Bleacher Report - Articles by James Rees

Hope Springs Eternal In New Orleans: Saints Land DC Gregg Williams

James Rees — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:42:36 -0500

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, finally. Hope for a defensive resurrection in the Big Easy is now realistic. With the addition of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, the Saints took a crucial step in overhauling a defense which has served as a ball and chain for the Black-and-Gold over the past several seasons.

Under Gary Gibbs, whom the Saints just fired after three lackluster years as defensive coordinator, the Saints were never an elite defensive team.

Part of the blame goes on the players, of course. There has been a dearth of talented defenders on the roster (especially in the secondary), and if you don’t have talent, you won’t win games, bottom line.

But Gibbs deserves some of the blame as well. Often times I felt New Orleans was far to conservative with defensive play calling.

Logically speaking, if you’re already weak in the secondary, and will likely be beat on a long ball anyway, why not send the house and hope for a quarterback hurry or sack? Why sit back and wait for your undersized, overmatched cornerbacks to be Fred Thomas toasted?

Gregg Williams is the type of guy who will call those blitzes. He’s the coach who is sending two linebackers and a safety on 3rd-and-11. He’s the defensive coordinator who led the Tennessee Titans to a near Super Bowl win in 2000.

And believe it or not, Williams might have some decent talent to work with next season, assuming the Saints can avoid the vicious injury bug that literally took their knees out from under them this season.

There are playmakers on every level of the defense. On the defensive line, there’s Sedrick Ellis and perhaps Will Smith and Charles Grant if they decide to actually give a damn this year. In the linebacking corps, there’s Jonathan Vilma, a tackling machine. And in the secondary, you’ve got the up-and-coming Tracy Porter.

The cupboard isn’t exactly bare for Gregg Williams. He’ll have some players to work with.

The Saints made a great move bringing Williams into the fold. I think he made the right decision as well. After all, who wouldn’t want to coach the defense on a team with the No. 1 offense?

He’s got a built in security blanket with Drew Brees, who’ll get him 25 points a game no problem. Williams can afford to take risks because he’ll know no lead is safe against the Saints' offense. And risk-taking is exactly what the Saints’ defense needs.

Let’s credit Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis for making the right move at the right time. It’s a great start to a hopefully prosperous offseason.

Chris Paul One Steal Away from History

James Rees — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:08:29 -0500

Chris Paul is on the brink of history. With a steal tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies, Paul will tie the NBA record for consecutive games with a steal (105) held by former San Antonio Spurs guard Alvin Robinson.

It’s been an ongoing story in the New Orleans community for several months, but now it seems the national media are starting to take notice.

If Paul gets a steal tonight, he’ll have the opportunity to break the record tomorrow night at home against the Spurs.

As everyone who follows the NBA knows, CP3 has been phenomenal this season. The gaudy numbers that put him in contention for the MVP award last season are better this year. He leads the league in assists and of course steals. His 12.1 dimes per game are two whole assists more than the second place Deron Williams.

The Hornets, though, haven’t exactly lived up to preseason expectations thus far. At 13-7, they’re a middle of the road team, record-wise, in the Western Conference.

This year’s lineup is considerably different from the lineup Byron Scott used last year to get to the Conference Semifinals. Paul, David West, Tyson Chandler, and Peja Stojakovic are still the core of the team, but the role players have changed.

Unfortunately, I don’t think the change has been entirely beneficial. While Posey and Devin Brown give Scott great contributions off the bench, I can’t help but wonder where Julian Wright has been all season.

The Hornets have already lost games seven games because they haven’t been playing defense. In this sense, the Hornets severely miss Wright as a defender. He’s a high-energy guy who never fails to come up with a big steal or block to rev up the crowd.

He must be in Scott’s doghouse, because I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t be getting significant minutes over a guy like Rasual Butler. Butler has been okay as a replacement for Morris Peterson, but he certainly doesn’t have the potential game-breaking ability Wright has.

Backup point guard has been another issue plaguing the Hornets thus far, but it seems to have been addressed with the recent acquisition of journeyman guard Antonio Daniels. I like Daniels as a backup for Paul. He’s the type of guy that can ignite the second unit with scoring and running.

Of course, anybody would have been an improvement over Mike James. Reggie Bush could probably have played point guard better then Mike James. It good, though, that the Hornets now have someone they can sub for Paul without worrying about too much of a drop off.

At 13-7 the Hornets are in relatively good shape after a quarter of the season is over. But they’ve got a couple of brutal stretches coming up soon, including a four-game trip out west at the beginning of January to play Portland, Denver, the Lakers, and Utah, consecutively.

For now, though, it’s all about Chris Paul making history. Let’s hope he gets the steal in the first quarter so he can relax and focus on dominating every other aspect of the game.

Wildcat Formation Catching on in the NFL?

James Rees — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:27:26 -0500

Think back for a second: It's roughly Week seven or eight of the NFL season and you're kicked back in the recliner on a Sunday afternoon watching your favorite team.

For the sake of argument, let's say you're a die-hard Arizona Cardinals fan and you're pumped because the team is having a great year and you might actually get to witness a home playoff game for the first time since dinosaurs walked the Earth.

So, the Cardinals have the ball on their own 40-yard line and they're driving. It's the second quarter and they've got a 10-point lead.

They break the huddle and Kurt Warner heads toward his normal spot in the shotgun position. But then, before the ball is even hiked, Warner turns to the sideline and starts to run. You watch in bewilderment, as your potential MVP candidate ambles over to the flat and stops, assuming a wide receiver's stance.

Then, the ball is hiked to Anquan Boldin who you didn't even know was lined up at quarterback because you were too busy staring at Warner and wondering if it's humanly possible for a man to look more awkward than Warner looks in a receiver's stance.

The next thing you know, Boldin has rushed for seven yards and Warner is back in the huddle calling the next play. What the heck just happened?

Ladies and gentleman, allow me to introduce you to the wildcat formation.

College football fans are very familiar with it, as it's been adopted full-force by dozens of college teams. But, until this season, it hadn't made it to the NFL. Now it's here and it seems like almost everyone is using it.

It all started in week three with Miami, who needed a reversal of fortune after a 0-2 start, said "what the hell'" and whipped it out against the Patriots. New England was completely caught off-guard and the Dolphins blew them out 38-13. That's all it took.

The wildcat formation caught on and spread. If you don't think the NFL is a copycat league, think again. The week after Miami's big win, every team started thinking hard about who they could put in the shotgun to take a direct snap.

It's really not that tough of a decision, either. All you need is an athletic wide receiver or shifty running back. If you've got one of those, put him five yards behind the center and snap him the ball. If you've got a decent offensive line, you'll probably get at least four or five yards on every play. It's pretty simple.

What's really smart though is what Miami has done with it. They're putting both Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown in the backfield and making the defense choose. One of them is going to get the ball, but the defense doesn't know whom.

There are drawbacks to the wildcat, though. For one, it can't be run on every down unless you've got a running back/wide receiver who can throw the ball. It's also pretty easy to defend when you know it's coming. If defenders play their gaps soundly, there shouldn't be many big plays.

So, basically it's a gimmick formation that works five to six times a game if you're lucky. But, there's something to be said for a gimmicky college formation making it to the pros. Who knows, perhaps next week we'll see Kurt Warner running the option.

Can a Rookie QB Make the Pro Bowl? Matt Ryan Can and He Just Might

James Rees — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:08:33 -0500

For those of you waiting for Falcon’s rookie quarterback Matt Ryan to flame out, I’ve got news for you. It’s not going to happen. Rookie quarterbacks in the NFL are bound to hit a brick wall one of these days, you say.

Yeah, that’s what I thought going into the Saints, Falcons game Sunday. Two-hundred and forty-eight yards and two touchdowns later, Ryan was the winning quarterback on the field, not league MVP candidate Drew Brees.

A lot of that had to do with a miserable Saints defense, but that shouldn’t and doesn’t take away from anything Ryan did. He was as polished as a shiny new black Lexus driving off the lot.

It’s truly astonishing what Ryan is doing in his rookie season. He’s in the top half of the league in almost every important passing statistic, except one: Interceptions. That’s almost unheard of for a rookie quarterback.

Rookies playing quarterback are almost always dead last in the league in passing stats. Heck, that’s who those spots are reserved for, rookies and third-stringers who are only playing because Tom Brady and Tony Romo got hurt.

Quarterbacking as a rookie in the NFL is so hard that most first-year guys don’t even get a chance to try it. Usually rookie quarterbacks sit out a year before they try their hand.

However, some don't. Sometimes a team is in such desperate need of quarterback that they’ll throw a rookie out there and take their chances. That’s what Atlanta did. That’s what the Colts did with Peyton Manning and what the Cowboys did with Troy Aikman.

Both Manning and Aikman performed admirably as rookies, albeit on miserable teams, but both were clearly light years away from what they would ultimately become.

Ryan’s not like that. He’s good now and on a pretty good football team. As a Saints fan, it’s actually kind of frightening to think that this kid is only going to get better. If he’s this good now, what is he going to look like five years from now when he’s in his prime?

So what do we make of this phenomenon? How can Matt Ryan be immune to the pitfalls of the NFL that have felled so many young quarterbacks?

Maybe it’s his attention to detail. He supposedly as diligent in his preparation as Manning and Brees. You know, the first-to-arrive, last-to-leave type guy.

Maybe it’s the system he played in college. Boston College runs a pro style offense, don’t they? Mixed in now, I’m sure, with a sprinkling of the wildcat formation that seems to be sweeping the football world these days. But as an overall offensive philosophy, they seem to be pretty cut and dry. Perhaps that’s what’s helping Ryan to be so successful.

Anyway you slice it, Ryan has been an absolute phenom so far this season. Nobody expected him to have the Atlanta Falcons, a 4-win team last season, tied for second in the NFC South with a 6-3 record.

He’s so good that he might earn a invite to Hawaii after the season’s done. How crazy would that be? It probably won’t happen though, contrary to what my title says. The NFC has too many great QBs: Warner, Brees, Eli Manning, Daunte Culpepper (wait, what?).

But to even be considered, to even be mentioned as a possible candidate proves how good Ryan has been this season.

So don’t hold your breath, Matt Ryan critics. He’s having one of the best rookie seasons for a quarterback in NFL history and he’s showing no signs of stopping now.

Charles Grant Out: New Orleans Saints Can't Even Stay Healthy During Bye Week

James Rees — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:18:52 -0500

If Steve Irwin were still alive today, he would have two words to describe injury information in the NFL these days: elusive creature. I don’t know if this starts and ends with the Saints, or if it is a league-wide phenomenon, but this season, I’ve noticed that injuries have been going unreported for way longer than they should be.

