Bleacher Report - Articles by stephen riley

NFL Week 8 Previews and Predictions

stephen riley — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:46:26 -0400

OK I have to admit something: my math was a little bit off when I falsely claimed I had a 10-7 prediction record. After further review my record stands at 10-5, qualifying me as a bad mathematician but a respectable NFL predictor. If you need proof, check for yourself. I’ve been predicting for the last three…er four weeks and I’ve cumulated records of 3-1, 3-1, 4-0 and 0-3. Add ‘em up and you get 10-5.

So yes, I am a genius but I’m approaching dangerous waters this week though. Four five-star matchups on the table and I’m only certain about one of them. The rest are toss ups but for a genius like me, I’m sure I’ll come away with another flawless record. And even if I don’t, I’ll just lie to you all and say I got them all right since none of you checked me on my bad math before. Read and enjoy:

Denver Broncos (6-0) vs. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)

I really need to stop picking against the Broncos. I’ve picked against Denver the last three times they’ve been on this board and I’m 0-3 in doing so. They’re fresh off a bye and have their minds set on home field advantage in the playoffs. The Ravens have lost three straight and are falling further behind the curve as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals continue to win.

Although Baltimore QB Joe Flacco has played well throughout the year, the Ravens desperately need to get back to the running game and reestablish their identity. It’s not that Flacco can’t lead the team but their secondary has been allowing opponents to abuse them for the last several weeks. Keeping opponents off the field is probably Baltimore’s best defense nowadays. The days of the Ravens being comfortable to send out a ferocious defensive unit is over and time of possession will now be the deciding factor if Baltimore wants to go far this year.

The Broncos showed two weeks ago that they’re capable of beating a team through all three phases: offense, defense or special teams. Return man Eddie Royal killed the San Diego Chargers with two big return touchdowns that solidified a crucial division win on Monday night. If Royal can provide his team with good field position on Sunday, it would go a long way in the Broncos winning. Everything is flowing for Denver right now. The defense is stout and the offense might not be New Orleansesque, but they don’t make mistakes.

Baltimore starting left tackle Jared Gaither announced through his Twitter page that he would be playing this week and that would be a definite boost to the Ravens. Broncos’ outside linebacker Elvis Dumerville leads the NFL in sacks and held his unofficial coming out party against the Chargers in prime time television. Rookie offensive tackle Michael Oher could probably handle Dumerville on his own but the Broncos move him around so much, he could line up on either side on any given play. Gaither’s return would give Baltimore two solid pass protectors on both sides to counter Dumerville’s movements.

The Broncos front seven demolished the likes of the Cowboys, Patriots and Chargers’ offensive lines but they haven’t faced a protection unit as stout as the one they’ll see when they face the Ravens. Baltimore’s defense is no longer elite but given two weeks to scheme around what isn’t working, they should be up for the challenge against a non-imposing offense in Denver’s. The Broncos have had two weeks to prepare also which makes this game a toss up. A fourth straight loss would be devastating for the Ravens while a loss for Denver would still equal first place in the AFC West. Expect Baltimore to play their best game of the season. Ravens 24-21.

NY Giants (5-2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)

Reality set in for the Giants over the last couple of weeks as they were beaten by some pretty solid clubs, ruining a 5-0 start. New York recognizes a loss to the Eagles would not only propel Philly into the driver seat of the NFC East but also mark their third straight defeat. After a brain lapse against the Oakland Raiders a couple of weeks ago, Philadelphia bounced back with their destruction of a reeling Washington Redskin team but paid the price for it.

Starting running back Brian Westbrook left the game and didn’t return after sustaining a concussion in the first half. It’s not known whether Westbrook will play against the Giants but after laying motionless on the ground against the Redskins for a few minutes, it’s probably wise the Eagles keep him out of this contest. Philadelphia will have to rely on a few backups along their offensive line and rookie runner LeSean McCoy if they want to get past an upset Giants team on Sunday. The Eagles knocked New York out of the playoffs last season with a stunning victory in the Giants’ own backyard. New York has had to wait all summer to play the Eagles again and could be catching Philly at the right time.

Philadelphia is really banged up. Even though they beat Washington 27-17, their offensive front was taken to school all night by the Redskins front seven. The Giants may not have a defensive lineman as dominant as the Skins’ Albert Haynesworth, but their defensive front is definitely deeper and more imposing than Washington’s. The Giants defense could probably win this game singlehandedly as long as Eli Manning doesn’t turn the ball over and keeps the offense flowing. Philadelphia gets the game at home which will give them a boost but after watching their offensive line get destroyed by the Raiders and Redskins, it’s hard to pick them against what they’ll see against New York. Giants 26-17

Minnesota Vikings (6-1) vs. Green Bay Packers (4-2)

Game of the week right here. The Packers have bounced back nicely with two straight wins after dropping an emotional contest to Minnesota just a few weeks ago. Green Bay has outscored opponents 57-3 in the last two weeks and will be ready to extend that margin against the Vikings. Minnesota will have one eye on their bye week when they visit Green Bay on Sunday but they’ll have to be extremely careful. Lambeau Field will be insane as former Packer legend Brett Favre returns for the first time and the Pack will be playing with heavy hearts.

Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 384 yards the last time he saw the Vikings secondary and that was with Minnesota standout corner Antoine Winfield in the lineup. Wearing his home jersey with the Green Bay fans fully behind him, Rodgers could go off Sunday against the Vikings and expose their depleted secondary. But then again he might not.

Minnesota played pretty well against last week’s NFL passing yards leader in Ben Roethlisberger, limiting him to 175 yards. But Roethlisberger doesn’t let it fly down the field consistently like Rodgers does and the Vikes’ secondary will have to be on their P’s and Q’s without Winfield. I couldn’t go another line without mentioning Minnesota’s explosive offense and it is just that.

Although they only accounted for 10 points last week against the Steelers, the Vikings offensive unit remains a problem. You can be sure the Vikings will put up more than two scores this week against a Packer defense that has feasted on some of the more ineffective units in the league the past couple of games. Third-year wideout Sidney Rice is a bonafide playmaker and couple him with Adrian Peterson and Favre pulling the trigger and you have a dangerous combination.

Sunday’s game could be a shootout and believe that Rodgers or Favre would love nothing better than to go toe-to-toe with one another. Green Bay’s offensive line was terrorized by the Vikes’ front seven the last time the two teams met, sacking Rodgers eight times. Green Bay’s left tackle Chad Clifton could return after sitting out the past few games but his status remains unclear. Regardless if he returns or not, Green Bay should have a better system in place to protect Rodgers after the disaster against Minnesota a few weeks ago. If the Packers can keep Rodgers upright, Minnesota will be in trouble. Packers 28-24

Atlanta Falcons (4-2) vs. New Orleans Saints (5-0)
After a thriller last week against the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans will return to what should be an ecstatic Superdome for a Monday night game against a divisional opponent. The Saints came back from a 24-3 deficit on the road to beat the Dolphins 46-34. What was even more impressive about the Saints comeback is that they probably played their worse game of the season and still scored 46 points on the road.

New Orleans can’t be stopped right now and the Falcons will be fresh off a loss and 311 yards put up against them by Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. The Falcons allowed little known receiver Miles Austin to explode for 171 yards and two touchdowns so Marques Colston and Drew Brees have to be licking their chops just thinking about this game.

Atlanta can score with the best of teams but their secondary is their biggest Achilles heel. For a team as talented through the air as the Saints are, that could spell disaster for the Falcons and their chances to pull off the upset. The Saints defense got blitzed last week when the Dolphins showed them just how effective the Wildcat offense could be but they tightened up in the second half and limited Miami to only 10 points. If Atlanta wants to win this game, they’ll have to put the ball into running back Michael Turner’s hands and keep the Saints off the field. Anything less than 25 carries from Turner and Falcons’ defense will get exposed for a second straight week. Saints 40-24

A Look Back at My NFL Predictions

stephen riley — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:18:54 -0400

See! What did I tell ‘ya, 4-0 on the weekend and my prediction record is now upped to 10-7. Good for a little bit of respect and ready for me to make a major breakthrough next weekend. But before we get to that, let’s revisit last Sunday so that way you can see how smart I am.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

What I predicted …
Steelers 27-20

What I said would happen …
The Steelers defense is ranked third overall and with all-everything safety Troy Polamalu back in the fold, Pittsburgh will go into a home game with the Vikings very confident. Pittsburgh’s defense may not be able to shut down Minnesota but they can definitely contain them. Pittsburgh needs this game for validation and they will be ready to capitalize.

