My buddy John-O and one of his blogging pals, Shane, have both posted excellent thoughts on the current state of Indiana's other pro sports team, the Pacers. You can read those here and here. These excellent posts inspired me to write my own. Having lived in Indy most of my life, and followed the Pacers the rest of it, I feel that it is time for me to also voice my opinion. Plus, I haven't been able to come up with much to write on lately with the NFL being over and all.
What got all this rolling was an article in which Jermaine O'Neal, a former NBA All-Star and the current face of the Pacers, stated that, essentially, either the Pacers contend immediately or he's out. The two posts touch on the leadership ability, or lack-there-of, of O'Neal, his on court talent, and what the Pacers should do going forward. I have a slightly different take.
I, to be honest, am not much of a fan of Jermain O'Neal anymore. When the Pacers first acquired him, I thought it was one of the more inspired acquisitions in the recent history of the team. Here was a kid that, though extremely raw at the time, had an unlimited ceiling. He could score, defend, block shots, he was a great athlete, enjoyed playing in the post, and was a good kid that just wanted the chance he wasn't getting in Portland. Well, he got his shot here, and made the most of it. He quickly emerged as a force in the Eastern conference. He started averaging near 20 points and 10 rebounds every season, and was a fixture on All-Star and All-NBA teams everywhere. Then something happened, and that all changed, as least on the surface. Reggie Miller retired.
As both John-O and Shane point out, Reggie was the unquestioned leader of the Pacers, even when he was not much more than a role player. Well, once he retired, that mantle fell to O'Neal, and while most #2's take this chance and run with it, J.O. did the opposite. He seemed to lose a lot of the desire, heart, and ultimately "game" that had made him a superstar. He began to struggle against lesser players. Seemed to shy away from the big shot. Even seemed to attempt to return to his role as option two giving the reigns to Ron Artest and later Stephen Jackson. In one short year, O'Neal had gone from one of the better power forwards in the league to maybe not the best player on his team.
I, honestly, was not all that surprised by this. I have not been a big O'Neal fan since the 2004 season. In '04 O'Neal had one of his better years statistically. He averaged 20 and 10, along with 3 blocks while shooting near 50% from the floor and near 75% from the foul line en route to finishing third in the MVP voting. The Pacers had the best record in the NBA at 61-21 and seemed poised to make another run to the NBA finals. Well, O'Neal came down with one nagging injury after another throughout the playoffs and was essentially not there in the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit, which the Pacers ultimately lost.
Now, I am not saying he wasn't hurt. I am sure he was. Playing in the post is a tough job. My point is this: great players play hurt when the season is on the line. The two guys that finished ahead of him in the MVP voting, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan also a post players, and they seemed to stay healthy enough to play. Garnett was even able to get his team to the Western Conference finals by his sheer will with one of the greatest single game 7's ever (36 pts, 21 rebs, 8 asts, and a game winning 3 at the buzzer).
J.O. however seemed to shy away from the pressure. He seemed to be almost looking for a reason to not have to put the team on his back. That Pacers team was far better than the Pistons, even with Rasheed Wallace. It just seemed that when a big play needed to be made, the Pacers' leader either couldn't, wouldn't, or didn't make it.
That was the last time the Pacers were a relevant team in terms of winning in the NBA. They have, unfortunately, been relevant for other reasons, and I think J.O. is involved here as well. The Pacers have, in the past 3 years been involved in numerous on and off the court scandals including the worst brawl in league history and multiple bar fights. To me, this speaks to the make up of the team.
Now, this is not a soap box for me or anything like that, but in the past, when guys like Reggie, Mark Jackson, Dale Davis, etc. were around, these things wouldn't have happened. So where is J.O. in all of this? First he is saying that if the Pacers trade Artest then maybe they should trade him too. Then he is backing Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley as good people, great teammates, and close friends.
The Pacers in the last few years have been a reincarnation of the Pat Riley Knicks, and this falls on the coaches and management too. Marginal on court performance, but plenty of off court stuff to write about. To me, this speaks to leadership, as John and Shane have said. O'Neal should've been out if front of all of this stating that this is not how professionals should act, and not giving excuses for his teammates. There should've been closed door meetings where J.O. was letting the rest of the team know that these kinds of things were unacceptable of a team that considers themselves contenders.
Did he do any of this? No. In fact, more times than not, it was other players who were saying anything at all. J.O. was relatively mute on the whole thing. Do you think for a second that Jordan, Bird, Magic, Worthy, etc. would've stayed quite about these incidents, even if the accused players were their friends? Absolutely not.
Now, John-O and Shane both refer to J.O. as a great player, but a bad leader. I think most, smart people would agree with them. I, however, disagree. I think he is a good/very good player and a bad leader. I think he was, at one time, a great player, but that died in 2004. Now, he is not much more, in my opinion, than a weighty salary keeping this team just good enough to lose in the first round of the playoffs every year. Is this good enough Indy? Are you content with getting to, and then losing in, the playoffs every year? I would hope not. If you are then you all should've eased up on Peyton a few years ago.
I completely agree with John-O and Shane's assertions that it might be time for a change. I would've also liked to have seen it earlier in the year. As John-O states, why not put your name in the Greg Oden hat and see what happens. As they both mention, the Pacers currently have a great piece to build around in Danny Granger, who is one of the more unknown yet talented guys in the league (just think Josh Howard but as a better athlete). Even if they didn't get Oden, to me, there is a greater upside in starting the re-building now, and trading O'Neal now to get something for him.
There are 8-10 teams that are much closer to winning a title than the Pacers that would love a solid big man who can score and defend. Look at Chris Webber to the Pistons. He was a guy that was past his best years, but still a very good player and he has turned them into a real force in the East. This is exactly what O'Neal could do. Go somewhere an be option 2,3, or even 4 and make a good team very good or even great.
This, in all of our opinions I think, is the best move for all involved. The trade deadline is right around the corner and the Pacers are currently toiling around in the East's 5th playoff spot. Will Donnie and the boys throw away another first round exit to start the re-building? I doubt it, unfortunately. But, as a guy who would love to see both of his home town teams be great again, I would love to see it.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Jeff Garcia?!?!? Really?!?!?!
