Talk Sports. Live Life. All opinions are my own. If you want you can agree with me. "To be the man, you gotta beat the man" - Ric Flair
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Bengals and Bearcats Breakdown with Jeremy Rauch and James Rapien
I'm joined by the lead sports anchor of Fox 19 in Cincinnati, Jeremy Rauch and James Rapien of ESPN 1530, who is also a writer for GetSportsInfo.com. We talk about what the early success of the Bengals means now and could mean later on in the season. Also, we talk a little University of Cincinnati Bearcats football action and what their season means after a rough start. Are the Bearcats in the American Athletic Conference or can they possibly move into a larger conference even if they have a down season?
We preview the upcoming Bengals/Chiefs game, look ahead on the schedule and much more.
Tom Brady Can't Be Contained
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
10 BIG Things From Weeks 3 In The NFL
I know that I missed week 2, I apologize. But I'm back just in time to shed light on some things that I took away from week 3 of this bizarre NFL season.
1. Aaron Rodgers shouldn't play in home games - In his last five home games, dating back to last season, Aaron Rodgers has 1,505 yards passing, 14 passing touchdowns and no interceptions. What could be more impressive, he hasn't had a loss at Lambeau Field since week 1 of the 2012 season vs the San Francisco 49ers. After watching the Monday Night Football game, where he made a very good Chiefs defense look mediocre, I think it's time to actually give Aaron Rodgers a bigger test. They should only allow him to play away game because he makes these games at Lambeau Field look too easy. Five passing touchdowns, over 300 yards passing, some crazy passes and a game that wasn't as close as the scoreboard shows.
2. The Bengals are maturing - It almost seems like the Bengals are have grown in front of our very eyes. I know that they've been pretty good over the past few years now and winning is no longer new to the team. But they showed that they can be resilient and play from behind when the clock is running low. After Baltimore to the lead late, I was almost positive it was over. However, the Bengals put the ball in the hands of wide receiver AJ Green as he caught the touchdown pass that gave the Bengals the lead and ended up being the winning touchdown. In the past, especially in away games, if the Ravens would've taken the lead that late in the game, it would've probably been a loss for the Bengals. This Bengals team seems like they're playing together and for one another. Also, having one of the most talented offenses in the league doesn't hurt them either. If the Bengals (3-0) keep this up they'll surely get that playoff win they've been dreaming about.
3. Philbin has to be on the hot seat - After starting the season 1-2, the Miami Dolphins find themselves at the bottom of a very tough AFC east division and the fashion in which they've lost the past two games has been almost embarrassing. First, they suffered a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 2. The Dolphins were on the road and Jacksonville is a young, tough team. We looked past that loss. Second, the home opener was spoiled and the Bills did anything they wanted to against this Dolphins team. Miami spent almost more than any other team acquiring players like defensive tackle Ndamukong Sue and tight end Jordan Cameron during the offseason. Joe Philbin has had ample opportunity to get this organization going in the right direction and right now they look as if they're headed down the road of destruction. In the opening game against the Redskins the Dolphins didn't look too impressive and they've looked worse every week, Joe Philbin must get it turned around or there could be a coaching vacancy in Miami.
4. Andrew got Luck-y in Tennessee - The Colts seem to be struggling this season, early on. Andrew Luck hasn't looked like himself and the additions of Frank Gore and Andre Johnson don't seem to really make an impact on the offense. Right now, the Colts (1-2) must find a way to get it going on the field. I'll admit they faced some really tough opponents in their first three games. I didn't expect Luck to get a win in the opener, on the road, to a very good Bills team. However, I didn't expect him to play so poorly the following week on Monday Night Football, at home, against the Jets. I did expect him to beat the Titans, he barely pulled it out. Through the first three weeks of action Luck has seven interceptions, leading the NFL. Am I surprised at this number? No. Andrew Luck has always been a high-risk, high-reward type of player but we're use to seeing the rewards being higher because of his offense. I don't think the Colts are in trouble but I do know they need to figure things out fast because the AFC is looking tougher every week.
5. The Eagles defense has been more impressive than the offense - The Philadelphia had very high expectations this season from almost everyone. Chip Kelly traded his starting running back, Lesean McCoy; didn't re-sign his pro bowl receiver, Jeremy Maclin; signed the 2014 rushing leader, former Dallas Cowboy, Demarco Murray and signed former Chargers running back Ryan Mathews. Needless to say, this team was suppose to put up a lot of points in every game. It started out looking very bad for this defense in the opening half of the season against a high-powered Atlanta offense which is now known as the Julio Jones show; going into halftime the Falcons were leading 20-3, the Eagles couldn't seem to stop what the Falcons. The final score ended up being 26-20 and the Eagles loss the game after Jordan Matthews had the ball pop-up off of his chest and it was intercepted by a Falcons defender. The Dallas game in week 2 was a terrible outing for the offensive unit, Sam Bradford had two interceptions and lost a fumble. The defense actually had them in the game until the very of the game; the Cowboys offense only scored one time on the Eagles defensive unit. A three-interception day was really the highlight of the week 3 win verse the Jets. I know the offense actually looked like an offense and Bradford didn't look too bad; but the fact that the Eagles defense looked more impressive than the Jets' defense was what stuck out to me. The Eagles (1-2) have some ground to make up but it's fairly early in the season still and their division is still up for grabs.
