Whether Skins fans or not, we'll all miss him.
R.I.P. Sean
R.I.P. Sean
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
NFL Intermission
Being Halfway through the NFL season we felt the need to point out some things.
Shaun Alexander has been running like a little b**** since he signed that big contract in 2005 and it's the worst it's ever been this year. This guy used to hit holes and fall forward, now he looks like a skinny suburban white kid playing against an All-Black team from the hood. I understood why the Rams WRs used to hit the turf when there wasn't anymore yards to get, I mean they got more yards on the next play anyways... but you can't dive on the ground if your a runningback. Shaun Alexander has played in all 8 games and he is on pace for less than 1000 yards (984) this year. In previous year when he has played the whole season, his low was 1175. Also, his shortest long run (stay with me) was 44 yards, this year... it's currently 22 yards. Lastly, in those years he never averaged under 4 yards per carry, this year he's at 3.3.
2 Rookie LBs have stood out to me so far this year. Patrick Willis (49ers) is a beast... no wonder why an agent offered him $75,000 to sign with him when he was a junior in college. Also, undrafted rookie David Harris (Jets) just gets better the more and more he plays. Harris has 41 tackles in his last 2 games.
When the season started, who would have thought Wes Welker (651 yards, 61 cathces and 7 TDs), Kevin Curtis (653 yards, 40 cathces and 4 TDs) and Jason Whitten (629 yards, 47 cathces and 5 TDs) would each be having better seasons then former 1000-yard receivers Steve Smith, Roy Willams, Donald Driver, Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, Lee Evans and Hines Ward? OK.... maybe not Hines Ward.
I would argue though that the success of Wes, Kev and J doesn't say as much about the talent they each possess as it does about the talent of their respective quarterbacks: Brady, Romo and D-Mac.
Not too long ago, I read about a bunch of former and current NFL head coaches, including Brian Billick, John Fox, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Bill Cowher, who all subscribe to the theory that it is better to surround a mediocre quarterback with great talent than it is to surround a great quarterback with mediocre talent. Judging by the fact that Trent Dilfer is the only contemporary QB who proves the theory of these coaches -- many of whom will end up in the hall-of-fame -- I can unequivocally say that they are all WRONG. For anyone who wants to dispute this just look at the combined records of New England, Green Bay, Dallas and Indy, which all posses hall-of-fame quarterbacks. (That's right, I said it, Romo will make the hall). Then look at the records of the Panthers, Cardinals, Rams and Lions, which all possess hall-of-fame receivers.
Anyway, my long-winded point is let's not be so quick to call this the year of the white pass catcher. Because it's not. But it is -- and will remain -- the year of the quarterback.
Anything/Anyone affiliated with USC since 2005 has had a terrible year (except LenDale White in his last 3 games). Dwayne Jarrett has 6 receiving yards on the year and has been placed on the inactive list due to performance. Steve Smith has not been taking advantage of Eli Mannings development and has only brought in 4 catches for 26 yards. Reggie Bush has 434 rushing yards halfway through the season. He has been in the league for a year and a half and doesn't have 1,000 career rushing yards. Matt Leinart is now injured but that might be helping the Cards. In his 5 games he averaged 129 yards passing a game with a QB rating of 61.9 largely because he had twice as many interceptions and touchdowns. Also, his commercials do not make me laugh. Frostee Rucker has one career tackle halfway through his second season. Mike Williams got cut from the Raidiers. Nothing more to be said. Winston Justice gave up 6 sacks to Osi Umenyiora in a game this year. Dominique Byrd has 6 career catches in his 1.5 year career. Thank God the pre-2005 USC players Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, Mike Peterson and Lofa Tatufo are handing their business or USC would be considered the Duke basketball (please know what I'm referring to) of college football.
Freaks are back in. I appreciate watching people who are successful in the league because they have great technique but it really fun to watch athletes with fresk-ish abilities. Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and Plaxico Burress have produced some of the best highlights of the year. Hopefully there will be more to come. I mean, would you rather watch Marvin Harrison run a perfect route and sit in a zone for a 16 yard catch or watch one of those "freaks" do something that makes you say "it looks like he's playing against high schoolers"? Exactly. I should actually throw Brett Farve into this category too. People his age aren't supposed to do what he does either. It'll be fun to see him in the playoffs again.
New England* is the best team I've seen in my lifetime, but I'm still not convinced that they're unbeatable. The Harrison-less Colts surrendered a late lead and lost by just four points to them. Had Harrison played, I think the end result would have been different. Although I won't bet against them winning the Super Bowl, I see four teams capable of beating the Pats: the Steelers, the Colts, the Cowboys and the Packers. Still, even if the Pats remain undefeated, we should all follow the lead of the New York Post and always mention the Pats* with an asterisk attached.
The Bears and The Bengals should play one day before the Super Bowl for the title of biggest disappointment of the year. Earlier it looked like this hypothetical game would feature New Orleans and San Diego but they show some signs of life. Bears/Bengals it is.
Since the Pats are going to win the Super Bowl, I'm going to check out Mel Kiper's ratings.
Shaun Alexander has been running like a little b**** since he signed that big contract in 2005 and it's the worst it's ever been this year. This guy used to hit holes and fall forward, now he looks like a skinny suburban white kid playing against an All-Black team from the hood. I understood why the Rams WRs used to hit the turf when there wasn't anymore yards to get, I mean they got more yards on the next play anyways... but you can't dive on the ground if your a runningback. Shaun Alexander has played in all 8 games and he is on pace for less than 1000 yards (984) this year. In previous year when he has played the whole season, his low was 1175. Also, his shortest long run (stay with me) was 44 yards, this year... it's currently 22 yards. Lastly, in those years he never averaged under 4 yards per carry, this year he's at 3.3.