What actually happened …

The Steelers won 27-17. Pittsburgh’s defense held the Vikings’ offense to 10 points and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley returned a Brett Favre fumble 77 yards before another Pittsburgh linebacker, Keyaron Fox, returned a Favre interception 82 yards to seal the deal with Minnesota driving trailing 20-17. Favre and running back Adrian Peterson did have some success against the Steelers, combining for over 400 yards but with only 10 points to show for it, Pittsburgh got the best of them.

My reactions …

Even with Polamalu running around at lest than 100%, his return alone infuses the Steeler defense with a lot of confidence. Polamalu showed how destructive he could be when he made the Pro Bowl in less than a half in the opener against Tennessee. The Steelers will go into a bye week with a chance to get fresher and get standouts youngsters Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Wallace more involved in the offense. Pittsburgh has rebounded nicely from a 1-2 start and appears to be getting stronger. Stay tuned

Even though their offense could only put up 10 points on the road, the Vikings had a chance to win the game before an inadvertent interception bounced off backup running back Chester Taylor’s hands and into Fox’s hands. Minnesota is definitely a Super Bowl finalist, they just need to remain healthy. With third-year receiver Sidney Rice evolving into a top-tier target, the Viking offense gets more lethal by the week. And they’ll need it, next Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers will be HUGE!

San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans

What I predicted …

Texans 28-17

What I said would happen …

“Niners incumbent QB Shaun Hill struggles to even reach 200 yards so if San Francisco wants to beat Houston, their defense will have to step up and corral the Texans high octane unit. After allowing 45 points in their own backyard, I just can’t see how they’ll do that against the Texans, even with two weeks to prepare.”

What actually happened …

The Texans won 24-21. Houston held on for dear life after exploding to a 21-0 lead. Shaun Hill struggled to reach 200 yards because he was pulled at halftime after carving up the Texans for a whopping 45 yards. Backup QB Alex Smith started the second half for the Niners and threw three touchdown passes to tight end Vernon Davis. The Texans went over .500 for the first time all season with the win but star receiver Andre Johnson sat out the last drive with a bruised chest.

My reactions …

Even though the Niners lost, they should feel good about themselves on the plane trip home. After battling back from 21-0 deficit, the forgotten Smith gave the team a spark and the Niners may have stumbled upon a quarterback controversy. The lack of playmakers at the quarterback and receiver positions are going to cause the team to be mediocre until they can find suitable upgrades.

The Texans probably played their best half of the season in cruising to a 21-0 lead in the first but they also turned in their worse, getting outscored 21-3 in the second. Such is life for the Houston Texans. They’re not sure if they’re a playoff caliber team or a squad just happy to get by on 8-8 finishes. If they ever can just settle down and focus on being consistent, they could have something special on their hands.

Chicago Bears vs. Cincinnati Bengals

What I predicted …
Bengals 24-20

What I said would happen …

“Cincinnati knows that it can’t afford to drop another home game with the Steelers gaining steam and Ravens set to bounce back after their bye week. The Bengals got away from their running game last week when Houston jumped out to a lead, the Bears don’t have the type of offense to push them out to a big lead so the Bengals should be able to stick to the gameplan this week”

What actually happened …
Cincinnati won 45-10 and dominated the Bears from start to finish. Bengals QB Carson Palmer had the best game of his career, throwing for five touchdowns and the Bengals got back to the running game. Cincinnati running back Cedric Benson abused his former team, rushing for 189 yards and a touchdown. The Bengals jumped to a 31-0 lead before Chicago added a field goal to end the first half trialing 31-3.

My reactions …
The Bengals couldn’t have asked for a better first half to the season. They’ll go into their bye week with a 5-2 record and renewed confidence when they host a Baltimore Raven team coming off their bye that they’ve already beaten. The offense appears to be rounding into form and is finally matching the play of a surprisingly good defense. Cincinnati has a legit chance to win the division if they can maintain their play of the first half. Stay tuned.

The Bears fell to 3-3 with the obliteration and will look to rebound against lowly Cleveland next week. Chicago QB Jay Cutler hasn’t gotten much help from his running game this season and is being forced to rely on some inconsistent playmakers at the wideout position. The defense didn’t show up against Cincinnati and with Minnesota and Green Bay surging, a lot of things are going to have to turn around for Chicago to mke some noise this season.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Dallas Cowboys

What I predicted …
Cowboys 27-21

What I said would happen …
“Austin’s emergence could have a huge impact on the Dallas offense, which was struggling with the loss of Terrell Owens and two hobbled stars in Barber and Jones. Everyone should be healthy for the Cowboys or at least closer to 100% and expect Romo to take advantage of a questionable Falcon secondary. Dallas has the defensive talent to run with Atlanta’s offense and should be able to slow down the Falcons’ attack.”

What actually happened …
The Cowboys won 37-21. Romo and Austin shredded the Falcons secondary, resulting in Austin catching 6 balls for 171 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys didn’t run the ball particularly well but the defense corralled Atlanta’s high octane offense and limited them to 21 points with the Falcons scoring a late touchdown with the game out of reach.

My reactions …
Austin’s turnaround could have big payoffs for the Cowboys offense going forward. If Dallas could ever get something close to average out of disappointing receiver Roy Williams, the offense could be back on their high level of play from the ‘07 season. Burning the Chiefs and Falcons’ secondaries isn’t really a big accomplishment but the impact of Austin’s numbers deserves respect.

Austin has averaged 210 yards in his last two games which is extremely impressive. If he can continue to produce, Dallas could just run away with the division. Stay tuned.

Atlanta is where they should be right now at 4-2. Losing road games to New England and the Cowboys isn’t anything to hang their heads about. But for a team who just got shredded by Romo, a Monday night game next week against Drew Brees and the Saints’ offense could be scary.

If Atlanta wants to avoid dropping a second consecutive game, they’re going to have to scheme around a limited secondary. Falcons QB Matt Ryan and his offensive teammates will need to be at their best if they want to match New Orleans point for point. After getting abused by Romo and the little known Austin, they’ll face their biggest challenge of the year.

Ravens - Panthers: Three Downs

stephen riley — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:48:26 -0400

The Ravens just keep on rolling. In beating the Carolina Panthers 17-13 Saturday night, Baltimore faced a squad who finished as the second overall seed last year in the NFC. Although Carolina was nursing several key injuries, Baltimore still went into Carolina’s house and continued to show that last year’s AFC Championship game appearance was no fluke.

It ‘s also important to note the quality of opponent and the location of the game. Considering Saturday’s game marked the third preseason game for both teams, a contest in which teams usually gauge with extreme importance, the win signaled that the Ravens are indeed ready for the season to start.

The times they are a-changing up in Baltimore. The defense hasn’t fallen off but the offense continues to flash the look of a potent and consistent unit. Here are three things I took from Saturday’s clash.

First Down

Baltimore’s biggest knock right now is the lack of an elite wideout. Sure they don’t have the big name you would like to see lining up out wide, but the caliber of their quarterback makes the wide receivers look better than what people give them credit for. Joe Flacco continues to impress, and with his big arm and excellent decision making, his receivers are receiving opportunity to capitalize. Derrick Mason finished with six grabs for 71 yards. Kelly Washington chipped in three catches for 66 yards with a long of 42 yards. Even Ray Rice added eight receptions for 67 yards.

Flacco spread the ball around nicely and starting receiver Mark Clayton should return soon to give the offense even more firepower. The receivers in Baltimore might not be great, but they’re not terrible either. A premier receiver would really put this team over the top but even with their current set, Baltimore is an elite team.

Second Down

If you want to start your own 3-4 defense then it’s important you have an impact lineman. The Ravens might have the best 3-4 lineman in the business in Haloti Ngata. The 6-4, 350-pounder returned a pick 25 yards last week against the Jets for the team’s first score. Saturday night, Ngata added sack to round out a solid preseason in only two games played this summer for the 25-year-old.

Ngata can play anywhere on a three-man line. He can crash the pocket from the nose tackle spot. He can rush the passer from the right side defensive end and he can shut the run down from the left side. But his effort and pursuit is what makes him a real standout and that was never more evident than in Saturday’s game against Carolina.

At the 4:06 mark in the second quarter, Ngata started out rushing the passer on a quick screen play to Panthers receiver Steve Smith. Ngata read the play then released from his battle with a guard to begin the chase down of Smith. After Smith eluded the boundary cornerback, he squared up with Baltimore standout safety Ed Reed. Reed was fortunate to have the angle on Smith, who was prancing along the left sideline. Reed cornered Smith along the sideline, forcing Smith to hit a spin move that normally would’ve left Reed grasping for air but Reed managed to hold on long enough for Ngata to flatten Smith along the sidelines 26 yards later.