6. Julio Jones is a machine - Julio Jones has been one of the premiere receivers in the league since being drafted and he hasn't seemed to be slowing up yet. Injuries have plagued the superstar receiver and some years he was almost forgot about when mentioning the top receivers in the game when he wasn't on the field. No one ever questioned his talent or his work ethic. He was just always one of those "if he were healthy" cases. Well he's healthy, at least enough to play.Through the first three weeks, Julio Jones leads the league in targets, receptions, receiving yards and is second in receiving touchdowns (tied with four other players). He has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark in each one of the first three games. The Falcons (3-0) are off to a great start for one reason. Julio Jones.
7. Pittsburgh is now the Mike Vick Show - During the Steelers/Rams game on Sunday, Steelers quarterback, "Big Ben" Roethlisberger suffered a leg injury and it's reported that he could miss 4-6 weeks before returning to the field. Michael Vick started in five games for the New York Jets in 2014 and in those five games he only saw victory in one, against his new team, the Steelers. In those five games Vick had three passing touchdowns and two interceptions. After the Jets chose not to re-sign Vick for the 2015 season it didn't seem as if the 35-year-old dual-threat quarterback would be on an NFL roster for the 2015 season. In late August, it was reported that the Steelers had signed Michael Vick to a one-year deal and it seemed like a signing that was only for insurance purposes and chances were that Vick wouldn't see the field, but he was a good piece to have for a practice team and his knowledge of the game wouldn't help to have in the locker room. Now, it's looking like Vick will have to dust off his cleats and do his best to keep this high-powered engine that is the Pittsburgh Steelers offense running strong.
8. The Raiders need to show me more - It seems as if an abundance of people are on this Derrick Carr and Raiders train. I don't have any doubts that they are a very talented and young team. I just think that this 2-1 record is a deceitful record. I do believe that they're very much improved and headed in the right direction as an organization. I also believe that they'll lose some close games this year. However, their two wins were against a Browns team that has no idea of who they want to play at quarterback and a Ravens team that is lacking in their secondary. I believe that their next five games should tell more about who they really are. Contender or Pretender? I'll take more pretender ... Let's not forget, they gave up over 300 yards passing to both the Ravens and the Browns and barely beat both teams.
9. There has to be a fountain of youth in Arizona - At first I didn't think anything of it when Carson Palmer came out on fire to begin the season, a 35-year-old quarterback is still pretty good ( i.e. Manning, Brady, etc.). And now Larry Fitzgerald has now had back-to-back 100-yard performances and five touchdowns in his last two games. I can't say I was too surprised by Fitzgerald, he's one of the greatest receivers of my time. But one thing put the icing on the cake for me. Chris Johnson had a 110 yards rushing on 22 carries and two touchdowns against a 49ers defense that did a pretty good job of containing Adrian Peterson in week 1. Where did this come from? He's looking more like CJ2k from Tennessee and less like the guy that we saw in New York with the Jets. If Johnson keeps this up, he could be a great addition and valuable piece to this Cardinals offense.
10. The AFC South is looking like the NFC South from 2014 - Every team in the AFC south is sitting at 1-2 and no team is really playing like they want to win the division. The Colts barely beat the Tennessee Titans; The Texans got their first win against a young and improving Buccaneers team; Jacksonville got routed by a blazing hot Patriots team and allowed half of a century to be put up on the scoreboard. At some point one of these teams has to figure it out, right?
There's still a great amount of football to be played, were only through three weeks of action, but the really good teams are starting to separate themselves from those who aren't as good and as the weeks go one the "fakes" will get exposed, as Drake would say.
1. Aaron Rodgers shouldn't play in home games - In his last five home games, dating back to last season, Aaron Rodgers has 1,505 yards passing, 14 passing touchdowns and no interceptions. What could be more impressive, he hasn't had a loss at Lambeau Field since week 1 of the 2012 season vs the San Francisco 49ers. After watching the Monday Night Football game, where he made a very good Chiefs defense look mediocre, I think it's time to actually give Aaron Rodgers a bigger test. They should only allow him to play away game because he makes these games at Lambeau Field look too easy. Five passing touchdowns, over 300 yards passing, some crazy passes and a game that wasn't as close as the scoreboard shows.
