The State of Sports Jan. 13th

-Football

-Second Round of the NFL Playoff Preview: (NFC Teams)

-Washington at Seattle (Sat. 4:30) FOX
When I asked my friend Carmine who would win this game, his reply was : "If the Seahawks loose this game, they should be banished from the leauge for three seasons." His point while invalid right on the money, figuratively speaking. Fact of the matter is, Seattle has played to win games all season. They can run the ball down your throat with league MVP Shaun Alexander and quarterback Matt Hasselback knows how to spread the ball around. However, their defense is mediocre (17th in yards given up per game) and is overshadowed by their offense that puts points on the board.

The Redskins on the other hand have a defense that just is very physical. They are expected to give the Seahawks quite the game. Last week, they faced the second best defense in the league with Tampa Bay. They not only shut down the league rookie of the year, but the teams top receiver, Joey Galloway. In watching that game, it was a well defensive game played by Washington.

This game will be different. I dont think Clinton Portis will rush for more than 100 yards in this game. The Redskins might get in the redzone, but they will get stopped in the running game, forcing 'Skins QB to pass, and he will get stopped. The Seahawks will grind the clock down with drives, instead of just trying to rush, rush, and more rushing with Alexander. They will try to challenge this Redskins linebackers and secondary to stop him. The score wont even be close. The Seahawks are too good a team to get beaten.

-Pick- Seahawks, the spread is 9, id give them more


-Carolina at Chicago (Sun. 4:30) FOX
Chicago has the best defense in the NFL this year. Hands down, they can and will dominate the game with their starting defensive line, linebackers, and secondary. In fact, the Bears are in the top 5 in about every single category in defense. This includes sacks, interceptions, and tackles. Not only that, but they have the AP defensive player of the year, linebacker Brian Urlacher on their team. The only problem: The Bears are 28th in the league in total offense. And second to dead last in 3rd down conversions.

Maybe this is Delhommes game to shine. Last time these two teams faced off, he threw two picks and the Bears were up 10-0. According to John Clayton, of ESPN, the Bears have had 34 turnovers this season. Of those 34 turnovers, they have converted 104 points or 40% of thier total offense has come from turnovers. So the game plan for Carolina is very simple. Dont turn the ball over. I think the Bears will stop the run. My good freind Adam predicts Carolina killing Chicago with the running game. Deshaun Foster ran well last week, but that was versus a pretty banged up defense in the Giants. I really think they will pressure Delhomme to throw the ball downfield.

The Carolina defense is more than likely going to stop the pass and the run for the Bears. They are the Alabama Crimson tide of the NFL. The tide couldn't put up points, but they could stop you at the goal line at the 1, with fourth and goal. The Carolina defense is ranked 5th in points per game (16.2) and 3rd (behind Chicago) in yards given up per game. Carolina also stopped Eli Mannings high powered offense and held the #2 rushing yard running back to 13 rushes for 41 yards.

Despite what my friend Adam thinks will be a blowout, I think Rex Grossman has played more consistently in the past two weeks, and will spread the ball around just enough to keep a balanced running/pass attack. Who am I kidding with that statement? I also think the Bears will create turnovers, and make this game a field goal game.

-Pick- Chicago in a low scoring game

The State of Sports Jan. 12th

-Football

-Second Round of the NFL Playoff Preview: (AFC Teams)

-Patriots at Denver (Sat. 8:00) CBS
I have heard many things about this game. And its only been five days since ive heard that New England was playing Denver. This game is being hyped up by both media outlets in their respective towns, and its all people seem to want to bring up. Wibur seems to bring out the best in this factor, in his blogpost today. Forget Mannys problems. Forget Alito's possible confirmation by the Senate. Forget the fact that maybe this isn't the Bruins and Cetics year. Its all about the Patriots. The defending World Champions.

Denver thinks this is thier opportunity. Since the end of the John Elway Era, the Broncos have seen three playoff games in the last six years, and lost all of them. In those six years, the Broncos have seen two different quarterbacks, five different running backs, and one good playmaking reciever. The fans think this is the year. The fans know this is the game to shock America.

Denver went out and added a defensive line so that it could constantly rotate and bring fresh bodys in to counter whatever offensive line is out on the field and keep the pressure on the quarterback. Belichick noted this in his press conference yesterday. The Broncos also focus the key to their game is ball control. They lead the league in time of possession (32:42 average). In focusing on ball control, they outscore their opponents by scoring early (81-44 in the first half), and scoring late (143-61 in the second half).

They have experienced running back Mike Anderson at the helm, who has rushed for 1,014 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. To complement him, you also have Tatum Bell who has rushed for 921 yards and 8 touchdowns. Denver hardly turns the ball over. In fact, quarterback Jake Plummer has thrown 7 ints all season. No other 16 game starting quarterback has done that this season. His main target is Rod Smith. Smith was 3rd in the AFC in receptions (85) and 4th in the AFC in receiving yards (1105).

