Bleacher Report - Articles by Alex Roberts

Stephen Jackson to Charlotte Bobcats: 'Cats Now Set to Compete For Eighth

Alex Roberts — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:33:22 -0500

After ten million trades involving 126 different players, 17 ball boys, 12 gallons of Gatorade, and the the draft rights to both of Michael Jordan's sons...the Charlotte Bobcats have the roster that Larry Brown wants.

Introducing the 40,000th starting reiteration of the Charlotte Bobcats:

PG- Raymond Felton

SG- Stephen Jackson

SF- Gerald Wallace

PF- Boris Diaw

C- Tyson Chandler

Stephen Jackson provides the Bobcats with exactly what they needed to compete, an aggressive scorer. He averaged over twenty points a game last year, and is averaging close to 17 points per game this year.

Charlotte gives up the disappointing Raja Bell and the equally disappointing Vladamir Radmonivic.

Jackson provides Charlotte more size as well, as his 6'8" frame will fit in nicely. However, Charlotte doesn't run the wide open style of offense that Jackson is used to, and it will be interesting to see how he fits in.

Taking on Jackson's three-year, $38 million contract means that you get a productive player for a little over $12.5 million a year. However, Charlotte has effectively pulled itself from the 2010 races for LeBron and Co., a race it really had no chance in, anyway.

This should make the Bobcats a more well-rounded team, and should have them competing for the eighth spot in the playoffs.

South Carolina vs. Arkansas: Five Keys To a Gamecock Victory

Alex Roberts — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:33:12 -0500

I know that this is later then usual. I had to take time off to digest a heartbreaking loss to the Tennessee Volunteers...I had the urge to jump on the Bleacher Report and write some things I know now I would have regretted. More on that on an article to come....

South Carolina would have matched up VERY well with Arkansas...however, injuries and the disappearance of some of our key personal brings this game a lot closer. Look for a high scoring contest that will possibly determine the outlook of the South Carolina season.

Here are the keys to victory.

1. Back up players to Cliff Matthews, Travarien Robertson, and Chris Culliver must step up their play.

This means that Devin Taylor, DeVonte Holloman, and a host of DT's must play well. Arkansas offense is awfully good. They have weapons all over the field, and three of South Carolina's better players are going to be out.

That does not bode well. The backups are capable, and need to play well to win.

I didn't even mention the injury to Jarriel King on offense, which makes the already anemic offensive line worse. He is easily the most consistent player, and the lines vocal leader.

2. Pass protect, pass protect, pass protect!

To maintain the pace with Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett and co., Stephen Garcia must be able to stand comfortably in the pocket. Mr. Escape Artist does a nice job of evading tacklers with his feet, but he must be able to look downfield.

I will always expect Garcia to have a good to spectacular game. It is the offensive line that is woeful, and the loss of King will make this week difficult.

3. Bring back the running by committee approach.

I appreciate the great job that Kenny Miles has done with a weak offensive line. I really do. However, South Carolina needs for Jarvis Giles and Brian Maddox to complete the package. Miles needs to start because he is the complete back.

Giles should be used as the speed man, and Maddox should be the power back. It seems as though we have seen Miles try to do just about everything.

I am hoping that South Carolina can run for a solid 3-4 yard per carry average. If you see that in the stat sheet, you will see a Carolina W at the end of the day.

4. Throw out the fade, draw, and bubble screen.

I know I am no coach. However, it is truly sad when during the course of the game amateur fans can call the play South Carolina runs before it happens. The offense is so predictable; I cannot imagine how any defense does not stop it.

Luckily, there is enough talent at the skill positions to make up for that. I know...the fade works sometimes, and so does the draw...heck, even the bubble screen looks better when Alshon Jeffrey is involved...

Just mix it up a bit.

5. Players...ignore the outside media. Play to win. Play because you love the game.

Coach Spurrier does know what he is doing. He is building a program, and if you would have told me at the beginning of the year South Carolina was a 6 win team, I would have laughed and said something about the sheer amount of underclassmen playing MAJOR roles on the team.

The fans are behind you, Carolina. The frustrations of seasons of mediocrity have been worn well...and the fans see the potential in this team.

Give Arkansas hell, and prevail...for yourselves.

South Carolina's offense matches up pretty well to Arkansas defense. Probably better than Arkansas offense does to our defense. I see it in mathematical terms...

Carolina's strong passing defense negates that super strong passing offense, and the weaker passing defense of Arkansas will make South Carolina's No. 2 ranked SEC passing offense look better.

Carolina wins this close matchup on heart.

Final Score: Carolina 28 - Arkansas 24.

No. 21 South Carolina Vs. Tennessee: Five Keys To a USC Victory

Alex Roberts — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:04:48 -0400

South Carolina had a rough go of it the last couple of weeks. They played Alabama well, but the offense did not generate enough points to keep it close, and the offensive unit and special teams struggled against "mighty" Vanderbilt.

Now, South Carolina must travel to Knoxville to face a much improved Tennessee Volunteers team.

All of these indicators could be a recipe for disaster for the Gamecocks, who are trying to avoid yet another late game skid. A victory here goes a long way in establishing that this is INDEED a new Carolina.

5 Keys to Victory

1. Stop the running game of the Vol's, and make Jonathan "Fire N' Ice" Crompton throw to win.

The more passes Crompton throws, the better chance South Carolina has to win. South Carolina needs to back off of the cover two that has been so prevalent the past few weeks and play with a greater focus on the running game.

The South Carolina defensive backs have been playing at a fairly high level. Stephon Gilmore is a glorified star in the making, Akeem Aguste, C.C. Whitlock, and safety Chris Culliver all play at a high level.

Of course for this to really matter, Carolina's defenders must...

2. Pull down some interceptions.

I have never in my life seen a team drop so many interceptions. Eric Norwood had one hit him in his hands last week that should have been taken back for six. At that point, the score would have been 14-3, and South Carolina would have never had to struggle.

If the interceptions do not occur this week, I would expect Tennessee to run away with this game.

3. Open up the passing game even more.

I know... we want to establish the run. However, I do not view this as a necessity any more. The running backs are not the problem... South Carolina has a talented backfield. It is just that the team has not found a group of linemen that can truly put defenses on their backs.

Steven Garcia has quietly bumped himself to number 25 on this year's passer ratings ranking. That’s an impressive feat for a South Carolina quarterback. Alshon has emerged as a star. Tori Gurley has skills, and Moe Brown is mad as hell.

Wing it... this will even help our run game... if they are so afraid of the pass, then it will open up running lanes. So... let’s establish the PASS to open up the RUN.

4. Stay in your lanes during kick coverage!

I will say that the biggest weakness that this team has is kickoff coverage. I do not want to say special teams, because Spencer Lanning has become a tremendous aspect to the team, as has Culliver’s kick returns.

Can we please keep our opponents from huge returns? South Carolina would be sitting at 7-1 right now if it was not for that squad. If I am Steve Spurrier, I have Coach Shane Beamer on high alert... Beamer Ball Jr. is not working... get it together, or hit the road. (Yes... I have to blame coaching here... too many really talented players including starters on that field for it to not be a coaching issue).

5. Play loose, play live, and if the chance comes, go for the jugular.

South Carolina has to walk into games thinking, we are going to destroy this team. This may be partly because Steve Spurrier does not have this attitude. The team has to come in, play angry, and play smart.

If South Carolina takes all of its opportunities and plays to the best of its abilities (NOT to the level of the opposition) South Carolina wins this one easily. As it stands, I look for an extremely close contest between two SEC squads that are trying to still find their way.

Prediction: SC 17- Tenn. 14

No. 23 South Carolina-Vanderbilt: Five Keys to a Gamecocks Victory

Alex Roberts — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:44:13 -0400

South Carolina is coming off of a difficult loss to the No. 2 team in the country.

Vandy is coming off another sub-par performance against a good SEC opponent.

Both teams get the opportunity to make up for it this weekend.

South Carolina needs a big SEC win to become bowl eligible and take revenge on a team that has beaten them two straight years. Vanderbilt needs to prove that it can compete with a good SEC team.

South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier says that South Carolina "lines up pretty well" with Vandy. Spurrier has to hope so, because Carolina will be entering its most brutal stretch of schedule.

Five Keys to a South Carolina Victory

1. Implement More Than Just One Play in the Red Zone

Fade to Alshon...it is now a phrase ingrained in every South Carolina fan's head. Steve Spurrier really reinvented his red zone offense, obviously scratching every play but the corner fade to Alshon Jeffrey.

In theory, it really is a great play, but South Carolina has to balance itself out by attacking the middle of the field.

Maybe Steve Spurrier is setting something up for Florida. Keep throwing fades until that game, then FAKE the fade, and get an easy touchdown on a slant route. Who knows?

That was supremely strange last weekend.

2. Get the Running Game Back on Track

Garcia has been throwing a lot here lately. South Carolina needs Giles, Miles, and Maddox to get back to the three headed beast that they were early on in the season.

Vandy is no slouch, and they can keep it close if South Carolina becomes one dimensional.

3. Get Constant Pressure on the Vanderbilt QB

If Norwood, Matthews, and co. can get constant pressure on the Vanderbilt QB's, then they should be able to create turnovers again, like they did against Alabama, which has the better offense.

The only way that this will truly be effective is if...

4. Make Sure the Offense Takes Advantage of Vanderbilt Mistakes

... the South Carolina offense does a better job of making Vanderbilt pay. Intelligent play calling and ball security must be the name of the game.

Stephen Garcia needs to have a great bounce back game against Vanderbilt's porous defense. The running game should fare better as well, which should lead to more points being scored.

5. Forget the Past, and Prepare for the Future

This game needs to be the game that shows that South Carolina will not falter down the stretch. With difficult games against Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Clemson, South Carolina needs a big win to establish itself as an SEC contender.

Win out the season, and it really is possible for South Carolina to meet Alabama in the SEC championship game (if SC can beat Florida and Florida stumbles somewhere else along the line).

I do not quite think the team is there yet, but a big win will go a long way.

Prediction: USC 31- Vandy 10

Thats a Wrap, Folks: The Panthers Need To Trade Steve Smith

Alex Roberts — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:40:50 -0400

Steve Smith's time as a Pro-Bowl caliber receiver in Carolina is over.

There is no explosive aspect to the Panther offense.

Smith said it best himself ... "I am no longer an asset to this team."

That’s not true. He could be a great asset ... in a trade. The Panthers no longer need his skills ... they can't pass, and they know it. Jake Delhomme (one of my personal favorite players) just can’t cut it anymore as an NFL quarterback, and that is obviously affecting Steve Smith.

The man is only 30, and has a good three to five years left of high-quality football. The Panthers should be ready to clean house and start over ... but it will be difficult, because the Panthers wasted this year’s first-round pick on Everett Brown, the disappointing rookie out of Florida State.

I know ... the team is on a two-game tear against two of the worst teams in football. They should win this weekend at hapless Buffalo. They may be 3-3 soon, after a 0-3 start. So what? They are not doing it on the arm of Jake Delhomme and the receiving skills of Steve Smith.

They are doing it with extraordinary skills of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. They are doing it with a large and expensive offensive line.

This team will be lucky to win six games. I hope I am wrong, but with John Fox coaching his worst season ever, it seems likely that the program will be in rebuild mode. This is Foxy's last year. The director of player personnel should be fired as well.

