Bleacher Report - Articles by Mike Gurnis

A Look at The Rutgers 2009 Offense

Mike Gurnis — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:57:05 -0400

In 2008, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights rebounded from a very rough beginning to the season, to get on a roll, and win the PapaJohns.com bowl against NC State.

But in 2009, things certainly won't be the same for Rutgers. First, and most notably, they'll have to find a new Quarterback, with the departure of recently-graduated and Seattle Seahawk Mike Teel, who had an outstanding 2009 campaign.

This, coupled with the loss of star recievers Kenny Britt (Tennessee Titans) and Tiquan Underwood (Jacksonville Jaguars), Rutgers' passing game will certainly take a step back.

Who will lead that passing game, is still a major question facing Rutgers as they get ready to begin practice. Seniors Domenic Natale and Jabu Lovelace are believed to be the front runners for the job, although there has not been a clear-cut winner yet.

Either way, these two threw a combined 11 passes last season, so there is not too much game experience. Lovelace has mostly been used for his running ability, in certain situations. Also, Redshirt Freshmen D.C. Jefferson and Steve Shimko are also believed to be in the mix.

But, with an offensive line that returns all of its starters, expect Rutgers to have a lot of sucess running the ball in 2009. Who will be carrying the football? Well, ever since Ray Rice's departure, it's been a runningback by Comittee situation. The Three backs that will see the most carries in 2009, are the same that saw the most in 2008.

Kordell Young (Senior), Jourdan Brooks (Junior), and Joe Martinek (Sophomore) will recieve the bulk of the carries. Martinek led the group in yards per carry, which was impressive given that he was only a freshman last year.

Young led the team in Net yardage, with 554 yards, and Brooks led the team in touchdowns with 6. It's very weird to see three running backs, with each one leading in one of the big running categories.

All in all, Rutgers' offense may surprise some people in 2009 with a returning offensive line, and a very strong running game, which should take pressure off of the passing game. Potentially, the Scarlet Knights could give many Big East defenses fits in 2009.

Brett Favre: Just Go Away!

Mike Gurnis — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:17:24 -0400

Here we go again.

Brett Favre is at it again. He once again fooled America into thinking he was going to stay retired yet again, and as always, he doesn't go into retirement without a fight.

He dragged us all through the seemingly never ending drama of whether he would play in 2008 or not, and where he would play. Out of nowhere, he gets traded to the New York Jets, of all teams.

At the age of 39, Favre got the Jets off to a hot 8-3 start, and then suddenly he just forgot how to throw the football, spiraling the Jets downward into a 9-7 finish, missing the playoffs.

We went through all of the drama of last summer, only to see him stumble like that, and tarnish his career (in my opinion).

So finally, about a month after the season, he decided that that was it (for real this time). He even went on that big SportsCenter interview where he really made it seem like his career was over this time.

But then Favre asks the Jets for his release. Then, once the Jets grant him what he wants, all of a sudden he wants to play again. Gee, what do you know.

This further proves that he did all of us Jets fans a major disservice, because it just goes to show that he never wanted to be a Jet in the first place. All he wants is to get back at Green Bay. If Favre wants to keep his legacy intact, he needs to just stay away from football and call it quits.

Sure, he started out great last season. But then he suffers the shoulder injury, and he looked more like Chad Pennington throwing the ball than himself. He was trying to make throws downfield that he plain and simply couldn't make. He did nothing but embarrass himself late in the season last year.

Now, he's almost 40, and he's attempting to play football again after shoulder surgery. Who knows if we're even going to see the Brett Favre of old if he does indeed come back and play for Minnesota this season?

If Minnesota wants Favre to play for them, he's got to get going right at the beginning of training camp. That way, there's no controversy as to who their quarterback is. If Favre starts in the middle of training camp again, then I'm afraid we have football's version of Roger Clemens.

Next thing you know, Favre's going to be signing with teams to play half-seasons, getting ridiculous pro-rated salaries to play eight games. Then, after he finally retires for good, we'll find out that he was using steroids or HGH or some type of PED.

It's a story that will never end. It was fun for awhile, but now it just borders on downright annoying. And it begs the question:

Is this guy ever going to decide, once and for all, when enough is enough?

Tantalizingly Close: The Anatomy of a New York Jets Fan

Mike Gurnis — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:27:58 -0400

It all started on a Sunday afternoon in September of 1998.

I had just turned eight years old, and I was going through a time in my life when sports became my life. It's about the age where you start to comprehend sports, and for me, an obsession was born. At that point, I pretty much rooted for whatever teams my parents rooted for.

