Yesterday I gave an overview of the team and how I think they will perform. Now, I will take a game-by-game look at the Browns 16-game season. And away we go...
Week 1 - The Browns have started every single season, since returning to the League in 1999, at home. This year is no different. I think it's the NFL's way of saying "Uh, we royally screwed up when we let Art Modell take the Browns out of Cleveland." Brett Favre and the Vikings are coming to town to help the Browns kickoff the festivities for this season. The way I look at it, this is one of the few teams in the NFL that has more questions than the Browns. The Browns do the unthinkable, and start the season with a "W." - 1-0
Week 2 - A trip to Denver where their QB situation is U-G-L-Y. Kyle Orton has been very inconsistent in the preseason thus far. In Denver's first pre-season game against the 49ers, he threw three picks. Just one in the second pre-season game. I am really torn on this game. I want to think that the Browns can win it but I just don't see them breaking the Mile High Curse. In a close game, I think the Browns lose. - 1-1
Week 3 - The second of two road games gets the Browns their first AFC North opponent of the season. Baltimore is a good team, year in and year out, and this year should be no different. Baltimore is going to have a great running tandem of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee and their defense will be what it always is: Dominant. - 1-2
Week 4 - The Browns return home for their first Divisional home game. The most dysfunctional team in the AFC North comes in and the Browns have to take advantage of that. The Browns secondary must contain Chad OchoCinco to have a chance. Who knows when Carson Palmer will be 100% and it may not even be by week 4. Cleveland will win this game behind the grit and conditioning that Coach Mangini has worked towards all pre-season. - 2-2
Week 5 - The Browns hit the road again for two games. The first stop is in Buffalo where T.O. and Trent Edwards (surprisingly!) haven't killed each other yet. Mangini spent the last couple years in the AFC East and should know the Bills pretty well by now. I have a strong feeling that the Browns can, and will win this game. But to do so, they Browns will have to shut down Marshawn Lynch. - 3-2
Week 6 - Pittsburgh. The Browns have to start beating Pittsburgh for this "rivalry" to really be a rivalry. Mangini knows this, but he also knows that winning at the big ketchup bottle is going to be nearly impossible. I'm thinking we're going to be waiting until later in the season to see the Browns get back in the win column in this series. - 3-3
Week 7 - Cleveland comes back to their home turf and welcomes Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in for this mid-season matchup. This will be a much different team then what the Packers saw in the pre-season. One full of fight and determination. That being said, the result will most likely be the same as it was in the pre-season when the Packers took down the Browns at Lambeau. - 3-4
Week 8 - Jay Cutler and the Bears welcome the Brownies into Soldier field for Cleveland's third of four games with the NFC North. From the looks of it, Cutler is worth way more than the Bears gave up to get him. I have a feeling that Cutler is going to throw all over the field and Matt Forte will help keep the Browns defense off balance. - 3-5
Week 9 - I GUARANTEE that the Browns will not lose this week...it's a Bye week. And I think this is going to be the end of Part II. Look for Part III, which will chronicle the Browns last eight games, on Thursday!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Cleveland Browns Season Preview: Part I
Seems like I'm getting into the world of 2-part posts. This is Part I of my Cleveland Browns 2009-10 Season Preview. Part II will be posted either tomorrow or Wednesday.
The Cleveland Browns enter the 2009-10 season looking to silence many, many critics, including me. A new coaching regime will have to prove that it was a smart move in rushing to hire a head coach who was just fired from the same position with another team. Eric Mangini comes in and inherits a team that has been filled with dysfunction since it's return to the League in 1999. Only twice have the Browns finished with a winning record since that year and only once have they made the playoffs. Mangini has already shown that he is a much better leader than Romeo Crennel by being a much more assertive person than Romeo ever was. He doesn't take crap from people, he punishes mistakes and he rewards positives. He's not afraid to get rid of someone who could be a cancer to the team (I'm looking at YOU, Shaun Smith).
The biggest question heading into the season is "Who will be the starting Quarterback?" Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn have both shown signs of brilliance in the first two pre-season games, but neither one has thrown a touchdown and both have thrown interceptions. To be fair, if Braylon could catch, Brady would have a touchdown throw and no interceptions. But for some reason, he seems to only remember how to catch when Anderson is throwing to him. On Saturday, I was able to attend the Browns meeting with the Lions for the Great Lakes Cup (Never has a game that meant so little, meant so much) and saw Derek Anderson illustrate a textbook drive down the field, ending with a touchdown run by Jamal Lewis, the Browns' first touchdown since November 10th (week 12) of last season. I know, I know, it's just pre-season, but it's a start. Baby steps, people, baby steps. Unfortunately for Quinn, he was sacked on his very first play from scrimmage, to start the second quarter.
