NFL Draft 2011: Preview

So I’m sure after reading my last story, you’re probably asking, “Sam, how are you such a skilled writer?” well that article would have to be turned into a book. But perhaps you are wondering what’s going on in the draft world outside of Indiana.

There are several teams in the NFL that are in need of an elite quarterback, or in need of drafting at the least a good quarterback. Those teams include, but are not limited to; Arizona, Buffalo, Carolina, Cincinnati, Minnesota, San Francisco, Seattle, Tennessee, and Washington.  There is quite an abundance of QB’s in the draft, the problem is none of them have proven that they will be able to lead a team and become a franchise quarterback.

Below is a list of a few of the big name quarterbacks that are expected to make a splash in the Draft and NFL.

Cam Newton- Played only year at Auburn University after transferring from junior college. He won a national championship at that junior college, as well as with Auburn. He has shown some character issues and is a running quarterback, but has a cannon for an arm. I really liked this guy at Auburn, I watched several games and he never failed to impress me. I’m just unsure if his talents will translate to being successful at the professional level though. I’m hoping the Carolina Panthers, who have the first pick in the Draft, don’t pick this guy or any other quarterback. If they do, then former Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen would probably lose his starting position.

Blaine Gabbert- I know absolutely nothing about this guy, except NFL scouts have been watching him since he was a backup to current NFL QB Chase Daniel. In his 2010 season at Missouri, Gabbert threw for over 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns, with a QB rating of 127(ESPN.com). Peter King wrote that Gabbert “rarely threw downfield at Missouri, isn't as football-smart or as prepared to play in new coordinator Jay Gruden's quick-decision passing scheme as some of the other quarterbacks coming out”. So take that for what it’s worth, but I’m not buying on Gabbert either.

Ryan Mallet- Mallet enrolled at Michigan but transferred to Arkansas after his freshman season. In his two years at Arkansas he threw for 52 touchdowns, almost 7,500 yards, and just 19 interceptions. Needless to say, this guy likes to throw. He has the size to be a great quarterback, but he has his flaws, ones that come from off the field. There have been numerous stories that have linked Mallet to drug use, excessive partying, and have questioned his character.

Other quarterbacks expected to be taken in the early rounds of the Draft include:

- Jake Locker (Washington)

- Andy Dalton (TCU)

- Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech)

- Christian Ponder (Florida State)

- Colin Capernick (Nevada)

- Ricky Stanzi (Iowa)

- Greg McElroy (Alabama)

- T. J. Yates (North Carolina)

                 

           It’s crazy to see Greg McElroy, a guy that won a national championship two years ago, be so far down on the list of QB’s wanted. Tyrod Taylor won’t do anything in the NFL, he’s too small. I’m predicating Jake Locker will make the biggest positive impact of any of these players.

The 1^st Round of the 2011 Draft will take place Thursday night at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The 2^nd and 3^rd Round are Friday night, rounds 4 thru 7 will occur Saturday.

NFL Draft 2011: Colts Preview

Ah, the NFL Draft is here once again, occurring once a year like the annual excitement of Chicago Cubs fans for the upcoming season, and then their bitter disappointment by June. I am not a huge fan of the Draft. It’s just as asinine as all the college football “Signing Day” coverage. It’s insane to put so much media attention and emphasis into the unpredictable athletic futures of young men. I will watch the first round Thursday night and probably some of the second round Friday night. Beyond that though, my only concern will be seeing who the Indianapolis Colts decide is worthy of playing in the NFL.

Everybody and their mom think the Colts’ primary concern in the draft is an offensive lineman. I could not disagree more. For me, the biggest concern is on the defensive line.

