that we don’t. And there’s a way better chance that you won’t play as well as last year. … But this is a little surprising. Again, I’m just going to go home and … I don’t want to say ‘think’ about this game. Just re-evaluate tomorrow.”

      Favre isn’t going to retire. He may want to because he’s not going to win a Super Bowl, but he’s not going to go out as a quitter. He’s all about image and if he walks away now, the last thing everyone will write about him is how he abandoned his teammates when he knew there was no shot of winning a title. He and the Vikings may get their asses kicked the rest of the year, but that’s a better outcome to him than having the media call him out for the selfish player he is.

      The Vikings should almost hope for him to retire. Not only is he a disaster on the field but every week he plays is one that Tarvaris Jackson won’t. Favre isn’t coming back next season and the team needs to evaluate Jackson. Lord Favre will never stand for a benching, but that would be the smart thing for Minnesota to do at this point. Why play a half-motivated Favre when they need to see what Jackson brings to the table? At 3-7 the rest of the season isn’t about winning for the Vikings – it’s about figuring out who will be around next year.

      Leave it to Favre to send mixed messages about his future. This will be an interesting situation to follow over the next couple of days.

      External Sports, NFL

      The Eagles are the team to beat in the NFC

      November 22, 2010 /
      PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 21: Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball against Antrel Rolle of the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 21, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

      With all due respect to the Falcons and Packers (and remember, I am saying with all due respect), the Eagles are clearly the team to beat right now in the NFC.

      Atlanta currently owns the best record now in the NFC at 8-2. But they had a chance to go head to head against the Eagles in Week 6 and they were beaten like a rented mule in all facets of the game. And that was when Kevin Kolb was at quarterback for Philadelphia – not Michael Vick.

      The Packers beat the Eagles in the opening week of the season but Kolb started that game too. Vick nearly lead Philly to a fourth quarter comeback, but Green Bay hung on for an impressive road win. Since then, the Packers have been decimated by injuries and Vick is now playing at an MVP level.

      The Giants had their opportunity to beat the Eagles as well and while they played well for about a quarter, Philly eventually beat them too. New York did some good things defensively in efforts to contain Vick, but the Eagles also missed several opportunities in the first half to build a sizeable lead. Either way, the scoreboard at the end of the game read Eagles 27, Giants 17 and that’s all that matters. The rest is just details.

      We’re going to find out more about the Packers and Falcons when they play each other this Sunday. Both are solid football teams and are red hot at the moment, but people hesitate declaring either the best in the NFC. Again, the Packers have injury issues and the Falcons’ defense is still a work in progress.

      But we know what we have in the Eagles. As long as Vick stays healthy, this team will be tough to beat down the stretch. Granted, they still have to go on the road to New York, Chicago and Dallas (which is rejuvenated under Jason Garrett), but the Eagles seemingly have fewer weaknesses than their NFC counterparts.

      Forget the records – this is the best team in the conference at the moment.

      External Sports, NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