You never want to mess with sasquah; that's what I've learned from the commercials. But, you also never want to mess with teams or people on a thursday.
See, thursday night is a special time because everyone knows tomorrow you will wake up and it will be Friday - the last school day/work day of the week. After work/school, it's the weekend, and everyone is dying for that.
So when USC marched into Oregon to face off against the Oregon State Beavers, they should've been more careful. Because USC underestimated the fire the Beavers would bring to the game. No team wants to lose Thursday Night. Because if you lose, then your Fridays SUCK.
When USC headed north to face off against Oregon State, they thought it would be a walk in the park. A non-ranked AP Top 25 team who was 1-2 seemed like an easy Pac 10 win for #1 USC. Even though on the road, the Trojans were 20+ favorites to win. They must've felt confident because no #1 has ever lost on a Thursday Night. And yet, the Thursday Night ghosts were out to get the Trojans.
Much has been said about the Trojans' defense, and because of their dominance on the defensive side of the ball, they are ranked #1. But, this USC's D let up 343 yards along with 176 rushing yards, 11 more yards they gave up more than passing yards (167). Lyle Moevao completed 18 passes out of 28 attempts, had 167 yards and 2 TD's.
But the game ball had to go to Jacquizz Rodgers, the Beavers' freshman running back, who had 186 rushing yards along with 2 TD's. USC's Defense has not seen a running attack like this since Vince Young ran his way to a BCS Championship. Rodgers, like the rest of the Oregon State team, wanted to party on Friday night, and didn't want to lose on Thursday night. Which is why they were beating USC at halftime, 21-0.
This teaches a lesson to all the teams that are still undefeated: Do not play on Thursday night, but most importantly, play every game like it's an important game. This isn't College Basketball where a team can afford to have a couple of losses. With a couple of losses, a college football team wouldn't be in the Top 25 Polls. With one loss, a season could be over. Especially for USC, who doesn't play another Top 25 team that is currently positioned in the AP Top 25.
So, to especially Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, Florida, Missouri, Texas, Alabama, Wisconsin, Texas Tech, BYU, Penn State, South Florida, Wake Forest, Utah, Boise State, Vanderbilt, and TCU: Don't get confident. Put this newspaper article on the bulletin board reminding every player what happened to USC this year, and last year when they lost to Stanford.
And, please, don't play on Thursday Night.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Week 3 of NFL - Can Some Teams Turn It Around?
For 10 teams, this week will determine whether all of those playoff hopes they had bundled up in the winter will come true. It's week three of the NFL, and to start 0-3 is not good. Not good at all. In the history of the NFL, a team is a dead man walking if they start a season 0-3. Making the playoffs, but starting 0-2 is possible. But the odds start becoming against you when you can't win your first three games of the season. This week, ten teams will play today 0-2. This could be a make it or break it for all of these teams. Let's look at the teams and see if they can turn it around.
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks faced major blows with Nate Burleson out for the season. Now that Deion Branch isn't starting this week, Matt Hasselback will be having a tough time finding receivers down the field. Let's also not forget Bobby Engram, who is also out (shoulder). Key injuries are the reason why the Seahawks started the season 0-2. They lost their first game at Buffalo, who is looking good this year, but also lost to the 49ers at home, 33-30. They play St. Louis this week, and after a bye week, face off against the G-Men, where the Giants' D will show no mercy. The schedule doesn't get better; after that game, they play Green Bay. Donde16's Prediction: No, they will not turn it around.