For crying out loud, start the rebuilding process now. Trade Smith ... he should have some value in this market. In fact, I can think of quite a few teams who would give up first- or second-round picks for this guy.

Teams like the Ravens, Jaguars, Eagles, Cowboys, Dolphins, and Bears could benefit from a player like Smith. I am sure Smith would like to go to a legitimate contender, so I would assume that the Jaguars would be out.

The Dolphins and Eagles love to hold onto first and second round picks.

That leaves the Ravens, Cowboys, and Bears as great fits for Mr. Smith.

My opinion for best spot? The Bears. They need a dynamic playmaker opposite of Johnny Knox. Smith's presence would allow Hester to move to the slot, a position he could be very dangerous in. However, they do not have a 1st round pick (Jay Cutler trade) or a 2nd round pick (Gaines Adams trade) so this one would be tough to make work.

Either way, Fox and the Carolina Panthers are not winning a championship this year, or the next, or the next. I am sure that Fox will not want to trade him, because he is in "win now" mode. This selfishness will cost Carolina dearly in the long run, because they will have no first-round pick next year.

The problem is, the only way to fix the team is to find a Quarterback, and we are in no position to obtain one given our current status.

Somebody please make the Panthers make this move. Steve Smith deserves better ... and Panther fans deserve better personnel decisions.

NBA 2K10 Xbox 360 Review

Alex Roberts — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:55:00 -0400

I had an epiphany the other day.

I have been writing on the Bleacher Report for more than a year now, and have had a great run with it. I was thinking about how much fun it would be if I had the opportunity to write about video games, another thing I enjoy a great deal.

Then it hit me. My favorite games are sports games. Why not use the Bleacher Report to review some of the sports games that I play? I will start with one of the more recent games, and will go from there.

I was supremely excited about the release of NBA 2K10. It has been my second favorite sports series (behind Madden) since I began playing it.

With this year’s iteration, I may have a new No. 1 favorite series.

Graphics:

NBA 2K10 is the most impressive looking sports title I have ever seen. The player’s models are highly detailed, and look very comparable to their real-life counterparts, especially stars like Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.

They move realistically, especially in the paint. The arenas are rocking, and the crowds look much better than in most sports games.

There are a few graphical glitches that keep this game from being one of the best looking games of all-time—most notably, there is extreme frame rate issues at certain points in the game.

There is also a strange glitch that occurs at the top of the key. If someone attempts a steal and misses, most players should be able to move around the defender, especially in an iso situation. The player will get cleanly around the defender, and go toward the basket...only to suddenly reappear in front of the defender. It is strange.

Graphics Score: 8.5/10

Gameplay:

The gameplay is really good. Everything that you could possibly want put into a basketball sim is there. Everything from play-calling, to iso moves, to moves in the paint work here.

The shot stick has always been great, and it seems even better this year. You feel like you have control over the shot, unlike some other games where you just press a button and see what happens (cough, cough, NBA Live, cough, cough).

The only problem that occurs is during those frame rate issues. Since the shots are timing based, it makes it next to impossible to hit a shot when the frame rate drops, and that usually happens when you are on a fast break at a critical point in the game.

Silky smooth controls lead to a great NBA experience.

The dunk competition is awful, though. Too much going on takes away from an arcadey feel. You end up just flailing the sticks around, and it has a hard time reading certain dunks.

Gameplay Score: 9/10

Sound:

The sound shines in this game.

I am playing a game as the Charlotte Bobcats, against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It is 87-85 Cleveland, with three minutes left. The crowd is ROARING due to a LeBron James dunk to take the lead. I take the ball down the court with Raymond Felton, and call a pick-and-roll to Tyson Chandler.

Chandler sets the pick, I run by, and he cuts toward the basket. I shoot him a pass, but Shaq steps in between him and the basket. This wouldn't be a great opportunity to test him, since he has been a beast the entire game. Chandler passes back out to Felton, who was left wide open beyond the three-point line.

Shot up... Swish!

The crowd goes SILENT.

It was one of the most amazing auditory gaming experiences I have ever had. To hear that roar over a set of surround sound speakers and then nothing...sweet, sweet music.

The announcers are fantastic, as are the court sounds. However, the real star here is the intelligent crowd and stadium noises.

Sound Score: 10/10

Multiplayer:

There are so many solid options here to play with friends, both online and off.

My personal favorite? Five-on-five with 10 people.

The lag time is horrible here, but there is something awesome about playing a position and sticking to it.

Problem is, most players tend to just swarm the basket like a bunch of idiots who know nothing about the game.

It is still a fun and solid experience.

There are also the standards basketball modes available for multiplayer, as well as pick-up games and dunk contests.

Multiplayer Score: 10/10

Overall Score:

This is the best basketball simulation of all-time.

To be great at it, you must learn to run plays and control the game like you would as a coach. It is great fun, and the atmosphere and sound make it one of the most awesome sports gaming experiences around.

Overall Score (not an average): 9.5/10

No. 22 South Carolina vs. No. 2 Alabama: Five Keys To a USC Victory

Alex Roberts — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:44:51 -0400

South Carolina hits the road this weekend to play the powerhouse that is Alabama.

We will finally be able to truly see how far South Carolina has come this year, and potentially see where South Carolina truly lies in the SEC. A win by the Gamecocks would be a monstrous upset, as well as establish South Carolina as an elite SEC team, and potentially an elite national team.

It would surely raise South Carolina's national recognition.

Beating Alabama is a tall order, period. Beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa is well... like scaling Mount Everest in your underwear with nothing but a toothpick to serve as a tool.

South Carolina MUST play the best game of the entire existence of the program to win this game.

Here are the five things that must happen in order for South Carolina to steal one away from the Crimson Tide.

1. Control the line of scrimmage on offense.

For South Carolina to even stand a chance, the offensive line MUST play better. The line has been serviceable at best, and has been pretty good in pass protection, but they have to be nasty this week.

They must discover a high gear to open up the running game.

2. Use the passing game to open up the run.

South Carolina likes to establish a running game and then hit the air. Well, I think that the best course of action this week is for South Carolina to take shots early. If they can connect on a few, South Carolina will be in a great position to run the draws that have worked so well the past few weeks.

South Carolina has proven that the receivers are capable, with Alshon Jeffrey breaking out last week, joining Tori Gurley and Moe Brown as a legitimate threat. Jason Barnes has talent, as well, and we may even see Wesley Saunders this week.

3. Force a turnover.

South Carolina has not been producing many turnovers this season. There have been numerous dropped interceptions, and Eric Norwood has been quiet on the forced fumble department lately. If South Carolina allows Alabama to play mistake-free, Alabama will win the game.

Stephon Gilmore, if you find a way to intercept a pass in a big situation this week, you will become a legend.

4. Stop the Alabama running game.

Alabama has a great running game that serves to set up a tremendous passing game. South Carolina must bottle up the run, because when it gets going, the passing game starts to dominate, and it will become a one-sided affair.

The defensive tackles must play very well, even though the depth is not there. Look for the linebackers to play a lot of run support and run some run blitzes to try to counteract the big uglies that Alabama has up front.

5. Go back to playing mistake free football.

Stephen Garcia lost a fumble and threw an interception (his first in 123 attempts) to keep the Kentucky Wildcats in the game.

That can't happen this week.

Alabama makes you pay when you give them the ball. To keep it close, the players need to constantly think about ball security.

I think this game will be close...but Alabama will run away with it.

Prediction: Bama 28, SC 17

Why South Carolina Will Beat Florida in 2009

Alex Roberts — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:14:15 -0400

South Carolina will beat Florida on Nov. 10, 2009. Write it down.

In what many will view as the upset of the year, Steve Spurrier will prove that this team is for real, and that he has all the pieces in place to make a serious run at the championship in the near future.

In many ways, it will be a turning point in a program that is marred in mediocrity. It will be the stepping stone to a bright future with a young team. It sounds insane. It sounds impossible.

It sounds just like what happens on a weekly basis in BCS football.

Stephen Garcia has been called a "poor man's Tim Tebow." He is playing mistake free football and has the look and swagger of an All-SEC quarterback. He has scrambling ability, and has proven himself as the leader of the team.

He has the ability to rally the troops and lead a team second to only Tim Tebow in the SEC.

South Carolina has a well of youthful talent on the defense. These players will improve over time, and will be ready to play a team as talented as Florida.

Stephon Gilmore is proving to everyone that he will be the next star corner to come out of South Carolina, which has quietly earned the nickname DB-U (See NFL stars Jonathan Joseph of the Bengals, Dunta Robinson of the Texans, Captain Munnerlyn of the Panthers, Fred Bennett of the Texans, Sheldon Brown of the Eagles, Andre' Goodman of the Denver Broncos, and Ko Simpson of the Detroit Lions).

Florida will be in the middle of what many will consider an "easy" stretch for them. They play Vanderbilt, then South Carolina, and FIU. After an easy win at Vanderbilt, Florida may be inclined to assume that South Carolina will be as easy.

They will be sorely mistaken.

But the biggest reason I feel that South Carolina will win this game, is Eric Norwood. For those of you who have not heard of him, Eric Norwood is a premier player in college football. At his position, he may be the best in the league.

He may even be a better football player then Tim Tebow (and I think Tim Tebow is phenomenal, and I hope he is at 100 percent health for this game), and is just as great of a human being. He has had a monster year, and is even beginning to appear on Heisman discussions.

Eric Norwood is looking for one more way to cement his legacy as one of the Universities best players of all time.

What better way then to help your team beat one of the best in the conference?

South Carolina has the ability and the drive to pull of this epic upset.

Here's to a phenomenal season!

No. 25 South Carolina- Kentucky: Five Keys To a Gamecocks Victory

Alex Roberts — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:39:39 -0400

South Carolina has the chance to have a very special season. Sitting at 4-1 and 25th in the polls is a great position for this team to be in.

This Saturday, they face a stiff test in Kentucky. Kentucky is viewed as a poor team by most. However, it is truly difficult to tell how good they truly are. They beat two very bad teams, and got destroyed by two of the best the SEC has to offer. How will they handle a team that is just good?

This game will say alot about South Carolina. Will they destroy Kentucky and establish themselves as a potential force? Will they squeak out another close W and continue to shroud themselves in mystery? Or will they lose and begin the spiral that South Carolina fans are all too familiar with?

Here are my five keys to a USC victory.

1. Establish dominance early.

Nothing will help this team more on Saturday then to take Kentucky to the woodshed for the first few drives. An early touchdown, turnover, or three and out would go a long way in not only increasing South Carolina's confidence, but would also serve to demoralize Kentucky's already down team.

If the "here we go again" mindset settles in for Kentucky, South Carolina will win BIG.

2. Pressure Mike Hartline into making poor throws.

With five interceptions on the season, Hartline has shown an inability to remain calm in the pocket. He often tries to force throws and create downfield opportunities. Eric Norwood and co. should live in the backfield this week.

3. Stuff the potentialy potent running game of the Wildcats.

Kentucky has players that can run well, led by Derrick Locke with a 4.4 ypc average. South Carolina needs to have big games from all of their interior linemen, and hope that there is enough depth there to compete. The linebackers will have to be careful in run support. They need to be discaplined and run the schemes as they are designed.

If there is too much free wheeling by the linebackers, South Carolina could have issues.