Who is going to spell Jamal Lewis? Well, James Davis made his case Saturday night, busting an 80+ yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put the Lions away for good. I like this kid from Clemson and to me, he should be competing with Jerome Harrison (who is hurt right now) for the starting spot. Jamal Lewis needs to realize he's got almost 2400 runs in his legs already and he needs to be the bowling ball that Pittsburgh had the last few years of Jerome Bettis' career. These should be his spots; 3rd and Short, 4th and Inches, two yards out from the endzone. The Endzone at the Browns' practice facility has "FINISH" painted in it. That's what Jamal Lewis will be good for.
The Browns receiving corps look to be ready to deal with Donte "I need to rethink my Tweets" Stallworth not being around. Rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi seem to be picking up the playbook very, very well. Both of these guys have made great catches in the Browns first two pre-season games. As I said before, Braylon seems to have taken his head out of his posterior cavity and remembered how to catch. He even made a fairly acrobatic catch on Saturday evening, but he was out of bounds when he came down. I like the look of Josh Cribbs getting in as a receiver as well. He made one catch on the night and it was for 20 yards, and if I remember correctly, he caught it only a few yards past the line of scrimmage and got most of the yards after the catch. Dude is dangerous.
More proof of that point; Cribbs took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house, before it was called back for holding and then returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown, all part of a 20-point 1st quarter for the Brownies. Cribbs didn't handle anymore punt returns on the night as Gerard Lawson tried his hand at the return duties for pretty much the rest of the night. Honestly, I'd be shocked if Cribbs isn't back there at the goal line for the first game of the season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kamerion Wimbley has to have a bounce back year with somewhere around 12 or 13 sacks for him to be considered a defensive threat for this team. Each year since his rookie campaign has seen a drop in sacks, mostly due to the inability of those around him to get him open looks at the QB. Mangini has this defense focused though and quarterback penetration is one of the key elements of the defense. No sacks on Saturday night, but hopefully we'll keep seeing what this defense is capable of as the preseason goes on, and turns into the regular season. Most impressing on Saturday night was rookie Linebacker, Kaluka Maiava. Maiava had six tackles, all solo, in the game against Detroit.
It looks like the Mangini/Kokinis draft era is off to a great start. Each one of the players we took in the 2009 Draft will be ones that can contribute immediately, and already are. Again, Robiskie and Massaquoi are looking great and Alex Mack is picking things up very quickly. I really like the way this season is heading. Where is that, you ask? I will tell you in Part II!
The Cleveland Browns enter the 2009-10 season looking to silence many, many critics, including me. A new coaching regime will have to prove that it was a smart move in rushing to hire a head coach who was just fired from the same position with another team. Eric Mangini comes in and inherits a team that has been filled with dysfunction since it's return to the League in 1999. Only twice have the Browns finished with a winning record since that year and only once have they made the playoffs. Mangini has already shown that he is a much better leader than Romeo Crennel by being a much more assertive person than Romeo ever was. He doesn't take crap from people, he punishes mistakes and he rewards positives. He's not afraid to get rid of someone who could be a cancer to the team (I'm looking at YOU, Shaun Smith).
The biggest question heading into the season is "Who will be the starting Quarterback?" Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn have both shown signs of brilliance in the first two pre-season games, but neither one has thrown a touchdown and both have thrown interceptions. To be fair, if Braylon could catch, Brady would have a touchdown throw and no interceptions. But for some reason, he seems to only remember how to catch when Anderson is throwing to him. On Saturday, I was able to attend the Browns meeting with the Lions for the Great Lakes Cup (Never has a game that meant so little, meant so much) and saw Derek Anderson illustrate a textbook drive down the field, ending with a touchdown run by Jamal Lewis, the Browns' first touchdown since November 10th (week 12) of last season. I know, I know, it's just pre-season, but it's a start. Baby steps, people, baby steps. Unfortunately for Quinn, he was sacked on his very first play from scrimmage, to start the second quarter.
Who is going to spell Jamal Lewis? Well, James Davis made his case Saturday night, busting an 80+ yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put the Lions away for good. I like this kid from Clemson and to me, he should be competing with Jerome Harrison (who is hurt right now) for the starting spot. Jamal Lewis needs to realize he's got almost 2400 runs in his legs already and he needs to be the bowling ball that Pittsburgh had the last few years of Jerome Bettis' career. These should be his spots; 3rd and Short, 4th and Inches, two yards out from the endzone. The Endzone at the Browns' practice facility has "FINISH" painted in it. That's what Jamal Lewis will be good for.
The Browns receiving corps look to be ready to deal with Donte "I need to rethink my Tweets" Stallworth not being around. Rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi seem to be picking up the playbook very, very well. Both of these guys have made great catches in the Browns first two pre-season games. As I said before, Braylon seems to have taken his head out of his posterior cavity and remembered how to catch. He even made a fairly acrobatic catch on Saturday evening, but he was out of bounds when he came down. I like the look of Josh Cribbs getting in as a receiver as well. He made one catch on the night and it was for 20 yards, and if I remember correctly, he caught it only a few yards past the line of scrimmage and got most of the yards after the catch. Dude is dangerous.