OK, I touched on it a few posts ago, but now it appears that the possibility of Jeff Garcia to the Bears is, at worst, a 50-50 shot. At first I was mortified by this. My first thought was that it would be the crazy, over-the-top people that only listen to the guys on Around the Horn that thought this was a smart move. However, after I let the thought sink in a bit, and after a chat with a good friend of mine, I may be willing to change my stance on this. At least I am not quite as opposed to it as I was yesterday.
The easiest way to discuss this is essentially by starting with the statements my friend made. I will then state my response, with some more verbiage added of coarse. This may seem rambled, but it will ultimately make sense.
The first issue dealt with the age. Obviously Rex is a lot younger than Jeff Garcia. My buddy stated that he would rather go with the young guy than the old guy, all things being equal. Now, for 25 of the 32 teams in the league, I would totally agree. I always hate it when I see the Minnesota Vikings, the Washington Redskins, etc. go with the Brad Johnsons or Mark Brunnells of the world.
My view of this changes if you are one of the 6 or 7 teams that can conceivably contend for a title. If that is the case, I think that you have to have a different frame of mind. I don't think you can necessarily wait around for a young guy to "get it" because the window of time that you can win a Super Bowl is so small. Do you miss out on your shot at a title, or do you go out and get the veteran for a shot to win now. My contention was that I don't want to waste this team by waiting for Rex to flip the switch. He really did not get any better, decision wise, through out the season. He is so physically talented that he is going to make plays, but, even in the playoff games, he continually made mistake after mistake.
You look at the divisional game against Seattle. Rex's first pass was a deep post route to Rasheed Davis. This ball should've been intercepted. The ball went directly through Jordan Babinoux's hands, hitting both of them on the way. I think the Bears saw this and instantly started to tighten the reigns on Rex. He was allowed to make very few plays the rest of the game.
In the NFC title game, against New Orleans, Rex was again not allowed to go down the field very much, especially early. Now, obviously the weather had a little to do with this, but I think this was by design. On the one drive that Rex supporters will bring up, the touchdown was a bit mis-leading. This ball was just hing up in the air, for anyone to get. It just so happened that the defensive back, Fred Thomas, was one of the worst corners in the league this year. He turned one way, then back the other and still had a shot for an easy pick, that he of coarse missed. The ball then fell into Bernard Berrian's hands for the score.
Finally, in the Super Bowl, the two INT's Rex threw late in the game were just inexcusable. The first was just thrown up, without looking to see where his receiver was. The second came out of his hand wrong, due to the weather. The problem with this excuse was that the weather did not hinder Peyton Manning at all.
Now, do young quarterbacks make mistakes? Of coarse. However, most of them would have showed some signs of improvement. Maybe they play a little shaky early, but by the end of the year, they have at least cut down on the mistakes. Rex seemed to have learned nothing. He was doing the same things in January that he was in November.
Jeff Gracia is a veteran guy, who for the large part of his career, has made few mistakes, and headed some very productive offenses. Did he have his problems in Cleveland and Detroit? Yes, but I would ask how much of that was due to the lack of talent around him. Has anyone, in the recent past, won in either of those cities? The answer is, or coarse, no. Now, was Jeff great on these teams? Not at all. However, with talent around him, this guy has been successful.
What Jeff Garcia is is a savvy, veteran quarterback who completely turned the season around for the Eagles last year. He makes very few mistakes. He is, even at this age, dramatically more mobile than Grossman. He has larger hands than Rex, which should help on the super tricky center-QB exchange thing. He has a strong enough arm to make an offense work. He can read defenses. Is he a long term fix? Absolutely not. He may only work for a year or two. However, isn't it worth the "rental" of a veteran if it works?
Now, another thing we discussed was what if he makes the same mistakes Rex does? Well, I would contend then that you are no worse off. The rest of this team was good enough to win their division and make the Super Bowl, with minimal, NEEDED, contribution from Rex. He had some great games early, but they were in 20 point blow outs. In close game, did he make any of the key plays? I would contend no.
I would contend that you owe it to yourselves, to your players, and to your fans to try to fix issues with your team. Is Rex an issue with this team? Most definitely. Can he fix it? Maybe. My thing is that he showed little to no improvement. He's the same guy today that he was at Florida. He is exceptionally talented. He makes throws that only 3 or 4 other guys could. The problem is that he makes mistakes that some college kids wouldn't be making.
Now, yes, I know Rex won 15 games this season. But I would ask all you Bears fans: does that matter at all right now? He was one of the main reasons for the loss in Super Bowl XLI. Had he improved late in the year, the play calling might not have been so conservative. If he could've made another play or two, maybe the defense is more rested and would've played better. Maybe not. All I am saying is that he was more of a hindrance than a help in that game.
Ultimately, am I saying we should move on this and try to get Garcia? Not necessarily. What I am saying is that I am not totally against this anymore. Rex has given me no reason to think that next year will be any better, and I do not want to see this team get broken up a few years down the road with nothing more than a Super Bowl loss and a few division titles to show for it. I want a title and if Jeff Garcia gives the Bears a better shot at it, then I am all for it.
The easiest way to discuss this is essentially by starting with the statements my friend made. I will then state my response, with some more verbiage added of coarse. This may seem rambled, but it will ultimately make sense.
The first issue dealt with the age. Obviously Rex is a lot younger than Jeff Garcia. My buddy stated that he would rather go with the young guy than the old guy, all things being equal. Now, for 25 of the 32 teams in the league, I would totally agree. I always hate it when I see the Minnesota Vikings, the Washington Redskins, etc. go with the Brad Johnsons or Mark Brunnells of the world.
My view of this changes if you are one of the 6 or 7 teams that can conceivably contend for a title. If that is the case, I think that you have to have a different frame of mind. I don't think you can necessarily wait around for a young guy to "get it" because the window of time that you can win a Super Bowl is so small. Do you miss out on your shot at a title, or do you go out and get the veteran for a shot to win now. My contention was that I don't want to waste this team by waiting for Rex to flip the switch. He really did not get any better, decision wise, through out the season. He is so physically talented that he is going to make plays, but, even in the playoff games, he continually made mistake after mistake.
You look at the divisional game against Seattle. Rex's first pass was a deep post route to Rasheed Davis. This ball should've been intercepted. The ball went directly through Jordan Babinoux's hands, hitting both of them on the way. I think the Bears saw this and instantly started to tighten the reigns on Rex. He was allowed to make very few plays the rest of the game.
