Bleacher Report - Articles by Clayton Coffman

Jameer Nelson Would Be Foolish To Play

Clayton Coffman — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:02:00 -0400

Jameer Nelson, read these words: Do not play. A story on SI.com reported that Magic players believed Nelson would participate in the Finals. The series begins this Thursday with Orlando traveling out west. Why would you risk further injury, even if you had been sidelined for more than three months? A torn labrum, which Nelson suffered this season, directly affects his shooting. He's a right-handed player, and I highly doubt he was practicing left-handed during the time off. Also, you'd have to bet that if Nelson returned, he'd mess up the chemistry that the Magic have right now. Rafer Alston had done more than enough to make the Magic's opponents respect their inside-outside game. We've seen too many athletes try to come back after major surgeries, only to exacerbate the same injury site. Don't risk your career for one series when you have your whole career ahead of you.

Inside-Outside Game Key for Orlando Magic

Clayton Coffman — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:28:00 -0400

Dwight Howard's 30 points and Rashard Lewis' 22 proved to be enought in the Magic's Game One victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Howard made Zydrunas Ilgauskas look silly inside with his quick feet, and Lewis continued to hit the outside jumper with consistency.

The go-ahead shot by Lewis in the final seconds was exactly what Orlando needed, and now they have the Cavs' backs against-the-wall.

Cleveland's performance—check that—LeBron's performance was great with 49 points.

But as any person could tell, the fatigue had set in for James, who was a one-man show.

The Cavaliers' prized offseason acquisition of Mo Williams didn't exactly go how it had in the regular season. Williams shot the ball 19 times and only connected on six of those attempts.

By stealing the first game in the Eastern Conference finals, the Magic has to feel a lot more confident knowing if they just play their game, they have the better team.

Superman? Uh, Not Quite

Clayton Coffman — Tue, 12 May 2009 23:31:00 -0400

He's the biggest guy (usually) on the court. He can out-muscle nearly everybody in the NBA. Unfortunately for Dwight Howard, though, his mental makeup allows him to play as soft as Brawny paper towels. Orlando's "Man of Steel" might want to reconsider his comic book description, because if Superman did exist he'd teach Howard a lesson about being the “one.” Howard's Game Five performance against the Boston Celtics was atrocious. Eleven points on five-of-10 shooting with 17 rebounds: is that what a superstar does? In one word, no, not in a million years.

Do the Magic even play better with him in the lineup? The last three minutes of the game, Howard touched the ball once. And defensively, he couldn't even box out Kendrick Perkins after a controversial play involving the 24-second shot clock. He didn't do any good in crunch time in Game Five. But why should we expect him to? Howard has produced the Magic franchise one playoff series victory in five years. I guess that's the premium now for number-one overall picks.

Greg Paulus' Potential Move to Syracuse Not the Greatest Career Choice

Clayton Coffman — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:40:00 -0400

From starting point guard of the Duke Blue Devils to Syracuse Orange quarterback?

Why would Greg Paulus want to play at Syracuse? They have been one of the worst programs in college football this decade and the future doesn't look bright.

If you didn't know, Paulus was an excellent prep quarterback and had even flirted with playing college football.

But instead, he went to Duke to play with Coach K.

For the present though, Paulus should reconsider—heavily—the possible trip up to New York. Syracuse is the worst team in the Big East, they have a new coach, and they don't have any talent.

If Paulus did join them, he wouldn't help at all.

Florida Gators' Greatest Performances Since 1990

Clayton Coffman — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:35:08 -0400

Is there really any reason to go back before 1990 to talk about the Gators' greatest performances? I don't think so either.

Ever since Steve Spurrier arrived in '90, the University of Florida has been on the map. And has dominated too.

From Danny Wuerffel to Keiwan Ratliff to Tim Tebow, great players have come through Gainesville and provided memorable plays and performances for the Florida faithful and the college football world.

Here are the top-ten performances, in this writer's opinion, over the last 19 years.

10. Taylor Jacobs vs. Maryland. 2002 Fed Ex Orange Bowl; 10 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

The Gators had lost out on a chance to play in the SEC Title game after losing to Tennessee at home. This was there consolation game and it turned into the greatest offensive showcase in Orange Bowl history. Jacobs was the star of the game torching the Terrapins' secondary.

9. Chris Leak vs. Kentucky. 2003 regular season. 235 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Trailing by 18 in the fourth quarter, Leak wouldn't go down without a fight. As just the fourth true freshman to start a game, Leak led the Gators back and kept the winning streak over Kentucky alive.