More proof of that point; Cribbs took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house, before it was called back for holding and then returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown, all part of a 20-point 1st quarter for the Brownies. Cribbs didn't handle anymore punt returns on the night as Gerard Lawson tried his hand at the return duties for pretty much the rest of the night. Honestly, I'd be shocked if Cribbs isn't back there at the goal line for the first game of the season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kamerion Wimbley has to have a bounce back year with somewhere around 12 or 13 sacks for him to be considered a defensive threat for this team. Each year since his rookie campaign has seen a drop in sacks, mostly due to the inability of those around him to get him open looks at the QB. Mangini has this defense focused though and quarterback penetration is one of the key elements of the defense. No sacks on Saturday night, but hopefully we'll keep seeing what this defense is capable of as the preseason goes on, and turns into the regular season. Most impressing on Saturday night was rookie Linebacker, Kaluka Maiava. Maiava had six tackles, all solo, in the game against Detroit.
It looks like the Mangini/Kokinis draft era is off to a great start. Each one of the players we took in the 2009 Draft will be ones that can contribute immediately, and already are. Again, Robiskie and Massaquoi are looking great and Alex Mack is picking things up very quickly. I really like the way this season is heading. Where is that, you ask? I will tell you in Part II!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Falcon Preview Part II...The MAC Schedule
Yesterday, I gave a little team overview of what I expect from the Falcons this season. I also gave my predictions for the first four games of the season, predicting that the Falcons will go 2-2 in their Out Of Conference schedule. Today I will look at the MAC portion of the Falcons' schedule. This could end up being a great year for the Falcons!!!
The start of October is also the start of the first step to a MAC Championship! Ohio University is the Homecoming opponent this year (even though we are AT HOME against Boise State a week earlier???) and I feel that the Brown and Orange will handle their home turf well on this day. All-time, BG holds a 36-22-2 advantage over the Bobcats and this year should add a 37th win to that total. I don't see OU putting up much of a fight in this one. Dave Clawson won't let them. - 3-2 (1-0)
Next is a trip to the ever down-trodden Kent, which BG has beaten in 54 of their 76 meetings. In the past, the Falcons have failed to beat the teams they should and I do NOT see that trend continuing with the new coaching regime. Kent is a foe that should, and will be beaten by the Falcons giving BG the strong start in MAC play that we, as fans, should expect. BG wins big. - 4-2 (2-0)
The third MAC game is a trip to the new power of the MAC, Ball State. (Must....resist....jokes about school's name.) BG holds a 19 to 8 advantage in the standings against Ball State but this team is no cupcake. They have been playing very tough the last two seasons and were a bad game away from having an undefeated season last year. But Nate Davis is gone as the Cardinals QB and from the looks of it, no one has really declared themselves as the man who will lead this team. That being said, this is a tough road test and brings the Falcons their first Conference loss of the season. - 4-3 (2-1)
Next up for the Falcons, another MAC West opponent in perennial power, Central Michigan. I think Dave Clawson knows about our Family Weekend woes over the past few years and will want to put on a show for the families that attend this game. This will also help Bowling Green establish themselves as a MAC contender. - 5-3 (3-1)
The Falcons hit the road for two tough games in a row, starting with a trip to up and coming...(Matt, they won the MAC Championship last year.)...up and HERE, Buffalo. This team is very strong. They will provide a great test for the Falcons, who lost to the Bulls in heart-breaking fashion last year, leading to the eventual firing of Gregg Brandon. Those kinds of things will NOT happen anymore and Bowling Green takes another step towards their first MAC Championship in WAAAAAAY too long. - 6-3 (4-1)
Now, Dave Clawson ends the "Miami Whammy." In his first trip to Oxford to play J. Crew U, this team will put themselves head and shoulders above the MAC by sticking it to the RedHawks and starting the "BG Blues" for Miami. Bowling Green plays very strong in this game and we see what we're going to get for years to come. - 7-3 (5-1)
BG has to wait another year to play their first game at the new InfoCision Stadium as Akron travels to the Doyt this year. We aren't good hosts. We beat them, badly and continue to roll towards a MAC Championship. Dave Clawson and his team are a hungry bunch and will prevail in 2009. - 8-3 (6-1)
Finally, Clawson gets his first match against Toledo and their first year coach, who happens to be a BG grad. Another home game, and home field advantage is completely restored at the Doyt. Bowling Green finishes strong and wins against their biggest rival on their home turf. Now, we just sit back and wait to see the WEST figure itself out. BG has an East Division crown, and a peace pipe, in hand. - 9-3 (7-1)
So there it is. Dave Clawson has a very successful year in his first one at the helm of the Brown and Orange. One year, One Bowl Game. You've got to love that!
