Cal hired Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes to be their head coach. This hire will bring a significant change from the more traditional, balanced offense that Cal ran for over a decade under Jeff Tedford. Although those offenses really weren't so balanced as few Cal quarterbacks since Aaron Rodgers could consistently complete passes. Dykes will bring in his version of the spread offense. I've never been a big fan of the spread. I've never been a fan of out of control 57-56 games. Those games compare far more favorably to Arena Football where not a hint of defense is ever played. Pretty much the entire game can be ignored if the only objective is to be the last team to possess the ball. I prefer football games that involve scoring with a better than decent amount of preventing the other team from scoring.
While I'm no fan of the spread that doesn't mean that I'm no fan of Cal hiring Sonny Dykes. There's no rule saying that a team running the spread has to suck on defense. They just always seem to suck on defense. That's mostly due to the pressure that a fast paced, high scoring offense puts on their own defense. I think that it's critical that Dykes hires an excellent defensive coordinator. It's critical that he cares about his defense. His Louisiana Tech defenses were horrible. He can not bring that with him. As for what Dykes definitely brings to the Cal offense, I like that his Louisiana Tech offense averaged over 200 yards/game on the ground. I like that running presence. Cal has a promising back in Brendan Bigelow. He could excel in a wide open game. I love that Dykes' offensive ideas will breathe some life into the wildly inconsistent passing game that Cal has put on the field in recent years. I also like that he brings a mix of some of the best spread coaches around. This includes his father Spike Dykes, Hal Mumme and Mike Leach. While he's influenced by those coaches he brings his own offense.
I think that Sonny Dykes will be pleased with the young receivers that are already on the Cal roster. Undercalssmen Chris Harper, Bryce Treggs, Darius Powe and Maurice Harris are all talented. Their presence make receiver Keenan Allen's decision to head to the NFL one year early no real problem at all. Tight end Richard Rodgers also provides an interesting option. I haven't seen tight ends used much in the spread. I think that Dykes can find a place for Rodgers. He can make plays in space which is what routes in the spread are all about. Quarterback is, of course, the biggest question. It has been a question since Rodgers threw his last college pass. The spread is certainly quarterback friendly so play at the position should improve. I really like the potential of true freshman Zach Kline but he'll be in competition with Allan Bridgford, Kyle Boehm, and incoming freshman Jared Goff.
The more I think about Sonny Dykes as Cal's coach the more that I like it but that happiness is dependent on his hiring the right defensive coordinator. He can not forget about the defense.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Throwback Thursday: Revenge
In late 1959 the Minneapolis ownership group led by Max Winter was all set to join Lamar Hunt, Bud Adams and Bob Howsam in the upstart American Football League. All four had tried on several occasions to gain entrance into the National Football League. All had been turned away. Those four would bring laughter and then fear to George Halas and the other old farts in the NFL. Eventually Boston, Buffalo, New York and Los Angeles would join Dallas (Hunt), Houston (Adams), Denver (Howsam) and Minneapolis (Winter) as cities with a new football team in a new football league. That's right. The Minnesota Vikings that we all love was, at one time, an AFL franchise. This was the case up to and including the new league's first draft in late November 1959. Halas didn't much care for the new league having a team in his midwest. After years of telling everyone that they wouldn't expand the NFL expanded. When it became clear that these rich clowns weren't joking around the NFL acted. They introduced the Dallas Cowboys to challenge Hunt's Dallas team. Then they stole the AFL's Minnesota franchise. Winter went to that AFL meeting and draft with an invite, from Halas, to join the NFL. Minnesota went into that weekend as an AFL team. They came out as an NFL team. Lamar Hunt felt betrayed. He was.
Hunt's Dallas Texans would become the Kansas City Chiefs. With Minnesota's shenanigans in 1959, it was only fitting that the last Super Bowl before the full AFL-NFL merger would match the Minnesota Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs. Lamar Hunt and Max Winter would end up in the same elevator just before Super Bowl IV. Not a word was spoken. Now, Lamar Hunt was perhaps the most soft-spoken, mild-mannered professional football team owner. Ever. In any league. After the elevator ride with a man that he once trusted and before a championship game between their teams, Hunt sat down for a nice dinner with family and friends. Soon, all Hunt could say was Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill..... The Chiefs thrashed the Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Winning that game wasn't just winning a championship game for Lamar Hunt. It ended a war that no one said he could win. It confirmed a decade of exhausting work that everyone said was pointless. The only people in his corner were his fellow owners. The AFL owners called themselves the "Foolish Club" with Hunt standing as the leading fool. Hunt might not have said that revenge was a thought in his mind when his Chiefs played that Super Bowl. The people that knew him best probably would.
