<

Articles Tagged with: Josh McDaniels

Monday Morning Cornerback: Week 11

November 16th, 2009 | By boadurichard

Picture 1

Yo yo, what’s good. Ricky Writer here. These are my quick cuts and jukes over this past weekend of football.

In the newly storied rivalry that is Rutgers and USF, USF got their asses hand to em one time each quarter. You all wanted to annoint USF Frosh QB, B.J. Daniels as the next best thing, and yes, he is good, but he is still a Freshman. If Matt Barkley is struggling in So Cal you can bet Mr. Daniels is as well. The Frosh QB we should be talking about is Rutgers QB, Tom Savage. They boy has 10 tds and 2 picks on the whole year.

If you look at the score of the Cincinnati vs. West Virginia game, you’d say uh-oh Cincy is gonna go down real soon. They barely got by WVU. But it was an off game for the Bearcats who made uncharacteristic mistakes and still found a way to win. Tony Pike will lead the Bearcats the rest of the way. He stepped in and threw 4 passes to knock the rust off and tossed 2 tds. After watching this game, I think Cincy stays undefeated through the regular season.

This is where it gets painful. is it bad if the three brand name undefeated teams bore me and I’m only excited by the off-brand three undefeated teams?

Florida struggled up until the 4th quarter to be South Carolina. Yes the Gamecocks have a great defense, but these are the Florida Gators. Just signs of how much this college football season sucks, but we have to give the Gators some love, that’s 20 victories in a row. I wonder if Steve Spurrier ever regrets leaving Florida? He’d never admit it but I think he does. He could be sitting pretty like A-Rod, and setting himself up to overthrow Joe Paterno with the most victories.

It’s not what’s on the outside that counts, it’s what’s on the inside. Mississippi State wore some cool new black uniforms in hopes of defeating #2 Alabama. No bueno! 31-3 rout at home, not a good look.

Do I really have to talk about Texas drilling Baylor? I mean Robert Griffin is not playing so you know how the game was going to turn out.

Now I get excited…

The TCU vs. Utah game was supposed to be a mini-bowl game for all the MWC marbles. TCU took Utah’s marbles and cookies. LIke I’ve said before no one wants to see that TCU 4-2-5 defense or offense. TCU QB,  Andy Dalton, is lighting up the scoreboard. I”ll be honest, I don’t think Cincy or Boise St. can really hang with the big boys this year, but TCU is foreal.

Yes the Idaho vs. Boise State is actually a rivalry although it hasnt been with the rise of the Broncos and fall of the Vandals. But the coming in the Vandals were 7-3 and bowl eligible. But Boise St. let them know who runs that state in a 63-25 rout to remain undefeated but still on the outside looking in as far as the BCS title game is concerned.

GA Tech puts a smile on my face. Their option attack is unparalleled and it takes me back to the old school Wishbone, Triple Option, Wing-T days when I was a young lad in the 90s. They clinched a spot in the ACC title game by defeating the newly respectable Duke Blue Devils 49-10. GA Tech will likely face Clemson. It should be a good one. Congrats Yellow Jackets.

LSU is not LSU anymore. Yes they have injuries but it’s evident they aren’t as dominant as no one has been in this weak ass college football season. They barely beat LA Tech 24-16.

USC got beat by Stanford. Am I surprised, no. I am surprised that they got drilled at home though, 55-21. Standford coach, Jim Harbaugh, is a serious ball coach, and I expect Michigan to buy out Rich Rodriguez’s contract and bring the ex-Wolverine Harbaugh back to Ann Arbor. The biggest mistake Pete Carroll made was not being able to convince Mark Sanchez to stay but replacing Steve Sarkisian with Jeremy Bates who hasn’t done much in his career other than latch onto Mike Shanahan.

Ohio State is going to the BCS after their victory over Iowa. It’s not that impressive to do anymore when you are the dominant team in the Big Ten. Let’s give them props, and my boy Terrelle Pryor is coming into his own now they they are opening up the playbook to him, as he went 14/17 against the Hawkeyes.