In the NFC title game, against New Orleans, Rex was again not allowed to go down the field very much, especially early. Now, obviously the weather had a little to do with this, but I think this was by design. On the one drive that Rex supporters will bring up, the touchdown was a bit mis-leading. This ball was just hing up in the air, for anyone to get. It just so happened that the defensive back, Fred Thomas, was one of the worst corners in the league this year. He turned one way, then back the other and still had a shot for an easy pick, that he of coarse missed. The ball then fell into Bernard Berrian's hands for the score.
Finally, in the Super Bowl, the two INT's Rex threw late in the game were just inexcusable. The first was just thrown up, without looking to see where his receiver was. The second came out of his hand wrong, due to the weather. The problem with this excuse was that the weather did not hinder Peyton Manning at all.
Now, do young quarterbacks make mistakes? Of coarse. However, most of them would have showed some signs of improvement. Maybe they play a little shaky early, but by the end of the year, they have at least cut down on the mistakes. Rex seemed to have learned nothing. He was doing the same things in January that he was in November.
Jeff Gracia is a veteran guy, who for the large part of his career, has made few mistakes, and headed some very productive offenses. Did he have his problems in Cleveland and Detroit? Yes, but I would ask how much of that was due to the lack of talent around him. Has anyone, in the recent past, won in either of those cities? The answer is, or coarse, no. Now, was Jeff great on these teams? Not at all. However, with talent around him, this guy has been successful.
What Jeff Garcia is is a savvy, veteran quarterback who completely turned the season around for the Eagles last year. He makes very few mistakes. He is, even at this age, dramatically more mobile than Grossman. He has larger hands than Rex, which should help on the super tricky center-QB exchange thing. He has a strong enough arm to make an offense work. He can read defenses. Is he a long term fix? Absolutely not. He may only work for a year or two. However, isn't it worth the "rental" of a veteran if it works?
Now, another thing we discussed was what if he makes the same mistakes Rex does? Well, I would contend then that you are no worse off. The rest of this team was good enough to win their division and make the Super Bowl, with minimal, NEEDED, contribution from Rex. He had some great games early, but they were in 20 point blow outs. In close game, did he make any of the key plays? I would contend no.
I would contend that you owe it to yourselves, to your players, and to your fans to try to fix issues with your team. Is Rex an issue with this team? Most definitely. Can he fix it? Maybe. My thing is that he showed little to no improvement. He's the same guy today that he was at Florida. He is exceptionally talented. He makes throws that only 3 or 4 other guys could. The problem is that he makes mistakes that some college kids wouldn't be making.
Now, yes, I know Rex won 15 games this season. But I would ask all you Bears fans: does that matter at all right now? He was one of the main reasons for the loss in Super Bowl XLI. Had he improved late in the year, the play calling might not have been so conservative. If he could've made another play or two, maybe the defense is more rested and would've played better. Maybe not. All I am saying is that he was more of a hindrance than a help in that game.
Ultimately, am I saying we should move on this and try to get Garcia? Not necessarily. What I am saying is that I am not totally against this anymore. Rex has given me no reason to think that next year will be any better, and I do not want to see this team get broken up a few years down the road with nothing more than a Super Bowl loss and a few division titles to show for it. I want a title and if Jeff Garcia gives the Bears a better shot at it, then I am all for it.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Let's Talk Some College Hoops
OK, I am in a college basketball mood, but don't really have anything specific to talk about so I think I'll toss out some random thoughts, and some mid-season predicitons. I am rarely right with these things, but they are fun, so let's get to it.
Lets go with the biggie right out of the box. If I were going to pick a final 4 right now, this is how it would go:
1. Florida - I do not know how anyone can not pencil these guys into the final four. Not only are they the defending champs but they are currently number 1, they returned all five starters from last years championship team, they are dominating the SEC, and they seem to have a bit of a chip on their shoulders. My guess is that they are a little pissed that so many people picked North Carolina or Ohio State in their pre-season polls. I know how difficult it is to repeat, but a big part of that is that it is so rare that teams return much of their team, let alone the entire starting line-up. The nice thing about this team is that they are taking their frustrations out on their opponents. They killed a Tennessee team that beat them twice last year. They beat Ohio State and Greg Oden by 20 points, and they haven't lost since a close game in Lawrence, Kansas against the Jay Hawks. All in all, I think the Gators are the best team in the country, and they are my pick at this point.
2. North Carolina - This team is sick talented. They were awesome last year and they only lost one real contributor, David Noel. Then, they bring in the best recruiting class this side of Columbus, and here is the crazy thing, the vets and the rooks are playing well together. Tyler Hansbrough is still the team leader, but he has a lot of help. Senior wing Reyshawn Terry seems to be adjusting well to his new role as instant offense and leadership off the bench after finishing second on the team in scoring last year. An extremely talented trio of freshmen, Brandon Wright, Ty Lawson, and Wayne Ellington have played as advertised so far, and continue to get better every week. This team still runs up and down the floor, and coach Roy Williams seems to have them all buying into his defensive scheme. They are deep, talented, and should be very hard to beat come March.
3. Wisconsin - This team boasts the probable player of the year in Alando Tucker, a rotation of 4 players 6-10 or taller, and one of the best pure shooters in the conference in Chris Rock look alike Kammron Taylor. They play stifling defense, led by Big 10 defensive player of the year candidate Marcus Landry, and their flex offense is run as precisely as a Peyton Manning 80 yard touchdown drive. This team may not be as talented as many other but they are experienced, big, deep, and led by a senior who is determined to remind people that there is some good basketball played in the upper Mid-West.
4. Ohio State - Now, I will admit here that this is somewhat of a biased opinion from a transplanted Big 10 guy. Also, I haven't seen enough of UCLA to really know what they are. However, I do feel that Ohio State is one of the 4-5 best teams in the country, and should be even better in a month. Greg Oden seems to finally be growing into the gigantic expectations people had of him before the season. Also, veteran shooters Ron Lewis and Jamar Butler seem to be settling into the idea of having so much more talent around them than in years past. Freshmen phenoms Mike Conley, Jr. and Daequan Cook have been as good as advertised and the Buckeye bench is deep, talented, and adept on both ends of the floor. Coach Thad Mota likes to play an up tempo style that is fueled by their defense. With Oden inside blocking shots, and Conley causing havoc on the perimeter, they are very hard to score against.
