With one game left in the regular season of the NFl, it's time to break down the season.
Things we've learned this season:
- The Jets are definitely not for real.
- The Lions' future is bright
- The AFC West is pitiful
- Likewise is the AFC South
- The AFC lacks a real dominant team
- The NFC was 2-3 dominant teams
The Jets got grounded by their crosstown rival, the Giants. There's nothing much to say about the Jets except for the fact that Mark Sanchez is NOT the answer at quaterback. The only way they make the playoffs is with a lot of help from other teams...and they have to beat Miami, which is much improved compared to the beginning of the season. As long as Sanchez is running the Jets offense, they're not going to win a Super Bowl and they're going to struggle getting into the playoffs in future season. The future isn't looking to bright in New York.
On the other hand, in Detroit, the Lions' future is looking really good. They have come a long, long way from going 0-16. Unlike other perrenial bottom dwellers, the Lions have put their early draft picks to good use; they've drafted a solid quaterback, a deadly receiver, and hungry defensive line. It's a shame that they're in the same division as arguably the best team in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers.
The AFC west is horrible. There is talent in this division with the Raiders and Chargers but talent alone isn't enough in this league. The Raiders were hit pretty hard by the loss of Darren McFadden, but even with the loss of McFadden, the Raiders should have been set for the playoffs. Instead, they decided to not show up in Miami and got blown out, and blew a two possession lead in the fourth quarter to the Lions. Inconsistency and lack of discipline have hurt the Raiders. They Raiders began the season hot, lost Jason Campbell, got Carson Palmer, and then looked promising for awhile before dropping the gauntlet for three consecutive weeks. Perhaps the only thing consistent about the Raiders is committing penalties - lots of them. The Raiders are merely four penalties shy on breaking the single season record for penalties. Had the team been consistent and committed less penalties, they would be resting for the playoffs right now. Instead they have to count on a Denver loss and need to beat the Chargers. So much for controlling they're own fate.
The Denver Broncos were galloping along with Tim Tebow until someone took out their steam. Tebow committed only two turnovers in his first starts but has committed four in his last game alone. The Broncos have a long way to go to be a good team, but hey, they can go to the playoffs with a win.
With the injury to Matt Schuab, the Texans all of a sudden don't look too good. Yes, they're defense is solid. Yes, they have arguably the best running back duo in the NFL. But you simply can't win playoff games with a third string quaterback, sorry. This playoff bound Texan team is the same team which lost to the lowly Colts who are 2-13. The Colts are horrible. They're only hope is to lose again, get the number one draft choice, get Andrew Luck, or hope the aging Peyton Manning is back to full strength next year. The other teams in the division, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars aren't all the good either. The Titans are decent, and the Jaguars have a way to go before they become contenders.
As a whole, the AFC lacks a real contender. The Patriots are good, but are totally beatable because of a porous pass defense. The Ravens have played pretty poorly in a couple games this year. The Steelers are playing with a crippled Big Ben. The rest of the AFC varies from decent to average to downright horrible.
However in the the NFC, there is two to three real contenders. The Green Bay Packers have one loss and Aaron Rodgers at the helm. Need is say more? The Saints are playing great football and that's due to Drew Brees having a MVP-type season. The 49ers are interesting. Yes, they have played better than other teams in the league and have a rock solid defense. But I'm hesitant to call them a real contender because of Alex Smith. Would you want him to have to throw the ball to win a game? I wouldn't.
As the season comes to a close, we've learned a lot. They playoffs should definitely be interesting this year.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Raiders and 49ers
The two professional football teams in the bay area - Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers are poised to make the playoffs for the first time in a while. Both teams have recovered from having absolutely horrible seasons and both have new head coaches.
For the 49ers (9-2) signing Jim Harbaugh as head coach was one of the best moves that they have done. Harbaugh was the perfect fit for a 49ers team that has one of the best running backs in all of the NFL, Frank Gore. This coming Sunday, the 49ers can clinch, guarantee themselves, a playoff berth - 4 weeks before the season ends. While the 49ers wins haven't been flashy or pretty by any means, the niners know how to win games. Alex Smith, quarterback, is finally managing the game like a professional and that's largely due to Harbaugh's coaching style.