Hunt's Dallas Texans would become the Kansas City Chiefs. With Minnesota's shenanigans in 1959, it was only fitting that the last Super Bowl before the full AFL-NFL merger would match the Minnesota Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs. Lamar Hunt and Max Winter would end up in the same elevator just before Super Bowl IV. Not a word was spoken. Now, Lamar Hunt was perhaps the most soft-spoken, mild-mannered professional football team owner. Ever. In any league. After the elevator ride with a man that he once trusted and before a championship game between their teams, Hunt sat down for a nice dinner with family and friends. Soon, all Hunt could say was Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill..... The Chiefs thrashed the Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Winning that game wasn't just winning a championship game for Lamar Hunt. It ended a war that no one said he could win. It confirmed a decade of exhausting work that everyone said was pointless. The only people in his corner were his fellow owners. The AFL owners called themselves the "Foolish Club" with Hunt standing as the leading fool. Hunt might not have said that revenge was a thought in his mind when his Chiefs played that Super Bowl. The people that knew him best probably would.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Kansas City Tragedies
I can not even begin to imagine the impact of the tragedy in Kansas City last Saturday. Linebacker Javon Belcher took the life of his girlfriend at their home and then his own life at the Chiefs facilities. I just can't understand how things can get so hopeless that an act like that becomes an option. I just can't shake this. Maybe writing about it will help. Part of the reason that it stays with me is that I've been reading Michael MacCambridge's terrific biography of Lamar Hunt. As a result, the Chiefs have been on my mind. When I heard about Belcher I was already reeling by the number of tragedies that have hit the Chiefs since Lamar Hunt founded the team in 1959. They don't seem to end.
In 1963, running back Stone Johnson suffered a broken neck in a preseason game against the Houston Oilers. He later died from complications during surgery. Just two years later, running back Mack Lee Hill ruptured a knee ligament in a game against the Buffalo Bills. Once again a Chiefs player was lost during surgery. Hill developed hypothermia when his body reacted to the anesthesia. Belcher wasn't the first troubled Chiefs player to arrive at the facilities with a gun. In 1968 Gene Thomas, annoyed about something, arrived with a gun and took an angry, thankfully wild shot at tackle Jim Tyrer. Fortunately, no one was hurt. However, the next Chiefs tragedy would involve Tyrer and would bare similarities to Belcher. Jim Tyrer was one of the finest offensive linemen in professional in the late '60s and early '70s. He protected Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson and opened gaping holes for backs Mike Garrett, Ed Podolak, Jim Otis and the rest of the Chiefs runners. On the field and off the field, Tyrer seemed to have everything in order. In 1980, after his football career ended some of his business decisions didn't go the way he intended. Not being able to handle this he took his wife's life and then his own. He left four children without a parent. In 1983, Pro Bowl running back Joe Delaney tried to save three children that were struggling while swimming in a pond. One child made it out of the water. The other two and Delaney didn't. I remember this incident well. This was my first real experience with an active NFL player dying. Perhaps the players became human to me for the first time. The Chiefs would experience about 17 years of peace following the death of Delaney. Following the 1999 season, linebacker Derrick Thomas was driving far too fast. He had two passengers with him. Thomas and one passenger weren't wearing seat belts. After the accident, the passenger wearing a seat belt walked away uninjured. The other passenger died. Derrick Thomas was paralyzed from the chest down. Two weeks later he developed a pulmonary embolism and died.
I'm simply stunned by so many deaths of active players, or recently active in the case of Tyrer, to hit one team. When Minnesota Vikings tackle Korey Stringer died of complications brought on by heat stroke in 2001, I felt as though I'd lost a loved one. Safety Karl Kassulke was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in the early '70s but lived another thirty years. That's all the tragedy that I can recall hitting the Vikings. The Chiefs keep getting hit. In the case of Tyrer and Belcher, you wish that you could have somehow reached them before tragedy hit but you never really know what's coming. I hope that the Chiefs find some peace.