2 Rookie LBs have stood out to me so far this year. Patrick Willis (49ers) is a beast... no wonder why an agent offered him $75,000 to sign with him when he was a junior in college. Also, undrafted rookie David Harris (Jets) just gets better the more and more he plays. Harris has 41 tackles in his last 2 games.
When the season started, who would have thought Wes Welker (651 yards, 61 cathces and 7 TDs), Kevin Curtis (653 yards, 40 cathces and 4 TDs) and Jason Whitten (629 yards, 47 cathces and 5 TDs) would each be having better seasons then former 1000-yard receivers Steve Smith, Roy Willams, Donald Driver, Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, Lee Evans and Hines Ward? OK.... maybe not Hines Ward.
I would argue though that the success of Wes, Kev and J doesn't say as much about the talent they each possess as it does about the talent of their respective quarterbacks: Brady, Romo and D-Mac.
Not too long ago, I read about a bunch of former and current NFL head coaches, including Brian Billick, John Fox, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Bill Cowher, who all subscribe to the theory that it is better to surround a mediocre quarterback with great talent than it is to surround a great quarterback with mediocre talent. Judging by the fact that Trent Dilfer is the only contemporary QB who proves the theory of these coaches -- many of whom will end up in the hall-of-fame -- I can unequivocally say that they are all WRONG. For anyone who wants to dispute this just look at the combined records of New England, Green Bay, Dallas and Indy, which all posses hall-of-fame quarterbacks. (That's right, I said it, Romo will make the hall). Then look at the records of the Panthers, Cardinals, Rams and Lions, which all possess hall-of-fame receivers.
Anyway, my long-winded point is let's not be so quick to call this the year of the white pass catcher. Because it's not. But it is -- and will remain -- the year of the quarterback.
Anything/Anyone affiliated with USC since 2005 has had a terrible year (except LenDale White in his last 3 games). Dwayne Jarrett has 6 receiving yards on the year and has been placed on the inactive list due to performance. Steve Smith has not been taking advantage of Eli Mannings development and has only brought in 4 catches for 26 yards. Reggie Bush has 434 rushing yards halfway through the season. He has been in the league for a year and a half and doesn't have 1,000 career rushing yards. Matt Leinart is now injured but that might be helping the Cards. In his 5 games he averaged 129 yards passing a game with a QB rating of 61.9 largely because he had twice as many interceptions and touchdowns. Also, his commercials do not make me laugh. Frostee Rucker has one career tackle halfway through his second season. Mike Williams got cut from the Raidiers. Nothing more to be said. Winston Justice gave up 6 sacks to Osi Umenyiora in a game this year. Dominique Byrd has 6 career catches in his 1.5 year career. Thank God the pre-2005 USC players Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, Mike Peterson and Lofa Tatufo are handing their business or USC would be considered the Duke basketball (please know what I'm referring to) of college football.
Freaks are back in. I appreciate watching people who are successful in the league because they have great technique but it really fun to watch athletes with fresk-ish abilities. Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and Plaxico Burress have produced some of the best highlights of the year. Hopefully there will be more to come. I mean, would you rather watch Marvin Harrison run a perfect route and sit in a zone for a 16 yard catch or watch one of those "freaks" do something that makes you say "it looks like he's playing against high schoolers"? Exactly. I should actually throw Brett Farve into this category too. People his age aren't supposed to do what he does either. It'll be fun to see him in the playoffs again.
New England* is the best team I've seen in my lifetime, but I'm still not convinced that they're unbeatable. The Harrison-less Colts surrendered a late lead and lost by just four points to them. Had Harrison played, I think the end result would have been different. Although I won't bet against them winning the Super Bowl, I see four teams capable of beating the Pats: the Steelers, the Colts, the Cowboys and the Packers. Still, even if the Pats remain undefeated, we should all follow the lead of the New York Post and always mention the Pats* with an asterisk attached.
The Bears and The Bengals should play one day before the Super Bowl for the title of biggest disappointment of the year. Earlier it looked like this hypothetical game would feature New Orleans and San Diego but they show some signs of life. Bears/Bengals it is.
Since the Pats are going to win the Super Bowl, I'm going to check out Mel Kiper's ratings.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
This Weekend - 11/10 & 11/11
This week we have a guest prognosticator on our hands... Mr. Simmons (RS).