The announcers gave Reed the credit for the takedown but it was the pursuit of Ngata that allowed Reed to trap Smith along the sidelines. A one-on-one battle between Smith and anybody would usually equal a win for Smith but the closing of Ngata was unexpected and the two Ravens teamed up to shut down what could’ve been a potential long touchdown.

Third Down

I didn’t see all peaches and cream Saturday night. For the second straight week, Baltimore was terrorized by a quick running back. The Ravens had all kinds of problems with the Jets’ Leon Washington last Monday night. Saturday night, it was Carolina third-string back Mike Goodson who gashed Baltimore for some nifty gains. For a unit that traditionally doesn’t let up on anything ground-related, the past couple of weeks have been eye opening.

I expect the run defense to be somewhere between good-great once again this season but they better get it together quick. The Ravens are scheduled to face LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Ryan Grant, Kevin Smith and Darren McFadden this season.

Washington and Goodson aren’t anywhere near the big names of the aforementioned and if Baltimore is having trouble containing the little names of the league, then problems could be on the horizon.

Three Downs On the Redskins/Steelers Game

stephen riley — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:41:38 -0400

Bounceback win by the Washington Redskins last Saturday night against the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers. I had the pleasure of covering the game live so here are three things I took away from the game.

First Down
The Redskins' defense is going to be top flight again this season. The addition of a few athletic pass rushers is going to do wonders for a unit that couldn’t get to the QB last year. Washington’s secondary is lined with some blue chip athletes, stocking the front seven with some strong and fast rush men should make for a good equation: Athletic Secondary + Athletic Front Seven = Havoc & Terror.

Second Down

Regardless of what the defense does, if the offense doesn’t improve it’s going to be a long season for the Redskins. I’m trying not to make too much about the ‘Skins last two games, because playing against the Ravens and Steelers in back to back weeks would make any offense look anemic.

But still, the Skins are sceduled to play the Cowboys, Eagles and Giants six times this season. The Cowboys led the league in sacks last year and the Giants might just do that this year with all the rush men they have suiting up for them. Although the Eagles won’t have the late Jimmy Johnson devising their scheme this season, their unit is still stockpiled with some of the finest defensive standouts in the league.

Washington has its work cut out for them this year, playing two of the top defenses is no excuse to be anemic compared to all the heat their divisonal brothers are going to put on them. Although Washington scored two touchdowns against last year’s No. 1 unit in Saturday’s game, the starters were only capable of notching a field goal against the Steelers first team. Including their shutout against the Ravens, Washington’s first team offense has averaged 1.5 ppg in the last two weeks. Egh.

Third Down

Chase Daniels showed moxie, poise and playmaking ability in limited time. Several players can stand out against a team’s second and third team unit, so Daniels’ performance could be a bit overrated. But for a player who had a spectatcular college career and a guy who’s resting behind a couple of incumbents, Daniel's future may come sooner if not later.

Campbell is in the last year of his contract, Todd Collins, his backup, obviously isn’t the long term answer. Last year’s sleeper pick, Colt Brennan, has already been forgotten and quarterbacks don’t just sit in free agency waiting for the phone to ring. Daniels has a lot of factors going in his favor so he might want to start taking this opportunity as a serious one.

Less Is More? Romo, Cowboys Hope So

stephen riley — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:39:37 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2008 season with enough talent that made them pretty formidable on Xbox and PlayStation, but their real life counterparts were anything but.

Entangled in a PR nightmare of a season that nearly ripped the team apart, Dallas limped away from their season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles a shell of the squad that was the popular Super Bowl pick for most sports writers.

In-house bickering, rumors, and silly antics reminded fans more of an episode on the popular soap opera Dallas than the more prestigious NFL franchise that fans had come to recognize and respect.

While coaches receive their share of the blame during times of struggle, players usually take the brunt as the more recognizable faces of the team.

Terrell Owens, Adam “Pacman” Jones, Tony Romo and Wade Phillips were usually at the forefront of the blame for 2008, but only one name on that list has been associated with much of the blame over the last three years of the Cowboys failures: Tony Romo.

Since his inauguration as the quarterback of “America’s Team” in the middle of the 2006 season, Romo has typically been isolated and bound in front of firing squads packed full of hungry Cowboy crucifiers.

Utilizing every ounce of blame from his private life to his playing life, critics have tried every possible angle that they can obtain, just to take a shot at the signal caller. Seems like if Romo even checks his mailbox, critics will argue he should be in his house studying game film while his assistant retrieves and sorts his parcel.

Recognizing the situation, the Cowboys have been doing their best to cut off some of the more accessible angles of blame since the end of last year’s campaign and lighten the load off of Romo’s psyche.

Romo has also been doing his own share of spring cleaning this offseason. After the team dumped his favorite (or least favorite, depending on the context) receiver in March, Romo dumped his favorite (or now least favorite) gal pal Jessica Simpson a couple of weeks ago, and appears to be distraction free walking into the 2009 campaign.

For all of Romo’s difficulties the past couple of seasons, the media has made it an objective to link the pro bowler’s struggles directly to Owens and/or Jessica Simpson by any means necessary, instead of placing the blame where it squarely belongs: the coaching staff.

In years past, the Cowboys have continued to make the mistake of trying to place the team solely on Romo’s shoulders instead of in the hands of a could be, would be and should be punishing ground game.

Not that Romo isn’t one of the upper echelon quarterbacks in the league, but trying to introduce a guy who just completed his second season as a full-time starter this past year as the focal point of the offense is just foolish on so many levels.

Especially considering the strongest facets of the Cowboys offense over the past few years have been a mammoth offensive line which excels at run blocking, and one of the most punishing backs in the league in Marion Barber who excels at running the ball.

But the offense was catered around the explosive Owens and the uber-talented Jason Witten, which is completely understandable, but not suitable for a very young quarterback in terms of starting experience.

With Owens making reality shows off in Buffalo and the promise of rising stars Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, Dallas is expected to relinquish some of Romo’s extensive duties this season and return to the winning formula of over a decade ago.

For all of the accolades that orbit around Cowboy greats Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, any lifelong Cowboy fan will tell you the last few Dallas Super Bowl teams were at their best when they enforced Emmitt Smith and a grind-it-out run game.

In the three seasons that culminated in Super Bowl victories for the Cowboys in the '92, '93, and '95 campaigns, the Cowboys passed for over 300 yards in only two games as a team, as opposed to the 14 times the ‘Boys have accomplished the feat since Romo’s insertion as a starter in the middle of the '06 season.

Although the ‘Boys have gone 12-2 in those games, the team hasn’t passed for over 300 yards in the month of December during that three-year stretch, even with Romo’s passing attempts remaining in the 30’s and 40’s. Which leads me to believe the coaches in Irving aren’t adjusting the game plans accordingly.

With the release of Owens and emergence of Jones and Choice, Dallas could be in line for a return to the pound-then-pass approach of the early 90’s.

The strategy certainly worked for division rival Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger’s first Super Bowl wins and even one of the most prolific passers in the league, Peyton Manning, saw his team run for 191 yards in the biggest game of his career.

So, while Fantasy Football owners and Romo might miss the gobs of touchdowns he’s thrown to Owens over the last few seasons, if Dallas really wants to get back to the promise land, maybe a little bit less is a little bit more.

Suspension Smension, Vick Lucky Just to be Back

stephen riley — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:25:35 -0400

If you would’ve asked me two weeks ago, I would’ve said, “of course not.”

If you would’ve asked me two months ago, I would’ve said, “for what, what’s the point?”

If you would’ve asked me two years ago, I would’ve said, “no way, what else do they want from him?”

But if you would’ve asked me two minutes ago, I would’ve said, “yeah, probably. I don’t see why not.”

So I'm driving to work Tuesday morning listening to one of those morning talk shows. Although I like to substitute a little pep music into my system instead of French Roast before I step foot into the office, I do enjoy a rousing conversation every now and then.

So the biggest topic of the morning is the reinstatement,or partial reinstatement, or whatever it is of Michael Vick.

The biggest question of the morning was: should he, or shouldn’t he, serve a six-game suspension to start the season?

If you would’ve asked me a short while ago, I probably would’ve given you one of the first three aforementioned answers.

Many voices have spoken out on this issue,from the always enjoyable Terrell Owens to the guys and gals at your local barbershop and salon, and the majority of people seem to agree that Vick has “served his time.”

So, as I’m turning the corner on the main street of my job, a female caller chimes in to give her response...and it’s a pretty good one.

Her rebuttal: if Vick was employed with any company in corporate America, we wouldn’t be talking about a suspension...and it wouldn’t even be a discussion if Vick should get reinstated, it would be a clear-cut, loud and emphatic NO!

Good point. So good it got me to thinking.

If I got locked up for a federal charge for two years, could I just waltz out of a jail cell and expect to be slapping fives and cracking jokes with my old coworkers around the water cooler a couple months later?