The start of October is also the start of the first step to a MAC Championship! Ohio University is the Homecoming opponent this year (even though we are AT HOME against Boise State a week earlier???) and I feel that the Brown and Orange will handle their home turf well on this day. All-time, BG holds a 36-22-2 advantage over the Bobcats and this year should add a 37th win to that total. I don't see OU putting up much of a fight in this one. Dave Clawson won't let them. - 3-2 (1-0)
Next is a trip to the ever down-trodden Kent, which BG has beaten in 54 of their 76 meetings. In the past, the Falcons have failed to beat the teams they should and I do NOT see that trend continuing with the new coaching regime. Kent is a foe that should, and will be beaten by the Falcons giving BG the strong start in MAC play that we, as fans, should expect. BG wins big. - 4-2 (2-0)
The third MAC game is a trip to the new power of the MAC, Ball State. (Must....resist....jokes about school's name.) BG holds a 19 to 8 advantage in the standings against Ball State but this team is no cupcake. They have been playing very tough the last two seasons and were a bad game away from having an undefeated season last year. But Nate Davis is gone as the Cardinals QB and from the looks of it, no one has really declared themselves as the man who will lead this team. That being said, this is a tough road test and brings the Falcons their first Conference loss of the season. - 4-3 (2-1)
Next up for the Falcons, another MAC West opponent in perennial power, Central Michigan. I think Dave Clawson knows about our Family Weekend woes over the past few years and will want to put on a show for the families that attend this game. This will also help Bowling Green establish themselves as a MAC contender. - 5-3 (3-1)
The Falcons hit the road for two tough games in a row, starting with a trip to up and coming...(Matt, they won the MAC Championship last year.)...up and HERE, Buffalo. This team is very strong. They will provide a great test for the Falcons, who lost to the Bulls in heart-breaking fashion last year, leading to the eventual firing of Gregg Brandon. Those kinds of things will NOT happen anymore and Bowling Green takes another step towards their first MAC Championship in WAAAAAAY too long. - 6-3 (4-1)
Now, Dave Clawson ends the "Miami Whammy." In his first trip to Oxford to play J. Crew U, this team will put themselves head and shoulders above the MAC by sticking it to the RedHawks and starting the "BG Blues" for Miami. Bowling Green plays very strong in this game and we see what we're going to get for years to come. - 7-3 (5-1)
BG has to wait another year to play their first game at the new InfoCision Stadium as Akron travels to the Doyt this year. We aren't good hosts. We beat them, badly and continue to roll towards a MAC Championship. Dave Clawson and his team are a hungry bunch and will prevail in 2009. - 8-3 (6-1)
Finally, Clawson gets his first match against Toledo and their first year coach, who happens to be a BG grad. Another home game, and home field advantage is completely restored at the Doyt. Bowling Green finishes strong and wins against their biggest rival on their home turf. Now, we just sit back and wait to see the WEST figure itself out. BG has an East Division crown, and a peace pipe, in hand. - 9-3 (7-1)
So there it is. Dave Clawson has a very successful year in his first one at the helm of the Brown and Orange. One year, One Bowl Game. You've got to love that!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The 2009 Falcon Football Season Part I
Welcome to my first annual season preview for the Bowling Green State University Falcons. I've never done anything like this before so I hope it's ok and I hope my research has been done well enough to not make all of you think I am a complete moron. Part I is here today with the team outlook and the out of conference schedule. Part II will examine the MAC portion of the Falcons Schedule.
This season will be a season of changes for the Falcons. Bowling Green welcomes their new coach, Dave Clawson, to the nest. Last year, Clawson was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers and did not have a lot of success getting his offense implemented into the SEC. Before that though, he turned around the Div. I-AA Fordham team around and helped turn around the Richmond team that won the Div. I-AA Championship last year. Clawson brings discipline and work ethic that were missing during Greg Brandon's final couple seasons at BG.
On the offensive side of the ball, Bowling Green will return seven players, including starting Quarterback, Tyler Sheehan. Sheehan has been named to the Manning Award Watch list, along with 37 other Quarterbacks from around the nation. One thing that is a positive is that the Orange and Brown did not lose a single starter at the running back position. Chris Bullock and Willie Geter will be a good 1-2 punch for the Falcons, as long as they can hold on to the ball. As for the receivers that Sheehan will throw to, Freddie Barnes will have to step up and be a leader to a group that lost it's #1 receiver in Corey Partridge. Tyrone Pronty will be the guy to watch this year in my opinion. He showed some flashes of brilliance last year and will hopefully be able to continue growing and maturing his game. Senior Tight End Jimmy Scheidler should be able to help open up the Falcon offense as well as he declared himself a legitimate threat scoring seven Touchdowns a year ago.