In 1963, running back Stone Johnson suffered a broken neck in a preseason game against the Houston Oilers. He later died from complications during surgery. Just two years later, running back Mack Lee Hill ruptured a knee ligament in a game against the Buffalo Bills. Once again a Chiefs player was lost during surgery. Hill developed hypothermia when his body reacted to the anesthesia. Belcher wasn't the first troubled Chiefs player to arrive at the facilities with a gun. In 1968 Gene Thomas, annoyed about something, arrived with a gun and took an angry, thankfully wild shot at tackle Jim Tyrer. Fortunately, no one was hurt. However, the next Chiefs tragedy would involve Tyrer and would bare similarities to Belcher. Jim Tyrer was one of the finest offensive linemen in professional in the late '60s and early '70s. He protected Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson and opened gaping holes for backs Mike Garrett, Ed Podolak, Jim Otis and the rest of the Chiefs runners. On the field and off the field, Tyrer seemed to have everything in order. In 1980, after his football career ended some of his business decisions didn't go the way he intended. Not being able to handle this he took his wife's life and then his own. He left four children without a parent. In 1983, Pro Bowl running back Joe Delaney tried to save three children that were struggling while swimming in a pond. One child made it out of the water. The other two and Delaney didn't. I remember this incident well. This was my first real experience with an active NFL player dying. Perhaps the players became human to me for the first time. The Chiefs would experience about 17 years of peace following the death of Delaney. Following the 1999 season, linebacker Derrick Thomas was driving far too fast. He had two passengers with him. Thomas and one passenger weren't wearing seat belts. After the accident, the passenger wearing a seat belt walked away uninjured. The other passenger died. Derrick Thomas was paralyzed from the chest down. Two weeks later he developed a pulmonary embolism and died.
I'm simply stunned by so many deaths of active players, or recently active in the case of Tyrer, to hit one team. When Minnesota Vikings tackle Korey Stringer died of complications brought on by heat stroke in 2001, I felt as though I'd lost a loved one. Safety Karl Kassulke was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in the early '70s but lived another thirty years. That's all the tragedy that I can recall hitting the Vikings. The Chiefs keep getting hit. In the case of Tyrer and Belcher, you wish that you could have somehow reached them before tragedy hit but you never really know what's coming. I hope that the Chiefs find some peace.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Cal Coaching Search
With all of the blogs and twitter it's way too easy to start a rumor. Anyone can. Half, if that, of what you read on the Internet is likely to be bogus. With that in mind I'm left to sifting through scraps of information about Cal's search for a new head football coach. Athletic director Sandy Barbour isn't talking. At least not to me.
As near as I can figure Cal has narrowed the search down to nine finalists. I think that the term "finalist" is used loosely. I believe that Cal has made inquiries into nine potential coaches. Last week they reportedly contacted Air Force coach Troy Calhoun to see if he had any interest in coming to Berkeley. He doesn't. To consider Calhoun as one of the finalists is a stretch. It sounds like Boise St. coach Chris Petersen is Cal's top choice. I like that a lot. Cal might be pushing for Petersen but I still see his leaving Boise as a long shot. I've seen reports that Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes, Kent St. coach Darrell Hazell and Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco have been interviewed. I would be very happy if Cal landed Hazell or Diaco. I'm not sold on Dykes. He's an offensive genius with the spread offense. I'm just not a big fan of the spread. Perhaps it's the traditionalist in me but I find the offense too one dimensional. I realize that the quick strike capabilities puts a lot of pressure on the defense but it also puts a lot of pressure on your own defense. That doesn't really matter to Dykes. Like his mentor, Washington St. coach Mike Leach, Dykes doesn't seem care too much for playing defense. That bothers me the most. Cal may or may not have interviewed Cincinnati Bengals assistant coach Hue Jackson, Fresno St. coach Tim DeRuyter, and San Jose St. coach Mike McIntyre.