4. Continue to establish the running game.

South Carolina has done a nice job utilizing its quadruple-headed backfield. Giles and Miles seem like feature backs, and Maddox has done a nice job pounding the ball and getting the tough yards.

Sherman remains a mystery, but he could be a home run threat at the position.

The running game has truly come to life over the past few weeks, and South Carolina must hope that they have the same success against Kentucky.

5. Play mistake-free football.

Penalties, fumbles, and interceptions can destroy a teams chances to win. With South Carolina lacking a "big play" offense, the team must keep the errors to a bare minimum.

Stephen Garcia must continue to play smart. Tori Gurley must stop dropping balls, and the defense must continue to strive for mental excellence, and not make stupid penalties.

This is a game that USC will be favored to win handily. It will be closer then most experts will think, but South Carolina should prove its mettle and get one step closer to being an elite team.

Prediction: USC 31 - Kentucky 21

All About Steve: South Carolina's Big Win Makes Coach Spurrier Relevant Again

Alex Roberts — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:34:04 -0400

Ole Miss did not deserve to be the No. 4 team in the country.

I want to throw that out there first and foremost.

That does not change the fact that South Carolina defeated a top five team for the first time in the school's history at home, and "improves" its overall record in top five matchups to 2-31 all time.

There is growth within this program, and Spurrier has become a relevant figure again.

Sure, he is always good for a one liner, and his legend from Florida still exists, untarnished, in most college football fans' eyes.

However, this win has brought to the nation's attention a program that may be on its way. Steve Spurrier has shown a willingness to adapt and change in ways that some coaches his age seem to struggle with.

Last year, South Carolina was not very good at the end of the year. Spurrier noticed a lack of dedication in both the players, and the coaches. So he goes out and hires one of the best staffs in the SEC, and finds freshmen players that he knows can make an immediate impact.

The results thus far have been encouraging.

South Carolina is getting great play out of a lot of new players. Steven Garcia, playing through tremendous pain, led this team to victory. His stats did not look great, but he proved more during the Ole Miss game then at any point in the season. He is this teams leader, and he will see this thing through.

Spurrier has finally gotten back into the groove of coaching. He finally has a team that he feels can compete to the level he needs them to.

Finally.

South Carolina has a brutal schedule, and some prognosticators have stated that if South Carolina can go 6-6 with their brutal schedule, Steve Spurrier will be coach of the year.

The stakes are higher now. South Carolina will be ranked next week. They are one play away from being 4-0 and being possibly in the top 10. The pressure will build. South Carolina seems to get ranked early ever year and then plummet. I refer to the 2007 campaign where South Carolina raced to a 6-1 record with a ranking of No. 6, only to finish the season 6-6 and missing out on a bowl.

South Carolina should win the next game at SC State, and then be favored to win against Kentucky. This should bring South Carolina to 5-1 going into Alabama.

Then we see what Spurrier has done to change this team. Does the plummet begin? Or does Spurrier and crew say enough is enough? Either way, South Carolina took a huge step toward becoming more than just a middle of the pack SEC team.

No one should overlook South Carolina, or Steve Spurrier, again.

South Carolina-Ole Miss: Five Keys to a USC Victory

Alex Roberts — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:39:40 -0400

This may be the biggest game of the year for South Carolina. Ole Miss comes in at No. 4 in the country but has yet to play anyone with any true merit.

Here comes USC, fresh off of two explosive offensive games (one a loss to Georgia and the other a win over Florida Atlantic). A mysterious team thus far this season, South Carolina has yet to prove it can do ANYTHING consistently.

The immediate thought is that South Carolina has no chance to beat an Ole Miss team with a No. 1 draft pick at quarterback. However, South Carolina has the potential to upset a good team and prove that it can contend in the SEC this season.

Here are the five keys to a USC victory.

1. Get healthy in time for kickoff.

This may seem like cheating because this really is not an in-game key. South Carolina has many players nursing injuries. Nathan Pepper may be ready to go for this game. If he is, that would be a huge boost to the defense, especially with Ladi Ajiboye finally coming off his three-game suspension.

Ole Miss is coming into this game healthy. We need to do the same.

2. Make sure we do not give up gaudy averages on special teams this week.

In all three of South Carolina's games, the kickoff team has given up a ridiculous number of long returns. This has to stop this week. South Carolina is not good enough on defense this season to give teams short field position.

3. Continue the offensive output.

Recently, South Carolina has erupted into a fairly good offensive team. They have looked crisp on offense, especially with the timing routes. Stephen Garcia has the look of a great SEC QB.

The running game looked better last week, but that may have been due to the poor play of Florida Atlantic's defense. Either way, South Carolina must maintain a well-balanced attack and continue to execute.

4. Try to regain defensive confidence.

The team's defense (while plagued by injuries and suspensions) has lost a bit of the "South Carolina Swagger" that it has had the past few seasons.

The team needs to play well against Ole Miss' offense early. Getting C.C. Whitlock, Ajiboye, and possibly Pepper will help a great deal.

5. Find some way to get Bryce Sherman the ball.

Whether it is on kick returns, punt returns, receiving, or running, we must make sure Bryce Sherman gets his hands on the ball. He would easily be the fastest player on the field and has carried four times for a gaudy eight yards per carry.

The coaches may have a reason for not getting him more time—I am sure of it, in fact—but the truth remains that he could be a great playmaker. It is time to see it.

Conclusion

South Carolina is overmatched this week. Given the fact that the game is at home, Carolina should keep it close. However, I believe that Ole Miss will leave Columbia with the W and set South Carolina back to 2-2.

Prediction: Ole Miss 31, South Carolina 28.

South Carolina Receiver Tori Gurley Has Nice Hands, But His Concentration Slips

Alex Roberts — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:13:20 -0400

Tori Gurley.

What a heck of a year you are having (in theory). At 6'5", you have the frame of an elite wide receiver, and you have shown the potential to be Steven Garcia's go-to guy in South Carolina.

Your modest stat line (8 receptions, 80 yards, 1 touchdown) does not reflect the ability that you have shown in your first two games.

It was amazing to watch you catch 34 touchdowns in one game against Georgia, only to have all of them called back due to stupid penalties by your teammates.

Because I have been so impressed with Tori Gurley in the first few games, I sat down and watched the first two games over again, with the intention of breaking down the "what could have been" factor for this freshman receiver.

Stephen Garcia has looked his way many times this season. That shows that Garcia (a redshirt sophomore) has a trust factor with Gurley. He is going to continue to give him looks. Gurley has brought down eight of these balls.

What happened to the others? Well, it breaks down quite simply. Tori has had a case of the "freshman concentration breakdowns." Seven of those balls were perfectly thrown strikes.

Three of them could have been touchdowns, but they were called back.

Four of these balls (and these are the ones that hurt), could have been caught and were directly in Gurley's hands. However, he has had a tough time making those concentration catches.

He struggles to see through defensive backs and to the ball. If a defensive back is close by, he seems to get the jitters.

If he made plays on the tough catchable balls and his team cut down on the penalties, this could be his stat line.

15 catches, 178 yards, and 4 touchdowns.

If he learns to adjust to the ball, and concentrate to make the tough catches, he could be the receiver that makes South Carolina forget the names Sydney Rice, Kinney McKinnley, and Troy Williamson.

He may even make them forget one Sterling Sharpe.

He has the physical skills to create magic every game, no doubt. With at least two more seasons with Stephen Garcia at the helm, they could form a dynamic duo to lead Carolina into the elite of the SEC.

South Carolina vs. Florida Atlantic: Five Keys to Victory

Alex Roberts — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:21:29 -0400

This game is a game that South Carolina should win, and by a large margin. However, anything can happen at any time, and South Carolina needs to prepare for this game just like any other. Steve Spurrier is saying all the right things during interviews, saying that he "expects a close game."

Let's hope he is wrong about that one.

Without further adieu, here are the keys to victory.

1. Show up to play a good college football team.

We have seen this many times a year. Good teams go to play a team considered to be on a lower level than them. The team assumes that the game is played on paper, and are left shaking their heads at the end of the day with an L in the W/L column (See Michigan, Appalachian State).

South Carolina needs to focus, and play to win the game.

2. Utilize their depth to wear down Florida Atlantic.

South Carolina may not have tremendous depth compared to some other SEC teams, but they do have more than FAU. Playing more players will not only help in this game, but future games, and should lead to a blow out.

3. Run early and run often.

South Carolina has proven that they have the potential to be a great passing team. However, the running game needs more. FAU has a very weak defensive line and linebacking corps.

All of the running backs could have huge games, and if we can get the run game going, Stephen Garcia can have another "stats bonanza."

4. Show that Stephen Garcia's performance against Georgia was no fluke.

Stephen Garcia needs to show more of the maturity he showed against Georgia. If he can have another 200 plus yard passing game and throw a few more TD's, his confidence will soar.

A well-rounded gameplan could really hurt these Owls.

5. Keep the intensity up throughout the entire game.

South Carolina has a history of playing some of these "gimmie" games a lot closer than they should. It has been a reflection of the team's lack of "fire."

This year's team seems like an emotional group, and they should prove it in this game. Even if the game is well at hand, South Carolina's players should still be out there giving 100 percent.

In Closing,

South Carolina should easily win this game. This is a chance for Steve Spurrier to try out more players and prepare for bigger games in the future. However, if the team does not come out and focus, it could be a tougher night.

The team needs to come out swinging so other players can have a chance to play and get better prepared for next week's big game against Mississippi.

Predication: South Carolina- 47, FAU- 10

South Carolina vs. Georgia: Five Keys for a USC Victory

Alex Roberts — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:55:33 -0400

South Carolina has the talent and ability to come to Athens and steal a victory from a Georgia team that will be hard-pressed to find yards against a great defense.

However, the offense needs to be productive, and the defense needs to be well-rested.

Last week, South Carolina squeezed out a victory over N.C. State, a team that was supposedly on the rise, while Georgia looked offensively hapless against a good Oklahoma State team.

After these two teams play each other, we will certainly have a better idea of where they stand. Carolina MUST do these five things to win.

1. Establish the running game.

South Carolina must run the ball. Steve Spurrier does not like the conservative offense, but if they can run between the tackles against Georgia, it should open up more shots downfield.

2. Take more chances downfield.

I understand the team is worried about Garcia winging it downfield and throwing a pic, but the truth remains that you have to try to get results. The playcalling against N.C. State was brutally conservative, and Garcia needs a chance to "be the man."

If he struggles, he struggles. We will at least know what he is all about.

C'mon, Spurrier.

3. Continue the defensive pressure.

USC's defense is the fastest defense I have seen from week one, and I have watched a great deal of football. Cliff Mathews and Eric Norwood can run down any passer, the linebackers and defensive backs were excellent in coverage, and all the players really put forth maximum effort.

If USC can put the pressure on Georgia without the use of heavy blitzing, it will be an easy win for Carolina. Mark that down.

4. Get Tori Gurley at least five catches in this game.

The two starting corners for Georgia are smaller than 5'11" (Brandon Boykin is listed at 5'10" and Prince Miller is listed at 5'8"). Gurley could end up with matchups against Miller, and at 6'5", is nine inches bigger than him. This could be the breakout game of the season.

