While I was on Rivals last night looking up the guard from OKC I noticed he was on a list of the top 10 "stock is up" players across the country. Also on the the list was Michael Qualls, and the first guy was from Arlington Grace Prep. So I clicked on the Grace Prep link and I was blown away to read that they have 5 players being heavily recruited and rated 3-star or above. Check them out:
Class of 2012
Austin, 7'0", 5-star, committed to Baylor
Hornbeak, 6'4", 4-star, committed to Oklahoma
Class of 2013
Mickey, 6'7", 4-star
Birt, 6'5", 3-star
Shepherd, 6'9", 4-star
We are going to have to make the time to go see them play.
S
Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Today's NFL
I’m going to go into old fart mode and talk about my wholehearted agreement with a column written this week by Rick Gosselin about the direction of the NFL. I’ve mentioned before how you can always follow the money to find the evil in anything. I bemoan the fact that the NFL is run completely with the goal of maximizing revenue, regardless of what it does to the spirit of the game. I realize that change is many times necessary in any business in order to grow, but it’s a real shame that the NFL execs want to turn the game into basketball on turf in order to get ratings and more and more TV money.
The breaking of Dan Marino’s record this year brought on some discussion of the differences in the game since 1984. Essentially the NFL has mandated that offenses don’t have to earn their way down the field; instead they are legislating teams down the field. Protect the QB’s (money-makers) and receivers, get more big plays, get more people tuning in. Reduce troubling injuries in order to get more women on board and protect the biggest revenue generators. But, don’t require coaches to figure out how to protect their players, just legislate it. Like Gosselin has said, want to protect your QB? How about blocking for him and keeping some people in to block? But the NFL doesn’t want that.
Similar to how I love pitching in baseball (thank God coming back), I value a hard-earned drive and players who are tough enough to make plays without the assistance of the rules. I like a 24-17 game in weather more than a 41-35 game under the A/C. NFL games should not be clean and tidy. We are losing the old game of football and seeing it replaced with a pinball game. I love the tradition of sports and hate seeing old records devalued. I just wonder where it will end?
S
The breaking of Dan Marino’s record this year brought on some discussion of the differences in the game since 1984. Essentially the NFL has mandated that offenses don’t have to earn their way down the field; instead they are legislating teams down the field. Protect the QB’s (money-makers) and receivers, get more big plays, get more people tuning in. Reduce troubling injuries in order to get more women on board and protect the biggest revenue generators. But, don’t require coaches to figure out how to protect their players, just legislate it. Like Gosselin has said, want to protect your QB? How about blocking for him and keeping some people in to block? But the NFL doesn’t want that.
Similar to how I love pitching in baseball (thank God coming back), I value a hard-earned drive and players who are tough enough to make plays without the assistance of the rules. I like a 24-17 game in weather more than a 41-35 game under the A/C. NFL games should not be clean and tidy. We are losing the old game of football and seeing it replaced with a pinball game. I love the tradition of sports and hate seeing old records devalued. I just wonder where it will end?
S
NBA - The Heat Is On
It seems that the Heat have finally found a way to overcome Wade's inconsistent shooting.
The team is shooting 51% through 7 games and no other team in the NBA is above 48%.
Only the "famous" Wade is shooting below 50%, (44% this year, last year was his only year to ever shoot 50%) and they appear to have quit worrying about bench depth by pushing the ball up the court more frequently.
Maybe when Wade's foot get healthy he will get his shot falling and then barring his wanting to "Be the Man" the Heat will be almost unbeatable.
----------------------------
At least he is not Westbrook and his continued inability to shot while chunking them up. 39% FG.
j.
.
The team is shooting 51% through 7 games and no other team in the NBA is above 48%.
Only the "famous" Wade is shooting below 50%, (44% this year, last year was his only year to ever shoot 50%) and they appear to have quit worrying about bench depth by pushing the ball up the court more frequently.
Maybe when Wade's foot get healthy he will get his shot falling and then barring his wanting to "Be the Man" the Heat will be almost unbeatable.
----------------------------
At least he is not Westbrook and his continued inability to shot while chunking them up. 39% FG.
j.
.
Romo
Describing the ridicule that Romo gets is hard to understand, but this one line in an NBC Sports Story by Micheal David Smith described it well on the pass he made after scrambling for his life and then throwing past the line of scrimmage. (It is of little meaning that a sack or incompletion would have still led to a punt.)