Louisville at West Virginia (RS) (BM) (JA)
Texas A&M at Missouri (RS) (BM) (JA)
Arkansas (BM) (JA) at Tennessee (RS)
Illinois at Ohio State (RS) (BM) (JA)
Arizona State (RS) (BM) (JA) at UCLA
Auburn (RS) (BM)(JA) at Georgia
Florida State at Virginia Tech (RS) (BM) (JA)
Connecticut (RS) at Cincinnati (BM) (JA)
Florida (RS) (BM) (JA) at South Carolina
Kansas (RS) (BM) (JA) at Oklahoma State
Boston College (RS) (JA) at Maryland (BM)
USC (RS) (BM) (JA) at California
Virginia at Miami (FL) (RS) (BM) (JA)
Minnesota at Green Bay (RS) (BM) (JA)
Jacksonville at Tennessee (RS) (BM) (JA)
Denver (RS) at Kansas City (BM) (JA)
Buffalo (RS) (BM) (JA) at Miami
St. Louis at New Orleans (RS) (BM) (JA)
Cleveland at Pittsburgh (RS) (BM) (JA)
Philadelphia (RS) (JA) at Washington (BM)
Atlanta at Carolina (RS) (BM) (JA)
Cincinnati at Baltimore (RS) (BM) (JA)
Dallas (RS) (JA) at NY Giants (BM)
Detroit (RS) (BM) (JA) at Arizona
Chicago (RS) (BM) (JA) at Oakland
Indianapolis (RS) (BM) at San Diego (JA)
San Francisco at Seattle (RS) (BM) (JA)
Brandon: 132-61 Overall (54-25 NCAA, 78-36 NFL)
Justin: 117-77 Overall (46-33 NCAA, 71-44 NFL)
Louisville at West Virginia (RS) (BM) (JA)
Texas A&M at Missouri (RS) (BM) (JA)
Arkansas (BM) (JA) at Tennessee (RS)
Illinois at Ohio State (RS) (BM) (JA)
Arizona State (RS) (BM) (JA) at UCLA
Auburn (RS) (BM)(JA) at Georgia
Florida State at Virginia Tech (RS) (BM) (JA)
Connecticut (RS) at Cincinnati (BM) (JA)
Florida (RS) (BM) (JA) at South Carolina
Kansas (RS) (BM) (JA) at Oklahoma State
Boston College (RS) (JA) at Maryland (BM)
USC (RS) (BM) (JA) at California
Virginia at Miami (FL) (RS) (BM) (JA)
Minnesota at Green Bay (RS) (BM) (JA)
Jacksonville at Tennessee (RS) (BM) (JA)
Denver (RS) at Kansas City (BM) (JA)
Buffalo (RS) (BM) (JA) at Miami
St. Louis at New Orleans (RS) (BM) (JA)
Cleveland at Pittsburgh (RS) (BM) (JA)
Philadelphia (RS) (JA) at Washington (BM)
Atlanta at Carolina (RS) (BM) (JA)
Cincinnati at Baltimore (RS) (BM) (JA)
Dallas (RS) (JA) at NY Giants (BM)
Detroit (RS) (BM) (JA) at Arizona
Chicago (RS) (BM) (JA) at Oakland
Indianapolis (RS) (BM) at San Diego (JA)
San Francisco at Seattle (RS) (BM) (JA)
Brandon: 132-61 Overall (54-25 NCAA, 78-36 NFL)
Justin: 117-77 Overall (46-33 NCAA, 71-44 NFL)
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
2002 High School Grads
Okay, a lot of this blog has been about what's going on now, and what will happen in the future... it's time to take it back, way back, back into time (remember that Blackstreet song?).
These HS rankings are according to scout.com. Let's start out with the Hoopers.
(NR means Not Rated, scout.com rated players at a position until they feel like there is a major dropoff and the rest of the players are given stars - the more the better).
Point Guards
1. Raymond Felton - UNC
2. Daniel Horton - Michigan
3. Anthony Roberson - Florida
4. Chris Rodgers - Arizona
5. Dee Brown - Illinois
6. Sean Dockery - Duke
7. Elijah Ingram - St. Johns (NY)
8. Gerry McNamara - Syracuse
9. Jarrett Jack - Georgia Tech
10. Bryan Hopkins - SMU
11. John Gilchrist - Maryland
12. Deron Williams - Illinois
13. Justin Grey - Wake Forest
14. Chris Quinn - Notre Dame
15. Dedrick Finn - Xavier
Others - 24. Donnie McGrath, Providence - NR Louis Hinnant, Boston College
Shooting Guards
1. Rashad McCants - UNC
2. J.J. Redick - Duke
3. Bracey Wright - Indiana
4. Hassan Adams - Arizona
5. Rashad Anderson - UConn
6. Brandon Roy - Washington
7. Randy Foye - Villanova
8. Marshall Strickland - Indiana
9. Jimmy McKinney - Missouri
10. Allen Ray - Villanova
11. Vincent Grier - Charlotte
12. Matt Walsh - Florida
13. Maurice Ager - Michigan State
14. Chris McCray - Maryland
15. Jeremy Hunt - Memphis
Others - 16. Robert Hite, Miami (FL) - 17. Taguan Dean, Louisville - 25. Quincy Douby, Rutgers - NR Patrick Beilein, West Virginia - NR Marcellus Kemp, Nevada