5. Stephon Gilmore must play the game of his life.

Covering 6'5" A.J. Green is difficult for even the best CBs in the league. Stephon Gilmore must prove immediately that he is an elite corner, or one of the other young defensive backs must step up.

South Carolina cannot affort to rotate the coverage toward A.J. Green. If everyone can stay at home, then the Georgia offense will sputter agin.

South Carolina can win this game. The offense needs to be much better than it was, but the smothering defense will lead Carolina to its second big win of the season. Call it an upset special, but USC matches up favorably with this team, even though most analysts would not say so.

Prediction:

USC 24, GA 21.

The South Carolina Offensive Report Card For Game One: NC State

Alex Roberts — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:33:44 -0400

As a "real life" third grade teacher, I always view things as a test. In the No Child Left Behind era, you must maintain an ethical and accurate scoring of your students with a set rubric and scoring guide.

I am going to give South Carolina's offense their very own No Child Left Behind positional grade every week using a grading scale. At the end of the year, I will check to see if South Carolina's offense made "Adequate Yearly Progress" by giving them a final report card.

Some positions will receive bonus points for touchdowns. For example...if a FB (used only as a goal line back) only carries three times for three yards but runs each in for a touchdown, he probably deserves a higher grade. We cannot punish "students" for what they cannot control.

I will explain my mathematical thinking for each position as I come to it. For future articles of this nature (which will occur weekly, after the games), I will not explain the process. (Keep in mind that the weights are my own opinion. This is only for fun.)

Table of Contents

1. Intro and Table of Contents

2. Passing

3. Rushing

4. Receiving

5. Defense, Special Teams, and Coaching

6. Closing

Quarterback-

I will take into consideration completion percentage, yards, and touchdown to interception ratio. (Rushing will be counted with the running backs).

Passing:

Completion Percentage:

More than 65% = A

60-65% = B

55-60 = C

55-50 = D

Falling below 50% = F

Yards Scale

250+ = A

200-250= B

150-200= C

100-150= D

Less than 100= F

TD to Interception Ratio

2 or more TDs than Int's= A

1 more TD than Int= B

Even= C

1 More Int than TD= D

2 or more Int's to TD= F

Stephen Garcia

	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
	13/22	148	0	1

Garcia had a better outing than the stats showed. He looked a bit jumpy in the pocket, and made a bad misread for an interception. He did show zip on his ball, and he mostly protected it. He will get better with time.

Completion Percentage: 59% or C+

Yards: D+

TD/Int Ratio: D

Overall Grade: D+

Running:

For the running game, I will use yards, yards per carry, and longest run as the grading scale, with a bonus of one grade per touchdown added to the final grade.

Yards:

100+= A

70-100= B

40-70= C

20-40 = D

Less than 20= F

Yards Per Carry

5 or more= A

4-5= B

3-4= C

2-3= D

Less than 2= F

Longest Run

40+ = A

25-40 = B

15-25= C

5-15= D

Less than 5= F

Brian Maddox

23 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD, 9 LG

Brian Maddox carried the load for the team and had mixed results. At times he looked extremely powerful. However, he seems to lack quickness. He has the potential to be a Cory Boyd-type Carolina back, but he needs to work on his lateral and north quickness.

He did score the winning TD, so his final grade will be higher.

Yards: C

Yards Per Carry: (2.9) D+

Longest Run: D

Overall Grade: C+ (1 grade point higher due to TD)

Pat DiMarco

5 carries, 19 yards, 0 TDs, 9 LG

What a great game this guy had as a fullback. This one will show how flawed my grading system is, because we had decent production from the fullback position. He has the makings of an NFL caliber fullback.

Yards: F

Yards per carry: (3.8) C+

Longest Run: D-

Overall Grade: D+ (In reality though, he had a great game).

Jarvis Giles

5 carries, 13 yards, 0 TDs, 22 LG.

Somewhat of a disappointing start for the true freshman. He has so much ability and had some nice runs, but a string of stupid bounce back decisions marred his night. He did have the longest run of the evening: a nifty 22-yard burst.

Yards: F

Yards per carry: (2.6) D

Longest Run: C

Overall Grade: D

Stephen Garcia

8 carries, 16 yards, 0 TD's, 9 LG

Is it just me, or did Stephen Garcia look slower this year? He looks like he may have put on some weight. The stats are deflated because sack yardage is taken out of a quarterback's rushing stats.

Yards: F

Yards per carry: (2.0) D-

Longest Run: D

Overall grade: D-

Receiving:

Receiving is a tougher one to grade. Not everyone gets involved.

Bonuses for touchdowns will be used again, although there were no passing touchdowns this week.

Receptions:

10+= A

8-10= B

6-8= C

3-6= D

1-3= F

Yards:

100+= A

80-100= B

50-80= C

30-50= D

Less than 30 = F

Longest Reception

40+ = A

25-40 = B

15-25= C

5-15= D

Less than 5= F

Weslye Saunders

4 Receptions, 50 yards, 0 TDs, 30 LG

Saunders had a nice game and was the team's second leading receiver. He may have even had a bigger day if he kept his mouth closed. Oh well...hopefully he grew up a bit.

Receptions: D

Yards: C-

Longest: B

Overall: C-

Tori Gurley

I strongly feel like this man will be a star. At 6'5", he runs extremely well. If it was not for a push off and a severe lack of a downfield pass, he could have had a huge game. It will come.

Receptions: D

Yards: D-

Longest: D

Overall: D

Moe Brown

Moe Brown came through in the clutch. He is a great leader, good speaker, and a pretty good player. Is he Sydney Rice, Kenny McKinnley, or Troy Williamson? No. However, he can be productive. Look for him to have a nice senior season.

Receptions: D

Yards: C-

Longest: B

Overall: C-

Alshon Jeffery

Another freshman with a disappointing opener. Alshon has great upside, but he did not get the chance to shine. Hopefully, he will step up.

Receptions: F

Yards: F

Longest: F

Overall: F

Defensively, this unit gets an A, obviously. I will not be going through the positional analysis, as it is tough to quantify defense.

However, the special teams would obviously have to grade as an F. I thought they were inept. Terrible kicking scares me in the super competitive SEC.

Coaching is also hard to quantify, but Spurrier definitely called this one close to the vest. I have a theory that he did not want to get anything on tape for the Georgia game. Let's hope that is the case. So for the benefit of the doubt, I will say the coaching was a C.

Overall, this team has to step up offensively. Of course, my benchmarks may be a little high, but that's okay. We should aim to go high.

If Carolina can just produce an AVERAGE offense to go with that stellar defense, they could easily win eight games. If the offense begins producing a great deal, this could be a special year. It is early though, and I won't be able to tell about this team until probably after week four.

Here is to a great football season!

South Carolina at NC State: Five Keys for a USC Victory

Alex Roberts — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:59:39 -0400

It is finally here. For the second season in a row, South Carolina kicks off the 2009 college football season. Every week before each game I will be producing five keys to winning each game as the season progresses.

This weeks game takes place at NC State. State is looking for revenge, after Carolina gave them a 34-0 2nd half beat down at USC.

Carolina has a group of young players chomping at the bits to get out there and represent the SEC.

This is an underrated game, and an excellent way to kick off the season!

Five Keys to a Carolina Victory

1. Stephen Garcia needs to start FAST.

Garcia, USC's starting QB, needs to prove that he belongs in the SEC...and quickly. For Carolina to win this game, he needs to grow confidence early on...preferably the first drive.

This will not only help himself and his team, but his young receivers as well.

2. The South Carolina defense needs to return to early 2008 form.

The South Carolina defense is loaded with talent and ability. The three game slide that saw them give up 88 points to Clemson, Florida, and Iowa needs to be pushed back in their minds.

The offense may struggle with so many young players. The defense needs to be stout out of the blocks, and give the offense a chance with short field positions.

3. The freshmen need to keep their heads.

Starting the season in a hostile environment in a big game is hard for any player. With a large amount of true freshmen on the two deep, this could become an even larger problem.

NC State has a great home field, and loud fans. If NC State gets up early, the freshmen may become flustered into making mistakes. Especially that young secondary. They need to hold their own.

4. Make Russell Wilson make mistakes.

After injuring him during their first matchup, Russell Willson established himself as an excellent playmaker.

South Carolina needs to assert itself with a great deal of pressure, and the young DB's need to create turnovers in the passing game.

5. Get consistant play from the special teams.

In a game that could certainly come down to a field goal, field position could become an integral part of this game. Spencer Lanning needs to have one of his best games punting, and he needs to be ready to make kicks.

South Carolina needs to eliminate turnovers in the return game, as well as get a few great returns.

If Carolina follows through with these five, they should win this game. People love to look at statistics, but throw those out the window. We do not have statistics for the young Carolina players, and the ACC statistics are skewed by weak teams.

Prediction: Carolina wins this one, 28-14.

They're Game: South Carolina Is Stocked with Youthful Talent

Alex Roberts — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:42:32 -0400

South Carolina is entering a season where hopes are high but proven skill players are missing from the roster.

On the spectrum, this season could fall anywhere from "rebuilding" to "finally over the hump" status. A 2-10 season is as probable as a 10-2 season. Carolina can compete with any of the teams on their schedule (except for possibly the greatest team this generation has seen, Florida).

The fate of this team is going to be decided by the play of the young players Spurrier has brought to the table.

With only nine seniors set to play, and the majority of the team made up of freshmen and sophomores, one can only hope that these players come in ready to play.

There is talent all over the board, but much of it is unproven. The quarterback, the leader of team, has a history of immaturity; although that seems to be in the rearview mirror, the chance is there.

With veterans getting into legal trouble (Geathers, Ajiboye, Whitlock), younger players have to step up even more. This includes players that are not a part of the "holy trinity" of freshman (Stephon Gilmore, Jarvis Giles, and Devonte Holloman).

Alshon Jeffrey needs to step up immediately. As does D.J. Swearingin and Chaz Sutton. Players whose names are not in the limelight need to immediately get use to their number being called.

Steve Spurriur has created a very promising team. As long as he is around to watch it blossom, this team has the potential to be great. Will it begin this year? We can only wait with baited breath.

How To Build a Championship Basketball Team

Alex Roberts — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:17:46 -0400

Every year a champion emerges from the NBA.

Each year, another team has that right balance of chemistry, team spirit, talent, and coaching to bring the team to the top.

As a middle school basketball coach, I have had the pleasure of coaching this great sport, and the way to make a winner is universal from middle school to high school to college to the NBA.

5. Have an intelligent and strategic coach

Having a great coach is a no brainer. A coach has to be able to adjust to game situations and be willing to adjust his offensive system from game to game.

Being knowledgeable as to what plays and players will counteract other teams players and plays is essential.

However, some coaches can have success with talented players, even if the coach lacks in game skills. Stan Van Gundy is a prime example of this. He has talented players in Orlando, and yet he does not have the sense to utilize his talent.

4. Have a Go-to Guy

Kobe Bryant. LeBron James. Carmello Anthony. Dirk Nowitzki. Ray Allen. Dwayne Wade. Chris Paul.

These names strike fear into the hearts of all NBA opponents. In the fourth quarter when you need a big run or a big score, these guys get you going. When your offense is struggling and you need a spark. These guys get you going.

Every team needs a go to guy. If not, you can let big leads dissipate and be unable to make comebacks of your own. Usually, this player is also your team leader on the court. EVERY champion has one of these on their team.

