Bleacher Report - Articles by Steve Jones

Inevitable Way To Get a Playoff

Steve Jones — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:26:15 -0400

As I was browsing ajc.com out of boredom, an article sparked my interest and it was about a proposed D-I college football playoff system from a member of the mountain west. It appears that he is going to be yet another name thrown in the proposed pile and it will probably get recognized and then shot down by the powers that be.

However, it recently occurred to me that we (the fans, coaches and players) are to blame for allowing the BCS to go this far. It is a non-arguable fact that the BCS and a complete and utter failure at allowing the best two teams battle it out for the National championship.

I look back on american history, mainly the (civil rights movement), and look at all the flaws that this great country has had. All of these problems have been either settled or fixed (for lack of better words) because a group of people decided to take matter into their own hands and show that they are in power.

Listen people, I love college football with a passion, and I would hate to go a season with out it; however, we are allowing a group of dictators dictate who plays for the national championship every year. We want a true champion and the only way we are going to this is if we hit the heart that keeps the BCS beating.

College football makes tons of money from the BCS and as bad as it would hurt I believe we should boycott D-I football. Flock to see the DI-AA and D-II teams. Show them our power in numbers. I highly doubt that the schools would join in on this but you never know.

I guess the question would all come down the their morals. Do they want to do the right thing or do they just want to make money. I believe we can already answer that when it comes to the majority of college coaches.

Look to professional sports for an example. The players are always fighting and scrapping for more money and such through collective bargaining. They threaten to strike if they don't get what they want so lets do the same and show the DICtators who run college football who really has the power.

I doubt very seriously anyone would follow through with this, but it appears to be the only way to stick to the man.

Divison II Walk-On Adam Long: Against All Odds

Steve Jones — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:01:00 -0400

A while back, I wrote an article about a young man by the name of Adam Long, who was attempting to walk on at a nearby college. This young man was attempting to do what many people considered impossible. He had not played a down of high school football. Also, he was attempting to play one of the most demanding positions on the field, quarterback. That young man is now playing college football at the Division II level.

I know it is only the Division II level, but considering his inexperience, his accomplishment is amazing. However, if you talk to him, he just did what he was told. It was God's work.

He worked extremely hard for a year and a half, and he had a complete transformation.

He gained 40 lbs.

He dropped his 40 time by over half a second.

He increased his personal best in the bench and the squat by over 100 lbs and 200 lbs, respectively.

In that time, he had to overcome the adversity of being cut the first time he tried to make the team.

I have seen him throw, and despite a few rough edges, I think he has a bright future at the University of West Georgia. He is with me right now for a small Q & A.

Q: What was the most difficult thing about walking on as a quarterback?

A: It was letting the bad days be only bad days and nothing more. Also, it was hard to not give up on football after I was cut the first time I tried out. I'd say that love for the game is what kept me going because I wanted to quit so bad. I tried not to go near a football after I was cut, but I just couldn't stay away from it.

Q: What happened when coach let you on the team?

A: I was coming off some bad days in my individual workouts. I was having some elbow pain when I threw, and my forty time was considerably slower...and tryouts were coming up.

I was at home talking with my roommate, and I was saying maybe God just doesn't want me to play football. Then I prayed about it, and next thing I know I am asking Coach about the tryout. He tells me that I do not need to try out. He was going to let me on the team.

It was like a burden had been lifted off of my shoulders because I knew that everything I had been through was for a reason, and I had so many doubters. I was truly blessed.

Q: At the University of West Georgia, you guys had your spring practice before spring break, what was it like to be on a team again?

A: It was very surreal for me because I never dreamed I would be playing college football. I don't have the same experience as anybody on the team, so my reaction to practice is different. I look at every day as a blessing, and I hate that spring ball is over because I can't work with our coach until we start fall practice. But I was just extremely excited to get those red practice shorts and the green jersey.

Q: As a team, how did spring practice go? Then, how did they go for you?

A: Overall, I think we are better. We all still have a long ways to go and a lot of hard work in front of us, but I think we will be okay as long as we take care of the small things.

Personally, I learned a lot about the way to make every throw and how to know exactly where I am going when I see a certain coverage. I had some good days and some bad days. I need more consistency. Hard work pays off.

Q: You have had to jump a lot of hurdles, and you had to go through a lot of hoops to accomplish a dream of playing college football. Any advice you would give to anyone in a similar position?

A: Do not let anything or anyone stand in your way. If anyone tells you no, just keep working hard and keep faith in yourself and in God. Use that as motivation to work harder and get better. Walk-on's in general are the underdogs and have their backs against the wall. Draw off of that and be fearful of getting cut, and use that fear.

If you don't make it, try again. If anyone says no, that just means to try again. Let the coaches know that you are here for the team, and you just want to get better. Be a leader, and do not stop no matter what the odds. Most importantly though, let God be at the forefront of your journey, and tell God about what's going on. Be open to the possibility that God may not want you to play football and let God's will be your way. Pray about it.

No High School Football Experience, No Problem?

Steve Jones — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:15:02 -0400

Recently my family and I received a new neighbor that is a college student at a small local college in our town. He said to be 20 years old but taller than me, and I'm 6'1", also he is pretty slim but athletic looking.