Some other teams to keep an eye on are Texas A&M, Kansas, UCLA, Indiana, Southern Illinois and Marquette.
My mid-season All American team would be
G - Acie Law, Jr., Texas A&M - should be Big 12 player of the year, but it will probably be Kevin Durant. Law is leading the Aggies in scoring, is their best defender, and hits the big shots when they need to be hit.
G - AJ Graves, Butler - there is no way he'll be here nationally, but this is my blog, so I'll put him here. he's not the sexy pick, but all he has done is beat Indiana, Gonzaga and Tennessee on the way to the Pre-Season NIT title and MVP award. He's the leading scorer on one of the best stories in the country (ranked in the top 10 nationally when they were picked 6th in their conference).
F - Kevin Durant, Texas - what this freshman is doing is nothing short of ridiculous. He is averging 25 and 12 over all and a remarkable 31 and 13 in the Big 12. The only problem with Durant is that he doesn't seem to really be making his team much better. They are still losing many of these games when he has great numbers. Still an amazing talent though.
F - Alando Tucker, Wisconsin - He should win the national POY award, and probably will. He is a senior who is playing his best basketball this year. He is second in the Big 10 in scoring and leads his team in steals, rebounds and blocks while being the guy that other teams scheme against. Also, plays his best in their biggest games.
C - Tyler Hansborough, North Carolina - it wouldn't surprise me if Greg Oden is here when it is all said and done, and that isn't necessarily wrong, but I give the edge to Tyler. He is leading his team scoring and rebounding while taking about 6 fewer shots this year than last with the influx of young talent on the Heels. Also, like Tucker, seems to play his best when it matters the most.
We can't talk only about the great in this little blog. There are many teams out there that are not living up to their pre-season billing. Ironically, three of the bigger disappointments come from the SEC. They are LSU, Alabama, and Tennessee. LSU and Alabama were both pre-season top 10 while Tennessee was also ranked early on. Duke has also been a disappointment to many, but not me. I think they were ranked on their name, not on their actual roster. This team lost so much from last year that it is no real shock that they are struggling. What is a shock, although it probably shouldn't be, is that they are still ranked so high. Arizona, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Syracuse, and UConn are also teams that were ranked in the top 15 in the pre-season and currently find themselves on the outside looking in of the polls. Many of these teams will still make the dance, and their talent levels mean that they are still going to be tough outs, but people might have believed the hype a little too much early on.
Finally, I will leave you with how I think it will all play out, at least right now. I think that the four teams I mentioned above: Florida, UNC, Wisconsin, and Ohio State will meet in Atlanta. I think you will see a final match-up of Florida vs. Wisconsin and I think the Badgers will shock everyone and cut the nets down. I know earlier on I said that Florida was my pick, but again, I am a biased Big 10 homer, and I am a little drunk right now. But hey, I can dream, can't I?
Lets go with the biggie right out of the box. If I were going to pick a final 4 right now, this is how it would go:
1. Florida - I do not know how anyone can not pencil these guys into the final four. Not only are they the defending champs but they are currently number 1, they returned all five starters from last years championship team, they are dominating the SEC, and they seem to have a bit of a chip on their shoulders. My guess is that they are a little pissed that so many people picked North Carolina or Ohio State in their pre-season polls. I know how difficult it is to repeat, but a big part of that is that it is so rare that teams return much of their team, let alone the entire starting line-up. The nice thing about this team is that they are taking their frustrations out on their opponents. They killed a Tennessee team that beat them twice last year. They beat Ohio State and Greg Oden by 20 points, and they haven't lost since a close game in Lawrence, Kansas against the Jay Hawks. All in all, I think the Gators are the best team in the country, and they are my pick at this point.
2. North Carolina - This team is sick talented. They were awesome last year and they only lost one real contributor, David Noel. Then, they bring in the best recruiting class this side of Columbus, and here is the crazy thing, the vets and the rooks are playing well together. Tyler Hansbrough is still the team leader, but he has a lot of help. Senior wing Reyshawn Terry seems to be adjusting well to his new role as instant offense and leadership off the bench after finishing second on the team in scoring last year. An extremely talented trio of freshmen, Brandon Wright, Ty Lawson, and Wayne Ellington have played as advertised so far, and continue to get better every week. This team still runs up and down the floor, and coach Roy Williams seems to have them all buying into his defensive scheme. They are deep, talented, and should be very hard to beat come March.
3. Wisconsin - This team boasts the probable player of the year in Alando Tucker, a rotation of 4 players 6-10 or taller, and one of the best pure shooters in the conference in Chris Rock look alike Kammron Taylor. They play stifling defense, led by Big 10 defensive player of the year candidate Marcus Landry, and their flex offense is run as precisely as a Peyton Manning 80 yard touchdown drive. This team may not be as talented as many other but they are experienced, big, deep, and led by a senior who is determined to remind people that there is some good basketball played in the upper Mid-West.
4. Ohio State - Now, I will admit here that this is somewhat of a biased opinion from a transplanted Big 10 guy. Also, I haven't seen enough of UCLA to really know what they are. However, I do feel that Ohio State is one of the 4-5 best teams in the country, and should be even better in a month. Greg Oden seems to finally be growing into the gigantic expectations people had of him before the season. Also, veteran shooters Ron Lewis and Jamar Butler seem to be settling into the idea of having so much more talent around them than in years past. Freshmen phenoms Mike Conley, Jr. and Daequan Cook have been as good as advertised and the Buckeye bench is deep, talented, and adept on both ends of the floor. Coach Thad Mota likes to play an up tempo style that is fueled by their defense. With Oden inside blocking shots, and Conley causing havoc on the perimeter, they are very hard to score against.
Some other teams to keep an eye on are Texas A&M, Kansas, UCLA, Indiana, Southern Illinois and Marquette.
My mid-season All American team would be
G - Acie Law, Jr., Texas A&M - should be Big 12 player of the year, but it will probably be Kevin Durant. Law is leading the Aggies in scoring, is their best defender, and hits the big shots when they need to be hit.