On the other side of the bay, the Oakland Raiders (7-4) are also having one of their most successful seasons in a long time. This season has been interesting for the Raiders to say the least. The Raiders began the season 4-2 and were beginning to look like a legitimate team. However in the seventh game of the season, quarterback Jason Campbell broke his colloarbone, thus preventing him from playing again for the entire season. The Raiders then immediately signed Carson Palmer, and it appeared that all was lost. In his first action with the Raiders, he threw three interceptions - in one half. In his next game, he lost to a Denver Bronco team once again throwing three interceptions. However, after time to gel with the team, Palmer has found his swagger and has led the Raiders to three consecutive wins and first place in the AFC West.
While the Raiders are currently playing well, their path to the playoffs will be much more difficult than that of the 49ers. The Raiders currently lead their division by one game over the very hot Denver Broncos. The Broncos play two more tough games and will probably finish the season 9-8. The Raiders, on the otherhand, will end the season against two playoff teams, Kansas City team that beat the Raiders, and a talented but underachieving San Diego squad. Despite having a much more difficult finishing schedule than the Broncos, I think the Raiders can win two of their final four games and will finish the season 10-6. If they finish 10-6, the Raiders will earn a playoff spot and will likely face the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, or the Cincinati Bengals. If they get the Steelers or Broncos, the Raiders will have a difficult time winning, but if they get the Bengals, they have a higher chance to win. This is because the Bengals have a young quarterback, and Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer last played for the Bengals and was furious with the way they treated him. Expect Palmer to play with extra fire.
For the 49ers (9-2) signing Jim Harbaugh as head coach was one of the best moves that they have done. Harbaugh was the perfect fit for a 49ers team that has one of the best running backs in all of the NFL, Frank Gore. This coming Sunday, the 49ers can clinch, guarantee themselves, a playoff berth - 4 weeks before the season ends. While the 49ers wins haven't been flashy or pretty by any means, the niners know how to win games. Alex Smith, quarterback, is finally managing the game like a professional and that's largely due to Harbaugh's coaching style.
On the other side of the bay, the Oakland Raiders (7-4) are also having one of their most successful seasons in a long time. This season has been interesting for the Raiders to say the least. The Raiders began the season 4-2 and were beginning to look like a legitimate team. However in the seventh game of the season, quarterback Jason Campbell broke his colloarbone, thus preventing him from playing again for the entire season. The Raiders then immediately signed Carson Palmer, and it appeared that all was lost. In his first action with the Raiders, he threw three interceptions - in one half. In his next game, he lost to a Denver Bronco team once again throwing three interceptions. However, after time to gel with the team, Palmer has found his swagger and has led the Raiders to three consecutive wins and first place in the AFC West.
While the Raiders are currently playing well, their path to the playoffs will be much more difficult than that of the 49ers. The Raiders currently lead their division by one game over the very hot Denver Broncos. The Broncos play two more tough games and will probably finish the season 9-8. The Raiders, on the otherhand, will end the season against two playoff teams, Kansas City team that beat the Raiders, and a talented but underachieving San Diego squad. Despite having a much more difficult finishing schedule than the Broncos, I think the Raiders can win two of their final four games and will finish the season 10-6. If they finish 10-6, the Raiders will earn a playoff spot and will likely face the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, or the Cincinati Bengals. If they get the Steelers or Broncos, the Raiders will have a difficult time winning, but if they get the Bengals, they have a higher chance to win. This is because the Bengals have a young quarterback, and Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer last played for the Bengals and was furious with the way they treated him. Expect Palmer to play with extra fire.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Keys to the Game: Stanford vs Oregon
Saturday, two of the nations top teams, the Stanford Cardinal and Oregon Ducks, will face off in Palo Alto, CA.
Stanford, ranked number 4 in the nation, will have to rely on Heisman candidate quarterback Andrew Luck to overcome the speedy Oregon squad, ranked number 7 in the nation.
Oregon's speed will pose a major challenge to the Stanford team on defense. The only way to defeat this high-flying Ducks team is to contain the running game which features LaMichael James and DeAnthony Thomas. If Stanford provides any gap or lane to run through, expect James or Thomas to be long gone, leaving Stanford defenders in their dust as they race to the end zone. How can the Oregon running game be contained? The answer is with linebackers. The Stanford linebackers need to be sharp and aware of where the Oregon running backs are trying to squeeze through. When the linebackers realize where the running lane is, they have to run to the lane and make sure to hit the running back. And by hit, I mean tackle him and bring them to the ground, which is no easy task. If James or Thomas isn't brought down, then just go Youtube "LaMichael James highlights". You'll see what that guy can do.