It began after the Saints’ Week One win over the Bucs. During that game, Marques Colston sustained an injury to his thumb which required surgery. Normally, a club would release that type of information after the game or maybe early the next morning. But in Colston’s case, it took until Wednesday of the following week for an announcement to be made.

Saints fans were blindsided, having no idea that Colston had even sustained a serious injury.

The same thing happened today with Charles Grant. Here I was early this morning, eating a bowl of Cheerios and minding my own business. I log on to nola.com to see what’s going on in the city, and all of a sudden I’m smacked in the mouth with the news that Charles Grant is done for the year.

Where was this information a week ago? Why must the coaches hold out on us fans? When the game is over, and there are no significant injuries, we like to know that there are no significant injuries. We don’t like being surprised with season-ending injury news. It doesn’t sit well with morning Cheerios.

Anyway, delayed injury news is not the purpose of this post. Injuries in general are what concerns me. This has been the hardest hit Saints squad in terms of injuries that I can remember.

It seems like every week there is a new Saint going down. And they aren’t Cie-Grant-type scrub players. They’re key contributors.

First it was Hollis Thomas in training camp. Then in Week One it was Colston and Scott Fujita. Then later on came Antwan Lake, Sedrick Ellis, Tracy Porter and Aaron Glenn. After that, Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Bush. Now it’s Charles Grant.

And that doesn’t even take into account Deuce McAllister and Mike McKenzie missing time early in the year because of their own injuries.

Granted, some of these players have returned to play. But that doesn’t make up for the fact that most of them missed considerable time in important games when the Saints could’ve used them.

Injuries are not an excuse, I know. Everyone has them, therefore no one should complain about them. So, in that vein, let me say that the Saints have done a remarkably good job in getting to a .500 record after sustaining such a vicious bite from the injury bug.

I still maintain that they should be at worst 6-2, but that’s another story for another day.

The reality of it is that New Orleans is 4-4 and heading into the second half of the season where hopefully they can put their injury woes behind them.

If they can’t, it’ll be another wasted year for the Black-and-Gold. But if the Saints can avoid injury, they’ve got a shot to get in the thick of things. With a stable full of healthy horses, there’s no telling how far they can run.

Saints in London: It's a Bloody Important Game for the Black 'n' Gold

James Rees — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:26:09 -0400

It’s unusual to say that a Week Eight game is a do-or-die situation for an NFL squad. But for the Saints, no truer words can be spoken.

New Orleans squares off against San Diego in London this weekend in what will be the seminal game of the Saints’ season.

Win, and the black and gold have a realistic shot at the playoffs. Lose, and they can start auditioning players for next year. It’s that simple.

A victory against San Diego would even the Saints' record at 4-4 heading into the bye week. A loss would drop them to 3-5 and essentially end their playoff hopes.

Reaching 10 wins after starting the season 4-4 is doable. It’ll be a tough task, but certainly not an insurmountable one. The Saints would have to get on a roll and become one of those “hot” teams with a four or five-game winning streak entering December.

But reaching 10 wins after starting 3-5 is like trying to keep Pacman off the bottle—it’s just not very realistic.

To make the playoffs, the Saints will need to win no less than 10 games—and even that might not be enough. They play in what is now shaping up to be the most competitive division in the NFL, so a 10-6 record might not cut it.

The Panthers, Bucs, and even Falcons all have a legitimate shot to win the division. It’ll take a minimum of 10 wins to even be in the discussion.

But what about the schedule? Doesn’t it get easier after the bye?

Yes, the Saints have a relatively weak second-half schedule, but this is still the NFL, where any team can win on any given day. We just saw the proof this past Sunday in St. Louis’ win over Dallas.

New Orleans simply can’t rely on a easy schedule in the second half to help them make a late-season surge. They’ve got to get things going now against San Diego. A win against the Chargers would do wonders for the team’s confidence as they enter their bye week.

People always say it’s good to go into a bye week on a high note. I think it’s crucial for the Saints to do just that.

So do they have a chance at saving their season against San Diego? I think they do. The Chargers have been as disappointing, if not more, than the Saints through seven weeks.

They were touted as Super Bowl contenders in the preseason. Now they’re facing an uphill battle just to make the playoffs.

I can tell you one thing: The scoreboard operator’s hand might cramp up by the time this one’s over. It’s going to be a good ole-fashioned shootout between two teams who can play offense, but not much defense.

The Saints generally do well in offensive-oriented games, mainly because they’ve got the firepower to keep up, as long as Drew Brees is on target. Brees is going to have to get back on track after last week’s stinker in Carolina.

The Saints can’t win if Brees has a bad day. It’s just not possible. He is the tempo-setter, and if he’s off, you can bet the rest of the team is as well. But if he’s on, the Saints can play with any team in the league.

In the end, no one knows who’s going to win this game. What we do know though, is that if the Saints lose, they can start making vacation plans for January because they certainly won’t be playing football.

NFL's Five Biggest Surprises So Far: They're NOT Who We Thought They Were

James Rees — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:15:36 -0400

With apologizes to Denny Green, I’ve compiled a list of the five most surprising teams in the NFL so far this season. There are a whole handful of candidates to choose from, some from the where-did-these-guys-come-from category, and others from the where-did-it-all-go-wrong category.

I decided to include an even distribution from both categories, and a wildcard for flavor.

So without further ado…

The two best where-did-these-guys-come-from teams:

Atlanta

Before the season started, I sat down with the NFL schedule (as all we devoted NFL fans do) and tried to derive a rough estimate of how many games my team (Saints) could win this year.

I began with the division and immediately counted Atlanta home and away as two automatic wins. After all, they were sporting a rookie quarterback and coach, and a defense with less name recognition than the Los Angeles Sparks.

Now it’s six games into the season and the Falcons are 4-2 with two quality wins (Bears, Packers). Not only that, Matt Ryan is playing like a six-time Pro Bowler after only six career starts. The guy has been unflappable.

Of course Ryan has been aided by the success of the Falcons running game, jumpstarted by Charger expatriate Michael Turner. (Yes, I passed on him in my fantasy league too, and yes I regret it.)

So presently the Falcons are legitimate. Whether or not Ryan hits the rookie brick wall still remains to be seen, but until he does, the dirty birds are far from being an easy win.

Tennessee

Analyze the preseason Titans and see what you’ve got: A moody, inaccurate quarterback, no proof of a running game, zero talent at wide receiver and a highly competitive division.

Now take a look at the Titans, but ignore their record: They’ve got a 36-year-old quarterback, a rookie tailback, still no talent at wide receiver, and are only scoring 22 points a game.

But they’re 5-0. How’s that for perception vs. reality.

Of course, the Titans are undefeated because they are the best defense in the league. Not only do they not let you score, they also take away your will to live. That’s the type of team that can go places in the NFL.

Now on to the two worst where-did-it-all-go-wrong teams:

Minnesota

The Vikings were a trendy Super Bowl pick in the preseason. On paper, they had enough talent on the offensive and defensive lines to overcome whatever shortcomings existed at the quarterback position. Plus they had the mighty Adrian Peterson.

Now they’re 3-3 (they should be 2-4) and struggling to win against the woeful Lions. So where did the wheels fall off?

I blame it on the coach and GM who refused to address their quarterback situation in the off-season. How can you seriously consider yourself a contender with Tavaris Jackson as your starter?

I also think the Vikings run an offense about as complicated as three-word crossword puzzle. Run right, run left, and then throw it deep on third down. That’s not keeping any defensive coordinators up at night.

Seattle

Not that the Seahawks were picked to be a serious playoff contender or anything, but c’mon. Seattle is never this bad.

I understand the injury situation at wide receiver. When almost half of the guys on ESPN Sunday NFL countdown could start for you at wide receiver, you know you’re in trouble.

But still, everyone’s got injury problems and nobody’s underachieving worse than Seattle.

Where is the supposed best defense in the league? The Seahawks have a lot of big name players giving up big time points. Patrick Kerney, Julian Peterson, Lofa Tatupu, Marcus Trufant—all Pro Bowlers not getting the job done.

What a tough way to end a decade in Seattle, Mike Holmgren.

Finally, the these-guys-are-who-we-thought-they-were-but-not-really team:

Miami

The Dolphins are pretty bad at 2-3 just as we expected them to be. But don’t you get the feeling that things are turning around in South Beach?

I won’t lie, that wildcat offense has got me intrigued. I want to watch every Dolphins game now just to see what new wrinkle they’ve come up with. They seem like they’ve got a good thing going with this offense. It’s something they can buy into as they attempt to formulate a team identity.

Miami is in the midst of a rebuilding year. It’s the Tuna’s first season calling the shots, so expectations aren’t high at all. But I think this team can win six or seven games.

So for that reason, the Dolphins aren’t who we thought they were. They’re still not a very good team like we thought they’d be, but they’re getting better.

New Orleans Saints: The Most Underachieving 2-3 Team In the NFL.

James Rees — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:39:37 -0400

How close are the Saints to being 4-1?

89 yards—the combined length of two potentially game-winning field goals missed by Martin Gramatica against the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos.

Though the two loses aren’t entirely Gramatica’s fault, it’s hard to put the majority of the blame anywhere else. 43 and 46-yard field goals are not too much to ask of a kicker. Not when the offense and defense have worked their tails off all game to put the team in a position to gain the lead in the final two minutes.

As I watched the Saints’ final offensive drive stall out on the Vikings 30-yard line Monday night, I said loudly and clearly to anyone in the room who was listening, “We cannot rely on Gramatica to win this for us.”

I probably wasn’t the only Saints fan muttering that sentence, either. And rightfully so. The guy is a head case. How can Head Coach Sean Payton expect him to come through when the game is on the line? He’s practically scared of his own shadow.

Sure enough, Gramatica pushed it left and the Saints failed to prevent the offensively challenged Vikings from moving it 40 yards for the winning field goal.

Just like that, the Saints are 2-3 and an afterthought in the suddenly competitive NFC South.

Do I sound frustrated? Bitter, maybe?

I’m sorry—it’s just hard to watch. The Saints were a far better team than the Vikings, and though they laid an egg for the majority of the game, they still had a chance to win it at the end.

That’s what good teams do. They put themselves in a position to win, even when things aren’t going their way. And to have an emotionally unstable kicker ruin it…well, to quote coach Payton, "it’s a tough pill to swallow."

Thankfully, Gramatica was replaced on the roster Wednesday by rookie kicker Tyler Mehlhaff. Mehlhaff was shaky in the preseason, but anyone is an upgrade at this point.