G - AJ Graves, Butler - there is no way he'll be here nationally, but this is my blog, so I'll put him here. he's not the sexy pick, but all he has done is beat Indiana, Gonzaga and Tennessee on the way to the Pre-Season NIT title and MVP award. He's the leading scorer on one of the best stories in the country (ranked in the top 10 nationally when they were picked 6th in their conference).
F - Kevin Durant, Texas - what this freshman is doing is nothing short of ridiculous. He is averging 25 and 12 over all and a remarkable 31 and 13 in the Big 12. The only problem with Durant is that he doesn't seem to really be making his team much better. They are still losing many of these games when he has great numbers. Still an amazing talent though.
F - Alando Tucker, Wisconsin - He should win the national POY award, and probably will. He is a senior who is playing his best basketball this year. He is second in the Big 10 in scoring and leads his team in steals, rebounds and blocks while being the guy that other teams scheme against. Also, plays his best in their biggest games.
C - Tyler Hansborough, North Carolina - it wouldn't surprise me if Greg Oden is here when it is all said and done, and that isn't necessarily wrong, but I give the edge to Tyler. He is leading his team scoring and rebounding while taking about 6 fewer shots this year than last with the influx of young talent on the Heels. Also, like Tucker, seems to play his best when it matters the most.
We can't talk only about the great in this little blog. There are many teams out there that are not living up to their pre-season billing. Ironically, three of the bigger disappointments come from the SEC. They are LSU, Alabama, and Tennessee. LSU and Alabama were both pre-season top 10 while Tennessee was also ranked early on. Duke has also been a disappointment to many, but not me. I think they were ranked on their name, not on their actual roster. This team lost so much from last year that it is no real shock that they are struggling. What is a shock, although it probably shouldn't be, is that they are still ranked so high. Arizona, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Syracuse, and UConn are also teams that were ranked in the top 15 in the pre-season and currently find themselves on the outside looking in of the polls. Many of these teams will still make the dance, and their talent levels mean that they are still going to be tough outs, but people might have believed the hype a little too much early on.
Finally, I will leave you with how I think it will all play out, at least right now. I think that the four teams I mentioned above: Florida, UNC, Wisconsin, and Ohio State will meet in Atlanta. I think you will see a final match-up of Florida vs. Wisconsin and I think the Badgers will shock everyone and cut the nets down. I know earlier on I said that Florida was my pick, but again, I am a biased Big 10 homer, and I am a little drunk right now. But hey, I can dream, can't I?
OK, So Now What?
Well it's here. The time that as a Bears fan I have been trying to avoid for the last day and a half. The time when I play General Manager and bore you all with my thoughts on what happened, and where Chicago goes from here. Is anyone of any importance going to read this, or care what I have to say? NO. That being said, I'm still gonna do it, because that is the beauty of having my own blog.
OK, lets start with the obvious, and that is Rex. My thoughts on Rex are very similar to many, logical Bears fan's. He is a young quarterback. Yes, he was totally outplayed by Peyton, but really, shouldn't he have been? Is there anyone in the world that would say that they are at all close talent-wise? Of coarse not. Now, that being said, am I giving Rex a free pass on this? Absolutely not. I have been a staunch supporter of Rex. You can ask anyone who has had a conversation with me, and they will tell you that I am almost irritating in my defense of Rex. Well, now I am having to take a long look in the mirror and ask myself the important question. Can we win with Rex? Here is the answer: I don't know.
Physically, Rex is incredibly talented. He has as big an arm as anyone in the league and can make throws that only 3 or 4 other guys can make. Now, mentally, Rex is all over the map. He doesn't seem to understand the nuances of the position. I know he is young (he has now played essentially one full season) and there were signs of greatness. Still, I wonder. Anyone who follows sports knows that there is a window of time that teams can challenge for titles. That being said, do you want to hang your hopes on Rex's shoulders? Should he get better? Sure. Will he? Who knows.
Here is what I think will happen. First off, this team did go 15-4 and made the Super Bowl with Rex. Also, how many people thought the Bears would win this game? Not many, and they shouldn't have. In games like this, the quarterback is the most important position. It usually doesn't matter if you are better defensively and in special teams if the difference at quarterback is so large. That was the case here, although I am not so sure that the Bears D was better here, but that doesn't change that Peyton should've won this game.
Now, all that being said, Rex will go into next season as the starter, and he should. He has earned that. Now, after that, all bets are off. Will he keep his job? Who knows. Also, keep in mind that he is a free agent after next season. How much better does he need to play to next year to deserve an extension? Are there that many AVAILABLE quarterbacks out there that rational Bears fans would rather have than Rex? Oh yeah, and before you even inch towards me with Jeff Garcia, let me say this. All the "experts" totally wrote him off while he was stinking it up in Detroit and Cleveland. Why is he the answer now?
Now, if there was someone out there that was obviously better, fine make the move. People are going to call for Donovan McNabb. This makes a little sense since he is from Chicago and is very good when healthy, but he has had 1 healthy season in the past 5. Do you want to hang your hopes on a guys with this track record for injuries? I don't know. Is there someone out there in college that could step in and help now and could, realistically, be acquired? No.
So, this is what you have. Rex is the best option. He is better physically than Griese, Gracia, etc. and deserves the chance to learn and improve. Now, if there is minimal improvement next year, then I doubt you'll see him get an extension. It would not surprise me to see them spend a middle round pick on a QB in this draft to hedge their bets. Either way, Bears fans, we will have another year of Rex. Lets just wait and see what happens.
Now, a moment about the great, vaunted Bears defense. They were horrible. Our great linebackers were totally neutralized. The D-line was rarely able to create any kind of pressure. The secondary was shredded by Manning. They missed tackles. They where in the wrong places at the wrong times. They were flat our beat. There were multiple times that the Colts had a 3rd and 6 or more and every time, every time, the Colts got the first. And yes, they were on the field a lot, but that was partially due to their inability to get off the field. So, any discussion of BLAME must also include the defense.
