After much chatter of the European teams losing their hold on the world of futbol, soccer for us Americans, two European teams will face off on Sunday during the most watched sporting event across the world. I’d advise all of you (my 5-8 readers) to tune in.
Let’s start with the most basic thing in futbol, the starting XI and their positions.
Goalie: Iker Casillas (#1): The captain of the Spanish squad happens to be a great leader, confident and completely in control of his defense in front of him. He is one of the world’s best keepers and definitely deserves to wear the armband for Spain.
Right Back: Sergio Ramos (#15): Like his goalie, Ramos plays his club futbol at Real Madrid. The 24 year old loves to create width on the pitch by over-lapping with a midfield player while Spain retains possession.
Right Central Defender: Puyol (#5): This 32-year-old rock of a defender has a mean streak and a do or die mentality that earns him the captain armband for his club team, Barcalona. Puyol also earns my vote as the least likely player to flop or take a dive in the World Cup, no matter the circumstances. Puyol scored Spain’s biggest goal in their history against Germany, he came crashing into the penalty area during a corner and was on a freight train to immortality with his overall play against Germany.
Left Central Defender: Pique (#3): Puyol’s club and country defensive partner is much younger, 23, and composed when he has the ball at his feet compared to Puyol, Pique is considered the trigger-man from the back. He delivers crisp passes and timely tackles to regain possession for his team.
Left Back: Capdevila (#11): Capdevilla is a bit of an after thought on a team full of world wide super stars, but the Villarreal man has done well to hold onto his spot. He seldom makes an error and is another piece of the puzzle for manager Vicente del Bosque. Like Ramos, Capedevilla over-laps with his teammates while in possession and is able to deliver a timely cross into the box for the Spanish forwards.
Left Defensive Midfield: Sergio Busquets (#16): Busquets is still looking for his first Spanish goal but he has done a great job preventing goals. A defensive midfield’s job is to protect the defense from looking bad. Often overshadowed by the skillful and flair in the attacking midfield, defensive midfielders are generally responsible for containing the other teams playmakers and nobody did a better job on German playmaker Mesut Oezil than Busquets. Expect for him to have a similar job responsibility on Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder.
Right Defensive Midfielder: Xabi Alonso (#14): Much like Busquets, Alonso’s job is to not make the defense look bad. Alonso will most likely be assigned to try and contain Dutch winger Arjen Robben. Alonso is another great distributor to the forwards and attacking midfielders and he also likes to shoot from distance, as he has the ability to be deadly on a free kick.
Central Attacking Midfielder: Xavi (#8): As the conductor of the Spanish offense, Xavi has a hand in every build-up play and free kick. He possesses incredible vision and touch to go along with the ability to make all those around him look exceptional. Xavi may not possess the physical athleticism as some of the top players in the world, but his technique and footwork is impeccable.
Since the next three players are incredibly fluid, consider them all forwards.
Andres Iniesta (#6): He and Xavi have a great understanding of each other and this comes from playing together throughout their lives in Barcelona. Iniesta is incredibly important to the Spanish attack as he is comfortable in many positions and assignments.
David Villa (#7): The man who has carried the goal-scoring burden with Torres below fitness, Villa has not disappointed. Villa is showing the world why Barcelona payed close to $55 million dollars to buy him from Valencia.
Pedro (#18): The young Barcelona forward should get the start in front of Euro 2008 hero Fernando Torres. Pedro provided great attacking width along with some scintillating runs against Germany. With Torres not fully healthy, Pedro seems as if he is the logical choice.
Netherlands:
Goalie: Maarten Stekelenburg (#1): He’s a goalie, he’s tall and enjoys screaming at his defense whenever they make a mistake or allow a shot on goal. One of a few Ajax players on the roster, Stekelenburg has avoided costing the Dutch any crucial goals.
Right Back: Gregory van der Wiel (#2): The young Ajax man has been a bright spot in the defense. He managed to recover very well against Brazil and Robinho after allowing Robinho to get past him for an early goal.
Right Central Defender: John Heitinga (#3): The Everton man has provided a great partnership with Mathijsen all tournament. They have been able to avoid the big mistake that would have prevented them from being in this final.
Left Central Defender: Joris Mathijsen (#4): the 30-year-old Hamburg player has continued to improve throughout the tournament. Partnering with Heitinga, they lack much ability to distribute the ball to the forward players, but as long as they continue to play well together, Spain may find it difficult to break them.
Left Back: Giovanni van Bronckhorst (#5): The captain and Feyenoord man provides veteran leadership for the defense while he has the ability to over-lap with Kuyt.
Left Defensive Midfielder: Nigel de Jong (#8): De Jong will be handed the tough assignment of covering the 3 forwards that flow around in the Spanish attack. For the Dutch sake, de Jong needs to follow his tactical assignment for success. Getting caught out of position and not following his defensive responsibilities may prove costly to the Dutch.
Right Defensive Midfielder: Mark van Bommel (#6): Van Bommel will be assigned to help cover the plethora of attacking players that Spain posess. The son-in-law of the coach has had a very good World Cup so far and as long as he and de Jong avoid big mistakes, the Dutch will have a great chance of winning.
Central Attacking Midfielder: Wesley Sneijder (#10): From the midfield, Sneijder pulls all of the strings. He triggers the counter-attack as well as maintaining possession and distributing the ball to his teammates. He is able to play a variety of positions and has become a top player in the world after a relatively unsuccessful stint at Real Madrid.