Having vented a little now, let me say that Gramatica cannot be held solely responsible for the Saints bumpy start. It’s a product of a lot of things.

Injuries, for one, are absolutely killing the Saints. It’s not an excuse, but when you’re beat up this bad, it’s hard not to notice them.

Poor coaching, I think, is another reason why the Saints are below 2-3 instead of 4-1. Sean Payton’s play calling has been okay—not great like it was in 2006—just okay.

His personnel use is another issue. In my opinion, the Saints would have beaten the Broncos if Deuce McAllister had played. And in regards to Gramatica, the head coach has got to know pulse of his players.

Anybody with two working eyes and half-a-brain could have predicted Gramatica would miss the game-winner Monday night. The guy was too frazzled. He was on edge from his earlier miss. Payton should have realized this and schemed to get the first down no matter what.

And what about team discipline? Nine penalties in the first half against the Vikings? How is that, in any way shape or form, acceptable for a team in the NFL? Payton can make them run penalty laps around the practice field all he wants, but obviously the team isn’t getting the message.

Okay, that’s enough of the negative for today. At 2-3 the Saints season isn’t in ruins just yet. Thankfully, they’ve got a winnable game against Oakland this week. Hopefully after his one we won’t be talking about what could have been.

Deuce McAllister Is Back and So Are the Glory Days

James Rees — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:34:24 -0400

When I say glory days, I’m not referring to the era of the Dome Patrol or the year 2000 when the Saints won their first playoff game.

The glory days, to me, came two seasons ago when Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush, and a collection of no names made it all the way to the NFC Championship.

See, I was too young to fully appreciate the age of the Dome Patrol. Ricky Jackson, Pat Swilling, and Sam Mills are names I’ll always know, but not necessarily remember. In 2000, I was happy the Saints beat the Rams in the divisional round, but it wasn’t really that inspired. Everyone knew New Orleans was operating on borrowed time with Aaron Brooks behind center.

For me, the pinnacle of a career as a Saints fan was in 2006. Brees, just acquired from San Diego via free agency, brought respectability to the position of New Orleans Saints quarterback. McAllister ran tirelessly, giving the Saints a physical running attack to be respected and Bush provided the show-stoppers.

It was a clever configuration and it worked to the tune of two playoff victories. I remember thinking how fun it was to watch that team. There was a feeling that things were finally going right for the Saints. Even when they lost, the game was close and the Saints played well.

The reason I bring this up today is because on Sunday I got that feeling again. As I watched Drew methodically dissect the 49er secondary, and as I witnessed Deuce crash into the pile and gain five yards on almost every play, the old sensation of unbridled joy began to work its way back into my being. I was once again having fun watching a Saints game!

After considering this sensation for a few minutes, I realized it stemmed from one important fact: The Deuce was finally loose and the Saints were loving it.

Of course, during the 20 or so months that McAllister was out, I, along with the rest of the Who Dat nation, missed seeing him dressed in black and gold. What I didn’t realize was how much his team missed him as well.

His return Sunday not only energized the 70,000-plus watching in the Dome; it also invigorated his teammates. Mike Karney was reported to be teary-eyed on the sidelines as he watched his buddy churn out 73 yards on 20 carries. And the defense? Well, you saw it for yourself. They've never played with as much confidence.

So that begs the question: Was Sean Payton saving Deuce for precisely this reason? To pump up the crowd and light a fire under his team? Was Deuce really an ace—up Payton’s sleeve, that is? I’d like to think not. Not after all those short-yardage foul-ups against Denver.

In the end, though, it doesn’t matter what happened in the first three games. Deuce is finally back and (fingers crossed) in it for the long run.

So can another 2006-like season happen with this team? A permanent return to the glory days for the younger generation of Saints fans? That, I do not know.

What I do know is the Saints have a much better shot at it now that Deuce is back in business.

LSU Cracks the AP Top-5: Just How Good Are the Tigers?

James Rees — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:33:34 -0400

I learned something Saturday while watching LSU beat Auburn in one of the great games of the college football season thus far.

I learned that LSU’s win over Auburn does not automatically punch their ticket to Atlanta for the SEC championship game, nor does it eliminate Auburn from the running.

In all the hype leading up to the game, it was a popular sentiment to think that the winner would go on to represent the SEC West in the championship game and the loser would settle for second place. After all, that’s generally been the case throughout at least the first part of this decade.

I wasn’t convinced, though. After watching Auburn barely beat Mississippi State and after witnessing LSU’s quarterbacks not throw a single touchdown pass against North Texas, I chose to withhold judgment. Let’s see what they do against a quality team, right? And oh yeah, there’s also that other top-10 team named Alabama that might have a say in things too.

So LSU wins the “Tiger Bowl” against Auburn, overcoming a shaky quarterback performance and sealing the victory with their defense. What do I think now? Can LSU start making hotel reservations at the Atlanta Hilton? Not exactly. In fact, my suspicions were confirmed.

The jury is still out on the Tigers as far as I’m concerned. Sure they beat Auburn, but if you think about it, just how good are the Plainsmen? I didn’t see much to convince me they were worthy of that top-10 ranking.

And LSU has flaws. Inconsistent quarterback play and inexperience in the secondary are nails in LSU’s tire. They’re not big nails and the tire will still roll despite them, but if they’re left unattended, it just might lead to a blowout.

That doesn’t mean LSU isn’t a good team, though. They boast a phenomenal defensive line and a great offensive line—two vital requirements for any aspiring champion.

Looking at their schedule, three monster games loom on the Tiger’s horizon. At Florida and home against Georgia and Alabama. LSU will need a much-improved effort from the quarterback position to get through that stretch and on to Atlanta.

The good news is LSU has taken the first step. Auburn is out of the way and they’re still undefeated. A trip to Atlanta is certainly attainable, but surely not a forgone conclusion. The Tigers will have to navigate some dangerous waters from here on out and Alabama and Auburn will be waiting should LSU falter.

What happens between now and December is anyone’s guess. That’s just the nature of the beast in the Southeastern Conference.

Saints vs. Broncos: Who's going to stop Jay Cutler?

James Rees — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:35:32 -0400

Six hours into my pro football watching marathon last Sunday I realized two things; First, the Saints revamped defense might not be as good as advertised; and second, the Broncos can flat out score the football.

As I mulled this over in my brain while also considering the monumental decision of what I would have for dinner, I began to make a few connections. If the Saints are struggling on defense and the Broncos are scoring more often then Hugh Hefner, how in the world did New Orleans expect to win its Week Three trip to Denver?

Against San Diego, supposedly one of the best defenses in the league, the Broncos put up 39. Cutler moved the ball at will against defenders far more talented than anyone the Saints have. Brandon Marshall, hell bent on recovering fantasy value after his Week One suspension, caught 18 balls.

And Eddie where-the-heck-did-he-come-from Royal proved he isn’t a one hit wonder.

There was no denying it: This Broncos team can and will score on anybody. So again I returned to my question: Who on the Saints roster has a chance of stopping this Cutler-led scoring machine?

Based on Sunday’s performance against the Redskins, I’d say one guy--Jonathan Vilma. Of course, he can’t stop an offense all by himself, but I single him out because he was the only Saints defender who actually defended against Washington.

The rest of the defense was ineffective. I understand there were several starters injured, but no starters were out on the defensive line. Why couldn’t the Saints get any pass rush?

I digress, that game is over and done with. It’s time to focus on this week. By the way, how many combined points will the Saints and Broncos score? Can Vegas get away with an over/under set at 60? I might still take the over.

Clearly the only way New Orleans beats Denver this week is if they outscore them. Can it be done? Possibly. Can Lou Holtz make it through an entire sentence without sounding ridiculous? Possibly. Not likely, though.

The point is New Orleans must play an outstanding offensive game to win this Sunday. They’ve got to play a Dallas in ’06 type game to win. So far the Saints offense hasn’t run as smoothly as it’s capable of running. To get past Cutler and Co. it’s got to purr like a Corvette.

That means no more fumbles, drops or interceptions. It means establishing the running game early with Deuce McAllister. And it means tons of protection for Drew Brees.

If the Saints can check those three things off the list at the end of the day, odds are they’ll heading home happy.

Saints' Colston Out: Let the Official Robert Meachem Era Begin

James Rees — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:44:46 -0400

The Saints had excellent production from their wide receivers on opening day. David Patten, Devery Henderson and Lance Moore all contributed mightily to a hard-fought 24-20 win over the Bucs. Their combined totals of four catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns made it easy to forget how little of an impact Marques Colston had on the game.

We now know why Colston was so ineffective, but at the time no one was aware of his thumb injury. But it didn’t matter because the rest of the wide receivers were picking up the slack.

In fact, the combination of Patten, Henderson and Moore was so potent that I began to wonder if Robert Meachem, the Saints first round pick in 2007, would ever see the field as an active member of the team. After all, who would he replace?

Certainly not any of the three aforementioned guys. They were playing too well to be demoted. Maybe Terrance Copper, but likely not. The Saints value his contributions on specials teams too much to deactivate him.

Admittedly, the outlook for activation looked pretty grim for the second year pro.

But now things are different. Colston’s services as the Saints’ best offensive weapon are not available for the next four-six weeks. Meachem will undoubtedly receive his first career activation on Sunday, and if things go well, that won’t be the only reception he gets.

Meachem garnered consistent praise from the coaching staff in training camp for his improvement. Fans saw it as well on the field during preseason games.

But now the games count. Does Meachem have what it takes to succeed when the score matters? When it’s no longer a glorified audition?

Obviously, the former Volunteer won’t be asked to step in right where Colston left off. He’ll be used as a third wide receiver and might get 12-15 snaps if he’s lucky.

But a lot can be accomplished as a third wide receiver. Look at what Henderson did against the Bucs.

A successful first game for Meachem would look something like this: Three catches for 40 yards and no fumbles or drops. If he gets that, he’s golden. He’s money, baby.

From there he can build on the things he learned without worrying about letting the team down. And in the next game, he’ll come out a little stronger and more prepared.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter how well he does, at least he will have gotten on the field in a meaningful game. It took longer than anticipated, but the day has finally arrived. Let the Robert Meachem era begin.

Saints-Bengals: Musings and Observations from New Orleans' Impressive Win

James Rees — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:35:16 -0400

The Saints looked sharp last night. The offense was clicking—except for a few drops from the wide receivers—and the defense was stifling (think getting-into-your-car-after-it’s-sat-in- the-sun-all-day type stifling). Drew Brees was, once again, completely on top of his game, throwing accurately to a bevy of receivers. And you know what, the starting cornerbacks played great, too.