The answer: YEAH RIGHT!

Only in the entertainment world can a multimillionaire professional go away for a big house bid, get out, and start making millions again months later.

For the average taxpayer, one federal stint upstate and we’d probably be regulated to picking up trash or sprinkling salt over french fries (not that there’s anything wrong with that) once we got out.

For the average songwriter, actor, or professional athlete, one federal stint upstate and America would be counting the days down, waiting upon the release of their favorite icon.

Although I still believe to this day he never committed the act, Mike Tyson was tried and convicted on a rape charge, and sentenced to six years—only serving three of his bid.

He was released in March of 1995 and went on to fight in August later that year, setting a record in pay-per-view sales along the way. After a three-year hiatus, we couldn’t wait to see Tyson climb back into the ring and pummel some bold innocent soul.

Let some keyboard pushing high-profile accountant get locked away for a three-year rape charge and let’s see how fast it takes for them to step foot back into some top notch corporate firm.

Then there’s the “but he already served his time” excuse.

To that, I pose this scenario to anyone not too far removed from the clinched fist and waist belt treatment we used to receive as children whenever we acted up.

Let’s say you’re an adolescent going to school everyday. You’re in class, talking back and forth to your friend while the teacher is trying to give their lesson. The teacher overhears you talking, and asks you to be quiet. You respond by calling the teacher a name (whichever you prefer), loud enough for him/her to hear it.

The teacher hands you after-school detention, and then proceeds to call your parents.

After you serve your afternoon discipline, you head home towards your usual no-play, no-nonsense parents. You open the door to your house, and see your raging mad guardian standing in the foyer with a clinch fist and ripped waist belt.

Upon the sight, you respond with a “haven’t I already served enough punishment?” before they abruptly raise their arm, and you then proceed to blank out.

See what I’m getting at?

No matter what punishment an institution hands you for your crime, there’s always the further punishment you’re going to have to face from society, or some other entity— whether it be your job, or your mom.

Vick being conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell isn’t a plot to teach Vick a further lesson. It’s more of a plot to keep the millions of people who don’t think Vick should even be reinstated from climbing further up the commissioner’s back.

I consider Vick lucky. Although there’s some other cases pending in the league that I think should definitely be handled by Goodell, the fact of the matter is that Vick has already been tried and found guilty of his crime, thus forcing Goodell’s hand in the matter of a suspension.

I’m nowhere near a Vick hater. I thought he was dynamite while displaying his super hero abilities at Virginia Tech, and I applauded him for his one-man-show efforts in Atlanta.

Even with a college degree, and years of watching CNN, I had no idea you could go to prison for dog fighting, up until it caught up with Vick.

I was just as stunned and disappointed as the rest of you seeing Vick walking in and out of a courtroom everyday, fighting against a case that maybe millions of others should be on trial for right now.

But when it comes to Vick serving a possible six-game suspension to kick start the 2009 season, I just can’t see that as a serious problem.

Having any job in America isn’t a right, it’s a privilege. No matter if you’re chucking a spiral 80 yards downfield, or chucking debris into the back of a trash truck, just receiving a tax-eaten pay check is a joy nowadays.

Vick’s lucky to be in the position to reclaim his role as a professional athlete. He’s also extremely fortunate to be in the position to start providing for his family again as the primary caretaker.

Should Vick be reinstated back into the National Football League? In my opinion, yes.

Should Vick serve a six-game suspension on top of the prison sentence he just completed? Well...try asking Vick what he thinks, and I’m sure he’ll tell you he’s fortunate to even be able to serve a temporary suspension with a chance to play professional football again.

Three Positions Will Define Redskins in 2009

stephen riley — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:16:51 -0400

Stephon Heyer became the obvious choice for Jon Jansen’s replacement at right tackle when the long-time veteran was released in May. Although Heyer is expected to be the starter, the Redskins aren’t taking anything for granted, bringing in Mike Williams and Jeremy Bridges to push Heyer. All three options have severe questions with them, meaning that the Redskins are taking a big gamble on one of their most important positions in a run orientated offense. Heyer is an undrafted experiment who desperately needs to improve his run blocking if the team expects Clinton Portis to have a semblance of a successful season. Starting 12 games over the last two seasons puts him as the favorite but that’s more by default than strong and encouraging play. Williams hasn’t been in the league in three seasons and is only a few months removed from the 450 weight mark he was hovering around back in February. Down to a respectable (I guess) 381 pounds, the former No. 4 overall draft pick will have a long ways to go to even resemble the man he was before he stepped away from the league and even that former gentleman wasn’t all too impressive in his disappointing stint with the Buffalo Bills. Ironically, Jeremy Bridges is probably the safest choice out of all three. The former Carolina Panther is a serviceable big body who can alternate between guard and tackle with 39 starts over the last six seasons. Of course there has to be a question mark surround Bridges and his two misdemeanor assault charges with one currently pending provide the answers to those question marks. Bridges may have to fall out of the running for right tackle in order to compensate as interior depth thanks to starting guard Randy Thomas’ offseason arthroscopic knee surgery. Although Thomas is expected to be ready to start the season, any mishap in his rehab would mean two new starters on the strong side of the Redskins offensive line. Should the replacements falter, the consequences could be too much for Washington to overcome on short notice.

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How The West Was Won, Lakers Set to Add Ron Artest

stephen riley — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:26:20 -0400

I guess it’s over. Wrap it up. Place your bets. Just go ahead and slate the Los Angeles Lakers in for a spot in next year’s Finals.

I wouldn’t blame you. With last week’s verbal agreement by the Lakers and Ron Artest to join an already stout roster, barring injury, the Lakers will have no choice but to repeat as Western Conference Champions for a third straight year.

If it was already a nation of Laker Haters, then President Obama is going to have to do something about border control because the addition of Artest is going to mean several more anti-L.Aians jumping the fence, standing in line to kick rocks at the purple and gold.

Even though former outcast turned superstar Trevor Ariza split title town and agreed to join forces with the Houston Rockets, the Lakers didn’t sweat it, they just went ahead and added a better piece to their puzzle in Artest.

While Artest may not be the up-and-coming uber athletic defender that Ariza is, he’s still one of the premier locksmiths in the league with a better all around offensive game.

The summer of 2010 is supposed to be the Y2K of the NBA. The year when systems go haywire, fantasy leagues turn upside down, and more money gets dished out than a Vegas upset payout.

But the summer of 2009 is becoming more and more exciting by the week.

Jefferson moved to San Antonio, Shaq joined forces with LeBron and Carter went back home to Florida.

You can argue that each name on that list is probably a bigger name than Artest’s is right now, but none of which was a bigger addition than the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Artest, Bryant, Gasol and Bynum is more size, skill, and length than what any competitor in the West or the East has to offer right now.

And if Odom renews his vows to team, Los Angeles may take a run at the 72 mark that Jordan’s Bulls put up back in 95.

No joke, I can really see a possible run at the NBA record for the Lakers. They finished last year at 65 wins without even trying and does anybody remember the last time some media labeled defensive nut joined forces with the best player in basketball?

Yup, the year was 95, Clinton had the country on cruise control, music was actually likeable and Dennis Rodman was running the court with good ole 23 to a tune of 72-10.

No wonder Phil Jackson announced his plans to return for next season.

I mean after all, the Zen Master was controlling the reigns for the Bulls that season and Artest’s announcement probably made coaching away games next year appear less of a daunting task for the aging Hall of Famer.

And it was title shifting announcement I must say. When rumors leaked out that Artest was being pursued by Cleveland, a possible combination of the original Superman, “The King” and the “Tru Warier” would’ve been an impressive trio.

Factor in Mo Williams, Delonte West and Zydrunas Illgauskus and the Cavs would’ve been a tough out for any ballclub.

Ah well, guess we don’t have to worry about that.

Artest is headed for Hollywood and the only thing us non-Laker fans can do about it is just sit here with our mouths wide open praying that Odom doesn’t resign.

Man oh man, Odom resigning would not only be a definite menace to the league but a crushing blow to my online subscription for NBA 2K10 on Xbox.

I can see the cheaters now, putting Kobe and Artest in the backcourt, running Odom, Gasol and Bynum up front. I’m shaking my head just thinking about it.

Even with all that firepower, it still wouldn’t be enough to keep me from playing my favorite game and I’m sure Artest’s announcement won’t keep the hundreds of professionals in the league from playing their favorite game as well.

No way is some verbal agreement or some possible resigning going to keep us all from playing the video game or the sport we love.

Now winning? Well…… that’s another story.