Right Winger: Arjen Robben (#11): Robben and Kuyt are considered inverted wingers, meaning their strong foot is on the inside of the flank they attack. Robben is incredibly likely to cut inside and hope to smash a left footer from distance on a counter attack. Robben doesn’t have much defensive responsibilities and he is most likely to play as a second striker off of van Persie.
Left Winger: Dirk Kuyt (#7): Kuyt is the grinder on the offense. He tracks back to help defensively and isn’t afraid to get in a couple of tough tackles to win the ball back. Kuyt is a non-stop worker for this Dutch side and is most likely to be taken off during the game if they go down early.
Striker: Robin van Persie (#9): This Arsenal man is comfortable playing anywhere in attack for his club team but for his country he plays up front as a lone striker. Van Persie has struggled at times to make an impact after his broken leg sidelined him during the season, to win van Persie must attack the back 4 for Spain and cause a mistake by one of them.
Prediction:
As well as the Dutch have played this World Cup; I think it will be difficult to keep Spain away from the ball and at least two goals. If the Dutch get a set piece early on, Sneijder can be lethal on the ball. Xavi and Iniesta may be too much for de Jong and van Bommel to handle. If the Dutch can counter after a long period of possession, they may catch the two outside defenders off guard and capitalize with great wing play by Robben and Kuyt. I think the final score will be 2-1 after a late push to equalize by Netherlands.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tiger's Return by Phil Smith
Tiger Woods burst onto the golf scene when he was two years old on The Mike Douglas Show, you know the video, it’s been played about 1,000,000 times while Jim Nantz retells the viewers about Tiger’s incredible childhood. Tiger captured the imaginations of everyone, from young children to 80 year olds; everyone loved Tiger (except Phil Mickelson and Vijay Sigh). This blog or column or whatever you call this isn’t necessarily to sing Tiger’s praises, it’s to throw out a few ideas as to what may happen April 8th-11th. When writing about a touchy subject such as infidelities by professional athletes, it’s important to separate personal life from professional life. By doing this, one can dutifully piece together separate incidents to form a picture of the whole situation.
Scenario 1:
Tiger sinks into a shell and never plays well again. While this may be extremely unlikely, the potential thought of losing his wife should get under any man’s conscience. If Elin means as much to Tiger as he says he does, who’s to blame him for coming out to Augusta and lay an egg? Presumably Tiger hadn’t golfed much during the 45 days he was in therapy and at the very least he wasn’t hitting golf balls for 8-10 hours a day. There could and should be rust in Tiger’s game that he will have to shake off. If Tiger lays one egg, will he start to listen to the inevitable shit storm the media will create around his failure to focus on the biggest stage in golf? Will Tiger be forced to choose between putting 100% into his marriage and put golf on the backburner? Will Tiger need more therapy (whatever type of therapy that is)? All of these questions may surface if Tiger misses the cut or is completely out of contention come Sunday. While this scenario seems extremely unlikely for a man capable of winning the US Open on one leg, the scandal surrounding him and his family may be the only thing to get under Tiger’s skin. This deals with an emotional attachment that Tiger stomped on repeatedly until everything boiled over that fateful November night.
Scenario 2:
Tiger goes in to F you mode. Utterly and completely unstoppable, Tiger blows everyone away at Augusta. Literally untouchable, Tiger demolishes Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 Major Championships and sets a ridiculous number like 28. As a golf fan I’d love to see this happen. Tiger’s dominance is incredible (obviously) and during this time Tiger doesn’t make a single mistake, professional or personal, he does the interviews he needs and wins all the important tournaments. Slowly Tiger regains all or most of his sponsors, although I doubt he’ll get his disgusting Gatorade back, and everything in Tiger’s life ends up in a perfect little bow. The same little bow we thought he had before November 27th, 2009.
Scenario 3:
This is probably the most plausible scenario, or at least the one I think is most likely. Out of sheer spite towards his co-workers, Tiger wins The Masters, not by a convincing margin but he does something he’s never done during his 18 Major Championships. He comes from behind, for argument’s sake I’ll say from 4th place to beat… uhhh, who cares. Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo will have a field day announcing Tiger’s closing round although they’ll tread carefully; odds are that David Feherty will be the first commentator to make an inappropriate joke about Tiger’s infidelities. Surprisingly, Tiger will take Arnie’s advice and let the media take their shots at him, whether or not he answers is another thing but when Tiger’s press conference rolls around, I’d expect him to at least reply with, “it’s a personal matter between Elin and I.” As for the rest of his career, Tiger will continue to “rehab” his personal issues, slowly and I mean verrrrry slowly, he’ll regain some of the bigger sponsors. For some reason Elin will stay with him and they’ll become even more private than before. Tiger will break Jack’s record and wind up with an even 20. He’ll retire earlier than necessary and work on building a stronger foundation had all of this never boiled over. As for the rest of the golf community, well they’re screwed until Tiger retires and Rory McElroy takes over.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
2010 NFL Mock Draft by Phil Smith
1. St Louis Rams- Sam Bradford/QB/Oklahoma: Coming into the combine at 6’4” and 236 LBS put his size questions aside. Since I’m writing this before his pro-day and the first time he throws in front of scouts since his A/C Joint surgery, Bradford still has a lot to prove to be the #1 pick, especially with Ndamukong Suh very deserving of this selection. Bradford’s drop-backs and arm strength will be surveyed during his pro-day and if all reports come back positive, I think he’ll be the #1 pick for the Rams, especially since nobody wants to see Keith Null (the great Ryan Leaf’s protégé by the way) or Kyle Boller play ever again.