Kerry J. Byrne, who writes for Sports Illustrated, also has the same opinion as he wrote “The Colts averaged 3.77 YPA on the ground in 2010 (27th league-wide). But plenty of teams have won Super Bowls with poor running attacks, including many worse than the one Indy fielded in 2010. In fact, as noted above, the Super Bowl champ Packers did not run particularly well, either: just a tiny shade better than Indy with an average of 3.81”. (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011)

               

You gotta believe that the reason for the poor run game was the lack of a dangerous passing game. Tight End Dallas Clark went down in Week 6, receiver Austin Collie in Week 10, and receiver Anthony Gonzalez only played in two games. When a star tight end like Clark goes down, teams that would usually use a cornerback to cover him can now bring in a linebacker to cover the slower Jacob Tamme (back up to Clark). That extra linebacker is able to play more of the middle of the field and is a better tackler than a cornerback.

               

Plus, it’s not exactly the Colts have a dangerous threat at running back. Maybe the Colts should try and find a legit back. Addai is never going to be a superstar, nor is Donald Brown, or any tail back on the Colts roster.

               

Byrne also brings up two important statistics concerning Indy’s defense. The first is the fact they gave up 4.57 YPA on rushing attempts. The second is that Indy’s defense forced quarterbacks to make negative passing plays only 7.1% of the time, only the Denver Broncos had a worse percentage! Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are fantastic defensive ends, but it was so glaringly obvious that teams were able to run right past them up the middle last season. The Indianapolis Colts front office and its fans need to look at all the statistics from last season before jumping into this year’s draft.

Peter King and Don Banks of Sports Illustrated have Indianapolis drafting offensive lineman Nate Solder from Colorado; who both say that Solder is a great pass blocker. Mike Maycock, Bucky Brooks, and Steve Wyche from NFL.com also believe the Colts will draft Solder. Only Pat Kirwan from NFL.com thinks the Colts will select a defensive tackle, that being Corey Liuget from Illinois.

It’s guaranteed that the Indianapolis Colts will draft either an offensive or defensive lineman in the 2011 Draft, but which will remain unknown until about 24 hours from now. The Colts will also be looking for help in the secondary, and perhaps at the running back position, and the heir to Mr. Peyton Manning.

Classy Chicago Fans and NBA Playoffs

I’m gonna start this post with some grumblings toward the fine folks of the Windy City, so If you’re a Chicago fan, put on your big boy pants and get ready to face the truth.

The Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls played Games 3 and 4 of their series in Indianapolis over the weekend, and in both games Conseco Fieldhouse was almost 50-50 Bulls-Pacers. After the Bulls victory in game three, dozens of Bulls fans stood outside Conseco and basically caused a mob scene. The very classy Chicago fans waved signs, started chants, and called Pacers fans names I won’t repeat on this website. My best friend was downtown during the game and was called several names. I’ve also read numerous stories where people were harassed and were on the edge of being in physical altercations.

           

Let me tell you, I will NEVER visit or spend one dime in the city of Chicago again. What happened in both games was the most disrespectful display towards a team I have ever witnessed. I can live with out of towners coming to Indy to watch games. I can live with them standing around celebrating. But once you start to insult our city, fans, and players, then that’s when I get pissed off. The Bulls have NO reason to have so much hatred for the Pacers; they have no reason to hate Indianapolis so much.

           

It’s also interesting to me how the Chicago fans during Game 1(in Chicago) chanted “Pacers suck!”. To me, the “your team sucks” chant is a very seldom used chant and only used when the opposing team actually sucks and has done something horrible to your team. But to chant that towards the Pacers is the ultimate offense for me.

Just a few weeks ago my family was in St. Louis where we attended a St. Louis Blues fans. The fans there were the epitome of class. They stood and clapped for the opposing team’s (Calgary Flames) player introduction and national anthem, and I never once heard a “boooo!”. Chicago fans are a bunch of arrogant jerks who I hope never see a championship come to their city ever again.

Anyway, I’ll get on to actual basketball. The Pacers finally won their first playoff game since 2006; the only problem is they’re still done 3-1 to the Chicago Bulls. The Pacers barely eked out a victory Saturday afternoon against Derrick Rose and company in a Conseco Fieldhouse that contained way too many red-clad fans.

The Pacers led the entire game and at one point were up by 22 points. With 3:45 left in the game, the Pacers had a 15-point lead and looked well on the way an easy win, but the Bulls mounted a frantic charge and pulled within 3 points with 38 seconds left. Fortunately the Blue and Gold held on and send the series back to Chicago for game five Tuesday.