It was an across-the-board success for New Orleans at a time when they needed it most. They needed to know if their defense was capable of more than jay-vee-caliber play: It is.

They needed to find out if they had cornerbacks that could stay in the same TV frame as the receivers they cover: They do.

A lot of good came out of Saturday night’s game against the Bengals, including my following observations.

Lance Moore is a pass-catching machine. Dating back to last year, Moore’s first with the Saints, I don’t think he’s ever dropped a catchable pass. That’s probably an overstatement, but seriously—the guy catches everything.

The Saints are fine at running back. Should Deuce or Reggie suffer injury or setback, Aaron Stecker and Pierre Thomas leave the Saints with plenty of options to run the football. Stecker is a pro’s pro. He’s got the talent to start for a handful of teams around the NFL, but he goes about his business as a backup in NOLA. Talk about a team player.

As for Thomas, the kid is fearless. He’s not afraid to take it up the field on any defense. I see his role in the offense getting bigger and bigger as he continues to give Sean Payton little reason to keep him on the bench.

Tracy Porter’s play against the Texans compared to his play against the Bengals was like night and day. Obviously, he’s still learning all of the ins and outs of playing at the professional level, but if he continues to improve at the rate he’s done over the past week, he’ll be an unquestioned starter by midseason.

The Saints' offensive line is a pass-blocking line, not a run-blocking line. There might not be a better pass-blocking line in the league. Run blocking, though, is a different story. There don’t seem to be as many holes opening up as you’d hope as a Saints fan. Well, at least Brees’ jersey stays clean.

Vilma has already begun to shine. His work on the field isn’t very noticeable, as he’s not being utilized as a blitzer so far; but trust me, the guy is making plays. I counted several running plays he stymied last night, just by occupying the correct gap. His value as a run-stopper will be immeasurable this season.

Finally, the Saints did well pressuring the passer last night. They had a great push up the middle, leaving Palmer little time to get the ball out of his hands. When Mickey Loomis and Payton made it an offseason priority to improve the pass rush, that’s the kind of performance they had in mind.

Top Six College Football Storylines for the 2008 Season

James Rees — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:09:14 -0400

It’s inescapable this time of year—that intense feeling of anticipation for college football. At this moment, as most programs prepare for the start of training camp, fans all across the country are submersing themselves in oceans of speculation.

How will our defense look this season? Will the running game hold up? I heard our new offensive coordinator is a flat-out genius. You think we have a shot to win it all?

You know you’ve heard it. It’s the chatter that fills the airwaves of sports talk radio. It’s the debate you’ve been having with your buddies for the past two months. It’s the topic your awkward relatives ask you about in hopes of roping you into conversation.

It’s the big fat elephant sitting in the middle of the room, except this time no one is trying to ignore it. College football season is here and people are ready to talk about it.

So with that said, as we ready ourselves for the start of the 2008 season, let’s take a look at six intriguing storylines heading into the season.

No. 6: Does USF have what it takes to unseat West Virginia as king of the Big East?

The Bulls shocked everyone with their meteoric rise to No. 2 in the nation in Week 7 last season.

The Mountaineers paid it forward with their devastating loss to Pitt in the final week, costing them a shot at the national title.

Both teams contributed greatly to what was one of the most tumultuous college football seasons ever. But that was last year.

So does USF have the potential this season to give WVU trouble in the Big East?

I think so. West Virginia has the best team in the Big East. They have the best players and the most talent. But do they have the mental toughness to take on all comers, including teams like Pitt? I doubt it.

USF is a team on the rise, with a fiery coach and a senior QB Matt Grothe calling the shots. If they’re defense can stay on the level it was last season, they have a great chance to claim the Big East title.

No. 5: How will Michigan look running the spread offense?

When you think of Michigan football, you think hard-nosed, physical, pound-you- until-you-drop type football, right? Well, think again.

Rich Rodriguez is the new sheriff in Ann Arbor now, and he’s brought a little something with him from the mountains of West Virginia. It’s called the spread offense.

Hold your horses though, Wolverine fans. I wouldn’t get to psyched about the make- over just yet. Michigan is still at least a year away from threatening anyone in the Big Ten, especially with the instillation of this new offense.

Right now, the Wolverines have players who were recruited to play the old type of offense. It’ll take Rodriguez at least two recruiting classes before his new scheme starts to pay dividends.

But by then, the whole Big Ten might be running the spread. Ohio State did just sign all-world dual-threat quarterback Terrell Pryor, right?

Speaking of the Buckeyes…

No. 4: Does the winner of the USC- Ohio State game have the inside track to get to Miami?

Week 3, Sept. 13. All eyes will be focused on the Coliseum where the Buckeyes and Trojans will duke it out Rose Bowl style.

If Ohio State wins, they’ll have little trouble waltzing through their Big Ten schedule all the way to the Orange Bowl. At Wisconsin and at Illinois are the only potential roadblocks.

If USC wins, they also will have minimal resistance from their conference. With all their “tough” conference games at home, the Trojans are set up nicely for a title run.

But with an untested quarterback, I can see USC maybe slipping up somewhere along the way, ruining their shot to play for a championship.

That’s okay though, apparently the Trojans don’t need to play in a championship game to win a title (see 2003).

No. 3: What will the Big 12 look like this season?

It seems as if the days when the Big 12 was owned by Oklahoma and Texas are over. Although the Sooners won the conference championship last season, Missouri and Kansas burst onto the scene as serious contenders.

The Jayhawks and Tigers are both returning experienced quarterbacks and should pick up where they left off a year ago.

Texas Tech, led by two Heisman candidates (Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree), is expected to be right in the mix this season.

And what about the Cornhuskers? Can first-year coach Bo Pelini make Nebraska competitive this season?

Whatever comes of the Big 12 this season, we know one thing for sure: It’s not a two-horse race anymore.

No. 2: Is Clemson the best team in the ACC?

Clemson is loaded with talent, but in a rather disproportionate way. Think about a girl you’ve met who has great legs and a great figure, but a not-so-much face; or a delicious, tender steak you devour that comes with only so-so garlic mashed potatoes.

That’s the way Clemson is this season. They’ve got the goods, but not all the way across the board.

Cullen Harper, CJ Spiller and James Davis form a talented backfield of preseason all-ACCers. Senior wide receiver Aaron Kelly will be a force, as well.

Too bad they don’t have anyone to block for them. Clemson must replace four starters from an O-line that was pretty average last season.

On defense, they return three of four starters to the D-line including fifth-year seniors Dorell Scott and Rashaad Jackson. The Tigers’ secondary is stout as well returning four starters from a squad that led the ACC in passing defense last season.

The downside? They must replace last year’s top four linebackers. Their two most experienced linebackers, Kavell Conner and Scotty Cooper have just four career starts between them.

So the Tigers have some good, but they’ve also got some bad. They still might have enough though to make it through the ACC.

No. 1: Will the winner of the SEC East play for a national championship?

It’s a battle of titans in the SEC East this year. Both Georgia and Florida are filled to the brim with talent and experience.

Florida has Tim Tebow who, contrary to his coach’s sentiments, isn’t the best college football player of his era. But he might be the best player in the conference.

The Gators will be scary good on offense now that they’ve got a decent running back in Chris Rainey. And they’re defense, which suffered last season because of inexperience, should be a much more confident group.

Georgia has as much talent as any team in the country. They’ve got a future first-round pick in QB Matthew Stafford and a preseason Heisman candidate at running back.

They’re defense is loaded, as well.

Both teams are championship caliber, so if either wins the SEC with just one loss, they’ll be a shoo-in for Miami.

Easier said than done, of course.

LeBron James’ Guarantee Restores Swagger to USA Basketball

James Rees — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:04:20 -0400

He’s gone and done it. LeBron James has tipped his hand.

With a simple guarantee of gold, the King has made his opinion unequivocally clear—the U.S.A basketball team will win the gold medal in Beijing next month.

Now, that’s just one man’s opinion. There are 11 other guys on the USA national team who may think differently. Some do, in fact. Carmelo Anthony wouldn’t even go so far as to guarantee a win in tonight’s exhibition game against Canada.

Is LeBron being overly cocky then? Does his claim resonate as arrogance—the type of over-confidence perhaps that shackled the 2004 team?

The answer is no.

When LeBron preordained the U.S.A basketball team as gold medalist earlier this week, I wasn’t surprised one bit. In fact, I was a little relieved.

You see, I’ve been following the progress of the national team for some time now. When the U.S. finished with a bronze medal in Athens, I, like so many others, felt that was simply unacceptable.

Eventually, Jerry Colangelo was hired to overhaul the system, and I felt a little better. This was a guy who has been around professional sports for over four decades. He knows what goes into building a successful team. Now he was going to take his talents to the national level.

Three years later, we see his work has paid off. Team USA is a squad bursting with talent and eagerness to regain what was lost. Coach K, their sideline leader, has done a wonderful job fostering a sense of national pride among these NBA superstars.

And most importantly, the swagger is back.

I see a group of guys who know they’re the best, but feel the need to prove it anyway. LeBron’s guarantee tells us as much. He’s not afraid to make a pledge for gold because he knows he has what it takes to back it up.

The national team is no longer weighted down with stacked egos and personal agendas. It’s now a squad with one singular goal in mind. Twelve of America’s finest are assembled for one purpose—to win the gold medal.

2004’s bronze medal was an embarrassment, and I think this team feels the burden of responsibility to regain what was lost.

LeBron mentioned in an interview earlier this month that 2004 felt like “someone stole our bikes.” He went to say the one and only goal for 2008 was to “get our bikes back.”

Something tells me this team won’t lack for motivation come tournament time—especially now that they’ve got a guarantee to make good on.

Jeremy Shockey: A Huge Addition for the Saints

James Rees — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:55:09 -0400

If the Saints weren’t a legitimate threat to win the NFC before today, they most certainly will be after today.

In a move that will have the "Who Dat" nation downing celebratory Abita beers for the next week, the Saints acquired TE Jeremy Shockey from the Giants for second and fifth round pick in next year’s draft.

This deal has been sitting on the table for months—since draft day to be exact. The Saints had originally offered the Giants second and fifth round picks for Shockey, but New York rejected the deal thinking they could receive more for the four-time Pro Bowler.

After waiting three months for a better deal, the Giants gave up hope and dealt the disgruntled tight end to the open arms of the New Orleans Saints for the same return offered in April.

What a huge pickup for the Black-and-Gold. Tight end has been a position in flux on the Saints' roster for as long as I can remember. You’d have to go back to the days of Cam Cleeland and Wesley Walls to find the last time a Saints’ tight end was worth more than a three day old bologna sandwich.