8. Percy Harvin vs. Tennessee. 2007 regular season. 195 total yards and two touchdowns

Harvin's performance against the Volunteers was a thing of beauty. From deep passes to his amazing 19-yard touchdown run, Harvin did a little bit of everything against the Vols.

7. Alex Brown vs. Tennessee. 1999 regular season. Five sacks and two forced fumbles.

Brown absolutely terrorized Vols' quarterback Tee Martin and helped the Gators win 23-21. (I was at that game).

6. Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey vs. Arkansas. 2008 regular season. Combined for 206 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

This may be too high but it was the coming out party for these two freshman. The biggest highlights of the game came on Rainey's 75-yard touchdown run and Demps' 48-yard scamper. After that performance, Florida's offense was unstoppable.

5. Derrick Harvey vs. Ohio State. BCS National Championship Game. Three sacks and fumble recovery.

Defense truly wins championships and Harvey was the reason the Gators dominated the Buckeyes. Troy Smith and company came into this game with one of the best offenses in recent college football history. It quickly turned ugly for OSU as the Gators' defense completely manhandled them and paved the way for a dominating win.

4. Keiwan Ratliff vs. Arkansas. 2003 regular season. Three interception, three passes defensed, nine solo tackles and a 44-yard INT return for a touchdown.

Ratliff won SEC Defensive POTY and was also a First-Team All American. This performance triggered the runaway selection.

3. Tim Tebow vs. South Carolina. 2007 Regular Season. 304 yards passing and two touchdowns. 120 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

Solidified Tebow's claim on the Heisman. He had his way the entire night against Spurrier's Gamecocks.

2. Fred Taylor vs. Penn State. 1998 Citrus Bowl; 43 carries for 234 yards.

This performance solidified Taylor as a first-round draft pick. Taylor's combination of size and speed helped maul "Linebacker U" and helped the Gators capture the win.

1. Danny Wuerffel vs. Arkansas. 1996 regular season. 462 yards passing.

Single-game Gator passing record. That season, Wuerffel won the Heisman with 3,625 yards passing with 39 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Kenny Perry: Collapse Reminiscient of Van De Velde

Clayton Coffman — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:34:00 -0400

Every golf fan knows about Jean Van De Velde's epic letdown at the '99 British Open. He had a three-shot lead and blew it.

Well, it happened again in Augusta as Kenny Perry had a two-shot lead and then bogeyed the last two holes, forcing a playoff.

Kenny Perry has never won a major. He probably won't win one now. What yesterday's collapse showed us is that experience is key in winning majors. That's a cliche statement but it has never rung truer than the other day.

Perry had this victory in the bag. The massive crowd could smell his first major win and first green jacket.

But then something happened. A chain reaction in Perry's head led to his collapse. He lost the moxie, and in turn, lost his chance to capture a green jacket.

A Walk In the Park For theTar Heels

Clayton Coffman — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:52:00 -0400

I can't stand North Carolina. But there is no way they're going to lose tonight.

This championship game is kind of like the Super Bowl. Not many people had Michigan State getting to this point and nearly everybody picked UNC.

Ty Lawson has been the key to North Carolina's march through the tourney. And I don't think that will change tonight, even with the Spartans playing incredible ball.

Take a look at what happened earlier in the season. North Carolina played MSU in Detroit and won 98-63. A 35-point victory!

That's definitely not going to change tonight, even if the Spartans are on a roll.

North Carolina 88, Michigan State 69.

Denver Bronco Wins Big-Time in Cutler Trade to Chicago Bears

Clayton Coffman — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:33:00 -0400

The Jay Cutler drama is now over. Denver has traded Cutler to the Chicago Bears for Kyle Orton, two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick.

If you're a Bears' fan you've got to be happy that your team acquired an excellent quarterback. However, if anybody says the Bears' offense is on par with the Broncos', that person needs to see a psychologist.

As for Broncos' fans, it's going to be tough not watching the same high-octane offense they have had the last two years. Kyle Orton is a serviceable backup and Chris Simms has seen his fair share of NFL action, but it won't equate to the level Cutler brought.

But as most smart fans know, the NFL is about building for the future. Two first-round draft picks for Denver's organization will work wonders down the road. Just watch.

Reynolds' Fantastic Performance in Elite Eight

Clayton Coffman — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:42:00 -0400

Villanova is off to the Final Four thanks to Scottie Reynolds. His coast-to-coast drive and ensuing game-winning layup over two Pittsburgh defenders was just another moment we can add to the history of the NCAA Tournament.

