Category Archives: Uncategorized

LA Kings, NHL, sports, Uncategorized

The Kings Continue to Hurt Their Playoff Picture

Losing to the Dallas Stars 3-2 last night did not help the LA Kings playoff picture where they would have home-ice advantage through the conference playoffs. This loss dropped the Kings out of any serious chance of regaining the Western Conference lead while maintaining one point lead over the Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division. So while losing any hope of regaining back their conference lead they still have a slim chance of holding onto to their divisional lead.

The Kings had been six points behind the Stars going into their game last night.  A win would have cut that deficit to four instead of the eight points they are now.  With fours games left, only a total implosion of the Stars and the Kings winning every single remaining game just maybe they could win back the conference lead.  For now, the Kings have to concentrate on maintaining their hold on the Pacific Division.

Because the Kings not only have about holding back the Ducks from taking the division from them.  The San Jose Sharks are also in the position to challenge the Kings because they only need three points to catch the Kings

But the Kings have a chance to increase their lead to three points over the Ducks when they play each other Thursday night.  While unlike the Ducks, the Kings do not have same chance to increase their lead over the Sharks.  They do not play each other before the season ends.

Right now, losing to anyone will hurt their divisional hold.  Losing their hold on the division means losing their home- ice advantage in the first two rounds of the conference playoffs.

Fortunately blowing their conference lead to the Stars does not guarantee that they will lose their home-ice advantage in the finals should they make them as long as they have the better record their opponent.

So they needed to win not only last night’s game but the ones they lose after claiming the conference lead from Chicago Blackhawks a few games ago.  Those losses while not  knocking them out of the playoffs just make their journey towards the Stanley Cup uncertain and rough since they are out of control of their journey’s course.

 

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LA Rams, NFL, Uncategorized

A Brief Look At Case Keenum’s College Career

Before there was Case Keenum, the Rams had another controversial quarterback named Marc Bulger.  Every week this poor soul got beat up by both defense lineman and fans alike. He endured this for I guess four years.  Why am I telling you this?

Well one day, I wrote a post that said he would be clearing his locker out for the last time as a Rams’ player and someone responded to my post.  He praised Bulger as a great player to which I responded in “Your Joking,” like tone.  No, he wasn’t because his admiration of Bulger went way back to his playing days at West Virginia.

You have every right to ask me what does this have to Keenum?  A lot because like Bulger, Keenum has fans that will fondly remember his college days. And to be perfectly honest we all have our favorite college teams and the players on those teams.  That is why I wanted to write this post about Keenum’s college days before I tear him apart this season.

So, after I googled Keenum’s college days, I found this article from NFLDraft.com titled, “A look back at why Case Keenum went undrafted,” written by Dane Brugler.  Please click on this link to read Brugler’s article. It was posted on October 18, 2013.

According to Brugler Keenum has average at best arm strength, so his throws seem to flutter especially when he does not have time to warm up.  His legs do not give him much mobility and his height and weight (6-1,208) which would be rather on the small size for a pro quarterback.

While lacking physical tools, though, Brugler points out he does have the mental tools.  He can make quick decisions prior snaps and is able to read a defense so that he knows where to put the ball.  He has a natural feel for the pocket, and despite his size has an excellent vision of the field.   Finally, he is mentally and physically tough.

Brugler further  points out that his college passing yards have been inflated.  He threw very short passes.  Below is Keenum college statistics provided by sports-reference.com

Passing
Year School Conf Class Pos G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int Rate
2007 Houston CUSA QB 13 187 273 68.5 2259 8.3 7.7 14 10 147.6
*2008 Houston CUSA QB 13 397 589 67.4 5020 8.5 9.2 44 11 159.9
*2009 Houston CUSA QB 14 492 700 70.3 5671 8.1 8.4 44 15 154.8
2010 Houston CUSA QB 3 42 64 65.6 636 9.9 8.0 5 5 159.3
*2011 Houston CUSA QB 14 428 603 71.0 5631 9.3 10.6 48 5 174.0
Career Houston 1546 2229 69.4 19217 8.6 9.1 155 46 160.6

His average yards for passing yards does not change much in the pro’s with a career average yards for passings yards is 6.64 though he has a career-long pass of 66 yards.  That long pass occurred in his first year with the Houston Texans. This chart proves Brugler’s point about his inflated passing yards.  He has only one year, 2011, where his average for passing yards attempted was a little more than ten yards.