Small Forwards
1. Carmelo Anthony - Syracuse
2. Lenny Cooke - Never Made It (STORY)
3. Evan Burns - UCLA (then San Diego St.)
4. Kennedy Winston - Alabama
5. Antoine Wright - Texas A&M
JC - Qyntel Woods - Memphis
6. Andre Iguodala - Arizona
7. Denham Brown - UConn
8. Kelenna Azubuike - Kentucky
9. Curtis Sumpter - Villanova
10. J.R. Morris - Seton Hall
11. Erick Hicks - Cincinnati
12. Lester Abram - Michigan
13. Antonio Lawrence - San Jose St.
14. Marquis Kately - California
15. Francisco Garcia - Louisville
16. Derrick Byers - Virginia (then Vandy)
17. Steve Novak - Marquette
Others - 24. Nik Caner-Medley, Maryland - 25. Brandon Bowman, Georgetown - NR Trent Strickland, Wake Forest - NR Bobby Jones, Washington - NR David Noel, North Carolina - NR Rodney Carney, Memphis
Power Forwards
1. Paul Davis - Michigan State
2. Chris Bosh - Georgia Tech
3. Sheldon Williams - Duke
4. DeAngelo Collins - Never Made It (STORY, NOW)
5. Sean May - North Carolina
6. Shavlik Randolph - Duke
7. Brad Buckman - Texas
8. Sani Ibrahim - Never Made It (Draft Profile)
9. Travis Garrison - Maryland
10. Kevin Bookout - Oklahoma
11. Alexander Johnson - Florida State
12. Greg Brunner - Iowa
13. Almany Thiero - Memphis
14. James Augustine - Illinois
15. Chuck Davis - Alabama
Others - 23. Kevin Pittsnogle, West Virginia - NR Herbert Hill, Providence
Centers
1. Amare Stoudemire - NBA (Almost Memphis)
2. Jason Fraser - Villanova
3. Torin Francis - Notre Dame
4. Eric Williams - Wake Forest
5. Mike Thompson - Duke
6. Mario Boggan - Florida/JC/Okla St.
7. Julius Lamptey - Never Made It
8. Ike Diogu - Arizona State
9. Keith Butler - Temple
10. Matt Haryasz - Stanford
Others - NR Hilton Armstrong, UConn - NR Rafael Araujo, BYU - NR Andrew Bogut, Utah
NOW LETS TAKE IT TO THE GRIDIRON...
Quarterback
1. Vince Young - Texas
2. Trent Edwards - Stanford
3. Ben Olson - BYU (then UCLA)
4. Reggie McNeal - Texas A&M
5. Gavin Dickey - Florida
6. Marcus Vick - Virginia Tech
7. James Banks - Tennessee (WR)
8. Tyler Palko - Pittsburgh
9. Isaiah Stanback - Washington
10. Brandon Cox - Auburn
Others - 14. Justin Zwick, Ohio State - 15. Troy Smith, Ohio State - 16. Drew Olson, UCLA - 30. Steve Breaston, Michigan (WR) - 35. Will Proctor, Clemson
Runningback
1. Lorenzo Booker - Florida State
2. Ciatrick Fason - Florida
3. Michael Johnson - Virginia
4. Gerald Riggs - Tennessee
5. Maurice Clarett - Ohio State
6. DeShawn Wynn - Florida
7. Justin Vincent - LSU
8. Jason Allen - Tennessee
9. David Richard - Michigan State
10. Paul Mosley - Baylor
Others - 12. Hershal Dennis, USC - 17. Selvin Young, Texas - 26. Jerious Norwood, Miss. State - 51. Kenny Irons, South Carolina (then Auburn) - 57. Reggie Merriweather, Clemson - NR Clifton Dawson, Northwestern (then Harvard), NR DeAngelo Williams, Arkansas (then Memphis)
Wide Receiver
1. Ryan Moore - Miami (FL)
2. Dishon Platt - Florida State
3. Rhema McKnight - Notre Dame
4. Chris Davis - Florida State
5. Akieem Jolla - Miami (FL)
6. Marquis Johnson - Texas
7. Michael Jefferson - Arizona
8. Travis Wilson - Oklahoma
9. Joel Filani - Texas Tech
10. Jason Avant - Michgan
11. Ben Obomanu - Auburn
12. Maurice Stovall - Notre Dame
13. Santonio Holmes - Ohio State
14. Broderic Jones - Tulsa
15. Larry Fitzgerald - Pittsburgh
Others - 32. Wali Lundy, Virginia (RB) - 34. Troy Williamson, South Carolina - 51. Sinorice Moss, Miami (FL) - 73. Chansi Stuckey, Clemson - 75. Mike Williams, USC - 90. Dejaun Woods, Oklahoma State
Tight End
1. Marcedes Lewis - UCLA
2. Eric Winston - Miami (FL)
3. Curtis Justus - Miami (FL)
4. Leonard Pope - Georgia
5. Lonnie Davis - Florida State
6. Matt Herian - Nebraska
7. R.J. Coleman - Ohio State
8. Aaron Kirkland - Tennessee
9. Stan White - Ohio State
10 Jesse Taylor - Washington State
Others - 12. Anthony Fasano, Notre Dame - 17. Davis Thomas, Texas
Sorry OL, DL - No Love 4 Ya'll
Linebacker
1. Mike D'Andrea - Ohio State
2. A.J. Nicholson - Florida State
3. Ahmad Brooks - Virginia
4. Berkeley Hutchinson - Rutgers
5. Kai Parham - Virginia
6. Aaron Harris - Texas
7. Marvin Byrdsong - Mississippi State
8. Buster Davis - Florida State
9. Kelvin Flood - Texas A&M
10. Ricardo Hurley - South Carolina
Others - 16. Dominique Byrd, USC (TE) - 18. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma - 22. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State - 32. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State - 38. Brian Leonard, Rutgers (FB)
Safety
1. Pat Watkins - Florida State
2. Darnell Bing - USC
3. Darren Williams - Mississippi State
4. Kyle Brown - Michigan State
5. Brodney Pool - Oklahoma
6. Eric McNeal - UCLA
7. Mike Nixon - UCLA
8. Vincent Mays - Fresno State
9. Vickiel Vaughn - Arkansas
10. Anthony Wright - Texas A&M
Others - 20. Dallas Sartz, USC (LB) - 27. Brandon Meriweather, Miami (FL) - J.J. Billingsley, Colorado - 34. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech - 64. Dashon Goldson, Washington
Cornerback
1. Devin Hester - Miami (FL)
2. A.J. Davis - North Carolina State
3. Edorian McCullough - Texas
4. Mike Hawkins - Oklahoma
5. Jason Carter - Oklahoma
6. Richard Washington - North Carolina State
7. Will Blackmon - Boston College
8. Aaron Miller - Oklahoma
9. Leon Washington - Florida State (RB)
10. Nicholas Turner - Mississippi State
Others - 11. Aaron Ross, Texas - 19. Skyler Green, LSU (WR) - 31. Justin Wyatt, USC
So there you have it. The High School Grads of 2002. I am sure you know a lot of the names but there are many people on these lists who did not live up to their potential. Check back in a few days and I'll break down the 2003 class.
