Bleacher Report - Articles by Tim Nguyen

The Oakland Athletics: A New Hope?

Tim Nguyen — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:51:58 -0400

Every die hard Oakland Athletics fan dreams of repeating the glorious World Series Championship of 1989. It has been twenty years since. Twenty years filled with dynamic players that just could not make it to the next level and become champions for our beloved Athletics. The closest that they have come to the ring in recent years would be 2006, with the likes of Danny Haren, Barry Zito, Joe Blanton, and Rich Harden in the pitching staff in addition to Nick Swisher and the infamous Milton Bradley leading the way.

At the time, Oakland General Manager Billy Beane got sidetracked from his rebuilding plans after shipping off two of the Big Three to Atlanta and St. Louis, respectively. After watching the Athletics making a run for the playoffs, Beane traded then top outfield prospect Andre Ethier for hothead Milton Bradley and a flawed infielder in Antonio Perez. At the time, the deal looked like a good one. Nobody, not even mastermind Billy expected Ethier to blossom into one of the elite outfielders in the game today. Had Beane not pulled off that trade, the A's probably would not have made the 2006 playoffs, let alone the 2006 ALCS. But, and this is a bit but, they would have been prepared for the future. Then again, knowing Beane, Ethier would probably have been traded anyways for a "better future", just like Dan Haren and Nick Swisher both were.

Now is the time for Beane to begin reaping his reward for years of meticulous trades. And he already has. Acquired in the Dan Haren trade, Brett Anderson has proved to be one of several gems in this season. After a rough start that questioned Anderson's path to the majors, Brett straightened everything out and threw a two-hitter against the vaunted Boston Red Sox, always a tough team to beat, let alone two hit. Josh Outmanhas been another gem acquired by Beane. The lefty was a part of the Joe Blanton trade, and before his Tommy John surgery, Outman was pitching towards an outstanding Rookie of the Year campaign. Add that to occasional strong showings by top prospects Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez, and the A's show a pretty dangerous rotation heading into 2010 and beyond.

The offensive side of the game, where the A's have perenially struggled ever since the second coming of the Bash Brothers in Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez, is still a work in progress. However, all hope is not lost as the A's top prospects are mainly position players whose ceilings are endless. The current top prospect in the Oakland organization is first baseman Chris Carter, another holdover from the Dan Haren deal. Adrian Cardenas is a top prospect to take over for Mark Ellis at second base. He came from the Joe Blanton deal along with Josh Outman. At shortstop are Cliff Pennington and newly drafted Grant Green out of USC. Third base is, of course, going to be manned by Brett Wallace, the gem from the Matt Holliday deal.

The outfield looks bright too. Ryan Sweeney has proven to be a mainstay in right field, Rajai Davis is a late bloomer in center, and prospects Travis Buck, Sean Doolittle, and Aaron Cunningham head off a solid list to compete for the rest of the outfield spots.

Though they are having a losing season, the future is bright, with bright stars everywhere. And those stars are starting to shine as the season dulls. The Oakland A's are hot once, again, and in a couple years, they will be good enough to challenge the rival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the AL West crown.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is hope after all. We just have to wait.

NFL Division Round Playoff Predictions: Saturday Games

Tim Nguyen — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:54:41 -0500

Baltimore Ravens 11-5 (Road: 5-3) at Tennessee Titans 13-3 (Home: 7-1)

Overview

In the final weeks of the season, the Baltimore Ravens were unsure of even qualifying for the playoffs, much less win against the Miami Dolphins and their Wildcat offense. At one point in the season, the Tennessee Titans were the last undefeated team in the NFL, and though they have fallen three times, they still show traces of the magic that brought them the first seed in these playoffs.

Offense

For the most part of the season, the Titans offense has worked systematically and well on their way to winning football games.

However, Kerry Collins is getting up there in age, and I am afraid that one more hit will send him to a retirement home with Brett Favre before soon. Chris Johnson, on the other hand, is a rookie, this year’s Adrian Peterson.

The Titans will count on him and former USC standout LenDale White to control the offensive side of the game for the Titans.

On the Ravens side of the ball, Joe Flacco emerges from the obscurity he faced at Delaware, and is poised to show that he is truly ready for whatever the NFL throws at him.

Helped with a very potent rushing core in Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain, Flacco will be trusted to make good throws, and to make as many few rookie mistakes as possible. When it comes down though, the ability of the two teams to run the ball will ultimately decide the rhythm of these two offenses.

Edge: Titans.

Defense

How often have we heard this? Defense wins championships. Need an example? How about taking a look at the 2000 Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens? Perhaps this Ravens squad has not gotten up to the level of defense that the 2000 squad had, but they are getting pretty darned close. Ed Reed acts like a center fielder and CAN be in three places at once. Ray Lewis anchors the linebacking core.

This Ravens defense has almost no holes in it, so look for it to seize every opportunity it gets to either sack Collins or pick him off.