In piecing together all of these more or less accurate reports from blogs, twitter and such, I've come up with this list of maybe nine coaches that may or may not have been interviewed or contacted but might be on some kind of wish list for someone that might be involved in the decision:
1. Boise St. coach Chris Petersen
2. Kent St. coach Darrell Hazell
3. Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco
4. San Jose St. coach Mike McIntyre
5. Fresno St. coach Tim DeRuyter
6. Air Force coach Troy Calhoun
7. Bengals assistant Hue Jackson
8. Michigan St. defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi?
9. 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman?
Who knows about the last two let alone the whole list. I think that the top half would all be excellent head coaches for Cal. But, what do I know?
As near as I can figure Cal has narrowed the search down to nine finalists. I think that the term "finalist" is used loosely. I believe that Cal has made inquiries into nine potential coaches. Last week they reportedly contacted Air Force coach Troy Calhoun to see if he had any interest in coming to Berkeley. He doesn't. To consider Calhoun as one of the finalists is a stretch. It sounds like Boise St. coach Chris Petersen is Cal's top choice. I like that a lot. Cal might be pushing for Petersen but I still see his leaving Boise as a long shot. I've seen reports that Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes, Kent St. coach Darrell Hazell and Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco have been interviewed. I would be very happy if Cal landed Hazell or Diaco. I'm not sold on Dykes. He's an offensive genius with the spread offense. I'm just not a big fan of the spread. Perhaps it's the traditionalist in me but I find the offense too one dimensional. I realize that the quick strike capabilities puts a lot of pressure on the defense but it also puts a lot of pressure on your own defense. That doesn't really matter to Dykes. Like his mentor, Washington St. coach Mike Leach, Dykes doesn't seem care too much for playing defense. That bothers me the most. Cal may or may not have interviewed Cincinnati Bengals assistant coach Hue Jackson, Fresno St. coach Tim DeRuyter, and San Jose St. coach Mike McIntyre.
In piecing together all of these more or less accurate reports from blogs, twitter and such, I've come up with this list of maybe nine coaches that may or may not have been interviewed or contacted but might be on some kind of wish list for someone that might be involved in the decision:
1. Boise St. coach Chris Petersen
2. Kent St. coach Darrell Hazell
3. Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco
4. San Jose St. coach Mike McIntyre
5. Fresno St. coach Tim DeRuyter
6. Air Force coach Troy Calhoun
7. Bengals assistant Hue Jackson
8. Michigan St. defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi?
9. 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman?
Who knows about the last two let alone the whole list. I think that the top half would all be excellent head coaches for Cal. But, what do I know?
Monday, December 3, 2012
Week 13 Thoughts
Minnesota Vikings 14
Green Bay Packers 23
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was beautiful yesterday. Too bad it was wasted. Not much else worked for the Vikings. Peterson rushed for 210 yards on 21 carries and an 82-yard TD. The announcers were kind enough to mention that teams with a 200-yard rusher were 57-2. Now such teams are 57-3. Terrific.
Peterson's 82-yard touchdown run put the Vikings ahead 14-10. Two other long runs set the team up nicely in the red zone. Both runs were immediately followed by interceptions thrown by Christian Ponder. In Ponder's defense the throws were inches from being touchdowns. That doesn't matter. He forced both. They shouldn't have been thrown. They ended nice, momentum building drives and handed momentum to the Packers. Most importantly they took at least six, and possibly 14 points off the board.
The second interception on the last play of the third quarter was followed by a back-breaking, eleven minute Packers drive that led to a field goal and a nine point lead for the bad guys. The Vikings offense didn't see the ball in the final quarter until there was less than 4 minutes to play.
I'm going to have a heart attack if the Vikings defense doesn't start getting stops on third down. That and Ponder's interceptions were the biggest difference in the game. It wasn't the accuracy and poise of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It wasn't even the Packers surprising ability to get yards and move the chains on the ground. The Vikings were unable to take advantage of a brilliant game by Adrian Peterson.
The Vikings were absolutely robbed by the officials late in the first half. Jared Allen intercepted a tipped pass by Rodgers. His short return should have given the Vikings offense possession on about the Packers' 15-yard line. With a 14-10 lead, it was a prime spot and time to take control of the game. But no, the officials called Everson Griffen for roughing the passer on what was a clean act of simply playing football. There was no roughing. Rodgers probably sees more contact in practice. It was a huge break for the Packers and blatant robbery for the Vikings. In a way, this b.s. call can be seen as a third turnover in the red zone. The Vikings clearly struggled with several things but this was a great opportunity that was wrongly taken from them.