My Mom occasionally rooted for the Jets, and my dad didn't really have a team, so the Jets became my favorite after I decided I was going to follow football that year.

If only I had known what I was getting myself into.

The Jets stumbled out of the gate that year, starting out 0-2. But then, an injury to Jets starting quarterback, Glenn Foley, led to the starting job going to journeyman Vinny Testaverde.

Testaverde went on to lead the Jets to a 12-4 record, and their first AFC East championship in over thirty years. He led a team that many refer to as one of the best Jets teams of all-time.

That year, I had witnessed my Yankees pull off a 114 win regular season, and breeze through the playoffs to win the World Series. So at that age, I was under the impression that the Jets would breeze through and win the Super Bowl.

They furthered that belief by beating Jacksonville in the divisional round. The next stop on the road to the Super Bowl was a date with legendary Quarterback John Elway and the Denver Broncos.

Sure enough, late in the third quarter, the Jets held a 10-0 lead. There was no doubt in my little, young mind that the Jets were going to face the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl.

Of course then a barrage of New York turnovers led to 23 unanswered points by the Broncos, and the Jets went on to lose 23-10, breaking my heart.

Little did I know it would be the first heartbreak of many.

The next season, in 1999, I thought for sure, "This is the year." Sure enough, the first game of the season, Testaverde wnt down with an achilles injury, and was finished for the year. The Jets still played well, though, but an 8-8 record was not enough to do anything.

In 2000, the Jets tantalized me yet again. The Jets pulled off a miracle comeback against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, turning a 30-point defecit into a victory. New York was cruising along, and then suddenly they collapsed after winning that game.

In 2002, the Jets started out slow, and sure enough, Chad Pennington became the quarterback a few games in. He instantly turned the Jets around, as they finished 9-7, and won the AFC East in the last game of the season by blowing out Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, 42-17.

The next week, they beat up on Peyton Manning and the Colts in similar fashion, 41-0. But then a trip to Oakland to face the Raiders was yet another tantalizing moment.

It was a tie game—10-10 at halftime. But once again, the Jets collapsed. Turnovers and twenty unanswered points added up to a 30-10 Raiders win—also equaling more heartbreak for me.

But possibly the biggest heartbreak of all came in 2004.

Chad Pennington, yet again, led the Jets to the playoffs and had pulled off an unbelievable playoff victory the week before against San Diego. The Jets were facing the 15-1 Pittsburgh Steelers, and were considered heavy underdogs. Somehow, New York hung with them, and had a shot.

But a man, that I will only name just this once, ruined it all.

His name was Doug Brien.

Much like Scott Norwood of the Buffalo Bills missing a Super Bowl winning kick in the early 90's, Doug Brien did something so terrible that we ended up drafting a kicker in the second round of the following draft, because we refused to allow him to choke like that again.

Two potential game-winning field goals, and two misses. The Steelers went on to win in overtime. We would've been one game away from the Super Bowl.

Then of course in 2008, we Jets fans were fooled once again. We were all going crazy over the mid-training camp acquisition of legendary quarterback Brett Favre.

A great defense, and a good offense led by Favre, brought the Jets to an 8-3 record, and they were coming off two big wins. First, an overtime thriller against our rival the Patriots, and then a blowout victory over the previously-undefeated Tennessee Titans.

After that, everyone was annointing the Jets as the best AFC team, a sure AFC East champion, and possibly a Super Bowl-bound team.

Sure enough, the Jets stumbled down the stretch once again, going 1-4 in the last five games, and failed to even make the playoffs.

People often ask me, "How on earth do you do it?" Well, being a Jets fan sure isn't an easy thing. Things always look good, but then come crashing down in a heartbeat.

It's a good life lesson—that nothing is ever certain in life, not just as a Jets fan.

But what fuels me to never give up on my team is that there is always hope. When we blow the game in the end after having a big lead, what matters is that we had the shot.

It's always my belief, that one day, whether it be next year or thirty years from now, I'll be at a Super Bowl party with some friends. And at that Super Bowl Party, I'll be cheering on my Jets for the first time ever.

No matter how bad things go, you can never take the Jets away from me.

A Different Team: Why The Yankees Will Beat The Red Sox This Week

Mike Gurnis — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:04:14 -0400

On May 5th, the New York Yankees were "on a treadmill to oblivion" according to Yankees Radio play-by-play man John Sterling.

Through the first 26 games of the season, the Yankees were 13-13, and had just been swept for the second time in the young season, by their arch-rival Boston Red Sox, bringing their season series record versus Boston to 0-5.