Albert Haynesworth has been the undisputed leader of the Titans this year. He leads a Titans team that has to get in Joe Flacco’s face and force him to react to pressure and make rookie mistakes. That is the only way that they are going to stop the Baltimore offense.

Edge: Ravens.

Special Teams

Matt Stover vs. Rob Bironas. Both return units are solid, but in the case that this game goes down to the very last few seconds, both kickers can win the game for their respective teams.

Edge: Even.

Coaching

Coach Harbaugh is a relatively new coach, but has reacted well in his rookie year. Coach Fisher, on the other hand, has coached for the past 15+ years. Fisher has more experience, but Harbaugh will definitely be more willing to try something new.

Edge: Titans.

Tim’s Question

How many turnovers can the Ravens force against the Titans offense?

Tim’s Call

Baltimore Ravens by seven.

Arizona Cardinals 9-7 (Road: 3-5) at Carolina Panthers 12-4 (Home: 8-0)

Overview

Arizona proved that they belonged in the playoffs last week with a solid win last week, eliminating the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers have proved all season long that they play with the best. In addition, they are undefeated at home. This Saturday night's NFC Division Playoff game looks to be a completely lopsided affair.

Offense

The Cardinals have a legit offense led by another old man, Kurt Warner. His targets, however, are still young and spry. Larry Fitzgerald leads the receiving core, but his workload might be increased further with the questionable status of Anquan Boldin playing in the game.

Three receivers on the Cards have contributed 1000 yards to their offensive cause, but come tomorrow night, they will be looking to prove that they are not a one dimensional football team.

The Panthers, on the other hand, have it made. Led by oft-injured quarterback Jake Delhomme, Carolina hopes to capitalize on a balanced offensive attack which consists of Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad at wideout, and DeAngelo Williams along with rookie Jonathan Stewart at the back positions.

With the return of several injured linemen, the Panthers look to not only protect Delhomme, but also open gaping holes for either Williams or Stewart to run wild.

Edge: Panthers.

Defense

The Panthers’ pass defense has been effective over the past few weeks, and look for them to step up against a pass heavy Cardinals team. They can certainly stop the Cards weak run offense, but the question is whether they will able to sack quick release quarterback Kurt Warner.

The Cards’ defense showed up to play last week, seemingly for the first time since the midway point in the season. They dominated Michael Turner, and seemingly have an answer for any star running back that comes their way.

Their question will be whether their rookie corner Rodgers-Cromartie will be able to hang on to either Muhammad or Smith.

Edge: Panthers.

Special Teams:

Neil Rackers vs. John Kasay. Rackers looked completely off last week, as he almost missed a few kicks while playing in a dome at home. So, strangely enough, I doubt that he will do extremely well after a cross country trip to freezing cold North Carolina. J.J. Arrington will be counted on throughout the night to provide Kurt Warner with good field position.

Edge: Even.

Coaching

John Fox vs. Ken Whisenhunt. Fox is definitely more experience, so he wins this battle.

Edge: Panthers.

Tim’s Question

How will Arizona attempt to stop this insanely good Carolina offense?

Tim’s Call

Carolina Panthers by 14.

San Jose Sharks High School Writers Day: A Night to Remember

Tim Nguyen — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:16:09 -0500

I couldn’t believe it. In just a couple of minutes, I was about to walk into the arena where the best team in the NHL resided.

Sure, I had been inside the Tank before, but never through the media entrance. The moment I stepped into the building, I knew that this was special. Not only was I out of the freezing cold, but I was also given a media pass that could get me places where I had never gone before.

This opportunity would never have been given to me had it not been for the San Jose Sharks, owners of the best record in the NHL.

Sharks Fan Development Coordinator Jeff Cafuir, started this program, High School Writers Day, a few years back in an effort to give back to the community. As a result, I was given a chance to experience the life of a professional sports journalist in all of five hours.

The night began with an exceptional dinner in the pressroom surrounded by many other professional sports journalists either covering the Sharks or the visiting Columbus BlueJackets.

After dinner, Cafuir led us through the maze of business offices on the bottom floor of the Tank. It was amazing really. Had I not known that I was in the Tank, I would’ve thought that we were in any old business, except for the Sharks decor that almost every cubicle sported.

Finally past the business offices, we walked into a room where we were informed that we were about to speak with former Shark beat writer and current Yahoo sportswriter, Ross McKeon.

McKeon was quite frank with us in saying that, “even though Internet changes, journalism itself does not.”

Having worked for the newspaper for 31 years, and Yahoo for the past fourteen months, McKeon is most definitely experienced in his field, and eagerly explained to us the ups and downs of journalism.

In order to get to the top of the ladder, McKeon explained, journalists must “show integrity, stay fair, and quote accurately.”

McKeon really opened my eyes to the field of journalism. I always imagined it as the carefree job, where a writer could just write to his heart’s content, while interviewing the next NHL Hall of Famers.

The biggest requirement, however, was not based on skill. McKeon told us that as potential future journalists, we need to retain a passion for the sport and telling stories about it, and that we need to know the sport inside out. That passion, I already have.