These HS rankings are according to scout.com. Let's start out with the Hoopers.
(NR means Not Rated, scout.com rated players at a position until they feel like there is a major dropoff and the rest of the players are given stars - the more the better).
Point Guards
1. Raymond Felton - UNC
2. Daniel Horton - Michigan
3. Anthony Roberson - Florida
4. Chris Rodgers - Arizona
5. Dee Brown - Illinois
6. Sean Dockery - Duke
7. Elijah Ingram - St. Johns (NY)
8. Gerry McNamara - Syracuse
9. Jarrett Jack - Georgia Tech
10. Bryan Hopkins - SMU
11. John Gilchrist - Maryland
12. Deron Williams - Illinois
13. Justin Grey - Wake Forest
14. Chris Quinn - Notre Dame
15. Dedrick Finn - Xavier
Others - 24. Donnie McGrath, Providence - NR Louis Hinnant, Boston College
Shooting Guards
1. Rashad McCants - UNC
2. J.J. Redick - Duke
3. Bracey Wright - Indiana
4. Hassan Adams - Arizona
5. Rashad Anderson - UConn
6. Brandon Roy - Washington
7. Randy Foye - Villanova
8. Marshall Strickland - Indiana
9. Jimmy McKinney - Missouri
10. Allen Ray - Villanova
11. Vincent Grier - Charlotte
12. Matt Walsh - Florida
13. Maurice Ager - Michigan State
14. Chris McCray - Maryland
15. Jeremy Hunt - Memphis
Others - 16. Robert Hite, Miami (FL) - 17. Taguan Dean, Louisville - 25. Quincy Douby, Rutgers - NR Patrick Beilein, West Virginia - NR Marcellus Kemp, Nevada
Small Forwards
1. Carmelo Anthony - Syracuse
2. Lenny Cooke - Never Made It (STORY)
3. Evan Burns - UCLA (then San Diego St.)
4. Kennedy Winston - Alabama
5. Antoine Wright - Texas A&M
JC - Qyntel Woods - Memphis
6. Andre Iguodala - Arizona
7. Denham Brown - UConn
8. Kelenna Azubuike - Kentucky
9. Curtis Sumpter - Villanova
10. J.R. Morris - Seton Hall
11. Erick Hicks - Cincinnati
12. Lester Abram - Michigan
13. Antonio Lawrence - San Jose St.
14. Marquis Kately - California
15. Francisco Garcia - Louisville
16. Derrick Byers - Virginia (then Vandy)
17. Steve Novak - Marquette
Others - 24. Nik Caner-Medley, Maryland - 25. Brandon Bowman, Georgetown - NR Trent Strickland, Wake Forest - NR Bobby Jones, Washington - NR David Noel, North Carolina - NR Rodney Carney, Memphis
Power Forwards
1. Paul Davis - Michigan State
2. Chris Bosh - Georgia Tech
3. Sheldon Williams - Duke
4. DeAngelo Collins - Never Made It (STORY, NOW)
5. Sean May - North Carolina
6. Shavlik Randolph - Duke
7. Brad Buckman - Texas
8. Sani Ibrahim - Never Made It (Draft Profile)
9. Travis Garrison - Maryland
10. Kevin Bookout - Oklahoma
11. Alexander Johnson - Florida State
12. Greg Brunner - Iowa
13. Almany Thiero - Memphis
14. James Augustine - Illinois
15. Chuck Davis - Alabama
Others - 23. Kevin Pittsnogle, West Virginia - NR Herbert Hill, Providence
Centers
1. Amare Stoudemire - NBA (Almost Memphis)
2. Jason Fraser - Villanova
3. Torin Francis - Notre Dame
4. Eric Williams - Wake Forest
5. Mike Thompson - Duke
6. Mario Boggan - Florida/JC/Okla St.
7. Julius Lamptey - Never Made It
8. Ike Diogu - Arizona State
9. Keith Butler - Temple
10. Matt Haryasz - Stanford
Others - NR Hilton Armstrong, UConn - NR Rafael Araujo, BYU - NR Andrew Bogut, Utah
NOW LETS TAKE IT TO THE GRIDIRON...