Coming To Terms in Orlando: Warming Up to The Vince Carter Trade

stephen riley — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:06:25 -0400

Ok, Ok, so I’m slowly starting to warm up to the Vince Carter trade. Although there has been several articles written bashing, trashing, and smashing the move, I’m beginning to see the silver lining in all of this.

While I do agree that Carter is a bit too much on the 30ish side for my liking and though I wish the team could've held on to Courtney Lee, I’m beginning to see the pros instead of the cons of this deal.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but seeing coach Stan Van Gundy and Orlando’s once prolific offense grinded to an anemic halt by the more athletic Lakers made me sick. Watching the pick-and-roll ran over and over again until I got tired of seeing the Lakers defend it better each time it was ran was tough to process.

Los Angeles reduced the once effective staple of the Magic’s offense into a useless ineffective gimmick. By the time game five rolled around, Orlando’s quality of shots out of the pick-and-roll had gone from good to simply “Stan would you please stop running this (expletive)!”

But that was the sickening part about it. Orlando couldn’t stop running that expletive because no one else on the roster was qualified to get his own shot off.

When Van Gundy became the head coach of the Magic a couple of years ago, he worked up a concoction that could best utilize his player’s abilities.

Quite genius on his part, but also quite redundant and quite easy to defend by top notch defensive teams with the right personnel.

For the last two seasons, Van Gundy has scoured his roster from head to toe. He's looked around his list of guys and still hasn't been able to find a single penetrator anywhere in sight.

Not Jameer Nelson, not Hedo Turkoglu, not Lee, not Mickael Pietrus, not Keith Bogans, not J.J. Reddick, not Trevor Ariza(yes, that Trevor Ariza), not Maurice Evans, and definitely not Rashard Lewis, thus, Van Gundy’s version of the Magic pick-and-roll base offense has been installed and ran to the max down in Orlando.

Don’t get me wrong, Nelson, when healthy, is an All-Star caliber point guard with the quickness and mindset to get to the cup.

But hovering around the 6-foot inch line means more times than not, it’s difficult for him to get his shot off against bigger opponents.

Turkoglu, the 6-foot-10 Turkish Michael Jordan, was the closest thing that Van Gundy had to a big guard so he drew up the offense to feature the silky shooting small forward as his centerpiece.

A three-point sniper equipped with a lot of craftiness, Turkoglu embraced his new role well and the Magic rode their gimmicky offense all the way to the NBA Finals last year.

For everything Turkoglu was to Orlando, he was not the guy who could free himself from defenders without the aid of the pick-and-roll—it was never more evident than in last June’s championship series.

The rest of the guys were mainly just spot up shooters who offered little to nothing in terms of penetration.

Introducing Carter, the former one man highlight reel brought in last week to possibly replace Turkoglu as Orlando's go-to-guy.

At 32, Carter can still play—and at a pretty high level if need be. Though critics suggest he’s lost much of his athleticism, let's be honest here, whatever athleticism Carter has left is still more than what Turkoglu has possessed at any point-in-time in his underrated career.

While critics will argue that Turkoglu is able to play the point and distribute to his teammates, I deny this claim to full detail.

Turkoglu is an unselfish player and can throw the lob ball pretty well. But make no mistake about it, Orlando’s system was not predicated upon him running up the court, crossing over and slicing into the lane, dishing no look style to Howard while the defense collapsed on him.

The Magic’s system was a scheme-orientated plot designed to compensate for the lack of a penetrator by making it easy for players to pass to the open guy provided top option Dwight Howard was covered on his bull rushes to the basket.

Think I’m joking? Rashard Lewis, a career 1.9 assist man, has had more assists the past two seasons under Van Gundy than he’s ever had in any two-year period of his 11-year career.

In his last four games against the Lakers in the Finals, Lewis dished out seven,five,four, and four assists as the pick-and-roll was ran nonstop to counter Los Angeles’ lock down defenders who had the perimeter covered heavier than a hypothermia victim.

While we’re at it, we might as well dispel another myth. So Carter’s a ballhog they say? Last year in New Jersey—a dry land in terms of talent outside point guard Devin Harris—Carter averaged 4.7 assists per night. Surrounded by more assassins than a Mexican Cartel, Turkoglu barely edged out Carter with only 4.9 dishes a night.

Keep in mind that Carter played with a true point guard in Harris while Turkoglu ran with a true gunner in Nelson, making Hedo the primary ballhandler and reducing Vince to a secondary ball carrier.

Need more proof? Since the 2006-2007 season, Turkoglu’s first full time season as a starter, he has averaged 4.38 assists per game while running with third rate point men from Keyon Dooling to Carlos Arroyo to Travis Diener while Orlando has compiled a 151-95 record over that time span.

During that same stretch, Carter has averaged 4.86 dimes a game while playing alongside the likes of top tier talent at the point in Harris and Jason Kidd compiling a 109-137 record over in Jersey.

You would think the more successful the team, the lower the caliber of the lead guards, the more assists that would pile up right? Wrong!

To whom it may concern, this article is not an attempt to bash Turkoglu, but if the Magic are going to lose Hedo to free agency, this article only serves as a means to say Carter would be a nice substitution into an offense devised on scheme.

Add in the facts that Carter can create his own shot without help from a pick and is a legendary strong and acrobatic finisher at the rim, and Orlando’s offense may actually be better than it was season.

Let’s get to the real benefit of Carter’s addition.

Since his introduction into the executive office down in Florida, Orlando general manager Otis Smith has made a lot of savvy moves. If there’s one move Smith would probably like to have back, it’s breaking the bank on the one-dimensional Lewis to the ransom of $100 million.

You don’t pay a sweet shooter $100 million and play him out of position against down low bangers. The Magic’s need of a power forward was and still is a major necessity, and while the long range shooting capabilities of positions one-four are nice luxuries to have, when the stroke shooting is running on cold, you got to rely on some power.

The Finals were concrete evidence that Orlando just didn’t have enough of the hard nose mentality.

Turkoglu's lack of athleticism meant he couldn’t move over to the two-guard slot full time to make way for a true power forward. Carter’s insertion into the shooting guard role means a move back to the three for Lewis, which will relieve the slender forward of his low post defensive mismatches.

The Magic can still run the same spread-em-out lineup if they like by inserting Pietrus at the two and letting Carter run at small forward with Lewis drawing power forwards away from the rim.

Perhaps the biggest bonus in the Carter deal is that it gets Orlando off the hook from the five-six year deal that Turkoglu was seeking and places them responsible for only two more years of Carter's contract.

With Carter coming off the books in 2011, it provides the Magic with several options: They can let Carter's contract run out and go after another shot creating perimeter player through free agency, or they can move Carter when he enters the last year of his deal for a disgruntled young perimeter player or several players.

Carter has a team option for $18 million after the fourth year of his deal, which will more than likely not be picked up by any team. His salary in the 2010-2011 season will circle around $17.3 million, a pretty enticing number for a team looking to clear some cap room, making the Magic a possible heavy trade contender for the 2010 season.

While the loss of Tony Battie along with Rafer Alston as part of the deal may hurt the Magic’s depth, keep in mind that Orlando picked up a similar sweet shooting big man in Ryan Anderson, who’s range actually surpasses Battie up to the three-point line.

Also remember that forgotten point man Anthony Johnson outplayed Alston as the team’s lead guard during several stretches in last year’s post season.

The Vince Carter trade was not the end to Smith’s summer wheeling and dealing. The Magic are officially in the hunt for a power forward.

As a man who played the position pretty effectively before an injury forced his retirement, you can expect Smith to evaluate his future four with a fine tooth comb before offering that mystery Magic man the full mid-level exception.

The Carter deal was only step one in a two part process to give Orlando that ring it has long coveted. Stay tune for step two.

Blue Chips II: Return of the Wildcats

stephen riley — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:57:57 -0400

The movie Blue Chips was released back in 1994. As a young 12 year-old Orlando Magic fan basking in the glow of the Shaq and Penny days, it was only natural that I became a huge admirer of the film.

Featuring the pair of Orlando superstars as two-thirds of the blue-chip prospects recruited by fictional coach Pete Bell (Nick Nolte), the movie unraveled the story of a once prominent collegiate program, the fictional Western University, that had since fallen on hard times, struggling to compete in a league it had thrived in for years.

While Bell had traditionally stood by his morals of honest and fair recruiting, he slowly started to realize that he was one of the last good guys swimming in a league that had matured into a sea of scandal and vice.

Going against his ethics, he cheats, paying the risky but advantageous tab to bring in the nation’s top recruiting class in an effort to get his program back on track and appease the appetites of raging fans and the school’s bigwigs.

While the movie undoubtedly focuses the light on the NCAA’s biggest problem, fans of the film tend to focus on the thrill ride of turning a losing basketball program around with a couple of tantalizing recruits in just one summer.