2. The Bengals are maturing - It almost seems like the Bengals are have grown in front of our very eyes. I know that they've been pretty good over the past few years now and winning is no longer new to the team. But they showed that they can be resilient and play from behind when the clock is running low. After Baltimore to the lead late, I was almost positive it was over. However, the Bengals put the ball in the hands of wide receiver AJ Green as he caught the touchdown pass that gave the Bengals the lead and ended up being the winning touchdown. In the past, especially in away games, if the Ravens would've taken the lead that late in the game, it would've probably been a loss for the Bengals. This Bengals team seems like they're playing together and for one another. Also, having one of the most talented offenses in the league doesn't hurt them either. If the Bengals (3-0) keep this up they'll surely get that playoff win they've been dreaming about.
3. Philbin has to be on the hot seat - After starting the season 1-2, the Miami Dolphins find themselves at the bottom of a very tough AFC east division and the fashion in which they've lost the past two games has been almost embarrassing. First, they suffered a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 2. The Dolphins were on the road and Jacksonville is a young, tough team. We looked past that loss. Second, the home opener was spoiled and the Bills did anything they wanted to against this Dolphins team. Miami spent almost more than any other team acquiring players like defensive tackle Ndamukong Sue and tight end Jordan Cameron during the offseason. Joe Philbin has had ample opportunity to get this organization going in the right direction and right now they look as if they're headed down the road of destruction. In the opening game against the Redskins the Dolphins didn't look too impressive and they've looked worse every week, Joe Philbin must get it turned around or there could be a coaching vacancy in Miami.
4. Andrew got Luck-y in Tennessee - The Colts seem to be struggling this season, early on. Andrew Luck hasn't looked like himself and the additions of Frank Gore and Andre Johnson don't seem to really make an impact on the offense. Right now, the Colts (1-2) must find a way to get it going on the field. I'll admit they faced some really tough opponents in their first three games. I didn't expect Luck to get a win in the opener, on the road, to a very good Bills team. However, I didn't expect him to play so poorly the following week on Monday Night Football, at home, against the Jets. I did expect him to beat the Titans, he barely pulled it out. Through the first three weeks of action Luck has seven interceptions, leading the NFL. Am I surprised at this number? No. Andrew Luck has always been a high-risk, high-reward type of player but we're use to seeing the rewards being higher because of his offense. I don't think the Colts are in trouble but I do know they need to figure things out fast because the AFC is looking tougher every week.
5. The Eagles defense has been more impressive than the offense - The Philadelphia had very high expectations this season from almost everyone. Chip Kelly traded his starting running back, Lesean McCoy; didn't re-sign his pro bowl receiver, Jeremy Maclin; signed the 2014 rushing leader, former Dallas Cowboy, Demarco Murray and signed former Chargers running back Ryan Mathews. Needless to say, this team was suppose to put up a lot of points in every game. It started out looking very bad for this defense in the opening half of the season against a high-powered Atlanta offense which is now known as the Julio Jones show; going into halftime the Falcons were leading 20-3, the Eagles couldn't seem to stop what the Falcons. The final score ended up being 26-20 and the Eagles loss the game after Jordan Matthews had the ball pop-up off of his chest and it was intercepted by a Falcons defender. The Dallas game in week 2 was a terrible outing for the offensive unit, Sam Bradford had two interceptions and lost a fumble. The defense actually had them in the game until the very of the game; the Cowboys offense only scored one time on the Eagles defensive unit. A three-interception day was really the highlight of the week 3 win verse the Jets. I know the offense actually looked like an offense and Bradford didn't look too bad; but the fact that the Eagles defense looked more impressive than the Jets' defense was what stuck out to me. The Eagles (1-2) have some ground to make up but it's fairly early in the season still and their division is still up for grabs.
6. Julio Jones is a machine - Julio Jones has been one of the premiere receivers in the league since being drafted and he hasn't seemed to be slowing up yet. Injuries have plagued the superstar receiver and some years he was almost forgot about when mentioning the top receivers in the game when he wasn't on the field. No one ever questioned his talent or his work ethic. He was just always one of those "if he were healthy" cases. Well he's healthy, at least enough to play.Through the first three weeks, Julio Jones leads the league in targets, receptions, receiving yards and is second in receiving touchdowns (tied with four other players). He has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark in each one of the first three games. The Falcons (3-0) are off to a great start for one reason. Julio Jones.