After speaking with Ross McKeon, we were in for another surprise when we had the privilege of meeting Sharks GM Doug Wilson. To me, meeting Doug Wilson was like a dream come true.

After watching the Sharks do so well over the past few years, I was now talking to the mastermind behind all the magic. As Wilson eagerly answered our questions about anything in general, I learned a great many things about the life of a typical hockey player, and how hard it is to be in his position.

I also learned how hard it is to deal with the pressure of being a General Manager for a team as good as the Sharks.

McKeon and Wilson, along with Cafuir himself, also informed me of the rules of the press box, where I was soon to be watching the game in. Apparently, we were not allowed to cheer for the Sharks, even after a big goal. Wilson actually made that mistake once, and never appeared in the press box again.

After the heart-to-heart talks with McKeon and Wilson, Cafuir led us, once again, through the maze of business offices and through an elevator in order to reach the press box. Even from the highest point at the Shark Tank, I still felt the intensity of the crowd.

But as I looked down at the Shark faithful, I gulped in realization that the fall from the rafters to the crowd would be at least fifty feet. A not so very comforting distance. Yikes.

Fortunately, I overcame the thought of a drop of death, and settled down to see the beginning of the game, on our own side of the press box, virtually isolated from anything else. It was simply amazing.

Put simply, the game was great. There is one difference between watching the game on TV or listening to Dan Rusanowsky on the radio or actually watching the game from the Tank itself. The fans. The rafters actually shook every time a player scored a goal, whether it was Patrick Marleau, Jeremy Roenick, or Joe Thornton.

However, the best part wasn’t seeing Evgeni Nabokov make jaw-dropping saves every couple of seconds. It also wasn’t the big hits that Doug Murray applied on a helpless BlueJacket team. No, it wasn’t the fact that the Sharks won the game; they could have done that at any time.

The best part of this whole overall experience was talking to the players after the game.

As the most wonderful dessert to cap our night, we high school writers were granted the opportunity to speak with Sharks defensemen Dan Boyle and Doug Murray, in addition to being able to listen in on Sharks Coach Todd McLellan’s post game interview.

Boyle himself said that this team was much better than any other team he has been on, which includes the 2004 Stanley Cup Champions the Tampa Bay Lightning. That really says something, as all of us are looking forward to a Stanley Cup Champion Sharks team in the near future.

Writers’ Day is definitely a night that I will always remember. Growing up in San Jose, a city where hockey was never even heard of before the Sharks came to town, I will always remember my hometown roots. And as the Sharks continue their quest to begin their dynasty, I will continue my quest to proceed with mine.

A Week In Review: A's Are AAAA Team?

Tim Nguyen — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:47:31 -0400

The events of this past week have not surprised me in the least. All-Stars were named, players were traded, and gems were pitched.

During this past week, we have seen the usual assortment of Red Sox and Yankees on the All-Star team; the biggest name on the market traded; and two great starts by Andy Pettite and Justin Duchscherer. The All-Star game also claimed "The Duke" as the Athletics' lone representative.

However, I am not here today to speak about the All-Star game. I am here to talk about two major trades that just occurred, one day after the other.

C.C. Sabathia, former ace of the Cleveland Indians, is now sharing the ace spotlight with the oft-injured Ben Sheets. Traded for four prospects, the Indians got their fair share for their ace; however, the question rests on the Milwaukee Brewers and the gall to make such a trade.

Sure, the trade seems very good at the moment, as it puts the Brewers into prime contention for the NL Central pennant. What about next year? What if Sabathia decides to pull off a Brian Campbell (see San Jose Sharks) and takes off for another team?

If Sabathia walks after a Brewer golf tournament in October, the Brewers front office is going to be taking the heat with nothing to show for the trade of the season, except for maybe the loss of several key prospects.

Trading for players at the end of their contract years might prove good for the present, but almost never pays off in the long run. That’s why I prefer the ways of Billy Beane, Oakland’s trade guru.

Year in and year out, Beane manages to field a competitive team with a meager payroll. In fact, whenever a good prospect pans out and turns into a star, Beane ships him off to a team that can afford him in the long run while the player is still in his rookie contract. And the cycle continues. This “Moneyball” process has proven successful, as the A’s made it to the ALCS in 2006.

As of a matter of fact, halfway through the 2008 MLB season, the A’s have fielded yet another competitive team. This year they are crowded with rookies and they rest just 3.5 games behind the AL Wild Card. They are also five behind the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Despite being in contention, however, Beane went for a bold move. He traded ace Rich Harden and former starter Chad Gaudin to the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Sean Gallagher and three other players. A’s fans are especially disappointed yet again, but you shouldn’t blame Billy Beane for this trade. He was just doing his job. If there’s anyone to blame in this, it’s the ownership. With all due respect to owner Lew Wolff, I honestly see little difference between his money ways and the spending habits of Steve Schott.