In addition, Stanford needs to be prepared for Oregon's no huddle offense. By running a no huddle offense, Oregon wastes no time between plays which makes it virtually impossible for a defense to make the necessary substitutes, call a play, change the play, and be in position. If Stanford cannot keep up with Oregon's pace, the Ducks will score every time they get the ball.
On offense, Stanford has to establish their own running game. Unlike Oregon, Stanford's running game is less about flash and outrunning the opponent. Stanford prefers to run right into the heart of the defense and completely overpower the defense. If the Cardinals gain decent yardage on the ground, future NFL quarterback Andrew Luck will have a much easier time passing the ball. Having a successful running game forces the defense to bring more players to stop the run. When this happens, Stanford can simply fake a run, confuse the defense, and complete a pass for potentially a big gain. If Stanford doesn't establish their running game, then Oregon can comfortably wait in pass coverage and make life miserable for Luck.
Prediction:
As much as my heart tells me to that Andrew Luck will make the Cardinals "Lucky" and beat the Ducks, my brain tells me otherwise. Look for Oregon to be too fast for Stanford and win 35-20.
Stanford, ranked number 4 in the nation, will have to rely on Heisman candidate quarterback Andrew Luck to overcome the speedy Oregon squad, ranked number 7 in the nation.
Oregon's speed will pose a major challenge to the Stanford team on defense. The only way to defeat this high-flying Ducks team is to contain the running game which features LaMichael James and DeAnthony Thomas. If Stanford provides any gap or lane to run through, expect James or Thomas to be long gone, leaving Stanford defenders in their dust as they race to the end zone. How can the Oregon running game be contained? The answer is with linebackers. The Stanford linebackers need to be sharp and aware of where the Oregon running backs are trying to squeeze through. When the linebackers realize where the running lane is, they have to run to the lane and make sure to hit the running back. And by hit, I mean tackle him and bring them to the ground, which is no easy task. If James or Thomas isn't brought down, then just go Youtube "LaMichael James highlights". You'll see what that guy can do.
In addition, Stanford needs to be prepared for Oregon's no huddle offense. By running a no huddle offense, Oregon wastes no time between plays which makes it virtually impossible for a defense to make the necessary substitutes, call a play, change the play, and be in position. If Stanford cannot keep up with Oregon's pace, the Ducks will score every time they get the ball.
On offense, Stanford has to establish their own running game. Unlike Oregon, Stanford's running game is less about flash and outrunning the opponent. Stanford prefers to run right into the heart of the defense and completely overpower the defense. If the Cardinals gain decent yardage on the ground, future NFL quarterback Andrew Luck will have a much easier time passing the ball. Having a successful running game forces the defense to bring more players to stop the run. When this happens, Stanford can simply fake a run, confuse the defense, and complete a pass for potentially a big gain. If Stanford doesn't establish their running game, then Oregon can comfortably wait in pass coverage and make life miserable for Luck.
Prediction:
As much as my heart tells me to that Andrew Luck will make the Cardinals "Lucky" and beat the Ducks, my brain tells me otherwise. Look for Oregon to be too fast for Stanford and win 35-20.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Mandatory Post About My Blog
Basically in this post I;m going to talk about my best and worst posts and how to improve my blog.
So far since I started this blog I've made four posts and only three of them are true pots because the first one is an introduction to my blog. If I had to single out a single post as the worst, I would say it is my third post entitled "Greedy NBA Players". In that post I essentially wrote about the NBA Lockout and why it is stupid and frustrates me. Now, looking back, I realize that I failed to present my argument clearly.
My favorite most, so far, is "Getting to Sports: Baseball".I like this post because it is short, to the point, and ca teach people about her America's present. Another aspect of the blog I liked is that I didn't write the rules in paragraph form. By keeping it like notes, the post does a better job to kepp readers. I hope to really take off with this blog and make a series of it to help people get into the whole world of sports. I think that the next sports I have to talk about are: football, basketball, soccer, and hockey.
I think with the exception of one, my posts so far lack pictures. My posts are generally long block of text. I want to work to improve that by adding pictures. Adding pictures will bring more color to my blog in addition to breaking up the text. Mreover, I could use pictures to help explain what I am writing about.
So far since I started this blog I've made four posts and only three of them are true pots because the first one is an introduction to my blog. If I had to single out a single post as the worst, I would say it is my third post entitled "Greedy NBA Players". In that post I essentially wrote about the NBA Lockout and why it is stupid and frustrates me. Now, looking back, I realize that I failed to present my argument clearly.