2. Detroit Lions- Ndamukong Suh/DT/Nebraska: The Lions have really upgraded their front 4 this off season and by adding Suh, the Lions may be able to get out of the cellar of the NFL. If Suh doesn’t make a pro-bowl by year 3 I’d be shocked.
3. Tampa Bay Bucs- Gerald McCoy/DT/Oklahoma: Tampa Bay sucked against the run last year; they were either 31st or 32nd. I’m in an airport without Internet access so I can’t look it up. With the Rams drafting Bradford, the Bucs could rejoice, knowing that they’d either get Suh or McCoy. Gerald McCoy brings a quick step to the interior as well as a powerful run-stopper, allowing Barrett Ruud to finally excel as a Linebacker in Tampa Bay.
4. Washington Redskins- Jimmy Clausen/QB/Notre Dame: THE PRICK HAS LANDED…THE PRICK HAS LANDED… As a high school senior from California, Clausen rolled up to the College Football Hall of Fame in his stretch limo with 4 state championship rings, Clausen is one of the easiest players to hate in college football. Clausen was regarded as a 10-year prospect as a high school quarterback, with a six-figure quarterback coach since before he hit puberty, Clausen has been preparing to be in the NFL. While watching Notre Dame play USC I noticed that Clausen has finally matured away from that high school senior that rolled up in a stretch limousine to a poised and confident, sometimes cocky, quarterback who has the ability to drive his team down the field in the closing seconds.
5. Kansas City Chiefs- Russell Okung/OT/Oklahoma State: Brandon Albert, the Chiefs 2008 first round pick belongs as a guard and has struggled as on Offensive Tackle. While the Chiefs have a lot of holes to fill, if they want to protect their $63 Million dollar investment they need a true Left Tackle and Okung fills that need.
6. Seattle Seahawks- Eric Berry/S/Tennessee: Playing out of position his senior year, Berry didn’t have as impressive of numbers as he did as a freshman, sophomore and junior year but maybe more importantly he showed that he can play multiple positions in the secondary. Berry is a game-breaker at Safety and may be one of the safest picks in the draft, which is rare for any defensive back. The Seahawks desperately need someone who can create turnovers and when Pete Carroll won Championships at USC, their defenses always created turnovers.
7. Cleveland Browns- Dez Bryant/WR/Oklahoma State: By only playing a few games in 2009 and not running the 40 at the combine, Bryant may have done some temporary damage to his draft stock. The damage can be easily forgotten if Bryant performs well at his pro-day, which I think he’ll do. Although Bryant may also have some red flags in the character department for some NFL teams, (lying to the NCAA about dinner with Jerry Rice, as well as struggling to qualify for Oklahoma State) Bryant’s play making ability can’t be questioned and for Brady Quinn or Seneca Wallace to succeed, they need a true #1 receiver.
8. Oakland Raiders- Bruce Campbell/OT/Maryland: While Taylor Mays, CJ Spiller or Jacoby Ford may be tempting for the senile Al Davis, Bruce Campbell is an athletic freak for his own right. By running a sub 5-second 40-yard dash, putting up 34 reps at 225 pounds with 36-inch arms, as well as filling a need for the Raiders, Campbell seems to be a perfect fit in Oakland.
9. Buffalo Bills- Derrick Morgan/DE/Georgia Tech: I struggled with this pick and since the top two QB's are off the board, I figured the Bills could use an actual Defensive End since everyone knows Aaron Maybin shouldn't be considered a Defensive End. Morgan is an incredible player and he finally put everything together this season for a solid Georgia Tech defense.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars- Trent Williams/OT/Oklahoma: I struggled with this pick for the Jaguars but I figured that offensive line could always use help and Williams provides that. Williams has quick enough feet as well as strength to handle pass-rushing Defensive Ends.
11. Denver Broncos (from Chi)- Dan Williams/NT/Tennessee: The Broncos have a need to be able to plug the middle and to stop the run and while McClain could be a tempting pick, Williams fills the ability to plug the middle of the 3-4.
12. Miami Dolphins- Rolando McClain/LB/Alabama: The potential release of Joey Porter and the addition of Karlos Dansby, the Dolphins could use some help on the inside of their defense and McClain provides that help. Being the controller of the Alabama Defense, McClain will able to step in right away and contribute to the Dolphins.
13. San Francisco 49ers- Joe Haden/CB/Florida: By running a pedestrian 40-yard dash time, Haden probably cost himself a top-10 selection but San Francisco could use someone to take over for the aging Dre Bly. Haden's game speed shouldn't be questioned because he was generally considered the fastest player on a fast Florida Defense.
14. Seattle Seahawks (from Den)- C.J. Spiller/RB/Clemson: Pete Carroll missed on getting Spiller to USC out of high school and without an every down back, Carroll jumps at the opportunity to get the electric Spiller. Offensive Tackle or Quarterback are alternative options but Spiller’s game-breaking ability is too tempting to pass up.