Sure, Wolff spends a bit more money than Schott and Co., but Wolff just takes that all away by deciding to put tarps up on the upper deck. Even for the BoSox, Yanks, and Giants, all of which would have brought a full house. Therefore, Wolff is basically the same owner as Schott was, but more open to new ideas (i.e. new stadium).

Looking at that, will those A’s at Cisco Field still be rookies looking at Oakland as a one-stop shop before moving on to the big boys, who aren’t afraid to pay to win a little? If that happens, A’s fan as I am, people (including me) will begin looking to the A’s as an AAAA team.

Is that all the A’s are?

NFL Power Rankings, 26-32: Tee Times, Here We Come

Tim Nguyen — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:51:00 -0400

Time to talk about football. Even better, the NFL. Don’t get me wrong folks, I love college football, but, man, those flaws with the BCS? I don’t want to even get into that. I mean, I’m an avid Notre Dame fan, but why did they even go to a Fiesta Bowl in which they got overmatched?

Anyway, I’m here to rank the top-32 teams in the NFL coming into the 2008-09 season, starting with the squads that need to schedule a tee time almost a year in advance. I’ll have record predictions in the last week.

32. Atlanta Falcons

Nothing against them, I just think that they’re going to be in a rebuilding year. They have a good receiving corps with kinda-sorta playmaker Roddy White, a potential quarterback in Matt Ryan, and the potential to dominate on offense with running back Michael Turner. However, in order to do that, they must dominate the offensive line. Defense is decent, but nothing special. Good potential, but not at the present.

31. Kansas City Chiefs

They’re atrocious. Expect them to be in the rebuilding phase, just like the Falcons. With an unsettled receiving corps, it’s hard to predict that the Chiefs will go anywhere in the Chargers' powerhouse division. Defense has good potential, with some promising rookies coming in. Maybe next year.

30. Miami Dolphins

The Fins and the Big Tuna. Good match. Well, the Fins seemed to patch up some holes with a good rookie in Jake Long, picking up Justin Smiley from the 49ers, and keeping a very average receiving corps. Ronnie Brown looks to recover from his injury, and the defense attempts to regroup in confusion of Jason Taylor’s imminent retirement.

29. Detroit Lions

Jon Kitna guaranteed a 10-win season. That sure isn’t gonna happen. A good receiving corps, a good breakout runner, and almost no offensive line are going to provide for a long season for these Lions, and the loss of Mike Martz to the 49ers will surely hurt them. The defense provides less stability. Lions have not won 10 since 1995.

28. St. Louis Rams

Oh, Marc Bulger. You are good when you aren’t hurt, which isn’t saying much. Two words for Rams fans: Offensive line. If that line can protect Marc Bulger, the Rams will finally be going back to the playoffs. Props to Jim Haslett for bringing the Rams defense back to respectability.

27. Oakland Raiders

Sigh. Another poor year for the Silver and Black. A young offense might provide the Raiders with a good punch, but the once-prized defense has turned the Raiders into a team that can score but not stop. And may I remind you all, defense wins championships.

26. Cincinnati Bengals

Ocho Cinco. T.O. What’s the difference? Both want attention. T.O. got out. Ocho Cinco will, too. No difference. The Bengals still have Carson Palmer and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but that’s just about the extent of their offense. Bye-bye, playoffs.

So there you have it. The bottom 7.

I'm Tim, that's my rant, and I'm out.

Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics: One Rises As The Other Falls

Tim Nguyen — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:42:55 -0400

Over this past year, many players have changed the color of their uniforms, the most significant being Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Pau Gasol.

Their respective teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers went from barely playoff contenders to championship contenders, virtually overnight. In the case of the Boston Celtics, not even playoff contenders. This team hit dirt bottom last year.

There was even some suspicion regarding the theory that this team threw games in order to receive a better chance at receiving the first round draft pick, and coveted college standout Greg Oden. However, life is never fair.

The Portland Trailblazers surprised everybody by winning the draft lottery and therefore picking up Oden. Not only that, but the Celtics got their first pick at number five. That’s a long ways away considering that the Celtics finished by far the worst team in the NBA, and in one of the shallowest draft years too.

As time would tell, the Celtics picked up Jeff Green, but shipped him off in a package with Wally Szcerbiak and Delonte West for Ray Allen and the 35th overall pick. Using that pick, they chose “Big Baby” Glen Davis, a 6’9” forward from LSU.

Not only did the Celtics trade for Allen, but they also sent Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a 2009 first round draft pick (top three protected) and a return of Minnesota's conditional first round draft pick previously obtained in the Ricky Davis-Wally Szczerbiak trade for 10-time All-Star Kevin Garnett.

On the Lakers side of the ball is a different story. This team was still reeling in the wake of the Shaquille O’Neal trade. Superstition was that the team would never be able to win without Shaq again. With many a great game by none other than Kobe Bryant, the Lakers settled for a rematch with the Phoenix Suns, who had obligingly demolished them the year before and unfortunately, did it again.