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers are a different story than the Seahawks, and many other teams. They were predicted to be powerhouses, among others, in the AFC. However, with two heart-breaking losses one after the other, San Diego wants to bounce back and not end their season on week 3. The good news for the Chargers is that they play a very easy upcoming schedule: NY Jets at home, @ Oakland, and @ Miami, before playing New England at home on October 12. Donde16's Prediction: Yes, they will turn it around.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Although many believed the Jaguars would go to the Super Bowl, Jacksonville starts the season to a poor 0-2 record. The offensive stats have said it all and explain why they are 0-2. The main problem has been the riddled and injured offensive line. Their schedule? They play Indianapolis this week which could make or break the Jags season. After playing the Colts, the Jags play Houston and Pittsburgh at home, and then go on the road to face off Denver. If they Colts do beat the Jags, then the Jaguars will need to be perfect (more or less) to become that powerhouse everyone predicted them to be, and go deep into the playoffs. Donde16's Prediction: Yes, they will make the playoffs (Wild Card) but not go far
Cleveland Browns: After an incredible year last year with Braylon Edwards and Derek Anderson, the Browns look like the team they were two or three years ago. They start the season winless because of their poor offense: 31st in points, 30th in yards, 28th in pass yards, and 27th in rush yards. For the Browns to start a comeback, they need to get their offense rolling. Braylon Edwards has been silent, and needs to be the player he was last year in order for the Browns to be successful. The Browns schedule looks like this: @ Baltimore, @ Cincinnati, and after a bye week, play the Giants. However, down the stretch, the schedule becomes tough such as games like @ Jacksonville, at home against the Broncos, at home against the Colts, @ Philly, and @ Pit. Donde16's Prediction: No, they will not turn it around.
The season for most teams will come down on Sunday. Let's see how these 0-2 teams react on starting the season winless.
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks faced major blows with Nate Burleson out for the season. Now that Deion Branch isn't starting this week, Matt Hasselback will be having a tough time finding receivers down the field. Let's also not forget Bobby Engram, who is also out (shoulder). Key injuries are the reason why the Seahawks started the season 0-2. They lost their first game at Buffalo, who is looking good this year, but also lost to the 49ers at home, 33-30. They play St. Louis this week, and after a bye week, face off against the G-Men, where the Giants' D will show no mercy. The schedule doesn't get better; after that game, they play Green Bay. Donde16's Prediction: No, they will not turn it around.
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers are a different story than the Seahawks, and many other teams. They were predicted to be powerhouses, among others, in the AFC. However, with two heart-breaking losses one after the other, San Diego wants to bounce back and not end their season on week 3. The good news for the Chargers is that they play a very easy upcoming schedule: NY Jets at home, @ Oakland, and @ Miami, before playing New England at home on October 12. Donde16's Prediction: Yes, they will turn it around.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Although many believed the Jaguars would go to the Super Bowl, Jacksonville starts the season to a poor 0-2 record. The offensive stats have said it all and explain why they are 0-2. The main problem has been the riddled and injured offensive line. Their schedule? They play Indianapolis this week which could make or break the Jags season. After playing the Colts, the Jags play Houston and Pittsburgh at home, and then go on the road to face off Denver. If they Colts do beat the Jags, then the Jaguars will need to be perfect (more or less) to become that powerhouse everyone predicted them to be, and go deep into the playoffs. Donde16's Prediction: Yes, they will make the playoffs (Wild Card) but not go far
Cleveland Browns: After an incredible year last year with Braylon Edwards and Derek Anderson, the Browns look like the team they were two or three years ago. They start the season winless because of their poor offense: 31st in points, 30th in yards, 28th in pass yards, and 27th in rush yards. For the Browns to start a comeback, they need to get their offense rolling. Braylon Edwards has been silent, and needs to be the player he was last year in order for the Browns to be successful. The Browns schedule looks like this: @ Baltimore, @ Cincinnati, and after a bye week, play the Giants. However, down the stretch, the schedule becomes tough such as games like @ Jacksonville, at home against the Broncos, at home against the Colts, @ Philly, and @ Pit. Donde16's Prediction: No, they will not turn it around.
The season for most teams will come down on Sunday. Let's see how these 0-2 teams react on starting the season winless.