15. New York Giants- Kyle Wilson/CB/Boise State: Wilson is a very solid all-around corner. Wilson also doubles as an electric punt-returner. Wilson is solid against the run and after a very impressive combine, Wilson solidified himself as a first round pick and the second corner off the board.
16. Tennessee Titans- Jason Pierre-Paul/DE/USF: Jason Pierre-Paul is the definition of a “boom or bust” first round pick. Being a one year wonder at the Defensive End position, Pierre-Paul will set out to silence the critics for only producing for one year. The athleticism Paul possesses is incredible and if he can translate that onto the field, the Titans won't miss Van den Bosch as much.
17. San Francisco 49ers (from Car)- Taylor Mays/S/USC: Mays was a two-time 100 meter state sprinter in high school and at 6’3” 230 pounds Mays showed off his speed at the combine. Mays is a bit of a polarizing pick, since he has started at USC as a freshman but not put up great statistics. Watching nearly all of Mays’s games, I noticed that Mays is normally asked to play 20 or 30 yards off the line of scrimmage and prevent any deep passes. By being coached to try and knock someone out instead of intercepting the ball, Mays just tries to play football and listen to his coaches, which is a promising trait for any player.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers- Bryan Bulaga/OT/Iowa: Big Ben Roethlisberger has been the most sacked quarterback the last two years (insert inappropriate sexual harassment comment here). To get back to the super bowl the Steelers need to get back to power running with Rashard Mendenhall, but to do that they need an upgrade at Left Tackle and Bulaga provides that upgrade.
19. Atlanta Falcons- Sean Weatherspoon/OLB/Missouri: The Falcons desperately need Linebacker help and Weatherspoon is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker at the Linebacker position. A little short, Weatherspoon can struggle to get off of blocks by offensive linemen but if Weatherspoon is able to avoid the blockers and run free, he can make ball carriers pay.
20. Houston Texans- Earl Thomas/S/Texas: Thomas’s stock couldn’t really be higher had he stayed another year in a loaded Longhorn secondary so by declaring early I think Thomas made the right decision. The Texans need help at the Safety position; Dominique Barber should not be playing for them at all. Thomas lays the wood and has great ball skills. Thomas is another talented piece to the puzzle for the Texans who need to make the playoffs next year because they have way too much talent on their team to not go deep in the playoffs.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Golden Tate/WR/Notre Dame: For some reason it seems like Tate and Clausen were the two cockiest players in College Football last year although they struggled to win any type of important game. Tate should blend right in to the Bengals receiving corps and even benefit from learning from Ochocinco’s cocky ways. Seriously though, Tate is a downfield threat that the Bengals desperately need ever since Chris Henry went and got himself killed.
22. New England Patriots- Sergio Kindle/OLB/Texas: Kindle athletic ability is outstanding and I think he could go as high as the top ten if he didn’t have a propensity to drink mass amounts of alcohol and drive, as well as struggling to put together a couple of sentences. Either way, Belichek gets another gifted defender to replace the quickly aging Adalious Thomas, who should be cut sometime soon because there is no way he is worth $9 million dollars.
23. Green Bay Packers- Anthony Davis/OT/Rutgers: Losing Chad Clifton to the Redskins this off-season, Left Tackle becomes an even more important position for the Packers. Davis may not be the best fit into their zone-scheme running attack but a folding chair would be better than T.J. Lang who got eaten alive by ever Defensive End he tried to block last year.
24. Philadelphia Eagles- Brandon Graham/DE/Michigan: Graham was the only player worth a damn this year on Michigan’s defense and although offensive lines tried their best, Graham usually got the best of them. The Eagles could use another DE across from Trent Cole and Graham can take some of that pressure off of Cole as well as stop the run.
25. Baltimore Ravens- Patrick Robinson/CB/Florida State: Ladarius Webb seems like a young and promising corner for the Ravens but they don’t have much youth other than Webb at the corner position and Robinson can double as a return man while he works into the rotation of cornerback for the Ravens.
26. Arizona Cardinals- Everson Griffen/OLB/USC: In high school Griffen played running back and at 250 pounds (now up to 270) Griffen was incredibly athletic. The Cardinals lost Dansby and need to replace him with an athletic linebacker that has the ability to rush the passer and can play that role. Griffen’s versatility can really benefit a team like Arizona because they tend to move around from a 3-4 and 4-3.
27. Dallas Cowboys- Nate Allen/S/USF: The Cowboys secondary really struggled in the playoffs against Brett Favre and their aerial attack. Allen can play centerfield for the Cowboys since he has great range and ball skills. Allen may not be the best available player but their secondary sucks. Brandon Spikes may also be a pick here since Keith Brooking is like 38 years old but secondary is a more important area of upgrade.
28. San Diego Chargers- Ryan Mathews/RB/Fresno State: Cutting LaDanian Tomlinson and not tendering Darren Sproles all but guarantees that the Chargers will draft a Running Back in the first or second round. Being from Fresno State, Mathews wasn’t in the national spotlight on a consistent basis but his ability to carry the ball 20-25 times a game as well as tremendous size and speed warrant a first round pick for Mathews.
29. New York Jets- Arrelious Benn/WR/Illinois: Mark Sanchez desperately needs a true number 1 receiver since Braylon has a tendency to drop a lot of important catches. Benn really limited his development by going to Illinois but showed enough at the combine to be considered a first round pick. He has incredible athletic ability and strong hands, although his route running could be a little more polished. Damian Williams may be another option here for the Jets since Sanchez and Williams played together and already have established chemistry.