Defensively, the Falcons will have a ton of work to do as they lost each of their four starters on the front line. Defensive End Angelo Magnone is going to be the guy to watch down in the trenches this year. In his playing time last season, Magnone made 27 total tackles, 2 of which went for a loss. The secondary is loaded with experience as Senior Safties P.J. Mahone and Jahmal Brown come back for a defensive backfield which was one of the best in the MAC. Mahone and Brown were 1st and 3rd, respectively, on the team in tackles with 95 and 83 tackles. Mahone had three interceptions last year and started all 12 games. Jerett Sanderson and Cody Basler will be the leaders of the linebacker core and will have to play great ball to help out a fairly inexperienced line.
Nick Iovinelli will return for his third and final season as the Falcons punter. Last year, Iovinelli averaged just over 40 yards per punt with 12 landing inside the 20 and seven going 50 or more yards. A true freshman will be the team's place kicker, Jerry Phillips.
Now, for the schedule, and boy is it a doozy! All of the Falcons out of conference games will be pretty tough as they host Troy and Boise State and travel to Missouri and Marshall. When the Falcons open the season against the Trojans on September 3rd, it will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. This will be a good first test for the Falcons. They will come out with a LOT of emotion but will have to make sure to not let too much emotion get to them. Troy is a very good team but I see the Falcons starting off the Dave Clawson era with a big "W." - 1-0
Next, a trip to Missouri to face the Tigers, a team the Falcons have beat three out of the four times they've played them. With a tough road crowd though, and a Missouri team that will come out feeling like they have something to prove, I don't know if the Falcons will be able to start 2-0. I'm going to have to predict a close, hard fought game but an "L" in the standings. - 1-1
One more road game before coming back home. Marshall, the former member of the MAC gets a visit from their old foe, Bowling Green. All time, BG has taken Marshall down 20 times and only lost seven times. I see this trend continuing. The Brown and Orange love to beat down on the Thundering Herd and BG will want to come home strong for their last out of conference game. BG wins big on the road, establishing themselves as a team to keep your eyes on. - 2-1
Next, one of only two 2009 opponents who BG has a losing record against, all-time, Boise State. The Broncos have hosted the Falcons twice and laid the smack down both times. Boise wasn't supposed to make a trip to the Doyt this year but was a late addition to the schedule. Boise State has been a perennial BCS Buster but will be doing a little bit of rebuilding this year. Boise does have a very good young Quarterback but they don't have a clear #1 to run the ball. This game could really go either way but I honestly feel like the Broncos might be a bit too much for the Falcons to handle. - 2-2
Tune in tomorrow for Part II!
This season will be a season of changes for the Falcons. Bowling Green welcomes their new coach, Dave Clawson, to the nest. Last year, Clawson was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers and did not have a lot of success getting his offense implemented into the SEC. Before that though, he turned around the Div. I-AA Fordham team around and helped turn around the Richmond team that won the Div. I-AA Championship last year. Clawson brings discipline and work ethic that were missing during Greg Brandon's final couple seasons at BG.
On the offensive side of the ball, Bowling Green will return seven players, including starting Quarterback, Tyler Sheehan. Sheehan has been named to the Manning Award Watch list, along with 37 other Quarterbacks from around the nation. One thing that is a positive is that the Orange and Brown did not lose a single starter at the running back position. Chris Bullock and Willie Geter will be a good 1-2 punch for the Falcons, as long as they can hold on to the ball. As for the receivers that Sheehan will throw to, Freddie Barnes will have to step up and be a leader to a group that lost it's #1 receiver in Corey Partridge. Tyrone Pronty will be the guy to watch this year in my opinion. He showed some flashes of brilliance last year and will hopefully be able to continue growing and maturing his game. Senior Tight End Jimmy Scheidler should be able to help open up the Falcon offense as well as he declared himself a legitimate threat scoring seven Touchdowns a year ago.
Defensively, the Falcons will have a ton of work to do as they lost each of their four starters on the front line. Defensive End Angelo Magnone is going to be the guy to watch down in the trenches this year. In his playing time last season, Magnone made 27 total tackles, 2 of which went for a loss. The secondary is loaded with experience as Senior Safties P.J. Mahone and Jahmal Brown come back for a defensive backfield which was one of the best in the MAC. Mahone and Brown were 1st and 3rd, respectively, on the team in tackles with 95 and 83 tackles. Mahone had three interceptions last year and started all 12 games. Jerett Sanderson and Cody Basler will be the leaders of the linebacker core and will have to play great ball to help out a fairly inexperienced line.
Nick Iovinelli will return for his third and final season as the Falcons punter. Last year, Iovinelli averaged just over 40 yards per punt with 12 landing inside the 20 and seven going 50 or more yards. A true freshman will be the team's place kicker, Jerry Phillips.