When I got home from work yesterday he was outside and I chatted with him for a bit and he told me that he is currently training in order to walk-on to DII school just down the road. He said that he has did not play any sports in high school but he is receiving position training from a semi-pro team in area.

I asked about his eligibility and he said he could play with the semi-pro team until tryouts. Here is the reason for the article, he told me that he was training to play the QB position...

Now my response to that is no way due to his lack of experience, however, my question is: Do you believe it is possible for him to make the team as a walk-on having never played high school football.

Also keep in mind that the team he is walking on to has not done well the past couple of years and just hired a new coach. Am I being extremely negative in my thoughts that he probably can't make it or do you believe he can with no prior high school experience?

Why the Atlanta Braves Will Win the NL East

Steve Jones — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:14:47 -0400

Or better yet why the Mets will not win the division.

As I was reading another fan's post regarding the NL East, I saw many false statements in his argument and the main one was that the braves would finish third and the Metropolitans will win the division.

First off, the last two teams are not very hard to predict. They will be the Florida Marlins and the Washington Nationals. The Florida Marlins are a very talented team and although trading away Miguel Cabrerra and Dontrelle Willis, they will improve upon last seasons 72 wins.

The Marlins do not have the depth to compete for the division crown past mid-June, early-July. They have an abundance of talent and are a very strong organization from top to bottom, but they do not yet have enough key players to compete all season long.

As for the Washington Nationals, they too are a talented team that added Lastings Milledge and are looking to get their head above water and achieve at least a .500 winning percentage by the end of the season. Their main problems are injuries and lack of starting pitching. They have a bunch of No. 4 and five starters with exception to John Patterson.

Many remember he pitched great a couple of years ago, but could not stay healthy in 2007. If he returns to the staff and performs up to his potential, then they have a very good chance at .500. Manager Manny Acosta has done a good job with this team and he will have them close to the top at the end of the season, but they are two good starting pitchers away from true postseason talk.

While the Phillies are a very talented team and their lineup in nearly unstoppable, I think the additions of other clubs within the division will have them ending up in third place in the division. I do not think that they will have enough starting pitching when September comes.

The Mets did a good job in acquiring Santana, that is apparent. They have improved, but they have some older players in key positions, for instance first base, left field, and right field. They also did lose a little bit of depth in the Lastings Milledge deal and they will probably win the wild card, and the rivalry of the late 90s will return between the Braves and the Mets.

As for my beloved Braves, they appear to be in the familiar position of underdog for only the 10th time in the past 17 or so seasons. Yes, they did lose slugger Andruw Jones and his incredible defense, but with that they lost a rally-killer as well. They lost some leadership, but they also lost strikeouts and gained average upon acquiring Mark Kotsay.

He is no Andruw Jones, but I guarantee he will not strike out as much and will not hit into as many double plays as Andruw. One thing that will be key and make the offense much better is the consistency that at the plate that Kotsay will bring as opposed to the often streaky Jones.

Brain McCann is back and healthy. If he can remain healthy all season, he should lead the back end of the line-up. The big key in the line-up will be Kelly Johnson. If he can hold the fort down as a top of the lineup guy and play 150+ games, the Braves should have a good shot. If he falters I think that you may see Matt Diaz get some at bats in the two-hole, which will put a lot more runners on for Chipper and Mark Teixiera. Obviously, Chipper has to stay healthy and he has vowed to play at least 150 games this season.

The main thing that held the Braves back last season was the No. 3-5 guys in the rotation. Getting Glavine back solidifies the No. 3 hole and the acquisition of Jair Jurrjens could fill the No. 4 hole.

The big question mark and this is no secret, is Mike Hampton's return and if he can stay healthy and return to his 2004 form. If so, the Braves will have one of the best pitching rotations in the Bigs.

As for Glavine he will have a much better defense behind him than he has in the last three or so years with Chipper and Texiera at the corners. Kelly Johnson gives him a legit second baseman although his defense is shaky at times.

You can't get much better that Jose Reyes but Yunel Escobar is a solid and developing shortstop that has an extremely strong arm and is comparable to Rafael Furcal.

Jeff Francouer has the strongest arm in baseball and has finally learned how to harness it; not to mention very underrated range in the outfield. Shawn Green can't even hold his jockstrap. Mark Kotsay is solid in center and the Matt Diaz has really improved and can run a little bit more than Moises Alou.

I see Tommy returning to his old form being back at Turner Field, and I think he will end up averaging 6.2 innings per outing.

I didn't even mention the bullpen which is obviously the best in the East. No matter what, though, with all the talent in the division I expect all five teams to finish the season at least 10 games within each other. For the Marlins, that may be a stretch but they will not be far off because of how even the talent is throughout the division.

To the Mets fans: Johan might give you one great outing every fifth day, but how many times did he carry the twins to the World Series? The talent is very similar to what he had in Minnesota with the exception of the pitching staff that is a little deeper than he had with the Twins.

But Johan can't play the outfield so what are you going to do the other four days he doesn't play? Suppose he is pitching decent and it's a 3-3 game in the fifth inning with two outs and the bases loaded. Can he hit?????