I’m a little confused by the rankings, which has Iowa being dropped two spots to #15 which is fine seeing as to how they lost. But Penn State, which Iowa beat on the road jumped five spots from #17 to #12 and is three spots ahead of a team they lost too?!?! Not to mention another team in which Iowa beat, the Wisconsin Badgers are #14, one slot ahead of the Hawkeyes. This is the stupidity that I find with the polls. I don’t think these writers watch to games to be honest.

Dion Lewis, Heisman? Anyone agree? He has carried the offense on his back to be honest. Notre Dame’s fall as predicted by 6Magazine’s Claude Clayborne is happening before our eyes. Michael Floyd has been back two weeks now for the Irish but I can’t tell because Golden Tate is playing like he’s the number #1 receiver.

Pardon me while I’ve just realized I haven’t been giving you quick cuts and jukes. It’s been more like methodical four and five yard gains down the field. I just passed the 50 yard line, so I’ma get my Barry Sanders on again if you don’t mind.

I don’t know why people continue to hate on Oregon’s uniforms, they are tight every week.

Miami Hurricanes met their maker, Butch Davis this past weekend.

The Houston Cougars are slowly starting to hurt my feelings.

Because of Penn St. and Wisconsin robbing Iowa of ranking spots, I will not mention or bold them in this week’s Monday Morning Cornerback.

C.J. Spiller is the nation’s most exciting and valuable player, therefore he should win the Heisman trophy.

NFL

Maybe Josh McDaniels was right about Jay Cutler…..

Matt Ryan meet the sophomore slump. She’s a cruel daughter of a bitch. Why is Carolina WR, Steve Smith, complaining about offensive involvement when he caught 4 balls for 34 yards and 2tds?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Bengals, Colts, and Patriots but does anyone really want to play the Dolphins in the playoffs? Yes, they are 4-5, but they will be in the playoffs, watch!

Duh, Lions vs. Vikings you know who won, but did you see this. WTH!

Mark Sanchez meet the Rookie Ridicule. It happens, you’re gonna suck in your rookie season unless you’re Ben Roethlisberger or Dan Marino. You’ll bounce back the last half of the season we promise. The Jags are flying under the radar this year, but their defense has been amazing.

Not sure what it is, but the Bengals have the Steelers number and they better not face them in the Wildcard game if they know what is good for them.

I keep saying it. The Saints don’t have a run defense. I don’t care if people were injured or not, when those guys are healthy they still had the same problems. Look at the stats on the Carolina and St. Louis games. But 9-0 is 9-0.

T.O.’s mid-season melt down came right on cue. ESPN AFC East blogger, Tim Graham,  now actually have valid reasons to provoke T.O. Chris Johnson doesn’t have much of an o-line and leads the league in rushing. So why are we giving Adrian Peterson all the MVP considerations?

The Redskins won? Ge the fuck outta here! Man…saying anything would be ruining the moment.

Do I really have to talk about Kansas City vs. Oakland?

Bad Kurt Warner stayed home and Good Kurt Warner came to play. My fantasy team thanks him.

Charles Woodson beat the Dallas Cowboys all by himself.

I think Andy Reid’s welcome in slowly fading.

When you kick Bill Belichick in the balls you normally brake your foot and have to have two or three toes amputated and he will not apologize or pay your medical bills.

That’s All I got,

Ricky Writer

The NFL Mid-Season Awards by Ed The Sports Fan

November 11th, 2009 | By boadurichard

b1b68dcbf6f1e061ab6cb261d141d826-getty-

This much is clear when we talk about the 2009 NFL season. There are the “have’s” and the “have-not’s”. The pundits will tell us that there are some truly exceptional teams and there are some really crappy teams. Things have changed so much from what we thought we knew at the beginning of the season, to what we thought at the quarter pole, to what has defined at the end of the first half speaks volumes to the parity in the NFL. With that being said, here the studs who are making some of these teams play phenomenally. Oh, and I definitely expect some of you to disagree. Here we go…