It was a classic battle. Sam Young, who nearly willed his Panthers' team to victory, was on fire the entire game. DeJuan Blair continued his low-post domination, but could have been better on the foul line. Pittsburgh could be in the Final Four right now however. Jamie Dixon's decision to put two defenders on the press allowed for Reynolds to break the pressure and drive all the way for the score. Either way, it was a great game.

Terry Porter's Firing Beyond Ridiculous

Clayton Coffman — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:04:00 -0500

Steve Kerr is an awful general manager.

Let's start with that because his decision to try and change a high-flying offense into a defensive team is one of the dumbest moves ever. Trading Shawn Marion for Shaquille O'Neal was idiotic. Marion was in his prime when Kerr got rid of him while O'Neal was on the decline.

Terry Porter wasn't even given a full year to try and get the job done. That's ridiculous. Firing a coach when his team is in the middle of the Western Conference standings is wrong. Kerr's decision-making has put the Suns where they are now: Falling off the map and making their star players (Stoudemire) want out. The management of the Suns is at fault here. Not Porter.

A-Rod's legacy has just been made

Clayton Coffman — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:06:00 -0500

So now we know how Alex Rodriguez maintained all those years of great play. He cheated! With the recent news of A-Fraud's steroid use, the hammer should be dropped hard on this loon.

The whirlwind surrounding Rodriguez hit the tip of the iceberg today with the news that he tested positive for anabolic steroids and testosterone. Bud Selig can't be too thrilled about this.

There were no restrictions in 2003 if a player used performance-enhancing drugs. This new revelation of what many believed to be true further embarrasses the Major League Baseball organization. Remember when Jose Canseco came out and ratted on several top MLB players (including A-Rod) that steroids had been used?

He's looking more and more as that important messenger people like to hear about. Furthermore, since it wasn't a rule in 2003, what can the voters, writers and fans alike do to rag on A-Rod? He's already known as a choke artist in the playoffs. With this supposed incident, how far will his reputation, and career, go from here?

Steelers-Cardinals: Super Bowl Breakdown

Clayton Coffman — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:28:00 -0500

Sorry for another absence, albeit a long absence,from Coffman's Corner. As Flagler College's sports editor of the Gargoyle, I've had responsibilities that take away from my all-important blog.

Anyway, the Super Bowl is nearly upon us and I've had a lot of time to think about this and the same darn thing comes up: Defense.

As we all saw from the national championship game between Florida and Oklahoma, defense wins the championships while the offense packs seats.

I think, unfortunately, that this is going to happen again this Sunday. Pittsburgh's defense is the difference in this game.

Their scheme, led by one of the best defensive coordinators ever in Dick Lebeau, has the matchups to slow down the Cardinals' high-flying passing attack.

Larry Fitzgerald is going to get his yards, but the Steelers' pass-rushing ability will limit the downfield throws from Kurt Warner. This is going to be a great game but in the end Steelers' defense will slow down the Cardinals' offense.

Pittsburgh 28, Arizona 19.

No Surprise Here: Tim Tebow to Lead Gators to Title Again

Clayton Coffman — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:59:00 -0500

As I've deliberated over the BCS Championship game, my head has gotten so tied up in a knot that I'm glad this is the last college game.

Florida is going to capture the championship. This is one of the most complete teams in recent memory. We all know their offense can score at any time. Their defense, led by the amazing Brandon Spikes, has speed everywhere, especially in the secondary. The Gators' special teams unit, headed by Urban Meyer, is the best in the nation.

Oklahoma, on the other hand, doesn't have the defense or special teams. Did you know that only one BCS champion in this decade allowed a touchdown return on a kickoff at any point during the season? That team was Florida two years ago, when Ted Ginn took the opening kickoff for a score.

The Gators have been on a mission ever since losing to Ole Miss back in September. Their journey ends tonight.

Gators 41, Oklahoma 30.

Bowl Games? Give Me the NFL Playoffs

Clayton Coffman — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:33:00 -0500

To say that I'm a SEC football junkie is an understatement. While I'm loving our early success in the bowl season, the bowl games in general have been average.

Oregon State's "battle" with the Pittsburgh Panthers was one of the most boring games I've ever seen. With three total points scored, I'm sure you feel my sentiment.

Vanderbilt's win was nice, but the game dragged on and on over Boston College. With the NFL playoffs starting this weekend, I'm betting on a lot more intrigue and excitement.