So, what have we learned about Case Keenum’s college days?  What lacks in the physically, he makes up mentally.   Finally, remember that Case Keenum is mentally and physically tough.

 

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LA Rams, Los Angeles Rams, NFL, Uncategorized

Are the Los Angeles Rams Really Interested in The Texans’ Brian Hoyer or is There More?

I became very aggravated after reading a post that I received from Brandon Bates of Turf Show Times.  Click here for the link to that post.  Well according to Rams Wire, the Rams may be interested in the Houston Texans’ journeyman quarterback Brian Hoyer. Let’s be accurate when we describe Hoyer because he is journeymen. This man has taken his nonexistent act of playing quarterback to five teams in seven years.  This man has worn is welcome out as Felix Unger.  That last remark is for those who remember the sitcom “The Odd Couple.”

My last remark also describes his current situation with the Texans as per Ian Rapoport. (the following remarks made Rapoport does not come from the Turf Show Times post.  It comes from this Roto World link.)

 Per Rapsheet, “both sides sound OK with a fresh start.” The Texans have tried to claim this wasn’t the case, but it’s been the obvious endgame since they lavished $72 million on Brock Osweiler. Due $5.25 million in the final year of his contract, Hoyer can likely be acquired for a day-three draft pick. His status may not be resolved until Ryan Fitzpatrick and Colin Kaepernick know their 2016 fates. Mar 29 – 7:11 PM

Anybody can have Hoyer for third round pick, so whether it is the Rams or whoever wants him for a third round pick. If you read the first link I gave, the post mentioned this tweet.

Benjamin Allbright ‎@AllbrightNFL

Had heard a whisper the #Rams might look in this direction.#Jets & #Broncos names will get thrown out there, too.https://twitter.com/SInow/status/715185976029683712 …

10:54 AM – 30 Mar 2016

The Jets also have an interest in Hoyer in case their already arduous negotiations with Ryan Fitzpatrick implode. Also, a trade or force retirement will be the way to settle the Colin Kaepernick situation, and from my point of view, a trade won’t happen.  The Forty-Niners’ owner will want your first born for Kaepernick thus taking him out of the picture.

Now only Ryan Fitzpatrick stands in the way of moving Hoyer.  Fitzpatrick and the Jets are at an impasse. How do you break this impasse? By forcing Fitzpatrick back to the table by using Hoyer.

In theory, this plan should work for the Jets, but this is not theory.  Not only do the Jets want Hoyer, but  also the Broncos who lost Osweiler to the Texans. So now, the Jets are in bidding war with the Broncos while also trying to break the stalled negotiations with Fitzpatrick.

Now, this how the Rams fit. If you look at the wording of Albright’s tweet.  He mentioned that the Rams might be interested in Hoyer.  He did not tweet they were interested.  Also, Albright is a Denver-based radio host, so where do you think his allegiance will fall.  Also, the Rams’ owner Stan Kroenke and the Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen are friends.  And, the twist to this is that Albright who tweeted the rumor is known to have the Rams pegged in the past.  This makes him the perfect delivery person to float this rumor.

So, I think the Rams’ interest in Hoyer is to heighten the bidding war to drive the Jets away Hoyer.

Of course , this is just my theory and I could be wrong and there is truth to this rumor then I have some advice for the Rams. Keep their pick for the draft and not waste it on Hoyer.  Any trading of picks that I want to see is for the purpose of drafting a quarterback.