Quarterback
1. Vince Young - Texas
2. Trent Edwards - Stanford
3. Ben Olson - BYU (then UCLA)
4. Reggie McNeal - Texas A&M
5. Gavin Dickey - Florida
6. Marcus Vick - Virginia Tech
7. James Banks - Tennessee (WR)
8. Tyler Palko - Pittsburgh
9. Isaiah Stanback - Washington
10. Brandon Cox - Auburn
Others - 14. Justin Zwick, Ohio State - 15. Troy Smith, Ohio State - 16. Drew Olson, UCLA - 30. Steve Breaston, Michigan (WR) - 35. Will Proctor, Clemson
Runningback
1. Lorenzo Booker - Florida State
2. Ciatrick Fason - Florida
3. Michael Johnson - Virginia
4. Gerald Riggs - Tennessee
5. Maurice Clarett - Ohio State
6. DeShawn Wynn - Florida
7. Justin Vincent - LSU
8. Jason Allen - Tennessee
9. David Richard - Michigan State
10. Paul Mosley - Baylor
Others - 12. Hershal Dennis, USC - 17. Selvin Young, Texas - 26. Jerious Norwood, Miss. State - 51. Kenny Irons, South Carolina (then Auburn) - 57. Reggie Merriweather, Clemson - NR Clifton Dawson, Northwestern (then Harvard), NR DeAngelo Williams, Arkansas (then Memphis)
Wide Receiver
1. Ryan Moore - Miami (FL)
2. Dishon Platt - Florida State
3. Rhema McKnight - Notre Dame
4. Chris Davis - Florida State
5. Akieem Jolla - Miami (FL)
6. Marquis Johnson - Texas
7. Michael Jefferson - Arizona
8. Travis Wilson - Oklahoma
9. Joel Filani - Texas Tech
10. Jason Avant - Michgan
11. Ben Obomanu - Auburn
12. Maurice Stovall - Notre Dame
13. Santonio Holmes - Ohio State
14. Broderic Jones - Tulsa
15. Larry Fitzgerald - Pittsburgh
Others - 32. Wali Lundy, Virginia (RB) - 34. Troy Williamson, South Carolina - 51. Sinorice Moss, Miami (FL) - 73. Chansi Stuckey, Clemson - 75. Mike Williams, USC - 90. Dejaun Woods, Oklahoma State
Tight End
1. Marcedes Lewis - UCLA
2. Eric Winston - Miami (FL)
3. Curtis Justus - Miami (FL)
4. Leonard Pope - Georgia
5. Lonnie Davis - Florida State
6. Matt Herian - Nebraska
7. R.J. Coleman - Ohio State
8. Aaron Kirkland - Tennessee
9. Stan White - Ohio State
10 Jesse Taylor - Washington State
Others - 12. Anthony Fasano, Notre Dame - 17. Davis Thomas, Texas
Sorry OL, DL - No Love 4 Ya'll
Linebacker
1. Mike D'Andrea - Ohio State
2. A.J. Nicholson - Florida State
3. Ahmad Brooks - Virginia
4. Berkeley Hutchinson - Rutgers
5. Kai Parham - Virginia
6. Aaron Harris - Texas
7. Marvin Byrdsong - Mississippi State
8. Buster Davis - Florida State
9. Kelvin Flood - Texas A&M
10. Ricardo Hurley - South Carolina
Others - 16. Dominique Byrd, USC (TE) - 18. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma - 22. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State - 32. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State - 38. Brian Leonard, Rutgers (FB)
Safety
1. Pat Watkins - Florida State
2. Darnell Bing - USC
3. Darren Williams - Mississippi State
4. Kyle Brown - Michigan State
5. Brodney Pool - Oklahoma
6. Eric McNeal - UCLA
7. Mike Nixon - UCLA
8. Vincent Mays - Fresno State
9. Vickiel Vaughn - Arkansas
10. Anthony Wright - Texas A&M
Others - 20. Dallas Sartz, USC (LB) - 27. Brandon Meriweather, Miami (FL) - J.J. Billingsley, Colorado - 34. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech - 64. Dashon Goldson, Washington
Cornerback
1. Devin Hester - Miami (FL)
2. A.J. Davis - North Carolina State
3. Edorian McCullough - Texas
4. Mike Hawkins - Oklahoma
5. Jason Carter - Oklahoma
6. Richard Washington - North Carolina State
7. Will Blackmon - Boston College
8. Aaron Miller - Oklahoma
9. Leon Washington - Florida State (RB)
10. Nicholas Turner - Mississippi State
Others - 11. Aaron Ross, Texas - 19. Skyler Green, LSU (WR) - 31. Justin Wyatt, USC
So there you have it. The High School Grads of 2002. I am sure you know a lot of the names but there are many people on these lists who did not live up to their potential. Check back in a few days and I'll break down the 2003 class.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
JORDAN XX3
The photo of the new Jordan XX3's, which are due to hit stores in Feb. 2008 is out. They are being touted as the best J's ever so I wanted y'all to catch an early glimpse of them.
They are saying that only 23 stores will receive these shoes and each store will sell only 23 pairs. At $230 a pop, I'm not sure that that's true, but that's how they are being marketed.
Personally, I don't think these J's are all that. The 11s are still top on my list.
What do y'all think about the XX3s?
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Prove Em Wrong Josh Johnson
This time of year, every year, even more so this year... a lot of college football programs have failed to live up to their expectations. Whether it's bad luck, bad coaching, injuries, bad referring or most likely, bad performances by players... college coaches/fans/players all think what the year could have been if a few things went a little differently. With that said... I'd like to introduce to you a quarterback that your college passed up on. Josh Johnson of Univ. of San Diego. The guy who would have your team playing a lot better (except about 10-15 teams).
Football is a sport where most of the scholarships are given to kids before their senior year. That means coaches are evaluating athletes' junior seasons and giving scholarships based on those performances. So college coaches have to look at a 16 or 17 year old, close there eyes and determine if they could help their program when they're 21, 22, 23 years old. College recruiting is hard. And there are many stories about guys who walk-on, become captains of their team and All-Conference performers and there are many stories about guys who were All-Americans in numerous publications and fail to perform. Guys like Johnson, no matter how talented they are, unless they turned a lot of heads in their sophomore year in high school, go into their senior year at a major disadvantage.