Things did not look too promising for the Yankees. Two of the Yankees prized off-season acquisitions, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixiera, were not showing what they had. Sabathia had had a couple of good moments, but for the most part was ineffective through the first month. Teixiera was hovering around the Mendoza line and Alex Rodriguez was still recovering from Hip surgery.

Suddenly, in the Month of May, things started to turn around for the Yankees.

On May 8th, Alex Rodriguez made his first game appearance of the young season. And on the first pitch he saw, he instantly gave the Yankees a shot in the arm by delivering a three-run home run on his first at bat of the season. The Yankees would go on to win the game against Baltimore, 4-0 behind a complete game shutout by CC Sabathia. Suddenly, things began to look up.

Since the return of A-Rod to the Yankee lineup, the Yankees are 22-8. With his return to the lineup, now the Yankees are able to have the feared back-to-back 3 and 4 hitters in Teixiera and A-Rod. With A-rod's return, Teixiera's Batting average has suddenly jumped up to .286, and now leads the American League in Home runs with 18, and is a leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game.

With all of this being said, there is no reason to believe that the Yankees won't go into Boston and take at least two out of three from the Red Sox, and extend their one-game lead in the AL East.

Boston has struggled over the last month, posting a 15-13 record since the same day that A-Rod returned to the Yankees lineup. Not to mention, their big-time slugger David Ortiz looks like he's at the end of his career, posting a .197 batting average so far this season and only two home runs, causing him to be dropped in the order. Needless to say, Big Papi is not even a shell of his former self.

Their captain, Jason Varitek, is struggling as well, with a .247 batting average so far this season.

But Boston's struggling hitters is not their only problem.

Their Starting pitching, which was supposed to be a major strength, has been mediocre at best. Jon Lester, their golden boy pitcher, has struggled with a 5.09 ERA this year. Brad Penny, their off-season acquisition, has simply not gotten the job done, posting a 5.85 ERA this year.

And we haven't even gotten to Dice-K yet.

Matsuzaka has battled through injuries this year, but has a rotation-worst 7.11 ERA with a 1-4 record this season. You can criticize the Yankees all you want for giving CC Sabathia a $161 million contract, but don't forget that the Red Sox spent $50 million just to negotiate with Matsuzaka a few years ago(of course the Yankees spent $30 mil on Kei Igawa, and he's in the Minor leagues).

All in all, these are two teams who are playing at different levels from the last time they faced each other on May 5th. The Red Sox have struggled since then, while the Yankees have risen dramatically, and are starting to look like the team they were supposed to be.

Just a look at the pitching matchups for the three games, it seems like it plays into the Yankees favor.

Game 1—A.J. Burnett (4-2, 4.69 ERA) vs. Josh Beckett (6-2, 4.09 ERA)

Although Burnett blew a six-run lead the last time he faced the Sox at Fenway, he does have good career marks against Boston, posting a 5-0, 3.52 ERA lifetime against Boston. Even though Beckett is 1-0 vs the Yankees this year, he has a 9.00 ERA against them this year.

Game 2—Chien-Ming Wang (0-3, 14.46 ERA) vs. Tim Wakefield (7-3, 4.50 ERA)

One glance at Chien-Ming Wang's stats, and you automatically think Boston will destroy him in this game, right? Don't forget that Wang's first start since coming off the DL last Thursday was the first time he had thrown a lot of pitches in a couple of weeks, since he had been in the Bullpen and hadn't really thrown more than three or four innings out of the bullpen. For the first three innings, Wang looked like vintage Wang, he cruised, and suddenly in the 4th and 5th he just lost it. So you can blame that on not being stretched out. As for Wakefield, in recent Years the Yankees haven't had much trouble with him. In fact, over Wakefield's career he has a 10-17 record with a 5.03 ERA against the Yankees.

Game 3—CC Sabathia (5-3, 3.56 ERA) vs. Brad Penny (5-2, 5.85 ERA)

Both pitchers make their first starts of the season versus the opposition. Over his career, Sabathia is 2-4 with a 3.91 ERA against Boston, which mean's hes done okay. Brad Penny, on the other hand, to top off his struggles, he has a 3-1 record with an ERA over 6 at Fenway park this season.

Why A.J. Burnett's Suspension Doesn't Make Sense

Mike Gurnis — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:38:57 -0400

Major League Baseball yesterday handed out yet another controversial suspension over a pitcher throwing at a batter.