My favorite most, so far, is "Getting to Sports: Baseball".I like this post because it is short, to the point, and ca teach people about her America's present. Another aspect of the blog I liked is that I didn't write the rules in paragraph form. By keeping it like notes, the post does a better job to kepp readers. I hope to really take off with this blog and make a series of it to help people get into the whole world of sports. I think that the next sports I have to talk about are: football, basketball, soccer, and hockey.
I think with the exception of one, my posts so far lack pictures. My posts are generally long block of text. I want to work to improve that by adding pictures. Adding pictures will bring more color to my blog in addition to breaking up the text. Mreover, I could use pictures to help explain what I am writing about.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Getting into sports: Baseball
This is going to be a start of a series of post about the basics of major sports because I want to reply to a comment that asked me to help him get into sports.
Because the Baseball World Series, or championship series, is about to begin, this post is going to be about baseball - America's pastime.
Here's the absolute must knows for baseball:
- The baseball field consists of an infield and outfield.
- The infield is primarily made of dirt and has the three bases: first, second, and third. The infield also includes home plate.
- The outfield is made of right, center, and left field. It is either grass or turf.
- A game consists of 9 innings.
- Each inning is divided into a top and bottom halves.
- In the top half of an inning, the away team bats and the home team pitches.
- In the bottom half of an inning, the home team bats while the away team pitches.
- Each half of an inning last for 3 outs.
- Outs can be made by:
- striking out a batter
- catching a ball before it hits the ground
- if the ball hits the ground, a player can pick it up and throw it to the base which the batter is running for. If the ball gets there before the batter, he's out and if not, he's safe.
- To strike out a batter, a pitcher must throw 3 strikes to the batter.
- Strikes are pitches that are: swung at by the batter and missed, a pitch the batter doesn't swing at, but is within two inches off the edges of home plate and between the knees and stomach area, or is a pitch the batter hits, but is hit foul (not in between first and third base) *note: The last example applies until there is two strikes. Once there is two strikes on a batter, fouling a pitch no longer counts as a strike.
- If the pitch isn't a strike, it is considered a ball. If the pitcher gives up four balls to a batter, the batter gets a walk, or a free pass to first base.
- To score a run a batter must reach first base, advance to second, third, and then to home without making an out.
If you somewhat understood the stuff above, try and watch a inning of baseball and it'll make more sense. If you didn't understand what I wrote, try reading it again or google it!
Because the Baseball World Series, or championship series, is about to begin, this post is going to be about baseball - America's pastime.
Here's the absolute must knows for baseball:
- The baseball field consists of an infield and outfield.
- The infield is primarily made of dirt and has the three bases: first, second, and third. The infield also includes home plate.
- The outfield is made of right, center, and left field. It is either grass or turf.
- A game consists of 9 innings.
- Each inning is divided into a top and bottom halves.
- In the top half of an inning, the away team bats and the home team pitches.
- In the bottom half of an inning, the home team bats while the away team pitches.
- Each half of an inning last for 3 outs.
- Outs can be made by:
- striking out a batter
- catching a ball before it hits the ground
- if the ball hits the ground, a player can pick it up and throw it to the base which the batter is running for. If the ball gets there before the batter, he's out and if not, he's safe.
- To strike out a batter, a pitcher must throw 3 strikes to the batter.
- Strikes are pitches that are: swung at by the batter and missed, a pitch the batter doesn't swing at, but is within two inches off the edges of home plate and between the knees and stomach area, or is a pitch the batter hits, but is hit foul (not in between first and third base) *note: The last example applies until there is two strikes. Once there is two strikes on a batter, fouling a pitch no longer counts as a strike.
- If the pitch isn't a strike, it is considered a ball. If the pitcher gives up four balls to a batter, the batter gets a walk, or a free pass to first base.
- To score a run a batter must reach first base, advance to second, third, and then to home without making an out.
If you somewhat understood the stuff above, try and watch a inning of baseball and it'll make more sense. If you didn't understand what I wrote, try reading it again or google it!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Greedy NBA Players
Who wants to watch the NBA this year? Well, too bad because it doesn't look like there is going to be a season.
This week it was announced by NBA commissioner(equivalent of a business CEO, except for basketball), David Stern, announced that as of now, the first two weeks of the season will be canceled.
NBA Commissioner David Stern
Photo From: here
Why? Following the conclusion of last season, the players union began talks with team owners about a petty issue. In a nutshell the argument is as follows:
The owners want more money and they want to have more control over how much the players get. The players on the other hand absolutely refuse to give up a percent or two of their pay.