7. Pittsburgh is now the Mike Vick Show - During the Steelers/Rams game on Sunday, Steelers quarterback, "Big Ben" Roethlisberger suffered a leg injury and it's reported that he could miss 4-6 weeks before returning to the field. Michael Vick started in five games for the New York Jets in 2014 and in those five games he only saw victory in one, against his new team, the Steelers. In those five games Vick had three passing touchdowns and two interceptions. After the Jets chose not to re-sign Vick for the 2015 season it didn't seem as if the 35-year-old dual-threat quarterback would be on an NFL roster for the 2015 season. In late August, it was reported that the Steelers had signed Michael Vick to a one-year deal and it seemed like a signing that was only for insurance purposes and chances were that Vick wouldn't see the field, but he was a good piece to have for a practice team and his knowledge of the game wouldn't help to have in the locker room. Now, it's looking like Vick will have to dust off his cleats and do his best to keep this high-powered engine that is the Pittsburgh Steelers offense running strong.
8. The Raiders need to show me more - It seems as if an abundance of people are on this Derrick Carr and Raiders train. I don't have any doubts that they are a very talented and young team. I just think that this 2-1 record is a deceitful record. I do believe that they're very much improved and headed in the right direction as an organization. I also believe that they'll lose some close games this year. However, their two wins were against a Browns team that has no idea of who they want to play at quarterback and a Ravens team that is lacking in their secondary. I believe that their next five games should tell more about who they really are. Contender or Pretender? I'll take more pretender ... Let's not forget, they gave up over 300 yards passing to both the Ravens and the Browns and barely beat both teams.
9. There has to be a fountain of youth in Arizona - At first I didn't think anything of it when Carson Palmer came out on fire to begin the season, a 35-year-old quarterback is still pretty good ( i.e. Manning, Brady, etc.). And now Larry Fitzgerald has now had back-to-back 100-yard performances and five touchdowns in his last two games. I can't say I was too surprised by Fitzgerald, he's one of the greatest receivers of my time. But one thing put the icing on the cake for me. Chris Johnson had a 110 yards rushing on 22 carries and two touchdowns against a 49ers defense that did a pretty good job of containing Adrian Peterson in week 1. Where did this come from? He's looking more like CJ2k from Tennessee and less like the guy that we saw in New York with the Jets. If Johnson keeps this up, he could be a great addition and valuable piece to this Cardinals offense.
10. The AFC South is looking like the NFC South from 2014 - Every team in the AFC south is sitting at 1-2 and no team is really playing like they want to win the division. The Colts barely beat the Tennessee Titans; The Texans got their first win against a young and improving Buccaneers team; Jacksonville got routed by a blazing hot Patriots team and allowed half of a century to be put up on the scoreboard. At some point one of these teams has to figure it out, right?
There's still a great amount of football to be played, were only through three weeks of action, but the really good teams are starting to separate themselves from those who aren't as good and as the weeks go one the "fakes" will get exposed, as Drake would say.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Lindsay McCormick Interview
Lindsay McCormick is more than a sports reporter, she's also a guru at something and I challenge her. To find out, listen here. Also, Lindsay talks with me about the NFL season, who she thinks will win MVP and her Super Bowl predictions; she talks about obstacles that she's faced as a female in the sports industry and the direction of women in sports currently... Also we talk a little about the NBA and much more.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
10 Things That I Took Away From Week One in The NFL
It's officially in the books, we are through our first week of NFL action and there were a lot of things that you could take away from what we saw in the games played. There were some injuries to key players, some teams looked like they were still in the preseason and other teams looked like they were in mid-season form.
I watched a lot of the games and I was able to take away some things during the games that I saw that really intrigued me. I'll give you 10 of those things.
1. The Rams aren't to be played with - The St. Louis Rams recorded six sacks against the Seattle Seahawks... yes, six... and I really saw Russell Wilson under pressure like I haven't seen since he's been in the NFL. Most of all, I was impressed with the Rams finishing the game in the fourth quarter and overcoming some early, critical mistakes that they made throughout the game. The NFC west is going to be a tough division, the best division, in my opinion.
2. The Bengals' defense looks to be the real deal - I saw Adam "Pacman" Jones do a lot of really good things against the Raiders. Recording 10 tackles and forced fumble. Yeah, I know it was just the Raiders. However, I believe that the Raiders receiving core is actually legit. Amari Cooper is NFL ready and Michael Crabtree is a very good veteran receiver to have in your organization. The Bengals proved a lot about their defense in week one, getting after the quarterback early and often, attacking the ball and they didn't seem to let up like in past years. Hopefully they'll continue to play that way through the season.