Going into the new season, the Lakers were looking at another long year of claiming the seventh seed in the West yet again. With the doing of Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak and team owner Dr. Jerry Bus traded Kwame Brown, sandwiched with rookie Javaris Crittenton, and two first round draft picks for Memphis Grizzlies 7-footer Pau Gasol. With the earlier maturation of Andrew Bynum, the Lakers looked set to go from perennial No. 7 seed to a so-called pure championship contender.

Now, with stacked teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are the NBA’s projected image and are currently Commissioner David Stern’s favorites to play for the NBA Championship this summer. But can they each go the distance in their own respective conferences? Probably not.

The Lakers, talented as they are at the moment are counting on the return of Andrew Bynum to fuel their last push for the first seed in the Western Conference. That is all good and fine, but the only problem is, Bynum and Gasol have never played a game with each other. While this combo, along with Kobe Bryant might look daunting, a large part of being a successful team is having team chemistry.

No team in the NBA will ever win a championship without trusting each other to the fullest extent. In addition to this, the Lakers play in the very talented Western Conference, which boasts perennial winners, the San Antonio Spurs, and perennial contenders in the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks.

Not only that, but there are several teams starting to emerge from obscurity, the New Orleans Hornets, the Golden State Warriors, and the Houston Rockets. Even if the Lakers somehow manage to finish in the top of the conference, there is the question of having enough strength to battle through several rounds against the premiere teams of the conference.

There is no doubt that the Lakers have the potential to make the NBA Finals, but the question stands at whether they can make it this year, before they develop the chemistry.

Why Matt Light Will Win the Super Bowl for the Patriots

Tim Nguyen — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:10:18 -0500

When you look at the New England Patriots, you typically think about Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker.

Many people typically do not look at the offensive linemen of a team: the Jonathan Ogden's, the Orlando Pace’s, and the Willie Roaf's of yesterday.

In today’s world, we see someone by the name of Matt Light. In Michael Lewis’ The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game, Lewis writes about how left tackles, indeed are changing the face of the game.

Now the second-highest players in the NFL, left tackles are more valuable than before.

Typically, one would not expect a lineman to make more money than a wide receiver or a running back. The only player that, on average, makes more than the left tackle is the man he protects on an every play basis: the quarterback.

The start of all this begins with the defense of a team. Or more specifically, the linebackers on a team.

With the start of the Lawrence Taylor era, every single quarterback had something to fear come Sunday. Teams began scouting for good to great left tackles after the unforgettable incident when Lawrence Taylor snapped Joe Theismann’s leg in two places, ending the great quarterback’s career.

Ever since that had happened, we have seen the emergence of great left tackles.

Moving onto the subject of this Sunday’s Super Bowl, we see an apparently-injured Tom Brady. There is obviously no doubt that he will play, but if indeed he is hurt, and this is not a game stunt, then he will need protection.

Why? Because the New York Giants are going to be targeting his hurt area, not to permanently injure him, but to render him unsuccessful throughout the game.

As everyone knows from watching Brady in his past Super Bowls, we know he easily has the best vision in the NFL. However, Brady is not the most mobile quarterback out there, meaning that he will not be able to take off once he sees trouble in the pocket.

Even if he has proven day-in and day-out that he is not afraid to take a sack, getting sacked and hit constantly will take its toll on your career.

Don’t believe me? Ask David Carr.

This is where the offensive line comes in. These men probably have the hardest, dirtiest job in all the NFL. They must be the smartest people on the field, have the nimblest feet and be the strongest people on the team.

In addition to that, they are constantly on the move and must learn many different pass-blocking assignments.

If one of these men fails to succeed in fulfilling their blocking assignments, the quarterback has a big chance of being sacked.

The biggest fear of a quarterback is to be sacked on his blind side. If a quarterback is right-handed, like Brady is, he depends on his left tackle to protect his blind side. If the quarterback is a southpaw, like former NFL great Steve Young, he must depend of his right tackle to protect his blind side.

In Sunday’s Super Bowl, Brady and company will be hosting a loaded Giants front seven.These players have the potential of keeping Brady on the ground.

Brady has the ability to view about half the field at one time. This would be the side of his chest, which would leave his left side completely vulnerable to sack. This is where Pro Bowl-bound Matt Light comes in. As one of the premiere left tackles in the game, his assignment is to make sure that no one even comes near to Brady’s blind side.

With that taken care of, Brady should have the chance and the time to make sure his receivers are open before throwing the ball.

We saw the Packers’ line break down to the Giants front seven in the NFC Championship game, causing Brett Favre to throw for two interceptions.

As the second-best quarterback to Joe Montana, Tom Brady has the unique ability of stepping up in the pocket just as a potential sacker makes his move. If Light can drive a blitzing linebacker just far enough behind Brady, he just might have enough time to get the ball to one of his many receivers.

Super Bowl XLII: Game of Champions

Tim Nguyen — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:40:10 -0500

So far, the New York "Football" Giants have surprised even the best critics in the league by winning at Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Green Bay.