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La Dodgers, MLB, sports, Uncategorized

The LA Dodgers Have A New Skipper: Dave Roberts

ESPN is reporting that the LA Dodgers announced they hired Dave Roberts as Don Mattingly’s replacement on Monday.  He will become the teams’ first minority for their manager. Roberts’s father is African-American while his mother is Japanese.

Dave Robers had this to say about his hiring.

 “It’s hard for me to put into words what it means to be named manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Roberts said in a statement. “This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime. The Dodgers are the ground-breaking franchise of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Maury Wills, Fernando Valenzuela and Hideo Nomo. When I put on this uniform as a player, I understood the special responsibility to honor those that played before me as well as the amazing bond between the Dodgers and their fans. I feel that I have now come full circle in my career and there is plenty of unfinished business left in L.A.”

The Dodgers will introduce Dave Roberts to the press on Dec 1st.

Click here for the whole story.

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st louis rams, Uncategorized

Why The Rams Kept Case Keenum On The Field After His Head Bounce Off The Turf?

There always has to be someone that has to sound ugly after a terrible accident.  Well, I have chosen to be that someone.  While others make their politically correct responses, I will tell you my not so politically correct response, as to why the Rams left Case Keenum in the game, but first, let set the scene.

We all know that they had two quarterbacks suited for the game. They would be Case Keenum the starter, and Nick Foles his backup.  They listed Sean Mannion, third string backup QB, inactive.

So they go to Baltimore with just two quarterbacks. One of those quarterbacks just happened to have been benched earlier in the week, Foles.  Move forward towards the end of the game where Keenum takes a nasty shot.

As Keenum laid on the turf holding head, one has to imagine the panic that overtook Fisher and his staff.   What do I now? raced through his mind.  Do I have to go with the other dufus that I just benched?


He sent his head trainer out on to the field who returned with the good news that Keenum said that he felt okay.  Fisher felt relieved by not having to send in Foles, as well as no one else was the wiser of what just happen.

But as Karma would have its way because that ignored concussion could have just cost the Rams the game.  Keenum’s last fumble could have been the after effects of his hitting the turf.   Watch the video of the hit and see him wobble as he gets up.

I don’t if what I just written about  why Fisher left Keenum is true. Don’t lie though because you probably thought that same thing when you first heard the news of Keenum’s concussion.case-keenum-concussion

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Uncategorized

I Figured That Share Something From Christmas Vacation

Video

Christmas Vacation

I figured I share this video from Christmas Vacation to cheer us up this Monday Morning. Over the weekend, someone shared this video and other videos showing Eddie and Clark on Facebook which inspired me to share my favorite video from Christmas Vacation.  This is the classic part of the movie  where Clark ask Eddie if he could leave Eddie in the middle of nowhere  for dead.  Not showing no emotion, he tells Clark no he is just fine. What Clark had just said goes right over Eddie’s head. Enjoy the video before proceeding because what follows will not have youChristmas Vacation laughing.

The Ravens kicking the game winning field goal

Einstein once said that the definition of insanity is repeating something over and over again, and expecting different results. I open this post this way because this is what fits the Rams’ season.

The Rams keep on doing the same thing. but with different players.  For instance, the part of game manager was played by Case Keenum in place of Nick Foles.  The change to Keenum did not have the major impact that Fisher had hoped.

Yesterday as I watched the game, I hope for something that I could justify Keenum over Foles. Yet, to my dismay I found nothing.  The offense looked no better under Keenum’s leadership then under Foles. If the change of game manager had no effect on the outcome of the game then there has to be another weak area in the offensive link. We could place the blame on the offensive line injuries. maybe the drop balls, or the mistakes.

I chose the later because it the mistakes that cost the game.  You cannot blame the players alone for the mistakes because they have a very willing accomplice, their coaches.  I hate to using cliches, so but I have to this cliche when writing about the Rams’ mistakes.  A sign of a well-coached team is a well-disciplined team. The Rams showed that they are not a well-coached team because the mistakes they made.

If the Rams want to salvage their season, then correct the mistakes instead of changing players.