Minus the scandal (more on that later), the University of Kentucky is undergoing their own Blue Chip-like scenario this offseason.

Kentucky is coming off an embarrassing year for a school rich in tradition. After losing eight of their last 11 to close the season, the Wildcats failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, capping off their dismal campaign with a loss to Notre Dame in the NIT.

The team fired second-year coach Billy Gillespie, and what followed next was a scene best suited for TMZ, with Gillispie fleeing from reporters as he awkwardly bobbed and weaved down school halls to avoid interrogation from the press.

Topped off with counter lawsuits between the coach and school and you have what might be considered the worst year in school history from a PR perspective.

Enter John Calipari, the smooth-talking, slick-haired player’s coach from Memphis University who not only solidified Kentucky’s coaching vacancy, but brought in a recruiting class that on paper stacks up with some of the more famous hauls in NCAA history.

For a team that ended the year on a sour note, Kentucky's not only poised for a return to prominence, but has a realistic shot at cutting down the nets next April.

Say what you want about Calipari; arrogant, obnoxious, underhanded, whatever, one thing the guy does consistently is reel in top-shelf talent and raise expectations wherever he coaches.

While Pete Bell brought in the ultimate center and point guard combo to spark his school’s turnaround, Calipari is following along the same lines with his inking of the highest-ranked prospects at the two positions.

Enter DeMarcus Cousins, the athletic and agile 6'9" power player who can dominate on the low block and draw defenders away from the basket with his perimeter game.

Cousins has NBA written all over him. He moves like a cat inside the three-point line and finishes like a bear around the rim.

His inside repertoire and long range game are reminiscent of Rasheed Wallace sans the penchant for technical fouls.

Depending on whom you’re talking to, Cousins might be the top player in the country and should immediately walk into a starting frontcourt position next season at Kentucky.

Calipari’s dribble-drive motion offense should fit Cousins’ game perfectly and getting out on the break would highlight the big man’s ability to run.

Now, if only he had a point guard to find him.

Enter John Wall, the ultra-athletic combo guard who gets in and out the lane quicker than a Ferrari.

At 6'4", Wall’s height and vision allow him to see the floor better than smaller guards. He can drive with either hand and his ability to finish inside opens creases in the defense where he consistently finds his teammates.

Ask three different people and you may get two nominations for Wall as the best player in the country. The fact that both Wall and Cousins will be in Kentucky next year means that you can’t go wrong with saying the Wildcats got the best high school player in the nation.

A big man who can shoot the three and a guard who can’t be stopped should be enough to allow any offense to flourish. But it wasn’t enough for Coach Cal.

In addition to arguably the top two prospects in the country, Calipari wasn’t done.

With Wall and Cousins possible one-and-done candidates similar to their movie counterparts, Calipari needed some stability, another foundation he could build on for the next two or three years.

Enter his second point guard-center combination in Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton.

The 6'1" Bledsoe and the 6'10" Orton are more traditional college recruits: solid players who will need a few years seasoning before they’re ready to shake David Stern’s hand in New York City.

Both Orton and Bledsoe are true to their positions, offering solid fundamentals and explosive play-making ability.

The duo's talent is unquestioned, but unlike their more popular classmates, they don’t have the physical traits or the name recognition that would suggest Freshman of the Year honors.

To add the cherry on the top, Calipari thought it would be nice to sprinkle in a couple of slashers. Guys who can swing between the 2 and 3 spots in a pinch and capitalize off the slots in the defense that the aforementioned recruits will likely create.

Enter 6'7" junior college transfer Darnell Dodson and local 6'6" talent Jon Hood.

Both Hood and Dodson have similar games. They’re both nice shooters who can also finish strong at the rim when given the space.

Agile and athletic, the two run the floor well and are the type of players that will eat you alive should a defense focus too heavily on others around them.

Even in Blue Chips, Pete Bell had a high-scoring holdover from the previous season. You know, the player exclusively known as “Tony” who could play with anybody but just needed “some help on the boards” as Bell’s ex-wife so eloquently suggested.

Enter Patrick Patterson, the returning junior who posted close to 18 points a game last season who will indubitably raise his NBA stock playing alongside this talented class.

Patterson had a breakout season last year, showcasing a low-post game that made him a terror in the SEC. With so much talent coming in, expect his numbers to drop but a season in the limelight should make him a household name.

In the original film, Bell and his Western squad got a chance to see where they measured up when they opened their hype-filled season at home against the No. 1 team in the nation, Indiana, led by legendary coach Bobby Knight.

Although the official polls and calendar haven’t been released yet, Calipari and his Kentucky troops will be scheduled to play the No.1 team from last year when they host UNC and their legendary coach Roy Williams at Rupp Arena.

Seems like all the stars are in place.

Big time school: Check!

Program in shambles: Check!

Pressure from outside sources to turn it around: Check!

Knock out recruiting class: Check!

Talented forward returning: Check!

Chance to open the season against a top ranked program: Double Check!

OK, so all the actors and scenarios are in place to start filming Blue Chips II.

We should hurry this along because who knows where things will end up with the recent revelations of alleged academic fraud by Derrick Rose, Calipari’s last top-tier recruit.

Accusations of a fraudulent SAT score and expenses paid for a relative of Rose during the 2007-2008 season at Memphis is sure to leave a black eye on somebody.

The NCAA has issued a letter to Calipari indicating he has not been implicated at the moment; however, continued probing into this case may lead to some larger problems.

In the original Blue Chips, Coach Bell resigned after opening night when the bevy of questions and weight of scandal was a little too heavy for his conscience.

While no one is hoping for a repeat scenario, it sure would make for a great sequel wouldn’t it?

Role Reversal: Big Ben Set to Shift the Identity of the Steelers

stephen riley — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:43:52 -0400

I always liked those word association games when a topic is spoken then the guesser spends the next few seconds linking words to the aforementioned theme.

So let’s play shall we? What are the first words that come to mind when I mention the Pittsburgh Steelers?

'70s dynasty? “Mean Joe” Greene? Quiver and Quake? The Steel Curtain? The Bus?

If you guessed any of those I wouldn’t say you’re wrong. If you guessed something along the lines pertaining to defense first then you probably stand in line with a wide host of others.

The truth is, the Steelers have always been known to field some strong defensive units. From their Hall of Fame stocked attack squads of the '70s to their league renowned 3-4 fronts of the past 20 years that half the league now emulates.

But the times they are a changing in the Steel City. When Pittsburgh nabbed Ben Roethlisberger with the 11th pick in the 2004 draft, the Steelers saw a chance to restock the quarterback position with the franchise signal caller the team had been lacking since Terry Bradshaw retired in 1983.

Five years later, when Roethlisberger walked off the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa last February, he left the field a two-time Super Bowl Champion at the envious age of 26. As he heads into his sixth season this coming fall, Roethlisberger appears primed to turn the offense into the new theme associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Perfect timing for the Steelers. Consistent is an understatement for a team that has finished the regular season as the top ranked defensive unit four times since 2000.

Between the years they weren’t racking up number one listings, they were still churning out top ten finishes with their last non top ten finish occurring in 99 when they ended the year as the 11th best defensive squad.

All of those years of playing stout defense appear to be catching up to a front seven that will start five defenders of at least age 31 and over this September.

Traditionally, Pittsburgh has had relative ease sewing new and younger defenders into their 3-4 design. That task has proven increasingly difficult over the last few seasons as more teams have made the transition to the three man odd front, drying up a talent pool in which the Steelers used to solitarily fish in.

While this isn't to suggest the mighty Steelers defense will just fall off the map, but in a notoriously complicated system for newcomers to learn, Evander “Ziggy” Hood, the Steelers 2009 first round pick, is the only promising source of youth waiting in the wings along the defensive line.

And even that may be a stretch as defensive line coach John Mitchell assured the public that Hood was "light years away" from contributing when asked about the chances of the rookie commandeering a starting gig in the near future.

With the possibility of long tenured defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau retiring in the coming seasons and potentially taking his Chinese arithmetic-like schemes with him should he depart, the door would then swing open for the prospect of head coach Mike Tomlin to install his preferred 4-3 Tampa Two defensive system.

With uncertainties abounding, Pittsburgh's defense is coming up on the unfamiliar territory of a unit in flux.

Enter Roethlisberger, the god-like figure whom Steelers fans praise and the young man just entering his prime who may have to carry the team for a few years while Tomlin resharpens the claws on his attack dogs.

The good news is, Big Ben won't be alone in his potential task. Last year's Super Bowl MVP wideout, Santonio Holmes, is only 25.