Romo finished the year with a QB rating at 102.5, 2nd in All Time QB rating at 96.8 and still it seems he is the most ridiculed QB in the NFL.
Next year, I expect more of the same. He will keep them competitive, but Dallas will again be a team with 8-8 talent.
J.
That’s one Romo may be thinking about all offseason, and it was one play that encapsulated much of Romo’s career: We got a glimpse of greatness, and then we got a big mistake.http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/05/romo-kicking-himself-over-pass-beyond-the-line-of-scrimmage/
Romo finished the year with a QB rating at 102.5, 2nd in All Time QB rating at 96.8 and still it seems he is the most ridiculed QB in the NFL.
Next year, I expect more of the same. He will keep them competitive, but Dallas will again be a team with 8-8 talent.
J.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Turner, Reid, Smith Retain Jobs
I was pleasantly surprised to see that Norv Turner, Andy Reid, and Lovie Smith were all retained by their teams for next year. There is some sanity left in the league. The short rope that coaches are given in today's sports world is both short-sighted and ineffective. I love to see ownership stick with people that they believe in and offer some stability to the organization. I don't know that I agree that Turner and Smith are good coaches, but the point is that the owners are sticking with the plan. How nice it would be for the Cowboys to find some stability again!
S
S
Snyder
Bill Snyder has to be considered for best coaching job in the history of the sport. When he arrived at K-State in 1989, they were the fastest program ever to 500 losses, and were in the middle of an 0-26-1 streak. Between then and 2005 he went 142-80, won 9 games for 8 straight seasons, and went to 11 consecutive bowls. Now he shows up again and promptly takes them to the Cotton Bowl. I defy anyone to find someone who has done more with less than Bill Snyder. Less talent, less tradition, less resources. It really defies logic.
S
S
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Cowboys Coaches
Calvin Watkins discussed the Coaches without contracts. I had a few thoughts.
==============================================
1. Dave Campo (secondary) He came back in 2008 and they Suck! See ya.
2. Hudson Houck (running game/offensive line) Do I really need a comment...See ya.
3. Brett Maxie (secondary/safeties) Let Wade have him.
4. Wes Phillips (assistant offensive line) Kind of liked the way he spoke. not a big enough job to judge him.
5.Keith O'Quinn (offensive quality control/wide receivers) What is Quality Control?
6. Skip Peete (running backs). All I can say is that his Wiki page says he coached Marion Barber and Julius Jones.
I wish the Special Teams Coach was on this list!
J.
==============================================
1. Dave Campo (secondary) He came back in 2008 and they Suck! See ya.
2. Hudson Houck (running game/offensive line) Do I really need a comment...See ya.
3. Brett Maxie (secondary/safeties) Let Wade have him.
4. Wes Phillips (assistant offensive line) Kind of liked the way he spoke. not a big enough job to judge him.
5.Keith O'Quinn (offensive quality control/wide receivers) What is Quality Control?
6. Skip Peete (running backs). All I can say is that his Wiki page says he coached Marion Barber and Julius Jones.
I wish the Special Teams Coach was on this list!
J.
Sugar Bowl Participants
Watching V Tech and Michigan disgust me. Why no SEC!
For all of those people that wanted the Hokies in the SEC, enjoy.
I got mad at the Rose Bowl for fighting for Pac10-Big10 teams a few years ago, but they are correct in maintaining history.
Brian sent me this as a reminder of the SEC history.
Teams with the most appearances in the Sugar Bowl.
1. LSU-BAMA - 13 Each.
3. GA - 9
4. Ole Miss and Fla -8 Each
6. Tenn- 7.
I bet you were as surprised as I was that LSU was tied with Bama and Ole Miss with Florida!
J.
For all of those people that wanted the Hokies in the SEC, enjoy.
I got mad at the Rose Bowl for fighting for Pac10-Big10 teams a few years ago, but they are correct in maintaining history.
Brian sent me this as a reminder of the SEC history.
Teams with the most appearances in the Sugar Bowl.
1. LSU-BAMA - 13 Each.
3. GA - 9
4. Ole Miss and Fla -8 Each
6. Tenn- 7.
I bet you were as surprised as I was that LSU was tied with Bama and Ole Miss with Florida!