Uncategorized

Quick Thoughts For Wednesday 10/21/15

Don Mattingly

Should Don Mattingly be fired?  Or more to the point, as the LA Times’ headline put it this morning, make a decision. It has been almost week since the Dodgers finished their season at the hands of the NY Mets, and Mattingly remains in limbo.

The Dodgers owe it to him by making a decision one way or the other.  Yet he is not the only one who the Dodgers have left hanging.

Zack Greinke’s future remains unclear with the Dodgers.  There have been rumors that he would opt out of his contract with the team, but nothing definate.  The sad thing about the Greinke situation is that the Dodgers’ front office knew about it back in the summer and did not address it then.

I think the clear choice to be axed is the front office for their mishandling of Mattingly, Greinke, and getting nothing in return for all the money they spent.

Yet while I could blame the Dodgers for mismanagement, I would have to blame Rutgers for misplaced priorities in their handling of their football head coach Kyle Flood’s attempt to get players grade fixed.

I would have moved on from it except for the firing of USC’s head coach Steve Sarkisian last week. What got my attention and raised the red flags was how the colleges handled it differently.

Pat Haden fired Sarkisian because he violated a agreement not to have alcohol the locker room. While he violated this trust and was fired.

While, Rutgers suspended Flood three games for harassing a teacher to change a players’ grade.  There were calls for him to fired. Here is where the red flags go up.  The feeling by some that Flood should not be fired because that would set the program back.  In other words, winning is important regardless.

So if winning means everything then what about USC?  Don’t you think that USC is not going to have set back also?  So why should Rutgers get a pass here?  They should have done the right thing and fired Flood, but chose not to because they put their priority in winning and money.  I have link that will follow that goes into more about Rutgers sports program.

USC did the right thing by not covering up Sarkisian’s problem, and hopefully he gets the help he needs.  What they did shows more class than the dysfunctional Rutgers.  It also helps them with recruiting.  What Rutgers did will hurt them in that area too.  I better stop here.

One last question, if Flood is such a great coach then why is not mentioned as a possible replacement for Sarkisian?

Hit here for Rutgers sports program.

I will leave with this.

 On Monday, Gov. Chris Christie criticized the media for reporting arrests of student-athletes and added, “You guys gotta find something else to do.”

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Uncategorized

Should The Rams’ Fans Start Panicking After Yesterday’s Loss To Washington?

As the game clock tick its final moments away while Kousins and Washington celebrated their victory over the Rams, those knee jerk reactions took over my emotions. Even though this was one loss, I felt something drastic had to be done to save the season, but which knee jerk reaction would turn this Rams team away from another season of self destruction?

My first knee jerk reaction was to pull QB Nick Foles from the starting position.  It did not matter that he had completed half of the passes that he had thrown or that he had thrown a TD, yet I wanted him replaced with Keenan.

The kicker here is that all I know about Keenan is that he had a good preseason against second team players.  I never saw him play against starting players, so how do I know how well he would play?  For all I know, he’d probably throw not one interception, but two.  All that did not stop me from wanting Fisher to do the unrealistic and put Keenan in the game just do something.

Just do to something.  Do you know how that sounds or better yet, vague?  But, it did not stop me from wanting Foles replaced with Keenan, and it did end there.  I wanted Frank Cignetti and Gregg Williams fired for I thought was terrible play calling. Like I would know what terrible play calling even looks like, yet just to do something, I wanted both fired.

Though, I must confess that I have my doubts about Williams’ defensive coaching abilities. I just can’t wash, “Bountygate” and his suspension for it from my mind, but that is for another post.

You ever notice how after good night sleep, all your problems or thought were problems disappear or look different?  This is when your are glad that you did not embarrass yourself on social media by posting your knee jerk reactions.   Well for me this is one of those times that I am glad to have kept my knee jerk reactions to myself.

So to answer the question, should we panic? My answer would be no for now. and for two reasons. This first answer would be the young offensive line which did not help Cignetti do what he wanted to do by not blocking, plain and simple.  For the second reason, what would you expect would happen when you have the Rams’ 23rd ranked running defense going up against Washington’s run heavy offense? It would collapse and for Williams, I will not let him off that easy.  Its his job to make sure it does not collapse.