The best tight end you've never heard of, two-time Super Bowl Champion Heath Miller, is only 26 and last year’s draft provided two playmakers in running back Rashard Mendenhall and receiver Limas Sweed that are expected to take the Steelers offense to new heights.

Although the two newcomers struggled mightily in their first years in western Pennsylvania, the club places full belief in their promise and the Steelers have been known to strike gold with their early draft picks.

If there’s some bad news, it would have to rest with the men assigned the task of protecting Roethlisberger and opening holes for the team’s traditionally effective run game.

Critics and fans alike have hammered down on an offensive line that has allowed their starting quarterback to be sacked 139 times in just the last three seasons.

There are those who point to the line and there are others who point to Roethlisberger’s penchant for holding the ball a little too long in search of the big play that typically concludes with the signal caller peeling his face out the turf.

Whatever the reason, Pittsburgh needs to ensure that their franchise quarterback remains upright long enough to distribute the ball amongst a talented group of weapons.

The offensive line’s performance over the last half of 2008 was encouraging as the unit blocked long enough for Big Ben to conjure up some late game magic against a few of the best front sevens in the league.

Along with Big Ben and his group of skill guys, his front five is pretty young as well.

Outside of starting center Justin Hartwig, the rest of the starters’ average age is only 25.5 and to their credit, the unit ended the year with four new starters compared to the group that ended the 2007-2008 season.

If the offense can continue to grow and mature, it’s not too far fetched to expect them to carry the team while the defense reloads.

Steeler fans may have gotten a glimpse of the future in their last game when the offense had to string together a historic last minute touchdown drive after their defense uncharacteristically collapsed late in the Super Bowl against the Cardinals.

If the last game was any inclination, Roethlisberger and the offense are ready for a starring role as the team’s strength.

It might take some getting used to for life long black and gold fans. You just don't go from hanging your hat on three yards and a cloud of dust to three step drop backs.

But with Big Ben emerging as the franchise quarterback the Steelers and their fans have long been waiting for and the defense getting a little long in the tooth at some key spots, a little role reversal might be just what the team needed.

Rockets-Celtics: Set To Wonder What If?

stephen riley — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:00:53 -0400

Postseason injuries to superstars in the NBA are never fun. They shorten fans the chance to witness greatness and mask the true identity of a team because the ball club in question is operating without its key performers.

However, for sportswriters, postseason injuries give us something to talk about. It allows us to see the overall depth of a squad. It also allows role players to expand their games in the national spotlight and leave us all wondering what if?

What if the team in question had all hands on deck? What if this guy was playing, would the outcome of the series be different? What if this team comes back healthy for the next post season? What if, what if, what if?

Although Stan Van Gundy and Phil Jackson probably are the last two people wondering, NBA fans across the world have to be watching two splendid series between the Rockets versus the Lakers and the Magic battling the Celtics that will conclude in epic game sevens this Sunday and pondering the question, what if?

Although Van Gundy could argue in his own right that he is missing his first year All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson, c’mon. The Celtics are missing 12-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 2008 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 2004 NBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist Kevin Garnett. Not to mention their backup power forward Leon Powe.

This post season has allowed Rajon Rondo to show he is a top five point guard in this league and Glen “Big Baby” Davis has used the Garnett injury to display the skills that made him a tantalizing prospect while dominating at LSU.

It is no secret the Celtics are loaded, we saw that last year in their game six wipe out of the Lakers, we just did not know that the other guys outside of Pierce and Allen were this good.

While the Celtics stand just one game away from their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearance, is anyone really that surprised? The Celtics are still a deep team with two bona fide superstars remaining in Pierce and Allen even in the wake of Garnett’s absence.

While Garnett is an integral piece to the Celtics championship puzzle, it was Pierce, not Garnett who took home the Finals MVP last season. The fact that they have gotten this far without "The Big Ticket" is not a biggie, now the Rockets on the other hand are another story.

Playoff ending injuries to Dikembe Mutombo and Yao Ming left the Houston roster quite short, literally. Taking away two behemoths have left three guys in competition for the tallest player remaining at 6'9".

By comparison, starting small forward-power forward Lamar Odom is 6'10" and reserve swing man, sometimes a starter, Trevor Ariza, stands at 6'8", just one inch below the starting center for the Rockets now.

If it's any team left in the playoffs that is counting their lucky stars, it has to be the Lakers. The fact that Houston has pillaged their way into a game seven without Mutombo, Yao and Tracy McGrady, who was lost for the season in February, is beyond impressive.

While they have been blown away in the last couple of games at the Staples Center, they have returned the favor in the last two games at the Toyota Center, mopping the floor with the preseason favorites despite a shortened roster.

Although Ron Artest could start for most teams, the rest of the Rockets roster is a lunch pail group battling just for the sake of battling. The Lakers were thought of to be the deepest team in the league, but the performance of the Houston reserves the last few games has put a serious challenge to that theory.

While the McGrady is better than Kobe discussion has not been a topic since T-Mac left Orlando, he is still a capable scorer who is primed to explode on any given night. Yao showed the Lakers did not have an answer for him before a foot injury shelved him and even the living legend Mutombo was still a defensive presence.

While the Rockets and Celtics may very well go home for the summer after this Sunday, their performances this post season have been heroic. Beginning the playoffs without their best players, not many gave these two teams a chance to make it this far.

You have to believe it is a serious mental hurdle to get over when you realize you are getting ready to go to war without your most effective weapon.

The healthiest team at the end is usually the championship team. Even the Lakers had to wonder what if had they had Andrew Bynum at full strength for last year’s Finals appearance.

While at this point no one can truly predict how much longer two shortened rosters will continue scrap, should the Rockets and Celtics lose their game sevens, two words will accompany the minds of both teams as they head to their locker rooms for the final time this season. What if?

More Than Music, Atlanta Hawks Poised For a Bright Future

stephen riley — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:18:36 -0400

Over the last few years Atlanta has become the main breeding grounds for pretty much all things hip-hop and R&B.

From artists such as Young Jeezy, T.I. and Soulja Boy to Usher, Monica and Ciara, Atlanta has become accustomed to dishing out chart toppers. Turn on the radio, flip to a music channel or pay the $40 cover charge at your local nightclub and you’ll see or hear what I mean.

It’s not an exaggeration to suggest besides hosting the 2003 All-Star game, probably the biggest contribution to NBA headlines the city of Atlanta had made over the last few seasons has been the Atlanta-based music played at pre-games, intermissions and post games over loud speakers in NBA arenas.

All of that changed last year when Atlanta took the eventual champion Boston Celtics to seven games in the opening round of the playoffs.

So in case you missed it, Atlanta’s professional basketball team has been on the rise the last couple of years, qualifying for the post season each of the last two campaigns after a nine year hiatus.

Things happen in this league, sometimes the unexpected, and sometimes the predicted. No one could have expected the Hawks would go over two presidential terms without smelling the air of the postseason and not many had predicted that to dramatically change for the last two years.

History has a habit of manipulating our minds and the Hawks’ past is a real bad influence on all of us.

Before last year, Atlanta had lost at least 50 games six out of the previous eight seasons and the couple seasons they didn’t lose 50, they tried their best with 49 and 47 losses, so you can reason as to why experts casually don’t paint Atlanta’s future with the same brushes as those used for the Lakers, Celtics and other traditional contenders.

Over the last few seasons, a flurry of trades have seemingly reshaped the landscape of the league, creating powerhouses out of recent so-so teams. The Lakers acquiring Pau Gasol, Mo Williams and Delonte West being shipped to the Cavaliers, the Nuggets reeling in Chauncey Billups and the title changing moves that sent Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to the Boston Celtics have put strangleholds out East and over in the West.

It’s no coincidence that the four best records in the league this season belonged to these four teams who made the best deals in the last couple of years.

Although they currently find themselves on the confines of their couches, perhaps lost in the background of the allure of the top four teams trade deals was arguably the most underrated trade of the last few years: the Atlanta Hawks' haul of Mike Bibby from the Kings to man the point position that changed the dynamics in Georgia for long suffering fans.

While the Bibby deal didn’t exactly push Atlanta into title talk, it did fortify a loaded roster that was already buzzing with talent, equipping them with a puncher's chance of competing for the next few years. A sweep at the hands of the Cavs was enough to break a few hearts in Hotlanta but the future is still very promising for this group of high fliers.

Joe Johnson headlines an athletic group. A smooth 27-year-old All-Star shooting guard who can play positions one through three and be effective at any one. He has the vision, ball handling and unselfishness to play the point, the stroke to score from deep and at 235 lbs he can bang smaller defenders in the low post and collect rebounds.

Already an All-Star, Johnson is the Hawks’ most explosive scorer and probably would be the second to best player if he ran with one of the more dominant teams.