3. The Carolina Panthers might be in trouble - After losing running back DeAngelo Williams to free agency and Cam Newton losing his no.1 receiver, last years first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin, the Carolina offense seemed to be struggling to move the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars. All due respect to the Jaguars, the defense looked very much improved with all of the additions. But they're still the Jaguars. Cam Newton had to do entirely too much by himself and if it goes that way through the remainder of the season, it won't be good for the Panthers. Even though the Panthers won, I still feel this game showed Carolina's biggest weakness. Cam Newton can only take so much punishment before he gets seriously injured. I mean Superman has Krytonite, right? He had 14 carries on the day for 35 yards, that's less than three yards per carry.
4.The Falcons look dangerous, but not where you think - Everyone knows that the Falcons offense can be explosive, especially at home. But, the defense of the Falcons is what really stood out to most people that watched the game against the Eagles. It seems that linebacker Justin Durant, the former Cowboy, made a lot of crucial plays, as well as the Falcons' secondary unit. One thing I did notice is the defense seems to swarm to were the ball is on every play. I guess new head coach Dan Quinn brought the Seahawks' philosophy with him when he came. If Vic Beasly can get a little bit of extra help from the defensive line, we could see Atlanta back in the playoffs.
5.Carlos Hyde is a true talent - As I watched the 49ers play the Vikings, I was looking for two things: 1.What would Adrian Peterson look like on the field after being away from football for almost a full season?
2. What will Colin Kaepernick look like in this new offense?
I saw that Kaepernick was reading the defense better, making better decisions in the pocket and has a slightly quicker release; Adrian Peterson should've gotten the ball more, early on in the game, and the offensive line got dominated on most places. But it was the other 28, running back Carlos Hyde, that made the biggest impact of either team. In his debut as one of the main parts of that offense he had 26 carries 168 yards and two touchdowns... I'm sure his fantasy owners were praising him via social media... if Hyde continues to play like he did on Monday night, San Francisco might forget about Frank Gore leaving or even thank him for doing so.
6. Alex Smith might not need receivers to catch a touchdown for another year - The Kansas City Chiefs rolled straight through the Houston Texans and just like all of last season, no wide receiver saw the end zone. Tight end Travis Kelce found the end zone twice on six receptions for 106 yards (his longest play of the day went for 42 yards). It's almost safe to say that the Chiefs have finally found a play maker to complement their all-pro running back Jamaal Charles. I believe Travis Kelce is the real deal and he could evolve into one of the premiere tight ends in the league.
7. The Pressure could be building for Mariota in Tennessee - Marcus Mariota had an incredible debut as the quarterback for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, when they took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and no.1 overall pick Jameis Winston. It really looked like Mariota was a pro bowl player in his first game. He made all the right throws, he didn't force passes and he even didn't even have to throw that many times... This is where I see a down fall going forward. After completing 13 of 16 passes attempted, throwing 4 touchdowns and almost having a perfect game, you're expected to keep it up or at least close to it. The Titans' next three games are against the Colts (Andrew Luck is currently 6-0 in his career against the Titans), Bills and Dolphins. It won't be an easy road for Mariota and he'll see JJ Watt twice this season, at least. Mariota is an exceptional player and seems to have a great football IQ, I just hope expectations don't get too astronomical in his rookie season.
8. Aaron Rodgers won't miss a beat without Jordy Nelson - Aaron Rodgers went into Soldier Field and took on his division rivals, the Chicago Bears, and walked out with a victory after passing for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns. I guess it's safe to say that Rodgers is the "real" MVP after that performance without his no.1 wide receiver. But it's great to see that they went out and got a familiar face for packers' fans, signing James Jones to a one-year deal and he poses as a huge red zone target and should be able to help this teams immensely.
9. It looks to be another long year for Browns fans - The Cleveland Browns have an exceptional defense and could have one of the best secondary's in the NFL. The downfall of the team is that they don't have an offense to complement their defensive unit. The teams leading rusher on Sunday was Johnny Manziel and he had 35 yards rushing, he was also the leading passer. With Josh McCown going down with what looks to be a concussion, which could sideline him for at least another week, I think it's time to see what Manziel can do as the starter in week 2. If Manziel looks like he did in the games he played in last season it might just be another long season for the Browns and their fans.
10. The AFC east will be a tough division to win - With the Bills looking like one of the superior teams in the AFC now and the Patriots still looking like the Patriots it'll be exciting to see these two teams going head-to-head in week two, but they weren't the only two teams from the division that impressed in week 1. The Dolphins looked physical, like I haven't seen in a while, when they were playing the Redskins; the Jets defense looked as good as anticipated. With all teams starting the season 1-0, I wonder if this could be one of the closer divisions towards the end of the season.