The Colts face the team they've had the hardest time beating the last couple of seasons. The Chargers are playing some of the best football in the NFL to close the regular season; this game should be absolutely fun to watch.

Atlanta's rise to glory, in just one season, has been remarkable. They put together a total team effort each week and their matchup with the pass-happy Cardinals should be an awesome game. When more games are on the line like the NFL playoffs, better play will result. It's not entirely the same thing when college teams are playing for next season.

True Christmas meaning

Clayton Coffman — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:38:00 -0500

This is my favorite time of the year. Christmas is an awesome day and giving rather than receiving truly makes this holiday a great one.

This story on Dwayne Wade is especially inspiring. Can you imagine accidentally burning your house down? Well it happened recently to a Florida family and Wade was kind enough to buy the family a new house.

Now that's the Christmas spirit. Going out of your way to help a family in need just shows the character of Wade. We all know he's a great player; and we know now he's a good person. Have a merry Christmas everyone!

Chizik's Hiring Wasn't a Matter of Race

Clayton Coffman — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:15:00 -0500

I wish there were more African American coaches in college football. There are plenty out there who are qualified. However, with everybody throwing their arms up over Auburn's hiring of Gene Chizik, including Sir Charles, saying this was racially motivated isn't right.

Can we honestly look into the hearts of the athletic director and boosters and say they are racists? No, we can't. Auburn's search to replace Tommy Tuberville only lasted a week, and the guy they hired was extremely questionable.

Remember, though, in 2004, when Chizik was Auburn's defensive coordinator? That was a great year to be a Tiger fan. Chizik's defense was incredible. He has coaching ability.

It didn't pan out for two seasons at Iowa State, but how could it with the likes of Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri in that conference?

The man is known to be a good recruiter and motivator. Let's give him a chance to succeed. Turner Gill, the man everybody thought Auburn would hire, didn't come down south. He's turned Buffalo from a laughingstock into a MAC winner.

He'll get his chance at a major program.

John Fox's Panthers Have That "Super" Recipe

Clayton Coffman — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:01:00 -0500

Flash and dash; thunder and lightning. Call it what you want but the Carolina Panthers have two stud running backs and a ball controlling offense.

The Panthers’ ability to slice-and-dice Monte Kiffin's defense last night was very impressive. Their 299 rushing yards against one of the top defenses was amazing and the emergence of Jonathan Stewart is astonishing.

Remember, Stewart had a serious injury before being drafted. However, judging by last night, it looks okay. DeAngelo Williams, the small-time-school player, looks like Emmit Smith. His niftiness, power, and open-field speed make him look like a former great.

Jake DelHomme, who still sometimes struggles with his decisions, continues to play well enough to keep defenses honest. With the Panthers on top of the NFC South, expect them to wrap up the competition before the regular season ends.

Plaxico Burress' Actions Demand Dismissal

Clayton Coffman — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:50:00 -0500

Plaxico Burress, God bless his soul, has matched the notoriousness of Chad Johnson. From missing team meetings to now carrying a Glock 40 into a club, Burress leaves Tom Coughlin and Giants management, and law enforcement for that matter, no other choice than to take action and suspend the talented receiver.

Would I put the man in prison for three years (minimum prison term)? No, I wouldn't, since he hasn't been a career criminal like Chris Henry.

But Burress' downfall the last couple seasons should result in action. I've always thought highly of Burress but with his decisions the last few seasons, he needs to be brought back down to earth.

Young Blood Needed in College Football Review Booth

Clayton Coffman — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:14:00 -0500

I've noticed the last few weeks that challenged calls that appear to be wrong on the field haven't been overturned upstairs.

Take, for example, Percy Harvin's "fumble" against Vanderbilt. The end-zone camera clearly showed him reaching the ball over the goal line for a score. However, the side judge ruled that he fumbled and was recovered by the Commodores.

The call was blown and it took nearly five minutes to make a ruling. Are the replay guys that old and vision-deprived that they can't make a simple call?

Another example was CJ Spiller's "touchdown" against Florida State. With the Seminoles leading, 34-20, Clemson's running back went near the goal line and reached the ball over the pylon. The closest camera angle showed that the ball didn't even go over the pylon. The replay officials looked at it and kept the original call.

If we're going to have instant replay, the review officials must be correct. And if they can't be, a younger viewer might be needed.

College Football Season Heating Up

Clayton Coffman — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:27:00 -0500

Sorry for the prolonged absence of Coffman's Corner. Baseball writing monopolized my life the last three weekends.