3. You must have depth at every position

Go to guys can come in a wide variety of flavors. Some are forwards, some are guards, and there can be a few centers here and there.

Take those away though, and you have to have a talented core around the player. To me, this is the order of importance in position.

A-Point Guard

The Current Prototype: Chris Paul

Necessary Skills: Must be an incredible ball handler. Must be the best passer on your team and avoid turnovers. Should be able to dribble penetrate to create open shots for the guards and forwards. Should be very quick, and defend well.

A good point guard should have a wide variety of ball fakes and fade moves to create shots.

Secondary Skills: Should be able to be a shooting threat. Hopefully, a great point guard can play like a shooting guard to create points. You would also hope that the point guard has great leadership skills.

The point guard is the quarterback of your team. He should be the person who calls plays, and the ball always goes through this player. He should be able to produce points in the lane. Championship teams always have championship point guard play.

B-Center

The Current Prototype: Dwight Howard

Necessary Skills: A Center must be tall AND strong. Just being tall is not enough to be a center. If you are a little weaker, you are a power forward. Must have a plethora of post moves to compliment his rebounding, blocking, and interior defense.

Should be a good dunker/lay-up shooter. Needs to be able to establish position inside the paint by using his body and his strength. Must be a good passer with excellent vision.

Secondary Skills: It is a luxury to have a center who can shoot outside the paint. (See Brad Miller, Yao Ming, and Big Z.)

A center is a critical component to any team. Not because of plays that run through him, but because of the play extensions a center can bring to a team. Rebounds, put backs, easy buckets, the inside/outside strategy for the guards to get open threes, and drawing a double team are all things that a dominant center can bring to your team.

My suggestion: Find this piece first if your are building a team, regardless of level.

C-Shooting Guard

The Current Prototype: Kobe Bryant

Necessary Skills: Must be a shooting assassin from all ranges. Must be able to dribble off screens and split double teams. Should be an excellent passer. Usually the top defender of the team.

Secondary Skills: Should be able to run the point. Should be able to dribble penetrate and be aggressive towards the rim.

Having a great shooting guard is a luxury. These guys should take the most shots and should have a high shooting percentage. They should also be able on the most explosive player on the opposing team.

D-Small Forward

The Current Prototype: LeBron James

Necessary Skills: Usually the most talented player on the team in terms of skill sets. Should be a bigger body, able to shoot from all over, and have a great inside presence. Honestly, LeBron James is the player everyone wishes their small forward is.

Secondary Skills: Could be large enough to play power forward or be quick enough to run as a guard (a la LeBron).

This is the ultimate pacifier. The position is not as important as some of the others, but have a great scorer here causes defenses to concentrate on this player also causing mismatches for your guards.

F-Power Forward

The Current Prototype: Kevin Garnett

Necessary Skills: Should be a great defender. Does not need to be a tremendous scorer, but should have a good inside game. Usually the second largest member of the starting squad, should be faster then most centers and capable of playing center in a smaller/quicker lineup. Should be able to rebound well.

Secondary skills: Shooting range is nice to have for a forward, but not necessary. Dirk Nowitzki is the best shooting PF. Passing usually is not a strength as plays do not go through PF's as often.

This is your blue collar player. He makes the tough rebounds and plays inside. Players like KG and Nowitzki play sort of in a free style way. Everyone wants a tough player like KG as their power forward.

*A note on depth: Depth means having QUALITY players for each position. Generally, you need players that fit YOUR scheme. This does not mean have a bunch of all stars all over the place. This rarely works. Reason? See my number one.

2. Experience

A fairly important aspect of the NBA. Experienced basketball players generally perform better in clutch situations. Shaq was a great clutch player. Kobe is. Ray Allen is probably the most clutch player I have ever seen.

This comes with experience. Now, some of your depth can be young, but experience among starters is necessary.

1. Chemistry

To me, the most important aspect of the game. Teams with great chemistry win championships. Great teams with poor chemistry lose championships. This is why the Cavaliers have the best chance to win this year.

The Lakers are everyone's favorite. However, they have looked bad at times, due to their arrogance and lack of chemistry. The Cavaliers can not run with the Lakers talent wise, but their chemistry will push them over the top.

The 10 Most Important Players for the Carolina Panthers

Alex Roberts — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:09:42 -0400

In 2008, the Carolina Panthers showed us a team that had all the strength, power, and speed to be a true Super Bowl contender. However, the playoff dominance of the Arizona Cardinals put an end to that idea. In 2009, the Panthers return their core members of a team that finished 12-4 and was dominant throughout most of the season. There are certainly questions. What is going to happen to Julius Peppers? If he leaves, who takes over? Can Jake Delhomme bounce back from a horrible performance in the playoffs? Can Mushin Muhammad continue to play at a high level? This slide show does not reveal my opinion as to whom are the top ten players on the team... just the ten players that have to have great years for the Panthers to retain their NFC South crown.

Begin Slideshow

The Ten Most Important Players for the Miami Dolphins

Alex Roberts — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:37:41 -0400

The Miami Dolphins have a great shot at winning an AFC East title again, but a few of their key players need to have fantastic seasons. Here are the top ten players that need to perform for Miami to have a shot. Also, please check out my everything you need to know guide to the Dolphins 2009 season. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/164710-the-everything-you-need-to-know-guide-to-the-2009-miami-dolphins

Begin Slideshow

The 2009 Miami Dolphins: The Comprehensive Guide

Alex Roberts — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:04:48 -0400

The 2009-2010 NFL season is slowly creeping up on us. Preseason is a mere three months away.

It is never to early to take a look at the season at hand.

Contents:

1. Overview

2. Projected two-deep lineup

3. Draft analysis

4. Position analysis and overall Player Ranking

5. Schedule Prediction

6. Closing

Overview

The Miami Dolphins were the talk of the league last year. Taking a team from 1-15 to 11-5 seems like an impossible task.

Leave it to the Tuna to step in and do the impossible.

The 2008 Miami Dolphins not only improved their horrendous record by the most wins in NFL history, they also won the AFC East division crown.

Can they repeat? It depends on a few pieces. This team will depend on a couple of young players to step in and play well early, and a few bounces will have to go their way.

The coaching staff is one of the best in the league. They are young, fired up, and ready to take the challenge of defending their crown in a possibly cut-throat division.

Projected Two-Deep Lineup

Starter First, Backup Second

(R) = Rookie

Offense:

QB: Chad Pennington, Chad Henne

HB: Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams

FB: Lousake Polite, Chris Brown

WR 1: Ted Ginn, Jr., Brandon Lonon

WR 2: Greg Camarillo, Patrick Turner (R)

Slot Receiver: Devone Bess, Brandon Hartline (R)

TE: Anthony Fasano, David Martin

LT: Jake Long, Brandon Frye

LG: Justin Smiley, Andy Alleman

C: Jake Grove

RT: Vernon Carey, Nate Garner

RG: Donald Thomas, Joe Berger

Defense:

LDE: Kendall Langford, Tony McDaniel

NT: Jason Ferguson, Pail Soliai

RDE: Philip Merling, Randy Starks

LOLB: Matt Roth, Quentin Moses

LILB: Channing Crowder, William Kershaw

RILB: Akin Ayodele, Reggie Torbor

ROLB: Joey Porter, Charlie Anderson

LCB: Will Allen, Sean Smith (R)

RCB: Vontae Davis (R), Jason Allen

FS: Gibril Wilson, Courtney Bryan

SS: Yeremiah Bell, Tyrone Culver

Draft Analysis

Round 1, Pick 25: Vontae Davis, CB, 5'11", 203, Illinois

This was the right pick to make. Vontae Davis may have a slight attitude issue...he thinks that he is the world's best athlete, and some reports say he is a bit hard to coach. However, if Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano cannot handle him, no one can.

He has good size, good speed, and plays with great technique. I predict he will start this year.

Pick Grade: A

Round 2, Pick 44: Pat White, Athlete, 6'0", 197, West Virginia

I am one of those people who love this pick. I can understand why people do not like it, but for me, I think the only negative is that he may have been available at their next second round pick, but I like how that pick turned out anyway.

Pat is a leader. He is the all-time all-purpose yards leader at quarterback in Big East history. You can see more about how I feel about Pat White in this article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/163092-why-pat-white-should-reinvent-the-miami-dolphins-offense.

Pick Grade: A+

Round 2, Pick 61: Sean Smith, CB, 6'4", 214, Utah

The last of the picks that I love. Who would not crave a 6'4" CB? Apparently the rest of the NFL, as scouts say he is too tall to play the NFL corner position. In a division with Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, I beg to differ.

He lacks elite speed, but has plenty to spare to cover these receivers. He should play a solid backup role this season and be groomed to be the starter across from Vontae. It may very well give Miami its best corner duo since Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain.

The only negative for me is that Miami could have used a nose tackle.

Pick Grade: B+

Round 3, Pick 87: Patrick Turner, WR, 6'5", 223, Southern California

I am not sold on this pick, but you can tell this current Dolphins regime loves size. With the proper coaching, he could become a very imposing figure in the red zone.

People compare him to Keyshawn Johnson. He uses his body to fend off receivers. His production in college is suspect, however, which is strange considering he had so much talent around him.

We shall see.

Pick Grade: C-

Round 4, Pick 103: Brian Hartline, WR, 6'2", 195, Ohio State

I am not sure about this pick either, but I like this kid a lot. He has great speed and has good hands. His college production was lackluster, with his career totals sitting at 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns.

NFL scouts have been quoted as saying he has some of the largest hands of any receiver in the draft. With his 6'2" frame, long arms, and big hands, he has the potential to be a very good receiver.

Pick Grade: C+

Round 5, Pick 161: John Nalbone, TE, 6'4", 251, Monmouth

This could be a diamond in the rough. This guy has great size, 4.6 speed, can block, and is an All-American player for Monmouth. The one negative I can see is he played for a small school.

However, I love the fact that Parcells looked at skill sets and not schools. (See Kendall Langford and his production last year as a rookie). He will push for a backup role.

He may even beat out David Martin for that No. 2 spot.

Stay tuned.

Pick Grade: B

Round 5, Pick 165: Chris Clemons, FS, 6'1", 210, Clemson

I am not sure about this pick. Chris Clemons has speed to burn...he was clocked at 4.33 at the Combine, and was ranked the No. 3 free safety and 91st overall player in the draft.

The only problem is that he is a terrible tackler. Hopefully after few years on the practice squad or as a special teamer, he will develop into a nice backup option.

Pick Grade: C-

Round 6, Pick 181: Andrew Gardner, OT, 6'6", 302, Georgia Tech

I really like this one. Before a torn labrum, he was considered a third round pick. When he heals, teams will regret passing on this large specimen of a player.

Excellent value in the sixth round!

Pick Grade: A+

Round 7, Pick 214: J.D. Folsom, OLB, 6'3", 235, Weber State

This guy has a great story. He went to Bolivia for two years on a church mission and just had a baby with his Weber State volleyball player wife.

I wish this guy the best of luck, and the Dolphins told him they would use him on third downs and passing situations as an INSIDE linebacker.

But come on...you could have picked him up in free agency and spent this pick on a higher ranked player.

Bill Parcells knows what he is doing...even if sometimes we don't understand!

Pick Grade: F

I believe this was a fruitful draft for Miami. Two potential starting cornerbacks, an intriguing QB prospect, and a couple of skilled receivers highlight this draft for me.