30. Minnesota Vikings- Mike Iupati/G/Idaho: As a Vikings pick this isn’t necessarily a “sexy” pick or even the biggest need but Iupati is too big and physical to not be the pick. He provides more depth and competition at the Right Guard position and should find his way into the line-up early in his career.
31. Indianapolis Colts- Maurkice Pouncey/G/C/Florida: It seems like the Colts could always use help along the offensive line although Peyton does a great job of not getting sacked more than necessary. Pouncey can play Center or Guard, his versatility along with needs and strength should allow him to slip into the late first round.
32. New Orleans- Brandon Spikes/LB/Florida: Although the Saints have Vilma in the middle, they could use help at SLB now that Scott Shanle has left and I think that Spikes can transition into that role, much like Maualuga did with the Bengals this year.
2. Detroit Lions- Ndamukong Suh/DT/Nebraska: The Lions have really upgraded their front 4 this off season and by adding Suh, the Lions may be able to get out of the cellar of the NFL. If Suh doesn’t make a pro-bowl by year 3 I’d be shocked.
3. Tampa Bay Bucs- Gerald McCoy/DT/Oklahoma: Tampa Bay sucked against the run last year; they were either 31st or 32nd. I’m in an airport without Internet access so I can’t look it up. With the Rams drafting Bradford, the Bucs could rejoice, knowing that they’d either get Suh or McCoy. Gerald McCoy brings a quick step to the interior as well as a powerful run-stopper, allowing Barrett Ruud to finally excel as a Linebacker in Tampa Bay.
4. Washington Redskins- Jimmy Clausen/QB/Notre Dame: THE PRICK HAS LANDED…THE PRICK HAS LANDED… As a high school senior from California, Clausen rolled up to the College Football Hall of Fame in his stretch limo with 4 state championship rings, Clausen is one of the easiest players to hate in college football. Clausen was regarded as a 10-year prospect as a high school quarterback, with a six-figure quarterback coach since before he hit puberty, Clausen has been preparing to be in the NFL. While watching Notre Dame play USC I noticed that Clausen has finally matured away from that high school senior that rolled up in a stretch limousine to a poised and confident, sometimes cocky, quarterback who has the ability to drive his team down the field in the closing seconds.
5. Kansas City Chiefs- Russell Okung/OT/Oklahoma State: Brandon Albert, the Chiefs 2008 first round pick belongs as a guard and has struggled as on Offensive Tackle. While the Chiefs have a lot of holes to fill, if they want to protect their $63 Million dollar investment they need a true Left Tackle and Okung fills that need.
6. Seattle Seahawks- Eric Berry/S/Tennessee: Playing out of position his senior year, Berry didn’t have as impressive of numbers as he did as a freshman, sophomore and junior year but maybe more importantly he showed that he can play multiple positions in the secondary. Berry is a game-breaker at Safety and may be one of the safest picks in the draft, which is rare for any defensive back. The Seahawks desperately need someone who can create turnovers and when Pete Carroll won Championships at USC, their defenses always created turnovers.
7. Cleveland Browns- Dez Bryant/WR/Oklahoma State: By only playing a few games in 2009 and not running the 40 at the combine, Bryant may have done some temporary damage to his draft stock. The damage can be easily forgotten if Bryant performs well at his pro-day, which I think he’ll do. Although Bryant may also have some red flags in the character department for some NFL teams, (lying to the NCAA about dinner with Jerry Rice, as well as struggling to qualify for Oklahoma State) Bryant’s play making ability can’t be questioned and for Brady Quinn or Seneca Wallace to succeed, they need a true #1 receiver.
8. Oakland Raiders- Bruce Campbell/OT/Maryland: While Taylor Mays, CJ Spiller or Jacoby Ford may be tempting for the senile Al Davis, Bruce Campbell is an athletic freak for his own right. By running a sub 5-second 40-yard dash, putting up 34 reps at 225 pounds with 36-inch arms, as well as filling a need for the Raiders, Campbell seems to be a perfect fit in Oakland.
9. Buffalo Bills- Derrick Morgan/DE/Georgia Tech: I struggled with this pick and since the top two QB's are off the board, I figured the Bills could use an actual Defensive End since everyone knows Aaron Maybin shouldn't be considered a Defensive End. Morgan is an incredible player and he finally put everything together this season for a solid Georgia Tech defense.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars- Trent Williams/OT/Oklahoma: I struggled with this pick for the Jaguars but I figured that offensive line could always use help and Williams provides that. Williams has quick enough feet as well as strength to handle pass-rushing Defensive Ends.
11. Denver Broncos (from Chi)- Dan Williams/NT/Tennessee: The Broncos have a need to be able to plug the middle and to stop the run and while McClain could be a tempting pick, Williams fills the ability to plug the middle of the 3-4.
12. Miami Dolphins- Rolando McClain/LB/Alabama: The potential release of Joey Porter and the addition of Karlos Dansby, the Dolphins could use some help on the inside of their defense and McClain provides that help. Being the controller of the Alabama Defense, McClain will able to step in right away and contribute to the Dolphins.