As I mentioned earlier, Josh Johnson was injured his junior year in high school. As a senior, he 1,900 yards and 22 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions. When I realized he went to Oakland
Tech (High School) I was surprised he fell through the cracks. Marshawn Lynch was the runningback on that team and Lynch was highly touted coming out of high school so someone should have seen him on film. That is often times how kids are found. Johnson also played basketball and high jumped 6'5 in high school. Basically... kid is an athlete. Only received offers to play at San Diego, St. Mary's (doesn't have a football team anymore) and Idaho State. Let's just say San Diego is happy he fell into their lap.
Here is a link to his USD player page for more information about him and what he accomplished prior to his senior year at San Diego.
He is going out with a bang this year though. His Torerros are currently 8-1, he's completing 72% of his passes... he has throw 35 touchdowns and 1 interception (241 attempts), he has 2,500 passing yards and 560 rushing. If I had a vote for the Walter Payton Award, he'd get it. Check out his Sports Network page with his stats for the year.
Football is a sport where most of the scholarships are given to kids before their senior year. That means coaches are evaluating athletes' junior seasons and giving scholarships based on those performances. So college coaches have to look at a 16 or 17 year old, close there eyes and determine if they could help their program when they're 21, 22, 23 years old. College recruiting is hard. And there are many stories about guys who walk-on, become captains of their team and All-Conference performers and there are many stories about guys who were All-Americans in numerous publications and fail to perform. Guys like Johnson, no matter how talented they are, unless they turned a lot of heads in their sophomore year in high school, go into their senior year at a major disadvantage. As I mentioned earlier, Josh Johnson was injured his junior year in high school. As a senior, he 1,900 yards and 22 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions. When I realized he went to Oakland
Tech (High School) I was surprised he fell through the cracks. Marshawn Lynch was the runningback on that team and Lynch was highly touted coming out of high school so someone should have seen him on film. That is often times how kids are found. Johnson also played basketball and high jumped 6'5 in high school. Basically... kid is an athlete. Only received offers to play at San Diego, St. Mary's (doesn't have a football team anymore) and Idaho State. Let's just say San Diego is happy he fell into their lap.Here is a link to his USD player page for more information about him and what he accomplished prior to his senior year at San Diego.
He is going out with a bang this year though. His Torerros are currently 8-1, he's completing 72% of his passes... he has throw 35 touchdowns and 1 interception (241 attempts), he has 2,500 passing yards and 560 rushing. If I had a vote for the Walter Payton Award, he'd get it. Check out his Sports Network page with his stats for the year.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Team Dime Worth A Dime
I used to be a BIG Mike Bibby fan... he used to kill in college and then those years where the Kings were relevant, he was the man.
With that said... I am going to fry him right now. And not just because he was the worst tattoos in the NBA.
My God Brother lived in Sacramento so I can understand his bias, but I could not let him tell me that Mike Bibby is a good PG still.
Now I'm not a big stat guy, but I will admit stats do assist in the judgment of player's productivity. Like in the NFL, runningbacks who are considered elite runningbacks have to get 1,000 yards in a year. Elite pitchers in baseball should get at least 15 wins. There are statistical plateaus in every sport that help us identify who the premier players are at the position.
For point guards in the NBA, it's about how much offense you can produce. The formula I'm going to use is POINTS + (ASSISTS x 2.5) = POINTS PRODUCED. I multiply the assists by 2.5 because some assists lead to 3 pointers and some would-be-assists turn into points at the free throw line.
Using this formula, there is a point producing plateau of 30 points per game. The elite point guards in the NBA are producing over 30 points a game... and Mike Bibby isn't doing that. Readers Beware: If you are a Mike Bibby fan, or Mike Bibby, these numbers might scare you.
Here are the top producing PGs in the NBA:
47.6 - Steve Nash
44.3 - Allen Iverson
43.4 - Gilbert Arenas
40.4 - Baron Davis
39.5 - Deron Williams
39.5 - Chris Paul
36.0 - Jason Kidd
35.0 - Chauncy Billiups
33.8 - TJ Ford
32.9 - Andre Miller
32.6 - Mo Williams
32.4 - Tony Parker
32.1 - Kirk Hinrich
31.5 - Raymond Felton
30.4 - Ben Gordon
30.1 - Jamal Tinsley
PLATEAU
29.9 - Stephon Marbury
29.7 - Jason Terry
28.9 - MIKE BIBBY
25.6 - Brevin Knight
23.8 - Jameer Nelson (shockingly low; Orlando wants to build around this guy???)
That's pretty much the bottom of the barrel of point guards who really don't share time. Excluding Allen Iverson who is really a 2 guard., and either Hinrich OR Gordon because one of them is technically a 2 guard, that puts 14 PGs over the plateau and Bibby is coming in at 17th in the NBA. That's the bottom half of the NBA.
His 2004-2005 season he produced 36.6 points a game for his team. He doesn't have the same guys around him but that should increase the team's need for him to score, but yet's it's gone down by 2ppg. If he is a scoring point guard, he need to do way better than the 17ppg with 40% shooting from the field he put out last year. You either have to put up major points or set up teammates. He is doing neither.
I really do think he has a case of the I-Don't-Give-A-F***s... Vince Carter got them in Toronto, Randy Moss got them in Oakland. Maybe he'll be moved and with a fresh start on a contender he can give them better than average point guard play. He's is not damaged goods yet, but he is far from an elite guard in the NBA.
I didn't even talk about his defense, HA! For right now, we'll just leave it with him not being an elite guard and needing to do, or create more of these (below)... a ball going through what I think is a rims and what I think is supposed to be a net.
With that said... I am going to fry him right now. And not just because he was the worst tattoos in the NBA.
My God Brother lived in Sacramento so I can understand his bias, but I could not let him tell me that Mike Bibby is a good PG still.