Some big men receive praise when they run the floor, some big men receive praise when they snatch a much needed rebound, and some big men receive praise when they kick-start the break with an outlet pass.

So how much praise should Al Horford receive?

He can do all of the above and his impersonation of a small forward when he grabs the rebound than pushes it from end to end and finishes with a no-look dish or a nifty bounce pass to a teammate is pretty impressive.

Horford is the 22-year-old big man that switches from power forward to center for the Hawks and if you’re looking for stock to invest in, don’t call your broker, your answer is right here.

He runs the floor like his gym shorts are on fire, he’s already a rugged and tenacious rebounder who is destined to challenge for perennial league leader and he knows how to finish around the rim.

He’s an athletic big who shoots over 70% at the stripe, his 15-foot and in jump shot is effective and still improving, and pair the aforementioned with his contagious work ethic and I nominate him for being the most skilled big man to enter the league since Tim Duncan.

Maybe I’m giving Horford too much praise but if you watch his game you’ll be casting your ballot in no time.

There were 30 starting centers playing professional basketball in the 2007-2008 season and Josh Smith blocked more shots per game than 28 of them. The only thing is Smith was and still isn’t a center, he’s a small forward playing out of position at the power forward slot.

With athleticism rivaled by that of only LeBron James, Smith’s a human pogo sticks and superb timing has enabled him to swat away 2.4 shots each contest for his career.

Although his blocks were down this year, he did average a career high 1.9 steals per game this past season to give a hint that you may be looking at a potential defensive MVP in the making.

What’s scary is that Smith’s offensive game is rather raw and isn’t really refined yet but its rounding into form.

He still doesn’t have a go to move, he isn’t that solid with his off hand at this point and he hasn’t patented his jump shot either.

However, Smith is only 23 but he can post and step out for the occasional three, passes extremely well and his explosive hops and soda-dropping dunks are already legendary across the league. Already a solid defender, its scary to think how good Smith will be once he smoothes out his offensive game.

Ankle injuries zapped Johnson and Horford of their full strength late in the postseason and a wrist injury hampered energetic small forward Marvin Williams, leaving the Hawks sitting prey for a hungry Cavs team.

While James and the Cavs displayed their dominance, Atlanta displayed its immaturity. Although they pushed past Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat in the first round, the Hawks were blown out in every road game in the playoffs except for their game four win in Miami, showcasing their lack of intensity on the road.

The Hawks are far from a finished product but as demonstrated so far, they have the pieces in place.

When healthy, Atlanta is an athletic and energetic group who possess a nice nucleus in their own version of the big three with Johnson, Smith and Horford.

Barring injury, the Hawks should finish with over 50 wins for the next campaign and Smith and Horford could use some more seasoning to their games. Bibby doesn’t have to be spectacular but just continue his steady play.

The team’s major improvement will come when Horford and Smith improve their games. You can’t ask much more of Johnson who is a proven All-Star and just entering the prime of his career.

The Lakers, Celtics, Cavs and Nuggets have proven you need some seasoned vets and a couple of superstars to help you push through. While Johnson and Bibby are fine players, Atlanta needs either Horford or Smith to develop into that one superstar.

They both have the tools and if they can capitalize on their potential, the Hawks are more than equipped to show that the city of Atlanta is about more than just music.

Mock Interview With Redskins Chris Horton

stephen riley — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:41:53 -0400

Possible interview with Chris Horton

Q- You were the team’s last pick of their 2008 draft but their most impactful player from your group, did you expect to have that kind of success in your first year?

Q- The switch from college starter to pro starter can be a major one, what difficulties if any did you have in learning the playbook and becoming a starter when you weren’t expected to be one in your first season?

Q- Early draft picks typically get all the publicity and the best chance to make their rosters, do you feel it’s a huge disadvantage for lower round picks to contribute and make their teams?

Q- You were named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after your first start against New Orleans in week 2 when you recorded a fumble recovery and two interceptions, at what point in the season did you believe you could become a big time player in the league?

Q- As you know, Sean Taylor had a limited but exciting career here in Washington and quickly became a fan favorite and premier player at the safety spot, does that add any additional pressure of playing the position here?

Q- The team started out strong but tailed off towards the latter part of the season, what went wrong for you guys and how do you expect to remedy that this year?

Q- Your defensive coordinator, Greg Blache, places a heavy emphasis on his secondary being physical. How would you describe your playing style and how do you think it fits in the long run with Blache's scheme?

Q- Your fellow backfield mate, LaRon Landry, is typically played a deep 15-20 yards down the field, often leaving him as the lone safety in the Cover 1-Free scheme. How does this open things up for you to roam in the shortened area and what are your key responsibilities in this coverage?

Q- For a seventh round pick to come in and maintain the starting position, the expectations for you are only going to grow from here on out, how do you expect to manage those expectations and perfect your game?

Q- You’re a west coast guy, explain the transition you had to make from Los Angeles, CA all the way across country to Washington, D.C.

Redskins Look Avoid To Avoid Repeat Of Late Season Collapse In 09

stephen riley — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:10:12 -0400

The Washington Redskins were a team that faded down the stretch of the 2008 season. While the impatience of some fans increases year by year, others reason with the expectations of a squad led by an up and coming quarterback and a young head coach.

The 2008 draft saw first year head coach Jim Zorn, litter his roster with skill guys for his offense. Devin Thomas, Fred Davis and Malcolm Kelly were all excellent pieces to add to the puzzle of the west coast offense. While expectations should always be tempered for rookies, as the Redskins approach season two of the Jim Zorn project, all expectations have been raised by quantum leaps.

Zorn knows of the expectations, the team knows and owner Daniel Snyder not only knows, he cherishes and often times creates the expectations with his free spending in the offseason. Snyder kicked off his busiest time of the year by acquiring the premier defensive player on the free agent market when he gave Albert Haynesworth over $100 million to make D.C. his new residence.

For his next move, he wisely retained cornerback DeAngelo Hall, his 2008 midseason acquisition that saved a fading secondary with some big plays. However, Snyder’s next few moves might have ruined the team’s chances of resigning its signal caller at the end of the next season as he tried two attempts to replace current quarterback Jason Campbell.

The first came in the Jay Cutler sweepstakes, trying to pry Cutler away from the Denver Broncos at whatever cost. There were rumors of a proposed deal that would’ve sent Campbell and tight end Chris Cooley to Colorado in exchange for Cutler but things never materialized.

The next attempt came in the Mark Sanchez draft sweepstakes, as teams were lining up, jostling position for a chance to draft the former USC shot caller. While Zorn failed at both attempts, the efforts to replace Campbell will probably weigh heavily as the fifth year man goes into the final year of his contract.

With limited picks in the draft, the team acquired arguably the draft’s best pass rusher in Brian Orakpo, a 6-3, 263 pound ball of explosion that took home every major award for a defensive lineman in his last year at Texas. The team also brought in local talent Kevin Barnes, the Maryland Terrapins cover corner who received the highest score on the Wonderlic test and may have been off the board sooner than his third round selection if not for a broken shoulder blade that cost him the later half of the year.

The acquirements of Orakpo and Haynesworth should immediately improve a faulty pass rush and give the team two instant starters. The presence of Haynesworth and Orakpo should help free up pass rush specialist Andre Carter who hasn’t been allowed to showcase his talents because of the heavy attention he receives from opposing offenses.

The Skins defense has nowhere to go but up, considering they finished fourth last year in total defense. With a secondary full of playmakers and a star studded defensive line, even the patchwork linebacking corps shouldn’t be able to hamper what has become the strength of the team over the last few years.

In a division full of teams that gets heavy pressure on the passer, the Redskins could've and perhaps should've drafted offensive linemen Michael Oher or Alex Mack to begin refortifying their aging offensive line, but the talent is still there to get the team by for another season or two. Snyder did bring back Derrick Dockery, the 6-6, 330 pound mammoth left guard who makes his return to the capital after two seaons with the Buffalo Bills. Oher to the line, excuse me, Other then the line, the offense didn’t need any major additions, just more experience for Campbell and his playmates at the receiver spots.

Clinton Portis proved last year that he is still one of the top backs in football and Cooley remains as dangerous as ever. This will be the first time in Campbell’s career in which he returns the following year without the task of learning a different playbook and major increases in production are expected from sophomores Kelly, Davis and Thomas as the team desperately needs one if not all of them to add spice to a receiving corps short on talent outside of Cooley and the diminutive but at times dominating Santana Moss.

Campbell should have success with another year under his belt in Zorn’s west coast offense and the defense should at the least, remain a top 5-10 unit. The 2009 season will largely rest on the production of the 2008 draft class. If they can increase their production and the team avoids another late season crash, the Redskins will likely make the playoffs after an 8-8 season last year.