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Uncategorized

Will Nick Foles Go Down The Path Of Other Former Eagle Quarterbacks?

While writing the post that asked the who would have a better year, Sam Bradford or Nick Foles, I started to wonder if Foles would go down the road as Kolb, McNabb, and Vick. So I decided to revisted these former Eagles quarterback to see where they are now.

I want to start with Kevin Kolb who would replace McNabb as the starting quarterback in 2010.

Kolbe was drafted by the Eagles in 2007 in the second round.  He rushed three times in a regular season game Detroit that year.  In 2009, he started two games when starter Donovan  McNabb went down.  His starting role would last one year before be traded to the Arizona Cardinals. He remained with the Cardinals for two years before being release in early 2013. He signed with the Buffalo Bills, but he ended up on injure reserve after suffering a concussion during a preseason game against Washington. During the off season of 2014 he retired after being released by the Bills. Post-Concussion symptoms was the reason for his retirement.

Next up we have Donovan McNabb.

McNabb was drafted in the first round by the Eagles.  Under McNabb, the Eagles won the NFC east four times, five NFC championships, and loss their only Super Bowl appearance 2005.  In 2010, he would be traded to Washington after 11 seasons as an Eagle.  McNabb would then be traded in July of 2011 to the Vikings only to granted a release in December 2011.  He officially retired as an Eagle in July 2013.

Last we have the controversial Michael Vick.

Vick was the first pick of the 2001 draft by the Falcons.  He would remain with the Falcons until 2007 when was released after pleading guilty for his involvement in dog fighting.  After 21 months in prison, he would be reinstated in the NFL with the Eagles in 2009.  In 2013, he would sign with the Jets, and in 2015 he signed with the Steelers.  As of this writer he is still a Steeler.

So out of the three former Eagles quarterbacks only Michael Vick is still playing, but has changed teams twice since leaving the Eagles.  The other two have retired. All three quarterbacks have played together in 2009, and Andy Reid coached all three.

With a track record of one out three former quarterbacks still playing in the NFL, which path do you  think former Eagles’ quarterback follow?

The Rams quarterback is Foles to lose.  Just because he is a former Eagle that does not mean he won’t remain a Ram as long as he choses.

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Uncategorized

Will Nick Foles Or Sam Bradford Have The Better Year?

Nick Foles                                         Sam Bradford

Maybe now is not the time to ask this question, but I want to ask it anyway. Who do you think will have the better year, Nick Foles or Sam Bradford?

Right now, after three preseason games, the answer would obviously be Bradford. After two games he has a quarterback rating of 149.6.  He has completed 13 of out 15 attempts for 156 yards, and has thrown 3 TDs.(stats provided by NFL.com)

Foles on the other has achieved a rating of 95.4 after starting in three games.  He has completed 16 of 23 passes. He threw one TD and one INT with three sacks. (NFL.com)  Out of his three starts, his last one against the Colts was his best.

Even though Bradford looks like he could have the better season right now, this could change for Bradford during the regular season by either poor performance or injury.  Keep in mind that he has been prone to injuries in the past.

Yet on the other hand he could have good year because he is finally in the Spread Offense.  He played in this offense at Oklahoma.

I pondered what kind of argument could you make for Foles, but I cannot honestly make one.  Given the fact that it would not be fair to put these two quarterbacks to a head to head comparison even during the season.

For the obvious reason that they play in two different offensive systems with two different demands placed on each.

Now if you asked which quarterback has the most responsibility placed on him then I would have to say Bradford because he will be required to pass  the ball more than Foles who will be handing the ball off more.

With that being said, I would have to say that Bradford has the potential for a breakout because he has a better offense around him as compared to Foles’ Rams’ offense.  Their offense line is still questionable.  A starting has not been decided upon, and the heart of the running game, Mason and Gurley are questionable for the start of the season.

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