I, myself, place most of the blame on the coaches, namely offensive coordinator Ron Turner. It was common knowledge that the best way for the Bears to win was for them to run the ball, control the clock, and minimize the plays Rex needed to make. Well, even with a 55 yard run in the first quarter, Thomas Jones had only 15 carries. 15 carries! In a deluge, the running game was almost totally forgotten. Then there was the plays called for Rex. Is it any surprise that he struggled when every pass play called for him early on was an underneath route? He was never given any chance to get into a rhythm. Now, if you are running the ball down they opponents throat, I have no problem with this. However, you are calling plays as though you need as much production from the passing game as from the running game. If that is the case, then LET HIM PLAY! If you don't give him a chance to succeed, you can't be shocked when he fails. Now, let me say, I love Ron Turner. I think he is a great coordinator, but he hamstrung his offense in this game, and it really, really hurt their chances to win.
OK, there they are. My thoughts on the game, who you blame, and what to do with Rex. Am I right? Who knows. They're my opinions. Feel free to agree or disagree. They are what they are. Ultimately, I don't think any of this mattered. I don't think there was anything the Bears could've done to walk off of that field with the trophy. Peyton was not going to be denied, no matter what Chicago did.
Scoot Out!
OK, lets start with the obvious, and that is Rex. My thoughts on Rex are very similar to many, logical Bears fan's. He is a young quarterback. Yes, he was totally outplayed by Peyton, but really, shouldn't he have been? Is there anyone in the world that would say that they are at all close talent-wise? Of coarse not. Now, that being said, am I giving Rex a free pass on this? Absolutely not. I have been a staunch supporter of Rex. You can ask anyone who has had a conversation with me, and they will tell you that I am almost irritating in my defense of Rex. Well, now I am having to take a long look in the mirror and ask myself the important question. Can we win with Rex? Here is the answer: I don't know.
Physically, Rex is incredibly talented. He has as big an arm as anyone in the league and can make throws that only 3 or 4 other guys can make. Now, mentally, Rex is all over the map. He doesn't seem to understand the nuances of the position. I know he is young (he has now played essentially one full season) and there were signs of greatness. Still, I wonder. Anyone who follows sports knows that there is a window of time that teams can challenge for titles. That being said, do you want to hang your hopes on Rex's shoulders? Should he get better? Sure. Will he? Who knows.
Here is what I think will happen. First off, this team did go 15-4 and made the Super Bowl with Rex. Also, how many people thought the Bears would win this game? Not many, and they shouldn't have. In games like this, the quarterback is the most important position. It usually doesn't matter if you are better defensively and in special teams if the difference at quarterback is so large. That was the case here, although I am not so sure that the Bears D was better here, but that doesn't change that Peyton should've won this game.
Now, all that being said, Rex will go into next season as the starter, and he should. He has earned that. Now, after that, all bets are off. Will he keep his job? Who knows. Also, keep in mind that he is a free agent after next season. How much better does he need to play to next year to deserve an extension? Are there that many AVAILABLE quarterbacks out there that rational Bears fans would rather have than Rex? Oh yeah, and before you even inch towards me with Jeff Garcia, let me say this. All the "experts" totally wrote him off while he was stinking it up in Detroit and Cleveland. Why is he the answer now?
Now, if there was someone out there that was obviously better, fine make the move. People are going to call for Donovan McNabb. This makes a little sense since he is from Chicago and is very good when healthy, but he has had 1 healthy season in the past 5. Do you want to hang your hopes on a guys with this track record for injuries? I don't know. Is there someone out there in college that could step in and help now and could, realistically, be acquired? No.
So, this is what you have. Rex is the best option. He is better physically than Griese, Gracia, etc. and deserves the chance to learn and improve. Now, if there is minimal improvement next year, then I doubt you'll see him get an extension. It would not surprise me to see them spend a middle round pick on a QB in this draft to hedge their bets. Either way, Bears fans, we will have another year of Rex. Lets just wait and see what happens.
Now, a moment about the great, vaunted Bears defense. They were horrible. Our great linebackers were totally neutralized. The D-line was rarely able to create any kind of pressure. The secondary was shredded by Manning. They missed tackles. They where in the wrong places at the wrong times. They were flat our beat. There were multiple times that the Colts had a 3rd and 6 or more and every time, every time, the Colts got the first. And yes, they were on the field a lot, but that was partially due to their inability to get off the field. So, any discussion of BLAME must also include the defense.
I, myself, place most of the blame on the coaches, namely offensive coordinator Ron Turner. It was common knowledge that the best way for the Bears to win was for them to run the ball, control the clock, and minimize the plays Rex needed to make. Well, even with a 55 yard run in the first quarter, Thomas Jones had only 15 carries. 15 carries! In a deluge, the running game was almost totally forgotten. Then there was the plays called for Rex. Is it any surprise that he struggled when every pass play called for him early on was an underneath route? He was never given any chance to get into a rhythm. Now, if you are running the ball down they opponents throat, I have no problem with this. However, you are calling plays as though you need as much production from the passing game as from the running game. If that is the case, then LET HIM PLAY! If you don't give him a chance to succeed, you can't be shocked when he fails. Now, let me say, I love Ron Turner. I think he is a great coordinator, but he hamstrung his offense in this game, and it really, really hurt their chances to win.
OK, there they are. My thoughts on the game, who you blame, and what to do with Rex. Am I right? Who knows. They're my opinions. Feel free to agree or disagree. They are what they are. Ultimately, I don't think any of this mattered. I don't think there was anything the Bears could've done to walk off of that field with the trophy. Peyton was not going to be denied, no matter what Chicago did.
Scoot Out!
Sunday, February 4, 2007
...And All Is Right With The World
Ah yes, it seems that, for at least one night, things worked out in the right way. I am speaking, of coarse, of the Super Bowl. As a Bears and Colts fan, I was in the enviable position of being able to sit back and truly enjoy this game. Looking back, however, I think I might have rather it been a Colts vs. anyone else game so I could have rooted to my full potential. In this current state, I was hoping for a good game for both teams, and ultimately a Colts victory. Either way, I knew that one of my teams would win, but I missed out on the sheer joy of winning when you could've lost. All in all though, I'll take 'em any way I can get 'em.
The game started out with a bang. Devin Hester, as he is prone to do, burned the Colts suspect return defense for the first opening kick return TD in Super Bowl history. You could actually see it happen. He made one cut, and then was through the first line. After that, it was a done deal. What did this mean, well, ultimately nothing. It turned out to mean exactly as much as the Ohio State touchdown on the opening kick of the college championship game (I wonder how many times both title games have started that way). Both teams started slowly offensively. Peyton threw a pick, which was on 3rd and 12 and really not much worse than a punt, and the Bears struggled to move the ball on their first possession.