Now, for the schedule, and boy is it a doozy! All of the Falcons out of conference games will be pretty tough as they host Troy and Boise State and travel to Missouri and Marshall. When the Falcons open the season against the Trojans on September 3rd, it will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. This will be a good first test for the Falcons. They will come out with a LOT of emotion but will have to make sure to not let too much emotion get to them. Troy is a very good team but I see the Falcons starting off the Dave Clawson era with a big "W." - 1-0
Next, a trip to Missouri to face the Tigers, a team the Falcons have beat three out of the four times they've played them. With a tough road crowd though, and a Missouri team that will come out feeling like they have something to prove, I don't know if the Falcons will be able to start 2-0. I'm going to have to predict a close, hard fought game but an "L" in the standings. - 1-1
One more road game before coming back home. Marshall, the former member of the MAC gets a visit from their old foe, Bowling Green. All time, BG has taken Marshall down 20 times and only lost seven times. I see this trend continuing. The Brown and Orange love to beat down on the Thundering Herd and BG will want to come home strong for their last out of conference game. BG wins big on the road, establishing themselves as a team to keep your eyes on. - 2-1
Next, one of only two 2009 opponents who BG has a losing record against, all-time, Boise State. The Broncos have hosted the Falcons twice and laid the smack down both times. Boise wasn't supposed to make a trip to the Doyt this year but was a late addition to the schedule. Boise State has been a perennial BCS Buster but will be doing a little bit of rebuilding this year. Boise does have a very good young Quarterback but they don't have a clear #1 to run the ball. This game could really go either way but I honestly feel like the Broncos might be a bit too much for the Falcons to handle. - 2-2
Tune in tomorrow for Part II!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Quick Hits II
Browns Wide Receiver Donte Stallworth was suspended for the 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. It almost seemed like Stallworth was surprised by this news. Officially, he was suspended for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy and the substance abuse policy. Really? It's not for drunkenly killing a man? I would rather see them give this as the reason for the suspension.
The Browns will play their first pre-season game on Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers. We will finally get our first taste of the new-look Browns under new Head Coach, Eric Mangini. We'll also get a look at the battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, and see which QB has the best shot at being the starter this year. Although, who they will be throwing to seems to be the biggest question.
In other football news, Michael Vick has signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. I honestly feel like this is a great move for Vick. He will be around one of the cleanest players in the NFL in Donovan McNabb. He will be a great mentor for Vick which is exactly what he needs. Now, he has two strong men, in Tony Dungy and McNabb, helping him through what could be the toughest part of his life, other than the two years he spent in Leavenworth.
The Indians dropped two of three to the Rangers this week. Aaron Laffey pitched a spectacular game in the opener but then the Indians fell apart. Omar Vizquel received a standing ovation in his first trip to the plate and rounds of applause each time he got a hit. What a great coach he would make for the Indians some day! The Tribe is off to Minnesota now for a weekend set with the Twins.
The Cavs have added injured Power Forward Leon Powe to their roster. The three year veteran, who is the same age as LeBron James, will not be ready to play ball until after the All-Star break this coming season, has signed a league minimum contract and will be the backup for LeBron if and when he is healthy. Basically, the Cavs were looking for some playoff insurance for their run at a championship next year.
The PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club teed off yesterday and Tiger Woods jumped out to the 18-hole lead with a First Round 67, 5-under par. Vijay Singh is one stroke back, but is already 16 holes through his second round. Padraig Harrington is also right there at 4-under par. He and Tiger teed off about three minutes ago, if everything is on schedule.
Lastly, the Lake Erie Crushers are holding on to their spot atop the Wild Card standings in the Frontier League and are still three games out of first place in their division. They just finished a series with Southern Illinois, taking two out of three from the Miners. Now, they travel to Evansville to play three games with the Otters. Evansville is the worst team in the Frontier League so this could be a good opportunity for the Crushers to gain a little ground on the Kings of Kalamazoo.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
The Browns will play their first pre-season game on Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers. We will finally get our first taste of the new-look Browns under new Head Coach, Eric Mangini. We'll also get a look at the battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, and see which QB has the best shot at being the starter this year. Although, who they will be throwing to seems to be the biggest question.
In other football news, Michael Vick has signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. I honestly feel like this is a great move for Vick. He will be around one of the cleanest players in the NFL in Donovan McNabb. He will be a great mentor for Vick which is exactly what he needs. Now, he has two strong men, in Tony Dungy and McNabb, helping him through what could be the toughest part of his life, other than the two years he spent in Leavenworth.
The Indians dropped two of three to the Rangers this week. Aaron Laffey pitched a spectacular game in the opener but then the Indians fell apart. Omar Vizquel received a standing ovation in his first trip to the plate and rounds of applause each time he got a hit. What a great coach he would make for the Indians some day! The Tribe is off to Minnesota now for a weekend set with the Twins.