It all started in Tuesday night's 12-3 victory by the New York Yankees over the Texas Rangers. Early on in the game, Texas starter Vincente Padilla plunked Yankees slugger Mark Teixiera. Twice.

So, as a form of retalliation, which is commonplace in Major League Baseball, Yankees starter A.J. Burnett attempted to return the favor, by throwing a pitch that was described by Major League Baseball as "high and tight", although it did not hit the batter, Nelson Cruz. Both benches were warned, but Burnett was not thrown out of the game.

Burnett doesn't get thrown out of the game, but that didn't stop Major League Baseball from handing out a six-game suspension to Burnett (which he is appealing).

And Burnett has every reason to appeal this suspension. This suspension, plain and simple, does not make any sense whatsoever.

Padilla was the one who instigated this whole situation, by hitting Teixiera twice. Whether there was intent or not, when a pitcher hits someone twice, usually it's not a coincidence. Yet Padilla, only gets a fine (which was undisclosed by Major League Baseball), and did not recieve a suspension.

So let me get this straight. Vincente Padilla hits the same batter twice. A.J. Burnett doesn't even hit Nelson Cruz on one pitch, yet he is the one recieving the suspension?

Explain to me how that's fair.

Burnett threw a pitch that was enough to get warned, but not enough to get thrown out of a game. But, it's apparently enough to get you suspended for six games. Does that make sense to you?

Granted, Vincente Padilla is getting his own form of punishment, as he is having a very bad year for the Rangers, and it was reported yesterday that he was waived by the Rangers, but he is still on target to start on Sunday against Boston.

If Major League Baseball really wanted to be fair, Padilla would have been suspended as well. He hit a batter twice, and obviously instigated the situation, whether he intended to or not. Burnett didn't even hit Cruz. How do you know if there was even intent behind Burnett's up and in fastball? Sometimes, you have to pitch that way, maybe he felt like giving him a brush back pitch, considering he had hit a home run off of him the earlier at-bat. It may have had nothing to do with Teixiera being hit. When a batter gets hit twice, that's when you know there's got to be something on, though.

All in all, MLB really confused me with this suspension. It simply does not make sense and is illogical.

Joba Chamberlain to the 'Pen: Yankees Must Scrap Rotation Plans To Win Now

Mike Gurnis — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:26:04 -0400

The debate just won't end.

Two years ago, the New York Yankees started an experiment that would pay big dividends in helping them reach the postseason.

They decided that a pitcher who had spent most of the season in Double-A Trenton, and who had been a starter his whole career, could help the Yankees out of the bullpen, possibly as an eighth inning setup man to Mariano Rivera.

Joba Chamberlain had arrived in New York.

Chamberlain would not disappoint, quickly shining in the bullpen with a 98-mph fastball and a virtually unhittable slider. Games essentially turned into seven-inning affairs.

Chamberlain would come in during the eighth inning and overmatch almost every hitter he faced, posting a 0.38 ERA in 19 appearances for the Yankees and helping them reach the postseason for the 13th straight year.

This would only be a quick fix though, as Chamberlain had been a starter his whole life and was widely believed to be more valuable as such in the long term, with the ability to throw four plus pitches.

Due to an innings limit by the Yankees front office, Chamberlain started out 2008 in the bullpen for over a month until manager Joe Girardi finally moved him into the starting rotation.

Chamberlain certainly had his good moments as a starter, including a 1-0 victory over Josh Beckett and the Red Sox in late July.

But he also had a problem that many pitchers run into these days: He was throwing too many pitches and had problems getting past the fifth inning.

An injury in August moved Chamberlain back to the bullpen. But this year, he began the season in the rotation, where it's believed he will remain for the entire 2009 season.

But once again, he is struggling to get past the fifth inning. In nine starts this season, he's posted a pretty good 3.97 ERA, but is averaging exactly five innings per start, which leaves the rest of the game up to a very ineffective bullpen.

Right now, two-time 19-game winner Chien-Ming Wang is sitting in the bullpen, but the Yankees will eventually work him back into the rotation. But who will Wang replace?

Phil Hughes has been up and down this season, posting a 5.45 ERA in seven starts. But the Yankees will likely keep him in the rotation because, with an under-2.00 ERA in Triple-A this year, it's clear the only way he'll learn to pitch at this level is if they keep him up here.

With an inconsistent Yankee bullpen, the logical choice would be to move the lockdown Chamberlain back there, instantly shortening games and thus helping the Yankees reach the postseason.