Boy, has the college football season really been cranked up. Texas' run through all those ranked teams, even though they did lose this past weekend, was very impressive.

It's this writer's opinion that Texas and Florida are the best one-loss teams in the nation. The Gators, right now, are playing better than any team in the country. Their defense, led by Brandon Spikes, is for real. They gave up some drives but then forced key turnovers.

Tim Tebow was also impressive. He managed the game beautifully, and when the time came, he hit some huge pass plays. With a favorable schedule, expect them to play Alabama for the SEC Championship.

On the downside, I truly don't believe in the firing of coaches midseason. Ty Willingham and Phillip Fulmer, even with struggling teams, should've been let go after the season.

Willingham had good success at Notre Dame. He's not a bad coach. Fulmer, who had stayed at UT for 35 years, deserved to be treated with class. Lame duck coaches affect everybody.

The BCS, as expected, will provide for an exciting finish to the season—and I can't wait to get there.

Buckeyes are officially done

Clayton Coffman — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:11:00 -0400

Regardless of what happens with Jim Tressel's Buckeyes the rest of the season, this team will, thankfully, not be playing in the BCS Championship Game. Being blown out, again, by an ultra-talented team should finally drive the nail in the coffin.

The Buckeyes aren't gamers. The coaching staff, Tressel included, isn't prepared to win the big games. USC had their way all night doing anything, and everything, they wanted.

Even if Ohio State had Beanie Wells, the same result would have occurred. Todd Boeckman was ineffective and endured hit-after-hit all night long by Rey Maualuga and USC's defense.

On the flip-side, USC looks as good as advertised. The talent on both sides of the ball is amazing. Sanchez, McKnight, and Damian Williams on offense. Maualuga, Mays, and even freshman Armond Armstead on defense. Pete Carroll's team looks, so far, to be the best in the nation.

Tim Tebow Leads Florida Gators in the Fourth Quarter

Clayton Coffman — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:56:00 -0400

Attention college football fans: Miami is quick to returning to its past form. Miami's young, talented defensive line absolutely manhandled the Gators offensive line. Did you see the halftime score? 9-3 Gators. For three quarters, The "U" was pressuring Tim Tebow and not giving up the big play.

What did LSU, Michigan, and Georgia prove last year against Florida? If you pressure the quarterback (Giants on Tom Brady too) things will go right.

But the Gators wouldn't stop fighting, especially with Tebow under center. The nation's top quarterback said he wanted to be better in the fourth-quarter and practiced to step up in the fourth. He did that tonight with two touchdown drives in the final quarter to pull the Gators away from the 'Canes.

With a bye week coming up for Florida, it'll be interesting to see what Urban Meyer has in store for Phil Fulmer and the Tennessee Volunteers in two weeks.

USC and Alabama the Two Standout Teams from Saturday

Clayton Coffman — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:15:00 -0400

14 hours of college football? Yes, I'm in my world that's highly likely each and every Saturday during the season. As I sat in my recliner for a long time, USC and Alabama looked dominant from start to finish.

Pete Carroll's Trojans have in the last few years traveled out to different environments and played remarkably well: see last year at Nebraska, '03 at Auburn, and '05 at Hawaii. This year was no different, as the talent-laden Trojans completely dominated the hapless Virginia Cavaliers.

Mark Sanchez looked great completing passes to his tight ends and running backs. The one negative was the lack of use of the wideouts. Ronald Johnson had one long touchdown catch, but overall the wideouts weren't overly used.

Alabama was supposed to be the third-best team in the SEC West. Clemson was supposed to be the class of the ACC. After Saturday night, one might consider Alabama one of the best in the SEC—and Clemson one of the average teams of the ACC (what a surprise!).

Nick Saban can win. He may not have many friends, but the guy can coach, recruit, and motivate even the young ones (see Julio Jones). Alabama's offensive and defensive lines looked unstoppable, making holes for the running game and shutting down C.J. Spiller and James Davis (even though they only carried the ball eight times).

I wouldn't be shocked too see the Crimson Tide playing for the SEC Championship in December.

It was a great start to the college football season—and I'm sure there will be plenty more as the season continues.

Loss of Cornelius Ingram a Major Blow for Gators

Clayton Coffman — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:18:00 -0400

The loss of Cornelius Ingram is a tough pill to swallow for a lot of Gator fans. Ingram's background, as a kid from a little old town in Hawthorne, Florida, is very reminiscent of Tim Tebow's.