The Cavs have added injured Power Forward Leon Powe to their roster. The three year veteran, who is the same age as LeBron James, will not be ready to play ball until after the All-Star break this coming season, has signed a league minimum contract and will be the backup for LeBron if and when he is healthy. Basically, the Cavs were looking for some playoff insurance for their run at a championship next year.
The PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club teed off yesterday and Tiger Woods jumped out to the 18-hole lead with a First Round 67, 5-under par. Vijay Singh is one stroke back, but is already 16 holes through his second round. Padraig Harrington is also right there at 4-under par. He and Tiger teed off about three minutes ago, if everything is on schedule.
Lastly, the Lake Erie Crushers are holding on to their spot atop the Wild Card standings in the Frontier League and are still three games out of first place in their division. They just finished a series with Southern Illinois, taking two out of three from the Miners. Now, they travel to Evansville to play three games with the Otters. Evansville is the worst team in the Frontier League so this could be a good opportunity for the Crushers to gain a little ground on the Kings of Kalamazoo.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tony Dungy: Michael Vick's Savior
Let me start this by saying that what Michael Vick did was completely heinous. Pitting dogs against one another in a fight to the death is completely and utterly reprehensible. With that said, everyone on this planet deserves a second chance. Vick served 23 months, combined, between Federal Prison and house arrest. Over that time he has had time to contemplate just what he did and how wrong it really was. He has given a public apology which, in my opinion, was clearly sincere. Now, he's free and a free agent. As many as five teams are reported to have interest in signing Michael Vick and, in my belief, the only reason is because of his personal advisor since being released from Prison and house arrest: Tony Dungy.
If Michael Vick really listens to Tony Dungy, turns himself around as much as he says he has and lives his life by the book the rest of the way, he will be fine. If he removes himself from the group of "friends" he has always been associated with, the same "friends" that were also linked to dog-fighting, he will be have a much better road ahead of him. But Dungy is the key to all of this. He is the key to Vick staying out of trouble.
Let's look at Tony Dungy's life. The man has been through a number of coaching jobs and turned the Indianapolis Colts into a perennial power. Dungy has six children with his wife, Lauren, one of which committed suicide in December of 2005. He is a devout Christian who has been a speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He once considered retirement to take up prison ministries. Since he did retire, after the 2008-09 season, he has stayed involved with football, doing radio shows and, at the request of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, serving as Vick's advisor.
Dungy is a soft-spoken man off the field and many would say that he is a ray of light in a dark world. Basically, he is everything Michael Vick wasn't before his legal troubles. If he can become one bit like Tony Dungy, his life will start going down the right path. Dungy has been so impressed by the changes Vick has made since he started working with him, he has actually recommended Vick to 12 different coaches as a player who might fit well into their system. With Vick's reinstatement to the league, he will be allowed to participate in all team activities and workouts except for games.
According to Dungy, Vick has really changed and realized his mistakes since he started working with him. What we will have to wait and see is how the members of the team that sign Vick react to being around him. He has to be ready for some looks and glares. But if he can get through that, make sure his future teammates know that he is there for the team and not just himself, he will make it. So, Michael, thank your lucky starts for Tony Dungy. He is your key. Remember that, and you'll do just fine.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
If Michael Vick really listens to Tony Dungy, turns himself around as much as he says he has and lives his life by the book the rest of the way, he will be fine. If he removes himself from the group of "friends" he has always been associated with, the same "friends" that were also linked to dog-fighting, he will be have a much better road ahead of him. But Dungy is the key to all of this. He is the key to Vick staying out of trouble.
Let's look at Tony Dungy's life. The man has been through a number of coaching jobs and turned the Indianapolis Colts into a perennial power. Dungy has six children with his wife, Lauren, one of which committed suicide in December of 2005. He is a devout Christian who has been a speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He once considered retirement to take up prison ministries. Since he did retire, after the 2008-09 season, he has stayed involved with football, doing radio shows and, at the request of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, serving as Vick's advisor.
Dungy is a soft-spoken man off the field and many would say that he is a ray of light in a dark world. Basically, he is everything Michael Vick wasn't before his legal troubles. If he can become one bit like Tony Dungy, his life will start going down the right path. Dungy has been so impressed by the changes Vick has made since he started working with him, he has actually recommended Vick to 12 different coaches as a player who might fit well into their system. With Vick's reinstatement to the league, he will be allowed to participate in all team activities and workouts except for games.
According to Dungy, Vick has really changed and realized his mistakes since he started working with him. What we will have to wait and see is how the members of the team that sign Vick react to being around him. He has to be ready for some looks and glares. But if he can get through that, make sure his future teammates know that he is there for the team and not just himself, he will make it. So, Michael, thank your lucky starts for Tony Dungy. He is your key. Remember that, and you'll do just fine.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Tiga, Tiga Woods Ya'll!