J.
Monday, January 2, 2012
More Cowboys
We were spoiled growing up. The Cowboys were always a contender, we always had a chance. We had the amazing mid-60's through mid-80's run, 5 rough years, and then the Johnson years. In 1995 it seemed that the greatness would just go on and on. But 15 years later the franchise is living on reputation and the marketing savvy of the owner. There is nothing under the hood. Jerry Jones is a genius at talking a good game and he continues to fool the fan base into thinking the Cowboys are elite and just a couple of tweeks from making a Super Bowl run.
I'm so disgusted to watch this incredible franchise bumble along. I hate to say it, but we're not even a good franchise, much less a great one. The track record of management since 1993 is among the worst in all the NFL. Revolving coaches, revolving QB's, wasted drafts, bad signings. It all comes down to a terrible GM whom the owner won't fire. Jimmy Johnson must laugh himself to sleep at night watching his old friend grope for answers.
I guess we're paying the bill for all the great years we enjoyed during our youth. There is no easy answer. We have to rebuild the talent base with good drafts and shrewd signings, 2 things that Jones has shown himself incapable of doing. Short of this, the mediocrity will continue. Romo will keep getting the blame for an average team. JJ will keep selling the kool-aid. We now live in a world where we envy Saints fans!
S
I'm so disgusted to watch this incredible franchise bumble along. I hate to say it, but we're not even a good franchise, much less a great one. The track record of management since 1993 is among the worst in all the NFL. Revolving coaches, revolving QB's, wasted drafts, bad signings. It all comes down to a terrible GM whom the owner won't fire. Jimmy Johnson must laugh himself to sleep at night watching his old friend grope for answers.
I guess we're paying the bill for all the great years we enjoyed during our youth. There is no easy answer. We have to rebuild the talent base with good drafts and shrewd signings, 2 things that Jones has shown himself incapable of doing. Short of this, the mediocrity will continue. Romo will keep getting the blame for an average team. JJ will keep selling the kool-aid. We now live in a world where we envy Saints fans!
S
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Cowboys
The season started with us thinking 8-8 was likely and it was prophetic.
When I reviewed the blog, we discussed these things specifically.
1. Defense in 2010 was terrible.... No changes this year. The DB's are even worse and slower than before.
2. O Line- Romo has run for his life for 3 years and it continued. 6 sacks tonight.
3. Special Teams- Terrible
4. Scoring Offense. Finished in middle of the NFC.
5. Bad Drafts have killed the talent. This secondary has no depth, they are playing backups that were walking the streets 3 weeks ago. It is hard for me to imagine that Dallas top WR this year was cut by a Charger team that lacked WR depth.
What to expect in 2012. More of the same, if Jerry is still protecting his bad decisions by staying with people.
The Giants are better than the Cowboys.
This Cowboy team seems mentally incapable of overcoming adversity. I would think that this is something the coaches are responsible for correcting.
If anyone mentions Romo as one of the main problems with the Cowboys, I will literally chalk them up as an uninformed buffoon and avoid sports conversations with them.
I hope the money situation with Jerry and the salary cap is corrected for next year, Goose said 2013 was the target and he is usually correct, so 2012 will likely be another 8-8 type year.
J.
When I reviewed the blog, we discussed these things specifically.
1. Defense in 2010 was terrible.... No changes this year. The DB's are even worse and slower than before.
2. O Line- Romo has run for his life for 3 years and it continued. 6 sacks tonight.
3. Special Teams- Terrible
4. Scoring Offense. Finished in middle of the NFC.
5. Bad Drafts have killed the talent. This secondary has no depth, they are playing backups that were walking the streets 3 weeks ago. It is hard for me to imagine that Dallas top WR this year was cut by a Charger team that lacked WR depth.
What to expect in 2012. More of the same, if Jerry is still protecting his bad decisions by staying with people.
The Giants are better than the Cowboys.
This Cowboy team seems mentally incapable of overcoming adversity. I would think that this is something the coaches are responsible for correcting.
If anyone mentions Romo as one of the main problems with the Cowboys, I will literally chalk them up as an uninformed buffoon and avoid sports conversations with them.
I hope the money situation with Jerry and the salary cap is corrected for next year, Goose said 2013 was the target and he is usually correct, so 2012 will likely be another 8-8 type year.
J.
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