Sports September 20, 2011

Apparently the Dolphins found out that Reggie Bush isn't exactly an every down back in the NFL the hard way. My question is why. Anyone, including me, could have told you that Reggie Bush isn't the best back going between the tackles. Don't get me wrong, Reggie Bush is an explosive players with big play potential that can help any team, but he isn't the standard back in the NFL. In New Orleans, Bush had the most success as a third down back making big plays in space. In my opinion, Reggie Bush might be more suited to play wide receiver in the NFL, and make big plays that way. Devin Hester is another fast explosive player who became a wide receiver in the NFL and has become a legitimate deep threat in Chicago. Percy Harvin, who used to be a running back, also became a wide receiver, and can use his explosiveness to make plays at that position. Brad Smith also became a wide receiver, and the list goes on. Reggie Bush can be a successful player at that position, as he catches many passes out of the backfield anyway.

How about Cam Newton. So much for not being NFL ready as many experts said. Newton has thrown for 400+ yards in his first two games in the NFL, breaking a rookie record, then breaking it again. True, one of those games was against a Cardinals defense that just lost its best corner, but accomplishing that feat against the Super Bowl champion Packers was especially impressive. The Packers last season had a nack for takeaways and a shut down secondary. True Newton did have 2 interceptions, but he still managed to make plays against the Packers for big yardage. The only problem in Carolina is that the Panthers have lost both games, but it would be unfair to blame Cam Newton.

Who would have thought the Redskins would be winning the NFC East after Week 2? Not only have they managed to jump out to a lead, the Redskin's lead looks keepable. To start with, Mike Shanahan has won more Super Bowls as a head coach than any other coach in that division. Rex Grossman has also led a team to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl, although it is arguable that he rode the Bears' formidable defense for most of that season. But most importantly, the Redskins are healthy. A good portion of the Giants' defense is injured, and a bunch of players will miss this season. The Giants also have key injuries at the receiver position, something that won't help reduce the drops or interceptions. Tony Romo, Felix Jones, and Miles Austin are also all injured for the Cowboys, not to mention Dez Bryant limping in the game against the Jets. Injuries to those 4 players can cripple the Cowboys' offense. Michael Vick suffered a concussion against the Falcons on Sunday, and backup Vince Young is already out. Jeremy Maclin had a big game on Sunday, but he took a beating. Even if Vick does come back to play next week, his vulnerability will be exposed, especially against a pressure happy Giants' defense that knocked 4 quarterbacks out of games last season. However, there are 2 NFC East games next week, so all of this could turn very quickly...

Sports September 13, 2011

What happened to the Red Sox? A few weeks ago, they looked in place to win the AL East, or at least the Wild Card. Now, they appear to have lost the division to the Yankees, and the Wild Card spot they seemed so destined to win as a consolation is know being contested by the Rays. I know I predicted a potential apocalypse in Red Sox nation when Beckett went down, but that seems to be a minor injury. Yet, even with eminent return of their ace, the Red Sox seem to have run into disaster anyway. Yet, this pattern has been relatively common for the Red Sox over the last few years. With the exception of 2007, the only year since 1998 (the start of the Yankees winning 8 straight division titles and 10 out of the last 13) they've never won the AL East (2007 was the one year they did, and low and behold, they won a World Series that year). Other than that, the Red Sox have come out strong in the middle part of the season, only to fall short and lose the division at the end. The curse of the Bambino might be over, but the Red Sox still do have problems finishing seasons off.

What about the New York Giants defense? I know they lost on sunday, but a good portion of the Redskins' 28 points can be blamed on the offense. Despite several key injuries, and arguably the 3 best Giants defenders out, they still managed to make a few plays. One big play was made by Jason Pierre- Paul. I know I doubted that pick when it was made, but it has turned out to help the Giants. Despite their 2 sack leaders from a year ago missing the game, Pierre- Paul still managed to get pressure on the quarterback. On one play, he forced a key turnover that could have helped the Giants win the game. Unfortunately, the offense spoiled the opportunity, but Pierre- Paul still made a big time play worthy of recognition.