Monday, September 1, 2008
The Race to a NL East Pennant Part 1
On June 18, the New York Mets were 35-36, 5.5 games back from the first place Phillies, and in fourth place. This was the day they fired Willie Randolph, and were looking to change the atmosphere of the clubhouse. Jerry Manuel was appointed the interim manager for this season, when many criticized Omar Minaya for firing Willie Randolph when the Mets traveled to Los Angeles to take on the Angels. Willie was told after the game, and had to fly back to New York.
Today, on September 1, things have changed. The Mets are now 76-61, in first place, and 1 game ahead of the "Phightin' Phils". Guys like Carlos Delgado and Mike Pelfrey turned it around in the second half of the season and are one reason why the Metropolitans are in first place. Johan Santana is now 12-7 with a 2.70 ERA, and Ryan Church has returned into the lineup after the concussion he received earlier in the season. Fernando Tatis has been one of the biggest pickups for Minaya this season, batting .293 with 11 homeruns and 43 RBI's.
However, the Mets have a problem that's bigger than Achilles' heel. Billy Wagner, their relying closer, has been out and the Mets are having trouble finding a replacement, and Aaron Heilman is not their solution because he makes every lefty hit well against him (.315 this season). Luis Ayala, who was picked up by Minaya after the trading deadline almost blew the game against the Marlins (when Beltran hit a grandslam in the top of the ninth) when he gave up 4 hits and 2 runs. Luckily, he got out of it.
I could go on and on about the Mets woes in the bullpen, but I'm not. Why: Because their is no qualified reliever to be the closer. Jerry Manuel will have to do this:
1. Mix and match relievers on their way to victory, and out-slug their bullpen problems
2. Find someone in the minors that can help this closer dilemma when the 40 man roster comes out.
The Mets have the starting pitching and the hitting to win games, and do well in the postseason. But they have to do well in every inning, not just 7. It puts the pressure on the starters to go deep into the game because they don't want a catastrophe in the 8th inning. Defense may win championships, but you have to get it done in the late innings as well.
The Mets have a crucial week these next seven days that could help of hurt their playoff hopes. They play Milwaukee away for three games and then back at home against Philadelphia. They have to find a way to stop their bullpen woes because that might be the ultimate reason why the Mets are playing October baseball, or sitting on the couch watching their 40 inch plasma screens.
Today, on September 1, things have changed. The Mets are now 76-61, in first place, and 1 game ahead of the "Phightin' Phils". Guys like Carlos Delgado and Mike Pelfrey turned it around in the second half of the season and are one reason why the Metropolitans are in first place. Johan Santana is now 12-7 with a 2.70 ERA, and Ryan Church has returned into the lineup after the concussion he received earlier in the season. Fernando Tatis has been one of the biggest pickups for Minaya this season, batting .293 with 11 homeruns and 43 RBI's.
However, the Mets have a problem that's bigger than Achilles' heel. Billy Wagner, their relying closer, has been out and the Mets are having trouble finding a replacement, and Aaron Heilman is not their solution because he makes every lefty hit well against him (.315 this season). Luis Ayala, who was picked up by Minaya after the trading deadline almost blew the game against the Marlins (when Beltran hit a grandslam in the top of the ninth) when he gave up 4 hits and 2 runs. Luckily, he got out of it.
I could go on and on about the Mets woes in the bullpen, but I'm not. Why: Because their is no qualified reliever to be the closer. Jerry Manuel will have to do this:
1. Mix and match relievers on their way to victory, and out-slug their bullpen problems
2. Find someone in the minors that can help this closer dilemma when the 40 man roster comes out.
The Mets have the starting pitching and the hitting to win games, and do well in the postseason. But they have to do well in every inning, not just 7. It puts the pressure on the starters to go deep into the game because they don't want a catastrophe in the 8th inning. Defense may win championships, but you have to get it done in the late innings as well.
The Mets have a crucial week these next seven days that could help of hurt their playoff hopes. They play Milwaukee away for three games and then back at home against Philadelphia. They have to find a way to stop their bullpen woes because that might be the ultimate reason why the Mets are playing October baseball, or sitting on the couch watching their 40 inch plasma screens.
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