The Colts then got on the board 2 possessions later with a 57 yard bomb to Reggie Wayne, who was wide, WIDE open. The Bears chose to blitz, and Peyton evaded it, as he has all year. He then saw that corner Charles Tillman had turned Wayne loose on a go rout, as he is supposed to in the cover 2, assuming that their would be safety help deep. Unfortunately, safety Daniel Manning had bit on the play fake and moved in to cover Dallas Clark. By the time the ball got to Wayne, there was noone within 15 yards of him. He walked in for the score. At this point, there were 2 touchdowns, both on mistakes by the other team, and both by guys from the University of Miami on their return home. The rain then started to really fall, which may have caused Hunter Smith to bobble the hold on the extra point, keeping the Bears in the lead.
Later in the quarter, after a Joseph Addai fumbled hand off that Alex Brown almost took out of Peyton's hand, the Bears embarked on a 4 play, 62 yard touchdown drive. This drive was highlited by a 55 yard run by Thomas Jones on the first play and was capped by a Rex Grossman fast ball to Muhsin Mohammed in the end zone. Little did Bears fans know that this was basically the last thing they had to root for. The first quarter ended with the score 14-6, Bears, with a total of 3 turnovers, 4 busted plays, and one botched extra point try. Not exactly the way old Vince Lombardi drew it up.
From the start of the second quarter on, the Colts dominated all facets of the game. They could pass or run pretty much at will against a Bears D that seemed to have righted the ship against New Orleans. The Colts new and improved D lived up to its billing after the suspect first quarter and totally shut down the Bears offense, with the possible exception of Jones who finished with 100 yards (all be it in large part to the 55 yard run in the first).
The final 3 quarters looked like a clinic by the Colts offense. They mixed up their plays. Peyton seemed to always call the right play or formation, and the Bears seemed to have no idea what was coming. Had the Bears not come up with some key stops in the red zone, and Adam Vinatieri not missed a chip shot field goal (guess it's harder when the game isn't on the line) the half time score would've been much worse than the 16-14 that it was.
In the second half, things continued in the same vain. The game was ultimately decided in true Rex fashion as on back to back possessions he threw INT's, one for a TD. After that, the Bears were dead. Rex's final line - 20/28 for 165 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's, 2 fumbled snaps (one lost to the Colts) and one trip by the terf (or grass in this case) monster. Not what Bears fans were hoping for.
Peyton was "workman-like" if not spectacular. He was 25/38 for 267, 1 TD, and 1 INT. Not his greatest game, but it was all that was needed. The real story was the running game. Dominic Rhodes had 113 yards on 21 carries and Addai added 77 on 19 carries. Addai also had 10 receptions for 66 yards. Combined the running backs accounted for 264 of the Colts 430 total yards. If there was a case for anyone other than Peyton to be the game's MVP, it would've been a co-MVP for these two.
Peyton, of coarse, won the MVP. I think this was as much due to him being Peyton as anything, but in the absence of a true break out star, I think they made the right decision. What I found most interesting was that Peyton seemed to never "freak out", even after the early INT. The Peyton of the past would've started pressing and made more mistakes. This Peyton, just like in the AFC title game, took what was there calmly, and seemed to know things would work out. That to me is the real sign of his improvement. He has always had the great stats, and was always the most cerebral QB in the league. However, that big brain seemed to get him into trouble in big games in the past. This season, from day one, he seemed to stop over-thinking things, and just play the game.
I really think one of the things that helped the Colts this year was the fact that they played so many close games. Even the ones they lost, like at Tennessee gave them valuable lessons on what to do and not do in close games. Last year they blew everyone out and I think that ultimately killed them against Pittsburgh. They didn't know how to play a close game, let alone come back in one. This year, they seemed to almost thrive on the adversity of a close game. Everyone seemed to pick their games up a notch late, when it mattered most.
I also think this Colts team was exactly that, a team. Yes they are still stars, on both sides of the ball, but this group seemed to genuinely care about each other. It was really about winning, not just putting up sick stats. I also think the adversity late in the season only solidified this "team" mantra going into the playoffs, making them all the more difficult for opponents.
All in all, I think the better team won this game. Honestly, I think Rex could've had a fine game and it would not have mattered. Before the 2 INT's, his QB rating was over 100 and his completion percentage for the game was a respectable 74%, and it still was obvious that the Colts were in control. This was about Peyton and the Colts, and nothing the Bears could do was going to change that.
No matter how it would've gone, Peyton would've made the plays necessary to win this game. It ultimately came down to the fact that he was not going to be denied. I think he knew that there was no guarantee of a return trip, so he had better take advantage of this chance while it was here. Now he can join the likes of Favre, Montana, Elway, Brady, Young, etc. as great QB's with rings and leave behind Kelly, Marino, and Esiason that so many "experts" thought he would forever be associated with.
I'm sure over the next few days we will start to see these same "experts" talk as though they always knew Peyton would get his championship, and that they were one of the few that already included him in the "winners club". They will also be quick to call out a return trip for Indy next year.
I would not be so quick here. As my buddy John so insightfully mentioned, the Colts are probably going to lose at least one of the duo of Cato June and Dwight Freeney, if not both. What does this do to a unit that is already a question mark? Also, where do the Colts use their draft picks this year? Do they finally realize that adding more offensive weapons is not the way to go? We'll have to wait and see. Does Tony Dungy retire now that he has his ring having said in the past that he didn't want to coach past the age of 50 (he's 51 by the way)? I honestly believe that there is a better shot of Chicago returning to the Super Bowl than Indy, and that is not even taking into account the strength of the AFC versus the NFC.
However, none of that matters right now, although I'm sure Bill Polian is already thinking about it. Right now, all that matters is that the quest is complete. Peyton, Dungy, Marvin, etc. have their ring. Indy has it's championship. And I have my first in 7 years, and yes, that does matter.