With week 1 behind us, it's now time to prepare ourselves for what looks to be an amazing week 2. It all starts on Thursday night with the Kansas City Chiefs facing off with the Denver Broncos. Is Peyton on the decline or will he show that he can still play at an elite level? I think playing against the Kansas City defense we'll find the answer.
I watched a lot of the games and I was able to take away some things during the games that I saw that really intrigued me. I'll give you 10 of those things.
1. The Rams aren't to be played with - The St. Louis Rams recorded six sacks against the Seattle Seahawks... yes, six... and I really saw Russell Wilson under pressure like I haven't seen since he's been in the NFL. Most of all, I was impressed with the Rams finishing the game in the fourth quarter and overcoming some early, critical mistakes that they made throughout the game. The NFC west is going to be a tough division, the best division, in my opinion.
2. The Bengals' defense looks to be the real deal - I saw Adam "Pacman" Jones do a lot of really good things against the Raiders. Recording 10 tackles and forced fumble. Yeah, I know it was just the Raiders. However, I believe that the Raiders receiving core is actually legit. Amari Cooper is NFL ready and Michael Crabtree is a very good veteran receiver to have in your organization. The Bengals proved a lot about their defense in week one, getting after the quarterback early and often, attacking the ball and they didn't seem to let up like in past years. Hopefully they'll continue to play that way through the season.
3. The Carolina Panthers might be in trouble - After losing running back DeAngelo Williams to free agency and Cam Newton losing his no.1 receiver, last years first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin, the Carolina offense seemed to be struggling to move the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars. All due respect to the Jaguars, the defense looked very much improved with all of the additions. But they're still the Jaguars. Cam Newton had to do entirely too much by himself and if it goes that way through the remainder of the season, it won't be good for the Panthers. Even though the Panthers won, I still feel this game showed Carolina's biggest weakness. Cam Newton can only take so much punishment before he gets seriously injured. I mean Superman has Krytonite, right? He had 14 carries on the day for 35 yards, that's less than three yards per carry.
4.The Falcons look dangerous, but not where you think - Everyone knows that the Falcons offense can be explosive, especially at home. But, the defense of the Falcons is what really stood out to most people that watched the game against the Eagles. It seems that linebacker Justin Durant, the former Cowboy, made a lot of crucial plays, as well as the Falcons' secondary unit. One thing I did notice is the defense seems to swarm to were the ball is on every play. I guess new head coach Dan Quinn brought the Seahawks' philosophy with him when he came. If Vic Beasly can get a little bit of extra help from the defensive line, we could see Atlanta back in the playoffs.
5.Carlos Hyde is a true talent - As I watched the 49ers play the Vikings, I was looking for two things: 1.What would Adrian Peterson look like on the field after being away from football for almost a full season?
2. What will Colin Kaepernick look like in this new offense?
I saw that Kaepernick was reading the defense better, making better decisions in the pocket and has a slightly quicker release; Adrian Peterson should've gotten the ball more, early on in the game, and the offensive line got dominated on most places. But it was the other 28, running back Carlos Hyde, that made the biggest impact of either team. In his debut as one of the main parts of that offense he had 26 carries 168 yards and two touchdowns... I'm sure his fantasy owners were praising him via social media... if Hyde continues to play like he did on Monday night, San Francisco might forget about Frank Gore leaving or even thank him for doing so.
6. Alex Smith might not need receivers to catch a touchdown for another year - The Kansas City Chiefs rolled straight through the Houston Texans and just like all of last season, no wide receiver saw the end zone. Tight end Travis Kelce found the end zone twice on six receptions for 106 yards (his longest play of the day went for 42 yards). It's almost safe to say that the Chiefs have finally found a play maker to complement their all-pro running back Jamaal Charles. I believe Travis Kelce is the real deal and he could evolve into one of the premiere tight ends in the league.
7. The Pressure could be building for Mariota in Tennessee - Marcus Mariota had an incredible debut as the quarterback for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, when they took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and no.1 overall pick Jameis Winston. It really looked like Mariota was a pro bowl player in his first game. He made all the right throws, he didn't force passes and he even didn't even have to throw that many times... This is where I see a down fall going forward. After completing 13 of 16 passes attempted, throwing 4 touchdowns and almost having a perfect game, you're expected to keep it up or at least close to it. The Titans' next three games are against the Colts (Andrew Luck is currently 6-0 in his career against the Titans), Bills and Dolphins. It won't be an easy road for Mariota and he'll see JJ Watt twice this season, at least. Mariota is an exceptional player and seems to have a great football IQ, I just hope expectations don't get too astronomical in his rookie season.