Vikings rookie safety Harrison Smith continued his strong play this season with a big interception early in the second half. It was inside their own 10-yard line but it still stopped some Packers momentum. Unfortunately, the offense did nothing and punted the ball right back to the Packers. The Packers may have even gained a few yards on the changes in possession.
Ponder is having some serious issues. A return of receiver Percy Harvin would solve some of those problems. It's hard to get an accurate view of all of the receivers on a given play without "all-22" coaches film. What I can see from the telecast is Viking receivers not getting much separation from the defense. At times the effort by the receivers looks poor. That's not really fair but that's how it looks. Ponder needs to get more help from his receivers. Tight end Kyle Rudolph is the only player getting open often since Harvin's been out. As a result, Ponder is forcing the ball to Rudolph. That was the case on the second interception. It's too bad that Ponder felt the need to force it to Rudolph as rookie receiver Jarius Wright looked to be open on a deeper route on the same side of the field. Ponder has to be perfect on every throw. That's hard to do when you're not playing in rhythm. Ponder often looks uncomfortable in the pocket.
Watching Rodgers and Ponder in the same game reveals many things. Rodgers takes a single step up or to the side in the pocket to gain the time and get the room to make an easy pass. It all looks so smooth. Ponder often looks frantic. Instead of calmly taking that single step he tucks the ball and runs. While it's nice that he has the ability to make plays with his feet, he has to make plays with his arm. I don't think that he has the arm strength that Rodgers has but I think that he can be as accurate. He's a cerebral player that can read defenses before the snap. He can get through his progressions when he feels comfortable in the pocket. That's been the problem. He hasn't looked comfortable. Without Harvin, he's become too dependent on Rudolph. Ponder is the Vikings quarterback of the present and the future. He has to start making plays, even if his receivers are lacking in effort or talent, if the Vikings are to have any kind of future. They can't keep wasting the fantastic effort that they routinely get from Adrian Peterson.
I don't think that anything less than a 10-6 record will get the playoffs in the NFC. If that is the case, the Vikings have to win every single remaining game. That's a tough chore as they have the Bears, Rams, Texans and Packers in their final four games. The middle two are on the road. Go Vikings!!!
I thought that the Vikings defense did a decent job against Rodgers but even a modest game by that guy is a great game for most quarterbacks. He's scary good. As much as I always love watching him play football I sure wish that he played for a team that didn't play the Vikings twice a year.
I've always been impressed with the running of Packers back James Starks. It's a real shame that he impressed again yesterday. I think that injuries are keeping him from being a more dependable runner for the Packers. He's is a physical runner in the Marshawn Lynch/earlier Marion Barber mold.
Alex Green provides some nice running too.
Happy birthday Aaron Rodgers. You'll get yours in four weeks!
The Rams sure are unpredictable. They took the 49ers to task a few weeks ago with a tie but they were shaky in the following weeks. Yesterday, they took the 49ers to overtime again and came out with a win.
I sure do love seeing the Chicago Bears lose. This time to the equally annoying Seattle Seahawks. This was actually a game that would benefit the Vikings no matter the outcome. Pretty convenient but it only helped the Vikings if they won their own game. They didn't so it didn't matter much what anybody else did. I still love seeing the Bears lose.
I really like Tampa Bay rookie linebacker Lavonte David. He'll remember his interception of Peyton Manning but I think that he'll be making big plays like that for a long time.
The New York Jets defeated the Arizona Cardinals in a scintillating game 7-6.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Bryce Brown has done some great things the last two weeks. Despite all the yards and even the touchdowns his fumbles have cost the Eagles two games.
Next week is bad news for the Bears.
Green Bay Packers 23
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was beautiful yesterday. Too bad it was wasted. Not much else worked for the Vikings. Peterson rushed for 210 yards on 21 carries and an 82-yard TD. The announcers were kind enough to mention that teams with a 200-yard rusher were 57-2. Now such teams are 57-3. Terrific.