Denver has its fare share of holes, however. According to Mike Riess (of the Boston Globe).
Denver is weak on third-down offense (36.2 percent; 22nd in NFL), pass defense (227.7 yards per game; 29th in NFL), kickoff coverage (25.3 yards allowed per runback; 29th in NFL), and lack of pass rush (28 sacks in 613 attempts; 32nd in NFL).

Bosoxguy and myself talked at length about the keys to the game. He said the following:
-Create as many 2nd and 3rd long opportunitys as possible. This basically means shutting Tatum Bell and Mike Anderson down. This really is the backbone of the Denver offense. Denver is second in the league in rushing yards per game (158.7 per game)
-That way the Patriots defense must keep Jake Plummer from moving the ball around, and finding holes in the secondary.
-The battle for turnovers is a must in this game. The Patriots cannot afford to loose fumbles, and Tom Brady cannot afford to throw interceptions. Denver finished with a plus 20 turnover differential on the season (36 takeaways and 16 giveaways; second best in the NFL).
-New England must also establish a running game. Dillion and Faulk are among the best pass-rush receiver tandum in the NFL. Dillion must rush for 75 yards or both must combine for 100 plus, on the day. New England cant afford to have as many first and long situations, like they did last week, against Jacksonville.

I would like to add that the other key to the game for Tom Brady has got to expose Denvers weak secondary. Denver drafted three rookie defensive backs. Although they have corner Champ Bailey, and veteran saftey John Lynch, Denver is ranked 29th in the NFL in pass coverage. Brady should have a field day. Patrick Pass was the main running back, earlier in the sesaon for the Pats. Now they have Dillion and Faulk are the running game now.

The Patriots are also a better team than they were when they played the Broncos. According to the depth chart, the Pats have Richard Seymour, Artrell Hawkins, and Teddy Bruschi playing in this game. Bruschi didnt return until after the bye week and Hawkins hadnt been signed yet. They also had Ellis Hobbes on the bench, because he was a rookie corner in a complex defense. Their other corners were Randall Gay, Autro Freeman, and Duane Starks, and two of them are currently on the IR. They have been replaced by Hawkins, and Ellis Hobbes. My point is this is a better defense than the one that faced the Broncos week 6. A better defense than the one that faced them and gave up 178 yards on 34 carries.

This game is no cake walk. Both defenses will play physical and you know the Pats always find ways to win and come ready to play. The second half will be an adjustment period. Both quarterbacks will step up to the plate and try and deliver their team the victory. Its too bad one team has to loose in the process.

-Pick- New England, in a close game in the 20 point range.



-Pittsburg at Indianapolis (Sun. 1:00) CBS
Unlike the Denver Broncos, Pittsburg is looking for redemption. Since winning the AFC Championship in 95' they havent made a Superbowl since. The Steelers are 5-5 in the postseason, and have lost the 2004, 2001, and 1997 AFC Championship games. How frustrating it must be. Riding on momentum is a key for them right now. After taking out Carson Palmer on the second play of the drive, Pittsburg defense absolutly shut Cincinati down, and they won the game.

Who knew one of the best performers of the game was going to be injured like that. Had he not been injured, Cincinati might have been able to make it a ball game. Palmer is a playmaker. He didnt give up, when the Colts were ahead by a touchdown in that game. He just kept throwing the ball downfield. He tried to expose the weak Colts secondary. Instead, he was replaced by a decent quarterback in Kitna, who hasnt reguarly started since 2003.

A majority of people think that the Colts havent been playing well lately. After loosing to the Chargers in Week 14, the Colts have tried to play back-up Jim Sorgi, and get him some NFL experience. Sorgi, has actually thrown the ball well, but it wasnt enough to beat the Seahawks. In, the last game of the season (a 13-16 victory), the Colts barely ran the ball well, and Sorgi absolutley took over in that game. But thats why you play rookies in meaningless games; to see what they can and cant do. Also, the suicide of Tony Dungy's son, will have an impact on that team. People say it just effects them the head coach in a negative way.

But the Colts are a team that you dont mess with. They have a very good front seven on defense with Dwight Freeny and Corey Simon, who know how to pressure a quarterback. The Colts are also 2nd in points scored per game (27.4) , and 3rd in yards of offense per game (362.4). Their defense has also gotten better this year as they are ranked 11th in yards per game, as opposed to last years mark of 28th in the league. I think Payton Manning and Edgerrin James is always dangerous, and it will be a close game.

Pittsburg has a very good defense that could stop the Colts in thier tracks, like the Patriots did last year. They are ranked 3rd in the NFL in points per game (16.1), 4th in yards given up per game. But I think the Colts defense is just better at making turnovers. Ben Rothlesberger may have played his balls out, versus a good Cincinati Bengals defense, but I dont think it will get the job done. I think the Colts will stop the run as well.