Overall Draft Grade: B

Positional Analysis

Quarterback:

I believe that the Dolphins have the best roster of QB's since the Dan Marino era.

Chad Pennington was phenomenal last year. Although he is not flashy, I believe he will continue to be that steady hand the 'Phins need to succeed.

Chad Henne has shown he has all the tools necessary to be a starter, but will that translate to production on the field?

He will be feeling the heat from rookie Patrick White, who will probably see more playtime than him this year in the wildcat formation. This could cause the team to rethink everything if he is successful.

Position Grade: B+

Running Back/Full Back:

The R and R Express return for another season. Ronnie Brown turned in a Pro-Bowl season last year, even if he did not break the 1,000 yard barrier. However, can he be a great back outside of the Wildcat?

Ricky Williams is a great backup for the team, and I believe could be a starter if need be.

Depth is an issue with this unit, as Patrick Cobbs and Lex Hilliard are the two backs behind R and R. Cobbs has a great skill set but is no feature back, and Hilliard has a great deal of growing to do.

Polite is an excellent blocking fullback with some solid receiving skills.

Position Grade: B

Wide Receiver:

There are a lot of intriguing options in this group, but there is really no stand-out No. 1 guy. I feel as though Miami needs to find a clear-cut No. 1 in free agency before the season starts.

As of now, Ted Ginn and Greg Camarillo are slated as the starters. I really do think Ted Ginn has great potential, and if Camarillo heals quickly he can be a productive receiver.

Davone Bess and Brandon London were nice surprises last year, especially Bess, who did everything quite well for the 'Phins as a slot receiver.

Ernest Wilford will probably be cut, and so we can expect to see the rookies (Turner and Hartline) compete for time as backups. It really could be worse, though.

Positional Grade: C

Tight End:

This is a group of quality tight ends. They are not the extremely talented game breaker types, ala Antonio Gates or Jason Whitten, but they are very large dependable targets for Pennington and Co.

Fasano proved last year that he could be a starter with seven touchdown catches. He is also a solid blocker. If he becomes a more consistent player, he could be great.

David Martin backs up Fasano, and provides a decent safety blanket. However, watch for 6'7" Joey Haynos to come in to block, and John Nalbone could be a sleeper.

Positional Grade: B

Offensive Line:

This is probably one of the bigger offensive lines in the NFL. They also have a nasty streak and will continue to grow into one of the elite units. Vernon Carey, Jake Long, Jake Grove, and Justin Smiley can all be elite starters.

The key will be that right guard spot. The guard needs to be athletic enough to pull for the running game, yet be sturdy enough for pass protection.

There is also a lot of young depth to this unit.

Positional Grade: B+ and improving!

Defensive Ends:

The 2008 draft yielded two starters in Kendall Langford and Philip Merling. These two played extremely well as rookies and are often overlooked.

Starks and McDaniel have size and strength to compliment Merling and Langford, although the lack of depth on this line seems a bit discerning, and none of the backups really fill the mold of a 3-4 defensive end.

Positional Grade: C-

Nose Tackle:

Jason Ferguson is the epitome of a nose tackle, but at 35-years-old, he has lost a step, and may be a bit undersized at 305 to continue to dominate. Paul Soliai has the size (6'4", 355) to be a dominant nose tackle, but his technique has often been critiqued.

The sleeper in this group is free agent pickup Joe Cohen, the young DT who San Fransisco cast off. The man has the size to play well as a nose tackle, while the 49ers ran him in a 4-3 scheme that did not fit him well.

The Dolphins should have tried to draft a solid NT and should try to scour the waver wires for one.

Positional Grade: D+

Linebackers:

The linebacker unit is an extremely solid unit and is probably the team's strength. Each position is at least two deep, and there is a lot of solid youth to go along with the veterans.

Specifically, Joey Porter is phenomenal and is the best outside blitzing linebacker in the league. Channing Crowder has the swagger and skills to be a defensive leader. Matt Roth has a never-ending motor and used to play DE, so he is skilled as a pass rusher.

Akin Ayodele was a steal last year. Torbor, Moses, Anderson, Kershaw, and Folsom all add quality depth to a solid unit.

Positional Grade: A

Cornerbacks:

This unit is potentially stronger thanks to the draft. Will Allen was a good player last year. Hopefully, that can continue.

Vontae Davis has infinite potential, and could be a great starter this league. Sean Smith's size makes him and great third or fourth corner.

The wild card is Jason Allen. Drafted as a safety, his full time switch to DB could either be great or lead Allen to the title of draft bust. Nate Jones had a couple of nice games, as did Eric Green.

Positional Grade: C-. It could go higher if Vontae and Sean perform. Could also go lower.

Safety:

Very solid group. Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell are as strong starters as you will find in this league.

The backups are all young and have yet to established themselves.

You may also see Jason Allen play safety if the young corners develop quickly, turning Allen into an all around defensive back.

Positional Grade: B

Special Teams:

This could be a very solid part of the team. Dan Carpenter is an All-Pro in the making. Brandon Fields is an excellent punter.

The question is who will return kicks? Will it be Bess? Do you give Ginn another try? Miami should have drafted Captain Munnerlyn of South Carolina with that seventh pick and used him as a return man.

Positional Grade: B.

Schedule Prediction

Sept 13: @Atlanta

Win. Sparano proves he deserved Coach of the Year.

Sept 21: Indianapolis

Loss. Dungy or no Dungy, these Colts still have Manning, and with Miami's secondary, he could have a field day.

Sept 27: @San Diego

Loss. San Diego realizes the time for a championship is now and play well all season long.

Oct 4: Buffalo

Win. Miami wins at home, and T.O. starts to pout right about now.

Oct 12: Jets

Win. The Jets will be good, but what about the quarterback?

Oct 25: New Orleans

Loss. Another pass-happy team led by Drew Brees carves apart a secondary that may not have found its groove yet.

Nov 1: @Jets

Loss. The Dolphins lose in New York.

Nov 8: @Patriots

Loss. The Pats are pissed because of last year.

Nov 15: Tampa Bay

Win. The Dolphins snap a three game skid by destroying the Bucs.

Nov 19: @Carolina

Loss. The Panthers will be NFL elite at this point.

Nov 29: @Buffalo

Win. Buffalo is in full scale T.O. distraction mode by now. The Dolphins dismantle the Bills.

Dec 6: Patriots

Loss. The Patriots are too much for the East this year with Brady back.

Dec 13: Jacksonville

Win. Miami completes the sweep and becomes the 2009 Florida NFL champs beating Tampa and Jacksonville convincingly.

Dec 20: Tennessee

Win. I do not buy the Titans this year.

Dec 27: Houston

Win. The Texans will be a highly improved team this year, but so will the Dolphins.

Jan 3: Pittsburgh

Win. The Steelers will have wrapped up home field, and will rest starters. The Dolphins may be playing for a wild card spot.

Closing

I have the Dolphins sitting at 9-7. The two less wins by no means says this team is not superior to the 2008 team.

There was something magical about that team, no doubt, but the schedule this year is intense. I feel as though the Dolphins are fighting for the final wild card spot. They had a great draft and have addressed many needs.

This team will continue on the right path and will be a serious Super Bowl contender from 2010 and beyond.

A few solid upsets here and there, and the Dolphins could definitely compete for the East crown again.

Why Pat White Should Reinvent the Miami Dolphins Offense

Alex Roberts — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:12:27 -0400

So there I was... watching the draft with a couple of my good friends, enjoying a beverage, and talking about the players being drafted. As a Dolphins, fan I watched excitedly as the ESPN screen flashed:

DOLPHINS SELECTION

Round 2: Pick 44

Pat White, QB, West Virginia

Oh boy.

Many fans of the Miami Dolphins have Pat White pegged as the receiver/hybrid/wildcat quarterback of the now.

Why not call him the quarterback of the future?

Pat White is an intriguing prospect for a wide variety of reasons. He truly is one of the fastest quarterbacks to come out since Michael Vick. He has the leadership skills of a Ben Roethlisburger. He has the accuracy of a Chad Pennington.

He is also intelligent, has excellent vision, and has the best pocket awareness of any quarterback in the draft.

The only knock he had was his arm strength, and it is far from unsatisfactory.

NFL scouts are enamoured with arm strength. If you have a cannon for an arm, you will get drafted in the first round.

No one will forget Kyle Boller's incredible show of sitting on his knees and throwing a football 50 yards through the goal posts.

Pat White quietly had some of the best workouts leading up to the draft. Bill Parcells was watching and champing at the bit to get this guy.

I do not buy for a minute that Parcels and Co. would spend such a high pick on a player to be solely used as a gimmick.

Sure, he immediately turns the wildcat into a more viable option. Miami will be the only team in the league to be able to have the perfected version of this offense. They have the right coaches, and now they have the right players.

However, imagine what he can do long term. Miami could have the most versatile offense in the history of the NFL. That is no exaggeration.

They could run the spread offense easily with a QB of White's nature.

With his abilities in the pocket, they could easily use a West Coast-style offense with boot legs and quick hits.

The Wildcat could become a staple because of him.

The often-rumored option offense returning to the NFL could finally become a reality thanks to him.

Can Henne do any of that?

That is not to say that Henne is not a worthwhile quarterback. The reality is that we have no clue as to how great either player is going to be.

However, do not close the book on Pat White as a full-time starting quarterback. I have a feeling that this novel is just beginning.

The NFL Mascot Battle For Supremecy: The Elite Eight

Alex Roberts — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:18:40 -0400

We are now down to the greatest eight NFL mascots. These rough fighters have clawed, bitten, and shot their way to the top through two previous rounds of competition.

You can recap rounds one (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/141576-the-nfl-mascot-battle-for-supremecy#comment) and two (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/145399-the-nfl-mascot-battle-for-supremecy-round-2).

You can also check out the bracket here:http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=314960

The remaining fighters have heart and strike fear into the hearts of their opponents. It's go time.

Fight 1: Lions vs. Ravens

Just before this matchup, Bubbles the friendly Detroit Lion got a makeover. He is now Poppin' Bubbles, a more ferocious lion that adorns the new-look Detroit Lions.

It's a good thing too, because the bad-ass Ravens are coming to try to score the upset.

Ravens fight valiantly, and have some sort of dark magic power to freak out at will. If they were competing against Bubbles, the ravens would peck his eyes out and go on to win.

New school Lion takes down these dirty birds and moves on.

Fight 2: Titans vs. Panthers

Two very solid mascots face off. I know the argument can be made about the Titan being that insipid fox creature that roams the Tennessee Titans' field, but I am sticking with the literal meaning: man of war.

The Panther is a muscular creature who is quick and ferocious.

It is an exciting battle, with both sides taking a beating. You look to your left, and you see Leonidas getting his head chewed off while Brad Pitt from the movie Troy runs screaming like a girl.

Panthers eat goooood tonight.

Fight 3: Bengals vs. Patriots

I hate the New England Patriots. There. I said it.

However, they have one of the most unique and recognizable symbols in American sports: Pat the Patriot.

The bengal tigers are strong. However, not bullet strong. The Patriots use their muskets for a rather one-sided victory.

Viva la Patriots!

Fight 4: Vikings vs. Buccaneers

The Vikings are still drunk from their previous encounter. Luckily for them, the Buccaneers are always drunk.