I, myself, happened to pick Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Green Bay, respectively, in each of these past three games. Obviously, I lost.

In the past three weeks the Giants have had a very surprising offense that has delivered when relied upon, the recent maturity and emergence of the new Eli "The Punk" Manning, and the nice breakout season from Brandon Jacobs.

The best thing about this Giants football team has probably been their defense, most notably their front seven. With two great defensive ends in Umenyiora and Strahan, the Giants have dominated many an offensive line. Plugging up the middle will be the two defensive tackles, Justin Tuck and Fred Robbins. Antonio Pierce leads the linebacking core which has had its share of tackles too.

The Patriots, however, are a completely different story. They did not come out of the blue. On the contrary, they came out as favorites to at least go to the league championships if not go all the way after they took Randy Moss from the Raiders for a fourth round draft pick.

Tom Brady has been one of the premiere quarterbacks in the league for the last few years, and like normal, he raised the bar so high that the other premiere quarterbacks of today could not even catch up. Breaking the touchdown record previously held by Peyton Manning, Brady can now be considered one of the best quarterbacks of this era, if not of all time.

He is surrounded by a plethora of receivers, all of who would probably be number one receivers on other teams. The Patriots defense has also exceeded expectations in being in the top 10 in almost every defensive category. The addition of Adalius Thomas has helped the linebacking core to become the best in the league.

This Patriot team might seem like the surefire choice to win the SuperBowl, but have your doubts because the Giants are coming hard...and with the punk.

Offense

Patriots. The Patriots get this because they have led the league, and continue to lead the league in points scored per game, overall yards per game, and passing yards per game. Many people see this Patriot team as a two or three man team, with Brady throwing the ball to either Moss or Wes Welker. This is not so.

Remember, we must give credit to the offensive line, which has only allowed 18 sacks during the regular season. That's pretty good when you play in the post-Lawrence Taylor era, where every defensive end is nimble, fast, and fat, all at the same time.

Much praise goes to the left tackle of the Patriots—none other than Mr. Matt Light. He is responsible for protecting Brady's blind side, and he does his job exceptionally well, seeing as Brady has not had a Theismann type of injury yet.

The wide receiving core, again, is the best in the league. Take any one of the three top receivers on their depth chart, and he could probably be the number one receiver on another team.

However, the biggest challenge for the Patriots will not be their ability to catch the ball, or to run the ball. It will be the ability to protect their supposedly hurt quarterback. As long as the blind side is protected by Light, Brady, who has excellent vision, should be able to step up and make enough throws to result in a Patriot win.

On the Giant side of the ball, we have Eli "the Punk" Manning. In the last game of the regular season against the Patriots Eli decided to show some spunk and tried to make the Patriots undefeated season go down the drain. While he did not succeed in doing that, his play in that game gave himself and his team some added momentum, as they cruised through their next three games. Their final challenge yet again, comes from the Patriots, and they are seeking revenge.

With Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress at wideout, the Giants are solid at the position. The key for the Giants will be their ability to run the ball against the Patriots very solid front seven. Should they be able to run the ball, they will have a very good chance to win this game.

Defense

Patriots. The Giants have the defensive line that can stand up the Patriot offensive line, but the Patriots have the linebacking core and the secondary that can shut down the run and the pass completely.

Starting with the Patriot secondary, we have Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs at the corner positions. These two men are probably in the top 10 as cornerbacks. However, seeing from last week's game against Green Bay, Burress made a killing off of Al Harris, even though Harris decided to play the physical game against him. This would probably be the most effective way to shut him down, but Samuel is going to have a tough time doing it, seeing as he is not that physical of a player. Hobbs might be a bit short for his position, but he is one of the best in the game, and can probably hold Amani Toomer to short catches in long yard situations.

And for the Patriot linebacker core. Must I say more?

I have a feeling that Eli might be on his bottom quite a bit come Super Bowl Sunday if Adalius Thomas can bring the late blitz up the middle.

The Giants defensive line is the best in the game. No question about it. They have played, for the most part, solid all year long, and it would not surprise me if they gave the Patriot offensive line the fight of their lives.

My uncertainty is with the Giant secondary. With Corey Webster at corner along with Aaron Ross and Sam Madison, the Giants are good. Not great, but good enough to hold down at least one receiver. The linebacking core of the Giants is decent with Antonio Pierce leading the way. I can see Lawrence Maroney getting stuffed by this front seven of the Giants, taking the game to an all out air raid.

Special Teams

Patriots. Jason Gostkowski is one of the best young kickers I know, and Lawrence Tynes is totally unpredictable. While Gostkowski may not be Vinaeteri caliber yet, he's definitely getting there.

On punt and kick returns, we must also give this to the Patriots. If you have not seen Wes Welker return a kick for a touchdown, you are missing out on something magical. The coverage also goes to the Patriots seeing as they have the most depth out of any team in the NFL.