Ingram is a class act and a very good football player. Gator fans know the quality of player Urban Meyer had on the field with Ingram, but even more people knew the quality of the inner persona of Ingram.

This is a tough blow for CI, especially since he decided to return for his senior season to improve his draft stock. But with the way this kid was raised, he knows it's all a part of the plan.

Vince Young Had Better Watch His Back!

Clayton Coffman — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:58:00 -0400

I'm not making any predictions here, but why on earth are the Tennessee Titans bringing in Byron Leftwich? The Sportsline has reported that Leftwich will go through a physical and will have a chance to throw to a few Titan receivers.

The story also says that the rest of the Titans' quarterbacks, including Vince Young, won't be throwing when Leftwich is. Is Jeff Fisher becoming worried about the No. 3 overall pick?

Every NFL fan knows that Vince Young isn't the best passer. Byron Leftwich, on the other hand, while having a slow delivery, can make almost every throw. With training camps in full swing now, it will be interesting to see if Leftwich stays with the Titans.

Lebron James' Guarantee Will Hold True

Clayton Coffman — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:33:00 -0400

Lebron James' recent statements about the U.S. Olympic basketball team winning the gold are dead on. I couldn't agree more with what he said. This team is as stacked as the 1992 Dream Team.

This year's team has headliners such as Lebron, Kobe, Amare Stoudemire, and Dwight Howard. Even coach Mike Krzyzewski said that he had no problem with Lebron's bold prediction.

Coach K even joked by saying,"The thing is, if I guarantee it, then I can't back it up." With the Olympics approaching very soon, it will be interesting to see if this team can breeze through the competition.

Giants Better Off Without Shockey

Clayton Coffman — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:50:00 -0400

The New York Giants' trade of Jeremy Shockey, while many are divided on the decision, was a fine move.

Shockey was a constant head case that was easily pushed over the top. He's a quality pass-catching tight end, but so is Kevin Boss.

The Giants proved last year that, while they're a good team with him, they're a good team without him.

On the flip-side, the Saints' acquisition of Shockey might further expand Sean Payton's complex offense. After last year's disappointing season, the Saints added another weapon to push the likes of Dallas and Green Bay for the NFC crown.

Florida Gators Football: Friday Night Lights Recap

Clayton Coffman — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:30:00 -0400

Florida's football camp was pretty sweet. It's also part of Urban Meyer's "Plan to Win."

As I sat in the stands and watched all the drills, three players really stood out.

Jon Bostic, the outside linebacker from Wellington (FL), can flat-out fly. For a 220-pounder, Bostic can move sideline-to-sideline and cover running backs out of the backfield.

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, from Gadsden (AL), has the attitude you look for in a defensive back. As the receivers took on the corners in the final drills, Kirkpatrick covered everybody everywhere.

The third player that caught my eye was Jheranie Boyd. At 6'2", 190 pounds, Boyd not only looks the part, but has the smooth running and catching to dominate.

With two-a-days approaching within the next month, it'll be interesting to see if any of these players commit.

Urban Meyer and Florida Staff Rolling in Recruits

Clayton Coffman — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:22:00 -0400

Not only is Urban Meyer one of the top five coaches in America, he is also one of the top recruiters.

At this time last year, the Gators' staff had received fewer than five commitments. I was curious as to why there weren't that many commitments, but it didn't matter.

Meyer and his staff finished with a top-three class by wrapping up some top prospects, like Omar Hunter, and stockpiling even more talent in Gainesville.

As it stands now, with more high school prospects wanting to commit early, Meyer and his staff have received seven commitments for next February's signing day.

With an exceptional team waiting to hit the field in August, Meyer and company can expect even more top talent to come in and compete for championships.

Derrick Rose: The Right Decision for the Chicago Bulls

Clayton Coffman — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:57:00 -0400

The Bulls' selection of Derrick Rose was the perfect, and only, choice for this team. The drafting of the star point guard, who played high school ball at local Simeon, was the perfect fit for a team that has playoff-caliber talent.

Selecting Rose was right on two fronts.

One: He was the hometown star that was the third-rated player coming out of high school by Rivals. The only players ahead of him—Michael Beasley and Eric Gordon.

Two: His emergence in the NCAA Tournament two months ago proved his playmaking and leadership skills. On Memphis' way to the title game, Rose stepped up each game and got better. He made UCLA's Darren Collison and Texas' D.J. Augustin look like junior varsity players.

With Chicago's influx of young, talented players like Gordon, Deng, Thomasm and Noah, the Bulls will no doubt be a good team.