In an epic fight, the Vikings destroy the Bucs with sheer toughness.

There, now it is up to you to decide who wins. We are down to our top four mascots. The winning mascot will get a fully thought-out and researched article by me as an ode to the best NFL mascot.

Let's look at the resume's for the last four mascots.

Lions

Defeated the Steelers, Rams, and Ravens to get to this point.

Positives: strong; quick; and way less gay now that Bubbles is dead.

Negatives: washed-out color scheme (light blue and silver); and mascot of the worst NFL team of all time.

Panthers

Defeated the Redskins, Jaguars, and Titans to get to this point.

Positives: powerful; agile; the head is the shape of North Carolina and South Carolina put together; very nice color scheme for the team; and a panther is black as night.

Negatives: not a lot of history behind this mascot.

Patriots

Defeated the Bills, Dolphins, and Bengals to get to the finals.

Positives: very American; easily recognizable; and representative of one of the best football teams of this era.

Negatives: everyone hates the Patriots, unless you live in New England; some people may think Pat is sort of a wussy-looking guy.

Vikings

Defeated the Broncos, Cowboys, and Buccaneers to get here.

Positives: unique; tough; creates an awesome NFL helmet; and a very brave purple color scheme that really stands out.

Negatives: Vikings are always drunk and sorta smell.

It is now up to you, the reader, to decide. The polls are open...choose well!

The Potential Positive Influence Pro Sports Can Have On Our Children

Alex Roberts — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:42:23 -0400

As an educator, I have seen a wide variety of things. I have heard some amazing stories and seen some tragic situations.

Recently, my classroom had the privilege to welcome Fred Bennett of the Houston Texans into our doors. It was a surprise visit. He had a relative in my classroom, and he was visiting him to spend some time with him.

As a South Carolina graduate, I recognized him right away, as I have been following his career closely, along with any other players that graduate from my university. It took a moment for my students to figure out who he was.

When they did... my classroom erupted.

This is one of those situations where I let it go. Many of my students do not believe in themselves. Many of them have already come to terms with the idea that they are going to prison or working for minimum wage.

I have tried to show them otherwise, and some have made great strides in not only their education, but their personal view of themselves.

Then Fred Bennett provided a breakthrough.

Here comes a man from the area, who went through the same schools, who worked hard to follow his dream, and follow them through. Many of you can say that he is just a football player, but to the students he was so much more.

He spoke with them. Looked them in the eyes. Treated them with respect. Shook hands and gave autographs. The students loved every moment of this, and I could tell Mr. Bennett was MORE than happy to share moments with these children.

In a world where the economy is hard and education is becoming less important in the eyes of many, it was wonderful to see a man who has it all come to spend time with these children.

I know for a fact that they will never forget it, and the positive impact he made on the students will forever be ingrained.

Children view proffessional athletes as icons. Which is why it makes me sick when I see stories about A-Rod, T.O., Jay Cutler, Donte Stallworth, and Mike Vick on ESPN every day.

These people have to realize the amazing gift they have been given... and I am not talking about athleticism.

They have the power to change the way people view themselves. In every player, we should see the things that we want to be. Hard working, humble, and thankful for the chance to do something they love.

Fred Bennett does not have the same name recognition as a T.O. or a Cutler, but he will always be one of the players MY STUDENTS follow.

Hearing my students say "I am going to go to college one day" after he stopped by makes him a great NFL player in my book.

The NFL Mascot Battle For Supremecy: The Sweet 16

Alex Roberts — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:54:36 -0400

Ah... the Sweet 16.

The best 16 mascots in the NFL battling for the Big Dawg Award.

Without a doubt, round one was an easy one to pick.

There are alot of terrible mascots in the NFL that would not strike fear in the hearts of a newborn child, let alone the opposition (See Browns, Colts, and Texans).

Now we are down to 16 decent mascots.

The jokes are done. We are getting ever closer to the big dance.

After this, only eight will remain.

Check out the bracket to see where your favorite team stands.

Fight 1: Lions vs. Rams

The two worst teams in the NFL do battle...with their mascots!

Unlike a real game between these two teams, expect to see a great amount of action.

However, lions are kings, man.

Rams are sort of like really aggressive special children with hard-hats (GASP). I think the head butts will only go so far, and the Lions will munch a bunch of Crunch n' Munch.

Fight 2: Ravens vs. Eagles

A bird-on-bird match up. America vs. Pure EVIL.

In terms of raw power, the Eagle is the stronger of the two birds.

That is until you consider the ravens magical abilities.

That's right, you have seen the movies—"Lord of the Rings", "The Birds", "The Core"... Whenever a bird comes to mess someone up, it is always a raven.

There is something about ravens that allows them to fly head-first and screeching into any living or non-living thing.

The Eagles get pummeled in an unexpectedly one-sided matchup.

Quote the Raven.

Fight 3: Chiefs vs. Titans

Chiefs are LEADERS of the Native American realm. They are highly respected, traditional warriors, and spiritual. Titans (as I am interpreting the name) are skilled warriors. Men who have led their empires to many victorious battles. Titans are bred through the fires of battle.

I see the Chiefs putting up a valiant fight, but it just won't be enough to dethrone this favorite of the competition.

Fight 4: Jaguars vs. Panthers

Now we are on to Cat-on-Cat action.

In actuality, a panther is a member of the jaguar family, and the black panther is one of the most aggressive of the cats.

However, a jaguar is sleek and quick, and can weigh up to 350 pounds.

To me, this is the toughest fight to call. However, I cannot, in good conscious, knock out the only black fighter in the competition.

That would be racist.

Panthers move on.

Fight 5: Bengals vs. Chargers

The mighty Bengal tiger—Quick... powerful... and just slipped by the insane falcons in the first round. These warriors will be facing the charger horses, who came out of the first round unscathed, due to the fact that they were fighting the UPS men of Green Bay.

However, the chargers will find a much tougher battle this time.

The tattered tigers make a meal out of the feisty horses, and the horses gallop off into the sunset to join their horsey brethren—the colts and the broncos.

Lots of horses in the NFL.

Fight 6: Patriots vs. Dolphins

A great AFC East showdown between the good old American patriot and the most unique mascot in the NFL—the dolphin.

As Mel Gibson lines up to shoot Flipper, I can't help but think how unfair it is.

No guns for the fish, and they cannot really hurt the gigantic Santa Maria boat the patriots are fighting them from. All the dolphins can do is slam their heads against the side of the boat, which incidentally kills more of them then the musket shots from Mel's rifle.

Tonight, the dolphins sleep with the fishes...Wait... the dolphins sleep like fishes... Umm... the dolphins die.

Pats move on, as much as I hate the team.

Sorry.

Fight 7: Vikings vs. Cowboys

They should make a movie out of this fight. You know you would watch it.

It has the appeal of ninjas vs. pirates.

The vikings wait until nightfall when the cowboys are sitting around their cliche cowboy fire, drinking whiskey and talking about women.

Great strategy from the vikings.

However, they forgot not to drink ale themselves during the day, so this ends up in a drunken brawl. The fighters are too drunk to use their projectile weapons, so the guns and crossbows negate themselves.

The cowboys start fighting everyone, including themselves... One even starts crying and decides to move to Buffalo.

The vikings take it to the cowboys to move on.

Fight 8: Buccaneers vs. Jets

Come on. I really hate the Jet as a mascot. Sure, I understand that jets are fast. So are humming birds and deer.

I guess you could say that the jets are also heavily armed, depending on what type of jet you are talking about.

In an air vs. sea battle, I still have to go with the Bucs and their balls. Cannonballs that is.

And also because the Buccaneer is just a much cooler mascot then a jet.

There you go, my sweet 16.

It is really tough to joke about quality mascots, and the only ones left are pretty sweet. (Except for Pat the patriot. He is pretty lame).

We have the Lions, Ravens, Titans, Panthers, Bengals, Patriots, Vikings, and Buccaneers left.

All respectable mascots, and all with something to prove.

The NFL Mascot Battle for Supremacy

Alex Roberts — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:46:12 -0400

The NFL season has come and gone, and now we are left to ponder all the goings-ons in free agency and the draft.

However, I was left pondering something else...Who comes up with these mascots? Some are tough, some seem lame, and others...well...others...stink.

So I set up a grand battle royale.

Let's all pretend for a minute we do not have a favorite team. I have created a bracket for all the teams mascots to fight it out...Tourney style.

(For the seedings, I created a 32-team single elimination tournament with seedings taken from the final power ranking of 2008-2009).

So Pittsburgh is No. 1, and Detroit is No. 32.

I also did not include the city names, so we could concentrate on the mascots. Enjoy!

Here is the bracket.

Fight One: Steelers vs. Lions

Best NFL Team vs. Worst NFL Team: Throw four steel mill workers in a room with four lions. No contest. Paper covers rock, rock crushes scissors, lions eat people.

Fight Two: Cardinals vs. Rams

Another contest where the bottom overtakes the top. A beautiful red bird. An angry animal with a large battering ram attached to its head. Top tier NFL teams zero, bottom feeders two.

Fight Three: Ravens vs. Browns

Finally...a win for the good guys. A bird that sometimes represents pure evil, against a color.

The color of poo, to be exact. Baaaazing! Colors can't fight back...although the argument can be made the real mascot is a bulldog...I own a bulldog.

I will still take the raven.

Fight Four: Eagles vs. Seahawks

An air battle...how interesting. The majestic eagle takes on the equivalent of a sea gull. I would not be an American if I picked a seahawk. Eagles take it.

Fight Five: Giants vs. Chiefs

This fight depends on how you define "Giant". If you say a giant is Godzilla sized, then the Giants win out. I am going to go by the true definition of, or a large sized man over 7'6" feet tall.

Think Andre the Giant, or that large dude from Big Fish. Chiefs are a feisty bunch with weaponry and spirit.

I will take the Chiefs in the closest battle yet. A tomahawk to the head will do that to you.

Fight Six: Titans vs. Raiders

Titans are people of war. Think Spartans. Raiders are sort of like pirates. Spartans vs. Pirates... hmmm... give me Leonidas. Titans win in a sword fight.

Fight Seven: Colts vs. Jaguars

We have an epic mismatch in this fight. Sleek killers vs. baby horses. Jaguars in a blow out of buffet proportions.

Fight Eight: Panthers vs. Redskins

This is an intriguing matchup to me. I cannot get the scene from Apacalypto out of my brain, where the Mayans are getting chewed up by the panther.

2009 South Carolina Gamecocks: A Step In The Right Direction

Alex Roberts — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:35:41 -0400

Thank you!

What a heartbreaking, exhilirating, intense, emotional year this basketball season was for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Before the fans of the program begin speaking of the dissapointing NCAA omission and the NIT loss to Davidson and master shooter Stephon Curry, they should be thankful.

There is an old saying among educators, before you say anything to a teacher, start with "thank you". This saying applies with regard to this team.

Thank you for bringing us to tears... for giving us something to cheer for... for giving your all... for delivering us an SEC east championship banner... for overachieving... thank you Zam for your years of dedication and your emotion... I believe that your tears after that loss in the NIT are one of the all-time great Carolina images.

To begin with, our lineup now has the makings of one of the truly great basketball teams. USC is only losing Zam, an underrated guard who sometimes played ahead of himself, and Branden Conrad.