13. San Francisco 49ers- Joe Haden/CB/Florida: By running a pedestrian 40-yard dash time, Haden probably cost himself a top-10 selection but San Francisco could use someone to take over for the aging Dre Bly. Haden's game speed shouldn't be questioned because he was generally considered the fastest player on a fast Florida Defense.
14. Seattle Seahawks (from Den)- C.J. Spiller/RB/Clemson: Pete Carroll missed on getting Spiller to USC out of high school and without an every down back, Carroll jumps at the opportunity to get the electric Spiller. Offensive Tackle or Quarterback are alternative options but Spiller’s game-breaking ability is too tempting to pass up.
15. New York Giants- Kyle Wilson/CB/Boise State: Wilson is a very solid all-around corner. Wilson also doubles as an electric punt-returner. Wilson is solid against the run and after a very impressive combine, Wilson solidified himself as a first round pick and the second corner off the board.
16. Tennessee Titans- Jason Pierre-Paul/DE/USF: Jason Pierre-Paul is the definition of a “boom or bust” first round pick. Being a one year wonder at the Defensive End position, Pierre-Paul will set out to silence the critics for only producing for one year. The athleticism Paul possesses is incredible and if he can translate that onto the field, the Titans won't miss Van den Bosch as much.
17. San Francisco 49ers (from Car)- Taylor Mays/S/USC: Mays was a two-time 100 meter state sprinter in high school and at 6’3” 230 pounds Mays showed off his speed at the combine. Mays is a bit of a polarizing pick, since he has started at USC as a freshman but not put up great statistics. Watching nearly all of Mays’s games, I noticed that Mays is normally asked to play 20 or 30 yards off the line of scrimmage and prevent any deep passes. By being coached to try and knock someone out instead of intercepting the ball, Mays just tries to play football and listen to his coaches, which is a promising trait for any player.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers- Bryan Bulaga/OT/Iowa: Big Ben Roethlisberger has been the most sacked quarterback the last two years (insert inappropriate sexual harassment comment here). To get back to the super bowl the Steelers need to get back to power running with Rashard Mendenhall, but to do that they need an upgrade at Left Tackle and Bulaga provides that upgrade.
19. Atlanta Falcons- Sean Weatherspoon/OLB/Missouri: The Falcons desperately need Linebacker help and Weatherspoon is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker at the Linebacker position. A little short, Weatherspoon can struggle to get off of blocks by offensive linemen but if Weatherspoon is able to avoid the blockers and run free, he can make ball carriers pay.
20. Houston Texans- Earl Thomas/S/Texas: Thomas’s stock couldn’t really be higher had he stayed another year in a loaded Longhorn secondary so by declaring early I think Thomas made the right decision. The Texans need help at the Safety position; Dominique Barber should not be playing for them at all. Thomas lays the wood and has great ball skills. Thomas is another talented piece to the puzzle for the Texans who need to make the playoffs next year because they have way too much talent on their team to not go deep in the playoffs.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Golden Tate/WR/Notre Dame: For some reason it seems like Tate and Clausen were the two cockiest players in College Football last year although they struggled to win any type of important game. Tate should blend right in to the Bengals receiving corps and even benefit from learning from Ochocinco’s cocky ways. Seriously though, Tate is a downfield threat that the Bengals desperately need ever since Chris Henry went and got himself killed.
22. New England Patriots- Sergio Kindle/OLB/Texas: Kindle athletic ability is outstanding and I think he could go as high as the top ten if he didn’t have a propensity to drink mass amounts of alcohol and drive, as well as struggling to put together a couple of sentences. Either way, Belichek gets another gifted defender to replace the quickly aging Adalious Thomas, who should be cut sometime soon because there is no way he is worth $9 million dollars.
23. Green Bay Packers- Anthony Davis/OT/Rutgers: Losing Chad Clifton to the Redskins this off-season, Left Tackle becomes an even more important position for the Packers. Davis may not be the best fit into their zone-scheme running attack but a folding chair would be better than T.J. Lang who got eaten alive by ever Defensive End he tried to block last year.
24. Philadelphia Eagles- Brandon Graham/DE/Michigan: Graham was the only player worth a damn this year on Michigan’s defense and although offensive lines tried their best, Graham usually got the best of them. The Eagles could use another DE across from Trent Cole and Graham can take some of that pressure off of Cole as well as stop the run.
25. Baltimore Ravens- Patrick Robinson/CB/Florida State: Ladarius Webb seems like a young and promising corner for the Ravens but they don’t have much youth other than Webb at the corner position and Robinson can double as a return man while he works into the rotation of cornerback for the Ravens.
26. Arizona Cardinals- Everson Griffen/OLB/USC: In high school Griffen played running back and at 250 pounds (now up to 270) Griffen was incredibly athletic. The Cardinals lost Dansby and need to replace him with an athletic linebacker that has the ability to rush the passer and can play that role. Griffen’s versatility can really benefit a team like Arizona because they tend to move around from a 3-4 and 4-3.
27. Dallas Cowboys- Nate Allen/S/USF: The Cowboys secondary really struggled in the playoffs against Brett Favre and their aerial attack. Allen can play centerfield for the Cowboys since he has great range and ball skills. Allen may not be the best available player but their secondary sucks. Brandon Spikes may also be a pick here since Keith Brooking is like 38 years old but secondary is a more important area of upgrade.