Why Girardi and Brian Cashman are so hesitant to do this, I'm not sure. You've got an inconsistent bullpen, and sending Hughes down to Triple-A won't help him progress.

I've always wanted Chamberlain in the rotation, but with the situation right now, if the Yankees want to get the most out of their pitchers, putting him in the bullpen is the most logical move.

Does he need to be there for the long term? No. He can go back to being a starter next year, especially if Andy Pettitte doesn't return.

But the best way to help this team win right now is for Chamberlain to be in the 'pen.

Replacing LC: A Look at the Jets' Receiving Options in 2009

Mike Gurnis — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:59:36 -0400

With the departure of Laverneus Coles to the Bengals, the Jets have a huge void to fill at the reciever position. Here, we'll take a look at each player that will be competing for a job at the recieving position in 2009, as a Target for either Mark Sanchez or Kellen Clemens. Already solidified as the #1 Reciever is Jerricho Cotchery.

Begin Slideshow

Start the Rookie?: The Jets' Mark Sanchez-Kellen Clemens Quarterback Debate

Mike Gurnis — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:29:28 -0400

Over and over again, two names will be brought up when debating whom the Jets should start at quarterback in 2009: Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens.

Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) and Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) were both rookies who managed to lead their teams to the playoffs last season, something that is considered nearly unprecedented in today's NFL. Usually, it's commonly believed in the NFL that a rookie quarterback must spend at least a year or two carrying a clipboard before they are finally given a chance to start on a regular basis.

But last year, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco defied the odds. Both rookies led their teams to the playoffs, with Flacco leading the Ravens all the way to the AFC Championship, falling just short of reaching the Super Bowl.

Sure enough, the defensive coordinator for the Ravens last season, Rex Ryan, is now the head coach for the Jets, and is now in a similar situation: To start the rookie, or start the veteran?

Everyone knows the story of Mark Sanchez, and how the Jets made a dramatic draft-day trade with Cleveland to take the fifth pick in the draft, and to take Sanchez out of USC. Sanchez is the highest drafted quarterback by the Jets since Joe Namath (and we all know how that worked out).

But on the other side, Kellen Clemens enters his fourth year with the Jets, and has yet to show the front office that he is "The Guy." In his sophomore season just two years ago, he started eight games for the Jets, and went 3-5, winning 75 percent of the Jets wins that year (they won one game with Chad Pennington as quarterback that year).

It was very evident that Clemens just didn't look like a guy who could be a constant starter in this league. Sure, his offensive line didn't help him out much, as he rarely had time to go through his check-downs and gave up on plays very early. He showed Jets fans, such as myself, a very "deer in headlights" look as quarterback.

But before last season, the Jets went out and acquired veteran Offensive Linemen Alan Faneca and Damien Woody, which drastically improved the Jets offensive line. It was believed that Clemens would have a shot to start that season, as he was engaged in a training camp battle with Chad Pennington. Except one thing got in his way:

Brett Favre.

The Jets famously traded for the Hall-of-Fame quarterback about a week into training camp, and then released Pennington (who then quickly signed with the Miami Dolphins, only to win the AFC East with them by beating his Former team, the Jets on Week 17).

Since Favre's apparent retirement, no matter what it has looked like Clemens will have to battle for his job. Before they acquired Sanchez, it was supposed to be between Clemens and the since-departed Brett Ratliff (who many fans, including myself, were pulling for to win the job).

Ryan has stated repeatedly that the Jets will run the ball, and quite often. This philosophy was proved when the Jets drafted Iowa Running Back Shonn Greene in the 3rd round, and has reportedly done very well in Mini-camp and OTA's. Add Greene to a backfield that already has the AFC's leading Rusher from last year in Thomas Jones, and speedster Leon Washington, the Jets have a potential three-headed monster coming out of the backfield, which along with a good offensive line, should take pressure off whoever the Quarterback should be.

This three-headed monster running attack is similar to what Rex Ryan had in Baltimore last year, with LeRon McClain, Willis McGahee, and Ray Rice splitting carries, which took pressure off of the rookie Quarterback.

I'm sure most Jets fans are pulling for Sanchez to win the job (as I am). That's the sexy decision. But really, the logical choice is to start Kellen Clemens. He's been here longer, he's waited for his shot, he's said all the right things, and I feel it's only right that he get the job, now that he has an offensive line to give him time to make decisions, unlike two years ago. Let him prove himself.

And if after a few games into the season, Clemens hasn't proven himself, you can then see what the rookie Sanchez can do. A risk the Jets can take, given that they'll be running the ball most of the time anyway.