Peterson's 82-yard touchdown run put the Vikings ahead 14-10. Two other long runs set the team up nicely in the red zone. Both runs were immediately followed by interceptions thrown by Christian Ponder. In Ponder's defense the throws were inches from being touchdowns. That doesn't matter. He forced both. They shouldn't have been thrown. They ended nice, momentum building drives and handed momentum to the Packers. Most importantly they took at least six, and possibly 14 points off the board.
The second interception on the last play of the third quarter was followed by a back-breaking, eleven minute Packers drive that led to a field goal and a nine point lead for the bad guys. The Vikings offense didn't see the ball in the final quarter until there was less than 4 minutes to play.
I'm going to have a heart attack if the Vikings defense doesn't start getting stops on third down. That and Ponder's interceptions were the biggest difference in the game. It wasn't the accuracy and poise of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It wasn't even the Packers surprising ability to get yards and move the chains on the ground. The Vikings were unable to take advantage of a brilliant game by Adrian Peterson.
The Vikings were absolutely robbed by the officials late in the first half. Jared Allen intercepted a tipped pass by Rodgers. His short return should have given the Vikings offense possession on about the Packers' 15-yard line. With a 14-10 lead, it was a prime spot and time to take control of the game. But no, the officials called Everson Griffen for roughing the passer on what was a clean act of simply playing football. There was no roughing. Rodgers probably sees more contact in practice. It was a huge break for the Packers and blatant robbery for the Vikings. In a way, this b.s. call can be seen as a third turnover in the red zone. The Vikings clearly struggled with several things but this was a great opportunity that was wrongly taken from them.
Vikings rookie safety Harrison Smith continued his strong play this season with a big interception early in the second half. It was inside their own 10-yard line but it still stopped some Packers momentum. Unfortunately, the offense did nothing and punted the ball right back to the Packers. The Packers may have even gained a few yards on the changes in possession.
Ponder is having some serious issues. A return of receiver Percy Harvin would solve some of those problems. It's hard to get an accurate view of all of the receivers on a given play without "all-22" coaches film. What I can see from the telecast is Viking receivers not getting much separation from the defense. At times the effort by the receivers looks poor. That's not really fair but that's how it looks. Ponder needs to get more help from his receivers. Tight end Kyle Rudolph is the only player getting open often since Harvin's been out. As a result, Ponder is forcing the ball to Rudolph. That was the case on the second interception. It's too bad that Ponder felt the need to force it to Rudolph as rookie receiver Jarius Wright looked to be open on a deeper route on the same side of the field. Ponder has to be perfect on every throw. That's hard to do when you're not playing in rhythm. Ponder often looks uncomfortable in the pocket.
Watching Rodgers and Ponder in the same game reveals many things. Rodgers takes a single step up or to the side in the pocket to gain the time and get the room to make an easy pass. It all looks so smooth. Ponder often looks frantic. Instead of calmly taking that single step he tucks the ball and runs. While it's nice that he has the ability to make plays with his feet, he has to make plays with his arm. I don't think that he has the arm strength that Rodgers has but I think that he can be as accurate. He's a cerebral player that can read defenses before the snap. He can get through his progressions when he feels comfortable in the pocket. That's been the problem. He hasn't looked comfortable. Without Harvin, he's become too dependent on Rudolph. Ponder is the Vikings quarterback of the present and the future. He has to start making plays, even if his receivers are lacking in effort or talent, if the Vikings are to have any kind of future. They can't keep wasting the fantastic effort that they routinely get from Adrian Peterson.
I don't think that anything less than a 10-6 record will get the playoffs in the NFC. If that is the case, the Vikings have to win every single remaining game. That's a tough chore as they have the Bears, Rams, Texans and Packers in their final four games. The middle two are on the road. Go Vikings!!!
I thought that the Vikings defense did a decent job against Rodgers but even a modest game by that guy is a great game for most quarterbacks. He's scary good. As much as I always love watching him play football I sure wish that he played for a team that didn't play the Vikings twice a year.
I've always been impressed with the running of Packers back James Starks. It's a real shame that he impressed again yesterday. I think that injuries are keeping him from being a more dependable runner for the Packers. He's is a physical runner in the Marshawn Lynch/earlier Marion Barber mold.
Alex Green provides some nice running too.
Happy birthday Aaron Rodgers. You'll get yours in four weeks!