Derek Fisher, Laker guard and representing players in negotiation
Photo From: here
The players are, in my opinion, extremely ungrateful because they cannot stand losing a percent or two. In reality, losing a fraction of their pay is mere pocket change because they already make millions of dollars every year - much more than the average American makes in a lifetime.
Furthermore, this lockout demonstrates that the players and owners alike don't care for their fans. What they fail to understand is that by going on lockout they aren't hurting the opposing side because both are already wealth. They only people they're hurting is the fans who pay and generate revenue for the teams. Now fans don't get to come home, sit down on the couch, and watch their team play. The only people who benefit are from foreign countries where the player will have to go if they want to play.
By not having a season at all, the owners don't make money, the players don't get paid, they players have to play abroad, and the fans don't get to watch.
Sounds like it's going to be a boring winter for NBA fans. It's times like this that make people appreciate collegiate and women's basketball.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Photo Finish to a Historic MLB Season
Hello again. I know I named this blog "Bay Area Sports" and readers assume it's going to be about well, sports in the Bay Area, but today I want to blog about Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011. Why Sept. 28, 2011? Sept. 28th in Major League Baseball can be described as historic, amazing, enthralling, extraordinary, and remarkable. Entering play last Wednesday, the last day of the regular season for Major League Baseball, the playoffs were far from settled.
Major League Baseball is divided into two leagues the National League (NL) and the American League (AL). Each league is then divided into three divisions: the west division, central division, and east division. In order for qualify for the playoffs, there is two things a team can do, win their division or win their league's wild card position.
On Wednesday, the division winners were already finalized, but the wild-card spots were open for the taking. In the American League the team's vying for wild card were the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In the National League the wild card sport was between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Now, let's backtrack about one month so we can understand why Wednesday was historic. On Sept. 3rd, the playoffs looked to be set. The Red Sox led the Devil Rays by 9 games for the AL wild card and the Braves led the Cardinals by 7.5 games. Considering there was only 27 games left in the regular season this was a monumental lead. Why is this a monumental lead?
In baseball, the lead a team has can change under specific conditions. Here is how a lead changes.
- If the leader (Red Sox, Braves) lose, and the chaser (Devil Rays, Cardinals) win, the lead is decreased by one game.
- If the leader wins and the chaser loses, the lead is increased by one game.
- If the leader doesn't have a game, and the chaser wins, the lead is decreased by a half of a game. If the leader doesn't have a game, and the the chaser loses, the lead is increased by half of a game.
- If the leader wins and the chaser is idle, the lead is increased by a half of a game. IF the leader loses and the chaser is idle, the lead is decreased by half of a game.
And that's exactly what happened. The Devil Rays had a 17-9 record in Sept. while the Red Sox sank with a record of 7-20. In the National League the Cardinals went 18-8 and the Braves limped to the finish line with a record of 9-18. The finish to this season's playoff push is historic because of the fact that there haven't many collapses of any teams like the Red Sox and Braves, let alone has two teams broke apart -- in one season. Additionally, the wild card races weretied going into the last day of the season, Wednesday, Sept. 28th.
As the final games progressed, it appeared that the Red Sox and Braves would live to fight another day despite their finish. The Red Sox were leading the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 in the 7th inning, while in Tampa, the Devil Rays were being murdered by the New York Yankees 7-0 in the 7th inning. In the NL, the Cardinals shut out the Astros 8-0, but the Braves were leading the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 in the final inning. All the Braves had to do was finish the game, which would have forced a single game playoff between the Cardinals and Braves to determine which team moved on.
The Devil Rays wouldn't fold, and fought back and tied the game with two outs when pinch hitter Dan Johnson, former A's player, belted a home run. Meanwhile in Baltimore, rain delayed the game for awhile, but when play restarted, the Orioles were determined to ruin the Red Sox's season. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the Orioles strung together some two out hits and won 4-3. Back in Tampa the game was moving along, but when the Red Sox lost was announced to the stadium, the fans went wild and eight minutes later, Evan Longoria won the game with a walk-off home run.
In Philly, the the Braves failed to wrap the game up, and by doing so, failed to wrap their season up. They gave up a run in the ninth which forced extra innings. The Phillies squeezed by and won 4-3.
By losing their games, the Red Sox and Braves completed their collapse of epic proportions and the Devil Rays and Cardinals march on to the playoffs riding a wave of momentum. Whoever has to play these teams -- beware.
Geez, this is really long. Two things. I apologize for making this really long, but this really was historic. Secondly, Congrats for reading this.
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