The man is a beast, a machine. (The course looks good, I feel good, I like my chances) Tiger Woods started Sunday 3 strokes behind Paddy Harrington and by the 3rd hole, they were tied. A few holes later, Tiger was 2 strokes ahead of Harrington. Padraig went Par-Par-Par-Par-Par and Tiger went Par-Eagle-Par-Birdie-Birdie through the first 5 holes. The Irishman was doing everything he should have been doing with a 3-stroke lead, but he wasn't doing anything he should have been doing with a 3-stroke lead, over Tiger Woods, on a Sunday, at Firestone. Tiger owns that course. He has won seven tournaments at Firestone, the first player ever to win seven times on the same golf course. Ten percent of his career wins have come at the South Course in Akron.
That's right, Tiger won his 70th tournament yesterday. The man is only 33 years old and has won 70 tournaments. That is unheard of. Tiger is only the 3rd player to reach 70 career victories. The other two are Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus. Snead is the all-time leader with 82 wins and Nicklaus only holds a 3-victory lead on Woods now. I saw yesterday that Snead and Nicklaus didn't get to 70 until they were 40 or older. Tiger should easily take down Snead's record and has a great chance to be the only 100-Tournament Winner ever. He is a dominant force. It almost seems unfair. Woods has the greatest work ethic of any golfer out there. He is out there each weekend for one reason-- To win. He's also won 14 Major championships and should break the record of 18 in a year or two.
Then there are the Indians. They are, once again, building me up just to rip my heart out. They are playing so well right now. They've won 3 series in a row against Central Division opponents and have won something like 11 of their last 16. Who do they think they are? Why couldn't they do this when Cliff and Victor were still here? I know what they're going to do. They'll fight all the way back to .500, give us all hope for a competitive 2010 season and then under perform just like this year. It's a vicious circle this team is in. They are cutting payroll because Larry Dolan is going to lose 16 Million dollars this year. Maybe if he knew how to run a baseball team, he wouldn't be losing money.
The Crushers are leading the Wild Card standings in the Frontier League and are just 4 games out of first. No matter what Lake Erie does, the Kalamazoo Kings just keep holding on to first place. I really hope the Crushers hold on and make it to the playoffs. It's nice that at least one team in the area is performing well.
Eric Mangini is already putting the iron fist down, cutting Shaun Smith from the team after 2 years and 2 sacks. Mangini wasn't happy with the way Smith came into camp--out of shape and with a bad attitude. Coach Mangini will not put up with crap the way that Romeo did. He is going to run the guys when they screw up and applaud them when they do something well, but he will not be kissing their butts they way Romeo did. Crennel was such a pushover and it was reflected on the field. No more of that crap. I think this season will be successful one way or the other.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
That's right, Tiger won his 70th tournament yesterday. The man is only 33 years old and has won 70 tournaments. That is unheard of. Tiger is only the 3rd player to reach 70 career victories. The other two are Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus. Snead is the all-time leader with 82 wins and Nicklaus only holds a 3-victory lead on Woods now. I saw yesterday that Snead and Nicklaus didn't get to 70 until they were 40 or older. Tiger should easily take down Snead's record and has a great chance to be the only 100-Tournament Winner ever. He is a dominant force. It almost seems unfair. Woods has the greatest work ethic of any golfer out there. He is out there each weekend for one reason-- To win. He's also won 14 Major championships and should break the record of 18 in a year or two.
Then there are the Indians. They are, once again, building me up just to rip my heart out. They are playing so well right now. They've won 3 series in a row against Central Division opponents and have won something like 11 of their last 16. Who do they think they are? Why couldn't they do this when Cliff and Victor were still here? I know what they're going to do. They'll fight all the way back to .500, give us all hope for a competitive 2010 season and then under perform just like this year. It's a vicious circle this team is in. They are cutting payroll because Larry Dolan is going to lose 16 Million dollars this year. Maybe if he knew how to run a baseball team, he wouldn't be losing money.
The Crushers are leading the Wild Card standings in the Frontier League and are just 4 games out of first. No matter what Lake Erie does, the Kalamazoo Kings just keep holding on to first place. I really hope the Crushers hold on and make it to the playoffs. It's nice that at least one team in the area is performing well.
Eric Mangini is already putting the iron fist down, cutting Shaun Smith from the team after 2 years and 2 sacks. Mangini wasn't happy with the way Smith came into camp--out of shape and with a bad attitude. Coach Mangini will not put up with crap the way that Romeo did. He is going to run the guys when they screw up and applaud them when they do something well, but he will not be kissing their butts they way Romeo did. Crennel was such a pushover and it was reflected on the field. No more of that crap. I think this season will be successful one way or the other.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
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