8. Aaron Rodgers won't miss a beat without Jordy Nelson - Aaron Rodgers went into Soldier Field and took on his division rivals, the Chicago Bears, and walked out with a victory after passing for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns. I guess it's safe to say that Rodgers is the "real" MVP after that performance without his no.1 wide receiver. But it's great to see that they went out and got a familiar face for packers' fans, signing James Jones to a one-year deal and he poses as a huge red zone target and should be able to help this teams immensely.
9. It looks to be another long year for Browns fans - The Cleveland Browns have an exceptional defense and could have one of the best secondary's in the NFL. The downfall of the team is that they don't have an offense to complement their defensive unit. The teams leading rusher on Sunday was Johnny Manziel and he had 35 yards rushing, he was also the leading passer. With Josh McCown going down with what looks to be a concussion, which could sideline him for at least another week, I think it's time to see what Manziel can do as the starter in week 2. If Manziel looks like he did in the games he played in last season it might just be another long season for the Browns and their fans.
10. The AFC east will be a tough division to win - With the Bills looking like one of the superior teams in the AFC now and the Patriots still looking like the Patriots it'll be exciting to see these two teams going head-to-head in week two, but they weren't the only two teams from the division that impressed in week 1. The Dolphins looked physical, like I haven't seen in a while, when they were playing the Redskins; the Jets defense looked as good as anticipated. With all teams starting the season 1-0, I wonder if this could be one of the closer divisions towards the end of the season.
With week 1 behind us, it's now time to prepare ourselves for what looks to be an amazing week 2. It all starts on Thursday night with the Kansas City Chiefs facing off with the Denver Broncos. Is Peyton on the decline or will he show that he can still play at an elite level? I think playing against the Kansas City defense we'll find the answer.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
One-On-One with Former University of Cincinnati Basketball Player, Jamaal Lucas.
2015 NFL Season Kickoff Preview
The 2015 NFL season begins with one of the most controversial games, maybe of the season, as Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, who are coming off of a Super Bowl victory that had one of the greatest finishes to any Super Bowl, in history. The Patriots had one of the biggest story lines in the NFL during the offseason, after being accused of deflating footballs during the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback Tom Brady, who had originally had a four-game suspension that he would have to serve due to accusations over his involvement in the deflation of their team balls, had recently won in a higher court over the NFL commissioner and is currently not serving a suspension at all. The Steelers have issues of their own. Pro bowl running back Le'Veon Bell won't play week one due to suspension, as well as the speedy, physical receiver Martavis Bryant.
Five Games To Watch For in Week 1
1. Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos: This game has playoffs written all over it, and it's only week 1. This could potentially be Peyton Manning's final season; Ravens' wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. already announced, right before preseason, that 2015-16 would be his final season. I know both players will give it their all this season, in hopes of raising the Super Bowl trophy one more time.2. New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys: Historically, since Eli Manning has been there, when the Giants have come off of a bad season and have low expectations on the year, they end up having a very good season and have appeared in the Super Bowl and won twice. After coming up short last season in the Playoffs, how will the Cowboys look in their week 1 debut without the 2014 league-leading rusher Demarco Murray in the backfield? It's a divisional game, so you know there will be a lot of tension in the air during the game. Also, Odell Beckham Jr. will be on the field ready to make something spectacular happen with his hands, maybe a one-handed catch?
3. Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons: This Eagles offense looks very different from the 2014. With Eagle head coach Chip Kelly the team is 20-12 over the last two season. And after missing the playoffs last season with a record of 10-6, Kelly decided to give the team a slight makeover. During the offseason, the Eagles traded quarterback Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams for Sam Bradford. If healthy, Bradford could be the perfect person to run this fast-paced offense. However, "if healthy" is the most important part of that. The Falcons haven't been the same since losing to the San Francisco 49ers in 2012 in the NFC Championship game and have failed to make the playoffs since then. Will this be the year Matt Ryan can get that team back on the right track? The biggest thing to watch for in this game of birds, will be the Philadelphia secondary against the Atlanta receivers. The Eagles spent a lot of money on this new secondary and if they look as atrocious as they did in 2014 it could be a long season for Eagles' fans.
4. Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills: Colts' quarterback Andrew Luck has a few new weapons on that offense, two future hall-of-famers, wide receiver Andre Johnson and running back Frank Gore. It'll be interesting to see how this offense looks week 1 against a Bills defense that looks like it'll be top 5 in the NFL. Andrew Luck is 1-2 in week 1 for his career and both loses were on the road. The Bills have new star power in their offense as well. During the offseason, they acquired running back Lesean McCoy from the Philadelphia Eagles for linebacker Kiko Alanso. I'd say that's a fair trade for the Bills. Bills' head coach, Rex Ryan recently announced Tyrod Taylor as the starter for week 1 after having a very impressive preseason. How will Taylor fair in his regular-season debut as the starter with the Bills?
5. Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Let's be honest, the real battle will be Jameis Winston vs. Marcus Mariota or No.1 pick vs. No.2 pick... It's really up to you. This game will be watched to see who looks better in their debut. When you have two rookie quarterbacks playing it could get messy and it could be an ugly game. However, people are just happy that football is back. Jameis Winston has the weapons around him and Mariota doesn't really have much to work with in that Titans offense, but Mariota is a playmaker with both his arm and legs.
Season Award Predictions
Rookie of the Year: Tyler Lockett. Wide Receiver. Seattle SeahawksBreakout Player: DeVante Adams. Wide Receiver. Green Bay Packers
Comeback Player of the Year: Kiko Alanso. Linebacker. Philadelphia Eagles
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt. Defensive end/Tackle. Houston Texans
Offensive Player of the Year: Dez Bryant. Wide Receiver. Dallas Cowboys
Most Valuable Player: Russell Wilson. Quarterback. Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl Predictions (Early Predictions)
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis ColtsThe road to Super Bowl 50 looks to be paved in gold. Just remember, it all starts with week 1. Let's just hope for another great year of football and hope that every team stays healthy.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
NCAAFB: Five Games To Watch Out For in Week 1
I know it's not the official start of college football. Thursday and Friday we had some good action. However, it's the kickoff weekend still and there are still a lot of great games still to be played and you have to scout some teams for later in the season. The first Saturday of college football is a day like no other for college football fans, the next best thing might be Christmas morning.
So, I've gone through and picked five games that you should be watching out for in week 1.
1. Louisville at Auburn(6) @ 3:30pm
Alabama A&M at Cincinnati @ 7:00pm
So, I've gone through and picked five games that you should be watching out for in week 1.
1. Louisville at Auburn(6) @ 3:30pm
- This won't be an easy road for Auburn. Even though it seems as if Auburn is an early favorite for the college football playoffs, don't count the Louisville Cardinals out. This should be a good test for the Tigers.
- BYU is tough beyond measures and Nebraska should be a good test for them. Biggest part of the game is going to be the Nebraska offense against the resilient defense of BYU.
- Was last year a "fluke" for the sun devils or are they really one of the premiere teams in the country? Texas A&M struggled last season, their first season without former Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel. Can they stop the high-powered offense of Arizona State?
- Texas hasn't been the same dominant organization the past few years that is once was, will that change in 2015? Today will be the first test. Is this Notre Dame team the real deal? Brian Kelly got Notre Dame to the National Championship a few years ago, can he get them to the college football playoffs? This is one of the biggest games either team will play all season. It's surely the toughest non-conference opponent that Texas will face. It's sure to be a classic in South Bend, Indiana.
- Monday night should be a blast! It's not NFL Monday Night Football, it's better. College football on a Monday night. Ohio State are the reigning National Champions. Virginia Tech is the only team that defeated them last season. This is like a revenge match for the buckeyes. And for Virginia Tech, this outcome of this game could help write the story for the rest of this season, which could be a special one in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Alabama A&M at Cincinnati @ 7:00pm
- I'm a Bearcat and it's going to be a special season with team back in Nippert Stadium. Gunner Kiel is a special talent and this Saturday, in the home opener, he'll show exactly why.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Can Jim Harbaugh Pick It Back Up Where He Left Off?
The last game that Jim Harbaugh coached at the college level was January 3, 2011. In that game he defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 40-12 in the Orange Bowl. And Andrew Luck was the quarterback for Harbaughs' Stanford Cardinal team. In the 2010-11 season Harbaugh led the Cardinal to an impressive record of 12-1.
Let's be honest about this Harbaugh situation. First, I'd like to say this, signing Jim Harbaugh as the head coach was a very good move by the University of Michigan and I believe he can be very successful there and has the potential to get them back to the top of the college football ranks. However, the last time Harbaugh coached in college the Pac-12 was still the Pac-10. Harbaugh had Andrew Luck, a great football talent, as his quarterback for his two most successful years at the Stanford head coach. Also, when Harbaugh has to deal with this new college football playoff system. Only the top four teams in the country make it in. Regardless of what analyst think, the Big Ten consists of more teams than the Ohio State University. With all of this attention that Michigan has received after signing Harbaugh, I believe a lot of teams will be playing with more passion to defeat the wolverines because of the Harbaugh headlines that they've seen all summer.
There are very high expectations for Harbaugh in the Big Ten Conference, which is still a power-five conference, I believe the wolverines may have their hands full in 2015. Can Harbaugh live up to these expectations and get the wolverines competing for a National Championship in the next three-to-five years? First, we'll have to see how he makes it through his first game in the blue & maze. September 3, at 8:30 ET on foxSports1 vs the Utah Utes.
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