Indiana has started off strong in every game against the Bulls so far in the series.  They have pushed the Bulls until the very last seconds of the game and were so close to pulling off victories. The first three games were won by the Bulls by a combined 15 points, and as mentioned the Pacers definitely had their chances to get a win out of any of those three games.  

Now to check on my ever glorious NBA Playoff predictions. My predictions are listed, with the actual series numbers in parentheses.

(1) Bulls over (8) Pacers in 5 (Bulls win 4-1)#

(2) Heat over (7)76ers in 7 (Heat win 4-1*

(6) Knicks over (3) Celtics in 7 (Celtics win 4-0)

(4) Magic over (5) Hawks in 6 (Hawks win 4-2)

(1) Spurs over (8) Grizzlies in 4 (Grizzlies win 4-2)

(2) Lakers over (7) Hornets in 6 (Lakers win 4-2)#

(3) Mavericks over (6) Trailblazers in 7(Mavericks win 4-2)#

(4) Thunder over (5) Nuggets in 5(Thunder win 4-1)#

*- predicted winner correctly

#- predicted exactly right

Let’s just remember I never claimed to be an expert of the NBA.

My prediction for the Bulls is unfortunately looking good, as well as my Heat prediction, but those two were the easy ones. I am legitimately shocked at how the Knicks did not win ONE game. I only watched one game of the series, which was game 4, and the Knicks looked like a high school team out there. They let Celtics point guard Rajon Rando have free reign to do whatever he wanted. Pass it off, lay it up, jump shot, 3-pointer, if he wanted to do it, he had no resistance.

Who would’ve though the Magic would just flop down like they have? How about the Spurs? Man they’re killing me. I haven’t watched one game of that series because I’ve figured the Spurs would just be dominating. Lakers, Mavericks, and Thunder pick are still looking good.

                               

Blue-Gold Game 2011

Rees or Crist??? That was the question that was asked after the 2010 Notre Dame Football season, asked during the off season, and will continue to be asked to head coach Brian Kelly until the September 5 opening game. Irish fans were hoping to see one of the two quarterbacks take the reins in the Blue-Gold game last Saturday, but neither Dayne Crist, junior, or Tommy Rees, sophomore, were able to take a step toward claiming the starting role. Each played only two quarters, and both had to struggle to play through a very dreary day in South Bend that was filled with unrelenting rain and wind. Crist went 5-11 for 34 yards; Rees went 7-14 for 61 yards and one interception.

                 

           Last season, Dayne Crist was named the starter and compiled a 3-3 record and threw 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, with 59% accuracy. In his seventh game, he was injured and Tommy Rees was called in. Notre Dame would end up losing that game, but as a starter Rees went 5-0, with wins against Utah, USC, and Miami in the Sun Bowl. Rees threw 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions, with 61% accuracy during his time as starter.

Crist is considered to be more mobile and also have a more powerful arm, but in my opinion he doesn’t have that killer instinct it takes to win close games. Rees seems to actually improve each game, and seems more determined to walk off the field with a victory, as evident by his undefeated record.I think Rees has to be the starter this season. Crist made the same lousy throws in every one of his games. I don’t know how many times it would be third down and long, Crist would drop back and throw it to a receiver that was two or three yards short of the first down, who would then get tackled immediately after catching it. EVERY game this would happen and I thought Crist would finally wake up and realize to throw the ball downfield, but he never did. If anybody can bring N.D. a national championship it will be Tommy Rees, and not Dayne Crist, guaranteed.

As for the rest of the Fighting Irish, three players definitely stood out. Aaron Lynch, Andrew Hendrix, and Everett Golson all had very good games.

 Lynch is a freshman defensive end that reminds me of a Jason Taylor-type player. He’s 6’-6’’ and 260 lbs. of pure mean.He is quick enough to chase down running backs and wide receivers, but big enough to break through the defensive line. In the game he had seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss. His real attention –getter was a hit on quarterback Andrew Hendrix. Brian Kelly said of Lynch after the game “He played inside; he played outside. He's going to be a great addition”.