-Pick- Colts, by a touchdown in a 20 point scoring game

The State of Sports Jan. 8th

-Book Reviews


-Chasing Stienbrenner: Pursuing the Pennant in Boston & Toronto
-By- Rob Bradford
Rob Bradford, beat writer for the Lowell-Sun, wrote this book before the spring training of 2004. So we are moving through the 2003 season following both the Red Sox and Blue Jays front offices. It has a lot of stuff on the beginning of the season, and the end of the season outcomes, but nothing really on the middle of the season. You expect for good MLB coverage on the amateur June draft, like the awesome chapter in Moneyball, but it is hardly that. You go in thinking this book is about George Steinbrenner, but it hardly even mentions his name. Bradford paints the portrait of JP Riccardi, Kevin Millar, Brandon Lyon, and other players of the 03' season so well. But the book fell way short of my expectations.

On the bright side, he does make a good point. He mentions the fault of the bullpen by committee that the Sox opened the season with. He mentions of all people, Brandon Lyon, who actually plays an important role in this book. I was hoping for an intricate look inside a front office, and got that. I was looking for him to maybe paint the portrait of Theo and his front office and how they worked together. I was hoping to maybe use that as proof that Theo really maybe is just sitting out and advising the current front office. The only thing I can draw, is that they worked as a team. There really was no drama, and it was like your typical accounting office, down to the fantasy football draft.

I was disappointed, but maybe you wont be. Maybe you will walk away from this book with something else. I will use this book as the low and Moneyball as the high when it comes to books about a francises front office. This book makes you appreciate the small market teams, like Toronto a little more.

-Perfect I'm Not: Boomer on beer, Brawls, Backaches, and Baseball
-By- David Wells
The David Wells autobiography really is as good as advertised. I bought this book in October, and put it on the backburner most of the time to write this blog. However, I should have finished it way sooner than I did. He makes you look at things from the players point of view. He is not your typical player, because hes a guy. Your typical guy. Beer drinking, woman chasing, average joe guy. Thats the point of view you see. Forget, that he is somewhat of a hothead. Hes a normal guy, just like anyone else, and thats the point of view you have to read the book from.

Theres something about David Wells ive liked. Hes consistent. Hes good for 13-15 wins a year. Hes one of the oldest pitchers in baseball, and (hopefully) still going to pitch for the Sox next season. His stories are priceless, on the many pranks he had, and his inside look at inside a major league clubhouse. He just goes season from season to season when he started out in the Blue Jay farm system, and up through the 02' Yankee season. He literally breaks it down, and tells it like it is. I think that is one of the best qualitys of the book.

I can see why Roger Clemens was mad about Wells being half drunk, while pitching a perfect game. Wells literally makes it sound like being drunk "enhanced" his pitches, and it was one of the best things to ever happen to him. I mean, 6-7 pages for quite the story. Wells literally braggs about it. But, that's just Boomer for you. This book is a must read, and im glad I waited for the book to come out in paperback. If only he had waited until he was out of baseball.


-Patriot Reign
-By- Michael Holley
Of all the books ive read, this is probably one of the most soundly written books ive read. Holley wanted to write this after the first superbowl season (over the Rams), but the Pats fell short of everyones expecations. But, the irony is you realize that both Scott Pioli and Belichick make some key moves to help out the ball club. Both go out and win another championship. Holley paints a picture of both men and thier quest to put out the best on the field, without mentioning the cap numbers. You dont even think twice about the money aspect of things, because that's not what this book is about.

This book is about the New England Patriots. This book is about the front office, the world champion coaching staff, and its players. This book is about the ups and downs of football. You get the look on how Belichick tries to find ways to win.

Towards the middle of the book, Holley starts mentioning who they played on a week-by-week basis, and I just love how he does it. It makes you think, "where was I when this happened?" I love that, because thats what makes being a Pats fan so interresting. Holley doesnt even have to say what happened, you just get this reminder. And then you remember. This is one of the keys that makes this book so good.

Holleys many Belichicks anecdotes never seem to run out. The charm of the Patriots, and its players never runs dry in this book. You see a side of Tom Brady that you so totally want to see. One of those players who loves to play when the game is on the line. Thats when he wants to shine, and compete for a title. You see, the struggle of how the Pats in the early 90's were just bad with Parcells, even though he won an AFC championship. Then you see the contrast of how really good Belicheck really is. The comparing and contrasting of two really good coaches is very good.

I highly recommend this book to any football fan, any sports fan, and my dad (who really doesnt care about sports that much). This easy read is for anyone who likes to read about a front office in the "cut-throat" nature of the NFL, and anyone who just likes to read.

-Bridgwater State Coach Joe Farroba, and Bosoxguy both recommended that I get "Education of a Coach, "by Redford, but I will wait until it comes out in paperback.