The game started out with a bang. Devin Hester, as he is prone to do, burned the Colts suspect return defense for the first opening kick return TD in Super Bowl history. You could actually see it happen. He made one cut, and then was through the first line. After that, it was a done deal. What did this mean, well, ultimately nothing. It turned out to mean exactly as much as the Ohio State touchdown on the opening kick of the college championship game (I wonder how many times both title games have started that way). Both teams started slowly offensively. Peyton threw a pick, which was on 3rd and 12 and really not much worse than a punt, and the Bears struggled to move the ball on their first possession.
The Colts then got on the board 2 possessions later with a 57 yard bomb to Reggie Wayne, who was wide, WIDE open. The Bears chose to blitz, and Peyton evaded it, as he has all year. He then saw that corner Charles Tillman had turned Wayne loose on a go rout, as he is supposed to in the cover 2, assuming that their would be safety help deep. Unfortunately, safety Daniel Manning had bit on the play fake and moved in to cover Dallas Clark. By the time the ball got to Wayne, there was noone within 15 yards of him. He walked in for the score. At this point, there were 2 touchdowns, both on mistakes by the other team, and both by guys from the University of Miami on their return home. The rain then started to really fall, which may have caused Hunter Smith to bobble the hold on the extra point, keeping the Bears in the lead.
Later in the quarter, after a Joseph Addai fumbled hand off that Alex Brown almost took out of Peyton's hand, the Bears embarked on a 4 play, 62 yard touchdown drive. This drive was highlited by a 55 yard run by Thomas Jones on the first play and was capped by a Rex Grossman fast ball to Muhsin Mohammed in the end zone. Little did Bears fans know that this was basically the last thing they had to root for. The first quarter ended with the score 14-6, Bears, with a total of 3 turnovers, 4 busted plays, and one botched extra point try. Not exactly the way old Vince Lombardi drew it up.
From the start of the second quarter on, the Colts dominated all facets of the game. They could pass or run pretty much at will against a Bears D that seemed to have righted the ship against New Orleans. The Colts new and improved D lived up to its billing after the suspect first quarter and totally shut down the Bears offense, with the possible exception of Jones who finished with 100 yards (all be it in large part to the 55 yard run in the first).
The final 3 quarters looked like a clinic by the Colts offense. They mixed up their plays. Peyton seemed to always call the right play or formation, and the Bears seemed to have no idea what was coming. Had the Bears not come up with some key stops in the red zone, and Adam Vinatieri not missed a chip shot field goal (guess it's harder when the game isn't on the line) the half time score would've been much worse than the 16-14 that it was.
In the second half, things continued in the same vain. The game was ultimately decided in true Rex fashion as on back to back possessions he threw INT's, one for a TD. After that, the Bears were dead. Rex's final line - 20/28 for 165 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's, 2 fumbled snaps (one lost to the Colts) and one trip by the terf (or grass in this case) monster. Not what Bears fans were hoping for.
Peyton was "workman-like" if not spectacular. He was 25/38 for 267, 1 TD, and 1 INT. Not his greatest game, but it was all that was needed. The real story was the running game. Dominic Rhodes had 113 yards on 21 carries and Addai added 77 on 19 carries. Addai also had 10 receptions for 66 yards. Combined the running backs accounted for 264 of the Colts 430 total yards. If there was a case for anyone other than Peyton to be the game's MVP, it would've been a co-MVP for these two.
Peyton, of coarse, won the MVP. I think this was as much due to him being Peyton as anything, but in the absence of a true break out star, I think they made the right decision. What I found most interesting was that Peyton seemed to never "freak out", even after the early INT. The Peyton of the past would've started pressing and made more mistakes. This Peyton, just like in the AFC title game, took what was there calmly, and seemed to know things would work out. That to me is the real sign of his improvement. He has always had the great stats, and was always the most cerebral QB in the league. However, that big brain seemed to get him into trouble in big games in the past. This season, from day one, he seemed to stop over-thinking things, and just play the game.
I really think one of the things that helped the Colts this year was the fact that they played so many close games. Even the ones they lost, like at Tennessee gave them valuable lessons on what to do and not do in close games. Last year they blew everyone out and I think that ultimately killed them against Pittsburgh. They didn't know how to play a close game, let alone come back in one. This year, they seemed to almost thrive on the adversity of a close game. Everyone seemed to pick their games up a notch late, when it mattered most.
I also think this Colts team was exactly that, a team. Yes they are still stars, on both sides of the ball, but this group seemed to genuinely care about each other. It was really about winning, not just putting up sick stats. I also think the adversity late in the season only solidified this "team" mantra going into the playoffs, making them all the more difficult for opponents.
All in all, I think the better team won this game. Honestly, I think Rex could've had a fine game and it would not have mattered. Before the 2 INT's, his QB rating was over 100 and his completion percentage for the game was a respectable 74%, and it still was obvious that the Colts were in control. This was about Peyton and the Colts, and nothing the Bears could do was going to change that.
No matter how it would've gone, Peyton would've made the plays necessary to win this game. It ultimately came down to the fact that he was not going to be denied. I think he knew that there was no guarantee of a return trip, so he had better take advantage of this chance while it was here. Now he can join the likes of Favre, Montana, Elway, Brady, Young, etc. as great QB's with rings and leave behind Kelly, Marino, and Esiason that so many "experts" thought he would forever be associated with.
I'm sure over the next few days we will start to see these same "experts" talk as though they always knew Peyton would get his championship, and that they were one of the few that already included him in the "winners club". They will also be quick to call out a return trip for Indy next year.
I would not be so quick here. As my buddy John so insightfully mentioned, the Colts are probably going to lose at least one of the duo of Cato June and Dwight Freeney, if not both. What does this do to a unit that is already a question mark? Also, where do the Colts use their draft picks this year? Do they finally realize that adding more offensive weapons is not the way to go? We'll have to wait and see. Does Tony Dungy retire now that he has his ring having said in the past that he didn't want to coach past the age of 50 (he's 51 by the way)? I honestly believe that there is a better shot of Chicago returning to the Super Bowl than Indy, and that is not even taking into account the strength of the AFC versus the NFC.
However, none of that matters right now, although I'm sure Bill Polian is already thinking about it. Right now, all that matters is that the quest is complete. Peyton, Dungy, Marvin, etc. have their ring. Indy has it's championship. And I have my first in 7 years, and yes, that does matter.
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