Coaching

Bill Belichick or Tom Coughlin? No question about it. Belichick has Super Bowl rings in all sorts of colors and sizes. Coughlin, on the other hand, has none. Belichik's playbook is also more extensive and he uses it very well to expose the other team's weakness.

Wild Card

There are quite a few things that can determine the result of this game:

1. Tom Brady. If Brady is seriously hurt, the Patriots are in trouble. Matt Cassell is not prepared to handle a game of this intensity in the case that Brady is either ineffective or cannot play due to injury.

2. Eli Manning. Which Eli will we see? The "Punk" who fumbles the ball every other play? Or will we see the Peyton-esque one, efficient in finding receivers through small windows?

3. Giants Secondary. Can they step up and shut down Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth?

4. Giants Secondary. Will they be caught by surprise at Kevin Faulk's clutch catches coming out of the backfield?

5. Jason Gostkowski. Is he ready to make a game-winning field goal?

6. Lawrence Tynes. Is he ready to make any type of field goal?

My Call

In this rematch of the end of the regular season, I will have to go with the Patriots by seven.

NFL Playoffs: Conference Championship Predictions

Tim Nguyen — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:48:42 -0500

San Diego Chargers vs. New England Patriots.

Overview

Coming into this week, New England is undefeated at home, on the road and anywhere else they decide to play. The Chargers come to town after a nice showdown against the Colts last Sunday. New England is favored (obviously) by a lot, but don't put down the Chargers just yet. There might be some surprises in store.

Offense

Patriots. There is no contest here. At all. End of discussion. As much as I like the Chargers, with LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers hurt, the Chargers won't be able to do much. Granted, the two of them will most likely play, but they will not be able to do much against this talented Patriot 'D'.

With LT and Philip 'I'm Better Than Everyone Else' Rivers hurt, the offense will have to turn to backup running back, Michael Turner, to step up and deliver against a potent Patriot defense. As far as San Diego's receivers go, with Antonio Gates continually hobbling around, the team will turn to wide-out Chris Chambers to step up his game and play like a true championship caliber player.

On the other side of the ball, we look at the Patriots' offense. The Patriots have Randy Moss going deep and Wes Welker in the slot. I would most definitely think of this as one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. In addition to Moss and Welker, the Patriots have Donte Stallworth, who always has the potential to stretch a long play. With tight end Kyle Brady questionable, that spot goes to Benjamin Watson. I like what I see from Watson, but he has dropped quite a few catches. Overall, by the end of the game, the Chargers will be too tired to keep up with the depth of the Patriot receiving corps, with New England ultimately winning the battle.

Defense

Patriots. The Patriots are ranked in the top ten in each major defensive category. With a linebacking corps consisting of former Charger Junior Seau, Tedy Bruschi, Adalius Thomas and Mike Vrabel, the Chargers are going to be lucky to get fifty yards on the ground. The Pats secondary is pretty good, as well. Shut-down corner Asante Samuel goes against Chris Chambers, while Ellis Hobbs gets whoever else the Chargers decide to play at receiver.

The Charger defensive line is going to have their hands full with the terrific left side of the Patriot 'O' line. They will probably focus on the right side of the line to rattle that side of the ball, avoiding wasted effort on Matt Light.

The Bolt linebacking core is one of the best in the business, with Shawne Merriman leading the way. Laurence Maroney will probably be shut down like he always is, taking this game to an all-out passing raid for both teams. The Charger secondary is pretty good,as well. When Antonio Cromartie matches up with Randy Moss, Cromartie will have his hands full. Too bad the Bolts don't have multiple Cromarties, as that would help shut down the deep receiving corps of the Patriots.

Special Teams

Patriots. Second-year kicker Stephen Gostkowski is a pretty good kicker. I am still not very confident in Nate Kaeding's kicking ability following his fibula injury. Home field advantage will be a problem for the Chargers, obviously. The Patriots need to watch out for Darren Sproles, the quick returner who is one of the more underrated returnmen in the game.

Coaching

Bill Belichick over Norv Turner. No questions about it. I don't feel like I need to go in depth with this.

Wild Card

If the whole Charger team can step up and make up for injuries, they will have a chance.

My Call

Patriots by 13.

New York (Football) Giants vs. Green Bay Packers

Overview

Eli vs. Brett. If Eli wins, the Super Bowl would be the rematch from the last game of the regular season. If Brett wins, the Packers have the chance to possibly send Brett Favre off on a good farewell note. In any case, the winner has another chance at knocking off the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Offense

Packers. Over the course of the season, the Packer's running game has exploded into one of the best running games in the league. It probably helps if you have the second best pass offense in the league as well. Brett Favre has multiple options to throw the ball to, ranging from Greg Jennings to San Jose State product James Jones. In between these two player can be sandwiched receivers Koren Robinson and Donald Driver.

On the Giants' side of the ball, we have Eli "The Punk" Manning. He has played in three consecutive decent-to-good games. Amazing. Expect a breakdown sometime soon, unless he has actually grown up (unlike Rivers). Eli has to get the ball into the hands of Amani Toomer or Plaxico Burress. If he cannot succeed in putting the ball in one of those two spots, the Giants will lose. Brandon Jacobs is a very good back who broke out after Tiki Barber retired last season. Look for a very good game from him, but the whole Giant offense, much like it has all season, depends on 'The Punk'.