With Shockey, the Saints' offense takes on an entirely new dimension. His pass catching abilities will open up all kinds of opportunities in the middle of the field for plays to be made.

Defenses will be forced to put at least a linebacker or safety (or possibly both) on him at all times which frees up room over the middle for crossing routes and delayed draw running plays.

Sean Payton has been pinning for a quality pass catcher at tight end since he arrived three years ago. Now he’s got a guy who’s been one of the best in the league over the past six seasons.

And Payton is familiar with Shockey’s abilities, having coached him in his rookie season with the Giants—a season in which the former Miami Hurricane made his first Pro Bowl.

As for his well documented attitude problems, Shockey does have the potential to stir up trouble now and then. While in New York, he earned the reputation as a party animal who was never more than two feet away from his next vodka drink.

New Orleans, admittedly, will offer Shockey loads of tempting opportunities for mischief. But you’ve got to wonder if the 28-year-old has put his partying days behind him.

Did the Giants’ Super Bowl win without his help serve to sober him up a little? Does he now realize that he may not be as irreplaceable as he once was?

I think that’s why he wanted a change of scenery so badly; so he could start fresh with a new team and prove to people that he still is one of the best tight ends in the game.

In the end, the Saints made a huge move with the addition of Shockey. If he keeps his head on straight in the Big Easy he’ll dramatically improve the Saints' offense.

A tight end is what the Saints needed and a Pro Bowl tight end is what they got. Who Dat?!

James Posey Is a Perfect Fit for New Orleans

James Rees — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:16:19 -0400

They got their guy. The Hornets took an important step towards improving their roster yesterday with the addition of veteran swing man James Posey.

It took a little longer than I expected, but the Hornets finally landed the player they’ve been targeting all offseason. Posey signed a four-year deal worth $26 million.

I like this move a lot. Posey brings defense and clutch shooting to the Hornets. You can never have enough of either of these in the NBA.

He’s a proven winner who can contribute to the team’s burgeoning win-at-all-costs mentality and he will help strengthen a somewhat feckless Hornets bench.

Posey won’t be coming off the bench in New Orleans. He’ll be a starter as soon as his plane touches down at Louis Armstrong.

Mo Peterson, the Hornets’ starting shooting guard last season, will forfeit his starting position to Posey and shift into a reserve role. Posey will assume the small forward position and Peja Stojakovic will slide over to the shooting guard spot, a position he’s probably better suited to play anyway.

So the Hornets’ bench immediately improves now that Byron Scott can bring Peterson in as the sixth or seventh man. They have Jannero Pargo, Julian Wright, and Mo Pete who can all contribute big minutes. It sets up nicely for a talented eight or nine man rotation.

That, of course, is assuming Wright continues to be the sixth or seventh man. That may not be the case though if he continues to improve at the rate he did last year.

Wright seemed to get better with every game played last season and if he maintains that pattern, Scott might not be able to keep him out of the starting lineup. If that ends up happening, I foresee no problems with Posey coming off the bench as the sixth man like he did while in Boston.

What I like most about the Posey acquisition is that the Hornets now seem to have all the right pieces in place to make a run at the title. They’ve got the best point guard in the league, a lights out shooter in Stojakovic, a defensive-minded glue-guy in Posey, and Tyson Chandler and David West to bang bodies in the paint.

Posey is not a guy who’s going to fill up the score sheet every night, but he’s the type of player every team needs when trying to make a run at the title.

The Celtics wouldn’t have won it all last month without Posey. Same goes for the Heat two years ago.

Winning in the NBA is about putting the right pieces together to form a group of players who cater to each other’s strengths. Posey’s defensive prowess and play-past-the-whistle intensity should fit in perfectly with the type of mentality Scott has fostered in New Orleans.

The Hornets made a serious run in the postseason last year as playoff neophytes. The addition of Posey makes them a deeper and more experienced team on all fronts.

College Football: Can the SEC Make it Three Straight National Championships?

James Rees — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:17:16 -0400

The debate is done. The squabbles have ceased. All arguments about which conference is king of college football have now been bottled up. Over the past two seasons the SEC has flexed its collective muscle and proved to the country once and for all that it is the premier conference in the land.

So now what? What do we as litigious college football fans have left to argue about?

The Heisman trophy candidates? Nah, it’s still way too early to handicap that race. BCS format, perhaps? Been there, done that, and about sick of hearing ridiculous suggestions that will never come to fruition.

So what’s left to debate? Must we return to the issue of conference supremacy so as to quench our thirst for quarrel? Alas, I think it is inevitable.

Fortunately, I can think of one debate that hasn’t been beaten to death like so many others.

Here it goes: Can the SEC succeed in capturing its third straight National Championship?

To ponder this question, we must first separate the SEC’s contenders from its pretenders. Realistically speaking, only four teams have any chance at all to win the big one—those being Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and LSU.

Of the remaining eight teams, Auburn and South Carolina would be closest to the BCS picture, but each has big enough question marks to keep it out of the National Championship discussion.

So let’s break down each of the four contenders’ shots at making it to Miami, starting with the least likely.

Alabama

I’m putting all my money on Nick Saban’s pedigree for this pick. Back in 2000, Saban’s first year as head coach at LSU, the Tigers had a moderately successful season, winning eight games. Under year two of the Saban regime, however, LSU leaped into the national spotlight with an SEC championship game win and a subsequent Sugar Bowl victory.

I think the stage is set for the same type of turnaround in Tuscaloosa. The highly anticipated number one ranked recruiting class has finally arrived on campus with super-stud Julio Jones as the face of the future.

John Parker Wilson is all of a sudden the most seasoned quarterback in the SEC West after the departures of Brandon Cox and Matt Flynn. But does he have the winning mentality it takes (13-13 all-time as a starter) to push his team to the championship level?

What will ultimately keep Alabama out of the National Championship game is its lack of winning experience and tough schedule. Will the Tide be able to emerge unscathed after road games against Georgia and LSU, a neutral site game against Clemson, and possibly a SEC Championship game?

All signs point to no. Fortunately for Alabama fans, Nick Saban doesn’t seem to understand the meaning of the word no.

LSU

If you’re an optimistic LSU fan, you’re thinking to yourself, “Hey, we’ve won two National Championships in the past five years with an unproven quarterback each time. There’s no reason we shouldn’t do the same this year with redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee!

Plus we’ve got a veteran offensive line to protect him and a whole heap of talented running backs to lean on. Not to mention our defensive line might be better than last year’s!”

And if you’re a glass-half-empty LSU fan, you’re thinking to yourself, “Damn that Ryan Perrilloux! If he could have kept his head on straight for one measly year we might have had a chance to repeat. Now we’re stuck with a green-as-grass redshirt freshman and a Harvard transfer to take the snaps. There goes our season. Oh well, at least we get to beat up on Ole Miss at home this year.”

It’s true. The Tigers are leaderless at the quarterback position. But with a talented defense and a multifaceted running game to rely on, LSU is as strong a team as any other. If they can find a way to successfully make it to Atlanta and defend their SEC title against Florida or Georgia, they’ll be right in the Miami mix.

Georgia

The Bulldogs will be preseason top five, probably even top two, but can they navigate their oppressive schedule well enough to be in the top two when all is said and done?

They’ve got four challenging games away from home—at South Carolina, at LSU, at Auburn, and vs. Florida in Jacksonville. I don’t buy Arizona State being a tough road game.

Is it possible, then, for the Bulldogs to escape that gauntlet with only one loss? I can see it happening. It’s certainly possible. I don’t know which game they’ll lose, but it’ll be one of those four.

A one-loss Georgia team would represent the East in the SEC Championship game. That would be the last and highest hurdle the Bulldogs would have to clear for a shot at the National Championship game. If they win the SEC with one loss, they’ll have a guaranteed spot in Miami.

Florida

Here’s why the Gators have the best shot to win the SEC its third consecutive National Championship: quarterback, coach, and schedule.

It’s really pretty simple when you break it down. Tim Tebow is the best football player in the conference, and Urban Meyer is the best football coach in the conference. Combine those two forces of nature, leave boatloads of talent at their disposal, give them a relatively easy schedule, and see what happens.

I don’t see how they don’t win it all.

Now I realize the Gators have, in addition to a full SEC slate, both Miami and Florida State on their schedule. But it’s not 2000 anymore. The 'Canes and ‘Nols just aren’t scary like they used to be.

The only daunting SEC game they have is the cocktail party against Georgia. If they survive that one, it’s easy sailing to Atlanta and then on to Miami.

When it’s all said and done, the cards line up best for the Gators to represent the SEC in the Orange Bowl. Georgia could conceivably make it, and LSU and Alabama are long shots but still should be considered.

In the end, though, the Gators have the best chance to extend the reign of SEC dominance for yet another season.

New Orleans Saints' season preview: Part Two

James Rees — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:21:34 -0400

This is Part 2 of a four part series preview of the Saints 2008 opponents. Part 1 can be found here.

Part 2: Minnesota, Oakland, Carolina, San Diego

Game 5, Vikings: C’mon and get ready…I said c’mon and get ready. Are you ready for some football?

The Saints kick off the second quarter of their season in primetime Monday night football when the Vikings travel to the Dome in Week 5.

The Vikings are a team on the rise. They’ve got the best running back in the league, a mammoth offensive line led by Steve Hutchinson, and the best run stopping interior defensive line in the NFL. Sounds like stuff-it-down-your-throat Steeler type football doesn’t it?

(By the way, has anyone noticed how good Steve Hutchinson is? Two years ago he anchored Seattle’s o-line and was, as we now can look back and deduce, almost solely responsible for Shaun Alexander’s league MVP. Then he signs with Minnesota and starts blasting holes for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, transforming the Vikings into the most feared running team in the NFL. To say he’s the best run-blocking guard in the league would be an understatement).

Anyway, the Saints are going to have their hands full trying to stop Peterson. The obvious plan would be to stack the box and dare Tavaris Jackson to beat them.

(Seriously, can the Vikings not find anyone better than Tavaris Jackson to play quarterback for them? How about another Jeff George comeback? He still has a pulse right?)

So will the Saints go with the obvious or try something else? Odds are they’ll stack the box just like every other team did against the Vikings last season, and odds are they’ll give up at least 150 yards rushing just like every other team did against the Vikings last season. Adrian Peterson and Hutchinson are just that good.

But that doesn’t mean they can’t win. Drew Brees and the receiving corps are going to need to show up big time in primetime for the Saints to beat the run-stuffing Vikings. I see it happening and I see a bibulous "Who Dat" nation cheering on a Saints 24-17 win. Saints improve to 4-1.