Carolina, barring an NBA departure, keeps a great senior leader in Devan Downy, an all-SEC selection who scored almost 20 points a game and always seemed to find ways to help us win.

They also keep Dominique Archie, Sam Muldrow, and Mike Holmes, who really improved their play and should be a dominating front court next season. The three players combined for nearly 30 points, 19 rebounds, and multiple blocks per game.

Let's also not forget Brandis Raley-Ross, the sixth man of the year in the SEC (potential Downey replacement if Downey goes pro and possble Zam replacement), and Evaldus Baniulis, a hot shot three-point shooter, one of the top in the nation.

To lead the team, we have a coach of the year finalist in Darrin Horn.

Carolina fans, the future has never looked so good. We have four freshman coming in. A point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. Find a center, and they have a brand new team to grow. Carolina has not had a recruiting class like this in years. Four solid three-star players coming in.

The frontcourt needs to continue to grow, and someone needs to step up and be Downey's wingman due to Zam Fredricks departure. If Double D leaves, then we will need two players to step up. Maybe a freshman and Raley Ross or maybe Baniulis can do the job.

Either way, we celebrate the season. Next year will be a pleasure to watch. Thank you, Carolina for making basketball relevant again.

The Top Five South Carolina Gamecock Quarterbacks of All Time

Alex Roberts — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:28:54 -0500

South Carolina has always struggled to find the big-time passer needed to push itself to a national championship. However, they have had some solid players, and here is the list of the top five of all time. From the "voice of the Gamecocks" to a hot-headed leader, USC has had an interesting cast of characters to lead the team. You can love some, hate some, or just plain disagree, but these quarterbacks have had an impact on the program itself.

Begin Slideshow

The Way Too Early 2009 Season Predictions

Alex Roberts — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:11:57 -0500

The 2008 season is almost over. We have one of the most surprising Super Bowl teams of all time (Arizona) to compete for the title against a Super Bowl stalwart (Pittsburgh).

With the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, free agency and draft coming up, is it way too early to predict the 2009 NFL season?

Of course it is, but that isn't going to stop me.

AFC North

1. Steelers—The Steelers are going to be good for a long time. Big Ben is a great quarterback for this team and coach Mike Tomlin is an excellent leader. They will probably be coming off of a Super Bowl victory as well, so expectations will be high.

2. Ravens—The Ravens will be a competitive team, but they are going to lose some players to free agency. The growth of Joe Flacco will be the key to the Ravens' success.

3. Browns—The Browns have weapons galore. Brady Quinn has the potential to be pretty good and he has a solid WR and TE to throw to. They need a young running back to complement (or replace) the aging Jamal Lewis, though. It will be interesting to see how Eric Mangini handles this team.

4. Bengals—I appreciate the fact that they have not fired Marvin Lewis yet. He has the right approach to the game. If he could just get a defense, and stop losing players to injury, the Bengals could be competitive. Oh, and they need to keep at least one of their two stud receivers.

AFC South

1. Colts—This team will always be competitive with Peyton Manning handling the quarterback position. By the end of his career he will be considered one of the all-time greats. The rest of the team needs to stay healthy, but there's no reason they won't be in the thick of the playoff hunt yet again, even with a new coach.

2. Texans—This is my sleeper pick for the AFC playoffs. I believe that this is the year the Texans put it all together. Their young defense is nasty and the offense has playmakers. They have put together some great drafts lately, and if that trend continues they will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.

3. Titans—This is my pick for Most Likely to Slide. This team will not be as good next year. Kerry Collins had a career year and I do not expect that to happen again, while the loss of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to Detroit may cause trouble.

4. Jaguars—This franchise could be in for a pretty bad streak. They have underachieving players and do not seem to be in position to make any Earth-shattering moves. Another disappointing season awaits.

AFC West

1. Chargers—The AFC West is going to be pretty bad next year, I think. The Chargers will once again be the cream of the crop. Ditching LT would be a HUGE mistake, though.

2. Broncos—The Broncos will be competitive in their division, but the reality is that the division will not be very good. I do not buy the idea of a 32-year-old head coach, either.

3. Chiefs—This team could be substantially better than last year. I think firing Herm Edwards is a bad move, but Pioli's entrance is a good one.

4. Raiders—As long as Al Davis is around, this team will continue to be one of the worst in the NFL. Sorry, Raider fans, but it's true. Too many upgrades are needed for this team to even be close to competitive.

AFC East

1. Patriots—As much as I hate to say it, the Patriots will be back to their rightful spot as AFC East champions. This team is too good with Brady back, and Belichick is truly a genius. New England is deep and they draft well. As long as Belichick runs the show, this should be their spot.

2. Dolphins—This team made huge strides this season and I believe they will continue to do so next year. They are being built in the right way, thanks to should-have-been-Coach of the Year Tony Sparano. On a related note, I believe Tim Tebow plays here in 2010.

3. Bills—The Bills started quickly this season but faded late. The potential is there, but can they last an entire season? We will see, but it's doubtful they can compete with the Patriots or Dolphins.

4. Jets—Sorry, Jets fans, but next season will be pretty bad. Rex Ryan is a good hire, but it will not come together next season. The need for a quarterback is glaring.

AFC PLAYOFF SEEDS:

1. Patriots

2. Steelers

3. Colts

4. Chargers

5. Dolphins

6. Texans

AFC Championship Game- Patriots vs. Steelers

Super Bowl Representative- Patriots

NFC North

1. Vikings—I believe in this team's defense. I also believe that Tavaris Jackson can become a good quarterback, and running back Adrian Peterson will remain a beast.

2. Packers—This team will win a few more games, but it won't be enough. Aaron Rodgers should have done more then enough to silence his critics, but the team's defense needs to pick it back up.

3. Bears—Kyle Orton should be this team's quarterback, end of story. This team needs a big-time receiver to be successful. The defense will continue to make plays, as will the special teams, assuming Devin Hester finds a solid role.

4. Lions—They have to be better after going 0-16. There's no other outcome. Drafting a smart quarterback is a good second step (the first was hiring Schwartz), but building from scratch will take 2-4 years

NFC South

1. Panthers—Keeping Jake Delhomme is a good idea. He had one horrible game, but you should not ditch a fairly effective QB because of that The running game will continue to be dominant, as will Jordan Gross and Julius Peppers if they can be re-signed.

2. Saints—My sleeper pick in the NFC. Drew Brees is a phenom. This team reminds me in many ways of the "Greatest Show on Turf" Rams. They need to tighten up the defense, and then they will dominate next year.

3. Falcons—This team will continue to be very competitive, but I do not see playoffs in 2009. The South will be one of the toughest divisions in football next year, and one great team will be left in the cold. It could be this one, but look for them to compete for that sixth seed in the playoffs.

4. Buccaneers—Firing Jon Gruden was stupid. He is still a brilliant mind who led this team to many successful seasons. Be prepared to be the South's doormat for a few years, especially with a new head coach with such a short resume.

NFC West

1. Cardinals—This team will be as high as a kite headed into next season, and I believe they will achieve great things, even without Anquan Boldin. Kurt Warner should come back for one more year; Matt Leinart would benefit greatly from his tutoring once more.

2. 49ers—This team will be competitive next year. They need to fix the passing game a bit, but this team has what it takes to do some good things. I really like Frank Gore.

3. Rams—I think the Rams now have a good, fundamentally sound coach to go with some talented players.

4. Seahawks—It is rebuilding time. Gone are the days of NFC West dominance for this team. It will take a few years for them to become competitive again.

NFC East

1. Giants—The Giants will once again be the class of the East. They need a big play receiver, which I believe they will get. They could be the Super Bowl favorites with a few good moves.

2. Eagles—As long as Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid are a part of this program, they will be in the hunt. Those that say they should go really need to reconsider their stance. It feels like they are always in or near the NFC championship.

3. Cowboys—My Most Likely to Slide pick for the NFC. I have never seen a messier team. Romo's practice habits and status as a "celebrity" quarterback are being brought into focus. T.O. may have very well worn his last Dallas star. Wade Phillips, what have you done to America's Team?

4. Redskins—I think this team has some good talent. I question the coaching. We will see if they can get some steam heading into the season. If they can, I believe they will make noise. Jason Campbell could be around for a long time.

NFC PLAYOFF SEEDS:

1. Giants

2. Cardinals

3. Panthers

4. Vikings

5. Eagles

6. Saints

NFC Championship Game: Panthers vs. Eagles

NFC Representative: Panthers

Super Bowl: Carolina vs. New England, with Carolina winning the rematch in a close game.

South Carolina Football Fans Need Not Worry, Gamecocks Will Be OK

Alex Roberts — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:09:37 -0500

After horrible losses to Florida, Clemson, and Iowa to end the season, South Carolina football fans are up in arms.

How can a team with one of the greatest college coaches of all time, four years of top 25 recruiting classes, and some of the most rabid fans you will find breed such a small amount of success?

Fans, take note. We have had some marginal success under Steve Spurrier. He has won eight, seven, six, and seven games in his four seasons.

Take a look at Carolina's history. NO coach has had that type of sustained winning. Steve Spurrier is the first South Carolina coach since 1902 that has more wins every season then losses or ties.

Steve Spurrier has given us the recruiting classes that we have only dreamt of before Lou Holtz.

Spurrier has made strides to improve our facilities more then any other coach in Gamecock football history.

The list goes on and on, and before you crown my as a Spurrier lemming, hear me out...

Steve Spurrier WILL NOT bring South Carolina the glory of an SEC or even a national championship.

But he will take them to the brink.

Just far enough for a young and hungry coach to grab up the program and motivate the team to be championship contenders.

Take a look at the projected USC starting lineup for next season:

Offense

QB Stephen Garcia

FB Patrick DiMarco

TB Jarvis Giles

WR Jason Barnes

WR Joe Hills

TE Weslye Saunders

LT Jarriel King

LG Lemuel Jeanpierre

C Garrett Anderson

RG Terrence Campbell

RT Hutch Eckerson

K Adam Yates

Defense

DE Clifton Geathers

DT Ladi Ajiboye

DT Nathan Pepper

DE Cliff Matthews

LB Reggie Bowens

LB Rodney Paulk

SPUR Darian Stewart

CB Addison Williams

CB Akeem Auguste

SS Antonio Allen

FS Chris Culliver

P Spencer Lanning

There is young talent all across the board. That does not look like a four- or five-win roster. It looks like a team that could get six to seven next season, and then seven to eight the next. If the team gets a few solid bounces, you could be looking at being VERY competitive in the SEC East in 2010.

Coming off an eight-win season in 2010, Spurrier would likely step down and hand the reigns over to a new coach, who could then lead this team to a whole new level of success.

My plea to all of Gamecock Nation...do NOT judge Spurrier for the lack of effort and selfish play the 2008 team displayed at the end of the year. Spurrier did not make players decide that they cared more about the NFL then South Carolina.

Spurrier did not fail to pass the six collegiate credit hours it takes to be a member of a football team.

Spurrier has worked tirelessly to create an atmosphere of winning...South Carolina expects to field a winning team ever year. Think back before Spurrier. Can you remember a time when this occurred?

Fans, do not run Spurrier off. Respect what he has done for the program, and let him work. Show future coaching hires that the fans respect and back the coaches, for better or for worse.

There is hope on the horizon.