The Rams sure are unpredictable. They took the 49ers to task a few weeks ago with a tie but they were shaky in the following weeks. Yesterday, they took the 49ers to overtime again and came out with a win.
I sure do love seeing the Chicago Bears lose. This time to the equally annoying Seattle Seahawks. This was actually a game that would benefit the Vikings no matter the outcome. Pretty convenient but it only helped the Vikings if they won their own game. They didn't so it didn't matter much what anybody else did. I still love seeing the Bears lose.
I really like Tampa Bay rookie linebacker Lavonte David. He'll remember his interception of Peyton Manning but I think that he'll be making big plays like that for a long time.
The New York Jets defeated the Arizona Cardinals in a scintillating game 7-6.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Bryce Brown has done some great things the last two weeks. Despite all the yards and even the touchdowns his fumbles have cost the Eagles two games.
Next week is bad news for the Bears.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Game Day Thoughts
Very sad day in Kansas City. Our thought and prayers are with all those affected by this terrible tragedy.
Congratulations to Stanford on their invitation to the Rose Bowl. That is so hard for me to say.
Congratulations to Notre Dame and Alabama on their date in the National Championship game. That was so much easier to say.
I was pleasantly surprised when Cal received a commit from superfast Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, CA) High running back Khalfani Muhammad this week. It's a little difficult for a college to recruit when it has no head coach. Cal had earlier made the smart move of retaining five of Jeff Tedford's coaches to maintain a recruiting presence. I'm pretty sure that the Cal future of all five will be determined by the new coach. I'm hoping that the commitment by running back Muhammad is an indication that running back coach Ron Gould is likely to be one that will be retained. If so, he will have survived two head coaching changes. Pretty remarkable but understandable as Gould has done a fantastic job coaching Cal's backs.
With the Minnesota Vikings in obvious need of a receiver to take pressure off of Percy Harvin I can't help but notice some of the college players scattered across the land. I've seen enough of Cal's Keenan Allen to know that I'd be smiling with him on the field with Harvin. I wish that USC's Marqise Lee was a senior, or even a junior. No matter what year Lee enters the NFL Draft the Vikings would need a top-5 pick to get him. I've recently become curious about Baylor senior receiver Terrence Williams. I foolishly forgot about Baylor after Robert Griffin III and Kendall Wright left. I gasped when I saw the stats that Williams has piled up this season. In a five game stretch from 9/29-11/3, he totaled 54 catches for 987 yards and 6 TDs. His 17 catch, 314 yard, 2TD game against West Virginia to start that streak should be measured lightly. West Virginia hasn't played defense all year. The only stat that really gives me pause is that Williams will be 24 at the start of the next season. He's only a year younger than Percy Harvin and Harvin will be starting his fifth NFL season next year.
The Vikings really need Harvin back on the field. Hopefully that happens next week against the Bears.
It's amazing that the New England Patriots have not lost in the second half of the regular season since the last game of 2009. 8-0 in 2010. Same in 2011. They are 3-0 so far this season. Amazing.
There was a time when John Unitas' 48 consecutive games with a touchdown pass was thought to be an untouchable NFL record. Drew Brees took it down this year. His streak ended at 54 when he went without a touchdown pass against the Atlanta Falcons this past Thursday. It's a remarkable record but the passing that we see today makes every passing record touchable.
Personally, I think that Paul Krause's 81 career interceptions is the closest to untouchable that we have in the books.
In reality, all records are there to be broken.
Go Vikings!!!!
Congratulations to Stanford on their invitation to the Rose Bowl. That is so hard for me to say.
Congratulations to Notre Dame and Alabama on their date in the National Championship game. That was so much easier to say.
I was pleasantly surprised when Cal received a commit from superfast Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, CA) High running back Khalfani Muhammad this week. It's a little difficult for a college to recruit when it has no head coach. Cal had earlier made the smart move of retaining five of Jeff Tedford's coaches to maintain a recruiting presence. I'm pretty sure that the Cal future of all five will be determined by the new coach. I'm hoping that the commitment by running back Muhammad is an indication that running back coach Ron Gould is likely to be one that will be retained. If so, he will have survived two head coaching changes. Pretty remarkable but understandable as Gould has done a fantastic job coaching Cal's backs.