28. San Diego Chargers- Ryan Mathews/RB/Fresno State: Cutting LaDanian Tomlinson and not tendering Darren Sproles all but guarantees that the Chargers will draft a Running Back in the first or second round. Being from Fresno State, Mathews wasn’t in the national spotlight on a consistent basis but his ability to carry the ball 20-25 times a game as well as tremendous size and speed warrant a first round pick for Mathews.
29. New York Jets- Arrelious Benn/WR/Illinois: Mark Sanchez desperately needs a true number 1 receiver since Braylon has a tendency to drop a lot of important catches. Benn really limited his development by going to Illinois but showed enough at the combine to be considered a first round pick. He has incredible athletic ability and strong hands, although his route running could be a little more polished. Damian Williams may be another option here for the Jets since Sanchez and Williams played together and already have established chemistry.
30. Minnesota Vikings- Mike Iupati/G/Idaho: As a Vikings pick this isn’t necessarily a “sexy” pick or even the biggest need but Iupati is too big and physical to not be the pick. He provides more depth and competition at the Right Guard position and should find his way into the line-up early in his career.
31. Indianapolis Colts- Maurkice Pouncey/G/C/Florida: It seems like the Colts could always use help along the offensive line although Peyton does a great job of not getting sacked more than necessary. Pouncey can play Center or Guard, his versatility along with needs and strength should allow him to slip into the late first round.
32. New Orleans- Brandon Spikes/LB/Florida: Although the Saints have Vilma in the middle, they could use help at SLB now that Scott Shanle has left and I think that Spikes can transition into that role, much like Maualuga did with the Bengals this year.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Chicago Cubs 2009 Offseason By Dane Moore
With the Chicago Cubs first spring training game less than two weeks away the Cubs look at a slightly revamped roster that looks to resume the momentum it had in 2008. 2009 marked a season marred by a lack of continuity by Cub position players and had a pitching staff consistently plagued by nagging injuries. Jim Hendry Chicago’s general manager made two major moves by not retaining two assets that were supposed to be huge factors in 2009.
Rich Harden was not resigned by the Cubs. Harden has struggled to maintain shoulder and arm health throughout his career even before joining the Cubs at the ’08 trade deadline. 2009 was no different Harden went 9-9 for Chicago and missed time on the disabled list for the fifth year in a row. Hendry neglected to pursue Harden in free agency and let him sign with a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers for $7.5 million.
Lou Piniella and Jim Hendry both were in agreement that this team could only reach its potential by becoming a unit and not a group of individuals. The Cubs signed Milton Bradley, a true individual, to a three-year $30 million dollar contract in the ’09 offseason. Bradley did not live up to expectations what so ever and proved he could not be the left-handed power bat in the middle of the Cubs order. Bradley’s numbers plummeted in 2009 from their impressive ’08 pedestal. His batting average drooped 64 points, his OPS fell 224 points and his homeruns total was barely half of where it was in ’08. Not only did Bradley under perform, he whined and complained his way into the Cubs having no option but to trade him for anything anyone was willing to give.
In exchange for Bradley the Cubs received Carlos Silva from the Mariners, who went a combined 5-18 in 36 starts over the past two seasons for the Mariners. Where Silva struggled for the Mariners, he is a reliable innings eater that when his sinker is biting can be effective and fill in some of those innings the loss of Harden makes apparent.
The Cubs did replace Bradley’s bat in the outfield with the signings of two proven players, who have not ever presented themselves as menaces to the clubhouse. Marlon Byrd is slotted to start in center and Xavier Nady who is coming off of his second Tommy John surgery will be a very presentable fourth outfielder for the Cubbies.
Rich Harden was not resigned by the Cubs. Harden has struggled to maintain shoulder and arm health throughout his career even before joining the Cubs at the ’08 trade deadline. 2009 was no different Harden went 9-9 for Chicago and missed time on the disabled list for the fifth year in a row. Hendry neglected to pursue Harden in free agency and let him sign with a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers for $7.5 million.
Lou Piniella and Jim Hendry both were in agreement that this team could only reach its potential by becoming a unit and not a group of individuals. The Cubs signed Milton Bradley, a true individual, to a three-year $30 million dollar contract in the ’09 offseason. Bradley did not live up to expectations what so ever and proved he could not be the left-handed power bat in the middle of the Cubs order. Bradley’s numbers plummeted in 2009 from their impressive ’08 pedestal. His batting average drooped 64 points, his OPS fell 224 points and his homeruns total was barely half of where it was in ’08. Not only did Bradley under perform, he whined and complained his way into the Cubs having no option but to trade him for anything anyone was willing to give.
In exchange for Bradley the Cubs received Carlos Silva from the Mariners, who went a combined 5-18 in 36 starts over the past two seasons for the Mariners. Where Silva struggled for the Mariners, he is a reliable innings eater that when his sinker is biting can be effective and fill in some of those innings the loss of Harden makes apparent.
The Cubs did replace Bradley’s bat in the outfield with the signings of two proven players, who have not ever presented themselves as menaces to the clubhouse. Marlon Byrd is slotted to start in center and Xavier Nady who is coming off of his second Tommy John surgery will be a very presentable fourth outfielder for the Cubbies.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
AL Central Nine Biggest Offseason Acquisitions #1 By Dane Moore
1. Orlando Hudson 2B- Minnesota Twins
Last week the Minnesota Twins made the American League Central’s biggest move of the 2010 offseason. In signing Orlando Hudson to a one-year $5 million deal, the Twins made a move for a proven veteran who is not out of his prime and plays a position that was a clear need for the squad. The Twins needed a bat for the two-hole, a glove at second base, and considering the $250 plus million Minnesota may soon be adding to their books, they needed a contract that didn’t force their hand to spend money in the coming years. Because Hudson met so many needs of the Twins and his proven success fitting in on ball clubs makes himself and the Twins the undisputed champion of this list.