Game 6, Raiders: The Raiders have a young backfield in the form of JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden who have the potential to terrorize defenses for the next decade. Unfortunately, they also have the potential to terrorize Raider Nation for the next decade with inconsistent play and unrealized ability.

Despite the talent they’ve got in their offensive backfield, this Raiders team will rely on its defense to carry it as Russell and McFadden mature. Pro Bowl cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Nnamdi Asomugha headline a strong pass-defense that ranked eighth best in the NFL last year.

On the flip side, however, Oakland’s run-defense was ranked second-to-last in 2007. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how the Saints’ offense will attack the Raiders in this Week 6 match up.

Expect a heavy does of Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister and Pierre Thomas. Once the running game has been thoroughly established, Brees will have the luxury of the play-action pass—a weapon even the best cornerbacks fall victim to.

The Saints should have no problem putting away the Raiders in what will likely be a blowout. Saints win 38-13 and improve to 5-1.

Game 7, Carolina: After a three-game home stand, the Saints trade in the sweet stench of Bourbon Street for the crisp, clean air of Charlotte, N.C.

The Panthers made several moves to improve their running game in the offseason, including the release of RB DeSean Foster, and the drafting of RB Jonathan Stewart and OT Jeff Otah. Stewart will likely battle fourth year pro DeAngelo Williams for the starting job at tailback.

It’s no secret around the Panther’s camp that the biggest question mark entering the 2008 season is whether Jake Delhomme can regain throwing strength in his right arm after offseason Tommy John surgery.

If Delhomme is healthy and producing as normal, the Saints should expect a competitive game. The Panthers and Saints have always played each other pretty evenly over the years and this game shouldn’t be any different.

But if Delhomme’s arm turns into cooked spaghetti three games into the season like it did last year, Carolina will be up the creek without a paddle, or a quarterback.

I’ve got a feeling, though, that Delhomme’s fiery Cajun spirit will carry him through a successful rehab and he’ll be back to normal by the end of training camp. Consequently, Delhomme will hook up with Steve Smith for 160 yards receiving and two touchdowns against the Saints and propel his team to victory. Saints fall to 5-2 after a 30-27 loss to Carolina.

Game 8, San Diego: It’s off to foggy London town for the Saints Week 8 “home game” against the San D-A-GO Superchargers. I think the NFL made a huge mistake moving one of the Saints’ home games to London.

Of the 32 NFL cities, which city do you think needs the positive economic impact of a full eight-game home schedule most? Do I even have to ask?

Anyway, as far as the actual game goes, the Saints will probably be about a touchdown underdog. San Diego has a relatively easy schedule leading up to this game with New England being their only real challenge through seven games.

That means they’ll likely have a 6-1 record compared to the Saints 5-2. It’ll still be early in the season but the Powder Blues will be favored to win.

The Chargers are good everywhere on their team. They’ve got a strong secondary led by Antonio Cromartie, an intimidating front seven captained by Shawne Merriman and Luis Castillo, and a high-powered offense with arguably the best running back in the league.

The Saints will need outstanding performances from all of their playmakers to hang with San Diego for four quarters. The neutral field favors New Orleans who tends to play better on the road then at home (five of their nine losses last year were at home).

But in the end, San Diego is the better team and will prevail in London Bowl 2008. Saints drop to 5-3 after a 38-30 loss to the Chargers.

Stay tuned for Part 3.

New Orleans Saints' Season Preview: Part One

James Rees — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:06:24 -0400

With the Saints' training camp less than two weeks away, it is now entirely acceptable to begin salivating. Last year’s season was a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. It left me weary and frustrated, but also optimistic.

Even though the team didn’t live up to its post-2006 billing as the team to beat in the NFC, the Saints still managed to show that their magical run to the NFC Championship game wasn’t a fluke.

Drew Brees proved that his surgically repaired shoulder wasn’t wearing down, Marques Colston made it clear that his magical rookie campaign wasn’t a mirage, and Pierre Thomas sidled his way into the hearts of the "Who Dat" nation as the next fan favorite.

Yes, not all was lost in the midst of a disappointing 2007 season, which means there is much to be optimistic about this year. With that said, I think a season preview is in order.

This is Part One of a four-part series preview of the Saints' 2008 opponents.

Part One: Tampa Bay, Washington, Denver, San Francisco

Game One, Bucs: The Saints begin their season on Sept. 7 at home against the Tampa Bay Bucs. It will be the first season-opening game at home since 2004, and you can bet the Dome will be rocking.

The Bucs are a formidable challenge for the Saints. They are older than God at four crucial positions, QB, MLB, CB, and WR, but they do have a little bit of young blood to help sooth the joints of their decaying roster.

Barrett Ruud, a fourth-year linebacker out of Nebraska, exploded onto the scene last season as a tackling angler. He cleans up whatever the archaic Derrick Brooks leaves on his plate. The Saints would be wise to run the ball away from him.

Aquib Talib, the Bucs’ first-round pick this year, was brought in to eventually replace Ronde Barber, though he’s good enough to make an impact immediately. I’m not sure if he’ll play much against the Saints in the season opener, but he might. Regardless, he’ll be a force that the Saints will have to deal with eventually.

What New Orleans must focus on most in this game is the Garcia-to-Galloway connection. Over the years, no one has burned the Saints as badly as Joey Galloway. And it doesn’t matter who’s throwing to him either. Galloway could put up 150 yards receiving and two touchdowns against the Saints with Dr. John throwing him the ball.

The Saints must figure out a way to stop him. But I have a creeping suspicion the likes of Jason David and Usama Young probably won’t get the job done.

So, to win this game, the Saints’ offense must come out with guns blazing. I think they do and I think the crowd wills them to a 30-21 season-opening victory. Saints start 1-0.

Game Two, Redskins: From there the Black-and-Gold travel to Washington. The Redskins are going to surprise some people this year, even though they made the playoffs in 2007. When you think of NFC powerhouses, do you think of Washington? Probably not.

In fact, the Redskins even have trouble getting noticed in their own division.

The pieces are in place, though, for the Redskins to do some quality work this season. They’ve got a young offense with playmakers everywhere. Clinton Portis, Chris Cooley, Santana Moss, and Antwaan Randle El are all touchdowns waiting to happen.

The defense is strong in the secondary with Sean Springs, Fred Smoot, Carlos Rogers, and Leon Landry. London Fletcher and Marcus Washington provide adequate support at linebacker.

Where they may be weak, and where I think the Saints have the advantage, is in the coaching department. This may be hard to believe, but none of Washington’s three primary coaches have ever coached their respective positions before!

The offensive coordinator, Sherman Smith, has spent the past 13 years as a running-backs coach with Tennessee. The defensive coordinator, Greg Blache, coached D-line for the past four years. And Jim Zorn, the head coach, has never even been an offensive or defensive coordinator! Are you serious, Dan Snyder? These guys are greener than the grass they’ll be playing on.

Despite loads of talent, coaching inexperience will cause Washington to struggle early on, and Sean Payton will take advantage. Saints take down the Redskins 28-17 and improve to 2-0.

Game Three, Broncos: Denver coach Mike Shanahan is cocky. That’s the only reason I can think of that explains why Selvin Young is the best running back on Denver’s roster.

You know what? It doesn’t really matter does it? My mistake. I shouldn’t be so naive as to question the legitimacy of the Broncos’ running game. Oprah could line up at tailback and gain 1,000 yards.

Moving on.

Though Denver always has a strong offensive running game, their run defense sometimes isn’t up to par. Last season the Broncos ranked 30th against the run. They didn’t do much to improve in the offseason either, waiting until the fifth round to draft a defensive lineman.

The question is: Will the Saints be able to exploit Denver’s weak run defense? Possibly.

If they do, it’ll be an easy win for Drew Brees and Co. Something tells me they might struggle in this one though. I see a big day for Cutler and Brandon Marshall against an overmatched New Orleans secondary. Broncos top Saints 30-27. Saints fall to 2-1.

Game Four, 49ers: San Francisco is a bad team with a lot of good players. You would think they could win some games with guys like Frank Gore, Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis, and Nate Clements—all high quality NFL players. But for some reason they just don’t get the job done.

The 49ers’ struggles stem from the quarterback position. Alex Smith is skating on paper-thin ice right now. If he doesn’t start living up to his potential as the No. 1 overall pick, the man with small hands might be out of a job.

What I want to know is why doesn’t Mike Nolan run him more often? His legs are what made him so effective as a college QB, so why won’t the coaches let him move around a little bit? What’ve they got to lose? He obviously can’t handle being a pocket passer. If he gets hurt, they might actually improve by default.

As for their matchup with the Saints in Week Four, I don’t see them having much of a chance, especially if the Saints lose to the Broncos in Week Three. The Black-and-Gold will be returning to the Dome, thirsting for fan support after two weeks on the road. Saints steamroll the ‘Niners 38-21 and improve to 3-1.

Stay tuned for Part Two.

Free Agent Frenzy: Maggette or Posey to the Hornets?

James Rees — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:32:16 -0400

The dice start rolling tonight at midnight when NBA free agents become eligible to sign new contracts. So where do the Hornets stand in terms of available free agents?

This year’s crop of available players is pretty balanced. Elton Brand and Baron Davis are reportedly tucked into the Clipper fold, leaving a dearth of star players still on the market. But just because there aren’t any star players left doesn’t mean there aren’t any good players left.

The Hornets are pining for a shooting guard to replace Mo Pete in the starting lineup. Peterson did a serviceable job last season but eight points a game from your shooting guard is simply not enough.

A two-guard is supposed to score points, that’s why he’s called a shooting guard. Eight points a night won’t cut it anymore for Byron Scott.

So who is floating around on the free agent market that could join the Hornets as Peterson’s replacement? Well, here are three names you can look for along with the chances New Orleans has to land each guy.

Corey Maggette: 15 percent chance

Maggette is a hot commodity right now, maybe the hottest on the market. That’s what 22 points a game last season will earn you. You would think L.A. would be falling over themselves trying to resign him, after all, it’s not every day that a player voluntarily spends eight seasons with the Clippers.

That type of loyalty, especially to a franchise like the Clippers, should be rewarded with 10 bricks of gold and a lap dance from Kim Kardashian at least. Instead, it looks like Donald Sterling is giving all his money to Baron Davis and Elton Brand; leaving Maggette homeless—temporarily, of course.

Though he’s drawing interest from at least a dozen teams, the former Dukie has made it known he’s interested in the Spurs and Celtics. That’s why I’m giving him an outside 15 percent chance to land in New Orleans.

The Hornets could give him the maximum mid-level exemption meaning he would get as much money with the Hornets as with anyone else. But when a player makes public what team he wants to go to, he usually ends up with that team.