With the Minnesota Vikings in obvious need of a receiver to take pressure off of Percy Harvin I can't help but notice some of the college players scattered across the land. I've seen enough of Cal's Keenan Allen to know that I'd be smiling with him on the field with Harvin. I wish that USC's Marqise Lee was a senior, or even a junior. No matter what year Lee enters the NFL Draft the Vikings would need a top-5 pick to get him. I've recently become curious about Baylor senior receiver Terrence Williams. I foolishly forgot about Baylor after Robert Griffin III and Kendall Wright left. I gasped when I saw the stats that Williams has piled up this season. In a five game stretch from 9/29-11/3, he totaled 54 catches for 987 yards and 6 TDs. His 17 catch, 314 yard, 2TD game against West Virginia to start that streak should be measured lightly. West Virginia hasn't played defense all year. The only stat that really gives me pause is that Williams will be 24 at the start of the next season. He's only a year younger than Percy Harvin and Harvin will be starting his fifth NFL season next year.
The Vikings really need Harvin back on the field. Hopefully that happens next week against the Bears.
It's amazing that the New England Patriots have not lost in the second half of the regular season since the last game of 2009. 8-0 in 2010. Same in 2011. They are 3-0 so far this season. Amazing.
There was a time when John Unitas' 48 consecutive games with a touchdown pass was thought to be an untouchable NFL record. Drew Brees took it down this year. His streak ended at 54 when he went without a touchdown pass against the Atlanta Falcons this past Thursday. It's a remarkable record but the passing that we see today makes every passing record touchable.
Personally, I think that Paul Krause's 81 career interceptions is the closest to untouchable that we have in the books.
In reality, all records are there to be broken.
Go Vikings!!!!
Saturday, December 1, 2012
College Uniforms
Maybe I've just grown into something of curmudgeon but I find the various uniforms thrown upon college football players ridiculous. I blame Oregon. I guess that the school just can't find enough things to spend that Nike money on. Not only does Oregon have too many uniforms every single one that I see looks like someone threw up on them. They're brutal. I've heard that the players and especially potential recruits love them so maybe it's a generational thing. I'm just getting old. Stanford this week and UCLA last week may not have taken the ugly path but they still messed with something pretty great. Both schools have great looking, classic uniforms. Why mess with it? Last week UCLA left the darling, baby blue in the locker room and came out in dark blue. I know that the little bears look up to Cal but dressing like them is a little much. Stanford wore their black uniforms last night for the Pac-12 Championship game. It's just wrong. Maybe the worst wardrobe mistake this season was the mess of a helmet pulled out by Notre Dame a few weeks ago. I thought that I was hallucinating when I saw blinding gold on one side and a snarling leprechaun on the other. That should never be done again.
Even Cal has gotten into this uniform craze. They may not have gone the ugly like Oregon. But some of the combinations just didn't work. I suppose what bothered me the most about Cal doing this is the timing. The University of California isn't exactly swimming in cash. Fee increases are making it difficult for many to afford what should be an affordable public education. Five sports had to take matters into their own hands to survive being cut entirely. Uniforms can't be cheap. Trotting out even one more than the usual is really a stab at so many that are struggling. Cal has trotted out far more than one extra set. They even brought out white helmets fercryingoutloud. Extra helmets? That's just messed up. I wish these schools would just settle down. I certainly don't see fashion like the younger crowd. I'm also a traditionalist. I think that every single extra uniform that I've seen has been a step back. More importantly, he money wasted on these hideous creations can be used in much better ways.
Even Cal has gotten into this uniform craze. They may not have gone the ugly like Oregon. But some of the combinations just didn't work. I suppose what bothered me the most about Cal doing this is the timing. The University of California isn't exactly swimming in cash. Fee increases are making it difficult for many to afford what should be an affordable public education. Five sports had to take matters into their own hands to survive being cut entirely. Uniforms can't be cheap. Trotting out even one more than the usual is really a stab at so many that are struggling. Cal has trotted out far more than one extra set. They even brought out white helmets fercryingoutloud. Extra helmets? That's just messed up. I wish these schools would just settle down. I certainly don't see fashion like the younger crowd. I'm also a traditionalist. I think that every single extra uniform that I've seen has been a step back. More importantly, he money wasted on these hideous creations can be used in much better ways.
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