Andrew Hendrix is a sophomore quarterback who is efficient in the spread system, which Notre Dame now runs under Brian Kelly. He came in late in the second quarter and led his squad on a two-minute drive, but failed to result in any points. In the second half he ran for two touchdowns, and passed for 113 yards, and went 10-16.

Freshman Everett Golson is a freshman quarterback who really impressed me.  He only went 9-18 in passing and threw for 91 yards, but has a really strong arm. He ran eleven times for 74 yards though, and that seems to be his strength right now. When Golson was in the game, the running backs seemed to get more yards and more open holes. Golson would hold onto the ball and run sneak plays, which then forced the linebackers and safeties to bite on any play action. Golson also ripped off a great run of 23 yards, starting on the left side of the field, then cutting back all the way across to the right side of the field while breaking tackles and shaking defenders. Needless to say, I think this guy will get some playing time in the future.

All statistics were gathered from www.und.com

Pacers Playoffs

Finally, The Indiana Pacers will be playing in the postseason. The Pacers recently clinched the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2011 NBA Finals. This is the first time in five years that the Blue and Gold will be in the postseason. Unfortunately for us fans, the Pacers reward is the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are the number one seed in the East, and many consider them the best in the League. They have racked up the best record in the League with 62 wins, including two against the Miami Heat, one win against the Lakers, and a 3-1 record vs. the Pacers. Although Derrick Rose, point guard for Chicago, is considered by most to be the front runner of the Leagues’ MVP award, Chicago has many outstanding supporting players, including Joakim Noah and newly added Carlos Boozer.

The Pacers go into the Playoffs with a LOSING record of 37-45. The Pacers have looked mediocre all season, and are in the Playoffs due partly to the fact that other teams in contention have failed to win games. Head coach Frank Vogel took over in late January after Jim O’ Brien was fired. During the month of February Vogel and the Pacers went 8-5, with 2 of those losses coming in overtime. Indiana looked competitive and it seemed as if they were a shoo-in for the Playoffs.  This idea soon disappeared when in March the Pacers lost six straight and went 8-10. In April though, the Pacers won enough games to ensure they will play in the postseason, and will

The team went on a winning streak during the first several games under new coach Frank Vogel, but the team started to come unglued when Mike Dunleavy was injured. But the team, including starters and bench players, are starting to mesh back together and have strung together a 4-3 record with wins over Boston and Atlanta (who always seems to have Indiana’s number) since the end of March.

My heart is telling me the Pacers will win this series in seven games, but my brain is telling me no way. The Pacers should win at least one home game, but this seems to be a year of destiny for the Bulls.  Their team has come together and has looked unstoppable at times in the regular season, led by Derrick Rose (who I called as the second-coming of Michael Jordon, we’ll wait to see how that plays out) and I think will beat the Pacers in 5 games.

My other predictions for the first round of the Playoffs:

(2)Heat over (7)76ers in 7

(6)Knicks over (3) Celtics in 7

(4)Magic over (5) Hawks in 6

(1) Spurs over (8) Grizzlies in 4

(2) Lakers over (7) Hornets in 6

(3) Dallas over (6) Trailblazers in 7

(4) Thunder over (5) Nuggets in 5

Spurs beat Heat in 6 for NBA Championship

What is this?

Do you love sports? Do you love chicken wings? Do you love America? If you answered yes to these questions, then this is a blog for you(if you answered no, then leave!). My name is Sam Myers, and I am a recent high school graduate, and an aspiring sports journalist. I live in Indianapolis, Indiana, it may not be a sports hot spot, but I love it here. Furthermore, I love everything that has a winner and loser. Football, basketball, baseball, soccer, racing, hockey, and all are intriguing to me. I will attempt to cover as many different sports topics that are hot in Indy(Colts, Pacers, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indians, etc.), as well as other important issues in the sports world.

I hope that you will leave comments after every one of my posts so I can improve my way of writing and covering topics, or I'm always down for a good argument. Thanks for checking out my blog, and I hope you become a loyal visitor!