Now I'm not a big stat guy, but I will admit stats do assist in the judgment of player's productivity. Like in the NFL, runningbacks who are considered elite runningbacks have to get 1,000 yards in a year. Elite pitchers in baseball should get at least 15 wins. There are statistical plateaus in every sport that help us identify who the premier players are at the position.
For point guards in the NBA, it's about how much offense you can produce. The formula I'm going to use is POINTS + (ASSISTS x 2.5) = POINTS PRODUCED. I multiply the assists by 2.5 because some assists lead to 3 pointers and some would-be-assists turn into points at the free throw line.
Using this formula, there is a point producing plateau of 30 points per game. The elite point guards in the NBA are producing over 30 points a game... and Mike Bibby isn't doing that. Readers Beware: If you are a Mike Bibby fan, or Mike Bibby, these numbers might scare you.
Here are the top producing PGs in the NBA:
47.6 - Steve Nash
44.3 - Allen Iverson
43.4 - Gilbert Arenas
40.4 - Baron Davis
39.5 - Deron Williams
39.5 - Chris Paul
36.0 - Jason Kidd
35.0 - Chauncy Billiups
33.8 - TJ Ford
32.9 - Andre Miller
32.6 - Mo Williams
32.4 - Tony Parker
32.1 - Kirk Hinrich
31.5 - Raymond Felton
30.4 - Ben Gordon
30.1 - Jamal Tinsley
PLATEAU
29.9 - Stephon Marbury
29.7 - Jason Terry
28.9 - MIKE BIBBY
25.6 - Brevin Knight
23.8 - Jameer Nelson (shockingly low; Orlando wants to build around this guy???)
That's pretty much the bottom of the barrel of point guards who really don't share time. Excluding Allen Iverson who is really a 2 guard., and either Hinrich OR Gordon because one of them is technically a 2 guard, that puts 14 PGs over the plateau and Bibby is coming in at 17th in the NBA. That's the bottom half of the NBA.
His 2004-2005 season he produced 36.6 points a game for his team. He doesn't have the same guys around him but that should increase the team's need for him to score, but yet's it's gone down by 2ppg. If he is a scoring point guard, he need to do way better than the 17ppg with 40% shooting from the field he put out last year. You either have to put up major points or set up teammates. He is doing neither.
I really do think he has a case of the I-Don't-Give-A-F***s... Vince Carter got them in Toronto, Randy Moss got them in Oakland. Maybe he'll be moved and with a fresh start on a contender he can give them better than average point guard play. He's is not damaged goods yet, but he is far from an elite guard in the NBA.
I didn't even talk about his defense, HA! For right now, we'll just leave it with him not being an elite guard and needing to do, or create more of these (below)... a ball going through what I think is a rims and what I think is supposed to be a net.
This Weekend - 11/3 & 11/4
Wisconsin at Ohio State (BM) (JA)
Wake Forest (JA) at Virginia (BM)
Nebraska (BM) at Kansas (JA)
Michigan (BM) (JA) at Michigan State
Texas (BM) (JA) at Oklahoma State
Cincinnati (JA) at South Florida (BM)
LSU (BM) (JA) at Alabama
Missouri (BM) (JA) at Colorado
Arizona State (JA) at Oregon (BM)
Rutgers (BM) (JA) at Connecticut
Florida State (BM) at Boston College (JA)
Oregon State at USC (BM) (JA)
Denver at Detroit (BM) (JA)
San Francisco at Atlanta (BM) (JA)
Cincinnati (BM) (JA) at Buffalo
Carolina at Tennessee (BM) (JA)
Green Bay (JA) at Kansas City (BM)
San Diego (BM) (JA) at Minnesota
Jacksonville at New Orleans (BM) (JA)
Washington (BM) (JA) at NY Jets
Arizona at Tampa Bay (BM) (JA)
Seattle (JA) at Cleveland (BM)
New England (BM) (JA) at Indianapolis
Houston (JA) at Oakland (BM)
Dallas (JA) at Philadelphia (BM)
Baltimore at Pittsburgh (BM) (JA)
Brandon: 113-54 Overall (45-22 NCAA, 68-32 NFL)
Justin: 98-69 Overall (38-29 NCAA, 60-40 NFL)
Wake Forest (JA) at Virginia (BM)
Nebraska (BM) at Kansas (JA)
Michigan (BM) (JA) at Michigan State
Texas (BM) (JA) at Oklahoma State
Cincinnati (JA) at South Florida (BM)
LSU (BM) (JA) at Alabama
Missouri (BM) (JA) at Colorado
Arizona State (JA) at Oregon (BM)
Rutgers (BM) (JA) at Connecticut
Florida State (BM) at Boston College (JA)
Oregon State at USC (BM) (JA)
Denver at Detroit (BM) (JA)
San Francisco at Atlanta (BM) (JA)
Cincinnati (BM) (JA) at Buffalo
Carolina at Tennessee (BM) (JA)
Green Bay (JA) at Kansas City (BM)
San Diego (BM) (JA) at Minnesota
Jacksonville at New Orleans (BM) (JA)
Washington (BM) (JA) at NY Jets
Arizona at Tampa Bay (BM) (JA)
Seattle (JA) at Cleveland (BM)
New England (BM) (JA) at Indianapolis
Houston (JA) at Oakland (BM)
Dallas (JA) at Philadelphia (BM)
Baltimore at Pittsburgh (BM) (JA)
Brandon: 113-54 Overall (45-22 NCAA, 68-32 NFL)
Justin: 98-69 Overall (38-29 NCAA, 60-40 NFL)
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