James Posey: 30 percent chance

Never underestimate the value of a proven winner. As a role player for the Heat two years ago and the Celtics this past season, Posey did all the little things to help his team stretch itself to a championship level.

He plays ferocious defense, hustles down every loose ball within his reach and knocks down pressure-packed open jumpers with regularity. Plus he wears knee high socks.

The Hornets would be wise to make a serious run at Posey. He’s well worth the $5-6 million a year they would have to pay him. His championship pedigree would go a long way in helping Chris Paul and Co. reach the next level.

Alas, it seems that the rest of the league has caught the Posey fever as well, which means the Hornets won’t be the only team rolling out the red carpet. But the opportunity to play with Chris Paul has got to be worth something, right?

Obviously, Byron Scott and Jeff Bower think their franchise is attractive enough to free agents that they can afford to pass on the draft. They’ve got to know something we don’t, right? Some ace up their sleeve, perhaps? I certainly hope so.

Ben Gordon: 75 percent chance

In the logjam of guards that is the Chicago Bulls, Ben Gordon hasn’t been a full-time starter since he entered the league four years ago. Despite that, he’s never averaged less than 15 points a game.

Gordon can flat-out score the basketball. He has a dead-on 3-point jump shot and if that’s not falling, he’s got a knack for getting to the rim. He would immediately improve the Hornets offensive attack and would give Chris Paul another young, athletic body to run with.

There’s a problem with Gordon, though. He’s not a free agent. The Hornets would have to make a move to get him. The reason he’s even being discussed as an option is because Derrick Rose was drafted last month by the Bulls, creating even more of a backup at the guard position.

The logical assumption would be that the Bulls move Kirk Hinrich, the current point guard, to make way for Rose, the future point guard and keep Gordon as a scorer off the bench.

But apparently Hinrich is a favorite of Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and he wants to stay in the Windy City. That means Gordon would have to be shopped. If he is, the Hornets should be right there in the mix of teams clamoring for his services.

In the end, the Hornets need to make a bit of a splash in the next few days in terms of adding a free agent. Byron Scott said the team is built to win now. I tend to agree with him, but I still think the team is one player away.

Tips for Surviving the Month Long Drought of Entertaining Sports

James Rees — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:15:45 -0400

It happens every year around this time. The NBA finals end, the draft wraps up a week later, a national champion is crowned in Omaha, and all of sudden you are stuck in the mud pit of the yearly sports calendar.

NFL football is still a month away, there are no college sports to follow, and baseball is at that point in the season where it’s still too early to really care.

It’s the doldrums of the sports year, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

So while you suffer through the agonizing boredom of the next month, bereft of the sports hysterics that give your life meaning, consider the following sporting options which might help you fill that giant void in your current existence.

Golf: Both PGA and LPGA

I understand Tiger Woods is done, which to most casual fans, means any golf watching for the rest of the season is out of the question. Kenny Perry had it right when he said “Tiger is our tour.”

But just because Ole’ Eldrick isn’t swinging sticks anymore this year doesn’t mean there isn’t good golf to be watched. There’s a young crop of golfers on the tour right now who are fun to follow.

If you want to find out the definition of a perfect golf swing, check out Adam Scott (Swing vision is pretty cool, huh?). I’ve never seen someone swing a club as effortlessly and still put the ball within two feet of the hole. Watching him makes me want to spend all of my time and all of money at the driving range.

Then there’s Boo Weekley. If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air in the generally stuffy world of golf, this is your guy. How can you not love a golfer who only plays the game so he can have enough money to retire to a life of hunting and fishing? This YouTube clip sums it all up for you.

Concerning the LPGA, I’ve got two words for you. Natalie Gulbis. She is the Maria Sharapova of women’s golf. Check her out when you’re hopelessly channel surfing on Sundays for the next month, you won’t regret it.

MLB All-Star game

I live in a town with no professional baseball team, thus I’m not overly involved in the MLB regular season. I love to watch in September and October when every pitch means something, but as for the regular season, I could take it or leave it. The All-Star game, however, is something else.

This year, it’s set in Yankee Stadium where the world of baseball will converge on this historic park for one last hurrah. I’m a little bummed that I won’t be able to take in a game a Yankee Stadium before they tear it down.

My dad, brother, and I have been touring historic ballparks for the past two summers and I’m sure Yankee Stadium would have been on the list for next summer if they weren’t blowing it up.

Regardless, the All-Star game should be fun to watch. Hey, anything’s better than watching competitive billiard reruns on ESPN.

Speaking of ESPN…

Titletown USA

Here we go again, oh wonderful worldwide leader in sports; another attempt to lure the public into watching ESPN during a time period when there is no logical reason to do so.

ESPN knows good and well that sports are slowed to a dragging crawl for the next month, so what do they do? Create a pointless series of feature stories about successful sports towns all across the U.S! Awesome! How excited are you?

I’m about as excited as I was two years ago when they spent one day in each of the fifty states, or last year when they created that ridiculous “Who’s Now” tournament bracket. Basically I’m about as excited as I was when I had to go get a cavity filled last month.

If none of that fits the bill as entertaining sports for you, I’m sorry. I hate this time of year as a sports fan but there’s nothing I or anyone else can do about it. Just grit your teeth and wait it out. Training camp will be here soon enough.

In fact, I think it’s time to go buy my first fantasy football magazine. Too early? Of course not.

NBA Draft 2008: Trade Leaves Hornets With No Picks, but With Plenty of Cap Space

James Rees — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:02:10 -0400

As of now, Jeff Bower’s draft day is done. Yesterday’s trade of the 27th overall pick to Portland for cash considerations left the New Orleans without a pick in either round of tonight’s NBA draft, so don’t be surprised if you see the Hornets GM on the golf course today.

The logic behind dealing away their only pick in this year’s draft is simple: They need more cap space. The Hornets came painfully close to making a run at the Western Conference championship last season with a core group of guys who, for the most part, are staying put in New Orleans for the foreseeable future.

But there are two important players on the roster that need new contracts—and because of that, the Hornets need more cap space.

Jannero Pargo is an unrestricted free agent and will want compensation for his increased production last season. Though Pargo tended to look more for his shot than the pass when he subbed in for Chris Paul, he still did a serviceable job as the back up point guard.

Sometimes his offensive-minded game served the Hornets well when he was hitting and the rest of the team was teeth-chattering cold (see fourth quarter of Game 7: Western Conference semis).

The point is the Hornets would be wise to make room on their pay sheet for Pargo. He was a valuable asset last year and deserves some loyalty from the club.

Chris Paul is the other player in need of a new deal. He won’t be hitting the open market this season as a free agent, but next year he will if the Hornets don’t lock him into an extension. For reasons obvious to anyone with half a brain, New Orleans needs to make Paul’s deal a high priority this summer.

But they need cap space to make it work. He’ll be getting the maximum deal possible under current league cap agreements so money needs to be available.

I don’t find anything wrong with the Hornets’ decision to choose money instead of the 27th overall pick. When I first heard the news I was a little perplexed.

Why not try to land a sleeper in the late first round? Isn’t there anyone out there worth a damn outside the top-20? But then as I thought about it, I started to understand the logic of the move.

The Hornets are built to win now. Even though they are currently a very young team, they showed last year that the pieces are in place to make a serious move in the West. A power shift is occurring in the Western Conference and the Hornets are cementing themselves as a top-three team right now.

Adding a 27th-overall rookie and waiting for him to develop isn’t in the cards. The Hornets need to secure what they’ve already got and then take a hard look at adding a veteran free agent.

So they take the cash from Portland, who by the way is stockpiling assets like the world’s about to end, and roll out the red carpet for potential impact guys on the free agent circuit. It makes pretty good sense when you think about it.

A few names being tossed around are Corey Maggette, Elton Brand and Antwan Jamison. All are expected to be shopping their services this summer.

I think the Hornets made a good move with the trade. They are conducting their offseason agenda with a win-now mindset, and this move fits that plan of action.

Unfortunately for Hornets fans, tonight’s draft no longer matters. But hey, look on the bright side; now you have time for that twilight round of golf. And if you see Jeff Bower, tell him I said hi.

U.S. Open: Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate Put on a Show for the Ages

James Rees — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:05:13 -0400

Let me start by saying that I’m an adamant Tiger Woods fan. I root for him in every tournament no matter what, even if he is the bear and everyone else is the salmon. I think he’s one of the most mentally tough athletes to ever compete in sport, and I admire him for that.

His performance this weekend at the U.S. Open was nothing short of spectacular. To battle the world’s toughest competition, both golfers and course, with one leg hobbled through 91 holes in the span of four days and still come out on top is unbelievable. Literally. I can’t believe he did that.

But despite Tiger’s gutty, jaw-dropping performance all weekend long, I found myself in a weird place after he sunk that birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff against Rocco Mediate.

All of a sudden, I was rooting against Tiger.

Through 72 holes of regulation I had pulled for Tiger. I had cringed as he buckled after tees shots, I had pumped my fists when he sank eagle upon eagle, and I had stood up and shouted angrily at the T.V. when he piled on the double-bogies.

But now, my allegiance was shifting. Suddenly, without any prior notice, I was becoming a Rocco Mediate fan.

It came as a slight surprise to me that I could switch my usually ardent loyalty on such a whimbut as anyone who watched the Open this weekend could tell you, Rocco made it easy.

In all the years I’ve watched sports, I’ve never gravitated to an athlete as quickly as I did to Rocco. Before Saturday afternoon, I had never heard of the man named Mediate. Now, just 24 hours and 18 holes later, I was pulling for the Pennsylvania native over one of my favorite athletes of all time.

How did this happen? How did Rocco win over me and millions of other golf fans—don’t lie, you know you were rooting for Rocco—over the course of a few Southern California sunsets?

I’m not sure, really. Maybe it was his utter genuineness, through the ups and downs of the extended weekend. Or the innocence, perhaps, of all the U.S. Open pins secured to his hat because he loves the tournament so much.

Maybe it was the way he aimlessly wandered around the clubhouse after his round Sunday afternoon, not sure what to do with himself as Tiger prowled his 16-foot birdie putt that would eventually force a playoff.

Whatever it was, it worked. Witnessing Tiger’s quest for undeniable greatness was no longer as important to me. I was hooked into Rocco’s unimaginable underdog story.

Rocco Mediate, a 45-year old journeyman with five career victories in 20 years on the tour, was on the verge of toppling the best golfer to ever play. Talk about David vs. Goliath.