MVP of the 1st Half: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings

Obviously the easier choices here are Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, as their teams are both 8-0. However, nothing about their offense is any different that its been in prior years. Minnesota on the other hand, had been EXTREMELY handicapped in recent years as they relied on the likes of Brooks Bollinger, Gus Frerotte, and the Tavaris Jackson experience. #4 has made this team a Super Bowl contender and has energized an offense that now all of a sudden has a ton of playmakers, plus the ability to change the world with a single throw. Look at Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and Sidney Rice…is there a better trio of WR’s in the league right now better than those three? Purple Jesus is still in the backfield, and the fact remains that this offensive line is very solid. The 40-year old graybeard can sit back in his Wranglers’ and pick apart defenses like he’s shooting cans on a fenceline. Easy pickin’.

88972063JS021_RAVENS-BENGALS

Offensive Player of the 1st Half: Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals

Clearly if I went by the pure numbers then you’d again go with Brees or Manning, or even by who’s leading the league in rushing I could’ve selected Chris Johnson of the Titans, however…there’s no way in hell you could’ve told me that in 2009 that CEDRIC BENSON would be 2nd in the NFL in rushing yards and on pace to finish with almost 1700 yards rushing??!? Never, couldn’t happen. He wins this by a landslide, its not even close.

Defensive Player of the 1st Half: Darren Sharper, New Orleans Saints

For someone who was released by the Minnesota Vikings, for someone who’s been an all-time great in our generation of football, to see that the Saints safety already has 7 interceptions through 8 games and has helped turn a mediocre defensive 11 into an elite 11 is truly astounding. D-Sharp is doing it all, as he has returned three interceptions for touchdowns this year and has assumed a leadership role for his team. My buddy Tyrell, who is an avid Saints fan, would always get nervous when teams would throw deep on the Saints. They were liable to give up a big play nearly every time. Sharper has eliminated that fear, and is leading the Saints to glory in 2009.

Rookie of the 1st Half: Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings

By far the easiest choice I’ve made in a long time. Easier than choosing Alpha, easier than choosing my prom date back in high school, easier than choosing my favorite ice cream, (butter pecan) Percy Harvin has done EVERYTHING the Vikings have asked him to and excelled. Catching the ball, running the ball, returning the ball…Percy’s done it all. He is the essential X-Factor in football, and anytime he gets his hands on the ball he is feared that he’ll take it to the house.

58614030

Coach of the 1st Half: Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos

Simply put, I cannot believe what’s going on in Denver. There was more turmoil in the Mile High City than could ever be imagined and they hadn’t even played a game yet. He traded away their supposed franchise QB, had multiple quarrels with their superstar wide receiver, and made some questionable free agent acquisitions in the off-season. They were picked to be in the CELLAR behind the RAIDERS & CHIEFS! What???? Now they are 6-2 and sitting pretty atop the AFC West where the Chargers were predicted to stand all along. Yes they just hit a 2-game skid, but there’s no shame in losing to the Ravens and Steelers. McDaniels is a smart & young coach and he’ll figure it out. Denver’s making us all look real bad.

Team of the 1st Half: Indianapolis Colts

No Marvin Harrison, no Anthony Gonzalez, no Bob Sanders, and a severely depleted offensive line have all been major speed bumps to the Colts. However, losing the Gandhi of pro football in Tony Dungy might be an even bigger blow to this team. Yet, Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Dwight Freeney have manned up and put on a masterful performance through the first 8 games of this season. #18 is simply a maestro on the football field. I don’t even think Jim Caldwell is actually coaching anyone out there, he’s just a figurehead. #18 does it all. The defense has been high-energy all year and there are a ton of new faces that are continually making plays for this team. Plus, with the AFC as loaded as it is now, their 8-0 record looks all the more elite with every passing week.

THOUGHTS ON THE 1ST HALF AWARDS? WHO WOULD YOU PICK? LET US KNOW YOUR PICKS!

-Ed.
www.edthesportsfan.com

Page 1 of 11