The Ravens finally broke through against the Steelers with Ben Roethlisberger. The Ravens have had their difficulties in recent years in recent years beating the Steelers with Roethlisberger, but have done fine when he was away. The Ravens also seemed to fall short every time they played Roethlisberger as well. But Sunday was a completely different story. The Ravens were all over the Steelers, both offensively and defensively. For at least one game, they appear to be the team that will win the AFC North.

Sports September 5, 2011

So the NFL season is about to start, and apparently Tiki Barber is going to have to cut his comeback attempt short and sit the season out. I found this to be of little surprise. What I did find surprising about this whole ordeal is why everyone else is. To start with, not many teams are willing to take chances on veteran running backs, especially if he hasn't played in few years. With players like Clinton Portis who have played the last few available, why take a shot at Tiki. Sure, Tiki was a great player, but that was 5 years ago. Times have changed, especially because passing games are becoming more relevant. Running backs at his age who have played the entire time tend to not whether seasons so well. Plus, Tiki took cheap shots at his former team in the broadcast booth, only to have them win the Super Bowl. On a side note, the Giants won the Super Bowl the year after Tiki left.

If you think Josh Beckett's injury isn't going to have any impact on the pennant race this year, I think your mistaken. Beckett, up to this point, was the Red Sox best pitcher and a possible Cy Young candidate (that is if Verland slips badly). Any injury at this point in the season can have a huge impact, especially one to a player of Beckett's caliber. The Red Sox can ill afford to lose him. Jon Lester has been their only other consistant starter this season. John Lackey and Tim Wakefield have struggled, and Clay Buchholz is already out. Erik Bedard has been good since he was acquired, but can he really be counted on in the postseason. The Red Sox seem to be a lock for the Post Season, but with Beckett lost, their chances seem to be slipping. They've fallen to 2.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East. If they do lose the division, they might get stuck to playing the Rangers on the road, a team they've struggled against. If Beckett cannot make it, then they might have to pitch Lester on 3 days rest, a daunting task for anyone. I don't like their chances against the Rangers period, especially on the road without Beckett. Then again, I'm a Yankees fan, what do I care.

Speaking of rotations, weren't the Yankees supposed to have the question marks in their pitching staff. Granted, behind CC, there is no guaranteed Yankee's second starter, but the two rotations, that is if the Red Sox lose Becket, will have strikingly similar rotations: a dominant ace ahead to several question marks. Yet, in that situation, I think I would have to say advantage Yankees. The Yankees have the better bullpen, which is why they made no moves at the deadline to acquire pitching. The Yankees can afford to have their starters, other than CC, pitch only 5 innings because their bullpen can close out the last four. Don't forget that in recent games, the Yankees starters have done well. Also keep in mind that Ian Nova has won 15 games this season and hasn't lost in a long time. Both offenses can score, but the Yankees are more dynamic in their ability to steal bases. Head- to- head, the Red Sox are better, but the Yankees are better against other teams and took 2 of 3 in the last series at Fenway. If the Yankees and Red Sox are on a collision course for the ALCS, a series that should be promising, I would have to say the Yankees hold the slim edge at the moment.

However, none of this will matter if the Rangers and Tigers have their say. The Yankees and Red Sox might be the best teams in the AL, but underdogs seem to have good seasons these days. The Rangers have an explosive offense themselves and did ride it to the World Series last year. C.J. Wilson of the Rangers has also proven to be a good starter, and not many would want to face him. The Tigers also have an ace of their own. No one, and I mean no one, wants to face Justin Verlander in Game 1 of any series against any pitcher. The Tigers rotation does seem less ferocious after him, but don't count out Doug Fister, Rick Porcello, or Max Scherzer who are all solid starters in their own right. In the chance that the Rangers do lose the AL West and the Angels win it, something that seems unprobable but is very possible, no one would want to face their fearsome rotation in any series. If the Yankees and Red Sox are going to play in the ALCS, they'll have their work cut out for them.