And what a fun pairing to watch, too. You had a hyper-focused Tiger, paying attention to absolutely nothing besides his next shot, paired up with Mediate, a guy who couldn’t help but smile and soak up every bit of the glory of an 18-hole playoff against the best on the planet. They were worlds apart as they strode the course together on golf’s biggest stage; but somehow they managed to shoot the same score.

So on to the sudden-death playoff it was, and every part of me hoped for 17 straight pushes and another dramatic 18th green showdown. I had never watched golf so intently, and I couldn’t get enough. My own LSU Tigers were playing in the College World Series and I didn’t care. Rocco vs. Tiger was too enthralling.

Unfortunately, Rocco’s miraculous ride stalled on the first sudden-death hole, giving Tiger a well-earned, well-deserved 14th major championship. I was disappointed, but grateful for the chance to watch such a historical competition.

In the end, it was a heartbreakingly close loss for Rocco, one that will undoubtedly stand as the centerpiece of his lengthy PGA tour career. But eventually, the agony of defeat will fade, and Rocco will realize what a wonderful treat he gave the world of golf.

New Orleans Hornets Would Be Wise to Nab Vandy's Shan Foster With 27th Pick

James Rees — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:27:34 -0400

The Hornets worked out a local talent this week as they continue preparations for the upcoming NBA Draft on June 26.

Shan Foster, a home-grown Bonnabel High alum, put his 2007 SEC Player of the Year talents on display for Byron Scott and Co. on Tuesday.

Scott had nothing but good things to say about Foster, according to The Times-Picayune, which is encouraging. Several mock drafts have Foster as a late first—early second round pick. I think he’s being undervalued.

Foster is a rangy type of player with long arms and boatloads of athleticism. He has nice touch on his jump shot and fairly good range. In his senior season he became Vanderbilt’s all-time leading scorer, so the man knows how to put the ball in the hoop.

When I was in high school we played Bonnable my junior and senior year. Foster was a year under me and was clearly the best player in the gym both times we played them. He had the size advantage, (I played on a team made up entirely of 6”1 white guys) the athletic advantage, (he threw down monster dunks at least two times each game) and the better team (Bonnable made a deep run in the playoffs both years).

But what impressed me most about Foster, even as a 17 and 18 year old, was his ability to let the game come to him.

See most young talents these days feel the need to make themselves stand out in the crowd, even more than they do already. When a big-time college prospect walks into the gym, you can usually tell he’s a player, even before he laces up his sneakers.

Despite that, today’s blue-chippers feel the need to shoot 26 foot jumpers and slam home thunderous dunks every time down the court—just so they can make sure you know they’re good.

Foster was never like that. He played the game within the limits of his offense and let his points and rebounds accumulate naturally. At the end of the day he’d have 24 points, 10 boards and three blocks and you’d scratch your head wondering how he dominated the game so thoroughly without you noticing. He was the same way at Vanderbilt, too.

I like the fact that the Hornets are looking at a guy like Foster. With shooting guard being their most pressing need, New Orleans could use a guy with Foster’s scoring ability. He’s NBA ready after spending four years in college and would fit nicely into Scott offense as an athletic scorer. He would also run the floor tirelessly with Chris Paul.

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that Chris Douglas-Roberts would be a great pick up for the Hornets with the 27th overall pick. If he’s there, I still think CDR would be a valuable addition to the roster.

But after having thought about it for a while, I’ve talked myself into Foster as the better selection. He’s a better shooter and defender than CDR, plus he’s a hometown product. If the Hornets snagged him with the 27th pick, it would mean a lot more seats sold in the Arena.

Both guys are talented swingmen who would improve the Hornets two-guard position immediately. But ultimately I think Foster has a higher ceiling in terms of potential. And you can’t discount the impact he could have on the local fan base.

New Orleans Saints: Who Is the No. 2 Receiver?

James Rees — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:38:02 -0400

Marques Colston was not among the players reporting to the Saints’ voluntary OTA sessions starting yesterday, and I’m not surprised one bit.

Behind Drew Brees, Colston is arguably the most valuable player on the Saints' offense. He set an NFL record for most receptions in his first two years as a pro, and has been the leader of the Saints' receiving corps from the day he set foot on the practice field two years ago.

Unfortunately, Colston has been paid like a seventh-round draft choice instead of the Pro-Bowl-caliber player he has been for the past two seasons. But being the stand-up, classy guy that he is, Colston hasn’t made a peep about the pebbles he’s been playing for, until now. And his strike couldn’t have come at a better time.

Now is the perfect moment for the budding superstar to make his protest for more money. We are chest-deep into the NFL offseason, so he isn’t missing any mandatory activities and his absence is giving the other twelve thousand wide receivers on the Saints' roster an opportunity to get some reps.

Besides, do you think Colston is sitting at home watching baseball on his couch getting fat? I seriously doubt it. I bet he’s in his backyard, trying to figure out a way to make the JUGS machine throw him slant routes.

So it isn’t a big deal that Colston was a no-show at this week’s voluntary OTAs. The Saints know he is their best receiver, and they’ll have a contract extension in the works soon enough.

But as long as we’re on the topic of the Saints' wide receivers, why don’t we take a more detailed look at who will be filing up behind Colston next year on the depth chart.

As far as I’m concerned, the battle for the No. 2 wide-receiver spot will be one of the fieriest fights in this year’s training camp. Of the top six receivers on the roster behind Colston, only three have a legitimate shot to secure the second starter position.

Devery Henderson, David Patten, and Robert Meachem are the candidates. Terrance Copper, Lance Moore, and Adrian Arrington will be duking it out to be the third and fourth options.

Here’s how I see it playing out. The opening-day starters will be Marques Colston and David Patten. Patten, being the grizzled veteran that he is, will do enough in training camp to secure that opening-day nod. Meachem, however, will be nipping at his heels.

I’m optimistic. I think Meachem is going to make something of himself this season. Do I have any concrete evidence to suggest that Meachem will be any more useful to the Saints than a five-dollar bill at a strip club? Of course not. I guess it’s just wishful thinking. But all reports out of the Saints' camp so far peg Meachem as being a drastically improved player, so we’ll see what happens.

If Meachem does pan out, he’ll force his way into the starting position by midseason. Patten will work back into the third-receiver slot position, where he’s better suited anyway, and Meachem will begin to make amends with the team and fans for redshirting last season.

So, by midseason, the depth chart will look as follows: Colston, Meachem, Patten, Henderson, Moore. I’m putting Moore in front of Copper and Arrington because I’ve never seen him drop a ball. Behind Colston, Moore may have the best hands on the team. His only drawback is size. He’ll make some plays in special teams though, and he'll find his way onto the field in some capacity.

Arrington is a wild card. The Saints plucked him in the seventh round of this year's draft, and they have had nothing but good things to say about him thus far. The question is: Will he impress coaches enough in training camp to keep himself employed or will he be sent packing?

In the end, this year’s receiving corps, with the exception of Meachem, will be similar to last season’s. And if the Saints are smart, they’ll get a deal for Colston done quickly, because if anyone deserves a payday, it’s him.

Sedrick Ellis, Bobby McCray Added and Saints' D-Line Is Suddenly Stacked

James Rees — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:57:46 -0400

Last season the Giants won the Super Bowl behind the strength of an overpowering defensive line.

Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck joined forces to create the most feared front line in the playoffs. After holding perhaps the greatest offense in the history of the league to 14 points in the Super Bowl, the Giants reestablished the age-old NFL axiom that says a good defense will always beat a good offense.

This season the Saints will look to follow that blueprint after spending nearly all of their offseason attention on defensive improvement. In addition, much like the Giants, the Saints will lean heavily on a stacked defensive line to set the tone.

It all starts with Will Smith. Smith has been the best player on the Saints' defense for the past two seasons. He’s the quickest, fastest and strongest defensive lineman in Black-and-Gold, and when he plays well, the defense feeds off him.

Contractually speaking, the fifth year pro is set for a payday. He’s been playing under his rookie contract since, well, his rookie year.

The Saints understand that Smith is worth more than $1 million a year—which he would receive this season under his current deal. A contract extension is in the works and should be done by training camp.

After Smith’s deal is complete, the Saints will have heavy money invested in the bookends of their defensive line, which leads me to the next most important player on the line: Charles Grant.

Grant had a disappointing 2007 season. He battled nagging foot and leg injuries throughout the whole year, which robbed him of his explosiveness coming off the ball. This is a new year, though, and come training camp, Grant should be healthy, ripping, and rearing to go.

The Georgia native is an emotional force for the Saints. Following the departure of Joe Horn a year ago, Grant immediately assumed the role of locker room loudmouth, but in a good way. It seems like he is always upbeat and optimistic, no matter how badly the club may be struggling.

Last season as the Saints were toiling in the negativity of an 0-4 start, Grant made it a point to declare that the team would rally back and win their remaining 12 games. “12-0,” he said when asked what his prediction for the rest of the year was. “We are winning the rest of our games.” His prediction was a bit off, but it’s his positively that counts.

In addition, for those worried about whether or not legal troubles will plague Grant this season, don’t be. If you read the details of the case, you’ll understand that Grant is only being targeted because of his wealth and fame. The charges being brought against him are thoroughly bogus and he should be exonerated fairly quickly and easily.

I expect a bounce back year from the bug-eyed, dread locked No. 94.

If the strength of the defensive line starts with Smith and Grant, then it ends with newcomers Sedrick Ellis and Bobby McCray. These guys are your two wild cards going into this season. The success of the Saints' defense could very well be contingent upon how well Ellis and McCray perform.

Will Ellis instantly seize the starting job in training camp and begin his quest to become Warren Sapp-like dominant? Or will it take a while for him to adjust to the speed of the game?

Should Ellis adapt quickly, the Saints will have the luxury of combining power (Ellis) and speed (Brian Young) together at the two tackle positions.

If he’s slower on the uptake, New Orleans might choose to employ a different strategy, which again provides me with a beautiful segue into my next point pertaining to Bobby McCray (got to love that flow).

McCray’s addition to the team went relatively unnoticed this offseason, perhaps being overshadowed by the acquisitions of Jonathan Vilma and Randall Gay. What won’t go unnoticed though is if he can help bolster the Saints' pass rush. McCray is a speed guy who plays best coming off the edge.

If he can put consistent pressure on the quarterback from the outside, the Saints can then think about moving Grant towards the interior at times. That would give Gary Gibbs a world of stunt and blitz packages to play with.

To sum it all up, the Saints are somewhat stacked along the front line heading into the upcoming season. The infusion of talent in Ellis and McCray coupled with the veteran leadership of Grant and Smith gives New Orleans a lot to look forward to.

They may not be at a Super Bowl level yet, but the Strahan, Umenyiora, Tuck potential is certainly there.