Hudson is only 32 years old and therefore much less likely than previous veteran Twin signees to fall off their previous production, a la Joe Crede. And because Hudson is less of a risk and in all likelihood will be a success in his role, the Twins paid a higher premium than they would have for other veteran second baseman who have signed this offseason. Twins history would have pointed to Minnesota pursuing a 40 year-old Craig Counsell or Mark Grudzelanek player-coach free agent option, to fill the void at second.
Times have changed and Minnesota is going for it. For the first time we are witnessing the Twins upper management open their wallets and splurge. Yes the Twins are still a business and very likely have spent this money in an effort to promote the opening of Target Field. Nonetheless the Twins have increased payroll from 2009 ($65 million) by an unheard of $31 million to a grand total of $96 million dollars. While team payrolls have not been finalized for 2010 it is likely the Twins can say goodbye to the image of small-market baseball. Because at a $96 million figure the Twins have a higher payroll than 20 franchises did in 2009. It is likely the Twins will be close to cracking the top-10 in payrolls not only in 2010 but will continue to rise as they pursue a ten-year contact worth over $250 million with Joe Mauer.
To be competitive, as in competing for a championship teams must be willing to spend in a league without a salary cap. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire responded to Hudson’s comments, after signing with Minnesota, about wanting to play for a contender by saying “We're not trying to contend. We're already doing that. We're bringing [Hudson] over here to win. We're trying to get to the World Series.” With the players, coaches, and now most importantly management ready to pursue a championship the Minnesota Twins are now a compelling World Series contender. I never have said that before.
The Twins have recently been considered an above average team and a very successful business but this year we see Minnesota striving to move through this mediocrity in an effort to take a shot at greatness. The Orlando Hudson signing is the culmination of Minnesota making a move at becoming an elite team and 2010 is hopefully the first of many, but possibly the Twins one splurge and only shot at World Series in the near future.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
AL Central Nine Biggest Offseason Acquisitions #2a By Dane Moore
2a. Mark Teahen 3B- Chicago White Sox
Before recent news surfaced Mark Tehaen’s signing with the Chicago White Sox was going to be my biggest offseason acquisition for the AL central. Teahen was acquired from the Kansas City Royals on November 6th in exchanged for Chirs Getz and Josh Fields. He was then signed on for three years at a cost of $14 million, avoiding arbitration.
28 year old Teahen has untapped talent that White Sox scouts see him exploiting starting in 2010. In past years Teahen was shuffled all around the Kansas City diamond and also spent time in right field. While Teahen versatility is an asset, it should benefit him to see some continuity being the White Sox everyday third baseman. This move also allows the White Sox third baseman from ‘09, Gordon Beckham, to move to a more natural position in second base. Rounding out Chicago’s infield will be Alexei Ramirez and veteran first baseman Paul Konerko. This infield will be a talented bunch, both in the field and at the plate.
I love the Mark Teahen acquisition solidifying the hot corner for Chicago at a reasonable price. The White Sox also made late season trades that brought Alex Rios and Jake Peavy to the south side and now have a superb free agent class making the White Sox my clear-cut favorites in the Central.
Friday, February 5, 2010
AL Central Nine Biggest Offseason Acquisitions #2b By Dane Moore
2b. Jose Valverde SP- Detroit Tigers
Jose Valverde signed a two year deal worth $14 million with a $9 million option for 2012. After cleaning house both with pitchers and position players this winter, the Valverde signing came as a bit of a surprise for the Tigers. The Tigers sacrificed Edwin Jackson from their starting rotation in a trade with the Diamondbacks, when he was due to make less than the $7 million Valverde is scheduled to make over the next two years. Closer definitely was a need for the Tigers after losing both their closer and setup man from 2009. Fernando Rodney signed with the Angels to set up Francisco Rodriguez and Brandon Lyon signed with the Astros, Valverde's former team. Being as Valverde was a Type A free agent the Tigers will forefit their 19th overall pick in the 2010 First Year Player Draft. However, they will receive two "sandwich picks" between the first and second round to compensate for the loss of Rodney and Lyon.
Joel Zumaya was the most likely closer option after losing Rodney and Lyon. I personally would have like to see the Tigers take the Zumaya route. If the tigers were committed to letting go of players Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson, Placido Polanco, Aubrey Huff, Marcus Thames, Jared Washburn, to go along with Francisco Rodney and Brandon Lyon i don't see why they would invest in such an expensive Type-A option. A cheaper less qualified option to pair with Zumaya to compete for the closing job i believe would have been a more sensible option. Octavio Dotel, Kevin Gregg, Matt Capps, Miguel Batista, Bob Howry, or Eddie Guardado were all options this offseason who have experience closing and are significantly cheaper than $7 million a year. Valverde will be lock down for the Tigers as he was for the Diamondbacks and the Astros, i just question the motive of Tiger management, knowing they spent the beginning of the offseason giving up.
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