Defense

Packers. With Charles Woodson and Al Harris in the secondary, this Packer defense can probably be seen as the best or second best secondary in the league. Other than that, not much to talk about the Packer unit. They are very solid and work together as a well- oiled machine to get the job done. No guts, no glory. They truly take one for the team.

The Giants defense has more household names like Michael Strahan and Antonio Pierce. My question to the Giants defense is this: can they provide the pressure that Seattle, even with their awesome front seven, could not provide?

I am still not confident in the Giant secondary, though. Corey Webster does not appear to be the guy who can take on a James Jones or Donald Driver-type of player. He got burned on several plays earlier in the playoffs and got burned by Randy Moss twice in the final game of the regular season, even if one did not count (dropped pass).

Special Teams

Packers. I love Mason Crosby as a kicker. Not as much as I love Gostkowski, but Crosby is an amazing kicker. He is probably used to playing in the snow from going to school in Colorado, and he does not seem fazed at all by roaring crowds.

I don't see the Giants getting any leeway in kickoffs and punts because their returners are quite vulnerable. The Packers have experienced returners and good blockers who can give Woodson/Robinson good returns. Home field advantage in the snow? Of course the Packers. No one plays as good in Lambeau in the snow as Brett.

Coaching

Tom Coughlin over Mike McCarthy. First time I have ever put Coughlin first. Coughlin has more experience and is riding a two-game playoff winning streak.

Wild Card

If 'The Punk' continues to mature, this will be a game to remember. This game mostly depends on the Giants' ability to pressure Brett Favre. Remember, however, no one plays as well as Brett in the snow covered Lambeau.

My Call

Packers by 10.

NFL Division Round Playoff Predictions: Saturday Games

Tim Nguyen — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:23:17 -0500

Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers

Offense

This is a tale to behold. One team came into the season with a fantastic running game, and the other with no running game whatsoever. Over the course of the season, one has gained a pretty good, if not great running game, while the other has disappeared in the mist. Its amazing how much teams and players can change over the course of a season. OK. Green Bay has the offensive potential to catapult over the Seahawks, with Greg Jennings and Brett Favre as the two main guys.

However, Seattle has Matt Hasselbeck and a plethora of receivers to throw to. Granted, they are not as good as the Patriots receivers, they can still get the job done, and can be depended on to not drop passes. However, the playoffs are defined by the running game, which will open up the play action pass. Green Bay has the running game with the emergence of Ryan Grant, and expect many run plays as the Seahawk secondary is one of the best in the game. I give this to Green Bay because of the run game.

Defense

Obviously, this goes to the Seahawks. This team has one of the better secondaries in the NFL. However, they will have a harder job than the Packer D because the Packers actually have a running game. If Marcus Trufant can shut down Greg Jennings, this defense is set to go. If Grant can provide a good pass rush along with the rest of the Dline, expect more turnovers as Brett Favre is a gunslinger, and is not afraid to throw into very small windows. The Packers D depends on whether or not Charles Woodson can be healthy enough to play the game, and play it well.

Special Teams

Green Bay has a very good coverage team off of punts and kickoffs. Don't be surprise if Nate Burleson is limited in his yardage on Special Teams. Again, I give home field advantage in times like this. This might not be the 12th man stadium, but this Lambeau gets pretty loud, especially in this playoff scenario.

Coaching

Mike Holmgren > Mike McCarthy. Holmgren has gone into Seattle three time before, and lost every single time, but by now, he should have a pretty good feel to how to play there. Also, Holmgren coached the Hawks to the Superbowl a couple years back, don't forget.

Wild Card

If Shaun Alexander delivers, the Packers are done. If Charles Woodson and the Packer secondary holds up, the Seahawks are done. Simple as that.

My Call

Packers by 7.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots

Offense

Patriots. Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth. The Jags have a nice offense themselves with Fred Taylor and the fast Maurice Jones-Drew. Don't be surprised if you see David Garrard running for more than 50 yds on Saturday, as the corners will be busy with Northcutt and Drew, and the LBers with Mr. Fred Taylor.

Defense

The Jags have a great secondary. If they can manage to shut down the passing game, the Patriots will have to rely on Laurence Maroney to pull them through. However, I don't really see that happening because the Pats simply have to much receiver fire power. Still, I give the D to the Jags.

Special Teams

Jacksonville. Maurice Jones-Drew is a beast on returns. If you didn't see the Pitt game, first return back to the one yard line:96 yds. However, home field might be a factor.
Coaching: Bill Belichick > Jack Del Rio. Can't argue with that. Belichick is great, even if he does film a team's defense.

Wild Card

Maurice Jones-Drew: if he can deliver, this is going to be a VERY good game.

My Call

Pats by 10.